Month: January 2013

  • MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES 1/20/13

    YET DO I FEAR THE NATURE; IT IS TOO FULL O' THE MILK OF HUMAN KINDNESS TO CATCH THE NEAREST WAY. SHAKESPEARE, MACBETH I,5 Bro. Doc

  • T&M 1/20/13 NEVER FORGET THAT YOU ARE MORE THAN A CONQUEROR!

    Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Ro 8:37

    How do you see yourself? As a champion who wins nearly every fight? Or as a loser--someone who struggles along, never seeming to conquer a single problem? How you perceive yourself is very important because it will ultimately affect the way other people see you.

    Have you every met someone who had a bad self image  or who always seemed to carry an air of inferiority around with him? It isn't hard to discern this attitude in people. They feel so badly about themselves that they exude their negative perception of themselves and their sense of insecurity. In the other hand, if you've ever met individuals who are self-confident person exudes confidence.

    It is simply a face that you will inevitably project what you feel about yourself to others. So this question about how you see yourself is very important. If you see yourself as a champion who wins every fight, that is exactly how others will see you. But if you see yourself as someone who struggles and wrestles with a bad self-image--that is precisely how others will perceive you.

    So let's turn to Ro 8:37 to see what the Word of Yahvah has to say about us. In this verse, Paul declares that "...we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." I want to especially draw your attention to the phrase "more than conquerors." It comes from the Greek word hupernikos, a compound of the word huper and nikos. By joining the words huper and nikos together into one word, Paul is making one fabulous, jammed-packed-filled statement about you and me.

    The word "more than" are derived from the Greek word huper, which literally means over,m above, and beyond. It depicts something that is way beyond measure. It carries the idea of superiority--something that is utermost, paramount, foremost, first-rate, first-class, and top-notch; greater, higher, and better than; superior to; preeminent, dominant, and incomparable; more than a match for; unsurpassed, unequaled, and unrivaled by any person or thing.

    Now Paul uses this word to denote what kind of conqueror we are in Yahvahosha Messiah. We are huper-conquerors! Paul uses this word huper to dramatize our victory.

    This is what Paul meant to get across in Ro 8:37: "We are greater conquerors, superior conquerors, higher and better conquerors!" "We are more than a match for any fire!" "We are utmost conquerors, paramount conquerors, too-match conquerors, unsurpassed conquerors, unequaled and unrivaled conquerors!

    But we must continue to the next part of the verse, where Paul calls us "conquerors." The word "conqueror" is from the Greek word nikos. the word niko describes an overcomer; a conqueror,champion, victor, or master. It is the picture of an overwhelming prevailing force. However, the word nikos alone wasn't strong enough to make Paul's point, so he joined the words huper and nikos together to make his point even stronger!

    When you put these two words together, they from the word hupernikos; which declares that in Yahvahosha Messiah, you are an overwhelming conqueror, a paramount victor, or an enormous overcomer. This word is so power-packed that one could interpret it as a phenomenal, walloping, conquering force!

    This is precisely who you are in Yahvahosha Messiah! So stop looking at yourself as a struggling loser. Regardless of your past experiences, you must begin to look at yourself through Yahvah's eyes and in the light of Ro 8:37. this verse declares that you are always the winner and never a loser! And when you begin to see yourself the way Yahvah sees you, it will change the way others see you too.

    Resolve right now to see yourself the way the Word of Yahvah does--as a walloping and conquering force! You are more than a match for any adversary or foe that would come against you today!

    PRAYER: YAHVAH, I THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME A PHENOMENAL, WALLOPING, CONQUERING FORCE! BECAUSE OF WHAT YAHVAHOSHA HAS DONE FOR ME, I AM NO LONGER A STRUGGLING LOSER. INSTEAD, I POSSESS THE POWER TO BE AN ENORMOUS OVERCOMER! HOLY GHOST I ASK YOU TO HELP ME TAKE MY EYES OFF MY PAST FAILURES SO I CAN FOCUS ON THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION THAT LIVES INSIDE ME. I PRAY THIS IN YAHVAHOSHA'S NAME!

    MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

    I boldly declare that in Yahvahosha Messiah, I am a conqueror who is utmost, paramount, foremost, first rate, first class and top notch; greater, higher, and better than; superior to; preeminent, dominant, incomparable; mofe than a match for; unsurpassed, unequaled, and unrivaled by any challenge that would ever try to come against me! I declare this by faith in Yahv ahosha's name!

    QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

    1.HOW DO YOU HONESTLY SEE YOURSELF IN LIFE--AS A WINNER OR LOSER?

    2.THINK ABOUT THE BRETHREN YOU KNOW WHO EXUDE BOLDNESS AND CONFIDENCE IN YAHVAH. WHAT DO THOSE PEOPLE DO TO MAINTAIN THAT SENSE OF CONFIDENCE ON A CONSISTENT BASIS? Bro. Doc

  • MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES 1/20/13

    LITTLE DEEDS OF KINDNESS, LITTLE WORDS OF LOVE, HELP TO MAKE EARTH HAPPY LIKE HEAVEN ABOVE. JULA F. CANNEY, LITTLE THINGS. BRO. DOC

  • MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES SABBATH1/19/13

    LITTLE DROPS OF WATER, LITTLE GRAINS OF SANDS, MAKE THE MIGHTY OCEAN THE PLEASANT LAND. JULA F. CANNELY, LITTLE THINGS. BRO, DOC

  • T&M SABBATH 1-19-13 COMRADES IN THE SAVIOUR YAHVAHOSHA MESSIAH

    I charge you by the Saviour that this epistle be read unto all the righteous brethren. I Th 5:27

    Throughout Paul's writings in the Restored Covenant, he uses the word "brethren" when he writes to the Assemblies. This word comes from the Greek word adelphos, is one of the oldest words in the Restored Covenant. In the KJV , it is usually translated as the word "brethren". However, it actually has a much deeper meaning than this.
    In its oldest sense the world adelphos ("brother") was used by the physicians in the medical world to describe two people who were born from the same womb. So when the early Greeks addressed each other as "brethren" they meant to convey the idea: "You and I are brothers! We came out of the same womb of humanity. We have the same feelings; we have the same emotions; and we deal with the same problems in life. In every respect, we are truly brothers!"

    In part, this was Paul's thinking when he addressed his readers as "brethren." By using this terminology, he brought himself right down to the level of his readers to identify with their position in life and with their personal struggles and victories. They were truly brothers--born from the womb of Yahvah, related by the blood of Yahvahosha Messiah, and members of the same spiritual family.

    But the word "brethren" also had another significant meaning during Restored Covenant times,a meaning that it doesn't have in our word today. It was used during the time of Alexander the Great to describe faithful soldiers. These fighting men were true brothers, comrades, and partners who were united to fight the same fight, handle the same weapons, and win the same wars!

    From time to time, Alexander the Great would hold public ceremonies where he would give awards to soldiers who had gone the extra mile in battle. When the most coveted awards were given, Alexander the Great would beckon the most faithful soldiers on stage to stand next to him. Before an audience of adoring soldiers, Alexander would embrace each faithful soldier and publicly declare, "Alexander the Great is proud to the brother of this soldier!"

    The word "brother" was the same Greek word adelphos, but in this instance, in referring to military men who were brothers in battle. This was the highest and greatest compliment that could be given to a soldier during the time of Alexander the Great.

    Thus, to be a "brother" meant a person was a true comrade. Through the thick and thin of battle, these soldiers stood together, achieving a special level of brotherhood known only by those who stay united together in the heat of the fray. This was also part of what Paul had in mind when he wrote to the Early Assembly.

    When Paul calls the Fellow Saved "Brothers", he was telling them: "In addition to being blood brothers, we are all in a similar fight, slugging it out against the same enemy--and this common fight makes us real comrades..."

    I'm sure that Paul's readers were probably struggling in their personal lives, just as we do today, but they haven't given up the fight. They were still on the front line, slugging it our and plodding along, one step at a time. They were the kind of believers who are worth knowing and worthy to be called brothers because they possessed an ongoing commitment to stay faithful in the battle and committed to the cause.

    No matter how well or how badly these believers were doing in the midst of their fight, at least they were still fighting! Others have given up, but they had not. As long as they remained faithful to the fight and refused to relinquish their stand of faith, Paul viewed them as exceptionally fine soldiers--the kind of soldiers anyone would be happy to associate with!

    The word "brother" emphatically declares that it's not really how well you fight in life that counts. What really counts is that you keep on fighting! So don't give up on yourself, and don't give up on those believers around you who seem to be struggling. As long as they keep on trying--as long as they stay in the battle--they're worthy of your friendship! You should be proud to be associated with people of such spiritual caliber!

    PRAYER: YAHVAH, I ASK YOU TO HELP ME SEE MYSELF AND OTHER BROTHERS AND SISTERS AS SOLDIERS IN THE ARMY OF YAHVAH. HELP ME DEVELOP AN ATTITUDE OF DETERMINATION THAT REFUSES TO SURRENDER TO HARDSHIP OR TO THROW IN THE TOWEL IN THE FACE OF DIFFICULTY. AT THE SAME TIME THAT THIS ATTITUDE IS BEING DEVELOPED INSIDE ME, USE ME TO HELP FORTIFY THE SAME DETERMINED ATTITUDE IN OTHER BROTHERLY SOLIDERS WHO FACE HOSTILE FORCES THAT HAVE COME TO STEAL THEIR VICTORY AND JOY. I PRAY THIS IN YAHVAHOSHA'S NAME!

    MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

    I confess that regardless of how much resistance the devil is trying to bring against my life, I will never surrender to defeat. Others may give up, but not I! As long as I am alive, I will stay in the fight. I refuse to relinquish my stand of faith. I am an exceptionally fine soldier--exactly the kind other Brotherly soldiers should be happy to associate with--because I am committed and determined to fight until my victory is complete! I declare this by faith in Yahvahosha's name!

    QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

    1.Can you name five people who have been real "comrades" in your life?

    2.In your mind, what qualifies a person to be a bona fide friend?

    3.What practical things can you do to become a better friend to those you love, and how can you start this process today? Bro. Doc

  • DEVOTIONAL LANCASTER BAPTIST CHURCH

     

     


     
     

    Commitment

    By Paul Chappell

     
     
     
      Friday, Jan 18, 2013

    "Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom."

    Proverbs 18:1

    It took less than ten seconds for Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt to cover the one hundred meter distance on the Olympic track and win the gold medal in London. Those few seconds cemented his status as the “fastest man alive” and placed him on the winner’s podium once again. But the race was not won in those seconds—it was won by hours and hours of practice, workouts, weightlifting, special diet, and coaching.

    The race was not won in the performance but in the preparation. It is our desire for something greater that causes us to sacrifice some things, even some good things, for the sake of things that are better. The famous football coach Bear Bryant said, “The difference between success and failure is not the will to win. Everyone has the will to win. Not everyone has the will to do what it takes to prepare to win.” The level of commitment that we make beforehand determines the success of our efforts.

    Think of Daniel, a teenage boy taken hundreds of miles from home and subjected to a brainwashing program designed to break down his allegiance to his homeland and his God. But long before the temptations came, Daniel “had purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself” (Daniel 1:8).

    Because of Daniel’s preparation, no amount of persuasion, threat, or pressure could overcome his commitment to God. His dedication was unshakeable. For example, when Daniel’s enemies got the decree passed that outlawed prayers to anyone other than the king of Persia, Daniel still prayed three times a day. He did not start praying when the law was passed, instead he continued his habit of prayer “as he did aforetime” (Daniel 6:10).

    Our character is not made when we are put to the test; it is simply revealed then. Our character is made long before the test ever comes.

    Today’s Proverbs Precept: 
    Make the commitment that your greatest desire is to follow and please God in everything you do.

    Old Testament Reading
    Genesis 43

    CHAPTER 43

    1 And the famine was sore in the land. 2 And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food. 3 And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. 4 If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: 5 But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. 6 And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother? 7 And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down? 8 And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. 9 I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever: 10 For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.

    11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds: 12 And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight: 13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man: 14 And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.

    15 And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. 16 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon. 17 And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house. 18 And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses. 19 And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house, 20 And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food: 21 And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand. 22 And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks. 23 And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them. 24 And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender. 25 And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.

    26 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth. 27 And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive? 28 And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance. 29 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. 30 And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there. 31 And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread. 32 And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians. 33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another. 34 And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.

     

    CHAPTER 44

    1 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth. 2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. 3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses. 4 And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? 5 Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing. 6 And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. 7 And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing: 8 Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold? 9 With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen. 10 And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless. 11 Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. 12 And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. 13 Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city. 14 And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground. 15 And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine? 16 And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. 17 And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.

    18 Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh. 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother? 20 And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him. 21 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. 22 And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die. 23 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more. 24 And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. 25 And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food. 26 And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us. 27 And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: 28 And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since: 29 And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. 30 Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life; 31 It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave. 32 For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever. 33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. 34 For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.

     

    CHAPTER 45

    1 Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. 2 And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. 3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. 4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. 5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. 9 Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not: 10 And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: 11 And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty. 12 And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you. 13 And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither. 14 And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.

    16 And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants. 17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan; 18 And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land. 19 Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours. 21 And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way. 22 To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment. 23 And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way. 24 So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.

    25 And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, 26 And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not. 27 And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived: 28 And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.

    New Testament Reading
    Matthew 12:24

    24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. 25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. 29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. 30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. 31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. 33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. 34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 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. 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

    38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. 42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. 43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

    46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. 47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

    Proverb of the Day
    Proverbs 18

    1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. 2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. 3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach. 4 The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. 5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. 6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. 7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. 8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. 10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. 11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. 12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. 13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. 14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? 15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. 16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. 17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. 18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty. 19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. 20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. 22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. 23 The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly. 24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

     
           
     
       
     

  • JOKES OF THE DAY

     A blonde walks into a library and says to the librarian, "Can I have a burger and fries?"

    "Sorry, this is a library."

    So the blonde whispers, "Oh, sorry. May I have a burger and fries?"

     

           ______________________________________________

     Q: Why did the ants dance on the jam jar?

    A: The lid said, "Twist to open."

     
          ______________________________________________

      Q: What does an Irishman get after eating Italian food?

    A: Gaelic breath.

        ______________________________________________

     

    Q: Did you hear about the guy they found dead with his head in his cornflakes?

    A: The police thought it was a cereal killer

     

       

  • JOKES

    Water in the Carburetor

    WIFE: "There's trouble with the car. It has water in the carburetor."

    HUSBAND: "Water in the carburetor? That's ridiculous."

    WIFE: "I tell you the car has water in the carburetor."

    HUSBAND: "You don't even know what a carburetor is. I'll check it out. Where's the car?"

    WIFE: "In the pool."

    Counting Sheep

    Ferne Southern said she was staying with her 8-year-old granddaughter, Brooke, while her parents were out of town.

    Brooke was delaying bedtime, as usual, so her grandmother told her about counting sheep to fall asleep.

    The 8-year-old thought that was a good idea. Everything was quiet for a while. But just as grandmother was dozing off, a voice sounded:

    "Nana?"

    "Yes?"

    "There are 38."

    Three Old Men

    Three elderly gentlemen were talking about what their grandchildren would be saying about them fifty years from now.

    "I would like my grandchildren to say, 'He was successful in business'," declared the first man.

    "Fifty years from now," said the second, "I want them to say, 'He was a loyal family man'."

    Turning to the third gent, the first gent asked, "So what do you want them to say about you in fifty years?"

    "Me?" the third man replied. "I want them all to say, "He certainly looks good for his age'!"

    Dinosaur Plumbing

    Because I couldn't unplug the toilet with a plunger, I had to dismantle the entire fixture, no small feat for a non-plumber. Jammed inside the drain was a purple rubber dinosaur, which belonged to my five-year-old son. I painstakingly got all the toilet parts together again, the tank filled, and I flushed it.

    However, it didn't work much better than before! As I pondered what to do next, my son walked into the bathroom. I pointed to the purple dinosaur I had just dislodged and told him that the toilet still wasn't working.

    "Did you get the green one, too?" he asked.

  • JOKES

    Printing Yellow

    I had been doing Tech Support for Hewlett-Packard's DeskJet division for about a month when I had a customer call with a problem I just couldn't solve. She could not print yellow. All the other colors would print fine, which truly baffled me because the only true colors are cyan, magenta, and yellow.

    For instance, green is a combination of cyan and yellow, but green printed fine. Every color of the rainbow printed fine except for yellow. I had the customer change ink cartridges. I had the customer delete and reinstall the drivers. Nothing worked. I asked my coworkers for help; they offered no new ideas.

    After over two hours of troubleshooting, I was about to tell the customer to send the printer in to us for repair when she asked quietly, "Should I try printing on a piece of white paper instead of this yellow paper?"

    Tough Life

    A guy has one arm and decides he doesn't want to go on with life, not being able to do the things other guys can do with two arms. So, he goes up to the 20th story of a building and is trying to build up the nerve to jump. As he's standing there a guy comes walking on the sidewalk below.

    The one-armed man notice's that this other guy has NO arms at all. He watches as the guy stops on the sidewalk and starts dancing and spinning in circles. The one-armed man thinks to himself how selfish he is, in that he has one arm and is ready to end it all! So, he decides to go down and talk to the No-armed man.

    He goes down and walks up to the guy and says, a "Hey mana I've been up on the 20th floor considering to end it all because I have only One arm. Here you are with No arms and are dancing around. What's your deal?"

    The guy with No arms says, "Arrrrr - dude I'm NOT happy! My nose itches!!!"

    Moral: Think Differently. If you got no arms, get a friend to itch your nose.

    Clocks

    A man died and went to Heaven. As he stood in front of the Pearly Gates, he saw a huge wall of clocks behind him. He asked, "What are all those clocks?"

    St. Peter answered, "Those are Lie-Clocks. Everyone on earth has a Lie-Clock. Every time you lie, the hands on your clock move."

    "Oh", said the man. "Whose clock is that?"

    "That's Mother Teresa's," replied St. Peter. "The hands have never moved, indicating that she never told a lie."

    "Incredible," said the man. "And whose clock is that one?"

    St. Peter responded, "That's Abraham Lincoln's clock. The hands have moved twice, telling us that Abraham told only two lies in his entire life."

    "Where's my congressman's clock?" asked the man.

    "It's in my office. I'm using it as a ceiling fan!"

    Beethoven's Grave

    A daring vacationer in Vienna is walking through a graveyard when all of a sudden she hears music. No one is around, so she starts looking to see where ita (tm)s coming from.

    She finally locates the source and finds it is coming from a grave with a headstone that reads, a oeLudwig van Beethoven.a

    Then she realizes that the music is the Ninth Symphony and it is being played backward. Puzzled, she leaves the graveyard and persuades a friend to return with her.

    By the time they arrive back at the grave, the music has changed. This time it is the Seventh Symphony, but it is also being played backward.

    Curious, the ladies agree to consult a music scholar. When they return with the expert, the Fifth Symphony is playing and the expert concludes that the symphonies are in fact being played in reverse order.

    By the next day the word spread and a huge group gathered around the grave to hear the Second Symphony being played backward. Just then the graveyard's caretaker approaches the group. Someone in the crowd asks him if he has an explanation for the music.

    "Oh, it's nothing to worry about" says the caretaker. "He's just decomposing!!"

  • T&M 1-18-13 THE DEAD-END PLACES OF LIFE

    But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in Yahvah which raiseth the dead. 2 Co 1:9

    Although we don't like to admit it, we all occasionally run into dead-end places in our lives where we don't know what to say, what to do, where to turn, or even how to pray. Sometimes it seems like we've hit a dead-end--in other words, it seems like everything is finished, and over, and done with! If you've ever been in a place like this,you know what hard place this can be!

    Through these kinds of experiences, you and I discover that in our strength, we are no match for some of life's problems. That's why we must learn to depend on the power and wisdom of Yahvah!

    The Apostle Paul tells us that he, too, went through this kind of learning experience when he found himself face to face with life threatening  situations in his own ministry. In 2 Co 1:9, he says "But we can have the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in Yahvah which raiseth the dead." Paul was definitely at one of those dead-end places that we're talking about today. In fact, the situation he faced was so acute the he compared it to a sentence of death. That's dramatic language.

    Notice the word "sentence" in the verse above. It is from the Greek word Krino. this word krino normally refers to a jury who has just handed down their final sentence in a court of law. You could say that the word krino denotes a verdict or a sentence as the result of a court trial.

    After all the evidence is presented and the judge has examined all the facts, a final verdict is issued by the court. This is exactly the word that Paul uses in this dramatic verse. In using such a word, Paul is telling us that so much evidence and so many problems were stacked up against Him and his companions, by all appearances it looked like there was no way for them to escape or even survive. It looked like they had hit a dead-end everything for them seemed to be finished, even, and done with!

    Have you ever had a time in your life when it looked liked it was the end of the road for you and your dream?    Did you think there was no way out?   Did it look like there were so many problems stacked against you that you'd never survive what you were facing?

    This is precisely what Paul must have felt when he was facing overwhelming problems in Asia. He used the Greek word krino to let us know that as far as he was concerned, there was only one possible outcome from his life--death!

    In essence Second Corinthians 1:9 could be translated:

    "As far as we were concerned, the final verdict was in, and the verdict demanded our death..."

    But in spite of how it looked, Paul didn't die, nor did he fail at fulfilling the job Yahvah had given him. It may have looked like it was the end of the road, but it was really the beginning of a new supernatural flow of divine power into Paul's life. That's why he went on to say that through it all, he learned not to trust to himself, but in Yahvah who raises the dead.

    Paul had been under such intense pressure that he felt death was unavoidable. Then right from the midst of this horrible situation, Yahvah's power was released and Paul was recused! Paul said it was as if he and his companions had been raised from the dead.

    When you don't know what else to do and when you have no one else to turn to, that's usually when Yahvah's resurrection power begins to operate in you to the greatest measure! You see, there's no such things as no hope. As long as there is a loving Heavenly Father you can call on, there is still hope for you! If you learn to rely on Him, that dead-end place in your life that you're facing right now can become a new beginning!

    So call out to your Heavenly Father right now. Expect Him to release His resurrection power on your behalf to turn your dead-end situation around!

    PRAYER: YAHVAH, I HAVE FOUND THAT IN MY OWN STRENGTH, I AM NO MATCH FOR LIFE'S PROBLEMS. I THANK YOU FOR REVEALING THIS TO ME TODAY. FROM THIS DAY FORWARD, PLEASE HELP ME NOW TURN TO YOU IMMEDIATELY WHEN I COME UP AGAINST A DEAD-END PLACE IN MY LIFE. I ASK YOU,YAHVAH, TO HELP ME FULLY SURRENDER EACH OF THESE AREAS TO YOU SO YOU CAN HAVE FULL ACCESS TO THEM AND RAISED THEM ONE BY ONE FROM THE DEAD. PLEASE SHOW ME YOUR LIFE GIVING POWER TODAY.

    MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

    I confess that Yahvah's resurrection power is released on my behalf to turn all dead-end situations in my life around! I do not trust my own efforts or human thinking but in Yahvah and His life-giving power. I choose to partake of this power today by releasing every dead-end place to Yahvah. I trust Him to perfect that which concerns me and I look to see His power made manifest this day in my life! I declare this by faith in Yahvahosha's Name!

    QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

    1.Can you think of other people who face impossible situtations, but later experienced the delivering power of Yahvah that changed their situation?

    2.Can you name Scriptural characters who learned to rely on Yahvah and experienced the same delivering power?

    3.What kind of faith confessions can you start seaking to get your faith in gear and to release Yahvah's supernatural power into your situation?  Bro. Doc