I Wait For You Lord, To Show Me The Way,
To Feel Your Loving Presence In My Heart.
I Long For You, Like I Desire Water And Rest;
I Look At My Life Like An Adventure That Has No Resolution
Without You.
I Am At Peace, Because I Have Your Name;
You Name Gives Me Peace And I Can Rest In You.
Your Love Is Deeper than the Widest Ocean,
And I Have Yet To Explore Its Depths.
You Keep Me Safely In Your Arms, And
You Have Placed Your Name Into My Heart.
When I Am Afraid, I Seek Out Your Name,
In My Times Of Sorrow, I Lift Up Your Name
And Speak It From My Lips;
When I Have An Issue, I Remember That I Have You,
And I Begin To Pray And Worship In Your Presence,
And You Come Down To See About Me, You Fill Me
With Your Love, And You Bring Hope To My Heart.
I Know Then, When Your Spirit Swells Within Me,
That You Will Answer My Prayer, And I Will
Wait Patiently For Its Manisfestation, And
While I Wait, I WILL PRAISE YOUR NAME.
I WILL PRAISE YOUR NAME, When I am Afraid,
I WILL PRAISE YOUR NAME, When Everyone Else Forsakes Me,
I WILL PRAISE YOUR NAME, When I Cannot See How I Will Survive Another Day,
I WILL PRAISE YOUR NAME, When I Feel Your Spirit Moving In My Heart,
I WILL PRAISE YOUR NAME, When I Am Happy And Filled With Joy,
I WILL PRAISE YOUR NAME!!
Friday, February 10, 2017
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Prayer For The Coming Of Spring
Lord, we give you thanks for your mercy and your Glory,
The Glory that gives us new life and new hope,
for we are so blessed to be in your presence,
there is no one like you.
We give your name all the honor, all the glory, all the praise,
Glory to your name forever and ever.
Lord, I ask that you bless your people,
with your grace and favor,
as we wait for the reawakening in the hearts of men;
we stand ready to accept your plans for our lives,
as we wait for the coming of spring.
We wait eagerly for the the first buds of life,
and the first flowers of spring,
we desire the warm air and the warm sun on our backs, and the
sweet singing of the birds in the trees.
Yes, everyone knows when spring has arrived, and so it shall
be with the great awakening;
when you shall bring life from the dead,
and your ressurection power will show the way out of
the path of darkness. You will bring new life
to every country, region, and corner of the earth,
and everyone shall know your name.
Yes, we wait patiently for the awesome move of the Spirit,
and the power of the Lord's mighty Love,
We will praise Your Name, Sweet Jesus, and
we will wait patiently for your coming, just
as we wait for the coming of spring.
We can feel it in the air, spring is coming soon,
it won't be much longer now, so we give you our hearts
and minds, and we will worship you while we celebrate
the coming of Spring!
AMEN
The Glory that gives us new life and new hope,
for we are so blessed to be in your presence,
there is no one like you.
We give your name all the honor, all the glory, all the praise,
Glory to your name forever and ever.
Lord, I ask that you bless your people,
with your grace and favor,
as we wait for the reawakening in the hearts of men;
we stand ready to accept your plans for our lives,
as we wait for the coming of spring.
We wait eagerly for the the first buds of life,
and the first flowers of spring,
we desire the warm air and the warm sun on our backs, and the
sweet singing of the birds in the trees.
Yes, everyone knows when spring has arrived, and so it shall
be with the great awakening;
when you shall bring life from the dead,
and your ressurection power will show the way out of
the path of darkness. You will bring new life
to every country, region, and corner of the earth,
and everyone shall know your name.
Yes, we wait patiently for the awesome move of the Spirit,
and the power of the Lord's mighty Love,
We will praise Your Name, Sweet Jesus, and
we will wait patiently for your coming, just
as we wait for the coming of spring.
We can feel it in the air, spring is coming soon,
it won't be much longer now, so we give you our hearts
and minds, and we will worship you while we celebrate
the coming of Spring!
AMEN
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Releasing The Offenses
Everyone has been offended by something or someone. In a 'polite' society, we are taught at a very early age how to react to other peoples' words or actions. When we were children, we reacted to everything; we were not afraid to express our opinions about people and the situations we found ourselves in, and we cared more about what we wanted for ourselves than what we could do for anyone else. You can always tell when children have matured by how well they obey the lessons that they have been taught and if they show concern for other people.
The key to true maturity is to let go of childish selfish tendencies, while keeping a child's ability to be open and loving; a child is willing to believe in you and accept you for who you are, especially if you are willing to show them kindness and consideration. You can only display this type of behavior when you are trained to be like this, and that is why everyone needs loving and wise parents to show them the way.
So, we all have been trained to be polite and to overlook offenses when thy occur, and most people do the best that they can when these situations occur. When you deal with strangers, it is often easy to do so, because the offense is usually minor, and there is a good chance that you will never see that person again. You may laugh about it later, and turn it into a funny story to tell your family and friends. The offense is usually not a serious or deep one, and the feeling that you had when the offense occured fades away. But what happens when these offenses occur with your family, friends, or coworkers, with people you interact with on a regular basis; have you learned to let go of those offenses?
As a believer in Jesus Christ, you are being led daily to live as He would live and as He would react to every situation you find yourself in life, and that is why it is so necessary to read the bible on a regular basis, because it is our training manual. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to be open and loving, and to be willing to follow His lead, to be transformed so that we have the mind of Christ. This doen not mean that we wont feel pain, or anger, or anxiety when offenses occur; when we follow in His steps, we find that it is easier to deal with these issues. He brings comfort to our souls, and we learn how to release these offenses to Him.
Let's face it, when you are offended by the people in your life, it can be very painful, and their actions can impact our own lives; we could hold on to our grevances, and we can interalize these offenses, but the Lord is asking us to surrender those offenses to Him. Once you have obeyed the Holy Spirit and admitted to Him how much that person or those people have offended you, that starts the healing process.
You cannot resolve an issue within your heart if you are not aware that you have the issue in the first place, and it is one of the functions of the Holy Spirit to point out the hurts, the fears, and dark places in our hearts. He will heal you if you can admit that you have these weaknesses and issues in your behavior. and then you must surrender them to the Lord so that He can erase the offense from your mind. No one is immmune to this, because we have yet to be redeemed from our imperfections, and we need the Lord to help us deal with them.
So, when you find yourself thinking about an offense from the past, after you promised yourself you would never think about it again, take this burden to the Lord. admit to Him that you can't deal with it anymore, and that you need His power to overcome it. He will start the healing process, and once He is done, you will find peace in your heart, and a new perspetive will arise about the situation. You will find that you can forgive the person(s) who have offended you, and you will find that it is now easier to love them and everyone else.
That is why we must bring everything to the Lord, all of our faults, issues, and needs. He is not happy when we try to do everything in our own strength. He knows that we need Him, and He is more than willing to help us. Don't be ashamed or afraid to come to Him, He already knows who we are and what we need to become mature christian followers. He is waiting for you to want something more than what the world can do for you. When you have a bigger desire in your heart to be released from your suffering, when you are willing to let go of all these offenses, then He can heal you. You must be willing to live on a higher standard than the world's standards - God's standards are always the best.
Forgiveness and love go hand in hand, and loving others means that we forgive them when they offend us in some way, and then we can act kindly towards them, and be free to love them with the love of Christ. Give yourself over to the healing and tranforming work of the Holy Spirit, and live life to the fullest, according to His will for your life, and you will never be disappointed that you did!
The key to true maturity is to let go of childish selfish tendencies, while keeping a child's ability to be open and loving; a child is willing to believe in you and accept you for who you are, especially if you are willing to show them kindness and consideration. You can only display this type of behavior when you are trained to be like this, and that is why everyone needs loving and wise parents to show them the way.
So, we all have been trained to be polite and to overlook offenses when thy occur, and most people do the best that they can when these situations occur. When you deal with strangers, it is often easy to do so, because the offense is usually minor, and there is a good chance that you will never see that person again. You may laugh about it later, and turn it into a funny story to tell your family and friends. The offense is usually not a serious or deep one, and the feeling that you had when the offense occured fades away. But what happens when these offenses occur with your family, friends, or coworkers, with people you interact with on a regular basis; have you learned to let go of those offenses?
As a believer in Jesus Christ, you are being led daily to live as He would live and as He would react to every situation you find yourself in life, and that is why it is so necessary to read the bible on a regular basis, because it is our training manual. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to be open and loving, and to be willing to follow His lead, to be transformed so that we have the mind of Christ. This doen not mean that we wont feel pain, or anger, or anxiety when offenses occur; when we follow in His steps, we find that it is easier to deal with these issues. He brings comfort to our souls, and we learn how to release these offenses to Him.
Let's face it, when you are offended by the people in your life, it can be very painful, and their actions can impact our own lives; we could hold on to our grevances, and we can interalize these offenses, but the Lord is asking us to surrender those offenses to Him. Once you have obeyed the Holy Spirit and admitted to Him how much that person or those people have offended you, that starts the healing process.
You cannot resolve an issue within your heart if you are not aware that you have the issue in the first place, and it is one of the functions of the Holy Spirit to point out the hurts, the fears, and dark places in our hearts. He will heal you if you can admit that you have these weaknesses and issues in your behavior. and then you must surrender them to the Lord so that He can erase the offense from your mind. No one is immmune to this, because we have yet to be redeemed from our imperfections, and we need the Lord to help us deal with them.
So, when you find yourself thinking about an offense from the past, after you promised yourself you would never think about it again, take this burden to the Lord. admit to Him that you can't deal with it anymore, and that you need His power to overcome it. He will start the healing process, and once He is done, you will find peace in your heart, and a new perspetive will arise about the situation. You will find that you can forgive the person(s) who have offended you, and you will find that it is now easier to love them and everyone else.
That is why we must bring everything to the Lord, all of our faults, issues, and needs. He is not happy when we try to do everything in our own strength. He knows that we need Him, and He is more than willing to help us. Don't be ashamed or afraid to come to Him, He already knows who we are and what we need to become mature christian followers. He is waiting for you to want something more than what the world can do for you. When you have a bigger desire in your heart to be released from your suffering, when you are willing to let go of all these offenses, then He can heal you. You must be willing to live on a higher standard than the world's standards - God's standards are always the best.
Forgiveness and love go hand in hand, and loving others means that we forgive them when they offend us in some way, and then we can act kindly towards them, and be free to love them with the love of Christ. Give yourself over to the healing and tranforming work of the Holy Spirit, and live life to the fullest, according to His will for your life, and you will never be disappointed that you did!
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
The Second Childhood
by Alan Allegra
Wiktionary.org defines "second childhood" as, "The period or state of cognitive decline of an elderly person, characterized by childlike judgment and behavior. A childlike state in any adult, resulting from mental illness, trauma, or other conditions."
Not a very flattering picture! When an adult acts like a child playing with toys, talking baby talk, not taking responsibility for his or her actions we may excuse it as participation in one's "second childhood."
Adults are expected to act like adults. When the Corinthians were acting irrationally, the apostle Paul encouraged them, "Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature" (1 Corinthians 14:20). He expected them to be mature, or adult, in their thinking, but innocent regarding evil. Paul also used the illustration of mature behavior in chapter 13, verse 11: "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways." He made a distinction between childhood and adulthood.
There is an analogy in the spiritual realm. God requires that believers submit to the authority of church leaders so the body of Christ will grow. "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes" (Ephesians 4:11-14). God's children are to gain adult discernment, wisdom, and stability. The source of spiritual nourishment for this growth is the Word of God: "Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation" (1 Peter 2:2).
Now, growth to maturity implies a start in immaturity, or childhood. This would mean a beginning of spiritual life, and this is what the Bible teaches.
When Jesus explained the kingdom of God to Nicodemus (John 3), he told him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" (3:3). Nicodemus thought Jesus meant physical birth, but he meant a spiritual rebirth. To be saved, a citizen of the heavenly kingdom, a person must, in the spiritual sense, enter a second childhood.
A physical second childhood may be an annoyance. At one point, the disciples found actual little children to be annoying, unworthy of Jesus' time and attention (Luke 18:5-17). However, Jesus used these children as an example of the innocent trusting attitude needed to become his disciple (Mark 10:13-15). This even involves discipline from our Heavenly Father (Hebrews 12:5-11; Revelation 20:6, 14).
To enter that second childhood takes faith. A person cannot turn back the clock and slide down the birth canal again. Just as we play no part in our natural birth, we contribute nothing to our spiritual birth (John 1:12-13). This birth is wrought by believing the Word of God: "[S]ince you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God" (1 Peter 1:23).
The old adage is true: "Born once, die twice. Born twice, die once." Being born physically is one thing; being born again spiritually is everything!
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
Wiktionary.org defines "second childhood" as, "The period or state of cognitive decline of an elderly person, characterized by childlike judgment and behavior. A childlike state in any adult, resulting from mental illness, trauma, or other conditions."
Not a very flattering picture! When an adult acts like a child playing with toys, talking baby talk, not taking responsibility for his or her actions we may excuse it as participation in one's "second childhood."
Adults are expected to act like adults. When the Corinthians were acting irrationally, the apostle Paul encouraged them, "Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature" (1 Corinthians 14:20). He expected them to be mature, or adult, in their thinking, but innocent regarding evil. Paul also used the illustration of mature behavior in chapter 13, verse 11: "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways." He made a distinction between childhood and adulthood.
There is an analogy in the spiritual realm. God requires that believers submit to the authority of church leaders so the body of Christ will grow. "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes" (Ephesians 4:11-14). God's children are to gain adult discernment, wisdom, and stability. The source of spiritual nourishment for this growth is the Word of God: "Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation" (1 Peter 2:2).
Now, growth to maturity implies a start in immaturity, or childhood. This would mean a beginning of spiritual life, and this is what the Bible teaches.
When Jesus explained the kingdom of God to Nicodemus (John 3), he told him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" (3:3). Nicodemus thought Jesus meant physical birth, but he meant a spiritual rebirth. To be saved, a citizen of the heavenly kingdom, a person must, in the spiritual sense, enter a second childhood.
A physical second childhood may be an annoyance. At one point, the disciples found actual little children to be annoying, unworthy of Jesus' time and attention (Luke 18:5-17). However, Jesus used these children as an example of the innocent trusting attitude needed to become his disciple (Mark 10:13-15). This even involves discipline from our Heavenly Father (Hebrews 12:5-11; Revelation 20:6, 14).
To enter that second childhood takes faith. A person cannot turn back the clock and slide down the birth canal again. Just as we play no part in our natural birth, we contribute nothing to our spiritual birth (John 1:12-13). This birth is wrought by believing the Word of God: "[S]ince you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God" (1 Peter 1:23).
The old adage is true: "Born once, die twice. Born twice, die once." Being born physically is one thing; being born again spiritually is everything!
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
Monday, February 6, 2017
Preparation Through Prayer
by Charles Stanley
Intouch Ministries
Acts 1:9-14
The book of Acts is an amazing record of how God worked in and through the early church, and one of their most important activities was prayer. While Jesus was with His disciples, little was recorded of them praying because they could talk directly to Christ. But after His ascension, they immediately gathered in the upper room and “devot[ed] themselves to prayer” (Acts 1:14).
Talking to God was their means of preparing for the work He had for them. Jesus had told them the Father would give the Holy Spirit to those who ask (Luke 11:13). Then after the resurrection, He instructed them to stay in Jerusalem until they were “clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Without the Spirit, they were not adequate for the Great Commission even though they’d spent time with Jesus. And if they needed the Spirit’s power, so do we.
To the degree we’re willing to admit our absolute helplessness to do God’s work, the Holy Spirit will empower us as we pray. When we are devoted to prayer, the Lord begins to work in our heart, preparing us for service. He gives us the Spirit’s boldness to speak God’s Word (Acts 4:31) and the courage to face any persecutions that might result (Acts 4:29).
God is looking for believers who understand the importance of prayer and realize the only way to fulfill His calling for the church is through His supernatural power. Christ’s church is not grown through programs, seminars, and conferences, but through the humble prayers of saints who gather together in utter dependence upon Him. That’s when God’s power is released and His will is accomplished.
Intouch Ministries Devotions
Intouch Ministries
Acts 1:9-14
The book of Acts is an amazing record of how God worked in and through the early church, and one of their most important activities was prayer. While Jesus was with His disciples, little was recorded of them praying because they could talk directly to Christ. But after His ascension, they immediately gathered in the upper room and “devot[ed] themselves to prayer” (Acts 1:14).
Talking to God was their means of preparing for the work He had for them. Jesus had told them the Father would give the Holy Spirit to those who ask (Luke 11:13). Then after the resurrection, He instructed them to stay in Jerusalem until they were “clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Without the Spirit, they were not adequate for the Great Commission even though they’d spent time with Jesus. And if they needed the Spirit’s power, so do we.
To the degree we’re willing to admit our absolute helplessness to do God’s work, the Holy Spirit will empower us as we pray. When we are devoted to prayer, the Lord begins to work in our heart, preparing us for service. He gives us the Spirit’s boldness to speak God’s Word (Acts 4:31) and the courage to face any persecutions that might result (Acts 4:29).
God is looking for believers who understand the importance of prayer and realize the only way to fulfill His calling for the church is through His supernatural power. Christ’s church is not grown through programs, seminars, and conferences, but through the humble prayers of saints who gather together in utter dependence upon Him. That’s when God’s power is released and His will is accomplished.
Intouch Ministries Devotions
Sunday, February 5, 2017
The Great Awakening
Every morning when I wake up, I know that God has touched me, I know that He is the reason that I have another day upon the earth. Waking up is so routine that many times we forget what a miracle it is, that our lives are a gift from the Lord. Every day, I greet Him, and He answers back with a response to my heart. This is one on the ways I know that I will never be alone.
Occasionally, He will give me a message; just as I began to wake up and before I was completely aware that I was awake, He spoke to me, and I received this message, "this year is the year of the awakening, an awakening will begin at the end of the year, in december". I listened to that message with a sense of happiness, for I know that some prophets proclaimed that this year was the year of the Jubilee, and the year for breakthroughs, so I believe that God was just letting my know that He is going to move in this year in mighty and awesome ways.
I believe that He was letting me know that we are in the last days and that the final harvest will begin. Before the harvest can be done, there must be an awakening, not just in the hearts of unbelievers, but also in the hearts of those who claim to be christians. We all need our hearts to be changed, to be conformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
He is asking us now to live for Him, and seek His face every day, so that we may live the life of Christ in our hearts and minds. No one can transform us like the Holy Spirit can, so let Him do His work in you. Be patient and be kind, for no one will believe that you are Christ's child if your are impatient, anxious, and mean spirited. Surrender to the promptings of His Spirit, and let Him clean out the dark places in your heart.
Give praise to Him, who will never leave you nor forsake you, and lean into His presence. Give up the vain things in life to embrace Him with all of your heart. He knows what is going on in your life, He is not surprized, so ask Him what He wants you to do in your situation, and give way to the power of His Name. Call on Jesus, your Lord, Your Savior, Your Deliverer, and watch Him work it all out for you. The most courageous, bold, and humbling thing that you will ever do, is to surrender to His will for your life; it will change you in ways you would never believe could happen to you, and you will never regret it.
Thank you Lord, for the gift of your love and salvation, and for allowing me to be here to see the last final wave of your harvest, to see your miracles and wonders, to participate in your plans for this world and for your children, I Thank You Lord Right Now For THE LAST GREAT AWAKENING!
Occasionally, He will give me a message; just as I began to wake up and before I was completely aware that I was awake, He spoke to me, and I received this message, "this year is the year of the awakening, an awakening will begin at the end of the year, in december". I listened to that message with a sense of happiness, for I know that some prophets proclaimed that this year was the year of the Jubilee, and the year for breakthroughs, so I believe that God was just letting my know that He is going to move in this year in mighty and awesome ways.
I believe that He was letting me know that we are in the last days and that the final harvest will begin. Before the harvest can be done, there must be an awakening, not just in the hearts of unbelievers, but also in the hearts of those who claim to be christians. We all need our hearts to be changed, to be conformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
He is asking us now to live for Him, and seek His face every day, so that we may live the life of Christ in our hearts and minds. No one can transform us like the Holy Spirit can, so let Him do His work in you. Be patient and be kind, for no one will believe that you are Christ's child if your are impatient, anxious, and mean spirited. Surrender to the promptings of His Spirit, and let Him clean out the dark places in your heart.
Give praise to Him, who will never leave you nor forsake you, and lean into His presence. Give up the vain things in life to embrace Him with all of your heart. He knows what is going on in your life, He is not surprized, so ask Him what He wants you to do in your situation, and give way to the power of His Name. Call on Jesus, your Lord, Your Savior, Your Deliverer, and watch Him work it all out for you. The most courageous, bold, and humbling thing that you will ever do, is to surrender to His will for your life; it will change you in ways you would never believe could happen to you, and you will never regret it.
Thank you Lord, for the gift of your love and salvation, and for allowing me to be here to see the last final wave of your harvest, to see your miracles and wonders, to participate in your plans for this world and for your children, I Thank You Lord Right Now For THE LAST GREAT AWAKENING!
Saturday, February 4, 2017
Service Is Not An Option
by Charles Stanley
Intouch Ministries
Titus 2:11-15
Who is a servant of God? Ask average churchgoers that question, and they will most likely point to their pastor or some Christian celebrity. They almost certainly will not say, “We are God’s servants.” The church has a mixed-up idea that believers are separated into servants—that is, individuals in full-time ministry—and laypeople. The Bible contains no such distinction. Instead, Paul reminds the Ephesians that believers are saved so that they might serve (Ephesians 2:10).
If there were no other reason to serve God besides gratitude for salvation, that would be cause enough. We are rescued from torment and given eternal life with the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence. Our service is but a small acknowledgment of the Father sending His Son to be sacrificed in payment of the sin debt we owed. We have no right to withhold our gifts or time.
Many people, believers included, serve the big “I.” What satisfies and pleases “I”? What is convenient for “I”? What makes “I” happy and prosperous? When a pastor appeals for help, most of his parishioners are sure he is speaking to someone else because “I” has insufficient training or a busy schedule. Here is a harsh reality: If “I” is our master, we are committing “I”-dolatry. Anything given first place over God—including selfish desires—is an idol.
Service isn’t an option. God calls us to be servants so we can invest our lives in an eternally valuable purpose: the salvation of unbelievers and their subsequent discipleship for His glory. Our job may seem insignificant or our limitations great, but we are vessels of Christ with a role in the kingdom.
Intouch Ministries Devotions
Intouch Ministries
Titus 2:11-15
Who is a servant of God? Ask average churchgoers that question, and they will most likely point to their pastor or some Christian celebrity. They almost certainly will not say, “We are God’s servants.” The church has a mixed-up idea that believers are separated into servants—that is, individuals in full-time ministry—and laypeople. The Bible contains no such distinction. Instead, Paul reminds the Ephesians that believers are saved so that they might serve (Ephesians 2:10).
If there were no other reason to serve God besides gratitude for salvation, that would be cause enough. We are rescued from torment and given eternal life with the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence. Our service is but a small acknowledgment of the Father sending His Son to be sacrificed in payment of the sin debt we owed. We have no right to withhold our gifts or time.
Many people, believers included, serve the big “I.” What satisfies and pleases “I”? What is convenient for “I”? What makes “I” happy and prosperous? When a pastor appeals for help, most of his parishioners are sure he is speaking to someone else because “I” has insufficient training or a busy schedule. Here is a harsh reality: If “I” is our master, we are committing “I”-dolatry. Anything given first place over God—including selfish desires—is an idol.
Service isn’t an option. God calls us to be servants so we can invest our lives in an eternally valuable purpose: the salvation of unbelievers and their subsequent discipleship for His glory. Our job may seem insignificant or our limitations great, but we are vessels of Christ with a role in the kingdom.
Intouch Ministries Devotions
Friday, February 3, 2017
The Feeling Of Love
What would you do for love? It is a very strange thing about life that love is celebrated openly and vigourously in the mainstream with countless songs, poems, plays, books, movies, dances, etc. We have a holiday to celebrate love, and it is wonderful when people take the time to appreciate the loving relationships that they have in their lives, it means that we still have some understanding of how important love is, and in our hearts we always desire to love and to be loved. The moment that love is taken for granted and no longer valued, is the time we must open our eyes and see the world for what it has become. Is it time to look at the world with a fresh new perspective?
We celebrate the idea of love, yet too many people now and days dismiss love's power. In America, the successful life means pursuing money, power, and fame, and love is almost like an afterthought. It is like when a man gets to that position where he has a great career, money, and recognition, he is suddenly the most attractive and desirable man on the planet. He has everything he could possibly want, but in his pursuit for money and fame, did he take the time to culivate a loving relationship with someone special? We all desire to have that type of connection, to share our heart and our lives with someone who will love us for who we are.
We need a lesson on what true love is, and we need to appreciate its power. If we ask, we shall receive. There is no one more qualified to give us that lesson than our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the best example of true love, selfless love that we will ever know. He loved us so much, that He allowed himself to be crucified on a cross, as a sacrifice for our sins, and when He rose again, with all power and might in His hands, He gave the world a powerful demonstration of love. Look, what would you do for the people that you love? Would you die for them? That is great, but what about the way you love them on a daily basis?
Most people have many people in their lives that they love: husbands/wives, friends, children, relatives, and they can say without a shadow of doubt that they love them, and that is great. But how about the strangers in your life, the people you dont know who you pass in the streets, your coworkers, people that you read about in the newspapers, and see on the tv on the news, in your favorite tv shows, people you interact with on a regular basis, such as the people in your church, or the waitress at your favorite restaurant. Do you have any loving feelings for them? Good, that shows you have taken Jesus's example to heart.
His example of love began before the foundation of this world; we were on His mind from the very beginning. He saw you and me, and He knew we would mess up and make mistakes, He knew that we wanted to be good and live up to His standards, but whenever we tried, there would always be this pulling in our hearts to do the opposite, and that we would not have the power or the will to resist it. He knew in order to save us, He would need to sacrifice Himself on a cross, as the highest demonstration of His love toward us, His children, His little ones. That is why He is so pleased when we give selflessly of ourselves to other people, especially to people that we dont personally know, because then He knows that we have learned our lessons and taken them to heart.
Don't be fooled by the naysayers and the critics, love is very powerful. It inspired my Lord Jesus to give His life for us, and without that expression of love, we would all literally be doomed, to live lives forever in darkness, pain and suffering, forever separated from the God who made us, wishing that we had pursued love instead of ignoring it. When God breathes life into something or someone, it is forever, He doesnt call it back to Himself, so we dont have the choice to just disappear from existence; when we die, our spirit lives on, and we have a choice, to live forever in His presence with love, peace, and happiness, or to live forever separated from Him, in darkness, despair, and loneliness.
Choose today to love others, even your enemies. Pray for them, give of our heart and mind, and dont be afraid or offended if you are rejected, used, or abused. Love them with the Love of Christ, not with your own strength. That is why the Holy Spirit is given to us into our hearts, so that we may love them with God's love. The love of Christ is the power to give of yourself even when the circumstances call for you to stand up for your rights, even when the person you are trying to love may be stabbing you in the back. Jesus loved all of His disciples, even Judas, and He knew that love would never be returned by him, not in the way that it was given, but Judas was loved anyway. It is sad that Judas never learned the lesson of love; we must hope and pray that the 'enemies' in our life will come one day to learn that lesson, but they will never learn it, will never know that they need to learn it, if no one demonstrates it in their life.
Trust me when I say, this is a lesson that I am still learning every day, it is a process that we all must go through. And God is patient, and He knows that we cannot be perfect while we live this life, but He does expect us to try. We take the first step, and He does the rest, so dont worry about it, because He will carry you through!
We celebrate the idea of love, yet too many people now and days dismiss love's power. In America, the successful life means pursuing money, power, and fame, and love is almost like an afterthought. It is like when a man gets to that position where he has a great career, money, and recognition, he is suddenly the most attractive and desirable man on the planet. He has everything he could possibly want, but in his pursuit for money and fame, did he take the time to culivate a loving relationship with someone special? We all desire to have that type of connection, to share our heart and our lives with someone who will love us for who we are.
We need a lesson on what true love is, and we need to appreciate its power. If we ask, we shall receive. There is no one more qualified to give us that lesson than our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the best example of true love, selfless love that we will ever know. He loved us so much, that He allowed himself to be crucified on a cross, as a sacrifice for our sins, and when He rose again, with all power and might in His hands, He gave the world a powerful demonstration of love. Look, what would you do for the people that you love? Would you die for them? That is great, but what about the way you love them on a daily basis?
Most people have many people in their lives that they love: husbands/wives, friends, children, relatives, and they can say without a shadow of doubt that they love them, and that is great. But how about the strangers in your life, the people you dont know who you pass in the streets, your coworkers, people that you read about in the newspapers, and see on the tv on the news, in your favorite tv shows, people you interact with on a regular basis, such as the people in your church, or the waitress at your favorite restaurant. Do you have any loving feelings for them? Good, that shows you have taken Jesus's example to heart.
His example of love began before the foundation of this world; we were on His mind from the very beginning. He saw you and me, and He knew we would mess up and make mistakes, He knew that we wanted to be good and live up to His standards, but whenever we tried, there would always be this pulling in our hearts to do the opposite, and that we would not have the power or the will to resist it. He knew in order to save us, He would need to sacrifice Himself on a cross, as the highest demonstration of His love toward us, His children, His little ones. That is why He is so pleased when we give selflessly of ourselves to other people, especially to people that we dont personally know, because then He knows that we have learned our lessons and taken them to heart.
Don't be fooled by the naysayers and the critics, love is very powerful. It inspired my Lord Jesus to give His life for us, and without that expression of love, we would all literally be doomed, to live lives forever in darkness, pain and suffering, forever separated from the God who made us, wishing that we had pursued love instead of ignoring it. When God breathes life into something or someone, it is forever, He doesnt call it back to Himself, so we dont have the choice to just disappear from existence; when we die, our spirit lives on, and we have a choice, to live forever in His presence with love, peace, and happiness, or to live forever separated from Him, in darkness, despair, and loneliness.
Choose today to love others, even your enemies. Pray for them, give of our heart and mind, and dont be afraid or offended if you are rejected, used, or abused. Love them with the Love of Christ, not with your own strength. That is why the Holy Spirit is given to us into our hearts, so that we may love them with God's love. The love of Christ is the power to give of yourself even when the circumstances call for you to stand up for your rights, even when the person you are trying to love may be stabbing you in the back. Jesus loved all of His disciples, even Judas, and He knew that love would never be returned by him, not in the way that it was given, but Judas was loved anyway. It is sad that Judas never learned the lesson of love; we must hope and pray that the 'enemies' in our life will come one day to learn that lesson, but they will never learn it, will never know that they need to learn it, if no one demonstrates it in their life.
Trust me when I say, this is a lesson that I am still learning every day, it is a process that we all must go through. And God is patient, and He knows that we cannot be perfect while we live this life, but He does expect us to try. We take the first step, and He does the rest, so dont worry about it, because He will carry you through!
Thursday, February 2, 2017
A Man To Stand In The Gap
Ezekiel 22:30-31
“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
Have you ever had someone stand up for you, when you were in a bad situation, and you needed help to get through it? How did it make you feel, to know that there was someone on your side when you needed them the most? That is how I feel about My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He lifts me up when I am down, He puts a smile on my face like no one else can do, and He gives me hope.
Now imagine being in that same bad situation and you need help, but you cannot find one single person who will stand up for you; how would that make you feel? Would you feel lost and alone, scared and confused, angry with a heart filled with hate? How do you feel the world is coping with its problems today? I think the world knows that it needs a someone to stand in the gap. As christians, we know who that person is, but the world has neglected to look everywhere for the solution, or they have rejected the perfect solution offered to them for the last 2000 years.
In the book of Ezekiel, there was a passage that caught my eye. It was the Lord speaking to his people, the exiles from Israel. He was telling them through the prophet why Jerusalem would be destroyed by the Babylonians; it was because the people had forgotten who they were. They were the people of God, yet they refused to be loyal to Him. They worshipped other gods, and did all types of evil things: adultery, murder, lying, stealing, oppressing the poor, sacrificing their children to foreign gods, and all these things were forbidden and against the Law of God.
They wanted to live and act just like everyone else all around them, the nations that had all types of Gods and religions; they no longer wanted to be God's chosen people, Holy unto the Lord. What made it so bad is that they knew the truth. The other nations did what they wanted; they did not have the Word of God to challenge their bad behavior. They knew about Jehovah, the God of Israel because of His great acts and how He had saved His people in the past, and they marveled that the Israelites had abandoned their God when He had been so good to them. They laughed and scorned the people of God when Jerusalem was destroyed, and the land was emptyied of its people; even they understood how foolish it was to contend with the God of Israel.
The Lord told the exiles that He did not want to destroy His city or His people; He had looked for someone among them, someone who would be willing to stand up for His word, a leader who would practice His standards, and lead the people back to their rightful God. The Lord was asking, who will stand in the gap for this land on my behalf?, and sadly He found no one who was willing to lead the people back to Him. He had to punish His own people and pour out curses instead of blessings, and sorrows instead of peace.
Now, in today's world, we find the same scenario repeating itself. The Lord sent His son, Jesus Christ, to bring salvation and hope to a lost world, and to show people how to live for God. He died on the cross to redeem us all from our sins, and to give us hope for a better future and a peaceful existence, to live with the Lord forever and ever in His presence, a Holy people chosen because He knew we would listen to His world, and hear His voice in our hearts and that we would respond and choose to become citizens of the Kingdom of God; Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, male and female. We are all precious in His sight and He loves us all just the same, and be encouraged, because He is willing to share all that He has with all of His little ones, and none of us will ever feel a lack for anything else ever again.
The world has had the answer to our problems for over 2000 years, and only those willing to receive it have had any real peace and hope in their hearts. The Lord will continue to show grace and mercy to the world until that one moment when He is sure that every last heart has been knocked upon, and every last "yes" has been spoken and confessed by every believer, and what you see in the world today is the Lord working to get every last child of His, holding back the darkness, and putting men and women of honor and grace in various places in the world so that the final harvest can begin. That is why you will see miracles, signs and wonders increase in a response to the increase of darkness and hate everywhere present in the world today.
We should be celebrating, because that means the end is near, satan and his demons will be defeated, and a new era of peace, love and prosperity will begin. We must do everything the Lord is urging us to do right now, because the time is short, and no one knows for sure the day when He will call us home. We must be ready to follow Him, to know His will for our lives, and to answer His call when all the harvest work is done. Lean on Him, and praise His Holy Name, be at peace and be filled with hope, because our Father, Our Lord, Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is coming back soon!
“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
Have you ever had someone stand up for you, when you were in a bad situation, and you needed help to get through it? How did it make you feel, to know that there was someone on your side when you needed them the most? That is how I feel about My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He lifts me up when I am down, He puts a smile on my face like no one else can do, and He gives me hope.
Now imagine being in that same bad situation and you need help, but you cannot find one single person who will stand up for you; how would that make you feel? Would you feel lost and alone, scared and confused, angry with a heart filled with hate? How do you feel the world is coping with its problems today? I think the world knows that it needs a someone to stand in the gap. As christians, we know who that person is, but the world has neglected to look everywhere for the solution, or they have rejected the perfect solution offered to them for the last 2000 years.
In the book of Ezekiel, there was a passage that caught my eye. It was the Lord speaking to his people, the exiles from Israel. He was telling them through the prophet why Jerusalem would be destroyed by the Babylonians; it was because the people had forgotten who they were. They were the people of God, yet they refused to be loyal to Him. They worshipped other gods, and did all types of evil things: adultery, murder, lying, stealing, oppressing the poor, sacrificing their children to foreign gods, and all these things were forbidden and against the Law of God.
They wanted to live and act just like everyone else all around them, the nations that had all types of Gods and religions; they no longer wanted to be God's chosen people, Holy unto the Lord. What made it so bad is that they knew the truth. The other nations did what they wanted; they did not have the Word of God to challenge their bad behavior. They knew about Jehovah, the God of Israel because of His great acts and how He had saved His people in the past, and they marveled that the Israelites had abandoned their God when He had been so good to them. They laughed and scorned the people of God when Jerusalem was destroyed, and the land was emptyied of its people; even they understood how foolish it was to contend with the God of Israel.
The Lord told the exiles that He did not want to destroy His city or His people; He had looked for someone among them, someone who would be willing to stand up for His word, a leader who would practice His standards, and lead the people back to their rightful God. The Lord was asking, who will stand in the gap for this land on my behalf?, and sadly He found no one who was willing to lead the people back to Him. He had to punish His own people and pour out curses instead of blessings, and sorrows instead of peace.
Now, in today's world, we find the same scenario repeating itself. The Lord sent His son, Jesus Christ, to bring salvation and hope to a lost world, and to show people how to live for God. He died on the cross to redeem us all from our sins, and to give us hope for a better future and a peaceful existence, to live with the Lord forever and ever in His presence, a Holy people chosen because He knew we would listen to His world, and hear His voice in our hearts and that we would respond and choose to become citizens of the Kingdom of God; Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, male and female. We are all precious in His sight and He loves us all just the same, and be encouraged, because He is willing to share all that He has with all of His little ones, and none of us will ever feel a lack for anything else ever again.
The world has had the answer to our problems for over 2000 years, and only those willing to receive it have had any real peace and hope in their hearts. The Lord will continue to show grace and mercy to the world until that one moment when He is sure that every last heart has been knocked upon, and every last "yes" has been spoken and confessed by every believer, and what you see in the world today is the Lord working to get every last child of His, holding back the darkness, and putting men and women of honor and grace in various places in the world so that the final harvest can begin. That is why you will see miracles, signs and wonders increase in a response to the increase of darkness and hate everywhere present in the world today.
We should be celebrating, because that means the end is near, satan and his demons will be defeated, and a new era of peace, love and prosperity will begin. We must do everything the Lord is urging us to do right now, because the time is short, and no one knows for sure the day when He will call us home. We must be ready to follow Him, to know His will for our lives, and to answer His call when all the harvest work is done. Lean on Him, and praise His Holy Name, be at peace and be filled with hope, because our Father, Our Lord, Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is coming back soon!
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Preparation For Battle
by Jacky Julyan
Every watchman in his place, unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labour in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.
Every man to his knees, praying unto the LORD, the God of heaven and earth.
There is a battle to be won and the trumpet is sounding, a preparation for battle. Who has eyes to see? Who has ears to hear? For the LORD of Hosts, is His Name is calling every saint, every prophet, every watchman to their knees. Humble yourselves unto the Mighty Hand of God. Seek His Face at this time. Look to no man at this time. Now is not the time to follow anyone other than My Son. He is My Son, Listen to Him.
Be prepared, stand firm, seek My Face, kneel before Me, await My instructions. Put the trumpet to your lips! An eagle is over the house of the LORD because the people have broken My covenant and rebelled against My law.
Ruins …. It is all shambles, ruinous, the walls are collapsing, the pillars are cracked, it is fallen, fallen.
Blow the Shofar, warn the people for calamity of calamities is coming. Wake up! Wake up!
Depart ….. depart ….. Many are to depart the faith for they have been standing on quicksand. Their demise was known from the beginning of all creation.
Repent, repent you peoples. Repent for a fierce battle is upon you. It is coming as a thief in the night. It will overtake, suddenly.
My people, pray, seek My Face, wait for My Word, none other. Seek no flesh at this time for all are fallen. My Spirit is grieved, My Spirit has been rejected. Ichabod …. Ichabod …. Ichabod.
Pray, pray, pray without ceasing. Turn to no man. Turn to Jesus. Seek His Face, fast, pray, weep for a great calamity is coming of grande proportions. It is in the wings. A stampede of evil, a prideful march bringing the very demons from the Abyss.
The walls have fallen, the gaps are too wide.
Come now My Remnant, My Bride, keep close to Me. Seek me closer so you can hide under the shadow of My Wings. Do not look neither to the right nor the left. Keep your eyes upon Me. Open My Word, keep it open. Keep your hearts open to Me. Open your mouth for I shall fit it.
There is now no delay, time has run out. Seek Me this day. Choose this Day whom you shall serve. Obey My children unto the Gospel of My Son. Harken unto My voice of correction for those I chasten I love. Repent, repent I say before it is too late.
I say now, this hour, every watchman in his place. Every trumpet to your mouth. Open your mouths so I can fill it with words of life. Seek Me today, do not delay.
Kneel, fast and pray for a calamity is coming, a calamity among calamities.
Do not delay, time is running out.
I am the LORD
The LORD called me to write since 2006. The time is short and I delight to do Godïs will, although it can be tough!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXv_mnFHwuIZQImtApBHMnA
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
Every watchman in his place, unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labour in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.
Every man to his knees, praying unto the LORD, the God of heaven and earth.
There is a battle to be won and the trumpet is sounding, a preparation for battle. Who has eyes to see? Who has ears to hear? For the LORD of Hosts, is His Name is calling every saint, every prophet, every watchman to their knees. Humble yourselves unto the Mighty Hand of God. Seek His Face at this time. Look to no man at this time. Now is not the time to follow anyone other than My Son. He is My Son, Listen to Him.
Be prepared, stand firm, seek My Face, kneel before Me, await My instructions. Put the trumpet to your lips! An eagle is over the house of the LORD because the people have broken My covenant and rebelled against My law.
Ruins …. It is all shambles, ruinous, the walls are collapsing, the pillars are cracked, it is fallen, fallen.
Blow the Shofar, warn the people for calamity of calamities is coming. Wake up! Wake up!
Depart ….. depart ….. Many are to depart the faith for they have been standing on quicksand. Their demise was known from the beginning of all creation.
Repent, repent you peoples. Repent for a fierce battle is upon you. It is coming as a thief in the night. It will overtake, suddenly.
My people, pray, seek My Face, wait for My Word, none other. Seek no flesh at this time for all are fallen. My Spirit is grieved, My Spirit has been rejected. Ichabod …. Ichabod …. Ichabod.
Pray, pray, pray without ceasing. Turn to no man. Turn to Jesus. Seek His Face, fast, pray, weep for a great calamity is coming of grande proportions. It is in the wings. A stampede of evil, a prideful march bringing the very demons from the Abyss.
The walls have fallen, the gaps are too wide.
Come now My Remnant, My Bride, keep close to Me. Seek me closer so you can hide under the shadow of My Wings. Do not look neither to the right nor the left. Keep your eyes upon Me. Open My Word, keep it open. Keep your hearts open to Me. Open your mouth for I shall fit it.
There is now no delay, time has run out. Seek Me this day. Choose this Day whom you shall serve. Obey My children unto the Gospel of My Son. Harken unto My voice of correction for those I chasten I love. Repent, repent I say before it is too late.
I say now, this hour, every watchman in his place. Every trumpet to your mouth. Open your mouths so I can fill it with words of life. Seek Me today, do not delay.
Kneel, fast and pray for a calamity is coming, a calamity among calamities.
Do not delay, time is running out.
I am the LORD
The LORD called me to write since 2006. The time is short and I delight to do Godïs will, although it can be tough!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXv_mnFHwuIZQImtApBHMnA
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
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