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Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. --Deut 11:18

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"The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming because if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. --Rom 10:8-10

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Byron Putnam wrote:

Jesus Christ is full of layer upon layer of grace and truth. Of his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. We were drawn out and delivered from the waters of the law into grace and truth. This has come from the heart of the Father to us as a precious gift. Hear the voice of one in the wilderness. The prophesy of Isaiah is heard and fulfilled.Out of the water is one, the lamb of God, who takes away sin and baptizes with the Holy Spirit. But as many as received Him. He gave authority to be children of God. The Holy Spirit descends and remains. He is the Word made flesh! This is the testimony. Follow Him! Come and see! Behold the dove and the glory. Stay with Him. He is the good thing that has come out of Nazareth. He seeks the one who has no guile. Do you believe? Angels ascend and descend upon him. Come to the wedding and watch the water change. He is the new wineskin! Call the bridegroom! The value of the pot is increased because of the quality of the wine within. His flesh and his blood are received. He has saved the best for last. Out of his fullness we have received! He is the new wineskin. Do whatever he says to do. Draw some out. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Believe (in Him.) What has he found in the temple? There were those selling sheep and doves. Money changers were seated in the place of authority in Father's House of prayer! He has a passion for the house that will not be quenched by a cheap offering. The house seemed empty but He is there. He will cleanse and fill the temple with new wine. See the power of resurrection. Believe the Scripture and the word Jesus has spoken! Behold the sign and believe in his name. He knows what is in man.

Byron Putnam wrote:

Come to the wedding and watch the water change. He is the new wineskin! Call the bridegroom! The value of the pot is increased because of the quality of the wine within. His flesh and his blood are received. He has saved the best for last. Out of his fullness we have received! He is the new wineskin. Do whatever he says to do. Draw some out. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Believe (in Him.)

This makes me think of Jesus' first miracle -- turning water to wine. ( John 2:1-11)

The wine ran out (v3)

(v5) His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever He tells you."

Take a look at what Jesus does.

John tells us there were six stone water pots. These water pots held the water the Jews used to wash according to the laws of purification (v6). The number 6 is the number of man. Stone is lifeless, cold & hard. The 6 stone pots are like man's heart without the Lord Jesus, without the water ofthe Holy Spirit.

Ezekiel 11:19-20    And I will give them one heart, and put a new Spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God.  

Hearts of stone, left on our own this is what we would have. This is in contrast to the new life, the new spirit that comes with accepting Jesus as savior. This new life, new spirit in Jesus is also associated with new wine - joy.

Psalm 4:7    You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.

Next John tells us that Jesus instructs to fill these stone pots to the brim with fresh water(v7) Jesus doesn't change old water to wine - He uses fresh water for the change.

Water is an important symbol of the Holy Spirit - especially fresh water.

John 7:38-39    Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

In Jesus' first miracle the water is a symbol for the role of the Holy Spirit in this miracle. The Holy Spirit provides fresh water for purification and new life - the fresh water is turned to wine. Not just any wine - the choice wine. (v9-10) This is the same role the Holy Spirit plays in giving us new hearts, new spirits, and purification.

Looking at these words and thinking about Jesus' first miracle really make me look forward to the coming wedding feast, the coming Bridegroom, the wonderful wine that will flow then! And yes -- just as in His first miracle (v10), I believe the best wine has been saved for last!

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Psalm 51:10-12   Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.  

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John 2

Jesus Changes Water to Wine

 1On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."

 4"Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come."

 5His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

 6Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.^[a]

 7Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.

 8Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."

   They did so, 9and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

 11This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

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December 27, 2007
Draw Near

Draw near to the Lord
Make the Sovereign Lord your refuge
It is good to be near the Lord. -- Psa 73:28

Hebrews 10:19-23
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

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December 2007
There is None Like Him! Be Glad!

Psalm 103:1-5 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits;
He is the one who forgives all your sins,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

When you think of all the Lord Jesus benefits -- you just have to praise Him!

He forgives our sins and offers us the crown of life -- eternal life.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

1 Corinthians 9:25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get an imperishable crown that will last for ever.

Whoever trusts in the Lord is blessed!

... Crowned with His lovingkindness and tender mercies,
... Surrounded with His unfailing love and mercy,
...... overwhelmed with His faithfulness, --Ps 32:10
... Surrounded with His favor as with a shield. -- Ps 5:12
... Is made glad!

Proverbs 16:20 He who gives attention to the word will find good, and whoever trusts in the LORD, is made glad.

Psalm 5:11-12 Let all those who put their trust in You be glad;
... Let them ever sing for joy.
... Spread your protection over them,
... that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous;
... With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

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Thank You Lord for all of Your blessings seen and unseen. Lord help us to take time today to seek You, to worship You, with our whole hearts. Thank You that as we do this You will open our eyes to see Your many blessings, Your presence, Your love - with us today & always. Thank You that as our eyes are opened, we each will be made glad. Thank You for Your unfailing love stretching to the heavens! In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Psalm 36:5 Your unfailing love and mercy, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies beyond the clouds.

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There is None Like Him! Be Glad!

There is none like Jesus Christ the LORD
For He is great
His name is mighty in power. -- Jere 10:6
He is worthy of all praise
His greatness no one can fathom. -- Ps 145:3

Above all, His is to be reverently feared and worshipped.
Jesus is crowned with glory and honor --Ps 8:5
Splendor and majesty are before Him
Strength and fullness of joy
... in His presence --1 Chron 16:27, Ps 16:11
The LORD is great and greatly to be praised! --Ps 96:4

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
Let it be said among the nations
"The LORD reigns!" -- 1 Chron 16:31, Ps 96:10-11

I will be glad and rejoice in Him
I will sing praise to His name, the Most High. --Ps 9:2

Stand up and praise the LORD your God!
Blessed be His glorious name
Come glorify our LORD Jesus Christ
Let the LORD be magnified
Let His name be exalted
Exalt the name of Jesus above all blessing and praise!

Be glad!

Nehemiah 9:4-6 ... Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.

Psalm 34:1-3 I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.

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December 3, 2007
With All I Am

With All I Am (By Hillsong) -- listen
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FMrAafe7Mns&feature=related