A Living Sacrifice

In this life we are to be made into the image of Christ. This prepares us for the eternal life with him in glory. Several of my friends from our MPJ Bible and Prayer Fellowship have gone ahead to Jesus.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Romans 12:1 and 2  are very important verses and should be put to memory. Our Christian walk is one of service, first we must be willing to put to death the old nature. It is only possible by his mercies and by his Holy Spirit. We are to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and separated unto God. We cannot sacrifice an unclean sacrifice, we must live a clean and pure life to be a sacrifice. We offer ourselves and ask the LORD to remove anything that offends. Changing our behavior is necessary to live a holy life, an acceptable life and if we are His people we will not desire to sin.

Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

We are to die to our sin nature and walk in the Spirit of God.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Be not conformed to this world and it's ungodly ways. How can you openly live in sin, the standard of the world, and be living for God? Jesus must be our Lord and master; we serve him doing what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. We cannot do this if we seek our own lusts and desires. We are to serve the master and he gives to us all spiritual blessings.

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Transformed is the same word used to describe Jesus in His transfiguration (Mark 9:2-3); it is a glorious transformation that happens to us! Reading God's word, meditating on it and seeking the face of God is how we renew our minds. (See Phil 4:8)

That ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

His will works in us for his good pleasure.

Phil 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Phil 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

2 Th 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
2 Th 1:12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Is Christ Jesus glorified in your life, or do we seek for personal honor and glory? We serve God and he rewards us if we serve him well. The greatest shall be servant of all.

Mat 23:11  But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
Mat 23:12  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

We are no longer our own, we are adopted son's serving the master with devotion, thanksgiving and gratitude.

 Eaglewings Ministries

Testimony of Albert Melrose

Autumn leaves of red and gold

The Crape Myrtle leaves fall on my car. A
closer look proves that they are quite beautiful.
These are simple blessings of God's design.

Nearer Lord to thee..

Psa 119:63  I am a companion of all them that fear thee,
 and of them that keep thy precepts. 

Asking for directions?
One group is open sided, the other closed.

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

Beware of false prophets.

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 

Just out of seminary,
but will they teach the whole word of truth?

Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Some come to church seeking healing.

Luke 4:40  Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. 

Nothing like close fellowship.

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

The leaves are packed like sardines,
but are we not one body in the Lord?

Rom 12:5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 

All bow at the feet of Jesus.

Rev 4:10  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 

Rev 4:11  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. 

The Power of His Love

 As Christians we are to love one another. I find fellowship with God and sometimes with others who venture out on the park trails in the early morning. Politicians have shut down part of the government, but it is a lovely day, all is well. The park is beautiful and I met friendly people on my morning walk.

An Evening Primrose greeted me as I 

approached one of the ponds. The oil from 

the seeds are used to treat skin problems. 

Beauty is skin deep?

The LORD looks upon our hearts.

Eph 3:16  That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Eph 3:17  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph 3:18  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph 3:19  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

I talked with this lady and petted her dogs. 

She loves her dogs and feeds them "natural" food.

It takes 300 lbs a month to feed them.  Love the pets, love one another but love God with all your being. In
the name of Jesus is all power and all love.

 There are several birdhouses on the trees. 

This one is in need of repair. It reminds me of the

song made popular in the 50's 

that Bob sings at the rest homes.

(This old house, by Stuart Hamblin)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WhLhF12TBE 

I stopped to take this picture of a horse's head when

 a little old lady wearing a hoody stopped to talk.

She said yes I see the horse and there are two more down the trail. I told her I would listen for them; laughter.

Three women were walking with their dog. It is getting cooler on this October morning and the dog had a pink sweater. I said to them, "being pink the dog must be a she...unless it was in a prison in Arizona?" They laughed. There was good fellowship this morning

Eph 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 

A little red as the Autumn leaves begin to change. 

Jesus shed a lot of blood to secure our salvation and 
in a little while by faith he will return. 

The Holy Spirit in us is the power of God. He is able to do

more than we ask or think. Think on that. 
What will you ask God  ... through the Holy Spirit?
 Ask, and do not fear. 

His love keeps us in his perfect peace.

Eph 3:21  Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

I Speak the name of Jesus and all is well with my soul.

Eat no fat or blood

Lev 3:17 It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.

The pagans ate fat and drank blood in worship of their false gods.

Deu 32:37 And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,
Deu 32:38 Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.
Deu 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

The disobedient leaders ate the fat in rebellion and did not feed their flock.

Eze 34:2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
Eze 34:3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.

There was quite a stir when Jesus said that we must drink his blood. The communion wine was symbolic of oneness with Jesus, his life in us.

Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Joh 6:52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
Joh 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
Joh 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
Joh 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. Joh 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
Joh 6:58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. 

The fat of a sacrifice was burned as an offering. It made a sweet smell. When we barbecue meat, the fat burns off and the smoke of it gives flavor to the meat. In one sense the sweet smell is our sweet smelling offering, as incense is an offering of prayer. There is a modern slang "chew the fat", an English expression for gossiping or making friendly small talk. When we come together it is better to partake of the fellowship of Christ in sharing and prayer. The blood of a sacrifice is to be poured out, because the life is in the blood. Many would not eat meat of an animal sacrificed to an idol. Jesus is the living presence of God given as a sacrifice for us. We are to eat the bread of life and drink the symbolic blood in communion, for he is our life through his death and resurrection for us.

1Co 11:24  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 
1Co 11:25  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 
1Co 11:26  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 

 We may eat the symbolic bread (meat) of the body of Christ and drink of His blood, the communion grape juice, because he is life to us and we come together being part of the body of Christ. Taste and see that the Lord is good. (psalm 34:8)