Post 267

Costume party...




Where's Waldo photo! Can you find Waldo and his friend, Wenda?


Scary, aren't they?







A few shots from December...























Pine Ridge Villas Christmas Concert





Amity is five now!



Amanda took Amity to a the Victoria Rose Tea House for her Birthday




Amity's first time ice skating!








Merry Christmas from our family!

The Story of Manasseh:

"And he [Mannaseh] set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, 'In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever'... Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, And prayed unto him..." (2 Chron. 33:7, and 11-13a).

1. He Placed an Idol in God’s House (verse 7)
2. He was Taken Captive (verse 11)
3. He Repents (verses 12-13a) Notice what three things he did:

• Besought
  
• Humbled himself
  
• Prayed

"And He [God] was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God... And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel." (2 Chron. 33:13, and 16).
 

These days, the House or Temple of God is within those of us who are saved...

• 1John 4:15  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 
• 1Pet 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 
•  1Cor 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 
•  1Cor 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 

Once you are saved, YOU become a dwelling place for God. Is loving and pleasing God your top priority, or does someone or something else matter to you more? Any affection or pleasure in your life that competes with your love for God is an idol. Idols compromise your allegience to the Lord. Idols will distract you from serving God, hinder your prayers, diminish your effectiveness, and attack your vision.

Go through the steps of repentance Manassah did: (2Chro 33:12-13a)

1. Beseech: Ask the Lord to show you what area of your life you have given to an idol.
   
2. Be humble: Realize how bad it is.
   
3. Pray: Tell God that you are sorry for sinning and that you give that place back to Him
   

Realize that God has forgiven you according to His Word. "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

You can't truly be freed from sin unless you replace that sin with righteousness. In the place where you used to serve your idols, now serve God. Think of a situation where you have frequently come to temptation and fallen. Decide on a way you will instead serve God in that situation. Do it! This will keep you living in freedom and rejoicing in Him.

HE is the victor!