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.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
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)
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)
Friday, February 4, 2011
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.
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.
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