To the Author and Finisher of my faith....Jesus Christ

Willing.....?

2007-09-29T04:16:00.000-02:00

Psalm 51:10-13
Amplified Bible (AMP)

Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.
11Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.
12Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13Then will I teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted and return to You.

Some time back as I was reading these verses from the Psalm God showed me the way He wanted me to be effective in sharing Jesus Christ with all I come across.

10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.
Verse 10 first talks about the condition of my heart my spirit and talks about a complete renewal.
Renew means
To make new or as if new again; restore:
To take up again; resume: renew an old friendship;
To repeat so as to reaffirm: renew a promise.
To regain or restore the physical or mental vigor of; revive:
To arrange for the extension of: renew a contract;
To replenish:
To bring into being again; re-establish.
To become new again.
To start over.

Verse 11-12 talks about being in his presence covered by the Holy Spirit knowing more about Him seeking his face continuously and the joy of our salvation becoming more real than anything else in our life being the centre point in our life only by being willing to His calling being sensitive to His voice.
Notice that this is a prayer and is all dependant upon God for Him not to take His presence away.This has to be a willing,repentant and submitting cry.

Verse 13
13Then will I teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted and return to You
Then and only when your life is totally turned to God can we lead others to Christ.
Remember the bible says they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony.
We can do nothing apart from Jesus Christ.We can only bear fruit when we are one with Jesus Christ.
John 15:4-5 (AMP)
4 Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.
5 I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.

Sometimes the only bible that a person might ever read could just happen to be your life and your relationship with God.

Psalm 139:23-24 (Amplified Bible)
Amplified Bible (AMP)
23Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
24And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Jesus take my wheel

2007-09-29T03:22:00.000-02:00

On a recent trip to be with some friends and to make some new friends,on our way back as we were driving,our vehicle's brakes failed completely and at that time we were coming downhill on a ghat.I was driving and I was trying to slow down but I couldn't,I did not realize the gravity of the situation even though gravity was against us.It was only when we came to flat ground on the highway I realized that"the brakes had failed!"
I remembered the prayer that our Pastor had prayed before we had embarked on our journey and had asked God to guide us as we drive and to take over the steering wheel.He did take the wheel;Jesus did take the wheel.
Earlier during that week as we were talking with a family at whose place we had been staying we were talking about how God puts people at places to help us.It is true, as the place where we stopped finally after the brakes went off people we didn't know just came and started helping us and repairing the vehicle and in no time we were back on the road going home.
Psalm 34:7
"The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe] and each of them He delivers" (AMP)
To the God of Abraham,Issac and Joseph the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be the Glory forever and ever.

Gods purpose

2007-05-06T04:34:00.000-02:00

Romans 8:28 NIV
And we know that in all things God works for those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose.

Ever wonder why something that you didnt want to happen did happen or something that you wanted to happen to accomplish your will did not work out as you planned.
I always do keep wondering that;almost everyday at work, at home, with family, with friends. Are we so sure that what we want or what we need to be done will work out for our good, well this is addressed to those who trust in Christ our Lord.
Its so easy to start raving and ranting and start complaining when things dont go according to our purpose,thats what I sometimes do.
Its so easy to lose yourself in complains...until you look at the Word of God.
Romans 8:28 puts it a way that shows me the situation from God's perspective.
No matter what we go through good or bad, in all things,it will work out for my good because I love God and have been called according to his purpose.
So from God perspective it will work out for my good.There are some conditions though that I must love God and be called according to his purpose.

Psalm 119:18
Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.

Psalm 119:27
Let me understand the teachings of your precepts ;
then I will meditate on your wonders.

Create in me a steadfast heart O God.

Death where is thy sting?

2006-05-11T05:52:00.000-02:00

A few weeks back I lost someone in my life who has been very precious to me and my family. He was like my Dad, not my Dad but more than my dad. He was there when I lost my father when I was 9 and he raised us up and sacrificed a lot for us.

Our relationship was not the very best but we knew we loved each other.

Almost 2 years ago he came to the church with me and made the most important decision in his life; he called on the name of Jesus Christ and called him in his heart. I can never forget that day as I was there with him right by his side praying with him.

I was not there when he died, infact I was told about him almost a week after he passed away. A few days prior to that I was thinking about my Uncle Phil, he never did have the very best in life but I had the assurance that he will in the life to come because of his decision. I never knew that it had already come to pass.

Now I know for sure what Paul meant when he said;

"Death is swallowed up in victory. 
O’ death where is thy sting?
O’ grave where is thy victory?"1 Corinthians 15:54-55

the words of Jesus Christ sums up what I believe;

”I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live”

John 11:25

When from the dead God raised His Son
And called Him to sky
He gave our souls a living hope
That they should never die! – Watts

This one is for you Phil Uncle.

For all you have done.

2006-02-18T04:34:00.000-02:00

Rueben Morgan

My Saviour, redeemer, Lifted me from the miry clay. Almighty forever, I will never be the same again; ’Cause you came near from the everlasting. To the world we live, the Father’s only Son. You lived and You died You rose again on high. You opened the way for the world to live again. Hallelujah!! For all you have done.

Jesus Christ…

And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Romans 1:4 KJV

For I passed on to you first of all what I also had received, that Christ
(the Messiah, the Anointed One)died for our sins in accordance with(what)the scriptures[foretold],
That He was buried, that He arose on the third day as the scriptures foretold,

1 Corinthians:3-4 Amplified Bible

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:16-17

Joy of the Lord!!

2006-02-05T04:42:00.000-02:00

Habakkuk 3:17-18.
With deep feeling, he said, "Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls—yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."

So what are we basing our joy upon today; the circumstances that surrounds us the things that we have for ourselves, our possessions.
Why are we being grieved today; is it because of the state that we are in and with all that is happening around us in this world.

Nehemiah 8:10
……Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

My sheep I know, they are My own,
I leave them not in trials alone;
I will be with them to the end—
Their hope, their joy, their dearest Friend. —Anon.

Pleasures of earth, so seemingly sweet,
Fail at the last my longings to meet:
Only in Thee my bliss is complete;
Only, blest Lord, in Thee. —Anon.

Happiness depends on happenings; joy depends on Jesus!

Do be not Afraid only believe!!!

2006-01-31T01:42:00.000-02:00

21 Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea. 22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” 24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.
25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”
31 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”
32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
35 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”
36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” 37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. 39 When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”
40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. 43 But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat

Mark 5: 21- 43 NKJV

Imagine Jairus’ situation, daughter dying and the only person whohe believes can heal her gets delayed because a woman who has been sick and been suffering for 12 years finds her healing by just touching the clothes of Jesus Christ.
Why does she have to do this now ? Lets go, lets go my daughter is dying!!!! We don’t have time for this. May have been some of the thoughts of Jairus as he was hurrying to reach home to his sick daughter.
Do not be afraid; only believe that is what Jesus Christ said even when it was too late and Jairus’ daughter was already dead, but she lived again!!
Believe is what the sick woman did, that if she touched Jesus’ clothes she would be healed.and she was!!
Is any among you sick, do not be cast down or be afraid but only believe.

But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5-6 NKJV

..who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed
1 Peter 2:24 NKJV

Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again not only for our sins but also by His wounds we are healed, “are” healed.
So are you willing to believe on the One who did this?
Are you willing today ,now to put your trust in Him who has given it all for us.
For it is not a matter of we cannot rather than a matter of we will not.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

Do not be afraid; only believe!!!

Refiners Fire

2005-12-05T02:31:00.000-02:00

Refiner’s fire

They afflicted his feet with fetters,
He himself was laid with irons;
Until the time that his word came to pass,
The word of the Lord tested him
(Psalm 105:18-19 NASB)

Remember Young Joseph and his dreams from God. Its must have been very difficult for him to actually think that it would come to pass after surviving his brothers attempt to kill him and then being sold off as a slave. Furthermore being put to prison after his employer’s wife brought slanderous charges against him. I wonder how he could even think that his dreams would come true. The dream that showed him that he would rise to a place that even his family would bow to him.
The word of the Lord tested him. The Hebrew word used here speaks of refining metals to remove impurities, God was purging him.
This is how Gods word refines all of us through opposition, through discouragement. This purging gets rid of all our self-dependence so that our faith remains solely on God.
Breakthroughs are not instantaneous, instead they place us in the refiners fire, yet what Lords purpose is not to weaken us but to purify and abundantly bless us in the end.
See for yourself what happened with Joseph, what his brothers meant for evil God used it for his glory.

For you, O God, tested us;
You refined us like silver.
You brought us into prison
And laid burdens on our backs.
You let men ride over our heads;
We went through fire and water,
But you brought us to a place of abundance
(Psalm 66:10-12)

So hold on to what God has said to you even though ten thousand voices tells you its useless, things may be difficult for the moment.
In just a while God will bring you into “ a place of abundance”

My Everything

2005-10-14T03:25:00.000-02:00

I will thank you, Lord, with all my heart;I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
I will be filled with joy because of you.
I will sing praises to your name, O most High. – Psalm 9:1- 2

I love you, Lord; you are my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my saviour;
My God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my sheild, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold.
I will call on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
For he saves me from my enemies. –Psalm 18:1- 3

Take all of me….
You broke the night like the sun
And healed my heart with Your great love
Any trouble I couldn't bear
You lifted me upon Your shoulders
Love that's stronger Love that covers sin
And takes the weight of the world
I love You
All of my hope is in You
Jesus Christ take my life
Take all of me
You stand on mountain tops with me
With You i walk through the valleys
You gave Your only Son for me
Your grace is all I rely on
I love You so, and I give up my heart to say I need You so, my everything.

Marty Sampson.

With all I am

2005-10-12T02:50:00.000-02:00

With all I am.
Written by Reuben Morgan, Hillsongs Church, Australia.

Into your hand I commit again
With all I am for you Lord
You hold my world In the palm of your hand
And I am yours forever.

Jesus I believe in you
Jesus I belong to you
You’re the reason that I live
The reason that I sing
With all I am

I’ll walk with you
Wherever you go
Through tears and joy I will trust in you
I’ll live in all your ways
And your promises forever

I will worship
I will worship you x ∞

I will Lord Jesus with all I am.

Office Politics

2005-10-10T05:06:00.000-02:00

Office Politics

Working for whom?
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for what ever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
Ephesians 6:7
Have you ever been ill-treated at work or subject to racism? It can be discouraging when we do not get the credit or the raise that we deserve. These things happen all the time. Injustice is a tough hurdle and I always wanted to fight either by quitting or getting back at them.
But is that what we are supposed to do a Christians? We are supposed to serve, work carry out our duties wholeheartedly as if working for Jesus Christ, the rewards and recognitions will come in due time. Our real job is pleasing the Lord and working for Him. Our rewards are waiting in heaven but we can reap the benefits now, too. I report to Jesus!

Ruthless Boss
Submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
1 Peter 2:18
Bosses!!! They come in all types but usually we end up with the worst cases.
Submit!!! That sounds like humbling. That’s not one of my favourites. That is exactly what Peter says “submit”. Its easy to submit to a good boss but to a difficult, rude and a harsh boss it is next to impossible. Why does Peter tell us something which is so difficult?
Submission means as the Bible puts it, keeping your mouth shut when you’d like to strike out, refusing to join in a verbal assassination, accepting orders without complaining, acknowledging
the authority of the position.
Our motivation: it pleases God. That’s reason enough for me.

Insults
A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man over looks an Insult.
Proverbs 12:16

Boring Job
What ever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24

Perseverance
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
Hebrews 10:36

Humble yourself
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s might hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
1 Peter 5:6

Be ready to answer
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
1 Peter 3:15

When someone belittles you
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven.”
Matthew 5:43-45

Integrity
The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes
crooked paths will be found out.
Proverbs 10:9

When others make you look bad
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:6

Fears of the future
And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Jesus Christ.
Philippians 4:19

Change; opportunity for growth
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13

I SEE LOVE

2005-09-14T04:06:00.000-02:00

I See Love
by Third Day, Steven Curtis Chapman, and MercyMe
from "The Passion of the Christ: Songs

Some see a teacher
Standing on a hill Speaking words of wisdom
Some see a healer Reaching out his hand To give sight to a blind man
Some see a dreamer Wasting his life On what can never be
Some see a fool Dying for his dreams

But I see love (I see love)
I see love (I see love)
Light of heaven breaking through
Well I see grace (I see grace)
I see God's face (I See Gods face)
Shining pure and perfect love
When I see you I see love

Some see a prisoner Alone before his judge With no one to defend him
Some see a victim Beaten and abused With all the world against him
Some see a martyr Carrying his cross For what he believes
Some see a hero Who set his people free

But I see love (I see love)
I see love (I see love)
Light of heaven breaking through
Well I see grace (I see grace)
I see God's face (I See Gods face)
Shining pure and perfect love
When I see you With your last breath

I see love Through your death
I see love I see peace in the eyes of the king
I see hope in your suffering (I see love)
I see a calm in the center of the storm
I see a SaviourI see love I see love

Light of heaven breaking through (heaven breaking through)
I see grace I see God's face Shining pure and perfect love
When I see youI see love When I see you
I see heaven breaking through
See Gods face Shining pure and perfect love
When I see you When I see you
When I see you I see love I see love
When I see
Some see Him walking from an empty grave.

What I see… is Jesus on the cross for me. Paying the price for me, setting me free.
It is finished!!!
I truly believe that with all my heart….yes that is what I believe in. Jesus Christ, my Saviour.

What do you believe in?
What do you place your hope on?
What is your reason?

Vertical ventilations.

2005-09-14T02:58:00.000-02:00

Psalm 40:12-17 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.
Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.
May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" be appalled at their own shame.
But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;may those who love your salvation always say,"The LORD be exalted!"
Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me.You are my help and my deliverer;O my God, do not delay.
The Psalms is a collection of writings where the Psalmist are honest about their feelings to God. No matter what they are going through whether they are angry, sad and hurt. They let God know about it and then they also let Him know that their trust still lies upon Him and only Him not on their own capabilities but on God. From the depths of despair they rise to the heights of joy and praise as they discover the power of God’s everlasting love and forgiveness.
No wonder one of the Authors David is referred as “the man after God’s own heart”.
Today where do we as Christians look to when in time of trouble? Is it on our own strength or is it towards the creator who made us and call on Him?

What are friends for?

2005-09-08T04:11:00.000-02:00

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic: Luke 5:17-25
17 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 19 And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. 20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
I know most of us reading must have read this incident and as Christians we don’t doubt that Jesus Christ heals and forgives even now. The most interesting part about this incident apart from the fact that Jesus miraculously healed that paralyzed person ,that caught me is about the persistence of the paralyzed mans friends. I do not know how many there were maybe 4 at least.
They first tried to get the sick man through the crowd but couldn’t because of the size of the crowd. They then went on top of the house on the roof removed the tiles and lowered him.Well since it was not their house which is pretty obvious since they couldn’t get in, it must have taken some time maybe money and definitely effort to get to that roof after taking permission from the owner of the house to damage his house by removing the roof tiles and then physically lowering him to bring him in front of Jesus for his healing.
This person definitely had some friends who were standing for him and were willing to go all the way no matter what.
Here is the hardest part, are we willing to be like those friends of that paralyzed man mentioned in the Gospel of Luke, willing to go all the way for our friends who cant themselves?
Are we willing to stand for them as they bible tells us to no matter what it takes?
Are we willing to carry their burdens their cross?
Are we willing to just do whatever it takes to,like Jesus Christ did for us.

Reach out in Jesus' name
With hands of love and care
To those who are in need
And caught in life's despair. —Sper

Real love puts actions to good intentions.

All for the best ???

2005-09-02T04:04:00.000-02:00

When I was a younger I used to hear this phrase “All for the best” and still do.
In reality I have never seen that all is for the best. I do not believe in that adage but I certainly believe in something else which I have read and keep reading.
Romans 8:28 And we know that God cause everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
For some reason this verse has been coming up so often whenever I am reading something regarding the Bible.
Looking at this verse it’s a promise, but it is not an unconditional promise.
It begins with a confirmation and then talks about the reasons for everything happening in our lives. Notice that it says “God causes everything to work together for the good”
Everything I believe would include good, bad and the worst things that can happen,
Happens for the good of all!!! Waitaminit that’s not what it says.
Here is the condition, it happens for the good of;
1st. Those who love God
2nd. and who are called according to his purposes for them.
That verse has been such an encouragement in my life that when I look at every incident every circumstance that took place in my life and will take will work out for my good only because I love my God and am called for His purpose. God will make everything workout for His glory.
This certainly doesn’t change the circumstances that are surrounding us but it does change my perspective about those circumstances which surround us when I look at it the way the Bible looks at it or tells me to.
It is so reassuring to know that God is in control, even when things don’t go as I would like it to go. Even when everything looks lost and hopeless, I believe that God our Father is in control and that I can put all my trust in Him.
All for the best…for those who love God and are called according to his purposes.

John10:10: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you” says the Lord “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope”

Grains of sand

2005-08-31T04:28:00.000-02:00

Psalms139:17: How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
Psalms139:18: If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand…
Have you ever tried to count your thoughts towards your most cherished and loved ones? The thoughts towards your wife or your husband or whoever is in that place of being called the most loved and cherished person in your life.
Now count it with grains of sand, I do not think that we will be able to manage a cartload (I would say that is exaggeration :-). Well now look at the amount of thoughts that God has towards us it even outnumbers the grains of sand….the amount I cannot even imagine. Amazing isn’t it? Every time you read the Word, you come across something that is so eye-opening and awe inspiring and so beautiful. It is good to be loved by God.

The reason.

2005-08-29T05:55:00.000-02:00

Wonders of Love

Worthy worthy worthy of all praise

Worthy worthy worthy you forgave

Who ought believe that a king would die?

For my sins be crucified

A crown of thorns you embraced

Now I stand in awe amazed

All wonders of love are found in you

Here’s a song in my heart its all about you

All dreams that I have do not compare

To my saviour’s arms, you find me there

That’s where you gonna find me

In my saviour’s arm you find me there.

(Christian city church, Oxford falls)

Worship –

Why do we worship God of the Bible? You may say because the bible says so or because of all that he has blessed us with or because He is worthy of being praise and all the reasons that you can come up with.

Yes and I agree to that, even if he hadn’t blessed us or did anything else for us he would still deserve our wholehearted worship for the rest of our lives because God ‘s son died for us!!!! That’s all the reason we need to worship God. Jesus gave up everything so that I could have everything.

Hope of resurrection

2005-08-27T05:18:00.003-02:00

I was just doing some reading and I came across this article and it is really amazing, the hope of resurrection. I couldn’t help but share this.

M I G H T Y I N S P I R I T

The noonday sun made its presence known as waves of heat seared what was left of the man’s flesh. Stretched out on a wooden cross, hands and feet pierced with rusted spikes, stripped of his clothing—he had no defense whatsoever. The trial had been quick; there were far too many witnesses to his crimes. And now he hung beaten, broken, bleeding, and without a doubt, thoroughly guilty.

The crowd that had gathered around this crucified thief was overflowing with hatred. However, for perhaps the first time in his miserable life, the taunts, jeers, mocking, and pointed fingers were directed not at him, but at another . . . some Holy Man who had made quite a spectacle of Himself in recent years.

The thief did not know who this Jesus was; he had never even heard of Jesus of Nazareth until that morning, as the guards were discussing the three men slated for crucifixion. What must a rabbi have done to deserve this? he had wondered. What could a simple preacher have done to make his own people crucify him?

It was amusing at first. Here, between two screaming, nefarious criminals, hung a quiet teacher. The thief had never seen such an irate crowd of Jews and Romans, and it seemed that all of the animosity of the world was being heaped upon this one condemned man.

The thief could not help but participate in the crowd’s amusing game of verbal abuse. It was a nice distraction for the dying criminal; as long as he was able to join in the majority’s assault on Jesus, he could still maintain some measure of control. Sure, he was doomed to die slowly and painfully, but this hapless Jew beside him was the really pitiful character. This guy is too placid to even defend Himself! he thought. What kind of man would take this abuse with no response? What’s He trying to prove?

For hours, no one tired of assaulting the despised prophet at his side. Soldiers, Jewish leaders, and curious spectators all passed by and made sport of insulting Jesus, but He remained so calm, so quiet, so . . . peaceful? As he hung on his own cross, well acquainted with the pain of crucifixion, the criminal wondered how such a tormented man could exude peace and quiet strength amid this hellish ordeal.

Something in the thief began to stir. This isn’t right. This is a death for the most obscene criminals, not for some misunderstood teacher. The taunts of the crowd continued to flow like a bitter stream, but their impact now stung the thief’s conscience. “King of the Jews,” their sign read. But Jesus was more like a King of the Humble, a King of the Patient, . . . a King of Grace.

The thief’s partner in crime was not so sensitive to Jesus’ plight. “Are you not the Christ?” the second criminal laughed. “Save Yourself and us!” The mocking intensified, the cries grew more hateful, and the noise in the thief’s spirit became unbearable. The conflict, questions, guilt, concern, and confusion culminated in a fever pitch of nervous energy.

His eyes darted back and forth between his violent compatriot and this gentle Jesus. It was as though, just hours before his death, he was given a new, life-changing perspective on his life. In the sadistic, jeering criminal, the thief saw the end result of his sin: death. In the eyes of Jesus, he saw the life that could have been. It was, for him, a moment of choice.

With nothing to offer, no hope for a better life, and no chance for recompense, the thief looked into the still clear, life-giving eyes of the Christ and made the only request he could: “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

Jesus responded with a single, simple, saving statement: “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” That was it. There were no conditions. There were no other actions required. As he was dying, the thief was given what he needed the most: life.

Scripture is brutally honest about this thief on the cross next to the Lord. He was vile, wicked, violent, and by all accounts guilty of the crimes for which he was condemned. Yet, when confronted with the grace of Christ, he was left speechless. Jesus’ abundance revealed the thief’s deficiency, and he was left knowing only two things: he was doomed, and Jesus could save him.

Today, “good Christians” may shake their heads and say, “That thief had nothing to offer. He didn’t deserve Jesus.” Somehow, our piety convinces us that we have done something to earn Jesus. In this, we can learn an important lesson from the thief on the cross.

John MacArthur notes, “His request was a final, desperate, end-of-his-rope plea for a small mercy he knew he did not deserve.” (The Murder of Jesus, Word Publishing, Nashville, 2000, p. 214.)

Two thousand years later, there is still no more powerful cry from human lips than the thief’s humble prayer, “Lord, remember me.”

—Staff Writer

Article has been taken for Intouch ministries messages site.

IN TOUCH® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 IN TOUCH MINISTRIES®, ITM, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, USA, used with permission. All rights reserved. This content and more resources can be found on www.intouch.org.

Five loaves and two fish.

2005-08-22T05:46:00.000-02:00

Five loaves and two fish.

John 6:5: When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat?

John 6:6: And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

John 6:7: Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

John 6:8: One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,

John 6:9: There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

John 6:10: And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

John 6:11: And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

John 6:12: When they were filled, he said unto his disciples; Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

John 6:13: Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

Philip and Andrew replied to Jesus’ query according to their limits.

Jesus just took what he had and thanked the Father and multiplied what he had with him. So many times we kind of limit God with our limitations and our thinking, but our Father is God without limitations. We look at our circumstances and situations based on our thinking and conclude that nothing can be done. But when we start basing our thoughts and actions on what God says in his Word, we see God working on our behalf.

art-crossmap.co.uk

CONFESSIONS

2005-08-21T04:11:00.000-02:00

CONFESSIONS

There is life and death in the power of the tongue.

Mark 11:23 I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

I believe that what we say matters, as a matter of fact Christian life is built on what we confess. First we begin our Christian life by believing and confessing that Jesus Christ is alive and that He died for me and was raised from the dead.

Romans 10:10 - For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
All of Christian life is based on what we say, and what we say is a result of what we think and what we think is based on what we believe. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Our belief is based on what we know about Jesus Christ and His promises that is from the Bible and it is so important for us to be rooted in the Word. I have seen what it can do to my life if I take reading and dwelling on the Word of God for granted. Slowly negativity creeps in and the trust that we are supposed to have on our Lord disappears and we start trusting on ourselves and what we can do in our power. I tumbled down.
As we grow deeply rooted in the Word of God our confessions get more faith based and even in the face of circumstances that are contradictory we can still Trust in our Saviour.

Hold fast to your confessions for he who has promised is faithful. No matter what the circumstances are if we as hold on to our confession based on the Word we will see victory. Sometimes it is hard when circumstances are overwhelming, to stick to and say what the Bible tells us to. We must have faith even then, as we live by faith and not by sight. Remember “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” Heb 11:1.
Isn’t that powerful!!!!!

Faith is the evidence of things not seen. We already have all the evidence we need.

So dear all –Hold fast to our confession for He who has promised is faithful. Let us look towards Jesus Christ the author and finisher of our faith.

Prayer

2005-08-17T03:01:00.000-02:00

Does prayer work??? This was the post on the cover of a magazine I had recently read and then the article covering this topic went ahead to discuss how scientist have discovered how praying helps release some chemicals in the human body which is ultimately responsible for the positive feeling that the particular person experiences and therefore is able to handle the pressure.
Let’s see what the Bible says about prayer and is it just about US.
What is prayer? Prayer is our way of communicating with God.
Where can we pray? We can pray anywhere.
Who can pray? Anyone who reaches out to God, believing that he is there, can pray
How should we pray? Jesus gave us a model to learn from the “Lords prayer”.
In the Bible right from the Old Testament we can see people praying to God,
Abraham prayed for Sodom and Gomorrah. Moses who was Israel’s leader also prayed in the wilderness in the face of human uncertainties and the disobedience and disbelief of his people.
In the New Testament we see Jesus Christ teaching his disciples how to pray and also tell them in parables about how a man should not loose heart and give up but keep praying.
The Christian prayer is deeply rooted in the intercession of Christ and the enabling work of the Spirit of God.
I believe that for a Christian prayer is a way of life. I look at it this way if I was in a relation with some one with who I was in love with. I would like to spend time with that person and talk and get to know that person. Well I am in love with Jesus Christ and the only way to get to know Him better and spend time with is through prayer(Read communication). As for as my feeling positive because of prayer, I do because every time I pray I know I am doing what God wants me to do and that lifts me up. So I will keep on praying and enjoying the relationship that I share with Jesus Christ….no one is stopping you to ;-)
Prayer is about seeking and knowing the will of God. Prayer is about God and not only me or only us.
Luke18:1: And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.
“The Christian on his knees sees more that a philosopher on his tiptoes”-
Dwight. L. Moody
“We are always in the presence of God, yet it seems to me that those who pray are in His presence in a very different way”- Teresa of Avila
“I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go”- Abraham Lincoln
James 5:16 -The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

HE LIVES IN ME…

2005-08-15T03:50:00.000-02:00

Holy Holy is my saviour

Gave his life for me

On the cross

His love reached out and gave me a reason to dream

We‘ve come to worship we’ve come to praise

We come to magnify your holy name

We join the heavens sing unashamed

About your goodness the price you paid

And by your stripes I’ve been redeemed

Now the healer He lives in me.

He lives in me He lives in me

He lives in me He lives me

Now the healer lives in me.

(Lyrics of “He lives in me” Christian City Church Oxford Falls)

HE LIVES IN ME!!!!

That is outrageous!

That is out of this world!!

That is radical!!

That is awesome!!!

Yes that is also true!!!

1Peter 2:24: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Rom10:10: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Rom10:11: For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

2Cor 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

To whoever is reading this I want to ask you if you want to start a relationship with the One who loves you and gave up everything just for YOU!!

His name is Jesus.

The Bible says that if you call on his name you will not be put to shame.

I did 12 years ago and His love never ceases to amaze me.

No matter what we do or how good we are we can never be able to reach out to our Creator. It is for this reason that Jesus Christ had to come to fill the gap to be the way.

All you have to do is believe.The world teaches us to see and the believe but with God you must first believe to see. Its all about faith y'all.

Heb11:6: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

I believe that there is eternity to be gained and eternity to be lost with this choice that we make.

If you want to start your relationship with Jesus Christ right now all you have to do is call Him into your heart. Set things right with him clean your past and start all over again.

Just pray this prayer – Jesus Christ I call on your name I ask you in my life. Come in my life make me new. As your word says I believe that you died for my sins and were raised for my sake. I ask you in my heart today. I want to have a relationship with you for now on.

If you have asked this sincerely with your heart you have changed your life forever.

Bible says, if you are in Christ you are a new creation and the old creation has passed away and all things have become new.

Would love to hear from you, no matter what your decision.

I can see why...

2005-08-15T03:41:00.000-02:00

As I cry…

As I cry

Tears fill my eye

As I cry

Tears run dry

As I cry

I ask why

Why I loved

And was not loved by

As I cry

I realize

How you loved.

And I let you go by

As I cry

And wonder why

Why I let you go by

As I cry

You pick me up on high

And as I cry I can see why

Why you loved and did not go by

As I cry

You walk by my side

As I cry

You hold me on high

As I cry

I know why

As I cry

I know why

Why I loved

I loved because you loved me first

As I cry

Tears fill my eye

And through the tears I see why……

As I cry

My heart fills with joy

Knowing that you cried for me too.

As I cry

You hold me on high

Now I cry

Knowing why.

I just want to thank you Jesus that it is through these times that your love has been made real to me and my trust in you has been strengthened. I just want to read your words from

Romans 8:28- And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Though the way ahead seems blurred I choose to trust in you and I know for sure that my trust in you will not put me to shame. I love you Jesus because you have loved me first.

I love now because I can!!!

Into the heart of Jesus
Deeper and deeper I go;
Seeking to know the reason
Why He should love me so. —Smith

He comes a child from realms on high,
He comes the heavens adoring;
He comes to earth to live and die,
A broken race restoring.
Although the King of kings is He,
He comes in deep humility,
His people to deliver,
And reign in us forever.- Joseph Barlow

Masterpiece..made by God

2005-08-15T03:35:00.000-02:00

As the day rises,

As the mist clears,

You try to see what comes before you

Trying to comprehend what this new day brings to you

Trying to see the reason for it all….trying.

Be still! And know this for sure,

There is a plan,

A purpose… For you. Filled with Hope

A future… for good and not otherwise.

For these are not my thoughts …..

But are the promises of the One who loves you,

Who knows you……Who’s made you.

I had written this on one of my friends birthday.

It’s taken from Jeremiah Ch 29 verse 11 which incidentally happens to be my blog name.

Truly Loved by God

2005-08-15T02:51:00.000-02:00

I used to say and tell myself that God loves me but it never became a reality

In it self till somewhere about the beginning of last year when I was going through some tumultuous times. It was in this time that I was trying to tell a friend that Jesus loved her too (trying to tell her is somewhat mild)

I was surprised at what I got to hear, “Jesus loves me; is absolutely useless for me”

What was even more surprising to me was that I couldn’t answer to her statement; it was because I was stumped. How is Jesus’ love useful in this world where everything is relative? As somebody called it the microwave generation, rightfully so.

Jesus’ love to me is as real as real could possibly get. It was during that troubled time that I found that He was there with me, even when I thought he wasn’t

I kept wondering and thinking of someway to put it in words how the Love of Christ had been useful to me.

When I think of how unconditionally Jesus Christ has loved me that even though I didn’t recognize his love He still loved me and kept on loving me. His love has taught me how to love others the way He has loved me. It’s so difficult loving selflessly like he did, even loving the ones who are closest to us and yet I know for sure that is how He loves me.

He loved me knowing that I wouldn’t love Him back the same way.

Jesus Christ ……I could spend all of eternity thanking you for your love and it still won’t be enough. Your love is real that it lifts me up turns me around and wants me to share it out with everyone I meet.

The way Jesus loved me is best described in 1 Corinthians 13:4

Love endures long and is patient and is kind;

Love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy,

Is not boastful or vainglorious,

It is not conceited; it is not rude and does not act unbecomingly,

Love is not self seeking, is not resentful,

Nor does it keep track of when it has been wronged

It does not rejoice at injustice but rejoices when truth prevails

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes;

Love never looses hope, endures everything…….and love never fails.

I pray the Jesus’ love which is so real for me flows out of my life so that others may know that I am loved by God …and so are they.

Road trip….

2005-08-15T02:48:00.000-02:00

This would be amongst one of the most memorable road trips that I have ever been on. I would rate it at number 3, the first two being……well that is another story ;-)

This usually begins at Rio and ends in Macae` and also the other way round.

The trip begins from the airport going through the city and through Niteroi and then passing through the beautiful hillsides with roads having more curves than I have ever seen. What you would usually on the road side are these hillsides grazing lands for horses and cattle’s alike. You really have to see it to imagine how beautiful the sight is. I for one am so thankful to God that I am able to see the beauty that He has created all over the world without paying a single dime.

I am sure I make some of my friends jealous with the kind of traveling that I get to do and met the people that I am able to meet. I have been planning to stay here in Brazil for some time as I have a work permit which actually makes me a resident over here. I have made quite a few friends from here. One of the is Gyan Carlos from Santa Catarina and what I have seen of that place, it is beautiful beaches white sand blue waters.

Well I have been invited to visit that place as well as in Rio, but before I embark on that adventure I would surely like to the tune my linguistic skills to the language of this beautiful nation.

Aah! I was talking about the road trip which is usually traveled at the speed of 120 to 130 kmph slowing just for the curves and of course never for the oncoming traffic on the 2 lane road. Putting on the seat belts seems so useless at that speed especially when you see many vehicles lying off the road in ditches. Sounds scary doesn’t it…..well it doesn’t look scary especially when you manage to keep your eyes closed ;-)

That surely doesn’t dampen my spirit to take to this trip every single time I land in Rio to go to work….the view is just too good to give a thought to the driving skills of the driver sitting besides me.

JEEEZZZ……

2005-08-15T02:39:00.000-02:00

Haven’t you heard that before? It sounds like a curse word but it isn’t, I mean the name Jesus Christ isn’t a curse word. The Bible says it’s the name of the One through whom all things seen and unseen was created; it’s the name for which all knees will bow down and confess that He is Lord. It’s the name by which we are saved and there is no other name in heaven or on earth by which we can be saved.

Such irreverence has not been shown to any other name… ever, if it was; we probably would have lot of bloodshed and killings because of hurt sentiments. Bible says that everyone one day would have to give an account of everything that they have uttered….everything!

I don’t write this to criticize the wrong use of the name of my Lord but rather I feel sorry for the people who so nonchalantly use it as a profanity and maybe one day will realize what they do.

A wise old owl sat on an oak;

The more he saw, the less he spoke;

The less he spoke, the more he heard-

Why aren’t we like that wise old bird? – Richards

The Maker

2005-08-14T10:03:00.000-02:00

The Maker.
I see the stars I see the moon
See the sun feel the noon
To see it all open my eyes
And let me see the works of your hand.
For the world declares your work
The unseen and the known
Known as you are through your works
Gentle, compassionate like the potters’ hand
Molding and shaping us not as we desire but as you would.
For you alone know us,
For we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
With hope and a plan for a future with good and not with evil
This is what you desire for us ………if we let it be.

Love

2005-08-14T05:09:00.000-02:00

Love

Some say love is blind

Some say love hurts

Some say love is for fools

Some say all is fair in love

This is how I know love from the one

Who once gave up everything for me,

And hung for me on the tree

So that I may see his love

And love like He does love me.

Love as he showed me….

Love endures long and is patient and is kind;

Love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy,

Is not boastful or vainglorious,

It is not conceited; it is not rude and does not act unbecomingly,

Love is not self seeking, is not resentful,

Nor does it keep track of when it has been wronged

It does not rejoice at injustice but rejoices when truth prevails

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes;

Love never looses hope, endures everything…….and love never fails.

This is my hope and prayer that I love all like He loved me …………..

To the Author and Finisher of my faith....Jesus Christ

Willing.....?

Jesus take my wheel

Gods purpose

Death where is thy sting?

"Death is swallowed up in victory. O’ death where is thy sting?O’ grave where is thy victory?"

”I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live”

This one is for you Phil Uncle.

For all you have done.

Jesus Christ…

Joy of the Lord!!

Do be not Afraid only believe!!!

Do not be afraid; only believe!!!

Refiners Fire

My Everything

With all I am

Office Politics

I SEE LOVE

Vertical ventilations.

What are friends for?

All for the best ???

Grains of sand

The reason.

Hope of resurrection

Five loaves and two fish.

CONFESSIONS

Prayer

HE LIVES IN ME…

I can see why...

Masterpiece..made by God

Truly Loved by God

Road trip….

JEEEZZZ……

The Maker

Love

"Death is swallowed up in victory.
O’ death where is thy sting?
O’ grave where is thy victory?"