Mercy, Mercy Me

Psa. 51:1 ¶ Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions (NIV).

 

When was the last time you cried out for mercy? Why where you in need of mercy? When was the last time you showed mercy? How did you answer these questions and how would you like to answer these quetstions? Your answer deals with how you see mercy. Mercy is the act of compassion toward someone or something you have the power to punish or harm. The punishment comes because of someone breaking a law or some offence. Breaking of God's law will bring punishment. You may not see the punishment effects right away but the punishment will be noticed. Will you aks for mercy knowing the wages of sin is death as shown in Romans 6:23a.

         David realized the punishment he received for his sin's involving Bathsheba and he cries for mercy. David goes to the God of mercy asking for God to give him mercy. David sees that mercy lines up with God's loving character.With this plea of mercy David asks for a clean slate by asking God to, «Blot out my sins.» To blot the sins is to remove them from the record. Let me move forward debt free. This debt of sin David realized he couldn't repay just as no man can except Jesus.

         What do you need to cry out for mercy for? How can God's unfailing love surround you and lift you up and change you under his grace. Take the time to confess your sins to God and surrender to Jesus and turn away from your sins. Let Jesus purify you as you daily walk under God's mercy he showed you through Jesus Christ, God's son.

 

By: Samuel Duren

First Seek His Kingdom

 

Matt. 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matt. 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

-NIV-

        

Worries can weigh you down and leave you empty and depressed. Worrying about your bank account, what the weather is going to be tomorrow or will the store have what you are looking for? These things are okay to be concerned about, but they should not be the thoughts that consume or day. We should be thinking of how to serve the King, God our Lord.

         Today alone is enough to deal with why try to deal with two days at the same time? Tomorrow is going to come with will come with its own worries. So today focus on how you can live to honor God. Choose wisely the words you speak and where you go. Seek to be like Jesus as one would be living in his kingdom. Jesus is righteous and his kingdom is righteous, therefore you should seek righteousness. Let God take care of tomorrow for he does a better job than you ever can. Today is the day you have and give it back to the Lord with praise and living a life of thanks.

         Let you thoughts focus on Christ and see how the day's decisions are Christ centered. You will see the bigger picture and that Christ is Lord and your life should be focusing on giving him glory. How are you living today will determine how you will face tomorrow.

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Learning from an ANT

Proverbs 6:6-11 (New Living Translation)

⁶      Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.

      Learn from their ways and become wise!

⁷      Though they have no prince

      or governor or ruler to make them work,

⁸      they labor hard all summer,

      gathering food for the winter.

⁹      But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?

      When will you wake up?

¹⁰      A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,

      a little folding of the hands to rest—

¹¹      then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;

      scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

 

         The ant is diligent at work with no lord or master ruling them but the ant works hard during the summer and has food for the winter. The ant works when others desire to play and are able to rest when times become hard because of the work it has done before the times became hard.

 

Lazy people or consistent procrastinators will think a little sleep will not hurt. I can rest and fold my hands and be idle now there is plenty of time to do this work later. Yet the problem is if you do not have the time now when will you have the time to make it up? You cannot make up time. Once time is gone it is gone. Only when you have done the work that is needed should you rest from your labors. If you do not do the work you will see poverty and scarcity come on you for your lack of diligence.

         God calls us to be responsible with the time He has given us and working for His kingdom while we have time. We do not know the day or the hour Jesus will return. Jesus is coming back so we need to work now and surrender your life to Jesus. "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1Cor. 15:58 ¶ NIV)."

 

Samuel Duren

rev.duren@zionbcpeoria.com

"Building a Better Community"

Zion Baptist Church

323 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr

Peoria, Il 61605

wk: (309) 676 4828

fax: (309) 676-8195

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Keep Your Life Free...

Money is not the Problem the Love of Money Is.

Heb. 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you (NIV)."

 

         The love of money will have you so concerned with keeping up with the Jones you forget who you are. You become a rat running the rat race. The problem is if you win you still are a rat. The pressures of wanting more chokes you and puts you under pressure. You try to keep up with a world that is doomed.  You want what is going to be destroyed.

         The God's Word shows how seeking wealth is deceitful. Wanting more of what you already have and still never satisfied. Wanting less of what you need and wondering why you are empty. Lusting after the riches of the world will leave you empty. Having more money will not make you a better person or a bigger giver or give you satisfaction. Gods' word will bring you satisfaction and contentment. You can rest on his word God said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

         Make room for God's promise to enter your heart. Make room for God's Word to pierce your heart with love and peace. Grow in God's love with confidence that He will provide your every need. Keep your life free from the love of money and love to obey and seek God's word and following Jesus Christ God's Son. Be satisfied that God will do just what He said and He demonstrated this in giving His only Son, Jesus, Our Lord and Savior.

 

 

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Come To Me…

Matthew 11:28 ""Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (NIV)."

 

 

            God sees how we are not perfect and we struggle in everyday life. You and I could never satisfy God. God knows this and provides Jesus to give us rest. Life dependent on Jesus is life full of rest. Stress and disappointments in life can weight you down. You can be your worst critic and make your life feel incomplete. God's desire you to be complete in him. Whatever is stopping you from your rest needs to be fixed. You can fix it by coming to Jesus Christ. Come asking Jesus to show you His will. Jesus will show you his will for you until your find rest. Just seek Jesus with all you have.

            Be aware of the influence of your friends or issues in your life need that will stop you from finding rest. Do not allow these things to be in your life without first facing them. They will slow you down and stop your spiritual growth. Simply just come to Jesus. The world seeks to test you and your dependence on Jesus and Jesus simply says, "Come to me…." Surrender yourself and just come and find rest.

Pleasing God

"It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him (Hebrews 11:6)."

 

How are you living your life? Are you living to please God? Take the faith test to see if you are pleasing God with your life. Check your faith and see does it meat Hebrews 11:6 definition. Living to please God will please you. Living to please God results in peace and life full of purpose. Take the time to really look at your life and see do you have evidence of continuous prayer and meditation on God's every word. When you depend on God and pray to God you will not move unless you are firmly convinced you are doing what is pleasing to God.

Do no move in fear or doubt any longer, but move by faith. Move in prayer and dependence on God's awesome love. Depending on God by faith through Jesus will expand your life and multiply peace in your life. Depend on God and not on man. A pleasing life is a life that is free, full and faithful. This all comes from experience God's unfailing love through Jesus. Live pleasing God. Live by faith. 

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Weight Shifted

Weight Sifted

Colossians 1:6-7:

         "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as yea heave been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving (KJV)."

 

            A building's foundation is sunk deep in the earth to prevent the structure from shifting. A building that shifts too much is unstable and unsafe. What foundation supports you? Is it able to withstand all the pressures of life? If not I suggest you make Jesus Christ your foundation. He can handle the weight of life. Jesus sad, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." Jesus will take your heavy burdens and make them light because, through Him life is fulfilling. You want rest? Come sit under His teaching and be rooted with a good foundation and find rest for your soul.

 

            Jesus has your best interest at heart at all times. Your friends may not. They may want to be our foundation. They may want you to trust them. They have good intentions but they still may mislead you. Your friends build a shaky foundation. Jesus is the Rock a solid foundation. Do not let people say you. Let Jesus be your foundation. Be rooted and built up in Him.

 

            Jesus took your sins with Him on the cross. Jesus took your burden. He was help up by nails in His hands and feet to cancel your debt. Your debt is sin, your burden is guilt and your penalty is death. Jesus saw this weight that you could not handle and sifted it all on Himself. Through faith in Jesus walk in Him and live debt free, weight free, and stress free. Shift your burdens to Jesus. He will keep you in perfect peace by guarding your heart and your mind.

 

PRAYER:

Lord I cannot carry this alone and I thank you for sending Jesus to bear my sins. I want to be rooted in your word and live a life that is abounding and full of thanksgiving. I can only do this through Jesus, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

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Need Directions?

John 14:6 ¶ Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

 

         Where are you in your life journey? Sometimes I wish life were mapped out like an amusement park with a kiosk. On the map I can look and the map that reads with a big red star "You are here!" When I see this I know where I am and where I am going and how far I am to my destination. Unfortunately or fortunately, however you look at it, life is not this way. Or is it? Can you just pause life like a game or DVD and see how far you are from the finish line or your destination. Can you stop to see how well you are doing or see if you are in first place, or in last pace or if you are even lost? Can we?

        

Yes, we can. This is because God loves us that he gave us a GPS, God's Precious Son, to show us the way. God is always giving directions through the Son, Jesus. Jesus was surprised that his disciples after following Him for three years and did not know the way. So Jesus points out, "I am the way and the truth and the life." Jesus was showing them and telling them follow me. You can stop and look at Jesus for your direction. Jesus will guide you in your career, relationships, parenting and finances. Jesus knows the ultimate end. The author of Hebrews says, "Jesus is the author and the finisher of our Faith." Let God's Precious Son be your source of direction and see how the way leads you to the truth and eternal life.

        

PRAYER:

         Jesus I surrender my life to you and trust you to lead me where I need to go. You will turn me away from temptation and lead me where I will have peace and joy that all comes from you. This is my prayer. Amen.

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Clean Inside

CLEAN INSIDE

Mark 7:20-23
Mark 7:20 ¶ He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him
'unclean.' 21 For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil
thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed,
malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All
these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean (NIV).'"

What makes you feel dirty? What is that picture or those sounds that
make you cringe? The things that come out of your heart can cause
such a response. God is concerned with what comes out of your heart
and therefore you should be concerned what goes into your heart. God
will not be mooched. He will judge and see the truth behind actions.
Lip service is just talk but God is looking for people of words and
action.
When your heart is in it our actions define your words not your words
defining your actions. Live free of the evil monsters that can be
within your heart. To fight them humility, love, self-control and
obedience to God needs to be priorities. You should look to honor God
before honoring man. You should put your self-last and Jesus and
others first. This will give you JOY. J is for Jesus O is for Others
Y is for you. Put Jesus and others before you. Anger, greed, envy and
the others listed in verses 21-22 will put you only in the question
and all you are left is Y. Why do you do this is the questions that
will be asked. The answer will be it came from within. It was in your
heart and you are responsible for what came out. So be responsible
for what goes in.
Take daily time to pray and really talk to God and give the same
amount of time to meditate and listen to Him as He speaks to you.
Read a verse a chapter a book of God's word out loud. Read more than
once so it gets into your heart through repetition. Then daily apply
what you pray and what you read in full obedience to God and it will
show you how to let your heart follow after God and not the world.

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Sanity

Sanity

Dan. 4:34 ¶ At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation (NIV).

 Sanity is defined as the ability to think and behave in a normal and rational manner. To define sanity the need to define what is normal, because what the world calls normal is different than what normal means to God. God explains that the wisdom of this world is foolishness in His sight. So in order for you to be normal you need to come back to God. Come back to God and see what he sees. Come back to God is coming back to sanity, or keeping your sanity or maybe you just will discover sanity. This will lead you to God's will and see why it is good. It is time for you to make the call to Sanity because this world will drive you to insanity. God will drive you to Sanity!

The way to maintain, reclaim or attain your sanity is staying in prayer, being rooted in God's word and being filled with his Love. Listen to God through His word, Holy Spirit and how God speaks through other people. Listen to the call of God and let him keep you in perfect peace. Your sanity will depend on your prayer life as well. Staying in prayer will lead you to sanity and to the fullness of God. Praying is simply talking to God. Take the time to talk to God about your problems and regain your sanity by praying for God's strength, love, wisdom and peace. Isaiah 26:3-4 - Is. 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Is. 26:4 Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal (niv).

 

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Shake It Off!

Handling Rejection

Mark 6:4 "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and his own house is a prophet without honor (NIV)."

   

    Rejections from those who are close to you like your family and friends hurts. Jesus suffered that same kind of rejection in his own town among his own kind and even in his household. People where saying they knew him and put limits on Him. Jesus was teaching with authority but this was unusual for a carpenter to be able to teach with such power, let alone they saw him grow up and know his family.

    When people know you or of you it seems easy to assume they know all you are capable of doing. Jesus was beyond their limits they placed on his life. You too are not limited to the limits people have placed on your life. Jesus knew his purpose and knew that he would face rejection on the path. Your path to success will be littered with rejection and ridicule. Because if you path is easy and not obstacles than you are on the wrong path. Jesus knew to save the world he was going to suffer many things (Luke 9:22). Just know that as you face this rejection God is projecting you to your destination. What comes against you is not greater than who is with you.

    Handle rejection as Jesus told his disciples as just shake the dust off your feet (Mark 6:11). Brush them off. Do not let them weigh you down but instead know you are doing greater works for the Lord and God will judge them. You need not be worried of them but show grace and humility but trusting fully on God and following Jesus. Jesus will see that you can make it because he has made you able to win.

    So now when you receive rejection take the time to measure where you are in your journey. Ask am I on the right path? Am I doing God's will? If your answer is yes, then let the ridicule not stop you but just shake it off!

 

God Knows Me

Psalm 22:9-10 "Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God (NIV)."

God has called you before you called on Him. He kept you since you were a baby and even knew you before you were formed in your mother womb. Because God knows you so well, you can take comfort that God also has a purpose for your life. God's grace is present to help you grow and be all He has made you to be. God will not stop, but He will complete the good work He has begun in you. Will you surrender to God and see the outcome? When you surrender is when you become powerful. Power is not control but self-control is power. Surrender to God and let Him lead you to where you really want to be in your life.

       God has given you life for a purpose. Do you know your purpose or are you working on it now? Are you still growing to reach your full potential? As long as you have breathe in your longs and your blood is flowing your precious life as a precious purpose that only you can fulfill.

Will you call God your God and let him guide you to your destination. God sees the roads ahead and all the obstacles to come. Be strong and of good courage knowing that if God sees what is to come he will prepare you now for what is to come so you can be victorious when the challenges come. It is good to know that God knows you and knows your purpose in life and has given your life purpose. Live your life for God and find joy and peace as you fulfill your purpose. You can do this all through faith in Jesus, God's Son. 

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Just Believe

Mark 5:36 ¶ Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe." NIV

 

Jairus has just lost his daughter he finds out on his way back to see her. The reason he left her sick bed was to ask Jesus to touch her and heal her. Jairus ran to see Jesus. When he left his daughter was still alive. But now on his way back with Jesus some men tell him do not bother Jesus your daughter is dead (v.35). But Jesus tells Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe."

How difficult is it to believe at times of pain and hurt. When your hope appears to be gone. This world is filled with so many tragic stories but here you can read a firm strong voice saying "Don't be afraid; just believe." Jesus is asking you in spite of what people tell you believe in Him. No matter how bad the situation looks believe in Him. Placing your faith in Jesus will open you up to wonders of possibilities you once thought were impossible. Jesus can take you places you have never been and show you things you have never seen. Will you take that step of faith and believe in God's only Son, the Holy and Righteous One, Jesus Christ.

You can take the time now and just say: Jesus I do believe you are God's Son and died on the cross for my sins to rise again from the grave on the third day all to forgive me of all my sins. I will trust you with my whole life and learn to follow you and not be afraid and just believe in you.

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Hope Has a Price

"We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield."

(Psalms 33:20 NIV-G/K)

Hope is not cheap there is a price. Hope is not a simple wish, but a firm belief of the positive to come. Daily hope is the simple motivation for daily living. People broke down on their luck wake up morning after morning hoping today will be a better day. People reporting to a job they do not love in hope that their pay check will come. If you did not have hope, a positive expectancy of your life you feel like giving up. With out hope you fail to see the great meaning of your life. Your life is precious and hope is not dead. Hope is alive and well. Hope comes from God. God is your help as in he will be there for you thick and thin. He is your shield meaning he will protect you from dangers to come. This awesome hope is revealed in the awesome love God has toward us shown in His son, Jesus. 

With so much despair, depression and death around we need hope. You may feel hopeless because you feel unimportant. Jesus came just for you. He came to show you that God has something better than what this world can offer. His love that will not fail. This love is a help when you feel unloved you can see How God loved the world He gave his only begotten Son(John 3:16). God gives you his very best because you are His very best. There is no one else like you and God made you that way. You are a beautiful person who God has made. Will you allow God to use you and show you your full potential and give the world hope seeing God use you. Have ever seen and elderly person need help picking up what they dropped? Have you seen a child need help tying their shoes? Have you seen a person down on their last dime looking for an answer? There has to be someone there who can help? Can it be you?

You can show that it may cost you now to build a better tomorrow but hope cost. Jesus paid the ultimate price by giving his life for the world to have a better tomorrow. What are you willing to sacrifice today in a hope of tomorrow. God's grace saved you not for you to be selfish but to show His grace to some one else. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)." 

Just take the time to open the windows of your ears to hear the cries around you. Open your eyes to see the peril around you. These people need your help. You can give some one hope and assist their life. You can share the love of Jesus you have inside. If you do not know Jesus or are unsure know "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 NIV-G/K) You can confess Jesus Lord of your life and accept God's Son as your Lord and see Him change you and fill you with hope.

"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

(Romans 5:5 NIV-G/K)

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It was not the Clothes

It was not the Clothes Mk 5:27- When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment (NKJV).Mk 5:28-Mk 5:29 For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well."5:29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body she was healed of the affliction."

What is the news that will make you move. What will make you get up to see a change in your life. What made you realize that the news you heard was what you needed? Your hope for a change like the woman with the issue of blood for 12 years. Twelve years of suffering. Twelve years to remember that things were not always this way, but these years lead you and point you to your only help. Jesus is near and close enough for you to touch will you only reach to embrace your destiny. Reaching out to receive Jesus by faith requires action and you receive results. The result is healing, restoration, peace and liberty. Whom the son sets free is free indeed. Let Jesus free you of your sin sickness. Give your toubles to the Lord in prayer and just know you will be healed. Jesus said to her, " go your faith has made you whole go and be free of suffering. " You, too can come to Jesus to walk with in Him and He living in you and move forward in your life with confidence with Jesus. With Jesus nothing is too hard.

With God's Love
Samuel Duren

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Pray to release stress

Phil. 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Phil. 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

Feeling stressed. Things in life are not working the way you would like. Your goals are not being accomplished. Your job is not taking you in the direction you want to go. These all add to frustration and stress when results do not come the way you would like. This can be eased by taking your issue to God.

God desires to bless your life and give you peace. God wants to give you perfect peace and this is possible through Christ Jesus. Jesus died for the world sins to make peace with man with God. Whey your faith is placed in Jesus as your Lord and Saviour you are reconciled with God. God then Gives you peace through Christ.

Peace that everything will work out because with God for you who can be against you. Peace knowing God has a great plan for your life and He will see it through. Keep peace and go to God in prayer and trust him when things seem frustrating and stressed.

Pray: God I need you in my life and a release my issues to you and trust you will guide me and keep me in perfect peace. I ask you to forgive me of my sins and I want to change and live for you in grace and peace. Amen.