Qualifying Love—Kingdom Living!

Qualifying to be loved by me!

We have spoke much about loving your enemies over the last few days. Some of us find it hard to love anyone and dealing with family might be the hardest people of all to love. Remember what love is!
1 Cor 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails……..
Love (agape) is! Love is something! It is tangible and yet it is invisible because the roots of real love is spiritual.

Luke 10:26-37
26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 27 He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" 28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Love your God: I always hear, “I don’t have to go to church to be a Christian!” My question is, If you love God (and he said not to say you love Him and then forsake ones brethren). Wouldn’t you want to worship with the brethren. Those who love God must put down their criticisms of each other and come together.

Love your neighbor: This is sometimes harder than loving an enemy or a stranger. Because the closer someone is to you, the greater hurt they can cause you.

Who is your neighbor? This was a good question with bad motives, Jesus put this man in a place of having to admit that to keep the commandments of the law, one would have to break the Pharisaical law (said to be the interpretation of the law). The law of the O.T. never had the power to save us but to show us we needed to be saved. It also had a keeping power until the promise of the Father was reviled.
Who is our neighbor, Jesus made it clear all people great and small, any race and even of any state of their lives, even our enemies, are our neighbors.

Disqualification:
Today you will have the opportunity to try and disqualify people out of your circle of love. Jesus has no circle of love. Jesus is Love! We are called to be like Him. When we justify our bitterness and hatred, then we are the ones being disqualified. Our self righteousness tries to determine who deserves God’s love from us. The answer is that we don’t deserve God’s love yet he gives it freely. Who do we think we are to not actively love someone else. The qualification to receive God’s love is that you exist. What are your qualifications for people to be loved by you. (remember what love is 1 Cor 14:4-8).

No apologies required:
Are you waiting for someone to apologies for something, Jesus has showed us love while we were yet sinners he gave to us. If you are waiting on an apology or for someone to come to you then you are not like Christ. Jesus draws people by His love. If you are waiting on some to respond to you then tear down your pride and lets see what God can do to bring healing.

What about repentance?:
You may say, don’t we have to repent for God to accept us. The answer is that God is, in and of Himself (we are not) our holiness and or righteousness comes from God alone. God loves us while we are yet sinners. To have a relationship with him we must repent and accept His love. We must love period. For us to have a relationship with others we must unconditionally love. We love without repentance but for a relationship to happen, the one being loved must receive our love. Because we are not God, demanding repentance for someone's wrong doing is more about us and less about true love. Let it go, love and get on with flourishing fruit in your life.

Who can you actively love today, not for your benefit but for there benefit?___________


Current Family and Ministry Update!
The court hearing went well but there are two more scheduled in the coming months. My children are doing well. Lauren has tons of homework each night because progress reports are coming. I rented a backhoe to burry my horse because tomorrow I am taking part of the day off, to also put in storm drains in around our house and move the foundation dirt that is piled up. My father in law (Ron came over to help) we buried the horse eight feet under but because to water table is so High. Well, he just kept coming up out of the ground. I believe, well after dark, I finally got him to stay underneath. We will find out in a little while when I go check to see if he is staying underneath. A little gross but very true. I did miss the the Guths wedding and that was disappointing. Other than that my day was very blessed and God has given me much grace. Jesus is great and each day is wonderful when you look for miracles in each day God gives you. 1. Haley is feeling much better. 2. I found favor with the rental company today without even asking. 3. I got a full size backhoe for $225 for four days. 4. The court has required mediation which is exactly what I wanted. 5. Marlene came over to help my wife around the house just because she loves us and to be helpful to my lovely wife. 6. My children love me and I love spending time with them. 7. My son and I had a great time playing with the big man toys in the back yard (The Backhoe). 8. My wife is doing very well with the pregnancy and Maverick is very healthy. 9. My wife is amazing and she loves me just like God loves me. She is my best friend and I love her more each time I speak to her 10. I felt the presence of God all day. 11. I am blessed beyond what I deserve and God is always faithful to me. 12 I could go on all day but I better get back to getting ready to take my children to the dentist. We have to leave at 7:00am. Be blessed today, love someone new today and keep Jesus first in all that you do! Love Pastor Aaron & Kristy.

Blessed Beyond Comprehension!

February—March, Update Article

I want to start this by saying, a huge, Praise the Lord and thank you for all of your support. God is always faithful! We have had one of the most exciting beginnings to a year that we have ever had. I hope this Update gives you a small idea of some of the great things God is doing. Many of you attend Crossfire Family Worship Center and most of you attend some place else or no place at all. I am not sure what is happening in other churches, but we are seeing and I am hearing an increase in the manifestations of God’s power all around. Regardless of where we attend, I believe we are all very desirous of the power of God to be displayed in our midst. We are experiencing the seeds of some very exciting and genuine revival. We are blessed beyond comprehension.

Eph 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height — 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. NKJV

I recently spoke about how simply recognizing the miracles around you will allow God to increase the miraculous in our lives. The scripture above is always an encouragement. I am always encouraged to realize that God is wanting to strengthen all of us in our inner man. In this Christ can dwell in us, to allow us to comprehend the incomprehensible. This means that the Kingdom of God is beyond comprehension, yet God places in each of us the ability to love and understand who God is and what He is wanting to do. We can be led by the Spirit, but only when we seek Him first and give Him glory/recognition daily for all He does. If you have asked Jesus into your heart, the power of God is at work in you. How much supernatural work He will do in you is limited only by your faith and obedience to Him. V20 –21 declares Gods unlimited power is designed to work in us.

God is working through His people in greater dimensions. We have been experiencing an outpouring where God is drawing people into the congregation right off the streets. Where they are coming out of drugs and life-controlling problems wanting to accept Christ. It seems like we rarely get through a worship service when people aren’t asking Jesus into their hearts during the worship service. We have had them stop by, call and write asking to accept Christ. We are finding that during worship, people are having people ask ushers to accept the Lord. In the restroom and (thank you Jesus) in the altar call people are wanting Christ. God is drawing His people. A week never goes by without a wonderful testimony of salvation. God is blessing us beyond what we could ask or think.

Thank you for supporting and praying for this ministry. All I can ask is, give us more souls Lord! And give us the wisdom and ability to disciple those who are accepting the Lord so they can live in the fullness of His Spirit. We love you with the love of the Lord, Pastor Aaron & Kristy

Current Family and Ministry Update:
We started out our Wednesday with the sound of children in the house. I love waking to hearing my children, even if it’s a little loud. Lauren had a late start, so we got Jet & Haley to school, dropped of one vehicle to get the brakes fixed, and we took Lauren to breakfast. We went to work a little late after dropping off Lauren at school. I received an encouraging call from some pastors in Pakistan wanting to set up a country wide evangelistic crusade in Pakistan. Please pray for wisdom about this. It was a normal, wonderful day but that is not how it stayed. Our plan was to go home for a few hours between work and church. We got a call from Haley. She said she had a fever and was not feeling well. We left a little early to go get her. The vet came to check out our horse because he was very sick and not eating or drinking. We thought is was a viral infection but they told us it was a tumor in his esophagus. They told us there was nothing they could do for him. We then gathered the children and said goodbye to buddy. It was a very emotional time. The vet put him down and tomorrow I will bury him in our field. Having him put down was a hard decision but we didn’t want him to suffer. Thank you for your prayers. I believe the Lord was there to comfort the us during this loss. Immediately after, I received a call about some domestic problems and a child who was possibly being abused. I spent the next couple hours trying to help this family get things back on track. I am always thankful for God’s grace and supernatural wisdom during these kind of encounters. My wife took Jet to church and because I didn’t get home until after church started, the girls and I stayed home. Haley getting some rest, Lauren preparing for a huge test and I was getting ready for a court hearing tomorrow. We closed the day with prayer and each of the children thanked God for having the opportunity of having buddy (our horse) in our lives and that Jesus was with us during this day. It was a hard day but we are blessed beyond comprehension. My amazing wife prayed this, “This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it!” I say to us all for today, This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it! Have a blessed day, beyond your comprehension! Pastor Aaron Taylor

Loving Your Enemies Takes 20-20 Spiritual Vision!

20-20 Spiritual Vision!

Yesterday, I dealt with loving your enemies. The Word is very clear on this point. I encourage you to read it again if your not clear on it or if you didn’t get a chance to read it. Today I want to deal with one simple, yet very necessary and profound thought.
How can you really love someone who hurts you, wrongs you and despitefully uses you. It’s not just a good idea, it is necessary as far as God is concerned. It is a God idea. Love your enemies. I used the gospel of John Yesterday and today I want to look at Matthew 5:43-47 -
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; ……….. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? KJV
We hopefully understand the need to love your enemies but how do I view them without feeling hateful or angry? It will take some supernatural vision but hopefully I can simply explain the how! Read these scriptures very carefully.

Gen 3:13 And the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." NKJV

1 Tim 2:13-15 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. NKJV

Titus 3:1-7
3 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. NKJV

In Titus what was it that reached out to each of us, while we were still in our sin and deception? God’s Kindness and love! (These are really translated just agape) Without that, we would all be lost and yet we were all there at one time. God saves us at different times and yet it doesn’t mean that we are somehow better than the next person. In fact God treats us all the same.
To understand how to actively love a sinner is to first see them for who they really are. If I asked you to love a poor starving child you could do that very easily. I have had the privilege to help feed the poor, helpless and sick people around the world. These have been some of my most cherished opportunities in my life. They are hungry for many reasons, but the one common thread is that they are hungry. If we begin to see people as Christ sees people then we will find it easy to love those who hate us and despitefully use us.
The Bibles says that Eve was deceived, yet Adam sinned willingly. I know this is true but not completely understood. Eve was deceived directly by the enemy and Adam knew what he was doing. Adam had walked with God and yet made the wrong decision. Adam was self deceived by his own lust. Once we have truly walked with God, we have no excuse but notice God restored and continued to love Adam.
I believe no one in their right mind (true understanding) would reject God. For this reason, All men are deceived (Titus 3:3) and are in need of the truth. When someone acts out on you they are really angry at God and with themselves. Jesus said that they really don’t hate you they hate me. He knew they hated him and He showed them nothing but love.
John 7:7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. NKJV
Jesus hates evil works and deeds but He loves the individual. This is not an emotion alone. Jesus chose to actively love them while they crucified Him He was actively loving them. If you get a real 20/20 vision of how Jesus sees sinners you will find it easy to hate the sin that hold them in bondage and love the sinner. See the sinner for who he is. They are deceived and in great need of the love of Jesus. We posses that love and must be willing to act like Christ did towards those who He wept over. On the Cross He asked for their forgiveness. We must strive to love our enemies as Christ loves them.
I hope this devotion helps you live your life by walking deeper into the Kingdom of God/learn to be led by the Spirit. When the body of Christ learns to love like Jesus loves we will then find revival in all areas of our lives and the world. If just you will learn to love as Christ loves, it will revive your world and those who you come in contact with. Don’t wait, go start a revival in your world.

Current family and Ministry News!
Kristy and I had the privilege to go to the hospital and pray with Trigger before her surgery and she was just a little out of it! She is such a wonderful and sweet person. I missed our staff prayer because of that but everyone understood. Later, Trigger called and told me that her doctor got sick and postponed the surgery. All I can say is that we prayed God’s will and protection and I believe that is exactly what God did. I then had a staff meeting and numerous meetings. We have been trying to sell three older buses and a very dear friend to this ministry who attends another church asked about them. After speaking with him we decided to just donate them to his church so they can just keep on doing the work of the kingdom. In the afternoon I received a call from a person who wanted to know if we could meet. I found some time and they came by and said that they had been given some money and wanted to be a blessing to the Church. They gave a much needed offering of $3500 to general fund and $1000 to one of our Crossfire Ministries. It was very needed and was cause for much rejoicing. The day was amazing. Kristy and I were personally in need of a financial miracle and between our tax return and a gift from a very faithful friend we were able to pay our house payment and a few other bills we needed to pay before the end of the month. God is always so faithful and takes such wonderful care of us. When we picked up the kids they were full of stories of the day to the point they were talking over each other. Although I had to make them talk one at a time, I am so thankful they are so eager to share their day with us. Kristy’s leg/hip is feeling better but continue to keep her in our prayers. She is such a wonderful mother and I am thankful she is so excited about Maverick. She takes such good care of him already. Please pray for our horse, Buddy. This morning when we fed him, he didn’t come to eat. This evening he still had not eaten. We went out in the field and find him in very bad shape. We believe he has a very bad case of horse influenza. We brought him into a stall and tomorrow we are hoping the vet will be able to help him and get him to eat!
Please pray for this need, I know it is a horse but God is not limited. Most of all we don’t want him to suffer. We also have a cilvil court hearing coming up and really want God’s Will in it all. We love all of you and appreciate your love, prayers and support. Pastor Aaron and Kristy

We are called to Love! Like Christ Loved!

There is love and then there is Kingdom Love!

We are called to love, That seems like such an easy command. Yet we must realize that God has placed into each Christian the ability to have complete agape/love. Not just for our friends, family or those we like. We are called to love those who hate us, talk evil about us and despitefully use us. For this is the love of God. Today each of us will come into contact with these kind of people and we can avoid them but God called us to actively love them. Read this very challenging scripture, it is for each of us. Then answer to yourself truthfully the questions below.

Luke 6:32-38
32 "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

We often write this scripture off by saying we love them in our heart. Let us examine what it means to actively love our enemies.

1 Cor 13:4-7
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

We can say that we Love people but Christian love is one who loves those who hates them. Are You Patient with those who are angry and hateful towards you? ______ Do you what the best for those who flaunt what they have in your face and use what they have and who they are to make you feel like you are nothing and have nothing? ______ Do you speak well privately, of those who boast publicly for their greatness? ______ When you are treated rudely do you speak kind back? ______ Do you look for ways to serve those who hate you or to those who just get under your skin? ______ Do you speak to frustrate or bring peace? ___________ Do you choose to release people from their wrongs without even being asked or do you hold their wrong doings and sins against them? ___________ Do you find pleasure in your thoughts of someone's failure or demise? __________ Do you love to speak the truth in love to restore or condemn? ________ Do you protect those who hurt you by stopping slander and gossip about them? _____________ Do you trust or desire the best for those who hate you? ________________ Do you trust even when you might look foolish for trusting someone who uses you? _____ Do you hope the best for those who hate you? _______ Are you willing to restore and sacrifice for, those who willingly hurt you? ________

I think we get the point. God loves us, which means he can answer correctly, these questions, about each one of us. God put this kind of love in you. Just let it begin to flow out of you. Don’t love so they will change. Love actively even if they never change. Love others as unto the Lord. I must say this is very hard but it is the will of God for our lives. Love someone that is hard to love, today. Learn to love everyone actively everyday. I am challenged how about you. I will pray for you to learn to love and please pray for me to learn the same.

Current Family and Ministry Update: Not a whole lot to mention today, except paint, paint, tape and more paint. This was my day off and I spent the early morning on the phone doing business. Then I began painting and tomorrow after work I am hoping to finish most of the painting that we have started. Around eight we met with our Master Directors, Chris and Kori Cheek who had just returned from a month long ministry tour. It was so great to see them. We missed them and the kids so much this year. I am leaving in just a little while to go and visit Trigger before she goes into surgery. Please keep her in your prayers. We love you, Pastor Aaron and Kristy Taylor

If You Love Me?You Will Do What I Say! Jesus?

This is a wonderful truth, We will keep His words if we Love Him but learn how and Why Below!
John 14:15-24
15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
19 "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?"
23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me. NKJV

If you Love me, you will keep my Commandments. When we hear this, we often associate this statements with God’s love for us. This is not about God’s love for us or about God’s acceptance. I John 2:15-17 (listed below) makes this statement much more understandable. This is about fruit. God is the one who loves us and gives us the ability to have a divine agape love relationship with Himself as well as with others. God has given us love, His kind of love, completely unconditional and sacrificial love for Him and for others. One of the fruits of the Spirit is Agape Love. From this we understand that if you possess agape love, obedience to the commands/Word of God will be your desire and ultimate end. The result of real love is obedience to Christ. Jesus was not speaking a condemning word but conveying a truth about God’s love in us. God desires to place His Spirit into each one of us. When He does it will produce fruit. One part and the greatest part of that fruit is Love.

1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. NIV

This statement out of 1 John is important to understand. What I want us to really look at is (the love of the Father is not in him). This is possible. If we are living by the flesh thus we are not being let by the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love. If we are lovers of the world, we are not being led by the Spirit and the love of God is not in us. Accepting Christ into our hearts is the only way to receive/accept the God kind of love (agape).

REMINDER:
We don’t love God or reject the world to be led by the Spirit. We accept Christ, He then gives us His Spirit and we can be led by His Spirit. Immediately, by God’s Grace, He begins to produce fruit and causes us to be able to love God.
Last night a lady who did not know Christ called and said, “how do I love God”. God was drawing her to Him, but until she commits her life to Christ she cannot really love God. Agape/love is a fruit of being led by the Spirit.
We are drawn to God by His Spirit via many avenues. We walk into the Kingdom of God through the door (Christ). There is no other way, Christ said that many will try other ways, but he was the only way, anyone who declares another way is a thief and a liar. Once we have accepted Christ. At that very moment, God places His Spirit in us and as we allow His Spirit to quicken our spirit, we become alive unto God. Then we begin to produce or have the Fruit of the Spirit.
If we tell an unbeliever to “love God,” he is in a quandary, because except for the external drawing of the Spirit by/because of God’s love for him, he has no ability to love God. It is better to tell the unbeliever that God loves them and has sacrificed for them and He will teach them to love Him. We also are called to show them our love for God by our love for one another. Go out today and show everyone the unconditional and sacrificial love.

Current Family and Ministry Update:
I am sorry that I have not written for a few days. No excuses, but I will quickly catch you up. Friday we worked with our guests, Decatur Alabama Master Commission, selling Krispy Kreme Donuts for a fundraiser to help them with their West coast trip. We did great and sold all of our donuts. Kristy and I then had a late night tax appointment. Praise the Lord we are getting a refund. We had a late dinner with Jon and Kelly. They are the best. We are so blessed to have them as Pastors in our church. Saturday, We slept in. This had to be one of my favorite parts of the week. No doubt, it was Kristy’s best part of the week. Saturday evening we met Derek From D.M.C and had five hours of wonderful fellowship. We have a real kindred spirit between us. I am thankful for our friendship. Sunday was a wonderful morning and D.M.C. did a wonderful Job. Worship was great and God was awesome in the altar time. He really spoke to many including me and my family. Carrie Goodson came home from being in Arizona. I was wonderful to see her and have her home. We can’t wait to see her husband David get home. We took the Masters team to Home Town Buffet and many of the church people joined us. Counting everyone, there we almost sixty. We then ran home and got the rest of the sheetrock dust swept up from our home. Our home group was a great time of fellowship, testimony, and prayer. To really know what I mean you would have really had to be there. Please pray for Kristy, because her right hip is really hurting her. Tomorrow is our day off and I hope she will be able to get some rest and I will be trying to finish more of the painting on the addition. Our Heart of David team retuned from their Idaho ministry trip and tomorrow our Master Commission team will be returning. I know that we all miss them very much. God is getting God is wanting to bless you! Accept His blessing, thank Him for it and bless someone else with it! Serving a wonderful God, Pastor Aaron

Confident Love Even to the Very End!The Word of the Kingdom is LOVE.

Our greatest place of security should be found in the Love of God, yet it is important for us to realize that the fact that God loves us is incomplete until it is received. God showed us His love by loving us enough to die for us and reestablishing within us the ability for a relationship. But a relationship is incomplete unless both parties enter into the vow/commitment. God loves us to a degree that is beyond our comprehension to understand or to reciprocate. Yet God ignites our love by His spirit in our hearts that our soul can respond to Him bringing alive the covenant that has been made. 1Jn 4:17 (printed below) shows that the love of God should enable us to the point of understanding that there is no reason for fear. That the only fear is a fear and awe of respect towards God. But no other fear (fear as a degree of torment) should be in a believer’s life.
A boldness comes from the understanding that we have been invited into a kingdom where no judgment can be measured against us as long as we remain in the kingdom, partaking of the fruit of the kingdom. Which means that we can stand bold in the day of judgment knowing that the blood of Christ will be our sufficient plea. In this one aspect of God’s love for us as well as the many other facets of His love shows us that we can be confident in His love.
Being a pastor over the last 20 years I have seen and counseled so many who aren’t confident in their covenant relationships. Marriages where people are together, yet their hearts are far from each other. They lack confidence in each other as well as in their demonstrated love. God wants us to understand the confidence that we can have in His love and have it translated into our relationships here on this earth. As we can learn to have confidence in the love that abides in the heavenly kingdom of God, we can then begin to pull down into our own lives and relationships, that same kind of unconditional love. It’s easy to be confident in God’s love for us and we know in our own hearts whether we love God or not. If we do, it is easy to be confident in our love towards God. But God has asked us to go further and translate that love into our daily relationships with others. God has asked us to not only have faith and love in Him but to have faith and love in others. I know with many hurts and pains that have been caused in relationships, trust seems almost impossible, yet God has demonstrated His love towards us that while we were yet failures (sinners) Christ loved us. That while we were unfaithful and even haters of God, He died for us/sacrificed for us. I know that this is hard to realize that it isn’t enough to just love God, but to love others with the same kind of love that He has loved us.
John 6:24 states that because of our faith and love for Christ as we believe in Him there is no judgment against us. This means that His mercy has taken away all past and present judgments that we may live. God is not only asking us to receive His love but to demonstrate His love to others. He has given us both the grace to receive His love and to show His love towards others. Have the God kind of love you enter into a place where you begin to cease judging one another’s motives and begin to see one another with a pure heart. God does not keep a record of wrong, love doesn’t keep a record of wrong and you cannot keep a record of wrong. We are called to set people free as Christ has set us free and to be confident in them as God has been confident in us. As you read the scriptures below you will have a better understanding of what I am talking about. The greatest thing we have is love for God and each other. But we have to begin to have confidence in one another. Setting people free from the sins of their past that you could live in a true covenant relationship being confident in God’s love that dwells in all of His people.

1 John 4:7-21
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.
20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. NKJV
1 John 4:17-19

Truly, truly I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life"
John 5:24

Current Ministry and Family Update:
This is a day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. I began the day by meeting with a crew that we had hired that was taking down a very large tree between the church property and the neighbors home. It was very difficult not only because of the cost, but I didn’t want to take the tree down. Our neighbor was complaining of sap falling from it on to his side of the fence. He asked us to cut it down and to be honest with you, it didn’t want to because I liked the tree and it wasn’t a nuisance for us and I didn’t want to spend the money to cut it down. We drug our feet for awhile, but God convicted me about it and challenged me to be a good neighbor. Sometimes it costs you to be a good neighbor. So we began the day by having to remove a large tree near our playground area, but it did seem to make our neighbor happy because the sap from the tree won’t fall on his side of the fence anymore. It is challenging sometimes when you have to yield to others for their benefit when you cannot find any benefit of your own, only a sacrifice, but when it is over you find that the benefit is in your heart. Then the rest of the day made me realize just how old I am getting. A couple of people came to help us move 42,000 lbs of food by hand. One of our volunteers ending up having to leave after getting his toes smashed. Please pray for him, his name is Dale, he accepted the Lord the night before. It was a tiring but very exciting day. We were able to set aside large amounts of food for our weekly hot meal to the homeless ministry (Field of Dreams), our Cottage Grove women’s shelter (Love Links) and for our Masters Commission students. We were also able to share large amounts of food with The Prayer house in Salem for their upcoming missions trip and their food box ministry as well as River of Life for their community outreach feeding program that feeds over 2500 families per month. And believe it or not, we still had food left over to share with the Eugene Mission. It was a long day, yet my heart wanted to leap out of my chest knowing how much good will come from this food and how thankful I am that God used us. Once we were finished moving the food, Decatur Alabama’s Masters Commission (who we are housing at our church for 4 days while they are doing ministry) showed up. It was great to see them. They are wonderful kids and they made us miss our Masters Commission more (if that’s even possible). I ate my only meal of the day on the run and only had about an hour with my wife before I had to leave to drive to Portland to pick up Krispy Kreme Donuts for our fundraiser that starts at 6:00 am. It was around 2:00 am by the time that I got home. Please pray that today’s fundraiser will be a blessing the Masters Commission that is here and to our own church ministries that are here. No matter what you go through today, remember that God made this day for you. He desires for you to be confident in His love and to confidently reach out and love others. Especially when they don’t deserve it. Both Kristy and I love and appreciate all of you who are so faithful to this ministry. Love, Pastor Aaron and his family of 5 1/2

The Word of the Kingdom - Love (Continued)

LOVE IS ALL THESE THINGS, DO YOU REALLY LOVE?
This is an explanation of what love (agape) really is. It is a way to gauge yourself. Love is an action and displays the character of Christ!

1 Corinthians 13:4-13
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. NKJV

Tonight we had a wonderful Adult Bible study. Tom Haeg spoke tonight and amazingly he spoke on the love of God. It didn’t take much to get me stirred up. Love is all over scripture. God’s very essence/nature is love. Love is a choice. God gives us love by His Spirit. It is a fruit of the Spirit. It grows in the kingdom of God and the Word says that the kingdom is established inside of you. Love is not a feeling but the fruit or effects of love is very emotional. We don’t love because of how we feel, but when we love, we definitely feel. Our emotions are effected by our love. It is important that we know that God has birthed His agape (love) in our hearts. It flows from His Spirit and causes our soul to respond correctly. Soul = mind, will and emotions. These all three are drastically effected and developed by His love. As love flows from the Spirit to effect our souls, it then begins to cause our actions to conform to the will of God. Tomorrow I will deal with the obedience of Love. (If you Love me??????)

Current Family and Ministry Update:
What a amazing day in the Lord! I had back to back to back appointments all day with paperwork slammed in between but it was a wonderful day. I was able to get most of my computer back up and running. I am short some of my calendar and email information. Tomorrow I am going to have a computer tech take one more stab at it. Please pray for full restoration of my computer (that sounds a little weird). Don’t get me wrong, I was thrilled to get as much restored as I did. We received some shirts that say Maverick (the name of our soon to be born son). I also wanted to share with you a picture of our babies about to possibly feel a little displaced. Herkemur (don’t ask) and Diesel.
Tonight at our Adult Bible Study, it began it right. In fact before I even arrived and before my wife started worship, a man named Dale came forward and asked Jesus into his heart. He was very genuine and touched by the Lord. Praise the LORD! Please pray for Dale. He has some difficult situations to face, but he’s very excited to have Jesus in his life. We also had a time of testimony where one after another spoke up to tell of how God was working miracles in their lives. Display the love of Jesus all day long. Let the fruit of Christ flow today. Pastor Aaron


LOVE is Kind! Do you Love? Etc…...

The Word of the Kingdom - Love

I don’t wish to sound like a broken record (Skipping CD) but I am far from being done with talking about the Kingdom. This week I am excited to speak about a wonderful subject, LOVE! The Kingdom of God has fruit, the fruit of the Kingdom is the fruit of the Spirit. The greatest of these is Love!
We must start by determining who can really love! And what does Love really mean.
This is an offensive questions for some. Having to face that not everyone can really love!
God has a nature and the very essence of God is Love.

1 John 4:7-8
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

DOES THIS MEAN THAT ONLY CHRISTIANS CAN TRULY LOVE AND THOSE WHO DO NOT LOVE ARE NOT CHRISTIANS? YES & NO

Love is translated many different words in the Bible, We have to know what Love we are speaking of and what the context is, before we can answer this correctly.

You must be born again (born of God/His Spirit) to ever really possess a true agape love. I say that and hope you understand that because you have prayed the sinners prayer does not mean you are one who produces the God kind of Love at all times but you should and have complete access to agape love. In understanding Phileo Love, you must know that it comes from agape loves and is often mistaken for the out flow that is from God.

Non Christians can love, but not with a true God kind of Love until the are born of God!

UNDERSTANDING LOVES:
There are many kinds of loves, three main kinds of loves:
-Agape/agapeo = The God kind of Love - Christian Love - Self sacrifice to the point of death. The most often used for love in the bible. The kind of love where others matter more than ones comfort and even life. Completely selfless love.
-Phileo = Brotherly love, Care and human kindness. Natural love that is effected my human nature, human kindness. This is not agape love but is derived from it. We are not called to have this kind of love alone. We have agape love which is far better.
-Eros = gratification, of a sexual nature / strong desire. Derived out of what feels good. This is not evil in nature but has a tendency to be selfish without one possessing agape love.

This word come from the word Love (they come from Phileo word for Love):
-philanthropia = is a love for money. 1 Tim 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief's.

This word comes from Eros type of Love:
-thelo, "to wish," is translated "love" (RV, "desire"). Mark 12:38

Agape Love is found in the Kingdom of God. The Cross of Jesus (His death and resurrection) gives us access to the Kingdom of God. Love is a fruit we find growing in the Kingdom. As Christians we must live, enter in and eat in the Kingdom so we can love the way we are suppose to.

Read this scripture with this understanding and it is much more understand able! These words love are all translated/defined as Agape Love!
1 John 4:7-21
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. NKJV

Enter the Kingdom daily(at all times) and eat of Gods Love so you can love like God! Much more tomorrow, Pastor Aaron

Current family and ministry updates! Yesterday was a wonderful day. I began the day with dropping off the kids at their schools. Then off to meet with our ministry staff to pray. We had a great time of prayer.
Pastor Jon needs all our prayer because he has been struggling with an extreme rash. The Doctor says it’s viral and I say it has no place in Jon’s life. So lets stand together that is dissipates immediately. After our prayer time, we had a short staff meeting about our food distribution for this week, Decatur AL Masters Commissions ministering with us starting Friday, our Friday fundraiser and a few other things. The rest of my day was spent in the office trying to get caught up. God was amazing on every level.
I was honored to meet a Lady who has started coming to Crossfire Family Worship Center in just the last month. She came in and we talked for quite a while. She has taken in her nephew who lost his mother and brother in a fire last year. She began to share about her life and testimony of Gods grace. She was very involved in ministry for many years but then found herself hurt and rejected. God has drawn her back and she loves our Church. As a pastor I love to hear that. She told me the best complement that our church can have. She said when she came in everyone was nice but what really hit her was that the presence of God was so obvious. I just love to hear that. I am so thankful and honored by Gods presence in our meetings. Lets keep humble and hungry for God abiding with us when we come together in His manifest presence.
I spent the evening with my family. I am thankful to God, he is very good to me. One huge, praise the Lord, is that I was able to get most of my data off of my crashed hard drive. I now have most of my information retrieved and now I have a back up system.
Praise be to Jesus. I believe that God knew how much I could handle and losing all of my work for the last year, must not have been something I could handle. Ha Ha!

Lets live in the Kingdom being led by God’s Spirit, today and everyday. Love and bless as many people as you can on this day that the Lord has made for you. Rejoice and be glad!

A Wonderful Day in the Kingdom

Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways. 2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. 3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. 4 Thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord. 5 May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem, 6 and may you live to see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel. Ps 128NIV

My Children had the day off today due to the national holiday. Today was painting day. My oldest daughter and my son both made other plans (although they knew the day was emanate). They wanted to get their new rooms painted but they also wanted to do other things. I reminded them of the importance of the day and why we needed to work and they quickly acknowledge the importance of the day.
It was not as if they wanted to go out and do evil things. Lauren wanted to get together with some friends to work on a school project due at the end of the week. Jet wanted to go out and try and find some buried treasure. (no Joke he really did). Haley like always just wanted to stay at home and play some games. Nothing evil, in fact all very wholesome and productive things. The problem was painting needed to happen. Our little kingdom/home needed to get painted.
The Kingdom of God is often found in disrepair or needing to expand. There are many good and wholesome things we could go and do but there are also some things that we need to do to make sure that we are growing each day and that the Kingdom is expanding. God has called this church to move forward and we are doing just that. Today was a BIG work day for us as afamily and those days must come along once in a while, just like in the Kingdom of God.
Real progress in not made in the bog days. Real progress is found in the consistently moving forward day after day. I want to encourage us all to be part of the Kingdom each day. Live everyday. Don’t just be alive but truly live. When each day is done. Let us recognize the progress that we have made and the miracles God has preformed. Let us look back on each day and know that we have done the will of our Father and have gotten to know Him more. Let us also make sure that as God blesses us that we are also being a blessing to others. We all have the ability to be Jesus to someone each day.
Today, I worked with my family. My wife, being pregnant, had to work from a far (due to the paint fumes) so she ran around and got supplies and took a few crazy pictures of us all. You see today was my day off from work and although we worked very hard at home, my family worked together for a common purpose. This was life building and life changing for them. We came together as a family to accomplish something they admittedly, didn’t know if it would ever get accomplished. We are far from done but we made progress.
Each day we need to ask ourselves did we make any real progress towards the hopes and dreams God has put in our hearts. Was their any eternal value to our day? The real progress of my day had very little to do with our new home addition. It had everything to do with my children learning to work together and building a stronger relationships with each other. We had a wonderful day in the Kingdom! Today you will have a choice to live in the Kingdom (Realm of God) following His Spirit or just exist another day! Have a wonderful day in the Kingdom.

-Kingdom Builders love and take good care of their families and love ones, Unity in our personal and church family is so very important to see the fulfillment of the will of God in our lives. Let our families be whole and let God’s church be in unity.
25 Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, "Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. Matt 12:25

Current family and Ministry Update: I spent the early morning coordinating this weeks food donations. We are working with some churches and other ministries to help them with the excess of this last huge semi of food we received. I was so blessed Sunday to see the distribution begin. I loved seeing it going out to be used. Our Cottage Grove women’s shelter (love link) received the first boxes on Sunday. We also had two men give their hearts to Christ and many testified of a breakthrough concerning their battles with depression. One young lady came up to me after service was over and told me that she came to church today because she knew she needed to get her life right and from the moment she arrived she felt Jesus and made a commitment of her Life to Christ. She told me that she had never felt so free. Another lady told me how her and her son accepted Christ three weeks ago and each week God seems to use the message to speak to her with exactly where she is at with what she needs. Sunday evening Jon Fargher spoke about what it means in the Bible to shout. It was a great message that really got everyone stirred up! God is truly doing great things. Pray for me because tomorrow they find out if they can recover any of my lost data and contacts from my crashed computer. As I mentioned above, I spent most of my day off painting with my family. Then I spend a late night trying to get my programs restored onto my new hard drive. We are getting there. I finally have my Bible program back and working. Praise the Lord. It is honestly hard to live without that. I speak for Kristy and myself when I tell you all that we appreciate your love and support towards us. Have a wonderful day in the Kingdom and be a blessing to someone today, Pastor Aaron

Computer Meltdown

Please Pray for me this morning. Last might I had a complete computer melt down. My hard drive of my computer will not even start up (boot up). My last backup was six months ago. I know, Not very smart! I will be trying to get it going this afternoon. Right now I am using my wife's computer. I am still very excited about this morning. I hope I will see many of you this morning where we can worship together. For those who are not a part of Crossfire Family Worship Center, I hope you fellowship someplace and God's inhabits your place of worship this morning.

Current Family & Ministry News: We began Saturday with a funeral for Bella O'Connor. It was a real honor to officiate the services for this great family. It was a beautiful time of memorializing her life. We were able to fellowship with the family and many of our church members. It was a hard time for David and Joanne but a wonderful time also. I huge thank you to Janice and Trigger for all their hard work on the food.
I then had the privilege of officiating the wedding of John and Becky. The wedding was beautiful and Gods presence was felt. I pray even now God's best for them and that God would have His way in their life. The rest of the evening (what was left of it) I spent with my family and preparing for Sunday morning. I am excited for what God will do in the hearts of people today. What new miracles will happen today. Be blessed and be a blessing, Pastor Aaron

The Joy of The Kingdom of God! (expounded)

IMPORTANT! (If you read nothing else)
Make sure you scroll down and at least read the last three paragraphs of today’s “Current Family & Ministry News!”

The “Kingdom is Joy” (not just some Joy but full of Joy)!
Rom 14:17-18 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
-The Kingdom (Kings Realm) in NOT Flesh (Good or Bad flesh it isn’t flesh or even soul) Although if dealt with correctly it cannot help but restore/effect both of those things.

-Remember, we are triune beings:
Body (Flesh, old man, fallen nature) - Soul (mind, will and emotions) - Spirit (made alive upon salvation)
-Rom 14:17
then says the Kingdom is RIGHTEOUSNESS - Right standing with God and Man—achieved at the Cross!
Peace = Prosperity of our Spirit—a fruit of the Spirit,
The JOY = This is also a Fruit of the Spirit, All the Fruits of the Spirit are found in Kingdom Living!

Joy is not happiness, Happiness is a fruit of Joy, when Joy flows into the soul realm.
Happiness is often but should not always be based on circumstances.
Happiness defined is makarios; a prolonged form of the poetical makar:; supremely blest; by extension, fortunate, well off:

Comparison example for better understanding: Depression-Sadness vs. Joy-Happiness

Depression is a total work of the flesh; It is part of our fallen nature effected by sin, You may say that depression is chemical. I would agree that it often but not always is. Depression in and of ourselves in not an emotion but it effects our emotions/mind( soul) through extreme sadness. It is part of our sinful, fallen nature. Depression is the effects of an attack of an evil spirit upon our flesh. It is manifested spiritually and sometimes physically (chemically, acting out). Sadness is the effects on our soul (mind, will and emotions) due to circumstances. Sadness is often but not always the effects on our soul from our flesh being depressed in one degree or another.

Joy is a total work of the Spirit; It is the part of us without sin and made alive by Christ alone. Joy is not an emotion but it causes great emotion. You can have happiness without Joy but Happiness (blissful circumstances) doesn’t bring true Joy. Luke 10:21 says that your Joy is made complete in the Spirit. The truth, (Word of God) by the Spirit revealed, also brings true Joy. We are told to have Joy even in persecution and trials James 1:2. Joy of the Lord is our strength according to Ne 8:10. Joy is a fruit of living a Kingdom life / being led by the Spirit in all things.

Matt 6:31-34
31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

WHEN WE SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM:
Then we need not worry because the fruit of God’s Spirit begins to supernaturally take effect on our lives. As the fruit of the Kingdom grows it begins to manifest the will of God in our Soul and our Bodies. When we seek first the Kingdom of God, supernaturally God begins to take care of every need. Remember we gain access into the Kingdom by His righteousness gained for us at the cross. When we begin to live in the Kingdom (what are you waiting for) there is a Spiritual nature (supernatural/miraculous) that begins to take effect. It awaits each of us.

KINGDOM DIMENSIONS:
How deep can I go into the Kingdom? How High can I go in the Kingdom?

NO LIMITS!!!!!!!!!! God is Love (another fruit of the Kingdom) Eph 3:18

I am going to stop here but I can’t wait to preach Sunday. Be there if you can and if for some reason you can’t, the live Podcast and audio broadcast will be free as it is happening and available all week. There is nothing like being there. God is moving in our services. From the moment the prayer warriors gather before the meeting, through the alter call and the closing prayer. Don’t just show up, come jump in. The river is great! Let God be God in you this weekend!



Current Family & Ministry News: We had a wonderful (very FULL) day! It began with a field trip with Haley and ended with one of the greatest words of encouragement I have ever received.
I had the privilege of taking off the morning and going to a field trip with my lovely daughter Haley and her school. Normally Kristy would have went but she had a Dr. appointment for her and our baby (Maverick). This was the first one I missed but it was in full support of Kristy because she knew how important the field trip was. Kristy caught up with us after her appointment and both the field trip and the Doctor’s appointment we great. Kristy and I then ran two different directions running errands for a few hours. I then went to John and Becky wedding rehearsal. I am very excited for them, their big day is tomorrow and I wish them God’s best.
Then we rounded us, our kids and some from church then headed to Salem for a Concert with Matthew west, Jeremy Camp and Toby Mac. The kids totally loved it. Kristy and I saw literally hundreds of people we have known over the years. We hugged a lot of necks and had a fabulous time. One person stood out and encouraged me so very much.
A girl in her late teens or early twenties came up to me during the concert and asked if I remembered her. Her face seemed vaguely familiar. She told me that she had came to a Crossfire camp when she was in the seventh grade from Roseburg with a friend. She then told me that see accepted the Lord there and her life was changed forever. Her eyes started to tear up and she said that ever since then she has been living for God and going to Church. She said, “I try and watch you on TV every chance I get.” She said Jesus has changed my life through your ministry. She grabbed me by the neck and gave me a huge hug. I told her that she had encouraged me so very much. She said she was glad and told me her name was Danielle. The she said see had to go and disappeared into the crowd. Praise Jesus! Is all I can say. God’s hand is not shortened and he does amazing things. We need to all be very grateful that he can use us to work His miracles like he did in this girl’s life.
I then got everyone home safe and opened my email and received a request to preach in India, and another in Africa. Then I read this wonderful email from a young man serving our country in Afghanistan. He said that he had gotten my email from our website and that he had went to our Summer and Winter camps all through High school. He said he was trying to reach his fellow soldiers and as of right now he is the only Christian in his unit. He was asking for advice on how to reach them with the Gospel. Pray for me that my response would be anointed and help him in this very vital mission. To win the lost for Jesus! Thanks for you love, prayers and support, Pastor Aaron

The Joy of The Kingdom of God! (Introduction)

Rom 14:17-18 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Joy is not really an emotion, It is much more! (Fruit of the Spirit/Kingdom) Happiness is an emotion and the Fruit of the Soul! Joy is a fruit of the Spirit that effects your emotions.

Much like depression is more than an emotional state, it is a spiritual stronghold that effects the soul/emotional state.

If this is true, then can we decide to have Joy and is it up to us if we are depressed or not?

*THIS WAS JUST SOME LOOSE NOTES. A KIND OF OUTLINE!

Last night was Valentines Day and today is an early school field trip with my lovely daughter Haley. Tomorrow (Saturday), I will expound much more on the Joy of the Lord and the dynamics of living in the Kingdom of God. I will write you again tomorrow morning.

Current Family & Ministry News: Yesterday, I woke up and asked my lovely wife how she was feeling. She still had a terrible headache. We sat and talked for awhile and spent some time together. I prayed for relief of this headache. Finally I told her to rest until she was feeling better. I went to work. I barely got to work before she called to tell me that her headache was gone. Praise be to Jesus! I rented a large forklift and at around noon, we received our 53 foot truck full of food. It was awesome to know that God was using us to help so many people to simply have something good to eat. This will help our Master Commission students, Love Links Women's Shelter and our Field of Dreams Feeding Ministries. The excess will also go to other shelters like the Eugene Mission, Food for Lane County as well as help many of our church families. We are also excited about our pickle evangelism. (I will tell you more about that tomorrow). I want to give a special thanks to Ron, Jon, Kelly, Gary, Marlene, my wife and children who helped get all the food sorted and unloaded. All is well and God has blessed us to be a blessing. Decide right now that you are going to be a blessing to someone today. Have a great day. Pastor Aaron

Live in the Kingdom!

Why don’t I seem to belong?
-Many search forever to feel like they fit in and yet for some, they never feel like they belong. I believe that we, as true believers were created to live in a different realm than many of us live in. Many who will be reading this would say. I am a Christian but I still don’t fit in. I am not talking about style, churches or outward things. The Kingdom realm doesn’t have to do with, if you are a Christian or not. Christ gave us access to the Kingdom of God. You must be birthed into His royal family. Jesus made it possible that anyone who is born again of the Spirit of Christ has access. Many have access but reject to live in the kingdom and in the authority. For some reason they have been deceived to believe that there is something they are missing by living in Gods Kingdom. John 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
-I spent many years trying to be great! Feeling that no matter how hard I tried it was never good enough. Not to people, not to my family and not to God. I must choose to live in the kingdom of God and outside the condemnation of the world. To live in the Kingdom means that I am living in the supernatural (beyond the natural order of the World). 1 Cor 15:50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. I had to get the I out of acceptance.(there isn't acctually an I in acceptance). Jesus loves me and takes me (accepts me) just as I am, but he doesn’t want me to stay that way. He wants to take me out of my self made, ever crumbling kingdom into His Kingdom of His light and peace. It means that I can truly and wholly recognize the Lordship of Jesus. Today, right now and for ever, I must yield to the Word of God and the Leading of the Holy Spirit. Daily I must put to death the old man, his desires, fleshly ways and choose to live in the Kingdom of God. I must live on the inside and let it be the out flow of the decisions I make on the outside in my daily life.

Eph 2:17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
-I must live in His Supernatural Kingdom to ever truly belong. That is want I was created for. The gifts of the Spirit are in His Kingdom, Provision is in His Kingdom, other People are in His kingdom. I could go on and on. Are you loving in an fantasy world or the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is here and now for you. You must accept the access by the cross and start living in it. Don’t try to be a Christian, enter into who God is. Be led by the Spirit.
-The Kingdom is Peace DEF = eirene (i-ray'-nay); from a primary verb eiro (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity

The peace found in the kingdom in an action meaning to Join and implies that that joining brings prosperity. The will of God is that we Prosper and be in Health. We need to get into this kingdom and stay in this kingdom so we can find perfect peace.

I have Tried but I can’t!
I have lived through this old lie. You have tried the impossible. It is impossible to please worldly or religious men and please God at the same time. 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. Heb 11:6, But He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God ." Luke 18:27 NKJV We often have Faith, but it is in man, self or fate! God wants us to live in His Supernatural Kingdom, being led by the Word and Spirit (They never, ever contradict)! Moment by moment. We pray for help when we get in trouble but God desires that we be led by His Spirit so we stay out of the traps of the enemy.
One last Huge (but short) thing to mention. We can live for God. Two words make it all possible when we really understand their definitions.
Mercy: God not giving us the judgment that we deserve because he loves us.
Grace: God giving us His favor that we don’t deserve. He does it, because he loves us.
God has given you the enabling power to live for Him no matter what you have done or how many times you have done it. The judgment for our sin and shame has already been paid. Galatians 3 makes it clear, don’t take that on yourself as if Christ died for nothing. You can live in the Kingdom of God. Quit trying so hard, just begin to move forward into the wonderful things God has for you. If you have asked Jesus in your heart to be your savior and Lord, then relax and let Him be that for you today.
"The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21 nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:20-21
------------------Now, go out and bless someone, Today!------------------

Current Ministry and Family Update!
It was a wonderful day Yesterday, Pastor Jon asked me “what was up” a couple of times yesterday. He asked me why I was smiling all day? Well, I am not sure why myself. It was just a wonderful day. Same pressure, problems and the sort but God made it a great day. I really want today to be like that also. I woke up yesterday and walked in the living room where my family was getting ready for work and school and asked how the most wonderful family in the world was doing. The day was just a good day from that point on. I went to work and we worked on some new and exciting upcoming projects had some difficult counseling problems but God is showing himself faithful in all things. I got a report on the Food Project offering from Sunday and it was twice what we needed. (that doesn’t happen very often) Praise the Lord!!! The truck of 42,000 pounds was postponed and will be delivered tomorrow. A very faithful man who watches our television show stopped by personally to sponsor two campers for B.T.I. As well as many more blessings throughout the day. We had a wonderful Wed night Bible Study and two were filled with the Spirit. My children had a great Youth Church where Pastor Rod spoke. Please pray for my wife she has felt congested and went to bed as soon as we got home. She is the best wife a man could ask for and has had such a wonderful pregnancy, so please pray that this head congestion comes to an end. I am believing that when she wakes up this morning, she will feel well. I am ready for another wonderful day meeting the challenges of life and defeating the devil all day long. Lets go out and be led by the Spirit, be a blessing and be blessed! Pastor Aaron

Pressing For The Kingdom!

Pressing For The Kingdom! Pressing for the Kingdom: God has called us to access and live in His Kingdom. There is something inside each one of us that is crying out” Is this all there is? Many of us (even Christians) have just decided to settle for less. Many are driven. In the world we see the drive for something more bring people to desperation. Many are found dead, overdosed, depressed, desperate for love, seeking some kind of peace (prosperity of soul and body).

I am not worthy: If God provided righteousness (right standing with God and man) at the cross then why do men feel so often that they must improve themselves to be acceptable to God? They want to come to Christ but don’t because they can’t seem to get it right no matter how hard they try. Understand that the righteousness God gives us at the cross, gives us access to God. Then and only then are we able to live righteous by His grace (spiritual enabling power for all we face in life). God has made you worthy and able to live in His Kingdom. Rom 14:17-18 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. NKJV

Peace & joy are just some of the products/fruit of living in the Kingdom of God. Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. NKJV

We produce fruit because we are led by the Spirit/living in the Kingdom not so we can live in the Kingdom. Jesus gives us the right to live in the royal realm which is His Kingdom. This is a Spiritual Kingdom being manifested miraculously in our daily lives. If the righteousness belongs to Christ and is a gift to us, we are not able to have the fruit without the grace of God which is given to us after we accept the righteousness which comes from Christ’s finished work on the cross. If this is all true?

WHAT MUST I DO TO LIVE IN THE KINGDOM DAILY?

PRESS FORWARD BY HIS FAITH TO SIMPLY KNOW HIM!

7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

TODAY. LET US ALL TOGETHER LIVE BY HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PRESS ON (Forward)! To live in the fruit that comes by being led by His Spirit in His Kingdom!Rev 1:4-8 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Current Family Update: I awake to the wonderful face of my lovely Bride. We began today with our staff prayer meeting and it was followed by our weekly staff meeting. It seems odd to have our Master Commission gone, but our hearts are with them as they travel the country ministering. God really blessed our ministry by a donation of about fifteen hundred dollars in Christmas tree stands. We won’t realize the benefit of that donation until next Christmas but we are very grateful. Jon and I met Marlene to pick them up and were blessed by much more than we expected. All three of our children had wonderful days at school and they were very excited to tell us all about them. Jet was excited about the football game at recess, Haley was excited that she got to go help the younger classes today. Lauren was very excited that one more of her friends are coming to BTI Winter camp. We had a wonderful evening together, loud and wonderful. There isn’t much better that playing games with my family at home! God has truly blessed me. Be blessed and let God love you as you press forward!

Revealing the Righteousness of God

Today, let us spread the words of the Kingdom. Matt 13:18-23"Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom , and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." NKJV

God is calling you to sow. Jesus is the sower and He is using us to spread the seed of the Word of truth.

Today, Where are you willing to sow seed? (speak the Words of truth) __________

To who are you willing to sow seed? (speak the Words of truth) __________

When are you willing to sow the seed? (speak the Words of truth) __________

Are you worried about wasting God’s seed? (afraid of overdoing it) __________

In all things we must be led by the Spirit, yet we must not let that be an excuse to not speak the Words of truth when people are so desperate to hear them. Even if they don’t know it, all people need to hear the Words of truth/life. In Matthew 13:18-23 it is interesting that God doesn't seem to be worried with the fact that seed is being used up on those who don’t receive it. He calls it the Words of the Kingdom. The Words of the Kingdom seem to be unending. We need to be always ready with God’s Word in our heart! Everyone must hear!

Ready always to speak the Words of truth/the Kingdom: I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 2 Tim 4:1-2 NKJV

Everyone must hear, then: 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matt 24:11-14 NKJV

Let us reveal the Righteousness of God:For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." Rom 1:16-17 NKJV

Current Family News: We are grieving the loss of Amy Stockstill. Although we were not close to them, our heart goes out to the loss of such a wonderful young wife, mother, worshiper and Pastor. Our prayers continue to be with Pastor Joel and his family. We are doing well. Jet and Haley were excited to be out of school today. Lauren is enjoying her new adventure in High School Musical. We are excited to see her in her first full dramatic production. Kristy found some t-shirts on line that say Maverick (the name of our soon to arrive son). She was excited and we had to order some. Today was a day off but I had the privilege of meeting with David and Joanne Sisney and Joanne’s sister Linda as they prepare for their beloved mother Bella’s memorial. I also was able to coordinate the 42,000 pounds of food that is scheduled to arrive at Crossfire HDQ this Wednesday. I was able to work on our addition (kid’s rooms) a little and was able to spend some very wonderful alone time with my lovely bride. I hope you had a wonderful day yesterday and an even better today. Pastor Aaron

The Kingdom is Righteousness

Before I continued onto what God has for this coming days/week. I want to share some of the notes from yesterdays message. Rom 14:17-18 tells us what the Kingdom is and is not. The Kingdom of God is: Gods domain. It speaks of a Kingdom of Royalty. There is only one way into this Kingdom and it is by birth. We had some wonderful births yesterday. We want to Just briefly look at the righteousness part of the Kingdom. Romans 10:3 speaks also of this kingdom and righteousness. There is a righteousness that comes from God and then there is self/death kind of righteousness. Righteousness in it's simplest form is right standing with God and man. Being right with the King and His domain.

1 Born into the Kingdom (The Cross) Salvation is as close as our confession of Faith! Rom 10:10

2 We live in the Kingdom by Grace (Spirit enabling Power) Spirit Power/Supernatural living is as close as our mouth. Heb 12 :28

3We must begin to speak the words of the Kingdom (Life) The living words. Recognize and testify of Gods miraculous power.

4 Your Revival is in your mouth. Just begin to speak it. It will become righteousness to you.

5 Today is our day for God to save us! to continually bring salvation to our home. TODAY!!!!

We have been given the wonderful opportunity to live in God’s Kingdom, today. Not someday, but TODAY! We all have access (the Cross) and the grace (ability—Living in the Spirit giving access to the throne of grace) to begin (Today) to live in the reigning realm of Christ. All we need to begin, it is already in our hearts, let it become our confession of faith. & LIFE!!! TODAY!!!! Listen Free: to the message by going to our main page and clicking on our audio link. This unedited version in available right now! Go to the Sunday AM massage Feb 10th

Family News: All is wonderful but please remember to pray for my sister Cindy. She is battling pneumonia! She will win! Enough is enough! We declare Gods healing Power over her. Amen

God is moving in our home group & in our church!

Wow what a day in the Lord. God has been so faithful! All this week and especially today. We had a wonderful day together with our church family. For those who were not there, God moved in power. Many came forward for salvation, four made first time commitments. It was a great day in the Lord. P.S. You had to be there to understand just how wonderful of a day it really was. Then our home group was off the charts. We started with fellowship and then we began to testify one by one of the miracles we had been experiencing this past week. This created an habitation for the Lord. It was time to leave but no one wanted to go. We began to just pr