Being Deceived – now THAT’s scary!

James 1:14-15 But each one is tempted when by his own evil desire; he is dragged away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin and sin when full grown gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived my dear brothers.

Deceived: The act of being misled. Entice: Lure, tempt, snare, hook, seduce

James, the writer uses ‘my dear brothers’ in the verse. That means he’s speaking to fellow believers. Yes, believers in Jesus can be deceived…by their own (evil) desire. What has so enticed you that it has dragged you away from your sweet fellowship you had with Jesus? Maybe you have fed that enticement and it now has a stronghold on you? Can’t you smell it? The stench of decay? It is a slow death to your commitment to grow closer to your Lord. Death of a promise to your children. Death of your peace. Death of your "I'm going to live christ-like at school this year". Birth to anger, tension and frustration. Birth to a walk of laziness and self-focus. Can’t you see where it has or will lead to? The Bible tells us to run from sin. God has warned us of that snare.
I got good news for you my dear friend. The good news of the gospel. Jesus is in the soul resurrection business. He’s the light we’re to follow. We’re not to walk blindly as others walk. Take off the blindfold of deception and return in repentance and obedience to Jesus. Hey, he’s calling for you now...

Father, there have been many times when I willfully, not blindly, ran to sin. Thank you Lord for the forgiveness you extend. Thank you for the chastisement…it has let me know you love me. Thank you for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Thank you I am not who I was and for molding me into being who you want me to be.

Woods Reality

Tim and I went for a hike before we went to work this morning. We live beside Jenning State Forest. God has truly blessed us as it gives us great pleasure to walk in the forest beauty. As we walked this morning I learned a few things. God used them to speak to me in their application of areas in my life but use your own imagination.

When you are following someone too closely, you can get slapped by the branches recoiling.
When you’re staring at your footpath, you can walk into big ol’ honkin spiderwebs.
When you’re focusing ahead, your feet can get tangled in the vines and cause you to trip.
As I tripped, I reached out for support. The support had thorns that hurt.
Turkey tracks are best seen in sand. Deer tracks are best seen in the mud.
My neck itches!
Purple mushrooms?
God is amazing in His detail.
I love hiking with my husband. I'm ready for some hot coffee - again!

A great weekend!

My family and I had a great camping weekend, so much so we played hookie on Monday and spent another quiet family day together camping. Friday-Sunday we had at least 75 people there @ Yogi by my count. Lots of fun, games and fellowship. Sunday, Tyler Denmark (sorry, Taylor?) Kelsey B and Trey led our service in worship then CJ taught our adult Sunday School lesson. Awersome. Sitting there under the oak trees, Bibles open, listening to the word of God being taught. Just as in the days of old....
Sunday was so pretty Tim said we were going to have another day, just us to enjoy some family time. Ping pong (2 games!) swimming in the beachfront - yes with Clyde! He loved it. Dinner was a mix of leftovers...it was edible... and then a trip to DQ for some ice cream. What a great day! Making family memories...I love it.
p.s. Thanks Edwards and Gandys for the firewood and thanks Kalinas and Edwards for the offer of groceries for our unexpected night..it was SO sweet of you to offer...I think my family thinks I should have taken the chops!! :)

B A GLOWSTICK! (& girl's prayer requests)

Tonight in Sunday worship we had some prayer time. One of the men in our church, Sean, asked the Lord to shake him up - shake up his faith to serve Him more. It reminded me of a glow stick. A glowstick that isn’t activated simply isn’t a glowstick.It’s just a stick. When first placed in the hand the stick is rigid and colorless. It must first be broken and then shaken for it to glows and fulfill its purpose.
Are you willing to be broken and shaken? Ask God to mold you and shake you. Father, mold me into your image so your light may shine before men! Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Sr High School Prayer Requests 9/21
Patty: foot injury
Alex: US; friend w/ mini-strokes
Jenny: US
Karen: Monica (singles) ships out today to Afghanistan
Heather:Praise of answered PR, US, brother Justin
Kaitlynn: friendship restored; US, school
Jamie: got saved @ FNL!!! 2US,brother Sean to Iraq in spring
Mary: cousin, sister Annie serving in Japan, mom, pop’s back
Ashley & Claren: US’s
Marina: Lisa’ children (Lisa died of breast ca)
Darcy: shoulder, friend Drew’s injury,friend

Sr High Girls Prayer Requests 9/14/08

Sunday we had a lesson on how the external influences in our lives can make an impression on out heart. us...impact who we are. We did a case study, if you will, of the lives of two girls. We reviewed how their childhood environment ( illnesses, finances, addictions) and their relationships (father, family) shaped their emotions as well as the choices in their lives. Not only does God our father absolutely cherish and adore His daughters; when we fail Him, he offers complete forgiveness as well. How amazing is that. Remeber the 3 points?
1. God is faithful and good DEUTERONOMY 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
2. God cares for you. 1 peter 5:7 (Cast all your cares upon the Lord, for He cares for you.) Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. New Liv Test. Lamentations 3:22-25 NIV 22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." 25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him
3. God has good plans for you. Jeremiah 29: 11.For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12.Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "
What happened in our lives can be used for our good and His glory.
AL: US, dad traveling, friend Chelsea
KA: Lori’s family
PA: school, work, US
CA: friends, family, praise, ankle
CL: brother’s ankle, US
AS: friend Shannon, US
HE: school, Justin, US
KA: papa (cancer) US, AP W History- hard, FNL, Chelsea R travel
DA: volleyball team- playing (shoulder) US, school Bible club
MA-KA- none
MA: grandpa (cancer) uncle moving to Jax
JA: 2 US, brother in TX before Afghanistan, need job
MI: grandma to Mexico
Mc: Dad, US

Girls, I commit to praying for your requests this week! I love you. Mrs. Karen

Ketchie GameCam

Ketchie GameCam

Several months ago in our backyard, my husband Tim mounted a trail or “GameCam”. It is a motion- activated camera. As the wildlife cross its sensors, it takes a picture and as long as there is activity it will snap a picture every 2-3 minutes. Tim has been watching this particular deer “Bucky” for a long time and is watching him grow. It’s pretty cool to catch all the wildlife by surprise in their habitat acting like, well, wildlife. Over a weekend there can be up to 70 pictures that include fox, turkey and deer (including an hours old fawn).

God GameCam
Several months ago I decided to closely watch my disciple in the area I placed her. I mounted hidden cameras in her home, school, workplace, and areas she frequented. Every time she made a motion the camera clicked. I have been watching this particular child for sometime as I’m preparing her for something special. I wanted to see how she was living for me, so I placed people in her path so she could witness and to my astonishment, she didn’t. I sent someone her way to serve, and she was selfish. She has a chance to encourage and instead she was prideful. I have pictures of her religiousness at my house of worship, but none of her entering our secret meeting place. There is no motion for Me to detected. She isn’t living for me. I wanted to show many pictures of her living for Me when in Heaven, but for now we'll be saddened by what we see.

If I told her I was watching her every move and had her on film I wonder if she’d live differently. I wonder if then the motion detector would snap hundreds of pictures as she lived for me.

How about you? Would you live differently if you knew your every motion was recorded for all to see? Will you offer your life as a gift to God for His glory?

Hebrews 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 1 Peter 4:5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. Romans 14:12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

Crazy Love, Crazy Inheritance

Crazy Love, Francis Chan, page 59
A strange Inheritance

The very fact that a holy, eternal, all-knowing, merciful, fair, and just God loves you and me is nothing short of astonishing. The wildest part is that Jesus doesn’t have to love us. His being is utterly complete and perfect, apart from me. He doesn’t need me or you. Yet He wants us, chooses us, even considers us His inheritance (Eph 1:18). The greatest knowledge we can ever have is knowing God treasures us. That really is amazing beyond description. The holy Creator sees you as His “glorious inheritance.”

This was an excerpt from his book and it really speaks to me. I am His inheritance. Definition: Property that is inherited; Something that is passed down from preceding generations; a tradition; The status acquired by a person through birth; a birthright.
Surely, Jesus, there’s got to be more to your inheritance than me!!! You’re King of Kings and Lord of Lords…and I’m all You get? What a mistake! Don’t you feel short-changed, jipped, ripped off?!!!

No, He doesn’t. He treasures us. I can’t see that right now, because I can’t grasp the one who knows me most intimately, loves me the most- in spite of myself. In spite of my failures, broken promises and all that I am not, He sees me as a precious jewel, his child, His bride, His…..love.

Lord, help me to live in the realm of who you say I am and as you see me…I sure would live differently! Help me Father to treat those around me as your inheritance. ... I sure would love and serve differently. Thank you Father for loving me this way!! Kind of makes me feel good!!

Guest Blogger: Caddi Locke

(Caddi is a high school student that serves and fellowships at Promise Land Baptist Church. Thanks Caddi for guest bloggin..I love you - you're a true blessing to me!)

1. "Be Still and Know I'm Here"
2. "Cuz you are not alone, I'm always there with you"
3. "Emanuel....God With Us"
4. "I Know Your There"
Last year I had been struggling with wondering if God was here with me. It was really hard for me because I knew that God loved me and that He was "there". Its hard to explain really, but I'm sure many people have felt this way. I just felt alone. At camp last year, I just broke down and told God that I needed to know He was there with me. It was amazing, that verse that says "Ask and you shall receive" became real to me. That whole week at camp, the weeks to follow, and even now God keeps showing himself to me. It's incredible. Since that week at camp, I have not doubted that God is here with me. Those four lines listed are different songs that talk about God being with us. This summer in Sunday school lessons, concerts/songs, in quiet times I have been reminded numerous times that God is with us. In June my brother, Chelsea, my friend Dee, and I went to Wild Adventures and heard Story Side B and Mercy Me in concert. I can't describe that night. It was incredible. SSB sings a song called Be Still. Its hard in our every day lives to be still. For me it means, even when life is tough and we don't see God working through it or understand why we are going through something, we need to hold up (be still) and know God is here and that He has it covered. One of my favorite singers is Michael Buble, he sings a song called, "Lost". The meaning of the song probably has not one thing to do with God but when I have heard lessons recently about knowing He is here I remember that line. Its a goodie! MercyMe is just amazing!!! I love them. Their music has gotten me through some hard times. A song they sing is God With Us. Most of us know that Emanuel is one of Jesus' names which means God With Us. Not much more I can say about that. Casting Crowns has a song called "I Know Your There". Again speaks for itself. Psalms 139 is a very reassuring chapter about how we can't get away from God. I feel like I have gone on and on but it has been amazing to me how I keep getting reassurances of God's presence. I don't know really how to end this blog other than just saying thank you for reading it.
-Caddi

A beautiful rose?

Our pastor Tommy has said that he likes to look at people as to who they can be..their potential. If we're honest ,we can say we often look at people and make a snapshot judgement. Perhaps we simply need to not judge. At times we've seen someone when they are going through a storm and they're battered. Maybe they are struggling with an issue in their life and it has affected their walk or witness. What you see at that moment in that person's life, well, it just wasn't a pretty picture. Instead of being so quick to prune them, lift them up in prayer and encourage them. There have been times in my life when my bloom was looking pretty shabby and the fragrance of my life wasn't so sweet. But you know what? I asked forgiveness, repented and am trying to root myself even deeper into my source of life, Jesus.

These are pictures of roses in my front yard. One picture..they are battered after a hard storm. I had to tie the stem to the railing for support. The next, is still a rose, although no bloom because of disease. Had to pull off dead leaves and apply disease killer and let it rest some. The last is a rose as it is intended to be; a beautiful bloom.

Sr Hi Small Group Study

Today Jenny taught about God, being in us, is everywhere we are. The Holy Spirit can't be dropped off and reclaimed when we're ready. We are to be and live the Christ filled life.The scripture was Col 2:5; Acts 17: 27-28;Eph 1:13, 2:13; 3:16-17, Joshua 1:5
The prayer requests today are:
H: Brother entering the service
K: Emily, the 6 year old we have been praying fory. She died yesterday. Please be in prayer for her family; camp and US
C: b
P: The Davis family -father has a brain tumor.
J: 2 US; praise: bro finished boot camp; G-ma
M: b C exam, sB alot of responsibility
L: US
C:J makes me grasp 'why' i believe what i believe;Kaylee returns home 7/31
M: relatives now missionaries in Ukraine children: 4,2 and 1 on the way
Lets be in prayer for these, girls! Mrs. K