Greetings in the Name of Jesus the Messiah!
This morning as I heard the 'local rooster' crowing at about four in the morning, I'm reminded of Peter on the day Jesus was arrested. How eager he was to declare his faithful love and devotion! Yet, as he stated that he would follow Jesus even unto death:
Luke 22:31-34
31)"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32) But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
33) But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."
34) Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."
How Peter must have felt on that day of denial! We learn from this, however, that God is a loving and forgiving Father. When we repent of our misdeeds and sinful ways, He IS faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us! Praises be to God!! Thankfully He is more forgiving to us, than we to ourselves! Thankfully, a Righteous judge is He. Thankfully I stand before a just God, rather than a self-righteous man!
We know what to do, as believers, there is often no doubt. However, we so many times don't do what we know we should do. The flesh that wars within, I suppose. The key to fighting that selfish desire that rises up is surrendering our pride. Pride is the most difficult of all sins to give up, because we usually don't even recognize it as pride!
You face a crisis of belief when you know what God wants you to do but you don't do it. One thing God absolutely wants you to do is to turn away from any wrong thing: any bad habit, any fear not surrendered, any ambition or desire that prevents you from making Him Master. Will you stop and tell God what you are going to forsake? For me, I think it's pride. I have to honestly say I was very prideful when I was younger....but I equally as honestly say that I didn't realize it was pride until I was older and could recognize it as such. I believe that because I ASK God every day to reveal unrepentant sin in my life, that He does so, little by little....if ALL our sin is revealed at once, we could not bear to look into the mirror!
Almost daily I am reminded of things I have done....nothing too major, as humans would think of major, but sin is sin, and in the sight of God we want to "be ye Holy, for I am holy" and "be ye perfect, for I am perfect"
1 Peter 1:16
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
The ONLY way to be Holy and/or perfect is IN Christ Jesus! When we surrender our will to make it one with God's will, when we repent and turn to Christ in absolute faith and ask Him to be the one and only Lord of our life, HE, through His shed blood and resurrection, makes us a perfect ten in the sight of God!
Jesus told His disciples that once they are 'clean' only their feet need a daily washing. This means that once we are saved or made clean through our obedience to Jesus, we are becoming sanctified. We are clean, but we get dirty walking around in a filthy, sinful world, making daily mistakes, and even acts of disobedience, so we NEED a daily 'washing'. We need to repent of acts of disobedience. We are immediately forgiven, yet we still need to be alert to Satan's tricks and sneaky ways to distract us, steal our JOY, and work his wiley ways to try to get our minds on anything and everything but on God!
He goes about like a roaring lion seeking WHOM he may devour!!! 1 Peter 5:8 (K.J.V.)
8) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour
He can't steal your soul, but he can take your mind and heart away from God, and make your life so miserable that you no longer are having a close relationship or walk with God, until you can't even be differentiated from the WORLD!
Let us never be so high-minded and prideful that we begin to think we can stand alone in the face of Satan's wicked wiley ways!
1 Corinthians 10:12
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. I love this scripture because it reminds me constantly to ask God to BE the Lord of my life, to examine myself daily, to surrender to HIM daily! I don't want to do any declaration but that I Love Him, and want to stand firmly IN Him, and I pray that I will do so in the event of all temptation, trials, and tribulations that may come my way.
Victory Prayer:
My Precious Heavenly Father,
Once again today, I come to You in the Precious Name of Jesus, the Messiah. I thank You, Father, that You are life-giving! I thank You that my life belongs to You. I offer my will in complete surrender to Your will. May I be one with You as my Lord Jesus prayed! May Your will always be the only will I know! There are two wills in this universe: Yours and others....we can only be right with You, One with You, when we are IN YOUR will, not our own. You gave us free will and the way of it is that we can choose life, choose blessings, choose to walk worthy of Your love. I choose life! I choose Blessings! I choose YOU! Thank You, Father, for Your Sacrifice, for Jesus Christ. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit! Thank You for being my Shelter, Comfort, Guide, and Rock. I thank You for my daily surrender to you. Keep me upright in Your sight, I pray in The most Precious, Holy name of Jesus Christ I thank You!
Amen!!!
Lily
I Th. 5:16-18
II Corinthians 13:5
In Christ Alone Our Hope Is Found!
Dandelion Mist
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” Jim Elliot, Missionary
Monday, June 28, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Garden of Prayer: A Living Sacrifice
In my last post I made a statement about being a living scarifice which is really no sacrifice as I copied below from previous post:
"A sacrifice that is really no sacrifice at all, but an offering of love to the ONE Who first loved me!"
Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
I have been thinking this morning about our being a living sacrifice and it being our reasonable service. Being a word/terminology person, of course I know what sacrifice is. However, I wanted to look at Webster for their definiton, and this is the one I chose to use. It is third on their list of definitions for the word 'sacrifice'.
3) destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else. I love the surrender part of it! When we surrender to Jesus Christ we are giving Him what is our reasonable service. That's why I said "It's really no sacrifice" at all, because His love makes it easy to give Him my all.
As a parent, we often tell our children how we've sacrificed for them, yet we know in our heart that it's an act of love, willing and unconditional. We would do it without hesitation because it's our 'reasonable' service as a parent to care for our children.
We delight to do His will out of love for Him. We know that our love for Him came out of His love for us.
(John 4:19 We love because HE first loved us.)
Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
While we were YET SINNERS He loved us! How amazing is that!? How can we not offer our body a living sacrifice, which IS our reasonable service to the ONE Who loved us FIRST, while we were yet SINNERS!
I enjoy reading three devotionals every morning: Joyce Meyer "Starting Your Day Right", "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, and "The Daily Bread".
Of course, we do online Bible study pretty regulary...I would have said every day because we did, but now it's usually about four or five times/week. (Slacker!!)
If you've never used one I Highly recommend it! Maybe you could try
www.audio-bibleonline.com (http://www.audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html)
It uses Real Player for the audio, and I promise you, you will love it!
I sort of got off-track for a moment, but I mentioned the devotionals because we all need encouragement; DAILY! Joyce Meyer never ceases to amaze me with her simplistic explanations and insights. I love Osawld Chambers for the exact opposite insight....deeply pondering and sometimes reading through twice. Daily Bread provides me with insight from various authors, scripture, and a brief bit of poetry at the bottom. I hunger and thirst for more of God's Word every day. I search for new insights from fellow believers, music, and books. One of the reasons I wanted to do my own blog is that I love reading about God's Word, talking about God's Word, and writing about God's Word! Not that I have anything more important to say than anyone else....just the love of His Word, sharing it in some small way, and being able to express my feelings to anyone who will 'listen'
One thing that needs to be made known to anyone who reads this blog.....I care about what YOU have to say, too! I really want to hear comments, receive prayer requests, and know what questions we can search out together! There are so many blogs out there, so many rescouces, and we are over stimulated in the e-mail department.....life really has way too many distractions all around. I realize this is one more thing....one more...maybe the one that even 'broke the camel's back'!
My prayer is that it isn't a burden to read and comment at the end of the section. My prayer also is that you find it encouraging!
Have a blessed day!
Victory Garden Prayer,
My Father, I love You and I worship You. You alone are worthy! You alone can satisfy our emptiness and longing. You are Holy and You are the Most High! You have given us Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and we thank You for our free gift of salvation. This gift that cost You so much! I offer myself as a living sacrifice, a surrendered self, to You. Mold me and make me to be more like Jesus Christ. Search me and when iniquity is found in me, cleanse me, forgive me, and lead me into Your righteousness. I want to walk worthy of Your love!
Thank You for Your nail-scarred hands! Thank You for trading a Crown of Gold for a Crown of Thorns! Thank You, for taking MY place on that cross so long ago! Thank You for willingly laying down Your life, the King of the Universe, for ME! Thank You for Gethsemane and Golgotha! I know that I have nothing to offer but myself. I offer my devotion, my loyalty, my life, my everything because You first loved me.
In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen!!!
In Christ Alone Our Hope Is Found!
Lily
I Th. 5:16-18
Psalms 37:4-5
"A sacrifice that is really no sacrifice at all, but an offering of love to the ONE Who first loved me!"
Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
I have been thinking this morning about our being a living sacrifice and it being our reasonable service. Being a word/terminology person, of course I know what sacrifice is. However, I wanted to look at Webster for their definiton, and this is the one I chose to use. It is third on their list of definitions for the word 'sacrifice'.
3) destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else. I love the surrender part of it! When we surrender to Jesus Christ we are giving Him what is our reasonable service. That's why I said "It's really no sacrifice" at all, because His love makes it easy to give Him my all.
As a parent, we often tell our children how we've sacrificed for them, yet we know in our heart that it's an act of love, willing and unconditional. We would do it without hesitation because it's our 'reasonable' service as a parent to care for our children.
We delight to do His will out of love for Him. We know that our love for Him came out of His love for us.
(John 4:19 We love because HE first loved us.)
Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
While we were YET SINNERS He loved us! How amazing is that!? How can we not offer our body a living sacrifice, which IS our reasonable service to the ONE Who loved us FIRST, while we were yet SINNERS!
I enjoy reading three devotionals every morning: Joyce Meyer "Starting Your Day Right", "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, and "The Daily Bread".
Of course, we do online Bible study pretty regulary...I would have said every day because we did, but now it's usually about four or five times/week. (Slacker!!)
If you've never used one I Highly recommend it! Maybe you could try
www.audio-bibleonline.com (http://www.audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html)
It uses Real Player for the audio, and I promise you, you will love it!
I sort of got off-track for a moment, but I mentioned the devotionals because we all need encouragement; DAILY! Joyce Meyer never ceases to amaze me with her simplistic explanations and insights. I love Osawld Chambers for the exact opposite insight....deeply pondering and sometimes reading through twice. Daily Bread provides me with insight from various authors, scripture, and a brief bit of poetry at the bottom. I hunger and thirst for more of God's Word every day. I search for new insights from fellow believers, music, and books. One of the reasons I wanted to do my own blog is that I love reading about God's Word, talking about God's Word, and writing about God's Word! Not that I have anything more important to say than anyone else....just the love of His Word, sharing it in some small way, and being able to express my feelings to anyone who will 'listen'
One thing that needs to be made known to anyone who reads this blog.....I care about what YOU have to say, too! I really want to hear comments, receive prayer requests, and know what questions we can search out together! There are so many blogs out there, so many rescouces, and we are over stimulated in the e-mail department.....life really has way too many distractions all around. I realize this is one more thing....one more...maybe the one that even 'broke the camel's back'!
My prayer is that it isn't a burden to read and comment at the end of the section. My prayer also is that you find it encouraging!
Have a blessed day!
Victory Garden Prayer,
My Father, I love You and I worship You. You alone are worthy! You alone can satisfy our emptiness and longing. You are Holy and You are the Most High! You have given us Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and we thank You for our free gift of salvation. This gift that cost You so much! I offer myself as a living sacrifice, a surrendered self, to You. Mold me and make me to be more like Jesus Christ. Search me and when iniquity is found in me, cleanse me, forgive me, and lead me into Your righteousness. I want to walk worthy of Your love!
Thank You for Your nail-scarred hands! Thank You for trading a Crown of Gold for a Crown of Thorns! Thank You, for taking MY place on that cross so long ago! Thank You for willingly laying down Your life, the King of the Universe, for ME! Thank You for Gethsemane and Golgotha! I know that I have nothing to offer but myself. I offer my devotion, my loyalty, my life, my everything because You first loved me.
In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen!!!
In Christ Alone Our Hope Is Found!
Lily
I Th. 5:16-18
Psalms 37:4-5
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Victory Garden Prayer
Give ear to my words, oh Lord! Consider my meditations! Hearken unto the voice of my cry!My King and my God! For unto THEE will I pray. My voice shalt THOU hear in the morning! Oh LORD in the morning, will I direct my prayer unto THEE and will look up!
Oh Lord, in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee and look up!
Lord, You have wakened me early in the morning. I have hearkened unto Your prompting Holy Spirit. Speak to my heart, Lord! Fill my thirsty soul with the rivers of Living Water that come forth out of Thy well-spring. Feed me with the Living Word that is Jesus the Christ. Make my soul hunger for Your righteousness, and feed me life-giving Words. You have told me in Your Word: A voice will whisper in your ear; this is the Way. Walk in it when you turn to the right or to the left" (Is. 30:21). They that wait upon the LORD, shall renew their strength.They shall mount up with wings as an eagle! They shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint." (Is. 40:31). Teach me, Lord, to wait!
I walk beside You Lord Jesus, and my heart truly burns within me as I listen eagerly for Your Words of Life!
Proverbs 30:4
Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is HIS SON'S name, if thou canst tell!!
Jesus Christ is the Son's name! Your Word has revealed His name! Your Word has become flesh and dwelt among Your children. Thank You, Father God, for Your living Word! Thank You, for providing a perfect atonement for OUR sin....for MY sin!
I have nothing to offer. I have nothing but myself, and I surrender all that I am to You, Lord. You ARE worthy of praise and devotion. You are worthy of surrender of my sinful, willful, worldly flesh. I offer my life back to You, as a living sacrifice. A sacrifice that is really no sacrifice at all, but an offering of love to the ONE Who first loved me!
My soul longs for You, as the deer pants for water after a long day of evasion of those who seek to kill him! I worship You, my strength and my shield. You alone, are worthy of worship and praise!
I ask You my Father, in the very precious and saving name of Jesus, the Messiah; open the eyes of those who are blind to Your Word.....give them eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart of understanding that we all need a savior, and You have provided that Redeeming Savior in only Jesus Christ, our Lord!
10) Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by HIM doth this man stand here before you whole.
11) This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved
Thank You, my Most Holy Father in heaven, that You hear my prayers, and that You care about every detail of my life! Thank You for answering my humble requests, and for filling my heart with desires that are pleasing to You!
In Jesus Christ Alone Our Hope Is Found!
Lily
I Th. 5:16-18
Is. 30:21
"Call on ME, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things that you do not know!" Jer. 33:3
Oh Lord, in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee and look up!
Lord, You have wakened me early in the morning. I have hearkened unto Your prompting Holy Spirit. Speak to my heart, Lord! Fill my thirsty soul with the rivers of Living Water that come forth out of Thy well-spring. Feed me with the Living Word that is Jesus the Christ. Make my soul hunger for Your righteousness, and feed me life-giving Words. You have told me in Your Word: A voice will whisper in your ear; this is the Way. Walk in it when you turn to the right or to the left" (Is. 30:21). They that wait upon the LORD, shall renew their strength.They shall mount up with wings as an eagle! They shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint." (Is. 40:31). Teach me, Lord, to wait!
I walk beside You Lord Jesus, and my heart truly burns within me as I listen eagerly for Your Words of Life!
Proverbs 30:4
Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is HIS SON'S name, if thou canst tell!!
Jesus Christ is the Son's name! Your Word has revealed His name! Your Word has become flesh and dwelt among Your children. Thank You, Father God, for Your living Word! Thank You, for providing a perfect atonement for OUR sin....for MY sin!
I have nothing to offer. I have nothing but myself, and I surrender all that I am to You, Lord. You ARE worthy of praise and devotion. You are worthy of surrender of my sinful, willful, worldly flesh. I offer my life back to You, as a living sacrifice. A sacrifice that is really no sacrifice at all, but an offering of love to the ONE Who first loved me!
My soul longs for You, as the deer pants for water after a long day of evasion of those who seek to kill him! I worship You, my strength and my shield. You alone, are worthy of worship and praise!
I ask You my Father, in the very precious and saving name of Jesus, the Messiah; open the eyes of those who are blind to Your Word.....give them eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart of understanding that we all need a savior, and You have provided that Redeeming Savior in only Jesus Christ, our Lord!
10) Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by HIM doth this man stand here before you whole.
11) This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved
Thank You, my Most Holy Father in heaven, that You hear my prayers, and that You care about every detail of my life! Thank You for answering my humble requests, and for filling my heart with desires that are pleasing to You!
In Jesus Christ Alone Our Hope Is Found!
Lily
I Th. 5:16-18
Is. 30:21
"Call on ME, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things that you do not know!" Jer. 33:3
Friday, June 25, 2010
Victory Prayer
Father God,
I am so thankful for your love! I so often fail to come even close to expressing the depth of the love I have in return. Your Word says You first loved us. How can we not love and be in awe of our creator!? We live and breathe and have our very being in You!
You are my shelter in life's storms and torrential downpours of adveristies and trials. You are the Rock of my Salvation and an ever-present help in times of need.
You carry me when I am too weak to go on. You hear me when I cry and You gently calm my aching heart. You remind me that the peace that only You can give, is freely given to me for the taking.
When I am in pain, You are my Healer. If my pain is a broken heart, You bind me up and shelter me in Your majestic everlasting love! If my pain is physical, You are my Great Physician. If I am afraid, Your Word tells me that Your PERFECT love casts out fear. I have nothing to fear if I am Your Child.
When I falter along the rocky paths, You give me Hinds' Feet. In my hunger and thirst, You are the Bread of Life and Living Water. I hunger for this Bread of Life and I thirst for this Living Water, I am walking through a weary land and I am tired. You have prepared a table before me, and I long to dine with You there!
You comfort me with Your Words of love and hope.
In the early morning You call me to our Secret Meeting Place. I bow down before Your throne and am filled with joy at Your feet! I feel so loved and secure in Your Presence!
My mind's eye beholds the beauty of heaven and I look for Your return. I quietly listen for Your voice and I call out to You.....the dawn is breaking, the birds are singing, the sun slowly creeps near the horizon, and I feel Your presence......and I wait for You, oh Lord.....I wait for You.
Thank You for meeting me in The Secret Place of The Most High! I will say of the Lord, HE is my God and in Him will I trust!
Lily
I Th. 5:16-18
Psalm 91:1
I am so thankful for your love! I so often fail to come even close to expressing the depth of the love I have in return. Your Word says You first loved us. How can we not love and be in awe of our creator!? We live and breathe and have our very being in You!
You are my shelter in life's storms and torrential downpours of adveristies and trials. You are the Rock of my Salvation and an ever-present help in times of need.
You carry me when I am too weak to go on. You hear me when I cry and You gently calm my aching heart. You remind me that the peace that only You can give, is freely given to me for the taking.
When I am in pain, You are my Healer. If my pain is a broken heart, You bind me up and shelter me in Your majestic everlasting love! If my pain is physical, You are my Great Physician. If I am afraid, Your Word tells me that Your PERFECT love casts out fear. I have nothing to fear if I am Your Child.
When I falter along the rocky paths, You give me Hinds' Feet. In my hunger and thirst, You are the Bread of Life and Living Water. I hunger for this Bread of Life and I thirst for this Living Water, I am walking through a weary land and I am tired. You have prepared a table before me, and I long to dine with You there!
You comfort me with Your Words of love and hope.
In the early morning You call me to our Secret Meeting Place. I bow down before Your throne and am filled with joy at Your feet! I feel so loved and secure in Your Presence!
My mind's eye beholds the beauty of heaven and I look for Your return. I quietly listen for Your voice and I call out to You.....the dawn is breaking, the birds are singing, the sun slowly creeps near the horizon, and I feel Your presence......and I wait for You, oh Lord.....I wait for You.
Thank You for meeting me in The Secret Place of The Most High! I will say of the Lord, HE is my God and in Him will I trust!
Lily
I Th. 5:16-18
Psalm 91:1
Thursday, June 24, 2010
The Word Made Flesh
Genesis 1:1 ¶ In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 3) ¶ And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
6) ¶ And God said, 9) ¶ And God said 11) And God said, 14) ¶ And God said, 29) ¶ And God said,
31) ¶ And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.
I have written "and God said" because God only speaks and the thing comes to pass, no matter WHAT it is!!!
The Gospel of John:
1 ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
14 And the Word was made 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.
Colossians:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.
I have included these extremely important scriptures above for the many who THINK that Jesus is "just a very good teacher or prophet"
Believers in Jesus know the reality of His Deity: That God became flesh and blood in the PERSON of Jesus Christ. The Word was WITH GOD and the WORD WAS GOD, and the WORD BECAME FLESH and dwelt among us.
So many find it easy to believe that God created the heavens, earth, and all therein, yet deny the fact that God could become human and suffer as a human for those HE created! They deny the ability and power of God. They don't understand the Omniscience (all science/all knowing), the Omnipotence (all potent/all powerful),
nor the Omnipresence (all present/everywhere at once) of God.
These are things that finite/limited humans can't comprehend, although we know it in head/heart knowledge, we can't fully understand it, even if we like to think we do!
The ways of God are far above our ways and understanding. "For now we see through a glass darkly...." We are not meant to fully see everything clearly. If we did, where would faith come into play? Faith is the 'substance' (the tangible) of things HOPED for! We know by Faith, that something is very, very real and tangible although we don't actually see it....like oxygen in the air we breathe...we KNOW it's there, yet we will never see it!
Faith is also the 'evidence' of things not seen. Evidence is "PROOF" of things we can't see.....the proof of oxygen in the air we breathe is that we are alive and breathing!
Faith, therefore, is a tangible proof that what we believe in Christ Jesus' existence, His Diety, and His promise to return for His church, answered prayers,His resurrection after his death and burial, are all true and tangible.
I, for one, know that prayers are answered because I have seen too many things happen that can only be explained by prayer being answered....too many 'miracles' too many 'coincidences', too many 'chance' meetings, too many healed people, all these incidents are a result of prayer.
By Faith, we believe in the Word of God. By Faith, we come to Jesus Christ as our Savior, Redeemer, and by faith, we obey His Word as given in the Holy Bible. By Faith, we step out of the safety of the boat and walk with Him and believe on Him.
Jesus is the Light of the World. Jesus IS the Word made Flesh. Jesus is the Way, Truth, and the Life, and He IS the Light we need to follow in a very dark world.....no one can come TO the Father, BUT by Jesus the Christ.
John14:6) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus also said (by way of the Apostle Paul to Timothy) He is the ONLY mediator!
1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
When we go to the Father to pray, to intercede, to make a request, to worship, whatever our intent; we MUST go through our one and ONLY Mediator; Christ Jesus. There is NO other way!
The Bible clearly makes God's will known to us through His inspired Word. It is no secret what He expects and requires from us! Would YOU or I expect our children to follow and obey us IF we did not make our rules and requirements made known to them? Of course not! We make our desires clear and concise, and if one doesn't understand they may ask and we will show them what's expected. God is our FATHER, He will show us through scripture exactly what HE expects from each one of us.
Will we be able to go to God and ask Him anything and expect it, IF we don't OBEY Him??
Absolutely NOT!!! If we give to our children, who disobey, the desires of their heart, what does that TEACH them? That disobedience pays well. If we require that they obey us or they will NOT be rewarded, it teaches them to obey....obedience is NOT control, it's for the GOOD of the child....the same goes with God, our Father.
Now, altogether, God has created His beloved people. They sinned against HIM in the garden of Eden, because HE gave them free will. They chose to disobey and sin is the consequence....sin brings death and eternal separation from God. God became flesh and died as a perfect, unblemished sacrifice for our sin, that is HE took it upon HIMSELF to reconcile us BACK to HIMSELF.....all that we do is believe that Jesus IS that sacrfice, repent of OUR sin, and follow His commands....He said, "IF you LOVE ME, you WILL keep MY commands" This is BOTH Old and New Testament....not just the old covenant!
Leviticus 22:31
"Keep my commands and follow them. I am the LORD.
John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments!
His commands are easy to follow: His two main and most important are:
Love God with all your heart, mind and strength, and LOVE one another as I have loved YOU!
Loving God is what makes us WANT to believe, repent, serve with gladness, obey, not grieve His Holy Spirit and love one another!
Loving one another is what makes us WANT to forgive, judge not, consider one another more than ourselves, etc. When we willingly SURRENDER to a LOVING, caring, all knowing God, we are essentially saying: 'I believe In You. I am Trusting You, completely, because You are God. You know best for my life. Lead me! I am NOT all-knowing, all-powerful, all present....but YOU are! I will follow You wherever You take me! Be the LORD of my life!
Victory Prayer:
Dearest Heavenly Father,
I come to YOU once again, in the Precious name of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. I worship You! You are Most Holy! You are Righteous and Just! You are the Most High God and Worthy of our Praise! I adore You Father God. I thank You for Jesus, my Savior and the Savior of the world, the Messiah. I thank You for every blessing, although I am so unworthy! I thank You for only seeing me through the shed blood of Jesus! I thank You, that I may come before Your throne and receive mercy and grace by that shed blood. I thank You for Your Word, my comfort and guide through Your Holy Spirit, given to all who believe and repent in Christ. I am in constant AWE of Your Majesty and Your everlasting love. I stand amazed in Your presence, where there is fulness of JOY and PEACE! I confess that I am a sinner, saved only by Your grace and mercy! May I give mercy and forgiveness to those around me just as You have so freely given to me, a sinner. I ask You, Father, to shelter me under Your Almighty wing, and to grant protection favor and mercy to those who desire to walk in Your ways. In the most precious name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!!!
In Christ Alone Our Hope Is Found!
Lily
I Th. 5:16-18
6) ¶ And God said, 9) ¶ And God said 11) And God said, 14) ¶ And God said, 29) ¶ And God said,
31) ¶ And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.
I have written "and God said" because God only speaks and the thing comes to pass, no matter WHAT it is!!!
The Gospel of John:
1 ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
14 And the Word was made 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.
Colossians:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.
I have included these extremely important scriptures above for the many who THINK that Jesus is "just a very good teacher or prophet"
Believers in Jesus know the reality of His Deity: That God became flesh and blood in the PERSON of Jesus Christ. The Word was WITH GOD and the WORD WAS GOD, and the WORD BECAME FLESH and dwelt among us.
So many find it easy to believe that God created the heavens, earth, and all therein, yet deny the fact that God could become human and suffer as a human for those HE created! They deny the ability and power of God. They don't understand the Omniscience (all science/all knowing), the Omnipotence (all potent/all powerful),
nor the Omnipresence (all present/everywhere at once) of God.
These are things that finite/limited humans can't comprehend, although we know it in head/heart knowledge, we can't fully understand it, even if we like to think we do!
The ways of God are far above our ways and understanding. "For now we see through a glass darkly...." We are not meant to fully see everything clearly. If we did, where would faith come into play? Faith is the 'substance' (the tangible) of things HOPED for! We know by Faith, that something is very, very real and tangible although we don't actually see it....like oxygen in the air we breathe...we KNOW it's there, yet we will never see it!
Faith is also the 'evidence' of things not seen. Evidence is "PROOF" of things we can't see.....the proof of oxygen in the air we breathe is that we are alive and breathing!
Faith, therefore, is a tangible proof that what we believe in Christ Jesus' existence, His Diety, and His promise to return for His church, answered prayers,His resurrection after his death and burial, are all true and tangible.
I, for one, know that prayers are answered because I have seen too many things happen that can only be explained by prayer being answered....too many 'miracles' too many 'coincidences', too many 'chance' meetings, too many healed people, all these incidents are a result of prayer.
By Faith, we believe in the Word of God. By Faith, we come to Jesus Christ as our Savior, Redeemer, and by faith, we obey His Word as given in the Holy Bible. By Faith, we step out of the safety of the boat and walk with Him and believe on Him.
Jesus is the Light of the World. Jesus IS the Word made Flesh. Jesus is the Way, Truth, and the Life, and He IS the Light we need to follow in a very dark world.....no one can come TO the Father, BUT by Jesus the Christ.
John14:6) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus also said (by way of the Apostle Paul to Timothy) He is the ONLY mediator!
1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
When we go to the Father to pray, to intercede, to make a request, to worship, whatever our intent; we MUST go through our one and ONLY Mediator; Christ Jesus. There is NO other way!
The Bible clearly makes God's will known to us through His inspired Word. It is no secret what He expects and requires from us! Would YOU or I expect our children to follow and obey us IF we did not make our rules and requirements made known to them? Of course not! We make our desires clear and concise, and if one doesn't understand they may ask and we will show them what's expected. God is our FATHER, He will show us through scripture exactly what HE expects from each one of us.
Will we be able to go to God and ask Him anything and expect it, IF we don't OBEY Him??
Absolutely NOT!!! If we give to our children, who disobey, the desires of their heart, what does that TEACH them? That disobedience pays well. If we require that they obey us or they will NOT be rewarded, it teaches them to obey....obedience is NOT control, it's for the GOOD of the child....the same goes with God, our Father.
Now, altogether, God has created His beloved people. They sinned against HIM in the garden of Eden, because HE gave them free will. They chose to disobey and sin is the consequence....sin brings death and eternal separation from God. God became flesh and died as a perfect, unblemished sacrifice for our sin, that is HE took it upon HIMSELF to reconcile us BACK to HIMSELF.....all that we do is believe that Jesus IS that sacrfice, repent of OUR sin, and follow His commands....He said, "IF you LOVE ME, you WILL keep MY commands" This is BOTH Old and New Testament....not just the old covenant!
Leviticus 22:31
"Keep my commands and follow them. I am the LORD.
John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments!
His commands are easy to follow: His two main and most important are:
Love God with all your heart, mind and strength, and LOVE one another as I have loved YOU!
Loving God is what makes us WANT to believe, repent, serve with gladness, obey, not grieve His Holy Spirit and love one another!
Loving one another is what makes us WANT to forgive, judge not, consider one another more than ourselves, etc. When we willingly SURRENDER to a LOVING, caring, all knowing God, we are essentially saying: 'I believe In You. I am Trusting You, completely, because You are God. You know best for my life. Lead me! I am NOT all-knowing, all-powerful, all present....but YOU are! I will follow You wherever You take me! Be the LORD of my life!
Victory Prayer:
Dearest Heavenly Father,
I come to YOU once again, in the Precious name of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. I worship You! You are Most Holy! You are Righteous and Just! You are the Most High God and Worthy of our Praise! I adore You Father God. I thank You for Jesus, my Savior and the Savior of the world, the Messiah. I thank You for every blessing, although I am so unworthy! I thank You for only seeing me through the shed blood of Jesus! I thank You, that I may come before Your throne and receive mercy and grace by that shed blood. I thank You for Your Word, my comfort and guide through Your Holy Spirit, given to all who believe and repent in Christ. I am in constant AWE of Your Majesty and Your everlasting love. I stand amazed in Your presence, where there is fulness of JOY and PEACE! I confess that I am a sinner, saved only by Your grace and mercy! May I give mercy and forgiveness to those around me just as You have so freely given to me, a sinner. I ask You, Father, to shelter me under Your Almighty wing, and to grant protection favor and mercy to those who desire to walk in Your ways. In the most precious name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!!!
In Christ Alone Our Hope Is Found!
Lily
I Th. 5:16-18
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Blessed Is The Nation Whose GOD is The LORD!
Psalm 33:12
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
Many times, here lately, I have been extremely distressed at the happenings going on all over America, and the world, for that matter. Yet, I know that Our Heavenly Father is still and always will be, in complete control!
I have been far more concerned, in my flesh, than I should be. I become quite upset at the ideology of our current President and his administration in the White House, Congress, and the Senate and Legislation. I'm filled with concern over the apparent lack of skills and concern regarding the Gulf Oil Spill, the Illegal Immigration Issues in Arizona, the trials of the 9/11 terrorists, the terrorist who tried to blow up NWA flight into Detroit, the massacre at Ft. Hood, the fires in Arizona, the failure and bankruptcy of California, the 10% and rising unemployment rate, the hostile take-over of banks, health care, and education.
Just writing these untoward situations in a list that doesn't even begin to tell even a small portion of the troubles of America, is unsettling.
It makes me feel helpless and often even hopeless, and filled with despair for this country and its future.
As I reflect on all these issues, I am reminded of how urgently we need to be intercessors for our government officials. It's truly difficult to be angry with someone when you are praying FOR them!
I hope to awaken each morning with a prayer in my heart and my tongue to begin to speak words of life and hope for this administration. I believe so strongly in the absolute power of prayer! I would like to invite true intercessors to pray for President Obama, VP. Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and all the WH team. I hope we can work together to raise intercessors for every member of Congress, Senate, and Legislation.
Ezekiel 22:30
"I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.
Let us stand in the GAP, let us build a wall of intercessors for America! Let us PRAY, unceasingly for our beloved America! God is the God of the universe. He has so richly blessed America. Let us give HIM the praise, respect, obedience, honor, and love that belongs to HIM!
2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
We are His people, and no matter what the world may say about us, we, as the children of the Most High God, have a high calling. Our first line of defense against the principalities and powers of this dark world, once we are IN Jesus Christ, is to put on the whole armor of God! Prayer is our foundation! Prayer is NOT the prelude to our work.....prayer IS our work! We communicate with God Almighty through our faith in Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit...it is a force unparalleled!
He is able to destroy every stronghold. There is nothing HE can't do. His arm is not short and His ears are not deaf to our cries.
Jesus said that IF we have the faith the size of a grain of mustard seed, we can move a mountain. We see our struggles as mountains, but He also said that it is "Not by Might, nor by power, but by MY Spirit Says the LORD....this Mountain shall become a plain"
Zechariah 4:6
So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.
If we plant the tiny seed of Faith, if we PRAY, water this seed of faith and cultivate it, care for it and allow it to grow....we will see Faith strong, multiplied, and powerful to move mountains. IF we have a seed of faith, and we do NOT use it (Plant it), but look at our tiny bit of faith, sit back and wonder if it will work- then it can do nothing! God gave us all a measure of faith, but like the parable of the talents.....we MUST use it, invest it, multiply it by applying it in our lives! We MUST be good stewards of that little mustard seed of faith.
HOW do we do that? Prayer! Prayer changes things. Prayer is the work, the foundation of the seed growing into gigantic endless faith. Faith brings peace.
We must pray with nothing doubting.
James 1:6
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Let us pray, not doubting, for the Administration in the White House. God can turn anyone toward Him. Those who seem to be filled with evil intent can be turned, or the evil intended events can be turned for GOOD!
In this Victory Garden of Prayer, let us come together, here and now, and resolve to intercede in faithful prayer for our leaders, our country, Israel, and one another.
I admit that I truly need prayer in these matters of concern for America and this downward trend. Please pray for ME, as I pray for you,my beloved bothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.
My Precious Heavenly Father;
You are greatly to be praised. You are the One and Only God. You are just, righteous and true. You are faithful and eternal. Your mercies are new every day. You are faithful and just to forgive us. Your salvation is freely offered to anyone who will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, Your Word made flesh for the atonement and forgiveness of our sin. I ask You, Lord, to Bless this country, protect Your children and show us how to intercede in prayer for the lost and confounded. I pray that Your Kingdom come and THY will be done on earth as it is in heaven!
Thank You, Father God that YOU care for our needs and concerns, that YOU listen and answer our prayers. Thank YOU for every blessing! I love You, Lord God, and I pray this in the Precious and Holy name of Jesus the Messiah of the World!
Lily,
I Th. 5:16-18
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
Many times, here lately, I have been extremely distressed at the happenings going on all over America, and the world, for that matter. Yet, I know that Our Heavenly Father is still and always will be, in complete control!
I have been far more concerned, in my flesh, than I should be. I become quite upset at the ideology of our current President and his administration in the White House, Congress, and the Senate and Legislation. I'm filled with concern over the apparent lack of skills and concern regarding the Gulf Oil Spill, the Illegal Immigration Issues in Arizona, the trials of the 9/11 terrorists, the terrorist who tried to blow up NWA flight into Detroit, the massacre at Ft. Hood, the fires in Arizona, the failure and bankruptcy of California, the 10% and rising unemployment rate, the hostile take-over of banks, health care, and education.
Just writing these untoward situations in a list that doesn't even begin to tell even a small portion of the troubles of America, is unsettling.
It makes me feel helpless and often even hopeless, and filled with despair for this country and its future.
As I reflect on all these issues, I am reminded of how urgently we need to be intercessors for our government officials. It's truly difficult to be angry with someone when you are praying FOR them!
I hope to awaken each morning with a prayer in my heart and my tongue to begin to speak words of life and hope for this administration. I believe so strongly in the absolute power of prayer! I would like to invite true intercessors to pray for President Obama, VP. Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and all the WH team. I hope we can work together to raise intercessors for every member of Congress, Senate, and Legislation.
Ezekiel 22:30
"I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.
Let us stand in the GAP, let us build a wall of intercessors for America! Let us PRAY, unceasingly for our beloved America! God is the God of the universe. He has so richly blessed America. Let us give HIM the praise, respect, obedience, honor, and love that belongs to HIM!
2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
We are His people, and no matter what the world may say about us, we, as the children of the Most High God, have a high calling. Our first line of defense against the principalities and powers of this dark world, once we are IN Jesus Christ, is to put on the whole armor of God! Prayer is our foundation! Prayer is NOT the prelude to our work.....prayer IS our work! We communicate with God Almighty through our faith in Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit...it is a force unparalleled!
He is able to destroy every stronghold. There is nothing HE can't do. His arm is not short and His ears are not deaf to our cries.
Jesus said that IF we have the faith the size of a grain of mustard seed, we can move a mountain. We see our struggles as mountains, but He also said that it is "Not by Might, nor by power, but by MY Spirit Says the LORD....this Mountain shall become a plain"
Zechariah 4:6
So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.
If we plant the tiny seed of Faith, if we PRAY, water this seed of faith and cultivate it, care for it and allow it to grow....we will see Faith strong, multiplied, and powerful to move mountains. IF we have a seed of faith, and we do NOT use it (Plant it), but look at our tiny bit of faith, sit back and wonder if it will work- then it can do nothing! God gave us all a measure of faith, but like the parable of the talents.....we MUST use it, invest it, multiply it by applying it in our lives! We MUST be good stewards of that little mustard seed of faith.
HOW do we do that? Prayer! Prayer changes things. Prayer is the work, the foundation of the seed growing into gigantic endless faith. Faith brings peace.
We must pray with nothing doubting.
James 1:6
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Let us pray, not doubting, for the Administration in the White House. God can turn anyone toward Him. Those who seem to be filled with evil intent can be turned, or the evil intended events can be turned for GOOD!
In this Victory Garden of Prayer, let us come together, here and now, and resolve to intercede in faithful prayer for our leaders, our country, Israel, and one another.
I admit that I truly need prayer in these matters of concern for America and this downward trend. Please pray for ME, as I pray for you,my beloved bothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.
My Precious Heavenly Father;
You are greatly to be praised. You are the One and Only God. You are just, righteous and true. You are faithful and eternal. Your mercies are new every day. You are faithful and just to forgive us. Your salvation is freely offered to anyone who will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, Your Word made flesh for the atonement and forgiveness of our sin. I ask You, Lord, to Bless this country, protect Your children and show us how to intercede in prayer for the lost and confounded. I pray that Your Kingdom come and THY will be done on earth as it is in heaven!
Thank You, Father God that YOU care for our needs and concerns, that YOU listen and answer our prayers. Thank YOU for every blessing! I love You, Lord God, and I pray this in the Precious and Holy name of Jesus the Messiah of the World!
Lily,
I Th. 5:16-18
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Worship God In True Intent
Worship: Thoughts, About God, In My Victory Garden of Prayer
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Come, Let us bow down and worship. Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker. (Ps.95:6)
1 Timothy 2:8
I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
Psalm 149:3
Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
Psalm 150:4
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs
When I think about worship, I always think of it in terms of music. Yet, I know in my heart that worship is everything we do, all that we are in Christ Jesus. We sing beautiful songs, using various instruments. We bow our head and quietly pray in reverence for God. I often feel that this is not sufficient! I want to weep for joy, I want to shout and dance for His love and mercy is so great, so unspeakable, so wonderful!
Then why do we sing and pray as if we’re at a funeral? Why are the same stiff-necked people in church able to go to a football game and shout until they get laryngitis? Do we have our priorities messed up? Are we more excited about a game than standing on Holy ground before the God of the universe, the Creator of all things?
The Bible is filled with testimony of Old Testament and New testament believers who, once they came into the presence of God were filled with such awe of Him, that they either danced, sang, went away shouting His praises, or covered their face because it shone too bright for people to look upon them. Yet, we hang our heads, mutter and mumble and barely move our lips when worshipping the Most High God!
Like one of my favorite Chuck Girard songs: “Let’s Take it outside these walls and let it ring!” Why can’t we just lighten up a bit and realize it’s REALLY not about us…..it’s all about HIM!
We have another problem: Contemporary, Traditional, Christian Rock, etc. Again, why do we get all enmeshed in these trivialities about which music to sing? It’s not about us. It’s about God. Worshipping God! It’s all about Him, and Him alone!
Is our salvation found in the music we choose? Does the music supply all our needs? Of course, we want to love the songs we sing! Is it worth fighting, arguing, refusing to attend services, or hold bitterness in your heart because the music is not what “you” want? If we aren’t singing in true worship; in spirit and in truth….it doesn’t matter if we sing honkey tonk!
If the intent of our heart is not for singing to worship God, then it really doesn’t matter what we sing. Our worship is for Him. He is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. He is worthy of our praise. I, nor we, are worthy of praise. If we use a set of drums, an organ, piano, tambourines, guitar, violin, harmonica, bells, or tuba, or all of them together….what does it matter as long as the INTENT of the heart is to WORSHIP GOD ALMIGHTY!
We should take lessons from King David: Sing with stringed instruments, dance before the Lord, shout out His praises, he is worthy to be praised!
One thing we can always remember…or should remember: God inhabits the praises of His children! We should enter into His courts with Thanksgiving and into His courts with praise……not with grumbling about the music! Jesus Christ, the Creator of all things (all things were created by Him and For Him), was BRUTALLY crucified, and hanged on a cross for OUR sin, and we can’t even worship and praise Him without grumbling over the music we sing.
Father God, in the very Precious name of Jesus, our Messiah and our Savior, we thank YOU for the freedom to worship, to pray, and to fellowship with other believers. Teach us to be joined together in unity, to worship in spirit and in truth, and to set aside anything that would divide us in this evil day. Teach us to study your Word and to keep our focus on YOU!.
Father, forgive us for those times we think ourselves so prideful and self-important that we think life is all about us rather than about serving YOU with joy and thankfulness. Open our eyes to see the truth about worship!
In Jesus Christ Alone Our Hope Is Found! Lily
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Come, Let us bow down and worship. Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker. (Ps.95:6)
1 Timothy 2:8
I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
Psalm 149:3
Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
Psalm 150:4
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs
When I think about worship, I always think of it in terms of music. Yet, I know in my heart that worship is everything we do, all that we are in Christ Jesus. We sing beautiful songs, using various instruments. We bow our head and quietly pray in reverence for God. I often feel that this is not sufficient! I want to weep for joy, I want to shout and dance for His love and mercy is so great, so unspeakable, so wonderful!
Then why do we sing and pray as if we’re at a funeral? Why are the same stiff-necked people in church able to go to a football game and shout until they get laryngitis? Do we have our priorities messed up? Are we more excited about a game than standing on Holy ground before the God of the universe, the Creator of all things?
The Bible is filled with testimony of Old Testament and New testament believers who, once they came into the presence of God were filled with such awe of Him, that they either danced, sang, went away shouting His praises, or covered their face because it shone too bright for people to look upon them. Yet, we hang our heads, mutter and mumble and barely move our lips when worshipping the Most High God!
Like one of my favorite Chuck Girard songs: “Let’s Take it outside these walls and let it ring!” Why can’t we just lighten up a bit and realize it’s REALLY not about us…..it’s all about HIM!
We have another problem: Contemporary, Traditional, Christian Rock, etc. Again, why do we get all enmeshed in these trivialities about which music to sing? It’s not about us. It’s about God. Worshipping God! It’s all about Him, and Him alone!
Is our salvation found in the music we choose? Does the music supply all our needs? Of course, we want to love the songs we sing! Is it worth fighting, arguing, refusing to attend services, or hold bitterness in your heart because the music is not what “you” want? If we aren’t singing in true worship; in spirit and in truth….it doesn’t matter if we sing honkey tonk!
If the intent of our heart is not for singing to worship God, then it really doesn’t matter what we sing. Our worship is for Him. He is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. He is worthy of our praise. I, nor we, are worthy of praise. If we use a set of drums, an organ, piano, tambourines, guitar, violin, harmonica, bells, or tuba, or all of them together….what does it matter as long as the INTENT of the heart is to WORSHIP GOD ALMIGHTY!
We should take lessons from King David: Sing with stringed instruments, dance before the Lord, shout out His praises, he is worthy to be praised!
One thing we can always remember…or should remember: God inhabits the praises of His children! We should enter into His courts with Thanksgiving and into His courts with praise……not with grumbling about the music! Jesus Christ, the Creator of all things (all things were created by Him and For Him), was BRUTALLY crucified, and hanged on a cross for OUR sin, and we can’t even worship and praise Him without grumbling over the music we sing.
Father God, in the very Precious name of Jesus, our Messiah and our Savior, we thank YOU for the freedom to worship, to pray, and to fellowship with other believers. Teach us to be joined together in unity, to worship in spirit and in truth, and to set aside anything that would divide us in this evil day. Teach us to study your Word and to keep our focus on YOU!.
Father, forgive us for those times we think ourselves so prideful and self-important that we think life is all about us rather than about serving YOU with joy and thankfulness. Open our eyes to see the truth about worship!
In Jesus Christ Alone Our Hope Is Found! Lily
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Victory Prayer Garden
Today I am hoping to share thoughts from my memories; memories about how my mother walked with God and shared the love of Jesus the Messiah, through her songs. I knew more old hymns by the age of five, than most learn in a lifetime.
I am forever grateful for the love she showed toward her wonderful Savior! I listened to her beautiful strong voice and looked forward every morning to awakening to "Precious Memories, how they linger! How they ever flood my soul! In the stillness of the midnight...Precious Sacred Scenes unfold!" She sang with such exuberance and strength and with such loving awe of the God she loved so much!
I learned about His birth, life, and death on the cross. I heard of His resurrection and ascension to heaven and how He would send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, and how He would return for His faithful and obedient children, one day.
Yet today, now so many years gone by, I still look to the clouds and ask "When will I see You coming, Lord Jesus?" I know He is coming back and the days are closer than when I first heard that wonderful promise. The signs and prophecies are being fulfilled daily, and I so look for His coming!
I pray that if you don't know Jesus of Nazareth, the One who died, willingly, a death so violent and a murder so undeserved, at the hands of the sinners He came to save and forgive and loved with an everlasting love, that no human could ever completely understand it! He suffered such persecution, mockery, beatings, floggings, and was literally marred beyond recognition; willingly and without one word of retaliation....all for YOU and ME! HE became the One who took our punishment for the evil that we have done, and all the evil past, present and future was meted out to Him rather than to us, the deserving ones!
WHY? He is God in the flesh...God made Himself human because He loves His creation so much and wanted to walk and talk with us, and show us His magnificent, great and unsurpassed love!
If you don't read His Word, the Holy Bible, I ask you, no I plead with you; Pray and ask Him to show you what He has planned for your life. Call on Him, and He WILL answer you! Jeremiah 33:3 says that He will....and I know for a fact; HE WILL!
Thank you for reading my blog! If you have comments or questions you would like to ask...we can study it together. I will pray for you as we walk this path; as we take this journey toward God our Creator, through our relationship with Jesus Christ our Redeemer and Mediator!
In His Love and in Christ Alone Our Hope Is Found
Lily
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
I am forever grateful for the love she showed toward her wonderful Savior! I listened to her beautiful strong voice and looked forward every morning to awakening to "Precious Memories, how they linger! How they ever flood my soul! In the stillness of the midnight...Precious Sacred Scenes unfold!" She sang with such exuberance and strength and with such loving awe of the God she loved so much!
I learned about His birth, life, and death on the cross. I heard of His resurrection and ascension to heaven and how He would send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, and how He would return for His faithful and obedient children, one day.
Yet today, now so many years gone by, I still look to the clouds and ask "When will I see You coming, Lord Jesus?" I know He is coming back and the days are closer than when I first heard that wonderful promise. The signs and prophecies are being fulfilled daily, and I so look for His coming!
I pray that if you don't know Jesus of Nazareth, the One who died, willingly, a death so violent and a murder so undeserved, at the hands of the sinners He came to save and forgive and loved with an everlasting love, that no human could ever completely understand it! He suffered such persecution, mockery, beatings, floggings, and was literally marred beyond recognition; willingly and without one word of retaliation....all for YOU and ME! HE became the One who took our punishment for the evil that we have done, and all the evil past, present and future was meted out to Him rather than to us, the deserving ones!
WHY? He is God in the flesh...God made Himself human because He loves His creation so much and wanted to walk and talk with us, and show us His magnificent, great and unsurpassed love!
If you don't read His Word, the Holy Bible, I ask you, no I plead with you; Pray and ask Him to show you what He has planned for your life. Call on Him, and He WILL answer you! Jeremiah 33:3 says that He will....and I know for a fact; HE WILL!
Thank you for reading my blog! If you have comments or questions you would like to ask...we can study it together. I will pray for you as we walk this path; as we take this journey toward God our Creator, through our relationship with Jesus Christ our Redeemer and Mediator!
In His Love and in Christ Alone Our Hope Is Found
Lily
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
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