WHAT'S IN THE HEALTH CARE BILL

http://www.morningstarministries.org/Articles/1000054411/MorningStar_Ministries/Media/Special_Bulletins/2009/Special_Bulletin_19.aspx

Click the link above.....it's pretty eye-opening!

Bible Study (NLT)

Romans 2:29 "No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather it is a change of heart produced by God's Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people."

-We need to cry out from our hearts for God to change our hearts by his Spirit.-

-When our hearts are truly changed, it won't matter to us if our family and others don't praise us or our efforts.-

Romans 4:3 "For the Scriptures tell us, 'Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.' "

Romans 4:16 "So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, IF we have faith like Abraham's..."

Romans 4:20-24 "Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham's faith, God counted him as righteous. And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn't just for Abraham's benefit. It was for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous IF we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead."

-Faith is not just a matter of believing in God; that there is a God; but BELIEVING GOD; believing his promises.-

-We cannot receive the promise if we don't believe God will do it in his time; against all odds.-

-If we do waver in believing God's promise, that is sin; so repent and believe.-

Romans 8:1-2 "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death."

-The promise is that there is no condemnation if you belong to Jesus; so, stop living in condemnation. If you feel condemned because of sin in your life, BELIEVE that the Spirit has freed you from the power of sin and stop sinning. When you sin inadvertantly or out of habit, repent immediately and cry out to God to deliver you from sin and to change your heart.-

1 Corinthians 10:13 "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure."

-The promise is that you CAN overcome temptation; just ask God to show you the way out!-

Embracing the Power...

2 Timothy 3:5

KJV "...Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away."

NLT "...They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!"

Have you ever heard an elderly person say "I'm too old to change; I'm set in my ways."? Or maybe a younger person say "Well, that's just the way I am."? Neither of these are good reasons to stay the way we are, when the way we are is wrong. Most people who say these things have actually tried to change themselves only to fail; so they give up eventually.

I have tried to change in my own strength and failed. But as a believer, I have the power of God available to change me. When I cry out to Him; He will change me by His Spirit. I have experienced this and am currently experiencing this; I recognize things in me that need change and I really want these changes. I still have a long way to go, but I am aware that God's power is truly working in me and the changes are coming. I see it in little ways and I am encouraged.

Zechariah 4:10 NLT "Do not despise these small beginnings..."

Embrace the power of God for change.

kdr

"I Was Only Joking..."

Ephesians 6:23 "Honour thy father and thy mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it might be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."

So often I hear children of varying ages speak disrespectfully to their parents. Some parents attempt to correct their children, the child responds with "I was joking", and the parents accept this explanation. Other parents will just excuse their children, saying "Oh, that's just how we relate; I know they don't mean to be disrespectful."

I wonder if we are doing our children a disservice in teaching them it's really ok to be disrespectful if they're only playing. This stood out to me so clearly that I asked God, "What is it I'm doing?"

Uh Oh ...I do seem to remember times when I say something disrespectful to my husband and yeah, I'm only joking...

Forgive us, Lord!

kdr

The Roots

I recently planted some radish seeds in the garden; later, when hoeing weeds and morning glories, I realized I wouldn't recognize the radish plants and might hoe them as well. I meant to look in the produce section at the store, but forgot. So I watched the posted video.

I already knew that the roots grow down as the leaves grow up, but never really thought much about the roots. For years, I spent most of my energy trying to push through that top layer of soil and produce some nice green leaves. I wanted people to recognize that I was a good, useful plant.

But those roots; they don't care what people think, they're not even seen; they're intent on going deeper and deeper into the soil to provide a strong, sturdy foundation for healthy growth.

Who knew I could learn from a radish?!!!

kdr

Two Prayers

The Bible is loaded with wonderful prayers; and over the years I have made many of them my own; simply because they so adequately expressed things in my heart that I had been unable to put into words.

At this point in my life, two prayers stand out for me. One is the prayer of Jabez. I had heard of it and seen books about it, but had never read any of them. Some friends brought it to my attention recently and I found it to be a concise way to express the desires of my own heart. It can be found in I Chronicles 4:10.

"Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!" kjv

"Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!" new living translation

The other is near the end of Psalm 19.

"Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me; then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression."

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer." kjv

kdr

ANYWAY [anon.]

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may cheat you;
Be honest anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous and resentful;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may never be recognized by mankind;
Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give your best anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them, anyway.

kdr

The Voice of Wisdom

As I listened to Sarah Palin's speech yesterday, I was struck by the wisdom with which she spoke. I was reminded of Deborah, a judge of Israel long ago. Her story is recorded in the book of Judges in the Bible. Barack, a man of her time, respected her wisdom and listened to her words from God, and so Israel was delivered once more.

I wish that the Barack of our time would likewise listen to the Voice of Wisdom, that we would be delivered as well.

Happy Birthday, America!

kdr