"God desires and wills for us to grow in love and obedience that we may be found blameless in Holiness at the coming of Jesus Christ"

1 Thessalonians 4:[1-8]--"Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit."

In this passage Paul tells us that God has called us to a life of personal Holiness. He urges and exhorts the Thessalonians to walk and grow in holiness because it is pleasing to God. He's not teaching them a new command but one that they had already recieved from him. Paul urges and exhorts them through the authority of Jesus Christ, not his own authority. This was a command from on high given by Christ to the apostles and then to the Church.

Before Paul exhorts this church to live holy lives that please God he prays for them. He prays that they would abound in love so that their hearts would be blameless in holiness before God at the coming of Christ. In 1 Thessalonians 3:[11-13]--" Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints."

I believe this prayer is the main point of this passage because every thing that Paul talks about in chapter 4 points back to his prayer. He expresses to them how they are to abound more and more in their walk with God and in pleasing Him with their lives. Only through growing in sanctification could they be blameless in holiness before God at the coming of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:1--"Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;

The key words in this verse are:

Ought-- in the the greek is dei. Dei means, "necessary (as binding):-behoved, meet, must, need, ought, and should."--Greek Dictionary

Walk--in the greek is peripateo. Peripateo figuratively means "to live, deport oneself, follow:- go, be occupied with, walk (about)."--Greek Dictionary

Walk is a metaphor that Paul uses to teach the church at Thessalonica that their Christian lives should be ones of observable progression. This word "walk" carries with it the idea of movement and progression. Paul was teaching them that they should be moving toward Christlikeness through sanctification. Santification is a life long process. Santification starts at conversion; this found in 1 Corinthians 6:11 and Ephesians 5:26, then it continues through out our Christian life; this is found in Hebrews 2:11 and Hebrews 10:14, and is perfected and completed at the coming of Christ; this is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:23.

Paul wanted them to abound more and more in their love for one another, in their faith, and in holiness. Sanctification is the progression of holiness in our lives. It is the will of God that we are sanctified. 1 Thessalonians 4:3a--"It is God's will that you should be sanctified:"


Paul sends Timothy to this church in Thessalonica because he was concerned about their faith. Timothy returned to Paul with Good news about their faith and love for each other. Although Paul was comforted by their faith and love for each other there were still things that they were lacking in their faith. Paul states this in 1 Thessalonians 3:10--"night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?"


There are several things that these people were lacking in their faith. 1. Sexual Immortality. This is found in verse three, four, and five. 2. Work Ethics. This is found in verse Eleven. 3. Their view of Death and the Coming of Christ. This is found in verse thirteen through eighteen.

Paul tells them several things that they needed to do to grow in holiness. 1. Abstain from sexual immortality 2. Control your own bodies in sanctification and honor. Paul also tells them several things they were not to do if they were going to grow in holiness. 1. Don't do what the gentiles do; which was committing adultry and other immoral sexual acts. 2. Don't defraud your Brother in the manner of sexual immorality. 3. Don't to be ignorant of the death of your loved ones that have trusted Christ and of the coming of Christ.

Paul wanted them to remember that as children of God they were to be "set apart" from unbelievers; the gentiles. If they acted in this manner they could not grow in holiness or be set apart from unbelievers. This applies to our lives today. If we belong to God we need to act like we belong to Him. God has set us apart for Himself therefore we must be set apart in our actions as well. How we act reflects God's Holy Character. Holiness is pure distinctive Godly living that is set apart in thought, word, and deed.

"Sanctification is the work of God's free grace whereby we are renewed in the wholeman after the image of God and are enabled more and more to die unto sin and live unto righteousness."--Westminster Catechism

God desires and commands us to be holy. 1 Peter 1:[15-16]--"But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

We can only please God and live lives worthy of God by saying yes to God and no to sin. We must obey this command to grow in love and obedience so that we are found blameless in holiness when Christ returns. We must remain in Christ so that we can grow in righteousness. Apart from Christ and the holy Spirit we cannot obey this command. God created us and has equipped us through the Holy Spirit to grow in holiness and Christlikeness. 1 Thessalonians 4:7--"For God did not call us to uncleanness, but holiness."

We must live a life of personal sacrifice and service to our Savior in order that we may be sanctified. The greatest tribute we can give to God is a godly life. Our sanctification is our highest calling as a Christian, one in which brings great pleasure to God. If we are going to be blameless at the coming of Jesus Christ we must walk in holiness now. We can walk in holiness now by abounding more and more in service to God and by abstaining from sexual immortality by possessing our own bodies in sanctification and honor. Through God's grace we can live a holy life that pleases God. Our lives should be a consistant progression of Christ's likeness. May we consistently exhort one another to walk in holiness.

Questions for meditation:


If Christ came back this very minute would God find you blameless in holiness? Are you abounding more and more towards holiness? Do you live your life in a way that reflects God's Holy Character? How have you responded to God's call to holiness in your life? In how you conduct yourself, do people see Christ's righteousness? Are your thoughts pure? Are your words pure? Are your deeds pure?


Serving Our Lord Together,
Michelle Harrison

"When my Faith is Weak I need to Trust God"

Mark 9:[19-24]--"O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"

A desperate father brings his son to the disciples to be healed. He loves his son, and he is a father who is hurting. He is a man with a son in a hopeless situation. The disciples tried to heal this boy possessed of a demon and had failed. Jesus then says in verse 19--"Bring the boy to me." Everyone present lacked faith that takes possession of demons. The father of the child, the
disciples of Jesus and the scribes lacked this faith. Jesus wholly trusted in the heavenly Father and the disciples didn't, that's why Jesus was the only one present that could heal the boy.
The father cried out for mercy begging Christ to heal his son. "But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!" [v. 22] Jesus' response was--"The question is not whether I am able but whether you believe."--Hendriksen

Mark 9:24--"Immediately the boy's father cried out and began saying, "I do believe; help me in my unbelief." What kind of cry was this? It was an "eager, fear-stricken cry" of faith.

Help what does this mean? "Help" is boetheo meaning "to run to the cry" of someone in danger. We hear the cry of a small child and we drop everything and run in the direction of the crying.

He asked for continuous help for his unbelief. "Be constantly helping my unbelief"--Wuest. It was an instant response to the demand of Jesus for full trust in Him. "I am believing. Be constantly helping my weak faith." Hendriksen translates, "Continue moment by moment and day by day to come to my aid, so that I may overcome my unbelief."


C.H. Spurgeon wrote, "As a SIN, UNBELIEF grieves the Spirit of God, but as a WEAKNESS, Unbelief, mourned and confessed, secures the Spirit’s help." As we read this story of UNBELIEF - both the father’s and the disciples’ - Can we not relate to their problem?? Haven’t we all had moments in our lives in which we have said, "Lord, I Believe, but help thou my Unbelief"???

Thank God for the compassion of Jesus. He doesn't just sweep the man aside saying you are faithless. I can not help you. Jesus first met the spiritual need of the father by bringing him to a focused faith.

In Matthew [17:20] "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain,'Move from here to there,' and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you". The disciples had faith less than a grain of mustard seed. Christ says, "It only takes a grain of faith."



When my faith is weak or when my faith faulters I need to trust God. I need to ask God to strenghten my faith, then I need to trust Him and believe that He will give me the faith that I need to trust him.

When my faith Faulters it is costly and it will result in me making poor choices. An example of this can be seen in the lives the Israelites. They wandered forty years in the desert because the nation allowed unbelief to overtake their faith.
Their wavering trust made them miss out on the blessings of God. It proved to be costly to their loved ones as well. Which was proven when the Lord punished the Israelites. Numbers 14:33--"Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the desert." When their faith faultered they began to complain and disobey God. When they did this God became very angry and punished them. Numbers 14:34--"For forty years-one year for each of the forty days you explored the land-you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you." The Lord punished them for their partial obedience.

"Partial obedience is still disobedience, and it leads to mistakes"--Charles Stanley

Their wavering faith and trust in God affected their confidence and joy. They became less willing to take the risks God was asking them to take. Instead of standing firm they found their confidence eroding. Rather than acting in obedience to God they questioned what the Lord told them to do. Their joy diminished because their unwavering faith led them away from God's will.
Because their faith weakened they weren't experiencing the inner peace of God anymore. Their faith became unsteady.

No matter how unsteady our faith is God wants us to draw near so He can strengthen our trust in Him. Hebrews 10:[22-23]--"let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him. For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise."

When He draws near we need to give Him all the Glory.

"When there is little faith there is little praying. When there is an abundance of genuine, persevering faith, there is also fervent, unrelenting prayer. If Jesus came back today, would He be appalled by our lack of faith and prayerlessness, or would He be delighted with our faithful of trust in Him?"--William Hendriksen


Lord, I pray that no matter how I feel I will always make the right decisions to believe and obey you. God, please strengthen my faith through your Holy Spirit. Help my faith to remain steady. Lord help me to always recall your faithfulness to me. Thank You for being faithful. Help me to have a believing heart. Help me stay in your word and stay focused on you so that I will keep a believing heart. I want your perfect will for my life. Lord you can do it. I know you can. I have never been disappointed in you. Lord take away my doubts and fears and help me grow in your grace.

Serving our Lord Together,
Michelle Harrison

"Knowing God Intimately"

2 Peter 1:2--"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,"


I have been reading and rereading 2 Peter and it is amazing what I am learning. I believe this verse is the key verse in this passage. Paul also ends with this same message in 2 Peter 3:18--"but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen."

The key word in both of these passages is "knowledge." The word "knowledge" and "the knowledge of God", suggests a relationship between the person who's doing the knowing and the person who's being known.

I believe the knowledge spoken of here is not just a distant knowledge. It is a knowledge of being united with and having an intimate relationship with God our Father. It's an intimate knowledge. To know God and Christ is to one with them. This kind of relationship is a powerful influence in our life. It completely changes us. We cannot know God intimately without it making a difference in our lives.

John 17:3--"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."

Knowing God and growing in the knowledge of God is the key for us recieving the grace and peace we need in our lives. The greater the knowledge and the deeper our knowledge of God is the more grace and peace will be multiplied to us. The more we know God the more peace we will have in the midst of difficult circumstances. Many times we pray, "Lord, deliver me from and change my circumstances." When we pray this way we are putting all the responsibility on God. We pray God give me your grace and peace and then don't do what He has told us to do to recieve it. Our responsiblity is getting to know God. It's not about God changing our circumstances it's about getting to know God more intimately. A failure to know God is at the heart of every problem we have. Knowing God is also the key to every blessing that we recieve from Him. Knowing God is the key to grace, peace, life, godliness, and happiness. The more we know God the more we love Him.

I believe that Peter is implying that there is a lack of the knowledge of God. There are people who have alot of head knowledge about God but they do not know Him.

What does it mean to know God? I believe to know God is more than intellectual knowledge about God. It is having an intimate relationship with God through Christ. It is an intimate knowledge that we have first hand. It is a first hand knowledge of God. It's not just knowing about Him but knowing Him personally!!!

We sacrifice things to God to please Him and to serve Him. But our burnt offerings, the things we sacrifice to God are sacrificed in vain if we do not know Him. God says in Hosea 6:6, that He wants us to know Him and He wants to know us. God doesn't just want us to know the facts about Him He wants us to know Him intimately and personally. Knowing God is more important to Him than what we can sacrifice to Him.

Hosea 6:6--"For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."

We must grow in the knowledge of the gospel of the grace of God and the truth of His word. We grow in this knowledge through fervent ceaseless prayer and through meditation on the scripture. The means by which grace and peace are multiplied to us is through the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ.

John 1:16--"And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace."

What is the knowledge of God?

The answer is found in the last part of 2 Peter verses 1:1, "Our Savior Jesus Christ" and in verse 2, it says, "Jesus our Lord."


I see two things about Jesus in these verses. 1. Jesus is my Savior. 2. Jesus is my Lord.

The true knowledge of God is that Christ is God, Savior, and Lord. He died on the cross for our sins and rose again the third day. We have recieved a precious gift from God, the gift of salvation, through Christ. Through Christ grace and peace have been given to us by God. When we have a true knowledge of Christ and desire to know Him intimately, it is an indication that true saving faith has taken place in our hearts.

We must grow in the knowledge of God. Our faith is built and strengthened on knowing the truth about God and of Jesus Christ. Our Spiritual growth is rooted in God's word being revealed to us. "God has therein revealed Himself unto us in the face of Jesus Christ. We find Christ; we find the revelation of God in the word of God."--George Mueller


We must grow to understand and believe the truth about God!!! I believe the more we come to know God the happier we become. I pray that we all may abound in God's grace. That God might multiply His peace and grace to us and that we may grow in it.

Serving Our Lord Together,
Michelle Harrison

"The Cross: Our Certificate of Debt Paid in Full"

Colossians 2:[13-14]--"And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."

These verses proclaim the incredible sin-debt that we owe God that we can never repay. We are indebted to God because of our sin nature. We are dead in our trespasses because of our sin nature not; not merely because of the acts of sin that we commit. We are hopelessly, spiritually dead in our sins, therefore God has to make us alive through Christ that we may recieve eternal life. It is only God who initiates and exerts His power to make us alive. We do not have the ability to make ourselves spiritually alive. Without God dragging us to Himself and giving us the desire to come to Christ we would not have come to Him. Our sin nature is for self. It is unnatural for us to come to Christ and want anything besides what's in our own best interest. Therefore, only through God's power, justice, and unfailing love will we ever come to Him.

Circumcision in the Old Testament was an outward sign of the cleansing of sin that came from believing in God. With this in mind I believe that "The uncircumcision of your flesh" in this verse--is an inward sign refering to the cleasing of our hearts. Our hearts need to be cleansed because we have a corrupt nature. Once we come to Christ our hearts are cleansed and sanctified through Him. Henry's commentary says, "An unsanctified heart is called an uncircumcised heart." I believe Paul is saying here that before we come to Christ we are dead in our trespasses because we have unsanctified hearts that have not been regenerated. We have to be given a new nature through believing in Christ's death on the cross and resurrection; only then do we become alive in Him.

Romans 6:[5-6]--"For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin."

Through Christ's death he paid the debt for our sins. No one except Christ could pay this debt because only He lived a sinless life. All of us have sinned and cannot keep God's laws therefore we needed Christ to pay the debt for us.Through Christs sacrifice and payment for sins we have been completely forgiven for the debt that we owed God. Our debt has been paid in full.

Romans 3:23--"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

I have done a little research on the customs and commerce of Pauls day. It is interesting to me what Paul says in verse 14, "having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." Paul's words here are powerful. He is explaining how debts were handeled in those days. When a person could not repay their debt the lender would write up an itemized certificate of debt. The debtor was required to sign this certificate. It was then posted on the doorposts of the debtors house where everyone could read it. When they paid their debt in full the lender would do one of two things. He would wipe away--by marking through--the certificate or drive a nail through it to cancel out the certificate of debt.

This is what Christ did for us on the cross. God saw our certificate of debt--the sin in our lives--and cancelled out our debt by driving a nail through it and wiping out our debt. Our debt was nailed to the cross. God forgives us and declares us not guilty when we put our faith in Christ. We all owe God a debt that we will never be able to repay for violating His laws, therefore we are sentenced to death. All of our sins were put to Christ's account and nailed to His cross paying the penalty for our sins in our place, satisfying God's justice and wrath. Payment in full had to be made through Christ. When we trust in Christ we are no longer sentenced to death but guaranteed eternal life that we may live forever in God's presence. We must believe that Christ died for our sins but it doesn't end with His death, we must also believe and accept His resurrection. Christ paid our debt but this means nothing apart from His resurrection. His sacrifice means nothing if He didn't have the power to over come the grave. Jesus' resurrection proved that He had the power to make our salvation possible; to remove our sin and the penalty for it. May we always live for the Glory of our risen Lord. Praise God everytime He looks at me He doesn't see my sin but the precious, prefect blood of Christ covering me.

Lord, Thank you for your mercy, power, justice, and for loving me enough to draw me to Yourself. Without you I am nothing. Thank You for the sacrifice of Christ that I may come into your very presence. Thank You for cancelling out my sin-debt by driving the nails through Christ. Thank You for the liberty, hope, and freedom I have in Christ. Christ, thank you for making me to be a partaker of your life, that I may be one with You. Please live your life through me. Thank you for this fresh glimpse of Your glory.

Serving Our Lord Together,

Michelle Harrison

"Loving God by keeping our Hearts with all Diligence"

We are commanded over and over again in scripture to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. I have been meditating on what these commands really mean and how I can Love God by keeping my heart with all diligence.

Matthew 22:37--"Jesus said to him, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."

We are to love God wholeheartedly. We are to be faithfully committed to obeying this command. When we are committed to God in this way we are expressing our love to Him. Our love for God is demonstrated in our obedience to Him.

We are to love God with all of our......

"Heart"--"In the greek is kardia, it's meaning is a prolonged form, a primary Kar, (Latin Cor,"heart"); the heart that is (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle."--SC

God has called us to surrender our will to his will and to obey, trust, and worship Him with all that is within us.

"Soul"--"In the greek is psuche, it means, breath, that is, (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely."--SC

We are to love God with all of our life. This means we must be willing to give up our lives for Him and His kingdom. We must devote our lives to serve Him. I believe this means we must be willing to die to fulfill this command.

"Mind"--"In the greek is dianoia, it means deep thought, properly the faculty (mind or its dispostion) by implication its exercise: imagination, mind, understanding."--Strongs Concordance

Psalm 119:11--"Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You."

We must submit our minds to God by loving His laws and his word more than the decisions of our own minds. We must be willing to submit all we are to God's teaching and guidance so that we do not sin against Him. We need to make God the object of all of our affections and efforts. Glorifying God should be our objective, it should be our aim, our mark. We glorify God by remembering, reflecting, and meditating upon His word, His commands and His divine salvation. Our minds need to be filled daily with the grace, mercy, and knowledge of God so that we will through the Holy Spirit have the power to bring our every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5--"casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,"

"Sin, its effects: How does a worm get inside an apple? Perhaps you think the worm burrows in from the outside. No, scientists have discovered that the worm comes from inside. But how does he get in there? Simple! An insect lays an egg in the apple blossom. Sometime later, the worm hatches in the heart of the apple, then eats his way out. Sin, like the worn, begins in the heart and works out through a person's thoughts, words, and actions."--Heaven and Home Hour Radio Bulletin.

Everything we say, do, and think flow out of our heart. Therefore, we must seek to be watchful and abstain from all appearances of evil and not meditate upon those things. We must be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Romans 12:2--"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." If our hearts are not right our lives cannot be lived in a manner that pleases God. If our hearts are right our lives will be lived in righteousness and will be well pleasing to the Lord. If our heart is well kept, which out of it comes the issues of life, the outside will be clean as well. The outside appearance of our lives may seem clean to others but only through the renewing sactifying grace of God can the inside of our hearts be pure and clean. When our heart--the inside--is clean, it will influence--the outside--our life.

Matthew 23:26--"Blind pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also."

I believe our hearts make up three distinct parts. The mind, emotions, and the intellect. The word for heart in hebrew is leb. It is figuratively and widely used for the feelings, the will, and the intellect. The mind, emotions, and intellect have different meanings but form an intregated whole. They are intimately related. For example, The Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit are seperate yet they are whole--they are one--and are intimately related to one another. They cannot be seperated from one another neither can our minds from our emotions or intellect. I believe Matthew records all three, the heart, soul, and mind to draw our attention to the complete kind of love that we are to have for God. This is the kind of Love that God requires from us, Complete surrender. He wants a surrendered heart that is controlled only by Him.

"Mind"--"that which is responsible for one's thoughts and feelings; the seat of the facuilty of the reason."--word web

"Emotions"--"Any strong feeling"--word web

"Intellect"--"Knowledge and intellectual ability; The capacity for rational thought or inference or discrimination."--word web

I believe that our hearts make up our whole body. The soul, mind, emotions, spirit, will, and our actions. We must love God with all that is within us.

Psalms 103:1--"Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!"

We are to love God with all our feelings, desires, passions, thoughts, understanding and our will. This seems over whelming. Yet, not impossible. There is no way that we will ever be able to love God in this way apart from Christ. Only through Christ can we come to Love God the way He has commanded us to love Him.

In order to love God the way he has commanded us our hearts must first be broken. Our hearts have to be completely broken by the power of God before we can obey this command. We have to be brought to brokenness over our sin and believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior. Once our hearts have been broken the Holy Spirit through His power and presence reconstructs them and gives us a new heart.

Ezekiel 36:[24-28]--"For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God."

Once we are given a new heart God tells us to guard it because, "The heart is decietful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it."--Jeremiah 17:9. Jesus also says, in Matt.15:19, that every evil thing that is in the earth proceeds out of the heart. Therefore, we must keep our hearts with all diligence.

Proverbs 4:[20-23]--" My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life."

There are many ways that we can keep our hearts. We can keep our hearts by prayer, resisting temptation, reading, hearing and meditating on God's word, living by faith, and most importantly cultivating an intimate relationship with God through Christ.

Phillippians 4:7--"and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Its only through Christ that we can live at peace with God. God's peace guards our hearts and minds through Christ. I believe our hearts are guarded by God's peace through Christ and by us filling our hearts with Gods word. God replaces our will with His will, so in essence Go gives us a new will. He gives us a will that hungers and thirsts after Christ's righteousness. Through Christ God has replaced our pride with humility. He has replaced our desperation with hope. Where there once was death, there now is new life in Christ!!!! God created us to think. He created our minds and renews it in Christ. May we consistly mediate on things--in Phil. 4:8--that are just, pure, lovely, are of a good report, virtuous, and praise worthy so that we may keep our hearts with all diligence.

If we love God we will be willing to be His surrendered servants forever. "As Christ's surrender took Him to the Cross, so our surrender will always take us to the cross. Every time your flesh or mine crosses the will of God and we choose to bow the head in surrender to the Spirit of God, our will is crucified and Christ is exalted as Lord."--Nancy Leigh Demoss

Lord, My prayer is Psalms 51:10--"Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me." Lord, thank You, for giving me a new heart. Help me to express my love for you by obeying your commandments. Help me to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Help me to discipline my mind so that I may draw closer to you and your word.

Serving Our Lord Together,

Michelle harrison

God Helps Those that Seek Him (Part1)

Psalm 121:[1-8]--"I will lift up my eyes to the hills--From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore."

There are four things in this passage that express God's help for those that seek Him. 1. God is our Helper. 2. God is our Keeper. 3. God is our Protector. 4. God is our Preserver.

This Psalm is a song of Ascents. I believe this Psalm was sung by Jewish Pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem to worship God by participating in three yearly feasts. God commanded all males in Exodus 23:[14-17] to be present and keep three specific feasts each year. These feasts include: The feast of Unleavened Bread, The feast of Harvests, and The feast of Ingathering. I believe they sang this song in view of Jerusalem because all the males of Israel were required to travel to the temple in Jerusalem for these three feasts. In verse one, this Psalmist says,"I will lift up my eyes to the hills", I believe "the hills" are refering to the "mountains" of Israel. When these people made this pilgrimage to Jerusalem God promised them that no one would covet their land while they were traveling to worship Him. Which meant that God would protect their land and their homes from thieves. I believe these pilgrims sang this song to the Lord in light of this promise.

Exodus 23:20--"For I will cast out the nations before you and enlarge your borders; neither will any man covet your land when you go up to appear before the LORD your God three times in the year."

1. God is our Helper.

I see this in veses [1-2]--"I will lift up my eyes to the hills--From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth." When we worship God with our lives and seek to serve Him we are promised His present Help. God will not allow us to fall and stumble.

Psalm 46:1--"God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble."

In the first part of the verse it says,"I will lift up my eyes to the hills--From whence comes my help?" They lifted their eyes to the hills and saw God's glory in His creation. They worshipped God, "The Creator" and looked to Him for their help. They worshipped the Creator not the creation. I see this in the answer to the question, "From whence comes my help?" The answer--vs.2 "My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth."

In praise and worship we must lift our eyes and hearts to God and cry out for His help because only He can Help and keep us.

2. God is our Keeper.

I see this in verses [2-3]--"He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep." If we strive to live righteously God promises to direct our steps. It is comforting to know that God doesn't need to rest but always upholds us with His hand.

Psalm 37:[23-24]--"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand."

In this song, the pilgrims were expressing the assurance of God's help and protection. They believed that God would keep both Israel and themselves safe from harm. The Israel they were refering to here was Jacob. By singing,"Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.", the pilgrims were reflecting on God's divine providence and protection. They were singing to the keeper of Jacob. When Jacob left his fathers house he slept on the ground with a rock as his pillow and the sky as his canopy. He had a dream of a ladder that reached from heaven to the earth. On this ladder he saw angels ascending and desending from heaven. This dream was a picture of God's involvement in the world and how He cares for His people. This dream served to encourage Jacob but also served to encourage these travelers as well. They drew strength from reflecting on God's promise to Jacob bcecause they were his descendants. God promised Jacob in Genesis 28:14-15, that He would keep, protect, and bless him and his descendants would be as the dust of the ground and would spread abroud to the west, east, south and north.

Genesis 28:15--"Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you."

They relyed on God's faithfulness to sustain them. After reading these verses again it seems that they may have sung this song in the night watches. When a camp is traveling from place to place, after pitching their tents someone must be appointed to watch over the camp while everyone sleeps. Once the night watch men were in place the people within the camp could sleep knowing that they were being protected. I am sure after having stayed up all night keeping watch the watchmen would fall asleep. Even if this happened they were still confident that God was watching over them.

No matter what is going on around us, we too can sleep because God doesn't need sleep and is always watching over us and keeping us safe. Since God never sleeps we should not be afraid of anything harming us while we are sleeping. I have often stayed up all night with a sick child and out of exhuaustion I fell asleep. I thank and praise the Lord that He never gets exhausted, weary or inattentive. God never closes His eyes to our condition, needs, and or wants.

Every word in this Psalm has encouraged and strengthened my faith and hope in God. I pray that we will always seek to spend time with the Lord so that we will have a fresh glimpse of His glory.

Lord, Thank you for helping and keeping me. Help me to walk in your ways so that I can claim these promises as my own. Thank you for how you supply all my needs. Thank You for being active in my life, not passive. Help me to always cry out to you as my present help. Thank you for ordering my steps. I pray that you may be glorified through my life. Thank you for encouraging and strengthing my faith and hope in You.

Serving Our Lord Together,

Michelle Harrison

"The Race of Faith"

Hebrews 12:[1-4]--"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin."

The Bible often refers to our Faith as a race for life. The race for faith is a race for endurance. Just like running in a marathon we must not look back lest we fall and stumble. We often can get distracted by many things while running this race. Satan will try to distract us by putting things in our path that will cause us to get discouraged to the point of giving up. I often get distracted by conflicts, lost family members, financial problems, health issues, not living up to my own expectations, and my own sin, just to name a few.

In this verse sin is what can so easily entangle us and weigh us down. We have to be careful not to become tangled in our own personal sin that we get tangled up and trip. We must stay daily in God's word so that we do not become entangled and our hearts become unreceptive to God's word. This is what was happening to the Hebrew people in this passage.

In the past I have gotten so caught up in myself that I just wanted to give up because it seemed I had been running....and running...and running, to the point of exhaustion. The problem was, I was trying to run the race of faith in my own strength and had forgotten that Christ had already completed my faith. The Lord revealed to me many truths through this passage about Christ. Without Christ's strength our efforts to run this race of faith are futile. The key to running this race and making it to the finish line is only found by looking to Jesus.

Even though we will endure difficult circumstances and conflict in our Christian walk we are reminded and encouraged to persevere because of Christ. The writter of Hebrews reminds us of four things about Christ that will empower us to persevere in our faith.

1. Christ is the Author and Finisher of our Faith.

We can look to Christ because He is the object of our faith and salvation. Christ is the originator and perfector of our faith. He has perfectly completed it.

John 19:30--"So when Jesus had recieved the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head He gave up His spirit."

2. Christ Endured the Cross.

Even when Christ was tempted to give up he did not. He remained determined and willing to suffer in obedience to God.

Philippians 2:8--"And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."


3. Christ bore the Contradiction of Sinners.


It says in the last part of verse two that Christ despised the shame. Sinners laughed, scorned, and beat Christ. Christ didn't give up even when He had to endure such hostility.

John 19:[1-3]--"So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands.

4. Christ is sitting on the Throne at the right hand of God.


After Christ's death He ascended to heaven and is currently sitting at God's right hand interceding for us. Therefore, proving that He conquered death and the grave and has perfected and completed our faith. Because of Christ's righteousness we can stand perfect before God.


Hebrews 10:[11-13]--"And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool."


Just as a marathon runner has to look and press forward to recieve the prize, we too must not look back but consistantly keep our eyes on the prize; which is Christ. If we want to win this race we must look to Jesus. There will be times that we are so tried from running that we will have to rest but we must not grow weary or give up and quit. When we experience trials and or tests from the Lord in our life we must not allow our circumstances to cause us to become a weary runner whose arms are downcast and knees are wobbling. Instead, we must renew our strength by reflecting on Christ and get a second wind so that we can continue the race and endure to the end.

Hebrews 12:[12-13]--"Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed."

Philippians 3:[12-14]--"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Paul uses the analogy of a runner to describe our spiritual growth. He says we have not reached the goal of christlikessness yet, but we must continue to persue it. This should be the goal of every Christians life. Christ is our preeminent example of how we are to persevere to the end. In order not to give up or get discouraged in this race of faith we must consider Christ. We may become exhausted and even persecuted but it will be nothing compared to what Christ went through. I have been encourged by this passage because Christ lives in my heart therefore I know I have the strength to keeping running in this race until may santification has been completed.

Galatians 6:9--"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

1 Corinthians 10:13--"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."


We must always look to God and seek to grow closer to Him because He is the only one that can keep us from stumbling. God uses all the things we go through for our sanctification therefore we can take comfort in the fact that God is working all things together for our good. God's grace is sufficient for us to complete this race for His glory. We may take no pleasure in our suffering but we can rejoice because Christ's power rests upon us. In Christ we have all the power we need to run and not get weary. May we run with confidence the race God has set before us.

Serving our Lord Together,
Michelle Harrison

"An Obtained Faith of Equal Standing" (Part2)

2 Peter 1:1--"Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:" (NKJV)


Peter begins his letter by introducing himself as, a bondservant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, and then says, "I'm witting to those that have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ." Peter is writing to believers, those that have been given faith by the righteousness of Jesus Christ. I believe he wanted to remind them of the reality of their faith in Christ. Peter wanted to remind them of these three things: 1. Faith is a precious gift. 2. Their faith was a gift of equal standing with others. 3. Their faith was of an equal standing with others because of God's imputed righteousness.

In my last journal I meditated on, 1. Faith is a precious gift. In this journal I am seeking to meditate on the rest of this verse.

2. Their faith was a gift of equal standing with others.

In the (KJV) it says,"obtained like precious faith with us" and in the (ESV) it says,"obtained a faith of equal standing with ours"


2 Peter 1:1--"Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:"(ESV)

"like precious"--"of equal value or honor"--S.Concordance

Peter wants them to remember that the faith that they have, the faith God has given them, is of equal standing with theirs. Some times we think that other people are more spititual or less spiritual than we are. Take Peter for example, he was an apostle of Jesus Christ that was in a position of authority, and yet he says my faith is of an equal standing with yours. Many times I have looked up to many of the disciples and thought wow they are way more spiritual than I could ever be. According to this verse that just isn't true. There are not different degrees, ranks, or levels of Christians. Just because we didn't walk, talk, and see Christ as Peter and the other apostles did doesn't mean they had something we do not. We have a faith of equal standing with the apostles of Jesus Christ. When it comes to Salvation we have the same priviledges and responsibilities as the apostles did as well as other believers.

3. Their faith was of an equal standing with others because of God's imputed righteousness.


In Christ we all have an equal standing of faith. Our faith is not in oursleves but only in the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. If we are in Christ we are all one with each other. Because of Christ their is no inequality in the body of Christ. Therefore there is no spiritual inequality before God.

Galatians 3:28--"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

1 Corinthians 6:17--"But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him."

John 17:[20-23]--“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.


Because we believe the truth of Jesus Christ, we all share as one body of Christ; Christ's life. Paul states this in Ephesians 4:[4-6], "There is one body and one spirit."


We are all sinners saved by God's grace. It didn't take any more grace to save the apostles than it did us. Christ paid for all sin. We have all received a faith of equal value and standing because God is just. He is not a respector of persons. Romans 2:11--"For there is no partiality with God."


All believers have an equal gift of faith because of God's imputed righteousness. God imputed is own righteousness to us through Christ when He died on the cross for our sins. It doesn't matter who we are whether we are: rich or poor, educated or not, african american, white, brown, or what stage of life we are in; we are called to grow in our faith. We must mature in our faith and conform to the image of Christ. God has given us the same resourses he has given every other christian to cultivate, nuture, grow, and use our faith to bring glory to Himself.

We as individuals need to be growing in our faith because we are part of the body of Christ--the church--which makes up one body. Therefore, if we are not seeking to grow in our faith through meditating on the word of God the body suffers. We have all the resources available to grow in our faith because we live in Christ. God has given us the ability through the Holy Spirit to resist temptation and walk in victory over sin in our lives. I believe the key to growing in our faith is to grow in the truth about God.

Lord, thank you for your precious gift of faith. Help me to use the resources you have given me to grow in my faith. Help me to live my life in a way that will show the world that I love you. Thank you for giving me a copy of your written word that I may grow in your truth. Help me to grow in the knowledge of your will.

Serving Our Lord Together,
Michelle Harrison

"Not Made to Bear"

"Not Made to Bear"

Huge white snowflakes fell gently one day,
Wet and clinging on the trees they lay,
The hardwoods tried to bear the weight,
But the load of snow was just too great,
And the branches snapped beneath the strain,
Only wounded skeletons remain.
But the evergreens that stand nearby,
On their own strength did not rely,
They just relaxed and the heavy snow
Slid from their boughs to the earth below.
And the wise evergreens still stand tall,
Teaching a lesson to one and all,
For we never were meant to bear alone,
The burdens we think are all our own.
Abundant grace God will bestow
If we relax and just let go.


This is a selection from the keepers at home magazine.

This poem reminded me how we must not rely on our own strength during trials and tribulations, but solely on God's grace. Even though we live in this dark world God has promised to be our light to guide and direct our path. He has also promised to protect us from evil and provide for our every need.

Psalm 84:11--"For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly."

May we live our lives in light of God's promises and truths that are lined out for us in His word.

Serving Our Lord Together,
Michelle Harrison

The Cross

"The Cross is the blazing fire at which the flame of our love is kindled, but we have to get near enough to it for it's sparks to fall on us."--John Stott

"An Obtained Faith of Equal Standing" (Part1)

2 Peter 1:1--"Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:" (NKJV)

There are so many rich truths lined out for us in just this one verse. Peter begins this letter by introducing himself as, a bondservant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, and then says, "I'm witting to those that have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ." It's obvious in this part of the verse that he is writting to believers, those that have been given faith by the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Peter's not telling these people how to get faith, but rather now that they have faith, this is how they should be living their lives.

Before Peter tells them how they should be living their lives he wants them to remember the reality of their faith in Christ. I believe that Peter wanted to remind them of these three things: 1. Faith is a precious gift. 2. Their faith was a gift of equal standing with others. 3. Their faith was of an equal standing with others because of God's imputed righteousness.


1. Faith is a precious gift.

Peter wanted to remind them that their faith was obtained not earned. He wanted them to remember that their faith was a gift from God not something that they had to work hard to attain. I believe Peter was seeking to remind them of the reality of their salvation. The meaning for the word obtained is very significant in understanding what Peter is saying in this passage.

"Obtained"--"in the greek is "langchano".--its meaning is : a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is only used as an alternate in certain tenses; to lot; determine (by implication recieve) especially by lot: his lot be, cast lots, obtain.--"Strongs Concordance

"Precious"--in the greek is "timios"--it means: of great price, precious, held in honor, esteemed, especially dear; "of equal value or honor"-S.Concordance


Ephesians 2:8--"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,"

Peter was refering to saving faith in the context of this verse, in 2 Peter 1:1. This word obtained is only used three other times in--Luke 1:9, John 19:24, Acts 1:17--in the New Testament. By using this word obtained Peter was emphasizing that their salvation was not something they could attain by their own effort or worthiness, but mearly by means of God's grace.

I believe the point that Peter was trying to drive home to them was that they reiceved their faith by divine allotment. Their faith had been allotted to them by God. A synonym for the word "obtained" is recieved. Faith is given to us as a gift from God. It is something that has to be given to us as well as recieved by us. What I mean by this is, that Our faith is something we recieve from God but it isn't something that we can obtain until we have recieved it. Just like any gift someone gives you. If they are holding out their arm to you with the gift in their hand and say," This gift is yours" the only thing you have to do for it to be yours is reach out and recieve it. We are given faith through hearing God's word but we also must accept it and recieve it as truth. By giving us His word God has made our faith possible. Apart from God's word faith is impossible. We cannot recieve faith apart from hearing and accepting God's word as truth.

Romans 10:17--"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Peter reminds us that our faith is a gift of precious value. Our faith has value because Jesus Christ gives it, its value. It is only through Christ that we even believe in God. Peter clearly states that we "have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:"

It's not by our righteousness that we come to salvation but only through Christ's righteousness. We don't deserve faith nor can aquire it through any virtue of our own. We had nothing to do with our faith, it was totally initiated by God. It's all, all God not us. God even gives us the faith to believe. The Bible says, that none of us seek after God.

Romans 3:11--"There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God."

Isaiah 64:6--"But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away."

We were not looking for God He was looking for us, therefore we cannot take any credit for our salvation. We did not obtain salvation because we were good moral people or because we go to church but merely because God chose us to recieve it. We can only obtain faith by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:[23-24]--"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,"

Our natural tendency is to seek our own interests. Our only hope is for God to seek us. The only way we will seek God is if He does a work in our hearts. This is why after salvation we desire to seek God with our whole heart because He has opened our eyes to see that if our salvation were up to us we would have never wanted it.

We must always remember to be thankful to God for the reality of our salvation. The object our faith--Jesus Christ, God's Son--is what makes our faith precious. Our Faith in God is precious because God Himself places great value on it.

May we never forget that the faith we have obtained from God is a priceless precious gift. The greatest gift we will ever recieve. I thank the Lord for clothing me in Christ righteousness. Our salvation is a divine gift that only God can give us, that was purchased and paid for through Christ's blood on the cross. What an awesome reality!!!!

Lord, Thank You for drawing me to yourself. Help me to stay in Your word so that it will remind of who I am in Christ. Thank You, for the covenant of grace that you have made with me even though I didn't deserve it. Thank you for the priceless gift of Christ. Jesus, Thank You, for paying the price for my sin that I may come into the presence of God Himself and have fellowship with Him. Thank you for opening my eyes up to the gospel. Thank You, for the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. It amazes me that you clothed me with Christ even though I was a filthy, condeemed sinner, and enemy of God. Even though I was unrighteous you placed my unrighteousness on Christ, and then placed your righteousness on me through Christ, and then you gave me the faith to believe that its true. Lord, help me to never forget the reality of my salvation.

Have you obtained faith? Is it yours? Is your faith in Christ alone? Have you been clothed in the righteousness of Christ?

Serving Our Lord Together,
Michelle Harrison

A Valentine’s Day Prayer

I read this prayer today and it really spoke to my heart. May we never forget that the only way we can love others is because God has first loved us with His agape love. God's agape love is the love that starts in the heart of God that He wants to put into our hearts. We think of love as an emotional feeling and God does give us emotions but ultimately true love is not a feeling rather, it is a determined act of will. This kind of love always results in determined acts of self-giving. The supreme measure of love is God's love for us. I thank You, Lord, for being the example of the supreme measure of love.

Romans 5:8--"But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ dies for us.

This verse tells us that when we were powerless and ungodly, Christ died for us. This is how God demonstrates His love to us. When we were God's enemies, He reconciled us to Himself through the death of Jesus Christ. We serve a God that loves us not because we deserve it, not because He has found any thing beautiful or desireable in us, but just because He is love. I praise the Lord for loving me so much that He made the ultimate sacrifice so that I could see how much He loved me. I also praise Him for never changing. Because God never changes His love never changes, therefore His love doesn't depend on anything or anyone. I am so thankful that God's love doesn't depend on how much we love Him. As you are reading this prayer remember how much God loves you and then I encourage you to thank Him for His love.



A Valentine’s Day Prayer

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” – I CORINTHIANS 13:4-7 NIV

"Lord,
Because love is patient…
Help me to be slow to judge, but quick to listen.
Hesitant to criticize, but eager to encourage,
remembering your endless patience with me.

Because love is kind…
Help my words to be gentle and my actions to be thoughtful. Remind me to smile and to say “Please” and “Thank You”
because those little things still mean so much.

Because love does not envy or boast, and it is not proud…
Help me have a heart that is humble and sees the good in others. May I celebrate and appreciate all that I have and all that I am, as well as doing the same for those around me.

Because love is not rude or self-seeking…
Help me to speak words that are easy on the ear and on the heart. When I’m tempted to get wrapped up in my own little world, remind me there’s a great big world out there full of needs and hurts.

Because love is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs…
Help me to forgive others as you have forgiven me. When I want to hold onto a grudge, gently help me release it so I can reach out with a hand of love instead.

Because love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth…
Help me stand up for what is right and good. May I defend the defenseless, and help the helpless. Show me how I can make a difference.

Because love always protects and always trusts…
Help me to be a refuge for those around me. When the world outside is harsh and cold, may my heart be a place of acceptance and warmth.

Finally, because love always perseveres…
Help my heart continually beat with love for You and others. Thank you for this day when we celebrate love, and for showing us what that word really means. Amen."--written by Holley Gerth


[1 Peter 1:22], "Love one another with a pure heart, fervently. Be earnest in your love. "

Father, I thank You for the incredible love that You have shown to us in Jesus Christ. You are the measure of love. In our hearts I know that we cannot love apart from You. Without You, we are self-seeking. We want others to love us and to please us. We are bent on our own ways and our own interests and our own good. Help us to show others your love by the way we show them we love them. Help us to pursue Your love. May we make your agape love our aim. Help us to learn how to love the way you do. I pray that you would empty us of ourselves and fill us with the Spirit of Christ, who is love.

Serving Our Lord Together,

Michelle Harrison

Minix Update

(For everyone that's following the Minix's ministry in Peru.) I talked to Andrea Minix a few days ago, and here's an update on how they're doing (reprinted with permission):

Feb 4th, 2006

Dear Michelle,

We appreciate your words of encouragement and prayer for us. We definitely need the Lord's people praying for us every day. Jayson and I are doing well. We have just completed our 2nd week of language school. Our teacher says she is confident that we will be speaking Spanish very well by our 6th month. I hope she is right. Right now it seems like it will be forever before we are able to understand and speak fluently, but we are learning a little more each day.

Today was my first day to walk to the grocery store by myself. (Jayson normally goes with me). It's not very far of a walk. The grocery store is about one block from our apartment. It's a simple enough task, but the thought of going by myself the first time was a little, well....terrifying. But the Lord gave me courage, and I had no problems at all.

I am very glad to hear that you are praying for us to endure difficult people with Joy. The culture here is a bit different than what we are used to and sometimes we have to deal with difficult people. (Not that they are necessarily trying to be difficult, but sometimes the way they do things is difficult.) Just please pray that the Lord will continue to give us patience.

Thank you once again for sending us a note. Hearing from people back home sure is a blessing. Give our regards to everyone at Southside.


Yours in Christ,
Andrea Minix
John 10:16


Please continue to pray for the Minix's as they seek to share the Gospel with the lost people of Peru.

Being Careful of How We Walk

I read this today and it reminded me of how much our children look up to us and how we must always be careful of how we walk. May our lives be a continual reflection of Christ.


"In His Mother's Footsteps"


"It was a busy day in our home. But then, with 10 children and one on the way, every day was a bit hectic. On this particular day, however, I was having trouble doing even routine chores - all because of one little boy.

Len, who was three at the time, was on my heels no matter where I went. Whenever I stopped to do something and turned back around, I would trip over him. Several times I patiently suggested fun activities to keep him occupied.

"Wouldn't you like to play on the swing set?" I asked again.

But he simply smiled an innocent smile and said, "Oh that's all right, Mommy. I'd rather be in here with you," then he continued to bounce happily along behind me.

After stepping on his toes for the fifth time, I began to lose my patience and insisted that he go outside and play with the other children. When I asked him why he was acting this way, he looked up at me with sweet green eyes and said, "Well Mommy, in Primary Class my teacher told me to walk in Jesus' footsteps. But I can't see Him, so I'm walking in yours."

I gathered Len in my arms and held him close. Tears of love and humility spilled over from the prayer that grew in my heart - a prayer of thanks for the simple, yet beautiful perspective of a three year old boy." -- written by David A. Dalton

Serving Our Lord Together,
Michelle Harrison

Humbly Submitting to God's Authority

2 Peter 1:[1-2]--"Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,"

I believe it is very interesting How Peter begins this letter to the pilgrims of the dispersion. He says, "Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ," He greets them with His name, Simon Peter, the one in which was given to him personally by Christ. Peter then introduces himself as a bondservant and an apostle of Jesus Christ.

Bondservant--"Bond'servant, n. bond and servant. A slave; one who is subjected to the authority of another, or whose person and liberty are restrained."--King James Dictionary

Apostle--in latin is apostalus; in the greek means to send away, to sent.

"A person deputed to execute some important business; but appropriately, a disciple of Christ commissioned to preach the gospel."--King James dictionary

Peter calls Himself a servant or slave of Christ letting these people know that He was on an equal footing with these other Christians. Peter was an obedient slave of Christ because he was fufillling God's purpose for his life by preaching the gospel. Christ gave Peter the authority to preach the Gospel of Christ. Therefore, Christ did put him in a position of authority but he did not use his authority rather, he humbly calls himself a servant of Christ. Notice that Peter calls himself a bondservant before he calls himself an apostle of Jesus Christ. Even though Peter calls himself a servant he was confident in his position as an Apostle of Jesus Christ. Although Peter was in a postion of authority he did not brag or show off his position.

Peter was humble yet confident in his position as an apostle of Jesus Christ. Peter and all of the others disciples learned this kind of humility from Christ Himself.

Luke 22:[25-26]--"And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves."

Jesus exemplified humility with His life and did not assert his rights but gave up His glory and Authority to come to earth to become a man. Christ clothed Himself with humility by choosing to obey God by becoming a servant and dying for our sins so that God may be glorified.

Philippians 2:[5-7]--"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men."

God promises that if we choose to humble ourselves before Him and submit our lives to Jesus Christ as Master of our lives, God will reward us now in our life on this earth and in heaven.

Matthew 5:5--"Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth."

If we humble ourselves and yield to God's authority for our lives He will be our source of strength and confidence just as He was for Peter.

1 Peter 5:[5-7]--"Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “ God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

If we do not submit to God we forfeit His grace at work in our lives because He resists the proud. When we go through difficult circumstances in our lives we often fail to wait on God and try to take matters into our own hands. In these verses it clearly states that, God will exalt us in due time. When we become impatient at God's timing in our lives it is a sign that we are not submitting and humbling ourselves before Him. May we always submit and humbly cast our cares upon Him and trust Him to know whats best for our lives.

Have you bowed your heart before God and submitted and surrendered everything to His will for your life? Are you a humble Christian or are you one that uses your position in Christ to Lord over people? Are you clothed with humility as Christ was when He came to earth as a servant of God? Are you patiently waiting on Gods promised blessings in your life?

Serving Our Lord Together,
Michelle Harrison

Beatitudes for Mothers

I read this today and want to share it with all of you. As a Mother myself this has reminded me of how much of an influence we are to our children. May we always seek to bring up our children to fear and love God. And never cease to diligently teach them to love God with all of their heart, soul, and strength.

Deuteronomy 6: [4-9]--"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."


Beatitudes for Mothers

Blessed is the mother who is pure and godly in the midst of a wicked and adulterous generation.

Blessed is the mother who dedicates her children to the Lord before they are born.

Blessed is the mother who regards her husband as the head of the household; who does not interfere when he disciplines the children.

Blessed is the mother who does not speak of her husband's faults to others; who never speaks to him about his shortcomings in the presence of others.

Blessed is the mother who does not find it boring to be "just a housewife"; who doesn't work outside the home when it is not essential; who loves to be with her family.

Blessed is the mother who is able to control her children; who makes home life exciting and pleasant for her family without subjecting her children to television.

Blessed is the mother who has a good sense of humor; who is patient and kind when she has a headache.

Blessed is the mother who is loving and gracious toward her mother-in-law.

Blessed is the mother who is not lazy, who does not gossip.

Blessed is the mother who is feminine but is not a slave to fashion; who is always modest in her attire and conduct.

Blessed is the mother who is clean, outwardly as well as inwardly; who keeps herself neat and dresses in simplicity and good taste.

Blessed is the mother who seeks wisdom from above, who teaches her children to love God's Word.

Blessed is the mother who takes time to see the beauty of God's handiwork.

Blessed is the mother who is unselfish and sacrificial; who is a constant encouragement to her husband and children.

Blessed is the mother who prays; who faithfully intercedes for her family, as well as others.

Blessed is the one who has a lovely, Christ-like mother who brought her into the world. She gives a heritage which cannot be exchanged for the wealth of this universe. --Author Unknown

Proverbs 31: 10, 28 --"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies... Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:"

Serving Our Lord Together,
Michelle Harrison