The latest news is that James Cameron, who is the man who directed the movie "The Titanic". has found the bones of Jesus Christ. Apparently he claims he has located the lost tomb of Jesus and it proves that Jesus had a child. Before you lose any sleep over this and remember ...
God can not nor will he ever be seen by the natural eye
For we walk by faith not by sight - 2 Corinthians 5:7
There are two options, you either believe the bible or you believe Mr. Camerson....I choose to believe the word of God.
Cristina
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Sunday, February 25, 2007
FOR A PILGRIM SPIRIT
I read this, this morning and it really touched my heart and I wanted to share it with others. We are on a journey, a path that was drawn out by God. We are here in this foreign land, but for a time, what we do and how we live our lives may be the impact we have on someone that is not on the path as of yet. Fellow Pilgrims, we are lamps for God, may we shine brightly for all the world to see that it is Christ living in us.
Cristina
FOR A PILGRIM SPIRIT
By John MacDuff, 1852
"O Lord, in the morning I will direct my prayer to You."
"And confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."—Heb. 11:13
O God, again, in the multitude of Your mercies, You are permitting me to approach the footstool of Your throne. I am another day nearer death—oh, may I be a day nearer You! With a new morning's dawn may I hear the pilgrim summons—"Arise, for this is not your rest." Before I mingle with the world, give me to feel I am not of it, but born from above, and for above; and cherishing more of a pilgrim spirit, may my prayer and watchword be—"I desire a better country."
Lord, I bless You for the rich provision You have made for the wilderness journey—for all Your mercies, temporal, providential, and spiritual. Forbid that the many gifts of Your love should draw me away from Yourself, the bountiful Giver, or obliterate the solemn impression—"I am a stranger with You and a sojourner, as all my fathers were." May I "use the world without abusing it." By the varied discipline of Your providence, may I be led to feel that all my well-springs are in You. May the world's fascinations be becoming more powerless—sin more hated—holiness more loved—heaven more realized—God more "the exceeding joy" of my soul. Driven from all creature supports and earthly refuges, may Jesus be the prop and staff of my pilgrimage. When the world is bright, may I rest upon Him, and seek that He sanctify my prosperity. When the wilderness is dreary, and the way dark, may He hallow adversity. When friends are removed, may I feel that I have One left more faithful than the best of all earthly friends; and when death comes, and the pilgrim warfare ceases, leaning confidingly on that same arm, may I enter the pilgrim's rest.
O adorable Savior!—You who were once Yourself a pilgrim—the lonely, weary, homeless, afflicted One—who had often no arm to lean upon, and no voice to cheer You—an outcast wanderer and sojourner in Your own creation—I rejoice to think that You have trodden all this wilderness-world before me—that You know its dreariest paths. I take comfort in the assurance that there is at the right hand of the Majesty on high, a fellow-Sufferer, who has drunk of every "brook in the way"—shed every tear of earthly sorrow—heaved every sigh of earthly suffering—and who, being Himself the "tried and tempted One," is able and willing to support every pilgrim who is tried and tempted too.
I beseech You this day to look down in great kindness on all my beloved friends. Seal to them a saving interest in Your great salvation. Wash them all in Your blood—sanctify them all by Your Spirit. May not one be missing on "the day when You make up Your jewels."
Pity a fallen world. Your Church is slumbering—the enemy is all vigilant—souls are perishing. Arise, Lord, and plead Your own cause. Promote greater unity and love and concord among Your own people. Let us be nearer Jesus, and then we shall be nearer one another. Give us all more of the single eye to Your glory. Make us more self-sacrificing—more heavenly-minded—more Savior-like. And all I ask is for Jesus' sake. Amen.
"Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for in You do I trust."
Cristina
FOR A PILGRIM SPIRIT
By John MacDuff, 1852
"O Lord, in the morning I will direct my prayer to You."
"And confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."—Heb. 11:13
O God, again, in the multitude of Your mercies, You are permitting me to approach the footstool of Your throne. I am another day nearer death—oh, may I be a day nearer You! With a new morning's dawn may I hear the pilgrim summons—"Arise, for this is not your rest." Before I mingle with the world, give me to feel I am not of it, but born from above, and for above; and cherishing more of a pilgrim spirit, may my prayer and watchword be—"I desire a better country."
Lord, I bless You for the rich provision You have made for the wilderness journey—for all Your mercies, temporal, providential, and spiritual. Forbid that the many gifts of Your love should draw me away from Yourself, the bountiful Giver, or obliterate the solemn impression—"I am a stranger with You and a sojourner, as all my fathers were." May I "use the world without abusing it." By the varied discipline of Your providence, may I be led to feel that all my well-springs are in You. May the world's fascinations be becoming more powerless—sin more hated—holiness more loved—heaven more realized—God more "the exceeding joy" of my soul. Driven from all creature supports and earthly refuges, may Jesus be the prop and staff of my pilgrimage. When the world is bright, may I rest upon Him, and seek that He sanctify my prosperity. When the wilderness is dreary, and the way dark, may He hallow adversity. When friends are removed, may I feel that I have One left more faithful than the best of all earthly friends; and when death comes, and the pilgrim warfare ceases, leaning confidingly on that same arm, may I enter the pilgrim's rest.
O adorable Savior!—You who were once Yourself a pilgrim—the lonely, weary, homeless, afflicted One—who had often no arm to lean upon, and no voice to cheer You—an outcast wanderer and sojourner in Your own creation—I rejoice to think that You have trodden all this wilderness-world before me—that You know its dreariest paths. I take comfort in the assurance that there is at the right hand of the Majesty on high, a fellow-Sufferer, who has drunk of every "brook in the way"—shed every tear of earthly sorrow—heaved every sigh of earthly suffering—and who, being Himself the "tried and tempted One," is able and willing to support every pilgrim who is tried and tempted too.
I beseech You this day to look down in great kindness on all my beloved friends. Seal to them a saving interest in Your great salvation. Wash them all in Your blood—sanctify them all by Your Spirit. May not one be missing on "the day when You make up Your jewels."
Pity a fallen world. Your Church is slumbering—the enemy is all vigilant—souls are perishing. Arise, Lord, and plead Your own cause. Promote greater unity and love and concord among Your own people. Let us be nearer Jesus, and then we shall be nearer one another. Give us all more of the single eye to Your glory. Make us more self-sacrificing—more heavenly-minded—more Savior-like. And all I ask is for Jesus' sake. Amen.
"Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for in You do I trust."
Thursday, February 22, 2007
ALONE WITH GOD?
How often do we take time to spend with The Lord? Are we so busy with our daily routines that we just don't find enough times. How many hours do we sit in front of a TV? How many hours do we go shopping or go to see a Movie? How many hours do we over-sleep because we stayed up late doing other things? I dare to say most christians don't take the time to spend enough time alone with Jesus. I am guilty of this at times. To go somewhere quiet, where there is no disturbance and let God talk to you and you to Him. There is never too much time TO SPEND with our Lord and Savior.
Martin Luther said, "If I fail to spend three hours each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer."
Men ought always to pray" --Luke 18:1
1 Timothy 2:8 Matthew 11:25-30, Verse 28, "Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
1 Corinthians 6:17, "But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him."
I think the best time I have, is a quiet place somewhere with my bible open studying and praying to Lord for understanding. Seeking Him in what I am reading or what is going on with my life. it is such a sweet sweet time.
One thing I am finding more and more is that in time of prayer, He also wants me to be truthful to Him and myself. There have been times I have come to Him in anger because of things that happen in my life and I can tell you that I have come out of those times with such a calmness about me because I knew He was listening and He is our comforter.
I am no great theologian, I have a lot to learn, as you can see in my blog, but one thing I do know is that prayers is one of the most important things in a Christian's walk, without it our walk is useless. I pray that we all can take the time to find some time Alone with Christ, He deserve it, He demands it! This should be a great desire for a christian.
"We may lay it down as an elementary
principle of Christianity, that no large
growth in holiness was ever gained by
one who did not take time to be often
long alone with God." -Phelps
"Those make the most rapid, consistent,
and evident growth in Christlikeness are
those who have developed a daily time of
being alone with God for Bible meditation,
prayer, and private worship." -Whitney
Real prayer is communion with God, so that there will be common thoughts between His mind and ours. What is needed is for Him to fill our hearts with His thoughts, and then His desires will become our desires flowing back to Him.
—Arthur W. Pink
Cristina
Martin Luther said, "If I fail to spend three hours each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer."
Men ought always to pray" --Luke 18:1
1 Timothy 2:8 Matthew 11:25-30, Verse 28, "Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
1 Corinthians 6:17, "But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him."
I think the best time I have, is a quiet place somewhere with my bible open studying and praying to Lord for understanding. Seeking Him in what I am reading or what is going on with my life. it is such a sweet sweet time.
One thing I am finding more and more is that in time of prayer, He also wants me to be truthful to Him and myself. There have been times I have come to Him in anger because of things that happen in my life and I can tell you that I have come out of those times with such a calmness about me because I knew He was listening and He is our comforter.
I am no great theologian, I have a lot to learn, as you can see in my blog, but one thing I do know is that prayers is one of the most important things in a Christian's walk, without it our walk is useless. I pray that we all can take the time to find some time Alone with Christ, He deserve it, He demands it! This should be a great desire for a christian.
"We may lay it down as an elementary
principle of Christianity, that no large
growth in holiness was ever gained by
one who did not take time to be often
long alone with God." -Phelps
"Those make the most rapid, consistent,
and evident growth in Christlikeness are
those who have developed a daily time of
being alone with God for Bible meditation,
prayer, and private worship." -Whitney
Real prayer is communion with God, so that there will be common thoughts between His mind and ours. What is needed is for Him to fill our hearts with His thoughts, and then His desires will become our desires flowing back to Him.
—Arthur W. Pink
Cristina
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
ASKING FOR PRAYER
I am asking for prayer for my sister Sandy. She has been experiencing pressure in her head for about about 6 months. Just this past year she started to get Vertigo which is and inner ear problem that causes severe dizziness. Her doctor sent her to a Neurologist for a MRI to be done and she just had it done on Monday and they are recalling her in today. Please pray that it is not serious. My dear sister does not know the Lord, so please pray about that too. I would really aprreciate it.
Thank you
Cristina
*The results came back and they found nothing, I praise the Lord for answered prayers.
Cristina
Thank you
Cristina
*The results came back and they found nothing, I praise the Lord for answered prayers.
Cristina
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
DYING TO SELF
The one thing WE all have in common is pride. We all battle it big or small, it is the sin that crosses each and everyones path. I question the things I do at times, is it for the glory of God or is it for my glory. The nearer we approach to heaven, the lower we grow in the estimate of ourselves. The more we seek the Lord in what we do, the less we see of ourselves. When we die to self, then and only then does God get the glory He and only He deserves.
Pride and vanity cannot thrive at the foot of the cross. It is only when we remove from this holy ground, that they shoot out their pestiferous branches in awful luxuriance. True humility loves the sacred mount of Calvary, on which the lowly Savior bowed his head and died There, repentance sheds the contrite tear.There, faith views with joy the great atonement. There, love glows with fervent desires to the Friend of sinners. Man is naturally a proud, selfish creature. He tries indeed to appear humble and unselfish, but the monster Pride is easily seen through the thin veil of false humility, which is thrown over its frightful visage; while Self, like another Proteus,assumes a thousand forms to escape detection. It is only when the divine Spirit puts forth his new creating power, through the instrumentality of the everlasting Gospel, that the proud selfish sinner becomes the lowly follower of the Lamb. Humility is, then, the work of grace. "Oh! Spirit of holiness, open my blind eyes to see the wonders of your grace. Quicken my dead soul to feel its sacred influence. Make me truly humble in heart, emptied of every self exalting thought, which would oppose the freeness of your love. Mold my whole soul into the lowliness and meekness of Jesus. Preserve me from the subtle influence of pride and vain glory. Keep me ever low in my own eyes.Root out every sinful, selfish principle; and give me a single eye which aims at nothing but your glory."
(from Thomas Reade's, "On Humility")
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore the scripture saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.
Pride and vanity cannot thrive at the foot of the cross. It is only when we remove from this holy ground, that they shoot out their pestiferous branches in awful luxuriance. True humility loves the sacred mount of Calvary, on which the lowly Savior bowed his head and died There, repentance sheds the contrite tear.There, faith views with joy the great atonement. There, love glows with fervent desires to the Friend of sinners. Man is naturally a proud, selfish creature. He tries indeed to appear humble and unselfish, but the monster Pride is easily seen through the thin veil of false humility, which is thrown over its frightful visage; while Self, like another Proteus,assumes a thousand forms to escape detection. It is only when the divine Spirit puts forth his new creating power, through the instrumentality of the everlasting Gospel, that the proud selfish sinner becomes the lowly follower of the Lamb. Humility is, then, the work of grace. "Oh! Spirit of holiness, open my blind eyes to see the wonders of your grace. Quicken my dead soul to feel its sacred influence. Make me truly humble in heart, emptied of every self exalting thought, which would oppose the freeness of your love. Mold my whole soul into the lowliness and meekness of Jesus. Preserve me from the subtle influence of pride and vain glory. Keep me ever low in my own eyes.Root out every sinful, selfish principle; and give me a single eye which aims at nothing but your glory."
(from Thomas Reade's, "On Humility")
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore the scripture saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
THE LOVE OF A WIFE ..I love you Jim
If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye woman, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the east doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompence.
Thy love is such I can no way repay;
The heavens reward thee manifold I pray.
Then while we live, in love let's so persever,
That when we love no more, we may live ever.
by Anne Bradstreet (?1613-72)
If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye woman, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the east doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompence.
Thy love is such I can no way repay;
The heavens reward thee manifold I pray.
Then while we live, in love let's so persever,
That when we love no more, we may live ever.
by Anne Bradstreet (?1613-72)
Friday, February 16, 2007
COMPROMISE & PRAGMATISM
Very interesting reading....
Compromise & Pragmatism*
from a sermon titled Apostate Church in Prophecy, preached 11/26/89 (Gil Rugh).
"... Satan works to blend together his system with God's system, because when you blend error with truth you have destroyed the truth. You no longer have a mixture of truth and error; you have error. Just like when you take poison and put it in a glass of milk -- you not only have a glass of milk and poison, you have a glass of poison, because the poison has corrupted the good milk. So it is with Satan's system when it is mixed-in, even with Biblical things, it becomes a corrupting influence and you no longer have truth and error -- you have error. And the truth is even corrupted by the error.
"... Part of the ministry and message of Jeremiah was one of condemnation because Israel had adopted the corrupting influence of the worship of the Queen of Heaven [Jer. 44:17,18] ... Important to note -- people are concerned about what works. One of the things destroying the church today is pragmatism. We find even believers looking to see what works and that becomes the standard for what they want to adopt, rather than looking to the Word of God and building upon that. And this is the foundation for why the people of Israel were worshiping the Queen of Heaven ... It's just a pragmatic approach; things worked better.
"And that's the way some Christians look at it. They look around and see what's going on in some churches and they say, 'Well, that's what we ought to do -- it works!' But that's never a fair test or standard. The question is, 'Is it Biblical?' not 'Does it work?' Because here the testimony of the Jews [Jer. 44:17,18] was, 'We were better off; we had less misfortune when we worshiped the Queen of Heaven then we do now, so Jeremiah, you can't change our mind.'"
What is most important...TRUTH
Cristina
Compromise & Pragmatism*
from a sermon titled Apostate Church in Prophecy, preached 11/26/89 (Gil Rugh).
"... Satan works to blend together his system with God's system, because when you blend error with truth you have destroyed the truth. You no longer have a mixture of truth and error; you have error. Just like when you take poison and put it in a glass of milk -- you not only have a glass of milk and poison, you have a glass of poison, because the poison has corrupted the good milk. So it is with Satan's system when it is mixed-in, even with Biblical things, it becomes a corrupting influence and you no longer have truth and error -- you have error. And the truth is even corrupted by the error.
"... Part of the ministry and message of Jeremiah was one of condemnation because Israel had adopted the corrupting influence of the worship of the Queen of Heaven [Jer. 44:17,18] ... Important to note -- people are concerned about what works. One of the things destroying the church today is pragmatism. We find even believers looking to see what works and that becomes the standard for what they want to adopt, rather than looking to the Word of God and building upon that. And this is the foundation for why the people of Israel were worshiping the Queen of Heaven ... It's just a pragmatic approach; things worked better.
"And that's the way some Christians look at it. They look around and see what's going on in some churches and they say, 'Well, that's what we ought to do -- it works!' But that's never a fair test or standard. The question is, 'Is it Biblical?' not 'Does it work?' Because here the testimony of the Jews [Jer. 44:17,18] was, 'We were better off; we had less misfortune when we worshiped the Queen of Heaven then we do now, so Jeremiah, you can't change our mind.'"
What is most important...TRUTH
Cristina
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
TAKING A STAND
Paul tells us in Romans that false teachers are so good at deceiving christians and he was so right. You look at the church today and all the new gimics preachers are using to entice people to come to their churches and then they are fed pablum instead of the meat of the word or they are taught man made ideas. Numbers seem to make a successful church, the more you have in church on a Sunday, the more successful you seem. These preachers with their flowered shirts, their fancy stages, their famous guests are a failure to the Gospel because they are man-centered, not God-centered. Our attention is taken away from the true message. While they tell us their pretty little stories, sell their books and water down the truth of the word more and more people are being decieved. When we stay in churches like this, we are opening ourselves to be deceived. Their are so many babes in Christ that are being deceived by these false teachers and if we do not stay in the word of God we will be deceived also. If this is happening in your churches RUN! GET OUT.... before you get drawn in. Satan is at work in the churches and he is using these false teachers to do his evil deeds.
Thes. 3:6
We instruct you, brothers, in the name of (our) Lord Jesus Christ,to shun any brother who conducts himself in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they received from us.
Thes 3:14,15
13 But you, brothers, do not be remiss in doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey our word as expressed in this letter, take note of this person not to associate with him, that he may be put to shame.
1John 4-6
1 Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 This is how you can know the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh be longs to God, 3 and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus 2 does not belong to God. This is the spirit of the antichrist that, as you heard, is to come, but in fact is already in the world. 4 You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them, for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They belong to the world; accordingly, their teaching belongs to the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us, while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us. This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.
"I have preached God's truth, so far as I know it, and I have not been ashamed of its peculiarities. That I might not stultify my testimony, I have cut myself clear of those who error from the faith, and even from those who associate with them." -- C.H.S., October 1888.
"Constantly we hear of proposals for union, and truly these are welcome where mere technical matters divide true Christians; but what is the use of pretending to create union where there can be none? There is another matter which needs to be thought of as well as union, and that is TRUTH. To part with truth to show charity is to betray our Lord with a kiss. Between those who believe in the eternal verities and those who constantly cast doubt on them there can be no union. One cried of old, 'Is it peace?' And the answer was a sharp and true one. We render it thus -- 'What hast thou to do with peace while departures from the truth of God are so many?' The first question is, 'Are we one in Christ?' And are we obedient to the truth revealed in the Scriptures? If so, union will necessarily follow: but if not, it is vain to clamour for a confederacy which would only be an agreement to aid and abet each other's errors." -- C.H.S., The Sword and the Trowel, February 1887.
"For Christians to be linked in association with ministries who do not preach the gospel of Christ is to incur moral guilt. A Union which can continue irrespective of whether its member churches belong to a common faith is not fulfilling any scriptural function. The preservation of a denominational association when it is powerless to discipline heretics cannot be justified on the grounds of the preservation of 'Christian unity'... It is error which breaks the unity of churches, and to remain in a denominational alignment which condones error is to support schism." -- C.H.S., The Forgotten Spurgeon, pp. 164-165.
Cristina
Thes. 3:6
We instruct you, brothers, in the name of (our) Lord Jesus Christ,to shun any brother who conducts himself in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they received from us.
Thes 3:14,15
13 But you, brothers, do not be remiss in doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey our word as expressed in this letter, take note of this person not to associate with him, that he may be put to shame.
1John 4-6
1 Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 This is how you can know the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh be longs to God, 3 and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus 2 does not belong to God. This is the spirit of the antichrist that, as you heard, is to come, but in fact is already in the world. 4 You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them, for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They belong to the world; accordingly, their teaching belongs to the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us, while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us. This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.
"I have preached God's truth, so far as I know it, and I have not been ashamed of its peculiarities. That I might not stultify my testimony, I have cut myself clear of those who error from the faith, and even from those who associate with them." -- C.H.S., October 1888.
"Constantly we hear of proposals for union, and truly these are welcome where mere technical matters divide true Christians; but what is the use of pretending to create union where there can be none? There is another matter which needs to be thought of as well as union, and that is TRUTH. To part with truth to show charity is to betray our Lord with a kiss. Between those who believe in the eternal verities and those who constantly cast doubt on them there can be no union. One cried of old, 'Is it peace?' And the answer was a sharp and true one. We render it thus -- 'What hast thou to do with peace while departures from the truth of God are so many?' The first question is, 'Are we one in Christ?' And are we obedient to the truth revealed in the Scriptures? If so, union will necessarily follow: but if not, it is vain to clamour for a confederacy which would only be an agreement to aid and abet each other's errors." -- C.H.S., The Sword and the Trowel, February 1887.
"For Christians to be linked in association with ministries who do not preach the gospel of Christ is to incur moral guilt. A Union which can continue irrespective of whether its member churches belong to a common faith is not fulfilling any scriptural function. The preservation of a denominational association when it is powerless to discipline heretics cannot be justified on the grounds of the preservation of 'Christian unity'... It is error which breaks the unity of churches, and to remain in a denominational alignment which condones error is to support schism." -- C.H.S., The Forgotten Spurgeon, pp. 164-165.
Cristina
Saturday, February 10, 2007
AND ANOTHER ONE OF MY FAVORITE
My brethren, let me say, be like Christ at all times. Imitate him in "public." Most of us live in some sort of public capacity—many of us are called to work before our fellow-men every day. We are watched; our words are caught; our lives are examined—taken to pieces. The eagle-eyed, argus-eyed world observes everything we do, and sharp critics are upon us. Let us live the life of Christ in public. Let us take care that we exhibit our Master, and not ourselves—so that we can say, "It is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me."
—Charles Spurgeon
(this quote and the previous one are posted on my fridge, they say so much)
—Charles Spurgeon
(this quote and the previous one are posted on my fridge, they say so much)
ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES
"In times of trouble say, First: He brought me here ; it is by His will I am in this strait place: In that I will rest. Next: He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child. Then: He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow. Last: In His good time He can bring me out again - how and when He knows. Say:
I am here ......
(1) by God's appointment
(2) in His keeping
(3) under His training
(4) for His time."
Andrew Murray
I am here ......
(1) by God's appointment
(2) in His keeping
(3) under His training
(4) for His time."
Andrew Murray
Thursday, February 08, 2007
THERE ARE NO ACCIDENTS
Can you remember if you dropped something, or you said something wrong, or you hurt someones feelings by words you had spoken, or you may have got pregnant outside of marriage , and you say, "Oh, It was an accident!" A baby dies, a mother gets murdered, there are countries at war, are they accident too?
Well there are no accidents in life. It is God's Providential Will that it happens.
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
Divine Providence is a daily practice,things that happen because our Sovereign God allows it to accomplish his eternal purpose. God brings to pass what he purposes for eternity. God has planned the start to finish and the things that we struggle with, the sin that we commit, He know about and uses it for His purpose. It's hard to understand this, but I believe it.
When you look at what is happening in the world, and you hear a lost person say to you, " Your God has no control over anything, look at the wars and the poverty, the crimes being commited. If your God had any control, He would fix it." Well not being a believer in Christ, I would probably think the same way, but I know because the bibles tells me that God is in control and even if it is hard to understand what is going on in the world, I know He has a purpose for it. That is where faith comes in.
Psalms 76:10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt.
Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”35 “Or who has given a gift to himthat he might be repaid?”36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
When you become a christian, your eyes are open to the Providence of God. You can see Him in times of trouble, you will have assuarance, He will abide with you through it all, because the Word of God tells us that He has a purpose for everything, you feel comfort in even time of sorrow. There is nothing God doesn't know about.
When I look at the way God designed the world and humans. It is just so mind-boggling! We could never fully grasp how He thinks, all we know is He is God and He knows exactly what He is doing. All I know is I need to bow to His will
Isa. 46 9-13
9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 11Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. 12 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: 13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.
Every experience God gives us, every person he puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for the future that only he can see."--Corrie Ten Boom
Well there are no accidents in life. It is God's Providential Will that it happens.
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
Divine Providence is a daily practice,things that happen because our Sovereign God allows it to accomplish his eternal purpose. God brings to pass what he purposes for eternity. God has planned the start to finish and the things that we struggle with, the sin that we commit, He know about and uses it for His purpose. It's hard to understand this, but I believe it.
When you look at what is happening in the world, and you hear a lost person say to you, " Your God has no control over anything, look at the wars and the poverty, the crimes being commited. If your God had any control, He would fix it." Well not being a believer in Christ, I would probably think the same way, but I know because the bibles tells me that God is in control and even if it is hard to understand what is going on in the world, I know He has a purpose for it. That is where faith comes in.
Psalms 76:10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt.
Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”35 “Or who has given a gift to himthat he might be repaid?”36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
When you become a christian, your eyes are open to the Providence of God. You can see Him in times of trouble, you will have assuarance, He will abide with you through it all, because the Word of God tells us that He has a purpose for everything, you feel comfort in even time of sorrow. There is nothing God doesn't know about.
When I look at the way God designed the world and humans. It is just so mind-boggling! We could never fully grasp how He thinks, all we know is He is God and He knows exactly what He is doing. All I know is I need to bow to His will
Isa. 46 9-13
9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 11Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. 12 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: 13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.
Every experience God gives us, every person he puts in our lives, is the perfect preparation for the future that only he can see."--Corrie Ten Boom
Cristina
Monday, February 05, 2007
THE FACT...
The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian, but the fact that I am a Christian does make me a different kind of woman. For I have accepted God's idea of me, and my whole life is an offering back to Him of all that I am and all that He wants me to be.
-E.E.
-E.E.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
WHAT'S SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE?
I read this in a book by Philip Yancy a few years ago. The name of the book is "What's so Amazing about Grace?" It is a bit long but I encourage you to read it.
Evertime I read this part of the book. it brings tears to my eyes. It kind of reminds me of the Prodical son...The picture of the father receiving the son back into relationship . Any one, if not by God's grace, could have been in a similar situation like this. It just shows us How Amazing His Grace is.....
A young girl grows up on a cherry orchard street just above Traverse City, Michigan. Her parents, a bit old fashion, tend to overact to her nose ring, the music she listens to, and the length of her skirts. They ground her a few times, and she seethes inside. "I hate you" she screams at her father when he knocks on the door of her room after an argument, and that night she acts on a plan she has menatlly rehearsed scores of times. She runs away.
She visited Detroit only once before, on a bus trip with her church youth group to watch the Tigers play. BecauseNewspapers in Traverse City report in luird detail the gangs. drugs and the violence in downtown Detroit, she concluded that is probably the last place her parents would look for her. California, maybe or Florida, but not Detroit.
Her second day there she meets a man who drives the biggest car she's ever seen. He offers her a ride, buys her lunch, arranges a place for her to stay. He gives her some pills that make her feel better then she's ever felt before. She was right all along, she decides her parents were keeping her from all the fun.
The good life continues for a month, two months, a year. The man with the big car-she calls him"Boss"-teaches her a few things that men like. Since she is underage, men pay a premium for her. She lives in a penhouse, and orders room service whenever she wants. Occasionally she thinks about her folks back home, but their lives seem so boring and provincial that she can hardly believe that she grew up there.
She has a brief scare when she sees her picture on the back of a milk container with the Headlines "Have you seen this child?" But by now she had blonde hair and make-up and with all the body piercing jewlery she wears no one would mistake her for a child. Besides most of her friends were runaways and no one rats on anyone.
After a year the first sallow of illness appears, and it amazes her how the Boss turns mean. "Theses days we can not mess around", He growled. And before she knew it she was out on the streets without a penny to her name. She still turns a couple of tricks a night, but they don't pay much and it goes to support her habit. When winter blows in she finds herself out on the grate in front of a Department Store sleeping. Sleeping is the wrong word-teenagers girls in Detroit can never relax their guard. Dark bands circle her eyes, her cough worsens.
One night as she lies awake listening for footprints,all of a sudden everything about her life seems different. She no longer feels like a woman of the world, she feels like a little girl, lost in a cold and freezing city. Her pockets are empty and she's hungry. She needs a fix.She pulls her legs tightly underneath herself, as she shivers under the newspapers she piled atop her coat. Something jolts a synapse of memory and a single image fills her mind: of May in Traverse City, when a million cherry trees blooming at once, with her Goldern Retriever dashing through the rows and rows of blossom trees in a chase of a tennis ball.
"God Why did I leave?" she said to herself and pain stabbed at her heart. My dog back home eats better then I do now. She is now sobbing and knows more then anything else she wanted to go home. Three straight phone calls, three straight conections to an answering machine. She hangs up without leaving a message the first two times but the third time she leaves a message "Dad, Mom it's me, I was wondering maybe about coming home?" I'm catching a bus up your way and It will get there about midnight tomorrow. If you are not there, well, I guess I'll stay on the bus until it hits Canada.
It takes about 7 hours for a bus to make all the stops between Detroit and Traverse City, and during that time she realized the flaws in her plan. What if her parents are out of town and missed the message? Shouldn't she have waited another day or so until she could talk to them? And even if they were home, they probably wrote her off as dead a long time ago. She should have given them some time to overcome the shock.
Her thoughts bounce back and forth between worries and the speech she is preparing for her father. "Dad, can you forgive me?" She says the words over and over, her throat tightening even as she reherses them. She hasn't apologized to anyone in years.
The bus has been driving with lights on since Bay City. Tiny snowflakes hit the pavement rubbed worn by thousands of tires, and the asphalt streams. She's forgotten how dark it gets at night out here. A deer darts across the road and bus swerves. Every so often, a billboard. A sign posting the milleage to Travers City. Oh, God....
When the bus finally rolls into the station, the air brakes hissing in protest, the driver announces in a crackly voice over the microphone, Fifteen minutes folks. That's all we have here. Fifteen minutes to decide her life. She checks herself in a compact mirror, smoothes her hair, and licks the lipstick off her teeth. She looks a the tobacco stains on her fingertips and wonders if her parents will notice. if they are there...
She walks into the terminal not knowing what to expect. Not one of the thousand scenes that had played in her mind prepared her for what she saw. There in the cononcrete-walls-and-plastic-chairs-bus-terminal in Traverse City Michaigan, stands a group of forty brothers and sisters and aunts and Uncles and cousins and a grandmother and great Grandfather to boot. They're all wearing goofy party hats and blowing noise makers, and taped across the entire wall of the terminal is a computer-generated banner that read "Welcome Home!"
Out of the crowd of well wishers breaks her Dad. She stares out through the tears quivering in her eyes like hot mercury and begins the memorized words "Dad I'm sorry, I knew....."
He interupted her, "Hush, child." We got no time for that. You will be late for the party. A banquet's waiting for you at home.
Cristina
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