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At the Gospel Mission, we finished a series on Ruth, and started a couple of weeks of messages on a Giving Thanks in preparation for our Canadian Thanksgiving (which is today, October 11th). I preached the main part of this study for the lunch devotional yesterday, and added more verses today to round out it out. Thankful For The Love Of God Love is not an emotion (though it may effect them) - love is a choice. Love is an action verb. Always seeking the best for others. John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Romans 5:6-10  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were...

The Touch Of Faith Matthew 9:12-13 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Matthew 9:20-22 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. Mark 5:25-34 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but...

True Friendships This is the message I preached today at the Gospel Mission. Webster's 1828 Dictionary gives this as his first definition for friend : "One who is attached to another by affection; one who entertains for another sentiments of esteem, respect and affection, which lead him to desire his company, and to seek to promote his happiness and prosperity; opposed to foe or enemy." He also defines friendly as: "Having the temper and disposition of a friend; kind; favorable; disposed to promote the good of another." While we cannot be friends with everyone we meet, we can always choose to be friendly. Last week, I preached again on The Work Of Thy Hands , and in it I also covered the verses about God being the Father of the fatherless and setting the solitary in families. Afterwards, I had someone come up to me and make this statement: "I would rather be surrounded by friends than family because you can choose your friends; you can't choose your f...

Numbers In The Bible Series: Day 30 - Gracious And Compassion Come In Threes I have my own definitions of the words gracious and compassion formed through the years. But interestingly enough, my definitions are quite far from what was intended at the time the King James Bible was translated. Noah Webster defines gracious as: 1. Favorable; kind; friendly; as,the envoy met with a gracious reception. 2. Favorable; kind; benevolent; merciful; disposed to forgive offenses and impart unmerited blessings. Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful. Neh 9:17. 3. Favorable; expressing kindness and favor. All bore him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded from his mouth. Luke 4. 4. Proceeding from divine grace; as a person in a gracious state. 5. Acceptable; favored. 6. Renewed or implanted by grace; as gracious affections. 7. Virtuous; good. 8. Excellent; graceful; becoming. Compassion is another one of those words that I have a definition in my brain but when ...

Just A Little Sparrow (Poem and Testimony) Something tonight reminded me of one poem I wrote for those involved in children's ministries. Rereading the testimony behind this poem was a blessing. I am no longer involved in the Sunday School bus ministry (though I was for four years) - I moved to another part of town and am unable to get to where the bus leaves in the morning, plus changes in work schedules hinder me from becoming involved again - but there are many blessed memories of this ministry. Just A Little Sparrow (Dedicated to all the little children) I’m just a little sparrow – Oh, please don’t forget me, Lord! I’m trusting in Your promises, Still believing in Your Word. I’m just a little sparrow – With these tears, it’s hard to see, But I know my Heavenly Father Is always watching over me. I’m just a little sparrow – So small and scared, I know; But Jesus died for all my sins, He washed me white as snow. I’m just a little sparrow – But one thing I know is true: Jesus loves...

Exhortation To Smyrna Right now my work is in the middle of our busiest season, and now is the busiest of the busiest at the hotel where I work at, so I am really not able to put the time into studying and writing that I like to do. Though I remember that I have some excerpts from several longer studies that would be worth posting, as an exhortation and encouragement to my readers. The following is taken from  Smyrna: The (Persecuted) Suffering Church : Revelation 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; The first and the last. The Lord Jesus Christ was the one who had the preeminent place in these believers' lives. Colossians 1:15 and 18 say, Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence. Preeminence means " first in rank o...