“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”   Hebrews 10:22

3 - EDITOR's CORNER  

Dear Friends and welcomed subscribers,

Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick….  Time passes by, and stands still for no one, no matter how fast or slow they want it to stream.  Since the previous article, the clock feels like years have elapsed instead of only weeks.  Last year, E.C.H.O. was published on a monthly basis.  Since returning from Southwest Asia, this magazine took on a weekly flow; however, as you have noticed, the past handful of weeks has been filled with silenced, and in my case – a painful silence.  For those of you who were wondering and waiting, please accept my apology for the lengthy quiet.  I have been facing some health and physical issues along with other events.  My body is turning another decade older this year, and mid-life years are not being so gracious with me.  On average, for the past 3 – 4 months I have had roughly 3 – 4 hours sleep per night (which does not help me to do my work very well for my employer).  I have used the time, this past month, to try and recoup / refresh as much as possible.  While some things are improving, there is still much recovery (and needed rest) ahead.  I am betwixt in thoughts right now as I desire to continue producing E.C.H.O. on a weekly basis, but for now will take things a little more slowly and will more than likely reduce the editions to a bi-monthly or even a once a month subscription.

Thank you for your patience, your prayers are coveted.

Most sincerely yours,

Daniel

Phil 1:6

4 - PICTURE of the DAY!!!

______________________________________________

TIME
_______________________

Then the LORD appointed a set time… To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace….  He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

Ex 9:5; Ec 3:1-8; Ec 3:11

Photo by Daniel
McChord AFB, WA - April 2005
Barnabas Ministries/E.C.H.O.

Your comments, suggestions, ideas, and thoughts are welcomed.
Should you have a picture you have taken (not copyrighted) you would like to share in PICTURE of the DAY!!!,
please e-mail a copy in .jpg or .gif format.  Feel free to suggest a verse/verses you think might go well with the image.
(Photo's & images submitted become the property of E.C.H.O. and may be altered.
Images, suggested verses, and topics are subject to display per discretion of E.C.H.O.)

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”   Hebrews 10:22

5 - DEVOTIONAL

(1 John 3:10-15)

WHO ARE WE CHILDREN OF?

 1Jo 3:10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,

12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous.

13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.

14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

1. CHILDREN OF GOD

A.     LOVES ONE ANOTHER (:10, 14)

B.     WORKS… ARE RIGHTEOUS (:12)

C. ARE HATED BY THE WORLD (:13)

D. PASSED FROM DEATH TO LIFE (:14)

2. CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL

            A. DOES NOT PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS (:10)

            B. DOES NOT LOVE ONE ANOTHER (:10)

C. ARE OF THE WICKED ONE (:12)

D. HATE’S /MURDER’S (:12, 15)

1. 1 John 3:15 - Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

2. 1 John 4:20 - If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

            E. ABIDE IN DEATH (:14)

As a newborn in this terrestrial world, we are delivered through sin (Ps 51:5) and are lost, traveling on a downward path that leads straight to death, hell, and an eternity without God (Rom 3:23; 6:23).  “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”  (Ro 5:8).  God gave hope to the hopeless, peace to the restless, strength to the weak, salvation to the lost.

As a child of God, we ought to live as a member of HIS family:

1Jo 3:1 ¶ Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

 1Jo 4:7 ¶ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

 1Jo 4:9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

 1Jo 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 1Jo 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

 1Jo 4:12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.

 1Jo 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

1. CHILDREN OF GOD

A.  LOVES ONE ANOTHER (:10, 14)

B.  WORKS… ARE RIGHTEOUS (:12)

The “TIME” we have on this earth is fleeting.  Every second that ticks away, is a moment we can never regain and use again.  We must live life to the fullest… This does not meant we must ensure we live to enjoy every moment on the beach, in a resort, on an ocean cruise, etc… (not that these are wrong things to participate in – they can be great tools for relaxation and recreation), but we must ensure our thoughts, words, and deeds in all we are involved with are honoring and pleasing unto the Lord.  Live as children of God… love one another as God has loved us… accomplish righteous deeds for the glory & honor of God…  Use this time… this moment, this day – hour – minute to bring God glory.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
Cleanse your hands… and purify your hearts…”  James 4:8
.

6 - NEXT ISSUE

Join us in the next issue when we continue in the book of 1 John.

7 - PARTICIPATION

Please feel free to share your stories of encouragement with ECHO.  Share your letters of hope, your favorite verses … a web link you enjoy or have been blessed by… etc.

This spot is reserved for you to fill…..

ECHO ~ ECHO ~ ECHO ~ ECHO ~ ECHO ~ ECHO ~ ECHO

The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you,
Sincerely yours,

Daniel
"Family For God ~ 2005"
Philippians 1:6
 

ECHO ~ ECHO ~ ECHO ~ ECHO ~ ECHO ~ ECHO ~ ECHO