The Amazing Story of 'O Holy Night'
By Ace Collins
Declared 'unfit for church services' in France and later embraced by U.S. abolitionists, the song continues to inspire.
The strange and fascinating story of "O Holy Night" began in France, yet eventually made its way around the world. This seemingly simple song, inspired by a request from a clergyman, would not only become one of the most beloved anthems of all time, it would mark a technological revolution that would forever change the way people were introduced to music.
In 1847, Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure was the commissionaire of wines in a small French town. Known more for his poetry than his church attendance, it probably shocked Placide when his parish priest asked the commissionaire to pen a poem for Christmas mass. Nevertheless, the poet was honored to share his talents with the church.
In a dusty coach traveling down a bumpy road to France's capital city, Placide Cappeau considered the priest's request. Using the gospel of Luke as his guide, Cappeau imagined witnessing the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Thoughts of being present on the blessed night inspired him. By the time he arrived in Paris, "Cantique de Noel" had been completed.
Moved by his own work, Cappeau decided that his "Cantique de Noel" was not just a poem, but a song in need of a master musician's hand. Not musically inclined himself, the poet turned to one of his friends, Adolphe-Charles Adam, for help.
The son of a well-known classical musician, Adam had studied in the Paris conservatoire. His talent and fame brought requests to write works for orchestras and ballets all over the world. Yet the lyrics that his friend Cappeau gave him must have challenged the composer in a fashion unlike anything he received from London, Berlin, or St. Petersburg.
As a man of Jewish ancestry, for Adam the words of "Cantique de Noel" represented a day he didn't celebrate and a man he did not view as the son of God. Nevertheless, Adam quickly went to work, attempting to marry an original score to Cappeau's beautiful words. The finished work of Adam pleased both poet and priest. The song was performed just three weeks later at a Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve
Initially, "Cantique de Noel" was wholeheartedly accepted by the church in France and the song quickly found its way into various Catholic Christmas services. But when Placide Cappeau walked away from the church and became a part of the socialist movement, and church leaders discovered that Adam was a Jew, the song--which had quickly grown to be one of the most beloved Christmas songs in France--was suddenly and uniformly denounced by the church. The heads of the French Catholic church of the time deemed "Cantique de Noel" as unfit for church services because of its lack of musical taste and "total absence of the spirit of religion." Yet even as the church tried to bury the Christmas song, the French people continued to sing it, and a decade later a reclusive American writer brought it to a whole new audience halfway around the world.
Not only did this American writer--John Sullivan Dwight--feel that this wonderful Christmas song needed to be introduced to America, he saw something else in the song that moved him beyond the story of the birth of Christ. An ardent abolitionist, Dwight strongly identified with the lines of the third verse: "Truly he taught us to love one another; his law is love and his gospel is peace. Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother; and in his name all oppression shall cease." The text supported Dwight's own view of slavery in the South. Published in his magazine, Dwight's English translation of "O Holy Night" quickly found favor in America, especially in the North during the Civil War.
Back in France, even though the song had been banned from the church for almost two decades, many commoners still sang "Cantique de Noel" at home. Legend has it that on Christmas Eve 1871, in the midst of fierce fighting between the armies of Germany and France, during the Franco-Prussian War, a French soldier suddenly jumped out of his muddy trench. Both sides stared at the seemingly crazed man. Boldly standing with no weapon in his hand or at his side, he lifted his eyes to the heavens and sang, "Minuit, Chretiens, c'est l'heure solennelle ou L'Homme Dieu descendit jusqu'a nous," the beginning of "Cantique de Noel."
After completing all three verses, a German infantryman climbed out his hiding place and answered with, "Vom Himmel noch, da komm' ich her. Ich bring' euch gute neue Mar, Der guten Mar bring' ich so viel, Davon ich sing'n und sagen will," the beginning of Martin Luther's robust "From Heaven Above to Earth I Come."
The story goes that the fighting stopped for the next twenty-four hours while the men on both sides observed a temporary peace in honor of Christmas day. Perhaps this story had a part in the French church once again embracing "Cantique de Noel" in holiday services.
In 1906, Reginald Fessenden--a 33-year-old university professor and former chief chemist for Thomas Edison--did something long thought impossible. Using a new type of generator, Fessenden spoke into a microphone and, for the first time in history, a man's voice was broadcast over the airwaves: "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed," he began in a clear, strong voice, hoping he was reaching across the distances he supposed he would.
Shocked radio operators on ships and astonished wireless owners at newspapers sat slack-jawed as their normal, coded impulses, heard over tiny speakers, were interrupted by a professor reading from the gospel of Luke. To the few who caught this broadcast, it must have seemed like a miracle--hearing a voice somehow transmitted to those far away. Some might have believed they were hearing the voice of an angel.
Fessenden was probably unaware of the sensation he was causing on ships and in offices; he couldn't have known that men and women were rushing to their wireless units to catch this Christmas Eve miracle. After finishing his recitation of the birth of Christ, Fessenden picked up his violin and played "O Holy Night," the first song ever sent through the air via radio waves. When the carol ended, so did the broadcast--but not before music had found a new medium that would take it around the world.
Since that first rendition at a small Christmas mass in 1847, "O Holy Night" has been sung millions of times in churches in every corner of the world. And since the moment a handful of people first heard it played over the radio, the carol has gone on to become one of the entertainment industry's most recorded and played spiritual songs. This incredible work--requested by a forgotten parish priest, written by a poet who would later split from the church, given soaring music by a Jewish composer, and brought to Americans to serve as much as a tool to spotlight the sinful nature of slavery as tell the story of the birth of a Savior--has become one of the most beautiful, inspired pieces of music ever created.
Reprinted from "Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas" for educational purposes only, from Zondervan.
O Holy Night
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Peace on earth
The reality is that there will never be peace in the world until there's peace within nations. And there will never be peace in our nation until there's peace in our communities. There won't be peace in our communities until there's peace in our families. And there won't be peace in our families until there's peace in our individual lives. That won't happen until the Prince of Peace reigns in our hearts. Jesus came at Christmas to bring to us three kinds of peace:
Peace with God
The peace of God
Peace with others
"A savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord!" - Luke 2:11
- Rick Warren, The Purpose of Christmas
Peace with God
The peace of God
Peace with others
"A savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord!" - Luke 2:11
- Rick Warren, The Purpose of Christmas
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
I was hungry and you fed me
Matthew 25:34-40 (The Message)
34-36"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.'
37-40"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'
I interpret this to mean that when we do this, we are literally serving Jesus! Amazing how He is seen in those in need, and in us, serving them! He is just all over this kind of thing!
The awesome Heartgroup that we are so privileged to be a part of recently prepared and served the evening meal at our local homeless shelter. What an amazing experience - to be serving alongside my brothers and sisters in Christ, sharing our time, our food and our hearts. God was there, in the midst.
We are so blessed when we recognize just how much He loves, not only us, but EVERY single human being that He created, on this planet. That includes EVERYONE!! Oh the value He places on His creation. Of course He wants us to love and serve the very people He created! When we value the homeless as human beings and not just outcasts, they feel God valuing them! When they understand how special they are to God, this gives them hope for a new future.
Wow, the healing power of His love is AMAZING!!
34-36"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.'
37-40"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'
I interpret this to mean that when we do this, we are literally serving Jesus! Amazing how He is seen in those in need, and in us, serving them! He is just all over this kind of thing!
The awesome Heartgroup that we are so privileged to be a part of recently prepared and served the evening meal at our local homeless shelter. What an amazing experience - to be serving alongside my brothers and sisters in Christ, sharing our time, our food and our hearts. God was there, in the midst.
We are so blessed when we recognize just how much He loves, not only us, but EVERY single human being that He created, on this planet. That includes EVERYONE!! Oh the value He places on His creation. Of course He wants us to love and serve the very people He created! When we value the homeless as human beings and not just outcasts, they feel God valuing them! When they understand how special they are to God, this gives them hope for a new future.
Wow, the healing power of His love is AMAZING!!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Connecting With People
Connecting with People
by Pastor Rob Campbell
Human groupings can be divided three ways: common kinship, common community, and common interest. In the New Testament, the word for these groupings is oikos (see Acts 5:42; 20:20). An oikos is a social system composed of those connected to each other through common ties and tasks.
Reaching people for Christ and enriching the lives of others are best accomplished through one's oikos. How do you connect with these people? Let me give you four principles that you should find helpful.
First, value people. "You cannot make another person feel worthwhile if you secretly feel that the person is a nobody." My friends, anytime you devalue someone, you question God's creation. Each creation of God is highly valued by God--- let us mirror this value to others.
Second, look for common ground. God gave you and me two ears and one mouth for a reason. Simply put, stop jabbering and listen. Consider the following 101% Principle: Find the 1% you agree with and give it 100% of your effort. You cannot find the 1% if you do not employ the power of listening.
Next, seek first to understand and then to be understood. As believers, we are quick to give "answers" without first understanding the heart of the question. Nobody likes a know it all--- so stop trying to impress! Relax, take a deep breath and rid yourself of the expectation to answer all the questions. Begin with understanding and discovering the gifts and abilities of people. Applaud and affirm them--- who doesn't need a lifelong cheerleader?
Finally, to handle yourself...use your head...to handle others...use your heart. Consider the following:
Whose Point of View?
When the other fellow takes a long time, he's slow.
When I take a long time, I'm thorough. When the other fellow doesn't do it, he's lazy.
But when I don't do it, I'm busy.
When the other fellow does something without being told, he's overstepping his bounds.
But when I do it, that's initiative.
When the other fellow overlooks a rule of etiquette, he's rude.
But when I skip a few rules, I'm original. When the other fellow pleases the boss, he's an apple polisher.
But when I please the boss, that's cooperation.
When the other fellow gets ahead, he's getting the breaks.
But when I manage to get ahead, that's just the reward of hard work.
Relational Christianity is all about connecting with people. Pray to God for the wisdom and ability to build His kingdom by employing these principles in reaching your oikos.
by Pastor Rob Campbell
Human groupings can be divided three ways: common kinship, common community, and common interest. In the New Testament, the word for these groupings is oikos (see Acts 5:42; 20:20). An oikos is a social system composed of those connected to each other through common ties and tasks.
Reaching people for Christ and enriching the lives of others are best accomplished through one's oikos. How do you connect with these people? Let me give you four principles that you should find helpful.
First, value people. "You cannot make another person feel worthwhile if you secretly feel that the person is a nobody." My friends, anytime you devalue someone, you question God's creation. Each creation of God is highly valued by God--- let us mirror this value to others.
Second, look for common ground. God gave you and me two ears and one mouth for a reason. Simply put, stop jabbering and listen. Consider the following 101% Principle: Find the 1% you agree with and give it 100% of your effort. You cannot find the 1% if you do not employ the power of listening.
Next, seek first to understand and then to be understood. As believers, we are quick to give "answers" without first understanding the heart of the question. Nobody likes a know it all--- so stop trying to impress! Relax, take a deep breath and rid yourself of the expectation to answer all the questions. Begin with understanding and discovering the gifts and abilities of people. Applaud and affirm them--- who doesn't need a lifelong cheerleader?
Finally, to handle yourself...use your head...to handle others...use your heart. Consider the following:
Whose Point of View?
When the other fellow takes a long time, he's slow.
When I take a long time, I'm thorough. When the other fellow doesn't do it, he's lazy.
But when I don't do it, I'm busy.
When the other fellow does something without being told, he's overstepping his bounds.
But when I do it, that's initiative.
When the other fellow overlooks a rule of etiquette, he's rude.
But when I skip a few rules, I'm original. When the other fellow pleases the boss, he's an apple polisher.
But when I please the boss, that's cooperation.
When the other fellow gets ahead, he's getting the breaks.
But when I manage to get ahead, that's just the reward of hard work.
Relational Christianity is all about connecting with people. Pray to God for the wisdom and ability to build His kingdom by employing these principles in reaching your oikos.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Repentance is a gift!
" This process of perceiving and coming into agreement with God's perspective is called repentance. Most of us usually associate this word with being sorry for our sin, and this is appropriate. Scripture tells us that godly sorrow leads to repentance (2 Cor. 7:10). But being sorry is not repenting. We repent when our sorrow over sin leads us to the place where we receive power from God to change the way we think. We may all be able to change what we think about, but only God can give us a new perspective on reality. In particular, only God can build a paradigm in our thinking in which we live for and from a relationship with Him instead of going through religious motions and being content simply to know about Him.
This is why Jesus began His ministry with the declaration, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 3:2). Christ came to Earth as the culmination and explicit revelation of God's pursuit of mankind. But without receiving the gift of repentance, the very people He preached to, healed, and died for remained blind to this revelation. Through His very declaration He made the gift of repentance available to all who would listen. This is the nature of all of God's commands. He spoke the universe into existence, and when He speaks to us, grace is released in the same way to enable us to accomplish what He has said. Our job is to appropriate that grace through trusting what He has said and stepping out in radical obedience to it."
Bill Johnson - "Face To Face With God"
This is why Jesus began His ministry with the declaration, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 3:2). Christ came to Earth as the culmination and explicit revelation of God's pursuit of mankind. But without receiving the gift of repentance, the very people He preached to, healed, and died for remained blind to this revelation. Through His very declaration He made the gift of repentance available to all who would listen. This is the nature of all of God's commands. He spoke the universe into existence, and when He speaks to us, grace is released in the same way to enable us to accomplish what He has said. Our job is to appropriate that grace through trusting what He has said and stepping out in radical obedience to it."
Bill Johnson - "Face To Face With God"
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Before they call, I will answer
This is a story written by a doctor who worked in Africa.
One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator). We also had no special feeding facilities.
Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in.
Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates)..
'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles.
They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.
'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts Your job is to keep the baby warm.'
The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough,mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.
During prayer time, one ten -year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'Send us a hot water bottle today It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.'
While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?'
As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say 'Amen?' I just did not believe that God could do this.
Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home.
Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!
Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the verandah was a large22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children.. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored.. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend.
Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be?
I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried.
I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.
Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!'
Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!
Looking up at me, she asked, 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?'
'Of course,' I replied!
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator.
And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon.'
'Before they call, I will answer.' (Isaiah 65:24)
One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator). We also had no special feeding facilities.
Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in.
Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates)..
'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles.
They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.
'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts Your job is to keep the baby warm.'
The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough,mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.
During prayer time, one ten -year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'Send us a hot water bottle today It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.'
While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?'
As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say 'Amen?' I just did not believe that God could do this.
Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home.
Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!
Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the verandah was a large22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children.. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored.. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend.
Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be?
I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried.
I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.
Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!'
Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!
Looking up at me, she asked, 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?'
'Of course,' I replied!
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator.
And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon.'
'Before they call, I will answer.' (Isaiah 65:24)
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Jesus' prayer for us!
John 17 (The Message)
Jesus' Prayer for His Followers
1-5 Jesus said these things. Then, raising his eyes in prayer, he said:
Father, it's time.
Display the bright splendor of your Son
So the Son in turn may show your bright splendor.
You put him in charge of everything human
So he might give real and eternal life to all in his charge.
And this is the real and eternal life:
That they know you,
The one and only true God,
And Jesus Christ, whom you sent.
I glorified you on earth
By completing down to the last detail
What you assigned me to do.
And now, Father, glorify me with your very own splendor,
The very splendor I had in your presence
Before there was a world.
6-12I spelled out your character in detail
To the men and women you gave me.
They were yours in the first place;
Then you gave them to me,
And they have now done what you said.
They know now, beyond the shadow of a doubt,
That everything you gave me is firsthand from you,
For the message you gave me, I gave them;
And they took it, and were convinced
That I came from you.
They believed that you sent me.
I pray for them.
I'm not praying for the God-rejecting world
But for those you gave me,
For they are yours by right.
Everything mine is yours, and yours mine,
And my life is on display in them.
For I'm no longer going to be visible in the world;
They'll continue in the world
While I return to you.
Holy Father, guard them as they pursue this life
That you conferred as a gift through me,
So they can be one heart and mind
As we are one heart and mind.
As long as I was with them, I guarded them
In the pursuit of the life you gave through me;
I even posted a night watch.
And not one of them got away,
Except for the rebel bent on destruction
(the exception that proved the rule of Scripture).
13-19Now I'm returning to you.
I'm saying these things in the world's hearing
So my people can experience
My joy completed in them.
I gave them your word;
The godless world hated them because of it,
Because they didn't join the world's ways,
Just as I didn't join the world's ways.
I'm not asking that you take them out of the world
But that you guard them from the Evil One.
They are no more defined by the world
Than I am defined by the world.
Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth;
Your word is consecrating truth.
In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world,
I give them a mission in the world.
I'm consecrating myself for their sakes
So they'll be truth-consecrated in their mission.
20-23I'm praying not only for them
But also for those who will believe in me
Because of them and their witness about me.
The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—
Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us.
Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.
The same glory you gave me, I gave them,
So they'll be as unified and together as we are—
I in them and you in me.
Then they'll be mature in this oneness,
And give the godless world evidence
That you've sent me and loved them
In the same way you've loved me.
24-26Father, I want those you gave me
To be with me, right where I am,
So they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me,
Having loved me
Long before there ever was a world.
Righteous Father, the world has never known you,
But I have known you, and these disciples know
That you sent me on this mission.
I have made your very being known to them—
Who you are and what you do—
And continue to make it known,
So that your love for me
Might be in them
Exactly as I am in them.
Jesus' Prayer for His Followers
1-5 Jesus said these things. Then, raising his eyes in prayer, he said:
Father, it's time.
Display the bright splendor of your Son
So the Son in turn may show your bright splendor.
You put him in charge of everything human
So he might give real and eternal life to all in his charge.
And this is the real and eternal life:
That they know you,
The one and only true God,
And Jesus Christ, whom you sent.
I glorified you on earth
By completing down to the last detail
What you assigned me to do.
And now, Father, glorify me with your very own splendor,
The very splendor I had in your presence
Before there was a world.
6-12I spelled out your character in detail
To the men and women you gave me.
They were yours in the first place;
Then you gave them to me,
And they have now done what you said.
They know now, beyond the shadow of a doubt,
That everything you gave me is firsthand from you,
For the message you gave me, I gave them;
And they took it, and were convinced
That I came from you.
They believed that you sent me.
I pray for them.
I'm not praying for the God-rejecting world
But for those you gave me,
For they are yours by right.
Everything mine is yours, and yours mine,
And my life is on display in them.
For I'm no longer going to be visible in the world;
They'll continue in the world
While I return to you.
Holy Father, guard them as they pursue this life
That you conferred as a gift through me,
So they can be one heart and mind
As we are one heart and mind.
As long as I was with them, I guarded them
In the pursuit of the life you gave through me;
I even posted a night watch.
And not one of them got away,
Except for the rebel bent on destruction
(the exception that proved the rule of Scripture).
13-19Now I'm returning to you.
I'm saying these things in the world's hearing
So my people can experience
My joy completed in them.
I gave them your word;
The godless world hated them because of it,
Because they didn't join the world's ways,
Just as I didn't join the world's ways.
I'm not asking that you take them out of the world
But that you guard them from the Evil One.
They are no more defined by the world
Than I am defined by the world.
Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth;
Your word is consecrating truth.
In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world,
I give them a mission in the world.
I'm consecrating myself for their sakes
So they'll be truth-consecrated in their mission.
20-23I'm praying not only for them
But also for those who will believe in me
Because of them and their witness about me.
The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—
Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us.
Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.
The same glory you gave me, I gave them,
So they'll be as unified and together as we are—
I in them and you in me.
Then they'll be mature in this oneness,
And give the godless world evidence
That you've sent me and loved them
In the same way you've loved me.
24-26Father, I want those you gave me
To be with me, right where I am,
So they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me,
Having loved me
Long before there ever was a world.
Righteous Father, the world has never known you,
But I have known you, and these disciples know
That you sent me on this mission.
I have made your very being known to them—
Who you are and what you do—
And continue to make it known,
So that your love for me
Might be in them
Exactly as I am in them.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Humble yourself before God
Humble yourself before your God.
We often talk about whether we can trust God, but our concluding question is, Can God trust us? Can He trust us with power, insight, and influence as He did Daniel? Or will our pride get in the way?
C.S. Lewis wrote, "There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which every one in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else; and of which hardly any people, except Christians, ever imagine they are guilty of themselves ...it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind."
We can't ignore it; we have to deal with it. Our minds are pre-set on pride.
Daniel 10:12
"Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them."
Daniel "set his mind...to humble himself before his God." Every day, Beloved, we've got to wake up, drop to our knees, and push the reset button on our pride-prone minds and program them for humility. God wants to trust us. Can He?
- Beth Moore, Daniel
We often talk about whether we can trust God, but our concluding question is, Can God trust us? Can He trust us with power, insight, and influence as He did Daniel? Or will our pride get in the way?
C.S. Lewis wrote, "There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which every one in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else; and of which hardly any people, except Christians, ever imagine they are guilty of themselves ...it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind."
We can't ignore it; we have to deal with it. Our minds are pre-set on pride.
Daniel 10:12
"Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them."
Daniel "set his mind...to humble himself before his God." Every day, Beloved, we've got to wake up, drop to our knees, and push the reset button on our pride-prone minds and program them for humility. God wants to trust us. Can He?
- Beth Moore, Daniel
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Life by the Spirit
Galatians 5:16-26
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
We all have evil desires, and we can't ignore them. In order for us to follow the Holy Spirit's guidance, we must deal with them decisively (crucify them). These desires include obvious sins such as sexual immorality and witchcraft. They also include less obvious sins such as selfish ambition, hatred and jealousy. Those who ignore such sins or refuse to deal with them reveal that they have not received the gift of the Spirit that leads to a transformed life. The fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products of Christ's control - we can't obtain them by trying to get them without his help. If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must join our lives to his.
John 15
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me."
We must know him, love him, remember him, and imitate him. As a result, we will fulfill the intended purpose of the law - to love God and our neighbors. In order to accept Christ as Savior, we need to turn from our sins and willingly nail our sinful nature to the cross. This doesn't mean, however, that we will never see traces of its evil desires again. As Christians we still have the capacity to sin, but we have been set free from sin's power over us and no longer have to give in to it. We must daily commit our sinful tendencies to God's control, daily crucify them, and moment by moment draw on the Spirit's power to overcome them.
Galations 6:14
"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."
- commentary from NIV Life Application Study Bible
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
We all have evil desires, and we can't ignore them. In order for us to follow the Holy Spirit's guidance, we must deal with them decisively (crucify them). These desires include obvious sins such as sexual immorality and witchcraft. They also include less obvious sins such as selfish ambition, hatred and jealousy. Those who ignore such sins or refuse to deal with them reveal that they have not received the gift of the Spirit that leads to a transformed life. The fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products of Christ's control - we can't obtain them by trying to get them without his help. If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must join our lives to his.
John 15
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me."
We must know him, love him, remember him, and imitate him. As a result, we will fulfill the intended purpose of the law - to love God and our neighbors. In order to accept Christ as Savior, we need to turn from our sins and willingly nail our sinful nature to the cross. This doesn't mean, however, that we will never see traces of its evil desires again. As Christians we still have the capacity to sin, but we have been set free from sin's power over us and no longer have to give in to it. We must daily commit our sinful tendencies to God's control, daily crucify them, and moment by moment draw on the Spirit's power to overcome them.
Galations 6:14
"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."
- commentary from NIV Life Application Study Bible
Friday, July 30, 2010
We're getting in on the best!
Here is a good shot of hope for us, who are in the world but not of the world.......
2 Corinthians 4:7 (The Message)
"If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us. While we're going through the worst, you're getting in on the best!"
2 Corinthians 4:7 (The Message)
"If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us. While we're going through the worst, you're getting in on the best!"
Friday, July 23, 2010
Who are you delighted to see?
Wise words from a wise man......Bobby Arnold:
I'd challenge anyone to spend time star gazing and not come away with a greater awe of and trust in God. He simply lays a bit of Himself out before you.
It is like living the below scripture:
Psalm 37:4 - "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."
ponder this... who are you delighted to see? who makes you smile, or enjoy the moment a bit more. Likely someone with whom you're very familiar. therefore, the more we know about God, stands to reason the more we'll delight in Him.
and therein lies the call to Christians. the more we delight in Him, the more others will see Him in us. suddenly, every victory or defeat becomes an opportunity for His glory to shine in our daily lives.
makes sense, then, that we constantly and consistently immerse ourselves in opportunities to become more familiar with God. some combination of things: star gazing, reading bible, service, prayer, gathering together, etc...
without a doubt such Delight will change us from the inside out, influencing the very desires of our heart.
I'd challenge anyone to spend time star gazing and not come away with a greater awe of and trust in God. He simply lays a bit of Himself out before you.
It is like living the below scripture:
Psalm 37:4 - "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."
ponder this... who are you delighted to see? who makes you smile, or enjoy the moment a bit more. Likely someone with whom you're very familiar. therefore, the more we know about God, stands to reason the more we'll delight in Him.
and therein lies the call to Christians. the more we delight in Him, the more others will see Him in us. suddenly, every victory or defeat becomes an opportunity for His glory to shine in our daily lives.
makes sense, then, that we constantly and consistently immerse ourselves in opportunities to become more familiar with God. some combination of things: star gazing, reading bible, service, prayer, gathering together, etc...
without a doubt such Delight will change us from the inside out, influencing the very desires of our heart.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
The Marriage of the Lamb has come.............WOW!!
Revelation 19
The Sound of Hallelujahs
1-3 I heard a sound like massed choirs in Heaven singing, Hallelujah!
The salvation and glory and power are God's—
his judgments true, his judgments just.
He judged the great Whore
who corrupted the earth with her lust.
He avenged on her the blood of his servants.
Then, more singing:
Hallelujah!
The smoke from her burning billows up
to high Heaven forever and ever and ever.
4The Twenty-four Elders and the Four Animals fell to their knees and worshiped God on his Throne, praising,
Amen! Yes! Hallelujah!
5From the Throne came a shout, a command:
Praise our God, all you his servants,
All you who fear him, small and great!
6-8Then I heard the sound of massed choirs, the sound of a mighty cataract, the sound of strong thunder:
Hallelujah!
The Master reigns,
our God, the Sovereign-Strong!
Let us celebrate, let us rejoice,
let us give him the glory!
The Marriage of the Lamb has come;
his Wife has made herself ready.
She was given a bridal gown
of bright and shining linen.
The linen is the righteousness of the saints.
9The Angel said to me, "Write this: 'Blessed are those invited to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.'" He added, "These are the true words of God!"
10I fell at his feet to worship him, but he wouldn't let me. "Don't do that," he said. "I'm a servant just like you, and like your brothers and sisters who hold to the witness of Jesus. The witness of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
11-16Then I saw Heaven open wide—and oh! a white horse and its Rider. The Rider, named Faithful and True, judges and makes war in pure righteousness. His eyes are a blaze of fire, on his head many crowns. He has a Name inscribed that's known only to himself. He is dressed in a robe soaked with blood, and he is addressed as "Word of God." The armies of Heaven, mounted on white horses and dressed in dazzling white linen, follow him. A sharp sword comes out of his mouth so he can subdue the nations, then rule them with a rod of iron. He treads the winepress of the raging wrath of God, the Sovereign-Strong. On his robe and thigh is written, King of kings, Lord of lords.
17-18I saw an Angel standing in the sun, shouting to all flying birds in Middle-Heaven, "Come to the Great Supper of God! Feast on the flesh of kings and captains and champions, horses and their riders. Eat your fill of them all—free and slave, small and great!"
19-21I saw the Beast and, assembled with him, earth's kings and their armies, ready to make war against the One on the horse and his army. The Beast was taken, and with him, his puppet, the False Prophet, who used signs to dazzle and deceive those who had taken the mark of the Beast and worshiped his image. They were thrown alive, those two, into Lake Fire and Brimstone. The rest were killed by the sword of the One on the horse, the sword that comes from his mouth. All the birds held a feast on their flesh.
The Sound of Hallelujahs
1-3 I heard a sound like massed choirs in Heaven singing, Hallelujah!
The salvation and glory and power are God's—
his judgments true, his judgments just.
He judged the great Whore
who corrupted the earth with her lust.
He avenged on her the blood of his servants.
Then, more singing:
Hallelujah!
The smoke from her burning billows up
to high Heaven forever and ever and ever.
4The Twenty-four Elders and the Four Animals fell to their knees and worshiped God on his Throne, praising,
Amen! Yes! Hallelujah!
5From the Throne came a shout, a command:
Praise our God, all you his servants,
All you who fear him, small and great!
6-8Then I heard the sound of massed choirs, the sound of a mighty cataract, the sound of strong thunder:
Hallelujah!
The Master reigns,
our God, the Sovereign-Strong!
Let us celebrate, let us rejoice,
let us give him the glory!
The Marriage of the Lamb has come;
his Wife has made herself ready.
She was given a bridal gown
of bright and shining linen.
The linen is the righteousness of the saints.
9The Angel said to me, "Write this: 'Blessed are those invited to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.'" He added, "These are the true words of God!"
10I fell at his feet to worship him, but he wouldn't let me. "Don't do that," he said. "I'm a servant just like you, and like your brothers and sisters who hold to the witness of Jesus. The witness of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
11-16Then I saw Heaven open wide—and oh! a white horse and its Rider. The Rider, named Faithful and True, judges and makes war in pure righteousness. His eyes are a blaze of fire, on his head many crowns. He has a Name inscribed that's known only to himself. He is dressed in a robe soaked with blood, and he is addressed as "Word of God." The armies of Heaven, mounted on white horses and dressed in dazzling white linen, follow him. A sharp sword comes out of his mouth so he can subdue the nations, then rule them with a rod of iron. He treads the winepress of the raging wrath of God, the Sovereign-Strong. On his robe and thigh is written, King of kings, Lord of lords.
17-18I saw an Angel standing in the sun, shouting to all flying birds in Middle-Heaven, "Come to the Great Supper of God! Feast on the flesh of kings and captains and champions, horses and their riders. Eat your fill of them all—free and slave, small and great!"
19-21I saw the Beast and, assembled with him, earth's kings and their armies, ready to make war against the One on the horse and his army. The Beast was taken, and with him, his puppet, the False Prophet, who used signs to dazzle and deceive those who had taken the mark of the Beast and worshiped his image. They were thrown alive, those two, into Lake Fire and Brimstone. The rest were killed by the sword of the One on the horse, the sword that comes from his mouth. All the birds held a feast on their flesh.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The war is on!
Revelation 12:7-17 (The Message)
7-12War broke out in Heaven. Michael and his Angels fought the Dragon. The Dragon and his Angels fought back, but were no match for Michael. They were cleared out of Heaven, not a sign of them left. The great Dragon—ancient Serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, the one who led the whole earth astray—thrown out, and all his Angels thrown out with him, thrown down to earth. Then I heard a strong voice out of Heaven saying,
Salvation and power are established!
Kingdom of our God, authority of his Messiah!
The Accuser of our brothers and sisters thrown out,
who accused them day and night before God.
They defeated him through the blood of the Lamb
and the bold word of their witness.
They weren't in love with themselves;
they were willing to die for Christ.
So rejoice, O Heavens, and all who live there,
but doom to earth and sea,
For the Devil's come down on you with both feet;
he's had a great fall;
He's wild and raging with anger;
he hasn't much time and he knows it.
13-17When the Dragon saw he'd been thrown to earth, he went after the Woman who had given birth to the Man-Child. The Woman was given wings of a great eagle to fly to a place in the desert to be kept in safety and comfort for a time and times and half a time, safe and sound from the Serpent. The Serpent vomited a river of water to swamp and drown her, but earth came to her help, swallowing the water the Dragon spewed from its mouth. Helpless with rage, the Dragon raged at the Woman, then went off to make war with the rest of her children, the children who keep God's commands and hold firm to the witness of Jesus."
I've heard many people say they are frightened at the book of Revelation, afraid to study it because it is too "weird". I am studying it, once again now and I agree, it is nothing short of a freaky sci-fi movie. Who knows why God chose to reveal just enough of it to us, much of it through symbolism so that could possibly get our minds around it. It really is a mystery!
But is not a book of fear, for children of God, it is a book of hope. It encourages me when I see spiritual warfare literally happening all around me. Everything from suicide bombings in the beautiful nation of Uganda, which I love, to persecution to conflicts in relationships; I can see it so clearly for what it is. Satan cannot take our salvation so he will stop at nothing to discourage us, distract us, condemn us and accuse us! And the above verse encourages me so much because it tells me why all of this is happening, in our generation. Revelation reassures me that, yes, the enemy is mad, but even still, he is no match for God. God will win! God has already won; we have already won the victory because of Jesus death on the cross. It is finished!! The Babylon in which we live is getting worse and will continue to get worse. But the fact remains that God placed us here, in this generation for a purpose. We can survive and thrive here, as we keep our eyes focused on our King of kings, and what He has for us.
I love how, throughout scripture, God reveals just enough to us. He gives us the exact amount of wisdom that we need to live and then He speaks to us through His living, breathing Word. We are fully equipped and we must continually study His Word and pray without ceasing. That is our ultimate weapon in warfare. Honestly, I have so many things to pray about, I could pray without ceasing and still never cover them all.
God has recently opened my eyes to the great need for prayer. He has reminded me of so many more things I need to be praying for. Why do I try to fight this battle on my own strength? I need God in my every day! I need to pray more than I currently do! It is time for me to exercise my authority as a daughter of the King and fight, fight, fight with my greatest weapon, prayer! There are so many people I love, depending on my prayers!
We truly are warriors. As Rita Springer sings in her song, "Beautiful You"....
"God, who are you that you speak into our shame and you see a warrior. You see a mother on her knees and whisper that she will raise warriors."
My almost 7 year old daughter truly loves Jesus. She has compassion in her heart that comes from the Holy Spirit within her. Who knows what will occur in our world in her generation, all the more reason why we must raise warriors, who love Jesus!
God is good all the time. All the time God is good!
I believe that and I trust Him, no matter what!
7-12War broke out in Heaven. Michael and his Angels fought the Dragon. The Dragon and his Angels fought back, but were no match for Michael. They were cleared out of Heaven, not a sign of them left. The great Dragon—ancient Serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, the one who led the whole earth astray—thrown out, and all his Angels thrown out with him, thrown down to earth. Then I heard a strong voice out of Heaven saying,
Salvation and power are established!
Kingdom of our God, authority of his Messiah!
The Accuser of our brothers and sisters thrown out,
who accused them day and night before God.
They defeated him through the blood of the Lamb
and the bold word of their witness.
They weren't in love with themselves;
they were willing to die for Christ.
So rejoice, O Heavens, and all who live there,
but doom to earth and sea,
For the Devil's come down on you with both feet;
he's had a great fall;
He's wild and raging with anger;
he hasn't much time and he knows it.
13-17When the Dragon saw he'd been thrown to earth, he went after the Woman who had given birth to the Man-Child. The Woman was given wings of a great eagle to fly to a place in the desert to be kept in safety and comfort for a time and times and half a time, safe and sound from the Serpent. The Serpent vomited a river of water to swamp and drown her, but earth came to her help, swallowing the water the Dragon spewed from its mouth. Helpless with rage, the Dragon raged at the Woman, then went off to make war with the rest of her children, the children who keep God's commands and hold firm to the witness of Jesus."
I've heard many people say they are frightened at the book of Revelation, afraid to study it because it is too "weird". I am studying it, once again now and I agree, it is nothing short of a freaky sci-fi movie. Who knows why God chose to reveal just enough of it to us, much of it through symbolism so that could possibly get our minds around it. It really is a mystery!
But is not a book of fear, for children of God, it is a book of hope. It encourages me when I see spiritual warfare literally happening all around me. Everything from suicide bombings in the beautiful nation of Uganda, which I love, to persecution to conflicts in relationships; I can see it so clearly for what it is. Satan cannot take our salvation so he will stop at nothing to discourage us, distract us, condemn us and accuse us! And the above verse encourages me so much because it tells me why all of this is happening, in our generation. Revelation reassures me that, yes, the enemy is mad, but even still, he is no match for God. God will win! God has already won; we have already won the victory because of Jesus death on the cross. It is finished!! The Babylon in which we live is getting worse and will continue to get worse. But the fact remains that God placed us here, in this generation for a purpose. We can survive and thrive here, as we keep our eyes focused on our King of kings, and what He has for us.
I love how, throughout scripture, God reveals just enough to us. He gives us the exact amount of wisdom that we need to live and then He speaks to us through His living, breathing Word. We are fully equipped and we must continually study His Word and pray without ceasing. That is our ultimate weapon in warfare. Honestly, I have so many things to pray about, I could pray without ceasing and still never cover them all.
God has recently opened my eyes to the great need for prayer. He has reminded me of so many more things I need to be praying for. Why do I try to fight this battle on my own strength? I need God in my every day! I need to pray more than I currently do! It is time for me to exercise my authority as a daughter of the King and fight, fight, fight with my greatest weapon, prayer! There are so many people I love, depending on my prayers!
We truly are warriors. As Rita Springer sings in her song, "Beautiful You"....
"God, who are you that you speak into our shame and you see a warrior. You see a mother on her knees and whisper that she will raise warriors."
My almost 7 year old daughter truly loves Jesus. She has compassion in her heart that comes from the Holy Spirit within her. Who knows what will occur in our world in her generation, all the more reason why we must raise warriors, who love Jesus!
God is good all the time. All the time God is good!
I believe that and I trust Him, no matter what!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
God is moving in Uganda!
During my recent mission trip to Uganda, God opened the door to the opportunity of a lifetime for me to experience a place like no other, a LOVE like no other.
How do I find the words to describe something that forever changed my life?! I simply cannot! I anticipated being used by God to love on the people of Africa. But, what was so surprising was just how much God loved me, through them. It is a culture like no other, a community that is real, people who are genuine, through and through; who instantly love you and accept you, just the way you are. I now feel like I have been accepted into a brand new family there. I admit it was very hard to say good-bye! I’ve never felt so loved, so valued, so appreciated so fully alive - after all, serving others on behalf of Jesus Christ was what we were created to do, furthering His kingdom, right here on earth!
I can honestly say I’ve never encountered such devoted followers of Christ. Even the children blew me away by their spiritual maturity! They live such simple lives as they have none of the “things” that we have to distract us and pull us away from keeping our eyes focused on Jesus. Once they have received Him, He is all they’ve got!! It was amazingly refreshing!!
One thing is for sure, God is at work in Uganda. I saw, first hand, what a difference ICHOOSEYOU is making there! It really is working! It was astonishing to see the kids who are being sponsored through our organization, so full of joy and thriving and learning at Covenant Primary School. Then, to actually go to their huts in their village of Namatala, and see their absolute horrendous living conditions; it just blew me away! Talk about contentment, regardless of your circumstances! Through ICHOOSEYOU, God is giving children who have nothing, a future and a hope! Through ICHOOSEYOU, God is not only feeding children and families every day, He is raising up a new generation of citizens of Uganda who are motivated, educated and solid in their faith in Jesus Christ. I fully believe they have the potential to change the course of history for a land that has been completely hopeless for so long.
In the village of Namatala, among the Karamojong tribe, I saw poverty like I never imagined possible! I saw physical and emotional pain, untimely death, disease, unsanitary living conditions, unclean water, hunger and hopelessness. I saw mothers and children simply trying to survive another day; orphans and widows wondering if they will forever be forgotten. In spite of all of this, I still saw the face of Jesus there. I saw a spark of hope in the smiles of those whom I had the awesome privilege of sharing the Gospel with and leading them in the prayer of salvation. I saw hope in the laughter of the children and in the eyes of so many of their mothers who learned the new skill of sewing from another one of our amazing team members! They were beyond thrilled to realize they had what it took to learn a new trade that could ultimately generate income to feed their starving children. These women felt like they were actually worth something!! We got to tell them and show them that they are beautiful, they are worthy, they are special and God has a plan and a purpose for their lives.
In Uganda, God spoke to me, showing me that these are His people, they are His beloved! He adores them and sees each of them as His precious children. I now believe God took me there and allowed me to experience all of this, first-hand, to break my heart and fill it with compassion for His beautiful Africa. His intention was to fan into flame a new passion within me to continue to love and serve this tribe through communicating to people back home, the magnitude of their needs as well as the obvious success of ICHOOSEYOU and the potential it has to change even more lives.
While you may never be called to actually go to Africa, you can still play an active role in saving a child’s life. Currently, IChooseYou has sponsored 30 children in the Namatala village of 7,000 people (4,000 of those, by the way, are children). There are so many more lives yet to be changed. I am asking you to please prayerfully consider becoming a sponsor of an ICHOOSEYOU kid. Being a sponsor really does matter. As a sponsor, you are literally coming alongside the parent(s) and assisting them in the raising of their child, providing for their child in ways they simply cannot, but wish they could. I can’t even begin to tell you what it was like to meet my little 5-year old ICHOOSEYOU kid, Mudua Irene and her family. The overwhelming gratitude I felt from her and especially from her mother was almost more than I could handle, emotionally. Little Mudua is like a second daughter to me now! Because of my family, she has now been given a chance to get out of that vicious cycle of poverty that is all too familiar to her people. For whatever reason, God has chosen her and placed her in our path and He has a plan for her life!
For just $45 per month, you too can literally change the course of not only the life of a child, but of their entire family and thus be a part of changing the future of an entire village! This volunteer managed organization is small and I can personally assure you that 100% of your money goes directly to these children covering the cost of their schooling, uniforms, food and hygiene provisions for their family each month, 2 medical check-ups each year as well Doctor visits as the need arises. When many of the kids contracted tough cases of Malaria this past year, ICHOOSEYOU made sure they were taken to the local clinic and/or hospital to receive the necessary medication and care. It is amazing how much further our dollar stretches in Uganda as compared to America. To learn more about how you can get involved, please visit www.ichooseyou.net. You can also get more detailed stories of our trip, as it happened by viewing our blog at www.ichooseyou2010.blogspot.com.
What a privileged work this trip was. What an amazing gift from God that I will treasure in my heart as long as I live. Again, the prayers of my family, friends and supporters played a crucial role in this whole experience and so it would not have been possible if it weren’t for you and so I thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart! I thank you for having compassion for this cause. I thank you for loving me and for believing in me and believing in what I am passionate about. You were just as much a part of this trip as I was. It was truly a team effort. God placed you on my team and what an honor it is to call you my friend!! May God bless you and your family! May He honor your precious heart!
Love in Christ,
Brandi
"For you are a holy people, who belong to the LORD your God. Of all the people on earth, God has chosen you to be His own special treasure.” Deuteronomy 7:6
Monday, June 14, 2010
God is alive in Africa
Ok, here is what has been going on in my life lately.........view....
http://ichooseyou2010.blogspot.com/
to see how God is working in Africa!! What a privileged work He calls us to!!
http://ichooseyou2010.blogspot.com/
to see how God is working in Africa!! What a privileged work He calls us to!!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Happy Mother's Day!
Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
Ephesians 1:3-6
Just think—you don't need a thing, you've got it all! All God's gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.
1 Corinthians 1:7-9
As I sat in my bed this Mother's Day morning, reading my Bible, having had my coffee, my breakfast and various special home-made cards, (handwritten and decorated by my precious little ones)brought to me, I just so "happened" to come across these two beautiful passages of scripture. I realized just how many wonderful gifts I truly have. My wonderful, Godly husband, my two precious children, my family, my friends, my house, my church, my relationship with Jesus, Himself, my hope, my peace......it's all because Jesus has so lavishly given them to me. His grace is all I need and He has graced me with every gift I have! The very gift of being a mother; it is ALL because of Him! I had none of this before I had Him. He is the very best gift I could ever receive. The best part is it is mine, forever and ever and ever!! His love NEVER runs out!!
Receive His gift of grace this Mother's Day and every day!
Happy Mother's Day!
Ephesians 1:3-6
Just think—you don't need a thing, you've got it all! All God's gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.
1 Corinthians 1:7-9
As I sat in my bed this Mother's Day morning, reading my Bible, having had my coffee, my breakfast and various special home-made cards, (handwritten and decorated by my precious little ones)brought to me, I just so "happened" to come across these two beautiful passages of scripture. I realized just how many wonderful gifts I truly have. My wonderful, Godly husband, my two precious children, my family, my friends, my house, my church, my relationship with Jesus, Himself, my hope, my peace......it's all because Jesus has so lavishly given them to me. His grace is all I need and He has graced me with every gift I have! The very gift of being a mother; it is ALL because of Him! I had none of this before I had Him. He is the very best gift I could ever receive. The best part is it is mine, forever and ever and ever!! His love NEVER runs out!!
Receive His gift of grace this Mother's Day and every day!
Happy Mother's Day!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
His seal of ownership
"Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
Monday, March 29, 2010
We have great worth
You have great worth, APART FROM YOUR PERFORMANCE because Jesus Christ gave His life for you and, therefore, imparted great value to you. You are deeply loved, fully pleasing, totally forgiven, accepted, and complete in Christ!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Children of God
1 John 3:1 (New International Version)
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."
The very idea that I am actually a child of God just astonishes me. The One who set the billions of stars in place also loves me, enough to call me His very child! I am his child, really, His precious, beautiful child! Could I ever fully get my mind around that thought?
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."
The very idea that I am actually a child of God just astonishes me. The One who set the billions of stars in place also loves me, enough to call me His very child! I am his child, really, His precious, beautiful child! Could I ever fully get my mind around that thought?
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
God will not leave them thirsty................
Isaiah 41:17-20.......(The Message)
"The poor and homeless are desperate for water,
their tongues parched and no water to be found.
But I'm there to be found, I'm there for them,
and I, God of Israel, will not leave them thirsty.
I'll open up rivers for them on the barren hills,
spout fountains in the valleys.
I'll turn the baked-clay badlands into a cool pond,
the waterless waste into splashing creeks.
I'll plant the red cedar in that treeless wasteland,
also acacia, myrtle, and olive.
I'll place the cypress in the desert,
with plenty of oaks and pines.
Everyone will see this. No one can miss it—
unavoidable, indisputable evidence
That I, God, personally did this.
It's created and signed by The Holy of Israel."
"The poor and homeless are desperate for water,
their tongues parched and no water to be found.
But I'm there to be found, I'm there for them,
and I, God of Israel, will not leave them thirsty.
I'll open up rivers for them on the barren hills,
spout fountains in the valleys.
I'll turn the baked-clay badlands into a cool pond,
the waterless waste into splashing creeks.
I'll plant the red cedar in that treeless wasteland,
also acacia, myrtle, and olive.
I'll place the cypress in the desert,
with plenty of oaks and pines.
Everyone will see this. No one can miss it—
unavoidable, indisputable evidence
That I, God, personally did this.
It's created and signed by The Holy of Israel."
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Life is too short!
"As for me, I am tired of talking about what we are going to do. I am sick of talking about helping people, of brainstorming and conferencing about ways we can be radical and make sacrifices. I don't want to merely talk anymore. Life is too short. I don't want to speak about Jesus; I want to know Jesus. I want to be Jesus to people. I don't want to just to write about the Holy Spirit; I want to experience His presence in my life in a profound way."
- Francis Chan, Forgotten God
- Francis Chan, Forgotten God
Monday, February 8, 2010
Urgent Message from Jesus
John 5:24-27 (The Message)
24"It's urgent that you listen carefully to this: Anyone here who believes what I am saying right now and aligns himself with the Father, who has in fact put me in charge, has at this very moment the real, lasting life and is no longer condemned to be an outsider. This person has taken a giant step from the world of the dead to the world of the living.
25-27"It's urgent that you get this right: The time has arrived—I mean right now!—when dead men and women will hear the voice of the Son of God and, hearing, will come alive. Just as the Father has life in himself, he has conferred on the Son life in himself. And he has given him the authority, simply because he is the Son of Man, to decide and carry out matters of Judgment.
Wow, this verse just grabbed me this morning. I love The Message translation of this one, and how twice, it emphasizes the word URGENT. This message from Jesus truly is urgent and I think so often times we forget that. If Jesus said it, then I'm taking it as truth. He thought it was important enough to emphasize the fact that it is time, now, to accept Him and believe in Him. I don't just think He is saying that we will have lasting life in eternity, with Him, at the moment we accept Him. I think He is saying that we will have real and lasting life now.......once in Him, we enter into our REAL life, the one He intended for us all along. The one full of passion for Him because of His amazing love for us; which fuels compassion for others in need......which gives us the courage we need to step out there and really serve them, really! Something that others would label as radical! To stretch ourselves to do what we think we cannot! The Holy Spirit does the serving and the loving through us! How awesome is that?!? He knows we cannot keep His commands on our own strength so, if we allow Him to, He enters into us and does it for us!
Incredible that just by believing Him, He not only equips us but motivates us to do His will, now, while we are on earth, as it is, and will be in Heaven! Doing His will here, is a picture, a preview of what Heaven will be like. Perhaps that is why we feel so "pumped" when we are doing something for God!
What an amazing life! There is nothing on this earth that should not be worth giving up in order to step into this life with Him. We can trust Him, He knows us better than we know ourselves! He is worth it!
The grass truly is greener on the other side with Jesus!!
These verses in John are an invitation for us to enter into this life with Christ and he is saying that all we have to do is BELIEVE!!
24"It's urgent that you listen carefully to this: Anyone here who believes what I am saying right now and aligns himself with the Father, who has in fact put me in charge, has at this very moment the real, lasting life and is no longer condemned to be an outsider. This person has taken a giant step from the world of the dead to the world of the living.
25-27"It's urgent that you get this right: The time has arrived—I mean right now!—when dead men and women will hear the voice of the Son of God and, hearing, will come alive. Just as the Father has life in himself, he has conferred on the Son life in himself. And he has given him the authority, simply because he is the Son of Man, to decide and carry out matters of Judgment.
Wow, this verse just grabbed me this morning. I love The Message translation of this one, and how twice, it emphasizes the word URGENT. This message from Jesus truly is urgent and I think so often times we forget that. If Jesus said it, then I'm taking it as truth. He thought it was important enough to emphasize the fact that it is time, now, to accept Him and believe in Him. I don't just think He is saying that we will have lasting life in eternity, with Him, at the moment we accept Him. I think He is saying that we will have real and lasting life now.......once in Him, we enter into our REAL life, the one He intended for us all along. The one full of passion for Him because of His amazing love for us; which fuels compassion for others in need......which gives us the courage we need to step out there and really serve them, really! Something that others would label as radical! To stretch ourselves to do what we think we cannot! The Holy Spirit does the serving and the loving through us! How awesome is that?!? He knows we cannot keep His commands on our own strength so, if we allow Him to, He enters into us and does it for us!
Incredible that just by believing Him, He not only equips us but motivates us to do His will, now, while we are on earth, as it is, and will be in Heaven! Doing His will here, is a picture, a preview of what Heaven will be like. Perhaps that is why we feel so "pumped" when we are doing something for God!
What an amazing life! There is nothing on this earth that should not be worth giving up in order to step into this life with Him. We can trust Him, He knows us better than we know ourselves! He is worth it!
The grass truly is greener on the other side with Jesus!!
These verses in John are an invitation for us to enter into this life with Christ and he is saying that all we have to do is BELIEVE!!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Just Stop And Think
Just Stop And Think.....
"Day in and day out, we find ourselves in the monotony of life; self help books, work, family, friends, cars, house, medications. Most of us are simply trying to life a "normal life." Have you ever found yourself wondering whether or not the goal of life should be normalcy? Now is the time to Stop and Think."
http://www.crazylovebook.com/videos_stop.html
- Francis Chan, Crazy Love
"Day in and day out, we find ourselves in the monotony of life; self help books, work, family, friends, cars, house, medications. Most of us are simply trying to life a "normal life." Have you ever found yourself wondering whether or not the goal of life should be normalcy? Now is the time to Stop and Think."
http://www.crazylovebook.com/videos_stop.html
- Francis Chan, Crazy Love
Monday, February 1, 2010
"The Awe Factor of God"
This video shows us how incredibly huge God and His creation really is! In case we ever think that this life is "all about us", this video reminds us that it is truly, all about Him, the wonderful Creator we worship!
http://www.crazylovebook.com/videos_awe.html
http://www.crazylovebook.com/videos_awe.html
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Homeless but not hopeless!!
Last night, I had the awesome opportunity to serve a meal with my small group from my church to about 40 homeless people at a local homeless shelter. I feel compelled to share my reflections on what took place there. I don't think the magnitude of it hit me until I slept on it! I woke up this morning, absolutely overwhelmed and broken with compassion. After we served, my family and I then got into our nice car and headed over to a restaurant to eat dinner and then stopped at the grocery store to spend some money there and then drove home to our nice little, cozy home. I took a shower in my nice hot shower with awesome water pressure, put on my soft jammies that I got for Christmas and then crawled into my super-comfy bed and rested so comfortably under my fluffy down comforter! I thought about how those people don't get to do that! I mean, where did they go this morning after they got to sleep in the shelter last night? What are they doing right now? Where did the woman with the newborn baby go today? What about the girl expecting a baby?!? I mean seriously, I cannot imagine one day in a homeless person's shoes!
Last night, I saw people, who simply needed to receive mercy. Sure, many of them could have made, and may still be making poor decisions to end up in the state they are in today. But just like me, in many ways, my life was one giant poor decision, until I met Jesus! But Jesus is exactly what they all need and I believe Jesus is what they got last night. They did not receive a spirit of religion or judgment from us, they received regular people just loving them and giving them something they need - FOOD!! It was such a privilege to work alongside some amazing servants of Jesus Christ last night, witnessing such amazing grace in action!
Jesus, He's where it's at and it is my prayer that seeds of love and hope were planted last night and that these people would somehow, turn to the one person who can truly pull them out of their pits, just like He did for me!
Psalm 40
1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.
4 Blessed is the man
who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods. [a]
5 Many, O LORD my God,
are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us
no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare.
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but my ears you have pierced [b] , [c] ;
burnt offerings and sin offerings
you did not require.
7 Then I said, "Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll. [d]
8 I desire to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart."
9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips,
as you know, O LORD.
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.
I do not conceal your love and your truth
from the great assembly.
11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD;
may your love and your truth always protect me.
12 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.
13 Be pleased, O LORD, to save me;
O LORD, come quickly to help me.
14 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.
15 May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!"
be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation always say,
"The LORD be exalted!"
17 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.
Last night, I saw people, who simply needed to receive mercy. Sure, many of them could have made, and may still be making poor decisions to end up in the state they are in today. But just like me, in many ways, my life was one giant poor decision, until I met Jesus! But Jesus is exactly what they all need and I believe Jesus is what they got last night. They did not receive a spirit of religion or judgment from us, they received regular people just loving them and giving them something they need - FOOD!! It was such a privilege to work alongside some amazing servants of Jesus Christ last night, witnessing such amazing grace in action!
Jesus, He's where it's at and it is my prayer that seeds of love and hope were planted last night and that these people would somehow, turn to the one person who can truly pull them out of their pits, just like He did for me!
Psalm 40
1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.
4 Blessed is the man
who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods. [a]
5 Many, O LORD my God,
are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us
no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare.
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but my ears you have pierced [b] , [c] ;
burnt offerings and sin offerings
you did not require.
7 Then I said, "Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll. [d]
8 I desire to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart."
9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips,
as you know, O LORD.
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.
I do not conceal your love and your truth
from the great assembly.
11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD;
may your love and your truth always protect me.
12 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.
13 Be pleased, O LORD, to save me;
O LORD, come quickly to help me.
14 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.
15 May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!"
be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation always say,
"The LORD be exalted!"
17 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.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
God is eveywhere
"We cannot go where God is not. Look over your shoulder; that's God following you. Look into the storm,; that's Christ coming toward you."
- Max Lucado
- Max Lucado
Monday, January 4, 2010
God's chariot for you
"We have to be brought to the place where all other refuges fail us before we can say "He only." We say, "He and - something else," "He and my experience," or "He and my church relationships," or "He and my Christian work"; and all that comes after the "and" must be taken away from us or must be proved useless before we can come to the "He only." As long as visible chariots are at hand, the soul will not mount into the invisible ones.
Let us be thankful, then, for every trial that will help to destroy our earthly chariots and that will compel us to take refuge in the chariot of God which stands ready and waiting beside us in every event and circumstance of life. We are told that "God rideth upon the heavens"; and if we would ride with Him there, we need to be brought to the end of all riding upon the earth.
Joseph had a revelation of his future triumphs and reigning, but the chariots that carried him there looked to the eye of sense like dreadful Juggernaut cars of failure and defeat. Slavery and imprisonment are strange chariots to take one to a kingdom, and yet by no other way could Joseph have reached his exaltation. And our exaltation to the spiritual throne that awaits us is often reached by similar chariots.
The great point, then, is to have our eyes opened to see in everything that comes to us a "chariot of God," and to learn how to mount into these chariots. We must recognize each thing that comes to us as being really God's chariot for us and must accept it as from Him. He does not command or originate the thing, perhaps; but the moment we put it into His hands, it becomes His, and He at once turns it into a chariot for us. He makes all things, even bad things, work together for good to all those who trust Him. All He needs is to have it entirely committed to Him.
When your trial comes, then, put it right into the will of God and climb into that will as a little child climbs into its mother's arms. The baby carried in the chariot of its mother's arms rides triumphantly through the hardest places and does not even know they are hard. And how much more we, who are carried in the chariot of the "arms of God:!
Get into your chariot, then. Take each thing that is wrong in your lives as God's chariot for you. No matter who the builder of the wrong may be, whether men or devils, by the time it reaches your side it is God's chariot for you and is meant to carry you to a heavenly place of triumph. Shut out all the second causes and find the Lord in it. Say, "Lord, open my eyes that I may see, not the visible enemy, but Thy unseen chariots of deliverance."
- Hannah Whitall Smith, (1832 - 1911)
Let us be thankful, then, for every trial that will help to destroy our earthly chariots and that will compel us to take refuge in the chariot of God which stands ready and waiting beside us in every event and circumstance of life. We are told that "God rideth upon the heavens"; and if we would ride with Him there, we need to be brought to the end of all riding upon the earth.
Joseph had a revelation of his future triumphs and reigning, but the chariots that carried him there looked to the eye of sense like dreadful Juggernaut cars of failure and defeat. Slavery and imprisonment are strange chariots to take one to a kingdom, and yet by no other way could Joseph have reached his exaltation. And our exaltation to the spiritual throne that awaits us is often reached by similar chariots.
The great point, then, is to have our eyes opened to see in everything that comes to us a "chariot of God," and to learn how to mount into these chariots. We must recognize each thing that comes to us as being really God's chariot for us and must accept it as from Him. He does not command or originate the thing, perhaps; but the moment we put it into His hands, it becomes His, and He at once turns it into a chariot for us. He makes all things, even bad things, work together for good to all those who trust Him. All He needs is to have it entirely committed to Him.
When your trial comes, then, put it right into the will of God and climb into that will as a little child climbs into its mother's arms. The baby carried in the chariot of its mother's arms rides triumphantly through the hardest places and does not even know they are hard. And how much more we, who are carried in the chariot of the "arms of God:!
Get into your chariot, then. Take each thing that is wrong in your lives as God's chariot for you. No matter who the builder of the wrong may be, whether men or devils, by the time it reaches your side it is God's chariot for you and is meant to carry you to a heavenly place of triumph. Shut out all the second causes and find the Lord in it. Say, "Lord, open my eyes that I may see, not the visible enemy, but Thy unseen chariots of deliverance."
- Hannah Whitall Smith, (1832 - 1911)
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