Good Morning all,
This “I am” is the most important to us because it gives us proof and hope of everlasting life. Read the whole chapter of John 11 to get all the details. This picture brings to mind the bright light that must have come from the tomb the morning the Lord was raised from the dead and the glory of God that shined down on mankind. It’s a shame more people don't believe in it for it cost God everything. His Son.
I am the resurrection means that He is the source of eternal life, and we now have the possibility of everlasting life with Him.
This verse is centered around the story of Lazarus and how long he was dead. Why was the Lord so far away when he died?
Many questions all in one story and all to show the glory of God. Lazarus died when Jesus was far way because no one could die in the presence of the Lord. Why, because he was the source of all life. The reason it took him four days to get there was to show the glory of God. And the best reason was proof for us that his sacrifice was accepted by God for the payment of our sins, so we may
believe we have everlasting life as it says in that verse. I bet you are glad he will raise you on the last day.
I know I am.
Have a great day.
Rick
The song Resurrection
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIldYz4gcJs
Preview YouTube video I Am the Resurrection
Good morning, all.
Today’s “I am” is found in John 14:6. The chapter starts off with a statement of, “Let your heart
not be troubled.” A request by the Lord Jesus to His disciples as He tries to explain His relationship to the Father (God)
and to them. Verse 6 is the focal point to them of how they too can have a relationship with the Father but only through Him. Jesus explains, the more you know me the more you will know the Father. So, the fact that we get to God only though Jesus for He is the only way, then we should get to know Him the best so that our hearts won't be troubled. Then we can have true peace
with God because He is also the TRUTH. All the Law is in Himself for He has fulfilled the Law in Jesus.
“NO sin!”
So, our full trust should be complete, unwavering or "Total". He is also the Life, not just this life for
this life that will come to an end. For He is the hope for everlasting life. Jesus said He is going to prepare a
place for us. Everlasting Life for those who believe. There is so much more to unpack in this verse.
Reread the whole chapter with this in mind. If you didn't know the Savior, none of this would
make sense. That’s why Thomas was so confused he didn't get saved until he saw the Lord Jesus in
the upper room after the resurrection. He had to see Him to believe Him. (John 20:24-28). Like so many
that are not saved, the verse may be difficult to understand but not for us that do believe. There is no verse like it that gives us so much. The Way, the Truth, and the Life. All in one, so we can fully know the Father.
That should help you make it through the day.
Have a great day
Rick
Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6Tq0DOYQus
https://www.gotquestions.org/way-truth-life.html
I Am The Way
Preview YouTube video I Am The Way
RICKS INSPIRATION #1
Good morning all,
This is my first writing of Ricks's Inspirations. The story you are about to read is the story of Lina, who is now in charge of a rehab facility and is the reason we can now preach the gospel there. It’s an amazing story. This is how I was able to help Lina get her start to get to know God and show her how He can change a life only if you let Him.
"Lina, I know that John 8:12 is your favorite verse for many different reasons.
I will only list the ones that I know about, and you may have a few more of them on your own."
The Picture itself is not even close to representing the beautiful colors of blue and purple. In the center is a white light shining on the stillness of the water.
It can only bring peace to one’s soul where the sky and the water truly reflect the Glory of God. After looking at the picture, it’s easier to believe that the colors came together by the hands of an artist rather than the hand of God. I have the scene on video on how God paints this picture. If you like to see it sometime, I’ll show you.
It’s amazing how the day begins. Next is the verse. I think it was when you were going down to the Cape to speak and I mentioned to you that you should have a verse. The verse will define who you are to many and let them know what brought you to the understanding that you needed God in your life to make a difference. Lina, you looked for a verse and told me this was the one.
“I am The Light of the world Whosoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life”.
I can only speculate on why you chose this verse. The word darkness sticks out the most to me because of how you tell your story. Crying out to God who you didn't know back then and asking Him for help was transformational. These words that you spoke and had no idea where they came from, ended up changing your life. “Please help me I want to stop using but I don’t know How”! The bible verse goes on to say," in this darkness, you will have the light of life". You got arrested two days later and you knew you were going to be sick, but you felt at peace.
"Imagine", you said. It was a word you say a lot. I think it was because you were so surprised and stunned that God was answering your prayer. He was showing you His power and light that you were crying out for. Then, all the pieces miraculously came together. All the stories that came out during your graduation and all the people that came into your life to help lead you out of that deep, deep darkness were incredible.
The fact that we just started preaching the Gospel at the Ryan house a month before you got there, was all of GOD! I think that word "Imagine" is the only word that fits like a glove for you. Just like this picture, it could only be of God. I am sure you could fill in much more than I can, and there are even greater things to come! The lives that will be touched because you have been in that darkness Lina, will be many!
You are now as the verse says, “Walking in His light” and have a new life in front of you. Welcome to the other side of darkness. With God's help, I hope that we can continue to work together and lead more of the addicted and affiliated to Jesus Christ. I bet you glad He showed you His light, Lina! I know I am.
Have a Great day,
Rick
I wrote that to Lina. Over 5 years ago. Can you imagine!
Here is that song entitled “I can only imagine”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da4fnYIuV9s
INSPIRATION #2
Good morning Lina,
Hope you could sleep in a little bit this morning and are not so rushed. When you sent me the picture of your dresser to show me where you placed the John 8:12 plaque I gave you, I thought that looked very nice by the way.I noticed a large “I am” framed poster next to it. Never saw that before. Very cool. Anyway, when I started to read some of them, I said wow. I never looked at the “I ams” in the bible from a “that's me” point of view.
I couldn’t read them all but the ones I could make out I liked. I got to thinking about this. With the color of the flowers that match the picture so well and both pictures starting off with “I am”, what a perfect setting to be inspired by every day. Good job Lina! I’m sure that the flowers are most likely gone by now so for the next week, “I am" with (no pun intended) going to take from the book of John and the 7 “I AMs” of the Lord Jesus and write about them. Amazing the power of His word.
This one, “I am the Door” Is very important because it shows the Lord as the door. Only one door to heaven. There is a children's song that says it this way "One door and only one, yet its sides are two inside and outside, Which side are you on? Great question. The inside is the better place by far. Because of the “I am” poster you have, each one of those that tells you why the first one is the best. I am Alive with Christ Eph2:5.
On the outside of that door are death and darkness. So if you look at that verse and the offer of going through that door is that “you will be saved" that is wonderful enough! But then you must go out into the Pasture or the real world. The “I ams” gives us the peace that we need to get through the daily grind, and gives us hope for the future. I bet you're glad you’re on the inside of that door. I know I am.
Have a Great Day
Rick
Here’s the children’s bible song "One door" . Please click on link below.
INSPIRATION #3
Good Morning all
This is my third inspiration.
In order to fully understand this I am, you must know about Manna. The sunrise show some clouds that appear to be falling from heaven and gathering in one place. That's what happened after the children of Israel left Egypt and were wandering in the desert or wilderness for 40 years. We read of this miracle in Exodus and Numbers There is one mention of it in the book of Psalms 78:23-25,
Yet He commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven, 24 and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven.25 Man ate of the bread of the angels; He sent them food in abundance. That is depicted in the scene of the clouds, This is what the Lord Jesus is referring to that He has come to offer eternal life for all those who will believe in Him.
To really understand the whole comparison you have to read chapter 6 in the gospel of John. The main point of the I am Living Bread, is we need food to live in this life. He is saying the bread I offer in me will give you Everlasting Life. He is the source just like God gave manna to them every day to eat to get them through the wilderness. The verse of John 3:16 comes to mind, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life".
Tremendous truth that you now enjoy because you took His bread that He offered you. There is so much more to this verse and the study which is very deep. But the bottom line is we need the Lord Jesus to help us in this life, and take us to the next. It is beyond my understanding why not everyone would want it. But we also read in that same chapter that it is the Farther that draws them to the Bread. I bet you are glad He showed you this Bread. I know I am.
Have a great day.
Rick
Click on the link below for the song "Bread" of Life"
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W4CapSBM8UA
RICKS INSPIRATIONS #4
Sheep by nature need a shepherd because they will wander off into danger. They always seem to make poor decisions. It has one thing on its mind and that’s the green grass on the other side. So, sheep keep wandering and get lost. Just a fact about sheep. They may sound like someone you know.
This is the I am of the Good Shepherd. I chose the picture because of the Big fluffy clouds all gathered together. As a comparison to sheep with their full woolen coats and all huddled together in the sheepfold, the shepherd has brought them all into safety for the night. They have already gone through the one door as it says in verse 9, and now he is offering them security from the world. He is also promising a more abundant life and beyond. For He is giving his Life for the sheep, which is us. Because we have believed the report that was written 700 years before the Good Shepherd came to die, in Isaiah 53:6, like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned—"everyone"—to his own way; God has laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all. If you read the whole chapter, you will soon see we need this Good Shepherd because we were lost, and he had to die so we could live.
We must never forget what it cost God to save our souls. So, we can have a full life now and everlasting life to come. For we will be with the Good Shepherd forever in the sheepfold of heaven.
I bet your glad the Shepherd found you. I know I am.
Have a great day
Rick
Song the Good Shepherd
INSPIRATION #6
Good Morning all,
This is my 6th inspiration. Read the gospel of John Chapter 15 to get a good understanding of this "I am" to have a real relationship with the Lord Jesus. This is today's "I am" the Vine. If you look closely at this picture you will notice how the two colors of Blue and Purple are knit together. Almost as if they were one like the color of grapes on a vine.
And that is just how Jesus says it in verse 15:4" Abide in me and I in you" He explains it with the fruit of our lives that can only be produced by getting our only nourishment from the Vine which is the Lord Jesus. We can not do it alone. He pictures us as a branch that will die if it is not connected to the main vine. So we need His constant touch of His Love, Kindness, Grace, and Forgiveness so that we can show our fruit, and it can be useful to others. To show that Christ lives in you. We also need to be pruned from time to time. We get rid of things that are not helping us to produce more fruit by letting go of certain things that can keep us from producing more fruit for Him. In Verse 8 "By this my Father is gloried, that you bear much fruit and prove to be my disciples". So the system of the vine working through the branches to produce fruit shows just how close the Farther is to the Son and the Son is to Us. Aren't you glad you are His adopted child and you now abide in the one that showed you His Light. I know I am. Reread this chapter to know His true love and see that He chose YOU.
Have a great day
Rick
Please click the link for the song, "I am the vine"