2 Corinthians 7:10 “………but the SORROW of the world works DEATH.”                 Ever see an Immature carnal Christian or sinner acting like a big baby or a spoiled 2 year old?  Something happened they didn’t like and they let everybody know they didn’tlike it.  Of course the Immature carnal Christian always talks about their complaint, their expression of their sorrow, their pain, by couching their words in religious cloths.  In a whisper they say, “why did thebeen offended, the other person may have actually done something to deliberately harm the poor immature Christian.  But the thing that brings DEATH is not how you are wronged.  DEATH is in the way you SORROW.  The other person may never set thingsSchool teacher do it that way.  We have never done it that way before.  It must be wrong, really bad.”  They may have really been offended, the other person may have actually done something to deliberately harm the poor immature Christian.  But the thing that brings DEATH is not how you are wronged.  DEATH is in the way you SORROW.  The other person may never set things right.  We want to FIX the other person.  God wants us SUFFER the offense in a way that gives LIFE.

……………….more later on LIFE.

“RIVERS OF LIVING WATER”

God wants us to be like a sponge.  Soaking up His presence, power, and perfume of LOVE.  Are you around JESUS enough to soak Him up?    If someone says to you “I feel loved when I’m around you.”  Say “thank you, I’m not always this way, what you feel right now is the LOVE of God.  It is His LOVE flowing through me that you feel.” WOW!!!

Then allow Him to “RING US OUT” and shower his grace, presence, power and perfume of LOVE on others.  Ever feel wrung out?  Something bad happens in our life and as we “deal with it” we just get exhausted?  Too often we hope for a life without any troubles.  It is not possible.  But through the troubles, Jesus can MATURE us IF we suffer well, not crying and complaining all the time about “why has this happened to us” and feeling He should get us out of this bad thing now!!!  In the middle of our pain let’s look for His grace, presence, power, and perfume of LOVE, for HIM to be with us as we go through the troubles.   As He allows the troubles to “ring us out” and let that river of living water flow to the thirsty of the world and church.

Talking to the woman at the well, who was a 5-time loser at love, who had really given up on love and was living with a guy just to get by,  Jesus told her that out of her belly would flow rivers of living water.  It is a way of life for all of us.  Out of our in most being will flow rivers of living water.  We have Life, real Life, enjoying the river of life as it flows through us, and giving life to others. It is not our possession.  It is supposed to flow out of us.  It is not ours just to be refreshed.  (Like the Dead Sea, it will go dead and be deadly if it is not given out.)  But as He flows through us to others we continue to have that river of living water and enjoy Jesus, His presence, power, and perfume of LOVE.

(Please go to www.immanuelsplace.org to see all the inspiring articles on the home or news page.)

Immanuel’s Servant,  Ken Paul

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“WITH US”     Even in our pain.

I haven’t had one of these in years but I just went through another major anxiety or panic attack.  Weeks of feeling like I was going to just go to pieces anytime. Hours at a time just sitting feeling lonely, crying bitter tears, wondering if anyone cared.  Millions of people, church people, good people, go through this feeling, this anxiety, or panic attack everyday in America.

The few times I stopped to think about Jesus and really took the time to become aware that Jesus was with me, were the few moments of genuine peace.  No the panic didn’t stop, I didn’t get an instant miracle, but I just felt that there He is right there with me.  And you know what?  He was crying with me, suffering with me, letting me know He took it all on the cross.  It felt………..indescribable, just knowing He was there with me.

Most of the time I was wringing my hands, pacing the floor, tossing and turning during sleepless nights.  I would cry and scream out for God to make it STOP NOW!!!  But somehow that just made it worse.  Only when I could be aware that Jesus was “with me” did I have any sense of peace.  I am feeling much better now.  For those who knew what I was going through thank you for your prayers. The rivers of living water are still flowing.

So, now I will share this with the world and the church.  (you very seldom hear a “preacher” talk like this).  And by doing so I risk the of criticism of others and the wrath of Christians saying…….. “lack of faith”, “he must have done something really bad to deserve that”, “I knew there was nothing to all that positive talk he always puts out”,  ”hypocrite”.  That’s alright. I am now willing to let Jesus “Wring me out like an old dish rag” so the rivers of living water can flow to others, so others can catch a glimpse of Jesus and enjoy His presence in their lives.  He is there you know, right there with you right now, suffering with you.  He is sitting right there with you taking you pain, feeling you pain, going through it “with you.”

Ken

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“Share Immanuel”…   is a new booklet from Jim Wilder and Chris Coursey is bringing people to a deeper relationship with Jesus.  Go to www.thrivetoday.org or www.thelifemodel.org or just use the links at the bottom right of this page at “The Life Model” to order your copy.  Please let them know you found out about it on this site.   To Email me:  Please use:  ken7paul@yahoo.com    (I can’t get kenpaul@immanuelsplace.org to work.)

IMMANUEL’S PLACE

A place where YOU BELONG!!!  SO you can MATURE, and be  AWARE that JESUS is with YOU

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An Illustration in Neil Anderson’s book “The Core of Christianity” really got my attention.  It goes like this:  As an orchestra begins to warm up all the performers are tuning up their instruments.  It sounds awful, like chalk on a black board.  Once they get all tuned up the lead violinist stands and strikes a middle “C”.  All the other musician do the same and they suddenly come into synchronization or unity.  But they are still not making any music others can be joyful with.  Then the conductor comes out.  Taps his wand.  Moves his hands and all the players watching the conductor come together playing the same music and it is joyful.  But what happens if someone takes their eyes off the conductor and misses a note.  Sounds bad doesn’t it?  That’s what happens to our lives when when take our eyes off Jesus.  Our life gets out of tune.  The scripture below tells us that Jesus is near us always. What is it that is getting between you and Jesus to distract you and get your life out of tune?  Push that away and get close to Jesus BE AWARE OF JESUS.

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How aware are you that Jesus is with you right now?   He promises to let us know He is near us.  John 14:21 “…he that loves me, shall be loved of my Father and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”  Jesus told us He would always be WITH US.  Jesus told us He would never leave us nor forsake up, and would go WITH US to the end of our life and beyond.

I will add some scriptures and more comments later.  I will also attempt to put a new devotional up on the web site at least one or two times per month and maybe one each week, so…………………….. come back often.

Immanuel’s Servant,

Ken Paul      ken7paul@yahoo.com

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