A Small Yes

After John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee and began preaching the Good News of God.  He said, "The time has come;  the kingdom of God is at hand.  Change your ways and believe the Good News."

As Jesus was walking along the shore at Lake Galilee, he saw Sion and his rather Andrew casting a net in the lake, for they were fishermen.  And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people."  At once, they abandoned their nets and followed him.  Jesus went a little farther on and saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee;  they were in their boat mending their nets.  Immediately Jesus called them and they followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men.

Mark 1:14-20

"Lord, I want to follow You all the days of my life here on earth.  I surrender my all, Lord, that You may be able to use me for Your greater glory.  Amen."

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Good News

This is what has been from the beginning, and what we have heard and have seen with our own eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, I mean the Word who is Life...

The Life made itself known, we have seen Eternal Life and we bear witness, and we are telling you of it.  It was with the Father and made himself known to us.

So we tell you what we have seen and heard, that you may be in fellowship with us, and us, with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

And we write this that our joy may be completed.

1 John 1:1-4

"Lord, lead me to tell others about You today.  Give me the strength and boldness to share the great things You have done in my life.  Amen."

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All For Christ

We are the true circumcised people since we serve according to the Spirit of God, and our confidence is in Christ Jesus rather than in our merits.

I myself do not lack those human qualities in which people have confidence.  If some of them seem to be accredited with such qualities, how much more am I!  I was circumcised when eight days old.  I was born of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin;  I am a Hebrew, born of Hebrews.  With regard to the Law, I am a Pharisee, and such was my zeal for the Law that I persecuted the Church.  As for being righteous according to the Law, I was blameless.

But once I found Christ, all those things that I might have considered as profit, I reckoned as loss.  Still more, everything seems to me as nothing compared with the knowledge of Christ jesus, my Lord.  For His sake I have let everything fall away and I now consider all as garbage, if instead I may gain Christ.

Philippians 3:3-8

"Lord, You are more precious than silver.  Lord, You are more costly than gold.  Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds and nothing I desire compares with You."

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Building Temples

At that time you were without Christ, you did not belong to the community of Israel,  the covenants of God and his promises were not for you;  you had no hope and were without God in this world.  But now, in Christ Jesus and by his blood, you who were once far off have come near.

For Christ is our peace, he who has made the two peoples one, destroying in his own flesh the wall--the hatred--which separated us.  He abolished the Law with its commands and precepts.  He made peace in uniting the two peoples in him, creating out of the two one New Man.  He destroyed hatred and reconciled us both to God through the cross, making the two one body.

He came to proclaim peace; peace to you who were far off, peace to the Jews who were near.  Through him we--the two peoples--approach the Father in one Spirit.

Now you are no longer strangers or guests, but fellow citizens of the holy people:  you are of the household of God.  You are the house whose foundations are the apostles and prophets, and whose cornerstones is Christ Jesus.  In him the whole structure is joined together and rises to be a holy temple in the Lord.  In him you too are being built to become the spiritual sanctuary of God.

Ephesians 2:12-22

"Jesus, You are my firm foundation!  Help me to build my life to become a worthy oblation to God."

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God's Grace

You were dead through the faults and sins.  Once you lived through them according to this world and followed the Sovereign Ruler who reigns between heaven and earth and who goes on working in those who resist the faith.  All of us belonged to them at one time and we followed human greed;  we obeyed the urges of our human nature and consented to its desires.  By ourselves, we went straight to the judgment like the rest of humankind.

But God, who is rich in mercy, revealed his immense love.  As we were dead through our sins, he gave us life with Christ.  By grace you have been saved!  And he raised us to life with Christ, giving us a place with him in heaven.

In showing us such kindness in Christ Jesus, God willed to reveal and unfold in the coming ages the extraordinary riches of his grace.  By the grace of God you have been save through faith.  This has not come from you;  it is God's gift.  This was not the result of your works, so you are not to feel proud.  What we are is God's work.  He has created us in Christ Jesus for the good works he has prepared that we should devote ourselves to them.

Ephesians 2:1-10

"Dear Lord, let me never forget how great and sacrificial Your love is for us.  Let me repay with a life dedicated to loving You by serving others."

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Full-Fledged Preacher

As Jesus was speaking, a woman spoke from the crowd and said to him, "Blessed is the one who gave you birth and nursed you!"  Jesus replied, "Truly blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it as well."

Luke 11:27-28

""Lord, let me be ready to preach the Word, in season and out of season."

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Have A Golden Heart

"But I say to you who hear me:  Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.  Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who treat you badly.  To the one who strikes you on the cheek, turn the other cheek; from the one who takes your coat, do not keep back your shirt.  Give to the one who asks, and if anyone has taken something from you, do not demand it back.

"Do to others as you would have others do to you.  If you love only those who love you, what kind of grace is yours?  Even sinners love those who love them.  If you do favors to those who are good to you, what kind of grace is yours?  Even sinners do the same.  If you lend only when you expect to receive, what kind of grace is yours?  For sinners also lend to sinners, expecting to receive something in return.

"But love your enemies and do good to them, and lend when there is nothing to expect in return.  Then will your reward be great, and you will be sons and daughters of the Most High.  For he is kind towards the ungrateful and the wicked.  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

"Don't be a judge of others and you will not be judged; do not condemn and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you, and you will receive in your sack good measure, pressed down, full and running over.  For the measure you give will be the measure you receive back."

Luke 6:27-38

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."  (Psalm 51:10)

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The World Today

"Pay attention to how you behave.  Do not live as the unwise do, but as responsible persons.  Try to make good use of the present time, because these days are evil.  So do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is.

"Do not get drunk:  wine leads to levity; but be filled with the Holy Spirit.  Gather together to pray with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.  Sing and celebrate the Lord in your heart, giving thanks to God the Father in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord, always and for everything."

Ephesians 5:15-20

"Lord, allow me to be a tiny spark of light in this world of darkness."

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Callous

"This word of Yahweh came to me, 'Son of man, you live in the midst of a house of rebels;  they have eyes for seeing but do not see;  they have ears for hearing but do not hear, for they are a house of rebels.  Because of this, son of man, prepare for yourself an exile's baggage in their sight as an exile does;  and go as an exile to another place in their sight.  Would that they may understand, because they are a house of rebels.

"'You will gather your things, an exile's baggage, by day to be seen by them, and you will leave in the evening as for a departure of deportees.  While they look on, dig a hole in the wall and leave from there.  As they look on, shoulder your baggage and leave in the dark.  Veil your face and do not look at the land for I have made you a sign for Israel.'

"I did as I was ordered, gathering my things by day, an exile's baggage, and in the evening I made a hole in the wall with my hand, I left in the dark, in their presence, shouldering my baggage.

"In the morning, the word of Yahweh came to me:  'Son of man, did not the Israelites, these rebels, ask you, "What are you doing there?"  Answer them on behalf of Yahweh:  This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the Israelites remaining in the city.

"'Say, "I am a sign for you," for what I have done will happen to them:  They will be deported, exiled.  The prince among them shall shoulder his baggage in the dark and depart.  They will dig a hole in the wall to let him leave by it.  He will cover his face because he must not see the land with his eyes.'"

Ezekiel 12:1-12

"Dear Lord, forgive me for the times I've chosen to be blind and deaf towards loving You and others more.  Amen."

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Massage Chair, Anyone?

"And whatever we ask we shall receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what is acceptable to him.

"His commandment is this, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and that we should love one another as he commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments remains in God, and God in him. And this is the proof that he remains in us: the Spirit that he has given us.

"My dear friends, not every spirit is to be trusted, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets are at large in the world.

"This is the proof of the spirit of God: any spirit which acknowledges Jesus Christ, come in human nature, is from God, and no spirit which fails to acknowledge Jesus is from God; it is the spirit of Antichrist, whose coming you have heard of; he is already at large in the world.

"Children, you are from God and have overcome them, because he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world, and therefore the world inspires what they say, and listens to them. We are from God; whoever recognises God listens to us; anyone who is not from God refuses to listen to us. This is how we can distinguish the spirit of truth from the spirit of falsehood."

1 JOHN 3:22-4:6

"Lord, may I obey You not in exchange for things I need,
but because I just love You so!"

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Guard Your Heart

"He summoned the crowd again and said to them, 'Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.'

"When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable.

"He said to them, 'Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?' (Thus he declared all foods clean.)

"'But what comes out of a person, that is what defiles. From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.'"

MARK 7:14-23

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Starstruck

"After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there.

"As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.

"Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed."

MARK 6:53-56

"O Lord, grant me the boldness to proclaim my faith."

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My Helper

"Let mutual love continue.

"Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.

"Be mindful of prisoners as if sharing their imprisonment, and of the ill-treated as of yourselves, for you also are in the body.

"Let marriage be honored among all and the marriage bed be kept undefiled, for God will judge the immoral and adulterers.

"Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never forsake you or abandon you.'

"Thus we may say with confidence: 'The Lord is my helper, (and) I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?'

"Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

"Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teaching. It is good to have our hearts strengthened by grace and not by foods, which do not benefit those who live by them.

"We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. The bodies of the animals whose blood the high priest brings into the sanctuary as a sin offering are burned outside the camp.

"Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate, to consecrate the people by his own blood. Let us then go to him outside the camp, bearing the reproach that he bore."

HEBREWS 13:1-8

"Let me keep my faith, Lord, that I may never wane in my trust no matter what circumstance comes into my life."

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Talitha Koum

Canon EOS 350D

"When Jesus had crossed again (in the boat) to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.

"One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, 'My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her 8 that she may get well and live'

"He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him.

"There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak.

"She said, 'If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.' Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

"Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, 'Who has touched my clothes?'

"But his disciples said to him, 'You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, "Who touched me?"'

"And he looked around to see who had done it.

"The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.

"He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.'

"While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official's house arrived and said, 'Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?'

"Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, 'Do not be afraid; just have faith.' He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.

"When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, 'Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.' And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child's father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was.

"He took the child by the hand and said to her, 'Talitha koum,' which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!'

"The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. (At that) they were utterly astounded.

"He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat."

MARK 5:21-43

"Jesus, I need Your hand to see me through.
Thank You for never letting go."

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Extraordinarily Faithful

Canon EOS 350D

"Remember the great challenge of the sufferings that you had to meet after you received the light, in earlier days; sometimes by being yourselves publicly exposed to humiliations and violence, and sometimes as associates of others who were treated in the same way. For you not only shared in the sufferings of those who were in prison, but you accepted with joy being stripped of your belongings, knowing that you owned something that was better and lasting.

"Do not lose your fearlessness now, then, since the reward is so great.

"You will need perseverance if you are to do God's will and gain what he has promised. Only a little while now, a very little while, for come he certainly will before too long.

"My upright person will live through faith but if he draws back, my soul will take no pleasure in him. We are not the sort of people who draw back, and are lost by it; we are the sort who keep faith until our souls are saved. "

HEBREWS 10:32-39

"Dear Lord, You have always been and will continue to be faithful.
Let my confidence in You never fail."

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No Turning Back

Canon S45

"So Elijah left. He found Elisha, son of Shaphat, who was plowing a field of twelve acres and was at the end of the twelfth acre. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak over him. Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah and said, 'Let me say goodbye to my father and mother; then I will follow you.' Elijah said to him, 'Return if you want, don't worry about what I did.' However, turned back, Elishatook the yoke of oxen and slew them. He roasted their meat on the pieces of the yoke and gave it to his people who ate of it. After this, he followed Elijah and began ministering to him."


1 KINGS 19:19-21

"Lord Jesus, bless me with the passion of Elisha
to serve You no matter what the cost will be."

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Getting The Pot Of Life

Pentax Optio S50

"You, instead, have closely followed my teaching, my way of life, my projects, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions and sufferings. You know what happened to me at Antioch, Iconium and Lystra. How many trials I had to bear! Yet the Lord rescued me from them all. All who want to serve God in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil persons and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

"As for you, continue with what you have learned and what has been entrusted to you, knowing from whom you received it. Besides, you have known the Scriptures from childhood; they will give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, refuting error, for correcting and training in Christian life. Through Scripture the man of God is made expert and thoroughly equipped for every good work."

2 TIMOTHY 3:10-17

"Lord Jesus, mold us that we may have a heart
that's ready to obey, an ear ready to listen,
and the will to fully surrender to the Father. Amen."

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The Greatest Love Of All

Sony Mavica

"May grace and peace abound in you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and piety. First the knowledge of the One who called us through his own Glory and Might, by which we were given the most extraordinary and precious promises. Through them you share in the divine nature, after repelling the corruption and evil desires of this world.

"So, strive with the greatest determination and increase your faith with strength, strength with knowledge, knowledge with moderation, moderation with constancy, constancy with piety, piety with mutual affection, mutual affection with charity."

2 PETER 1:2-7

"Lord, may Your example lead me to show my love
for others in concrete actions."

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Resisting Pornography

From various websites

"Let love be sincere. Hate what is evil and hold to whatever is good. Love one another and be considerate. Outdo one another in mutual respect. Be zealous in fulfilling your duties. Be fervent in the Spirit and serve God.

"Have hope and be cheerful. Be patient in trials and pray constantly. Share with other Christians in need. With those passing by, be ready to receive them.

"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not wish evil on anyone. Rejoice with hose who are joyful, and weep with those who weep. Live in peace with one another. Do not dream of extraordinary things; be humble and do not hold yourselves as wise."

ROMANS 12:9-16

"Mama Mary, thank you for leading me always to your Son, Jesus."

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The Lord Smiled

"Peter spoke up and said, 'We have given up everything to follow you.' Jesus answered, 'Truly, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or children, or lands for my sake and for the Gospel, who will not receive his reward. I say to you: even in the midst of persecution he will receive a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands in the present time and in the world to come eternal life. Do pay attention: Many who now are first will be last, and the last, first.'"

MARK 10:28-31

"Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to be generous.
However, let me do it for the right reasons
and grand me the grace to enjoy it with You. Amen."

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