Joy Today

Let's say it and live it together, my ",walking with Jesus" friend: "In YOU, O LORD do I put my trust: let me never be ashamed: lift me up by Your righteousness. Bow down Your ear to me...BE my strong ROCK, for a house of defence to save me. For You, LORD are my ROCK and my fortress; for Your name's sake. Lead me and guide me...You have redeemed me, O Lord God of Truth."( Psalm 31:1-3&5b) In the mighty name of Jesus may God bless you and guide you, my friend. To respond to this text message, reply to this email or visit Google Voice. YOUR ACCOUNT HELP CENTER HELP FORUM This email was sent to you because you indicated that you'd like to receive email notifications for text messages. If you don't want to receive such emails in the future, please update your email notification settings . Google LLC 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy Mountain View CA 94043 USA

Besides having had to cope with these many difficult circumstances, I am always burdened with concern for the churches. Are there those who are feeling weak? Are there those who are listening to false prophets? Meantime, I remember that when I was in Damascus, the governor under King Areas kept guards at the city gates to watch for me and catch me. But the clever brothers and sisters lowered me in a basket through through a window in the city wall. And THAT is how I got away. (2 Corinthians 11:28-33) Have WE had adventures like the Apostle Paul? my "walking with Jesus" friend. What can we do TODAY that shows our strong Faith in the word of the Lord? Have WE prayed ON the Whole Armor of God, so that WE are ready to STAND fast and firm for the Lord? To respond to this text message, reply to this email or visit Google Voice. YOUR ACCOUNT HELP CENTER HELP FORUM This email was sent to you because you indicated that you'd like to receive email notifications for text messages. ...

Have you ever realized that others are boasting about their achievements in order to get your attention/ in order to influence you? Well, Paul realized that false prophets were bragging to his Corinthian brothers and sisters. To shame those false prophets and to stand up for himself, Paul reminds the brethren:" They say they serve Christ, but I have served Christ MORE. I have worked harder, been put in jail more often, been whipped countless times, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jews gave me thirty-nine lashes, three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled many weary miles. I have faced danger from flooded rivers and robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the gentiles. I have faced danger in cities, in deserts, in stormy seas, and from men who claim to be Christian, but are NOT. I have lived with weariness, pain...

We take action when we are concerned about people we love. Right? My "walking with Jesus" friend! The Apostle Paul does too. He writes: "Because of my great love for you, my brothers and sisters in Corinth, I am concerned that you not be led astray by false prophets who boast that they are better than I am, with my fellow evangelists. Such braggards are false prophets who try to fool you be disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. But, I am not surprised. We know that Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light. And those who serve his dark ways and schemes may pretend to be doing well, but, as we know from the Lord, they will get every bit of punishment their wicked deeds deserve. Stay far away from such people. Stand fast is the true Gospel of Jesus Christ that you heard from us. And be blessed and strengthened by the Lord."(2Corinthians 11:12-15) Let's be very careful to evaluate, by the Word of God, everything that we see and hear. Seek the truth. ...

Do you ever want urgently to remind CERTAIN people that YOU have been careful and faithful? Well then, my "walking with Jesus" friend, you will understand where Paul is coming from as he continues his letter to the Corinthians, writing: "Please, remember, I humbled myself and honored you, my brothers and sisters, by preaching the Good News to you from God, WITHOUT expecting anything in return. I accepted contributions from other churches, so that I could serve you at no cost. Besides which, when I was with you, I did not ask for any payment, instead I lived off the gifts of support from brethren in Macedonia. All that I did while I was with you, I did freely in the Love of Christ. God knows how greatly I love you." Freely have WE received from the Lord. Freely are WE called to give. To respond to this text message, reply to this email or visit Google Voice. YOUR ACCOUNT HELP CENTER HELP FORUM This email was sent to you because you indicated that you'd like to r...

Please, have you ever asked someone to listen patiently while you explain something important? Oh, you have? Well, then you will understand where Paul is coming from in this part of his 2nd letter to the Corinthians. "Dear Brothers and Sisters, please be patient with me, as I want you to understand that I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God Himself. For I promised you to Him as a pure bride to one husband. Preaching the Gospel clearly and rejoicing in your commitment. But, I am concerned that somehow you may be lead away from your pure and simple devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent. Are you wavering? Are you believing whatever anyone tells you, even if they are preaching a different Jesus that the true Jesus Christ, Redeemer, that WE preached, or a different Holy Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of Gospel than the one true Gospel that we preached? We have proven ourselves to you, to be true teachers of the Gospel. Do not be mis...

On this Lord's Day, my "walking with Jesus" friend, the declarations of Psalm 125:1-2, bless our hearts and give encouragement to our soul. "They who trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion which can not be removed, but abides forever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about HIS people from henceforth even forevermore." "Stand strong in the Lord, and in the Power of His might."(Ephesians 6:10) To respond to this text message, reply to this email or visit Google Voice. YOUR ACCOUNT HELP CENTER HELP FORUM This email was sent to you because you indicated that you'd like to receive email notifications for text messages. If you don't want to receive such emails in the future, please update your email notification settings . Google LLC 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy Mountain View CA 94043 USA

Always, ALWAYS being confident and unafraid in the Lord, my "walking with Jesus" friend, is a life-attitude generated by knowing and resting in the truths declared in Psalm 23: "The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters. He RESTORES my soul, He leads me in the paths of Righteousness for His name's sake. Yes, even though I may walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Your road and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the Presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23, all 6, verses) When you read this Psalm several times a day, and especially when you memorize it, your heart will be strengthened in the JOY of the Lord, my friend. To respond to this text message, reply to this email or vis...

"Beloved brothers and sisters, you are well aware that when people boast about themselves, it doesn't count for much. BUT, when The Lord commends and blesses someone, that's different." (2 Corinthians 10:18) Good Morning, my "walking with Jesus" friend. How about a special word of praise to propel us and rejoice our hearts !!On the 22nd, in 2 Samuel 22:47, "The Lord lives! And blessed be my ROCK and let the God of our salvation be exalted." To respond to this text message, reply to this email or visit Google Voice. YOUR ACCOUNT HELP CENTER HELP FORUM This email was sent to you because you indicated that you'd like to receive email notifications for text messages. If you don't want to receive such emails in the future, please update your email notification settings . Google LLC 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy Mountain View CA 94043 USA

"In person, we are the same as we are in our letters. You can count on us, as we preach the Gospel. We do not complement ourselves, or boast as others do. They measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves among themselves. That is not wise. As you can see, that is foolishness. But as for us," Paul assures the Corinthians, "You know us. We will measure ourselves by the measure of the rule of the Lord. Our goal is to stay within the boundaries of the plan of the Lord for us as concerning ministering to you...We pray that your FAITH will continue to grow and that we will be able to preach far and wide to spread the Gospel. We know that through the Scriptures, the Lord tells us: 'Let him that boasts, boast in this: that he knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, judgement and righteousness in the earth, for in THESES things I delight, says the Lord.' " (quoting the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah 9:24, in 2 Corinthians 10:12-17) Yes...

Let's start this day, my "walking with Jesus" friend, with a powerful prayer: "NOW, may the God of Peace, who raised up from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the Everlasting Covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. AMEN."(Hebrews 13:20-21) Yes, may the God of Peace, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, be WITH you /and me, and work IN you/and me to do His will and thereby glorify the Lord. To respond to this text message, reply to this email or visit Google Voice. YOUR ACCOUNT HELP CENTER HELP FORUM This email was sent to you because you indicated that you'd like to receive email notifications for text messages. If you don't want to receive such emails in the future, please update your email notification settings . Google LLC 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy Mountain View CA 94043 U...

Good morning my "Walking with Jesus" friend. Can we agree that, sometimes, it is helpful to be TOLD what is wrong? Next, in his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes:"The trouble with you is that you make your decisions on the basis of appearance. Brothers and sisters, you must keep in mind that you belong to Christ now. His Word is the standard by which you must now make your decisions. Please, understand that the authority we have been given as ministers in Christ is for the purpose of building you UP in your most holy faith. Do not let boasters or detractors drag you into doubt. Stand strong in your faith. Ignore those who say: Paul's letters are forceful but he is weak in person. I am strong in my letters, and I will be strong in person when I come. Don't let anyone fool you by telling you otherwise. (2 Corinthians 10:7-11)Does the Word of Christ dwell in you/in me richly, and is IT the standard/the guidance on which we make our decisions? To respond...

NOW! That is the word Paul uses, my "walking with Jesus" friend, as he continues his letter to the Corinthians. "Now, brothers and sisters in Christ, I plead with you, I plead with the gentleness and kindness that I believe Christ himself would us, even though some of you say that I am bold in my letters, but timid in person. I hope it won't be necessary, but when I come I may have to be very bold with those who think we act from purely human motives. We are human, but we do not operate with human plans or methods. GOD enables us to use mighty weapons of the Spirit that He provides to knock down the evil one, to break his strongholds. With Spiritual strength and strategies from the LORD, we are enabled to break down every proud argument that holds people back from knowing God. With Spiritual strength from the Lord, we conquer rebellious ideas, and teach people to obey Christ. In fact, we will punish those who remain disobedient after the rest of you rejoiced to love...

"God is the One who gives seed to the farmer and then we have bread to eat. In the same way, He will give you many opportunities to do good, and He will produce many opportunities for you to do good, and He will produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched so that you can give even more generously. And when you take gifts to those who need them, they will break out in thanksgiving to God. You will be glorifying God through your generous gifts. Your generosity to them will show your obedience to the Good News of the Gospel of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the wonderful grace of God shining through you. Altogether, we totally thank God for His Son...a gift too WONDERFUL for words."(2 Corinthians 9:10-15) Let's praise God together, my "walking with Jesus" friend. To respond to this text message, reply to this email or visit Google Voice. YOUR ACCOUNT HELP CENTER HELP FORUM This email was sent to you bec...

Good Morning my "walking with Jesus" friend. Let's join with the requests and declarations of Psalm 16, verses 1,8 &11:"Preserve me, O God, for I put my trust in YOU...I have set the LORD always before me, because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken < moved, deterred or distracted from doing what is right in the sight of the Lord >. ...Almighty God, YOU will show me the path of Life, in YOUR Presence is fulness of JOY, at YOUR right hand there are pleasures forevermore." Let's be praising God and purposing to live by His word. To respond to this text message, reply to this email or visit Google Voice. YOUR ACCOUNT HELP CENTER HELP FORUM This email was sent to you because you indicated that you'd like to receive email notifications for text messages. If you don't want to receive such emails in the future, please update your email notification settings . Google LLC 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy Mountain View CA 94043 USA

Have you ever boasted about someone my "walking with Jesus" friend, and then wondered if the friends you boasted about would live up to your boasting? We find Paul in that position in chapter 9 of his second letter to the Corinthians: Dear brothers and sisters, I have been boasting to my fellow team members about your generosity in the collection you have gathered for the needy Believers in Jerusalem. I am sending trustworthy brothers to get your offering. And I trust that my boasting holds water, and that you will have been as generous as I have boasted that you are. We know that "God loves a cheerful giver." Remember, "a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get only a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop."(2 Corinthians 9:1-8) As the Scriptures say: "Godly people give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will never be forgotten. "(Psalm 112:9) To respond to this text message, reply to this email or visit...

Do you think we can agree that: Addition is almost always MORE fun than subtraction? Anyway in 2 Corinthians 8:22-24, see what/who Paul has added, and why. "For the offering being sent to the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem, we are adding another trusted brother to the team. He has been thoroughly tested and demonstrated his trustworthiness on many occasions. He has become even MORE enthusiastic about the Gospel because he has heard about YOUR faithfulness in Christ. Let it also be known that I value Preacher Titus as a partner in the work of the Gospel. These brothers are worthy representatives of the churches. Each one is a splendid example of men who's character and conduct brings glory to Christ. So, when they come to you, I am counting on you to show them love and respect. And when you do, they will see for themselves that my boasting about your strength in the Lord is justified. " Reading Paul's message here, let's be reminded that Jesus said:"Let you...

Do we appreciate and admire teamwork? If so, my "walking with Jesus" friend, we are in good company, with the Apostle Paul. In 2 Corinthians 8:16-22, he writes:"I am thankful to God that He has given Titus, my fellow preacher of the Gospel, the same enthusiasm for you that I have. He welcomed our request that he visit you again. In fact, he himself was eager to go and see you. We are also sending another brother with Titus. He is highly praised in all the churches as a capable preacher of the Good News. He was appointed by the churches to accompany us as we take the offering to Jerusalem - a service that glorifies the Lord and shows our eagerness to help. By travelling together, we will guard against any suspicion, for we want to be sure that no one should find fault with the way we are handling these generous gifts We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to know that we are honorable." Right motives before the Lord and hon...

They say:"Well begun is half done," my "walking with Jesus" friend. So, we can understand that Paul writes:"Dear brothers and sisters in Corinth, I suggest you finish what you started a year ago. Actually, you were the first to propose this idea, and you were the first to be doing something about it. Now, you should carry this project of giving through to completion just as enthusiastically as you began it. Give what you can, according to what you have. If you are really eager to give, it is not important how much you are able to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you don't have.Of course, I don't mean you should give so much that you suffer from having too little. I only mean that there should be some equality. Right now, you have plenty and CAN help fellow Believers in Jerusalem. Then, at some other time, THEY can and will share with you when you have need. In this way, everyone's needs will be met. Do you remember what the Scrip...

Do you have a little saying that goes round and round in your mind sometimes? May I share one of mine with you, my "walking with Jesus" friend? "O a GIVING man is different than his neighbors in the pod, when his thought is of his neighbor, then he is closest to our GOD." Thinking of that as we continue in 2 Corinthians 8:6-9. "So we have urged our fellow minister Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and to encourage you to complete your share in this ministry of giving. Since you excel in so many ways- you have SO much faith, such gifted speakers, such knowledge, such enthusiasm, and such love for us-NOW, I want you to excel in this gracious ministry of giving. I am not saying that you must do it, even though the other churches are eager to do it, but giving is one way to show that your love is real. Remember how FULL of love, kindness and sacrificial giving our Lord Jesus was. Although he was very rich, yet for our sakes he ...

In the mighty Name of Jesus, may Sunday morning blessings overflow in your life/in your day, my "walking with Jesus" friend. Yes, of course we delight to be invited: "O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our God, our Maker, for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand." (Psalm 95:6-7) Let's praise the Lord, walk in His Light and share His glorious Word of salvation, guidance, comfort and courage with everyone! Spread The Light, my friend. To respond to this text message, reply to this email or visit Google Voice. YOUR ACCOUNT HELP CENTER HELP FORUM This email was sent to you because you indicated that you'd like to receive email notifications for text messages. If you don't want to receive such emails in the future, please update your email notification settings . Google LLC 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy Mountain View CA 94043 USA

Ok, what are you going to do today, my "walking with Jesus" friend? Shall we do as the writer of Psalm 9, says he will do? "I will praise You, O Lord, <how > with my WHOLE heart, and tell of all Your marvellous works. <What else will I do? > I will be glad and rejoice in You. I will sing praises to Your Name, O Most High. <And what will happen? > When my enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish AT YOUR PRESENCE, LORD. For You have maintained my right and my cause..."(Psalm 9:1-4a) Let's bring on the energy of Praise, my friend, and BE Overcomes in the Lord. To respond to this text message, reply to this email or visit Google Voice. YOUR ACCOUNT HELP CENTER HELP FORUM This email was sent to you because you indicated that you'd like to receive email notifications for text messages. If you don't want to receive such emails in the future, please update your email notification settings . Google LLC 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy Mounta...

Good morning my "walking with Jesus" friend. Christmas is coming, and a little poem comes to mind: "O a giving man is different than his neighbors in the pod. When his heart is for his neighbors, THEN he is closest to his God." Giving is on Paul's mind in 2 Corinthians 8:1-5. "Now I want to tell you, dear brothers and sisters, what God in His kindness has done for the churches in Macedonia. Although they have been going through much trouble and hard times, their wonderful joy in the Lord, has overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but they gave far more. And they gave of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the gracious privilege of sharing in the offering for needy Believers in Jerusalem. Best of all, they went beyond our highest hopes, for their first action was to dedicate THEMSELVES to the Lord and to us for whatever work God would give them." 2 Corinthians 9:7b, says, ...

Encouraged! How wonderful it is to be encouraged. Paul expresses appreciation for the encouragement the Believers in Corinth have provided. "We have certainly been encouraged by your care and concern for us. We were especially delighted to see how happy Titus, our fellow minister in Christ was at the wonderful way you welcomed and encouraged him. I had told Titus how hospitable you are, and you proved true! Now Titus also rejoices in your faithfulness and is glad for how you welcomed him with respect and listened carefully to his teaching. I am very happy now because you have proven that I can have complete confidence in you."(2 Corinthians 7:13-16) Can someone write with confidence about YOU/about me, as to our warm hospitality and welcome encouragement in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ? Let's pray that the Lord will enable us. To respond to this text message, reply to this email or visit Google Voice. YOUR ACCOUNT HELP CENTER HELP FORUM This email was sent to you b...

A question: What happens in the heart when we are truly sorry for our wrong- doing? Have you ever had that experience, my "walking with Jesus" friend? In 2 Corinthians 7:11-13, Paul writes about this: He says, God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek to walk steadily in His Light. God-conscious sorrow has wonderfully produced in you repentance, a fresh commitment to the Way of The Lord, a watchfulness to avoid sin, and a solid purpose to keep to the straight and narrow. I am glad for the goodness of God shining in your lives, my brothers and sisters. We have been told:" Overcome evil with GOOD."(Romans 12:21) Let's DO IT! To respond to this text message, reply to this email or visit Google Voice. YOUR ACCOUNT HELP CENTER HELP FORUM This email was sent to you because you indicated that you'd like to receive email notifications for text messages. If you don't want to receive such emails in the future, please update your email ...