A NEW YEAR IS A COMIN'

WE are entering a new year and hopefully a new us in the process. :)  Resolutions often fall by the wayside and are forgotten in the first month of the new year.  What would you like to resolve or change in your New Year?

 

As for me, I want to resolve that I will have the courage of my convictions to speak up for the Lord when in situations that I am uncomfortable in, to simply state that a person's vulgar language offends me.  This has been a bone of contention for me for a long, long time as I have both family, friends and acquaintances who use profanity as a normal part of their conversations.  This is soooo unnecessary.  Can you imagine the Lord speaking in such a manner?

What offends you, how will you deal with it in the New Year?  I will pray for guidance and courage.  We all have a choice, do we continue in a behavior or speech that is offensive to others and the Lord, or do we take control and with God's help, set it aside not to be taken up in our minds and hearts again.
2 Corinthians 5:17

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here!
 

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What the Bible Says about Cursing & Profanity

Life and Death are in the Tongue: What the Bible Says about Cursing, Swearing & Profanity

By Betty Miller

Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. Matthew 15:11, 17-20

Curse Words Reveal the Condition of a Man’s Heart

Pastors Bud and Betty Miller on Cursing, Swearing & Profanity

Jesus taught in the Bible that when a man curses or uses profanity it is a sign of evil that was in that man’s heart. It is popular today for both men and women to curse. They never think of it as an evil condition in their heart, but rather a small thing that everyone does. These small words of cursing the Bible says, will defile the whole man if they are not repented of and stopped. Cussing and using the name of the Lord in vain causes one to become defiled.

Popular movies and TV are responsible for causing society to accept foul language as the “norm.” They portray cursing as a way to vent anger and tell people off. The very attitudes behind cursing show that it is not right as cussing is used to demean and put down people. These words can be mild expletives to horrible blasphemies. Since the devil is the one who inspires these evil utterances he causes people to use our Lord’s name in the most ungodly ways.

In the modern definition of cursing, usually people use the name of Jesus or God in vain and swear with curses such as “go to hell” or “damn you.” These words clearly show it is an evil coming from the devil. Have you ever wondered why people do not use the names of gods of other religions when they curse? The names that the devil hates and uses people to voice hateful curses are “God,” “Christ,” “Jesus Christ” and “Jesus.” Terms about hell and heaven are also used in derogatory ways. The very misuse of these words should prove the existence of God and the reality of a heaven and hell.
Even Christians have been tricked into using bad expressions when they are upset. They are take-offs of the Lord’s names such as: “Geeze” or “Jes” (short for Jesus), “Good Gosh,” “Gosh Darn,” “Lordy.” This is known as “shoot cussin.” There are other terms used, which we will not repeat, as they are vulgar profanities. However, these illustrations make the point.
Many good movies have been ruined for Christians because the script writers thought adding profane language (which they refer to as adult language) somehow made the movie more realistic. Neither adults nor children should use bad language if we are to be like our Lord. We do not have to use curse words to emphasize our intentions.

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. Colosians 3:8-10

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Matthew 5:37

If swearing and cursing have been a problem in your life ask the Lord to forgive you and deliver you so that your words may be good and loving words full of grace and truth. He will help you overcome this problem through His power.

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Matthew 12:34-36

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

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Copyright (c) 2013 – Christ Unlimited Ministries – http://BibleResources.org

(Highlighting by me)

 

 

What is the condition of your heart?  I think this is an excellent article and hope you were enlightened by the contents.  Share with others and pray that we would not conform to the world's ways but be transformed into Servants and examples of God's ways!

Thanks you so much for coming and I hope you take a blessing away with you.  Do come again and if you have prayer requests, please comment. 

My Christian heart to yours....
Kerrie

GOD'S LITTLE MIRACLE TURNED TW0 TODAY!

 

♫♫HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR RYLEN, HAPPY  2nd BIRTHDAY TO YOU!♫♫

 

I know you all remember Rylen who we all have been praying for for 2 yrs. now.  He was not expected to live when born with Hydrocephalus, but God had intervened and look what progress this wonderful little boy has now made!  He is going to be a big brother in the spring and his Mommy and Daddy could not be more thrilled.

 

Rylen's parents feel so blessed by Rylen and his care that they have started a school for all children but especially those with special needs.  To read about it

Please go to :

Rylen Lynch

Hi Everyone!
Today is my Birthday! At 12:15 this afternoon I will be 2 Years Old. Mama and Daddy say we have a lot to be thankful for today.
A bunch of you have asked me what I want for my birthday and I have written a special Blog post letting you know what I would like.
Go to http://www.ourlittleblessings.org/rylen/

 

We all have much to be thankful for this Autumn.  How have you been blessed?  To see how I have been blessed, please visit http://kerrieskorner.blogspot.com   Thank you so much for coming and for praying for little Rylen.  God answers prayers as you can see!

 

Love and blessings, my Christian heart to yours,

 

Kerrie



A BLESSED AUTUMN

Many exciting things are happening this fall!  My home church is growing spiritually with enthusiastic members moving in areas of outreach and music ministries as well as deciding on a new permanent pastor.  This Autumn has been especially beautiful and warm for this area of Central NY and I am thankful that I moved soon enough to enjoy the fall colors, sights and sounds.

I cannot resist picking up the beautiful leaves and then drawing them ...

 

"Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he can learn more than what is in books, for they speak with the voice of God." George Washington Carver - 

 

What a lovely thought! Do you take time to listen with your heart and mind so that the Lord can enter in?  Do you remember the excitement of first inviting Jesus into your heart and feeling filled with the spirit?  If you have not yet invited Jesus, do it now.  You can have that wonderul feeling of oneness with God, you need only to ask...

 

2nd stanza of How Great Thou Art:

 

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze;
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee; How great Thou art!
How great Thou art! Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee;
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

 

 

A scene from the State Street road to Port Byron, NY

God is great indeed!

 

In equally moving words, the psalmist David wrote:
    “The heavens are telling the glory
of God;  and the firmament proclaims
his handiwork.   Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.  There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.”

Throughout human history, our poets, psalmists and Christians have seen God's reflection in nature. And they have been inspired to share their visions.

 

If you have prayer requests, please mention in a comment as great healing has been seen in corporate prayer!  Little Rylen is still thriving and a blessing to all who know and love him.  He is coming up on a 2nd birthday!  His parents are excited about their pending opening of a facility for children who need special care like Rylen.  So exciting!

 

Thank you so much for visiting and do come again.  Please leave a comment or prayer request, it is easyto do.

 

My Christian heart to yours..

 













ONE PAIR OF HANDS...

God bless you this wonderful day that the Lord hath made!! I could not believe how long it has been since I last posted!  I am pretty much settled into my new home now (at least hiding the unpacked boxes upstairs-ha!) and enjoying my surroundings, attending my home church and re-acquainting myself with old friends.  A friend back in SC posted the wonderful song that I am sharing in my sidebar this morning.  I was so inspired that I had to share it.  I had heard the song before but along with the beautiful video, it made my heart fill with the love of the Lord!

When people doubt that there is a higher power in control, tell them to stop and think of how things are made in nature and man that could not possibly have just fallen out of space and wondrously happened!

When I studied to be a Cardiac Care Technician, I learned the entire workings of the heart.  Most are not aware that your heart has a "fail-safe" system and the heart beats from a single electrical impulse from the Sinus Node.  When the heart is beating normally, the rhythm is called, normal sinus rhythm.  If for some reason this does not fire the electrical impulse, the Junction takes over and fires. Junctional Rhythm)  Should this fail, the Ventrical takes over. (Ventricular Rythmn)  Now who do you think wired us that way?  
a. Happenstance?
b. "Theory" of Evolution?
c. The Higher Power of a Supreme Being?

Definitely our Lord.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

If you believe this, then you can take comfort knowing that you will one day see your lost loved ones again in Heaven.  Living in Christ can give you great peace and strength.

Thank you for coming and I hope you will visit again soon!

Kerrie

Settling in my new home....

I cannot believe I have not posted since July!!  I made the move to my hometown of Auburn, NY from Garden City SC.  Needless to say, I have been busy-ha!  Love my house and the weather has been wonderful!  I am still unpacking boxes and changing addresses, etc.

Last Sunday I attended my old church for the first time since back and was greeted warmly as if I had never left 24 yrs. ago!  So good to see faces and get hugs.  I know I made the right decision after praying for over a year and a half since my Sweet Bill passed, to move back to our home town.  I was very lonely in SC once Bill was gone and I had to wait until God's timing was just right for me and here I am, thank you Jesus!  Just me and my little Lilly chihuahua.

President Obama passed through yesterday but did not visit the William H. Seward Home or the Harriet Tubman home here so many were disappointed.

I had such faith that the Lord would place me here and He did not disappoint me.  Stay strong in your faith and if God doesn't answer right away, be patient.  He is waiting for just the right moment to answer your prayers and he will never let you down.

When I pray several times a day I say, "thank you Jesus for my blessings, thank you Abba Father, thank you Holy Spirit for comforting me."  There is not much we can depend on in this world but we can depend on Jesus.

"Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" ♫♫

My Christian Heart to yours...

Blessed 4th of July !

O' beautiful for spacious skies for amber waves of grain
For purple mountain's majesty above the fruited plans
America, America, GOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THEE
And crown thy good with brotherhood from Sea to shining sea!

Praying for America to put God back into our country.  I hope you all had a nice 4th of July and celebrated what our country was built on, religious freedom.  God bless you all.

My Christian Heart to Yours...

The Prodigal Son

I am sorry that I have not written in so long.  I was preoccupied with a family matter and in my sorrow over the incident, I was weak.  But the Bible tells us "when I am weak, that is when I am strong in the Lord."  Sometimes it is very hard to see beyond the storms of life but the calm does come, God does hear our cries and He does heal our wounds...

The Prodigal Son:

 It tells of the younger son in a family, who obtains his inheritance from his 
father. (Compare Deuteronomy 21:17.) This son leaves for a distant land, 
where he squanders all in debauchery, has to take up the work of herding 
swine, and is even reduced to hungering for the food of swine. He finally 
comes to his senses and decides to return home, if only to work for his
father as a hired laborer. As he nears home, his father takes the positive
step of welcoming him, even holding a feast. The older brother, who had 
remained 
at home working, resents the mercy shown. But the father says that they
should rejoice because the son who was dead now lives.—Luke 15:11-32.

When our families have trouble, we hurt deeply but
like the father in the Prodigal Son parable, we forgive
because we are so happy to restore harmony!  We
pray and ask the Father for help in restoring our 
families and like the Father, forget the sin when
confessed and think of it no more.

My Christian heart to yours...

Entertaining Angels and Jesus the Lamb

ENTERTAINING ANGELS AND JESUS THE LAMB OF GOD.

Hebrews 13:2 

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. (NIV)

Do not forget or neglect or refuse to extend hospitality to strangers [in the brotherhood--being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for through it some have entertained angels without knowing it. [Gen. 18:1-8; 19:1-3.] (AMP)

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (KJV)

Context

Modern | Expanded | Olde | All

1 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. (NIV)

Have you ever felt like you have entertained Angels unaware?  That special someone who entered your home bringing with them a loving and caring warmth that you could feel even after they had left? Think about that.   How many persons have you felt that way about?  Perhaps it is just one.  Perhaps that person has yet to come when you are 
least expecting them and "unaware".  What a blessing!  If you look for the good in man, you may find so much more than just a visitor, you may find an Angel.

Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us...

Because Jesus’ name-titles are symbolic, one might analyze them in order to both gain a greater appreciation of and learn who He really is.  One of the titles of Jesus Christ that has a very profound level of symbolism is when he is called “the Lamb of God.”  I will attempt a basic explanation of what this name-title means, and why of all creatures, a lamb was chosen to represent the Savior.

Long before the Lamb of God was born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger, Isaiah likened the Savior of all men and women unto a lamb when he wrote, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).  The lamb is therefore a symbol of meekness, humility, and of willingness to submit to the will of the master.  It is true that Jesus is all of these (humble, willing to submit to the Father) but the level of symbolism goes much deeper than this.

But before a further explanation of why Jesus is called the Lamb of God is given, we must dwell for a moment on the Law of Sacrifice, a rite of worship that had been practiced as a part of worship since the days of Adam and Eve.  An understanding of the Law of Sacrifice will give us a starting point as to the deeper symbolism of why Jesus is called the Lamb of God.

The Bible Dictionary states that, “Soon after Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden, the Lord gave them the law of sacrifices, which included offering the firstlings of their flocks in a similitude of the sacrifice that would be made of the Only Begotten Son of God” (Bible Dictionary: Sacrifices).  The law therefore pointed men and women “to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice [would] be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal” (Alma 34:14).

In the Mosaic Law one reads that the sacrifices must be “a male without blemish,” (Leviticus 1:3), the firstling or firstborn of one’s flocks (Numbers 18:17), and having no broken bones (Exodus 12:46).  Lambs of this nature were highly valued possessions and had to be offered voluntarily.  After the paschal lamb was sacrificed it was “eaten . . . with unleavened bread and bitter herbs” (Bible Dictionary: Feasts).  Anything left over was burned.

This is what happened when lambs were sacrificed during the Passover, a feast of the Jews that was “instituted to commemorate the passing over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when 

God smote the firstborn of the Egyptians,” and Israel’s “redemption from Egypt” (Bible Dictionary: Feasts).  This lamb sacrifice at the feast of the Passover is known as the “paschal lamb.”

Thank you for coming today and I hope you will take away 

a blessing and have learned something new.

Words of the Bible can sustain us through the coming week~

at home, at work, at play.

Come again soon and if you have prayer requests, please 

comment and I will add them to the list in the sidebar.

In Christian love, until we meet again, Kerrie

And check out the Christian Quiz in the size bar. :)

My Christian heart to yours...

WONDERS OF HIS LOVE

Can any one of us know all the wonders of God's love?  Nothing in the universe was made or happened by accident, they were all created by Our Father in heaven...

My heart sings when I see right in my own backyard the beautiful creations that God has made...

Every creature, every tree, every flower was created by the Great One.

The very colors of the birds of the air are so pleasing to the eye...

And not least of which is man, a true miracle of the Lord.  This is my Great Granddaughter almost 3 months old.  Is she not a miracle? Perfect in every way....

The hummingbird in my yard, a miracle of wings and feathers and beauty in one tiny little body- a true wonder!  God is so good.  If he cares for all of these creatures as well as us, is it any wonder that we worship Him and His Son who gave His life so that we might live, so that we can live eternally with him in heaven.  You need only to open your eyes and look around to see all the wonders of God and grow closer to Him.

Thank you for coming today, please come again soon.

My Christian heart to yours....

Third Sunday after Easter...

I love this sermon by Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson because it is so comprehensive!  I hope you will agree.  The 3rd Sunday after Easter.  I love the symbols of bread and fish explained below:

Based on Rev 5:11-14 & Jn 21:9-14
By Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson

"In today’s gospel, the disciples start their day out right and are energized not only by their breakfast of fish and bread—but also by the provider and preparer of these, the risen Christ.

The Fourth Evangelist always writes in such a way as to give us a surface or obvious message and a deeper, often symbolic message. On the surface, this story tells us that Jesus is really alive again—he is not a ghost or a vision or a hallucination. He has a real live body and he eats real food. On the deeper, symbolic level, this story tells us that the meal Jesus prepared and ate with his disciples was special and holy. It symbolized the sacrament of Holy Communion. 

In early Christian art, bread and fish became a symbol for Holy Communion. Also, in the catacombs, the fish became a symbol of Christianity. The Greek letters for the word fish became a code word, which meant: Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior. Indeed, this symbol is rather popular in our contemporary age too; people frequently display it on the vehicles. 

Down through the ages, biblical interpreters have had something of “a field day” with the catch of 153 fish. The most sensible interpretation is Jerome’s—he simply said that they represent all of the different species of fish in the Sea of Galilee. Therefore, they might be symbolized as the mission given to the Church; to go into the whole world to fish for people of every nation; welcoming all of them into the family of God. 

Of course, for John bread was also a very important symbol. In chapter six of this same gospel, after Jesus fed the five-thousand—also with fish and bread—he referred to himself as the bread of life who came down from heaven. He also promised that: “…the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” Jesus makes the very important connection between himself and the world by referring to himself as bread. It is interesting that in most, if not all, countries around the world people usually eat one kind of bread or another as a staple food. Bread in many parts of the world literally is the physical food of life. When Jesus said he was the bread of life and when he gave bread to the crowds, to his disciples the night before he died, and again to his disciples on the beach—it was as if he said: “Whenever and wherever people eat bread, I shall be present among them; I shall feed them with the gift of life. This is possible because my resurrection power and presence is at work in the whole universe!” 

We never cease learning about Jesus and our Father.  It will never be "old" news of his Death, Resurrection and how he will come again.  Yet he provided us with a Comforter in the meantime~ The Holy Spirit.  I often pray for God to send the Holy Spirit to calm my fears and comfort me....

My Christian heart to yours...

Celebrate, He has Risen!

So exciting!  Our Lord has Risen!

Can you imagine the joy when our Lord appeared to his disciples?  At first they did not recognize Him as the last they saw of him on the cross, he was battered, bruised, crowned with thorns and was unrecognizable.

But then he arose and appeared to them as he was before, only more glorious in His new body.  He promised to never forsake or leave us and to return yet again someday.  I think the words of the hymn, "Because he Lives" says it all.

Blessed and Happy Easter to you all.  ♥

 My Christian heart to yours...

HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON...

Who am I that a Savior lived and died for?  God gave us the best he had and His son was obedient to the Father when he died for our sins on the cross~the perfect sacrifice for all time... Thank you God for your Son, Thank you Jesus for dying that we might have eternal life!  

Invite Jesus into your heart that you might be born again (start a new life, a change of heart).  You will know blessings you never knew before.  Wishing you all good things in this Holy Week.

My Christian heart to yours...

Kerrie

PALM SUNDAY

PALM SUNDAY

Palm Sunday definition

The Sunday before Easter. It is celebrated by Christians to commemorate the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem five days before his Crucifixion. On that occasion, the people of Jerusalem laid palm leaves in his path as a sign of welcome. Palms are carried or worn by worshipers in many churches on Palm Sunday.32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying,
   “Blessed is the king"

Luke 19:28-40 (NRSV)

28 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 

    

Why Does Jesus Ride a Colt into Jerusalem?

As is fairly well known, by choosing to publicly mount and ride a “colt” into Jerusalem in the midst of the procession of so many Passover pilgrims into the city, Jesus is performing what scholars refer to as aprophetic sign—a symbolic act which is meant to both symbolize and set in motion some major event in the history of salvation. In this case, Jesus’ act of riding the colt into Jerusalem harks back to Zechariah’s prophecy of the advent of the Messiah—the long-awaited king of Israel—to the city of Jerusalem (see Zechariah 9:9). However, there is more here than simply an implicitly messianic public act. we go back to the prophecy of Zechariah and read it in its full context, we discover several other important features of this particular messianic king.

The King Who Rides the Colt will be a King of Peace

First, notice that  according to Zechariah, the messianic king who will come riding on a colt into Jerusalem is not just any kind of king: he is a king of peace. He will not be coming to wage earthly warfare, but to make the chariot and the war horse cease from Jerusalem.en we go back to the prophecy of Zechariah and read it in its full context, we discover several other important features of this particular messianic king.

The King Who Rides the Colt will be King of the World

Second, notice also that according to Zechariah’s prophecy, the king that will come riding a colt will also be a universal king; his dominion shall not be just over the people of Israel, but to the ends of the earth (Zech 9:10).

Once again, this Old Testament background of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday ultimately points forward to what he will accomplish in his Passion.

I remember as a child getting the Palm frond from Church on Palm Sunday.  Usually, people would place the frond behind a holy picture and it stayed there until the next year when a new one would replace it. 

 

I hope you learned something new about Palm Sunday.  Celebrate at the church of your choice this weekend when we celebrate this holy day.

My Christian heart to yours...

HANGING OUT WITH GOD (why we need church)

"Truly, Jesus Christ, the Christ of the Gospels, the Christ of history, the crucified and risen Christ, the divine-human Christ, is the most real, the most certain, the most blessed of all facts. And this fact is an ever-present and growing power which pervades the church and conquers the world, and is its own best evidence, as the sun shining in the heavens. This fact is the only solution of the terrible mystery of sin and death, the only inspiration to a holy life of love to God and man, and only guide to happiness and peace. Systems of human wisdom will come and go, kingdoms and empires will rise and fall, but for all time to come Christ will remain "the Way, the Truth, and the Life." (History of the Christian Church, Philip Schaff)
The Greek term ἐκκλησία  (pronounced ek-kan-noy-a), which is transliterated as "ecclesia", generally meant an "assembly",^[1] but in most English translations of the New Testament is usually translated as "church". This term appears in two verses of the Gospel of Matthew, twenty-four verses of the Acts of the Apostles, fifty-eight verses of the Pauline Epistles (including the earliest instances of its use in relation to a Christian body), two verses of the Letter to the Hebrews, one verse of the Epistle of James, three verses of the Third Epistle of John, and nineteen verses of the Book of Revelation. In total, ἐκκλησία appears in the New Testament text 114 times, although not every instance is a technical reference to the church.^[2]

In the New Testament, t

he term ἐκκλησία ("church" or "assembly") is used for local communities as well as in a universal sense to mean all believers.^[3] Traditionally, only orthodox believers are considered part of the true church, but convictions of what is orthodox vary.

The four traditional "notes of the Christian Church" or descriptors of the church, first expressed in the Nicene Creed are unity, holiness, catholicity (meaning Universal), and apostolicity.^[4]

  It is true that God can and will hear you if you pray in your closet and you have heard me say this many times before. But the need for the church is necessary for reinforcement of our faith in a corporate manner.  Are you not fortified for the week ahead and nourished when you attend church with other believers?  I feel a physical filling in my chest when I attend church.  We are nourished, educated and counselled when we hear the minister's message. 

   The Bible is called the "Living Bible" because it is ageless, it is applied to modern day just as it was in Bible times.  The teens had the same problems, the people had to deal with the same kinds of sins, it has all been said and done before.  So we have over 2000 yrs. of history and God's word in regard to the way we should conduct ourselves in all situations. The mighty Rome fell due to its lack of morals.

  You no doubt have heard the saying, "you are known by the company you keep."  Who are you hanging around with?  Are your friends sinners that you try to ignore and overlook their shortcomings, sins, fowl language,drinking to excess, using the name of the Lord in vain, etc?  Or do you try to impart the Word to them so that they might enjoy the joys of salvation? It is as simple as maybe just saying when observing their behavior, "I will pray for you."  

   Sometimes, people laugh at me when I say that to them.  But sometimes, they think about their life and how they live it.  I once said that to an employer, a doctor, and at Christmas time, his wife gave me a little gift and a thank you that said, Thank you for praying for ______.  So you never know how powerful that setting a Christian example of behavior is, no matter how small.

  So attend church whenever and as often as you can because the warmth and love of God and Jesus will keep your light burning until you meet again.  Alone, your spark will go out without the support of others to keep the fire going...

 Thank you for coming and I hope you take away a blessing with you today and come back again soon.  God bless you and thanking God for all of you and for all the blessings He has given to me as I "hang out" with Him and the Son.

My Christian heart to yours...