Monthly Archives: August 2023

In Him

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A confession of faith in Jesus Christ:

In Him, I live and move and have my being.  

I walk by faith and not by seeing…

I won’t cast away my confidence, for there’s great reward…

in keeping faith in the Word of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

P. A. Oltrogge

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

“…in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’”  Acts 17:28

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”  2 Corinthians 5:7

“Cast not away your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.” Hebrews 10:35 KJV

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

“…and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith….” Philippians 3:9

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come, He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:4-10 NASB

(Scriptures: NKJV or as noted)

for the “In Him” mini-book:

https://www.rhema.org/store/books/in-him-book.html

Thoughts on the Wedding in Cana

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…from the account in John 2

Cana of Galilee–we see Jesus and His disciples attending a wedding there. His mother was also in attendance to celebrate the newly-married pair. 

At a certain point, Mary became aware that their friends had run out of wine. Knowing Jesus’ destiny, she was sure that He could provide them with more, as a supernatural sign.

So she came to Him about this problem of lack, which was towards the end of the feast; but Jesus said to her that it wasn’t yet time for His miracle power to be released.

He called her, “Woman,” rather than Mother or Mary, perhaps to remind that He wasn’t just her son, but that He was the devoted Son of God, who needed to follow the things that His Father said should be done.

Yet she said to the servants, “Whatever He tells you, do it,” thereby exemplifying…that she still had faith in Him to help–and faith pleases God–of that, there’s no denying.

Therefore, Jesus must have heard His heavenly Father’s voice on the matter at hand, for the servants soon filled six stone waterpots to the brim upon His command.

The waterpots were there for the Jewish ceremonial washing that was done in that day. So the turning of the water into wine for the wedding brings to mind cleansing through Christ, the new and life-giving way.

He told the servants to draw from the “water” and take it to the head steward to try. Upon tasting it, he found it to suddenly be the best of the wine, and he didn’t know why.

He called the bridegroom to exclaim that the best wine is usually served first. This miracle of Jesus seems also like a prelude to the “living water,” which satisfies our spiritual thirst.

And in these days in which we’re living, we can remember this miracle from the past, which inspires faith that the best is yet to come, for God sometimes saves the best until the last.

P. A. Oltrogge

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:19-22 NLT

(other translations call it “a new and living way”)

“Jesus replied, ‘If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.’” John 4:10 NLT

Despite the turbulent times in which we’re living, we can trust that all will be well for those who are of the household of faith, having placed their trust in Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords….

“Whatever He tells you, do it” was emphasized for all believers personally to do at the recent 2023 Southwest Believers’ Convention. You can access videos of that convention at You Tube or at http://www.kcm.org/ondemand

All the Birds of the Mountains

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“I know all the birds of the mountains….” Psalm 50:11

“Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth.” Psalm 96:1

“Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” Psalm 50:14-15 NLT

_________________________

God knows all of the birds–both the large, majestic ones and the small.
He knows us, too; and when we’re in trouble, He will rescue us when we call.

Sing to the Lord a new song–the birds know how to do it…
If you are facing a trial, praising our almighty God will get you through it.

Let’s thank Him for the many blessings that we often take for granted–
and trust He has destroyed, for us, and rooted out that which He hasn’t planted!

We’ve been redeemed through Jesus Christ, our Lord!

P. A. Oltrogge

“Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:1-5 NKJV

“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.” Matthew 10:38-30 NLT

“Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 NKJV

…of Jesus, it’s written: “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6 NKJV

“But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; For God is my defense, my God of mercy.” Psalm 59:16-17 NKJV

“Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious.” Psalm 66:2

…photos/Unsplash

Fear Not, Little Flock

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“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32 KJV

“Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’”  John 8:58 NKJV

“Fear not, little flock…”
for I AM your fortress, and I AM your rock.

My Word has endured throughout the ages,
and I have been revealed in the holy Bible’s pages.

In perilous times that are evident in these days,
you’ll sense My peace and presence as you offer Me praise.

Proclaim My blood over your life–your powerful shield.
It was shed by My suffering for the benefits it would yield.

The world is passing away and the lust thereof;
yet nothing will be able to separate you from My love.

I will never leave you, nor will I ever forsake you…
Remember that, when troubles try, at times, to overtake you.

Call upon Me in the day of trouble, amid its distress,
for I AM the Lord of all…and have all the power to bless.

So, trust your Lord Jesus and fear not, little flock…
In Me, there’s safe harbor where your disciple-“ship” can dock.

P. A. Oltrogge

“Walk with Me,” by Greg Olsen. Used with Permission.  http://www.GregOlsen.com

“Be to me a rock of refuge and a sheltering stronghold to which I may continually come; You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.” Psalm 71:3 AMP

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” 2 Timothy 3:1 KJV

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” Psalm 50:15 NKJV

“In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me. Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Your works.” Psalm 86:7-8 NKJV

“…For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 KJV

“They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones….Let them be confounded and dismayed forever; Yes, let them be put to shame and perish, that they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord; are the Most High over all the earth.” Psalm 83:3, 17-18 NKJV

“Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; In You I take shelter.” Psalm 143:9 NKJV

“The Lord also will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; The heavens and earth will shake; But the Lord will be a shelter for His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” Joel 3:16 NKJV

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most high will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!’” Psalm 91:1-2 and all of Psalm 91

“And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:17 NKJV

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39 NKJV

“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” Colossians 1:19-20

In Exodus 12, an unblemished lamb was slain and its blood was applied to the lintel and doorposts of the homes of the Hebrews for their protection and deliverance. Through His crucifixion, where His blood was shed on our behalf, Jesus became God’s pure sacrificial Lamb. Before His death, He said, “It is finished.” 

Bless the Lord, O my soul

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Psalm 103, NKJV

Bless the Lord, O my soul;

And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The Lord executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the children of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
14 For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.
17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
18 To such as keep His covenant,
And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven,
And His kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the Lord, you His angels,
Who excel in strength, who do His word,
Heeding the voice of His word.
21 Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
22 Bless the Lord, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Photos: Eagles, Pxfuel, Dandelion, Unsplash

Your Schedule

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If your daily work schedule doesn’t permit you to take in the 2023 Southwest Believers’ Convention, or if you’d like to review a certain message, you can view sessions of it at your own pace and timing by submitting that title via You Tube. The entire week should become available after it has concluded at the Kenneth Copeland Ministries website.

God bless you today,

P. A. Oltrogge

The Towering Name

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I’ve come across your path today, and I may not know your name; but though we’re not acquainted, I’d like to speak of Jesus just the same. He knows the details of your life–anything you’re going through; yes, even if you don’t know Him, He knows all about you.

I’ve found Him to be a faithful God, Who I know in a personal way. He desires to help each person intimately–all we have to do is pray. For those who’ve put their trust in Him, guidance becomes very sure. His will is good and perfect, coming from a heart that’s loving and pure.

If you’re facing worries, never despair–the name of Jesus is a strong tower—to run into for help and wisdom, which flow richly from that Name’s power. And at the name of Jesus, one day, every knee will bow; but God’s Spirit is moving every day, seeking all who will honor Him now.

P. A. Oltrogge

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.”
Proverbs 18:10 (NASB)

“Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 (NASB)

Click on the link below–scroll down to see the scheduled speakers of the day at the Southwest Believers’ Convention this week:


https://swbc.kcm.org/

All’s Right with My World

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“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.’” Lamentations 3:22-24 RSV

All’s right with my world, my life every day…because You are in it, dear Lord, to stay.

When storms crash around me, I command them to cease; and if faith takes some battering, I still have your peace.

Whatever the circumstances, I count it all joy; I’m more than a conqueror whom this world can’t destroy.

The blessing of God is mine now and forever; I’m secure in a covenant that cannot be severed.

The Lord is my Shepherd, the pastures are green. With my mind stayed on Jesus, my life is serene.

P. A. Oltrogge

“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” Hebrews 13:5

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-37

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters….Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:1, 2, and 6 NASB

“He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.” Isaiah 40:11

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee.” Isaiah 26:3 KJV

“But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.” Hebrews 8:6 NLT

“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.” Psalm 34:1-3

Scriptures: NKJV or as noted

When God appeared to Abram, He told him, “I am (El-Shaddai) the Almighty God.” (Genesis 17:1). Translated from the original Hebrew, El-Shaddai means “I am the God who is more than enough.” He is everything we need!

He went on to explain the covenant He was cutting with Abram: “I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants” (verse 2, New Living Translation). Yes, God’s Word, the Bible, is His covenant with us. When we read, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else…and He will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33, NLT)—that’s just ONE of His covenant promises to us! Once we realize the Bible is a Book FILLED with His unbreakable covenant promises, our faith will activate in our covenant-keeping God!

…the above quoted paragraphs are reprinted with permission from Kenneth Copeland Ministries…