Romans 12:1–2 (ESVI appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Pastor's Note For those in Christ, the only acceptable worship is to offer ourselves completely and wholly to God. Our lives are to be a sacrifice to Him. He doesn’t desire the blood of bulls…He desires a sacrificial life committed to Him. He doesn’t want a dead sacrifice, He wants a living sacrifice. One that is a continual witness to the world of His goodness. This should be our response in view of His wonderful mercy that it took to save us. We worship Him because of who He is and what He has done upon the cross to forgive us of our wretched sinfulness. We conform to Him not to the world. Let this be our witness to the lost world today. Praying for you always Pastor Jamie  Psalm 128:1–2 (ESV)Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Pastor's Note I’ve heard it said before that there is only one fear that we need to have. It’s the fear that conquers all other fears. It’s the fear that brings forth knowledge. It’s the fear that comes with blessing. And that is the fear of the Lord! A holy, revered fear of Yahweh. Most times, fear is known to be a negative emotion. But when it comes to our reverence toward the Lord, it is a good and right response to who He is! Have a blessed day walking in fear of the Lord knowing that it comes with immeasurable blessings. Praying for you always Pastor Jamie  1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 (ESV)11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Pastor's Note The Apostle Paul demonstrates his genuine love for God’s people. He is such an example for all us that desire to care for God’s flock. Let me point out three things from these verses that puts his heart on display. First, he had an overwhelming desire to be with and spend time with the Lord’s people. His prayer was for God to clear a way so that he could be with the brethren in the Thessalonian church. If leaders in the church don’t have a desire like this, then there’s a heart problem because how can one lead and serve a flock that they are not committed to wholly or have a desire to be with. Secondly, he cared about their affections toward one another. Christians are to love one another. Not just some superficial love but a brotherly, sacrificial love. A love that laughs when they laugh, cries when they cry, morns when they morn, provides when there is a need, gives truth even when it’s difficult. A love that says, I’ll die for you if necessary. That is love! Lastly, Paul had genuine concern for the flock’s holiness. He cared that their life demonstrated the gospel. He cared for their spiritual well-being. He knew that fullness comes only by being right with God and he spurred them on, he encouraged them to that end. I’m thankful that God gives us such examples within His Word. Pray for me as I pray for you that we not only read about these examples but that we live it out until our Lord Jesus comes! God Bless! Praying for you always! Pastor Jamie  John 14:19–21(ESV)19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Pastor's Note Jesus on His way to the cross is encouraging His disciples. As believers He lives in us. He is always with us. He loves us. It’s recognizable in our lives because of how we live for Him demonstrates it. We are different from the world. We actually desire to keep His commandments because we have loving gratitude for who He is and what He has done to save us from the pit. I’m praying for you today. Live life today knowing that Christ is always with you. Praying for you always! Pastor Jamie  Psalms 139:1–6 (ESV)1 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Pastor's Note How intimate of a relationship is there between Yahweh and His children? This psalm demonstrates the reality of that question. He searches us, He knows us! He knows when we sit and when we rise. He knows when we go and when we lay down. He knows our thoughts and all of our ways. Even the words that we speak are known to Him before they are spoken. The all-knowing, omniscient nature of God is too lofty for us to fathom. Yet, that is the God that we believe in, that we love and adore. He knows us! He knows everything! I find comfort reading these verses this morning. Comfort that can be found only in Him. I don’t know everything but He does. So, let this be an encouragement to us. There are times when we are overfilled with knowing His presence and there are times that we feel like we are walking in the desert alone. Regardless of where we are today, remember that God never changes. He is always there. He always knows what we are going through. And it is in Him whom we trust. Praise His Name! Praying you have a blessed day walking the steps that God has already marked out for you. Be faithful. Praying for you always. Have a Blessed Day! Pastor Jamie  Colossians 1:13–14 (ESV13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Pastor's Note: What a deliverance we have in Jesus. Delivered from darkness to being citizens of His Kingdom, going from rebel to redeemed, from condemned to forgiven. Be a light to this world. There are many rebels that need to hear how they too can be redeemed! Think about that this week as we live out our Christian life. Praying for you always. Blessings Pastor Jamie  |
AuthorPastor Jamie Payton 
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