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Even when you're old, life is worth living if you have friends. Enjoy! :-)

It's written that Jesus "didn't consider equality with God something to be grasped but made Himself of no reputation". Philippians 2:8

In today's world where reputation is considered everything, we see here how much value God has placed on it. Jesus came with no reputation, nothing that would make Him highly esteemed among men.

       "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
       nothing in his appearance that we should desire him."
                                                                    Isaiah 53:2

Yet what He did come with was a body that was willing to do God's will completely in everything and this the Father found well pleasing.

Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:

      " Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
      But a body You have prepared for Me.
       In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
      You had no pleasure.
       Then I said, 'Behold, I have come--
      In the volume of the book it is written of Me--
      To do Your will, O God." Hebrews 5:7


It matters not if I'm gifted with many talents or if I have a status in society or what my appearance is like. God has prepared a body for us as well, to do His will. The only thing that matters is that I do God's will and for that to happen I need hear His voice and obey His word.

Praise God for His word and for giving us the Holy Spirit who is able to lead us along life's way. May each one of us glorify God in our bodies so we become a vessel of honor prepared for every good work.

http://www.brunstad.org/

It’s been said “Brunstad Christian Church, is the best place on earth” why? because this is where faithful men and women have come with God’s word in spirit and power, with the message that it is possible to live a Victorious life over sin.

This Word is able to divide between soul and spirit, to discern between the thoughts and intents of the heart and is also able to do a transforming work in us. Hebrews 4:12

Since the turn of the century when Johan Oscar Smith first responded to the call to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, there have been many brothers and sisters through the years, who have wholeheartedly answered the call to “Come!”

“And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17

May each one of us wholeheartedly answer the call so God can work in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philip. 2:13

Part I: Brunstad—From Farm to Paradise

Part II: “Come See How We Live! Come to Brunstad!”

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How quickly life here passes on it's way;
You soon will reach the evening of your day.
Be therefore good and tender to each one
Who journeys with you till life's day is done

The hands that serve you, thankfully receive,
Ere enters death and bitterly you grieve
How quickly cometh that unbidden one;
Then it's too late to do what is not done

While beats the heart bound close to you in life
Of Mother, father, children, husband, wife--
O show them love ere they depart from you;
You know yourself what loving deeds can do.

The feet that tread life's pilgram way here too,
Should their oft stumbling be well known to you,
Then take good care not to forget at all
How often you yourself didst come to fall.

Fault-finding, causing other souls to grieve,
Is easy, but what do you thus achieve?
If you can't bear a soul just as he is,
Then your reward from God you'll surely miss.

How oft have you God's Holy Spirit grieved?
And yet His love so richly you've received!
The bonds of love keep strong in all you do;
Do unto others as God does to you.

   H.A. Tandberg

In loving memory of my Dear Mother Dorothy Galante. A woman with a kind and loving heart who lived her life by the golden rule. We love you and miss you Ma.

Jesus has risen

Jesus resurrection from the dead not only made a way for us to receive the forgiveness of sins, by sacrificing His life on the cross. He also opened up a new and living way for us to follow in which we can be set free from sin.

"For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:3-4

Before Jesus came, man was powerless over sin in the flesh. The Law (Ten Commandments) was there as a tutor/break on outward manifestation of sin but it was powerless over the lusts and desires that dwelt in a persons flesh (indwelling sin), Anger, impatience, covetousness, etc..

Jesus came so He could condemn sin in His flesh, a flesh just like yours and mine. With having a flesh like ours Jesus contended with all the weaknesses we face and was tempted in every point as we are, however He never gave into sin (His lusts and desires) and hence never sinned. This was the real victory and what made it possible for us to walk on this way and be set free from sin. When we walk not according to our lusts and desires but according to the spirit we ourselves partake in fulfilling the just requirement of the law. Jesus was the first to do what the law could not do, by condemning sin in His flesh before it had the opportunity to come out, by means of denying Himself and taking up His cross every day.

"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." John 1.17. Now we have been given the same spirit and power that Jesus had overcome in.  It is now possible to follow Jesus in the same way. By taking up our cross daily as Jesus did we too shall be victorious over sin and be raised up with Him. Praise God for opening this new and living way for us.

I thought this was a especially good and encouraging verse for me to read. God is with those who have a contrite and humble spirit. That’s what God highly esteems in a person and it is in that person God can do a work.

 “ I dwell in the high and holy place,
      With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,
      To revive the spirit of the humble,
      And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
       For I will not contend forever,
      Nor will I always be angry;
      For the spirit would fail before Me,
      And the souls which I have made.
      For the iniquity of his covetousness
      I was angry and struck him;
      I hid and was angry,
      And he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.
      8 I have seen his ways, and will heal him;
      I will also lead him,
      And restore comforts to him
      And to his mourners.
        “ I create the fruit of the lips:
      Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,”
      Says the LORD,

      “ And I will heal him.”
      But the wicked are like the troubled sea,
      When it cannot rest,
      Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
       “ There is no peace,”
      Says my God, “for the wicked.”

  In honor of my wife Yelena

  A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman--who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.

  The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.

  She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.

  She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it].

  She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household's food from a far [country].

  She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.

  She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard. [S. of Sol. 8:12.]

  She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.

  She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night [of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust].

  She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

  She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].

  She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet.

  She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made].

  Her husband is known in the [city's] gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

  She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles [or sashes that free one up for service].

  Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!

  She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].

  She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.

  Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying],

  Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.

  Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!

 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city!

Proverbs 31: 10-31