If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior.
- Author unknown
"For to us a child is born,to us a son is given,and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Are you afraid to take this step?
A man was obliged to descend into a deep well by sliding down a fixed rope which was supposed to be of ample length. But to his dismay he came to the end of it before his feet had touched the bottom. He had not the strength to climb up again, and to let go and drop seemed to him but to be dashed to pieces in the depths below. He held on until his strength was utterly exhausted and then dropped, as he thought, to his death. He fell - just three inches - and found himself safe on the rock bottom.
Are you afraid to take this step? Does it seem too sudden, too much like a leap in the dark? Do you not know that the step of faith always "falls on the seeming void, but finds the rock beneath?" If ever you are to enter this glorious land, flowing with milk and honey, you must sooner or later step into the brimming waters, for there is no other path; and to do it now may save you months and even years of disappointment and grief. Hear the word of the Lord -
Joshua 1:9
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
- Hannah Whitall Smith, The Christian's Secret Of A Happy Life
Are you afraid to take this step? Does it seem too sudden, too much like a leap in the dark? Do you not know that the step of faith always "falls on the seeming void, but finds the rock beneath?" If ever you are to enter this glorious land, flowing with milk and honey, you must sooner or later step into the brimming waters, for there is no other path; and to do it now may save you months and even years of disappointment and grief. Hear the word of the Lord -
Joshua 1:9
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
- Hannah Whitall Smith, The Christian's Secret Of A Happy Life
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
A lump of clay in the Potter's hands?
Just as the potter, however skillful, cannot make a beautiful vessel out of a lump of clay that is never put into his hands, so neither can God make out of me a vessel unto His honor unless I put myself into His hands. My part is the essential correlation of God's part in the matter of my salvation; and as God is sure to do His part all right, the vital thing for me is to find out what my part is and then do it.
- Hannah Whitall Smith
- Hannah Whitall Smith
Monday, December 14, 2009
Do you know who you are?
I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )
I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3:20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be sepa rated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 )
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28 )
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16).
I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).
I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1).
I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected.(Phil. 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven ( Col 1:14).
I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)
I belong to God.
Do you know who you are!?
I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )
I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3:20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be sepa rated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 )
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28 )
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16).
I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).
I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1).
I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected.(Phil. 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven ( Col 1:14).
I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)
I belong to God.
Do you know who you are!?
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Letting Jesus in...........
One of the great depictions of Jesus in the history of art was painted by William Holman Hunt. In his painting The Light of the World, he portrays Jesus knocking at a door. On the frame of the picture he had etched the verse from Revelation 3:20, written to followers in the ancient city of Laodicea. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me."
The striking thing about Holman's picture is that Jesus is standing outside the door, holding a lamp in His hand. The imagery is clear. If Jesus is on the outside of your life, so is His light. There is no hope of lighting the world around you until you let Him in to light your world.
When Jesus wrote the letter to the Laodicean church, He pictured Himself on the outside of their heart's door because in their affluence and self-made lives, they didn't think they needed Him. In a very real sense they had constructed their world as a non-Jesus world. And, strange as it seems, many of us have done the same thing. We feel we have all we need without Him.
No doubt the Laodiceans were glad to have Him as Savior, attend His church, even serve on committees and boards. But until they needed Him at death's door, they would do life much as they pleased. And so an excluded Jesus stood at the door of their hearts seeking to come in. He is standing at your heart's door seeking to come in with the light for your world gripped firmly in His hand. If you're arguing that Jesus is already "in you," then you have missed the point. He can be resident somewhere in the territory of your life without being the all-controlling center of your heart. He seeks to set up His throne in your heart where decisions, dreams, plans and intentions are forged.
Surrendering fully to Jesus is the key to beginning a life that effectively impacts your world for Him.
- Joseph M. Stowell, The Trouble With Jesus
The striking thing about Holman's picture is that Jesus is standing outside the door, holding a lamp in His hand. The imagery is clear. If Jesus is on the outside of your life, so is His light. There is no hope of lighting the world around you until you let Him in to light your world.
When Jesus wrote the letter to the Laodicean church, He pictured Himself on the outside of their heart's door because in their affluence and self-made lives, they didn't think they needed Him. In a very real sense they had constructed their world as a non-Jesus world. And, strange as it seems, many of us have done the same thing. We feel we have all we need without Him.
No doubt the Laodiceans were glad to have Him as Savior, attend His church, even serve on committees and boards. But until they needed Him at death's door, they would do life much as they pleased. And so an excluded Jesus stood at the door of their hearts seeking to come in. He is standing at your heart's door seeking to come in with the light for your world gripped firmly in His hand. If you're arguing that Jesus is already "in you," then you have missed the point. He can be resident somewhere in the territory of your life without being the all-controlling center of your heart. He seeks to set up His throne in your heart where decisions, dreams, plans and intentions are forged.
Surrendering fully to Jesus is the key to beginning a life that effectively impacts your world for Him.
- Joseph M. Stowell, The Trouble With Jesus
Friday, December 4, 2009
Letter from Jesus
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking
My name out of the season.
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily
understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own.
I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just
GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which
you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a
couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own
front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such
a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around
town.
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday
tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can
remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I
actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to
you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up
John 15: 1 - 8.
If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish
list. Choose something from it:
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is
being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from
home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they
tell Me all the time.
2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally.
They just need to know that someone cares about them.
3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the
cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that
you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... It
will be nice hearing from you again.
4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they
don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why
I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them
that I love them.
5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own
life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't
know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it
could make the difference.
7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the
holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile
and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas"
that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on
Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and
let their employees spend the day at home with their families
8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary--
especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard
My name.
9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town
who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any
presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few
gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which
believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.
10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and
loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian.. Don't do things in secret that
you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are
one of mine.
Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what
I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list
above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in
your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those
whom you love and remember :
I LOVE YOU,
JESUS
(not sure of the author of this, but it's awesome!!)
Merry Christmas!!
,Brandi
My name out of the season.
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily
understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own.
I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just
GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which
you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a
couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own
front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such
a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around
town.
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday
tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can
remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I
actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to
you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up
John 15: 1 - 8.
If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish
list. Choose something from it:
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is
being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from
home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they
tell Me all the time.
2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally.
They just need to know that someone cares about them.
3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the
cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that
you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... It
will be nice hearing from you again.
4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they
don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why
I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them
that I love them.
5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own
life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't
know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it
could make the difference.
7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the
holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile
and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas"
that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on
Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and
let their employees spend the day at home with their families
8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary--
especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard
My name.
9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town
who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any
presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few
gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which
believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.
10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and
loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian.. Don't do things in secret that
you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are
one of mine.
Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what
I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list
above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in
your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those
whom you love and remember :
I LOVE YOU,
JESUS
(not sure of the author of this, but it's awesome!!)
Merry Christmas!!
,Brandi
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)