ONE MESSAGE. ONE FAITH.

Easy yoke? Light burden? Easy is not usually the first word that comes to mind with the image of a  Yoke. But there it is in Matthew 11:29. "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light"   Truth is, yokes are easy when the one you're yoked with is carrying the bulk of the load. Burdens become light when you are suddenly freed from carrying the load of guilt and condemnation on your shoulders alone.  So Jesus beckons us to take the load of the world off our shoulders and yoke up with him. Even when I walk      through the darkest valley, [ a ] I will not be afraid,      for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff      protect and comfort me. - Psalm 23:4

While reading Romans chapter 5 I was intrigued by the following verses: Romans 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith , we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Romans 5:2 2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood , we shall be saved from wrath through him. Let's Define Justified. As found on dictionary .com 1. to   show   (an   act,   claim,   statement,   etc.)   to   be   just  or   right: The   end   does   not   always   justify   the   means. 2. to   defend   or   uphold   as   warranted   or   well-grounded: Don't   try   to   justify   his   rudeness. 3. Theology.   to   declare   innocent   or   guiltless; abso...

21  I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it  and because no lie comes from the truth.   22  Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.   23  No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.- 1 John 2:21-23 The word "deny" is defined as a "refusal to admit the truth or existence of [something]" ; "refusal to accept as true or valid"; refusing to give or grant  something deserved or desired to someone. Deny. To deny the Son is to refuse the truth of who the Son is. It is to refuse the validity of who the Son is. Simply put, when the Son of God is denied, one refuses God. When the truth of the Son is acknowledged, God is acknowledged.  How does one acknowledge the Son? By Believing Jesus is who he says he is. Yes, b y believing Jesus is who God says He is. "God, who at variou...

Leviticus 20:26 . Not legalism. Not rules or standards or laws. Holiness is a state of being. Holiness is what God is. He is that which separates. When God is around, the line is drawn.  God's people are called to holiness. 1 Peter 1:15 . We are called to be obviously different, freed from the state of lawlessness that unbelievers are enslaved to. Leviticus 10:10.  The call of Holiness is not to deprave us of pleasure, it's to simply revive our taste for the pleasure of God'presence. Holiness returns us to our original design. We were made to be sons and daughters and companions of God. The commands in the Word of God are not exhaustive. The list of the works of the flesh in Galatians 5 for example- not exhaustive. The "seven deadly sins" as they've been coined-not exhaustive. We'd never succeed in following every single law. Instead, they are lights to our path to holiness-to God. Proverbs 9:10. They are, if you will, enablers. They help us become aware...

Here is a somethingI feel needs to be shared. We expect enemies to attack. But what happens when friends turn on you? How are you supposed to deal with a spouse who now slanders you and turns the kids against you? What defense is there against a family member who shuns you? Exactly what should you do about a "loving, Christian church member" who leads a mutiny among the body of believers, leaving a wake of bloodshed behind.... Read the rest at the the link below. You'll be glad you did. The Pain of Betrayal . I pray it blesses you. -Chantel

Ephesians 5:6-7, 11 KJV Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.  image from thomsondata.blogspot.com Are we allowing ourselves to be deceived by vain words? Is the person we are being deceived by none other than ourselves? What have we convinced ourselves is ok? And according to what standards are these convictions? Time is too far spent for toeing the line between worldliness and godliness.  It is the season, if there ever was one, that our no is no and our yes is yes. With fear and trembling is how we are to work out our own salvation; with fear and trembling, or in other words, extra-carefulness. We can not afford to take chances with so great and precious as this salvation. What lines have you grown comfortable with toeing or even crossing? Spend...

* Printable version below Knock! Knock! Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20 Who's there?  I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6). What do you want? I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10) In me is life, and this life is the light of men (John 1:4). As many as receive me, to them I give power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on my name (John 1:12).  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18  He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he hath n...

When I read Psalm 46 for the something thousandth time in my life it struck a different chord. First God is my refuge and strength, a VERY PRESENT HELP, in trouble. Therefore I will not fear; even if the earth is removed and though the waters are raging about me. Why? He is our present help. Then look- There is a river. I pause. I praise God for the river. For he promised that his Spirit will be in me flowing like rivers of waters. There is a river, the streams, whereof, shall make glad the city of God. Yes! Yes, for there is joy in the Holy Spirit. He has made me glad. God is in the midst of her. She shall not be moved. God is in me. I will not be moved. He is my rock and my foundation. I will not be moved, God shall help her, and that right early. God will help her. God will help her. God will help me. It is God's will to help me, and not just help me ,but help me early. Not, right in the nick of time; EARLY! Hallelujah! I am that city that God is in the m...