From: "Beverly French" <frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us>
To: "Barbara Warren" <bjw18@csufresno.edu>; "Patrick Chaney" <pchaney@webtv.net>; "Jeri Holycross" <GMWTYGURU@aol.com>; "Delores Plaia" <plaiad@vcss.k12.ca.us>; "Dona Bryant" <trave777@ior.com>; "Christina" <wilsonc@vcss.k12.ca.us>; "Mr. David O'Reilly" <doreilly@prodigy.com>; "Craig & Jenny Thompson" <Yody9@pacbell.net>; "Hedy Wainor" <wfamily@ma.ultranet.com>; "Jennifer Stallings" <daveandjennstallings@juno.com>; "Jesse & Debbie Schwartz" <djndjsch@juno.com>; "Rosemary Otterson" <oolala@aros.net>; "Tracey O'Reilly" <Dahlgliev@prodigy.net>; "Jeff & Jennifer O'Reilly" <jeffiner@juno.com>; "Andy Norcutt" <penguin@best1.net>; "Richard & Karen Menzie" <rkmenzi@gte.net>; "Leslie McNeill" <102421.3011@compuserve.com>; "Jim McIntire" <jjkamm@vcnet.com>; "Todd & Lori Lyche" <tlyche@vcnet.com>; "Martin & Barbara Lexutt" <BnMLexutt@aol.com>; "Diane Hudson" <lotamus@utech.net>; "Charlie & Phyllis Greene" <greenehouse72@juno.com>; "Ann Lynn Graham" <algraham@bmtc.net>; "Sieg Enke" <hseee@juno.com>; "Jonathan Enke" <VOLLYBAL11@aol.com>; "Ella Enke" <Omaopa4@juno.com>; "Bekka Enke" <wiket1@juno.com>; "Gerry Nelson" <ghaircut@juno.com>; "Ted & Laura Enke" <telabele@juno.com>; "Jody Copeland" <jodyamc@juno.com>; "Lisa" <lisac1@flash.net>; "Kim Hjelm" <dhjelm@GTE.NET>
Subject: Blessings
Date: Sunday, February 22, 1998 9:54 AM

The raining is falling, but the Son is shining.  Hallelujah!

"How blessed is the one whom Thou dost choose, and  bring  near to Thee,
 To dwell in Thy courts.
 We will be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house,
 Thy holy temple."  Psalm 65:4

Chosen by God!  It never ceases to cause wonder and amazement when I think
on this, but it is true.  God has stated it so through the Scriptures.  We
were in His plan from the foundation of the world.  How awesome and how
humbling that the Almighty God, the everlasting Father, would choose such
as we.  And how could this be?

"...He chose us in Him before the foundation of the
 world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. 
 In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through 
 Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of 
 His will."   Ephesians 1:4-5

I know that you have read these verses numerous times, but our desire it to
KNOW HIM in a greater measure.   These verses offer great opportunity to
enlarge our knowlege of Christ as we ask Him to up them up to us.  For
example look at "that we should be holy and blameless" and follow that
through the Scriptures to see God's thoughts here:

"That He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no
spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and
blameless."  Ephesians 5:27

"Yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order
to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach." 
Colossians l:22

Each one of these Scriptures offer paths into opening up in a greater
measure God's plan in bringing this holiness and blamelessness about.  I
know I have offered each of us a challenge, but remember our relationship
is a personal one and it is individually that we come into KNOWING HIM. 
Remember Scriptures tells us "...he who seeks, finds..."  [Luke 11:10]

"O Lord of hosts, how blessed it the man who trust in Thee!"  Psalm 84:12

Let's worship Christ Jesus now and praise His name forever.