Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †
Posted in Uncategorized
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Are You a Servant of God?
By Pastor Ricky Kurth
“Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle…” (Titus 1:1)
Did you ever wonder why Paul, an apostle, began his epistle to Titus by first referring to himself as a servant, the Bible word for a slave? Well, it helps to learn why the apostle opened two of his other epistles this way.
First, he identified himself as a servant to the Romans (Rom. 1:1) because Rome was the capital city of the Roman Empire, and the citizens of Rome were used to owning slaves, not being slaves. Paul himself had been born with all the rights and privileges of Roman citizenship (Acts 22:25-28), yet he was humbly willing to acknowledge that he was a servant of God. So in writing the saints in Rome, the apostle introduced himself as a servant to remind them that they too might be free citizens, but that “he that is called in the Lord…being free, is Christ’s servant” (I Cor. 7:22).
Paul also introduced himself as a servant to the Philippians, where two of the ladies were feuding (Phil. 4:2), and everyone in the church was taking sides. When they received Paul’s letter, they probably thought that he was going to take a side in their squabble and settle it in so doing. But rather than siding with either faction, he made it clear that he was writing to them “all” (1:1), praying for them “all” (1:4), thought highly of them “all” (1:7), longed after them “all” (1:8), rejoiced with them “all” (2:17), and wished them “all” well (4:23). His marked and repeated use of the word all in this epistle shows that he refused to take sides in their feud. Instead, he told them to get on the Lord’s side, saying,
“…be likeminded…being…of one mind…let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God…took upon Him the form of a servant…” (Phil. 2:2-7).
When two believers are not of one mind, the only way they can become of one mind is to let the mind of Christ govern their lives—the Christ who “took upon Him the form of a servant.” If you have a dispute with a brother in Christ, I can tell you whose side Paul would be on. He’d be on the side of whoever was willing to be the other one’s servant. Lowliness like that will solve any and all disputes, but it is high spiritual ground. But then, isn’t that what you have in mind when you sing “Lord plant my feet on higher ground?”
Finally, the reason Paul called himself a servant in addressing Titus was because Titus was an intimidating man (II Cor. 7:15). Spiritual leaders like that sometimes need to be reminded that the strongest leaders of men are nothing more than servants of God. Titus might have been a tough man, but that’s not what made him fit to pastor a church. His fitness was found in his willingness to be a servant of God and lead His people in serving Him by example, and not by force (cf. I Peter 5:3). I’ve heard horror stories of pastors who act like little Napoleons—and some of you have lived such horror stories. Men like that would do well to remember the humility Paul displayed when he referred to himself as a servant, and stop dominating the faith of God’s people (II Cor. 1:22), and “by love serve one another” instead (Gal. 5:13).
https://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/are-you-a-servant-of-god/
Titus 1:1 ¶ Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
Romans 1:1 ¶ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Acts 22:25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.
27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.
28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.
1 Corinthians 7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.
Philippians 4:2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
Philippians 1:1 ¶ Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 ¶ I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
7 ¶ Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Philippians 4:23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. <<To the Philippians written from Rome, by Epaphroditus.>>
Philippians 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
2 Corinthians 7:15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
1 Peter 5:3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
2 Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Galatians 5:13 ¶ For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
What attracted me to this movie is Mary Chapin Carpenter’s performance of 10,000 miles. I truly don’t think anyone else has made a more moving performance of this traditional song. “Fly Away Home” is, simply put, a wonderful film about coming-of-age, about the soar (really in this case) of adventure. Simply put, it’s a wonderful film. I’ve probably watched it a dozen time. It’s simple story, told with great movie artistry, and is timeless. Whenever I need a little emotional bost, I watch “Fly Away Home”.
Aww you made me cry first thing in the morning! My daughter was so much like this girl when she was little. I can still see her little girl smile and hear her voice. She still rescues everything she can from dogs to tadpoles.
When we are young, many of us yearn for babies. It’s built into us. Then, we are busy in the wonder of watching and raising them. We never realized in diaper stage that they grow into people! Even though my mom warned me!
Those were the happiest days of my life and I’ve had a normally happy/hard life…. Of course I think I’m having parental PTSD over the teen years… But those years when life is hard but as parents we can still fix most problems and make them smile? When our chicks don’t want to leave the nest?
Those are the days and reasons I get up everyday, work hard and fight like he11 against gov tyranny and hegemonic big tech… In my own tiny, insignificant way.
The first-time I heard her sing 10,000 miles I just had to stop. I was captivated by both her voice and phrasing. “Fare Thee Well” is an old English folk song from the year 1710.
I think Mary’s performance perfectly captures the sadness of impending loss—you know it’s coming but don’t want it to happen. I found some old letters in a box the other day and found myself experiencing those exact feelings from a long-ago parting. I think you’re right: they never really leave us, do they? But then, happily, we sometimes get to return . . .
Fare you well my dear, I must be gone
And leave you for a while
If I roam away I’ll come back again
Though I roam ten thousand miles, my dear
Though I roam ten thousand miles
So fair though art my bonny lass
So deep in love am I
But I never will prove false to the bonny lass I love
Till the stars fall from the sky my dear
Till the stars fall from the sky
The sea will never run dry, my dear
Nor the rocks never melt with the sun
But I never will prove false to the bonny lass I love
Till all these things be done my dear
Till all these things be done
O yonder doth sit that little turtle dove
He doth sit on yonder high tree
A making a moan for the loss of his love
As I will do for thee my dear
As I will do for thee
Yes yes yes. The Mrs. and and I have watched this movie at least half a dozen times and never tire of the music or the moving and uplifting story, not to mention the amazing videography.
A great choice, once again, Garrison.
🙂
On this day ~
June 8, 1978
✝️ Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn spoke these words: “The fight for our planet, physical and spiritual, a fight of cosmic proportions, is not a vague matter of the future; it has already started. The forces of evil have begun their decisive offensive. You can feel their pressure, yet your screens and publications are full of prescribed smiles and raised glasses. What is the joy about?” These perceptive and challenging words were uttered by one of the great Christians of the 20th century in the commencement address at Harvard University. Solzhenitsyn was in exile in America after suffering years in Communist prison camps for criticizing Stalin. He had found faith in Christ in the “Gulag Archipelago,” the Soviet Union’s cruel prison system which devoured alive millions of individuals who opposed or circumvented its atheistic rule. The result of his suffering was a masterful documentary, Gulag Archipelago, which exposed the brutality of the Soviet regime.
At one point in this massive work he showed how utterly different his thought had become from the complacent, pleasure-seeking of the West. “Bless you, prison, for having been in my life!” He could say this because in prison he had recognized the spiritual danger he was in, and found time to consider the claims of Christ. “God of the Universe! I believe again! Though I renounced You, You were with me!” he wrote in a poem.
Lord forgive me for rolling my eyes and thinking mocking thoughts of the woman in the Doctors office today that had on gloves, mask, and insisted on being given cleaner to wipe the chair down before she would sit in it. Forgive me for rolling my eyes and being annoyed w/my sister, who has been vaccinated, declaring she thanked you for having her mask on while in Costco when someone coughed. We live in a world full of toll and strife, we all have our issues, but I do I ask for patience w/these people that have been overwhelmingly brainwashed. My compassion has run thin. I thank you that I am not like them, I do find peace in that. Amen.
I am NOT by any means an expert in Psychological Trauma. But it seems that the Coronavirus Psychological Operation that we all were subjected to effected some more than others. Perhaps those who can NOT let go of the “Mask Up! Social Distance! Wash Your Hands Frequently!” etc. regime will need Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) counseling?
I believe that some folks would definitely benefit from some counseling, or deprogramming. It is like a form of OCD. I feel bad for them, and I am truly grateful I am not stuck obsessing over the Rona protocols. The lady at the Doc’s office today was mind-boggling. It was like something out of a movie. I have to give kudos to the staff and everyone in the waiting room for containing themselves, believe me it was hard. We all wanted to laugh at her, and we all wanted to smack her to bring her out of her quandary, bring her back to reality like on Tv.
I often think they are atheists; fear death as the worst possible thing whereas, as Christians, it’s so many things. I’m only afraid bc my family needs me here.
Someone told me that a woman made them go into Dr bathroom to turn on the light for them!
This led to much speculation about various other things touched/cleaned when she was in there.
I’ve noticed over the past week the local television stations have been airing news items and many commercials for people to get mental help – I mean a LOT of news items and commercials. I think the powers-that-be are starting to realize they’ve created a bigger problem any imagined possible.
Yet, the need for mental help is also a useful crisis, n’est-ce pas?
I just watched a movie called Body Brokers, it was pretty good. barry did a similar scam. I imagine the same format, or something similar will be used for those that need help in treating the people affected by solitary confinement during Rona. Plenty of money will be made off of it, just like in the movie Body Brokers.
I had the same thing happen yesterday. I was at my pharmacy and the guy in front of me was wearing the heavy duty N something mask and rubber gloves! This when Texas is pretty much removing all mask protocols. I’ve stopped wearing masks—and nobody’s questioned me. If don’t see the “wear as mask” sign on the door then I don’t wear a mask or socially distance. Honestly that guy in front of me looked like someone from outer space! And he was surrounded by people who were not wearing masks. Liberty and freedom is like that I guess.
It is sad. Some people do have low immune systems and need to be cautious even pre-Rona, but the ding bats and you can tell, they are ding bats are pathetic.
This is the SECOND CHILD is a WEEK dumped in the Nevada wilderness.
BOLO
Nevermind – It’s the same child – another Mother accidentally identified the police sketch as her son, who was found safe with his father. There is still a BOLO out for the MOTHER of the dead child.
https://nypost.com/2021/06/02/moms-wrongful-id-of-murdered-child-leads-to-dad-being-falsely-accused-of-killing-son/
The mother is apparently originally from the San Jose area; a relative had recognized the images of the child and called in to let the police know who he was and info on his mother. Very sad.
Very important indeed.
Yes, it’s a lot of reading, but it’s important for everyone to understand that the only way they were able to keep so many important players in the Republican Party quiet was to make sure they were complicit in the overall voter fraud conspiracy that has been in place for nearly two decades. They were hooked in and when it came time for people to start asking questions, they had to do everything they could to cover it up for the sake of self-protection.
“They were hooked in “
I’ve seen this same plot in many of the Elliot Ness “Untouchables” TV series shows.
The “communist, demos, GOPe, Media” are just one big crime family.
BEST FRIENDS DAY
On June 8th, honor your closest and dearest friend on Best Friends Day.
NATIONAL UPSY DAISY DAY
Each year on June 8th, National Upsy Daisy Day is set aside to encourage you to face the day positively and to get up ‘gloriously, gratefully and gleefully’ each morning.
Groan… 😉
Carbon-dioxide is so pretty!
The stuff of life!
WHAT NEXT?
Determine to know more than others. “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” John xiii. 17
If you do not cut the moorings, God will have to break them by a storm and send you out. Launch all on God, go out on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and you will get your eyes open. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in smooth waters just inside the harbour bar, full of delight, but always moored; you have to get out through the harbour bar into the great deeps of God and begin to know for yourself, begin to have spiritual discernment.
When you know you should do a thing, and do it, immediately you know more. Revise where you have become stodgy spiritually, and you will find it goes back to a point where there was something you knew you should do, but you did not do it because there seemed no immediate call to, and now you have no perception, no discernment; at a time of crisis you are spiritually distracted instead of spiritually self-possessed. It is a dangerous thing to refuse to go on knowing.
The counterfeit of obedience is a state of mind in which you work up occasions to sacrifice yourself; ardour is mistaken for discernment. It is easier to sacrifice yourself than to fulfil your spiritual destiny, which is stated in Romans xii. 1-2. It is a great deal better to fulfil the purpose of God in your life by discerning His will than to perform great acts of self-sacrifice. “To obey is better than sacrifice.” Beware of harking back to what you were once when God wants you to be something you have never been. “If any man will do…he shall know.”
Oswald Chambers
June 8th Devotional
a chip off the old block?
Mornin’ infidels!
Mornin’ WeeWeed
Good morning WeeWeed. These always make me laugh!
Shared it with family and friends. It will continue to be passed on! Thank you.
. . . but deliver us from the Evil One.
Amen ?
The Jesus Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.
The 50th Psalm – Septuagint (Psalm 51 – KJV)
Good morning all.
Amazon jungle humid here at my acre in Central Indiana. Suspect it will be that way for awhile since the there is a chance of rain in the forecast here through Friday.
Did a Chicago milk run Sunday-Monday and am leaving this morning for a run up into Ontario at 11:00. First Canadian run I’ve done in about a year. Sitting here reviewing the procedures and what I have to do in my mind.
Stay cool………..
~Safe travels
Prayer of Saint Ioannikios the Great of Bithynia (+ 846)
My hope is the Father, my refuge the Son, my protection the Holy Spirit. O Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.
Verse of the Day for Tuesday, June 8, 2021
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“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
Proverbs 17:22 (KJV)
Thank You, Jesus, for blessings received and prayers answered!!!
BE MY VOICE
PRAYING ON THE ARMOR OF GOD
Father God, I now follow your command to put on the full armor of God, because my battle is not against flesh and blood but against rulers, authorities, the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the unseen world.
I first pray on the Belt of Truth that it may be buckled around my waist, may I be centered and encircled by your truth dear Lord. Hem me inside all that is true and right, and may I be protected and held up by the truth of your living word, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Breastplate of righteousness, please protect my vital organs and my inner man, cover my integrity, my spirit, and my soul. Guard my heart for it is the wellspring of life, please strengthen and guard the most vulnerable places in my life with that which is right, good, and noble that I might not receive a fatal blow from the enemy, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Gospel Shoes of Peace. I choose to stand in the shoes of your good news, and on the firm foundation of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the solid eternal rock. All other ground is sinking sand, I pray that I will not slip or fall, but that my feet would be firmly fitted on your lordship, my Lord Jesus. I choose to stand on you, so that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus, the eternal Rock of Ages. I receive your holy peace now my Lord, from the sole of my feet to the crown of my head, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray the Shield of Faith into my hand now. As I take up the shield of faith, I ask that you might extinguish every dart and arrow, that is launched from the enemy to take me down spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and every attempt of the enemy to destroy my joy. I ask that my faith in you would make it flame out. Extinguish every flaming arrow that would come against me, my life, my family, my home, or my ministry. May my faith always be out in front of me like a shield. Give me the courage to “faith my fears” by choosing to walk by faith and not by sight, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Helmet of Salvation, that you might protect my mind from the thoughts that can lead me astray. I choose to take every thought captive, and arrest all intentioned ideas and motives that would harm others, or distract me from your holy will for me. I submit every captured thought to the Lordship of my Lord Jesus Christ, and ask that you would imprison those thoughts that are not of you my Lord. Transform my mind and renew my thinking that I may think God thoughts, and have a sober mind that is focused on your glory. Please protect me from being double minded that I may allow my mind, I reject to live an earthly life, because I choose to live a holy one, governed by you My Lord Jesus, the prince of peace, please have my mind to be saturated with the holy mind of Christ, in my Lord Jesus name.
Finally, I take up the Sword of the Spirit which is the holy word of God, I pray this powerful offensive weapon into my hand, and ask that your holy word would be fitting for every encounter I face. As the enemy gets close to me, please give me the insight, wisdom, and skill to wield the word of God to drive away the enemy, in my Lord Jesus name.
May the enemy and his team flee from me, upon hearing the word of God spoken by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. Give me the sword of the spirit to cut through the wiles of the devil, so that I may discern the schemes of the enemy when he is near.
With all kinds of prayers, supplication, and intercession I pray to you my Lord God as the one who fights my battles. Now that I’m in your holy powerful armor, I walk away covered and ready to face my day as you go before me, and please protect me in the midst of the spiritual warfare in this unseen world, in my Lord Jesus name.
Thank you my Lord, for the spiritual weapons of armor and prayer that you have given me. It is written no weapon formed against me shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses me.
Thank you Father God, my Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit, that I am more than a conqueror in my Lord Jesus. I pray all of this in the mighty name of my Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, amen.
Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!
Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Pascha
May 26th on the Patristic Calendar of the Orthodox Christian Church and June 8th on the civil or commercial calendar.
Acts of the Holy Apostles 17: 19 – 28
Holy Gospel according to Saint John 12: 19 – 36
Holy Apostle Cárpos of the Seventy (+ 1st century)
Holy Apostle Alphæus (+ 1st century)
Saint Augustine, Archbishop of Canterbury, evangelizer of England (+ ca. 605)
Holy New Martyr Alexander of Thessalonike, at Smyrna (+ 1794)
and many other Saints and Holy Martyrs who are commemorated today.
The Paschal Troparion
Christ is risen from the dead, by death hath He trampled down death and on those in the graves hath He bestowed life.
(sung thrice)
Saint Augustine is also known as the Enlightener of Kent.
An excellent book titled “Saints of England’s Golden Age” was compiled by Vladimir Moss and includes the Lives of some 50 Holy Men and Women who flourished in Orthodox Christian Britain.
https://twitter.com/magicalplaces24/status/1402095724066656257
Final Warning!!
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/amazon-s-neighborhood-wireless-network-sidewalk-launches-tuesday-here-s-how-to-opt-out/ar-AAKO3zQ
https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB1gtERH.img
Edit: Reminder courtesy Peter Grant https://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/2021/06/a-reminder-to-disable-amazon-sidewalk.html
That’s scary. If it was only used for legal and 100% ethically upright purposes it could be useful, but we all know that will never be the case.
Can you tell me if an Amazon Fire Stick which has Alexa on it needs to be turned off? I can’t find anything about that.
Betcha a hammer will work!
You’d think so, anyway.
Very scary!
People don’t get it because of their cognitive dissonance and their emotional resistance (mostly because they have departed from the Will of the Creator and what He wants for human life on earth) . . .
The Deep State, the Main Stream Media, Big Tech, academia, Big Pharma, Hollywood, the Chiefs of Staff, and the billionaires . . . they’re all with the Chinese Communists.
Their hearts are with the Chinese Communists.
They all share the same goal.
They want to take over the world . . . and their delusion is the Creator doesn’t exist.
We are their enemy!
But I skipped to the back of The Book.
God wins!
Random Musings at the The End of Life as We Knew It ~ from Doug “Uncola” via the Burning Platform
He says it well…memories laced with sadness in the coming days…
https://www.theburningplatform.com/2021/06/08/random-musings-at-the-end-of-life-as-we-knew-it/
100% believable. Impel anyone who disputes this analysis to prove it is incorrect.
lilbirdee12’s prayer:
Our Heavenly Father, Your children come to you tonight to ask for healing and peace throughout our country so that we may return to being One Nation Under God. Guide us to be leaders in Your Kingdom, spreading Your Love and Salvation to all. Forgive us our sins and deliver us from evil.
Lord, we ask for a blanket of protection over all our troops and law enforcement who serve to defend and protect us. Bless our representatives with the strength and wisdom they need to achieve the path You have chosen for us.
Please place Your Guardian Angels of Protection around Donald Trump and his family as they seek to lead America back to You. Also, we pray for Angels to protect and support our Sundance as he works for justice and peace.
Grant us patience, Lord, as the evil ones try to anger us and cause us to fall.
Spread blessings over Israel and Netanyahu.
We humbly ask that You please comfort those who are grieving and in pain.
Thank you Father, for Your Love and the gift of Life.
In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.
Amen
Amen.
Amen.
Winnie the Xi and Piglet-Jong Un have an interesting neighbor. Yep, of Michael Flynn https://www.rokdrop.net/2021/06/general-flynn-takes-over-as-commanding-general-of-u-s-army-pacific/
Wow. Younger brother of Gen. Michael Flynn! Don’t know anything about Gen. Charles Flynn but hopefully he’s of the same genuinely patriotic stock as his older brother.
Charles Flynn
German leader, all leftists, want to have full power and strip EU members of veto https://rmx.news/article/article/germany-wants-to-remove-veto-rights-in-the-eu
✝️ Lord, thank You for the day. Amen.