God is in control

Inspiring Words of Encouragement.

"Faith by its very nature must be tested and tried. And the real trial of faith is not that we find it difficult to trust God, but that God's character must be proven trustworthy in our own minds."

“You may pray for rain and for good harvest, in the end you must still intelligently cultivate and farm the land.”

We may not understand God's process but we can trust His heart.  One day, all of our question marks will be yanked into exclamation points ...  and we will get it.  Until then, we walk by faith and not by sight.

Let's listen to the words of our Abba Father, let's just relax in the moment and trust God to "bring the rope to us." If it's His best for us, He will do just that.

Storms will come.  Storms are a reality of life.  We will either become storm survivors or storm statistics. The choice really is ours to make.  We can stop telling God how big our storm is and start telling the storm just how big our God is. The key to enduring storms is to embrace each one that comes, knowing it contains and can yield a seed of victory.

Pearls are formed when a piece of grit, sand or shell get trapped inside an oyster. It protects itself from irritation by secreting a nacreous liquid around the particle which eventually builds into a pearl.

Weaknesses give way to strengths and failures lead to successes ... and God use it all for His glory and my good.  In God's economy, a mess is the perfect setting for a miracle. At the center of every dark moment are a sliver of hope and a seed of victory.  God has gone before you, and in every trial or difficult circumstance you will face, He has buried a treasure. When the tough times come, look for the pearls.

Excerpts from various Girlfriends in God Devotionals.

WHAT ARE YOU HOLDING ON TO?

Growing up as a young girl back home in Nigeria, I had two boyfriends because I felt if one of them gets serious then I can ditch the other one. I found out the folly of this logic when both of them decided to go play the field at the same time with other girls and I ended up loosing out. As it is in the natural things so I found out it’s happening in spiritual things also. Many believers sometimes find themselves playing the same game with God [current company included].

Sometimes we feel that we should have a plan B just incase God is too slow in acting the way we want and at the time we want. We claim the promises in the scriptures, confess our faith in God almost everyday, quick to quote Heb. 11:1 and Phil. 4:19 but come crunch time we are seeking another solution to the situation, we feel if God delays, we can always check out other alternatives but there is futility in those alternatives.

The bible says in James 1:8 “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. I give this example all the time that when you are standing in the middle of the road, any oncoming vehicle from both directions will hit you, so you either to the left or to right, there is no middle way. You either believe God and wait for His visitation or go with the alternative.

We believe God for various things, jobs, children, promotion, marriage, finances etc, but how many of us are really waiting upon the Lord or are we holding onto our understanding on how to find a solution suitable to us in our own timing? Hence my question, what are you holding on to? God’s promises or your alternative?

One of the perfect examples in the bible is Anna the prophetess and Simeon in the temple Luke 2: 25-38 who believed what God, told them concerning the coming Jesus. Remember the prophets prophesied his coming years before their time but they kept believing, Simeon had a revelation from the Holy Ghost [this was before the Holy Ghost was poured out on the early believers] that he will not see death before he had seen the Christ. Anna served God in the temple with fasting and prayers night and day and when she saw the manifestation of what God has promised she gave Him thanks.

Do we still have people like these or do we have a microwave generation that will rather believe in their abilities or talents rather than believe God. We have preachers/believers who are ready to manipulate the word of God rather than take some time to hear what God is saying to their congregation or concerning a situation facing them? These days we don’t fast and pray to hear God anymore, we just go “with the flow”, no fresh manna or fresh songs from heaven anymore we just copy what the world is doing and sprinkle God on it and pass it off as “revelation”.

I remember being in the choir back in my church in Nigeria, LRA, we had to pray to birth new songs from heaven, sometimes we are standing in God’s presence for hours just worshipping and waiting for His visitation and boy did we have a visitation or what!!!. I will never forget our Minister then, Sis Funlola Craig, she truly impacted a lot in my life which I will be forever grateful to God for her ministry. But what do I see these days?

Choristers are in a hurry to leave choir practice; musicians are hopping from church to church, playing instruments for the highest bidder. Where is the love for God and His work in our hearts? Congregations/believers are in a hurry to leave His presence, we are more conscious of time more than before, we are constantly in a hurry to leave to go do things we have no business doing, so we can come back and beg for God’s forgiveness and as the graceful and always forgiving Father, he does forgive and cleanses us, but how long are we going to keep God as an afterthought in our lives?

I am challenging myself and anyone who will be reading this to BELIEVE GOD regardless of how late we feel His timing might be, remember He is the Lord of the time and seasons and if he has promised, he will surely bring it to pass. Our alternative plans have a tendency to add more to our waiting time, believe me I know. Serve Him with all your heart not expecting any reward from man in return and see if He won’t show up for you. God does not owe any man. God is a rewarder and in due time He will reward if you faint not or get discouraged.

God does not need our help in making His word come to pass in our lives. HE IS GOD ALMIGHTY!!! What we need to do is just believe in Him and stop straddling between two fences, we will tear ourselves apart. Phil. 1:6. “Being confident of this very thing that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”. I have never seen God abandon a project and I don’t think He is going to start with us.

The Importance of Influence in a Relationship

The Importance of Influence in a Relationship

To Live Free: The Way

Just wanted to share this, it truly blessed me.

T. Suzanne Eller

Faith: Knowing Christ

What if a footprint appeared in front of you today? One after another. Leading you to higher ground. Or through a dark place where there is no light.
What if there were roads all around you. Crossroads. Turning points. And yet those footsteps faithfully appeared.
According to scripture, those footsteps are there. Jesus is called the Way.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. John 14:6
If He is the Way, then staying close to God means you will stay on course. . . all the way to Heaven.
What does it mean to stay close to God?
To consider your faith as a personal relationship. One in which God listens, God speaks. You listen. You speak. The Word comes alive as it becomes a conversation.
To respond to what you hear, even if you want to run the other way, stay put, or charge on in your own strength.
He may say “wait” or “stop” or “don’t go there” or “come close during this storm”. Or He may say keep walking and trust Me.
We don’t have to live without direction. We might not have the whole picture or the complete plan, but we have the next step.
Just you and God:
To live free: God is the Way; walk in His footsteps.
Scripture: John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:7
Today: Make it personal. Close everything else out and look for the next step as you follow the Way.

WHAT WILL JESUS DO?

I have a sign hanging on my cubicle at work that says “What will Jesus Do”. I tend to ask that question every few minutes during the course of the day. Why? You may ask it’s due to the “sandpaper” people amongst people I interact with on a daily basis. Sandpaper people you may ask, are the ones I find it hard to get along with due to differences in opinions, lifestyles and work ethics, denominations, religion.

Sandpaper is paper with sand or another abrasive stuck to it, used for smoothing or polishing woodwork or other surfaces. It is used to refer to something that feels rough or has a very rough surface. I feel the sandpaper people in our lives are there to fulfill the role God has destined for them, they there to smooth en our rough surfaces, we need them in our lives in order to fulfill destiny. Most of tend to ignore such people, keep them at arm’s length, avoid them, make sure we are as far as them as possible but I don’t think that is what Jesus would do in such a situation.

Let’s take a look at the life of Jesus, who is our role model. When he was 12 he was already in the temple disputing the scriptures with the scribes and Pharisees [They were seen to be the spiritual know in all in those days] Luke 2:46-47, He touched a leper [which was a taboo in those days] healed him and angered the Pharisess Luke 5:13. He even had secret disciples amongst the Pharisees, of whom one of them was Nicodemus who came to Jesus by night. John 3: 1-2. One of his disciples was Zaccheus who was a tax collector Luke 19: 2 [Remember in those days, tax collectors were hated] and how can we forget the woman that anointed his feet with the alabaster box of precious oil Matt. 26:7. The woman at the well of Samaria John 4:10-12 the woman whose daughter was possessed by demons Matt 15:24-28. Simon Peter’s betrayal. Matt 36: 33-34. Pontius Pilates at His sentencing. John 18:33-38. The children of Israel who cried Hosanna on palm Sunday and crucify Him 3 days later.

OpEd: What We Must Learn From the Zachery Tims Tragedy

OpEd: What We Must Learn From the Zachery Tims Tragedy

Is God Enough?

Read this and it blessed me tremedously and I just wanted to share.

Is God Enough?
Melissa Taylor
"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 (NIV 1984)
Is God enough? It's a question that my circumstances bring me back to quite often. Over a lifetime I've concluded not only is God enough, but He has to be enough.
It takes effort on my part to make sure my heart is staying in this truth.
As a young child, I didn't realize my need for God, but I did realize I had a need that was not fulfilled. I was sexually abused when I was seven years old. My dad left our family when I was eleven. Both circumstances left me devastated, and I didn't understand how God could bring healing at that time. I spent many years trying to heal myself and make myself feel better.
Nothing was enough to meet my needs. Nothing worked.

As I grew older, I moved from being a Christian who simply believed to becoming a Christian actively seeking and following Jesus. And my life began to change.
Because I was having direct conversations with God and consistently reading His Word, I was challenged. I learned that when the hard knocks came, and they would, I needed to ask one question in order to move on: "Is God enough?"

When a friend betrays me, is God enough?
When I need to forgive what seems unforgivable, is God enough?
When my child has issues out of my control, is God enough?
When my marriage is on the brink of destruction, is God enough?
When I am not forgiven by another, is God enough?
When my mom is dying of cancer, is God enough?
When others don't recognize my value, is God enough?
When I struggle professionally, is God enough?
When someone I love uses words to hurt me, is God enough?
When I am in debt and don't know how I'll pay my bills, is God enough?
When my past haunts me, is God enough?
When my health declines, is God enough?
When I am let down and disappointed in my life, is God enough?

WAKE UP CHURCH!!!!!!!!!

My friend @Billyb had a blog which inspired me to check out a video called Wake Up Church he had posted a few months back and I am inspired to write these words down to present how far the Church has fallen and the urgency to be Jesus' Church. This is about the 1st 2 minutes of a 10 minute video.

David Wilkerson: You will rarely find a message now on repentance. – Rather what we have now are prosperity messages, apologetic doctrines, massage people’s ego messages, feel good messages.

Keith Daniel: Look at what has become of the world Church of Jesus Christ!-through you-losing what you should have been. But God waits for His people. God waits for His people. When will they take the stepping stones God has placed in His word? – We need to take a good hard look at our lives in the mirror of the Word of God and examine ourselves if we are truly in the faith and make amends where necessary, we are living in the last days. We are to be like the 5 wise virgins having oil in our lamps so we are not at loss at His coming.

David Wilkerson: Church that has forgotten its foundations. A Church that has turned away from its foundations and becomes a harlot church. – We are preaching apologetic doctrines, trying to not offend the congregation lest they leave and the finances of the church takes a dive, forgetting that God should be our source and the not people. People pleasers and not God pleasers.
Carter Conlin: Just, just tell me how blessed I am. Just tell me I'm going to be powerful and popular and gonna have no trouble in my life-just tell me these things! – Just tell me I can give God a hundred and receive a thousand back because God is a money doublers, I don’t have to live a holy life since I am claiming and receiving His blessings so I can continue in my sins and not be afraid of retribution because I am a “tither” God is at my beck and call after all my tithe pays His salary right?

David Wilkerson: Watered down, half truths. This gospel says " Just believe and get saved"-There's nothing of repentance-nothing of Godly sorrow, nothing of turning from your sins-nothing about taking up your cross and following the Lord. But people who say a little prayer said "You're fine, you're good!" – Maybe the scripture that says we should “study to shew ourselves approved unto God a workman that needeth not be ashamed but rightly dividing the word of truth” or “ Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His and Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” 2 Tim 2: 15 & 19. Maybe these scriptures are not referring to us, are they obsolete?

Keith Conlin: People believe in any standard-even if it's the New Testament-is legalism and bondage and law! Any standard is law. "I'm under grace, I can do anything." No! That's from the devil! – 2 Cor 7:1 “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.  We are called out to be separate unto the Lord and not to blend in with the world; there should be a difference between those that serve the true God and those that don’t.  We are the called out ones and not the blended in ones. If you are under grace then you know grace is a continuing process and you need to align yourself with the will of God which is holiness and through the help of the Holy Spirit continue to live a holy life shunning all appearances of evil, looking unto Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of your faith.

Jim Cymbala: Now we've revised that and said " If you can get people for one hour on Sunday morning in the building-that's the Church". That's not the Church! " We can use every device we want to get people for 1 hour to keep it early and keep it moving and keep it going." But that's not the Church Jesus built. -  Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (NIV) As members of the body of Christ, we belong to each other.Romans 12:5 .. so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (NIV) It is actually for our own good that God want us in fellowship with other believers. We need each other to grow up in the faith, to learn to serve, to love one another, and to practice forgiveness. Though we are individuals, we still belong to one another.  We spend a lot of time watching unnecessary TV shows, playing games, doing things that does not edify but we can’t spend a few hours fellowshipping with our fellow brethren in the presence of God? It is a sad day when we are anxious to leave the presence of God. The multitudes were with Jesus every single day, sometimes neglecting their own well being or families, they followed Jesus everywhere he went even when he decided to retreat to a quiet place to pray and meditate, they still followed him so what excuse do we have, Jesus shed his blood for us, died a horrible death on the cross to redeem us back to the Father and we can’t even spare a few hours in fellowship together to share his word through songs and His word? We are truly living in the end times when men are lovers of themselves!!!

Heartlight Devotional

Be blessed as you read and meditate.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out reverence for God.
Thoughts on today's verse

In a world so full of distractions and temptations, purity is difficult. Even more than difficult, the call to purity often goes forgotten and ignored. Cheap grace is substituted for a call to passionate living. While we never want to give in to a "works righteousness," we also must remember that impurity through laziness, lack of commitment, or simple rebellion are contaminating to those claiming to be Christians and ruin our influence before the watching world.

Prayer:

Purify my heart, my life, my body, my influence, O God. May my words and my thoughts be blameless in your sight. I want to be holy as you are holy and honor you as only you are worthy of honor. You alone are God! Through Jesus I ask it. Amen.

WAITING ON THE LORD

In the NASB the word most often translated “wait” in the sense of waiting on the Lord is the Hebrew qavah. Qavah means (1) “to bind together” (perhaps by twisting strands as in making a rope), (2) “look patiently,” (3) “tarry or wait,” and (4) “hope, expect, look eagerly.” 

The second most frequently used word translated “wait” is yachal. Yachal means “to wait,” or “hope, wait expectantly,” and is so translated in our English Bibles. 

The KJV sometimes translates yachal as “trust” as in Isaiah 51:5, but the NASB has “wait expectantly” and the NIV “wait in hope.”

A third word sometimes translated “wait” is damam. Damam means “to be dumb, grow silent, be still,” but it is sometimes translated “wait, tarry, rest” (cf. Psa. 62:5 KJV).

A fourth word for waiting is chakah, “to wait, tarry,” or “long for” (cf. Ps. 33:20; 106:13; Isa. 30:18).

Waiting certainly plays an enormous role in the unfolding story of God's relationship to man. It is God's often repeated way of teaching us that His power is real and that He can answer our prayers without interference and manipulation from us. God does not need our help in fulfilling His promises to us, He is God Almighty and He is more than enough.

The waiting period, can seem to be a land where time seemingly stands still. It is a place where life is put on hold. When we are in the waiting room, it seems as if progress has come to a screeching halt. I have always said, "the longest period in a Christian's life is that space between when the prayers were made and the manifestation of the answer to prayers".

Our Lives are Meaningless with God.

What Grace is Not.

A few days ago I wrote on Grace and today I want to continue on the same subject by sharing my thoughts on what Grace is Not.

First of all Grace is never given out of fear. You show grace by living in fear in your relationship with God and your brother or sister because "perfect love always cast out fear". We should love in grace and not fear.

Grace is not a licence to sin. Romans 6:1-2 says "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Our lives in hid with Christ in God, so we should honor God at all times in our word, thoughts, deeds. We are bought with a price so we need to cherish the fact that we should no longer be a slave to what we have been delivered from.

Grace is not a licence to live a life thinking that all that is necessary is just to have faith in Christ and let him do all the work. Faith without works is dead. Phil. 2:12 says "work out your salvation with fear and trembling" Christ also said in Luke 13.24: "Strive to enter through the narrow gate". The Christian life is a race and everyone should strive to finish strong even the Apostle Paul in 2 Tim 4:7 said "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith". Even watching the modern day athletes, no one gets a medal without striving for it, so how do you think the Kingdom of God is different?

Politically correct statements- Food for thought.

Your bedroom isn't cluttered, it's just "passage restrictive."

Kids don't get grounded anymore. They merely hit "social speed bumps."

You're not late, you just have a "rescheduled arrival time."

You're not having a bad hair day, you're suffering from "rebellious follicle syndrome."

No one's tall anymore. He's "vertically enhanced."

You're not shy. You're "conversationally selective."

You don't talk a lot. You're just "abundantly verbal."

It's not called gossip anymore. It's "the speedy transmission of near-factual information."

AND FOR STUDENTS...

The food at the school cafeteria isn't awful. It's "digestively challenged."

No one fails a class anymore, he's merely "passing impaired."

You don't have detention, you're just one of the "exit delayed."

These days, a student isn't lazy. He's "energetically declined."

Your locker isn't overflowing with junk, it's just "closure prohibitive."

Your homework isn't missing, its just having an "out-of-notebook experience."

You're not sleeping in class, you're "rationing consciousness."

You don't have smelly gym socks, you have "odor-retentive athletic footwear."

You weren't passing notes in class. You were "participating in the discreet exchange of penned meditations."

You're not being sent to the principal's office. You're "going on a mandatory field trip to the administrative building."
But seriously isn't that what is going on in the world now and it's slowing creeping into the Church too, so called Christians don't want to pray in Jesus name anymore but in "your son's name" who is the son? Remember Jesus says anything we ask in His name, He will do it for us, so to whom are we praying when we say "in your son's name"? Jesus has a name USE IT!!!!!!!!!

Halleluyah He reigns!!!!

The Fine Art of Disaggreeing in An Agreeable Way

The Fine Art of Disaggreeing in An Agreeable Way

August 04th, 2011 | Category: (02) Relationships & Marriage Counseling

 

The purpose of these tips is to make a good relationship better, to help you keep things running well.
Do couples have to agree about all, most, or some issues to have  a good relationship?

We know that most problematic issues (69% – see Dr. John Gottman’s research) do not get solved, they get managed.  Successful couples “agree to disagree, with out prejudice.
Happy couples are respectful of differences and realize that there way is not the only way.  The real issue is: can folks disagree in an agreeable way.

Example:
The other day I got really angry at my partner and she got angry at me because of how I responded. (I hate to say it maybe she was right).  I though I was justified and she thought I wasn’t.  We were both right and we were both wrong. 

What we needed to do was to:
1.    Calm ourselves down
2.    Not be righteous (How dare he / How dare he)
3.    Realize that the anger wasn’t as important as what we did with it.  What we need to do is to let go of our grudges and realize the other person feels as wronged as we do.
4.    Get back to enjoying and supporting each other

In other words, it’s not the out come of the disagreement, that is who is right and who is wrong, it’s how respectful couples are of each other even when the feel angry at the other person.

My last word on the subject – Even though the 4 step process that I have suggested above in this blog works it’s easier said than done.  I know I’ve been there.
My last last words  are:
Respect is a powerful tool in getting past an argument.

Do you agree? Let's hear your thoughts.

ARE YOU A RESERVOIR OR A CHANNEL

While reading my daily bread devotional this morning I came across this question? I started my bible reading from Luke 6:30-49, 7:36-50. These two chapters especially these verses “27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” got me thinking about my life, physically, materially and spiritually. Am I a reservoir of God’s blessings or a channel to reach others, believers and unbelievers?

First of all let’s define a Reservoir: A natural or artificial pond or lake used for the storage and regulation of water. A receptacle or chamber for storing a fluid. An underground accumulation of petroleum or natural gas. Anatomy A large or extra supply; a reserve: a reservoir of good will. Medicine An organism or a population that directly or indirectly transmits a pathogen while being virtually immune to its effects.

Then let’s define a Channel: The bed of a stream or river. The deeper part of a river or harbor, especially a deep navigable passage. A broad strait, especially one that connects two seas. A trench, furrow, or groove. A tubular passage for liquids; a conduit. A course or pathway through which information is transmitted: new channels of thought; a reliable channel of information. A route of communication or access. Often used in the plural: took her request through official channels. In communications theory, a gesture, action, sound, written or spoken word, or visual image used in transmitting information. Electronics A specified frequency band for the transmission and reception of electromagnetic signals, as for television signals. Computer Science A site on a network, as on IRC, where online conversations are held in real time by a number of computer users. The medium through which a spirit guide purportedly communicates with the physical world. A rolled metal bar with a bracket-shaped section. A temporary opening in a cell membrane that allows ions or molecules to pass into or out of the cell.

We will notice from the above definitions how a reservoir and channel works, a reservoir is a storage place while a channel is a passage or pathway, a connector, communicator an information carrier.

Let the true worshippers of God Arise and take their place.

Texas warns of rolling blackouts amid power shortages after air conditioners go on overdrive as state endures 39 days of 100F-plus heat

Brethren let's lift up these cities before the Lord in prayers for rain!!!

• Arkansas and Oklahoma also see record highs as temperatures soar
• Texas woman dies after having air conditioning unit stolen
• 'Excessively dry' conditions announced in ten U.S. states

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 5:27 PM on 5th August 2011

Electricity officials in heatwave-hit Texas have warned of impending rolling blackouts from power shortages as the U.S. state struggles to cope with the relentless scorching temperatures.

Texans have turned to air conditioners in huge numbers in a bid to beat one of the hottest summers on record in America's second most populous state.
But bosses for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) say the soaring power demand in the face of the brutal heatwave has left the state one power plant shut-down away from rolling blackouts.

Starved of water: Texas State Park police officer Thomas Bigham walks across the cracked lake bed of O.C. Fisher Lake on Wednesday as the state battles the month-long heatwave

Lifeless: The remains of an alligator are seen in Fisher Lake, San Angelo State Park, Texas on Wednesday as the much-hoped for rain from Tropical Storm Don didn't materialise

Temperatures in Texas are currently topping 100F (37.8C) and have been soaring for well over a month.
Record highs have also been recorded this week in nearby states Oklahoma and Arkansas as the relentless heatwave spreads across southern America.

 

Seek and ye shall find me - Read and be blessed.

Seek and ye shall find me

By

shofarsound

– August 4, 2011Posted in: Bible Study, biblical exposition, Headline, prayer, scripture application, series, shofarsound

Psalm 24:6,  2 Chronicles 7:14

The prolific 18th century Christian author and preacher Charles Spurgeon wrote:
[...]“true seekers are very dear in God’s esteem, and are entered upon his register. Even seeking has a sanctifying influence; what a consecrating power must lie in finding and enjoying the Lord’s face and favour! To desire communion with God is a purifying thing. Oh to hunger and thirst more and more after a clear vision of the face of God; this will lead us to purge ourselves from all filthiness, and to walk with heavenly circumspection.”
Seeking God, his face and the kingdom of God is a welcome and open invitation to all who truly desire to know God.

 

To seek the face of God is to seek His presence.  The word “face” is a Hebrew idiom that means, “The presence of God.” Seeking God is not some unfruitful pipe dream, for Jesus himself said, “you shall find”. Psalms 24:6 states, “This is the generation that seek him, that seek Thy face oh Jacob.  Selah.”  2 Chronicles 7:14 encourages and commands, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land.”

 

Its important to know that when the Bible tells us to seek God, his “presence” or his “face”, its an idiomatic enjoining. According to The American Heritage Dictionary, an idiom is “…a speech form of expression of a language that is peculiar to itself grammatically that cannot be understood from the individuals’ meaning and its elements.”  In lay terms, an idiom is a simple word that is used to describe something much more than it actually is.  In this case, when we seek the “face” of God, we seek His presence.  Because God does not have a face as you and I, the idiom in this case is to seek His awesome and omnipotent presence. In his presence is fullness of joy and at his right hand are pleasures evermore.

Can you praise me now?

This truly blessed me and I just wanted to share it.

By gcmwatch– August 3, 2011

Posted in: Bible Study, biblical exposition, Headline, scripture application, series
The drama in this story is so crazy it sounds like some cable TV reality show. But its not, its true, recorded in Genesis 29:16-35; 30:1-12 Note: the scripture doesn’t tell the story in true chronological form.

In summary, a man has got two women —two sisters— but he’s playing one of them. Having babies by her but not giving her the love she truly wants from him. She’s definitely not the woman of his dreams. Even after popping out healthy kids for him, she still cant get his love. His heart is with the other woman. The beautiful younger sister takes his breath away. But wait, there’s a problem. The other woman isn’t as sexually fertile as the one he doesn’t love. It gets so crazy between the three of them, even other women are brought in to be surrogate lovers.

Amid the many larger than life narratives in the Old Testament, the story of Jacob, Rachel and Leah is perhaps one of the more poignant ones. They are all, in a way, caught up in the drama, victimized and in the process passing on the hurt, pain and mistrust even to their offspring.

In the end, the lesson learned by Leah and its revelatory resolution sticks out as one we all can take a moment to pay attention to.

The hurt inflicted upon Leah is obvious. Of no fault of her own, she is diminished and rejected despite her attempts to give Jacob what she thinks he wants. But from the beginning, Jacob never wanted to be with her.

When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?” vs 25

You probably know people in this situation right now as youre reading this. You may have been there yourself. Trying to please someone, doing your best, but when you look in their eyes you can tell they aren’t happy. I’ve been there. You see it in the church as well as in the world. People are wasting away trying to get something that will never produce what they think it should. It doesn’t matter if its a family member, friend, spouse, a pastor or a child some people will never be satisfied with you or what you do to win their affection.

This can cause a tremendous amount of emotional pain and lead to patterns of broken relationships.

This may be more about learning who truly matters and who truly loves you more than anything. In our hearts, there is a place that can only be filled by the love of God. Its a place where the pains of our past must give way to praise because we finally realize that nobody can love us like Jesus can.

Verse 31 says that when GOD saw that Leah was unloved he caused her to concieve, but Rachel, the apple of Jacob’s eye, remained childless. Leah’s focus wasnt on God (like many of us) it was on getting a man to love her. When their first son was born, she knew that things would change

Jokes on Parenthood. Enjoy!!!!!

If it was going to be easy, it never would have started with something called labor!

Shouting to make your children obey is like using the horn to steer your car, and you get about the same results.

The smartest advice on raising children is to enjoy them while they are still on your side.

Avenge yourself ~~~ live long enough to be a problem to your children.

The best way to keep kids at home is to give it a loving atmosphere ~~ and hide the keys to the car.

Parents: People who bear infants, bore teenagers, and board newlyweds.

The joy of motherhood: What a woman experiences when all the children are finally in bed.

Life's golden age is when the kids are too old to need babysitters and too young to borrow the family car.

Any child can tell you that the sole purpose of a middle name is so he can tell when he's really in trouble.

Grandparents are similar to a piece of string ~ handy to have around and easily wrapped around the fingers of grandchildren.

There are three ways to get something done: Do it yourself, hire someone to do it, or forbid your children to do it.

Adolescence is the age when children try to bring up their parents.

Cleaning your house while your kids are at home is like trying to shovel the driveway during a snowstorm.

Oh, to be only half as wonderful as my child thought I was when he was small, and half as stupid as my teenager now thinks I am.

There are only two things a child will share willingly: communicable diseases and his mother's age.

Adolescence is the age at which children stop asking questions because they know all the answers.

An alarm clock is a device for awakening people who don't have small children.

Grace song by L.A Mass Choir - One of my favorites.

UNDERSTANDING THE GRACE OF GOD

Grace is defined in the Merriam Webster’s Dictionary as: help given to man by God [as in overcoming temptation] 2. Freedom from sin through divine grace. 3. A virtue coming from God. 4. A short prayer before or after a meal. 5. A temporary respite [as from paying of a debt]. 6. Approval, Acceptance e.t.c

Among Christians, grace is believed to be unmerited favor. Wayne Jackson wrote this: Grace Defined “Grace” derives from the Greek, charis. In secular Greek, charis was related to chairo, “to rejoice.” As far back as Homer it denoted “sweetness” or “attractiveness.” It came to signify “favor,” “goodwill,” and “lovingkindness” — especially as granted by a superior to an inferior.

In the New Testament, “grace” (156 times) takes on a special redemptive sense in which God makes available his favor on behalf of sinners, who actually do not deserve it.
Now this is what God’s Grace means to me:

Grace and truth came by Jesus: John 1:14 gives the following description of Christ; “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth”. John 1:17 further states; “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

Grace is not earned on merit or your good works; it’s a gift from God. Eph. 2:8-9. Jesus Christ performed the work for our salvation. His death, His suffering, His blood earned the Grace (check) for us. No matter if you believe that you must live like the Amish with the absence of virtually all-modern luxuries. Or live in as a monk, priest, or nun. No effort you put forth will increase the value of the check.

Grace can only be accessed by faith. Eph 2:8-9

Grace should be a continuous process because you grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18, 2 Cor. 6:1, 1 Cor 15:10

Grace means living in obedience to God’s will. This divine influence is a gift or favor of God. When God’s grace is truly working in a person’s life it will be obvious.

God’s grace is available to every man and they have a choice to accept or reject it. Titus 2:11, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men." It is interesting to note that God’s grace has been extended to all men, yet all men are not saved! That is not God’s fault though. For he came "to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10. This was the whole purpose of Jesus coming to earth. God purchased our salvation with his own blood, Acts 20:28. The price paid at Calvary is the ONLY price able to purchase our salvation. There are not enough good deeds available for any one of us to do to ever deserve God’s grace. Christ did the work to make salvation available to us.

Give us Clean Hands

Changing the Way We Speak By Renewing the Mind

Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me – put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9 TNIV).

Friend To Friend
 Have you ever been to a rodeo and watched a lassoing contest?  The little calf bursts from the stall and then the cowboy and his steed follow close behind.  With his lasso in hand, the cowboy swings the rope in the air and attempts to lasso the little heifer before she escapes out the corral door at the opposite side of the arena.  That is a vivid picture of what we must do with the words that attempt to escape the gate, the mouth…we must rein them in.

The Bible teaches us to take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).  Once we lasso a thought (take it captive) we can decide which words leave the gate and which words need to be tied up and secured. Studies show that we speak at about 120 to 180 words a minute.  Seems like we need to do a bit more lassoing and a lot less running on.

Let’s take a look at this little heifer: our words, and how to rein them in. First, a thought bursts forth from the stall called the brain. It runs across the mind headed for the door called the mouth. In a split second, we must determine if that thought is of God or if it is against the knowledge of God.  If we determine that the words are not of God, then we lasso the thought with the Word of Truth and it never makes its way out of the gate (the mouth). If it passes the God-test, we allow it to go free.

To live free: worry less

By T Suzanne Eller.

July 29, 2011 | Faith: Knowing Christ, Feelings: Intentional freedom

How can worry add one more day to your life? Wrong question. How can worry take away the day you were given?
The root word in scripture for worry is “strangle”. That changes the way I view worry. It’s not productive. It chokes the hope out of me.
A recent study stated that:
80% of the things we worry about never come to pass. . . which means a lot of emotional energy expended for nothing.
Of the remaining 20%, when it came to pass 18% was much easier to work through than expected. The results were different than the worry. . . which still means a lot of emotional energy expended for nothing.
The remaining 2% was where worry merited attention. But not in the form of worry, but rather in the form of action.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to hit the end of my life and find that I’ve devoted 98% of my life to worry. Rather, I’d love to know that I lived life fully, and when that 2% hit I dealt with it action and attitude anchored in faith.

WHO ARE YOU WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING?

I read an article in a christian newspaper [Light of the World] and it truly got me thinking. As the author rightly put it in his article: ARE YOU AN FBI CHRISTIAN? It dawned on me that some of us are truly double agents, we have a personae for the world and another personae in the church hence my question who are you when no one is looking, do you have a different personality in the church, another one at home and another one at work?

We are witnessing an unprecedented advent of attendance in the pentecostal movement but are we truly seeing changes in our environment or communities or are there christians that will dine with the devil on Saturday evening at night clubs and then come Sunday morning they are lifting up hands in praise and worship? Are you able to stand and defend your faith when confronted or are you going to give excuses or make comments like " actually I am not a believer, I just go to church to fulfill all righteousness" or I live with my parents and since they go to church or Sundays I just go with them so they won't nag me or my wife/husband nags me until I go with her/him".

Last week I shared my conversion experiences and I included the dates, can you remember your conversion date, when you truly made a commitment to follow Jesus? Matthew 5:13-16 said we are the salt of the earth and the light of world and of what good are you  if you lose your saltiness or your light is hid under a bushel or table. When you present a different personae every where you go, then you are double faced and you are hypocrite. Can your co-worker, wife, family testify that you are a person of integrity? can they vouch that you are a child of God? then you are blessed but if you are teased at work or at home when you open your mouth to profess your faith then you need to examine your lifestyle and make changes where its needed.

I have a lot friends on social networking sites and sometimes what they write on their status page makes me wonder what they must be thinking or where they are when they wrote those status messages and it truly makes me doubt their salvation, sometimes I have sent them public and private messages to watch their utterances or what they type on those pages because it sends the wrong messages but sometimes as the bible says "out of the abundance of heart the mouth truly speaks" in these cases their hands when typing truly speaks what is in their heart.

We are hypocrites when we cannot show the world that we belong to the family of God and that is the message we are sending to people around us, when we can not be trusted to represent Christ in our families and communities, when we choose to be politically correct rather than stand by the authority of God's word.
I am not ashamed of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ because it is the power of God unto Salvation to everyone who believes to the Jews first and also to the Greeks. Rom.1:16. I am a believer and I stand on the Authority of God's word.