Grace & Peace

Deep Creek Jamin Java

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"God's Truth.......

Always Fresh,

Always Aromatic"

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May 1, 2012

"Grace & Peace"

Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 1:3  (HCSB) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Devotional Reading:

Over and over Paul connected the words "Grace" and "Peace" in His writings. Grace is the fact and ability of God to extend Himself to humanity by forgiving us even when we do not deserve His forgiveness or His grace. It is grace that is the provision of the complete God to each individual.  Paul also uses the word "peace" in connection with the word "grace." He says peace is from God and is available when we accept His grace that has been extended to us. Before we are able to get peace, it is vital that we understand that peace comes from God. Struggling to get peace from any other source than God results in failure.  Thank You God for giving Yourself to me and forgiving me. Teach me how to get my human will to cooperate with Your plan. I am committed to accepting Your grace and peace. I recognize that I must confess my inability to create peace and open my life so I can receive You.

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Thermometers & Thermostats

   Deep Creek Jamin Java

(Serving Over ? Cups)

"God's Truth.......

Always Fresh,

Always Aromatic"

A Jolt of Spiritual Caffeine to keep you going!

April 30, 2012

"Thermometers & Thermostats"

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 9:9  (HCSB) The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble

Devotional Reading:

Like a child who has safety with mother or dad, God's children have safety with Him. When the pressures in life are pushing on us, we can push the troubles of our mind out and the Holy Spirit becomes our peace. When Satan and the world are threatening on all sides, God is our safety zone. Most of the pressures of life come from our own mind and not from the world. We are probably our own worst oppressors. We are driven more by fear, insecurity, guilt and low identity than we are by confidence, security, peace and wisdom. The Holy Spirit is present to change the DRIVERS of our lives. When we are driven by the negative emotions, we oppress our minds and allow our mind to be manipulated like a thermometer as we react to circumstances.  If we are driven by positive emotions, we live in freedom and regulate the circumstances of life around us, much like a thermostat.  

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

"Encourage the Youth"

     Deep Creek Jamin Java

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"God's Truth.......

Always Fresh,

Always Aromatic"

A Jolt of Spiritual Caffeine to keep you going!

April 27, 2012

"Encourage the Youth"

Scripture Reading:
Titus 2:6  (HCSB) In the same way, encourage the young men to be self-controlled

Devotional Reading:

Parenting preschoolers and children is physically and emotionally demanding, but nothing is more emotionally demanding than parenting teens. Peer pressure, their desire for freedom, their quest to discover their identity and your desire to not let go too fast can cause all kinds of stress. Here are a few thoughts from a dad of two teens:

If you've taught them to obey at six, there's a better chance they'll obey at sixteen.  If you take time to listen to them when they're young, there's a better chance they'll listen to you as a teenager.  And most of all, don't sweat the generational differences. Instead, ask these questions:

1. Is what they are doing unbiblical?
2. Have they defied me?
3. Will it bring them harm?

If the answer to any of those is "yes," it's time for discipline and instruction with a good dose of love as well as respect.

Pray that they will desire to make decisions that are pleasing to God, for when they do, you'll never have to worry about them pleasing you. This is more important than their happiness, for this is true joy.

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

His Mercy

   Deep Creek Jamin Java

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"God's Truth.......

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Always Aromatic"

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April 26, 2012

"His Mercy"

Scripture Reading:
Genesis 18:20  (HCSB) Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is immense, and their sin is extremely serious.

Devotional Reading:

God detests sin. It is an affront to His holiness. He cannot abide it. The sin of the two cities of Sodom and Gomorrah was an outcry to Him, and He resolved to destroy them. Now some may say, “What is this all about? How can a God of love destroy whole cities?” When God revealed His plan of destruction to Abraham, Abraham interceded for the inhabitants of these cities. God even agreed to spare Sodom if ten righteous men could be found in it, but they could not. So the God of grace, forgiveness and love destroyed this ancient city. And that destruction was a severe mercy…an act of love toward the unborn generations that would have borne the consequences of the Sodomites’ sins. Suppose in New York City there was an entire city block of people addicted to crack cocaine. And suppose they were having crack addicted babies. How much of a godly remnant could be expected to counteract the results of their sin? What would it take to give these unborn children a chance at a drug-free life? When evil becomes so prevalent that any decent remnant is consumed, destruction is mercy. God brought judgment on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for immorality, lustfulness, decadence, and godlessness. Someone has said that if God does not judge New York or Los Vegas or San Francisco or Baltimore or Pittsburgh in the same way, He will owe Sodom and Gomorrah an apology! Every day that God does not bring down His arm in judgment is an act of mercy. And when He does, we can be sure that, too, is  His mercy.

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

A Shadowy Truck

  Deep Creek Jamin Java

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"God's Truth.......

Always Fresh,

Always Aromatic"

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April 25, 2012

"A Shadowy Truck"

Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 15:55  (HCSB) Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?

Devotional Reading:

Alexander the Great's father, Phillip, was awakened every morning by a slave who spoke these words: “By His divine decree, by His imperial order, Philip, you too will die.” Every morning he faced the certainty of his death. He wanted to be reminded that he would not live forever, and that he should do what he could do now— because tomorrow was not guaranteed. Death is a sure thing. Unless Jesus Christ returns in our lifetime, all of us will die. One day the obituaries will contain our name, and we will not wake again. Death is sure…but it is not a comfortable subject. No one really likes to talk about it. I was an adult before I ever attended a funeral service…and I was the pastor officiating! Death is sure…but for the Christian it is not threatening. For those who believe in Christ, the sting of death has been removed. A mother died, leaving her husband and daughter. After the funeral, the little girl asked her dad, “Daddy, why did Mother die?” The father did not answer right away. He was struggling to find the right words. A short time later, the two were walking together when they were passed by a large truck. As the truck came close, it cast a shadow over the two of them, and the father saw his answer. “Do you remember asking me about Mom, and what happened to her?” The daughter nodded. “Well, let me ask you a question. When that truck came by just now, did it hit us?” The girl shook her head. “But something did hit us, didn’t it? Something dark?” Her eyes lit up. “Yes, Daddy,” she said, “the truck’s shadow hit us.” Her dad said, “That’s what happened to your mother. Death did not run over your mother. Only its shadow did. And shadows don’t hurt. I don’t know why it happened, but I know that she’s okay.”

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Another Affair not to Remember

        Deep Creek Jamin Java

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"God's Truth.......

Always Fresh,

Always Aromatic"

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April 24, 2012

"Another Affair to Forget"

Scripture Reading:
Proverbs 5:3,8  (HCSB) Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her words are smoother than oil, ... Keep your way far from her.  Don’t go near the door of her house.

Devotional Reading:

Affairs occur because husbands and wives grow apart from each other and grow closer to someone else. It is that simple. Their obedience to God, the strength of their love for each other and the moral commitment that sustained the vow wanes, and they fall.  Hollywood frequently portrays affairs as sudden, passionate exchanges between handsome men and beautiful women that reach an intensity their marriages never can. And, sometimes that is true, but it is certainly not the norm.  Emotions often intensify in forbidden pleasures. Every kid knows the stolen cookie tastes sweeter than the one served openly on a platter. While some affairs may occur suddenly and without warning, I don’t believe that is the norm. In most cases, affairs are the result of a gradual decline in positive affection and behavior towards one’s spouse, and the gradual development of those feelings and actions toward a third party.

The man forgets his vows, his wife, his kids. The woman forgets her vows, her husband, her kids. They make arrangements, they meet, they fall. It’s not a sudden fall. It is the final act in a series of events that has progressed for weeks, months, sometimes even years. At any juncture in the process the husband or wife could have followed Solomon’s advice: “Keep to a path far from her/him, do not go near the door of her/his house (or office or motel room).”  God promises that “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). We need to claim that promise when any temptation assails our heart, including the attraction of another person. Remember the warning of the Sage from many years ago, “The lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil ... Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house ...”  The absolute worse part of the affair is retribution or the get even.  The offended spouse acts in a manner of total deceit and vindictiveness.  Whereas the original affair may not have been thought out and done in selfishness, the other spouse cheating to get even is much worse and done with all malicious and viciousness (much like a prostitute working for money)!

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20

Hope & Peace

       Deep Creek Jamin Java

(Serving Over ? Cups)

"God's Truth.......

Always Fresh,

Always Aromatic"

A Jolt of Spiritual Caffeine to keep you going!

April 23, 2012

"Hope & Peace"

Scripture Reading:
Romans 15:13  (HCSB) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Devotional Reading:

This verse contains three important words, "believing," "hope" and "peace." Hope and peace is dependent on our belief. If we believe we do not have hope then it causes us to feel hopeless. If we believe life is powerless, it causes us to be trapped in turmoil, unhappiness and misery. Unhealthy beliefs, and we have many, block the freedom to believe in hope and peace. They must be dissolved before the statement in the verse "peace in believing...in hope" can occur. Unhealthy beliefs are powerless to produce peace but they have the power to produce misery and to disable healthy beliefs.

Let your prayer today be to tell God that you are uncomfortable with unhealthy beliefs, but are willing for Him to show them to you, so you can work on them one by one, to bring change..........that in turn will bring about peace.

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20