MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

12-24-2014. . . .MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As we celebrate and commemorate the birth of our Savior and Lord, Jesus the Christ, and culminate another year, Coretta and I thank you for following and supporting "Excerpts For Living."  Your prayers, comments and words of encouragement continue to be a source of blessing and inspiration for us. We wish you and your family all God's choice blessings during the holidays. We pray that the joy of Jesus will fill your hearts and homes to overflowing and that His love will forever embrace and keep you in the coming new year!

From our family to your family, Happy Holidays and have a Blessed New Year!

Prayer: Father, thank you for the gift of your son, Jesus! I pray for every person that reads this blog. I pray that you will bless them beyond measure and show them great and mighty things they have not even imagined! I declare and decree health,, protection, provision, and  prosperity in and over their lives as well as, their families and everyone they are connected to.  Finally, may your peace that surpasses all understanding keep their hearts and minds through Christ Jesus! In the name of our blessed Lord Jesus I pray, Amen!

Num 6:24-26. . . .The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. KJV

WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM!

12-23-2014. . . .WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM!

"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him." (Matt 2:1-2 KJV) If only all men were as wise as these. What are we seeking? Who are we seeking and who's sign are we following? More importantly, where will we end up by following them? Here is some wise advise my friends:  "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isa 55:6-7 KJV)  Wise men still seek Him!

Prayer: Father, thank you for the gift of your Son! May we forever lift Him up that He may drawn all men unto Him! Amen.

Isa 55:6-9. . . .Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call upon him now while he is near. Let men cast off their wicked deeds; let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy upon them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon! "This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are my thoughts the same as yours! For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts than yours. TLB

NO ROOM IN THE INN!

12-19-2014. . . ..NO ROOM IN THE INN!

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:7 KJV)  No room for them in the inn?  Jesus the Christ....waiting to be born, but men say, "No room in the inn."  Our lives should never become so inundated, occupied or otherwise obligated to the degree that we have no room for Jesus!  Are we busy this Christmas season filling our homes with gifts from the mall instead of filling our hearts with the gift of Him?  Is there yet still, "NO ROOM IN THE INN?"

Prayer: Father, thank you for the greatest gift of all, your Son, Jesus the Christ! May all creation make room and readily receive Him. Amen!

John 1:10-12. . . .He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: KJV

ONLY JESUS CAN!

12-18-2014. . . .ONLY JESUS CAN!

Acts 4:122. . . . Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. KJV   "Santa Claus can't bring Salvation. . . .Only Jesus Can!"  He's the only reason for the Christmas Season!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the only true gift, your Son. Through Him alone comes salvation.  May all the world receive your great gift this year.  Amen!

Acts 4:11-12. . . .For Jesus the Messiah is (the one referred to in the Scriptures when they speak of ) a 'stone discarded by the builders which became the capstone of the arch.'    There is salvation in no one else! Under all heaven there is no other name for men to call upon to save them."  TLB

HIS WORD ENDURES FOR EVER!

12-17-2014. . . .HIS WORD ENDURES FOR EVER!

"For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:  But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." (1 Peter 1:24-25 KJV)  Everything we have is temporary and will pass away.  Some things sooner, other things later, but all will surely pass away.  There is however, one thing we have that will never pass away and that is, our New Life which came about by His word!  Our 'New Life' from Him, will continue into, 'Eternal Life' with Him.  It is certain because His word endures for ever!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the certainty of your word that endures for ever!  We live out our new life for you now, and look forward with joy, to living our eternal life with you in the place you've prepared for us!  Amen.

   

Heb 12:27-29. . . . And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.   Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:   For our God is a consuming fire. KJV

WE ARE WHO WE ARE!

12-12-2014. . . .WE ARE WHO WE ARE!

"And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.   But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."  (Matt 4:3-4 KJV)  We are who God says we are!  What the tempter says or what our haters say is of little or no importance.  We don't have to prove who we are, (Jesus didn't fall for it) just be who we are!  Never feed off what the world has to offer, (bread alone) but live by the proceeding word of God!  It will constantly and consistently lead us and verify to the world that we are who we are!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for declaring, even before we were formed in the womb, who we are!  Living by your proceeding word verifies to the world that we are who we are!  Amen.

Heb 11:3. . . . Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. KJV

A MIND AND A WILLING HEART!

12-11-2014. . . .A MIND AND A WILLING HEART!

"Stay always within the boundaries where God's love can reach and bless you. Wait patiently for the eternal life that our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy is going to give you. Try to help those who argue against you. Be merciful to those who doubt.  Save some by snatching them as from the very flames of hell itself. And as for others, help them to find the Lord by being kind to them, but be careful that you yourselves aren't pulled along into their sins. Hate every trace of their sin while being merciful to them as sinners." (Jude 21-23 TLB)   It is a great thing that we are saved, but what about the countless others that are not?  If we sit back in the comfortable confines of our sanctuaries expecting that they will one day just come running through our doors, we are sadly and most regrettably mistaken.  Those in sin are usually very comfortable being there until someone is bold enough to shine the light in their darkness. (Remember how it was when we were there?)  We have been given several options to reach them; we simply must have a mind and a willing heart to do so!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for saving us!  It is your will that no one be lost.  Help us to have a mind and a willing heart to come out of our comfort zones to reach the lost.   Amen!

2 Peter 3:9. . . . The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. KJV

NO NEED TO FEAR!

12-10-2014. . . .NO NEED TO FEAR!

Ps 46:1-3. . . . God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble.  And so we need not fear even if the world blows up and the mountains crumble into the sea. TLB  In a time of need, what good is it to have someone present with you that proves to be unable or more often then not, unwilling to help!   God is not only present with us, but He is both willing and able to help us.  Therefore, there is no need to fear when God is near!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for always be present with us!  You are willing and well able to help us in our times of need!  Thank you for your inexhaustible capability.  Amen!

Ps 48:14. . . . For this great God is our God forever and ever. He will be our guide until we die.  TLB

WE NEED GOD!

12-9-2014. . . .WE NEED GOD!

2 Chron 7:14-16. . . . then if my people will humble themselves and pray, and search for me, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land.  I will listen, wide awake, to every prayer made in this place. TLB  In times like these, we need God!  In fact, there is never a time that we don't need Him.  The people with the ability to contact God are those that are connected to God!  If there is to be change in the world, the people of God must call on Him to make it happen!  He's waiting to hear from us and He is willing and able to help us!

PRAYER: Lord, we need you!  The world needs you!  You Lord are our shield; our glory and the lifter of our heads.  Lord send your peace and be our peace.  Amen!

Heb 4:16. . . . So let us come boldly to the very throne of God and stay there to receive his mercy and to find grace to help us in our times of need. TLB

THE BEST HANDS!

12-5-2014. . . .THE BEST HANDS!

"My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. (Ps 31:15KJV)  "You're in good hands with Allstate," is the slogan of this well known insurance company.  The implication is that there is no need to worry about anything because with Allstate, you're protected.  To an even greater degree, the same can be said of being in God's hands.  We have no need to worry or fear anything or anyone.  We are not only in good hands, we are in the best hands.

PRAYER:  Lord, your hands are the best hands and we are thankful to be in them!  Amen.

Job 23:10. . . .But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

KJV

DON'T REWRITE THE SCRIPT!

12-4-2014. . . .DON'T REWRITE THE SCRIPT!

2 Cor 3:3 TLB. . . ."They can see that you are a letter from Christ, written by us. It is not a letter written with pen and ink, but by the Spirit of the living God; not one carved on stone, but in human hearts." As believeres, our lives are an open letter from God to the world, written by the Holy Spirit within us! When the world reads us, let what is written be a witness unto Him. Let us take care that the way we live does not rewrite the script.

Prayer: Lord, thank you that our lives are a living and open letter from you to the world. Help us to daily put our pens down and simply allow your script to be read as written. Amen!

1 Cor 3:16-17. . . .Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. (NIV)

NEVER YIELD, PUT UP YOUR SHIELD!

12-3-2014. . . .NEVER YIELD, PUT UP YOUR SHIELD!

In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan.  (Eph 6:16 TLB)  NEWS FLASH!!!!!!  We are in a battle!  The enemy, Satan, is not playing.  He is constantly shooting a barrage of fiery arrows at us.  Those arrows may come in many forms and take on different shapes. Nevertheless, no matter how many fiery arrows may come, or in whatever form or shape they may take, we can and will quench them all with our shield of faith!  We never yield, we simply put up our shield!

Prayer: Lord, we are determined to fight the good fight of faith.  We will never yield in spite of being constantly fired upon by the enemy!  Faith is our shield!  Amen.

1 Tim 6:11. . . .Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.  NIV

BELIEVE AND RECEIVE!

12-1-2014. . . .BELIEVE AND RECEIVE!

Heb 11:6 NIV. . . ."And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." God is our source and our recourse. He is the supplier of all our need according to His riches in glory. However, if one is to receive from Him, one must first believe in Him.  First believe in Him, and then receive from Him!

Prayer: Lord, I believe you and I believe in you! You reward all those who believe and seek you. Thank you for your faithfulness!

Heb 11:6. . . .You can never please God without faith, without depending on him. Anyone who wants to come to God must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely look for him. TLB

VERY THANKFUL!

11/28/2014. . . .VERY THANKFUL!

Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. (Ps 100:3-4 KJV)  Consider for a moment who we would be, how we would be, or even perhaps, if we would be, had someone other than God made us!  Even if we trusted that responsibility to those we feel really care the most about us, the truth of the matter is, they would make us something and someone different than who we are now!   Whether that would work for our good or not we will never know.  What we do know is that we were made in God's own image and after His likeness; the result is beautiful and wonderful!  For this we are Thankful and bless His name!

PRAYER: Lord, we are thankful that you created us in your own image and after your own likeness.  Yet, you gifted each of us with our own uniqueness.  For this we remain and will forever be thankful!  Amen.

Ps 139:14. . . .I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.  (NIV)

A GOOD PLACE TO START!

11-26-2014. . . .A GOOD PLACE TO START!                

"O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever." (Ps 136:1 KJV) Need reasons to give God thanks? Psalms 136:1 offers two! First, give thanks because 'He is Good.' God is good and he doeth good!  His good is constantly and consistently directed toward us! Secondly, 'His mercy endures for ever.' Where would we be if it were not for His mercy!   His mercy keeps us so that His grace can reach us!  While there are certainly a plethora of other reasons to give thanks, these two are good place to start!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being good and always doing good. Thank you also for your mercy without which we would be consumed. Thank you Lord, thank you! Amen.

Ps 97:12. . . . Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.KJV

THANKFUL!

11-25-2014. . . .THANKFUL!

"No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thess 5:17-18 TLB)  Whatever happens to us, for us, even against us, we know that God is at work always for our good.  Bad things will happen to good people and good things will happen to the same.  In both instances, our disposition remains the same; THANKFUL!

Prayer: Lord, in everything and for all things, we remain thankful.  Amen!

1 Thess 5:16-18. . . . Be joyful always;  pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. NIV

SIMPLE CHOICE!

11-20-2014. . . .A SIMPLE CHOICE!

"Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the command-ment shall be rewarded." (Prov 13:13 KJV) Destruction or reward. . . . .Trouble or success! To despise the word is to know it and not do it!   Who in their right mind chooses certain destruction? C'mon now! It's a simple choice, right?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your word!  By it shall we live and from it comes our success.  Strengthen and help us to never deviate from it. Amen!

James 1:22-25. . . .And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. So don't fool yourselves. For if a person just listens and doesn't obey, he is like a man looking at his face in a mirror; as soon as he walks away, he can't see himself anymore or remember what he looks like. But if anyone keeps looking steadily into God's law for free men, he will not only remember it but he will do what it says, and God will greatly bless him in everything he does. TLB

DON'T KEEP IT TO YOURSELF!

11-19-2014. . . .DON'T KEEP IT TO YOURSELF!

"Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people." (1 Chron 16:8 KJV) It is important that we always give thanks to God! It is equally as important that we share with others our testimonies about the great things He has done.  In so doing, others will be drawn into awareness of Him and many will be converted and believe!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for all things. As I call upon you I also call upon others to know you and praise you for your great and might acts. Amen!

Ps 18:49. . . .Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.KJV

ASK GOD!

11-18-2014 . . . .ASK GOD!

"O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.  O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit." (Ps 30:2-3 KJV)  Once we have asked God to heal us, we can have full confidence in our doctors, nurses and other caregivers through which He facilitates the healing process!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for hearing and answering our prayer for healing.  Thank you for wonderful doctors, nurses and caregivers through which you facilitate the healing process.  Amen!

Matt 7:7-8. . . . Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.  KJV

CHOOSE A SIDE!

11-14-2014. . . .CHOOSE A SIDE!

"But when I, the Messiah, shall come in my glory, and all the angels with me, then I shall sit upon my throne of glory.  And all the nations shall be gathered before me. And I will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and place the sheep at my right hand, and the goats at my left." (Matt 25:31-33 TLB)   Ultimately, all people and all nations will stand before the King.  He alone knows and will identify all who belong to Him.  The judgment then will be His alone.  The choice now however, is ours.  Choose a side. . . .Sheep or Goats!O

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the opportunity to choose our side now before you judge then.  We gladly choose you today and always!  Amen.

2 Peter 3:9-10. . . . He isn't really being slow about his promised return, even though it sometimes seems that way. But he is waiting, for the good reason that he is not willing that any should perish, and he is giving more time for sinners to repent.  The day of the Lord is surely coming, as unexpectedly as a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the heavenly bodies will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be burned up. TLB