Christmas time I have to say is one of the times of year I love. It has always been this way for me. I can remember as far back as a child, how my parents made this a special time of year. I was not a believer way back then, but my parents always had good values. Family ment everything to them and it still does. I remember one Christmas I wanted this doll that was called a "Walking Doll". It was bigger then I was and when you stood it up, you could move the legs back and forth as you walked it. I remember waking up Christmas morning and there under the tree were two dolls, one for my sister Sandy and one for me, we both were so thrilled. I remember traditions that have been passed down by my Grandmother to my mother then to us and now my older daughter is now passing them on to her chidren. Christmas time in our family has been a time where we all, Brother and sisters can get together with our parents and our families and reminise about the Christmas's before or what has been happening in each of our lives. We all meet Christmas Eve at our parents house and eat and laugh and even sometimes cry over the loss of loved ones not there to share this time with us. We eat moms famous Meat Pie and Sausage Rolls and we all bring other food to share. We then all sit together and open presents from one another. It is one time of the year I can look back at with a smile and warmth.
This Christmas was a time of reflecting too. It started our a week before Christmas, we stopped at my parents to drop off some Can's of Coffee we had bought the week before for my parents. I knocked at the door a few times and there was no answer. It worried me a bit because my dad and mom knew we were coming and they were not home. We headed home and when I checked the messages on the phone, there was a message from my mom, dad had a heart attack. We rushed up to the Hospital and found out it was a serious one. He was hooked up to many machines and the doctors were doing all kinds of tests on him. The doctors informed us it did not look good. All his valves to the heart were blocked except one and it was only working 30% andit had calapsed. They said they were going to go and see if they could put a stent in, to open it up. We waited as they prepared him and finally the doctor came and said he refused to do it because he believed my dad would not come out of the operationing room alive. We were all upset by this news. They put dad back in his room and had to give him a shot because they had weaned him off his blood thinner. He needed rest so we all went home. I went home that night so upset because yes I knew I might loose my father but mostly because I was not sure of his salvation.
As far back as I can remember my parents have knelt down side by side and prayed every night. The read their bible daily and thier devotions too but I still feel they base their salvation on works, I am not 100% sure if they know the Lord personally. I need to feel that they do. So when I got home that night I cold not hardly sleep at all. I would fall asleep for awhile and then just wake up and cry out to the Lord that he was first save my dad and secondly give us a few more months at least. I have to say I have not prayed like that for many years and it made me feel so guilty. I kept thinking why does it take this to happen for me to spend that much time in prayer. Lord forgive me.
The next day the doctors were preping him again for the surgery and the same doctor refused my dad again and then a younger doctor agreed to do it. My dad and mom sat in the room and talked together about thier options and they both decided to have the surgery done. It was hard for us all. They asked my mom to go down to the waiting room while they got him ready and as they were doing that he went into cardiact arrest and they had to use the paddles to revive him. They rushed him down to OR and he was quite upset because he wanted to see my mom before he went in but there was no time. The doctor got the stent in but it was very hard to do. The doctor came out with no bed side manner and just told us, he has no hope that my dad will live much longer. My sister Sandy got upset with how he told my mom and I just told her, this doctor does not have the last say I said there is a greater physician and Healer and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord uses so many situations for us to speak of his greatness, you see my Sister is not saved yet I seen a calmness about her when I said that. My dad's heart attack has given us many reasons for Jim, myself and our children that are saved to bring glory to God and and I am so thankful for that. My dad is home now, it has been a week and three more days the Lord has given us with him and I say "To God be the Glory."
So another Christmas that has been a blessing to me, I have to say more then any Christmas. We didn't just get together and celebrate Christmas, we got together and celebrated what God had done by answering prayer and giving us a little more time with my dad.
Thank you Lord and I would ask for prayer that the Lord would give me the right words in sharing the Gospel and that I can feel 100% that my praents know Him personally. I have shared the Gospel to them many times but I just don't feel 100% about what they base thier Salvation on. I hope I don't sound hard?
May you all have a Happy New Year and that it will Glorify God!
Cristina
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Sunday, December 24, 2006
A BABE WAS BORN TO DIE ON A CROSS
A babe that was born to die on a cross....."O Jesus, 'despised and rejected of men,' how couldst Thou die for men who treated Thee so ill? Herein is love amazing, love divine, yea, love beyond degree. We, too, have despised Thee in the days of our unregeneracy, and even since our new birth we have set the world on high in our hearts, and yet Thou bleedest to heal our wounds, and diest to give us life." Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)
Approaching us is what a lot of the world sees as the day of the birth of Christ, December 25th. The truth is, we simply don’t know the exact date of our Savior’s birth.
if God felt it was important for us to know the exact date of the Savior’s birth, He certainly would have told us in His Word. The Gospel of Luke gives very specific details about the event, even down to what the baby was wearing – “swaddling clothes” - and where he slept – “in a manger” (Luke 2:12). These details are important because they speak of His nature and character, meek and lowly. But the exact date of His birth has no significance whatsoever, which may be why God chose not mention it.
The fact is that He was born, that He came into the world to atone for our sins, that He was resurrected to eternal life, and that He’s alive today. This is what we should celebrate, as we are told in the Old Testament in such passages as Zechariah 2:10: "'Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,' declares the LORD.” Further, the angel that announced the birth to the shepherds brought “good tidings of great joy” (Luke 2:10). Surely here is the cause for celebration every day, not just once a year.
The true meaning of Christmas is God's becoming a human being in the Person of Jesus Christ. Why did God do such a thing? Because He loves us! Why was Christmas necessary? Because we needed a Savior! Why does God love us so much? Because He is love (1 John 4:8)! Why do we celebrate Christmas each year? Out of gratitude for what God did for us, we remember His birth by giving each other gifts, worshipping Him, and being especially conscious of the poor and less fortunate.
The true meaning of Christmas is LOVE. God loved us so much that He wanted to provide a way for us to spend eternity with Him. He gave His only Son to take our punishment for our sins, He paid the price in full! We are free from condemnation when we accept that free gift of LOVE. "But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
Resource: God's Gift of Christmas by John MacArthur.
May you all have a Christmas full of Christ and centered on Christ and may we all brothers and sisters be grateful for this babe that was born so that His own may live. The greatest sacrifice of all is to lay down your life for another.
Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, and will be fuel for the fire. For unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:5, 6)
Cristina
Approaching us is what a lot of the world sees as the day of the birth of Christ, December 25th. The truth is, we simply don’t know the exact date of our Savior’s birth.
if God felt it was important for us to know the exact date of the Savior’s birth, He certainly would have told us in His Word. The Gospel of Luke gives very specific details about the event, even down to what the baby was wearing – “swaddling clothes” - and where he slept – “in a manger” (Luke 2:12). These details are important because they speak of His nature and character, meek and lowly. But the exact date of His birth has no significance whatsoever, which may be why God chose not mention it.
The fact is that He was born, that He came into the world to atone for our sins, that He was resurrected to eternal life, and that He’s alive today. This is what we should celebrate, as we are told in the Old Testament in such passages as Zechariah 2:10: "'Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,' declares the LORD.” Further, the angel that announced the birth to the shepherds brought “good tidings of great joy” (Luke 2:10). Surely here is the cause for celebration every day, not just once a year.
The true meaning of Christmas is God's becoming a human being in the Person of Jesus Christ. Why did God do such a thing? Because He loves us! Why was Christmas necessary? Because we needed a Savior! Why does God love us so much? Because He is love (1 John 4:8)! Why do we celebrate Christmas each year? Out of gratitude for what God did for us, we remember His birth by giving each other gifts, worshipping Him, and being especially conscious of the poor and less fortunate.
The true meaning of Christmas is LOVE. God loved us so much that He wanted to provide a way for us to spend eternity with Him. He gave His only Son to take our punishment for our sins, He paid the price in full! We are free from condemnation when we accept that free gift of LOVE. "But God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
Resource: God's Gift of Christmas by John MacArthur.
May you all have a Christmas full of Christ and centered on Christ and may we all brothers and sisters be grateful for this babe that was born so that His own may live. The greatest sacrifice of all is to lay down your life for another.
Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, and will be fuel for the fire. For unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:5, 6)
Cristina
Thursday, December 14, 2006
A COLLECTIONS OF QUOTES CONCERNING THE BIRTH OF CHRIST
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch of their flocks at night. Anangel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. - Luke 2:8-11It was great condescension that He who was God should be made in the likeness of flesh; but much greater that He who was holy should be made in the likeness of sinful flesh. MATHEW HENRY
We should rejoice, that the immortal God is born, so that mortal man may live in eternity.
There is no name so sweet on earth, no name so sweet in heaven, The name, before His wondrous birth, to Christ the Savior given. - George W. Bethune
Invisible in His own nature [God] became visible in ours. Beyond our grasp, He chose to come within our grasp. -- Leo the Great
That the Creator himself comes to us and becomes our ransom - this is the reason for our rejoicing.-- Martin Luther
What he was, he laid aside; what he was not, he assumed. He takes upon himself the poverty of my flesh so that I may receive the riches of his divinity. Gregory Nazianzen
There is no name so sweet on earth, no name so sweet in heaven, The name, before His wondrous birth, to Christ the Savior given. - George W. Bethune
Friday, December 08, 2006
IF HE CAN FORGIVE US WE CAN FORGIVE OTHERS
"How precious also are Your thoughts unto me, O God!"
"I—yes, I alone—am the one who blots out your sins for My own sake and will never think of them again." Isaiah 43:25
"I—yes, I alone"—the Great, the Pure, the Holy, the Righteous God! Surely if there be one way more than another, in which God's thoughts are not as man's thoughts, it is this—pardoning the rebel, welcoming the undeserving, forgiving and forgetting. How we remember the sins and the failings of others. How we harbor the recollection of ingratitude or unkindness. We say, "I forgive, but I cannot forget." God does both. Forgiveness is with Him no effort; it is a delight—"The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness' sake."
"I—yes, I alone"—the God who for weeks and months, and, it may be, for years, we have been wearying with our iniquities, whose Book of Remembrance is crowded with the record of our guilt—"I—yes, I alone"—the very Being who has registered that guilt, is ready to take the recording pen and erase the pages thus blotted with transgression!
How can He thus forgive? How can the God who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, cancel the handwriting that is against us in these volumes of transgression, so that they are remembered no more? It is through the atoning work of Jesus. "The Son of man has power to forgive sins." He shed His precious blood that He might have a right to say, "Your sins, which are many, are all forgiven you." What a complete erasure! Crimson sins, scarlet sins; sins against grace, and love, and warning, and privilege—see them all cast into the depths of the sea, never again to be washed on shore!
"Whatever our guiltiness is," says Rutherford, "yet when it falls into the sea of God's mercy, it is but like a drop of blood fallen into the great ocean." "The ancients said there was nothing so pure as snow. But we know of something purer, a human soul washed in the blood of Christ."
What is the impelling MOTIVE with God in so wondrous a forgiveness as this? It is, it can be, nothing He sees in us. No repentance, however sincere; no good works, however imposing or splendid. It is His own free sovereign grace! "For My own sake!" "Thus says the Lord God, I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel; but for My holy Name's sake." If He had meted out retribution in proportion to our deserts, His thoughts towards us must have been of evil, not of peace—our blood would, long before now, have been mingled with our sacrifices. But He is God, and not man. "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed." "O Israel you have destroyed yourself, but in Me is your help found."
Most wondrous chapter in the volume of God's thoughts!—His full, free, unconditional, everlasting forgiveness of the guilty and undeserving. All the most gigantic thoughts of man look poor and shabby after this. God, the just God, yet the Savior—just, in justifying the ungodly.
Lord! I accept the gracious overture of pardon. I joyfully repose on this thought of Your forgiving mercy. "My debt is very great, neither can I pay anything thereof myself. But I trust in the riches and benignity of my Surety. Let Him free me, who became surety for me; who has taken my debt upon Himself."—(John Gerhard). Yes, He has taken my debt! Think of God, not only willing to blot out and bury in oblivion a guilty past—but hear Him giving the assurance that the legion-sins are already cancelled. The debt has been discharged—the wages paid. He makes it an argument for immediate return and acceptance, "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins; return unto Me; for I have redeemed you."
What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8:31
-by John MacDuff, 1864
"I—yes, I alone—am the one who blots out your sins for My own sake and will never think of them again." Isaiah 43:25
"I—yes, I alone"—the Great, the Pure, the Holy, the Righteous God! Surely if there be one way more than another, in which God's thoughts are not as man's thoughts, it is this—pardoning the rebel, welcoming the undeserving, forgiving and forgetting. How we remember the sins and the failings of others. How we harbor the recollection of ingratitude or unkindness. We say, "I forgive, but I cannot forget." God does both. Forgiveness is with Him no effort; it is a delight—"The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness' sake."
"I—yes, I alone"—the God who for weeks and months, and, it may be, for years, we have been wearying with our iniquities, whose Book of Remembrance is crowded with the record of our guilt—"I—yes, I alone"—the very Being who has registered that guilt, is ready to take the recording pen and erase the pages thus blotted with transgression!
How can He thus forgive? How can the God who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, cancel the handwriting that is against us in these volumes of transgression, so that they are remembered no more? It is through the atoning work of Jesus. "The Son of man has power to forgive sins." He shed His precious blood that He might have a right to say, "Your sins, which are many, are all forgiven you." What a complete erasure! Crimson sins, scarlet sins; sins against grace, and love, and warning, and privilege—see them all cast into the depths of the sea, never again to be washed on shore!
"Whatever our guiltiness is," says Rutherford, "yet when it falls into the sea of God's mercy, it is but like a drop of blood fallen into the great ocean." "The ancients said there was nothing so pure as snow. But we know of something purer, a human soul washed in the blood of Christ."
What is the impelling MOTIVE with God in so wondrous a forgiveness as this? It is, it can be, nothing He sees in us. No repentance, however sincere; no good works, however imposing or splendid. It is His own free sovereign grace! "For My own sake!" "Thus says the Lord God, I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel; but for My holy Name's sake." If He had meted out retribution in proportion to our deserts, His thoughts towards us must have been of evil, not of peace—our blood would, long before now, have been mingled with our sacrifices. But He is God, and not man. "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed." "O Israel you have destroyed yourself, but in Me is your help found."
Most wondrous chapter in the volume of God's thoughts!—His full, free, unconditional, everlasting forgiveness of the guilty and undeserving. All the most gigantic thoughts of man look poor and shabby after this. God, the just God, yet the Savior—just, in justifying the ungodly.
Lord! I accept the gracious overture of pardon. I joyfully repose on this thought of Your forgiving mercy. "My debt is very great, neither can I pay anything thereof myself. But I trust in the riches and benignity of my Surety. Let Him free me, who became surety for me; who has taken my debt upon Himself."—(John Gerhard). Yes, He has taken my debt! Think of God, not only willing to blot out and bury in oblivion a guilty past—but hear Him giving the assurance that the legion-sins are already cancelled. The debt has been discharged—the wages paid. He makes it an argument for immediate return and acceptance, "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins; return unto Me; for I have redeemed you."
What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8:31
-by John MacDuff, 1864
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
THE COMPROMISING CHURCH
WHAT WE DO NOT OPPOSE,
WE TOLERATE.
WHAT WE TOLERATE,
WE ACCEPT
WHAT WE ACCEPT,
WE PRAISE
WHAT WE PRAISE,
WE PRACTICE.
Friday, December 01, 2006
THE MOST HIDDEN, SECRET AND DECEITFULOF ALL LUSTS
The most hidden, secret, and deceitful of all lusts-A letter addressed to a young lady in the year 1741)"To fear the Lord is to hate evil. I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech." (Proverbs 8:13)Remember that pride is the worst viper that is in the heart, the greatest disturber of the souls peace, and of sweet communion with Christ. Pride . . . was the first sin committed, lies lowest in the foundation of Satan's whole building, and is with the greatest difficulty rooted out. Pride is the most hidden, secret, and deceitful of all lusts--and often creeps insensibly into the midst of religion, even, sometimes, under the disguise of humility itself!
Jonathan Edwards
Jonathan Edwards
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
FOR STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS
God always gives us strength enough, and sense enough, for every thing that He wants us to do.... John Ruskin (1819-1900)
2 Cor 12:9 (NRSV) but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Psa 28:7 (NRSV) The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
Psa 138:3 (NRSV) On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul.
Psa 46:1 (NRSV) God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Eph 6:10 (NRSV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power.
1 Pet 4:11 (NRSV) Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen."O Lord, in the morning I will direct my prayer to You."
"My strength is made perfect in weakness."—2 Cor. 12:9
O high and mighty God, inhabiting eternity, draw near to a poor unworthy sinner, who ventures anew this morning to approach the footstool of Your throne. Give me now the gracious aids of Your gracious Spirit, that out of much weakness I may be made strong. It is Your own gracious assurance, that "those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." I would rely on the faithfulness of a promising God. May my own utter emptiness drive me to all fullness. May my own conscious weakness wean me from all earthly props, and confidences, and refuges, to "abide under the shadow of the Almighty."
Lord, I confess this day with shame and confusion of face my many infirmities, my coldness and lukewarmness, my distrust of Your providence, my insensibility to Your Love, my murmuring at Your dealings, my tampering with sin, my resisting of Your grace. How often, like the slender reed, have I bent before the blast of temptation, my best resolutions proving "as the morning cloud and the early dew!"
And yet gracious Father, You have not broken "the bruised reed"—You have not "quenched the smoking flax." I am here this morning a marvel to myself that You are still sparing me. "Your ways are not as man's ways." Had it been so, You would long since have grown weary. But it is the prerogative of the everlasting God that "He faints not, neither is weary." You are this morning giving me fresh grants of mercy, renewed proofs and tokens of unmerited love. I am receiving "at the Lord's hand double for all my sins."
I rejoice to know, blessed Jesus, it is Your burdened ones You have specially promised "gently to lead." You will conduct me by no rougher road than is necessary. "Undertake for me." May the wilderness journey be this day resumed and renewed with a more simple, and childlike, and habitual leaning on You. Put this new song into my mouth, "The Lord is my Rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust." Say to me, in the midst of my weakness, "Fear not, you worm Jacob." With the pillar of Your presence ever before me, "I will go from strength to strength."
Keep me this day from sin. May no evil thoughts, or vain imaginings, or deceitful lusts, obtrude on my walk with God. May an affecting sense of how frail I am, keep me near the atoning sacrifice. May the "horns of the altar" ever be in sight. Blessed Jesus, my helpless soul would hang, every moment upon You.
Look down in Your kindness on all connected with me by ties of earthly kindred. May the blessing of the God of Bethel rest on every heart and household I love. May we all be journeying Zionwards, and be so weaned from earth as to feel that Zionwards is homewards. If pursuing different paths, and separated, it may be, far from one another, may the journey have one blessed and happy termination. May we meet in glory, and meet with You. And all I ask is for the Redeemer's sake. Amen.
"Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for in You do I trust."
By John MacDuff, 1852.
2 Cor 12:9 (NRSV) but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Psa 28:7 (NRSV) The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
Psa 138:3 (NRSV) On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul.
Psa 46:1 (NRSV) God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Eph 6:10 (NRSV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power.
1 Pet 4:11 (NRSV) Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen."O Lord, in the morning I will direct my prayer to You."
"My strength is made perfect in weakness."—2 Cor. 12:9
O high and mighty God, inhabiting eternity, draw near to a poor unworthy sinner, who ventures anew this morning to approach the footstool of Your throne. Give me now the gracious aids of Your gracious Spirit, that out of much weakness I may be made strong. It is Your own gracious assurance, that "those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." I would rely on the faithfulness of a promising God. May my own utter emptiness drive me to all fullness. May my own conscious weakness wean me from all earthly props, and confidences, and refuges, to "abide under the shadow of the Almighty."
Lord, I confess this day with shame and confusion of face my many infirmities, my coldness and lukewarmness, my distrust of Your providence, my insensibility to Your Love, my murmuring at Your dealings, my tampering with sin, my resisting of Your grace. How often, like the slender reed, have I bent before the blast of temptation, my best resolutions proving "as the morning cloud and the early dew!"
And yet gracious Father, You have not broken "the bruised reed"—You have not "quenched the smoking flax." I am here this morning a marvel to myself that You are still sparing me. "Your ways are not as man's ways." Had it been so, You would long since have grown weary. But it is the prerogative of the everlasting God that "He faints not, neither is weary." You are this morning giving me fresh grants of mercy, renewed proofs and tokens of unmerited love. I am receiving "at the Lord's hand double for all my sins."
I rejoice to know, blessed Jesus, it is Your burdened ones You have specially promised "gently to lead." You will conduct me by no rougher road than is necessary. "Undertake for me." May the wilderness journey be this day resumed and renewed with a more simple, and childlike, and habitual leaning on You. Put this new song into my mouth, "The Lord is my Rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust." Say to me, in the midst of my weakness, "Fear not, you worm Jacob." With the pillar of Your presence ever before me, "I will go from strength to strength."
Keep me this day from sin. May no evil thoughts, or vain imaginings, or deceitful lusts, obtrude on my walk with God. May an affecting sense of how frail I am, keep me near the atoning sacrifice. May the "horns of the altar" ever be in sight. Blessed Jesus, my helpless soul would hang, every moment upon You.
Look down in Your kindness on all connected with me by ties of earthly kindred. May the blessing of the God of Bethel rest on every heart and household I love. May we all be journeying Zionwards, and be so weaned from earth as to feel that Zionwards is homewards. If pursuing different paths, and separated, it may be, far from one another, may the journey have one blessed and happy termination. May we meet in glory, and meet with You. And all I ask is for the Redeemer's sake. Amen.
"Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for in You do I trust."
By John MacDuff, 1852.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
ABSOLUTE PREDESTINATION
Some folks are so gifted with words. I find myself listening more and more or reading more and more to those that are profoundly knowledegable. Those from the past and those from the present....Enjoy
"Absolute Predestination"(Jerome Zanchius, 1516-1590)
Without a due sense of predestination, we shall lack the surest and the most powerful inducement to patience, resignation and dependence on God under every spiritual and temporal affliction. How sweet must the following considerations be to a distressed believer! (1) There most certainly exists an almighty, all-wise and infinitely gracious God.(2) He has given me in times past, and is giving me at present (if I had but eyes to see it), many and signal intimations of His love to me--both in a way of providence and grace. (3) This love of His is immutable; He never repents of it nor withdraws it. (4) Whatever comes to pass in time, is the result of His will from everlasting, consequently(5) my afflictions were a part of His original plan, and are all ordered in number, weight and measure. (6) The very hairs of my head are (every one) counted by Him, nor can a single hair fall to the ground but in consequence of His determination. Hence (7) my distresses are not the result of chance, accident or a fortuitous combination of circumstances, but (8) the providential accomplishment of God's purpose, and (9) designed to answer some wise and gracious ends, nor (10) shall my affliction continue a moment longer than God sees fit. (11) He who brought me to it, has promised to support me under it, and to carry me through it. (12) All shall, most assuredly, work together for His glory and my good, therefore (13) "The cup which my heavenly Father has given me to drink, shall I not drink it?" Yes, I will, in the strength He imparts, even rejoice in tribulation. I will commit myself and the event to Him, whose purpose cannot be overthrown, whose plan cannot be disconcerted; and who, whether I am resigned or not, will still go on to work all things after the counsel of His own will.
"Absolute Predestination"(Jerome Zanchius, 1516-1590)
Without a due sense of predestination, we shall lack the surest and the most powerful inducement to patience, resignation and dependence on God under every spiritual and temporal affliction. How sweet must the following considerations be to a distressed believer! (1) There most certainly exists an almighty, all-wise and infinitely gracious God.(2) He has given me in times past, and is giving me at present (if I had but eyes to see it), many and signal intimations of His love to me--both in a way of providence and grace. (3) This love of His is immutable; He never repents of it nor withdraws it. (4) Whatever comes to pass in time, is the result of His will from everlasting, consequently(5) my afflictions were a part of His original plan, and are all ordered in number, weight and measure. (6) The very hairs of my head are (every one) counted by Him, nor can a single hair fall to the ground but in consequence of His determination. Hence (7) my distresses are not the result of chance, accident or a fortuitous combination of circumstances, but (8) the providential accomplishment of God's purpose, and (9) designed to answer some wise and gracious ends, nor (10) shall my affliction continue a moment longer than God sees fit. (11) He who brought me to it, has promised to support me under it, and to carry me through it. (12) All shall, most assuredly, work together for His glory and my good, therefore (13) "The cup which my heavenly Father has given me to drink, shall I not drink it?" Yes, I will, in the strength He imparts, even rejoice in tribulation. I will commit myself and the event to Him, whose purpose cannot be overthrown, whose plan cannot be disconcerted; and who, whether I am resigned or not, will still go on to work all things after the counsel of His own will.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
FOR LOWLINESS OF MIND
This is a wonderful devotional I read By John MacDuff, 1852.
"O Lord, in the morning I will direct my prayer to You."
"He gives grace to the humble."—1 Pet. 5:5
O God, You are "the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity." There is no being truly great but You. All other excellence and glory is derived—Yours is underived. All else is finite—Yours is infinite. The burning seraph nearest Your throne is the humblest of all Your creatures, because he gets the nearest view of the majesty of Your glory.
Lord, fill my soul this morning with suitable views of Your greatness, and a humbling estimate of my own nothingness. I would lie low at Your feet—in wonder and amazement that dust and ashes should be permitted to approach that Being whom angels worship with folded wings, and in whose sight the very "heavens are not clean." Repress every proud, self-glorifying imagination.
Let me feel I cannot abase myself enough in Your presence. "Lord, I am vile; what can I answer You?" My best thoughts, how polluted!—my best services, how imperfect!—my best affections, how lukewarm!—my best prayers how cold!—my best hours, were I judged by them, how would I be condemned!
I desire to take refuge at the cross of a crucified Savior. Here, Lord, give me that grace You have promised to the lowly. Self-renouncing and sin-renouncing, I would seek to be exalted only in Jesus, crying out, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" In broken-heartedness of soul, I mourn the past. Distrustful of the future, I look only to You. Full of my own unworthiness, I turn to the infinitely worthy One. I seek to be washed in His blood—sanctified by His Spirit—guided by His counsel—depending on Him for every supply of grace—and feeling that without Him I must perish.
May I take the humility and gentleness of Jesus as my pattern. Like Him, may I be meek and lowly in heart. Give me grace to avoid ostentation and pride, haughtiness and vanity, envy and uncharitableness. "In lowliness of mind may I esteem others better than myself." Let me realize every moment that I am a pensioner on Divine bounty—that I am alike "for temporals and spirituals" dependent on You—and that it well becomes me to be "clothed with humility." Oh, let me meekly and submissively lose my own will in Yours, in childlike teachableness, saying—"What will You have me to do?" May no murmur escape my lips at Your dealings. May this lowliness of spirit lead me rather to wonder at Your sparing mercy, that the great and holy Being I have provoked so long by my rebellion has not "cut me down."
Bless all connected to me by endearing bonds. May nature's ties be made doubly strong by those of covenant grace. Bless Your cause and kingdom in the world. May Your Spirit descend "like rain upon the mown grass, and showers that water the earth."
I commit myself to You, and to the word of Your grace. Guide me this day by Your counsel. May I spend it as if it were to be my last. And when my last day does arrive, may it be to me the eve of a happy eternity. 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."
"O Lord, in the morning I will direct my prayer to You."
"He gives grace to the humble."—1 Pet. 5:5
O God, You are "the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity." There is no being truly great but You. All other excellence and glory is derived—Yours is underived. All else is finite—Yours is infinite. The burning seraph nearest Your throne is the humblest of all Your creatures, because he gets the nearest view of the majesty of Your glory.
Lord, fill my soul this morning with suitable views of Your greatness, and a humbling estimate of my own nothingness. I would lie low at Your feet—in wonder and amazement that dust and ashes should be permitted to approach that Being whom angels worship with folded wings, and in whose sight the very "heavens are not clean." Repress every proud, self-glorifying imagination.
Let me feel I cannot abase myself enough in Your presence. "Lord, I am vile; what can I answer You?" My best thoughts, how polluted!—my best services, how imperfect!—my best affections, how lukewarm!—my best prayers how cold!—my best hours, were I judged by them, how would I be condemned!
I desire to take refuge at the cross of a crucified Savior. Here, Lord, give me that grace You have promised to the lowly. Self-renouncing and sin-renouncing, I would seek to be exalted only in Jesus, crying out, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" In broken-heartedness of soul, I mourn the past. Distrustful of the future, I look only to You. Full of my own unworthiness, I turn to the infinitely worthy One. I seek to be washed in His blood—sanctified by His Spirit—guided by His counsel—depending on Him for every supply of grace—and feeling that without Him I must perish.
May I take the humility and gentleness of Jesus as my pattern. Like Him, may I be meek and lowly in heart. Give me grace to avoid ostentation and pride, haughtiness and vanity, envy and uncharitableness. "In lowliness of mind may I esteem others better than myself." Let me realize every moment that I am a pensioner on Divine bounty—that I am alike "for temporals and spirituals" dependent on You—and that it well becomes me to be "clothed with humility." Oh, let me meekly and submissively lose my own will in Yours, in childlike teachableness, saying—"What will You have me to do?" May no murmur escape my lips at Your dealings. May this lowliness of spirit lead me rather to wonder at Your sparing mercy, that the great and holy Being I have provoked so long by my rebellion has not "cut me down."
Bless all connected to me by endearing bonds. May nature's ties be made doubly strong by those of covenant grace. Bless Your cause and kingdom in the world. May Your Spirit descend "like rain upon the mown grass, and showers that water the earth."
I commit myself to You, and to the word of Your grace. Guide me this day by Your counsel. May I spend it as if it were to be my last. And when my last day does arrive, may it be to me the eve of a happy eternity. 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."
Saturday, November 18, 2006
CONTENTMENT
"I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!"
"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
"Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever!"
Philippians 4:11-13, 19-20
We should be content with what God has given us, but if we are content in our lifestye that does not please God, we should question it. True contentment is found in Christ and Christ alone. We should not be content in this world because it is not our home.
Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.
—Jeremiah Burroughs
If I am a son of God, nothing but God will satisfy my soul; no amount of comfort, no amount of ease, no amount of pleasure,will give me peace or rest. If I had the full cup of all the world's joys held up to me, and could drain it to the dregs, I should still remain thirsty if I had not God.... G. A. Studdert Kennedy
Spurgeon said, "He that deserves nothing should be content with anything," and he is so right. we deserve nothing but hell.
In September I did a blog on being a "SERVANT" and I shared a story of a Chinese man. When I think back about his story, I see a man that was content with where the Lord had him. It humbles me to think I complain in my situations at times when I am not content. In humility we can find contentment.
Here is his story that is worth sharing again...
A few years ago my husband had the privilege to preach on the subject of "Humility". He shared a story of a Chinese man that was put in jail because of his faith in Christ. He was put in the hole to work. Every day he would have to shovel the excrements all day long. He did this daily for all the time he spent in prison without complaint. A few years after he was released from this hell hole, he ran into one the guards from the prison. The guard asked him in bewilderment "How is it you spent all that time in that slop and come out of there everyday with a content look on your face and never complained?" The man answered, " Every morning when the machines were turned on, it would be the time I would be able to recite verses from the Bible out loud and sing the hymns I had learned and fellowship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." "It was those times while I was in prision I cherished the most!"What a servant of Christ! He worked in such a lowely job and found joy in it! Jesus was a fine example of Servant hood.
1TI 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
When we serve God we will feel contenment because it is Him that will get the glory and praise.
Instead of complaining at his lot, a contented man is thankful that his condition and circumstances are no worse than they are. Instead of greedily desiring something more than the supply of his present need, he rejoices that God still cares for him. Such an one is "content" with such as he has (Heb. 13:5).
—Arthur W. Pink
Cristina
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
WALK IN THE SPIRIT
I really enjoyed reading this devotional this morning and thought I would share it with others. I needed to hear this because yesterday I got angry at a situation and responded to it too quickly instead of praying about it and seeking God's council on it. I have asked the Lord for forgiveness. The flesh can be such a powerful thing to battle against but when we walk in the spirit it is possible.
Enjoy....
"I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." Galatians 5:16
Before we are regenerated, our whole being is left to itself. But at regeneration, the life of Jesus comes into our spirit. Now there is a new source for our being. At the same time, our weak flesh is still present. We feel its rumblings. We feel its weakness. We feel its tendencies, its inclinations, its downward moves. In the past, when we felt it, we went to repair it. We went to cope with it. We went to do other things to make up for the void and the lack within that flesh. But those things did not work. We just went from one thing to another, from one misery to another, until one day we discovered our spirit. We still have the same weaknesses in our flesh. The flesh has not changed. But the difference is that now there is another source for our being. That source is as close as saying "Jesus." Calling on the name of Jesus instantly ushers us into a participation in the life that is in our spirit, our new source. To say "Jesus" is to instantly drink of the supply of His very life and nature that has overcome the flesh, that has dealt with it already. Now there is a new realm in which we live, and that is the realm of our spirit. So when we feel our flesh, when we feel our weaknesses, we know what to do. James says, "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." This means that our life is a life of interacting with the Lord in our spirit—the source that was established from the first day of our new birth. We know that we have received Christ and that our destiny has changed. We will not perish but have eternal life. Nevertheless, for years we may still depend upon the source of the flesh to live this life, rather than discovering that we have another source in us. Learn to pray. Learn to call "Jesus." Learn to sing to Him. Learn to fellowship. Learn to bypass all the activity in your flesh and go straight to Jesus. Go directly to your spirit. Do not do anything else. Do not solve. Do not handle. Learn to do one thing—Draw near to God. He will draw near to you.
Bill Freeman
Enjoy....
"I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." Galatians 5:16
Before we are regenerated, our whole being is left to itself. But at regeneration, the life of Jesus comes into our spirit. Now there is a new source for our being. At the same time, our weak flesh is still present. We feel its rumblings. We feel its weakness. We feel its tendencies, its inclinations, its downward moves. In the past, when we felt it, we went to repair it. We went to cope with it. We went to do other things to make up for the void and the lack within that flesh. But those things did not work. We just went from one thing to another, from one misery to another, until one day we discovered our spirit. We still have the same weaknesses in our flesh. The flesh has not changed. But the difference is that now there is another source for our being. That source is as close as saying "Jesus." Calling on the name of Jesus instantly ushers us into a participation in the life that is in our spirit, our new source. To say "Jesus" is to instantly drink of the supply of His very life and nature that has overcome the flesh, that has dealt with it already. Now there is a new realm in which we live, and that is the realm of our spirit. So when we feel our flesh, when we feel our weaknesses, we know what to do. James says, "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." This means that our life is a life of interacting with the Lord in our spirit—the source that was established from the first day of our new birth. We know that we have received Christ and that our destiny has changed. We will not perish but have eternal life. Nevertheless, for years we may still depend upon the source of the flesh to live this life, rather than discovering that we have another source in us. Learn to pray. Learn to call "Jesus." Learn to sing to Him. Learn to fellowship. Learn to bypass all the activity in your flesh and go straight to Jesus. Go directly to your spirit. Do not do anything else. Do not solve. Do not handle. Learn to do one thing—Draw near to God. He will draw near to you.
Bill Freeman
Sunday, November 12, 2006
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANIELLE!!
Our youngest daughter Danielle is 19 today! I look back over the years that have flown by and remember the day she was born. I remember my husband sitting with me in my hospital room waiting for our third child to enter the world. I was in labor for a few hours and the doctor told us it will be a few more hours and my husband had not eaten anything, so I told him to go get something to eat because we have a lot of time before our baby would be delivered. Jim headed down to the Cafeteria. About 5 minutes passed, I started to feel cramping, so the nurse checked and it seems Danielle was ready to come then. They wheeled me down to delivery and poor Jim was still at the Cafeteria
So it was me alone to see our baby being born. The epurderal had stopped working so I felt the pain I heard so much about but it was quick. Danielle was ready and there was no stopping her! I watched in the mirror as she entered our world and she was so beautiful! They brought her to me and as I held her in my arms, my heart was filled with a love only a parent can feel. A love Our Father feels for us! I laid there looking down into these big beautful eyes and fell in love with tiny little babe. As I was holding her a doctor, so It seemed, came over beside me and bent down and had his face so close to mine I had to back up wondering what is he up to?? Here it was Jim behind the mask, we both laughed. I presented him his daughter, he did not know the sex of the baby, but I did. He was so thrilled.
Over the next 19 years we have watched our daughter grow and mature into a lovely young lady who loves the Lord.
She is the one child in our family that was, and is full of energy, yes and head strong at times. The Lord has been good through her 19 years. Danielle has always had to keep busy doing something, and the Lord has kept her busy with things in church, being involved in Youth for Christ Ministry, working with street kids. In High School you had to put in 25 volunteer hours, Danielle put in over 500 hours from working at the school, Youth for Christ, working in the Malls at Christmas time ringing the bells for donations, working in Summer camps etc etc etc. She has always been busy.
One thing about our daughter which has made us proud is that she was never afraid of proclaiming Christ to all around her. She's had people at school call her a bible thumper and other cruel names but that never stopped her. She would just smile and continue proclaiming Christ. Her friends knew were she stood and most respected her for it. The Lord was good in her later years and found her a church were she met some of her closest friends. The one friend that shares her love for serving Christ is Leigh-anne. When Danielle was 16 her and other teens traveled San Paulos for 3 weeks on a short term missions trip. This was a time she will never ever forget.
Also, when Danielle was 16 she met a lovely young man, Rick. They fell in love. Rick went to bible college to become a pastor. Rick and Danielle had plans to marry after college but sadly the Lord took Rick home at the young age of 19. So at 17 years old, Daneille had to deal witha great loss and I know Lord helped her through this time with her friend Leigh-ann and family and other friends helps also. Danielle is now finally dating a young man that Jim and I both like very much. Greg is a kind hearted, loving young man. He has grown to love our Danielle very much and she has grown to love him back.
I just want to tell you my Dani-Girl, we love you so much and we are so proud of you. You have come a long way in these past 19 years and you have a life time ahead of you! Here is a verse to think on my darling. This is a goal for a christian women to reach for....
Proverbs 31:10 "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." (KJV)
We love you Dani-girl!!
Love Mom
The right manner of growth is to grow less in one's own eyes.
—Thomas Watson
So it was me alone to see our baby being born. The epurderal had stopped working so I felt the pain I heard so much about but it was quick. Danielle was ready and there was no stopping her! I watched in the mirror as she entered our world and she was so beautiful! They brought her to me and as I held her in my arms, my heart was filled with a love only a parent can feel. A love Our Father feels for us! I laid there looking down into these big beautful eyes and fell in love with tiny little babe. As I was holding her a doctor, so It seemed, came over beside me and bent down and had his face so close to mine I had to back up wondering what is he up to?? Here it was Jim behind the mask, we both laughed. I presented him his daughter, he did not know the sex of the baby, but I did. He was so thrilled.
Over the next 19 years we have watched our daughter grow and mature into a lovely young lady who loves the Lord.
She is the one child in our family that was, and is full of energy, yes and head strong at times. The Lord has been good through her 19 years. Danielle has always had to keep busy doing something, and the Lord has kept her busy with things in church, being involved in Youth for Christ Ministry, working with street kids. In High School you had to put in 25 volunteer hours, Danielle put in over 500 hours from working at the school, Youth for Christ, working in the Malls at Christmas time ringing the bells for donations, working in Summer camps etc etc etc. She has always been busy.
One thing about our daughter which has made us proud is that she was never afraid of proclaiming Christ to all around her. She's had people at school call her a bible thumper and other cruel names but that never stopped her. She would just smile and continue proclaiming Christ. Her friends knew were she stood and most respected her for it. The Lord was good in her later years and found her a church were she met some of her closest friends. The one friend that shares her love for serving Christ is Leigh-anne. When Danielle was 16 her and other teens traveled San Paulos for 3 weeks on a short term missions trip. This was a time she will never ever forget.
Also, when Danielle was 16 she met a lovely young man, Rick. They fell in love. Rick went to bible college to become a pastor. Rick and Danielle had plans to marry after college but sadly the Lord took Rick home at the young age of 19. So at 17 years old, Daneille had to deal witha great loss and I know Lord helped her through this time with her friend Leigh-ann and family and other friends helps also. Danielle is now finally dating a young man that Jim and I both like very much. Greg is a kind hearted, loving young man. He has grown to love our Danielle very much and she has grown to love him back.
I just want to tell you my Dani-Girl, we love you so much and we are so proud of you. You have come a long way in these past 19 years and you have a life time ahead of you! Here is a verse to think on my darling. This is a goal for a christian women to reach for....
Proverbs 31:10 "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." (KJV)
We love you Dani-girl!!
Love Mom
The right manner of growth is to grow less in one's own eyes.
—Thomas Watson
Sunday, November 05, 2006
BOLDNESS
Do you ever wonder why the world hates christianity so much? When you stand up for Christ and you get a nasty remark back from someone that is lost, do you back down or do you continue to stand up? When you hear someone use our Savior's name is vain, does it tug deeply at your heart? Do you say, "Please do not use my Savior's name in that way?" At the end of your life here on earth will folks that attend your funeral say, "I didn't know she/he was a christian?" I have heard these words at some people's funeral and it saddens me because we are to make a difference in this world, the world is to see Jesus in us.
Are we willing to be persecuted in the name of Christ, are willing to be a martyr for Christ? I listened to a message just a while ago and it spoke of people thinking they were martyrs for Christ because they had a t-shirt that had a picture of Christ on the cross and a bible verse on it. They felt persecution when someone said something ugly about it. They do not know nothing of persecution!! When you look at a Muslim that converts to christianity and is burned to death because he proclaims Christ, when you look at a missionary that dies at the hands of those that hate Jesus, that is persecution, when you look at how some of the Disciples died then you see persecution...
"If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you....
"If they persecuted Me they will persecute you... for they do not know the One who sent Me."
John 15:19-21
The World is going to hate us because we love Jesus. When we are persecuted, it is because they hate Jesus and because we love Him, they hate us too. If we are not walking with Christ and there is no pesecution in our lives, maybe we are not standing up for Christ? Maybe we need to examine our walk and ask God for forgiveness and ask Him for the strength to be bold. If people do not see Christ in us, how are we going to present Him to those that we love that do not know Him?
I think sometime we are afraid of the answers we are going to get from those around us when we present Christ to them? I ask you how much do these people mean to you? No one knows what tomorrow will bring? We may wake up tomorrow and find out that a loved one has died and we had many chances to present Christ to them. Be Bold for Christ, that person's eternal life may be in your hands, God may have given you many chances to present the gospel to that person, don't wait!! Today is the day of salvation for those that do not know Christ as their Savior. Even if they do not get saved we need to at least try to show them the path to Christ, isn't that what Christ would want? Are we not here for that reason?
Mat 5:10 Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Do we sometimes think it is wrong that we are not treated nicely by the lost? The Word of God says:
1 Pet 4:12-13 Beloved, do not be surprised that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly.
1 Tim 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
1 Pet 4:16 But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this matter.
Are we willing to be persecuted in the name of Christ, are willing to be a martyr for Christ? I listened to a message just a while ago and it spoke of people thinking they were martyrs for Christ because they had a t-shirt that had a picture of Christ on the cross and a bible verse on it. They felt persecution when someone said something ugly about it. They do not know nothing of persecution!! When you look at a Muslim that converts to christianity and is burned to death because he proclaims Christ, when you look at a missionary that dies at the hands of those that hate Jesus, that is persecution, when you look at how some of the Disciples died then you see persecution...
"If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you....
"If they persecuted Me they will persecute you... for they do not know the One who sent Me."
John 15:19-21
The World is going to hate us because we love Jesus. When we are persecuted, it is because they hate Jesus and because we love Him, they hate us too. If we are not walking with Christ and there is no pesecution in our lives, maybe we are not standing up for Christ? Maybe we need to examine our walk and ask God for forgiveness and ask Him for the strength to be bold. If people do not see Christ in us, how are we going to present Him to those that we love that do not know Him?
I think sometime we are afraid of the answers we are going to get from those around us when we present Christ to them? I ask you how much do these people mean to you? No one knows what tomorrow will bring? We may wake up tomorrow and find out that a loved one has died and we had many chances to present Christ to them. Be Bold for Christ, that person's eternal life may be in your hands, God may have given you many chances to present the gospel to that person, don't wait!! Today is the day of salvation for those that do not know Christ as their Savior. Even if they do not get saved we need to at least try to show them the path to Christ, isn't that what Christ would want? Are we not here for that reason?
Mat 5:10 Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Do we sometimes think it is wrong that we are not treated nicely by the lost? The Word of God says:
1 Pet 4:12-13 Beloved, do not be surprised that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly.
1 Tim 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
1 Pet 4:16 But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this matter.
Lord make me more bold, help me proclaim your work on the cross to those around me. When the opportunity presents itself, no matter the response Lord may I be bold and not back down even if it means persecution. When I look at what you did on the cross, the pain you suffered how can I not be steadfast.
God hath work to do in this world; and to desert it because of its difficulties and entanglements, is to cast off His authority. It is not enough that we be just, that we be righteous, and walk with God in holiness; but we must also serve our generation, as David did before he fell asleep. God hath a work to do; and not to help Him is to oppose Him.-- John Owen
Cristina
Saturday, November 04, 2006
WHERE DO WE FIND OUR STRENGTH?
1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God
When I think of strength I think of David. Here was a man who was pursued by King Saul, he barely escaped attempts on his life, he had to hide in the wilderness many times, his whole family was kidnapped once, his friends turned on him and were ready to murder him, he felt the shame of being an adulter and for murder, he had the knowledge of his own son raping his daughter Tamar, his other son Absalom murdered Amnon and lead a revolt against David and in the end his son Absalon was killed and yet when you look at 1 Samuel 30:6 David encouraged himself in the Lord. He found strength in all his troubles and pain, in the Lord. We can be encouraged by this verse and so many others in the Bible that in the turbulence that enters or lives there is strength that we can find in Jesus.
There are times we leave God completely out of the picture.We do this when we forget to praise Him, when we forget to pray to Him daily and when we don't go to church every week, where we can find edification and to whorship Him. When we lean on ourselves where do we find the strength? We are but weak vessels that need the strength only found in Jesus. I am often amazed to think that God uses us, a weak vessel, to bring ultimate Glory to Him. It is when He strengthens us through our trust in Him, then and then alone can we give Him all the Glory, not by our strength but by His strength.
1 Peter 5: 6-7 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time;
7 casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you
James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you of two minds
If we really take a good look at it, God does not help those that help themselves, God helps those who put their trust with all their heart in Him and that dont lean on their own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
In times of trouble we need to look to God for our strength, Trust Him and remember to always praise Him, don't forget to communicate with Him through prayer. I know I fail Him in these areas so I am speaking to myself too. I have a quote that is one of my favorites.( I have 2 real favorites and this is one of them) It speaks to me about finding my strength in Him and drawing strength from Him.
"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
Let me encourage you to draw near each moment to our Lord Jesus Christ the one that Loves us most in spite of ourselves.
Cristina
When I think of strength I think of David. Here was a man who was pursued by King Saul, he barely escaped attempts on his life, he had to hide in the wilderness many times, his whole family was kidnapped once, his friends turned on him and were ready to murder him, he felt the shame of being an adulter and for murder, he had the knowledge of his own son raping his daughter Tamar, his other son Absalom murdered Amnon and lead a revolt against David and in the end his son Absalon was killed and yet when you look at 1 Samuel 30:6 David encouraged himself in the Lord. He found strength in all his troubles and pain, in the Lord. We can be encouraged by this verse and so many others in the Bible that in the turbulence that enters or lives there is strength that we can find in Jesus.
There are times we leave God completely out of the picture.We do this when we forget to praise Him, when we forget to pray to Him daily and when we don't go to church every week, where we can find edification and to whorship Him. When we lean on ourselves where do we find the strength? We are but weak vessels that need the strength only found in Jesus. I am often amazed to think that God uses us, a weak vessel, to bring ultimate Glory to Him. It is when He strengthens us through our trust in Him, then and then alone can we give Him all the Glory, not by our strength but by His strength.
1 Peter 5: 6-7 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time;
7 casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you
James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you of two minds
If we really take a good look at it, God does not help those that help themselves, God helps those who put their trust with all their heart in Him and that dont lean on their own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
In times of trouble we need to look to God for our strength, Trust Him and remember to always praise Him, don't forget to communicate with Him through prayer. I know I fail Him in these areas so I am speaking to myself too. I have a quote that is one of my favorites.( I have 2 real favorites and this is one of them) It speaks to me about finding my strength in Him and drawing strength from Him.
"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
Let me encourage you to draw near each moment to our Lord Jesus Christ the one that Loves us most in spite of ourselves.
Cristina
Friday, October 27, 2006
JESUS WEPT!
I read this in a devotional this morning:
John 11:35 "Jesus wept!"—but His profoundest anguish was over resisted grace, abused privileges, scorned mercy. It was the Divine Craftsman mourning over His shattered handiwork—the Almighty Creator weeping over His ruined world—God, the God-man, "grieving" over the Temple of the soul, a humiliating wreck of what once was made "after His own image!"
Jesus wept out of sympathy with those who were in tears all around him, as well as from a deep sense of the misery sin had brought upon human nature.Do we grieve over our sins that way? I dare to say we don't grieve enough. It is an insult to the finishing works of Christ when we do not grieve over sin or continue to sin. When you think about He had no sin. We should look within ourselves and grieve over the sin we practice. It should make us sick. If your sin is not a grievance to you I would encourage you to start questioning your walk!
I think we should question what we do in all aspects of our life. Will this bring aultimate Glory to our Savior Jesus Christ and if you have doubts "Don't do it". Go to the scriptures and examine it. Freedom in Christ does not give you the OK to do what ever you want. I believe we should guard Ourselves. Don't forget we are His handiwork.
" How can I mix with the potsherds of the earth? Once, "I lay among the pots;" now, I am "like a dove, whose wings are covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold!" "Stranger—pilgrim—sojourner;"—"my citizenship is in heaven!" Why covet tinsel honors and glories? Why be solicitous about the smiles of that which knew not, (no, which frowned on) its Lord? "Paul calls it a mere notion, and nothing in substance."—(Thomas Brooks.)
Live above its corroding cares and anxieties; remembering the description Jesus gives of His own true people, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world!"
Cristina
John 11:35 "Jesus wept!"—but His profoundest anguish was over resisted grace, abused privileges, scorned mercy. It was the Divine Craftsman mourning over His shattered handiwork—the Almighty Creator weeping over His ruined world—God, the God-man, "grieving" over the Temple of the soul, a humiliating wreck of what once was made "after His own image!"
Jesus wept out of sympathy with those who were in tears all around him, as well as from a deep sense of the misery sin had brought upon human nature.Do we grieve over our sins that way? I dare to say we don't grieve enough. It is an insult to the finishing works of Christ when we do not grieve over sin or continue to sin. When you think about He had no sin. We should look within ourselves and grieve over the sin we practice. It should make us sick. If your sin is not a grievance to you I would encourage you to start questioning your walk!
I think we should question what we do in all aspects of our life. Will this bring aultimate Glory to our Savior Jesus Christ and if you have doubts "Don't do it". Go to the scriptures and examine it. Freedom in Christ does not give you the OK to do what ever you want. I believe we should guard Ourselves. Don't forget we are His handiwork.
" How can I mix with the potsherds of the earth? Once, "I lay among the pots;" now, I am "like a dove, whose wings are covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold!" "Stranger—pilgrim—sojourner;"—"my citizenship is in heaven!" Why covet tinsel honors and glories? Why be solicitous about the smiles of that which knew not, (no, which frowned on) its Lord? "Paul calls it a mere notion, and nothing in substance."—(Thomas Brooks.)
Live above its corroding cares and anxieties; remembering the description Jesus gives of His own true people, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world!"
Cristina
Friday, October 20, 2006
CHRISTIAN LIBERTY
Christian Liberty is a subject that interests me. I know the bible speaks of it but my question is where is the line drawn? God tells us not to be of the world and yet the liberties christians practice sometimes seem worldly to me. I think of drinking, if a christian is say having only one beer but it is in a bar, what does the world think and does that not matter? I feel the world is watching us very closely and what we do, they relate that to Christ. I see christians attending a R-rated Movie, is that wrong? I see people smoking and what it does to their body or over eating, what does God say about it being the temple of the Holy Spirit. I am no legalist by any account but I wonder sometimes about these liberties.
I do this blog as a believer that has so much to learn. I have so much growing to do and I do apreciate the comments I get. I want to grow in Christ and if I say thing on my blog that are not biblical, I want to be told. I apreciate help from my brothers and sisters in Christ.
What sayth you on this subject?
Cristina
I do this blog as a believer that has so much to learn. I have so much growing to do and I do apreciate the comments I get. I want to grow in Christ and if I say thing on my blog that are not biblical, I want to be told. I apreciate help from my brothers and sisters in Christ.
What sayth you on this subject?
Cristina
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
HIS LOVE FOR HIS OWN
I love to read poetry that tells the love of others.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Robert Browning
Emily Dickinson etc.
But these poets that speak of the love they feel for others can not stand up to the love God has for His bride. His love is a love like no other. It is pure, it is an everlasting Love. He loved us from the beginning andit is everlasting
.
It is a love that He laid down His life for own, His children,His sheep, His elect! Here is an example of His love for us. In His word is the most beautifulest and pure love you will ever read.
Song of Solomon
4:7
Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.
4:8
Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.
4:9
Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.
4:10
How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!
4:11
Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
4:12
A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
4:13
Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,
4:14
Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:
4:15
A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.
4:16
Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.
:1
I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.
5:2
I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.
5:3
I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?
5:4
My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.
5:5
I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.
5:6
I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.
5:7
The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.
5:8
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.
5:9
What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?
5:10
My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
5:11
His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
5:12
His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.
5:13
His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.
5:14
His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.
5:15
His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.
5:16
His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.
6:1
Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee.
6:2
My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Robert Browning
Emily Dickinson etc.
But these poets that speak of the love they feel for others can not stand up to the love God has for His bride. His love is a love like no other. It is pure, it is an everlasting Love. He loved us from the beginning andit is everlasting
.
It is a love that He laid down His life for own, His children,His sheep, His elect! Here is an example of His love for us. In His word is the most beautifulest and pure love you will ever read.
Song of Solomon
4:7
Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.
4:8
Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.
4:9
Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.
4:10
How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!
4:11
Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
4:12
A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
4:13
Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,
4:14
Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:
4:15
A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.
4:16
Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.
:1
I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.
5:2
I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.
5:3
I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?
5:4
My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.
5:5
I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.
5:6
I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.
5:7
The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.
5:8
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.
5:9
What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?
5:10
My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
5:11
His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
5:12
His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.
5:13
His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.
5:14
His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.
5:15
His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.
5:16
His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.
6:1
Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee.
6:2
My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
ARE YOU REALLY SAVED?
A message by Paul Washer (HeartCry Missionary Society) that is a eye opener. It speaks of the many folks out there that believe they are christians and really are not..... All I can really say is WOW!!........ It is so powerful and so true of the church today....Please take the time to listen to it... It spoke to me concerning my walk and it also spoke to my husband...
This is a Shockingly Powerful & Biblical message preached to about 5,000 youth in a day when you thare appealed to through shallow and worldly means. At one point in this sermon the 5,000 Youth areclapping and yelling BUT THEN the preacher makes a comment that CHANGES THE WHOLE ATMOSPHERE TO WHERE YOU COULD HAVE HEARD A PIN DROP... As you can imagine, the preacher was never invited back.
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonID=52906154239
Cristina
This is a Shockingly Powerful & Biblical message preached to about 5,000 youth in a day when you thare appealed to through shallow and worldly means. At one point in this sermon the 5,000 Youth areclapping and yelling BUT THEN the preacher makes a comment that CHANGES THE WHOLE ATMOSPHERE TO WHERE YOU COULD HAVE HEARD A PIN DROP... As you can imagine, the preacher was never invited back.
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?sermonID=52906154239
Cristina
Sunday, October 15, 2006
HUMILITY by C.S. Spurgeon
I awoke this morning at 4:00am with a charley horse (pain in my legs) and could not get back to sleep. I came downstairs to our office and decided to search out a sermon to listen to. I first listened to A.W. Tozer on the subject of "God's Holiness" and really enjoyed it. Then, I listened to C.S. Spurgeons sermon on Humility and I felt it was so worth hearing for others. If you have time and have audio on your computer,I would encourage you to go to this site and listen to this sermon on "Humility". It is close to 50 minutes long but so worth hearing. May you be blessed as I was.
Go to this site and scroll down to Humility
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?currSection=sermonsspeaker&sermonID=10220512410
A SERMON DELIVERED ON SUNDAY MORNING,MARCH 17TH, 1861.BY THE REV. C. H. SPURGEON,AT EXETER HALL, STRAND.
“Serving the Lord with all humility of mind.” — Acts 20:19.
IT is not often that a man may safely speak about his own humility. Humble men are mostly conscious of great pride, while those who are boastful of humility have nothing but false pretense, and really lack and want it. I question whether any of us are at all judges as to our pride or humility; for verily, pride so often assumes the shape of lowliness when it hath its own end to serve, and lowliness on the other hand is so perfectly compatible with a heavenly dignity of decision, that it is not easy at all times to discover which is the counterfeit and which is the precious and genuine coin. You will remember that in the case in our text, Paul speaks by inspiration. If it were not for this fact, I would not have believed even Paul himself when he spoke of his own humility. So distrustful do I feel of our judgment upon this point, that if he had not spoken under the infallible witness and guidance of the Holy Spirit, I should have said that the text was not true, and that when a man should say he served God with humbleness of mind, speaking merely from his own judgment, there was clear proof before you that he was a proud man. But Paul speaketh not to his own commendation, but with the sole motive of clearing his hands of the blood of all men.
Cristina
Go to this site and scroll down to Humility
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?currSection=sermonsspeaker&sermonID=10220512410
A SERMON DELIVERED ON SUNDAY MORNING,MARCH 17TH, 1861.BY THE REV. C. H. SPURGEON,AT EXETER HALL, STRAND.
“Serving the Lord with all humility of mind.” — Acts 20:19.
IT is not often that a man may safely speak about his own humility. Humble men are mostly conscious of great pride, while those who are boastful of humility have nothing but false pretense, and really lack and want it. I question whether any of us are at all judges as to our pride or humility; for verily, pride so often assumes the shape of lowliness when it hath its own end to serve, and lowliness on the other hand is so perfectly compatible with a heavenly dignity of decision, that it is not easy at all times to discover which is the counterfeit and which is the precious and genuine coin. You will remember that in the case in our text, Paul speaks by inspiration. If it were not for this fact, I would not have believed even Paul himself when he spoke of his own humility. So distrustful do I feel of our judgment upon this point, that if he had not spoken under the infallible witness and guidance of the Holy Spirit, I should have said that the text was not true, and that when a man should say he served God with humbleness of mind, speaking merely from his own judgment, there was clear proof before you that he was a proud man. But Paul speaketh not to his own commendation, but with the sole motive of clearing his hands of the blood of all men.
Cristina
Friday, October 13, 2006
HE WILL NEVER FORSAKE US
HE will never, ever forsake us...I read this today by Octavius Winslow and it touched me. This is his discription of how our Lord will never, ever leave us or forsake us. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
"For he is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us." Ephes. 2:14 BEHIND this wall Jesus did once stand, and although thus partially obscured, yet to those who had faith to see Him, dwelling though they were in the twilight of the Gospel, He manifested Himself as the true Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of His people. "Abraham rejoiced to see my day," says Jesus, "and he saw it, and was glad." But this wall no longer stands. The shadows are fled, the darkness is dispersed, and the true light now shines. Beware of those teachers who would rebuild this wall; and who by their superstitious practices, and legal representations of the Gospel, do in effect rebuild it. Remember that "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes." It is behind "our wall" that Jesus stands—the wall which we, the new covenant saints, erect. Many are the separating influences between Christ and His people; many are the walls which we, alas! allow to intervene, behind which we cause Him to stand. What are the infidelity, I had almost said atheism, the carnality, the coldness, the many sins of our hearts, but so many obstructions to Christ's full and frequent manifestations of Himself to our souls? But were we to specify one obstruction in particular, we would mention unbelief as the great separating wall between Christ and His people. This was the wall which obscured from the view of Thomas his risen Lord. And while the little Church was jubilant in the new life and joy with which their living Savior inspired them, he alone lingered in doubt and sadness, amid the shadows of the tomb. "Except I thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe." Nothing more effectually separates us from, or rather obscures our view of, Christ than the sin of unbelief. Not fully crediting His word—not simply and implicitly relying upon His work—not trusting His faithfulness and love—not receiving Him wholly and following Him fully—only believing and receiving half that He says and commands—not fixing the eye upon Jesus as risen and alive, as ascended and enthroned, leaving all fullness, all power, all love. Oh this unbelief is a dead, towering wall between our Beloved and our souls! And yet does He stand behind it? Does it not compel Him to depart and leave us forever? Ah no! He is there! Oh wondrous grace, matchless love, infinite patience! Wearied with forbearing, and yet there! Doubted, distrusted, grieved, and yet standing there—His locks wet with the dew of the night—waiting to be gracious, longing to manifest Himself. Nothing has prevailed to compel Him to withdraw. When our coldness might have prevailed, when our fleshliness might have prevailed, when our neglect, ingratitude, and backslidings might have prevailed, never has He entirely and forever withdrawn. His post is to watch with a sleepless eye of love the purchase of His dying agonies, and to guard His "vineyard of red wine night and day, lest any hurt it." Who can adequately picture the solicitude, the tenderness, the jealousy, with which the Son of God keeps His especial treasure? And whatever would force Him to retire—whether it be the coldness that congeals, or the fierce flame that would consume—yet such is His deathless love for His people, "He withdraws not His eyes front the righteous" for one moment. There stands the "Friend that sticks closer than a brother," waiting to beam upon them a glance of His love-enkindled eye, and to manifest Himself to them as He does not unto the world, even from behind our wall.
Amen Octavius Winslow
Just as the mountains surround and protect Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds and protects His people, both now and forever. Psalm 125:2
Cristina
Friday, September 29, 2006
ARMOR OF GOD
What does the bible tell us about the armor of God?
Ephesians 6:10-20
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
When you look at Verse 10, it tells us to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. We know how powerful our Savior is and we can rest in that.
Verse 11 tells us to cloth ourselves in the whole armor of God so that we can stand against these principalities!
When you look at Verse 12, it clearly tells me that we are in a spiritual battle with the devil. The Lord has equipped us to fight the battle against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. He has given us the aromor of God. He has given us the full armor of God to battle against these forces and to defeat them in our daily walk here in the foreign world.
Verse 13 tells us that we need the full armor on to protect ourselves against these evils.
Verse 14 tells us to stand therefore, having your loins grit about with truth, and having the breastplate of righteouness; Jesus said to His enemies "Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." Saints are to Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thself, and them that hear thee (Timothy 4;16) Verse 14 also speaks of putting on the breast plate of righteouness. A breastplate shields a Warrior from death, it protects the critical organs. All a saint has to do is cry out to God and He is there. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry" Psalm 34:15. The righteous cry, and the Lord hearth, and delivereth them out of their troubles. Is that amazing we have the Lord as our Breastplate shield, He promise us to shield us and protect us, He is always a cry away. Psalm 5:12 5:12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as [with] a shield. Praise God!
Verse 15 speaks about how our feet shod with preparation of the gospel in peace. I think what God is telling us to walk with care, satan will do everything to put obstacles in our way and we need to walk carefully bringing the gospel of grace to a dying world.
Verse 16 tells us the shield of faith is that satan can not attack us if we keep in the faith. Trust the Lord in all things.
Verse 17 tells us to keep our minds protected and focused on why we are here. The spirit of sword speaks of the word of God. It is a great spiritual weapon. You can not fight truth! The word of God is all powerful, all Holy!
Verse 18 speaks of Praying always with all the supplication in the Spirit, which is the word of God. Prayer is such a powerful part of the armor, prayer is an intimate time between the Lord and His Saints. He hears are needs, our pain, our joy. Pray at all times in the Spirit. This does not mean every second. But it does mean in all things. True prayer is asking God what He wants.
Verse 19 Pauls epistles tells us that prayer like most essentials are to help bring spiritual victory and maturity. Verse 19 says Whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me . Here Pauls utter dependance is in Christ, in the sovereign God who called Him as He called all of us.
Verse 20 tells us to be bold and proclain the Gospel . I think prayer is one of the strongest tools because we are putting our faith in God in the battle. We are relying on the word of God when it says the battle has been won.
Truly, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us; for we can give thanks before the fight is done. Yes, even in the thickest of the battle we can look up to Christ, and cry—Thanks to God! The moment a soul groaning under corruption rests the eye on the Lord Jesus, that moment his groans are changed into songs of praise. In Christ you discover a fountain to wash away the guilt of all your sins. In Christ you discover grace sufficient for you—grace to hold you up to the end—and a sure promise that sin shall soon be rooted out altogether. "Fear not, I have redeemed thee. I have called thee by My name; thou are Mine." Ah, this turns our groans into songs of praise. How often a Psalm begins with groans, and ends with praises! This is the daily experience of all the Lord's people. Is it yours? Try yourselves by this. If you know not the believer's song of praise, you will never cast your crowns with them at the feet of the Lamb. Dear believers, be content to glory in your infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon you.
Cristina
Sunday, September 24, 2006
IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL
The more and more I am realizing how important our walk is on this earth, until our Lord calls us home. How important it is how we live our lives before a dying world, a world that should not be somewhere we call "home". I want so much to be the reflection of love and humility Jesus was. Through good times, through rough times I want to be thankful for what He did for me. What ever I do I want it to bring glory to Him and Him alone and that is not easy to do at times living in the flesh still. I sometimes wonder if when I do good, is it to bring Glory to God or to myself. God surely knows!Prov. 16:2 All the ways of a man [are] clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
Being content is sometimes hard, but possible with Christ.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!"
"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever!"
In our walk what we do, reflects on Christ. The world is watching every step we make forward or backward..mostly backward. The world is watching us, waiting on us to sin and then they point to who we are following, Jesus. What shall we do then, take up our cross and follow in His footsteps. March on and follow His path instead of going off on our own. We owe Him that much.
Let us all be able to sing those wonderful words "It is well with my Soul" and mean it!
I attended a concert this weekend and one of the Hymn that was sung was "It is Well With My Soul". On our way home I kept thinking about the words It is well with my soul. I knew that not all is well with my soul and that I need to get closer to the Lord and His word. This morning as I was typing out this blog, I came across a site that shared a bit about the man that wrote this God honoring song. His name was Horatio G. Spafford. He was born in 1873. The words to this hymn was written after two major traumas in Spafford's life. The first was the Great Chicago Fire of October 1871, which ruined him financially. Shortly after, while crossing the Atlantic, all four of Spafford's daughters died in a collision with another ship. Spafford's wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram: "SAVED ALONE." Several weeks later, as Spafford's own ship passed near the spot where his daughters died, he was inspired to write these words the music was by Philip P. Bliss. Bliss originally named the tune "Ville de Havre" after the ship on which Spafford's four girls perished, the SS Ville de Havre. Ironically, Bliss himself died in a tragic train wreck shortly after writing this music.
Now here was a dear man that lost so much, yet after all that he was inspired to write these words of contentment. Those word can only come from God.
When peace, like a river,
attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot,
Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet,
though trials should come,
Let this blessed assurance control,
That Christ has regarded
my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood
for my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Lord I want to be able to sing "It Is Well With My Soul" and mean it from the bottom of my heart.
I pray this for all my dear brothers and sisters.
Cristina
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
WHAT ABOUT OUTRAGE WHEN JESUS SCORNED?
When I read things in the paper or hear something on the News that upsets me, I will write to the editor of our local New's Paper. Sometimes they print my letters, other times they don't.
The past week I have been listening to the News and reading the paper concerning Pope Benedict XVI's comments made about the Prophet Muammad and the reaction of the Muslim faith. First, it amazes me how angry Muslims get, when they keep trying to convince the world that they are a faith of Peace, now I have yet to see anything they do that tells me it is a faith of Peace? They burn dummys that look like the Pope or President Bush.
I watch the news and see women and children cheering on these cruel acts. Just this past week a nun was murdered because of what the Pope had quoted,even after an apology was given.
As I have listened and watched all this, I decided to write a letter to our Local News Paper and here it is....
What about outrage when Jesus scorned?
I am writing about how the Muslim faith reacted when Pope Benedict XVI cited the words of a Byzantine emperor who characterized some of the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, Islam's founder, as "evil and inhuman." They took to the streets in such anger.
Why is it when Jesus Christ's name is lambasted in the most cruel way, the Muslim faith does not react at all? Is Jesus not a prophet to them also?
I wonder how they'll answer this?
Cristina
The past week I have been listening to the News and reading the paper concerning Pope Benedict XVI's comments made about the Prophet Muammad and the reaction of the Muslim faith. First, it amazes me how angry Muslims get, when they keep trying to convince the world that they are a faith of Peace, now I have yet to see anything they do that tells me it is a faith of Peace? They burn dummys that look like the Pope or President Bush.
I watch the news and see women and children cheering on these cruel acts. Just this past week a nun was murdered because of what the Pope had quoted,even after an apology was given.
As I have listened and watched all this, I decided to write a letter to our Local News Paper and here it is....
What about outrage when Jesus scorned?
I am writing about how the Muslim faith reacted when Pope Benedict XVI cited the words of a Byzantine emperor who characterized some of the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, Islam's founder, as "evil and inhuman." They took to the streets in such anger.
Why is it when Jesus Christ's name is lambasted in the most cruel way, the Muslim faith does not react at all? Is Jesus not a prophet to them also?
I wonder how they'll answer this?
Cristina
Monday, September 18, 2006
SERVANT?
God hath work to do in this world; and to desert it because of its difficulties and entanglements, is to cast off His authority. It is not enough that we be just, that we be righteous, and walk with God in holiness; but we must also serve our generation, as David did before he fell asleep. God hath a work to do; and not to help Him is to oppose Him. - JOHN OWEN
A few years ago my husband had the privilege to preach on the subject of "Humility". He shared a story of a Chinese man that was put in jail because of his faith in Christ. He was put in the hole to work. Every day he would have to shovel the excrements all day long. He did this daily for all the time he spent in prison without complaint. A few years after he was released from this hell hole, he ran into one the guards from the prison. The guard asked him in bewilderment "How is it you spent all that time in that slop and come out of there everyday with a content look on your face and never complained?" The man answered, " Every morning when the machines were turned on, it would be the time I would be able to recite verses from the Bible out loud and sing the hymns I had learned and fellowship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." "It was those times while I was in prision I cherished the most!"
What a servant of Christ! He worked in such a lowely job and found joy in it! Jesus was a fine example of Servant hood.
(John 13:3-5 NIV) 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that He had come from God; and that He was returning to God. 4 so He got up from the meal and, and took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.
He got down on His knees to wash the disciple's feet, when in fact they should have been on their knees with thanksgiving. Jesus is our greatest example of servanthood, the One that should have been served, yet was the servant.
Are we willing to wash each others feet? Are we willing to be in Jail and praise the Lord at the same time?
We are to serve God because we want to, not because we have to, not half-heartly but whole heartly. How far are we willing to go, to serve Christ. When we look at Paul and how He suffered in the name of Christ and the many Christian martyrs who have laid down their lives for Christ.
Christians brothers and sisters we have a cross to carry through our lives. Jesus promised us that our burdens will be light. We all will suffer some sort of humility when we stand up for our faith, but we will have the Holy Spirit there assuring us we are doing right. I think as the years go by, it will get harder and harder to be a servant for Christ. As Satan realizes the battle is lost, he will make it tougher for those that are true servants of Christ. The cost will not make a difference compared to the prize because we know the price is paid in full! When you look at the words "It is finished", we already know it is "Paid in Full"
Eph. 6:10 "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints...."
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
forward into battle see his banners go!
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
God bless all the servants of God!
Cristina
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
HAVE YOU THANKED HIM TODAY?
All He endured for the Elect
John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends" (NASB). The KJV says, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
It brings me to tears reading what He suffered so that we could be forgiven......
A cross is placed on the ground. The one being crucified is thrown backwards with his shoulders against the wood. His wrists are felt for depressions at the front of the wrists. A heavy square wrought-iron nail is driven through the wrist and deep into the wood. It is repeated on the other wirst, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow flexibility and movement. The patibulum is then lifted in place at the top of the stipes and the titulus reading Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews is nailed in place.The left foot is pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees moderately flexed. The victim is now crucified. As Heslowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating, fiery pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain - the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on themedian nerves. As He pushes Himself upward to avoid this wrenching torment, He places His full weight on the nail through His feet. Again there is the searing agony of the the tearing through the nerves between the metatarsal bones of the feet.At this point, another phenomenon occurs. As the arms fatigue, greatwaves of cramps sweep over the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless,throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push Himselfupward. Hanging by His arms, the pectoral muscles are paralyzed and theintercostal muscles are unable to act. Air can be drawn into the lungs,but cannot be exhaled. Jesus fights to raise Himself in order to get evenone short breath. Finally carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and inthe blood stream and the cramps partially subside. Spasmodically, He isable to push Himself upward to exhale and bring in the life-giving oxygen.
It was undoubtedly during these periods that He uttered the seven shortsentences which are recorded:The first, looking down at the Roman soldiers throwing dice for Hisseamless garment, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.
The second, to the penitent thief, Today thou shalt be with me inParadise.The fourth cry is from the beginning of the 22nd Psalm, My God, my God,why hast thou forsaken me?Hours of this limitless pain, cycles of twisting joint- rending cramps,intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from Hislacerated back as He moves up and down against the rough timber. Thenanother agony begins. A deep crushing pain deep in the chest as thepericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart.Let us remember again the 22nd Psalm (the 14th verse), I am poured outlike water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax, it ismelted in the midst of my bowels. It is now almost over - the loss oftissue fluids has reached a critical level - the compressed heart isstruggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissue - thetortured lungs are making a frantic effort to draw in small gulps of air.The markedly dehydrated tissues send their flood of stimuli to the brain.Jesus gasps His fifth cry, I thirst.Lut us remember another verse from the prophetic 22nd Psalm: My strengthis dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thouhas brought me into the dust of death.A sponge soaked in Posca, the cheap, sour wine which is the staple drinkof the Roman legionnaires, is lifted to His lips. He apparently does nottake any of the liquid. The body of Jesus is now in extremis and He canfeel the chill of death creeping through His tissues. This realizationbrings out His sixth words - possibly little more than a tortured whisper.It is finished.His mission of atonement has been completed. Finally He can allow hisbody to die.With one last surge of strength, he once again presses His torn feetagainst the nail, straightens His legs, takes a deeper breath, and uttersHis seventh and last cry, Father into thy hands I commit my spirit.
Cristina
Sunday, September 10, 2006
CARNAL MIND AND A NEW MIND
I read this piece by a man named Wil Pound and I wanted to share it with others. It clearly shows the depravity of man.
George Whitfield, the eighteenth century evangelist, was correct when he said, “If the unregenerate man could enter heaven, he would be so unhappy in heaven, that he would ask God to let him run down to hell for shelter.”
How could the enemies of God sit down at the banquet of the Lamb of God?
Universalism wants us to bury our heads in the sand.
The carnal mind is enmity against God all the time. So why would such a person ever want to be in God’s holy presence? It is against everything God is for in His universe. It sets the world system and all it teaches in opposition to the LORD God.
The carnal mind is a “depraved spirit that is set on those things which are not proper” (Romans 1:28). How would you know one if you saw it? Romans 1:29-32 says, “Being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them."
It is a dreadful picture of human depravity. The apostle then declared, "Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things" (Romans 2:1-2).
There is a day coming when “God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus” (v. 16). It is not because we do not deserve it. The Bible testifies that we are all guilty. “But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each person according to his deeds” (Romans 2:5-6).
After a detailed presentation of our sins against us in Romans chapter three, the apostle Paul concludes, "But glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God" (Romans 2:10-11) "You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?" (Romans 2:23).
How many of us have not wished in the depths of our hearts, “Would to God these sins were not forbidden!” Spurgeon asked, “Who among us has not been so foolish as to desire that there were no God?”
But neither solution makes the problem go away. We still stand guilty before God. “Every carnal mind in the world is at enmity against God.”
The carnal mind declares that by our very nature we are the child of evil. What part of man was affected by the fall? The entire man, every part of him – every power, every passion is at enmity with God. You may say, “Oh, Wil, I am not really that bad.” God says, “The heart is deceitful above all things.” It is desperately wicked.
Why would any carnal person want to be in the holy presence of a righteous God? It would mean to be guilty and condemned twenty-four hours a day. We would never be able to escape His holy, hot wrath. Our sense of guilt would always be a state of awareness.
The only solution to the desperate plight of man is to have a new mind and a new heart. If we have not experienced a change of heart, our carnal mind will always be at enmity against God.
Our thoughts, our decisions, our behaviors all testify that we deserve God’s holy wrath. Every person born into this world deserves God’s wrath and damnation.
Because we are guilty sinners, God must provide the solution. Since the carnal mind is at enmity with God, salvation cannot be by any merit on our part. It must be by God’s grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. If we are at enmity with God, what merit can we have? How can we deserve anything from the person we hate? Therefore, God must step in and rescue us by His grace.
The Spirit of God must lay His hand on you and renew your heart or there is no chance of your entering into heaven.
Jesus Christ can make peace through His blood. If the Spirit of God has convinced you of your sin as you read this, you can become a new creature, a new person, with a new heart if you will ask Jesus Christ to be your Savior.
By our physical birth we are at enmity with God, but by the new birth we are made His friend. Our nature must be changed if we are to enter into God’s holy presence. Here is the most precious promise for every sinner to believe. "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life" (John 3:14-15).
Selah!
Message by Wil Pound
George Whitfield, the eighteenth century evangelist, was correct when he said, “If the unregenerate man could enter heaven, he would be so unhappy in heaven, that he would ask God to let him run down to hell for shelter.”
How could the enemies of God sit down at the banquet of the Lamb of God?
Universalism wants us to bury our heads in the sand.
The carnal mind is enmity against God all the time. So why would such a person ever want to be in God’s holy presence? It is against everything God is for in His universe. It sets the world system and all it teaches in opposition to the LORD God.
The carnal mind is a “depraved spirit that is set on those things which are not proper” (Romans 1:28). How would you know one if you saw it? Romans 1:29-32 says, “Being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them."
It is a dreadful picture of human depravity. The apostle then declared, "Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things" (Romans 2:1-2).
There is a day coming when “God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus” (v. 16). It is not because we do not deserve it. The Bible testifies that we are all guilty. “But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each person according to his deeds” (Romans 2:5-6).
After a detailed presentation of our sins against us in Romans chapter three, the apostle Paul concludes, "But glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God" (Romans 2:10-11) "You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?" (Romans 2:23).
How many of us have not wished in the depths of our hearts, “Would to God these sins were not forbidden!” Spurgeon asked, “Who among us has not been so foolish as to desire that there were no God?”
But neither solution makes the problem go away. We still stand guilty before God. “Every carnal mind in the world is at enmity against God.”
The carnal mind declares that by our very nature we are the child of evil. What part of man was affected by the fall? The entire man, every part of him – every power, every passion is at enmity with God. You may say, “Oh, Wil, I am not really that bad.” God says, “The heart is deceitful above all things.” It is desperately wicked.
Why would any carnal person want to be in the holy presence of a righteous God? It would mean to be guilty and condemned twenty-four hours a day. We would never be able to escape His holy, hot wrath. Our sense of guilt would always be a state of awareness.
The only solution to the desperate plight of man is to have a new mind and a new heart. If we have not experienced a change of heart, our carnal mind will always be at enmity against God.
Our thoughts, our decisions, our behaviors all testify that we deserve God’s holy wrath. Every person born into this world deserves God’s wrath and damnation.
Because we are guilty sinners, God must provide the solution. Since the carnal mind is at enmity with God, salvation cannot be by any merit on our part. It must be by God’s grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. If we are at enmity with God, what merit can we have? How can we deserve anything from the person we hate? Therefore, God must step in and rescue us by His grace.
The Spirit of God must lay His hand on you and renew your heart or there is no chance of your entering into heaven.
Jesus Christ can make peace through His blood. If the Spirit of God has convinced you of your sin as you read this, you can become a new creature, a new person, with a new heart if you will ask Jesus Christ to be your Savior.
By our physical birth we are at enmity with God, but by the new birth we are made His friend. Our nature must be changed if we are to enter into God’s holy presence. Here is the most precious promise for every sinner to believe. "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life" (John 3:14-15).
Selah!
Message by Wil Pound
Monday, September 04, 2006
AT LEAST HE TRIED!
I was watching Fox News yesterday afternoon, and David Asman for FOX News happened to be interviewing Rick Warren. Mr. Warren is now promoting his new project of changing the world! He spoke on the AIDS Epidemic and how churches should reach out more to those fighting this disease. It was like no churches were reaching out now or ever and we needed him to tell the churches to do so. The more and more I hear about Mr. Warren, I wonder who he does all this for "The Glory Of God"....or the glory of himself?
I hear too many of his statements starting and ending with "I" or Saddleback. Fox News described him like this "He's an evangelical superstar. His runaway best seller has transformed lives" He is a Superstar? He is transforming lives? Isn't that Gods job? I guess what made me blog on Mr. Warren this morning was a few of his last words. When I die, I just want 4 small words put on my tombstone "At Least He Tried". Now where is the Glory of God in those 4 small words?
Here is a good site to go to concerning Rick Warren and "The Purpose Drive Movement..
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/
It is an eye opener. We as christians need to be more discerning and listen more closely to what is being preached in the name of Our Risen Savior.
To God Be the Glory,
Cristina
Sunday, September 03, 2006
BLENDING ERROR WITH TRUTH
Question: What do you think about this quote?
"... 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.
As I read it, it made me think about how Churches today are watering down the Gospel to reach the lost. They are taking out what is important, so they do not offend. When they do this, are they really leading people down the right path? To me it is just the same as putting a small drop of poison into a glass a milk, you poison it. When you add or take away from God's word, what are you doing? You are poisoning it, right? Are we ready to compomise the truth of God's Word and at the sake of what?
If you can, I would appreciate your thoughts on this?
Cristina
Friday, September 01, 2006
FELLOWSHIP
One hundred worshipers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become "unity" conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.... A. W. Tozer (1897-1963), The Pursuit of God
Just this past week, on Wednesday Night my husband Jim and I got together with a group of other believers and had true fellowship with one another. My husband joins a group of men once a month for breakfast, and they also get together every few weeks for coffee. They call themselves "The Ole Geezers"
On Wednesday Night the men invited their wives to a Barbecue at Dave and Roma-lynn's home. This dear couple are two of the kindest people Jim and I have ever met. They complement one another. They give so much of their love and time and themselves, they are true servants. They run a Senior's Home, and you know the residents just love them so much.
Any way back to the barbecue, it was such a wonderful time of friendship, love and laughter. We all brought our own meat and then either a salad or a desert. We all filled up on the delicious meal and then sat back for some music and some sharing. I have to say, Baptists know how to eat LOL....and cook.
David loves music, I believe his whole family is musical. I think they have at least 5 pianos throughout their home. David is a very talented Pianist and has a lovely voice! The first part of the music was another couple Cliff and Dawn and David. Cliff on the violin, Dawn on the Organ and David on the Piano and the rest of us had either playing Bells, Tamborine and even Castanets. We sang many old time hymns which were nice to hear. A lot of churches don't play the old time hymns as much and I find them much more biblical then the songs today. We had genuine fun together. Dawn, the dear lady playing the Organ has had health problems in the past year and yet here she was at the front playing for us and her husband Cliff right beside her playing the violin so wonderfully.
After the music was over, My husband shared a few words on the subject of "Fellowship" It was a good message on how fellowship is just not mere friendship it is a relationship based on Unity and Like-mindedness. It is based on a relationship of not just rejoicing together but also mourning together. It is based on acountability, we are accountable to one another. It is a communion that is uncommon to the lost. Who else but Saints can rejoice in life and in death. We can fellowship in Christ alone and be content.
John 15:12-19 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
True friendship that leads to true fellowship, is when trials come into ours lives, a friend will walk with you though it. A true friend, will be someone that will look you in the eye and tell you did wrong. A true friend will be with you through good times and bad times.
Proverbs 17:17 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity
(Rom 12:15 NRSV) Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Prov 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
So as I look back at last Wednesday, and think about David and Roma-lynn, Cliff and Dawn, Ron and Sue, Jack and Velma, Norm and Amelia, Dario and Dolcie, David and Pat, John and Jim I thank the Lord for such wonderful Brothers and Sisters in the Lord. I thank the Lord that my husband has these men that love the Lord with all their hearts, for true fellowship, for accountability and for love for one another. God wants this for us all, He wants the Saints to fellowship and grow together. He wants the world to see the love we have for one another. Our fellowship and Unity should only be based on Christ and Christ alone.
PS We missed Al and Barb, John and Lura and Sarto as they could not attend
Cristina
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