What God Says I Am.

What God Says I Am.

Satan tempts me to believe I am of no worth.
But, God says through Christ I am Beloved.

Satan coaxes me to believe I am loathed by all.
But, God says through Christ I am Loved.

Satan manipulates me to believe I am a total reject,
But, God says through Christ I am Elect.

Satan entices me to believe I am utterly unclean.
But, God says through Christ I am Sanctified.

Satan lures me to believe I can never be satisfied.
But, God says through Christ I am Satiated.

Satan baits me to believe my life is in total darkness.
But, God says through Christ I am Enlightened.

Satan rags me to believe that my sin has me detained with him.
But, God says through Christ I am eternally Delivered from my sin, Satan, and his schemes.

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ…

RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
9/30/09

Why We Cannot All Get Along?

Why We Cannot All Get Along?

Pettiness
Rivalry
Ignorance
Dread
Envy

Pompousness
Resentment
Insincerity
Disregard
Enmity

Prejudice
Ruthlessness
Injustice
Double-crossing
Evilness

Proud hearts, proud minds, and proud mouths stir up much trouble...

Proverbs 13:10. Only by pride cometh contention…

Proverbs 21:4 (NLT) Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin.

RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
9/29/09

A Love for All Seasons

A Love for All Seasons

My darling,
May our love endure through all seasons.

May our love sprout and bloom
As the lovely spring flowers and trees
May we buzz about together through life
Like the industrious, bumble bees
May we refresh one another
With showers of kisses that please

May our love shine bright
As the summer sun on high
May our love burn fervently
Causing our bond further to solidify
I pray we will take the time to frolic
Merrymaking under the summer sky

May our love be as vibrant
As the plethora of paints of fall
May our love be as pleasurable
As vivid countryside sights that enthrall
Though, the autumn days shorten
May our love be ablaze in the early nightfall

As the winter temps turn to cold
For love, let us hold each other especially near
As the cool holidays kindles warm hearts
May the savor of the times stir us to love more dear
Winter is each calendar’s ending season
Let us prepare for a new genesis of love in the New Year.

Song of Solomon 2:10-13 (New International Version)
My lover spoke and said to me, "Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me."

RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
9/21/09

Radiate

Radiate

Rouse your soul’s compassion
Acknowledge the poor’s plight
Delve into relevant knowledge
Illuminate your heart’s vision
Advocate justice for all
Trail blaze meaningful initiatives
Empower community exalting God

1. To emit (light, for example) in or as if in rays. 2. To send or spread out from or as if from a center 3. To irradiate or illuminate (an object). 4. To manifest in a glowing manner 5. Ecology To spread into new habitats and thereby diverge or diversify.

Matthew 5:16 (Amplified Bible)
Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.

RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
9/21/09

What Does Your Countenance Communicate?

What Does Your Countenance Communicate?

A Smile

Satisfied, secure with Christ Jesus
Maturing by grace and surrender
In-sync with the Spirit’s leading
Leaning on His mercy and might
Executing His purpose and plans

Or

A Frown

Faltering in faith and duty
Robbed of joy and peace
Opposed to God’s truth
Warped by worldliness
Negligent in loving God

Psalm 32:10-11 (New Living Translation)
10 Many sorrows come to the wicked,
but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.
11 So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
9/3/09

I am a part of all that I have met.

I am a part of all that I have met.

As we journey through the time that is our life,
We leave bits of ourselves with those we meet.
Some pieces may be bitter and others sweet,
An oft-glad glance or rare glare sharp as a knife.
A vigorous vent due to a wrong painfully endured.
A blessed well-paced, well-placed word spoken,
Affects others-builds up or leaves them broken.
Let us grow in grace showing we have matured.
Let us love and be merciful as we walk together.
Meanness can mangle bonds between brothers.
Let us be mindful of the ways, we affect others,
It is the will of Almighty God, our common tether.
Christ Jesus offered the world a counterexample.
His words were powerful, moving, and gracious.
His acts bared a heart loving and nobly tenacious.
All hearts touched by Him praise His holy example!

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Inspired from the quote “I am a part of all that I have met.”
By Lord Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892)

RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
7/31/09

In All Seasons and Circumstances

In All Seasons and Circumstances

In all seasons and circumstances,
My Love, I vow my love to you.

With devotion and resolve,
I shall love you.

In ill health and in wellbeing,
I shall love you.

In delight and in discontent,
I shall love you.

In prosperity and in poverty,
I shall love you.

In keeping my heart for you alone,
I shall love you.

When we are both old and gray,
I shall love you.

When I am down to my last breath,
I shall love you.

As the Lord has loved me,
I shall love you.

For the Lord loves His own
In all seasons and circumstances.

Even at death on Calvary’s cross, the Lord Jesus’ actions whisper sweetly to our hearts, “Behold how I have loved you!” May we be true to our commitments, following His example.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it… Ephesians 5:25

RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
7/31/09

What is Fidelity?

What is Fidelity?

Faith
Inspired
Devotion
Exhibiting
Loving
Integrity
Towards
Your spouse…

Fidelity

Malachi 2:15-16 (New Living Translation)
15 Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. 16 “For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.”

RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
7/16/09

Pray for Me

Pray for Me

I have a request of you,
A rather simple thing to do.
Pray for me.

There is sway when we pray.
Walls move out of the way.
Pray for me.

Do not take my plea as doubt.
I just desire your extra clout.
Pray for me.

Prayer empowers victory,
When two touch and agree.
Pray for me.

Praying one for another is good,
The bible teaches we should.
Pray for me.

When we ask for others in prayer,
It expresses by love that we care.
Pray for me.

Pray that I would know and do God’s will
Despite the trials, I would cleave to Him, still.
Pray for me.

And, when the Spirit brings you to my heart,
I will appeal to the Father on your part.
I will pray for you.

James 5:16b …Pray one for another…

RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
7/13/09

When the Glory Departs

When the Glory Departs

When the glory departs,
It breaks men’s hearts.
When the glory disappears,
It leaves a trail of tears.
When the glory goes away,
Misery mars each day.
When the glory flees,
The stout sag to their knees.
When the glory expires,
It extinguishes desires.
When the glory ends,
It reveals false friends.
When the glory runs its course,
The famed fold in remorse.
When the glory is subsiding,
The outgoing go into hiding.
When the glory is missing,
Lovers cease kissing.
When the glory is gone,
Man suffers within, without alone.
When the glory is in lack,
Some do anything to get it back.
When the glory is no more,
Man laments, longs for where he was before.

Earthly glory is momentary and the persons, groups, or nations who persist in seeking it eventually will discover its fleeting nature and the barrenness and brokenness it leaves behind. In God is glory that neither fades, faints, nor comes to a finish. Let us cease to chase the jaded, fading glory of this temporary life but rather the eternal glory graciously granted by the Almighty God to all who take refuge in His Son, Jesus Christ- The King of Glory.

Psalms 62:5-7 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
7/9/09

What Love Does…

What Love Does…

Waits
Habilitates
Ascends
Transcends
Ensues
Values
Evolves
Resolves
Invigorates
Translates
Tends
Amends
Knits
Emits
Submits

Love does whatever it takes.

1 John 3:16 (Amplified Bible) By this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the [essential] love: that He laid down His [own] life for us; and we ought to lay [our] lives down for [those who are our] brothers [in Him].

1 Corinthians 13:7-8a (Amplified Bible) 7Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. 8Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].

RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
7/8/09

Stripped

Stripped

Sidetracked by self ambition
Turned aside from godliness
Rebellious toward truth
Insatiable in appetite
Proud in prominence
Promiscuous in relationships
Egregious in fabrications
Disciplined by the Almighty

Stripped

Jeremiah 13:25-27 NLT
25 This is your allotment, the portion I have assigned to you,” says the Lord, “for you have forgotten me, putting your trust in false gods. 26 I myself will strip you and expose you to shame. 27 I have seen your adultery and lust, and your disgusting idol worship out in the fields and on the hills. What sorrow awaits you, Jerusalem! How long before you are pure?”

Have you been stripped? Being stripped makes way for cleansing. “But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” (1 John 1:9 NLT)

RevLDReedSr
I owe Jesus
7/2/09