"O Thou Who has given us so much, mercifully grant us one more thing: a grateful heart."

George Herbert
(3 April 1593 - 1 March 1633) Welsh-born English poet, orator, and until the day of his death, rector of the little parish of Fugglestone St Peter with Bemerton St Andrew, near Salisbury.)

As we head into the new year and reminisce about our recent Christmas celebration, might we all say in one accord "Lord Jesus grant us a grateful heart" as we look to honor and serve You in 2012.
May we daily surrender all allowing Your Holy Spirit to fill us to full measure - even overflowing!
And as we abide in You we shall see the fruit of Your bountiful harvest.

The Christmas gift

The Christmas gift -

Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.
(Isaiah 7:14)

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called
Wonderful,
Counselor,
Mighty God,
Eternal Father,
Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6)

The reason for the Christmas gift -

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world,
but that the world should be saved through Him.
(John 3:16 17)

The Christmas promise -

For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call upon Him; for "Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.
(Romans 10:11 13)


May you have a joyous, wonderful, and blessed Christmas as we celebrate the gift that was given to us......

Where does the road we are currently on lead us?

Our times are filled with groaning for change – yet, what change are people actually looking for and expecting? Everywhere we look today we see signs of turbulence within our country (as well as globally). Whether it is in the economic, financial, social, religious, educational or political arenas we are seeing times of stress, filled with hostilities and strong-armed agendas, fighting and power seeking – the enemy’s game plan continually unfolding before our very eyes!
And as we proceed through these unsettling times might we consider Pilate’s inquiry as he asked Jesus this foundational question ‘what is truth’!
Truth, as the world defines it, has become a relative matter based upon situational ethics, ‘expert’ opinions, individual circumstances and even personal beliefs (better: preferences). Yet, as this world of ours continues to languish in a lost and dying condition, it is only the TRUTH that will set people free and bring liberty to the captives – that is genuine, life-changing change! The truth is that sin is real and because of it man has been separated from his Creator and lives incomplete and unfulfilled lives that need change.
As long as we continue to follow the road that we are currently on, basing our actions upon man’s incomplete and flawed wisdom, we will continue the slide down the slippery slope that leads to ruin and ‘change’ that never fulfills.
But there is another road and that is the good news! And that road has its foundation rooted in the TRUTH. Although I must confess that this road is narrow and few find it and follow it. By faith through grace in the One who is the TRUTH we are able to follow the road whose foundation is truth, the narrow road that brings true wisdom, the way that leads to freedom and liberty – the road to an abundant life – real change!
So, you want real change, one must first begin with ‘what is truth’?

Holiness – how can I be holy when I live in this fleshly tent?

The struggle of the flesh against the spirit is a daily battle and we usually end up on the wrong end. The flesh and its desires seem so strong at times that the lust of eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life just seem to rule our lives. And being surrounded by the ways of the world is a further enticement to walk the wide path.
The desensitization of sin, as well as the incessant push by the world that there is ‘no truth’, continues to bombard our lives and ensnare us thus creating a life that is not lived in victory but defeat. The flesh is strong but the spirit is weak.
Yet, we as believers are called to by holy – set apart for God – living victorious lives in Him.
I believe that the answer to our daily struggle will not be found in our own strength nor in our own abilities but by our continual surrender to the Spirit of God that lives within us – for it is no longer I that live but Christ within me.
He did not save us and give us His Holy Spirit so that we would be left as weak and feeble followers who are unable to walk in victory. (Although the enemy of our souls would have you believe that!)
Walking in His grace and standing firm in His truth, while filled with the power of His Holy Spirit, that is where we find victory – where the battle against sin is won and holiness reigns.
He has blessed us with the answer and given us the power – we must, by faith, accept it and walk in it – for that is where He wants us to be; that is where we will find the victory.
And when we do fall as we struggle in our daily battles, which we will, He is there ready to forgive us and pick us back up again for His grace is sufficient.
May we all seek to be victorious tent walkers!

What would Jesus be doing in our day?

It is an interesting question that keeps getting thrown around lately by the media. Would Jesus be one of the 99%, would He be a socialist, would He be political activist, would He be feeding all of the hungry and providing shelter for all of the homeless, would He be righting all of the wrongs and setting straight all of the evil ones? What would He be doing?
Well, if you believe the Word of God, Jesus came to us about 2,000 years ago in the flesh to carry out His mission upon this earth - to be the fulfillment of the promise foretold long ago.
And in truth, He is also here today – through the power of His Spirit and through the working of His body (the church)!
He has not left us unawares as some might think but He has provided us with His Word, as well as His Spirit, to enable us to do what Jesus has for us to do today! He has called us to be His ambassadors to represent Him to this lost and dying world.
But we must remember why He came to earth in the first place – to fulfill the promise made by God that He would make a way to restore the relationship between mankind and Himself – by His sacrifice the veil was torn and the Holy of Holies was now ‘open’ to those who believe by faith – we could again walk and talk with God – man redeemed from his sin by God’s mercy, restored by His grace and new life bestowed with the hope and assurance of eternal life in His heaven.
His Word of Truth tells us that we are, as we walk upon this earth, to share this truth with all that might hear! So what would Jesus be doing – sharing the grace and truth of God with all who would hear…because that is what He has called us to do – preach the word and make disciples! And if we live by faith and abide in Him His power will be revealed through us for all to see.

And the true purpose shall be revealed – God glorified!

It is time...

It is time for you to rejoice over your blessed position in Christ.
You are the heavenly Father’s beloved child – His delightful servant who is forever being changed into His Son’s image – all because Christ is in you.
Thank Him for this incredible gift to you – and allow yourself to be transformed by His Word and Spirit.

(D. Wilkerson)

the gift of His blessing

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. . .

For the most part in our day and age we spend so much time dealing and dwelling and planning on the temporal that we neglect or even ignore the eternal! We focus so much upon the physical that we miss out on the power of the spiritual.

But where is our real home? And where will we spend eternity?

Where does the power come from for living this life as an over comer in an abundant way so that we might be His grace and truth dispensers?
How long will our life on this earth last in comparison to all of eternity?

And the final question to ponder is – how are we daily responding to Christ's gift of having available to us every spiritual blessing in Him?

I think it comes down to what we really believe and live out in our everyday life regarding where our hope and future is anchored...if we are spending all of our time planning for our temporal future while neglecting our spiritual we are missing out on our calling in Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing!

Our hope is in Christ Jesus, our future is in Christ Jesus - all blessing originates by Him and through Him...

So, what are we doing with the gift of His blessing?

Life's key questions

Where does my hope come from
Who is my strength and my shield
Where is my joy found
Who knows my frame and understands my flesh
Where may I find life everlasting
Who pardons my iniquities and has redeemed me from my sin
Where does my help come from

In Christ and Christ alone
My Salvation is from the LORD

He and He alone is the answer
For God’s mercy and grace have been poured out upon me in full measure
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

It’s all about faith…

- By faith, through faith, in faith;
- Walk by faith, live by faith, justified by faith, understand by faith, sanctified by faith;
- Saved through faith, boldness and confident access through faith, Christ dwells in our hearts through faith;
- Strong in faith, sound in faith, ask in faith, rich in faith, offered in faith, continue in faith, abound in faith.

If it really is all about faith what is our ‘faith’ in?

We can have faith (confidence, trust, reliance, conviction, devotion, belief) in a lot of things; people, ideas, wealth, man-made religion, the stuff of life, nothing but oneself, etc…

So the question today is: What is our faith really based upon or maybe a better way to ask - who (not what or where) have we placed our faith in?

And are we passionate (fervent, ardent, devoted, enthusiastic) in our faith?

As a result, what does a life of passionate faith look like in the real, everyday world in which we live?

A passionate faith in Jesus Christ manifests itself in everyday life when we are filled with the Holy Spirit and live the sold-out life of a Grace and Truth dispenser.


Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 up for me.

The Star of David

The Star of David is made up of two over-lapping triangles. It has one triangle pointing upward the other pointing downward. I was pondering the other day about how the Star of David was formed and I was impressed with the following:

The triangle pointing upward represents our relationship with the Lord our God. As we grow in our relationship with Him we move nearer, growing ever closer, as we release our ways we gain His truth. Moving closer into His presence, drawing nearer by His grace – welcomed by His lovingkindness.

And the downward pointing triangle represents our relationship with our fellow man. The downward point of the triangle represents a focus on one’s self and as you grow in your relationship with the Lord, your focus moves/changes/grows to become less ‘self-focused’ and more focused on others – that is sharing the gospel and making disciples, encouraging and exhorting one another.

As the Holy Spirit works in us the closer we come to the Lord, the more we are changed into His image, and the more we become His true grace and truth disciples. Drawing close to God, opening our heart to man – there is no other way to be His disciple.

OWS

Occupy Wall Street (OWS) has been a topic in the world’s media as of late. And from my perspective it is an interesting response from the ‘street’ to what is going on in our country as well as other parts of our world. Frustration, disappointment, perceived ‘rights’ unmet, people who say that they are tired of greed, corruption and power brokering within the ‘establishment’ – coming together to ‘share’ their story; to establish some beachhead, although no one seems to know exactly what that is and/or what it means – a faction comprised of varying and various complaints against today’s society.

But, I want to direct your attention to a different OWS movement – Overcoming Worldly Struggles!

A body of redeemed people comprised of those who are ambassadors for the living Christ, who have been called to share His love with all who will hear. We are, as believers in Christ Jesus, members of this OWS movement that has the ability to change lives not just for the short term but for eternity! A movement that shares the message of God’s grace and truth which sets captives free, redeems his creation from the bondage of sin’s oppression, restores lives that have been ravaged by the fallen nature of man while bringing liberty to His ransomed; a new life in Christ and eternity in His presence.

I exhort and encourage the body of Christ to stand up, stand firm and stand boldly in proclaiming the Lord Jesus Christ and His message of grace and mercy and redemption in these times. He has called us into action amongst this fray that is our daily life on this earth and He has provided us with all that we need to proclaim Him - sounding forth His message – how then shall we proceed?

Overcoming Worldly Struggles through Our Wonderful Savior…

No excuses

We live in a time where it seems that everyone has an ‘excuse’ for everything and it is usually to blame someone else, something else or anything else. Where is responsibility? Where is integrity and honor?

We know that the world’s way is to always blame it on anything but ourselves but what about God’s way? Aren’t we supposed to be people of integrity, of honor, placing the truth of God above the ways of the world? And when we make mistakes, which we all will do, aren’t we supposed to take responsibility for them and do the right thing? Admit it, ask forgiveness if appropriate, make it right and move forward – no excuses!

When we stand for God’s truth and as we fulfill our role as His ambassadors to this lost and dying world, we must be willing and able to stand up against the world’s ‘blame everyone else’ mentality and be people of integrity and honor – willing to admit to our mistakes, to the errors that we have committed, to omissions where we have fallen short.

The growing entitlement mentality that is sweeping our country continues to feed the beast that is “it is not my fault’ and someone else must be blamed for my shortcomings – I am surely not to blame. If my “rights’ are not met as I perceive them then I must make excuses for my actions and find a ‘guilty party’ to blame. This is the ‘excuse game’ run amok! If we must use pretext as a ploy to justify our position we might need to revisit our position. The question to ask oneself when considering a response to a situation that would normally generate an excuse: does it bring honor, is it based on integrity?

In short: to stand for His Name and to honor His glory means that there are NO EXCUSES!

The Truly Extreme Makeover

Some of you have watched the television show “Extreme Makeover’ where they take a family’s older house, undergo a complete makeover of the home and then present it to the family – their new home. Sometimes it is a renovation project where they improve upon the existing home that is usually in poor condition. Other times they completely destroy the existing home and start from scratch. The program brings people from the community together to assist with the project and there is always a very emotional ending as the extreme makeover home is displayed to the family and the community as they ‘move that bus’.

Well, I want to tell you about a Truly Extreme Makeover! Where the old home is gone and a new home is created – a complete renovation and the start of a new life!

- Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. [2 Cor 5:17]

- But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration (spiritual rebirth) and renewing (renovation/makeover) by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. [Titus 3:4-7]

- …that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth [Eph 4:23-24]

The Holy Spirit at work in you, giving you an extreme makeover…and they rejoice in heaven.

So, are you ready to ‘move that bus’?

Let us…

“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and

Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
(Hebrews; chapter 10)

In our day and age of Me, My and I, we have a tendency to focus almost exclusively upon the happenings in our own lives – some even to the exclusion of what is happening to those around us. This is NOT what the Lord Jesus desires of His church (those who are believers in Christ).

As these verses in the book of Hebrews indicate we are to:
1) draw near to Him – since we have been blessed with access to the holy place by the blood of Jesus, the very presence of God in our lives for those who seek after Him
2) hold fast the hope that Christ has given to those who believe and follow Him - for our hope is not in vain for He has promised an everlasting hope along with over abundant grace for today
3) consider how to stimulate (arouse, inspire, motivate) one another to love and good deeds – for He is our strength and He is our power, may we abide in Him so that we may bear good fruit, encouraging one another in Him, even to the building of the body of Christ so that the Gospel may be proclaimed to all; His disciples doing His work

By the power of His Holy Spirit - stand strong and walk steadfastly as we draw near to Him and hold fast the hope that has been given to us so that we might truly be His grace and truth dispensers.

For our lives have been redeemed and purchased by His blood, for His sake, for His honor and for His work – let us fully live it for the world to see.

Something to ponder

I was recently pondering upon the account of the Hebrew exodus from Egypt - how the multitude of the Hebrew people wanted relief from their trials and tribulations that Pharaoh had placed upon them and how they longed to be freed from the bondage and oppression that had taken place in their lives.
How God then miraculously provided for their deliverance from their bondage. And yet, shortly after their deliverance from that bondage, they were murmuring and complaining and saying they would be better off going back to Egypt!
They had witnessed and experienced the great salvation that the Lord had promised and provided yet they became restless and rebellious about proceeding to the Promised Land. Yes, they must walk through the wilderness and the arid lands that separated Egypt from the Promised Land but God had promised to lead them and provide for all of their needs as they made their way.
Follow Him and they would be taken care of…He gave a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day…water to drink and manna to eat…what more could those Hebrew people have asked for? It seems that God’s provision wasn’t enough!
Although there were some who truly believed the Lord and trusted in Him and His promises, I dare say many were only along for the initial relief from the trials and tribulation and the bondage and oppression – they were not willing to trust in the Lord enough to work out their salvation.
And then when you consider the ten men that went to spy out the Promised Land. Just two of those ten men trusted enough in God to believe Him and completely follow His leading while the other eight could only see with man’s vision – a worldly vision that meant disbelief and subsequent defeat. The picture is clear of a people not willing to humble themselves or be thankful for God’s deliverance and provision. They were not willing to trust and to rest in His mercy and grace.
In the church (the body of Christ) today it seems that we probably have a comparable ratio of those who truly trust in God and His promises for His children and seek to walk in His paths and those who are along for the initial relief. When I think about how weak the church is in our time, how we are not willing stand firm on God’s truth, how we murmur and complain, how we are not satisfied with God’s deliverance and provision, how we believe that man has a better idea and vision – it makes me wonder when our proverbial 40 years of wandering began…

Wisdom

Wisdom is very much needed in our day. The question that we have to come to terms with is: where does our wisdom come from, what is its origination?
We have too long relied upon the wisdom of man to deal with the issues of life and thus we are reaping what we have sown – broken lives, broken people, emptiness and longing. The wisdom of man is founded in the carnal (the works of the flesh) and is based upon self-interest. The worldly wisdom of man does not produce liberty, it does not set captives free, and it does not promote hope and love.
The storms of life weigh heavily upon men’s souls…and they seek after answers from the wisdom of man. Yet man’s wisdom falls short in providing the real answers to life’s struggles. Struggles wrought in the flesh, striving with the spirit.
The wisdom of man seldom reaches to the fullness of truth…for his wisdom is blinded by his own heart; a heart that is lacking, that seeks to understand but cannot due to its emptiness, its wickedness.
Wisdom can only come when the heart is made whole and the void is filled with the grace and truth of its Creator.
For we are made in His image – we are spirit and life - and it is only in Him that our hearts can be imparted with His Spirit and His life – and that is the source of true wisdom.

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom…

My good, my refuge

But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
that I may tell of all Your works.
(Psalm 73:28)

My good: We are invited to come near to our God for He earnestly desires our presence – are we ready, are we willing, do we long to be in His presence? For He has made a way for us to enter into the Holy Place, His sanctuary where He is, by the blood of the Lamb – what could be better? The nearness of God is a place of joy, it is a place of grace, it is a place of gladness, and it is a precious place filled with His mercy and lovingkindness. His nearness is my good.

My refuge: Have we made the Lord God our refuge? Have we entered into His sanctuary? It is a place of hope, a place of protection, a place of shelter, and a place of trust…can we unwaveringly say; the Lord GOD is my refuge? For He is my hope, He is my protection, He is my shelter and in Him I will trust.

And because of His provision, we are to tell everyone of His marvelous works; to glorify Him, to tell the world around us that He is good, that His lovingkindness is forever to those who diligently seek after Him.

The nearness of God is my good and I have made Him my refuge therefore I will exalt His name to all creation.

Calling for a flood

Church, we need to be calling for a flood! We need to be longing for a flood of the Holy Spirit that will overcome our worldly-filled lives. A complete immersion of all that we are so that we might truly and completely trust and follow Him.

A call for a flood of holy living water that cleanses and renews us; that creates in us a longing for the power of God working in and through us for His glory – not for our own. And a revived desire for His word, a driving passion to equip and encourage His body (the church) and hearts that hunger to share the gospel message with a lost and dying world – an overwhelming flood of grace and truth.

Below are some of the words to John Waller’s song “Calling for a Flood” (I also have included a Youtube link so that you may listen to the song and ponder upon its words)

“Flood every corner of this room; flood all my emptiness with You, Lord, I long to be consumed and I’m calling for a flood.
So flood every chamber of my heart, flood what I lack with all You are, I am dry and I am parched and calling for a flood.
Now flood every portal of my mind, and flood everything I’ve tried to hide, I am looking to the sky and I’m calling for a flood. Submerge me, Lord, in holy water; drown me to live in You.
We are calling for a flood, Holy Spirit flow, completely immerse us in You, we’re longing for a flood of holiness to wash us now, hear us Lord we’re calling for a flood.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UECU27nX6bw&feature=related

I would encourage you to listen to the words of this song.

quote for the week

There is only one relationship that matters, and that is your personal relationship to a personal Redeemer and Lord.
Let everything else go, but maintain that at all cost, and God will fulfill His purpose through your life. (This includes meeting the needs of your heart.)

Oswald Chambers

If we build our relationship (our faith, hope, trust, and love) with the One True Foundation, the Chief Cornerstone - Jesus Christ, then everything else will fall into its rightful place...

In His time...by His hand...in His way - do we trust Him?

"The Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt…for I know their sorrows and I am come down to deliver them".
Do you believe God sees your need and condition, just as he did with Israel? We often glibly say, “Christ is all,” yet when we face a crisis—when one thing after another goes wrong, our prayers seem unanswered, and hope after hope is dashed—we descend into fear. Indeed, we succumb to fear. But the fact is, God never forsakes his children in their time of anguish, even when things seem absolutely hopeless. We can always trust Him! (David Wilkerson)

In His time...by His hand...in His way - do we trust Him?
Is He truly our 'all in all' in all matters of this life?
How do you stand on the Rock of our Salvation?
Is your foundation built upon the Chief Cornerstone?

Trust, faith and new shoes

We can be very impatient people. And most times we want to have everything right now – no waiting. Our present instantaneous society has ingrained within us an immediacy about everything that we do and think. And if we don’t get what we believe that we need at that moment we can become very anxious, even to the point of questioning the Lord and wondering why He is not acting upon our behalf!

In our walk as His followers upon this earth, we have the ability to ‘wear out our shoes’ thus creating ‘holes in our souls’. When we focus on the ‘means’ (the material stuff of daily life) and forget the ‘ends’ (the stuff of eternity) we can get knocked off the narrow path and begin to mingle among the ways of the wide path – the path does not lead to abundant life. As we straddle the wide path we can wear out our shoes and create holes in our souls – areas where we no longer have complete trust and faith in our Lord thus creating anxiousness and anxiety in our lives.

I am here to tell you that our Lord does not want His children to wear out their shoes and have holes in their souls. He wants all us to have ‘new shoes’ – a life abundant in faith and trust in Him. Where our level of faith and trust in Him is not reliant upon how our daily wants are met, on how quickly we are gratified with the things we deem to be necessary, but resting and trusting in Him completely in and for ALL things.

Are your shoes worn out? Ask your Father for new ones and then rest in Him!

Be anxious for nothing (Phil 4:6)

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:20-21)

The WORD of Life

Establish Your word to Your servant, as that which produces reverence for You.

Revive me according to Your word, strengthen me according to Your word, be gracious to me according to Your word, sustain me according to Your word;
For Your word is very pure and the sum of Your word is truth, sanctify me in your truth, Your word is truth;

I wait for Your word, for I trust in Your word, establish my footsteps in Your word;

For Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path,
And this is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me;

I rejoice at Your word, O Lord, and may I speak Your word with all confidence;
Jesus, You are the Word of Life.

He who gives attention to the word will find good and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
(Proverbs 16:20)

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
(Hebrews 4:12)

the world shall see...

Lord God Almighty,
May Your wisdom be upon me
May Your fullness dwell within me
May Your peace reign in me
May Your light shine through me
And the world shall see the beauty of Your presence, the wonder of Your glory, the miracle of Your grace and the greatness of Your mercy.

perseverance

This life can be a struggle and sometimes we think that it has us beat!
Even in our walk of faith, we can feel like "giving up" . . . .
But, where does our hope come from?
We must always remember that if our hope is in Jesus Christ, He shall never leave us nor forsake us.
For there will be trials and tribulations in this life but there will also be times of refreshing and rejoicing and triumph!
Let us keep our eyes on Him; for only when our eyes are on Him are we able to run the race. And yes, it can be a hard, long and painful race, but the reward - the hope that is set before us - is well worth all of our effort!

In closing, remember -
the real fruit of conversion is perseverance . . .

Deity indwelling men!

'Truth consists not in correct doctrine, but in correct doctrine plus the inward enlightenment of the Holy Spirit....Deity indwelling men!' (A W Tozer)

That is where the power and the authority come from....not from our flesh, not from our ideas, not from our wisdom....

We must be filled with the Spirit so that we may fulfill the call that we have on our lives as believers -

1) preach the gospel and
2) make disciples......

Powerful quote to consider

God's full intention for these last days can be summed up in this one sentence:

Being that we are Christ's body on earth, God's intention is that every member becomes a true expression of who Christ is!

God intends for us to express such a complete fullness of Christ that any sinner can see in us the Lord Jesus Christ as surely as if he once again walked here in the flesh.
We are to appropriate so much of his fullness, his glory, his completeness that the world will see in us the hope and answers to their needs.

It is not enough to know Christ. We must be a full expression of who he is!

David Wilkerson


2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

Spiritual eyes to see...do we have them...do we use them...

What do we see when we look at people or maybe I should ask what don't we see?
Do we simply see a male or female, an attractive person or an unattractive person, someone who is physically fit or one who is not fit, someone we might associate with or someone who we probably wouldn’t associate with, someone who fits our image of what we believe is in our ‘class’ or someone who we think might either be above or below our ‘station’ – how do we see the people that we come into contact with and pass by each and every day?
As a believer we are to view those around us with our ‘spiritual eyes’ – and we are to see God’s creation. We are to see a life that was made by Him - in His image, a life that is either in His kingdom by faith and needs to be strengthened and uplifted in their walk OR one who is not in His kingdom and needs to know about a Creator God who loves them much more than they can understand and seeks after a relationship with them.
Our spiritual birth in Christ has made us complete in Him and as such we are to see people as He sees them – not as the world sees them. In our world today we have been indoctrinated so well that we have a propensity to see people as the world wants us to see them – for what they can do for us based upon their ‘status’ – this is NOT the way that Christ desires we see His creation. We are to see, with our spiritual eyes, people who need a Savior; who need Christ's love, who need hope, who need joy, who need peace, who need encouragement, who need to be exhorted and even those who need to be rebuked.
As Christ sees us, frail and fallen beings who long for relationship, we are to see the people around us who pass our way each and every day.
So, how are your spiritual eyes doing?

prb


There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [Galatians 3:28]

Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. [John 4:35]

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling [Ephesians 1:18]

An Ode to Our Times

All her majesty is departing from her, she who once was great among the nations.
She did not consider her future, therefore she has fallen astonishingly.
Greif has beset her because of the multitude of her transgressions, she has sinned greatly therefore she has become an unclean thing. Her iniquity is greater than the sin of Sodom.

See O Lord, for we are in distress, our spirit is greatly troubled; our heart is overturned within us, for we have been very rebellious.
The law is no more and there is no wisdom to be found in the land.
For our ruin is as vast as the sea. Our leaders have seen for us false and foolish visions and they have not exposed iniquity.

Who can heal us? Who can restore us?

Let us examine and probe our ways, and let us return to the Lord.
Restore us to You, O Lord, that we may be restored.

Lord God, You draw near when we call on You, You tell us, “Do not fear”. Therefore we have hope.
For the Lord is my portion therefore I have hope in Him. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him.

The Lord's loving-kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is His faithfulness.
His loving-kindness is never-ending, His grace and His mercy overcome, His truth is an everlasting foundation.

Love…not for the faint of heart!

Where does love begin?
If love does not begin at the right place what do you have - a worldly love that is self-focused, conditional and easily takes offense!
‘Love is a many splendored thing’ as a song writer once said yet in our world real, true love (as God has defined it) takes work, can be very messy at times and is very hands-on. Love is a voluntary act of giving of one’s self that can only be enabled by the grace and mercy of its Author, empowered by His Holy Spirit. It can take a toll on our spirit; it costs us something to love as love is truly meant to be. And love can leave one seemingly empty when it is not returned. But loved poured out is the work that we are called to accomplish. For the servant is not above his Master and the Master loves exceedingly abundantly more than we can ever know while we are on this earth.
We are called to love because He first loved us.
And this is love poured out:
- It is a redemptive and restoring love.
- It is a love that saves us and sets us free.
- It is a love that freely gives even when nothing is given back.
- It is a love that created yet places no demands upon its object.
- It is a love that is unconditional in its nature – a full and complete love that nurtures as well as admonishes.
- It is a love that longs for the restoration of an intimate relationship – a relationship that was broken by its intended object but was miraculously restored just as He promised.
- A love that cost Him everything yet is freely given to those who are its object.
Where does love begin – it begins with the Lord…and if we abide in Him His love will be poured out through us to a lost and dying world.

May I be...

May I be a humble man, Lord
that my words would encourage and edify

May I be a steadfast man, Lord
that my walk with You would be faithful

May I be a patient man, Lord
that my actions might witness unto You

May I be a man of perseverance, Lord
that all may see that I trust in You

May I be a man filled with Your grace and truth, Lord
that You would be glorified in my life

As a believer in Christ Jesus our Lord

As a believer in Christ Jesus our Lord;

We are called to daily pick up our cross -

Our cross is an outward sign of our dying to self, crucifying our flesh, letting the Lord lead us in all that we say and do, giving way to the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives - not my will but Thy will be done

We are called to follow Him-

Not just on Sunday and Wednesday nights, not just at fellowships and Bible studies, but in everything that we do, in everything that we are, whether it is comfortable or not, whether you feel like it or not - you have a call on your life and Jesus says ‘Follow me”

We are called and blessed with a testimony-

We must be prepared and we must be willing to share what the Lord has done and is doing in our lives - we overcome the world by the word of our testimony

We are called to preach the gospel-

The preaching of the gospel is a command of the Lord Jesus Christ to everyone that calls upon His name and has been born again from above, it is not an option, it is not just for the ‘pastoral staff’ - we are all called to ‘preach the good news’ of the kingdom of God

We are called to make disciples of all nations-

The making of disciples is another command that the believer is called to participate in, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Word of God we must seek to be obedient to assist the Lord in the process of maturing the body - this is discipleship

We are called to love as He has loved us-

Without the love of Christ shining forth through us none of the above will matter. . . .

If we speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing......we love because He first loved us.....

By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:35)

God of my praise

O God of my praise,

May my walk be encouraged
May my faith be strengthened
May my heart be steadfast
May my mind be renewed

For I am a man of iniquities and sin
And I am afflicted and needy

But I hunger and thirst after You
By Your loving kindness deliver me
By Your mighty Right Hand uphold me

Psalms 109:30
With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the LORD; And in the midst of many I will praise Him.

in You

In Your hand Lord, there is life changing hope
In Your Word Lord, there is the truth that sets us free
In Your Spirit Lord, there are waters of abundant life
In Your life Lord, there is peace and joy abounding.

prb

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
(Romans 15:13)

I am

I am the Lord your God
Who brought you out of sin
Who delivered you from the bonds of slavery
Who set you on high ground
Who made a way where there was no way
Who tore the veil and invited you into the most holy place
I am the Lord your God
Who gives you new life
Who offers you life abundant
Who longs for your presence
Who loves you with an everlasting love
I am the Lord your God
I am the Lord Jesus the Christ

Quantity versus Quality

Where is our focus? This appears to be a part of the issue with the modern church today.

We seem to strive so hard for quantity (ie: numbers) that we are missing out on the quality (disciple making). I seem to recall that God’s Word tells us to go and make disciples (quality). I dare say that if we were to follow His admonition – go and make disciples - then we can probably let Him worry about the quantity (numbers). But maybe part of the issue is our understanding (or lack thereof) of ‘what is a disciple’!

The prb understanding of ‘what is a disciple’:
- one who follows Jesus Christ and hears and listens to His voice,
- one who places their complete faith and trust in Him,
- one who allows the Holy Spirit to fully indwell them,
- one who grows in knowledge and stands firm on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (His Word - the Bible),
- one who is not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
- one who is steadfast in fighting the good fight of faith,
- one who resists the devil,
- one who understands that this world is not their own – that we are aliens and foreigners who are sojourners in this world,
- one whose hope is looking to and based upon the author and finisher of our faith,
- one who longs to be in His presence and glory in His grace, and
- one who loves the Lord God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength and loves their neighbors as themselves.

By faith, through grace, in truth – this is the life of a disciple.

Is there such a thing as a ‘quasi-disciple’ that seems to make up a large part of the ‘quantity’ church at large these days? Could this be one who attempts to follow Jesus (on Sundays and Wednesday nights) with one foot while yet keeping the other foot solidly in the world (might I use a biblical expression: lukewarm). There are those who are a ‘mile wide’ but an ‘inch deep’ and are joined with those who believe that Christianity is a ‘spectator sport’ that should be played only by the ‘professionals’. Somehow I don’t believe this is what Jesus had in mind when He said “come and follow Me”!

Quantity for the sake of quantity is rarely a good thing…and there are lots of good ‘reasons’ for churches to focus on quantity…yet, our focus should be on what God desires that we be – His disciples, witnesses unto Him and ministers of the Gospel of Christ. Might we join Him where He has called us – whether we are planters, water-ers, equippers, encouragers, exhorters and/or sometimes even rebuke-ers – that we might be His grace and truth dispensers…?

First...

First, God loved us…
But we chose separation.
Then God gave us a promise fashioned by faith…
But we determined that we could not wait.
Then God acted upon His promise…
But it did not fit our understanding so we did not believe.
Then God, in His love for us, paid the ultimate price…
But we, in our disobedience, ignored His gift.
Then God said ‘it is finished’…
But we still wanted our own kingdoms.
Then God tore the veil from top to bottom to overcome the separation…
But we chose to ignore His redemptive work.
Then God removed the sting of death…
But we, in our pride, rejected the hope of new life.

God is still waiting,
His promise fulfilled,
His plan for our redemption complete,
His love calls us to His Son,
His Spirit draws us to His grace…
How then shall we respond to the greatest love of all?

In Him

It is not in our traditions that we trust in Him. . . . .
Nor is it in our rituals that we walk with Him. . . . . .
Nor is it in our programs that we grow in our faith in Him.

It is only in our personal and intimate relationship with Him, the Lord Jesus Christ, that our trust will grow deeper and our walk will grow stronger and our faith will grow in full measure...

The Passover Lamb of God

As another Passover is celebrated
The foreshadowing of what was to come
Celebrating a future fulfillment of the promise
A promise made from the foundation of the world
The Passover Lamb of God

His broken body would be pierced for our transgressions
He would be crushed for our iniquities
By His scourging we would be healed
He would be poured out even to death for our sin
His blood would be shed to overcome death’s sting
The Passover Lamb of God

And yet, He was despised and forsaken of men
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him
The Passover Lamb of God

The Righteous One who came to serve
His sacrifice made, the price paid that many might be set free
Redemption accomplished through an act of His loving-kindness
Grace and mercy interceding for our transgressions
The Passover Lamb of God

Salvation is among us, liberty and life anew
Rejoice for He has risen, Rejoice for He is alive
Our Passover Lamb of God
Our Redeemer, Our Savior, Our Lord
Jesus

what greater works

The Word of God says that -

the gift of prophecy will be no more

the gift of tongues will be no more

the gift of knowledge will be no more...

(1 Corinthians 13:8)

But love shall be forever...

For God is love, He first loved us and He showed us His love in and through His Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

So, from an eternal perspective (which we are to have as believers) when Jesus Christ said - "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father.” (John 14:12 13) - what is the greatest work of God that we can participate in?

The saving love of God poured out for people to change their eternal destiny!

We have been invited by the Creator of the universe to join with Him as He shows His grace, His mercy and His love to His creation.....His desire is that we allow the love of His Son to flow through us so that the lost and dying of this world might be saved.

What greater work than this would we want to participate in?

First

FIRST, we must love Him with the whole of our heart, soul and mind...then, and only then, might we serve Him with our lives. For when we struggle and strive with dual allegiance (attempting to love the Lord while yet loving the world) we become noisy clutter mixing the true message of the gospel with the chaff of the world.

road to the kingdom

"If we could only find some means of curing everybody of disease, of feeding them and putting them on a good social basis, what a marvelous thing it would be. That is the way we are being told that the kingdom of God is to be established on this earth. We do not need any more of this talk about the Atonement, and the shedding of blood; what is needed today is to spend ourselves for others.That is the lure of the wrong road to the kingdom, and we cannot keep out of it if we forget to watch and pray. "Watch with Me," said Jesus; "Mine is the only road to the kingdom."'

- Oswald Chambers

A powerful quote that is even more appropriate for our day. What comes first in our lives might be the question to ask those of us whom call ourselves followers of Jesus Christ…is it the call of the world’s needs or the call to follow Him? For if we follow Him all these other things (the true needs of life) shall follow. But if we seek to build our own kingdoms using His name of what value will they be? As a true follower (disciple) of Jesus Christ we will seek Him first in all matters of life and godliness and then, as we are filled with His Spirit, we shall grow in His grace and truth, and then we shall become ministers unto Him (which is what He has called all of us to be)....This is the road to the kingdom which has only one King who sits upon the throne –the Lord Jesus Christ.

Where’s the grace?

Do you recall the Wendy’s television commercial where the older woman asked the question ‘Where’s the beef’? Well, I want you to consider this question for our day – Where’s the grace?

Grace defined:
1. elegance - beauty, smoothness of form or movement,
2. politeness – dignified, polite, decent behavior,
3. generosity of spirit – a capacity to tolerate, accommodate or forgive people,
4. pleasing quality – a pleasing and admirable quality or characteristic,
5. gift of God to mankind – in Christianity, the infinite love, mercy, favor and goodwill shown to humankind by God

We seem to be rapidly moving towards an era in our country where the concept of grace is disappearing from daily life. It seems that a once gracious people have been replaced with extremely self indulgent people who have an attitude – it’s ALL about me. From how we drive our vehicles, to how we act in a store or restaurant, to how we seem to be so self-focused most of the time that we don’t even acknowledge one another anymore.

I realize that I should not expect much from the world for the darkness pervades men’s souls and thrives on self absorption, but what about the church - the body of Christ? We are to be His grace dispensers, first to the body then to the lost world around us. And His grace is shown through our love – not what the world calls love but God’s love that is poured out for us and through us. Are we instruments of His grace to the body or have we bought the world’s view that self-interest is what it is all about?

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
(John 13:34-35)

…and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people…
(1 Thessalonians 3:12)

Lord, help us to be the grace and truth dispensers that You redeemed us to be, let us set aside and move beyond the selfishness of our age by the power of Your Spirit, may we focus upon You and Your love for us so that we in turn might share Your love with those around us – which is the gospel message.

May our challenge be to ask ourselves this question in our daily lives – Where’s the grace?

JESUS AND JESUS ONLY TO SPEAK ABOUT

I wish to speak to you about Jesus, and Jesus only. I often hear people say, "I wish I could get hold of Divine Healing, but I cannot." Sometimes they say, "I have got it." If I ask them, "What have you got?" the answer is sometimes, "I have got the blessing", sometimes it is, "I have got the theory"; sometimes it is, "I have got the healing"; sometimes, "I have got the sanctification."

But I thank God we have been taught that it is not the blessing, it is not the healing, it is not the sanctification, it is not the thing, it is not the 'it' that you want, but "it" is something better. It is "the Christ"; it is Himself. How often that comes out in His Word - "Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses", Himself "bare our sins in his own body on the tree"!

It is the person of Jesus Christ we want. Plenty of people get the idea and do not get anything out of IT. They get IT into their head, and IT into their conscience, and IT into their will; but somehow they do not get Him into their life and spirit, because they have only that which is the outward expression and symbol of the spiritual reality.

A.B. Simpson (1843-1919) - Founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance movement. He was known for his missionary zeal to spread the gospel to the world.

Determination, perseverance and steadfastness like a weed!

Have you ever watched as weeds pop up in the most unexpected places and seem to thrive where you can’t even get grass to grow – like rock-infested, concrete hardened, sun baked-clay dirt! Normally I get the winter months off from doing weed patrol in our back yard (we like to think of it as our little desert oasis!) but this winter those old, steadfast and persistent weeds have decided not to give me a break.

In thinking about those old persistent weeds it reminds me of our call to determination, perseverance and steadfastness in our walk of faith. Whether it’s soft soil or hardened dirt or even cracks in the concrete, those weeds just keep growing! And even though I keep trying to get rid of them, their determination, perseverance and steadfastness keep them coming back. So it should be with our walk of faith. No matter what the environment around us may be, we should just keep growing in the grace and truth of our Lord - whether it is trials or
tribulations (hardened dirt), or persecution (cracks in the concrete), or even abundant blessing (soft soil) – our determination, perseverance and steadfastness should remain focused upon Him – growing into His image.

And the benefit of the Christian walk is that we are not on our own – Jesus promised that He would never leave us nor forsake us and that His Holy Spirit would indwell within us and guide us.

So fellow sojourning weeds, it is our mission to stand tall, stand out, stand strong and with determination, perseverance and steadfastness may we grow into His likeness no matter what our soil conditions may be.

W - willingly
E - enduring
E - everything with
D - determination and
S - steadfastness

How shall we respond?

We appear to be quickly approaching a period in history where the body of Christ will come under continually increasing levels of attack. As the face of persecution proceeds to move forward with its attempt to destroy the body of Christ, we as believers must be prepared and ready for battle – the spiritual battle that wages around us. It is a war that rages against the truth, that loves the darkness and strives to overtake the world.

And as we see and experience the effects of this battle in our everyday lives how shall we respond? What are we to do?

First of all we must, by FAITH, understand and stand firm in the knowledge that our God is in control and that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Secondly, we must, by GRACE, understand and respond to our part (gifts according to the grace that was given to us) that the Lord has called us to play in the world around us – and He has called each one of us to be a light!

Thirdly, we must, by His LOVE, believe in the hope that is set before us, knowing and understanding that He is our all and all – the One who first loved us.

In the following section of scripture from the book of Romans, the 12th chapter, we have the Apostle Paul’s outline for what we, as the body of Christ, need to be focused upon, in practical terms, as we proceed through these times:

Let love be without hypocrisy.
Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love;
give preference to one another in honor;
not lagging behind in diligence,
fervent in spirit,
serving the Lord;
rejoicing in hope,
persevering in tribulation,
devoted to prayer,
contributing to the needs of the saints,
practicing hospitality.

The LORD is my shepherd…

The LORD is my shepherd… (Psalm 23:1)

Who are we: Wandering sheep that stray from the protection and comfort of our Shepherd…at times we are oblivious to His truth, unmoved by His power, ignorant of His love.

We long for peace but we search amiss…
Desiring to gain the world we miss His blessing…
Redeemed and restored yet we reject His abundant life…
Focused upon ourselves while rejecting the loving-kindness of the selfless Savior…
Always wanting more but giving less – we miss true joy…

The following link is to a Youtube video of Todd Agnew’s song ‘Shepherd’.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHbWuknI4Bo&feature=related


This song has been on my heart lately. As I ponder the words and listen to the music it makes me think about how the Lord ‘IS’ my Shepherd. And in our daily lives how we work so hard attempting to leave the safety, protection and love of the Shepherd’s care while trying to live life by doing it our own way.

I have also included the words to the song below along with some selected verses.

prb

Shepherd (Todd Agnew)

Shepherd, Your sheep are weary
Cold and tired, battered and bruised and torn
Shepherd, Your sheep are hungry
We got what we wanted but we still need something more
We need to hear Your voice
Whatever You might say
We just need to hear Your voice
Show us the way
Shepherd, Your sheep are lost
We chased our wants that we thought were needs
Now we can’t get home
Shepherd, Your sheep are longing
We ate and we ran, we played and we danced, but were empty
We need to hear Your voice
Whatever You might say
We just need to hear Your voice
Show us the way
Shepherd, these sheep are Yours
We tried to be king, but we don’t want to anymore.


I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. (John 10:11)

I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me (John 10:14)

Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs and carry them in His bosom. (Isaiah 40:11)

For thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them… (Ezekiel 34:11-12)

And He will arise and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. (Micah 5:4)

Bless the Lord God Almighty…

The body of Christ (that is the 'church' - which consists of all who believe in Christ Jesus; having been saved by grace through faith) is encouraged and exhorted by scripture to bless the Lord. In our day, we seem to spend quite a bit of our time asking for His blessing upon US but how often do we spend time blessing Him?

From the Psalms: You who revere the LORD, bless the LORD; Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name; But as for us, we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forever; I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the LORD; the humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together; Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name; Bless our God, O peoples…

Church in America – it is time to bless the Lord! Not because we have to but because we desire to shower adoration on the God who created us, who sustains us, who redeemed us, who is gracious and merciful to us, and who loves us with an everlasting love! For it is He whom we shall spend eternity with! You who revere the Lord, bless Him!

To bless is to: bestow adoration upon, it is the giving of praise and honor, appreciative acknowledgement – it is an action.

Draw near, sit at His feet, and bathe in His love…just as we bless the people that are in our lives by building stronger, closer relationships, so should it be with our Lord – He longs for us to spend time with Him; bless Him with your time, with your talents, with your life; thereby showing Him how much you love Him. And heed His admonition to those who are His own – we shall love Him with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength AND love our neighbor as yourself - and thus we shall bless Him!

Nehemiah 9:5-6 Arise, bless the LORD your God forever and ever! O may Your glorious name be blessed And exalted above all blessing and praise! "You alone are the LORD. You have made the heavens, the heaven of heavens with all their host, The earth and all that is on it, The seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them and the heavenly host bows down before You.

Moratorium on the Christian faith

Moratorium on the Christian faith
Or at least that is what the media would have you believe!
It seems in our day that 'faith' in just about anything is acceptable - as long as that faith is not in Jesus Christ! Whether is it faith in science, or faith in the government or faith in nothing (which is really just faith in one-self wrapped up in politically correct attire) the media powers that be have no issue with these elements of faith (especially the government and the one self’s versions) and do their best to promote their awareness but just mention the name of Jesus Christ (and not in a cuss format) and watch what happens!
Yet we are called ‘more than conquerors’ in Christ Jesus!
But the road never promised to be an easy one and the gate was never said to be wide. You will have persecution for your faith in Me – Jesus taught His disciples. So, why do we think that we should be able to ‘slide by’ on this? We are called to stand firm in our faith, no matter what the trials may be, and His promise to us is that He would never leave us nor forsake us. He also told us that our war is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers in the spiritual realm. And He has given us the weapons that we need to wage this battle. It is our place to appropriate them and stand firm in our faith with the indwelling of His Holy Spirit.
Remember, we are ‘more than conquerors’ in Christ Jesus!
These are exciting times that give us the opportunity to grow in our faith, grow closer to the One who saved and redeemed us, and provides us with the opportunity to show a lost and dying world what ‘real faith’ in a ‘real, living Savior’ looks like - in spite of the mounting persecution.
God will not fail and He will uphold His remnant with His strong Right Arm.
Let us push forward as long as it still today and show the world that we serve a loving God – a God of grace and truth, a God who redeems and restores, a God who sets captives free and grants liberty to those in bondage.
Might we, as God’s grace and truth dispensers, rejoice and be glad that we serve a living, loving Lord!
For we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus our Lord…

prb

Matthew 5:11-12 "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

John 15:18-20 If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you."Remember the word that I said to you, ' A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

2 Timothy 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 8:35-39 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, "for your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered." But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

an unknown path?

Residing peacefully in its place, unmindful of time passing by, with not a worry, patient, waiting and wanting for not a thing

The lowly pebble lives its existence within a gathering of its kind
Yet with the disturbance of fate the pebble rolls and bounds down an unknown path bouncing and scraping down an embankment ending where it knows not
Its peace broken, its place changed, its patient waiting disturbed, the gathering of its kind scattered

Like that rolling, bouncing, bounding pebble on its unplanned and extraordinary journey so it is in the reality that we call our lives on this earth
Rest and tumult, excitement and fear, want and desire, trial and tribulation - these are the essence of life
No anchor to hold us restrained, no foundation to hold us fast - moved by the wind of an unknown fate
A vagabond, a sojourner seeking life's answers to seemingly unanswerable questions
Melded by circumstance, weathered by trials, driven by desire, exhorted by success, rebuked by failure
Longing for something to complete us, searching for truth to guide us - an emptiness of heavenly proportion

And then one day the light breaks through and truth is unveiled, a new life revealed
Profound truth that sets one free, a new creation unconstrained by the factious bonds of this world
Alas, a strong foundation to anchor the weary soul, the tried and tested cornerstone
The power of the flesh overcome,
Restored and risen for righteousness,
Resurrected to hope,
Redeemed for glory
Residing peacefully in Him, mindful of eternity, with not the anxiousness of the world
Patient in faith, steadfastness in waiting and wanting for not a thing

Darkness versus the Light

Have you ever sat in a room in the darkness of night, just before dawn, and looked at your surroundings attempting to discern what the items are that catch your vision? As you look around and try to figure out what an item is the shadows create question marks in your mind about its substance and it becomes clear that in the darkness it can be truly difficult to discern what reality presents before us – is that what I really think it is?

We live in a world that is in darkness so it should come as no surprise that the world cannot really understand nor discern what really is true. The shadows of darkness that blur the reality of life become the norm and we (the world) then subsequently accept the hazy, indiscernible substance around us as life’s true reality. Everything becomes ‘shadowy gray’ - there is no longer any black or white truth and we begin to accept the ‘gray’ as the true reality – thus we end up with our own interpretations of ‘truth’ that lack any true foundation.

The Holy Spirit leads us unto all truth and as such, believers in Christ Jesus, no longer need to scurry about in the darkness attempting to figure out whether the shadows of darkness are real or not. Yes, we live in the darkness which is this lost and dying world but we have been redeemed by the Great Light, the pure Truth that sets us free from the captivity which is the darkness. For Jesus came to bring us the Truth and it is His Truth that sets us free – the world’s truth is merely shadows that result in the bondage of uncertainty. And, as believers, we are called to seek after His Truth, to walk in the light of His Truth and to share His Truth with those who are lost in the darkness – and we are to do this while abounding with His grace, filled with His Holy Spirit - for we are His grace dispensers!



Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."
(John 8:12-13)

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
(Psalm 119:105)

true worship

A true worshipper is one who has learned to trust God in the storm. This person’s worship isn’t just in his words, but in his way of life. His world is at rest at all times, because his trust in God’s faithfulness is unshakable. He isn’t afraid of the future, because he’s no longer afraid to die.

'You see, worshippers are not made during revivals, in the good, sunny times, or periods of victory and health. Worshippers of God are made during dark stormy nights. And how we respond to our storms determines just what kind of worshippers we are....'

I pray that all who read this message can say in the midst of their storm: “Yes, the economy may collapse. Yes, I may still be facing a dark, stormy night. But God has proven himself faithful to me. No matter what comes, I will rest in his love for me.”

David Wilkerson

John 4:23-24 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."