tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5244671795691832272024-03-19T03:03:51.175-07:00Strive to Enter in at the Strait Gate... Luke 13:24This blog is to let our family, friends and visitors stay up to date on what is happening in our lives. It is also a place where we can share what we believe God is showing us in His Word. For the past few years we have been noticing how modern day "Christianity" is not teaching what Jesus commanded (Matthew 5-7) and that concerns us.mikrusselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185246882710222787noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-524467179569183227.post-63085515292705827662012-08-16T14:24:00.001-07:002012-08-16T14:37:23.160-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GaV9MeGNSdmiP3515ZcEwCw7UF1JggMtine3EYvIXoATItdbXbcyFf9XSbVnuo8yyLueOZArC2ZhAVdYvB0kEPsPxkkmI0-9EixI3VuRGt3hgDNTE2gD-Mm7moCzPx94IYeF6-AwIUQ8/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GaV9MeGNSdmiP3515ZcEwCw7UF1JggMtine3EYvIXoATItdbXbcyFf9XSbVnuo8yyLueOZArC2ZhAVdYvB0kEPsPxkkmI0-9EixI3VuRGt3hgDNTE2gD-Mm7moCzPx94IYeF6-AwIUQ8/s1600/a.jpg" /></a>Abigail </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwcYQEmXOOr5WzmISASdzF4JiqmFP3hTxl4qV6RZkhlXgq2mFp_S9BTVbslM3lNrn30GGWkwYv-ODjdemVuIn3_gMX9iyejsDmtetvQ05c71xVxwJ8bLxdhNBmqVr_oiw40wjoP5z39T-/s1600/g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwcYQEmXOOr5WzmISASdzF4JiqmFP3hTxl4qV6RZkhlXgq2mFp_S9BTVbslM3lNrn30GGWkwYv-ODjdemVuIn3_gMX9iyejsDmtetvQ05c71xVxwJ8bLxdhNBmqVr_oiw40wjoP5z39T-/s1600/g.jpg" /></a>Jadon</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBk9vwa1XQqhmI60jJrpug-BPGKidyqGuewPFIkRs8vu1HLr1GBjPFIsEb3-bvRysNHpwcZSM0_mEcsQAuBuM3cafCXMZFEEF-E-ohptmFI5lsT_YCHCyOUHxQSUqo7lacTf6O56MX9vx/s1600/iss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBk9vwa1XQqhmI60jJrpug-BPGKidyqGuewPFIkRs8vu1HLr1GBjPFIsEb3-bvRysNHpwcZSM0_mEcsQAuBuM3cafCXMZFEEF-E-ohptmFI5lsT_YCHCyOUHxQSUqo7lacTf6O56MX9vx/s1600/iss.jpg" /></a>Isabella</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEGckUbh8OJdjVm15lNtj144jB-7C2wtBw21ik4WVm_A8Tuuzue_vQNqGSV_0Kj1IFlQs1-9oLye4W9ZXEfQ5oL6x00XOatu7GIyf2KhXLcWmdPe51H2xuCVPlmM-V5MGscTw7XsvaeQl/s1600/mii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEGckUbh8OJdjVm15lNtj144jB-7C2wtBw21ik4WVm_A8Tuuzue_vQNqGSV_0Kj1IFlQs1-9oLye4W9ZXEfQ5oL6x00XOatu7GIyf2KhXLcWmdPe51H2xuCVPlmM-V5MGscTw7XsvaeQl/s1600/mii.jpg" /></a>Micah</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikc0wrQIcTR7ytQVyQYd7KEPSlxnhO9g234TIGpmH0hhDAMa6jr1GiXDj86mVkFAMD_Ql-yVz74JsodblKbLlJcAqssa30GBrZod3M5E9yxkXWyVMrzeATxq1jjopHftlsfKrvW95EcTvu/s1600/mer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikc0wrQIcTR7ytQVyQYd7KEPSlxnhO9g234TIGpmH0hhDAMa6jr1GiXDj86mVkFAMD_Ql-yVz74JsodblKbLlJcAqssa30GBrZod3M5E9yxkXWyVMrzeATxq1jjopHftlsfKrvW95EcTvu/s1600/mer.jpg" /></a>Mercia</div>
The Childrenmikrusselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185246882710222787noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-524467179569183227.post-6866233020904254462012-07-30T14:05:00.002-07:002012-07-30T14:05:34.412-07:00This message was a huge blessing to me! I strongly reccomend listening to it. It is about really following Christ. The speaker is a brother named David Keeling. <br />
<br />
God Bless you<br />
<br />
Click on this link, then click on 2012, then click on the message titled "Iniquity"<br />
<a href="http://earlychurchtruth.com/mp3sermons.html">http://earlychurchtruth.com/mp3sermons.html</a>mikrusselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185246882710222787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-524467179569183227.post-10980540233366023912012-07-30T13:22:00.000-07:002012-08-16T14:31:12.158-07:00True Christianity<span style="font-size: x-large;">If you ARE NOT keeping the teachings of Jesus,</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">t</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">hen</span> you <strong>ARE NOT </strong>a follower of Jesus.</span></span><br />
<br />
Jesus said in Luke 6:46 <br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">And <span style="font-size: large;">why</span> call ye me, Lord, Lord, and <span style="font-size: large;">do not</span> the things which I say?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">47Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />mikrusselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185246882710222787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-524467179569183227.post-30008662448219055532012-07-06T13:54:00.001-07:002012-07-06T14:17:07.112-07:00A Smoking Flax?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/RzyGrcCv-fk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
I don't endorse everything these men preach, simply because I don't know what all they preach. Also, I personally am not one for expensive looking suits and big churches with big choirs but I think what these men are saying in this video is Right On. Somehow American "Christianity" has convinced itself that it is unspiritual to obey the commands of Christ. His first commandment was to REPENT! (the greek word used in our New Testaments for that means to CHANGE your mind and purpose). 1 John 2:4 He that saith, I know him (Jesus), and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. When was the last time you heard that verse preached in your church???????? What is going on????????Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12501831943337787191noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-524467179569183227.post-46810036514963076262012-07-05T14:04:00.002-07:002012-08-16T14:12:20.462-07:00Eliana Joy Russell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmsbGMLxOfTMMLvGBp25J2lfwOZo5_bMXmF7TqqFrLKLidJGvtd35svoj4k2W0TifhHghckr3t1fdiw7iaxa67G6x51jxv2jvj6Q0pa01Lus9XAONS-10PYdb-Wz3j8EZSTA0tooFGNC3/s1600/fam2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmsbGMLxOfTMMLvGBp25J2lfwOZo5_bMXmF7TqqFrLKLidJGvtd35svoj4k2W0TifhHghckr3t1fdiw7iaxa67G6x51jxv2jvj6Q0pa01Lus9XAONS-10PYdb-Wz3j8EZSTA0tooFGNC3/s320/fam2.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
Praise the Lord!!! He has shown us His mercy again. Born 6-28-2012 @ 3am, 6lbs 7oz , 20inches<br />
Mom and baby are doing well.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxGRoVHC4xhgH1lZ6nPu0R-H8nkzg7ZJbz7yKOzs90Ne-YyU0Jy3bHuMRL-_ppA4uT2wo4CHHwUd7NMJX8_fWg2Ni8EBCZxFQkrr7wx3EDKjX1o67q01pJsZb2_tiT2fHIIRyYZ6MqdyZ/s1600/1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxGRoVHC4xhgH1lZ6nPu0R-H8nkzg7ZJbz7yKOzs90Ne-YyU0Jy3bHuMRL-_ppA4uT2wo4CHHwUd7NMJX8_fWg2Ni8EBCZxFQkrr7wx3EDKjX1o67q01pJsZb2_tiT2fHIIRyYZ6MqdyZ/s1600/1.bmp" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ71zBqJRis3-YQBQ7NhAfLeli-MTpJotAzZhKTKVO1Ik2gNSJ44oHwQFSrfQ_P0p_6mmxgei7yB6k2wyE3aWg9QgUr2DtdUw3C02qV-ChWWX76nGwAR_1jak7h6_9zW4ieQNKdGfb1_mY/s1600/3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ71zBqJRis3-YQBQ7NhAfLeli-MTpJotAzZhKTKVO1Ik2gNSJ44oHwQFSrfQ_P0p_6mmxgei7yB6k2wyE3aWg9QgUr2DtdUw3C02qV-ChWWX76nGwAR_1jak7h6_9zW4ieQNKdGfb1_mY/s1600/3.bmp" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />mikrusselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185246882710222787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-524467179569183227.post-45272209748940856702010-01-07T20:22:00.000-08:002010-01-07T21:58:30.692-08:00IntroductionCurrently we are living in Oklahoma City. We intend on selling our house and moving to Perkins, Oklahoma (10 miles S<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">outh</span> of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Stillwater</span>). We found a church there that has been very inspiring and encouraging to our Christian journey.<br />We desire to be "whole hearted" Christians.<br />About 3 years ago, sensing a lack of purpose and maturity in my Christian walk, I prayed and asked God, "what should be the 'one thing' that I purpose with my whole heart to live for?"<br />The scripture Matthew 22:37 came to my mind, "<span style="color:#ff6666;">And He</span> (Jesus) <span style="color:#ff6666;">said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment."<br /></span><br />I thought, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">that's</span> it! That is what I need to do. I need to Love God with all my heart, soul and mind. The great commandment is to be completely given to God. He wants my heart, my soul and my mind (that is all of me, not just part of me). I knew that I fell short of that commandment. Even as I am writing this, I know I have far to go. But there it was, the Great Commandment ; the No. 1 thing is to <strong>completely </strong>love God.<br /><br />So my next thought was "how do I love God?". So I looked with my concordance and landed on amazing scriptures like this - John 14:6 ( Jesus said) <span style="color:#ff6666;">"If you love Me, you will keep my commandments."<br /></span>I thought, when did they put <em>that</em> in the Bible? I'm joking, but it was like I had read that scripture for the first time.<br />I think the <strong><span style="color:#000099;">"IF"</span></strong> must have really stuck out to me. He said <span style="color:#000099;"><strong>"IF"</strong></span> you love me! He said, if I love Him, then this is what will happen, I will obey His commandments. I thought <em>If I don't</em> love Him, then I won't obey His commandments. What a concept; that, my love (if it were genuine) would produce something tangible, like obedience.<br />Honestly, I wasn't completely aware that Jesus had commandments. In most of the churches I had been in, the only commandments anyone ever talked about were in the Old testament Law or the Ten Commandments. And usually the common thought was "we don't have to worry about commandments, we're under "<em>grace</em>". The word "commandments" was kind of a "bad" word.<br />But here it was in red letters, <span style="color:#ff6666;">"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. "</span> I thought, "can i even go to heaven if i don't love Jesus?"<br /><br />I read on to John 15:5 (Jesus said)<span style="color:#cc0000;"> </span><span style="color:#ff6666;">"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who <strong><em>abides in me</em></strong> and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not <strong><em>abide in Me</em></strong>, He is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.<br /></span>(I thought, I don't want to be cast away and I don't want to be <em>burned.</em> I thought, so how do I <em><strong>abide in Him</strong>?)</em> I read on.<br /><span style="color:#ff6666;">If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; <strong><em>abide in My love.</em></strong></span> ( I want to bear much fruit, I want it to be proved that I am His disciple. Again, i thought how do I <em>abide in Him</em> or how <em>do I abide</em> in His love? )<br />In the next verse Jesus answers, <span style="color:#ff6666;">"<strong><em>If </em></strong>you keep my commandments, you will <em><strong>abide in My love</strong></em>; just as <em>I have kept</em> the Father's commandments and <strong><em>abide in His love</em></strong>."<br /><br /></span>So it appears that Jesus is saying that to abide in His love I must keep His commandments just like He obeyed His Father's commandments. Jesus is saying, this is how it works and I will be your example as to how far to take it. Side note - Jesus was obedient until the end. He went all the way. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Philippians</span> 2:8<br /><br />This was really big for me and it still is. I know that I must be more serious about God's Word and about my Christianity.<br /><br />So my next thought was, "what did Jesus command?"<br /><br />to be continued...mikrusselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10185246882710222787noreply@blogger.com3