Who is God?

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Heavenly FatherMany years before I became a Christian I found myself searching for God and in doing so I read some of the books of Wayne Dyer. Dyer is a well known author on spirituality. Dyer often refers to God as “the source.” While Dyer may believe in God, he believes that God is simply too big and too complicated to be limited to a name who can be identified as anything other than the source.

I think what is interesting is that God certainly is the source of everything we are searching for and need, but isn’t it possible that God is so much more than being called a source? Therefore, I have to ask the question, how can you have a relationship with a source? I can have a relationship with my employer, he is the source of my income for a living, and so he is called my employer. I have a relationship with my doctor, he is the source for any medical diagnosis, and I call him doctor. I also have personal relationship with my wife, my relationship with her is so much more than I can describe here, but I don’t dare call her wife, I call her by her name, which is Kim. I have other relationships with my children I call them by their given names. But these names are all based on a relationship.

So if you were seeking someone who you believe is God, would that not be a based on a relationship that would at the very least have a name? Because if I referred to my wife as the “source” when she made me a fine meal or took a relaxing walk with me, she would probably look at me as if I was crazy. So would we refer to God whom we seek and pour out our soul in prayer when we need Him most as the “source?”

God does have a name, in fact Jesus told us repeatedly to call God Father. One reason is because that the name evokes a personal relationship. Just as a child I learned to come to my earthly father for things I wanted, but most importantly things I needed. Never once did I come to my father and say “source, I love you.” Nor did I ever grow up and consider the man who hugged me, and loved me as “the source” because my relationship with my father was real and personal, and never was he too big or too complicated for me to call him anything less than father.

Consequently wouldn’t God want me to come to him in a way that is real and personal also? I believe he does. In fact, when the disciples asked Jesus how to pray he told them to pray to their father (Matthew 6:9). Perhaps you too have been searching for God for a long time but were not sure who He really is. Years after reading Dyer’s books I decided to read the Bible, and would you believe in my search for who God is I found Him! One day while reading my Bible I found this out when Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

You can know who God is and Jesus shows us that by the model of his relationship with the Father. And if you will let him, Jesus will bring you into that same close relationship with him if you allow him. If you desire to have a relationship with God by name that is real and personal with whom you can know Him and have communion with Him for all eternity all you have to do is call on Him, “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” Acts 2:21. Listed below is more information for you to begin that relationship.

Steps to Peace with God

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New Engage Worship Service at Fruit Cove Baptist Church

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Engage Worship Service at Fruit Cove Baptist Church from Marc Krevo on Vimeo.

Engage is a band-driven worship service at Fruit Cove Baptist Church in Fruit Cove Florida. Engage appeals mostly to the millennial generation (those born between 1977 – 1992). The Engage worship service is every Sunday at 12:15pm in the A Fellowship Building.

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Man of Christmas – Man of God

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Man in Prayer
Man in Prayer

Today many people look to men whom they believe are heroes. Sometimes they are the obvious choice: soldiers returning from war, first responders of a catastrophe, or someone who has done something extraordinary that has defied all odds. Without a doubt this could qualify any man as a hero. But what about a man of God? What makes a man of God?

What about the man who stands behind the scene to help make something great happen? Perhaps a hero could also be someone who was an unlikely choice in an unlikely situation against unlikely odds. Joseph the father of Jesus was such a man. But Joseph was not just a hero, he was a man of God.

What made Joseph so unique was not who he was or where he came from. What made Joseph a hero was the fact that he possessed the character of a man of God. Joseph was a poor carpenter with limited means and he faced great difficulty. After being engaged to his young bride-to-be Mary, he found out she was already pregnant. Joseph had every right to call off the marriage. The law of the old testament gave him every right to publicly disgrace not only Mary but her father right in front of his house! But Joseph did not do that. So if you read the gospel of Matthew 1:18-25, you will find three characteristics that made Joseph a man of God.

First, Men of God hear from God. Joseph did not react sharply or make any quick decision, instead, he slept on it. Sometimes we as men need to respond the same way when faced with difficult choices. Certainly Joseph himself was uncertain what to do. In verse 20 the Scripture tells us he “considered this.” Certainly Joseph was weighing his options and the consequence of how he might handle the situation. But since Joseph decided to sleep on it God spoke to Joseph through an angel. The angel spoke to Joseph and calmed his fears when the angel said in verse 20, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife.” God honored Joseph’s patience and consequently he gain counsel from the Lord just when he needed it most. As men we all need to be patient and wait to hear from God when we need it most.

Second, Men of God trust God. Joseph was being placed in what seemed like an unfair situation. Why should he have to take Mary when the child she was carrying was not his’? Joseph was under no further obligation to marry Mary. In the face of being ridiculed, and having to care for a child that was not his own Joseph trusted God because he had heard from God. Even though what he heard would have seemed impossible, verse 20: “because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” Men of God not only hear from God, they trust God even when it seems impossible and crazy, they trust God. Bill Hybels wrote in his book, The Power of a Whisper that, “If you ever find yourself with a difficult assignment, why not try giving God thanks for trusting you with something that needs your particular strength. He assigns tasks to the right person every time. He did it throughout history, and He still does it today.” Trusting in God often reveals more of what we believe in Him rather than ourselves.

Third, Men of God obey God. Today especially, people don’t like being told what to do, but we often need to do it. Joseph not only heard from God and trusted God, he obeyed God. Obedience is saying yes to whatever God asks of you. That’s what Joseph did, he obeyed God. Verse 24 said, “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.” Obeying God also means without delay. Joseph did what he was told to do as soon as he awoke from his sleep. He didn’t try to rationalize or somehow do only a portion of what he thought he could manage. He did exactly what God commanded him to do.

Finally, Joseph was already in a position to do all these things because he already had a right relationship with God. Previously before Joseph considered, slept, and acted, he was able to do all these things because he already had a right relationship with the Lord. Before these three areas are observed look previously at verse 19 the Scripture says, “Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man…” The translation from the Greek word for righteous in this verse is described as “the act of doing what was right in agreement with God’s standard; the state of being in a proper relationship with God.”

Before any man can live his life as a man of God, he has to be in a right relationship with God before he can be expected to respond like Joseph did. Just like a child has to crawl before it can walk, men need to learn to start of right before they can finish right. If you want to be able to be like Joseph, you have to be willing to do what he did, and that starts with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The Scripture testify in Romans 10:9-10, “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”  Are you ready to become a man of God? If so I invite you to view these simple steps to peace with God. Steps to Peace with God

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What is Sin?

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For many people the thought of the ten commandments brings a message of what not to do rather than a message of what to do. Many people understand what they shouldn’t do rather than what they should do. However, the ten commandments was not so much intended as a list of what not to do, it is intended to bring awareness of what is sinful. Read Romans 3:20 “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.”

Now for everyone, people know what is wrong. People know that it is wrong to lie about someone, or bring false accusations against them; it is wrong to be envious of another person’s possessions; and of course people know it is wrong to steal, commit adultery, and murder another person. We all understand this right?

The apostle Paul writes in Romans 1:19 “since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.” In other words, you know what is wrong, it is obvious, and God has made it obvious to everyone. So why do we need a list of what we should already know to be wrong? In this world of “disclosure” or “waivers,” many people declare “you should have told me this.” And if we have not been told what is wrong many people feel they are not responsible, or try to rationalize that if everyone else does it that makes it alright.

Therefore, even if we know an action is wrong and many people say they are not responsible or if they were not informed is it wrong? Really? The apostle Paul continues in this awareness in Romans 1:20 “for since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities––his eternal power and divine nature––have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”

So if we live lives in sin and are without excuse how are we to reconcile ourselves with God? How can we possibly face a holy God with our sinful lives? Answer, we can’t. Our best days are not good enough for a holy God. The apostle Paul makes this clear in Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”

However there is good news, and it is the gospel of Jesus Christ! The Bible as you have just read clearly states that we are all sinners, everyone of us. Therefore, we need a substitution for our sins in order that we may be acceptable and seen without sin before a holy God. This substitution is faith in Jesus Christ, John 3:36 “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

Those who reject Christ are given over to their sins. In other words if you reject the Son (Jesus Christ) God gives you over to living a life of sin. Your opportunity in life is short, what has been made plain to you is that we are all dead in our sins, but the grace of Jesus Christ is life and is abundant and available to everyone. Jesus came to save you from your sins and that you might have eternal life, but in order to do that you need to give your life to Christ. When you give your life to Christ you begin to live a life in what is right rather than living a life of what is wrong. Give your life to Christ, repent, and accept Him as the Lord of your life in order that you may begin to truly live rather than die to a life of sin.

If it is your desire to come to Christ I invite you to view these simple steps to peace with God. Steps to Peace with God

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One Life Made All The Difference In The World

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One day a little boy and his grandfather were walking along a beach where thousands of sand dollars had washed a shore. Suddenly the grandfather started picking up the sand dollars and throwing them back in the ocean. To his amazement the little boy said, “grandfather there are thousands of sand dollars why are you wasting your time with just one?” The grandfather replied while picking up a sand dollar, “to this one, it makes all the difference in the world!”

Just like the grandfather, God looks on everyone the same way, he too wishes to make all the difference in the world, sometimes with one person at a time. One man who was given life and changed was Charles “Chuck” Colson. However, on August 21, 2012 Chuck died from complications of a brain hemorrhage, but his passing was a life spent changing lives through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Chuck’s life was marked with many achievements early in life. While practicing law at his successful firm, Chuck was selected to be President Nixon’s special counsel at the ripe old age of 39. Chuck was instrumental in getting Nixon reelected but after leaving the White House, Chuck experienced an emptiness that neither position, fortune, or fame could satisfy.

After being involved in the fallout from the Watergate scandal under President Nixon’s administration, Chuck spent 7 months in prison. Prior to his conviction and incarceration, Chuck’s life changed dramatically, he became “born again.” After giving his life to Christ before his conviction and incarceration, Chuck became transformed. He began weekly prayer meetings with congressmen and other leaders in Washington D.C.. During his prison sentence he conducted bible studies, and led prayer groups. Not only was Chuck’s actions affecting those in prison but those outside as well, and for the next 36 years Chuck was responsible for changing lives one at a time through the power of Jesus Christ.

When Chuck Colson left prison, one of the inmates shouted “you’ll forget about us!” However, shortly after his release in 1976 Chuck founded Prison Fellowship, a ministry devoted to proclaiming the love and power of Jesus Christ to inmates. Since then, Prison Fellowship has been providing biblical based teaching through in-prison seminars; provided gifts to prisoner’s children on behalf of the incarcerated parents; developed Justice Fellowship a program to promote biblical standards of justice in our nation’s justice system, and even spread internationally.

Chuck was tireless in his devotion to the Lord by his development of the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview. This organization provides radio programming, articles, video, podcasts, and an abundance of education for those seeking a greater understanding of world events from a Christian worldview.

A few years ago when Chuck was interviewed on a radio program he was asked about his life and why at his age he hasn’t retired.  The host asked, “Chuck at your age what gets you out of bed in the morning?” Chuck replied, “One of the most wonderful things about being a Christian is that I don’t ever get up in the morning and wonder if what I do matters. I live every day to the fullest because I can live it through Christ and I know no matter what I do today, I’m going to do something to advance the Kingdom of God.”

Just like the grandfather who was making a difference with one sand dollar at at time, Chuck kept advancing the kingdom of God by making the difference one life at a time. Just like Chuck, Christ also made all the difference in the world. By Christ’s own testimony he replied, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:10. But in order for you to be saved you have to be willing to give your life to Christ. The choice you make won’t just change your life today, it will change your life for eternity! The Bible testifies in Romans 10:13 that, “for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Will you answer His call and receive life?

If it is your desire to come to Christ I invite you to view these simple steps to peace with God. Steps to Peace with God

 

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The Mission of the Church

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I encourage the faithful to watch this video produced by the Gospel Coalition. As many of us go forth in living our lives for Christ, the mission of the church can go in many different directions. The important question we need to ask ourselves is what does God’s word tell us about our roles and responsibilities in the church? The answer? Proclamation and disciple making is to be central in the church. This video is a roundtable discussion of the future of the church and our biblical mandates that we need to practice.

The Mission of the Church from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.

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2011 Christmas Dinner for Migrant Farm Workers in Hastings Florida

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On Monday December 19, members from Fruit Cove Baptist church in Jacksonville Florida traveled to First Baptist church in Hastings Florida. They came to deliver a Christmas dinner to the migrant farm workers in that community. In addition to dinner, clothes and toiletries were distributed to those in need.

These migrant farm workers and their families endure difficult living conditions along with long work days in the field harvesting crops. Many of these people live in this community permanently or they work there temporarily before moving to the next farming community for work.

Before the members of Fruit Cove arrived in Hastings they prayed. Their prayer was that these people would not only receive material goods, but that these migrant farm workers would feel loved and that someone cares about them. But this love is not just from an organization, but through the hands and feet of Jesus Christ through his servants.

The apostle Paul said in his letter to the Corinthians “If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing” 1 Corinthians 13:3. It can be easy to donate money or resources or even time, but the greatest gift of all is love. People often don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Let your gifts to others be out of heartfelt and sincere love.

People know when the love you show is genuine and it can be the greatest gift of God’s love. After all, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16.

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See You At The Pole

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See You At The PoleThis is the 21st anniversary for See You at the Pole, a student-initiated and student-led movement that started in the Ft. Worth suburb of Burleson, Texas, in 1990. SYATP brings students to their school flagpoles to intercede for their leaders, schools, and families, asking God to bring moral and spiritual awakening to their campuses and countries.

“CONVERGE”(from Matthew 18:20) is the theme for See You at the Pole 2011, the Annual Global Day of Student Prayer. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, September 28, at schools across the United States and in many other countries.

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The Eternal Tragedy of Amy Winehouse

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For many people who are aware of the talent and success of Amy Winehouse, the news of her tragic and early death comes as quite a shock. Despite the publicity of Ms. Winehouse’s drug and alcohol problems, her death seems surreal. No doubt many who have heard of her success in singing and music have also heard of her battle with drugs and alcohol.

What may seem so tragic to many is that Amy Winehouse was so talented and yet still so young. For many the tragedy is heightened because she was unable to recover from her addictions before her death.

But the life of Amy Winehouse was precious, and special. If she never sang professionally or if she never entered the music arena as an artist she was special. Her life was special and since the day she was born God had a plan for her whether it was music or any other purpose in her life.

However, since the day she was born, it was still God’s plan for her to be in a relationship with him, not for twenty seven years or a hundred years but for eternity. Some people will simply categorize Ms. Winehouse in the “27 club.” These are musical artist that were very successful and yet died at the age of 27 due to complications from drugs and or alcohol.

In the Bible, God’s word tells everyone that he does not want them to perish: 2 Peter 3:9 “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Why? In Luke 12:7, the Bible describes God’s concern for us that He even knows the number of hairs on our head! That’s special, that someone who cares enough to know the littlest things about us because He cares. And He cares and loves us so much that he sent his son for us, John 3: 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The Bible tells us that no matter how old or talented we are special to God. We are special even if we are not gifted with musical and vocal talent. And we are special even if we have lived a sinful life. Remember, “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9.

The death of Ms. Winehouse was tragic not because of her age or her talent but because she just like everyone else without the saving grace of Jesus Christ face separation from God for eternity. The life we all live is temporary, but after death we will all face the consequences of sin which is eternal separation of God. Romans 6: 23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The gift God offers is simple and he does not want anyone to perish. But everyone knows that the day of death will come and that we are without excuse. “For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2.

The day of salvation is now, not when we are 27 or 100 because “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2. Today, now, not tomorrow, today is the day of salvation. Now is the time before death comes like a thief in the night and robs you of separation from God for eternity.

He is waiting, not wanting anyone to perish. If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior today is the day to make sure you have eternal life with Him in Heaven. Won’t you come to Christ today and change an eternal tragedy into an eternal triumph!

If it is your desire to come to Christ I invite you to view these simple steps to peace with God. Steps to Peace with God

 

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Is there justice after judgment for Casey Anthony?

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The long awaited results in the verdict for Casey Anthony is in, not guilty. The trial that has been going on for weeks is finally over. Casey Anthony is found by a jury of her peers not guilty of murdering her two year old daughter. And while there is closure of this case for now, the truth about who murdered Casey Anthony’s daughter Caylee is unsolved.

So has justice been served? Well if your Casey Anthony I’m sure her thoughts are that justice has been served. But what about little Caylee? What about justice for her? If Casey Anthony did not murder her daughter, someone did or at least someone knows the truth.

The bible teaches that everyone will have to account for their actions one day. On that day every tongue will confess and every knee will bow that Jesus Christ is Lord. So whether Casey Anthony murdered her daughter or not she will still have to account for her actions for her life. Whether she murdered her daughter or not Casey Anthony will have to give an accounting of living a life of sin.

How do we know this? The bible clearly states that: “There is no one righteous not even one…” Romans 3:10. And as a result the penalty of sin is death, not just physical death but an eternal and spiritual death separated from God:  “For the wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23. And because of this there is another legal system and everyone’s life will be on trial one day.

However, God has provided a legal system that offers forgiveness despite our guilt and sin. Its called the grace of God, and it’s not only forgiveness of sin, its eternal life with Him. There is an exclusion clause to the second part of Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  No separation, no damnation, and of course a not guilty verdict.

Casey Anthony has that same opportunity today and so do you. But for that to happen you have surrender to the ultimate authority and give your life to Him, Jesus Christ. How do you do that? It’s very simple: “That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9,10

That same forgiveness and salvation is offered to everyone, even Casey Anthony. But for that to happen she has to surrender to the ultimate judge and savior, Jesus Christ. Won’t you give your life to Christ today and start a new life not guilty?

If it is your desire to come to Christ I invite you to view these simple steps to peace with God. Steps to Peace with God

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