An Ordinary Road

Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside, of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush" (Exod. 3:1,2).

The vision came in the midst of common toil, and that is where the Lord delights to give His revelations. He seeks a man who is on the ordinary road, and the Divine fire leaps out at his feet. The mystic ladder can rise from the market place to Heaven. It can connect the realm of drudgery with the realms of grace.

My Father God, help me to expect Thee on the ordinary road. I do not ask for sensational happenings. Commune with me through ordinary work and duty. Be my Companion when I take the common journey. Let the humble life be transfigured by Thy presence.

Hebrews 8:6

But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs [Those who served as priests in Old Testament times.] as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.

The Old Testament is a beautiful covenant of love, as God redeems fallen mankind and sets in motion his plan of grace to bring us to Jesus. But as powerful as that old covenant was, we have come to a superior covenant because the mediator of this new covenant is Jesus, who is the perfect sacrifice and guarantor of God's great promises.

Pleading to Praise 

Mrs. Charles Cowman, author of Streams in the Desert and co-founder with her husband of OMS International, pointed out that Christians often repeat the familiar statement, "Prayer changes things ". God taught her the deep spiritual truth that after you have prayed and believed, it is often praise that changes things.

Prayers that have been repeated for a long time with no seeming response from God are rapidly answered when the intercessor turns from pleading to praise.

Mrs. Colman emphasized that two wings are necessary for the soul to reach God's throne - prayer and praise. Why is that we put more emphasis on prayer than on praise when the Scripture gives far more exhortation to praise than to pray?

Today I have a choice

"You have shown me the path to life, and you shown me glad by being near to me. Sitting at your right side, I will always be joyful." - Psalm 16:11

Today. I have some important choice to make.

1. What will I DO today with God besides me.?

2. What will I SAY today with God besides me?

3. What will I THINK about today with God beside me?

As you go throughout your day think of ways to be Jesus to others. What negative thoughts enter your mind, fill them with thoughts of God. With God besides you, look for ways to be His servant.

Ephesians 5:15-16

Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. -

Even though we are God's holy children, we also need to be aware of what time it is in our world. The evil one still exercises his control over the hearts of many people.

God wants us to "redeem the time," making the most of every opportunity we have to touch the lives of others with his grace and to resist the temptation and overcome the opposition of the evil one.

Malachi 3:7

"Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty. –

In times of horror and disaster, people routinely ask, "Where is God in all of this?" Yet we so often leave God at the periphery of our lives and look for him only when we are desperate and have no other options. When things are going well, we seldom say,

"Where is God in all of this? Why, he's right here blessing us! Let's praise him for his goodness!" God pleads with us to turn to him and seek after him, in good times and in bad. Not only will we find him; he will return to us and walk with us.

Welcoming Gently

“When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.” Luke 19:5-6
John 2:5-6

This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Do you want to know who walks with Jesus each day? Look for folks whose lives look like his! Do you want to walk with Jesus? Look at his life in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). See how he treated people; then do the same!

Notice how he defeated Satan and overcame temptation. Trust that you can do the same! As you do these things, you will find that Jesus is not only walking with you, he is also working through you!

Thoughts 

. When you put God first, you are establishing order for everything else in your life. - Andrea Garney

. I am mended by my sickness, enriched by my poverty, and strengthened by my weakness. - Abraham Wright

. O Holy Spirit of God, abide with us; inspire all our thoughts; pervade our imaginations; suggest all our decisions; order all our doings. - John Baillie

. How often we look upon God as our last and feeblest resource!  We go to Him because we have nowhere else to go.  And then we learn that the storms of life have driven us, not upon the rocks, but into the desired haven. - George MacDonald

Malachi 3:7

"Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty. –

In times of horror and disaster, people routinely ask, "Where is God in all of this?" Yet we so often leave God at the periphery of our lives and look for him only when we are desperate and have no other options. When things are going well, we seldom say,

"Where is God in all of this? Why, he's right here blessing us! Let's praise him for his goodness!" God pleads with us to turn to him and seek after him, in good times and in bad. Not only will we find him; he will return to us and walk with us.

Facts about Hope

We hope for things that we have not:

Romans 8:25

But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Hope remains with Faith and Love:

1 Corinthians 13:13

 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.

Hope is offered to us:

Hebrews 6:18

God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,  we who have fled to take hold of the hope  set before us may be greatly encouraged.

We have a living Hope:

1 Peter 1:3

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy  he has given us new birth  into a living hope  through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Hope is Firm and Secure:

Hebrews 6:19

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

John 14:21

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him. —

Love is much more than a feeling or an attitude: love is an action. When we love, we show it by our deeds. As disciples of Jesus, our love is shown by our obedience to the things Jesus taught. Of course, that obedience brings an incredible blessing — Jesus reveals himself to those that obey him!

Purposes of Separation

To  Hold fast to the Lord

Joshua 23:7-8

Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear  by them. You must not serve them or bow down  to them.   But you are to hold fast to the Lord  your God, as you have until now.

To Love the Lord our God

Joshua 23:11-12

So be very careful  to love the Lord  your God.
    “But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them  and associate with them,

To Follow the Lord

Deuteronomy 7:3-4

Do not intermarry with them.  Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons,   for they will turn your children away from following me to serve other gods,  and the Lord’s anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy  you.

To Be strong and eat the Good

Ezra 8:12

of the descendants of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men;

To Do His Will

Ezra 10:11

Now honor the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives.”

To Teach and to Warn

2 Thessalonians 3:14-15

Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them,  in order that they may feel ashamed.    Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.

To Escape  from sin and Plagues

Revelation 18:4

Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
  “‘Come out of her, my people,’
 so that you will not share in her sins,
 so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
 

Separation - Old Testament Teaching on Separation

In Creation –

Genesis 1:4

saw that the light was good,  and he separated the light from the darkness.

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”  made his light shine in our hearts  to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Sickness – In Sowing – In Clothiing -

Leviticus 19:19

“‘Keep my decrees.
 “‘Do not mate different kinds of animals.
 “‘Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed.
 “‘Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.

In Miracles –

Exodus 10:22-23

So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness  covered all Egypt for three days.   No one could see anyone else or move about for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.

In Exodus –

Exodus 12:42

Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honour the Lord for the generations to come.

Proverbs 3:21-22

My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. —

God used his wisdom to create the cosmos and all that is in it. Through his discernment, he appointed to each being and to each item its place in his dazzling display of diversity. He has chosen to share that wisdom and discernment with those who reverence him and search for his wisdom. If we will use that wisdom and discernment we will possess the greatest of all jewels and a blessing that will enrich our life.

Quiz on Angels - 2

13. To which Roman Military Officer did an Angel speak?
Ans. Cornelius (Acts 10:3)

14. Which disciple of Jesus saw an Angel a little book in hand?
Ans. John (Rev. 10:1-20)

15. What is the name of young man who saw an Angel ascending and descending a ladder in his dream?
Ans. Jacob (Gen. 28:12)

16. Which king saw an Angel with a drawn sword above a city?
Ans. David (1 Chron. 21:16)

17. Who closed the mouth of the lions when Daniel was in the den of lions?
Ans. An angel (Dan. 6:22)

18. Are angels immortal?
Ans. Yes (Luke 20:36)

19. Are angels  subject to the authority of Lord Jesus Christ?
Ans. Yes (1 Peter 3:22)

20. Where is it written that the angels are interested in the salvation of souls?
Ans. In the parable of the lost coin (Luke 15:10)

Judges 2:7

The people served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the LORD had done for Israel. –

Each generation must have its own first-hand faith. Transforming faith takes more than receiving a godly heritage and stories of the past deeds of God. It requires a fresh experience of God's mighty presence!

Thoughts 

Our needs will never exhaust God’s supply.

God’s gift to us in Jesus Christ exceeds all gifts.

Only Jesus, the Living Water, can satisfy our thirst for God.

Sibling rivalry is natural. God’s love is supernatural.

Quiz on Angels - 1

Questions & Answers -

1. What is the meaning of name Angel?
Ans. Messenger

2. Name two Archangels?
Ans. Gabriel and Michael

3. Which are the two orders of Angels?
Ans. Cherubim and Seraphim (Isa. 6:1-8)

4. What are the angels called in Hebrew 1:14?
Ans. Spirits

5. What is the chief function of the angels?
Ans. Praising and Worshipping God (Ps. 148:1-2)

6. Which Angel appeared to Mary?
Ans. An angel (Matt. 28:3)

7. Who rolled the stone from the tomb of Jesus on Easter morning?
Ans. An angel (Matt. 28:2)

8. What is the colour of the garments that angels always wear?
Ans. White (Matt. 28:3)

9. Who strengthened Lord Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane?
Ans. An angel (Luke 22:43)

10. What kind of bodies do angels have?
Ans. Spirit bodies (Ps. 104:4)

11. Who wrestled with an Angel all night?
Ans. Jacob (Gen. 32:24)

12. Which family did two angels escort out of the city that was destroyed by fire?
Ans. Lot’s family (Gen. 19:1, 15-16)

2 - Psalm 121:7-8

The LORD will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. —

One of my hardest challenges as a parent knows that I can't ultimately protect my children from some hurts and heartbreaks. Some of that pain is necessary to help them mature and grow. Some of it is just the agonizing result of living in a fallen world.

But, we can be fully confident that if we share the Lord with them, if they give their lives to his will, nothing can steal them from his ultimate victory, care, and reunion with us and with him.
Knowing how we love them, imagine how much the Father loves us and longs to bring us to that place of safety in his house! Until we get home, isn't it comforting to know that he is watching over us and those we love, now and forevermore?

Luke 2:28-32

Simeon took him [Jesus] in his arms and praised God, saying: "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."

God's gift to Simeon was truly precious and touching. Yet Simeon is just the embodiment of all of every nation, race, and culture who are seeking God's salvation. God's salvation, as Luke loves to remind us again and again, is for all people! What's more, God's light has dawned. Let's greet that dawn and share it with others.

Ezekiel 18:31-32

Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit... Repent and live! –

God reminds us to turn away from our own self-seeking ways. He calls us to turn to him with a willingness to obey his will. If we refuse, we must know that we are walking the road that leads to death. God longs to do the work of rebirth and renewal, but he asks us to turn from our destructive ways and offer our hearts to him to be made new by his Holy Spirit.

Repentance is to turn off the road leading to destruction and onto the road that leads to the Father's house, the place of life.

The Book of Genesis …

Genesis  in many ways anticipates the New Testament, the very personal God, the Trinity, the institution of marriage, the seriousness of sin, divine judgement, and righteousness by faith.

The tree of Life, lost in Genesis, is restored in Revelation 22.

A Key Lesson in Faith

God will ultimately supply the final answer to mankind’s most perplexing problems through the outflow of the Holy Spirit.

John 17:20-21

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. —

Few things are more precious than knowing that Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, thought to pray for us! So often, we read the words of John 17 and study them as a prayer for his apostles in the upper room.

But if we look closely at this passage, we see that Jesus prays for us, those who believe on him because of the apostles' testimony. He wants us to be one! He wants us to live with the same unity, purpose, and character of God that he did. If we do not, then how will the world know that God sent his Son? How will they know what to believe? How will they find Jesus as their Saviour?

Spiritual Thoughts 

. God gives us loving warnings in His Word to protect and preserve us.

. The treasures of truth in God’s Word are best mined with the spade of meditation.

. Breathing is more miraculous than anything that takes our breath away.

. After we hear the Word of God, we should then take up the work of God.

. God’s peace pillows the head when God’s promises calm the heart.

. The church works best when we see ourselves as participants, not as spectators.

. Jesus came to earth for us so we could go to heaven with Him.

. The key word of Christmas is “Immanuel”— God with us!

. If sin were not deceitful, it wouldn’t seem delightful.

. Love that is born at Calvary bears and forbears, gives and forgives.

Purposes of Separation

To  Hold fast to the Lord

Joshua 23:7-8

Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear  by them. You must not serve them or bow down  to them.   But you are to hold fast to the Lord  your God, as you have until now.

To Love the Lord our God

Joshua 23:11-12

So be very careful  to love the Lord  your God.

    “But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them  and associate with them,

To Follow the Lord

Deuteronomy 7:3-4

Do not intermarry with them.  Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons,   for they will turn your children away from following me to serve other gods,  and the Lord’s anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy  you.

To Be strong and eat the Good

Ezra 8:12

of the descendants of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men;

To Do His Will

Ezra 10:11

Now honor the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives.”

To Teach and to Warn

2 Thessalonians 3:14-15

Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them,  in order that they may feel ashamed.    Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.

To Escape  from sin and Plagues

Revelation 18:4

Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
  “‘Come out of her, my people,’
 so that you will not share in her sins,
 so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
 

Facts about Hope

We hope for things that we have not:

Romans 8:25

But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Hope remains with Faith and Love:

1 Corinthians 13:13

 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.

Hope is offered to us:

Hebrews 6:18

God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,  we who have fled to take hold of the hope  set before us may be greatly encouraged.

We have a living Hope:

1 Peter 1:3

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy  he has given us new birth  into a living hope  through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Hope is Firm and Secure:

Hebrews 6:19

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

John 14:21

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him. —

Love is much more than a feeling or an attitude: love is an action. When we love, we show it by our deeds. As disciples of Jesus, our love is shown by our obedience to the things Jesus taught. Of course, that obedience brings an incredible blessing — Jesus reveals himself to those that obey him!

Love – What Bible says? - 3

21. John 11:3

So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love  is sick.”

22. John 13:34-35

A new command  I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.    By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

23. John 15:15

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

24. John 14:21

Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.  The one who loves me will be loved by my Father,  and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

25. John 14:23-24

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.  My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.    Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

26. John 15:17

This is my command: Love each other.

27. John 15:12-13

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.    Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

28. John 16:27

No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me  and have believed that I came from God.

29. John 17:23-24

I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me  and have loved them  even as you have loved me.

    “Father, I want those you have given me  to be with me where I am,  and to see my glory,  the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

Waiting on God

Blessed are all they that wait for him (Isa 30:18).

We hear a great deal about waiting on God. There is, however, another side. When we wait on God, He is waiting till we are ready; when we wait for God, we are waiting till He is ready.

There are some people who say, and many more who believe, that as soon as we meet all the conditions, God will answer our prayers.

They say that God lives in an eternal now; with Him there is no past nor future; and that if we could fulfill all that He requires in the way of obedience to His will, immediately our needs would be supplied, our desires fulfilled, our prayers answered.

A Redeemed People

Exodus 15:13

In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

Ephesians 1:7

In him we have redemption  through his blood,  the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches  of God’s grace

A Peculiar People

Deuteronomy 14:2

for you are a people holy  to the Lord your God.  Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession.

Titus 2:14

who gave himself for us  to redeem us from all wickedness  and to purify  for himself a people that are his very own,  eager to do what is good.

Spiritual Thoughts

. In prayer, we are aware that God is in action and that when the circumstances are ready, when others are in the right place, and when our hearts are prepared, he will call us into the action.  Waiting in prayer is a disciplined refusal to act before God acts. - Eugene Peterson

. The management of time is the management of self; therefore, if you manage time with God, he will begin to manage you. - Jill Briscoe

Psalm 73:23-26

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. —

In times of confusion, we can take comfort that while we may not understand everything while here on earth (read Psalm 73:1-22), God will be faithful. Everything we have and know here on earth is subject to decay, but our relationship with the LORD is our strength forever. He will not abandon, fail, or forget us.

Galatians 5:1

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. —

Grace and freedom are not a license to sin (Jude 4). In fact, sin enslaves us; sin is addictive (John 8:34). As those who have died and buried the old person of sin with Jesus in baptism, we are not to let sin reign over us or become our master because we have been liberated by grace (Rom. 6:1-14). So let's seek the power of the Holy Spirit to cleanse us (Heb. 9:14) and powerfully liberate us from sin (Rom. 8:10-15). Let's use our freedom to bless and build others up. Let's use our freedom to offer our hearts and lives to t! he work of God!

1 John 3:18

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

"Talk is cheap." "Actions speak louder than words." Let's show our love for our family, our friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ by the way we live and what we do for each other.

Thoughts 

.. Many a humble soul will be amazed to find that the seed it sowed in weakness, in the dust of daily life, has blossomed into immortal flowers under the eye of the Lord. - Harriet Beecher Stowe

.. My children, the three acts of faith, hope, and charity contain all the happiness of man upon the earth…John Vianney

.. The next time you are called to suffer, pay attention.  It may be the closest you'll ever get to God…Max Lucado

.. When the dream planted in our heart is one that God has planted there, a strange happiness flows into us.  At that moment all of the spiritual resources of the universe are released to help us…Catherine Marshall

The Book of Genesis

Genesis  in many ways anticipates the New Testament, the very personal God, the Trinity, the institution of marriage, the seriousness of sin, divine judgement, and righteousness by faith.

The tree of Life, lost in Genesis, is restored in Revelation 22.

A Key Lesson in Faith

God will ultimately supply the final answer to mankind’s most perplexing problems through the outflow of the Holy Spirit.

John 17:20-21

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. —

Few things are more precious than knowing that Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, thought to pray for us! So often, we read the words of John 17 and study them as a prayer for his apostles in the upper room.

But if we look closely at this passage, we see that Jesus prays for us, those who believe on him because of the apostles' testimony. He wants us to be one! He wants us to live with the same unity, purpose, and character of God that he did. If we do not, then how will the world know that God sent his Son? How will they know what to believe? How will they find Jesus as their Saviour?

Spiritual Thoughts 

. God gives us loving warnings in His Word to protect and preserve us.

. The treasures of truth in God’s Word are best mined with the spade of meditation.

. Breathing is more miraculous than anything that takes our breath away.

. After we hear the Word of God, we should then take up the work of God.

. God’s peace pillows the head when God’s promises calm the heart.

. The church works best when we see ourselves as participants, not as spectators.

. Jesus came to earth for us so we could go to heaven with Him.

. The key word of Christmas is “Immanuel”— God with us!

. If sin were not deceitful, it wouldn’t seem delightful.

. Love that is born at Calvary bears and forbears, gives and forgives.

Atrophying or Absorbing?

Mark 4:12

so that,
  “‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
 and ever hearing but never understanding;
 otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’”

The Height of God’s Love

Romans 8:38-39

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future,  nor any powers,    neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God  that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
    Paul’s Anguish Over

Do You Know How Much You Are Loved?

Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying:
  “I have loved  you with an everlasting love;
 I have drawn  you with unfailing kindness.

Easter Shows Us God’s Amazing Love

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

I Can’t Say it Enough

Jeremiah 31:3

The word of the Lord came to me again: “What do you see?”
 “I see a pot that is boiling,” I answered. “It is tilting toward us from the north.”

Jesus Prays for You

John 17:20

All I have is yours, and all you have is mine.  And glory has come to me through them.

Joy Robbers

Philippians 4:11

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Pierced for our Rebellion

Isaiah 53:5

But he was pierced  for our transgressions,
 he was crushed  for our iniquities;
 the punishment  that brought us peace  was on him,
 and by his wounds  we are healed.

Betrayed by Judas

Matthew 26:50

Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”
 Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.

Heavenly Wisdom

James 3:17

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

My Refuge

Psalm 119:14

I rejoice in following your statutes
 as one rejoices in great riches.

You Can Live Forgiven

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins  and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Even Your Weaknesses Bring Glory to God

“My friend, I ask, ‘Who do you think you are to question God? Does the clay have the right to ask the potter why he shaped it the way he did?’” Romans 9:20 (CEV).

Whenever we doubt God’s love and wisdom, we always get into trouble. The root behind these problems is that you don’t trust God. You don’t believe God really loves you. You don’t believe that he really has your best interest at heart. You wish he had made you something different. As a result, there’s a spirit of bitterness in you that produces frustration and keeps you from being the person God wants you to be.

But you don’t have to live that way — there is hope! Job 10:10 says, “You guided my conception and formed me in the womb” (NLT). God wanted you, and he loves you. Believe it, and then trust it!

God’s Promises 

James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

 Jeremiah 1:19

"They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.

 Psalm 140:13

Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence.

Ephesians 1:17

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

One of the best things we can pray for each other, and for ourselves, is that we might better know God. The Holy Spirit helps us better know God (1 Cor. 2), worship God (John 4), and speak to God (Rom. 8). Let's ask God to use his Spirit to help us know him, not just know about him. God is not only the Almighty Creator of all things; he is also our Father who cares about us deeply.

Love – What Bible says? - 5

39. 1 Corinthians 13:1

If I speak in the tongues  of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

40. 1 Corinthians 14:1

Follow the way of love  and eagerly desire  gifts of the Spirit,  especially prophecy.

41. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

42. 2 Corinthians 6:4  

Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses

43. 2 Corinthians 6:6

in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit  and in sincere love;

 44. 2 Corinthians 13:4

For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you.

45. Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ  and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,  who loved me  and gave himself for me.

46. Galatians 5:6

For in Christ Jesus  neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.  The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

47. Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit  of the Spirit is love,  joy, peace,  forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,   gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.

48. Ephesians 1:3-6

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  who has blessed us in the heavenly realms  with every spiritual blessing in Christ.   For he chose us  in him before the creation of the world  to be holy and blameless  in his sight. In love    he predestined  us for adoption to sonship  through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure  and will—   to the praise of his glorious grace,  which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

God Calls You to Prayer

God does not depend solely on a few staunch saints. He has planned for ordinary Christians  like you and me to become mighty in prayer for the blessing and salvation of people and reaping of Christ’s harvest among the nations today.

There is no reason in the world why you cannot become so steadfast in your personal prayer life that Christ will count on you to help build His church and advance His kingdom in many parts of the world. Beginning with your family, your church, and your community, you can pay a significant part through normal daily prayer that will make a difference, even in distant lands.

You don’t have to spend hours each day to qualify for God’s prayer army. Thank God for those who can and do pray like that. But He knows the limitations of your own situation, your schedule, your home and employment responsibilities. His  plan is intended to add a whole new dimension to your prayer life. Whether you are a business executive  or a housewife, a factory worker or a student, a layman or a minister of the gospel – God desires for you to begin a thrillingly new and more effective life of prayer.

 A Place Prepared for You

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also” John 14:3 ( KJV).

Thoughts on Worship

Our First Purpose is to Worship God.

“Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1).

Embrace Your Identity in Christ

“He has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts.”

2 Corinthians 1:22a (NLT)

You are defined by God and God alone. He identifies you as his own (2 Corinthians 1:22).

I’m Here, God

“The Lord takes pleasure in his people…“ Psalm 149:4

It seems silly to announce my presence to God, and yet almost every morning when I settle into the rocker after coffee, I find myself spontaneously whispering, “I’m here, God.”

When God Asks ‘Why’

“Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”

(Psalm 62:8)

“Lord, I want to fix him/her.”

Why? And like His words to Peter, “What is that to you? You follow me.” (John 21:22)

“Lord, I can’t do this task You’ve given me.”

Why? Your help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:8)

Never Give In

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

Never give in! The testing of your faith is more precious than gold…Now is the time to fight the good fight of faith.

Never give in! You are not alone in your trials and temptations…He is with you and will make a way of escape.

Never give in! Someone is praying…Jesus is before the Mercy Seat making intercession on your behalf.

Never give in! Heaven’s resources are yours…He will make all grace abound toward you.

Never give in! You can live beyond yourself…God’s strength is made perfect in weakness.

Never give in! The power of God is almighty…Greater is He that is within you than he that is in the world.

Never give in! The hard times will not last forever…Nothing can compare to what God has prepared for you.

Love – What Bible says? - 2

11. Matthew 6:24

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

12. Matthew 14:14

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them  and healed their sick

13. Mark 5:19

Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them  how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

14. Mark 6:34

So they went away by themselves in a boat  to a solitary place.   But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.   When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.  So he began teaching them many things.

15. Mark 10:21

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor,  and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me.”

16. Mark 12:29-31

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.   Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’    The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’  There is no commandment greater than these.”

17. Luke 7:47

Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

18. John 3:16

For God so loved  the world that he gave  his one and only Son,  that whoever believes  in him shall not perish but have eternal life

19. John 5:20

For the Father loves the Son  and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these,  so that you will be amazed.

20. John 10:17

The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life —only to take it up again

Lessons for Leaders

Ezekiel focuses on the common failure of God’s servants. This results from their gauging their success by man’s approval rather than by God’s standards. Ezekiel is rich with insight into the hearts of God’s people. Though ostensibly desiring God’s will and way, some seek their owns benefit and personal gain. God warns  the prophets not to presume the outward devotion of peoples genuine unless sacrificial and transformed living in manifest.

John 17:1

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you." —

John 17 is one of the most moving chapters in all the Bible. Jesus knows he is going to die. He knows he is spending his last few hours before his death with disciples who do not understand what he is about to do and why he is about to do it. Jesus has two key goals in mind as he prepares himself, and his disciples, for their life ahead without him.

He wants them to be one so they can remain strong and influence the world for God. He wants what he does to bring glory to the Father. While he faces humiliation and abandonment, his desire is to bless others. We are going to face hardship. What will be our goal? Hmm, no wonder we are reminded to fix our eyes on Jesus and follow his example.

Steps to Dealing with Sin

The prophet laments that God’s people and their leaders “heal their sins lightly.” Only paying lip service to sin and its devastation, they fail to confront or deal thoroughly with Sin.

Keys to Wise Living

The wise person knows that his flesh is at war with his spiritual desires. The carnal nature attempts to reject the Word of God and its  renewing work, and to defend the fortress  of self -will ( 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 )

Evangelism

 + Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier. The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life." – A. W. Tozer 

Symbols of God’s Word

Light:

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp  for my feet,

 a light  on my path.

Fire:

Jeremiah 5:14

Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty says:
  “Because the people have spoken these words,
 I will make my words in your mouth  a fire
 and these people the wood it consumes.

Hammer:

Jeremiah23:29

Is not my word like fire,”  declares the Lord, “and like a hammer  that breaks a rock in pieces?

Seed:

Luke 8:11

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.

Sword:

Ephesians 6:17

Take the helmet of salvation  and the sword of the Spirit,  which is the word of God.

Dew:

Deuteronomy 32:2

He said:

  “The Lord came from Sinai
 and dawned over them from Seir;
 he shone forth  from Mount Paran.
 He came with myriads of holy ones
 from the south, from his mountain slopes.

Mirror:

James 1:23

 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror

Thoughts

.. This sounds very simple and maybe even trite, but very few people know that they are loved without condition or limits. - Henri Nouwen

.. To have the undivided attention of God can be disconcerting until one realizes that his gaze is tender and full of love and compassion. - Christine A. Dallman

Love – What Bible says? -1

1. Deuteronomy 5:9-10

You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents  to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,    but showing love to a thousand  generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

2. Deuteronomy 7:7-8

The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous  than other peoples, for you were the fewest  of all peoples.    But it was because the Lord loved  you and kept the oath he swore  to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand  and redeemed  you from the land of slavery,  from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

3. Deuteronomy 23:5

However, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse  into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves  you.  

4. Deuteronomy 30:6

The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants,  so that you may love  him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.

5. Psalm 18:1

I love you, Lord, my strength.

6. Psalm 116:1

I love the Lord,  for he heard my voice;
 he heard my cry  for mercy.

7. Song of Solomon 2:4

Let him lead me to the banquet hall,
 and let his banner  over me be love.

8. Song of Solomon 8:6-7

Place me like a seal over your heart,
 like a seal on your arm;
 for love  is as strong as death,
 its jealousy  unyielding as the grave.
 It burns like blazing fire,
 like a mighty flame.
    Many waters cannot quench love;
 rivers cannot sweep it away.
 If one were to give
 all the wealth of one’s house for love,
 it would be utterly scorned.

9. Song of Solomon 3:1-2

All night long on my bed
 I looked  for the one my heart loves;
 I looked for him but did not find him.
    I will get up now and go about the city,
 through its streets and squares;
 I will search for the one my heart loves.
 So I looked for him but did not find him.

10. Isaiah 63:7

I will tell of the kindnesses  of the Lord,
 the deeds for which he is to be praised,
 according to all the Lord has done for us—
 yes, the many good things
 he has done for Israel,
 according to his compassion  and many kindnesses.

Romans 6:15

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! —

This matching verse to Romans 6:1-2, is the great reminder that sin is no longer our master and no longer our choice. We choose to live for God with every fiber of our being and loathe the life of sin that once held us in bondage to death and defeat.

Spiritual Thoughts 

. Second only to suffering, waiting may be the greatest teacher and trainer in godliness, maturity, and genuine spirituality most of us ever encounter. - Richard Hendrix

. If God be God over us, we must yield him universal obedience in all things.  He must not be over us in one thing, and under us in another, but he must be over us in everything. - Peter Bulkeley

. For every verse in the Bible that tells us the benefits of wealth, there are ten that tell us the danger of wealth. - Haddon Robinson

Ezekiel 9:9

“He answered me, "The sin of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great; the land is full of bloodshed and the city is full of injustice. They say, 'The LORD has forsaken the land; the LORD does not see.'"

In times of evil and adversity, God's people can lose sight of the Father's "great and precious promises." God has faithfully kept these promises through the ages. This past faithfulness is our reminder that we can trust his promise of the salvation we will fully experience with him one day. Even in our darkest night, God has not forsaken us.

He sees and knows what we do and how we feel. Quite often, however, the LORD is watching to see how we will live in tough times. He wants us to show that we will be faithful during these times. He wants us to see that he can be trusted and that he still is at work in our world and in our lives. So let's be faithful, trusting that the God who preserved Israel and brought through Israel the promised Messiah will also preserve and bless us!

Main Themes of the Bible

God’s Love:

Ephesians 3:19

and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled  to the measure of all the fullness of God.

The work of the Holy Spirit:

2 Corinthians 3:8

will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?

Grace of Christ:

2 Corinthians 8:9

For you know the grace  of our Lord Jesus Christ,  that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor,  so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Condition of man:

Romans 8:23

Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,  groan  inwardly as we wait eagerly  for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.

Hebrews 8:11

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead  is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies  because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Satan’s state:

Revelation 20:10

And the devil, who deceived them,  was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur,  where the beast  and the false prophet  had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

The world’s future:

2 Peter 3:10

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.  The heavens will disappear with a roar;  the elements will be destroyed by fire,  and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

Reality of Eternity:

Revelation 21:1

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”  for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,  and there was no longer any sea.

Revelation 21:3

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

Revelation 21:8

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars —they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur.  This is the second death.”

Lessons for Leaders

Ezekiel focuses on the common failure of God’s servants. This results from their gauging their success by man’s approval rather than by God’s standards. Ezekiel is rich with insight into the hearts of God’s people. Though ostensibly desiring God’s will and way, some seek their owns benefit and personal gain. God warns  the prophets not to presume the outward devotion of peoples genuine unless sacrificial and transformed living in manifest.

John 17:1

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you." —

John 17 is one of the most moving chapters in all the Bible. Jesus knows he is going to die. He knows he is spending his last few hours before his death with disciples who do not understand what he is about to do and why he is about to do it. Jesus has two key goals in mind as he prepares himself, and his disciples, for their life ahead without him.

He wants them to be one so they can remain strong and influence the world for God. He wants what he does to bring glory to the Father. While he faces humiliation and abandonment, his desire is to bless others. We are going to face hardship. What will be our goal? Hmm, no wonder we are reminded to fix our eyes on Jesus and follow his example.

Steps to Dealing with Sin

The prophet laments that God’s people and their leaders “heal their sins lightly.” Only paying lip service to sin and its devastation, they fail to confront or deal thoroughly with Sin.

Keys to Wise Living

The wise person knows that his flesh is at war with his spiritual desires. The carnal nature attempts to reject the Word of God and its  renewing work, and to defend the fortress  of self -will ( 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 )

Evangelism

 + Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier. The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life." – A. W. Tozer 

Do Not Be Afraid

"Do not be afraid." The scriptures make this announcement over and over again. These are usually the first words out of angel's mouths. Abraham, Moses, Mary, Joseph, shepherds tending their flocks, Paul sitting in a jail cell, the women looking for Christ's body at Easter and disciples rowing a boat in the strong wind all hear these words. In all, these words occur almost 100 times in the scriptures.
Apparently, humans are very fearful creatures and we are in need of faith to function properly in the world.

Building Intimacy with God

Genesis 16:1-16; Genesis 17:1-8

Intimacy with God doesn’t just happen. It requires determination and a significant investment of time and effort. As we seek closeness with Him, we must learn ...

Conflict Resolution. In human disputes, there is usually error on both sides. But if we find ourselves in conflict with God, then we know we are in the wrong—He is always right.

Trust. Intimacy grows only in an atmosphere of trust. As we understand God’s character better, our confidence grows, and we are drawn closer to Him. Our part is to show ourselves trustworthy.

Risk Taking. The more we reveal who we are in Christ to those around us, the more we risk facing arguments, experiencing rejection, or being misunderstood.

Agreement. For us to maintain a close affinity with God, our schedule and plans must reflect that He is a priority. We are to be available for His use and open to His direction.

God designed us for intimacy with Him. All that He requires is our presence and cooperation. What priority have you placed on building a deeper relationship with Him?

Think it over…

~ All your life an unattainable ecstasy has hovered just beyond the grasp of your consciousness.  The day is coming when you will wake to find, beyond all hope, that you have attained it, or else, that it was within your reach and you have lost it forever. - C. S. Lewis

~ God always answers in the deeps, never in the shallows of our soul. - Unknown

~ The cross of Christ is the sweetest burden that I ever bore; it is such a burden as wings are to a bird, or sails to a ship, to carry me forward to my harbor. - Samuel Rutherford

Christ like Character

The Leader’s First Calling

We would all agree that church leaders must devote themselves to the daily study of God’s Word. They need to work at developing their gifts and calling. They will likely spend many hours in ministry service. Those things are all essential parts of ministry and are always important priorities.
In all the “doing”, however, leaders must not lose sight of their most important quest: to know Christ; to have His likeness formed in them; and to have His Spirit empower them.

Many people seek to find spiritual fulfillment from their “ministry” or “calling”, instead of through their relationship with God. They become far more concerned with what they can do or accomplish than with who they are becoming in Christ.

Our spiritual destiny is not just about what we do for God. It consists instead in the conforming of our life to like Christ’s. Our destiny--first and foremost is Christ likeness.

There is no doubt that the Apostle Paul was an extraordinary man. God used him to lead thousands of people to Christ, write Scripture under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, plant churches and move in spiritual gifts with power. We would certainly say Paul fulfilled all that God called him to do.

Yet Paul’s top priority was not his calling. It was his passion to know and become like Jesus! It was Paul who wrote, “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Phil 3:8, 10 & 12-15).

Spiritual Thoughts  

. Take that which God has given you and share it. - Stephen F. Olford

. His strength is made perfect, not in our strength, but in our weakness. - Hannah Whitall Smith
. Passions are evil if love is evil and good if it is good. – Augustine

. lease make of my life what You would have it be.  Time and fate have twisted things I cannot straighten out alone.  Dear God, may I begin again.  My body, my mind, my spirit, my love, my hate, my pain, my sorrows, my joy, my questions, my fears, my hopes , my visions, I give them all to You.  Amen. - Marianne Williamson

Let Thanksgiving be the Habit of your Life

“He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.”

Psalm 50:23

Why is thanksgiving so important? It acknowledges God in the situation.

When things go wrong the last thing we want to do is give thanks. But it’s the most beneficial. Thanksgiving prepares the way for God’s salvation to come in. He who sacrifices thank offerings honours me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God (Psalm 50:23)
“Give thanks in all circumstances,” Paul writes “for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

God can do anything with a thankful heart, but He can do little for a complaining one. It is closed to his grace.

God's Promise 

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Psalm 92:1-2

It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.

Jeremiah 17:7

But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.

Thoughts 

Our God hovers over us with love.

Interruptions can be opportunities to serve.

Your next crisis is your next opportunity to trust our unfailing God.

There’s no greater privilege than praying with Jesus.

Words of truth spoken in love can guide us all toward maturity in Christ.

The Rock

Of Salvation: 

2 Samuel 22:47

“The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!

 Exalted  be my God, the Rock, my Saviour!

Of Shelter:

Psalm 61:2

From the ends of the earth I call to you,

 I call as my heart grows faint;

 lead me to the rock  that is higher than I.

Of Refreshment:

1 Corinthians 10:4

and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock  that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ

Of Security:

Matthew 7:24-25

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice  is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Of Exaltation:

Acts 4:11

Jesus is

  “‘the stone you builders rejected,

 which has become the cornerstone.’

Proverbs 16:20

Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. —
Those who seek the instruction of God's wisdom and who trust in God for their life's blessings and values will find joyful prosperity. While this philosophy doesn't play well in the world of commercials, this understanding is the key to a blessed and prosperous life!

When We Suffer

John 16:33

Scripture teaches a number of practical lessons about suffering. First, it’s okay to ask for a different road, as Jesus did, but we should choose God’s will above all. Our best response to adversity is, “God, what do You want me to learn?”

Second, on the night He was betrayed, Jesus asked close friends to stay awake and pray. We need support and godly relationships, especially during trials. Genuine friends will speak truth kindly and encourage us in Christ. They will also faithfully lift us up in prayer.

Third, it’s natural to struggle with prayer when pain is intense. During those times, a simple “Help me,” is sufficient. God wants us to acknowledge His Lordship, but He does not expect us to have perfect words. He knows what we need before we ask, and He is able to give us far more than that.
Fourth, we should resist the temptation to blame. Jesus was betrayed and rejected, yet He asked God to forgive those who crucified Him. Likewise, we shouldn’t blame others for our hurt. By turning to God during tough times, we’re choosing to trust His ultimate authority. Our Father may not have caused the hardship, but He allowed it. And He will use it for His glory and our good.

The key to suffering is remembering that God is in control and always with His children. In love, He allows pain, but He also places a limit on its length and intensity. You do not hurt apart from the presence of Him who will sustain, help, and eventually bring you through your distress.

Philippians 4:19

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
Paul gives the Philippians this promise only after he has emphasized to them that he had found the Lord's grace sufficient in good times and tough times, in times of plenty and in times of lack. The key to this promise is not just God's provision, but also our trust upon him to satisfy what we most need in Christ Jesus.

When our hearts yearn to be full of him, to be pleasing to him, to be blessed by his presence, to be given the assurance of life beyond death, surely we can rely on his supplying everything we truly need!

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. —

Jeremiah was telling God's people that 70 years after the devastation, God would deliver and restore them. Despite the fact that they had repeatedly abandoned God, he would not abandon them or his promises to them. He would be faithful. In fact, God was planning and preparing a bright future for them. This promise also reminds us that no matter how deep our own personal gloom may seem, God does have plans for us. He will keep his promises to us. He will deliver and bless us. We can have a vibrant hope and a bright future because of his faithfulness and our trust in his Son, Jesus, who delivers us from every foe.

Spiritual Thoughts

. It is one of the ironies of the ministry that the very man who works in God’s name is often hardest put to find time for God.  The parents of Jesus lost him at church, and they were not the last ones to lose him there. - Vance Havner

. The stone was rolled away from the tomb not so Jesus could get out, but so that the world could look in.  His resurrection assures yours.  Because He lives, you will live forever. - Charles Stanley

. You are infinitely dear to the Father, unspeakably precious to Him.  You are never, not for one second, alone. - Norma Dowty

.. Seek not abroad, turn back into thy self for in the inner man dwells the truth. - Augustine
.. Everyone can trust God with every outcome.  We don’t have to manipulate situations.  We don’t have to be defiant or try and figure out how to always win.  Our responsibility is to trust God and leave all the consequences to Him. - Andy Stanley

Romans 6:13

Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. —

This long verse boils down to a very simple message: We are to glorify God by what we do with our bodies. We were dead in our sin, but God has made us alive through our participation with Jesus in his saving death, burial, and resurrection. How can we go back to the hideous sins that master us and lead us to death? We shouldn't! We mustn't! And by God's gracious help, we won't. Our commitment to live for his glory and the power of the Holy Spirit will help us live for him!

The Symbols of the Inspired Book - 4

The Word is like a Pearl:

Matthew 7:6

Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

The Word is like an Anchor:

Hebrews 6:18-19

God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,  we who have fled to take hold of the hope  set before us may be greatly encouraged.   We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain

The Word is like a Star:

2 Peter 1:19

We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable,  and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light  shining in a dark place, until the day dawns  and the morning star  rises in your hearts.

The Word is like Meat:

Hebrews 5:14

But solid food is for the mature,  who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Spiritual Thoughts

  .. No one can believe how powerful prayer is and what it can effect, except those who have learned it by experience. - Martin Luther

.. If you learn to trust God with a child-like dependence on Him as your loving heavenly Father, no trouble can destroy you. - Billy Graham

.. Follow the path of serenity.  Why lose your temper if by losing it you offend God, trouble your neighbour, give yourself a bad time, and in the end have to set things aright anyway.

- Mother Teresa

.. When we depend on organizations, we get what organizations can do; when we depend on education, we get what education can do, when we depend on man, we get what man can do; but when we depend on prayer, we get what God can do. - A. C. Dixon

.. It ought to be as habitual to us to thank as to ask. - Charles Spurgeon
.. God can pick sense out of a confused prayer. - Richard Sibbes

Seven Characteristics of God’s Word

Eternal:

Psalm 119:89

Your word, Lord, is eternal;
 it stands firm in the heavens.

Inspired:

2 Timothy 3:16

All Scripture is God-breathed  and is useful for teaching,  rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness

Living:

Hebrew 4:12

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Active:

Hebrew 4:12

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Perfect:

Psalm 19:7

The law of the Lord  is perfect,
 refreshing the soul.
 The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
 making wise the simple

Trustworthy:

Psalm 19:7

The law of the Lord  is perfect,
 refreshing the soul.
 The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
 making wise the simple

Sweet:

Psalm 19:10

They are more precious than gold,
 than much pure gold;
 they are sweeter than honey,
 than honey from the honeycomb

The Symbols of the Inspired Book - 3

The Word is like Gold:

Psalm 19:10

They are more precious than gold,
 than much pure gold;
 they are sweeter than honey,
 than honey from the honeycomb.

Revelation 10:10

I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth,  but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.

The Word is like an Ox-goad:

Ecclesiastes 12:11

The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails —given by one shepherd.

The Word is like a Nail:

Ecclesiastes 12:11

The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails —given by one shepherd.

The Word is like Bread:

Matthew 4:4

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Deuteronomy 8:3

He humbled  you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna,  which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach  you that man does not live on bread  alone but on every word that comes from the mouth  of the Lord.

Psalm 119:103

How sweet are your words to my taste,
 sweeter than honey  to my mouth!

Isaiah 55:10

As the rain  and the snow
 come down from heaven,
 and do not return to it
 without watering the earth
 and making it bud and flourish,
 so that it yields seed  for the sower and bread for the eater,

Hebrews 13:2

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

What do you you do to welcome new neighbors into your neighborhood or apartment complex? How warmly do you personally welcome visitors at your church or in your Bible study group? When was the last time you invited someone new in your congregation over for dinner or included them in a gathering of your Christian friends?

While some have the gift of hospitality, all of us need to be warm and open to folks we don't know that join us for Christian worship and fellowship. Why not make a commitment to meet and welcome one new person at church each week. In a cold impersonal world, we can make a huge difference in the lives of those seeking the shelter and grace of Jesus and his people.

Spiritual Thoughts

.. That is true prayer: being all ear for God. - Henri Nouwen

.. Jesus’ resurrection makes it impossible for man’s story to end in chaos–it has to move inexorably towards light, towards life, towards love. - Carlo Carretto

.. Jesus Christ’s claim of divinity is the most serious claim anyone ever made.  Everything about Christianity hinges on His incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection.  That’s what Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter are all about. - Luis Palau

.. The resurrection of Jesus, the whole alphabet of human hope, the certificate of our Lord’s mission from heaven, is the heart of the gospel in all ages. - R. G. Lee

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Our sin earns us death. God's grace gives us life.

The difference between these two extremes? The Cross of Christ which spans the chasm of our sin and brings us to the mercy, forgiveness, and redemption of God!

The Symbols of the Inspired Book - 2

The Word is like a Seed:

1 Peter 1:23

For you have been born again,  not of perishable seed, but of imperishable,  through the living and enduring word of God

Luke 8:11

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.

James 1:8

Such a person is double-minded  and unstable  in all they do.

The Word is like a Sword:

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God  is alive  and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword,  it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

The Word is like Water:

Ephesians 5:26

to make her holy,  cleansing her by the washing  with water through the word

John 15:3

You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

John 17:17

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

Psalm 119:5

Oh, that my ways were steadfast

 in obeying your decrees!

Psalm 119:9

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
 By living according to your word.

The Symbols of the Inspired Book - 1

The Word is like Fire:

Jeremiah 23:29

“Is not my word like fire,”  declares the Lord, “and like a hammer  that breaks a rock in pieces?

The Word is like a Hammer:

Jeremiah 23:29

“Is not my word like fire,”  declares the Lord, “and like a hammer  that breaks a rock in pieces?

The Word is like a Lamp:

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp  for my feet,
 a light  on my path.

The Word is a like a Mirror:

James 1:23

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror

The Word is like Milk:

1 Peter 2:2

Like new-born babies, crave pure spiritual milk,  so that by it you may grow up  in your salvation

The Word is like a Rod:

Revelation 11:1-2

I was given a reed like a measuring rod  and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers.   But exclude the outer court;  do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles.  They will trample on the holy city  for 42 months.

Spiritual Thought

.. Lord, you come to us in the storm, the fire, and even in the stillness of a quiet moment.  Sometimes your message is strong, carried on bustling angelic wings; sometimes our spirits are nudged, our hearts lightened by the gentle whisper of spirit voices.  However you approach us, your message is always one of tender love and compassion.  Thank you for the certainty–and the surprise–of your holy voice. - Anna Trimiew

Surrender Your Wounds

John 3:16

For God so loved  the world that he gave  his one and only Son,  that whoever believes  in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The Lord is My Shepherd

Psalm 23:1

The Lord is my shepherd,  I lack nothing.

Living in God’s Presence

Ephesians 6:18

And pray in the Spirit  on all occasions  with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying  for all the Lord’s people.

Count it All Joy

James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,    because you know that the testing of your faith  produces perseverance.    Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature  and complete, not lacking anything.

The Exceeding Greatness of His Power

Ephesians 1:16-17

I have not stopped giving thanks for you,  remembering you in my prayers.    I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,  may give you the Spirit of wisdom  and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Ephesians 1:19

and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power  is the same as the mighty strength
Overwhelming Love

Romans 8:37

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors  through him who loved us.

Blessings of God’s Word

Keep from sin:

Psalm 119:11

I have hidden your word in my heart
 that I might not sin  against you.

Gives birth:

James 1:8

Such a person is double-minded  and unstable  in all they do.

Sets free:

John 8:32

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

It cleanses:

John 15:3

You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

It heals:

Psalm 107:20

He sent out his word  and healed them;
 he rescued  them from the grave.

Gives understanding:

Psalm 119:130

I have chosen  the way of faithfulness;
 I have set my heart  on your laws.

Gives faith:

Romans 10:17

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message,  and the message is heard through the word about Christ

Thoughts 

.. I am to become a Christ to my neighbor and need to be for him what Christ is for me.
- Martin Luther

.. Oh, how great peace and quietness would he possess who should cut off all vain anxiety and place all his confidence in God. - Thomas a Kempis

Are you helping God?

Do you think God is too slow in answering your prayers for another’s salvation? When we care for someone we are tempted to get impatient and take things into our own hands. Let the “Lord of the harvest” decide when harvest time is to come. If you set a certain date for someone to get saved and turn their life over to God, you may want to give up if it doesn’t happen according to your deadline.  God does not want you to give up; therefore, do not set a time for your harvest and don’t quit praying! Keep planting the seed, using your weapons, and interceding until God’s time comes, and “your rebel” is in the Body of Christ.

Don’t try to “help” God with His master plan. We may try to bribe our loved one: offer Sunday dinner of all their favorite foods if they’ll just come to church. We may try to use guilt on Mother’s Day by saying, “Go to church one time before your grandma dies--it would make her happy.” We are trying to use natural methods to fight a spiritual battle--it won’t work!

We are human, but we can’t wage a spiritual war with human methods. Rather, we must use God’s mighty weapons to knock down the devil’s strongholds. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and teach them to obey Christ. You cannot change another’s will through your own actions. Our job is to bring the unsaved and the rebellious before God in prayer.

It is not your effort that brings answered prayer. You cannot use your will to overcome the will of another. Do not allow yourself to become weary and tired, continuing on in your own strength. It is the power of God that will break down the strongholds. Using His power does not require yours. Depend upon and trust that your God and His Word will do the work, not your methods. Let God deal with another’s free will. Faithfully perform the task God gave to you, and trust Him to honor His Word. He knows how to handle people.

Spiritual Thoughts

. Your unhappiness is due not to a want of something outside of you, but to a want of something inside you.  You were made for perfect happiness.  No wonder everything short of God disappoints you. - Fulton Sheen

. This is a wise, sane Christian faith: that a man commit himself, his life and his hopes to God; that God undertakes the special protection of that man; that therefore that man ought not to be afraid of anything! - George McDonald

God is everywhere

If you’ve ever wondered where God lives…

If sometimes He seems far away in His house in heaven, look around you…

God is everywhere.

You see His face in a woodland flower.

You feel His touch in the gentle rain.

You hear His voice in the murmuring winds.

Even in small secret places, He is always near.

His miracles are as small as a snowflake…

and as great as a sky of stars.

God brings the spirit of joy to your home…

and the spirit of peace and thanksgiving where you worship.

When you speak to God, He guides you.

He is your strength when things don’t go right…

and your comfort when you are lonely or sad.

When you are kind and thoughtful, you are helping to do God’s work…

and in return He sends you the gift of happiness.

God is in every one of us.

He is in our friends who like us just the way we are.

He is in our parents who help us grow up and love us always.

God is in those who think and act as we do…

and in those who may be different.

God is love, and He lives everywhere there is love.

Most of all, God lives in your heart.

= Barbara Burrow

Ways to Enhance Your Day

Get up early.

Look around outside before going to work.

Relax and enjoy your meals.

Spend time with friends.

Pace yourself.

Find a quiet place to go to.

Praise yourself and others.

Develop positive relationships.

See your mistakes as stepping stones.

Keep track of your own moods so you can watch out for them.

Say “No” without feeling guilty.

Learn effective time management.

Pay attention to health, diet and sleep.

Exercise regularly.

Keep from comparing yourself to others.

And most importantly, spend time daily in the Lord’s Word and prayer.

-    Unknown

. Anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centered in anything short of God and His will for us. - Billy Graham

. To pray is the greatest thing we can do, and to do it well, there must be calmness, time, and deliberation. - E. M. Bounds

. I’ve heard a lot of sermons in the past ten years or so that made me want to get up and walk out.  They’re secular, psychological, self-help sermons.  Friendly, but of no use.  They didn’t make you straighten up.  They didn’t give you anything hard.  At some point and in some way, a sermon has to direct people toward the death of Christ and the campaign that God has waged over the centuries to get our attention. - Garrison Keillor

The Rewards of Patience

 Psalm 40:1-17

 

David left behind an incredible testimony of God’s faithfulness for each of us to read and ponder. He was committed to waiting upon the Lord, and as a result, he had the Father’s approval and blessing. We cannot underestimate the reward of living in divine favour. That isn’t a special state reserved for the “giants of the faith” like David. All who obediently endure until the Lord acts on their behalf abide in His favour (Isa. 40:31).

David didn’t receive his blessings because he was special; he was honoured among men because he honoured the Lord above all. And since he trusted in God’s faithfulness, he endured hardship with patience. We, too, can expect to be blessed when we wait upon the Lord.

Luke 9:10

And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place 

In order to grow in grace, we must be much alone. It is not in society that the soul grows most vigorously. In one single quiet hour of prayer it will often make more progress than in days of company with others. It is in the desert that the dew falls freshest and the air is purest.

.. Andrew Bonar

Spiritual Warfare

Satan-Proofing Your Home

.. It’s God’s will for people to bear fruit and to subdue the earth. But, first, we must renew our minds and be conformed to the image of Christ.

Satan-Proofing Your Home

.. Remember; Jesus is a winner, and, through Him, you and your family can be winners too!

Satan-Proofing Your Home

.. Satan-proofers and believers who have taken charge by letting godly principles become alive in their circumstances.

Satan-Proofing Your Home

.. God is for families! He doesn’t want your family to be destroyed by any of the horrendous things that come out of the devil’s devious mind.

Satan-Proofing Your Home

.. When we pray God’s Word, using it on spirits and situations, it begins to cut through thoughts  and attitudes in order to bring about a change.

Satan-Proofing Your Home

.. Praying in the Spirit will keep you in the love of God, and I believe that praying in the Spirit also will keep you in love with one another.