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Gospel Music Bites Devotion: Seven Points To Forgiving Yourself And Others‏

gospel — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:00:11 +0000

I pray this will help someone today. Enjoy Pastor Ray Patrick (Ray Of Hope 4UInternational Ministry)

Seven Points To Forgiving Yourself And Others

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you make a list of everyone you need to forgive; then list each person’s offenses. Remember that some of these names will be from past situations and may not be easy. This exercise will help make the forgiveness process complete.

Five-point prayer of forgiving. Follow these steps for each name and offense on your list:

1. Confess the real problem, which is unforgiveness. Confess to God that you’ve been holding hatred, grudges, resentment, and disgust and that you’ve been holding that person in the bondage of unforgiveness. Then apologize to God for it.

2. Ask God for total forgiveness

3. Believe He has forgiven you and thank God that He has forgiven you.

4. Open yourself to the cleansing that comes from God. If you follow the first three steps, He will cleanse you of all unrighteousness. See 1 John 1:9 above.

5. Declare forgiveness for each offense listed.

6. Transfer ownership to the Lord Jesus Christ. Give your burdens to God: Lord, these sins are too heavy for me to bear. I give them to You as Your property. Please nail them to Your cross so that I can’t take them back anymore. Then give the Lord ownership of the person who hurt you: Lord, I invite You to lay Your hands on that person, convicting of sin and unrighteousness so that at an appropriate time, he or she will ask Jesus for forgiveness and salvation.

7. Be willing to reconcile at the earliest opportunity

“Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles or is overthrown” (Proverbs 24:17 AMP).

Today’s prayer
Father, guide me through this process of forgiveness and transform my life today in Your name! Amen.

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Gospel Music Bites Word For The Day: Another FINAL Deception

gospel — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:00:02 +0000

Satan, tries to deceive us by presenting to you the crosses, losses, reproaches, sorrows, and sufferings, which daily attend those who walk in the ways of holiness. Says Satan, Do not you see that there are none in the world that are so vexed, afflicted, and tossed, as those who walk more circumspectly and holily than their neighbors? They are a byword at home, and a reproach abroad; their miseries come in upon them like Job’s messengers, one upon the neck of another, and there is no end of their sorrows and troubles. Therefore, says Satan, you were better to walk in ways that are less troublesome, and less afflicted, though they be more sinful; for who but a madman would spend his days in sorrow, vexation, and affliction, when it may be prevented by walking in the ways that I set before him?

Satan must have forgotten that, all the afflictions that attend the people of God, shall turn to their profit to a glorious advantage. They shall discover the filthiness and vileness in sin.

It was a German divine who in his sickness said, ‘In this disease I have learned how great God is, and what the evil of sin is; I never knew in my experience, who God was, nor what sin meant—until now.’ Afflictions are a crystal glass, wherein the soul has the clearest sight of the ugly face of sin. In this glass the soul comes to see sin to be but a bitter-sweet; yes, in this glass the soul comes to see sin not only to be an evil—but to be the greatest evil in the world, to be an evil far worse than hell itself.

Again, Afflictions are sweet preservatives to keep the saints from sin, which is a greater evil than hell itself. The burnt child dreads the fire, and for the future I intend by the strength of Christ, that I will not buy repentance at so dear a rate.

Salt brine preserves from putrefaction, and salt marshes keep the sheep from the rot: so do afflictions the saints from sin. The ball in the Emblem says, the harder you beat me down in affliction, the higher I shall bound in affection towards heaven and heavenly things.

Today’s Prayer
Father, I praise you in my trials today knowing that all things work together for good. In Jesus name Amen

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Gospel Music Bites Word Of The Day: Sexual Sin (7) – It’s Not Too Late I Can Be Pure Again

gospel — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 04:00:33 +0000

Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. ROM 6:13,14

You may be at a point where you have been or are now sexually active. I want to encourage you that it is not too late. You can restore your purity and, in the process, grow closer to God.

God is the author of purity. He can create purity where there is none. So if I come to God and say, Never again will I go into the arms of a woman/man unless I am married, I am confident I am pure—even if I don’t have a history of purity. And should I marry, I’m going to marry with a clean conscience and a clean body. God does restore purity. It is never, ever too late.

The value of waiting in purity is tremendous. I know this person who got remarried after many years. She had also been sexually active when she was younger. She made a decision for purity and remained pure for the marriage. When ask if it was worth the wait she said, ‘Oh yes, it was so worth the wait.’”

If you are a believer in Christ, then you live by a different set of rules—God’s rules, which are governed by grace. Gods grace is sufficient…

“Offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace” (Romans 6:13-14).

Today’s Prayer
Father, I want to be pure. Forgive me for my sins and help me to start a fresh new path of righteousness today. Thank you! Amen.

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Gospel Music Bites Word Of The Day: Sexual Sin (6) – GOD GETS HURT‏

gospel — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:00:54 +0000

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, Exodus 20:5

Having sex outside of marriage hurts your relationship with God. Since God is the source of life, peace, hope, comfort, security, and power—cutting yourself off from God will bring serious consequences.

The big issue when you get involved in sexual immorality is not the betrayal of a spouse (even though that is an important) but the loss of intimacy with God. When you are not connected to the vine of Jesus Christ, the eventuality is you’re going to dry out and shrivel up the second you open the door to all the other fleshly desires that are in your soul—the carousing, the violence, the anger, the frustration. All this will start flooding your life, and you’ll feel powerless with the onslaught.

God wants you to live a pure life. Keep yourself from sexual promiscuity. Learn to appreciate and give dignity to your body, not abusing it, as is so common among those who know nothing of God. . . . God hasn’t invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life but into something holy and beautiful—as beautiful on the inside as the outside. If you disregard this advice, you’re not offending your neighbors; you’re rejecting and hurting God. God who is making you a gift of his Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, 7-8 Msg), and who gave his life for you.

A Ray of hope
If you feel that you’ve moved far away from God, it’s never too late to turn back to Him. He will welcome you into His arms in a heartbeat. He wants the best for you and has never stopped loving you. Your partner may leave you, but PRAISE GOD he will “never leave you nor forsake you” he goes on to say, he my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do (Hebrew 13:5,6).

Today’s Prayer
Father, the last thing I need right now is something that will cause you hurt. I don’t want to dry out and shrivel up. I’ve had enough of that. Help me to turn from my wrongs and draw strength from You. Amen.

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Gospel Music Bites Word Of The Day: Sexual Sin (5) – Pornography

gospel — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:00:43 +0000

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28).

When your single, pornography can appear to be a good alternative to having a sexual relationship, but it does the opposite. It totally distorts what sexual relationship should be. It destroys the need for human connection, the God-given intimacy between a husband and a wife.

God gave us sex to be experienced in marriage. When we twist that into something that is self-serving and self-focused and definitely not God-focused, it takes away the beauty of romance.

Young people, in the future when you marry, your mind will have been twisted into thinking that sex is something totally opposite to what God created it to be. When you use pornography in place of a relationship, you are setting yourself up for failure in marriage. You’re destroying the future marriage. Pornography sets a standard that no human being can ever live up to, because its not real and this destroys the marriage. It is much more dangerous than most people think.

Jesus explains in Matthew 5 that thinking about sex outside of marriage is just as wrong as doing it. This is a radical idea for many people are deceived into thinking that as long as they are not actually having sex, they have done nothing wrong. Think about this as you judge others. Lusting, masturbating, watching and reading pornography with out doing the act is the same sin and needs repentance and spiritual assistance. (See Matthew 5:27-28 above).

Ray Of Hope
For those who are struggling Jesus says, “neither do I condemn you,” “Go now and leave your life of sin.”(John 8:11)
With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud (pornography). A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.

Today’s Prayer
Father, there is no place for pornography in a life lived for You. Strengthen me to stay far away from this temptation. Amen.

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Gospel Music Bites Word Of The Day: Sexual Sin (4) – Flee

gospel — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:00:44 +0000

“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20).

If the pressure keeps coming and coming and you’re getting weaker and weaker—quit standing in front of the bakery window. Remove yourself. It’s as simple as that.

We sit and struggle, asking, ‘What should we do? Get up and walk away. Get out of the car. Go home. Don’t go out with that person anymore. If all your friends are pressuring you, get new friends. Now, of course, this involves severing relationships. But move on and let God replace what you let go of.

Many people fall into a sexual relationship because they are “people pleasers.” They don’t want to cause tension or stir up a conflict in a relationship by constantly being the one who says, “No.” As a result, they do something they seriously regret, harming everyone involved. Sticking to your boundaries and upholding your beliefs may cause others to look down on you, to say hurtful words, or to try to make you feel guilty or wrong. You need to get to a place inside yourself where this is okay.

A Ray Of Hope Today
If you have been living as a slave to sin, you can throw off the chains of slavery and live in freedom to please God. This is done by reckoning yourself dead to sin and alive to God, and taking your rightful place as a co-heir to the dominion that Christ won back. Instead of practicing sin, you are free to practice living for God.

Today’s Prayer
Father, you know that I’ve prayed this prayer before. Today give me the courage to say “No” and to flee from any situation in which I feel pressured or uncomfortable. I accept I am free today because of your blood. In Jesus name Amen.

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Gospel Music Bites Word Of The Day: Sexual Sin (3) – Stay Connected to Jesus

gospel — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:00:34 +0000

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

To over come sexual sin you must stay connected to Christ. If a branch is not connected to the tree, it has no life source. It has no roots. It can’t be productive. Your biblical responsibility is to remain connected to the vine. By remaining connected to Jesus, God will give you the power and strength to be able to accomplish more than you could imagine.

You need a power outside of yourself that is beyond the human realm to break this demonic stronghold. When the Lord Jesus Christ said, ‘I am the vine, and you are the branches’ it means that there is a division of function. He is the vine—He brings the power, the joy, the stability, and the peace of mind. The branch simply connects to the vine. As long as the branch is connected to the vine, it is drawing a whole new power, a whole new joy, a whole new peace of mind from the vine.

If you aren’t connected with Jesus as the spiritual vine in your life, we encourage you to surrender your current life style to Him and let Him be your source of new life. Inviting Jesus into your life is the most important thing you can do as you heal from sin.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener” (John 15:1).

Today’s Prayer
Father, I want to be connected to You in all areas of my life. I pray that through this connection, my life will be full of good “fruit.” Amen.

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Gospel Music Bites Word Of The Day: Sexual Sin (2) – Make A Plan

gospel — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:00:50 +0000

“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20).

Staying sexually pure takes work, but the end results are worth it. If you’ve made a decision to abstain from sex outside of marriage, your first action should be to establish a plan to resist sexual temptation. This plan can include (1) keeping yourself away from sexually charged situations, (2) finding other outlets for your energy, (3) establishing boundaries for your relationships, and (4) strengthening yourself spiritually through prayer and Bible study.

Christian sex counsellor Sabrina Black says, “You need to learn how to pray yourself through sexual stimulus and realize that when you are feeling sexually aroused, you may need physical activity. What are some things you can do to keep yourself moving or to distract yourself from thinking about the sexual stimulus too much?

Be careful about the types of movies and TV programs you watch and the books you read. Those things can stimulate you, and you don’t want to create any type of arousal. Pray, read the Word, trust God to keep you, and make wise choices instead.

Even if you have tried to have a plan and failed at it, do not lose heart. Today is a new day. Believe that you can resist any temptation through Christ and act on that belief.

Today’s Prayer
Father, mustard seeds are tiny, and my faith is often smaller than that, help my faith to grow. Lord don’t let my past failures stop me from trying again today. Thank you that all I need is a little bit of faith and I can move mountains Lord I give you permission to remove this mountain in me today. Amen.

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Gospel Music Bites Word Of The Day: Sexual Sin (1)

gospel — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 04:00:07 +0000

I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare. Ecclesiastes 7:26 NIV
As no one is discharged in time of war, so wickedness will not release those who practice it. Ecclesiastes 8:8 NIV

Solomon most likely wrote the above verses from Ecclesiastes in his later years. Who better to write about the enslaving nature of sexual sin than the man who had hundreds of wives and concubines? The scripture tells us that Solomon’s love for foreign women eventually led to his plunge into idolatry. The women led his heart astray: “his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God” (1 Kings 11:4 NIV).

In the first verse above, the woman can be used metaphorically as sexual sin in general. As in the first few chapters of Proverbs, Solomon here also warns people to steer clear of sexual sin. Those who do not will be ensnared by it. Regardless of gender, sexual sin can enslave people when they give it an opportunity to do so. It is the type of slave master who does not release its victims once they are ensnared. It seeks to consume every area of the slave’s life.

God created us to have dominion over the earth and to subdue it (Genesis 1:28). At the fall of Adam and Eve, the devil usurped man’s dominion and was given the power of death. When Jesus died and rose from the dead, he took dominion away from the devil. And now those who believe in Jesus rightfully inherit that dominion over the earth, the forces of evil and sin. Paul explained in the above passage from Romans that we are not to allow sin to reign in our bodies. We have dominion over sin and have the freedom to use our bodies to please God.

Paul Says, “Do not let sin control the way you live;[a] do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.” Romans 6:11-14 (NLT)

Today’s Prayer:
Father, Thank you for dying in my place on the cross and rising from the dead. Thank you for winning back dominion for us over evil, sin and death. I confess that I have sinned against you. I repent from my sin and ask for your forgiveness. Amen

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Gospel Music Bites Word of The Week: Healed from Depression at the Brink of Suicide

gospel — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:00:33 +0000

But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 2 Timothy 4: 17,18 (NIV)

Hello, My name is Dale Marie, I have enjoyed your web site. And I very much felt lead to share this story with you. I am somewhat a new Christian, although I was saved in 1988, I have come to know the Lord Jesus in a personal relationship in the past 4 years.

Most of my life has been a struggle with depression, I have tried to commit suicide so many times I lost count, I was addicted to prescription drugs and most of my days were filled with how I could kill myself. And each time I would try I would fail. I took as many as 150 aspirin to 50 pain killers at a time, but I would awake the next morning and be angry that I had failed, only to try again. To make a long story short, I was at the end of my rope so to speak, I had come in contact with a prescription drug that I knew this would be the one, I was tired of feeling all the hurt in my life, I didn’t want to feel anymore.

I made one last attempt of calling out to God as I stood in the shower one morning. And pleading for him to help me, I felt something touch the top of my head and move over my entire body, and I felt a release of the depression, it was like the sun had come out. And I knew I was healed, I was on prozac at the time and the Lord told me to throw it out, I would not ever need that again. It has been 4 years and I am free of depression that plagued my life for nearly 20 years. I began sitting and praying in a quiet place, I wanted so much to see Jesus, to touch his hand and his hair, to be as close to him as I possibly could. As I sat one night in a quiet place, my mind was just on wanting to be near him. And as I sat there I could see him and my hand reaching to touch him, only to be told that I must first praise and worship him before coming to the throne. Being a new Christian I thought I had done something wrong. I didn’t know about entering the throne room, I didn’t know about giving our Lord praise and worship. But I soon learned that this was the way that the Lord wanted us to approach him.

I still remember how strong my will was to see him, and yes seeing him sitting there. From that moment on the Lord showed me many things, that it would take me more pages to write about them than just this one. My life was saved and I can’t ever think of being without the Lord in my life, I would surely die without him.

God Bless you,
Dale

Today’s Prayer
Father, thank you for this powerful healing miracle, today I pray for those struggling with depression and suicide, I ask that you heal them today in the name of Jesus. BREAK EVERY DOMONIC HOLD RIGHT NOW… Lord I ask what ever miracle we need today that you will grant it according to your will, in JESUS NAME. Amen

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Gospel Music Bites Word of The Day: DELIVERED FROM HOMOSEXUALITY

gospel — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:11:37 +0000

Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” Luke 18:27 (NIV)

Sometimes, because you have something missing in your life, you do things to compensate. That’s what happened to me.

I am a 22 year old woman who has been saved since I was eight years old. Over the past 7 years, my life has been slowly going downhill due to circumstances all around me: my mother being diagnosed with anorexia/OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) / major depression, the “loss” of my father through his withdrawing from our family, quitting college because of depression, endless relationships with men that ended in tragedy. I remember for some time, due to the influence of my mother, I was very conscious of my weight and appearance. I always looked at the girls around me, comparing myself to them. Somehow, through the constant viewing, comparing, looking, I found myself becoming interested in women.

I remember, at college, “having” to watch the Ellen “coming out” episode. At that time, I had NO IDEA that I had homosexual feelings, but something was at work within me, and it was a dangerous thing. I left school after 1 1/2 years due to major depression. I could not concentrate in school, and there were two guys that I had dated that went there, and I couldn’t take the stress.

When I returned home, something inside me made me post an ad on the Internet. I met *Sarah, a lesbian not too far from me. She was looking for someone too, like I was. I had never had a homosexual experience, and quite frankly, never considered one. I can’t tell you exactly what made me “discover” my feelings for other women, but it was evident. And I didn’t want to ignore it. She brought me to a gay bar, where, over the past 2 1/2 years I have spent my life. I have dated various women there, and ended up dating someone very seriously. I moved in with her after 3 months of dating, and lived with her for about four months. I was ABSOLUTELY convinced that I was gay. The Bible was wrong; I even found myself searching for books on the acceptance of Christianity and Homosexuality.

During this period of my life, I cared for no one but myself. I did drugs (cocaine, XTC, pot, mushrooms), did a considerable amount of cigarette smoking, drank continuously. I was so depressed. I was so anxious. And I was so away from God.

I don’t know if it was the people praying for me, or God Himself, reaching out to me in His mercy, but one day I had decided to leave the lifestyle – and the club, which I had made my home. I knew EVERYONE there, and we were all a “family.” I decided that on that night, I would bring my girlfriend to the bar and tell her that I could not see her anymore. I proceeded to get very drunk, knowing that I couldn’t handle it sober. And, I sat down with her in a small booth in the back of the restaurant. There, I told her that I could not see her anymore, and that I needed time to think. This was one of the scariest things that I had ever done in my life. I was giving up my lover, my “family” and all of my friends…and I had to trust God…but would he deliver me?

Tears streaming down both of our faces, I could not believe, at that moment, what I was hearing. The gay bar doubled as a dance club on Saturday nights, and it was a Saturday. Out of haze, in the midst of my drunkenness, I heard the Jars of Clay song, belting through the speakers, melting my heart:

“Lift me up When I’m falling Lift me up I’m weak and I’m dying Lift me up I need you to hold me Lift me up To keep me from drowning again.”

God came to me that night. God heard me, even in my wretched sin. God heard me plead for the life I once knew, and He came to me that night, in the form of a song, bolting through me like lightning. Since then, I have never been the same.

I can proudly say, now, that I have a wonderful relationship with a Christian man. We encourage each other all the time in Christ. For a long time after all of this occurred, I struggled continuously with my lust for women. I truly believe that it was I choice I MADE to bring this sin into my life, and now I am paying the consequences for lost and loved friends, a woman who I hurt very badly due to my selfishness, and lust. Yes, I do still lust, but God is in control! When I feel this way, I PRAY. When I don’t feel that way, I pray. And, I can honestly say, that God HAS supplied all of my needs. Trust me friends, homosexuality is not your answer. Trust in the Lord, and he will deliver you, like he delivered me.

Today’s Prayer
Father, my prayer today is for deep inner healing not only physical, but spiritual. God deliver us from sin in all its forms. Lord, heal us from the inside out. I cry out for my brothers, sisters and I heal us, deliver us, mend us and make us in JESUS NAME WE PLEAD. We claim this as done. Thank you for lifting us when we were falling AMEN

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Gospel Music Bites Devotion: I AM FREE!‏

gospel — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:00:22 +0000

Wow! What a weekend God is awesome. I need your prayers today, for a financial blessing it will take a miracle and i believe God can. Our devoution today is powerful somebody will be set free. Feel free to pass it on. enjoy Pastor Ray Patrick

I AM FREE!

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (King James Version)

If you’ve done things wrong (and we all have), the forgiveness that comes from God through the blood of Jesus can lift the guilt, shame and the weight from your shoulders. The key to God’s forgiveness is knowing and accepting that Jesus gave His life to pay the price for the things you’ve done wrong. There is no sin that God cannot forgive. God’s forgiveness is made complete by asking Jesus into your life, by surrendering your life to Him., and remember your sin doesn’t take away your purpose or calling.

It’s no accident that God is speaking to your heart and drawing you to Himself. It’s planned in the will of God. God doesn’t want you to perish. God wants to give you life. He wants you to pass from death to life. He wants to take you out of Satan’s kingdom of darkness and bring you into God’s Kingdom. The way He does that is by saying to you, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ Can you imagine what it’s like to have all your sins forgiven? To have the load taken off of your back and to be set free?

Gods Promises
Claim them today;
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).

The Freedom Prayer
Pray this prayer if you would like to be forgiven and set free: “Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God. I believe that you are the only Savior, promised to me who will give me eternal life. God, I want to be set free from my sin. I don’t want to be a slave to sin any longer. Take away my guilt and shame today, in Jesus name. Cover me with your blood, break the devils hold on me and remove the curse. Give me the faith to believe it is done, in Jesus name. I want to receive You as my Lord and my God. I want to be a child of God. I claim 1John 1:9 in Jesus name Amen.

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Gospel Music Bites Weekly Devotion:

gospel — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:40:13 +0000

Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves’.” Mark 11:17

It would be great if every time we prayed, the answers came quickly. Thank God for immediate results, but what do we do when the results are not immediate? The promises of God are there for us, but when they have yet to manifest in our circumstances, what should we do in the meantime?

Jesus showed us what to do. After He had cursed the fig tree, the tree did not wither immediately. (Mark 11:14) What did He do then? He went to the temple in Jerusalem and cleansed it, saying that it should be a house of prayer and not a den of thieves. (Mark 11:15–17) After cleansing the temple, when the disciples saw the same fig tree the next day, it had dried up from its roots! (Mark 11:20–21)

Today, you are the temple of God. (1 Corinthians 3:16) And your temple should be a “house of prayer” or it becomes a “den of thieves”. These thieves, or powers of darkness, will steal and rob from your temple, which is your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19) They will steal and rob you of your strength, health, youthfulness, wisdom, hopes and dreams.

So make your temple a house of prayer by praying frequently. (Ephesians 6:18) When you pray in the Spirit, you are praying perfect prayers. This is because the Spirit Himself makes intercession for you. (Romans 8:26)

“Pastor Ray Patrick, how long must I pray?”

Well, how often in a day does the enemy attack you with fears, anxieties and worries? How often does that disease in your body remind you that it is there? How healthy and whole do you want to be?

As you make your temple a house of prayer, the powers of darkness that have been stealing or robbing from you will be driven out of your life completely. You will see the manifestation of what you have spoken over your circumstances and you will see the withering of what you have cursed!

Today’s Prayer
Father, I give you my body do as you will… teach me how to became a temple of prayer for your purpose. Teach me the power of intersession. Teach me how to pray more effectively. Give me confidence to believe that I can bind the devil by cleansing my temple. IN JESUS NAME Amen

Devotion By: Pastor Ray Patrick

www.rayofhope4uinternational.org

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Gospel Music Bites Word For The Week: “THE POWER OF SUFFERING 3″ By Pastor Ray Patrick

gospel — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 04:00:19 +0000

Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are (Rom 8:18-19).

Suffering Takes Us To The Edge Of Eternity:

If death is the end of everything, then a life filled with suffering isn’t fair. But if the end of this life brings us to the threshold of eternity, then the most fortunate people in the universe are those who discover, through suffering, that this life is not all we have to live for. Those who find themselves and their eternal God through suffering have not wasted their pain. They have let their poverty, grief, and hunger drive them to the Lord of eternity. They are the ones who will discover to their own unending joy why Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:1-12; Romans 8:18-19).

Lets Pray
Father, thank you so much for giving me eternity, today I live in that HOPE. Help me to never lose sight of this reality. Amen

Writen By: Pastor Ray Patrick

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Gospel Music Bites Word For The Week:

gospel — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:43:45 +0000

When life knocks you down don’t stay down, bounce back! Everybody stumbles or gets knocked off their feet from time to time; the winners are just the ones are the ones that keep getting back up! That’s what Paul meant when he said, “In all these things we are more than conquerors. If you pray and look hard enough, you’ll find the seed of good in every adversity (Genesis 50:20) The difference between winners and losers, is their ability to turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones.

Gospel Music Bites prays you have a GREAT and BLESSED week. Please keep checking in with us, for the latest gospel music news, reviews and interviews.

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Stop And Thank The Lord Right Now‏:

gospel — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:30:10 +0000

Hi Guys, I pray you all are well. I got this email today and thought that I would share it with you. It is letting us know that, sometimes we have to just stop what where doing and just thank the Lord for His Mercy and Grace towards us, each and everyday.

I hope it blesses you, as it has blessed me.

GMB

DEAR GOD:
I want to thank You for what you have already done. I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me; I am thanking you right now..

I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears ; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job; I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed; I am thanking you right now.

I am thanking you because I am alive. I am thanking you because I made it through the day’s difficulties. I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles. I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.

I’m thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven’t given up on me.

God is good, and he’s good all the time. THANK HIM

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Youthful Praise Featuring J J Hairston New Album & DVD “Exalted.. Live in Baltimore”

gospel — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:00:11 +0000

Once again “www.youthfulpraise.org or www.myspace.com/youthfulpraise . Also you can contact Kia Jarmon, on 615.277.1855 or kjarmon@lightrecord.com

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OUR PROMISE TO GOD FOR 2008 “WHATEVER IT TAKES, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYWAY”

gospel — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:00:57 +0000

Hi Guys, I was sent this email during the holidays and we beleive that this should be our promise to God for 2008. If we can do this in 2008 and beyond, the blessing on our lives will be more than we could have asked for. This word of encouragement will take to the next level in Jesus.
So please read it and apply it to your life in 2008.
God Bless
Gospel Music Bites
2008/01/01
Tell God: Whatever It Takes, Anytime, Anywhere, Anyway.
by Jon Walker
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14 NIV)
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
When Saddleback Church celebrated its 25th anniversary, Rick Warren called for a radical commitment from God’s people — all over the world — to tackle the giant obstacles that keep people in spiritual darkness.
In this new year, we can “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [us] heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13b-14, NIV). We can, once again, affirm our commitment to the work of the Great Commission. My prayer is that we will view this declaration as a covenant with God, promising him that from now we will do whatever it takes: anytime, anywhere, anyway.
A Call to Radical Commitment
By Rick Warren
Today I am stepping across the line. I’m tired of waffling, and I’m finished with wavering. I’ve made my choice; the verdict is in; and my decision is irrevocable. I’m going God’s way. There’s no turning back now!
I will live the rest of my life serving God’s purposes with God’s people on God’s planet for God’s glory. I will use my life to celebrate his presence, cultivate his character, participate in his family, demonstrate his love, and communicate his Word.
Since my past has been forgiven, and I have a purpose for living and a home awaiting in heaven, I refuse to waste any more time or energy on shallow living, petty thinking, trivial talking, thoughtless doing, useless regretting, hurtful resenting, or faithless worrying.
Instead I will magnify God, grow to maturity, serve in ministry, and fulfill my mission in the membership of his family.
Because this life is preparation for the next, I will value worship over wealth, “we” over “me,” character over comfort, service over status, and people over possessions, position, and pleasures. I know what matters most, and I’ll give it all I’ve got. I’ll do the best I can with what I have for Jesus Christ today.
I won’t be captivated by culture, manipulated by critics, motivated by praise, frustrated by problems, debilitated by temptation, or intimidated by the devil. I’ll keep running my race with my eyes on the goal, not the sidelines or those running by me.
When times get tough, and I get tired, I won’t back up, back off, back down, back out, or backslide. I’ll just keep moving forward by God’s grace. I’m Spirit-led, purpose-driven and mission-focused, so I cannot be bought, I will not be compromised, and I shall not quit until I finish the race.
I’m a trophy of God’s amazing grace, so I will be gracious to everyone, grateful for everyday, and generous with everything that God entrusts to me.
To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I say: However, whenever, wherever, and whatever you ask me to do, my answer in advance is yes! Wherever you lead and whatever the cost, I’m ready. Anytime. Anywhere. Anyway.
Whatever it takes Lord; whatever it takes!
I want to be used by you in such a way, that on that final day I’ll hear you say, “Well done, thou good and faithful one. Come on in, and let the eternal party begin!”
What does this mean?
Today, I affirm this commitment to God and submit to his plans and purposes for my life, no matter what it takes.
________________________________
Signature
________________________________
Date

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Dr Juanita Bynum in London

gospel — Thu, 17 May 2007 14:04:50 +0000

Dr Juanita Bynum will be in London for 2 dates, the 19th & 2oth May. This opportunity to be blessed is not to be missed. So if you want to be recieve a life changing word from this woman of God, make sure your there.
This event will be at El-Shaddai London (The Hippodrome) on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th May.
Venue details as follows:
Saturday 19th May at the Hippodrome, North End Road,Golders Green,NW11 @ 7.00pm.
Sunday 20th May at the Hippodrome, North End Road, Golders Green, NW11 @ 10.30am.
Sunday 20th May at Fairfield Halls, Croydon @ 6.30pm.
More… For more info on Dr Juanita Bynum in London go to www.elshaddai.org.uk

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Marvin, BeBe and Donnie sing before Pastor Marvin Winans Preaches

gospel — Fri, 04 May 2007 13:16:47 +0000

This is another one of those GREAT moments when you see God moving and when God moves, this is the result… Pastor Marvin Winans, BeBe Winans and Pastor Donnie McClurkin singing before Pastor preaches….enjoy!!! This was in Los Angeles at Bishop Noel Jones‘ church.
Pastor Marvin Winans in L.A. (1995) – Pt. 1 of 3
Pastor Winans, Bebe Winans, and Pastor Donnie McClurkin singing before Pastor preaches….enjoy!!! This was in Los Angeles at Bishop Noel Jones’ church.
04:32

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New Tonex clip Preaching – “No More Delays”

gospel — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 12:30:19 +0000

NO MORE DELAYS pt.2
tonex puts it down n8ion cyrus
09:35

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Tonex Preaching on some interesting points

gospel — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 14:00:47 +0000

THE REMANT ELITE pt.1
tonex puts it down n8ion cyrus style
10:00

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