I took this from another site...but was surprised at how accurate this is...
The living Jesus empowers us to die and His cross is the symbol of sacrifice and death. To live for Him is to die to ourselves and the world. As we move forward in our lives and become more like Jesus, we have to continually die to ourselves, in other words if we want to live an abundant life in the Lord we must abide in the cross. And so there is an important intertwining of dying to ourselves and living the resurrected life. It is the heads and the tails of the same coin. If we focus on just one aspect to the detriment of the other, we will become imbalanced in our walk. We must pick up our cross daily. It is important to realize that this will produce an abundant spiritual life in Christ. And while you may be dying to the flesh internally, the world should see your joy expressed externally and wonder and marvel how such a thing could be. This is pleasing to God.
The proof of our new life, our resurrection from the dead, our authentic faith, is not found in the abundance of our possessions as some would have us believe. The proof of our faith is how we react to carrying our cross. In the midst of this death to ourselves does the love of Jesus pour forth from us? Do we minister to others when we ourselves are in the midst of trial and testings? Have we found the secret of being content in every situation? The cross does not lie. There is no hypocrisy on the cross.The cross signifies death to self and death to the world. It’s only by taking up our cross that we can crucify the flesh. The flesh wars against the Spirit. The flesh must die. It dies only upon the cross, it thrives upon indulgence and self and self pity.
The walk of the cross can be a lonely walk. Yet in every generation, across denominational lines, brothers and sisters are called out. They know each other when they meet. They are people who have rejected the “norm.” They are a people who seek a deeper walk with Jesus. While the crowd runs after the latest craze and have their ears tickled, the saints find themselves on an ancient narrow path. This path begins at Calvary and ends at the throne. It is a very difficult and lonely path but all the saints who have come before you have walked this very path. Be encouraged today saints, God sees the afflictions of His people. He has not left us as orphans.
We have the Holy Spirit who can take us to a place that Jesus has prepared for us. He is our high tower and the righteous run into it and they are safe. There is a place beneath His wings that is ours. He has given us spiritual wings so that we can fly to this place. And in this prepared place we discover joy where there should be no joy. We discover peace where there should be no peace. We discover love where hate should consume us. We are fed although a famine has overtaken the land. He is our fountain in a land that is dry and dusty, in a land where there is no water.
As the spiritual famine deepens, as the drought begins to change the landscape, as the counterfeit increases daily, the Lord knows how to feed His children. As the storm rages all around us the Lord says to His children “I am the eye of the storm, do not be afraid of it, walk into the heart of it and find peace. I am the Lord of all storms and I stand in the midst of them and beckon unto my own to come unto me and take my hand and I will lead you through and you will not be overcome nor destroyed.” We praise the Lord today that He sees all things and He knows all things and to those who have taken up their cross and walk the narrow path He is your strength and your comfort and He sustains you.
I agree, you and our brother amadeus is setting the dinner table, making me a little nervous, is that wedding dinner is about to take place? (smile)
well the only thing I can do is just add a little salt, and Pepper scripture,
SALT,
Luke 14:26 "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:27 "And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:28 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?Luke 14:29 "Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
Luke 14:30 "Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Luke 14:31 "Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
Luke 14:32 "Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
Luke 14:33 "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
PEPPER,
John 12:24 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
John 12:25 "He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
John 12:26 "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
ok now the dinner ware to be placed.
PICJAG.
