Count Your Blessings

1. For my wonderful wife Ruth whose as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside!
2. For my kids they are a gift from above
3. For my friends at church who have become my family
4. For 10 years here!
5. For a house filled with love
6. For Jesus' love and grace I am nothing without Him
7. For an awesome job! Where I have sooo many oportunitys to share God's word
8. For the Source bookstore God's given me a big vision for it!
9. For facebook, no really I'm not playing I have been able to connect with people from my past that I probably never would have heard from again.
10. For Ice Cream on a hot day like today. It's the simple things in life sometimes that bring us the most joy.

Hold on don't let go!

Hold on don’t let go!








Introduction- When I was a kid I loved wrestling I watched 2 hours of WCW every Saturday. Watching guys like Rick Flair, the Road Warriors, and Rockin’ Roll express. I also watched the WWF with all their guys like Hulk Hogan, and Jake the snake Roberts. I practiced and practiced until I could sound like one of my favorites “Oh ya brother!” Macho Man Randy Savage. What does any of this have to do with God you may be asking yourself? Good question! I’m glad you asked! Because I’m going to mention the very first wrestling match between Jesus and Jacob.

Genesis 32:24-31 24 This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. 25 When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 “What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.” 28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.” 29 “Please tell me your name,” Jacob said. “Why do you want to know my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there. 30 Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.” 31 The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping because of the injury to his hip.

Three things are constantly trying to pull us away from God, the world, the flesh, and the devil. Hold on don’t let go!

1. The World

John 16:33 In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

a. Money/greed *sin is never satisfied

b. Power/being at the top

c. Fame/Every one will know you some day. Your sooo important!

John 17:6 My followers do not belong to the world just as I do not belong to the world.

Hold on don’t let go!

2. The Flesh

Romans 7:18 Yes, I know that nothing good lives in me - I mean nothing good lives in the part of me that is earthly and sinful. I want to do the things that are good, but I do not do them.

a. The old life- Sex/pleasure, Drugs/Alcohol

Hebrews 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

b. The new life 2 corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

c. New plans new destiny! Jeremiah 29:11 I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity (hope) and not disaster (evil), plans to bring about the future you hope for.

Hold on don’t let go!

3. The devil

a. He is the Father of lies- John 8:44

b. He comes as an angel of light- 2 Corinthians 11:14

c. His Job is to kill, steal, and destroy

d. He is defeated!

1 John 3:8 The Son of God came for this purpose: to destroy the devil's work.

Hold on don’t let go!

Conclusion- The beautiful thing is Jesus didn’t leave us alone in this fight with the world, flesh, and the devil. He has given us weapons to fight with. The Armor of God which covers our whole body, the Belt of truth, breast plate of righteousness, shoes of the Gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit. and in Isaiah 59:19 it says When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him. The word standard in Hebrew means- to flee, escape, to put to flight, to cause to disappear, and hide. I’m not letting anything pull me away from Jesus I’m holding on and not letting go!

I'm Counting My Blessings Again and Again!

 Hey there! It's been awhile since I have blogged I think I'm addicted to facebook! But I wanna continue to do this post especialy because it always helps me be thankful and grateful for what I have and for what Jesus is doing in my life. When the pharises told Jesus to rebule his disciples for praising him He said in Luke 19:40 "I tell you, if my followers didn't say these things, then the stones would cry out." And in the words of Petra- Somebody's gonna praise His name Somebody's gonna call Him Lord  It'll either be you and me Or it's gonna be a rock or tree Somebody, somewhere is gonna praise His name! And it's gonna be me It's gonna be me Somebody's gonna praise Him And it's gonna be me!  1. Thank you Jesus for My wife help me always to treasure her and never to take her for granted may we be together till death do us part!2. Thank you Jesus for My children what a blessing thery are to my life! Help me Jesus to be a godly father so I can show them your love and lead them to you. May you use them to do great things for you!3. Thank you Jesus for My many friends may I always be a friend they can depend on and count on.4. Thank you Jesus for My Job I work full time at my church help me never take that for granted5. Thank you Jesus for leading us to Concord Ca 10 years ago what a beautiful 10 years they have been!6. Thank you Jesus for coffee and tea! No joke I appriciate them both each and every morning halelujah! 7. Thank you Jesus for My house may it alway be filled with the love of Jesus!Now it's your turn what has Jesus blessed you with that maybe you have taken for granted and havn't thanked Him for. As long as you have breath to live you have an opportunity to thank and praise Him don't let another day slip by before you spend time reflecting and thanking Him for all the many many blessings in your life.  
 
 
 
 

 

Count Your Blessings Hym

Count Your Blessings


When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.



Refrain



Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.



Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,

And you will keep singing as the days go by.



Refrain



When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;

Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy

Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.



Refrain



So, amid the conflict whether great or small,

Do not be disheartened, God is over all;

Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.



Refrain