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April 30 - Be a Cheerful Giver

"Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (that is, He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without)a cheerful (joyous, prompt-to-do-it) giver.... And God is able to make all grace(every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance."
(2 Corinthians 9:7-8, Amp)Dear Christian

Some people say you need to "give till it hurts." Don't you believe it. God doesn't want gifts given in pain. He wants gifts given in joy! In fact, those are the only kinds of gifts that please Him.

That's why He tacked His promise of abundance onto His command about cheerful giving. The two are connected.

Cheerful, full of faith, even hilarious, giving--that is the key that unlocks the treasure house of God. Have you ever seen a group of people give that way? I have. I'll never forget it. I was at a camp meeting years ago when offering time turned into a spontaneous, supernatural celebration. Ken was singing "Cast your bread upon the waters," and the people were just dancing their way down the aisles to give their money. The joy in that place was wonderful.

Great healings and miracles were done that night. But what stood out to me above all was how joyously and hilariously the people brought their offerings to God. The offering wasn't extracted from them like a dentist extracts teeth. It was brought forth gladly.

The concept of "giving till it hurts" didn't come from God. He would rather you give $10 with that kind of joy than $20 grudgingly. In 2 Corinthians 8:11-12, the Apostle Paul urges the church in Corinth to give with eager willingness. Eager willingness. That's what God looks for!

If you haven't given that way in the past, make a firm commitment to start. Repent for the times you've given grudgingly. Then spend some serious time with God and His Word in your prayer closet, so when you give again, you can give from a willing heart.

Put the "pain" of giving behind. Become a cheerful, joyous, prompt-to-do-it giver, and believe me, your blessings will abound!


Scripture Study: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

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April 29 - Don't Let the Devil Put One Over on You

"When he [the devil] speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."
(John 8:44)


Dear Christian,

Some people find it difficult to believe God's promises because they've seen so many things in the natural world that seem to contradict them. They've seen faithful tithers go broke. They've seen sick Christians fail to receive their healing.

In reality, it would be more accurate to say that they think they've seen those things. Because, you see, there's a deceiver at work in the world. A deceiver who's busily doing the same thing he's been doing ever since the Garden of Eden: tricking mankind into believing God's Word isn't true.

And, after working on it for thousands of years, he's a master at it. Think about that the next time he tries to make things look as though God's Word is not going to work for you, when he makes it look like all hope is lost. Say, "I don't care about appearances. I believe the Word and I refuse to doubt it."

Let me show you what I mean. Have you ever seen a magic show where someone crawls inside a box and then is sawn in half? You can see it with your own two eyes. The guy's feet are sticking out one end of the box and his head is poking out the other, and the box is plainly cut in two. Then the magician slides the two halves back together and the sawed-apart fellow jumps out of the box in one piece.

Now tell me, did you really believe, even for a moment, that fellow was truly cut in half? Of course not! You knew that you'd seen a trick, a deception, something that appeared one way when, in reality, it was a different way altogether. You may not have known how it was done. You may not have been able to explain it. But you knew a person couldn't be sawn in half, then put back together, so you refused to believe your eyes.

That's exactly the way you need to be where the Word of God is concerned. You need to learn to trust it and rely on it to such an extent that when Satan shows you something in the natural world that appears to contradict it, you just say, "Well, I saw that, but I'm not going to be gullible enough to believe it. I'm just going to stick with the Word."

If you'll do that, the father of lies will never be able to put one over on you.


Scripture Study: Psalm 119:89-104

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April 28 - Follow Your Dream

"And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? And he said, Certainly I will be with thee."
(Exodus 3:11-12)


Dear Christian,

Have you ever had a Holy Spirit inspired dream, a dream of doing something really great for Jesus? A dream of being so prosperous, for instance, that you can finance a nationwide revival? A dream of leading thousands of people to the Lord?

At one time or another, you probably have, but perhaps you backed away from it. Maybe you thought, "Oh my, I couldn't do that. Satan's kept me defeated for so long I have a poor self-image."

If so, I have some good news for you. If you'll believe God, even a poor self-image won't keep you from success. Look in the book of Exodus and you'll see a man who proved that. His name was Moses.

Moses didn't have a very good self-image. He'd made a terrible mistake early in his career. It was a mistake that drove him into the wilderness and kept him there for 40 years herding somebody else's sheep.

He'd once dreamed of being a deliverer of God's people, but no more. As far as he was concerned, he was finished...a failure...a flop!

But God didn't think so. In fact, when God came to Moses in that wilderness, He didn't ask for Moses' credentials. He didn't mention his shady history. He just told him to go see Pharaoh and tell him to let God's people go.

Moses, however, was still wrestling with his poor self-image. "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?" he stammered.

You know what God said in response? He just said, "Certainly, I will be with thee."

You see, it didn't matter who Moses was. What mattered was that the living God was with him. The same thing is true for you today. You don't need a history of successes behind you to answer God's call. You don't need a string of spiritual credentials. All you need is the presence of the Lord.

Think about that when the devil tells you you're a failure, when he says you'll never be able to do what God has put in your heart to do. Put him in his place. Tell him it doesn't matter who you are because the living God is with you.

Then dare to follow your dream!


Scripture Study: Exodus 3:1-14

METAMORA PATTER'S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLE TITLED "WHAT IS A GOOD STEWARD

WHAT IS A GOOD STEWARD?
BY PAT GULLEY


1 Cor 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. (KJV)

We have many Preachers and Ministers in the Body of Jesus Christ who have been placed there by the Lord to serve the members of their respective congregations and the Body of Christ as a whole. (Eph 4:11-13). I believe that it is essential that the Ministers and the members understand the importance of the Steward's responsibility in handling the Word of God in feeding the flock and watching out for their safety. The Shepherd's job is of utmost importance.

Col 4:17 Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. (KJV)

If the Body of Jesus Christ is to grow healthy and strong, then it is imperative that the ones given the responsibility of tending to the Church examine their ministry at regular intervals and make sure they are fulfilling the purpose of God in their lives, and in the lives of their flock. (Heb 13:17)

Who is a good Minister and what can you expect from them?

1 Tim 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. (KJV)

A good minister of Jesus Christ is one who reminds Christians that we live in a corrupt world and in the midst of a crooked generation of people. The times are perilous and God's minister wants us to remember to "Watch and Pray' every day and to stay on the straight and narrow path. (Mark 13:33)

A good minister preaches faith in Jesus' completed work at Calvary. This minister also reminds us of the good news that Jesus not only died on the Cross for the sins of the world, but that He was raised from the dead and is seated at Father's right hand and is today making intercession on our behalf. (Romans 8:34)

A good minister teaches the Bible as the foundation of our faith and instructs us in sound doctrine. (Eph 4:14) A good minister is anointed and appointed by the Head of the Church to minister on His behalf through the power of the Holy Spirit. (2 Cor 3:6)

Col 1:7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; (KJV)

It is important that all Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers be faithful to the Lord and to their ministry. A faithful minister desires fruit-producing Christians and is quick to hear and slow to speak. (James 1:19)

And last but not least, a good steward is one who remembers that the Master is to be served first. Faithful stewards know the members of the family belong to the Father, and not to them . They are simply watching over the flock of God until the Lord returns. Amen

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April 27 - Obedience: No Small Thing

"But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great."
(Luke 6:49)


Dear Christian,

Do you ever have seasons in your life when it seems like every time you go to church and every time you spend time in prayer and every time you open the Bible, you receive a revelation from God? I do. Spiritually, everything will be going great. I'll be higher than a Georgia pine. Then, suddenly, something starts to happen. I start drying up in spiritual things.

It seems like it doesn't make any difference what I pray or how much I read the Word, I can't get anywhere spiritually. I'm so dry my spirit's creaking!

That used to baffle me. I didn't know what the cause was. I didn't have any sin in my life. I'd taken care of that. I was still praying. Still meditating. Still acting on and confessing the Word. But instead of getting results, I was getting nowhere. I'd stand in front of my mirror and confess faith over and over again and the only thing that happened was that my voice got tired!

If that's ever happened to you, may I make a suggestion? Backtrack and find the last thing God told you to do that you didn't do--and do it!

It's probably nothing big. Just a seemingly small thing. But, believe me, those minor disobediences will dry up the flow of the Spirit just like the major ones will.

Most of us don't realize that. We'll get on our knees and say, "Oh Lord, I want to go to China for You. I'll go to Africa. I'll go to Russia." But when God says, "Go next door," we just shrug it off.

"I can't do that," we'll say. "That guy next door doesn't like me. Besides, I want to be like Brother Schambach and get a big tent."

If you've done something like that, repent. Then pick up where you left off and do what God directed. And from now on, remember, no matter how insignificant God's instructions may seem, obeying them is no small thing! It's those simple acts of obedience that will make your spiritual house stand...or fall. All the small things combined become the direction of our lives.


Scripture Study: Luke 16:1-10

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April 26 - Press on in Patience

"...be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
(Hebrews 6:12)



Dear Christian,

You've been walking by faith. You've been believing God to meet your need. But what do you do when the results seem slow in coming and you are tempted to give up?

Be patient!

There is not much said about patience these days. But, when it comes to receiving from God, it is just as important as faith.

It will make the difference between success and failure for you.

Patience undergirds and sustains faith until the result is manifested. After you have meditated on the promises of God and have them in your spirit, patience will encourage you to hold steady. Patience is power. It has the courage to refuse the lie of Satan that says the Word is not working for you. It knows that God's Word has never failed. Patience will not draw back in fear but will press forward in faith until you have the answer.

When the results of your faith seem slow in coming, don't give up! Continue to put the Word first, with patience, and you will surely receive the promise of God!


Scripture Study: Hebrew 10:32-39

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April 25 - It's Beginning to Rain


"Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain the first month."
(Joel 2:23)
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Dear Christian,

There's a spiritual flood coming. God has promised it. He's promised us an outpouring of Holy Spirit power that will bring in the greatest harvest of souls any of us have ever seen.

As believers, we've been reading about it in the Word and hearing about it from the pulpit for years. We've been staring toward heaven so long, waiting for it to come, that we've gotten cricks in our spiritual necks. We've had this mental image of God pouring down His Spirit from some sort of big heavenly pitcher above us.

But you know what? We've been looking in the wrong direction!

The pitchers God is going to use to pour out His power are right here on earth. Jesus explained it this way. "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" John 7:38.

The end-time flood we've all been expecting is going to be composed of living waters that will pour forth from believers. The Holy Spirit within us will be the source of all the signs and wonders and miracles the prophets foretold. And when we begin to fervently pray the prayer of intercession, the flood of that power will begin to flow.

Zechariah 10:1 says, "Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers for rain, to every one grass in the field."

Our prayers, our intercession, is what will release the great outpouring of God's Spirit. As we begin to join together and become a flood of Spiritual power in the earth.

So, ask, pray for a Holy Ghost gullywasher. Intercede for the outpouring. Make this mighty flood of spiritual power a priority in your prayer life.

Glory to God, it's already beginning to rain!

Scripture Study: Joel 2:23-32

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April 24 - Inside Out

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
(2 Corinthians 3:18)

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Dear Christian,

Have you ever thought about the fact that man is the only creature God created who has to wear clothing to cover himself? All the other creatures grow their own coverings. Some grow fur, some feathers, others scales, or leathery hide. But all are clothed from the inside out!

Most people don't realize it, but in the beginning, man was clothed that way too. He was made in the image of God. And, if you'll look in Ezekiel 8:2, you'll find that God is clothed in fire from the loins up and from the loins down. That fire is His glory emanating outward from His inner- most being.

When man was first created, he was like that too. He was covered with the very glory of God. It radiated from his inner being outward. That's why he had no sense of nakedness until after he sinned and the glory departed from him.

It was a tragic day when man lost that glorious covering. But I want you to know something today. It's not lost forever. The Word of God says we can gain it back.

You see, when you put your faith in the blood of Jesus and were born again, the glory of God once again took up residence in you. It may be well hidden right now, but believe me, it's in there.

And the Bible says that as you gaze into the Lord's face by studying the Word and fellowshiping with Him, as you renew your mind to understand who you are in Christ, you'll be changed into His image on the outside as well. As you learn to hear His voice and obey it, you'll start giving outward expression of the glory within you. Little by little, you'll be turned inside out!

Instead of simply staring into your closet every morning, spend some time gazing at Jesus and beholding His Word. Let Him clothe you in His radiant presence. Once His glory starts shining through, anything you wear will look beautiful on you.

Scripture Study: Psalm 8

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April 24 - Inside Out

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
(2 Corinthians 3:18)

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Dear Christian,

Have you ever thought about the fact that man is the only creature God created who has to wear clothing to cover himself? All the other creatures grow their own coverings. Some grow fur, some feathers, others scales, or leathery hide. But all are clothed from the inside out!

Most people don't realize it, but in the beginning, man was clothed that way too. He was made in the image of God. And, if you'll look in Ezekiel 8:2, you'll find that God is clothed in fire from the loins up and from the loins down. That fire is His glory emanating outward from His inner- most being.

When man was first created, he was like that too. He was covered with the very glory of God. It radiated from his inner being outward. That's why he had no sense of nakedness until after he sinned and the glory departed from him.

It was a tragic day when man lost that glorious covering. But I want you to know something today. It's not lost forever. The Word of God says we can gain it back.

You see, when you put your faith in the blood of Jesus and were born again, the glory of God once again took up residence in you. It may be well hidden right now, but believe me, it's in there.

And the Bible says that as you gaze into the Lord's face by studying the Word and fellowshiping with Him, as you renew your mind to understand who you are in Christ, you'll be changed into His image on the outside as well. As you learn to hear His voice and obey it, you'll start giving outward expression of the glory within you. Little by little, you'll be turned inside out!

Instead of simply staring into your closet every morning, spend some time gazing at Jesus and beholding His Word. Let Him clothe you in His radiant presence. Once His glory starts shining through, anything you wear will look beautiful on you.

Scripture Study: Psalm 8

METAMOR PATTER WITH DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

April 24 - Inside Out

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
(2 Corinthians 3:18)

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Dear Christian,

Have you ever thought about the fact that man is the only creature God created who has to wear clothing to cover himself? All the other creatures grow their own coverings. Some grow fur, some feathers, others scales, or leathery hide. But all are clothed from the inside out!

Most people don't realize it, but in the beginning, man was clothed that way too. He was made in the image of God. And, if you'll look in Ezekiel 8:2, you'll find that God is clothed in fire from the loins up and from the loins down. That fire is His glory emanating outward from His inner- most being.

When man was first created, he was like that too. He was covered with the very glory of God. It radiated from his inner being outward. That's why he had no sense of nakedness until after he sinned and the glory departed from him.

It was a tragic day when man lost that glorious covering. But I want you to know something today. It's not lost forever. The Word of God says we can gain it back.

You see, when you put your faith in the blood of Jesus and were born again, the glory of God once again took up residence in you. It may be well hidden right now, but believe me, it's in there.

And the Bible says that as you gaze into the Lord's face by studying the Word and fellowshiping with Him, as you renew your mind to understand who you are in Christ, you'll be changed into His image on the outside as well. As you learn to hear His voice and obey it, you'll start giving outward expression of the glory within you. Little by little, you'll be turned inside out!

Instead of simply staring into your closet every morning, spend some time gazing at Jesus and beholding His Word. Let Him clothe you in His radiant presence. Once His glory starts shining through, anything you wear will look beautiful on you.


Scripture Study: Psalm 8

KEN AND GLORIA COPELAND'S DAILY BREAD

April 23 - Oppose the Devil

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
(James 4:7)


Dear Christian,

If you've been crying and asking God to run the devil out of your life, STOP! The Bible says you're the one who's supposed to overcome the devil.

How? By resisting him. By rebelling against him when he tells you to do something and doing what God says instead! When Satan tells you some lie, contradict him with the Word of God. Oppose him. This verse says when you do that, he'll flee from you. He'll "run as in terror."

That means everywhere you go, as you walk in faith and oppose the devil, darkness is pushed back.

So start pushing back that darkness. You can do it! The life of God is within you. Jesus Himself is living inside you. Everywhere you go, He goes. Every problem that rises up against you, every evil spirit that tries to influence your life, is coming up against GOD when he comes up against you.

All you need to do is become conscious of that. Begin now living your life moment by moment, knowing that the light of God is in you. The Word of God is in you. The Spirit of God is in you.

Live knowing that Jesus, the Son of God, is in you. Then watch the devil run!

Scripture Study: Ephesians 6:10-18

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April 22 - He Really Does Care for You

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you"
(1 Peter 5:7)
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Dear Christian,

Do you know what it's like to face a problem so big it seems downright irresponsible not to worry about it? There may not be a thing you can do about it, but you feel like you need to at least be concerned. After all, somebody needs to! And no one else seems to be volunteering for the job.

I remember one time in particular I felt exactly that way. I was holding a series of meetings in Ruston, Louisiana. I had just discovered our budget was $800 short--and in those days, $800 might as well have been 9 million! The devil was attacking my mind, telling me that no one cared about me or my ministry, telling me that I was facing this problem alone.

But instead of giving in to those thoughts, I got my Bible and turned to every scripture in the Word of God that guaranteed me my needs were met. Then I rolled the care of those expenses over on God. I promised God that with the Holy Spirit as my Helper, I would not touch that problem with my thought life again.

That wasn't an easy promise to keep. I wanted to worry so badly! I went into the courtyard of the Motel where I was staying and walked around the swimming pool. Every time I thought about the problem, I would say out loud, "No, I have rolled the care of that over on the Lord. I will not think about it. The budget is met."

After a while, a man drove up in the driveway and began to honk his horn. I tried to ignore him because I don't like to be interrupted when I'm praying, but he stuck his head out of the window and shouted, "Come here!" He said it with such authority that I obeyed.

He said to me, "Brother Copeland, I'm sorry to disturb you, but I'm committed to another obligation and will be late for the meeting tonight. I was afraid I would miss the offering." Then he handed me a check. When I went back to my room and looked at that check, I found it was for $500. Coupled with the offering in the service that night, it totaled the exact amount I needed to meet that budget.

Would you like to have people chasing you down to meet your needs? Then next time you're facing a problem, give it to God. Let Him be the one who's concerned about it. He's volunteered for the job and you can trust Him to do it well. After all, He really does care for you.


Scripture Study: Psalm 37:1-11

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April 21 - God of Your Trouble, God of Your Heart"

"Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance."
(Psalm 32:7)
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Dear Christian,

In this day and time, trouble seems to surround us on every side. If it's not a failing economy, it's a failing business, a failing marriage, or failing health. Yet, in the midst of seemingly overwhelming problems, God has promised to deliver us.

If you want God to be God of your trouble, then you must let Him be God in your heart. God honors those who honor Him. If you're facing problems, don't just start kicking and screaming and begging Him to save you from them. Honor Him by going to His Word and doing what He says to do.

Psalm 34 is a good place to start. It says, for example, to seek God (verse 4). As you seek Him, He will deliver you from the things that threaten you.

Secondly, it instructs you to cry out to the Lord. He will save you out of ALL your troubles (verse 6).

Next it tells you to fear the Lord. Verses 11-14 tell you exactly how to do that: Keep from speaking evil and deceit; depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Remember, if you want God to be God of your trouble, let Him be God of your heart. When you do that, all of heaven will get involved in your deliverance--and your triumph will be guaranteed.


Scripture Study: Psalm 34

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April 20 - Be Supernatural God's Way

"And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me?... Lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea."
(Exodus 14:15-16)

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Dear Christian,

If you hang around God very much, it won't be long before you'll start wanting to do things the world considers supernatural. You'll start wanting to lay hands on the sick and have them recover. You'll start wanting to cast out demons. You'll start wanting to cast mountainous problems into the sea.

What's more, you can do it if you want to!

How? Not by jumping out and "trying" to do supernatural things, but by obeying God one step at a time. By doing the things He's already given you power to do.

That's how it happened with Moses. He didn't have the power to divide the Red Sea. But he did have the power to stretch his rod out over it. And when he did that in obedience to the Lord's command, the Holy Spirit did the rest.

It will be the same way with you. When you start doing your part, the Holy Spirit will do His and supernatural things will start happening around you.

What is your part? Feeding on the Word. Praying in the Spirit. Listening to what the Spirit of God says to you. As you do those things, as you move as God impresses you to move and take your direction from Him, you'll flow in the supernatural as naturally as a bird flies in the air.

You won't struggle and strain and try to "part the sea." You'll just trust the Lord, stretch out your rod... and watch the miracles roll.


Scripture Study: Exodus 14

Metamora Patters Weekly Newspaper Article

FAITH IS KEY IN TIMES LIKE THESE
PAT GULLEY

1 Pet 1:7
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (KJV)


The Easter Season has passed and we now remember the forty days that Jesus appeared to His Disciples in various ways and at unexpected times. (Acts 1:3) The one point that He wanted them to understand was the fact that even when they couldn't see Him, He was still in their midst. He gave His Word to them so that they could place their faith in Him.

Rom 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (KJV)

The Church of Jesus Christ has to have her eyes and heart focused on Him and Him alone. There is nothing that is stronger than our faith in the Resurrected Jesus if we but allow that faith to have first place in our hearts and minds. We can learn a very important lesson from the Apostle Peter. Remember when he tried to walk on the water to get to Jesus but began to sink as he looked around and saw the winds rolling the waves in a dangerous manner?

Matt 14:29-30
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. (KJV)


It is important for us to be able to see Jesus in all our circumstances. He is the one walking on top of the problem. He is the one with the nail scars in His Hands and feet where He died on the Cross so that we could live with Him in victory. He defeated Death, the greatest enemy of all, when He was raised from the dead.

Rev 1:18
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (KJV)

I am absolutely convinced that no matter what confronts us today, or a year from today, we have already won the victory. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, not principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8: 38-39)

John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (KJV)


And if God's love was strong enough to see Jesus through it all, and bring Him out on the winning side, then it is definitely strong enough for us. In times like these, we need to believe in Him who believes in us. We have God's Word on it.

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

April 18 - Throw Open the Door

"Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money in.... And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites.... And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them...this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."
(Mark 12:41-44)

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Dear Christian,

Have you ever wanted to get God's attention? You can, you know. There's a certain kind of boldness, a certain kind of faith in giving that will get His attention every time. You can see that in Mark 12.

Read that chapter and just imagine the situation it describes. Jesus was sitting by the treasury watching as people put in their offerings. Don't you know there were some sanctimonious displays going on with Him there watching? There was bound to be plenty of pharisaical robe swishing as those wealthy leaders walked up to put in their gifts that day.

Right in the middle of it all, this poor widow walked up and threw in her offering. I can just see her in my mind's eye. I can hear her say to herself, "By the eternal Almighty God that liveth, I've had enough of this poverty. I'm fed up with having nothing but want. I may just be a poor widow now, but I'm not going to be a poor widow anymore. I'm going to be a broke widow if God doesn't do something here because I'm giving Him everything I've got!"

Then, wham! She threw that last little dab of money she had into the offering.

Do you know what? That got Jesus' attention. He said, "Listen, everybody. I want to talk to you about this woman," and He started to preach.

What moved Jesus wasn't just the fact that she gave. It was how she gave. She gave in faith--not in fear. She didn't stop and calculate what she didn't have and say, "Boy, if I do this, tomorrow I won't eat." She just boldly threw in all she had, expecting God to take care of her in return.

You and I need to catch hold of that same attitude. We need to start holding our offerings up to the Lord in confidence, throwing it boldly into His service, expecting His blessings in return.

If you have a need right now, get God's attention by giving with boldness like that widow woman did. Throw open the door of your household by throwing everything you have at Jesus. Let God know that He is your source. Before long, the abundance of God will come pouring in!


Scripture Study: Mark 12:28-44

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

April 17 - No Offense

"He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him."
(1 John 2:10)


Dear Christian,

Whenever you find yourself stumbling into failure or sin, check your love life. Sit down with the Lord and ask Him to show you if you're in strife with anyone or if you've taken offense. If you have, the devil can come in and trip you up.

As a preacher, I've seen that happen countless times. I'll be preaching about something and some believer will get upset with me about it. He'll decide I'm wrong and go off in a huff--and first thing you know, he's in trouble.

Mark 4:17 tells us the devil uses those kinds of offenses to steal the Word from our hearts. He causes us to get crosswise with each other. Then he's able to pull the plug right out of us and drain the Word like water from a bucket.

Don't ever let that happen to you. If you hear a preacher or another believer saying something that rubs you the wrong way and you catch yourself getting offended say, "Oh no you don't. You're not stealing the Word out of me, you lying devil." Then get right down on your knees and repent before God.

Search the Word and listen to the Spirit within you and find out what you should do. If you still feel what that person said to you was wrong, pray for him.

Remember, taking offense never comes from God. He says we're to be rooted and grounded in love. So reject those feelings of offense. Give yourself to that person in love and in prayer. You'll be able to walk right on through that situation without ever stumbling at all.

Scripture Study: 1 John 2:1-11

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

April 16 - Take Some New Ground

"Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven."
(Matthew 18:19)
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Dear Christian,

As believers, you and I are part of a conquering army, constantly claiming new ground for the kingdom of God. Right?

Well, yes, that's the way it should be. But just about the time the army tops the hill and is ready to advance, it seems that Satan pulls out his big gun--DIVISION--and scatters believers in every direction.

How can we strike back against the strategy of division? By launching an even more powerful attack of our own. By using one of the most powerful resources given us by the Lord Jesus: the prayer of agreement.

Jesus said that if any two of us would agree as touching anything we ask, it shall be done! That statement is so powerful that people can find it hard to believe. If they did, you'd find little groups of Christians huddled up in every corner agreeing together in prayer.

Find someone to agree with in prayer this week. Be sure to base what you pray on the Word of God. You may have differing opinions about everything else, but you can be in agreement about the Word.

Also, be sure your agreement is total--spirit, soul and body. Cast down arguments, theories and imaginations that are contrary to the Word. Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Keep a watch over your thoughts and your words.

Then get your body in line by speaking the thing you've agreed on. Act like you've already received the answer. Don't keep asking but thank God for it. Stay in agreement and take some new ground for the Lord!

Scripture Study: Acts 4:1-31

PATTER'S GUEST COLUMNIST MICHAEL

April 15, 2006

A matter of faith ...
By MICHAEL COREN

This weekend I will fall to my knees and thank God for His son.

Why? The evidence of the early Church, the eyewitness accounts from neutral or even hostile sources, the ever-increasing tangible proof from archaeological digs and the abundantly meagre nature of the standard objections.

It was the greatest atheist of modern times, the philosopher Bertrand Russell, who on his deathbed was asked what he would say to God if he found that He did in fact exist.

The grand old man replied that he would ask God why He had not given humanity more evidence of His existence. Which reveals just how little even the wisest of doubters understands about Christianity.

God does not give us absolute proof because this would work against our free will. He gives us just enough evidence so that we can find Him and just enough to reject His existence if that is our desire.

Don't blame the God in whom you do not believe because He asks you to work just a little before you have faith.

Bertrand Russell, by the way, eventually abandoned his atheism even though he had been its champion.

If I cannot believe in God because I have not seen Him, he wrote, I thus have to have seen everything to know that He is not there. I have not seen everything, therefore I cannot conclude that there is no God.

In other words, the materialistic opposition to God implodes when investigated with an open rather than an empty mind.

Russell became an agnostic. Those who claim to live by logic must, if they are honest, live by logic's immutable laws.

Russell was also a pacifist -- and one of the arguments against Christianity is that it causes war. Problem is, this is nonsense.

There is no doubt that wars have been and are fought in the name of religion, but this is hardly relevant.

As we surely know, it is not guns that kill people but people with guns who kill people.

Equally, it is not religion that kills people but people with religion who kill people.

Misguided individuals do all sorts of horrible things in the name of religion, just as they do in the name of freedom, love and any other motive that they can pervert.

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

April 15 - Live the Love Life

"But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."
(1 John 2:5-6)


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Dear Christian,

There is nothing--absolutely nothing--that is more important than learning to love. In fact, how accurately you perfect the love walk will determine how much of the perfect will of God you accomplish. That's because every other spiritual force derives its action from love. For example, the Bible teaches us that faith works by love. And answered prayer is almost an impossibility when a believer steps outside of love and refuses to forgive or is in strife with his brother.

Without love, your giving will not work. Tongues and prophecy will not work. Faith fails and knowledge is unfruitful. All the truths that you have learned from God's Word work by love. They will profit you nothing unless you live the love of God.

First Corinthians 13:4-8 paints a perfect picture of how love behaves. It's patient and kind. It's not jealous or proud. It doesn't behave rudely or selfishly and it isn't touchy. Love "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

Sounds like a tall order, doesn't it? But don't despair. You are a love creature. God has recreated your spirit in the image of love. And He has sent His love Spirit to live in you and teach you how to love as He loves. You can live the love life. Why not begin today?


Scripture Study: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

GOOD FRIDAY

This DAY of DAYS was long planned for by God. It is a Good Day in the history of mankind. This is the Day the Lord God was HIMSELF IN CHRIST JESUS RECONCILING THE WORLD TO HIMSELF.

2 Cor 5:19
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (KJV)


WE REMEMBER LORD YOUR DEATH ON THE CROSS AND WE BOW OUR HEARTS IN THANKSGIVING.

1 Cor 11:26
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. (KJV)

So today we eat the bread/body of the Lord and drink from the cup of the New Testament

TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

April 14 - Use God's MO

"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."
(Hebrews 11:3)

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Dear Christian,

God uses words to create. He used His Word to "frame" the worlds. Just look in the first chapter of Genesis and count how many times you see the phrase, "God said." "God said, Let there be light: and there was light.... God said, Let there be a firmament.... God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together.... God said, Let the earth bring forth...."

God doesn't do anything without saying it first. That's His MO, His mode of operation. And, if you're smart, you'll use that mode of operation too. You'll take His words and speak them out until they take on form and substance and become a reality in your life.

"Well, Brother Copeland, I tried that and it didn't work. I said, 'By His stripes I'm healed' four times and nothing happened."

God started saying that Jesus was coming in the Garden of Eden. He said it again in Exodus. He said it again in Numbers and Deuteronomy. He said it in Isaiah and the other prophets. He said it all through the Old Testament, over and over again.

Then after about 4,000 years, the book of John tells us, "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us."

So if you've said you're healed four times and nothing's happened, don't worry about it. Just keep saying it! You might think it's taking a long time to manifest, but I'll guarantee you, it won't take 4,000 years.

Do you want to operate in God's power? Then use His MO. Speak out His words and let them frame a life full of blessing for you!


Scripture Study: Genesis 1

METAMORA PATTER'S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

THE STRONG LIVE LONG
BY PAT GULLEY

Ps 90:10
The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (KJV)

Moses is credited with writing the 90th Psalm. He knew something about being old and growing older. He was 80 years old when the Lord sent him back to Egypt to lead the nation of Israel to the Promised Land.(Exodus 7:7) And he was 120 years old when the Lord called him home to heaven. (Deut 34:7)

Yet Moses said in this Psalm that the average age of a person at that time was 70 years. Moses said if men and women lived to be fourscore, or 80 years, that is was reasonable to conclude that it was because they were strong people.

I used to think that the reason they were living to be 80 years old was because their bodies were strong. But I have now come to the conclusion that it had nothing to do with the strength of the body, but of the heart and soul. I think I can safely say, "Growing old is not for wimps."

The Apostle Paul shows us some insight into this arena of aging in his letter to the Church in Corinth.

2 Cor 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (KJV)

Paul says that with the passing of years the body of every human being grows weaker and weaker until that point in time when it fails to serve us in the way we would like. But at the same time, the inner man, the real 'us' (especially Christians) is renewed, refreshed, renovated, regenerated and rejuvenated. (Strong's Concordance 341 Greek word is 'anakainoo': a fresh newness)

I have seen many elderly people in perishing bodies' deal with the effects that their aging body brings. And believe me, it takes strong human beings to live in those bodies day in and day out. The inner person suffers the indignity of not being able to bring a cup of coffee to his or her mouth because the hand and eye coordination of the outward body is not behaving properly. (And that is just one example of the situations they face daily.)

And trust me, it can be devastating to lose control of different parts of the body and depend on someone else to meet those needs. And there are those bodies whose mental capabilities flee to another place, and yet the hidden man of the heart is there and is aware of the inability to communicate with those around them. (1Peter 3:4) When I turned 50, my parents taught me the need to grow old gracefully. I thank them for that bit of advice and pray I practice it when the time comes.

May I repeat myself; a person must be strong who lives long. Love and honor them.

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

April 13 - Leaving the Pain Behind

"Love...is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it pays no attention to a suffered wrong."
(1 Corinthians 13:5, Amp) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Dear Christian,

Have you ever tried to forgive someone and found you simply couldn't do it? You've cried about it and prayed about it and asked God to help you, but those old feelings of resentment just failed to go away.

Put an end to those kinds of failures in the future by basing your forgiveness on faith rather than feelings. True forgiveness doesn't have anything at all to do with how you feel. It's an act of the will. It is based on obedience to God and on faith in Him.

That means once you've forgiven a person, you need to consider him permanently forgiven! When old feelings rise up within you and Satan tries to convince you that you haven't really forgiven, resist him. Say, "No, I've already forgiven that person by faith. I refuse to dwell on those old feelings."

Then, according to 1 John 1:9, believe that you receive forgiveness and cleansing from the sin of unforgiveness and from all unrighteousness associated with it including any remembrance of having been wronged!

Have you ever heard anyone say, "I may forgive, but I'll never forget!" That's a second-rate kind of forgiveness that you, as a believer, are never supposed to settle for. You're to forgive supernaturally "even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Eph. 4:32).

You're to forgive as God forgives. To release that person from guilt permanently and unconditionally and to operate as if nothing bad ever happened between you. You're to purposely forget as well as forgive.

As you do that, something supernatural will happen within you. The pain once caused by that incident will disappear. The power of God will wash away the effects of it and you'll be able to leave it behind you once and for all.

Don't become an emotional bookkeeper, keeping careful accounts of the wrongs you have suffered. Learn to forgive and forget. It will open a whole new world of blessing for you.

Scripture Study: Luke 6:27-37

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

April 12 - Weapon of Praise


"I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence."
(Psalm 9:1-3)
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Dear Christian,

Never underestimate the importance of praise. It's one of the most powerful spiritual weapons you have.

Praise is more than a pleasant song or a few uplifting words about God. It does something. It releases the very presence of God Himself. And, when the presence of God comes on the scene, your enemies are turned back. Sickness and disease can't stay on your body. Poverty can't stay in your house.

Even physical weariness has to flee when it's faced with real joy-filled praise. I know that from experience. Years ago, when I first began conducting Healing School, I had a real battle with fatigue. I'd minister and lay my hands on the sick for so many hours at a time that by the time the meeting had ended, I was sometimes too physically weak even to close the service.

Then, in one particular meeting, I discovered the power of praise. I had just finished praying for those in the prayer line, and as usual, I was exhausted. But instead of rest, the Spirit of the Lord impressed on me that what I needed was to rejoice in the Lord. So, I did. I began to praise the Lord with my whole heart, mind and body. Do you know what happened? The tiredness left me. And I was energized with the presence of God!

The next time the devil tries to stifle your effectiveness, to drain you of the strength and wealth and victory that's yours in Jesus, turn him back with that powerful weapon. Lift your hands and your voice and whole heart to God. Praise



Scripture Study: 2 Chronicles 20:1-22

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

April 11 - It's Not Over Till It's Over


"Withstand (the devil); be firm in faith [against his onset] rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace...will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen (and settle) you."
(1 Peter 5:9-10, Amp)
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Dear Christian,

No matter how long you've been living by faith, no matter how much you've learned about it, every once in a while you may suffer a setback. You may run into some circumstances that just don't turn out the way you expected.

If that happens, remember this: Those setbacks are just temporary. You may have lost a battle, but you're not going to lose the war. Just get up and go at it again.

"But I don't understand it," you say. "I did the best I could. I walked in all the truth I knew to walk in. Why didn't I get the victory?"

Because there was something you didn't know! It shouldn't shock you too much that there are things you don't know about the realm of the spirit. Ken and I have been in the ministry for over 20 years. We've spent untold hours in the Word. Yet it seems like the more we learn, the more we realize we don't know.

So, when we get to a situation where we can't seem to get victory, we have to ask God for more wisdom. If you'll look in 2 Samuel 21, you can see a time when King David had to do that. His country had been suffering from a famine for three years and David just didn't understand it, so he inquired of the Lord. The Lord told him the famine had come because of something Saul had done! Isn't that amazing? Saul had been dead for years, yet what he'd put in motion in the realm of the spirit was still affecting his country.

David could have just given up when his usual confessions of faith and ways of praying didn't drive out that famine, but he didn't. He inquired of God for more wisdom. He used his temporary setback to cause him to seek more knowledge from God.

Follow his example! Overcome the habit of quitting because of temporary setbacks. Refuse to let them knock you out of the game. After all, this thing's not over till it's over. And the Bible says when it's all over, you'll have won. So just be steadfast in your faith. In the end your victory is guaranteed.



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Scripture Study: 2 Samuel 21:1-6

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

April 10 - Feed on the Word!


"Attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes."
(Proverbs 4:20-21)

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Dear Christian,

Once you've made the Word of God final authority in your life, your first step to victory over the attacks of the enemy is to go to the Word and lay hold of God's promises concerning your situation.

Notice I said, "Go to the Word." It's good to have the Word committed to memory. But don't let that substitute for getting the Word before your eyes on a daily basis.

Think about it this way. It never did a hungry person any good to think about what a potato tastes like. Not even if he can remember it perfectly. The same thing is true with the Word of God. It's important to keep it in memory, but it's also necessary to go directly to it and feed your spirit with it. There is power in keeping the Word in front of your eyes and going into your ears. That's how it gets in your heart, so you can live by it.

So don't just think about the Word today, read it. Go to the promises that cover your situation. Feed on those promises and grow strong!


Scripture Study: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

April 9 - Leave the Past Behind


"But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before."
(Philippians 3:13)
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Dear Christian,

Failures and disappointments. Aches and pains from the past that just won't seem to go away. Most of us know what it's like to suffer from them but too few of us know just what to do about them. So we limp along, hoping somehow they'll magically stop hurting.

But it never happens that way. In fact, the passing of time often leaves us in worse condition--not better. Because, instead of putting those painful failures behind us, we often dwell on them until they become more real to us than the promises of God. We focus on them until we become bogged down in depression, frozen in our tracks by the fear that if we go on, we'll only fail again.

I used to get caught in that trap a lot. Then one day when I was right in the middle of a bout with depression, the Lord spoke up inside me and said:

"Kenneth, your problem is you're forming your thoughts off the past instead of the future. Don't do that! Unbelief looks at the past and says, "See, it can't be done." But faith looks at the future and says, "It can be done, and according to the promises of God, it is done!" Then putting past failures behind it forever, faith steps out and acts like the victory's already been won.

If depression has driven you into a spiritual nosedive, break out of it by getting your eyes off the past and onto your future--a future that's been guaranteed by Christ Jesus through the great and precious promises in His Word.

Forget about those failures in the past! That's what God has done (Heb. 8:12). And if He doesn't remember them any more, why should you?

The Bible says God's mercies are new every morning. So if you'll take God at His Word, you can wake up every morning to a brand-new world. You can live life totally unhindered by the past.

So, do it! Replace thoughts of yesterday's mistakes with scriptural promises about your future. As you do that, hope will start taking the place of depression. The spiritual aches and pains that crippled you for so long will quickly disappear. Instead of looking behind you and saying, "I can't," look ahead and say, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Scripture Study: Philippians 3:1-14

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

April 8 - The Right Road

"I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live."
(Deuteronomy 30:19)


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Dear Christian,

God's going to get you for that! People have said that kind of thing jokingly for years. They've somehow believed that God slaps us down with pain and punishment every time we sin. But that's just not true. There are deadly wages for sin, but God is not the one who's doling them out.

You see, the Bible tells us there's been a curse in effect for thousands of years. And the devil is the cause of it, not the Lord God. God gave warning of it in Deuteronomy 30:19. After describing in detail the blessings that fall upon those who followed God and the terrible suffering that would befall those who separated themselves from Him, He said, "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live."

Think of it this way. Curseville is out there. God warned us about it and urged us not to travel the road that leads there. But He has promised to give us freedom, and He'll allow us to choose our own way. If we get on the road to Curseville and don't get off of it, we're going to wind up there. Is that because God sent us there? No! He urged us not to go.

The vital thing to realize is this: At any point of the journey whether you're on the road to Curseville or living right in the middle of it - God will save you from it. He'll take you out of there and deliver you. He'll deliver you from diseases, addictions, or anything else that's been holding you captive.

Today if you find yourself on the wrong road and see destruction ahead, just repent and get on the right road. Just commit your way to Jesus and He'll deliver you from whatever may be holding you captive. You can begin by praying, "Lord Jesus, I've chosen the wrong road and right now I ask You to forgive me. Today I choose life by choosing Your way. Please deliver me from this bondage and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Thank You, Lord!"

Remember this: No matter what you've done, God doesn't want to get you for it, He wants to forgive you of it. He doesn't want to slap you down, He wants to save you and lift you up. Trust Him and let Him put you on the road of life today!

Scripture Study: Deuteronomy 30

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

April 7 - Resurrection Life

"Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus."
(Luke 24:1-3)

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Dear Christian,

Truly, it's time for us to stop looking for the living among the dead. It's time for us to stop wandering around in the cemetery of sin, sickness and failure and to step into resurrection life!

As a resurrected creature, you're no accident going somewhere to happen. Your life isn't just a loose web of events and circumstances. God has specific plans for you.

Maybe He intends for you to have the greatest healing ministry of this century. Or perhaps He wants to turn you into a tremendous preacher. Maybe He has a revelation prepared for you that will enable you to bless the whole world. But you'll never know what He has in store for you until you put your attention on Him.

That's why the devil works hard to keep you focusing on the problems of life. That's why he tries to keep your attention turned away from the living Word of God. He doesn't want you to know you're full of the resurrection life of Jesus. In fact, the prospect of it terrifies him.

Why? Because once you truly understand that you have the life of God inside you, you'll begin to act just like Jesus did. You'll lay hands on the sick and they'll recover. You'll cast out demons. You'll preach the gospel to every creature.

In short, you'll be just what God intended you to be. You'll be the Body of Christ on the earth.

Don't let Satan bind you with the grave clothes of yesterday's sin and defeat. You're not dead anymore. You've been raised with Jesus. Come out from the tombs and start living resurrection life!

Scripture Study: Acts 17:16-34

PEGGY NOONAN WRITES A GREAT COLUMN

http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110008191

Peggy Noonan is one of my favorite writers. I read her column every week. I admire her way with words and her wisdom and wit in writing those words. I am actually writing this blog to test if I know how to include a live link in it. Let's see if it works. Anyway, if you want to read Ms Noonan's column, you will find in in the opinion page of the Wall Street Jounal.

www.opinionjournal.com

PATTER'S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLE THE STRONG LIVE LONG

THE STRONG LIVE LONG
BY PAT GULLEY

Ps 90:10
The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (KJV)

Moses is credited with writing the 90th Psalm. He knew something about being old and growing older. He was 80 years old when the Lord sent him back to Egypt to lead the nation of Israel to the Promised Land.(Exodus 7:7) And he was 120 years old when the Lord called him home to heaven. (Deut 34:7)

Yet Moses said in this Psalm that the average age of a person at that time was 70 years. Moses said if men and women lived to be fourscore, or 80 years, that is was reasonable to conclude that it was because they were strong people.

I used to think that the reason they were living to be 80 years old was because their bodies were strong. But I have now come to the conclusion that it had nothing to do with the strength of the body, but of the heart and soul. I think I can safely say, "Growing old is not for wimps."

The Apostle Paul shows us some insight into this arena of aging in his letter to the Church in Corinth.

2 Cor 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (KJV)


Paul says that with the passing of years the body of every human being grows weaker and weaker until that point in time when it fails to serve us in the way we would like. But at the same time, the inner man, the real 'us' (especially Christians) is renewed, refreshed, renovated, regenerated and rejuvenated. (Strong's Concordance 341 Greek word is 'anakainoo': a fresh newness)

I have seen many elderly people in perishing bodies' deal with the effects that their aging body brings. And believe me, it takes strong human beings to live in those bodies day in and day out. The inner person suffers the indignity of not being able to bring a cup of coffee to his or her mouth because the hand and eye coordination of the outward body is not behaving properly. (And that is just one example of the situations they face daily.)

And trust me, it can be devastating to lose control of different parts of the body and depend on someone else to meet those needs. And there are those bodies whose mental capabilities flee to another place, and yet the hidden man of the heart is there and is aware of the inability to communicate with those around them. (1Peter 3:4) When I turned 50, my parents taught me the need to grow old gracefully. I thank them for that bit of advice and pray I practice it when the time comes.

May I repeat myself; a person must be strong who lives long. Love and honor them.

WHY GOD MADE MOMS

"Why God made moms" - answers given by elementary school age children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly
use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other Mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your Mom?
1. My Mom has always been my Mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did Mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your Mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work & work at home, & dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.


What does your Mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your Mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on her back.
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THE MOMMY TEST
I was out walking with my 4 year old daughter. She picked up something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item away from her and I asked her not to do that. "Why?" my daughter asked. "Because it's been laying outside, you don't know where it's been, it's dirty and probably has germs" I replied. At this point, my daughter looked at me with total admiration and asked, "Wow! How do you know all this stuff?" "Uh," ..I was thinking quickly,"All moms kn ow this stuff. It's on the Mommy Test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a Mommy." We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidently pondering this new information. "OH...I get it!" she beamed, "So if you don't pass the test you have to be the daddy." "Exactly" I replied back with a big smile on my face and joy in my heart.

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

April 5 - We Need Each Other

"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."
(John 17:21)

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Dear Christian,

It's time we, as believers, began to enter into the oneness Jesus prayed for in John 17:21. It's time we held onto one another in good times as well as bad. It's time we realized that we need one another.

We do, you know. I need your faith as much as you need mine. Together, we can face anything and win in Jesus.

Let me show you why. In John 3:34, God says Jesus was given the Holy Spirit without measure. He was more powerful than all the demons of hell and all wicked spirits of all classes, including Satan himself. He was able to defeat their power combined.

Now consider this. We are His Body. Each of us has been given the measure of faith according to Romans 12:1-3. That measure is enough to take care of our own personal needs. However, there is more involved here than just our own personal lives.

We have a world to win! We are the end-time generation. We need all the help we can get. But, thank God, we can get all the help we need!

How? By joining together. Ephesians 4:13 says that when we all come together in the unity of the faith, we'll have "the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."

In other words, when the Body of Christ comes together and begins to function as one, we'll have the Holy Spirit without measure--just like Jesus did! We'll begin to see ministries functioning in the fullness of their callings. We'll begin to see manifestations of the Holy Spirit in full measure. We'll see Jesus in fullness as we've never seen Him before.

Then the world will know the Father sent Him.

Step into that oneness today. Start today making a daily effort to make yourself available to God to pray for others. Start your day by saying, "Holy Spirit, use me to pray for someone today. I offer You my measure of faith."

Once we truly join together in faith, all the demons of hell won't be able to overcome us. We'll march right over them in the fullness of the power of Jesus and bring the age to a glorious close!


Scripture Study: Ephesians 4:1-16

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

April 4 - Be Loyal

"...them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."
(1 Samuel 2:30)


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Dear Christian,

God honors those who honor Him. He'll never forget the seeds of loyalty you sow. He'll multiply them and give them back to you in a harvest of blessing. And Malachi 3:17 says when He makes up His jewels, you'll be forever among them.

Forever. Think about that for a moment. By honoring God with your life and your lips, you're stepping into a realm of blessing that will literally take an eternity to explore.

Once you begin to get that kind of eternal perspective on things, you'll see that it's grossly immature to get mad at God when temporary things don't work out exactly how and when you want them to. You'll see that your loyalty must be first of all to God, that you must seek first His kingdom--even when things seem to be going wrong. The Bible says that if you'll do that, all these other things will be added unto you.

God never forgets. He'll never forget that in the heat of the battle, when others were giving up and saying, "Hey, this faith stuff doesn't work!" you were still honoring Him by standing firm and speaking His promises.

So determine in your heart today to be loyal toward God in every word you speak. Make up your mind once and for all that nothing in your life is as vital as honoring Him. Keep honoring Him and speaking words of faith.

It will work deliverance for you in this life, and in eternity you'll sure be glad you did.

Scripture Study: Psalm 61

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

April 3 - Born Again!

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
(John 3:3)

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Dear Christian,

Born again. Do you know what Jesus had in mind when He said those two words to Nicodemus? He was talking covenant talk. He was telling Nicodemus what it meant to have a covenant with God.

Let me paint the picture I believe was in Jesus' mind. Imagine a baby, a little baby born of an unwed mother. No one knows who its daddy is and no one wants to know. He is a child that nobody wants. He doesn't belong to anyone.

Now, picture the best kind of family you can think of. A family that loves God. The man has a good job. They're blessed financially. They're givers and lovers of people, and they fall in love with this baby. Before long, they adopt it.

What's happened? That baby was reborn. He got a new set of parents. Through adoption, he has now become an heir. Why? Not because of anything the baby has done. Those parents didn't say, "I want you to look at that baby. I'm so impressed with all that child has done for us. He has certainly earned our love and respect."

No, it's a baby. It couldn't have done anything to earn its new life. This man and this woman agreed together out of the love in their hearts and bestowed grace on that child. Now he has access to everything they have. When they offer him a bottle, he doesn't knock the bottle away and say, "I'm so humble and undeserving. Just give me water."

Of course not. That baby acts like part of the family--and not just part of the family but the best part of the family. Because in Jesus' day a covenant or adopted child had the same birthright as the firstborn son.

That's what Jesus was talking about when He said, "You must be born again." He was talking about grace. He was talking about a new relationship of favor. A new family. A new authority. A new power.

If you feel unworthy to receive the rich blessings God has for you today, think about that. Meditate on it, so instead of worrying about and struggling with the needs in your life, you can just walk boldly into the throne room of your Father and receive help to get those needs met.

Discover what it really means to be a blood-bought child of Almighty God with a big brother like Jesus. Discover what it means to be born again!

Scripture Study: John 3:1-8

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

April 2 - What a Future!

"God hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."
(Ephesians 2:6-7)

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Dear Christian,

All my life people told me the reason God saved us was so that when we got to Glory, we could spend the rest of eternity loving Him and worshiping Him. But, you know, that's just not so.

It sounds pretty good, but it's just something somebody made up. God isn't selfish. He's just the opposite. He's the ultimate giver. The ultimate lover. He doesn't do anything just so He can get something in return.

Why then did He save us? The Word of God tells us He did it so that in the ages to come, He could show us the exceeding riches of His grace.

Think about that! God is going to spend eternity showing the riches of His grace to you and me.

That's why He sent Jesus into the world. He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. God gave Jesus so that He wouldn't be His only son. He sent Jesus so He could have more sons to love and give to--and He plans to spend the eons of time doing just that.

As a believer, you have the most glorious future ahead of you that anyone could ever ask. But don't wait until you get to Glory to enjoy it. You can start right now. You've already been seated in heavenly places!


Scripture Study: Ephesians 2:1-8

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

April 2 - What a Future!

"God hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."
(Ephesians 2:6-7)

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Dear Chriatian,

All my life people told me the reason God saved us was so that when we got to Glory, we could spend the rest of eternity loving Him and worshiping Him. But, you know, that's just not so.

It sounds pretty good, but it's just something somebody made up. God isn't selfish. He's just the opposite. He's the ultimate giver. The ultimate lover. He doesn't do anything just so He can get something in return.

Why then did He save us? The Word of God tells us He did it so that in the ages to come, He could show us the exceeding riches of His grace.

Think about that! God is going to spend eternity showing the riches of His grace to you and me.

That's why He sent Jesus into the world. He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. God gave Jesus so that He wouldn't be His only son. He sent Jesus so He could have more sons to love and give to--and He plans to spend the eons of time doing just that.

As a believer, you have the most glorious future ahead of you that anyone could ever ask. But don't wait until you get to Glory to enjoy it. You can start right now. You've already been seated in heavenly places.



Scripture Study: Ephesians 2:1-8

DAILY BREAD FROM KEN AND GLORIA

April 1 - Let Your Life Shout

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good."
(Psalm 14:1)

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Dear Christian,

Most of us would never dream this verse could apply to us. After all, we're believers! We'd never say that there is no God.

But maybe we should think again. It's true that with our mouths we would never say something like that...but what about with our actions?

Do we say it by sinning just a little here and there and thinking it won't matter? Do we go to an immoral movie or have a gossip session about the pastor, ignoring God's command to the contrary?

With our actions are we saying, "There is no God?"

Psalm 14:1 connects that kind of thing to corruption. Whether he realizes it or not, the more a person acts that way, the more corrupt he's going to become.

Don't make the foolish mistake of publicly proclaiming Jesus as your Lord, and then privately denying Him with one little action at a time. Use wisdom in everything you do so that both your heart and your life shout loudly, "My God reigns!"


Scripture Study: Psalm 14:1-7, 15:1-5"