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Here is a home that I can not finance. However it is in great condition and ready for immediate occupancy. I think it is a great deal and y'all better jump on it!
http://www.wandascountryhome.com/forsale/index.html
PS Guys this home is out of this world! It is heavenly! If you have any questions, contact me. Also, I am showing this to you as a friend, no strings attached and no fees!
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3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
Ingredient #1: ADD TO YOUR FAITH: MORAL EXCELLENCE (VIRTUE)
Step one for the recipe for godliness is "Moral Excellence" Meaning that we are pure, we are good, we are upright, and people of integrity. Christians say they want to be like Jesus, well then Jesus was without sin. Even Pilate concluded that "He could find no fault in Him." I understand that it is a work in progress that we are not perfect however, we can not use that as an excuse for our short-comings. If you know it is wrong, it needs to be dealt with and improved upon. We can't say, "Well, that's just the way I am and God loves me the way I am." Yes, He will always love you, but just like the Prodigal son who returned to his father from a far away country the Father did not expect his son to remain in the condition that the son had gathered at the pig farm, no the Father said, "Get him a robe." When we we come to God we come just as we are, but we have to allow Him to clean us up. So the first step to the recipe of godliness is MORAL EXCELLENCE.
INGREDIENT #2: ADD TO YOUR FAITH SELF-CONTROL
Even as I write this, I am well aware, that this issue in my own life is a glaring weakness. Why has it become acceptable for some sins in Christian circles yet others are considered horrible? Without getting into specifics, I hope you know where I am going with this. So many of us want to excuse our behavior blaming it on others, or on our genetics, on our up bringing or lack of one etc..but when it comes down to it, we all make our own decisions. The decisions that we have made in life has brought us to where we are today. If you have not gained control over certain sin-habits in your life, chances are that you don't want to change bad enough. The Prophet Daniel, one of my favorite Old Testament heroes "Purposed in his heart, that he would not defile himself." We have to make a decision to improve our spiritual life. Yes, it is hard work, but that is where the Holy Spirit's power comes in. As we yield our will and body over to the obedience of God we will experience the power of the Holy Spirit to say "No" to the things we need to say "No" and "Yes" to what we need to say "Yes" to.
INGREDIENT #3: ADD TO YOUR FAITH PATIENCE.
Patience is the capacity to put up with pain, troubles, difficulties, and hardships without complaint or ill temper! I have heard it said so much from the pulpit that it makes me queasy. "Don't pray for patience." Patience is something that Christians need to develop. We in the 21st century are so used to quick results. I remember when we got our first microwave! My mom was so excited! Imagine having food prepared in minutes?! I don't know when the "Drive-Thurs" became popular, but I know that we can't live without them now! My customers at work, have a conniption fit if they can't reach me instantly! I have an office phone, a cell phone, and email. I don't want a crackberry but they are going to make me get one soon! But our society is so impatient! The Bible tells us in the book of James to "let patience have it's perfect work that we might be mature and complete lacking nothing." Imagine that? The fruit of patience brings maturity! We quote this verse all the time, but I wonder if we really understand what it means to "wait upon the Lord" Isa 40:31. I used to work at a military credit union and the soldiers favorite saying was "Hurry up and wait" They understood that everything had a process! It is the same with your Christian life. Don't be looking for Microwave Godliness a spiritual giant in a few days, or months or even years. It takes time and we need to learn to develop PATIENCE.
INGREDIENT #4: ADD TO OUR FAITH: PERSERVERENCE
Perseverance is the quality of being persistent and consistent. The ability to resist temptation and to keep going when the urge is there to quit. How bad do we need this characteristic? So many Christians don't experience personal victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil because they are unwilling to stick it out when times get tough. How close are many of us victory?
We don't always know do we? But, if we quit and give up we certainly will not experience victory then. The Bible exhorts us: "Do not grow weary in well doing for in due season you will reap if you don't faint (quit and give up)." Hang in there! It may be bad, but it could be a lot worse! You have Jesus, you have one another, you have the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the precious promises of God. Hold in there, and lift up thin eyes for your help comes from the LORD!
ADD TO YOUR FAITH PERSERVERENCE!
INGREDIENT #5: ADD TO YOUR FAITH GODLINESS
Here is your definition of godliness: (I always wonder if this should be capitalized or not LOL) ready?: Christ-likeness pious devotion reverent, loyal obedient and earnest. If you possess this quality you are definitely a warrior! Our faith is based on a relationship with Jesus Christ. If you love Him, you will find that His commandments are not difficult or burdensome to keep. Rather you will find that it will be your greatest aspiration to please Him and love Him back. Relationship is built over time, and it built through crisis! Every relationship when it is tested by hard times will soon find out what it is made of. As we persevere through the hard times we will find that our relationship with Jesus will become more and more precious and no amount of silver or gold could ever replace it! ADD TO YOUR FAITH GODLINESS!
INGREDIENDT #6: ADD TO YOUR FAITH: KINDNESS
Kindness is being sympathetic, helpful, friendly, thoughtful, and gentle. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesian Christians: "Be kind one to another, tender-hearted." I imagine from what I have learned about Jesus that He was kind-hearted. Look how he dealt with the lepers and the infirmed? Look at how he dealt with the hurting, the grieving and the outcast? I am sure it bothered Him very much that there were 5,000 plus people following Him, yet them having nothing o eat. Look how he spoke to the thief on the cross? We are admonished to "Do good to all, but especially to the household of faith." Wouldn't it be a better world, if we would just take the opportunity to be kind. I think that kindness is the one thing that we can do that will bring more attention to Jesus than anything else we can do because kindness is so rare and unexpected in our society. ADD TO YOUR FAITH: KINDNESS
INGREDIENT #7: ADD TO YOUR FAITH: LOVE
Wow! Why did Peter throw that in there? Because love is the greatest gift of all. By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another. Since God is love, it is only "spiritual/natural that we His people should reflect that spirit of love." Love is patient, love is kind, love doesn't seek it's own, it does not behave rudely. Love keeps no record of wrong, it thinks no evil, speaks no evil and bears all things. Above all things we should be known as people of love. This love comes directly from God! As we learn to accept His love in our life, we are then able to share that love with others and for them to experience the love of God for themselves. The final and most important ingredient to this recipe for Christ-likeness is: LOVE!
I know this is a longer than usual message. 7 items that need to be added to our faith! So, who we become in Jesus Christ depends on how much we are willing to diligently add these principles to our life. Peter promises us that if we will add these things then we will: beneither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. If we put that is forward terms: You will be fruitful in your knowledge of the LORD. To know the LORD will change you for sure from the inside out!
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Our standingis your position before God in Christ--your acceptance, your access (Eph 1:6 "Accepted in the beloved"). Your state is your present walk before God--acceptable or well-pleasing unto Him. (II Cor 5:9) "We labor to be acceptable (well pleasing) unto him." "Accepted" versus "acceptable."
Most of our standing is summed up in one word, "wealth" or "riches" in Christ. "All things are yours" whether you possess them or not. Christ has purchased them for you. Most of our state is summed up in the one word, "walk," which speaks volumes of the changes, progress, and manner of living.
Our standing and position is Christ is instantly perfect, as Christ is perfect, the instant the sinner believes and is born of the Spirit; God sees him right then, as "in Christ." No matter of holinesss of life, works of righteousness, which we have done, faith, praying, church works, etc.., can possibly add anything to that standing in Christ. We are "sanctified forever" or "once for all" (Hebrews 10:10,14). However our state may be and must be improved upon constantly, and indeed we are admosished continually to do so.
Our Standing in Christ:
1. Justification: It gives us a new standing before God "in Christ," no guilt and declared righteous.
2. Regeneration: to give a new nature, made in the image of God a "new creation."
3. Habitation: to give unto us the indewelling of the Holy Spirit.
4. Sanctification: to give unto us holiness, Christ Himself "being made unto me sanctification,"conforming me to the image of His Son.
5. Adoption: giving unto us a new family relationship, sons of God.
6. Preservation: to give unto us a new care and keeping presenting us faultless before the throne. He will present the church holy and without spot or wrinkle.
7. Presentation: to give us a new destiny, name, and home forever; this is our place in Christ's body and bride.
None of thes things we can do for ourselves, but they are entirely His work and His gift unto us.
OUR STATE IN CHRIST:
There are seven goals of the believer to attain to that the Holy Spirit marks out for us to improve upon in our present state. They are progressive and therefore, unlike our standing they fluctuate.
1. The Holy Spirit intends for us to grow and mature in our faith. Going from desiring the sincere milk of the word to the solid meat and strong things for those of full age.
2. The Holy Spirit expects us to walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh. This means to live in obedience to God and deny your self.
3. The Holy Spirit expect us to put off the "old man" and put on the "new man" since the new man is synonymous with Christ.
4. The Holy Spirit expects for us to be spiritual rather than carnal. This means that we are to live by the Spirit in communion with the Spirit and grow in our knowledge and enjoyment of things associated with godliness.
5. The Holy Spirit expects us to bear fruit. To be fruitful in works and in character. Demonstrating love, joy, peace, patience, kindness etc...and to do things that edify the body and bring the lost to salvation.
6. The Holy Spirit expects us to present our bodies as living sacrifices. Yielding our members as instruments of righteousness unto holiness.
7. The Holy Spirit expects for us to be continually filled with Him to the we under complete control and influence of Him, so that He might guide us and use us as He wills.
Although we can not do this in our own ability, strength, and power, as we yield our will, our mind, our body over to the control of the Holy Spirit and we co-operate with Him then we will begin to see growth in our spiritual state.
So, In conclusion:
Our STANDING IS BASED ON WHAT CHRIST DID FOR US.
OUR STATE IS DETERMINED AS TO WHAT EXTENT WE CHOOSE TO COOPERATE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.
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The Storm is coming and the rain has begun to fall. Supplies have been gathered, the house is secured the best that we can, now we are in the Lord's hands. I pray, for the whole Gulf Coast that the Lord would have mercy. Pray for my family too, my neighbors etc....I feel for my neighbors in Louisiana three years since Katrina is not long enough!
We are located on the east side of Mobile Bay, in Southern Alabama. North of Gulf Shores and West of Pensacola, Florida. Though the experts don't expect us to get a direct hit we will feel the impact for sure, Hurricanes are unpredictable too, so a slight wobble could be trouble!
We will trust in the LORD and my wife and I will be praying over the house anointing it with oil and asking for protection. Thanks for standing in there with us.
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Why do I worry? - Why do I fret?
Just because God hasn't show up yet?
The Lord is not slack with His promise.
Yet I act like a doubting Thomas!
Out of a rock He makes water flow.
In the desert heat He makes things grow.
Provides manna and quail from the sky.
Yet I will think: He's left me to die!
What is my problem? What's wrong with me?
Why am I always too blind to see,
That God is working His perfect plan?
Oh for the wisdom to understand.
His ways are certainly are not my own.
As I wait on Him His plans are known.
His plans are good to give me a hope.
When I am at the end of my rope.
His name is known as "Faithful and True."
Always there to deliver me through.
I trust you Lord this difficult day.
To open doors and show me the way.
You have never failed or let me down.
So I choose to turn this frown around.
My lips will again praise you by faith.
I soon will be strengthened by Your grace.
I will be still and know that You're there.
I will rest in your peace knowing You care.
For lack of faith I shed many tears.
But you calm me from all of my fears.
Thanks Lord for not casting me away.
I won't waiver I'll trust You today.
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