Fruit of the Spirit

I heard it was all the fashion,
so I had my nose pierced. ...

... I could braid my long wavy bangsfor the barn dance and wear my coat tiered.
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment,such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.Instead, it should be that of your inner self,the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,which is of great worth in God's sight.1 Peter 3:4 NIV
But the fruit of the Spirit islove, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.Galatians 5:22,23 NASB
poem snippet: Copyright (c) 04.27.09 - Linda L. Brown



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Sermon Notes 04.26.09 Cornerstone

Sermon notes (Sunday, April 26, 2009) include a story of a very young boy who was told there were certain things that he could do to help take care of his new baby sibling. After the boy heard the list, he placed his hands on his hips and with as much indignation as a tot can muster, asked, And just what will you be doing while I do all the work?

Do not have an overarching view of your own importance.

He owns our lives, designed our vessels

to fill them with talent, experience, skills;

The price of love He paid on the Cross

that we might not suffer loss by our wills.

poem: Copyright (c) 04.26.09 - Linda L. Brown

Matthew 21:35-40 is the story of a group of Pharisees taking what belonged to God and using it for their own interests and purposes. It is the story of the vineyard of God being usurped by those God put in charge of His vineyard. And when God sent prophets to cry out against Israel and its leaders for their disobedience to God, the prophets were taken and stoned and killed in order for the Pharisees to maintain control of the vineyard (God's people) for monetary and social power. And when the heir of the vineyard came, Jesus, He was taken out and killed. The result of this disobedience was that in 70 A.D., as prophesied, Jerusalem was utterly destroyed and all Israel was scattered throughout the known world. 

"Therefore I (Jesus) tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit." - Matthew 21:43 NIV

And now salvation and redemption have been offered to the whole world through the sacrifice of God's son, Jesus, for our sins, on the Cross.

Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures, 'The stone which the builders rejected, this became the chief corner stone; this came about from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?" - Matthew 21:42 NASB

 
CORNERSTONE SONG

Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Lift Your Eyes, Let the Son Shine . . .

-1-

Lift up your eyes . . .

look to the heavens:

Who created all these?

Each star in the sky,

awesome, God-given,

points to the greater, He.

He is the greater,

Creator of all,

yet doubt we His loving.

Jesus, prayer's answer,

moves near us, and calls,

Let light . . . out of nothing.

-2-

Today I let the Son shine in . . .

Take care of me, I said.

He said, Your very hairs I count!

Take care today, My friend,

to let the Son shine out.

Copyright (c) 04.25.09 - Linda L. Brown

And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Matthew 10:30 NIV

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Morning Dove

Might I hear a bird in the morning,listening for a bird.Might I rest another hour longer,pressed in upon his Word.
Copyright (c) 2008 - Linda L. Brown
. . . Jesus Himself would often slip awayto the wilderness and pray.Luke 5:16 NASB


Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;
Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Natural Sleep Remedies

Sleep is imperative,and we are aware of it;but when we think, there it is... it leaves us right where it is.
I think, thinking is not of it(though dreaming is part of it);so, try listening to other thingsand think nothing of the narrative ...
Soon slumber comes, settling.Or, begin a poem like this one is,at four a.m.—too hard to think.Now, here's a remedy! ... riddling.
Or, this is comparative:Sense fingers, toes and eyelashes—one at a time ... and think of it.... When you can't, you'll sleep instead.
But, best of all is when He singswithin your heart a precious hymnor gives a verse on which to thinkand folds His peace beneath your chin.
Copyright (c) 04.16,20.09 - Linda L. Brown
Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;
Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

The Noble-Minded Cross Barriers

Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;
Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers
As gleaned from Acts 17:10-12, those who are noble-minded:

• Receive the Word with great eagerness
• Examine the Scriptures daily
• Verify with Scripture what is thought to be true
• As a result, they join in like-faith with other committed believers in Christ, crossing barriers that otherwise may separate people

(To read various translations of the above verses, please visit BibleGateway.com, which provides a Quick Search for many versions.)

Easter Sunrise Service at Mount Rushmore

Click on the Mt. Rushmore plate for an interesting slideshow of the 04.12.09 Easter Sunrise Service held at our great National Memorial.


We attended this beautiful service with a visiting family of four.

The 64th Annual Easter Sunrise Service at Mount Rushmore National Memorial brought a hardy crowd out from cozy homes nestled in the Black Hills. The day being cloudy made the sunrise in visitors' hearts all the more evident, as they helped one another get comfortably settled on blankets spread on cold benches, with umbrellas on standby.

Hymns were sung with contagious enthusiasm by the Sunrise Choir, comprised of volunteers of many area churches. Pastor Chuck Landon presented the sermon, punctuated with his signature gestures and sprinkled with his quick humor, of which the brunt was aimed at himself.
Guest performers, Sheltered Reality, came from 30 plus practice sites in 17 states. Applying their gifted talent to their drums, they provided the prelude, a song from their usual shows, and a special Easter Anthem created for this year's Service.

About Sheltered Reality:
Thirteen years ago, Sheltered Reality began as a project. The Executive Director, Steve Schlosser needed to finish his PhD dissertation, the topic of which was music as a tool for motivational change. Today, through the core beliefs of Sheltered Reality, both members and audiences are reminded that with God, all things are possible. Read more HERE.

Though Choir, Pastors and Sheltered Reality were on stage, the focal point of the Service was the banner, pictured in our slideshow. The Lord Jesus Christ was honored indeed.

The Service closed with the singing of, God Bless America:

God bless America, land that I love!
Stand beside her, and guide her,
through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
to the oceans - white with foam,
God bless America, my home, sweet home!
God bless America, my home, sweet home!