~ "God's love for you is not based on ignorance or unawareness of sin; nor is it based on a tolerance that overlooks sin. BUT.. knowing your sin, God chose to love you, even though it meant His son's death for you!" V. Hicks ("But God demonstrated His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us". Rom. 5:8) Praise God for His amazing love!! ~

What a wonderful thought, and a freeing and compelling truth, to KNOW that God has settled it for all eternity...we do not have to preform for His love. He has established this divine reality and proven it by offering His Son for Himself on our behalf while we were still hostile sinners opposed to His love. If we didn't have to live up to His standards to gain His love as sinners why is it that we often feel that we have to do something, as His child, to gain His love. Thank You Father for Your relentless love for us period!

The following is a paraphrase of a great prayer of King David that has been a tremendous blessing to me. Just wanted to share it with you. May God use it to bless you in the days to come! Bro. Nick

Psalm 143:6-8
I stretch forth my hands unto You: my soul thirsts after You, as a thirsty land. Selah. Answer me quickly, O Lord: my spirit needs reviving (it needs to hear from You): hide not Your face from me, for fear I be utterly useless and of no eternal value upon this earth, just as someone who has died and is in the grave, that can't help anyone. Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; for in You do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto You. 

For Every GOOD Work

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; THAT YOU, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work (2 Cor. 9:8)

Resting in God's blessings

A jubile shall that fiftieth year be unto you: you shall not sow, neither reap that which grows of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of your vine undressed. For it is the jubile; it shall be holy unto you: you shall eat the increase thereof out of the field. Leviticus 25:11-12 What INCREASE is He referring to?

I believe it is the abundant provision that God said He would provide His people every sixth year. As the people trusted Him and followed His ways He would bless them in the sixth year with enough to last three years. They wouldn't have to sow or reap the land for one whole year and God would supply their need in that seventh year as they rested in Him. Remember, He is the Lord of the harvest and He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we could ever ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20-21) Ask Him, it's worth it!

Leviticus 25:18-22 
Wherefore you shall do My statutes, and keep My judgments, and do them; and you shall dwell in the land in safety. [19] And the land shall yield her fruit, and you shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety. [20] And if you shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year? behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase: [21] Then I will command My blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years. [22] And you shall sow the eighth year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year; until her fruits come in you shall eat of the old store.