Mike Aemisegger's Posts - Project Nsearch2024-03-29T12:55:45ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemiseggerhttp://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3347414085?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://www.project.nsearch.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=1nfq8j2fuwzl5&xn_auth=noTen Unshakable Promisestag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-09-09:4878805:BlogPost:5392962012-09-09T02:35:24.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><span><strong>Ten Unshakable Promises</strong></span><br></br><br></br><strong>1. God has a purpose for your life</strong><br></br><span>It is no accident that you are alive today. You are here by God's choosing. You were born at this time in History to fulfill His purpose for this generation. He has given you all the light you need to know His will, and He has given you all the grace you need to do His will. If you are committed to His will, there is nothing that can keep you from…</span></p>
<p><span><strong>Ten Unshakable Promises</strong></span><br/><br/><strong>1. God has a purpose for your life</strong><br/><span>It is no accident that you are alive today. You are here by God's choosing. You were born at this time in History to fulfill His purpose for this generation. He has given you all the light you need to know His will, and He has given you all the grace you need to do His will. If you are committed to His will, there is nothing that can keep you from it.</span><br/><br/><br/><strong>2. God is in charge</strong><br/><span>God has not retreated somewhere in the universe and gone into hiding. He is today where He has always been - on His throne. There is no king or ruler that has more authority than God; there is no political figure that has more influence than God; there is no nation that has more control than God. No one can out-think Him or out-smart Him. He is God Almighty. If you have placed your life in His hands, He is in charge of your life and all you do.</span><br/><br/><br/><strong>3. God is sovereign</strong><br/><span>Nothing can stop His plan or frustrate His purposes. God is not worried about what will happen or what He will be able to do. Nothing takes Him by surprise. He sees the future and He is already there. He knows where He is leading your life and He knows how to get you there. If you follow Him, you will find that He makes no mistakes.</span><br/><br/><br/><strong>4. God's Word is dependable</strong><br/><span>All Scripture is God's written Word. It is 100% reliable because God is 100% infallible. The Scriptures have endured the test of time. Men have tried to destroy them but they still remain. Men have tried to dispute them but they have had the final say in every argument. Men have tried to refute them but they stand over each man's grave as a living testimony to all that is true, righteous, and eternal. If you obey His Word you will never have regrets.</span><br/><br/><br/><strong>5. You belong to a Kingdom that cannot be shaken</strong><br/><span>Throughout history kings have been overthrown, leaders have fallen from power, kingdoms have been conquered, armies have been defeated, riches have been depleted, and fortresses have toppled over. It is only in the Kingdom of God that anyone can find true rest and security. No rebellion can break down its gates, no weapon can penetrate its borders, and no warrior can come against its King. The way of the Kingdom is where your feet can walk; the truth of the Kingdom is what your faith can embrace; the love of the Kingdom is what your heart can give away.</span><br/><br/><br/><strong>6. You are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ</strong><br/><span>When Jesus came, He came and shed His blood to save you, cleanse you, forgive you, and deliver you from the power of the devil. His blood has bought you, and the enemy has no claim upon your life. You are His and His alone. He is your Redeemer, and He has taken full responsibility for your life since the day you gave your heart to Him. Because of His blood, your future is secure, your inheritance is guaranteed, and your destiny is certain.</span><br/><br/><br/><strong>7. God has given you all that you need to serve Him</strong><br/><span>The grace of God covers you, the presence of God is in you, the angels of God are with you, the arms of God are around you, the gifts of God are for you, and the power of God is upon you. He has not abandoned you or left you in this world as an orphan, alone and forsaken. God is for you, the Holy Spirit is in you, Jesus is with you, and all the heavenly hosts are on your side.</span><br/><br/><br/><strong>8. Jesus Christ is coming back</strong><br/><span>The outcome of all things has already been determined. Jesus is the winner. He is without rival in the universe. No evil, no outlaw, no terrorist or anarchist will be standing in the end. Every enemy of God will be defeated, every false prophet will be exposed, every evil spirit will be chained, and every accusing tongue will be silenced. The final chapter in the Book of Life has already been written, and there will be no need for rewrites or revisions. All that remains is for its writings to be fulfilled. One day soon, you will forever be with the Lord.</span><br/><br/><br/><strong>9. God loves you and will not fail you</strong><br/><span>You are God's child and He is your Father. He loves and cares for you more than you will ever know. All that He is, He is for you. The depth of His love for you cannot be measured, and its height cannot be scaled. He wants you to trust Him completely because He will not fail you. When you go through trials, He will keep you from defeat, and when you face temptations He will keep you from shame. When the enemy comes in like a flood, He will raise up a standard against Him.</span><br/><br/><br/><strong>10. Jesus Christ will never let you go</strong><br/><span>He is with you always. No one can pluck you out of His hand, so you need not fear any evil. He is </span><span class="il">daily</span><span> praying for you, and His prayers are being answered. He is preparing a place for you in His Father's house, and He will come for you. If you ever question His love for you, just look at His hands. Jesus will never ask you to do something without His grace. In the dark times He will be your light. In troubled times He will be your security. In uncertain times He will be your guidance. In fearful times He will be your peace. You will never face a day without Him; you will never take a step without His presence walking beside you; you will never face a need without His supply; you will never face a circumstance that He can't bring you through.</span></p>Honestytag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-09-09:4878805:BlogPost:5394212012-09-09T01:52:38.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<div><span><strong><font face="Arial">Honesty </font></strong></span></div>
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<div><em><font face="Arial" size="2">"You may be sure that your sin will find you out." (Numbers 32:23)</font></em></div>
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<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Coming home from work, a woman stopped at the corner deli to buy a chicken for supper. The butcher reached into a barrel grabbed the last chicken he had, flung it on the scales behind the counter, and told the woman its weight. She thought…</font></div>
<div><span><strong><font face="Arial">Honesty </font></strong></span></div>
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<div><em><font face="Arial" size="2">"You may be sure that your sin will find you out." (Numbers 32:23)</font></em></div>
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<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Coming home from work, a woman stopped at the corner deli to buy a chicken for supper. The butcher reached into a barrel grabbed the last chicken he had, flung it on the scales behind the counter, and told the woman its weight. She thought for a moment. "I really need a bit more chicken than that," she said. "Do you have any larger ones?"</font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Without a word, the butcher put the chicken back into the barrel, groped around as though finding another, pulled the same chicken out, and placed it on the scales. "This chicken weighs one pound more," he announced. The woman pondered her options and then said, "Okay. I'll take them both." </font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Don't you just love it?</font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Honesty is still the best policy - and we can be sure of this, our sins/lies will find us out - even if it is eventually!</font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to always be honest with myself, with you and with others in all of my dealings. Please forgive me where I have sinned and, wherever possible, help me to put right any wrongs that I have done to others. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."</font></div>
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<div><br/><font face="Arial" size="2">Dick Innes<br/>The <span class="il">Daily</span> Encounter<a href="http://go.netatlantic.com/t/26271711/72797522/151189/72/" target="_blank"><br/>www.actsweb.org</a></font></div>Integrity - Part 2tag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-09-09:4878805:BlogPost:5392892012-09-09T00:53:37.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<div><span><strong><font face="Arial">Integrity - Part 2</font></strong></span></div>
<div><br></br><font face="Arial" size="2">In October 1985, Reuben Gonzales was playing in the final match of a professional racquetball tournament. It was Gonzales' first shot at a victory on the pro circuit, and he was playing the perennial champion.</font></div>
<div><br></br><font face="Arial" size="2">In the fourth and final game, at match point, Gonzales made a super "kill" shot into the front wall to win it…</font></div>
<div><span><strong><font face="Arial">Integrity - Part 2</font></strong></span></div>
<div><br/><font face="Arial" size="2">In October 1985, Reuben Gonzales was playing in the final match of a professional racquetball tournament. It was Gonzales' first shot at a victory on the pro circuit, and he was playing the perennial champion.</font></div>
<div><br/><font face="Arial" size="2">In the fourth and final game, at match point, Gonzales made a super "kill" shot into the front wall to win it all. The referee called it good. One of the two linesmen affirmed that the shot was in. But Gonzales, after a moment's hesitation, turned around, shook his opponent's hand, and declared that his shot had "slapped" into the wall, hitting the court floor first. As a result, he lost the match. He walked off the court.</font><br/><br/><font face="Arial" size="2">Everybody was stunned.</font><br/><br/><font face="Arial" size="2">The next issue of National Racquetball Magazine displayed Reuben Gonzales on its front cover. The story searched for an explanation of this first-ever occurrence on the professional racquetball circuit. Who could ever imagine it in any sport or endeavor? A player, with everything officially in his favor, with victory in his hand, disqualified himself at match point and lost!</font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial" size="2">When asked why he did it, Reuben replied, "It was the only thing I could do to maintain my integrity." Reuben Gonzales realized that he could always win another match, but he could never regain his lost integrity</font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial" size="2"><em>"Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. Examine me, O Lord, and try me; Test my mind and my heart. For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth. (Psalm 26:1-3) </em><br/><br/>Suggested Prayer: "Dear God, Please give me the courage to stand by my convictions, maintain integrity, and live honestly - before men and you. Gratefully in Jesus' name. Amen"</font></div>Integritytag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-09-09:4878805:BlogPost:5393562012-09-09T00:26:20.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><span><strong>Integrity</strong></span><br></br><br></br><em>"Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart. For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth." (Psalm 26:1-3)</em><br></br><br></br><span>Two outs, bottom of the ninth, behind by one run, Ryan's right foot was pressed to the front edge of the third base bag. Every muscle in his eleven-year-old body…</span></p>
<p><span><strong>Integrity</strong></span><br/><br/><em>"Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart. For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth." (Psalm 26:1-3)</em><br/><br/><span>Two outs, bottom of the ninth, behind by one run, Ryan's right foot was pressed to the front edge of the third base bag. Every muscle in his eleven-year-old body was flexed, ready to bolt home with the tying run.</span><br/><br/><span>Kenny, the winning run, stood grinning on second, Dylan, the team's best hitter was at the plate.</span><br/><br/><span>The first pitch was high and outside, "Ball One!" The next caught the inside corner, "Steeeriiick!" Two more balls and a foul tip later the count is full. Ryan's eyes are glued to the ball while his ear is tuned to the third base coach listening for just one word. Dylan drove the next pitch to the right of the pitcher, well out of reach, and the coach screamed the one word, "GO!" Ryan digs for home.</span><br/><br/><span>Now at this level of play, a hit like that is usually good for extra bases, but today the third baseman made a play worthy of the Major Leagues. A diving stab knocked the ball down. Quick as a cat, he scooped it up, spun, and made the peg home to stop the tying run from scoring; it was going to be close.</span><br/><br/><span>A perfect peg, a perfect slide, a perfect catch, a perfect sweeping tag and a big cloud of dust converge around the plate at the umpire's feet.</span><br/><br/><span>The umpire hesitated for a second; he couldn't see the tag clearly for dust and the position of the catcher. He glanced at the field referee who gestured that he wasn't sure either.</span><br/><br/><span>As he was starting to spread his arms wide, palms down, Ryan looked into the umpire's face. "Sir, I missed the plate, he tagged me out."</span><br/><br/><span>"Son, do you know what it means if I call you out? The game is over and you lose"</span><br/><br/><span>"Yes sir, I know. But that's the truth." Ryan whispered.</span><br/><br/><span>The umpire turned his head slightly, "Why would you give it up like that?"</span><br/><br/><span>"You see Sir, this catcher knows I became a Christian last week. I can't trade a baseball game today for what he will think about me tomorrow."</span></p>DON’T QUITtag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-09-09:4878805:BlogPost:5393532012-09-09T00:10:31.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><span><strong>DON’T QUIT<br></br>1 Corinthians 9:24-27</strong></span><br></br><br></br><span>Every August, sportscasters on TV ask the big question. "Are you ready for some football?" Those who don’t like football may give a different answer, but for me, the answer is a resounding YES! Although I love college football, I usually don’t watch that much pro football. However, I was watching on January 3, 1993 and it is one football game I will never forget.</span><br></br><br></br><span>The Houston Oilers were…</span></p>
<p><span><strong>DON’T QUIT<br/>1 Corinthians 9:24-27</strong></span><br/><br/><span>Every August, sportscasters on TV ask the big question. "Are you ready for some football?" Those who don’t like football may give a different answer, but for me, the answer is a resounding YES! Although I love college football, I usually don’t watch that much pro football. However, I was watching on January 3, 1993 and it is one football game I will never forget.</span><br/><br/><span>The Houston Oilers were dominating the Buffalo Bills. At halftime, the Bills were behind the Houston Oilers 28-3. Everyone thought the game was over. Everyone thought the Buffalo Bills were finished. But at the end of the game, in overtime, the Bills kicked a field goal to win 41-38, culminating the greatest comeback in playoff history in the NFL.</span><br/><br/><span>There are conflicting reports as to exactly what was said in the locker room at halftime. I don’t know what the coach told Frank Riech or the Buffalo Bills, but I can only imagine it was very similar to what Paul said to the Christians at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 9. I can summarize what he said with three short sentences.</span><br/><br/><strong>NEVER GIVE OUT<br/>NEVER GIVE IN<br/>NEVER GIVE UP</strong><br/><br/><em>1 Corinthians 9:24-27<br/>"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself, will not be disqualified for the prize."</em><br/><span> </span><br/><br/><strong>I. Never Give Out</strong><br/><span>The 2012 Olympics end today. We’ve seen some incredible feats by some great athletes because they went through a rigorous training regimen to be at peak performance.</span><br/><br/><span>In the ancient Greek Olympic games, an athlete would begin training at least 10 months before the race. This training involved rigorous discipline. It included the athlete’s diet, his sleep habits, his exercise routine, and his </span><span class="il">daily</span><span> running. His goal was to literally punish his body until he was in the best possible shape to win the game.</span><br/><br/><span>Then, one month before the games, the athlete would move to Corinth, 10 miles from where the games were held. He was assigned a personal coach who put him through even more training in preparation for the race. It meant rising early and long days spent lifting weights, exercising, pushing himself to the edge of his strength. All this was done in order to prepare him to run the race of his life.</span><br/><br/><span>In the Olympic locker room, the speech might sound something like this...</span><br/><span>"You’ve trained hard; You prepared well. Your strength, your stamina & your endurance are incredible. You’re in the best possible shape you can be</span><br/><br/><span>In God’s locker room, God’s speech might sound something like this...</span><br/><span>You’ve sacrificed; you’ve prayed long hours; you’ve studied your Bibles intensely; you’ve been committed to worship; you’ve been godly leaders, faithful parents and devoted spouses. You’ve led devotionals in your homes; you’ve placed worship above work and sports; You’ve worked out spiritually every day.</span><br/><br/><span>Why have I made you do this? Why have I made you go through this strenuous training? So you’ll never give out.</span><br/><span> Your enemies may get winded;</span><br/><span> Your opponents may give out of breath.</span><br/><span> But you won’t.</span><br/><span>You’re trained; you’re disciplined; you’re in the best spiritual shape you can be. You will never give out.</span><br/><br/><span>In Isaiah, I told you that you’d run and not grow weary. You’d walk and not faint. In Hebrews, I told you that I’d run with you, walk before you and support you all the way.</span><br/><br/><span>In this passage, Paul describes two types of athletes. - those who trained pointlessly and those who trained productively.</span><br/><br/><strong>1. Pointless Training</strong><br/><span>Why did they train? They trained for a prize that wouldn’t last - a laurel leaf - a crown made of laurel leaves that would soon dry up; become brittle, break apart. There are people today who spend half their time chasing prizes that will soon fade away - money, cars, houses, trophies, fame, recognition, power, etc.</span><br/><br/><span>Did you notice how Paul describes them? They run aimlessly. They have no goals. No focus. No real direction. They fight the air with their fists. They’re working out. They’re building up their muscles. They look good, they look strong, but, in reality, all it does is make them look good and feel good. It’s pointless and there’s no eternal purpose to their actions.</span><br/><br/><strong>2. Productive Training</strong><br/><span>In vs. 25-26 Paul is saying, "I don’t run aimlessly. I don’t fight the air with my fists. My training has a goal. I’m ready for anything. I’ve got spiritual stamina. I’ve beaten my body so that it’s tough and when the going gets tough, the tough get going. I’ve trained so hard that when others fall by the wayside, I’ll keep going. When others give out, I’ll still be competing. When others are down to their last gasp, I’ll just be getting started."</span><br/><br/><span>What about you? Are you spiritually well-trained? Are you doing spiritual exercises every day to get you in great spiritual shape? Is your heart pumping out love and mercy and grace at full capacity? Are your spiritual lungs full of worship as you exhale praise to God.</span><br/><br/><span>How’s your spiritual stamina? Do you seem to tire out with every spiritual struggle? Do you seem you have no stamina when you’re going through trials and tribulations? Then check out your training.</span><br/><br/><strong>A. There has to be <span class="il">Daily</span> Training</strong><br/><span>You have to train each day. All of us know that exercising just one day a week won’t do it. Exercising just a few minutes each day won’t do it. So how can you expect to train productively if you only read the Bible once a week. How can you expect to expand your spiritual lung capacity if you only pray a few minutes each day. Spiritual training must be </span><span class="il">daily</span><span> training.</span><br/><br/><strong>B. There has to be Diligent Training</strong><br/><span>Jesus said that each day you must deny yourself, take up the cross and follow him. (Luke 9:23) Half-hearted commitment won’t work. Partial commitment won’t work. Part-Time commitment won’t work. Productive spiritual training requires </span><span class="il">daily</span><span>, diligent commitment to that training.</span><br/><span> </span><br/><br/><strong>II. Never Give In</strong><br/><span>"Surrender is not an option" </span><br/><br/><span>Winston Churchill is supposed to have given a commencement address where he stood up, said "Never Give Up" and then sat down. His actual speech is several paragraphs in length and contains these words.... </span><em>"Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy. "</em><br/><br/><strong>Never Give In to Your Present Problems</strong><br/><span>80 years ago, Notre Dame was preparing to play USC. Coach Knute Rockne was aware that his opponent had a far better team, so he devised a plan to intimidate the Trojan players. Rockne scoured the city of South Bend and hand-picked 100 of the largest men he could find - each of them was at least six - foot - five and three hundred pounds. He put them in Fighting Irish uniforms and at game time marched them onto the field ahead of the real team. (Obviously, 80 years ago was long before the days of limited rosters and eligibility restrictions.)</span><br/><br/><span>As USC watched these giants line up on the sidelines, they forgot about their talent and their undefeated record - and they began mentally preparing themselves for a beating. Though none of these specially recruited men ever played during the game, their presence on the sidelines was enough to knock Southern Cal's concentration off balance. Knute Rockne's trick had worked; he had intimidated the Trojan players into giving up before the game even started. As a result, Notre Dame won the game.</span><br/><br/><span>As Christians, we have an opponent who tries a similar trick. He intimidates us by appearing larger than life - but we must remember this... The Bible says, "Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4) Don't let your problems intimidate you. No matter how big the enemy may appear to be, remember that you have God's power in you and He is greater than any enemy you face.</span><br/><br/><em>God says - Don’t be Intimidated. Don’t Give In.</em><br/><span>You’ve got my strength, my power, my resources. I’m bigger and stronger... than any opponents; than any situations; than any circumstances that you’ll ever face. I’m living in you - my Holy Spirit is living and dwelling in you.</span><br/><br/><span>Just remember my words...</span><br/><span>1. Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.</span><br/><span>2. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me</span><br/><span>3. If God is for us, who can be against us.</span><br/><br/><span>Listen to God’s challenge 1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." Be steadfast. Immovable. Like a rock.</span><br/><br/><span>In the midst of overwhelming odds, don’t give in.</span><br/><span>In the face of unsurmountable problems, don’t give in.</span><br/><br/><span>One of my all-time favorite sports stories happened in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. Not from a gold medal winner, but from someone who didn’t win a medal.</span><br/><br/><span>Britain’s Derek Redmond had dreamed all his life of winning a gold medal in the 400-meter race, and his dream was in sight as the gun sounded in the semi-finals. He was running the race of his life and could see the finish line as he rounded the turn into the backstretch. Suddenly he felt a sharp pain go up the back of his leg. He fell face-first onto the track with a torn right hamstring. As the medical attendants were approaching, Redmond fought to his feet. He set out hopping, in a valiant attempt to finish the race. When he reached the stretch, a large man in a T-shirt came out of the stands - hurled aside a security guard and ran to Redmond, embracing him. It was Jim Redmond, Derek’s father.</span><br/><br/><span>Jim told his weeping son, "You don’t have to do this". Dereck answered, "Yes, I do" "Well, then," said his father "we’re going to finish this together." And they did.</span><br/><br/><span>Fighting off security men, the son’s head sometimes buried in his father’s shoulder, they stayed in Derek’s lane all the way to the finish line - as the crowd gasped, then rose - and cheered - and then wept. Derek didn’t walk away with the gold medal, but he walked away with an incredible memory of a father who, when he saw his son in pain, left his seat in the stands to help him finish the race.</span><br/><br/><span>That’s what God did for us. When we are experiencing pain and we’re struggling to finish the race, we can be confident that we have a loving Father who won’t let us do it alone. He left His place in heaven to come alongside us in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. That’s why Jesus said, "I am with you always - even to end of the world." Because He lives in us, we should never, ever give in.</span><br/><br/><br/><strong>III. Never Give up</strong><br/><span>"Stay Focused - Stay the Course - Focus Straight Ahead - Finish Strong"</span><br/><br/><span>Anyone can start strong, but God wants us to finish strong as well. Maybe you’ve given up, but God hasn’t given up on you. Maybe you’ve stopped to rest. Maybe you’ve called a time-out. God hasn’t. He wants you to keep fighting, keep plowing ahead, keep struggling, keep going. As Paul said in Philippians , God wants you to press on. To press on toward the mark. Press on toward the prize.</span><br/><br/><span>Look back at v. 24 "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."</span><br/><br/><span>Keep the faith.</span><br/><span>Maintain the standard.</span><br/><span>Raise high the banner. </span><br/><span>Keep going. </span><br/><span>Don’t Stop</span><br/><span>Don’t Quit </span><br/><span>Never give up.</span><br/><br/><span>Maybe you’ve blown it... Maybe you’ve messed up. Maybe you feel as though you’ve failed. Maybe you think there’s no use trying. As far as you’re concerned, there’s no hope. But there is hope. There is another half. There’s still time. You may not think so, but God does. And he holds the stopwatch.</span><br/><br/><span>"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." There is a crown of righteousness that will never fade - it’s waiting for you and me to claim it. Press On toward the prize!!!</span></p>A Prayer Using the Names of Godtag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-09-09:4878805:BlogPost:5393512012-09-09T00:00:28.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><strong><strong><span>A Prayer Using the Names of God</span></strong><br></br><br></br><em>Elohim,</em><br></br><span>I KNOW You can create something out of nothing, please create something out of any nothing areas - the impossible situations in my life.</span><br></br><br></br><em>El Elyon,</em><br></br><span>I KNOW You are in control, sovereign, and I give You my circumstances today.</span><br></br><br></br><em>Adonai,</em><br></br><span>I KNOW You are my Lord and Master, I choose to follow You instead of the ways of the…</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><strong><span>A Prayer Using the Names of God</span></strong><br/><br/><em>Elohim,</em><br/><span>I KNOW You can create something out of nothing, please create something out of any nothing areas - the impossible situations in my life.</span><br/><br/><em>El Elyon,</em><br/><span>I KNOW You are in control, sovereign, and I give You my circumstances today.</span><br/><br/><em>Adonai,</em><br/><span>I KNOW You are my Lord and Master, I choose to follow You instead of the ways of the world.</span><br/><br/><em>El Shaddai,</em><br/><span>I KNOW You are God Almighty, and I trust that You are sufficient for my deepest needs today.</span><br/><br/><em>Jehovah Jireh,</em><br/><span>I KNOW You are my provider, and will supply everything I need today.</span><br/><br/><em>El Roi,</em><br/><span>I KNOW You are the God who sees me, and that I am never alone, and nothing in my life goes unnoticed, for You know it all and see it all.</span><br/><br/><em>Yahweh,</em><br/><span>I KNOW You are the one and only, self-existent, eternal, covenant-keeping God and that You will always love me.</span><br/><br/><em>Jehovah Rapha,</em><br/><span>I KNOW You are my healer and I come to You now with every area of my life that needs healing today.</span><br/><br/><em>Jehovah Nissi,</em><br/><span>I KNOW You are my banner, and the victory in every situation that threatens me today.</span><br/><br/><em>Jehovah Mekoddishkem,</em><br/><span>I KNOW You are my sanctifier, making me holy, doing for me what I can never do for myself.</span><br/><br/><em>Jehovah Shalom,</em><br/><span>I KNOW You are my peace, and bring calm in every storm I face in life.</span><br/><br/><em>Jehovah Sabaoth,</em><br/><span>I KNOW You are the LORD of Hosts, and bring deliverance as You defeat my enemies.</span><br/><br/><em>Yahweh Ro'i,</em><br/><span>I KNOW You are my shepherd, and intimately care for me even if no one else does.</span><br/><br/><em>Abba, Father,</em><br/><span>I KNOW You are my Father and that I can run to You and rest in the security of your everlasting arms.</span><br/><br/><span>In Jesus' name,</span><br/><span>Amen.</span></strong></p>GROWING DEEPERtag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-09-08:4878805:BlogPost:5392832012-09-08T23:52:22.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><span><strong>GROWING DEEPER</strong></span><br></br><br></br>At age six, Henry John Heinz began helping his mother tend the small garden behind their family home. At twelve, he was working three and a half acres of garden, using a horse and cart for his three-times-a-week deliveries to grocery stores throughout the city of Pittsburg. He went on to found his own company and named it Heinz 57 Varieties, a name brand now known around the world.</p>
<p>Heinz was well-known for his Biblically-based…</p>
<p><span><strong>GROWING DEEPER</strong></span><br/><br/>At age six, Henry John Heinz began helping his mother tend the small garden behind their family home. At twelve, he was working three and a half acres of garden, using a horse and cart for his three-times-a-week deliveries to grocery stores throughout the city of Pittsburg. He went on to found his own company and named it Heinz 57 Varieties, a name brand now known around the world.</p>
<p>Heinz was well-known for his Biblically-based business principles and his Christian treatment of employees. However, there was an incident in his life that changed this godly man to grow evern deeper in his faith. One day after an evangelistic service, the speaker turned to him and said, "You are a believer, but with all your energy why aren't you up and at it for the Lord?"</p>
<p>Heinz went home in anger. That night, however, he couldn't sleep, thinking about the question he’d been asked. At four o'clock in the morning, he prayed that God would use him to lead others to the Savior. A day or so later at a meeting of bank presidents, he turned to the man next to him and told him of his joy in knowing Jesus. His friend looked at him in surprise and said, "Because I knew you were a Christian, I've wondered many times why you never spoke to me about salvation." That gentleman became the first of 267 converts - people of different varieties, from all walks of life - that Mr. Heinz eventually won to Christ!</p>
<p>In his will, Henry John Heinz said: "I desire to set forth at the very beginning of this will, as the most important item in it, a confession of my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior. I also desire to bear witness to the fact that throughout my life, in which there were unusual joys and sorrows, I have been wonderfully sustained by my faith in God through Jesus Christ."</p>Changing the Color-Tagstag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-09-08:4878805:BlogPost:5394092012-09-08T23:45:55.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><span><strong>Changing the Color-Tags</strong></span><br></br><br></br><span>In the war years, triage referred to the policy by which medical assistance was given. It was up to the doctors to "color-tag" the wounded, placing them in one of three categories according to their condition. One color meant hopeless - nothing we can do will save them. Another tag meant they'd make it whether they get help or not. The third color-tag indicated a doubtful prognosis - a chance to live only if medical…</span></p>
<p><span><strong>Changing the Color-Tags</strong></span><br/><br/><span>In the war years, triage referred to the policy by which medical assistance was given. It was up to the doctors to "color-tag" the wounded, placing them in one of three categories according to their condition. One color meant hopeless - nothing we can do will save them. Another tag meant they'd make it whether they get help or not. The third color-tag indicated a doubtful prognosis - a chance to live only if medical assistance is given. Since there were severely limited medical supplies, assistance was being given only to this last group.</span><br/><br/><span>Lou was badly blown apart, including one leg severely wounded. The doctor who examined him made the decision that Lou was a hopeless case and tagged him as such, leaving him to die. But a nurse noticed Lou was conscious and began to talk with him. They discovered they were both from Ohio. Getting to know Lou as a person, the nurse just couldn't let him die. She broke all the rules and changed his color-tag.</span><br/><br/><span>Recovery included a two-day trip in the back of a truck and months in a hospital, but Lou made it. He met a girl in the hospital whom he later married. Even minus one leg, he has led a full happy life, all because a nurse broke the rules of triage and "changed a tag".</span><br/><br/><span>Jesus spent much of his earthly ministry "changing color-tags" - healing the broken-hearted, forgiving sinners and bringing hope to the hopeless. He's still bringing hope to the hopeless - every minute of every day! Today, someone you know is feeling hopeless. They desperately need hope. Share the hope of Jesus with them. Look for every opportunity to go around "changing their color-tags".</span></p>The Lord is Goodtag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-08-24:4878805:BlogPost:5365472012-08-24T00:45:52.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><span><strong>The Lord is Good</strong></span><br></br><br></br><span>“The Lord is Good” - period.</span><br></br><br></br><span>Everything about God is good, including everything that is related to me...</span><br></br><span> His thoughts about me,</span><br></br><span> His plans for me,</span><br></br><span> His actions toward me,</span><br></br><span> His guidance in me, </span><br></br><span> His blessings to me,</span><br></br><span> His protection of…</span></p>
<p><span><strong>The Lord is Good</strong></span><br/><br/><span>“The Lord is Good” - period.</span><br/><br/><span>Everything about God is good, including everything that is related to me...</span><br/><span> His thoughts about me,</span><br/><span> His plans for me,</span><br/><span> His actions toward me,</span><br/><span> His guidance in me, </span><br/><span> His blessings to me,</span><br/><span> His protection of me, </span><br/><span> His purposes fulfilled through me and</span><br/><span> His ordained circumstances that surround me at this very moment in my life.</span><br/><br/><span>They may not look good,</span><br/><span> seem good,</span><br/><span> sound good or</span><br/><span> feel good – but because they are ordained of God,</span><br/><span> THEY ARE GOOD.</span><br/><br/><span>Colossians 3:3 says that “your life is hid with Christ in God.” Every detail of your life is contained in Him, including your present circumstances, trials, and needs.</span></p>All Point's Bulletintag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-08-22:4878805:BlogPost:5361182012-08-22T01:32:59.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><strong>All Point's Bulletin</strong>All Point's Bulletin<br></br><br></br><span>Thousands of cars are stolen every year in California, but in 1981, there was one car theft that made all the local papers and was the lead story on the evening news. The police had issued an all-points bulletin to find the missing car and to make contact with the person who stole it.</span><br></br><br></br><span>Why was this car theft getting so much attention? The owner of the stolen car had informed the police that on the…</span></p>
<p><strong>All Point's Bulletin</strong>All Point's Bulletin<br/><br/><span>Thousands of cars are stolen every year in California, but in 1981, there was one car theft that made all the local papers and was the lead story on the evening news. The police had issued an all-points bulletin to find the missing car and to make contact with the person who stole it.</span><br/><br/><span>Why was this car theft getting so much attention? The owner of the stolen car had informed the police that on the front seat of the car wa<strong>All Point's Bulletin</strong><br/><br/><span>Thousands of cars are stolen every year in California, but in 1981, there was one car theft that made all the local papers and was the lead story on the evening news. The police had issued an all-points bulletin to find the missing car and to make contact with the person who stole it.</span><br/><br/><span>Why was this car theft getting so much attention? The owner of the stolen car had informed the police that on the front seat of the car was a box of crackers laced with a deadly poison. The car owner had planned to use the crackers as rat bait. So the police were desperately trying to find the thief not to punish him, but to save his life. They were afraid he would eat one of the crackers and die.</span><br/><br/><span>In the same way, our Heavenly Father pursues us - not because he wants to punish us but because he wants to save us. You may be running away from God because - like the car thief - you are a sinner. You have broken God's law.</span><br/><br/><span>But what you may not realize is that God is trying to rescue you, not condemn you. The penalty for your sin has been paid by Jesus Christ on the cross, and God wants to give you your freedom. So stop running and turn yourself in. Your life is at stake!</span><br/><br/><em>"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)</em><br/><br/><br/><span>Wayne Rice</span><a href="http://go.netatlantic.com/t/26262109/72797522/272987/72/" target="_blank"><br/>www.waynerice.com</a><br/></span></p>Trialstag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-08-16:4878805:BlogPost:5334732012-08-16T02:06:57.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><span><strong>Trials</strong></span><br></br><br></br><span>There was a blacksmith who gave his heart to God. Though conscientious in his living, still he was not prospering materially. In fact, it seems that from the time of his conversion, more trouble, affliction and loss were sustained than ever before. Everything seemed to be going wrong.</span><br></br><br></br><span>One day, a friend who was not a Christian stopped at the blacksmith's shop to talk to him. Sympathizing with him in some of his…</span></p>
<p><span><strong>Trials</strong></span><br/><br/><span>There was a blacksmith who gave his heart to God. Though conscientious in his living, still he was not prospering materially. In fact, it seems that from the time of his conversion, more trouble, affliction and loss were sustained than ever before. Everything seemed to be going wrong.</span><br/><br/><span>One day, a friend who was not a Christian stopped at the blacksmith's shop to talk to him. Sympathizing with him in some of his trials, the friend said. "It seems strange to me that so much affliction should come to you just at the time when you have become an earnest Christian. Of course, I don't want to weaken your faith in God or anything like that. But here you are, with God's help and guidance, and yet things seem to be getting steadily worse. I can't help wondering why it is."</span><br/><br/><span>The blacksmith did not answer immediately, but finally, he said, "You see here the raw iron which I have to make into horse's shoes. You know what I do with it? I take a piece and heat it in the fire until it is red, almost white with the heat. Then I hammer it unmercifully, to shape it as I know it should be shaped. Then I plunge it into a pail of cold water to temper it. Then I heat it again and hammer it some more. And this I do until it is finished."</span><br/><br/><span>"But sometimes I find a piece of iron that won't stand up under this treatment. The heat and the hammering and the cold water are too much for it. I don't know why it fails in the process, but I know it will never make a good horse's shoe." He pointed to a heap of scrap iron that was near the door of his shop. "When I get a piece that cannot take the shape and temper, I throw it out on the scrap heap. It will never be good for anything."</span><br/><br/><span>He went on, "I know that God has been holding me in the fires of affliction and I have felt His hammer upon me. But I don't mind, if only He can bring me to what I should be. And so, in all these hard things my prayer is simply this: Try me in any way you wish, Lord, only don't throw me on the scrap heap."</span><br/><br/><em>"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4)</em></p>Getting Along With Difficult Peopletag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-08-10:4878805:BlogPost:5325362012-08-10T00:51:51.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<div><font face="Arial" size="2"><span><strong>"Getting Along With Difficult People"</strong></span><br></br><br></br>What's the main problem with this world? Easy answer: People.<br></br><br></br>Probably most of us have felt that way at one time or another....especially with those people who are like Heavenly Sandpaper....the ones the Lord allows to be in our lives, but who "rub us the wrong way." Or so we think.<br></br><br></br>For example, it might be Judy the Judger who is critical of what everyone does and…</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2"><span><strong>"Getting Along With Difficult People"</strong></span><br/><br/>What's the main problem with this world? Easy answer: People.<br/><br/>Probably most of us have felt that way at one time or another....especially with those people who are like Heavenly Sandpaper....the ones the Lord allows to be in our lives, but who "rub us the wrong way." Or so we think.<br/><br/>For example, it might be Judy the Judger who is critical of what everyone does and says, including telling a family member they're not loading the dishwasher exactly perfectly. Or, Mark the Martyr who complains about how hard he works on church projects and makes sure everyone - and we mean everyone - around him hears how nobody appreciates his efforts.<br/><br/>In our case, our heavenly sandpaper was a young woman in a class we taught when Bob was on the staff of a chuch in Southern California back in the 80's. The moment she arrived she needed our constant attention....in our faces, telling us every detail about her work day, asking nonstop questions, trying to dominate every discussion group we had. Frankly, she was one of those who made us feel every time we saw her we wanted to get out of Impulse Power and jump into Warp Drive Five in an opposite direction. We couldn't, however, since we were the teachers. We figured we would tolerate her until the six-week class was over. And by-the-way, yes, she was a Christian.<br/><br/>One day when the two of us were having devotions together we read the passage of Romans 15:7 - "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God," we realized we hadn't been doing this with our heavenly sandpaper. When the Apostle Paul wrote this verse, the word acceptance meant - "Welcome with open arms." We knew we were not even close to welcoming her with open arms and that our approach was ungodly and down right impolite. Tolerating, yes. But accepting? No! We weren't accepting her in an unconditional way, as Christ had accepted us. We wanted her to change so we could feel more comfortable. Know what we mean?<br/><br/>We decided to put on what we call our Jesus Specs. That means those invisible glasses we can all put on so we can view people the way Jesus views them through God's eyes - worthy of respect - which will show up in the way we talk and treat people.<br/><br/>Wow! Whatta difference when we put them on! His view always helps us separate the person from the behavior. Let's run that by again. Our Lord helps us separate the person from the behavior. He will help us all discover what it is in a person's life that makes them so difficult. What we discovered about that woman, and subsequently about most difficult and irritating people, is that the vast majority of them just want others to accept and care for them. Unfortunately, their behavior usually causes others to react in the opposite way. And, oh, let's not forget that the two of us, and maybe even you, just 'might' be a difficult person to others. Hmmmm. Sometimes we never think of that, do we?<br/><br/>Anyway, viewing this particular woman through our Jesus Specs, we took the initiative to find out more about her life. We found out her parents had passed away when she was a child and she'd grown up in an orphanage since there were no other relatives in her life. She was passed over by people wanting to adopt because she was older than what the couples wanted. As a teenager, she met a guy who finally gave her the attention she so desperately needed. They married, but within a year he'd left her.<br/><br/>So here was a very hurting young lady who desired so much to be accepted but everyone seemed to reject her. She wanted acceptance and here we were showing her merely tolerance. We were very ashamed of our attitude and our lack of love and sensitivity. God used our heavenly sandpaper to teach us a great lesson about acceptance and how to live out 1 Cor.12:25 - "There should be no division in the body, but its parts should have equal concern for each other." We confessed before our Lord, accepted His forgiveness and turned our attention and interest toward this woman. She became more alive with smiles, appreciation and thanksgiving. We mean it really showed.</font></div>
<div><br/><font face="Arial" size="2">Who is your heavenly sandpaper? Your spouse? A child? Someone you're dating? Family members? Neighbor? Coworker? And on and on?<br/><br/>And, by the way, it's okay to let your heart pound as God distinctly places these people in your mind - those who need your love and attention and who are not receiving it from you. Remember, God has placed these people in your life for a reason. To deal with them, always put on your Jesus Specs and see them as God sees them through the eyes of Christ our Lord. They will look very, very different. We all know what God wants - and what those 'special' people placed in our lives need. It's your choice.<br/><br/><br/>Bob and Yvonne Turnbull</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">(</font><a href="http://go.netatlantic.com/t/26225387/72797522/269449/72/" target="_blank"><font face="Arial" size="2">www.turnbullministries.org</font></a><font face="Arial" size="2"> )</font></div>Making Sacrifice With Joytag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-08-09:4878805:BlogPost:5325092012-08-09T03:43:50.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><strong><span>Making Sacrifice With Joy</span></strong><br></br><br></br><span>I heard a story once about two wealthy Christians, a lawyer and a merchant, who traveled with a group that was going around the world. As they were visiting in Korea, they saw by the side of the road, a field in which a boy was pulling a crude plow and an old man held the plow handles and guided it. The lawyer was amused and took a snapshot of the scene.</span><br></br><br></br><span>He turned to the missionary, who served as…</span></p>
<p><strong><span>Making Sacrifice With Joy</span></strong><br/><br/><span>I heard a story once about two wealthy Christians, a lawyer and a merchant, who traveled with a group that was going around the world. As they were visiting in Korea, they saw by the side of the road, a field in which a boy was pulling a crude plow and an old man held the plow handles and guided it. The lawyer was amused and took a snapshot of the scene.</span><br/><br/><span>He turned to the missionary, who served as their interpreter and guide, and he said, "That's a curious picture. I suppose they are very poor."</span><br/><br/><span>The guide replied, "Yes, that is the family of Chi Noue. When the place of worship was being built, they were eager to give something to it, but they had no money, so they sold their only ox and gave the money to the church. This spring, they are pulling the plow themselves."</span><br/><br/><span>The men were silent for several moments. Then the businessman replied, "That must have been a real sacrifice." The guide said, "They do not call it that. They thought it was fortunate that they had an ox to sell."</span><br/><br/><span>I am reminded of a parable Jesus told: "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." (Matt. 13:44).</span><br/><br/><span>Notice carefully the words "for joy." This man doesn't just sell everything he has; he does so with joy. He doesn't regret it. He doesn't complain about the sacrifice he has to make. In fact, he probably doesn't even consider it to be a sacrifice. He gives a lot for the field, but he gets so much more in return.</span><br/><br/><span>There's a wonderful quote about sacrifice which says, </span><em>"Sacrifice is usually difficult. Only love can make it easy; and perfect love can make it a joy."</em><br/><br/><span>The same thing holds true in our walk with Christ. Sacrifices will be necessary, and only a deep love for Christ will make them a joy. The real test of our commitment is not so much whether we are willing to make sacrifices for our Lord, but whether we are able to make those sacrifices with joy.</span><br/><br/><br/><em>"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the <strong>JOY</strong> that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)</em></p>New Creaturestag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-08-09:4878805:BlogPost:5324292012-08-09T03:37:54.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><font face="Arial" size="2"><span><strong>New Creatures</strong></span><br></br><br></br>After watching Queen Elizabeth's cameo appearance in the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, I was reminded of a story I read years ago about Queen Victoria's visit to a local paper mill.<br></br><br></br>"Queen Victoria once paid a visit to a paper mill. Without knowing who this distinguished visitor was, the foreman showed her the workings of the mill. She went into the rag-sorting shop where employees picked out the rags…</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2"><span><strong>New Creatures</strong></span><br/><br/>After watching Queen Elizabeth's cameo appearance in the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, I was reminded of a story I read years ago about Queen Victoria's visit to a local paper mill.<br/><br/>"Queen Victoria once paid a visit to a paper mill. Without knowing who this distinguished visitor was, the foreman showed her the workings of the mill. She went into the rag-sorting shop where employees picked out the rags from the refuse of the city. Upon inquiring what was done with this dirty mass of rags, she was told that it would eventually be made into the finest white writing paper. After her departure, the foreman found out who it was that had paid the visit.<br/><br/>Some time later, Her Majesty received a package of the most delicate, pure white stationery, bearing the Queen's likeness for a watermark. Enclosed was a note saying that the stationery had been made from the dirty rags she had recently inspected."<br/><br/>This story illustrates Christ's work in us as well. He takes us, filthy as we are, and makes us into new creatures. After receiving Jesus, we are spiritually different from what we were before, just as pure white paper is radically different from the filthy rags from which it is made.<br/><br/><em>"Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)</em> </font><br/><span> </span></p>He'll Be There for Youtag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-08-09:4878805:BlogPost:5326092012-08-09T03:26:30.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<div><span><strong>He'll Be There for You</strong></span></div>
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<div>In 1989 an 8.2 earthquake almost flattened Armenia, killing over 30,000 people in less than four minutes.<br></br><br></br>In the midst of utter devastation and chaos, a father left his wife securely at home and rushed to the school where his son was supposed to be, only to discover that the building was as flat as a pancake.<br></br><br></br>After the traumatic initial shock, he remembered the promise he had made to his son: "No…</div>
<div><span><strong>He'll Be There for You</strong></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div>In 1989 an 8.2 earthquake almost flattened Armenia, killing over 30,000 people in less than four minutes.<br/><br/>In the midst of utter devastation and chaos, a father left his wife securely at home and rushed to the school where his son was supposed to be, only to discover that the building was as flat as a pancake.<br/><br/>After the traumatic initial shock, he remembered the promise he had made to his son: "No matter what, I'll always be there for you!" And tears began to fill his eyes. As he looked at the pile of debris that once was the school, it looked hopeless, but he kept remembering his commitment to his son.<br/><br/>He began to concentrate on where he walked his son to class at school each morning. Remembering his son's classroom would be in the back right corner of the building, he rushed there and started digging through the rubble.<br/><br/>As he was digging, other forlorn parents arrived, clutching their hearts, saying: "My son!" "My daughter!" Other well meaning parents tried to pull him off of what was left of the school saying:<br/><br/>"It's too late!" "They're dead!" "You can't help!" "Go home!" </div>
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<div>"Come on, face reality, there's nothing you can do!" "You're just going to make things worse!"<br/><br/>To each parent he responded with one line: "Are you going to help me now?" And then he proceeded to dig for his son, stone by stone.<br/><br/>The fire chief showed up and tried to pull him off of the school's debris saying, "Fires are breaking out, explosions are happening everywhere. You're in danger. We'll take care of it. Go home." To which this loving, caring Armenian father asked, "Are you going to help me now?"<br/><br/>The police came and said, "You're angry, distraught and it's over. You're endangering others. Go home. We'll handle it!" To which he replied, "Are you going to help me now?" No one helped.<br/><br/>Courageously he proceeded alone because he needed to know for himself: "Is my boy alive or is he dead?"<br/><br/>He dug for eight hours... 12 hours... 24 hours... 36 hours... then, in the 38th hour, he pulled back a boulder and heard his son's voice. He screamed his son's name, "ARMAND!"</div>
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<div>He heard back, "Dad!?! It's me, Dad! I told the other kids not to worry. I told 'em that if you were alive, you'd save me and when you saved me, they'd be saved. You promised, 'No matter what, I'll always be there for you!' You did it, Dad! ..."<br/><br/>"What's going on in there? How is it?" the father asked.<br/><br/>"There are 14 of us left out of 33, Dad. We're scared, hungry, thirsty and thankful you're here! When the building collapsed, it made a wedge, like a triangle, and it saved us!"<br/><br/>"Come on out, boy!"<br/><br/>"No, Dad! Let the other kids out first, 'cause I know you'll get me! No matter what, I know you'll be there for me!"<br/><br/><em>"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:5)</em></div>Someone To Pour Your Life Intotag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-08-09:4878805:BlogPost:5326062012-08-09T03:19:48.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><span><strong>Someone To Pour Your Life Into</strong></span><br></br><br></br><span>Howard Hendricks, author and professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, suggests that every person should seek to have three individuals in their life: a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy.</span><br></br><br></br><span>A Paul is an older person who is willing to mentor you, to build into your life. Not someone who's smarter or more gifted than you, but somebody who's been down the road. Somebody willing to share their strengths…</span></p>
<p><span><strong>Someone To Pour Your Life Into</strong></span><br/><br/><span>Howard Hendricks, author and professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, suggests that every person should seek to have three individuals in their life: a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy.</span><br/><br/><span>A Paul is an older person who is willing to mentor you, to build into your life. Not someone who's smarter or more gifted than you, but somebody who's been down the road. Somebody willing to share their strengths and weaknesses - everything they have learned in the laboratory of life. Somebody whose faith you'll want to imitate.</span><br/><br/><span>A Barnabas is a soul brother, somebody who loves you but is not impressed by you. Somebody to whom you can be accountable. Somebody who's willing to keep you honest, who's willing to say, "Hey, man, you're neglecting your wife, and don't give me any guff!"</span><br/><br/><span>A Timothy is a younger person into whose life you are building. For a model, read 1 and 2 Timothy. Here was Paul, the quintessential mentor, building into the life of his protégée - affirming, encouraging, teaching, correcting, directing, praying.</span><br/><br/><span>Do you have these three guys in your life?</span><br/><br/><br/><em>"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up!" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)</em></p>The Huttag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-08-09:4878805:BlogPost:5325022012-08-09T02:13:38.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><span><strong>The Hut</strong></span><br></br><br></br><span>The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.</span><br></br><br></br><span>Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions.</span><br></br><br></br><span>But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to…</span></p>
<p><span><strong>The Hut</strong></span><br/><br/><span>The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.</span><br/><br/><span>Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions.</span><br/><br/><span>But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stung with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried.</span><br/><br/><span>Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him.</span><br/><br/><span>"How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.</span><br/><br/><span>"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.</span><br/><br/><span>Remember next time your little hut is burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.</span><br/><br/><br/><em>"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)</em></p>IF...tag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-08-07:4878805:BlogPost:5320962012-08-07T01:27:29.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><span><strong>IF...</strong></span><br></br><br></br><span>If you never felt pain,</span><br></br><span>Then how would you know that I'm a Healer?</span><br></br><br></br><span>If you never went through difficulty,</span><br></br><span>How would you know that I'm a Deliverer?</span><br></br><br></br><span>If you never had a trial,</span><br></br><span>How could you call yourself an overcomer?</span><br></br><br></br><span>If you never felt sadness,</span><br></br><span>How would you know that I'm a Comforter?</span><br></br><br></br><span>If you…</span></p>
<p><span><strong>IF...</strong></span><br/><br/><span>If you never felt pain,</span><br/><span>Then how would you know that I'm a Healer?</span><br/><br/><span>If you never went through difficulty,</span><br/><span>How would you know that I'm a Deliverer?</span><br/><br/><span>If you never had a trial,</span><br/><span>How could you call yourself an overcomer?</span><br/><br/><span>If you never felt sadness,</span><br/><span>How would you know that I'm a Comforter?</span><br/><br/><span>If you never made a mistake,</span><br/><span>How would you know that I'm forgiving?</span><br/><br/><span>If you never were in trouble,</span><br/><span>How would you know that I will come to your rescue?</span><br/><br/><span>If you never were broken,</span><br/><span>Then how would you know that I can make you whole?</span><br/><br/><span>If you never had a problem,</span><br/><span>How would you know that I can solve them?</span><br/><br/><span>If you never had any suffering,</span><br/><span>Then how would you know what I went through?</span><br/><br/><span>If you never went through the fire,</span><br/><span>Then how would you become pure?</span><br/><br/><span>If I gave you all things,</span><br/><span>How would you appreciate them?</span><br/><br/><span>If I never corrected you,</span><br/><span>How would you know that I love you?</span><br/><br/><span>If you had all power,</span><br/><span>Then how would you learn to depend on me?</span><br/><br/><span>If your life was perfect,</span><br/><span>Then what would you need Me for?</span><br/><br/><br/><em>"And he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will gladly glory in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.'" 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 </em></p>STIRRING THE PAINTtag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-08-03:4878805:BlogPost:5317302012-08-03T07:23:38.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><strong><span>STIRRING THE PAINT</span></strong><br></br><br></br><span>I stood in the bare white room and sighed. Paint cans, trays, rollers and brushes were stacked in the middle of the floor. Every breath I took reminded me that I'd been here for a number of days, but there was still work to be done. These walls were still white. By the time we were finished painting the downstairs floors of two houses, I was tired, but I was getting pretty good at painting. I was even enjoying it a bit. It was…</span></p>
<p><strong><span>STIRRING THE PAINT</span></strong><br/><br/><span>I stood in the bare white room and sighed. Paint cans, trays, rollers and brushes were stacked in the middle of the floor. Every breath I took reminded me that I'd been here for a number of days, but there was still work to be done. These walls were still white. By the time we were finished painting the downstairs floors of two houses, I was tired, but I was getting pretty good at painting. I was even enjoying it a bit. It was satisfying, watching the paint flow onto the walls, turning them to a warm comforting colour.</span><br/><br/><span>I grabbed a new pail, gave it a bit of a shake and opened it up. I knew as soon as I passed the roller over the wall that something was wrong. I looked at the label on the pail. It was the same colour. I looked at the paint inside. It looked the same as what I'd been using earlier in the day. But I looked at the wall and frowned. I dipped a brush into the paint and immediately realized the problem. It needed to be stirred. It took quite a while, and my arm was starting to object, before the consistency was right and I could use that paint, but once it had been stirred enough, the rest of the work was almost effortless.</span><br/><br/><span>Like paint, our faith in God needs to be stirred. We need to see God's hand at work in our lives and the lives of others. It's the answered prayers, the obvious God incidents, and the manifestations of His glory in the world around us, which thicken our faith into something that will sustain us, something that can be used.</span><br/><br/><span>Some of the stirring can only be accomplished by God Himself. Faith is a gift. Only He can open our eyes to its reality. But we can put ourselves in places where we will see the hand of God at work. Go to the third world. Help in a soup kitchen. Visit the dying and those in prison. Work with those who are disabled. Witness to those around you. Go to church. Take the risks that will reveal Him. God is always at work in places where He is most needed.</span><br/><br/><span>When faith is thin, our spiritual life fades and God can't accomplish much through us. But when it's been stirred, life thickens with purpose and meaning. It is then that faith becomes a beautiful and useful tool in God's hands. When our faith has been stirred, the work we do for Him seems almost effortless because we recognize that it is He who works through us. We see the difference only He can make, "for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose". (Philippians 2:13).</span></p>God Is!tag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-08-02:4878805:BlogPost:5315662012-08-02T01:42:57.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><span><strong>God Is!</strong></span><br></br><br></br><span>God is Lord Almighty,</span><br></br><span>Omnipotent King, Lion of Judah,</span><br></br><span>Rock of Ages, Prince of Peace,</span><br></br><span>King of Kings, Lord of Lords,</span><br></br><span>Provider, Protector, Paternal,</span><br></br><span>Leader, Ruling Lord and Reigning King</span><br></br><span>Of all the universe.</span><br></br><br></br><span>He is Father, He is Helper,</span><br></br><span>He is Guardian, and He is God.</span><br></br><span>He is the First and…</span></p>
<p><span><strong>God Is!</strong></span><br/><br/><span>God is Lord Almighty,</span><br/><span>Omnipotent King, Lion of Judah,</span><br/><span>Rock of Ages, Prince of Peace,</span><br/><span>King of Kings, Lord of Lords,</span><br/><span>Provider, Protector, Paternal,</span><br/><span>Leader, Ruling Lord and Reigning King</span><br/><span>Of all the universe.</span><br/><br/><span>He is Father, He is Helper,</span><br/><span>He is Guardian, and He is God.</span><br/><span>He is the First and the Last,</span><br/><span>The beginning and the end,</span><br/><span>He is the Keeper of Creation</span><br/><span> and Creator of all He keeps;</span><br/><span>The Architect of the universe</span><br/><span> and manager of all times.</span><br/><span>He always was, He always is,</span><br/><span> and always will be...</span><br/><span> unmoved, unchanged, undefeated,</span><br/><span> and never undone.</span><br/><br/><span>He was bruised and brought healing.</span><br/><span>He was pierced and eased pain.</span><br/><span>He was persecuted and brought freedom.</span><br/><span>He was dead and brought life.</span><br/><span>He is risen and brings power.</span><br/><span>He reigns and brings peace.</span><br/><br/><span>The world can't understand Him,</span><br/><span> The armies can't defeat Him,</span><br/><span> The schools can't explain Him,</span><br/><span> and leaders can't ignore Him.</span><br/><br/><span>Herod couldn't kill Him,</span><br/><span> the Pharisees couldn't confuse Him,</span><br/><span> people couldn't hold Him,</span><br/><span> Nero couldn't crush Him,</span><br/><span>Hitler couldn't silence Him,</span><br/><span> the New Age can't replace Him,</span><br/><span> and the world can't explain Him away !</span><br/><br/><span>He is Light, Love, Longevity and Lord.</span><br/><span>He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God</span><br/><span>He is Holy, Righteous, Mighty, Powerful and Pure.</span><br/><span>His ways are right,</span><br/><span>His word is eternal,</span><br/><span>His will is unchanging,</span><br/><span> and His mind is on Me !</span><br/><br/><span>He is my Savior,</span><br/><span>He is my Guide,</span><br/><span>He is my Peace,</span><br/><span>He is my Joy,</span><br/><span>He is my Comfort.</span><br/><span>He is my Lord and He rules my life.</span><br/><br/><span>I serve Him because He is God</span><br/><span> and is worthy to be served.</span><br/><span>His bond is love,</span><br/><span>His burden is light,</span><br/><span> and His goal for me is abundant life.</span><br/><br/><span>I follow Him because He is</span><br/><span>THE wisdom,</span><br/><span>THE power of the powerful,</span><br/><span>THE ancient of days,</span><br/><span>THE ruler of rulers,</span><br/><span>THE leader of leaders,</span><br/><span>THE overseer of overcomers,</span><br/><span>And sovereign Lord of all that was and is and is to come.</span><br/><br/><span>Now if that seems impressive to you, try this on for size.</span><br/><span>His goal is a relationship with ME !</span><br/><br/><span>He will never leave me,</span><br/><span> never forsake me,</span><br/><span> never mislead me,</span><br/><span> never forget me,</span><br/><span> never overlook me,</span><br/><span>and never cancel my appointment in His appointment book !</span><br/><br/><span>When I fall, He lifts me up.</span><br/><span>When I fail, He forgives.</span><br/><span>When I am weak, He is strong.</span><br/><span>When I am lost, He is the way.</span><br/><span>When I am afraid, He is my courage.</span><br/><span>When I stumble, He steadies me.</span><br/><span>When I am hurt, He heals me.</span><br/><span>When I am broken, He mends me.</span><br/><span>When I am blind, He leads me.</span><br/><span>When I am hungry, He feeds me.</span><br/><span>When I face trials, He is with me.</span><br/><span>When I face persecution, He shields me.</span><br/><span>When I face problems, He is the answer</span><br/><span>When I face loss, He provides for me.</span><br/><span>When I face death, HE carries me Home !</span><br/><span>He is everything for everybody,</span><br/><span> everywhere, every time, and every way.</span><br/><br/><span>He is God, He is faithful and true,</span><br/><span>I am His and He is mine.</span><br/><br/><span>My Father in Heaven has already defeated the father of this world,</span><br/><span>and so if your asking why I stand and feel so secure, understand this;</span><br/><span>He said it, and that settles it.</span><br/><br/><span>God is in control,</span><br/><span>I am on his side,</span><br/><span>and that means all is well with my soul.</span><br/><br/><span>Everyday is a blessing for...... GOD IS !</span></p>WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOD SAYS NO?tag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-08-01:4878805:BlogPost:5313492012-08-01T07:22:42.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><strong>WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOD SAYS NO?</strong><br></br> <br></br> I heard a story recently about a young girl who wrote a letter to a missionary to let him know that her class had been praying for him. But evidently she'd been told not to request a response to her letter because the missionaries were very busy. So the missionary got a kick out of her letter. It said, "Dear Mr. Missionary, we are praying for you. But we are not expecting an answer."<br></br> <br></br> I can't help but think that that little…</p>
<p><strong>WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOD SAYS NO?</strong><br/> <br/> I heard a story recently about a young girl who wrote a letter to a missionary to let him know that her class had been praying for him. But evidently she'd been told not to request a response to her letter because the missionaries were very busy. So the missionary got a kick out of her letter. It said, "Dear Mr. Missionary, we are praying for you. But we are not expecting an answer."<br/> <br/> I can't help but think that that little girl summarized the prayer lives of many Christians. Sometimes we pray without expecting an answer, even though God has assured us that He does indeed hear our prayers. David said, "I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications." (Psalm 116:1). But I think many of us struggle with the nagging question, "Is God really listening to me?" Yes, He heard David, He heard Elijah, and He heard the apostles. But does He hear me?<br/> <br/> How do we really know that our prayers are answered? Sure, there are times when we see visible results. We may pray for someone who's sick and the next week they get well. But more often, our prayers don't produce flashing "neon" answers. We pray for help in financial problems, and we don't see things get any better. We pray for guidance in making right decisions, but the decisions don't get any easier. We pray for relationships with other people to improve, but they just seem to get worse. How do we as Christians account for that happening? How do we explain the fact that so many of our prayers seem to go "unanswered"?<br/> <br/> The truth is, for a child of God there is no such thing as an unanswered prayer. Maybe you've heard it said before that God answers prayer in three ways. Sometimes the answer is "yes." Sometimes the answer is "no." And sometimes the answer is "wait a while." It's easy to accept an answer of "yes," but what about when God says, "no"?<br/> <br/> <strong>Let me suggest three principles:</strong><b><br/> <br/> <strong>1. First of all, we need to trust God enough to realize that our all-loving, all-powerful Father loves us and has our best interest at heart. </strong></b><br/> So when it seems that God says "no" to our prayers, we must trust Him enough to understand that there must be a good reason for it. It may be beyond our limited ability to understand, but we must simply trust God.<br/> <br/> <br/> <strong>2. Secondly, we must not forsake God.</strong><br/> Disappointment is a dangerous, powerful thing. When we get the feeling that God isn't listening to us, that He has said "no" to some prayer, we have a tendency to feel disappointed in Him. And Satan whispers to us, "God said He loves you, but He's not here." And if we allow that disappointment to harbor in our hearts, it can drive a wedge between us and God. We must continue to be faithful to our responsibility before God.<br/> <br/> <br/> <strong>3. Thirdly, we need to realize that the answer may not be "no," but only "wait a while."</strong><br/> God always answers our prayers immediately, but sometimes there's a delay in the giving of the answer and that can be a difficult thing for us to accept. The ability to wait for an answer is one of the marks of maturity. Be willing to let God answer in his own time, in his own way, and in his own power.<br/> <br/> <br/> Many people see God as a divine vending machine in which you deposit one prayer and out pops a blessing. But what happens when you put your money in the Coke machine and nothing comes out? You get angry, you kick the Coke machine. So it's not surprising that such a view of God and prayer leads to disappointment when God says no.<br/> <br/> I believe that we need to foster an entirely different view of prayer from that one. Our God is the Great God of the Universe, the Creator of all things that exist other than Himself. For us to even venture to speak to Him is presumptuous. For us to ask Him to pay attention to our requests and then hope for Him to meet them requires bold expectation. In fact such would be arrogance if it were not for the simple fact that God tells us to do just that.<br/> <br/> Looking from the proper perspective, we will not ask "What happens when God says no?" but rather "What happens when God says yes?" That the God of the heavens would listen to us and our needs is a great testimony to His great love for us. And it is that love that will lead Him to say no from time to time. At those times, we must trust Him knowing that he loves us and desires what is best for us. We must never forsake Him nor our duty toward Him. And we must realize that what we interpret to be an answer of "no" may just be God telling us to wait a while.<br/> <br/> <em>"This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." (I John 5:14)</em></p>WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT BEING HAPPY???tag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-07-26:4878805:BlogPost:5304622012-07-26T00:49:55.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><strong>WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT BEING HAPPY???</strong><br></br><br></br><span>"This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose</span><br></br><span>recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature</span><br></br><span>instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and</span><br></br><span>grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to</span><br></br><span>making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the</span><br></br><span>whole community and as…</span></p>
<p><strong>WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT BEING HAPPY???</strong><br/><br/><span>"This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose</span><br/><span>recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature</span><br/><span>instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and</span><br/><span>grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to</span><br/><span>making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the</span><br/><span>whole community and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for</span><br/><span>it what I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die. For the</span><br/><span>harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake.</span><br/><span>Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch I've</span><br/><span>got to hold up for the moment and I want to make it burn as</span><br/><span>brightly as possible before handing it to future generations."</span><br/><br/><span>--GEORGE BERNARD SHAW (1856-1950) - Irish playwright</span><br/><br/><span>It's so easy to be happy -- just have a drink, a great meal, go to</span><br/><span>a movie. What's the big deal about being happy?</span><br/><br/><span>Just about every ad we see is trying to sell us happiness. Get a</span><br/><span>new car, a new house, a new hair color, and you'll be happy. Have a</span><br/><span>Coke and go on vacation and you'll be real happy . . . or so the</span><br/><span>media would like us to think.</span><br/><br/><span>IT'S A LIE!</span><br/><br/><span>THE TRUTH: There's something that'll make you much happier than</span><br/><span>being happy. It's called FULFILLMENT.</span><br/><br/><span>Ed Ferraro was a guest speaker in my class recently. One summer</span><br/><span>between July 17 and August 23, Ed was not happy. During those 37</span><br/><span>days, Ed and his friend Glen rode their Trek bikes 3,222 miles from</span><br/><span>Portland, Oregon to Montclair, New Jersey.</span><br/><br/><span>Ed and Glen biked 100-150 miles per day. They were chased by</span><br/><span>wolves, ran over snakes, dealt with physical pain and mental</span><br/><span>boredom. Ed made it clear that he wasn't happy. Oh, he was</span><br/><span>motivated; he was focused; he was productive BUT IT WAS DIFFICULT.</span><br/><br/><span>At the Amherst College wrestling room, there used to be a sign that</span><br/><span>read:</span><br/><br/><span>"The hard times you go through</span><br/><span>will be the good times you'll have."</span><br/><br/><span>Listening to Ed speak, you know that he biked right down the</span><br/><span>highways and byways of difficulties and ended up at an</span><br/><span>extraordinary place: FULFILLMENT.</span><br/><br/><span>You don't have to do much of anything just to be happy.</span><br/><span>You don't have to do anything difficult to be happy.</span><br/><br/><span>But . . . fighting through difficulty is part of the price you pay</span><br/><span>for fulfillment.</span><br/><br/><span>In A League of Their Own, a movie about a women's professional</span><br/><span>baseball team during World War II, the star catcher Dottie Henson</span><br/><span>(played by Geena Davis) told her manager Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks)</span><br/><span>that she was quitting the team because, "It got too hard."</span><br/><br/><span>The manager said, "It's supposed to be hard. If it were so easy</span><br/><span>everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great."</span><br/><br/><span>"The hard is what makes it great."</span><br/><br/><span>"For the harder I work, the more I live."</span><br/><br/><span>Why aim for happiness? It'll just get you temporary pleasure. It</span><br/><span>won't take you anywhere.</span><br/><br/><span>Follow Ed to the town of FULFILLMENT.</span><br/><br/><span>Do something difficult today</span></p>The Hard Times That Hurt Youtag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-07-26:4878805:BlogPost:5305152012-07-26T00:28:53.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><span>The Hard Times That Hurt You</span><br></br><br></br><span>Many of the world's greatest dramas are not on a stage or a screen, but they are played out in that quadrennial spectacle we call the Olympics. One year Britain's representative in the 400-meter race, Derek Redmond, went down in the back stretch with a torn right hamstring. As the medical attendants approached, Redmond fought to his feet and set out hopping, desperately trying to finish the race. He knew he wouldn't win, he was just…</span></p>
<p><span>The Hard Times That Hurt You</span><br/><br/><span>Many of the world's greatest dramas are not on a stage or a screen, but they are played out in that quadrennial spectacle we call the Olympics. One year Britain's representative in the 400-meter race, Derek Redmond, went down in the back stretch with a torn right hamstring. As the medical attendants approached, Redmond fought to his feet and set out hopping, desperately trying to finish the race. He knew he wouldn't win, he was just trying to finish.</span><br/><br/><span>When he reached the final stretch, a man came out of the stands, pushed past a security guard, and ran to Redmond and hugged him. That man was Jim Redmond, Derek's father, and he said to him, "Son, you don't have to do this." Gritting his teeth and with tears in his eyes, his son said, "Yes, I do."</span><br/><br/><span>His father's reply, "Well, then, we're going to finish this together." Derek's head was sometimes buried in his father's shoulder, but they stayed in his lane to the end. When they crossed the finish line, the crowd stood to its feet, cheered, and wept as those two men finished the race.</span><br/><br/><span>Moses says to Israel in Deuteronomy 1:29-31 , "Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.'"</span><br/><br/><span>Maybe today you are tired, banged up, or stressed out, and like that 400-meter runner in the Olympics, you are staggering right now. You're having a hard time finishing your race. You started well, and you have been running hard, but you're about to go down. Maybe you have been hit by discouragement, illness, family trouble, a lack of support, or a lack of help. Maybe you've run into obstacles or pain and you are hurting, and there is still more of the race ahead of you. God wants to give you the good news that someone has left the stands to help you. He is coming to the track to help you finish the rest of the way.</span><br/><br/><span>It's your Heavenly Father.</span><br/><br/><span>God left the stands to come to the cross, and there He rescued us from the sin wounds that would have kept us from reaching heaven. He knows we can't make it alone. He is an all-powerful Father who offers to carry us, but we have to let Him. If we are too proud to collapse in His arms and surrender to His control, then our power is limited, and we're not going to make it. If we will totally release control to Him and, in the words of Scripture, humble ourselves, we will have all His power. Even little children know where the power is when they sing, "...they are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me."</span><br/><br/><span>Each of us experience days when we just don't have any more to give. Maybe you're there now. It's those moments in the race that can take you deeper into the love and power of Jesus than you have ever been before. Your Father is not a spectator in the stands today. His arm is around you right now, where you are. Listen to His voice saying, "We're going to finish this together!"</span><br/><br/><br/><span>Ron Hutchraft</span><a href="http://go.netatlantic.com/t/26178660/72797522/202113/72/" target="_blank"><br/>www.ronhutchcraft.com</a></p>Night Shifttag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-07-23:4878805:BlogPost:5299662012-07-23T06:16:10.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><span><strong>Night Shift<br></br>Psalm 134:1-3</strong></span><br></br><br></br><em>Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion. (Psalm 134)</em><br></br><br></br><span>Years ago when I was attending seminary, I worked the night shift on occasion. It paid a little more money than the day shift, but I was a bit lonely. If you've ever had…</span></p>
<p><span><strong>Night Shift<br/>Psalm 134:1-3</strong></span><br/><br/><em>Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion. (Psalm 134)</em><br/><br/><span>Years ago when I was attending seminary, I worked the night shift on occasion. It paid a little more money than the day shift, but I was a bit lonely. If you've ever had to work the night shift, you will appreciate Psalm 134.</span><br/><br/><span>God never slumbers or sleeps. Therefore, we can serve and praise Him any time of day. The psalmist says there were priests who prayed and praised God in His temple at night. There was a constant repetition of praise and prayer from the temple.</span><br/><br/><span>We can bless the Lord in the night seasons. It's not easy when we are going through the nighttime experiences of life to lift our hands and bless the Lord. But He does give us songs in the night. Paul and Silas were able to lift their hearts in praise to God while in the Philippian jail (Acts 16).</span><br/><br/><span>They were on the night shift. They knew that God was awake, so they blessed Him, and He sent deliverance. We can get some strange blessings in the night seasons, for God speaks to us in different ways. Others may not see your praise at night, but God sees and hears.</span><br/><br/><span>Whether you are in the sunshine or in the darkness, whether you are serving on the day shift or the night shift, remember that you are serving the Lord. Because He never slumbers or sleeps, He hears your prayer and praise at all times, and He will bless you.</span></p>I See Jesustag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-07-23:4878805:BlogPost:5298572012-07-23T05:35:34.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><span><strong>I See Jesus</strong></span><br></br><br></br><span>I saw Jesus last week.</span><br></br><span>He was wearing blue jeans and an old shirt.</span><br></br><span>He was up at the church building;</span><br></br><span>He was alone and working hard.</span><br></br><span>For just a minute he looked a little like one of our members.</span><br></br><span>But it was Jesus . . . I could tell by his smile.</span><br></br><br></br><span>I saw Jesus last Sunday.</span><br></br><span>He was teaching a Bible…</span></p>
<p><span><strong>I See Jesus</strong></span><br/><br/><span>I saw Jesus last week.</span><br/><span>He was wearing blue jeans and an old shirt.</span><br/><span>He was up at the church building;</span><br/><span>He was alone and working hard.</span><br/><span>For just a minute he looked a little like one of our members.</span><br/><span>But it was Jesus . . . I could tell by his smile.</span><br/><br/><span>I saw Jesus last Sunday.</span><br/><span>He was teaching a Bible class.</span><br/><span>He didn't talk real loud or use long words,</span><br/><span>But you could tell he believed what he said.</span><br/><span>For just a minute, he looked like my Bible teacher.</span><br/><span>But it was Jesus . . . I could tell by his loving voice.</span><br/><br/><span>I saw Jesus yesterday.</span><br/><span>He was at the hospital visiting a friend who was sick.</span><br/><span>They prayed together quietly.</span><br/><span>For just a minute he looked like Brother Jones.</span><br/><span>But it was Jesus... I could tell by the tears in his eyes.</span><br/><br/><span>I saw Jesus this morning.</span><br/><span>He was in my kitchen making my breakfast</span><br/><span>and fixing me a special lunch.</span><br/><span>For just a minute he looked like my mom.</span><br/><span>But it was Jesus... I could feel the love from his heart.</span><br/><br/><span>I see Jesus everywhere,</span><br/><span>Taking food to the sick ...</span><br/><span>Welcoming others to his home, Being friendly to a newcomer ...</span><br/><span>& for just a minute, I think he's someone I know.</span><br/><span>But it's always Jesus... I can tell by the way he serves.</span><br/><br/><br/><span>Written by Summer Waters at age 11 </span></p>Living By Faith or Giving Into Doubttag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-07-16:4878805:BlogPost:5287712012-07-16T05:41:12.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><span><strong>Living By Faith or Giving Into Doubt</strong></span><br></br><br></br><span>Do you know for certain God is working on your behalf, or do you merely hope He is helping you? Are you walking in the confident conviction the Lord will do as He's promised, or are you worrying about the difficulties you face?</span><br></br><br></br><span>Each day, you and I have a choice to make: Will we live by faith or succumb to doubt? How we answer this question will shape how we view our circumstances and…</span></p>
<p><span><strong>Living By Faith or Giving Into Doubt</strong></span><br/><br/><span>Do you know for certain God is working on your behalf, or do you merely hope He is helping you? Are you walking in the confident conviction the Lord will do as He's promised, or are you worrying about the difficulties you face?</span><br/><br/><span>Each day, you and I have a choice to make: Will we live by faith or succumb to doubt? How we answer this question will shape how we view our circumstances and what we are able to accomplish in our lives. Walking in the confident conviction the Lord will do as He's promised will help us triumph over the many challenges we face .</span><br/><br/><span>As we see throughout God's Word, responding in faith is essential to our Christian walks (Rom. 1:17). This is especially true when we face times of adversity or feel helpless. Perhaps our medical, relational, or financial situations seem insurmountable. Our hopes and dreams may appear to be dashed forever. It might even feel as if God is refusing to answer our prayers. We must remember the Father uses each of these to test and grow our trust in Him, and it's crucial we respond with a steadfast faith that doesn't waver (James 1:2-6) .</span><br/><br/><span>I recall a particularly difficult season when I attended the University of Richmond. Everything seemed to be going wrong. I received a 50 on one exam and a 75 on another. I did not have the funds needed to continue my education, and I was desperate to know if it was the Lord's will for me to remain in school. I remember going to my room, weeping, and praying to God: "I've got to be absolutely sure it is Your will for me to be here. Father, please clarify this question in my mind and show me exactly what to do ."</span><br/><br/><span>I am sure you can relate to the pressure I was under as a young man. Human logic was telling me, "You're away from your family, failing your exams, and you have no money. Wouldn't the Lord make this easier if He really wanted you to continue? This is not worth the struggle. Go home." But all the things my grandfather taught me kept coming to mind, including the principle that God would move heaven and earth to show me His Will. I also knew the Father did not require me to understand His will. I simply needed to obey it - even if it seemed unreasonable at the time.</span><br/><br/><span>Thankfully, the Lord gave me the courage to continue in college. However, the experience taught me that wavering faith can be dangerous. If I had not sought the Father's will and had given up, the course of my life would have been altered completely. The same is true for you. Regardless of what you are facing, the Father will use it as an opportunity to deepen your faith in Him; and walking in faith can mean all the difference to your future. So how do you make sure that you walk in faith?</span><br/><br/><strong>1. Whenever you are tempted to fret about your circumstances, ask yourself the following questions:</strong><br/><span>Where are these doubts coming from? </span><br/><span>Has God ever failed me in the past?</span><br/><span>Doesn't the Lord promise to meet my needs?</span><br/><span>Don't I have the help of the Holy Spirit?</span><br/><span>Isn't the Father with me at all times?</span><br/><span>Is anything too hard for God?</span><br/><span>Is my focus on the Lord as it should be?</span><br/><span>Could my unbelief in this situation cost me a lifetime of regret?</span><br/><br/><strong>2. It is crucial that you spend time in the Word of God.</strong><br/><span>One of the primary ways the Father speaks to you is through His Word. Therefore, study the Bible each day, consider how He is instructing you, then apply His principles to your life. The Lord will move heaven and earth to show you His will, so trust Him to reveal what you should do .</span><br/><br/><strong>3. Reflect on the times God faithfully answered your prayers .</strong><br/><span>Remembering how the Father has helped you in the past will keep you from stumbling when troubles arise. Whenever you see the Lord at work in your life, record it in the margin of your Bible. This will become your personal record of His faithfulness to you and will help to encourage you in your walk with Him .</span><br/><br/><strong>4. Choose to obey God and leave all the consequences to Him. </strong><br/><span>There may be times in your life, as there have been in mine, when trusting the Lord is in conflict with your human reason and when you fail to see Him working in your circumstances. But don't give up. Remember "we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor . 5 :7). Claim God's promises in faith, and do exactly as He says. You will always be glad you did .</span><br/><br/><span>No matter what your situation is today, I hope you will trust that the Father is working on your behalf. It is my prayer that you will take the time to strengthen your faith each day, spend time in the Word of God, reflect on the Father's answers to your prayers, and faithfully obey Him regardless of the consequences. This will make all the difference in your life. You may not know what the Lord has planned for you, but you can be assured that it is above and beyond all you can ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)</span><br/><br/><span>Often, our faith is tried the most when we must wait on God for the desires of our hearts. I pray it will help you persevere in faith, regardless of what trials may come. May God bless you richly as you seek to trust Him more.</span><br/><br/><br/><span>Proverbs 31 Ministries</span><br/><font color="#009933"><a href="http://go.netatlantic.com/t/26155315/72797522/223764/72/" target="_blank">www.<b>proverbs31</b>.org</a> </font></p>Sweethearttag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-07-13:4878805:BlogPost:5284352012-07-13T09:38:01.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><span><strong>Sweetheart</strong></span><br></br><br></br><span>It was a busy morning. It was about 8:30 A.M. when a gentleman in his 80's, arrived to have sutures removed from his thumb. He stated that he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 A.M. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him.</span><br></br><br></br><span>We chatted while I removed his sutures and took care of his wound. I asked him if he had a doctor's…</span></p>
<p><span><strong>Sweetheart</strong></span><br/><br/><span>It was a busy morning. It was about 8:30 A.M. when a gentleman in his 80's, arrived to have sutures removed from his thumb. He stated that he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 A.M. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him.</span><br/><br/><span>We chatted while I removed his sutures and took care of his wound. I asked him if he had a doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife, Mari-Helena. I then inquired as to her health.</span><br/><br/><span>He told me that she had been there for awhile and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. As we talked, and I finished dressing his wound, I asked if she would be worried if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him for five years now.</span><br/><br/><span>I was surprised and asked him, "And you are still going every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?"</span><br/><br/><span>He smiled as he patted my hand and said, "She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is."</span><br/><br/><span>I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arms, and thought, "That is the kind of love I want in my life."</span><br/><br/><br/><em>"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." (Ephesians 5:25)</em></p>No Excusestag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-07-12:4878805:BlogPost:5280962012-07-12T05:13:59.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><strong><span>No Excuses</span></strong><br></br><br></br><span>I'm not perfect. I have all kinds of problems. I don't know the Bible well enough. I have no ability. I don't have any gifts. I'm limited. I'm just not worthy...</span><br></br><br></br><span>Well, did you know that....</span><br></br><span>Moses stuttered.</span><br></br><span>David's armor didn't fit.</span><br></br><span>John Mark deserted Paul.</span><br></br><span>Timothy had ulcers.</span><br></br><span>Hosea's wife was a prostitute.</span><br></br><span>Amos'…</span></p>
<p><strong><span>No Excuses</span></strong><br/><br/><span>I'm not perfect. I have all kinds of problems. I don't know the Bible well enough. I have no ability. I don't have any gifts. I'm limited. I'm just not worthy...</span><br/><br/><span>Well, did you know that....</span><br/><span>Moses stuttered.</span><br/><span>David's armor didn't fit.</span><br/><span>John Mark deserted Paul.</span><br/><span>Timothy had ulcers.</span><br/><span>Hosea's wife was a prostitute.</span><br/><span>Amos' only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning.</span><br/><span>Jacob was a liar.</span><br/><span>David had an affair.</span><br/><span>Solomon was too rich.</span><br/><span>Abraham was too old.</span><br/><span>David was too young.</span><br/><span>Peter was afraid of death.</span><br/><span>Lazarus was dead.</span><br/><span>John was self-righteous.</span><br/><span>Naomi was a widow.</span><br/><span>Paul was a persecutor of the church.</span><br/><span>Moses was a murderer.</span><br/><span>Jonah ran from God's will.</span><br/><span>Miriam was a gossip.</span><br/><span>Gideon and Thomas both doubted.</span><br/><span>Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal.</span><br/><span>Elijah was burned out.</span><br/><span>Martha was a worry-wart.</span><br/><span>Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse?</span><br/><span>So did Peter, Paul - well, lots of folks did.</span><br/><br/><span>God doesn't require a job interview for salvation. He's our Heavenly Father. He doesn't look at financial gain or loss. He knows who we are and what we are and loves us in spite of ourselves.</span><br/><br/><span>SATAN SAYS, "YOU'RE NOT WORTHY."</span><br/><span>JESUS SAYS, "SO WHAT? I AM."</span><br/><span>SATAN LOOKS BACK AND SEES OUR MISTAKES.</span><br/><span>GOD LOOKS BACK AND SEES THE CROSS.</span><br/><br/><span>There are lots of reasons why God shouldn't call us. But if we are in love with Him, if we hunger for Him, He'll use us in spite of who we are, where we've been, what we have done, or the fact that we are not perfect!</span></p>The Power of Little Thingstag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-07-11:4878805:BlogPost:5279562012-07-11T08:16:56.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><strong><span>The Power of Little Things</span></strong><br></br><br></br><em>"Calling the Twelve to him, He [Jesus] sent them out two by two" (Mark 6:7).</em><br></br><br></br><span>Bridge builder, Charles Eliet, had a contract to build a suspension bridge across the Niagara River. One of the first problems he faced was how to stretch his first cable across the wide expanse of raging waters. If a boat tried to cross the river it would be swept over the falls. Eliet thought of a simple idea. If a kite could…</span></p>
<p><strong><span>The Power of Little Things</span></strong><br/><br/><em>"Calling the Twelve to him, He [Jesus] sent them out two by two" (Mark 6:7).</em><br/><br/><span>Bridge builder, Charles Eliet, had a contract to build a suspension bridge across the Niagara River. One of the first problems he faced was how to stretch his first cable across the wide expanse of raging waters. If a boat tried to cross the river it would be swept over the falls. Eliet thought of a simple idea. If a kite could be flown to the opposite bank using a light cord, a stronger cord could be attached and pulled across, then a stronger cord pulled across and so on until a cable could be attached and drawn across.</span><br/><br/><span>Eliet called for a kite flying contest and a young man named Homan Walsh succeeded on his second attempt. Charles Eliet's simple plan worked and the bridge was built.</span><br/><br/><span>In life some of us often feel we don't have a very important role to play. What we do seems so insignificant. It isn't so. Every Christian has an important part to play. It all adds up in the numerous "little things" we are called to do every day.</span><br/><br/><span>Jesus started spreading the gospel to the whole world by simply sending his disciples out two by two! So, never underestimate the importance of what God has called you to do. The important thing is to keep at it--day by day!</span><br/><br/><span>Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that you use ordinary people like me to do your work on earth. Help me to realize that my part--no matter how small--is a vital part of the whole picture. Help me always to be faithful and responsible and never let down on doing my part. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."</span></p>I AMtag:www.project.nsearch.com,2012-07-06:4878805:BlogPost:5268602012-07-06T09:51:53.000ZMike Aemiseggerhttp://www.project.nsearch.com/profile/MikeAemisegger
<p><span>When the enemy comes to us with discouraging thoughts and encourages us to quit our work for the Lord, it is very important that we renew our mind and speak the Word of God out loud so the enemy can hear it. The enemy has tried to discourage me many times and let me tell you, that when I stand firm and speak the Scriptures, those thoughts flee from me faster than when they entered my mind. Be encouraged and when in doubt, speak the Scriptures out loud and see the deliverance of the…</span></p>
<p><span>When the enemy comes to us with discouraging thoughts and encourages us to quit our work for the Lord, it is very important that we renew our mind and speak the Word of God out loud so the enemy can hear it. The enemy has tried to discourage me many times and let me tell you, that when I stand firm and speak the Scriptures, those thoughts flee from me faster than when they entered my mind. Be encouraged and when in doubt, speak the Scriptures out loud and see the deliverance of the Lord. Believe me, it works!</span><br/><br/><span>I received this a while back and have always loved to read it whenever troubles came my way. I encourage you to print off a copy or keep it handy in your email box so you can get quick access when you need to fight off Satan and his wicked thoughts.</span><br/><br/><br/><span>I AM...</span><br/><span> 1. A Child of God (Romans 8:16)</span><br/><span> 2. Forgiven (Colossians 1:13-14)</span><br/><span> 3. Saved by Grace through Faith (Ephesians 2:8)</span><br/><span> 4. Justified (Romans 5:1)</span><br/><span> 5. Sanctified (1 Corinthians 6:11)</span><br/><span> 6. A New Creature (2 Corinthians 5:17)</span><br/><span> 7. A Partaker of His Divine Nature (2 Peter 1:4)</span><br/><span> 8. Redeemed from the Curse of the Law (Galatians 3:13)</span><br/><span> 9. Redeemed from the Hand of the Enemy (Psalms 107:2)</span><br/><span>10. Delivered from the Powers of Darkness (Colossians 1:13)</span><br/><span>11. Led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14)</span><br/><span>12. A Child of God (Romans 8:14)</span><br/><span>13. Getting All My Needs Met by Jesus (Philippians 4:19)</span><br/><span>14. Casting All My Cares Upon Jesus (1 Peter 5:7)</span><br/><span>15. Strong in the Lord (Ephesians 6:10)</span><br/><span>16. Doing All Thing through Christ (Philippians 4:13)</span><br/><span>17. Doing the Lord's Commandments (Deuteronomy 28:12)</span><br/><span>18. An Heir of Eternal Life (1 John 5:11-12)</span><br/><span>19. Blessed with All Spiritual Blessings (Ephesians 1:3)</span><br/><span>20. Healed by His Stripes (1 Peter 2:24)</span><br/><span>21 More than a Conqueror (Romans 8:37)</span><br/><span>22. Establishing God's Word Here on Earth (Matthew 16:19)</span><br/><span>23. An Overcomer by the Blood of the Lamb (Revelation 12:11)</span><br/><span>24. Daily Overcoming the Devil (1 John 4:4)</span><br/><span>25. Walking by Faith and Not by Sight (2 Corinthians 5:7)</span><br/><span>26. Bringing Every Thought into Captivity (2 Corinthians 10:5)</span><br/><span>27. Being Constantly Transformed (Romans 12:1-2)</span><br/><span>28. A Laborer Together with God (1 Corinthians 3:9)</span><br/><span>29. An Imitator of Jesus (Ephesians 5:1)</span><br/><span>30. Continually Praising the Lord (Psalms 34:1)</span></p>