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By trusting in His promise to grant your request or make manifest your petitions - and then by allowing Him to do as He has said (resting in Him - fellowshiping with Him - rejoicing in Him as we wait). . . God's part in His promise of peace is to guard our mind and heart by not allowing anything to disturb your confident trust in Him. . .

FIRST COMING - to bear or take away our sns - free us from the bondage of sin affording us the ability to live a holy life in obedient seervice to Him. . . SECOND COMING - to take us back with Him to live eternally in His presence. . . John 14:1-3 (NKJV) 1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. The Jewish people were expecting the second more so than the first - they were looking for Him to bring about a kingdom where they were free from the rule and bondage of their enemies. . .

I think it is mostly because we have "mis-defined" blessings - thinking that above all else being blessed means that we will have ceased from experiencing and difficulties or trials in our life. . . The effects that crises have on our faith should cause our faith to increase - we shpould come through them and out of them with a greater confidence and trust in God and His Word / promises. . . Crises have the tendency to destroy our faith because we put more confidence in "SELF" - our abilities (strength, intellect, resourses) than in the promises God gives us. . . Romans 4:17-21 (NKJV) 17 (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom he believed--God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

DARKNESS in that we were held captives, in bondage, ruled over by evil forces that hated us. . . LIGHT in that we have been brought out of that state or condition into one of love and liberty. . . There are times when we need to be reminded of where we came from to appreciate where we are and how we got here. . . DOMINION OF DARKNESS - controlled by evil forces - controlled by a sinful nature. . . Romans 7:14-25 (NKJV) 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. KINGDOM OF HIS DEAR SON - a state where we have been forgiven of all sin, redeemed, and loved. . . DARKNESS - there is the control of its subjects by force / tyranny. . . LIGHT - where we are submissive to / surrendered to the authority of Christ. . .

Thanksgiving is an indication that you have faith in God - that you believe His Word and are standing on His promises. . . Thanksgiving says that you believe that He has already done what you are petitioning Him for. . . Hebrews 11:1-3 (NKJV) 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Romans 4:16-21 (NKJV) 16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom he believed--God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV) For we walk by faith, not by sight. Isaiah 65:24 (NKJV) 24 "It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.

God and humanity weere at odds (estranged) because of sin - Jesus, as a sacrifice for our sins, removed this estrangement affording us (humanity as a whole) the opportunity and the right to come back into the presence of God. . . Humanity was held captive by Satan because of sin. Sin has a consequnce which is death. Jesus became our sacrifice and by His death atoned for our sins - setting us free. . . Mark 10:45 (NKJV) 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." 1 Timothy 2:6 (NKJV) 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, John 3:16-18 (NKJV) 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Romans 5:6-19 (NKJV) 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. 12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned-- 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.

It appears that Jacob had beeen made aware of how God had purposed to bless the two sons of Joseph. . .Opposed to human custom, God had chosen to do things a different way. . . Isaiah 55:8-11 (NKJV) 8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. 9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. Joseph was accustomed to the customs and ways of the people he lived around and were family members - as was Jacob - and thinking that Jacob may have been confused because of his age - he attempted to correct what he thought to be a mistake. . . Jacob's blessing were actual prophecy from God in the sense that they were in agreement with the promise God had made with Abraham. . .

(1) Knowledge of God's will - understanding His purposes and way of doing things which results in a growing relationship with Him; (2) a life that bears fruit. . . knowing God's will spiritual wisdom and understanding a lifestyle that pleases Him bearing fruit by doing good works growing in knowledge and in our relationship with Him strengthened in His power joyfulness thankfulness The most important of these is knowing God's will - living a life that pleases Him - and bearing fruit. . . If any of these are missing the Church is not as effective as it can be in accomplishing God's will which is reconciling humanity back to Him. . .

Rejoicing in the Lord is an action, not a feeling. . . An action that results in one recognizing znd zcceptig the fact that God loves you and them praising Him for that love. . . Rejoicing in the Lord provides us with strength - strength that affords up the ability to continue progressing in our walk with the Lord. . . Nehemiah 8:8-10 (NKJV) 8 So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep." For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

The animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant was a ceremonial cleansing which only had an effect on the outward man. . . Jesus' sacrifice of Himself was able to clean the conscience, the heart / spirit (inner man) which in turn allows us to leave behind or forsake sin - permitting us to freely serve God. . .

As believers we have accepted the fact that we are Children of God and that our true hame is wherever He resides. . . Jesus told us that He was going away to prepare a place for and and that He would come for us so that we would reside in that place with Him. . . We have also been told that there is a "New" heaven and earth that we will live in eternally with God. . .John 14:1-4 (NKJV) 1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know." Revelation 21:1-3 (NKJV) 1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. There is the tendenecy to become so attached that we fail to do what is necessary to look for or expect anything different. . . By trusting in the Word of God and looking forward to receive the things God has promised us. . . 1 John 2:15-17 (NKJV) 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the **** of the flesh, the **** of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the **** of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Paul discribes the gospel as the Word of Truth that can be trusted, as growing and bearing much fruit. . . So that they would accept the Gospel as the Good News about Jesus and understand its power to transform lives all over the world. . . When a church becomes embarassed or unimpressed with the Gospel its influence deminishes or dies - it no longer has the ability to proclaim the only message that had the power to transform lives and bring people into a right relationship with God. . .

REDEMPTION - to be ransomed, released, set free from something. . . The price paid for our redemption was the shed blood and life of Jesus. . . For us - humanity as a whole - we were ransomed from sin - Hebrews 9:22 (NLT) 22 In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. We are redeemed from spiritual death (sin) and all those things that are associated with sin - sickness and disease - and poverty. . . Our demption is an eternal redemption - it last forever. . .

Knowing who your are and what your goals are help us to remain focused - help us to continue in our efforts striving to achieve that goal. . . A failure ot recognize and affirm who we are and what our goal is - results in complancy and can also result in us giving up all together. . . We are "in the world but not of this world" - understanding this will keep us focused on the right thing. . . Trying to please the world and at the same time progress or grow in God is an impossible task - it will never happen. . So in spite of a church trying to combine temporal patriotism with our true Christian citizenship - we must undrstand that there is a choice we have to make - and we MUST make the RIGHT CHOICE. . . Joshua 24:15 (NLT) 15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

Because he was doing his best to imitate Christ - he was doing his best to live a life consistent with what he was preaching. . . We are hesitant to blodly enter into the presence of zgod because we fear making a mistake - or miss-step - and it resulting in others, who may be following us, going in the wrong direction or going astray. . . Imitation builds disciples by providing the ability to walk in agreement with the Word of God threrby becoming more and more like Him. . . the ones that are likely to imitate us are those who want to be like Christ - they may also be family members or members of our household such as our children, spouse or sibling - co-workers or possible neighbors. . .

External sacrificial regulations were unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience because they were symbolic - they had not the ability to free us from the guilt of sin - so the guilt of sin remained in the conscience of the sinner preventing him/her from coming into the presence of the Holy God. . . Feeling guilty concerning sin causes us to think that we deserve punishment thereby fearing to enter the presence of God. . . To come "boldly into the presence of God" we need to understand that Jesus has atoned for all our sins (past, present and future - intentional and unintentional). . . 1 John 2:1-2 (NLT) 1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sinsand not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

NO, the Old Covenant did not provide forgiveness for intentional, active, maintained rebellion against God. . . YES, faith in the Lord Jesus, and by humbling ourselves and repenting of our sins. . . 1 John 1:5-10 (NLT) 5 This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. 6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. Repentance is the key to receiving forgiveness for all sin. . . 2 Corinthians 7:10 (NLT) 10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There

God was able to quiet the fears of Jacob at Beersheba by reassuring him of the promised He had given him - "I am God - do not be afraid - I will go with you to Egypt and I will bring you back again". . . Many times the difficulties we face - the tests and trials God allows to come into our lives cause us to become so involved in them that we forget about the promises of God. . . God allows these test and trials to improve us to make us better and a more yielded vessel for His use. . . Although at times we panic and become afraid when God allows the tests and trials to come into our lives - God has permitted them to have a different affect. . . John 15:1-8 (NLT) 1

Suffering has the tendency to dim our view by causing us to concentrate on the problem(s) we face - however, when e are able to regain our focus we gain a different, and many times, a brighter view. . . As opposed to being weighed down by the pass - we are able to press into the future. . . Philippians 3:12-16 (NLT) 12 I don

To me it is more than an invitation or request, it is a summons to continue striving until a final goal is reached. . . It is a requirement to rid myself of any and all hindrences or impediments and to single-mindedly pursue the intended goal until it is realized. . . The call of God can become dim to our hearing when we allow the customs, traditions, and cares of this world to get in our way or influence us. . . Mark 4:18-19 (NLT) 18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God

The Old Covenant required the people to be in total obedience to the Law - but due to the weakness of their human nature they were unable to comply with its requirement. . . The primary promises of the New Covenmant are; (1) God's Law would be written in their hearts/spirit through the dwelling of His Spirit as opposed to it being an outward law; (2) our sins would be forgiven thereby establishing a personal relationship and fellowship God the Father and His Son Jesus. . .

Jacob is depressed and as a result parania has set in - he has become fearful and unwilling to trust anyone - eventhose who are closest to him. . . I believe that Jacobis overcome with grief and has not yet gotten over the loss and/or appeared loss of those he has a very deep love for - and as a result this has, in a sense, paralized him mentally and spiritually. . . In times past he had a lot of confidnce in himself - in his abilities to work through things or to work things out on his own - but now it appears that he doesn't even attempt to rectify things. . . At Piniel he went through a trabsformation and began to look to God to work things out for him - but again,here it seems that he has not made any attempt to cal on God or to get Him involved. I feel Jacob changed his maind and allowed Benjamin to go with his brothers to Egypt because because there was no other way out of the situation they wee facing. . . However, had he consulted God maybe God would have worked things out a different way. . . Proverbs 3:5-7 (KJV) 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT) 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

Reflecting on or rehearsing the past - whether it be failures or successes have the tendency to distract us from our present or future intentions and thereby hindering our progression in God. . . I find that the only thing we benefit from the past is the experience of learning from it which should help us do better presently and continue to advance as we proceed into the future. . .We can't change the past, but we can learn from it. . . We should take what aides our progression and run whih it and leave everything else where it lays - in the past. . . I've found unforgiveness to be too great a burden for me to bear. . . I accept the fact that the person who has wronged someone else should make it a point to seek out that person asking for their forgiveness - but even if they don't (as for as it involves me and to my benefit) I have learned to let it go - forgiving the offender - and continuing on in my walk with the Lord. . . Mark 11:25-26 (KJV) 25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15 (KJV) 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 18:21-35 (NLT) 21 Then Peter came to him and asked, Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times? 22 No, not seven times, Jesus replied, but seventy times seven! 23 Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 He couldnt pay, so his master ordered that he be soldalong with his wife, his children, and everything he ownedto pay the debt. 26 But the man fell down before his master and begged him, Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all. 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt. 28 But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. 29 His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. Be patient with me, and I will pay it, he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldnt wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full. 31 When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. 32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Shouldnt you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you? 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt. 35 Thats what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.

Jesus mediated the New Covenent by atoning for humanity's sins through His death, burial, and rsurrection.