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Monthly Archives: April 2015

Video: Pick And Grin Jam Sessions: “I’m All In” (Original Song) By Jared

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Enjoy the video!

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Music and Lyrics By Jared Meredith

Verse 1:
I’ll take the stones over the armor
I’ll take the mud and dirty water
If that’s what it takes, if that’s what it takes
I’ll give the bottom of the barrel
And I’ll give shelter when you need to hide
If that is what it takes, if that’s what it takes
then I am all in

Chorus:
If that is what it takes to be free
Help me to pray and give it away
Help me to see, help me believe
I’m all in

Verse 2:
Now I know a man who died for me
I’m glad to say I know a man who died to set me free
from all my mistakes, and took my pain
Oh, I know a loving savior who wants to know you more
He is speaking to your heart, and he’s knocking at your door
Won’t you come and believe in Jesus Christ?

Chorus (x2):
If that is what it takes to be free
Help me to pray and give it away
Help me to see, help me believe
I’m all in

Pre-Bridge:
We gotta be all in, oh lord I’m all in, I’m all in, I’m all in if that’s what it takes then I’m all in if thats what it takes

Bridge:
Cause sometimes life gives us what we do not understand
and sometimes we just want to lift our eyes and throw our hands
and say there’s no way to get through this no way to make it through
God said if you’ll be all in I’ll be all in with you

It’s Time For Overflow

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Overflow: the excess or surplus not able to be accommodated by an available space.

Philippians 1:9-11

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.

11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Abound yet more in knowledge = overflow

Let us overflow that we may be lift up God, be genuine towards others and live to not offend them as alone as we live

Overflow = you are filled with an overwhelming conviction to do whats right

Let’s read the promise of the Father:

Isaiah 44:3 – For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

Joel 2:28 – And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Luke 24:49 – And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

The Spirit of God is a spirit of might, and of power, as well as of knowledge, of understanding, of counsel, of love, and of a sound mind; whereby they were to be fortified, and inspired with courage and greatness of soul, so as to look their greatest adversaries in the face with boldness and intrepidity, and freely, and without fear, speak unto them; and whereby their ministrations would be succeeded to the conversion of many souls; and accordingly so it was: for after the Spirit was poured out upon them, they who before were timorous and fearful, came forth publicly, with undaunted courage, and resolution, and boldness, to the amazement of their adversaries; and their preaching was with the demonstration of the Spirit, and of power; who may be said to be “from on high”, since he descended from heaven upon them; and they may be said to be “endued”, or “clothed” with him, since there was such an extra ordinary and plentiful effusion of his gifts and graces on them: and now they were to wait in Jerusalem for this, that in the place where the Spirit had been dishonoured and blasphemed, and the unpardonable sin against him had been committed by the Scribes and Pharisees, the might be in a most visible and signal manner honoured; and also, because the doctrine of the Lord was to go out of Zion, and the word of the Lord out of Jerusalem.

Romans 15:13 – Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

We abound in hope and keep peace through overflow. It’s time to seek God through overflow.

Peace: The Harmony Between The Heart And Mind

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Proverbs 3:5

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

If we only live to please our mind we only live by our flesh and what will appeal to the senses. If we are only pleased by our senses then we are very likely to accept what we see and feel as opposed to what faith tries to change in us.

If faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen then we realize faith is not kept in the mind for the mind attempts to depend on sight. Faith is kept in the heart.

As the spirit stirs your faith, your faith stirs your heart, and as your continued desires before God continue your mind is transformed by not depending on sight but by what dwells inwardly.

We are tempted in our minds to change the way our heart can continue to hope. We are aggravated in the flesh to cause us to think with our mind first and not with our heart.

The mind is the part of us that thinks and reasons; the heart is the part of us that contains our deep longings and desires. Although the mind is important, the heart is even more important because it is the engine room of our personality—the part from which come our drive and motivation. That is why our Lord says,

Matthew 12:34

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

John 14:24

He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

The heart of Jesus Christ was the very heart of God the Father; consequently, the words Christ spoke were the exact expression of God’s thought. Jesus’ tongue was always in its rightful place. He spoke not just from His head but from His heart; His heart and His mind were one.

The heart is the central altar and the mind the outer court. What we offer on the central altar will show itself in due course through the outer extremities of personality.” In the search for unity of purpose and integration, there is no doubt that the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.

Romans 12:2

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

What God is trying to get us to see is that we must not live to please only our mind or only our heart but to transform ourselves to be the kind of people that (like Christ) can have their minds and hearts as one. This is known as peace

Philippians 4:6-7  

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Romans 14:17-19 

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

2 Corinthians 13:11 

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another,agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

1 Peter 1:2 

according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:  May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Romans 5:1  

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

Don’t Be Afraid To Lose

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100% of the opportunities that we have and do not take will be lost unless we take a chance on something will at least give you shot of making it. However we all know that from the popular cliche that we “can’t win them all”. I also heard another great saying that said that you win some and you learn from when you lose. Don’t be afraid to learn from your losses each and every day. Nobody has ever gotten better from winning them all.

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Don’t worry, for life is not like the NCAA tournament: there will always be another game or opportunity if you lose. There will be more opportunities to be better, wiser, and stronger. Nine times out of ten you will find that what you learned is actually what you really needed rather than always being the winner. God wants the best for his children (even when they lose from time to time). Don’t count a loss as failure but count it as a chance to become better to be able to win a harder game. Seek God sincerely in these wins, losses, and let the opportunities where you doubt your own abilities allow you to grow from what you have learned to do the best you can do. You may not win today like a lot of people you see making it but stop looking to only win. Winning isn’t everything! Remember that in life it rains on the just and the unjust. Just because we are the most talented and are the most qualified does not imply we will still gain victory. Sometimes the most difficult things come out of when we think we are so close to victory.

We must learn that sometimes you may lose but you should never lose the value of how far you’ve have come and endured and let God work in your life. As we all fall God is there to pick us up and help us to become exactly who He wants us to be and thinks ahead of us for the ultimate victory of righteousness. As God’s glory shines in you for others everyday learn to stay encouraged and let God walk with you in all your worries and trials of life. Live life to the fullest and enjoy it as God planned for you to.

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

About Good Friday

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Good Friday is the completion of Jesus Christ’s sin-cleansing and life-saving empathy that brings eternal life to all who put their confidence in him.

On Good Friday the Son of God who always loves everyone is betrayed by Judas, falsely accused and condemned by the religious leaders and Pilate, scourged almost to death, abandoned by his disciples, mocked by the crowds, and tortured to death on the cross. Far worse than these humiliations and sufferings, he who never sinned takes on the hideousness of humanity’s sin, choosing to receive the punishment that we deserve so that we could be healed (fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 53).

He died with our sins so that we do not have to die today in our own. Jesus empowered us with the strength to resist what would come in our future.

Romans 5:6-10

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Jesus paid the price that covered us all

Romans 5:18

18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

He healed the things that would have went without healing on earth

1 Peter 2:24

24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Jesus suffered in His spirit so that the door could be opened for the spirit to have a worthy dwelling place

1 Peter 3:18

18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

He died so that we could become a people that could finally overcome our iniquity

Titus 2:14

14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

He died so that we would no longer be segregated by anything and could become one church

Romans 3:22-24

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

He died so that we could see an example of how what lengths we should go to when we help and love one another

1 John 3:16

16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Jesus died so that we could live in peace on Earth

Colossians 2:6

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

Jesus Died so that your sins could be forgiven

Acts 3:19

19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

Jesus died so that you could be saved!

Romans 10:9-10

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Divine Judgement And Blessings

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I have been forced to reconsider the relationship between divine judgment and divine blessing. I have always thought of them as opposites that have no relationship. I like to think of judgment as something that has little to do with me and much to do with my enemies. I like to think of God’s blessings and salvation as mine, unrelated to judgment. I have come to the conclusion that divine judgment and divine blessings are very closely inter-related.

In the first place, God’s judgment is the means whereby He delivers us from our enemies

(3:15, 19). 15 The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.  19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get [7] them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.

Second, divine judgment purifies the righteous remnant

(3:9).  9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, [3] that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent. 

Finally, God’s judgment is the means by which God brings about our blessings. When God removes the wicked, it is so He may come and dwell with us. In addition, when God removes the wicked, He gives their possessions to His faithful remnant

(2:5-7, 9-10).

5 Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the Lord is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant. 6 And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks. 7 And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the Lord [1] their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.

9 Therefore as I live, saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them. 10 This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the Lord of hosts.

The judgment of the wicked is the means to our blessing.

These reasons for divine judgment can best be summarized in this way:

  • God will judge those in Judah who practice pure paganism (1:4).
  • those who mix the worship of God with the worship of other deities (1:5a).
  • those in Judah who completely reject and turn away from the faith of their fathers (1:6).
  • those who choose to identify with the heathen (rather than the people of God) by their dress (1:8)
  • those who practice violence and deceit (1:9)
  • those who presume that God is indifferent about their sin (1:12)
  • those who put their trust in anything but Him (1:18)
  • those who refuse divine instruction, and who have ignored His warnings (3:1-2). Judah should have learned from God’s judgment of others, but she did not (3:6-7)
  • those in leadership, who have abused their authority and forsaken their stewardship (3:3-4)

Zephaniah 3:8-13

Zephaniah also summarizes the hope of the righteous remnant:

Their sins are forgiven and they are cleansed from their sin (3:9, 11, 13).

They will be delivered from or through divine judgment (2:1-3)

They will eventually be rescued from the hand of their oppressors (2:4-15; 3:15).

They have the hope of future blessings (2:6-9).

They will be given fame and honor (3:19-20).

They will enjoy security and peace (3:13).

They will enjoy being in God’s presence, as He rejoices over them as the objects of His love(3:15-17).

Zephaniah 3:14-20

After the promises of taking away sin, follow promises of taking away trouble. When the cause is removed, the effect will cease. What makes a people holy, will make them happy. The precious promises made to the purified people, were to have full accomplishment in the gospel.  They show the abundant peace, comfort, and prosperity of the church, in the happy times yet to come. He will save; he will be Jesus; he will answer the name, for he will save his people from their sins. 

Understanding The Wheat And Tares

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Matthew 13:24-30

24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

In the agricultural society of Christ’s time, many farmers depended on the quality of their crops. An enemy sowing weeds would have sabotaged a business. The tares in the parable were likely darnel because that weed, until mature, appears as wheat.

26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

Just as a true wheat plant produces wheat, so will a true believer produce spiritual fruit consistent with the life of faith. The day will come when each person will be known for what he or she truly is.

27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Trying to perform an action to vindicate your life from an enemy before it’s time may prove that you uproot in the wrong place and may offend someone without your intention.

Trying to prove yourself before the time will only destroy the fruit you would have had if you had just endured instead.

Only when we wait for the appointed time can we begin to see what separates a Christian walking by faith and a non-believer acting as they do but with no fruit bearing.

Seed if sown and cared for will bloom and prove itself. Faith if kept by prayer, fasting and obedience will prove itself by the signs and wonders that follow.

Do not be alarmed at the presence of tares. Weeds want to thrive most where there is life most.

Matthew 13:36-43

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Jesus is the one whom through His sacrifice at Calvary and His works through us shows the good seed. The field is the world and where we are to try and sow good things.

The tares are the works of the enemy and him through others. God wants to redeem all, even the one the enemy may work through at times. You must learn to see the enemy supernaturally and not looking at the person next to you as your enemy. Think of the word sowed in that regard!

In the end days God will separate the wheat from the tares when those who believe and endure shall be called up. And as tares would burn on earth so shall the unbeliever go to a furnace of fire.

What Scent Are You Wearing?

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Mark 14:3-9

3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.

Nard was made from a plant found in the East Indies, with a small, slender stalk, and a heavy, thick root. The best perfume was obtained from the root.

4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?

5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

Scholars think that the value of this oil, 300 denarii, would have been around that made by a well-paid laborer over the course of an entire year. At first, it seems that Jesus followers had learned his lessons about the poor very well: they complain that the oil had been wasted when it could have been sold and the proceeds used to help the destitute. Sometimes what seems like a waste to others is the beginning of opening up the substance of your witness.

Is it a waste to testify? Is it a waste to praise the Lord? Is it a waste to keep on trying?

When others would tell you to save it for the appropriate time, God will recognize the efforts of you honoring Jesus!

6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.

7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

Anointings were common at the time of Passover (Psalm 23:5, 141:5), but this woman’s anointing may have had nothing to do with the coming Passover.  The anointing may be an indication that Jesus is about to begin his messianic role (Messiah is Hebrew for “anointed one.”)  On the other hand, it is possible that the anointing has more to do with the death and burial of Jesus.  In this section Jesus is anointed before his burial since, in chapter 16, he will not be available for anointing.

When God wants to anoint you for your persecution it will come in times when you would think it is a waste

9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her

So what Jesus was saying was that the essence (or fragrance of the deed would be remembered, right?)

Having an essence means you’ll stink to the world and yet smell good to the lord!

Ephesians 5:1-2

5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

5 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

What may stink or appal others is the very thing God wants you to have as the fragrance that you wear. He wants you to be anoited for your purpose that you may be remembered for what you endure through the power of God!