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1John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are… (ASV)

This says we can be children (sons) of the Almighty, the Ever-living One, Creator of heaven and earth. How can this be? Does this then give us the right and privilege to call Him Father? If we are His children what is our relationship to Yeshua (Jesus) the only begotten Son of God?

Hosea 1:10 … And it will come about that, …It will be said to them, " You are the sons of the living God." (all Scripture NAS unless noted)

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Eph 1:5 He (God the Father) predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

Gal 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

John 1:12 But to all who did receive him (Yeshua), who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

Gal 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

1Pet 1:23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.

Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

2Cor 6:16 ... For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 17 "Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate," says the Lord. "And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. 18 "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.

1Pet 1:14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;

Matt 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Phil 2:14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,

Gal 4:19 My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you --

They are brothers with Yeshua (Jesus):

Matt 12:50 "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."

John 20:17 Jesus said to her, "... go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’"

Hebrews 2:10 For it was fitting that he(The Father), for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies(Yeshua) and those who are sanctified(us) all have one source. That is why he (Yeshua) is not ashamed to call them brothers,

Gal 4:7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Romans 8:17 and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Luke 20:36 … and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God's children now… (ESV)

Revelation 21:7 (ESV)

1John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are… (ASV)

More next time on our part as God’s children.

Proverbs 5:7 Now then, my sons, listen to me, And do not depart from the words of my mouth.

Proverbs 3:11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, Or loathe His reproof, 12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father, the son in whom he delights.

Proverbs 4:1 Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding,

Proverbs 8:12 "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And I find knowledge and discretion.

14 "Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.

15 "By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.

16 "By me princes rule, and nobles, All who judge rightly.

17 "I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.

Thank you YHVH for Your Wisdom, Your indwelling Spirit, making us Your sons and daughters.

"To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else." Emily Dickinson

Rom 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thank you Father for filling us with Your love thru Messiah; may the expectation of everlasting life so captivate us that nothing can hinder us.

1. Which two men did Yeshua send to prepare the Passover?
2. What is the longest chapter in the Bible?
3. In which city did Yeshua raise a widow’s son from the dead?
4. Why did Paul and Barnabas leave Lystra?
5. What did Aaron’s staff do to the staffs of the wise men and sorcerers before Pharaoh?
6. Who was the husband of Priscilla?
7. Who said, "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay"?

In our pursuit of humility: (Lessons from humility in daily life.)

"Why is it that those who have joyfully given themselves up for Christ find it so hard to give themselves up for fellow Christians? It seems that the church has failed to teach its people the importance of humility - that it is the first of the virtues, the best of all the graces and powers of the Spirit. It has failed to show that a Christ like humility is what is needed and is also in the realm of possibility. " Andrew Murray

When living only for oneself it is easy to ignore our fellowman. When others do not suit our fancy we declare our independence and go our merry way. But as sons of God we have His Spirit enabling us to be Christ like; thus we are to live in unity with our brothers in Messiah and to the best of our ability with all of mankind. As Messiah was God’s Son setting the example for us He now empowers us to be like Him. Thank You Lord.

Deuteronomy 3:25 ‘Let me, I pray, cross over and see the fair land that is beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.’

Hebrews 3:5 Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later; 6 but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end. 7 Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, "Today if you hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me, As in the day of trial in the wilderness, 9 Where your fathers tried Me by testing Me, And saw My works for forty years. 10 "Therefore I was angry with this generation, And said, 'They always go astray in their heart; And they did not know My ways'; 11 As I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.'"

Heb 3:12 Take care, brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Jeremiah 29:13 You shall seek Me, and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Isaiah 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, so I in him, the same brings out much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.

Material in this section is based on various prayer diaries.

Great Dog Story

They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie as I looked at him lying in his pen. The shelter was clean, no-frill, and the people really friendly. I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waved when you pass them on the street.

But something was still missing as I attempted to settle into my new life here, and I thought a dog couldn't hurt. Give me someone to talk to. And I had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local news. The shelter said they had received numerous calls right after, but they said the people who had come down to see him just didn't look like "Lab people," whatever that meant. They must've thought I did.

But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis balls, his dishes, and a sealed letter from his previous owner.  See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off when we got home. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too. Maybe we were too much alike.

For some reason, his stuff (except for the tennis balls - he wouldn't go anywhere without two stuffed in his mouth) got tossed in with all of my other unpacked boxes. I guess I didn't really think he'd need all his old stuff, that I'd get him new things once he settled in, but it became clear pretty soon that he wasn't going to.

I tried the normal commands the shelter told me he knew, ones like "sit" and "stay" and "come" and heel," and he'd follow them - when he felt like it. He never really seemed to listen when I called his name - sure, he'd look in my direction after the fourth of fifth time I said it, but then he'd just go back to doing whatever.  When I'd ask again, you could almost see him sigh and then grudgingly obey.

This just wasn't going to work.  He chewed a couple shoes and some unpacked boxes.  I was a little too stern with him and he resented it, I could tell. The friction got so bad that I couldn't wait for the two weeks to be up, and when it was, I was in full-on search mode for my cell phone amid all of my unpacked stuff. I remembered leaving it on the stack of boxes for the guest room, but I also mumbled, rather cynically, that the "… dog probably hid it on me."

Finally I found it, but before I could punch up the shelter's number, I also found his pad and other toys from the shelter. I tossed the pad in Reggie's direction and he sniffed it and wagged, some of the most enthusiasm I'd seen since bringing him home. But then I called, "Hey, Reggie, you like that?  Come here and I'll give you a treat." Instead, he sort of glanced in my direction - maybe "glared" is more accurate - and then gave a discontented sigh and flopped down.  With his back to me.

Well, that's not going to do it either, I thought. And I punched the shelter phone number. But I hung up when I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten about that, too. "Okay, Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see if your previous owner has any advice."....  

To Whoever Gets My Dog:

Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new owner. I'm not even happy writing it. If you're reading this, it means I just got back from my last car ride with my Lab after dropping him off at the shelter.  He knew something was different. I have packed up his pad and toys before and set them by the back door before a trip, but this time... it's like he knew something was wrong.  And something is wrong... which is why I have to go to try to make it right.

So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond with him and he with you.

First, he loves tennis balls. The more the merrier.  Sometimes I think he's part squirrel, the way he hordes them.  He usually always has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn't done it yet. Doesn't matter where you throw them, he'll bound after it, so be careful - really don't do it by any roads.  I made that mistake once, and it almost cost him dearly.

Next, commands. Maybe the shelter staff already told you, but I'll go over them again:  Reggie knows the obvious ones -"sit," "stay," "come," "heel." He knows hand signals: "back" to turn around and go back when you put your hand straight up; and "over" if you put your hand out right or left.  "Shake" for shaking water off, and "paw" for a high-five. He does "down" when he feels like lying down - I bet you could work on that with him some more. He knows "ball" and "food" and "bone" and "treat" like nobody's business.

I trained Reggie with small food treats.  Nothing opens his ears like little pieces of hot dog.

Feeding schedule: twice a day, once about seven in the morning, and again at six in the evening. Regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the brand.

He's up on his shots. Call the clinic on 9th Street and update his info with yours; they'll make sure to send you reminders for when he's due. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet. Good luck getting him in the car - I don't know how he knows when it's time to go to the vet, but he knows.

Finally, give him some time. I've never been married, so it's only been Reggie and me for his whole life. He's gone everywhere with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he doesn't bark or complain. He just loves to be around people, and me most especially, which means that this transition is going to be hard, with him going to live with someone new.

And that's why I need to share one more bit of info with you....

His name's not Reggie

I don't know what made me do it, but when I dropped him off at the shelter, I told them his name was Reggie.  He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and will respond to it, of that I have no doubt, but I just couldn't bear to give them his real name. For me to do that, it seemed so final, that handing him over to the shelter was as good as me admitting that I'd never see him again.  And if I end up coming back, getting him, and tearing up this letter, it means everything's fine. But if someone else is reading it, well...  well it means that his new owner should know his real name. It'll help you bond with him. Who knows, maybe you'll even notice a change in his demeanor if he's been giving you problems.

His real name is Tank

Because that is what I drive.

Again, if you're reading this and you're from the area, maybe my name has been on the news. I told the shelter that they couldn't make "Reggie" available for adoption until they received word from my company commander. See, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've left Tank with... and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to Iraq, that they make one phone call, the shelter... in the "event"... to tell them that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily, my colonel is a dog guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he'd do it personally. And if you're reading this, then he made good on his word.

Well, this letter is getting too downright depressing, even though, frankly, I'm just writing it for my dog. I couldn't imagine if I was writing it for a wife and kids and family. But still, Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my family.

And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family and that he will adjust and come to love you the same way he loved me.

That unconditional love from a dog is what I took with me to Iraq as an inspiration to do something selfless, to protect innocent people from those who would do terrible things... and to keep those terrible people from coming over here. If I had to give up Tank in order to do it, I am glad to have done so. He was my example of service and of love. I hope I honored him by my service to my country and comrades.

All right, that's enough. I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at the shelter. I don't think I'll say another good-bye to Tank, though.  I cried too much the first time. Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth.

Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss goodnight every night from me.

Thank you,
Paul Mallory
_______________________________________________

I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure I had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver Star when he gave his life to save three buddies. Flags had been at half-mast all summer.

I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at the dog.

"Hey, Tank," I said quietly.

The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright.

"C'mere boy."

He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard in months.

"Tank," I whispered.

His tail swished.

I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my face into his scruff and hugged him.

"It's me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me." Tank reached up and licked my cheek. "So whatdaya say we play some ball?  His ears perked again.
"Yeah? Ball? You like that? Ball?" Tank tore from my hands and disappeared in the next room.

And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in his mouth.

Some of the material contained in this section is for informational purposes only and has not been verified by us.

Have a good day!

by Greg Gordon - (founder of SermonIndex.net)

3. Many treat "church" like any other social club or sports event that they might attend. (Acts 2:46; Heb 10:25; Acts 1:14)

4. We’ve made Christianity about the individual rather than the community of believers. (Rom 12:5; 1Cor 12:12; 2Tim 4:16)

"God has seldom chosen the great men of this world, for it would seem, high places and faith in Christ do seldom well agree."

We start by declaring His attributes:
Psalm 92:1 It is good to give thanks to the LORD(YHVH), And to sing praises to Thy name, O Most High; 2 To declare Thy lovingkindness in the morning, And Thy faithfulness by night,

4 For Thou, O LORD, hast made me glad by what Thou hast done, I will sing for joy at the works of Thy hands. 5 How great are Thy works, O LORD! Thy thoughts are very deep.

12 The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Planted in the house of the LORD, They will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green, (Why?)
15 To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

Blessed be YHVH (Genesis 14:20 And blessed be God Most High…)

7. An Angel of the Lord - Matthew 28:6