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God knows

8/21/2014

I pray that the words of this poem will speak to your heart! God Bless.

"When you are tired and discouraged from fruitless efforts...
God knows how hard you have tried.

When you've cried so long, and your heart is in anguish...
God has counted your tears.

If you feel that your life is on hold, and time has passed you by...
God is waiting with you.

When you're lonely, and friends are too busy for a phone call...
God is by your side.

When you think you've tried everything, and don't know where to turn...
God has a solution.

When nothing makes sense, and you are confused or frustrated...
God has the answer.

If suddenly your outlook is brighter, and you find traces of hope...
God has whispered to you.

When things are going well, and you have much to be thankful for...
God has blessed you.

When something joyful happens, and you are filled with awe...
God has smiled upon you.

When you have a purpose to fulfill, and a dream to follow...
God has opened your eyes, and called you by name.

Remember, that wherever you are or whatever you are facing...
GOD KNOWS"

~author unknown

"Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight."
Psalm 119:143

"I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul."
Psalm 31:7

"Delight thyself also in Jehovah; And he will give thee the desires of thy heart."
Psalm 37:4

#colbiblestudy

Unashamed #colbiblestudy

8/19/2014

I ran across this writing today and it really spoke to me. I couldn't wait to share it with everyone here on the Court of Lions blog.
If this message of being unashamed of your faith in Christ speaks to you, I encourage you to share this post via social media with your friends and followers and show them where you stand and what you identify with... Jesus Christ.
God Bless you!

"I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I've stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of Christ.

I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I have finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed vision, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, positions, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded.

I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power. My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my mission is clear.

I cannot be bought, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, or meander at the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till he comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me.

And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me, because my banner will be clear."
~ Author unknown

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."
Romans 1:16

#colbiblestudy

attitude #colbiblestudy

8/18/2014

Attitude

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... Church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact the people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.... i am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes."
~ Charles Swindoll

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
Philippians 4:8-9

#colbiblestudy

To simply put it... Jesus saved me. a spoken word TESTIMONY by Los... Hope it blesses you. #colbiblestudy

8/15/2014

Todays Court of Lions blog entry was written and submitted by Los.

I am humbled and honored that Los has chosen to send me his amazing spoken word testimony to be shared with the world.

You can follow and encourage Los on Instagram at: born_again _hooligan_

Don't forget to thank him for sharing with us all.

After thanking Los for his submission he simply stated, "I pray that others may be blessed and encouraged to share their story as well. May God get all the glory."

Well said my brother.

Enjoy Los's story below.

"My name is Los.

I was a drug pusher, drug user, womanizer and a thief. God made me a man, husband, father and youth pastor.
My story might not be so different than anyone else's. I'm just proof that there is no one too far gone or too lost for God to do something about it. He found me while I was at my worst, and at my lowest. To simply put it... Jesus saved me.

My testimony was written as a spoken word... Hope it blesses you."

"I am... a child of a single parent home, twice if that's even possible. But don't call me child, a man is what I gotta be. At least that's what I was told. What that is I don't know, I guess I'll learn as I go.. or maybe learn as I grow. I am... a big man on campus. Selling drugs in these school bathrooms. Feeling good cuz people know my name. As if being arrested at 16 somehow makes you cool. Girls see me and they blow kisses, and the song on the radio told me money, power, and respect is the key to life.. They may be right. I am... now on my own. With a diploma but no goals, no not even a care in the world, my nights filled.. with a bunch of liquor bottles, women, weed smoke and pills. This new song said live fast, die young... they may be right. But then Grandma said hold on son, slow down a bit, not too fast. You're only 19.. you're about to be a dad. I am... now a father but just a father that provides, not a father that guides, cuz I only had a father that provided not a father that guided. So here we go in a generational circle with these generational curses until... I can no longer provide. Job lost? Oh well..rents due! Angelise needs food and don't forget the diapers too, but what do I do? Then a voice in my head.. says don't forget what your uncle said... by any means necessary... I am.. now a stick up kid. My uniform is a black mask and a gun, and it's pointed at anyone who's too slow or scared to run. So I'd run.. their pockets cuz I need it.. they got it. In and out of jail still as if Simpson Rd is somehow the new Holiday Inn. Could this really be my life? Is this what my family meant they said I'd grow up to be just like them? Well.. just the men. A few years pass and one day I'm talking to my wife although back then she was a friend and my hope was to make a giant leap out of that zone. No she said! Then the qualities of her ideal man she read. A man I had never heard of or seen but wanted to be. But how? Join me at church she said...service at 6..don't be late.
There I hear this story from a man. There's hope for you he said. Only this wasn't your average story. It didn't start in a galaxy far far away or once upon a timein a make believe land, No...this was no ordinary story at all. On a day just like today an act of love was displayed. As I heard the story my heart began to break. No surprise though I mean that's what happens to stone if hit hard enough right? Here was Jesus, sacrificial lamb, fully God, fully man. Pure and perfect paying the price for my sins. A lamb let to the slaughter. Wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our inequities. Mocked and spat on, given a robe, a crown of thorns, they all laughed and... beat him beyond recognition, stripped and whipped until flesh was ripped.. from his bod. More red than white you saw. Forced to carry his cross until they nailed him to it... God was there no another way... there was not.
And as I closed my eyes I began to see... for he was crucified, died and rose in 3. yet it should't have been him hung on a tree.. but me. Do you accept he said? And I said.. YES! I am .. no longer a slave to sin, no longer shackled by the words of death spoken over my life no. The chains have been broken for me and my son and the generations to come. I am free! Free to be the man God has called me to be. Free from the guilt cuz all my sins have been forgiven. I am.. a new creation, old me died, behold the new me. I am.. a chosen generation, royal priesthood, set apart for His purpose. I am.. husband, father, leader.. I am.. adpoted as his son, a co-heir if you will, which means I am not of this world if my inheritance is in Heaven, see I Am said that I am his forever, And when I Am said that it is finished, it was. So that means the payment he paid was permanent. See we can't earn it. The gift now is free, you could be blind but listen and you'll still see. He did it for everyone! you.. me.
Like forgiveness is yours if you would just receive. At the place where his hands and feet were pierced with 3. So throw away your list of works and good deeds. Like salvation is free if you would just believe!
And so to answer one of the world's most popular questions...if God is real then why does he let bad things happen to good people? As far as I can recall... that only happend once. And he loves us so much that he volunteered. So in the end all I can say is this. Just 12 words with a message compacted but still hopefully impacts you.
One God, One way, One life. He died, He rose, He lives."

#colbiblestudy

The ABC's of Salvation

8/13/2014

Taped in The Kid's journal is this paper titled "The ABC's of salvation".

Salvation is found only through Jesus Christ, and to have it really is as simple as ABC!

Admit that you are a sinner.
"For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God"
Romans 3:23

Believe on Christ.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved"
Acts 16:31

Confess your faith.
"If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation"
Romans 10:9-10

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
John 3:16-17

#colbiblestudy #thekid

A happy generous heart #colbiblestudy

8/12/2014

Written in The Kid's journal I found this prayer titled "a happy generous heart".

It is my delight to share it with you here on the Court of Lions blog. I encourage you to make this prayer your own. May we all seek to have a happy, generous heart! Enjoy.

"Lord grant me the gift of a generous heart that embraces each person I see.

A heart reaching out in true kindness and caring to share all the best that's in me.

Lord, grant me the gift of a bright, happy spirit that joyfully faces each day. A spirit that's loving and gently shines through in my actions and each word I say.

Lord grant me the gift of a wonderful life that fulfills what I'm sent here to do.

A life that is lived in the richness and beauty of serving and following YOU!"

"For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give -- large or small -- will be used to measure what is given back to you."
Luke 6:38

#colbiblestudy #thekid

"Quotes" #colbiblestudy

8/8/2014

Today I am sharing a series of quotes taken from hand written notecards that were presented to Miss B (my Mother) back in 1986 by her sister in law. They were given to her as a gift and she cherished them. I found them yesterday and set aside a handful of the notecards that spoke to my Christian faith.
Some of these quotes are originals, while others may be famous and more well known.
I'm honored to share them with you here and hope that at least one of these quotes speaks to you and is just the inspiration that you need at this very moment.

"God does not always take away the darkness, but He guides us through it."

"Do what you can...where you are... with what you have."

"What you are is God's gift to you. What you make of yourself is your gift to God."

"If you were arrested today for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?"

"Lord, yesterday I asked for all things to enjoy life. Today you gave me life that I may enjoy all things."

"When life becomes all snarled up, offer it to our Lord and let him untie the knots."

"The Lord sometimes takes us into troubled waters NOT to drown us, but to cleanse us."

"God never closes a door without opening a window."

"Christianity is bread for daily use, not cake for special occasions."

"Be careful how you live....... You may be the only Bible that some people will ever read."

#colbiblestudy

God is able! #colbiblestudy

8/4/2014

Todays blog entry is taken from the book of Matthew, and the study notes left behind by my father The Kid.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30

If you are overcome by the burdens of life, it is time to throw yourself into the arms of the only one who can carry your heavy load. Trust in him and learn for yourself that God is able!
- The Kid

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10

If you have a burden that seems too hard to face, trust him, he will see you through.

Leave a comment here or send me a message and I will be more than happy to help by providing you scripture and prayer.

God Bless you

#colbiblestudy

but we preach christ crucified #colbiblestudy

7/21/2014

I found a note in one of The Kid's Bible's with 1 Corinthians 1:17-25 written on it. When I flipped to this scripture in his Bible I found it traced in pen. I felt compelled to share it in today's blog.

"For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel - not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of it's power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength."
1 Corinthians 1:17-25

The Kid also had this written on the note: "The cross was for the wages of sin."

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23

Written on the bottom of his Bible is: "The way, the Truth, and the Life."

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

John 14:6

#thekid #colbiblestudy

Questions to ask yourself when you struggle with self-condemnation. #colbiblestudy

7/17/2014

Webster's dictionary describes Self-condemnation as "Condemnation of one's self by one's own judgment."

The Kid (my dad) struggled with this very issue. He blamed himself for many things. I believe he felt, as a man, that it was his duty to bear the burden when things would go wrong. He eventually overcame self-condemnation when he fully submitted his life to our Lord Jesus Christ. As his son, I watched this transformation take place in his final years on this earth. I watched as his pain and suffering turned to peace and acceptance. I found/read this journal entry of his today and I hope that it helps you if you are dealing with the same issue. He wrote out seven questions to ask yourself when dealing with this issue. I encourage you to answer them for yourself.

1. Why should I continue to condemn myself when God no longer condemns me?

2. Is my self-condemnation drawing me into a closer relationship with God, or is it driving me farther from him?

3. What good am I doing by refusing to forgive myself?

4. Is my self-condemnation helping or hurting my relationship with other people?

5. Does my refusal to forgive myself impress God? Does he find me more devout because of my guilt and shame?

6. Is there any biblical basis for withholding self-forgiveness?

7. How long do I intend to condemn myself? What will be the end result?

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Romans 8:1

#TheKid #colbiblestudy