(CLICK THE PICTURE) Good morning everyone. This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. We have all of our faculties working and able to draw breath so you better praise Him this morning. Don’t let any situation, be it your job, your health or your financial state stop your joy. The prayer today is from an author and man of God named J. B. Phillips that just fits perfectly with the theme of the message. We should all embrace and own this prayer.
Today’s Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, You, through the Holy Spirit’s leading into truth, helped Your servant, J. B. Phillips,* to see that it was PRIDE that caused You the greatest anger. You believed that man, all of us, must recognize this and overcome it if we were ever to follow Your way, Your truth, and Your light. Help us to consider this as we read Phillips’ translation of Your beatitudes:
(1) “Happy are those who realize their spiritual poverty: they have already entered the kingdom of Reality.
(2) “Happy are they who bear their share of the world’s pain: in the long run they will know more happiness than those who avoid it.
(3) “Happy are those who accept life and their own limitations: they will find more in life than anybody.
(4) “Happy are those who long to be truly ‘good:’ they will fully realize their ambition.
(5) “Happy are those who are ready to make allowances and forgive: they will know the love of God.
(6) “Happy are those who are real in their thoughts and feelings: in the end they will see the ultimate Reality, God.
(7) “Happy are those who help others to live together: they will be known to be doing God’s work.”
Let us prayerfully consider Phillips’ translation as we seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance for a better understanding of Your truth.
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Let’s eat.
The Joy of God
In the Salvation of the Lost
Luke 15:28-32 –
“The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’ “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”
In the Obedience of the Saved
3 John 2-4 –
Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. Some of the traveling teachers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth. I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.
In the Glorification of His Own
Jude 24-25 –
Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.
Quote of the Day
Down through the centuries in times of trouble and trial God has brought courage to the hearts of those who love Him. The Bible is filled with assurances of God’s help and comfort in every kind of trouble which might cause fears to arise in the human heart. You can look ahead with promise, hope, and joy.
Billy Graham
WITH HOPE AND FAITH; follow us on the foundation community site:
http://facebook.com/therelationshipfactory
REV. ELDER G E STERRETT
FOUNDER
GCKRS HELPING HAND FOUNDATION – THE RELATIONSHIP FACTORY
James H. Taylor Sr. – Kankakee City News has published my Daily meal message for a decade.