Life Among the Living from COHSS on Vimeo.
May 01, 2010
Affirming Words 5/1/10-"Life Among the Living"
A sermon by Pastor Tom Millner at Church of the Holy SpiritSong in Ft. Lauderdale, FL:
Encouraging Words 5/1/10 Praying in Secret
From: Love Worth Finding
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:6
What did our Lord mean when He said, “Enter into your closet to pray”? The word “closet” simply means somewhere where you can shut the door on the world and open the windows to heaven.
As you study the life of Jesus, you’ll discover that Jesus sought times to be alone. Sometimes He would go on a mountain, sometimes into the wilderness, and sometimes into a garden. It is the secret place that is the sacred place.
The mark of your prayer life is not really how well you pray in public but in private.
When you enter your closet to pray,
•spend some time in silence
•clear your mind
•listen for His Words of edification, encouragement, and exhortation
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:6
What did our Lord mean when He said, “Enter into your closet to pray”? The word “closet” simply means somewhere where you can shut the door on the world and open the windows to heaven.
As you study the life of Jesus, you’ll discover that Jesus sought times to be alone. Sometimes He would go on a mountain, sometimes into the wilderness, and sometimes into a garden. It is the secret place that is the sacred place.
The mark of your prayer life is not really how well you pray in public but in private.
When you enter your closet to pray,
•spend some time in silence
•clear your mind
•listen for His Words of edification, encouragement, and exhortation
April 30, 2010
Affirming Words 4/30/10-"Like a Tree Planted By the River" Part 5 of 5
A sermon by Pastor David Thomas from Abundant Grace Church in Hickory, NC delivered at Raging Fire Ministries in Bluefield, WV:
Matthew 25 Resource 4/30/10-Market Street Mission (Morristown, NJ)
The Market Street Mission ministers to the homeless, helpless, and hopeless in Northern NJ by meeting their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs through a structured program which enables them to lead responsible, productive lives.
The Market Street Mission ministers to the needy people in our communities. We meet their physical needs with food, shelter, clothing, and other necessities, and their emotional and spiritual needs with guidance and life change programs.
Click here to find out more.
The Market Street Mission ministers to the needy people in our communities. We meet their physical needs with food, shelter, clothing, and other necessities, and their emotional and spiritual needs with guidance and life change programs.
Click here to find out more.
Encouraging Words 4/30/10 Starting Your Day Out Right
From: Love Worth Finding
“My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up.” Psalm 5:3
Christianity is a love relationship. You cannot love someone that you do not know, and you cannot know someone that you don’t spend quality time with.
•To know Jesus is to love Him.
•To love Him is to trust Him.
•To trust Him is to obey Him.
•To obey Him is to be blessed.
It begins with a quality, daily communication with the Lord.
Why is it best to spend time with the Lord in the morning? Because you are getting ready to go on a road trip through life. You don’t take the trip and then read the map, do you?
How are you starting your mornings? With a cup of coffee and the paper? Or with the pure milk of the Word and the light of His presence?
“My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up.” Psalm 5:3
Christianity is a love relationship. You cannot love someone that you do not know, and you cannot know someone that you don’t spend quality time with.
•To know Jesus is to love Him.
•To love Him is to trust Him.
•To trust Him is to obey Him.
•To obey Him is to be blessed.
It begins with a quality, daily communication with the Lord.
Why is it best to spend time with the Lord in the morning? Because you are getting ready to go on a road trip through life. You don’t take the trip and then read the map, do you?
How are you starting your mornings? With a cup of coffee and the paper? Or with the pure milk of the Word and the light of His presence?
April 29, 2010
Affirming Words 4/29/10-"Like a Tree Planted By the River" Part 4 of 5
A sermon by Pastor David Thomas from Abundant Grace Church in Hickory, NC delivered at Raging Fire Ministries in Bluefield, WV:
lGBT Helping Hands 4/29/10-The NW Network (Seattle, WA)
The Northwest Network increases our communities' ability to support the self-determination and safety of bisexual, transgendered, lesbian, and gay survivors of abuse through education, organizing and advocacy. We work within a broad liberation movement dedicated to social and economic justice, equality and respect for all people and the creation of loving, inclusive and accountable communities.
We provide support and advocacy for LBGT folks of all genders who are surviving abuse. We are leather and kink friendly.
Our services are free and confidential. They include support groups, individual counseling, legal advocacy, shelter referrals, safety planning, basic needs assistance, community education and community organizing.
Click here to find out more.
We provide support and advocacy for LBGT folks of all genders who are surviving abuse. We are leather and kink friendly.
Our services are free and confidential. They include support groups, individual counseling, legal advocacy, shelter referrals, safety planning, basic needs assistance, community education and community organizing.
Click here to find out more.
Encouraging Words 4/29/10 Keeping the Law
From: Love Worth Finding
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
Suppose you are driving down the road and a police officer stops you for running a red light.
You say to the officer, “I ran a red light, but you have no right to give me a ticket because I have stopped at all the other streets, and I have obeyed the speed limit.”
He responds, “Don’t tell me about all the things that you’ve done good. You’ve broken the law.”
If you think that you’re going to be saved by keeping the law, then you must keep all of it because God demands perfection. No amount of obedience can make up for one act of disobedience.
If you keep the whole law and yet offend in one point you are guilty of it all.
Read Romans 7:1 – 8:4. Can you relate to Paul’s quandary about keeping the law and the war within his members concerning its requirement of absolute obedience?
Praise God, Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of the law and we are saved by believing in Him.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
Suppose you are driving down the road and a police officer stops you for running a red light.
You say to the officer, “I ran a red light, but you have no right to give me a ticket because I have stopped at all the other streets, and I have obeyed the speed limit.”
He responds, “Don’t tell me about all the things that you’ve done good. You’ve broken the law.”
If you think that you’re going to be saved by keeping the law, then you must keep all of it because God demands perfection. No amount of obedience can make up for one act of disobedience.
If you keep the whole law and yet offend in one point you are guilty of it all.
Read Romans 7:1 – 8:4. Can you relate to Paul’s quandary about keeping the law and the war within his members concerning its requirement of absolute obedience?
Praise God, Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of the law and we are saved by believing in Him.
April 28, 2010
Affirming Words 4/28/10-"Like a Tree Planted By the River" Part 3 of 5
A sermon by Pastor David Thomas from Abundant Grace Church in Hickory, NC delivered at Raging Fire Ministries in Bluefield, WV:
Affirming Resource 4/28/10-Lansing Church of the Brethren (MI)
We welcome you to celebrate with us the Good News of God's love in Jesus Christ. In light of this Gospel, we are called to be an open, inclusive, and affirming Christian community in this world. We seek wholeness and healing for all as we continue the work of Jesus simply, peacefully, together.
Click here to find out more.
Click here to find out more.
Encouraging Words 4/28/10 Heaven, A Place On God's Map
From: Love Worth Finding
“I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2
Do you believe that there is a home in heaven waiting for you?
There is because Jesus cannot lie. He is Truth incarnate. He always told the truth. He said, “if it were not so, I would have told you.”
Jesus would not let the hope of heaven go on beating in your heart if it were simply a lie, a superstition, or a fond delusion.
Heaven is not merely a state of mind. It is not a condition. It is a place so real that Jesus is there in a literal, resurrected body. There is a body in this place called heaven. It is His resurrected body.
Heaven is a place on God’s map.
Do you have a dream home? If you’ve never thought about what would be your perfect home, think about your heavenly home. Nothing could be more perfect!
“I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2
Do you believe that there is a home in heaven waiting for you?
There is because Jesus cannot lie. He is Truth incarnate. He always told the truth. He said, “if it were not so, I would have told you.”
Jesus would not let the hope of heaven go on beating in your heart if it were simply a lie, a superstition, or a fond delusion.
Heaven is not merely a state of mind. It is not a condition. It is a place so real that Jesus is there in a literal, resurrected body. There is a body in this place called heaven. It is His resurrected body.
Heaven is a place on God’s map.
Do you have a dream home? If you’ve never thought about what would be your perfect home, think about your heavenly home. Nothing could be more perfect!
April 27, 2010
Affirming Words 4/27/10-"Like a Tree Planted By the River" Part 2 of 5
A sermon by Pastor David Thomas from Abundant Grace Church in Hickory, NC delivered at Raging Fire Ministries in Bluefield, WV:
Matthew 25 Resource 4/27/10-Food Bank of Northern Nevada (McCarran0
The Food Bank of Northern Nevada was founded in 1981 and incorporated in 1983 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization as a regional food distribution and support system for more than 100 different direct service, non-profit agencies serving the needy, the ill, the elderly and children. Our partner agencies include emergency food pantries and senior meal programs, sliding scale day care centers, drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, family and domestic violence shelters and various youth programs, all of which offer bags of groceries, meals or snacks. Last year, the Food Bank of Northern Nevada distributed food products to provide the equivalent of more than 4 million meals to low income seniors, children and families.
Among clients who visit emergency food program sites, 58% are over age 50 and 35% are over age 65. Children are the most vulnerable to hunger – 37% of emergency food recipients are children under the age of 18.
Click here to find out more.
Among clients who visit emergency food program sites, 58% are over age 50 and 35% are over age 65. Children are the most vulnerable to hunger – 37% of emergency food recipients are children under the age of 18.
Click here to find out more.
Encouraging Words 4/27/10 Saving the Worst for Last
From: Love Worth Finding
“But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.” 1 Corinthians 12:31
Satan always gives the best first and the worst last. For example, Proverbs 20:17 says, “The bread of deceit is sweet, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.” With Satan, it always starts sweet, but it does not end that way.
Satan is a counterfeiter and a deceiver, and he is guilty of false advertising.
•He doesn’t show the drunkard in the gutter covered with flies.
•He doesn’t show the addict shaking uncontrollably from another night of detox.
•He doesn’t show the ruined lives from sexually transmitted diseases.
He always gives the best first and the worst last. Jesus gives the best last.
Do you have a teenager in your home? Then, call a homeless shelter or prison and see if you can bring in your teen for a tour.
“But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.” 1 Corinthians 12:31
Satan always gives the best first and the worst last. For example, Proverbs 20:17 says, “The bread of deceit is sweet, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.” With Satan, it always starts sweet, but it does not end that way.
Satan is a counterfeiter and a deceiver, and he is guilty of false advertising.
•He doesn’t show the drunkard in the gutter covered with flies.
•He doesn’t show the addict shaking uncontrollably from another night of detox.
•He doesn’t show the ruined lives from sexually transmitted diseases.
He always gives the best first and the worst last. Jesus gives the best last.
Do you have a teenager in your home? Then, call a homeless shelter or prison and see if you can bring in your teen for a tour.
April 26, 2010
Affirming Words 4/26/10-"Like a Tree Planted By the River" Part 1 of 5
A sermon by Pastor David Thomas from Abundant Grace Church in Hickory, NC delivered at Raging Fire Ministries in Bluefield, WV:
lGBT Helping Hands 4/26/10-Compass (Lake Worth, FL)
Compass aims to diminish stereotypes by challenging long-standing misconceptions about the character of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. We accomplish this by emboldening our youth, promoting pride in our community, and acting as an educator, advocate, health service provider, and focal point for community organizing. As good neighbors, effective partners, and respected participants in our civic responsibilities, Compass promotes awareness of the caring nature of our diverse community.
Click here to find out more.
Click here to find out more.
Encouraging Words 4/26/10 Handling the Sting of Criticism
From: Love Worth Finding
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
God loves you so much that Jesus Christ hung in agony and blood for you.
•You are precious to God.
•You are the object of God’s love.
•The blood of Jesus Christ was poured out on Calvary for you.
Friend, if you know all that, then you can stand up against any criticism. It won’t bother you what others say about you. The cross sets you free.
He who died for you now lives in you. He gave Himself for you that He might give Himself to you.
When Jesus Christ died for you, He didn’t just take away your sins, He took away yourself. You are crucified. So who can harm a dead man?
Have you felt the sting of criticism this week? Remove the stinger and bathe the wound with the balm of Jesus’ love. Give your critic to the Lord. Then, ask God to teach you from what happened.
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
God loves you so much that Jesus Christ hung in agony and blood for you.
•You are precious to God.
•You are the object of God’s love.
•The blood of Jesus Christ was poured out on Calvary for you.
Friend, if you know all that, then you can stand up against any criticism. It won’t bother you what others say about you. The cross sets you free.
He who died for you now lives in you. He gave Himself for you that He might give Himself to you.
When Jesus Christ died for you, He didn’t just take away your sins, He took away yourself. You are crucified. So who can harm a dead man?
Have you felt the sting of criticism this week? Remove the stinger and bathe the wound with the balm of Jesus’ love. Give your critic to the Lord. Then, ask God to teach you from what happened.
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