Encouragement

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"Jesus stands at the door and knocks; if anyone hears His voice and opens the door...
He will come in!" (Rev. 3:20)

That is a tremendous promise, but the door needs to be opened:
INITIALLY...by the New Birth experience
CONTINUALLY....left open for His Spirit
ULTIMATELY....open for His gift of Heaven and Eternal Life.

When I was in the 11th grade, we presented the play, "Hobgoblin House'.
I was the old caretaker of the house and my cousin 'Corky' was to start the play by knocking at the door. After he knocked, I was supposed to say (in an eerie voice)
"Come in". I forgot to say those words, but Corky finally came in anyway.

Jesus waits for us to say, "Come on in".....but Jesus won't come in until we ask.
He has so much to give us that will take care of the past, present and future.

HE STANDS AT THE DOOR TO GIVE PROMISES THAT FAIL NOT~
"There has not failed one of God's good promises!" (I Kings 8:56 and Joshua 21:45)

"We receive the promise of the Spirit through faith". (Galatians 3:14)
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for He is faithful Who promised." (Hebrews 10:23 and II Peter 1:4 and 3:9)

HE STANDS AT OUR DOOR TO GIVE PLANS FOR OUR LIVES THAT ARE BETTER THAN ALL OTHER PLANS~
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not unto your own understanding.
In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your path." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

A prayer that I have prayed many times is: "Lord, prop me up on my leanin' side".

The Bible is a biographical Book about many who believed that God's plans for them were
for good...and not for evil.

We are His treasure in earthen vessels!
We are not just empty clay pots!
We have a testimony of Eternal value.
The container may be old, but the contents are of infinite value.
We MUST obey His plans....and carry them out WITH PASSION.

This poem (whose author is unknown) was given to us when we were going through a difficult time with our son Kevin. The Drs. were quite concerned about a large tumor in Kevin's fibula, so they tried to prepare us for bad news. Though they did have to remove the fibula, the 5" tumor was NOT malignant and by God's Grace, Kevin was able to serve 29 yrs. as an Oklahoma State Trooper.

This is the poem that was given to us at that time by the Carl Stringers:

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MY FATHER'S WAY
My Father's way may twist and turn...
My heart may throb and ache.

But in my soul, I'm glad to know
He maketh no mistake.

My cherished plans may go astray,
My hope may fade away....

But still I trust the Lord to lead
For my Father knows the way.

There is much now I cannot see
My eye is still so dim....

But come what may, I still can trust
And leave it all to Him.

For by and by, the mist will lift
And darkness turn to day.

Then looking back.......
We'll praise His Name, Who led us all the way!

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HE STANDS AT THE DOOR OF OUR LIFE....TO GIVE US PROVISIONS FOR 'THE LIFE'~
These are mainly to be received (and used) to carry out His plans.
A very important provision is The Holy Spirit.

We can not carry out His Will in the weakness of the flesh...
but we CAN do it in the power of The Holy Spirit.

God expects our lives to be a Bethlehem, that His Son might be manifested in our bodies.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem they brought gifts of:
Gold - gift fit for a King
Frankincense - gift for a Priest
Myrrh - a gift for One Who was to die

"What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a Shepherd I'd give a lamb.
If I were a Wise Man I'd do my part.
Yet what can I give Him? I'll give my heart".
(By Christina Rossetti)

Charles Slattery wrote about a wife who told her husband that a visitor had come, inquiring of their spiritual condition.
The husband said, "Didn't you tell him that we're church members?"
The wife replied, "He didn't ask me that...he simply asked, 'Does Jesus live here?"

Be sure that the door of your life is always open to the Lord.

Please pray this prayer (or a similar one):
"Father, forgive me for ever leaving You on the outside of any part of my life! Make me keenly sensitive to Your knock and may I always be desirous of Your Presence."

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