2011 - BLESSED - HE COMFORTS HIS PEOPLE...

Through our troubles, challenges, and even devastation we learn and grow. God provides comfort.
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This week, more people from our congregation are in Haiti letting God use them for His glory. There are nurses in the group. There are seamstresses. There are those who are there to work... to serve... to provide comfort...
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I am confident that this group will be BLESSED beyond measure by what they did last week and are doing this week.

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I just heard of more good... more comfort that has come out of the terrible tragedy in Tucson, Arizona. Christina Taylor Green, the 9 year old who lost her life was an organ donor. Her father, John Green, shared that they know her corneas have given sight to two children who were blind. - In the midst of tragedy, COMFORT... BLESSING....

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Recently, after watching the memorial service in Tucson, I shared with my husband, Steve, that I was so excited that God was given a voice on this nationally televised service watched by millions. Later, Steve wrote this on his blog. He has given me permission to share it with you.
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“Comfort, O Comfort My People”

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On January 12, 2011, four days following the shooting spree in Tucson, Arizona, the President of the United States exhorted us as Americans to “expand our moral imaginations” and “sharpen our instincts for empathy.” “I believe we can be better,” he said.

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President Obama’s speech was one of comfort and consolation and strong encouragement for national unity in spite of our many differences. I believe, however, the most poignant moment of the night was the nationally televised reading of Isaiah chapter 40!

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God is good! Isaiah 40 begins with God’s exhortation, “Comfort, O comfort My people.”

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Comfort – how? Tell them…

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1. Captivity is about to end.


2. Yahweh is coming as a gentle shepherd.


3. He will come ‘with a strong hand’ – able to save.


4. Take confidence in a God “who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand” and in comparison “the nations are like a drop from a bucket… (Isaiah 40:12 & 15).”


5. Wait on the One who can and will renew your strength!
   This world will continue to have its tragic events; God help us! But to the Christian, no matter our nationality, our present comfort and hope is in a God who “so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).”

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Be comforted. God is good! Steve

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You can find Steve's blog at www.cochrist.org

~BLESSED~

2011 - BLESSED: 1/11/11 = 99

At the end of the video below, the following verses from the book of Job are quoted. They are the verses immediately following when Job learned that his sons and daughters had died when their house collapsed on them.
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Job 1:20-22
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20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said,

"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.
BLESSED be the name of the LORD."

22 Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.
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Before beginning the video, pause the playlist over on the right sidebar.
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2011 - BLESSED - Because GIGATTAATTGIG

BLESSED NEW YEAR:

1 - GOD, the FATHER

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1 - GOD, the Son - JESUS

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1 - GOD, the HOLY SPIRIT

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1 - GOD, The GREAT I AM

who gives

Blessing upon

Blessing upon

Blessing

to every surrendered

and poured out spirit because

GIGATTAATTGIG!

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Join us weekly (or bi-weekly) in the New Year

as we consider the BLESSINGS of God,

in spite of the fact that

life can seem to be so hard!