Good morning,
John 9:4-5
We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
Jesus wants us to work for Him. He told us in Mark 16:15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
It is our duty as "Children of God" to tell others about Him and to pray with them the prayer of salvation.
I believe the verses in John 9:4-5 are a direct command. We must do the work of the Father. It also says we need to do it while it is day, because night will come and then it will be too late.
There is an urgency sweeping the land, as I believe the Lord is going to send His Son back very soon. There needs to be a cry go out HEAR YE! HEAR YE THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH!
The question many "Christians" need to ask themselves is am I ready to meet Him?
Friday, March 28, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Only By God's Permission!
Good morning,
Anne Ortlund in her book “Disciplines of the Heart inserted this statement by Hannah Whitall Smith said:
“[No action] can touch us except with [the Father's] knowledge and by His permission. It may be the sin of man that originates the action, and therefore the thing itself cannot be said to be the will of God; but by the time it reaches us it has become God’s will for us, and must be accepted as directly from His hands.
No man or company of men, no power on earth or heaven, can touch that soul which is abiding in Christ, without first passing through His encircling presence and receiving the seal of His permission. If God be for us, it matters not who may be against us; nothing can disturb or harm us, except He shall see that it is best for us.”
Anne goes on to say “Only if this is true does 1 Thessalonians 5:18 make sense:
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
I now understand Romans 8:28 better as well:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.
Nothing can touch us except by the Father’s knowledge and permission. So instead of getting upset, angry, or bitter about what is going on in our life, we should rejoice because the Father is turning it around for our good. Praise the Name of the Lord!
Anne Ortlund in her book “Disciplines of the Heart inserted this statement by Hannah Whitall Smith said:
“[No action] can touch us except with [the Father's] knowledge and by His permission. It may be the sin of man that originates the action, and therefore the thing itself cannot be said to be the will of God; but by the time it reaches us it has become God’s will for us, and must be accepted as directly from His hands.
No man or company of men, no power on earth or heaven, can touch that soul which is abiding in Christ, without first passing through His encircling presence and receiving the seal of His permission. If God be for us, it matters not who may be against us; nothing can disturb or harm us, except He shall see that it is best for us.”
Anne goes on to say “Only if this is true does 1 Thessalonians 5:18 make sense:
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
I now understand Romans 8:28 better as well:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.
Nothing can touch us except by the Father’s knowledge and permission. So instead of getting upset, angry, or bitter about what is going on in our life, we should rejoice because the Father is turning it around for our good. Praise the Name of the Lord!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Mind & Heart!
Luke 10: 27
And He answering said, Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.
I was reading this verse this morning and thought to myself, what if all people began to read, and follow just this one verse of advice. How would our world be changed if everyone were to love the Lord our God with everything that is within us? What if we were to love Him with all our heart, all our soul, our all strength and all our mind? What if we were to love our neighbor as our self? For some of us that would be easy, because we love our self, but what of the people who do not like themselves let alone love themselves.
I think sometimes we people who call ourselves "Christians" don't love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, strength and mind. I think sometimes we just go through the motions. I don't know if at times we really know what the word "LOVE" really means. I am seeking God to know His love better; but also I want to know how He wants me to love Him more.
I pray as we encourage each other in the Lord, we will come to know "Agape Love" and to love each other as Jesus loves us.
God Bless!
Joy
And He answering said, Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.
I was reading this verse this morning and thought to myself, what if all people began to read, and follow just this one verse of advice. How would our world be changed if everyone were to love the Lord our God with everything that is within us? What if we were to love Him with all our heart, all our soul, our all strength and all our mind? What if we were to love our neighbor as our self? For some of us that would be easy, because we love our self, but what of the people who do not like themselves let alone love themselves.
I think sometimes we people who call ourselves "Christians" don't love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, strength and mind. I think sometimes we just go through the motions. I don't know if at times we really know what the word "LOVE" really means. I am seeking God to know His love better; but also I want to know how He wants me to love Him more.
I pray as we encourage each other in the Lord, we will come to know "Agape Love" and to love each other as Jesus loves us.
God Bless!
Joy
Sunday, March 23, 2008
He's ALIVE!
HAPPY EASTER!
To many people Easter is just another boring day. But, to many, many people it is a special day! Because of what Easter means we have HOPE! LIFE! PEACE! and JOY! just to name a few words that describes how we can feel, because of the BIRTH, DEATH, and RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD!
You see His birth was not enough, His birth and death was not enough, His birth, death, and Resurrection were not enough. It took all of these and His ascension into Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father to be complete. Thru the life blood of Jesus, He gave us redemption from our sins. When we ask Him to forgive us of our sins and strive to live for Him, that is the true meaning of Easter.
Matthew 28: 6
He (Jesus) is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the LORD lay.
HALLELUJAH!
Because of Jesus' love for us, His death was the supreme sacrifice for our sins. Just makes me want to shout!
Today as you go about your day remember this comment by Billy Graham
"Jesus Christ died on a rugged cross for our salvation. We do not worship that cross; we worship Christ, who is alive. Yet among all the emblems of the world, the cross is admired with awe and wonder."
Father, as we go about this special day, may we keep in mind the suffering Jesus went through for our salvation. Let us remember to take time to give you praise. Because, without Jesus dying on the cross and rising again we would have no hope of spending eternity with you. Thank you, Father. Bless and keep each of us and may we experience your love for us in a fresh way I pray.
Have a most blessed day!
Joy
To many people Easter is just another boring day. But, to many, many people it is a special day! Because of what Easter means we have HOPE! LIFE! PEACE! and JOY! just to name a few words that describes how we can feel, because of the BIRTH, DEATH, and RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD!
You see His birth was not enough, His birth and death was not enough, His birth, death, and Resurrection were not enough. It took all of these and His ascension into Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father to be complete. Thru the life blood of Jesus, He gave us redemption from our sins. When we ask Him to forgive us of our sins and strive to live for Him, that is the true meaning of Easter.
Matthew 28: 6
He (Jesus) is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the LORD lay.
HALLELUJAH!
Because of Jesus' love for us, His death was the supreme sacrifice for our sins. Just makes me want to shout!
Today as you go about your day remember this comment by Billy Graham
"Jesus Christ died on a rugged cross for our salvation. We do not worship that cross; we worship Christ, who is alive. Yet among all the emblems of the world, the cross is admired with awe and wonder."
Father, as we go about this special day, may we keep in mind the suffering Jesus went through for our salvation. Let us remember to take time to give you praise. Because, without Jesus dying on the cross and rising again we would have no hope of spending eternity with you. Thank you, Father. Bless and keep each of us and may we experience your love for us in a fresh way I pray.
Have a most blessed day!
Joy
Friday, March 21, 2008
God's Hand!
God is so good. I just stand in awe sometimes as to how good He is to us. Nothing in particular, just a feeling inside of me that rises up and needs to be released. I want everyone I come into contact with to know Jesus lives in me, and blesses me beyond measure. He can and will do the same for you as well.
Isaiah 59:1
Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither Hi ear heavy, that it cannot hear.
I am so thankful that our Lord will hear us when we call unto Him. He will save us and be with us throughout our life if we let Him. He is a merciful God. He loves us more than anything. No matter what we go through, God is there with us, upholding us and giving us strength to carry on. Praise His Holy Name.
Isaiah 58:14
Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
I don't know about you, but I want a change in my life. I want to ride upon the high places of the earth, and to feed on the heritage of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I can only do this if I delight and spend time with the Lord. I do this by reading His Word and praying.
Father, I would ask you today to help each of us grow in prayer and reading your Word. Help us Lord to desire to spend time with you. Help us Father, to delight ourselves in you. Feed us with the heritage of Jacob, I pray. Thank you, Father. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Isaiah 59:1
Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither Hi ear heavy, that it cannot hear.
I am so thankful that our Lord will hear us when we call unto Him. He will save us and be with us throughout our life if we let Him. He is a merciful God. He loves us more than anything. No matter what we go through, God is there with us, upholding us and giving us strength to carry on. Praise His Holy Name.
Isaiah 58:14
Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
I don't know about you, but I want a change in my life. I want to ride upon the high places of the earth, and to feed on the heritage of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I can only do this if I delight and spend time with the Lord. I do this by reading His Word and praying.
Father, I would ask you today to help each of us grow in prayer and reading your Word. Help us Lord to desire to spend time with you. Help us Father, to delight ourselves in you. Feed us with the heritage of Jacob, I pray. Thank you, Father. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Seek His Face!
2 Chronicles 7:12-16 (King James Version)
12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.
13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
I don’t know why, but I always thought these verses were for the sinner to come to the Lord; however in discussing them Tuesday evening at a ladies meeting at my church, a woman brought out that they were written for the Christians. That almost blew me away. I don’t know if I have had my head in the sand like the ostrich or have on rose colored glasses, but I never thought about Christian’s having wicked ways.
God tells Solomon that there are four things in verse 14 that are REQUIRED in order for Him to hear their prayers.
1. Humble (feeling or showing respect and deference toward other people) yourself.
2. Pray
3. Seek His face
4. Turn from their wicked ways
Then He will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land.
I believe verse 15 gives us His promise. He says His eyes shall be open, and His ears attuned to our prayer.
Christians in America (and the world) need to get these verses down into their very spirit. They need to begin to act on them. If we want a change in our schools, our kids, and neighbors, I believe this is the answer. Get the sin and crud out of our life that is hindering our communication with the Father. Then He will be able to do that which He promised.
12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.
13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
I don’t know why, but I always thought these verses were for the sinner to come to the Lord; however in discussing them Tuesday evening at a ladies meeting at my church, a woman brought out that they were written for the Christians. That almost blew me away. I don’t know if I have had my head in the sand like the ostrich or have on rose colored glasses, but I never thought about Christian’s having wicked ways.
God tells Solomon that there are four things in verse 14 that are REQUIRED in order for Him to hear their prayers.
1. Humble (feeling or showing respect and deference toward other people) yourself.
2. Pray
3. Seek His face
4. Turn from their wicked ways
Then He will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land.
I believe verse 15 gives us His promise. He says His eyes shall be open, and His ears attuned to our prayer.
Christians in America (and the world) need to get these verses down into their very spirit. They need to begin to act on them. If we want a change in our schools, our kids, and neighbors, I believe this is the answer. Get the sin and crud out of our life that is hindering our communication with the Father. Then He will be able to do that which He promised.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark. --George Iles
I was thinking about the above quote, which led me to think about the Three Hebrew men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, now those three men indeed walked by faith.
Daniel 3:17-18
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Think about this for a moment, these three men told the king they would not bow to the image the king had made, knowing that if they didn't they would surely die; however, they stood firm in their faith that God would deliver them. They also believed that if He didn't, everything would still be ok. They were bold in their talk to the king to say BUT IF IT BE NOT, we still will not serve his gods; they knew they would be home with their God. However, it was not time for them to go to heaven. God was not through with them here on earth. They had a work to do for Him that only they could do.
Each of us has a work to do for God that only we can do. Can you say like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we will not bow down to idols, or things that pull us away from the TRUE, LIVING GOD?
Father, I thank you for this day. I thank you for the opportunity you have given me to share your word and my thoughts with these thy people. Bless them and cause your face to shine upon them I pray. Thank you, Father. In Jesus Name I pray.
I was thinking about the above quote, which led me to think about the Three Hebrew men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, now those three men indeed walked by faith.
Daniel 3:17-18
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Think about this for a moment, these three men told the king they would not bow to the image the king had made, knowing that if they didn't they would surely die; however, they stood firm in their faith that God would deliver them. They also believed that if He didn't, everything would still be ok. They were bold in their talk to the king to say BUT IF IT BE NOT, we still will not serve his gods; they knew they would be home with their God. However, it was not time for them to go to heaven. God was not through with them here on earth. They had a work to do for Him that only they could do.
Each of us has a work to do for God that only we can do. Can you say like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we will not bow down to idols, or things that pull us away from the TRUE, LIVING GOD?
Father, I thank you for this day. I thank you for the opportunity you have given me to share your word and my thoughts with these thy people. Bless them and cause your face to shine upon them I pray. Thank you, Father. In Jesus Name I pray.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)