These Notes & Outlines by Dr. J Vernon McGee can be found at ThruTheBible.org were prepared by Dr. McGee to help those who wanted an even deeper and more thorough understanding of the Word as they followed along with his 5-year radio program.
Tag Archives: Amp
In A Valley
I’m in a valley. It’s true. Have been for about a month now AND I love it! I do! I’m working in beautiful Salem Virginia. Mountains are everywhere I look. The ride to and from each week has been gorgeous with the color of the leaves changing to burnt orange and bright reds. Megan even asked me when I started working there, what it was like. My reply was, “I’m in a valley,” to which she responded ohhhhhh, niiiiice! I had to smile because I knew that I’ve been wondering about life’s valleys.
Being in this majestic valley has got me thinking lately about “life’s valleys.”
We all go through the valley in life, there is no escaping it. It’s a matter of when. My question to myself has been why don’t I “look up” at the wonderful surroundings when I’m in life’s valley, just as I’m doing while working here in the valley of Virginia? I know that I’m surrounded by a million little things that make life glorious and I also know the valleys are going to happen. So what is the disconnect?
Could it be that I’m so focused on the issues that I forget to look up and enjoy what is around me? Or maybe the discouragement during that time has put a huge cloud over me and I can’t see the beauty that is all about me? Could it be that discontentment wastes my energy and I have no strength to focus on making it through the valley? Why have I never thought of looking up before?
We all have so many blessings in our life that should carry us from one valley to the next but when we are in those valleys – we tend to forget them, so our stay there seems much longer than necessary.
The valleys of life are hard. I’ve been in many of them and do not enjoy them during that time. I’m always thankful for friends I can come to for help, but like many – I sometimes choose not to ask, for fear of being a “burden”.
I faced another closed door a few weeks back. My heart ached with great pain, discouragement and no music was there. Until I poured out my heart in the following words that day, I sat in silence. No singing, no happiness and fighting back the tears from yet one more closed door.
The Closed Door
Sometimes the hurt is too much to bare
Even though you say I can, I feel I can’t share
The Load is heavy, the road is long
The heart is weary and has lost its song
I know there’s hope that never ends
But for now it seems my life won’t mend
I just want to be held, I’m tired and weak
I’ll simply rest in silence, as I can’t even speak
You are strong, I’m not. I can’t even try
I can’t stop the tears from falling from my eyes
This is me, this is all – there is nothing more
Such is my life – as I stand, facing the closed door.
Will I remember this in my next valley? Yes. Will it make a difference? I honestly don’t know. Will I struggle along alone? I hope not. I hope that I will have the courage to ask for help that day, but it takes courage for that, and I’m far from courageous.
What do you think? Why do we not look up when we are in life’s valley? Why do we struggle alone – without asking for help? We have great friendships and tons of resources, yet we choose to limp along through the valley – alone.
Tell me, what is the disconnect?
{{HUGS}} yall
Marie is the founder/President of Spreading Joy Corporation, a Non Profit that is dedicated to reminding others of the simple joy of giving. To find out more about making a difference for others without breaking the bank, more encouraging articles and more about her book Spreading Joy Daily please visit her site at http://www.spreading-joy.org
Apologetics
Apologetics is defined as reasoned arguments or writings in justification of something, typically a theory or religious doctrine. Following are sites to help you stand strong in your Faith in a lost world and arm you to be the best witness you can be to all the earth…even if it’s just your neighborhood!
“We may define it as the discipline that teaches Christians how to give a reason for their hope.” –John Frame.
“Apologetics is directed primarily for those who do not believe so that they may have a reason to believe.” – Norman Geisler.
The Genesis Veracity Foundation’s mission to demonstrate that Biblical history is real history, proven by the sciences, ancient literature, and common sense.
Their’s is a grassroots effort to disseminate rock solid proofs of the scientific and historical truth of the Genesis account. Check out their website and visit them on Facebook to put them to the test!
The Alpha & Omega Ministries is a Christian apologetics lead by James White, director, who is a professor, having taught Greek, Systematic Theology, and various topics in the field of apologetics.
Visit their site to catch video debates and learn more about defending your faith.
RZIM
Visit Ravi Zacharias at RZIM as he and his team work tirelessly to reach and challenge those who shape the ideas of a culture with the credibility of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Distinctive in its strong evangelistic and apologetic foundation, the ministry of RZIM is intended to touch both the heart and the intellect of the thinkers and influencers of society through the support of the visionary leadership of Ravi Zacharias.
CARM (Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry) is dedicated to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and the promotion and defense of the Christian Gospel, doctrine, and theology. Visit their website to find in-depth analysis using the Bible as the final standard of truth in order to defend and promote Christianity.
How Many Kings -Downhere
https://
Glorious – Paul Baloche
Have regular times in the presence of the Lord…you will see yourself growing in grace.
The Gospel of Luke
Enjoy this full length presentation of the story of Gospel of Luke.
Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. Luke 1:1-4
P – R Artists
Paul Baloche Peter Furler Phil Wickham Philips, Craig & Dean Pocket Full Of Rocks Plumb Rachel Belman Rascal Flatts Rebecca St. James Rend Collective Experience Rhett Walker Band Rick Pino Ricky Skaggs Rush Of Fools
When The Stars Burn Down
G – I -Artists
Gateway Worship Gaylen Paul Music Gungor Hawk Nelson Hillsong Indiana Bible College Israel Houghton & The New Breed
D – F -Artists
Danny Gokey Dave Barnes Dave Crowder Band Deluge Don Moen Downhere Elevation Worship Elvis Presley Eva Cassidy 4Him Faith Hill Faithstruck Fireflight For King & Country Francesca Battistelli
C – Artists
Caedmon’s Call Calling Glory Carrie Underwood Casting Crowns Celtic Women Charlie Hall Chris & Conrad Chris August Chris Rice Chris Sligh Chris Tomlin Citizen Way City Harmonic Cloverton Colton Dixon Creed Crowder
Angels Watching Over Me – Amy Grant
Why Jeff Bethke Hates Religion…
In Jeff’s words, his inspiration for this viral video came from a poem he wrote to highlight the difference between Jesus and false religion.
“In the scriptures Jesus received the most opposition from the most religious people of his day. At it’s core Jesus’ gospel and the good news of the Cross is in pure opposition to self-righteousness/self-justification. Religion is man centered, Jesus is God-centered. This poem highlights my journey to discover this truth. Religion either ends in pride or despair. Pride because you make a list and can do it and act better than everyone, or despair because you can’t do your own list of rules and feel “not good enough” for God. With Jesus though you have humble confident joy because He represents you, you don’t represent yourself and His sacrifice is perfect putting us in perfect standing with God the Father.”
Watch this awesome video in light of God’s desire for His commands to come first before our own traditions as declared in Mark 7:6-7
He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
“‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.‘
You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”
Visit Jeff Bethke at his website.
Also check out the book that inspired the video, The Prodigal God.
Kissed By Jesus – Rick Pino
You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.
Song of Solomon 4:7
Arms Of Love – Kutless
Never Alone
My heart is amazed at just how big this world is and how technology can keep us in touch with those who have moved away from us. But sometimes, my heart is even more amazed at just how alone we can feel even though people are close to us physically as well as through technology. 
We often feel alone when:
- The pain in the night is unbearable
- The silence is deafening
- Friends should rejoice with us but are envious
- Family squabbles become bitter feuds
- The darkness engulfs us
- The well deserved promotion is shot down by assumptions
- No one understands
- Everyone says they understand but act as if they could care less
- We’ve tried a million times but continue to feel like a failure
- We’ve asked for forgiveness but there is no hope of receiving it
- Good news is overshadowed by great hurt
You’ve probably been there and felt as if your prayers were going no further than the ceiling. Let me remind you that not only does your Heavenly Father hear those cries, they matter to Him. He hears you and cares about what your heart is feeling.
The time you feel completely alone is when you typically withdraw and close your heart off to the world. Worse than that, you close your Bible and think; I don’t even know what to pray, so why bother and you let isolation MOVE YOU from your Father’s side.
God never moves from us. We move from Him. But, even when we stray, move or completely ignore Him…we are never alone.
What verses do you wrap yourself in when you feel completely alone?
Please leave them below and encourage those that are feeling completely alone.
I Know You’re There
2 Chronicles 13:12
And, behold, God himself is with us
2 Chronicles 32:8
With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles.
You’re Not alone
Deut 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
God With Us
Lamentations 3:24-25
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him. The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
Should Have Been Me – Citizen Way
Come To Me – Jamie Grace
BUY NOW: Come To Me
100% of all proceeds on purchases made are donated to Christian charities.
Hosanna – Israel Houghton
Life of Jesus
BUY NOW: Hosanna (Be Lifted Higher)
100% of all proceeds on purchases made are donated to Christian charities.
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Feel It In Your Heart – Abandon
Forgiveness – Matthew West
The Father Effect
A wonderful part of being in this world as a ChristianRep, is we get to meet a lot of new people from across the globe and sometimes right in our own back yard. One recent new friend on Twitter is John Finch – @johnpfinch.
John is creating his very first full-length documentary telling his own life story of growing up without a father, the wound and the resulting incredible effect left in the wake of forgiveness. With John as narrator, his film is set to tell the story of how growing up without a father has shaped his life as a boy, a man, and a father.
His documentary, The Father Effect, is set to be a long reaching look into the lives of children who will grow to be adults one day soon, and will live out the effect of their father’s impact. Simply and directly, it is a story that needs to be told for the sake of families now and in the future.
As children of God, we have a heavenly Father always there for us and loving us. This film is for those who may still feel the wounds left from having an earthly father who may have fallen far short of God’s expectations.
Here is the short story – now on film. TheFatherEfffect.
Forever Reign – One Sonic Society
White Page – Tanya Godsey
33 Greater Than 40
We understand how powerful our own words can be in lifting up or bringing down those around us. The Word of the Lord are the most powerful indeed.
In this thought provoking video produced by Alpha & Omega Ministries called 40 Arabic Words, we are presented with the power of what just 40 words can do to prevent a whole group of people from knowing the gift of Jesus at the cross.
In contrast, just 33 Greek words from the New Testament prove to be such a gift to us now….
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. ~ Galatians 2:20
Alpha & Omega Ministries is an apologetic ministries where you can go to learn more about apologetics. Renown apologist James White is the current director.
Live Like We’re Dying – Kris Allen
BUY NOW: Live Like We’re Dying
100% of all proceeds on purchases made are donated to Christian charities.