Roger Lipe: Weekly Devotion

October 9, 2018 By Leave a Comment

P L A N S

http://devotions4competitors.blogspot.com/2012/10/p-l-n-n-i-n-g-proverbs-163-what-are.html

Proverbs 16:3

What are your plans for this season?  Do you have goals for your team or for yourself?  What are the keys to seeing your goals achieved?

In Proverbs chapter 16 and verse 3 we find an important principle, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

How does one commit to the Lord everything that he does?  Simply said, that would be to approach all of life’s activities and pursuits with prayer and attention to doing things God’s way.  Commit all of your life to pursuing God’s will and His ways in school, in practice, in competition, in family life, in friendships and dating relationships.  Commit it all to Him.

The promise is that when we do this, He works in us to see that our plans succeed.  That assumes that you have some plans.  Make a plan that will honor God, then commit everything about yourself to Him.  The Lord is faithful and His promise is that He’ll work to see our plans succeed.

As you pray, make those first commitments to the Lord.  Commit this day’s competition to Him and watch for Him to make your plans successful

Filed Under: Columns

Your Daily Prayer: A Prayer for Eternal Eyes

October 9, 2018 By Leave a Comment

A Prayer for Eternal Eyes – Your Daily Prayer – October 9, 2018

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A Prayer for Eternal Eyes
From Daily Disciples

“Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’”– Acts 1:9-12

The apostles had the awesome privilege of watching the Lord ascend into heaven. They gazed up to the heavens as He departed on the clouds! No wonder they all stood in awe and amazement. I am sure they dealt with thoughts such as “Where are you going? Are you coming back? Can I go too? When will we see you again?” And even, “I can’t believe I am seeing this.” But the angels had an answer to all these questions. They said, “….come back….” As a result, the apostles fully and completely believed that the Lord would be coming back in their life time. Time was short, the message needed to get out. They lived every day for the Lord. Think about it…would you live differently if you thought the Lord was coming back today?

I asked the Lord to impress upon me the immanence of His return. I want every day to count for Jesus. I want to be looking for Him, listening to Him and ready for Him. Often, when I look into the clouds, I pray to see Him. To live every day as if today was the day of His return has changed my priorities, my desires and my focus.

Pray for eternal eyes. Pray in excitement for His return. Pray to live as if He is coming back today. And ask the Lord to remind you of His promise to return every time you gaze into the clouds.

Dear Lord, let us live each day in preparation for your return. Help us to glorify your name and serve as lights on the hilltop of your kingdom. Heavenly Father, it is so easy for us to get caught up in our limited time on Earth. Don’t let us lose perspective on our eternal destination.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Filed Under: Columns

Pastor Rick Warren: Four Characteristics of Biblical Forgiveness

October 9, 2018 By Leave a Comment

By Rick Warren

”Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32 NIV).

Biblical forgiveness is not a cheap term you just throw around that instantly makes everybody feel better. That’s not real forgiveness.The Bible says there are four characteristics to biblical forgiveness:

Forgiveness is remembering how much you’ve been forgiven.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32 NIV). This is the starting point for genuine forgiveness. If you don’t feel forgiven, you won’t want to forgive anybody else. If you’re hard on yourself, you’re going to be hard on others. But the more grace you receive from God, the more gracious you’re going to be with others. The more forgiven you feel by God, the more forgiving you’ll be toward others.

Forgiveness is relinquishing your right to get even.

Romans 12:19 says, “Never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for he has said that he will repay those who deserve it” (TLB). Life is not fair, but one day God’s going to settle the score. He’s going to right the wrongs. So, who can get better justice—you or God?

Forgiveness is responding to evil with good.

The Bible says in Luke 6:27-28, “Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (NIV). How can you tell when you’ve really forgiven somebody? When you can look at that person’s hurt and not just your own, and pray for God to bless him or her.

You ask, “How could I ever do that for the person who’s hurt me?” You can’t unless you allow the love of God to penetrate your life. Only the love of God can help you do something like that.

Forgiveness is repeating the process as long as necessary.

“Peter came to him and asked, ‘Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?’ ‘No, not seven times,’ Jesus replied, ‘but seventy times seven!’” (Matthew 18:21-22 NLT). Jewish law said you had to forgive a person three times, so Peter doubled it and threw one in for good measure. But Jesus said to go even further with your forgiveness!

How long do you have to keep forgiving someone? As long as it takes. You have to keep forgiving that person until the pain stops and the desire to get revenge goes away.

Talk It Over

  • What difference has God’s grace made in your life? How can you extend that grace to others?
  • For whom do you need to pray God’s blessing today? How can that prayer be part of the process of letting go of your hurt?
  • What good can you do for someone in your life who dislikes you or who has wronged you?

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.

Filed Under: Columns

Post-Kavanaugh, Democrats have no Plan B — they thought the Culture War would work

October 9, 2018 By Leave a Comment

As the Senate elevated Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court on Saturday, the sorrowful faces of Democratic Senators on the chamber floor showed publicly what Democratic insiders are now whispering privately.

Here’s a link to the editorial at Fox News.

Filed Under: Columns

Gov. Bruce Rauner, J.B. Pritzker set to rumble twice in week after accusing each other of crimes

October 9, 2018 By Leave a Comment

CHICAGO — After accusing each other of criminal activity in a debate and dueling news conferences last week, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic challenger J.B. Pritzker are going to be seeing more of each other this week.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

Filed Under: Featured

Illinois GOP looks to turn screws in Pritzker’s toilet ‘scheme to defraud’

October 9, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Illinois Republicans are not going to let Democrat J.B. Pritzker’s troubles concerning a potentially illegal property tax break go away.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

Filed Under: Featured

Out of Illinois

October 9, 2018 By Leave a Comment

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LinkedIn: Workers from Illinois go to Chicago, then leave the state

October 9, 2018 By Leave a Comment

The nation’s largest online professional network tracks where in the country workers are moving to and from.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

Filed Under: Featured

Veronica “Vonny” Brewer – Sesser, IL

October 8, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Veronica ‘Vonny” Brewer, 86, of Sesser passed away on October 7, 2018.

She was born on January 7, 1932 in Earlestown, England to George and Kathleen (Garrity) Plant.  She married Charles Ray Brewer on December 3, 1949 in Warrington, England and he preceded her in death on January 27, 2009.

She is survived by her children John (Barbara) Brewer of Benton, IL, Linda Chaplain of Sesser, IL, Robert (Betty) Brewer of Dothan, AL, Diana (David) Rogers of Sesser, IL, and Tracy (Meggan) Brewer of Navarre, FL; grandchildren Angela (Bruce) Jilek, Andrea (Jason) Sanders, Kimberly Kirkpatrick, Jay (Emily) Spann, Kendra (Ross) Henry, Clinton Brewer, Curtis (Lisa) Brewer, Aaron Brewer, Ashley Rogers, Allison Rogers, Chase Brewer, Christian Brewer, and Preston Brewer; great grandchildren Zoee Jilek, Colin Sanders, Kathelene Sanders, Piper Spann, Travis Henry, Reese Henry, Kacy Brewer, Will Brewer, Ryan Brewer, Jenesys Jackson, Jada Jackson, and Chance Whitehead.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

Funeral services will be on Friday October 12, 2018 at 1:00 PM at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with Brother Kirk Packer officiating.  Visitation will be on Friday from 11:00 AM until the time of the service at 1:00 PM at the funeral home.  Burial will be at Horse Prairie Cemetery in Sesser.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to CASA of Franklin County.  Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com

Filed Under: Obituaries

Deliberations begin Thursday afternoon as Van Dyke fate now in hands of jury

October 5, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Police vehicle dashboard camera video of the moments after Laquan McDonald was fatally shot is displayed for jurors as Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke attends his trial for the shooting death of McDonald, at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on Oct. 3, 2018.

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