2 Corinthians 4:6
"He has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ."
- We were created for God's glory, created for the purpose of giving Christ's invisible character a glimpse of visibility.
- We fulfill what we were meant to be when God is recognizable in us.
- However, we have no hope of God's glory if not for the indwelling Spirit of Christ that comes to us at salvation.
- After that, a life that glorifies God or makes Him recognizable is a process that ideally progresses with time and maturity.
If we grasp the eternal consequences of such a destiny, we would want to do anything possible to make sure all our hindrances are removed in order to glorify Him daily and faithfully.
- Beth Moore
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Jesus..............The Faithful One
Jesus - The Faithful One
The confidence we have ....
the trust we hold .....
the hope we carry ....
rest in His faithfulness.
Every promise He has made
He purposes to fulfill.
He has the authority to
accomplish all He has spoken.
His power is limitless ....
His character changeless ....
His love endless!
(from a Christmas card from my Aunt Mary....by Dayspring)
The confidence we have ....
the trust we hold .....
the hope we carry ....
rest in His faithfulness.
Every promise He has made
He purposes to fulfill.
He has the authority to
accomplish all He has spoken.
His power is limitless ....
His character changeless ....
His love endless!
(from a Christmas card from my Aunt Mary....by Dayspring)
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
O my soul, bless God!
Psalm 103 (The Message)
1-2 O my soul, bless God. From head to toe, I'll bless his holy name!
O my soul, bless God, don't forget a single blessing!
3-5 He forgives your sins—every one.
He heals your diseases—every one.
He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
He renews your youth—you're always young in his presence.
6-18 God makes everything come out right;
he puts victims back on their feet.
He showed Moses how he went about his work,
opened up his plans to all Israel.
God is sheer mercy and grace;
not easily angered, he's rich in love.
He doesn't endlessly nag and scold,
nor hold grudges forever.
He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve,
nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
As high as heaven is over the earth,
so strong is his love to those who fear him.
And as far as sunrise is from sunset,
he has separated us from our sins.
As parents feel for their children,
God feels for those who fear him.
He knows us inside and out,
keeps in mind that we're made of mud.
Men and women don't live very long;
like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,
But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly,
leaving nothing to show they were here.
God's love, though, is ever and always,
eternally present to all who fear him,
Making everything right for them and their children
as they follow his Covenant ways
and remember to do whatever he said.
19-22 God has set his throne in heaven;
he rules over us all. He's the King!
So bless God, you angels,
ready and able to fly at his bidding,
quick to hear and do what he says.
Bless God, all you armies of angels,
alert to respond to whatever he wills.
Bless God, all creatures, wherever you are—
everything and everyone made by God.
And you, O my soul, bless God!
Merry Christmas to you all!
Enjoy God's greatest gift to us:
Emmanuel - "God with us!"
1-2 O my soul, bless God. From head to toe, I'll bless his holy name!
O my soul, bless God, don't forget a single blessing!
3-5 He forgives your sins—every one.
He heals your diseases—every one.
He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
He renews your youth—you're always young in his presence.
6-18 God makes everything come out right;
he puts victims back on their feet.
He showed Moses how he went about his work,
opened up his plans to all Israel.
God is sheer mercy and grace;
not easily angered, he's rich in love.
He doesn't endlessly nag and scold,
nor hold grudges forever.
He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve,
nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
As high as heaven is over the earth,
so strong is his love to those who fear him.
And as far as sunrise is from sunset,
he has separated us from our sins.
As parents feel for their children,
God feels for those who fear him.
He knows us inside and out,
keeps in mind that we're made of mud.
Men and women don't live very long;
like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,
But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly,
leaving nothing to show they were here.
God's love, though, is ever and always,
eternally present to all who fear him,
Making everything right for them and their children
as they follow his Covenant ways
and remember to do whatever he said.
19-22 God has set his throne in heaven;
he rules over us all. He's the King!
So bless God, you angels,
ready and able to fly at his bidding,
quick to hear and do what he says.
Bless God, all you armies of angels,
alert to respond to whatever he wills.
Bless God, all creatures, wherever you are—
everything and everyone made by God.
And you, O my soul, bless God!
Merry Christmas to you all!
Enjoy God's greatest gift to us:
Emmanuel - "God with us!"
Monday, December 22, 2008
OPEN BEFORE CHRISTMAS!
"I Saw Many Gifts Being Earmarked - OPEN BEFORE CHRISTMAS!"
By Bill Yount
Dec 19, 2008
"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant...(the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues and interpretation of tongues)." 1 Corinthians 12:1, 8-10
"A man's gift makes room for him." Proverbs 18:16
I Saw Many Gifts that Even Christmas Couldn't Wait For to Be Opened!
Are you noticing lately that you are being set up to be in the right place at the right time with the right person to minister to them? In everyday life and traveling, I will just happen to sit down beside someone who is either sick or starts talking about their troubles that are overwhelming them. I sense that our "spiritual" gifts are being activated by the great needs of people this hour all around us. I believe that our gifts are now making room for us to influence many people who, up until now, we would not have reached. But now people are so much in need that they are being drawn to us, and their great need for the Lord is actually activating the gifts that God has put within us to minister to them.
Don't Let the Size of Your Gift or What it is Wrapped in Fool You!
I remember as a child growing up that I just couldn't wait until Christmas to open at least one of my gifts under the tree. I remember our mother would say, "Go ask your father first!" We children would keep asking Dad until he would finally give in; and as years went by, it became a family tradition at our home that we could open one gift of our choice before Christmas!
I sense our Heavenly Father saying, "Yes, you may open some of your gifts before Christmas!"
"And Samuel said (to Saul), 'When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?'" 1 Samuel 15:17 (emphasis added).
When I knew that I could open that one gift before Christmas, I would take my time and study the size of the gift, and even the wrapping paper it was wrapped in. Sometimes I was fooled by the size, for some of my most treasured gifts often came in a smaller box with just "plain" wrapping paper.
Many times when ministering to people, I am first challenged by my own size, spiritually speaking. I sense so often my unworthiness and inability, and so many times the enemy still says, "Who do you think you are?" I know God has given me certain gifts to bless others with, but there have been times that my own "wrapping paper" (the earthen vessel), which surrounds my gift, gets in the way and hinders God's gift from getting outside of me to others.
I sense the Lord saying to many of us, "Don't let the size of your gift or the wrapping paper, which surrounds My gift inside of you, fool you. Don't let it stop you anymore. Get past the wrapping paper of your lives and let your gifts out. Remember, "...we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of ourselves!" (2 Corinthians 4:7).
We also need to get past the wrapping paper that others are wrapped in to see the treasure God has placed within each of their lives. Many times we are called to dig for that treasure in others, which is often hidden like diamonds in the rough.
The Gift of "Helps" May be the Most "Powerful" Gift on Earth Needed Right Now!
"And God hath set some in the Church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues" 1 Corinthians 12:28 (emphasis added).
It's interesting that the gift of "helps" is placed by the Holy Spirit in the same category of importance as the apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, healings, diversities of tongues, HELPS, and governments. The governments of the world are now crying out, "Help!" Often we get the cart before the horse when it comes to spiritual giftings and callings. Sometimes it's possible to want to show off a gift or a calling God has given us without a real burden or compassion for people. I sense the more desire I have to just help someone, the more the other spiritual gifts begin to be activated, and God takes over from there!
Like a "Salt Shaker," God's House is Being Shaken to Get Us Out Where Our Gifts are Truly Needed..."To Be the Salt of the World!"
I sense the greater the need for our gifts, the easier it will be to open them. Be sensitive as you walk into the marketplace, the hospitals, the rescue missions, the prisons, the streets - from the guttermost to the highest society places on earth. The needs inside of people will begin to untie that pretty bow on your gift and begin to tear and rip that colorful wrapping paper off of you to get to the "gift" God has placed within you for their hour of crises!
Some might just tear a hole in the roof of your nice house or knock your front door down or ring your phone off the hook to get an answer of the hope that is within you! I sense God's house is being shaken in this hour like a "salt shaker" to get us out where our gifts are truly needed - "to be the salt of the world!"
Go ahead, open up your gifts now! Don't wait until Christmas. Christmas can't wait! What the world needs "now" is something that money cannot buy...give them Jesus!
ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
By Bill Yount
Dec 19, 2008
"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant...(the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues and interpretation of tongues)." 1 Corinthians 12:1, 8-10
"A man's gift makes room for him." Proverbs 18:16
I Saw Many Gifts that Even Christmas Couldn't Wait For to Be Opened!
Are you noticing lately that you are being set up to be in the right place at the right time with the right person to minister to them? In everyday life and traveling, I will just happen to sit down beside someone who is either sick or starts talking about their troubles that are overwhelming them. I sense that our "spiritual" gifts are being activated by the great needs of people this hour all around us. I believe that our gifts are now making room for us to influence many people who, up until now, we would not have reached. But now people are so much in need that they are being drawn to us, and their great need for the Lord is actually activating the gifts that God has put within us to minister to them.
Don't Let the Size of Your Gift or What it is Wrapped in Fool You!
I remember as a child growing up that I just couldn't wait until Christmas to open at least one of my gifts under the tree. I remember our mother would say, "Go ask your father first!" We children would keep asking Dad until he would finally give in; and as years went by, it became a family tradition at our home that we could open one gift of our choice before Christmas!
I sense our Heavenly Father saying, "Yes, you may open some of your gifts before Christmas!"
"And Samuel said (to Saul), 'When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?'" 1 Samuel 15:17 (emphasis added).
When I knew that I could open that one gift before Christmas, I would take my time and study the size of the gift, and even the wrapping paper it was wrapped in. Sometimes I was fooled by the size, for some of my most treasured gifts often came in a smaller box with just "plain" wrapping paper.
Many times when ministering to people, I am first challenged by my own size, spiritually speaking. I sense so often my unworthiness and inability, and so many times the enemy still says, "Who do you think you are?" I know God has given me certain gifts to bless others with, but there have been times that my own "wrapping paper" (the earthen vessel), which surrounds my gift, gets in the way and hinders God's gift from getting outside of me to others.
I sense the Lord saying to many of us, "Don't let the size of your gift or the wrapping paper, which surrounds My gift inside of you, fool you. Don't let it stop you anymore. Get past the wrapping paper of your lives and let your gifts out. Remember, "...we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of ourselves!" (2 Corinthians 4:7).
We also need to get past the wrapping paper that others are wrapped in to see the treasure God has placed within each of their lives. Many times we are called to dig for that treasure in others, which is often hidden like diamonds in the rough.
The Gift of "Helps" May be the Most "Powerful" Gift on Earth Needed Right Now!
"And God hath set some in the Church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues" 1 Corinthians 12:28 (emphasis added).
It's interesting that the gift of "helps" is placed by the Holy Spirit in the same category of importance as the apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, healings, diversities of tongues, HELPS, and governments. The governments of the world are now crying out, "Help!" Often we get the cart before the horse when it comes to spiritual giftings and callings. Sometimes it's possible to want to show off a gift or a calling God has given us without a real burden or compassion for people. I sense the more desire I have to just help someone, the more the other spiritual gifts begin to be activated, and God takes over from there!
Like a "Salt Shaker," God's House is Being Shaken to Get Us Out Where Our Gifts are Truly Needed..."To Be the Salt of the World!"
I sense the greater the need for our gifts, the easier it will be to open them. Be sensitive as you walk into the marketplace, the hospitals, the rescue missions, the prisons, the streets - from the guttermost to the highest society places on earth. The needs inside of people will begin to untie that pretty bow on your gift and begin to tear and rip that colorful wrapping paper off of you to get to the "gift" God has placed within you for their hour of crises!
Some might just tear a hole in the roof of your nice house or knock your front door down or ring your phone off the hook to get an answer of the hope that is within you! I sense God's house is being shaken in this hour like a "salt shaker" to get us out where our gifts are truly needed - "to be the salt of the world!"
Go ahead, open up your gifts now! Don't wait until Christmas. Christmas can't wait! What the world needs "now" is something that money cannot buy...give them Jesus!
ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Sunday, December 21, 2008
God blesses those who...............
Matthew 5:1-12 (New Living Translation)
The Sermon on the Mount
"One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them.
This is what he taught them: (The Beattitudes)
God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied.
God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too."
This is awesome!!
The Sermon on the Mount
"One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them.
This is what he taught them: (The Beattitudes)
God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied.
God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too."
This is awesome!!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Laminin
A doctor-friend wrote:
A couple of days ago I was running (I use that term very loosely) on my treadmill, watching a DVD sermon by Louie Giglio...and I was BLOWN AWAY! I want to share what I learned....but I fear not being able to convey it as well as I want. I will share anyway.
He (Louie) was talking about how inconceivably BIG our God is...how He spoke the universe into being...how He breathes stars out of His mouth that are huge raging balls of fire...etc. etc. Then He went on to speak of how this star-breathing, universe creating God ALSO knitted our human bodies together with amazing detail and wonder. At this point I am LOVING it (fascinating from a medical standpoint, you know.) ....and I was remembering how I was constantly amazed during medical school as I learned more and more about God's handiwork. I remember so many times thinking....'How can ANYONE deny that a Creator did all of this???'
Louie went on to talk about how we can trust that the God who created all this, also has the power to hold it all together when things seem to be falling apart...how our loving Creator is also our sustainer.
And then I lost my breath. And it wasn't because I was running my treadmill, either!!!
It was because he started talking about laminin. I knew about laminin. Here is how wikipedia describes them :
Laminins are a family of proteins that are an integral part of the structural scaffolding of basement membranes in almost every animal tissue.' You see....laminins are what hold us together....LITERALLY. They are cell adhesion molecules. They are what holds one cell of our bodies to the next cell. Without them, we would literally fall apart.
And I knew all this already. But what I didn't know is what laminin LOOKED LIKE. But now I do. And I have thought about it a thousand times since (already). The above image is what the structure of laminin looks like...AND THIS IS NOT a 'Christian portrayal' of it....if you look up laminin in any scientific/medical piece of literature, this is what you will see.
Now tell me that our God is not the coolest!!! Amazing. The glue that holds us together...ALL of us....is in the shape of the cross. Immediately this verse comes to mind:
Colossians 1:15-17
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth , visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things,
and in him all things HOLD TOGETHER. "
Call me crazy. I just think that is very, very, very cool. Thousands of years before the world knew anything about laminin, Paul penned those words. And now we see that from a very LITERAL standpoint, we are held together...one cell to another....by the cross.
You would never in a quadrillion years convince me that is anything other than the mark of a Creator who knew EXACTLY what laminin 'glue' would look like long before Adam even breathed his first breath!!
Here is the link to Louie Giglio message on Laminin. It is amazing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e4zgJXPpI4
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
The Word became flesh
John 1:1-5 (New Living Translation)
"In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it."
"The Word" explained here is, of course, Jesus. This is the truth about Jesus, He is the foundation of all truth. If we cannot or do not believe this basic truth, we will not have enough faith to trust our eternal destiny to Him. (New Living Translation commentary)
John 1:14 (The Message)
"The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish."
So, God, decided to make his home among us, to "move into the neighborhood" of this world. While He came to this earth and took upon himself full humanity and lived as a man, He never ceased to be the eternal God who has always existed, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, and the source of eternal life. (New Living Translation commentary)
Revelation 1:8 (New Living Translation)
“I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,”says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”
So, Jesus has always existed, with God, before the foundation of the world. He always was and always will be. In my opinion, Jesus is the only one we can attach the descriptive word "forever" to.
Forever and always, He will be!
"In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it."
"The Word" explained here is, of course, Jesus. This is the truth about Jesus, He is the foundation of all truth. If we cannot or do not believe this basic truth, we will not have enough faith to trust our eternal destiny to Him. (New Living Translation commentary)
John 1:14 (The Message)
"The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish."
So, God, decided to make his home among us, to "move into the neighborhood" of this world. While He came to this earth and took upon himself full humanity and lived as a man, He never ceased to be the eternal God who has always existed, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, and the source of eternal life. (New Living Translation commentary)
Revelation 1:8 (New Living Translation)
“I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,”says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”
So, Jesus has always existed, with God, before the foundation of the world. He always was and always will be. In my opinion, Jesus is the only one we can attach the descriptive word "forever" to.
Forever and always, He will be!
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