Packer -

From a great blog....Printed Matters

"Love, generally” wrote James Orr, “is that principle which leads one moral being to desire and delight in another, and reaches its highest form in that personal fellowship in which each lives in the life of the other, and finds his joy in imparting himself to the other, and in receiving back the outflow of that other’s affection unto himself”


J.I. Packer asks the question, “Could an observer learn from the quality and degree of love that I show to others… my family? My neighbors? People at church? People at work? —anything at all about the greatness of God’s love to me? Meditate upon these things. Examine yourself.

Taken from Knowing God p.125,127 by J.I. Packer"

My only thought is .... if Christ lives in me and through me....I pray that I am out of the way and that people see Him....because He is Love!

David Ruis

My new favourite artist and music.

A little about this man and his C.D., "when justice shines"......I just discovered him, but, it looks like he has been journeying for some time.....his heart appears genuine and soft. I like that.

And...David readily, (hopefully, not hesitantly), admits on his bio on his site that he is "I am actually Canadian, and was adopted into a Dutch (yes … the name is Dutch) family as an infant."

How very cool is that...although now residing in L.A. according to the site again, and a part of a new worship scene in that area, it appears that he and his wife and family have been a part of church planting and worship in many areas of the world, including Canada and India. This quote of his lead me to be truly be endeared to him, as my brother in Christ. I look forward to our meeting, one day!
"The walk has taken us down many paths … but all headed in the same direction … a relentless pursuit of worship and justice fusing in such a way that the fragrance of its sweet kiss cannot be ignored."

About this album from songuery....

"Recorded live at The Loft in Los Angeles, California, this project features the powerful and passionate vocals of David Ruis (author of You’re Worthy Of My Praise and Every Move I Make). Joining David are drummer Doug Mathews, guitarist Bob Hartry and bassist Jonathan Ahrens. Together they are Indigika – a collaboration of like-hearted friends pouring out worship the best way they know how. Indigika is also the fusion of acoustic and indigenous sounds with the loops and swirls of the electronic age.

When Justice Shines is all about the beginning steps of an artistic and communal journey on an old path to places never before visited. The sounds and heart are the result of kingdom seekers finding each other and making music that reflects years of searching for something that will speak to the deep place beyond the sounds and rhythms. This project is the call to justice... beyond clanging gongs and clashing cymbals to the place of spirit and truth."

My Music - Today

David Ruis and Indigika Live from the Loft
When Justice Shines
Very Awesome

Today

From God's Devotional Book for Women

"Psychologist William Marston once asked three thousand people, "What have you to live for?" He was shocked to discover that 94 percent of the people he polled were simply enduring the present while they waited for the future. Some indicated they were waiting for "something" to happen - waiting for children to grow up and leave home, waiting for next year, waiting for another time to take a long-awaited trip, waiting for someone to die, or waiting for tomorrow. They had hope but no ongoing purpose to their lives!
Only 6 percent of the people identified relationships and activities in the present tense of their lives that they counted as valuable reasons for living!"

I can relate to this. The last few weeks with stuff and such going on and kids running here, there and everywhere....sometimes it is the waiting for another time to get on with things....you know? Sadly, I realize that I am missing today....with Him, as I do the dashing here and there....He is there with me.....this devotion is a good reminder....every day is His. Live like it is!

"Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content {satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted} in whatever state I am."

Philippians 4:11 AMP

From Relevant Christian

A Great Article, some of it humourous, some of it painfully true. Christians can be such arrogant *****$#@. Time to get real.

"I used to go to a pretty hard core independent fundamental bible believing baptist church. We weren’t really legalists though - women could wear pants so we were pretty liberal. We were even heretics in a lot of circles - especially because we had drums for our choir. But the word of God in the King James AV 1611 1726 edition like Jesus used was our authority. Because we were bible believing AND independent - we preached the TRUTH untainted by denominational politics. And we sang the great hymns of the faith with conviction. And if the Spirit led we would have a special song by Ray Boltz or maybe even Steven Curtis Champan that would bring fire down from heaven. After all we wanted to be relevant so it couldn’t be all hymns. Sure, we believed Southern Baptists, most Methodists, a lot of Presbyterians, some Lutherans, a few Episcopalians, many Charismatics, and maybe a handful of Catholics were going to heaven because they believed that Jesus died, was buried, and rose the third day. But…

We understood the scriptures, had the right form of worship, practiced the proper form of church government, drilled bible verses into people’s heads, taught them the right way to believe certain things concerning the rapture, the second coming, dispensational truth, baptism, etc. We also taught them what was wrong with Calvinism and Armenian theology and how to trace the baptist lineage back through the anabaptists all the way to the church at Antioch. We told them what movies and books were acceptable for Christians and which ones weren’t. We knew which music was God honoring and held to the truth about Christian Rock. We knew alcohol was off limits because Jesus really turned water to Grape Juice and passed it off as wine and we gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to missionaries who would agree to believe and teach what we did so that we could impact the world.

Some crap like that.

Here’s the deal. Do you honestly think the way that you believe about certain doctrines, certain forms of worship (which get a lot of attention on this blog) or certain denominations etc are “more correct” than others. Do you believe your church is “more right” about Jesus than the church down the street? Do you believe because you do things a certain way or that you read a certain bible version or sing certain kinds of songs that you have more light than other people and therefore while they may be christian they are not as good a Christian as you are and that somehow you will have a bigger mansion in heaven because of it?

Do you believe your traditional Jesus can beat up my contemporary Jesus?

This is the kind of spiritual arrogance that seems to permeate the culture that I live in here in the buckle of the bible belt. And I believe it is precisely this kind of spiritual arrogance that says “we are better than you” that keeps people out of our churches. If you think your theology, style, whatever, is better than the guy right next door to you - then you also probably think that because you are a Christian you are better than the people you are trying to reach. And you are not. You are a sinner who found grace. So am I. And so is the person who lives next door and downloads porn. So is the person who gets drunk every week. So is the girl in your class that sleeps around. So is the co-worker in your office who…

Get it? What people need to know is that God loves them and Jesus died for them and we need to focus on that and figure out how to communicate that to everyone in our communities in a way they can understand so they can fall in love with the Real Jesus - the King of Kings and Lord of Lords - the Bridegroom of a glorious bride who is beautiful and without blemish and the one who already beat up the god of this world and one day will send him away for ever. And however that all works out in the end - guess what - we’ll all be together - doing one thing - worshiping Jesus.

Here is the truth. None of us have it figured out. Yes we have the word of God. But we seek through a dark glass. Absolutely there are things that are non-negotiable. Jesus Christ is the Son of God who was sinless and became sin and died and rose from the dead and He alone can save and no-one comes to the father any other way. Everything your church does to preach it, teach it, celebrate it, propagate it, etc is just details. Maybe its time we stop fighting each other and the culture - and focus on Jesus and making Him famous!"

Today

From This Day's Thought

"We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to overthrow our patterns of thought and behavior."

John Stott

(The Word of God, of course being Jesus and how wonderfully He does this as we stop being 'us' and just allow Him, as us to begin and finish the good work in and through us. Transforming, I believe this is called.)

Peace

Hosanna - Hillsong

My Inspiration for today

From Richard at "For such a time as this". Part of a post entitled "Back to basics" that truly captured me today.

"Some of us will plant the Gospel in the hearts of men; others of us will water the seed by encouraging continued spiritual transformation. But ultimately, it will be God that causes an individual to grow, as He orchestrates the cultivation process. The gardener may put his plants in the earth and water them, but he can't cause them to grow. The desired result of spiritual growth is a believer being transformed into the image of Christ. A mature disciple is one who walks intimately with Christ, one who lives in community with others and one who serves both the church & the world. All throughout the Bible, God has used people to bring about His purpose and plans in the lives of others. Time for Self-Examination: You are not an insignificant speck on the edge of eternity. You are a unique, divinely created individual with gifts and talents that can be used to glorify God."


I know there is more He is leading me to. To wait on Him and hear His voice, the more difficult part of this. I have this idea...it seems too fantastical for me to carry it out....is this of Him? I wait and pray to see Him develop my idea? or is it His?

Today

This Day's Thought

"God speaks to me not through the thunder and the earthquake, nor through the ocean and the stars, but through the Son of Man, and speaks in a language adapted to my imperfect sight and hearing."

William Phelps

Paradox?

"Our language has widely sensed the two sides of being alone. It has created the word "loneliness" to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word "solitude" to express the glory of being alone."

Paul Tillich

(Always needing to be connected to The Life Source)

In the Dark

"I am one of those who like to stay late at the cafe," the loder waitor said. "With all those who do not want to go to bed. With all those who need a light for the night."

Ernest Hemingway - 'A Clean Well-Lighted Place'

Loving

“It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start.”

Mother Teresa

About Disappointment

In the light of eternity we shall see that what we desired would have been fatal to us, and that what we would have avoided was essential to our well-being.

Francois de Salignac Fenelon

F A I T H

FORSAKING ALL I TRUST HIM

More thoughts on Prayer.....

Eugene Peterson in an article in Relevant Magazine May-June issue.

Question.
'Weren't you helped by a missionary when you wanted some instruction on how to pray?"

Mr. Peterson's answer.
My parents were always hosting missionaries in our home, and one very prominent missionary was staying with us when I was a boy. I was struggling with the idea of "praying right," and I thought, If anyone would know how to pray, it would be this famous man. He was dozing in the hammock in [the] back of our house, and I simply asked him, "How do you pray?" Without even opening his eyes, he said, "Son, I haven't prayed in 40 years." This was very disconcerting! I was shocked! Here is this famous man of God, and he hasn't prayed for 40 years? I was afraid to tell my mother. I didn't want him lowered in her estimation.

Years later, when I was a pastor, I saw the wisdom in what he told me. I was looking for a "How do you do it? I was thinking that prayer was something you do in order to create a relationship with God. It's not.

(I enjoyed this story from his life.)

Happy Life???

"Humanism has so permeated our culture that it has even quietly crept into our Christianity [in two forms], liberal Christian humanism and evangelical Christian humanism... Liberal humanism says, 'The chief end of Christianity is the happiness of man when he is alive'... Evangelical humanism says, 'The chief end of Christianity is the happiness of man after he dies'..." Both liberal and evangelical humanists are Cats, but contrary to those points of view, "Dogs say, 'The chief end of Christianity is not to be happy (either before or after death), but rather it is to glorify God'. Happiness [then] is not the primary product of the Christian life; it is a byproduct of delighting in God."

Bob Sjogren in Cat and Dog Theology

Reminds me (very loosely, of course) of Hannah Whital Smith's book " The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life". Very few come close to the writers of the classics in my opinion. But some are getting a revelation and running sort of alongside......... :)

Mr. Phillips' Quote

"Jesus, like all other religious leaders, taught men to pray, that is, He taught them to look away from the world of ordinary sense impressions and to open the heart and spirit to God; yet He is always insistent that religion must be related to life. It is only by contact with God that a better quality of living can be achieved -- and Jesus Himself, as the records show, spent many hours in communion with God -- yet that new quality of life has to be both demonstrated and tested in the ordinary rough-and-tumble of plain living. It is in ordinary human relationships that the validity of a man's communion with God is to be proved."
J. B. Phillips


From Biography (this source)
John Bertram Phillips (1906–82)

Bible translator, writer, and broadcaster, born in London, UK. He was made famous by Letters to Young Churches (1947), translations of Paul's epistles begun in 1941 to encourage his church youth club, and in due course by the complete New Testament in Modern English (1958). He wrote a dozen best sellers, including Your God is Too Small (1952), A Man Called Jesus (1959), and Ring of Truth: a Translator's Testimony (1967).

One Body in Christ

Found this by Kurosaki

Recently, some Christians have recognized the existing state of the church as sinful, or, at least, as faulty and mistaken. They are trying to save the Christians out of this labyrinth by reuniting the divided churches, by forming an alliance of churches, or by trying to form an ecumenical church. For all that, it seems very difficult to obtain the desired result, because all the present churches are still standing on the principles of the Reformation, unable to rid themselves of the sectarian spirit inherited from Catholicism. So the number of denominations and sects shows no sign of decreasing, and all efforts to unite the churches seem likely to end only in the formation of yet other sects and denominations. Yet the center of Christianity is neither institution nor organization. Nor is it even the Bible itself, as the Reformers made it, for the Eklesia existed before the formation of the New Testament canon. Christians were in fellowship with God and one another, centering their faith in Christ, long before there was any accepted New Testament. There is only one center of Christianity -- spiritual fellowship with God through Jesus Christ.

Kokichi Kurosaki, One Body in Christ

Stormy Weather?

Praise You in the Storm

Some good advice?

I came across this You Tube video from an interesting blog (ministry, journey, way of sharing the love of God) :) called curious in ibiza. I love the video....I don't know why.....but I do.....Check out the blog of Brian Heasley but be prepared......it ain't the church down the street and around the corner. This world of God's is as wide and as wonderfully varied as it's people and cultures. God has stretched me beyond the narrow perspective I have had. It is a great thing to see Christ's Church, his Bride in action!

Today on 'This Day's Thoughts"

The time will come when winter will ask you what you were doing all summer.

Henry Clay

Got me thinking...

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms and grandmoms out there...or to anyone who is a mom in any way, shape or fashion. It takes all kinds to make this world. Well, there is a great article about Heroes speaking of moms :) on ginkworld, and I will give a piece of it for your perusal. Good thinking....


"They say that a broken bone, once healed, is stronger than one never broken. What if, in Gods economy, a healed person is better than one who has never been sick? What if a grateful, forgiven person is better than one who never needed forgiveness and a person who has been through tragedy, loss and suffering, yet grown because of it is better than one who never knew pain? What if a fallen world, filled with compassion, forgiveness and redemption is better than one that never knew sin. Maybe that's why God allows all those things that make us ask why."

We all need help once in a while....different kinds of help to be sure....but help nonetheless....where is the help and are we there to give it???

Happy am I!

I don't know how much you that have one of the visitor maps on your blog site watch them....I don't really except to see what continents and countries are stopping by...not being a world traveller, this is as close to connecting with other cultures as I am going to get for a while anyway.... :)
Might I just say....Africa has checked in.... this makes me very happy in an odd sort of way....
Now I am awaiting for the rest of the world to check in. So cool...I know... it really is the small things that are huge to me. I love the connections and the reality that these are my brothers and my sisters that I shall one day share the Light of Heaven with. How truly awesome!

I liked these today

From This Day's Thought, today.

"We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are."

Anais Nin


"Abundance is...taking the long-scenic route home."

Candy Paull

The Gate....Gems today

Page 212

"God's literally transformed my life," she said, her voice as soft as rainwater. "The thoughts that come to me are so different now that I'm attuned to Him. Yesterday, a tiny hummingbird found its way to our wild plum tree. As it hovered at each blossom, it extracted the nectar and left the rest behind. It's only the sweetness of each conversation, of each event, that I intend to absorb. What feeds our minds will come out in our lives and, sooner or later, we'll all arrive at the secret thoughts of our hearts."

Pg. 215

Staring down at his own reflection, he realized that he, too, searched the face of every person he met, looking for the gentle character of Christ. Every child of God possesses the longing, he conjectured, to meet brothers and sisters born of the same Spirit. ....Why is this craving for fellowship such a mystery to unbelievers?

He Understands

The Challenge

From T. Austin Sparks - "His Great Love" Page 47, 48

1 John 4:11, 19
"Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another...We love, because he first loved us"

NO TRUE MINISTRY WITHOUT LOVE

There is challenge in this love of God to us. "We also ought..." It is a challenge. Nothing can be except as the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

Let us come back to where we started. If you have ever had exercise with God on any matter, do so on this matter. If you are concerned about being of any use to the Lord at all, in any capacity, - as a preacher, a teacher, a personal witness, as a life lived here without any public place at all - let me tell you (and it is the ripening knowledge of a life that has not much further to go but has for forty years been concerned with this matter of being useful to the Lord) let me tell you that nothing of usefulness to the Lord is possible except on the basis of God's love shed abroad in our hearts. It must be this Holy Ghost love for the people to whom we would minister: love for them even to the laying down of our lives for them, suffering unto death for their sakes: love to the point of being brokenhearted - I use that word quite deliberately - over people for whom you have spiritual concern and in whom you have spiritual interest; love like that. No ministry will be ministry to the Lord that is not born of that; no testimony, no life, except as rooted and grounded in the love of God. You can have all the rest, a mass of and doctrinal information and all that, but it is all without any value unless its exercise is in a love, a passion, a heart beating with the heart of God for His great love wherewith He loved us.

The Gate - Page 170

This hymn from again this book that has been a constant reminder to me of Life in Jesus and how we are in relationship with Jesus first and foremost but how He leads us into community united one with another in Him.
Seemed more than appropriate for this day.

Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine;
Living with Jesus, a new life divine;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am thine.

Moment by moment I'm kept in His love,
Moment by moment I've life from above,
Looking to Jesus 'til glory doth shine;
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am thine.


Ephesians 3:14-21 NASB

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Saturday Night with The Gaithers

For all of you friends who couldn't make the concert..... :)
One of the highlights for me...this song - with all the hype around - It spoke volumes to me....
My sister who treated me to the night of 'good ole southern gospel', loved the show and heard the message ...... it is all good!
Enjoy!

Revelation

Some thoughts on revelation, as brought to light by John W. Woodward

Dr Cawood defined REVELATION as:"that act of God whereby He causes people to know that which in no other way could be made known."

Job 11:7 Zophar challenged Job, ("Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?") NKJV

The answer is that we CANNOT find Him by our own efforts; God must REVEAL Himself to us.

Even so we now walk by faith in God's revelation, not by sight. But when Christ returns we shall see Him face to face.

2 Corinthians 5:7 (for we walk by faith, not by sight.) NASB

1 John 3:2 (Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.) NASB

'Tis Grace'

I used to look at people a lot more than I do now and wonder. Now I look within myself and how God has changed my thinking. He has transformed my thinking. My wondering is more loving, grace initiated. It used to be different. As I look within how can I not extend grace to others. He is the epitome of grace. He is Grace. Again, nothing I do. He works His perfectness in all things.....in my thinking, my actions, my entire life and even in the least of us.....that would be me. In Him......I am perfect....in myself, I am not....of course, I already 'know' that.....I am just realizing and recognizing it more and more.

I am amazed!

Each connection an opportunity for Christ to be seen.

From Forward Motion
The World is Here
"April 19, 2007
Checking in to my second hotel in as many days I was struck by the fact that the world has arrived to America.
Case in point:

Mary (from Austin) greeted me at the counter and checked me into room 217.

Lousakas (from India) was behind me in line.

Eugene (from Africa) was there as a Hampton Inn engineer on call.

Nina and her co-worker (both from Mexico) were cleaning the rooms next to where I would be staying.

Aniko (from Japan) found me on the elevator as I went back downstairs to get a USA today.

Vickie (from Canada) was working the desk when I made it back downstairs.

In my first 10 minutes at this new hotel I met 7 new friends, all from different points around the world. I didn’t talk long to each of them, but long enough to learn their names and where they were from. Though the conversation was brief, it was sincere and encouraging for all involved.
I am realizing more and more that this life I live on mission for Christ doesn’t require me to board a plane to learn from and hopefully make a difference in other cultures. A simple checking in at a local hotel does the job quite nicely!
This weekend look around you. Engage the different faces you meet. Listen to them. Ask great questions (’what makes you come alive?’ or ‘what do you miss most about your country?’) Become a learner as you appreciate how God has allowed the people of the earth to come into your life. You won’t regret it, and you will make some friends from all around the globe."

I add that wherever you are....not just the jet-setters of the world...may we take the time to let His Life that is in us be seen by those we would cross paths with even if only for a moment. It can be the difference. It really can. Even for those who would condemn or judge.

Sums it up

I like this quote I found on madetopraisehim today.

"more will be accomplished on accident when I am focused on His presence than on purpose when I am focused on performance."

by David D'Louhy (student at Bill Johnson's Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry)

P. S.

I just wanted to add that if you take a look at what a "Professional Christian" is according to an article posted on Pastor Mike's blog, I would really choose to be real, even with all the mess that is involved with being real. As Pastor Frank quotes...."We are all a mess in the process". Just who are we trying to fool and how exactly does being anything less than real do anything to truly glorify God?

Thanks P.M. :) for sharing that article ..... it was well read by at least myself, today.

Hmmmmm

Okay, so today....I was taken aback...because again, it was shared with me very openly and definitely that what has been revealed to me as Truth is nothing but apostasy.
This is.... according to Dictionary.com
1. "a total desertion of or departure from one's religion, principles, party, cause, etc."
2. "Abandonment of one's religious faith, a political party, one's principles, or a cause."
3. "the state of having rejected your religious beliefs or your political party or a cause (often in favor of opposing beliefs or causes).

I am a little saddened by this, because I have had such an overwhelming sense of peace about my faith and have left a lot of the legalistic tendencies behind. Some people are threatened by this....but not only that.....they make very good arguments about the way things are (in their very educated and trained minds), and yet something does not ring true in my heart of hearts. There is freedom in the trusting of Jesus to do what He will, in and through us. The sin issue really bogs people down. We all sin. The two nature issue bogs people down. Why? Do you know Jesus? Do you trust Jesus? Is He able to reveal Himself and all that He is to you?

Leaving religion behind, doesn't sound like such a bad thing.
Leaving my faith. There is nothing further from the Truth. I have found a lasting, ever awakening faith in the One who is alive, and knows everything about me.....and loves me anyway, enough to live in me, through me, in His way, as I get out of the way.

I don't understand all there is ..... do I need to?
I am looking into this idea of "apostasy". I don't like the way that I felt as I was being "corrected". Is living the Exchanged Life, so radical? He speaks to me loudly about this. Where does the fear and judgement come from? Not from Him. I just don't get it. :(

At the sound of His Name.....

It is true.....believe it or not.

The Gate... Page 102

This passage had more....this is a short piece of it....I love the analogy!

"Two lilies growing side by side share the same nature and are much alike - yet entirely different. Each one unfolds its leaves and extends its flowers toward heaven in a way no other lily has ever done before or will again. God saw beauty in creating them similar yet distinctive. So it is with believers; the same Spirit of Christ, but each possessing a unique personality. Of course, humans have the liberty to reject His plan and fashion our own identity and destiny. Or like the lily, we can glorify Him by lifting our heads and reflecting His beauty."

The Gate...Pg.79

"The Christian life I see in the New Testament is simpler than that,....It's like stepping through a gate and finding oneself walking along an entirely new path, one of quiet faith in God. I want to taste it, touch it, live it. Indeed, to radiate the very love of Jesus."

"Yes, and you can quote the church fathers eloquently, sir, but each one of us needs to hear Jesus' voice for ourselves and to follow Him with our heart. I'm afraid that hasn't been my experience in recent years. And I need to change that."

Another blast from the past....

Chuck Girard - Little Pilgrim

The Gate.....pg 72

"In this world people are running in every direction, a sure sign they're searching for something to satisfy the emptiness they feel. On the other hand, when we, as God's children, gather in a circle, like today, we're showing that we've found something. Only that something is a Someone. We have found Jesus, the Lamb of God, the source of the abundant life."

From The Gate Seldom Found

by Raymond Reid

As a man....named Alistair.....we shall call him Al :) for short began to see Jesus as something different from what he had heard all his life.

"...Like a man healed from lifelong blindness, he began to see portions of the ancient writings in a strange new light. This enlightenment, this new way of seeing swelled from a mere pinhole to an expansive admiration for the humble way Jesus had lived and for the profound wisdom of His parables.........vaguely aware of the intensity of his growing love for Christ. The New Testament church, he realized, as scales of tradition fell from his eyes, had never been about a building, an organization, or an enterprise which, of late, he believed St. Patrick's (his church) was fast becoming."

Yes, I know that experience.

Harmony in Him

Acts 4:32-34b

"And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. For there was not a needy person among them...."

Like Paul at the Grace Project says....everything you'll ever see in the world is about keeping us (believers), apart. We are incomplete without Jesus, and also incomplete without each other.

I get that. Because when He died, we died. When He rose, we rose. We are together seated in the heavenlies with Him. Union in Christ in all things.

Same but with a different flavour...

Shaking my head....

This is an old video, but it still fascinates me.

Faithful Father - Brian Doerksen

Never Changing - Always Faithful
(some of the lyrics and spelling is incorrect...you know how much that can make me crazy....just close your eyes and listen.....one of my favourite songs and artists).

Old Wounds, New Life

April 09, 1957
A very good year. This saint of God was born. Other less celebrated things happened, like.......

It was the year Sputnik I and II were launched.
It was the year schools in Little Rock Arkansas were forcibly integrated.
Eisenhower was starting his second term as US President.
Elvis was doing his thing.
The Cold War was in full swing.
The 57 Chevy was the car of choice.
Joe McCarthy(held Senate Communism hearings) died, as did Laura Ingalls Wilder (Little House on the Prairie author).
The country of Ghana won its independence.
The country of Malaya attained sovereignty.
Hank Aaron was the National League's most valuable player.
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was organized.
Richfield Oil established Alaska's first commercially viable oil production on the Swanson River.
Steve Allen was the host of "The Tonight Show."
The Teamsters Union was expelled from the AFL-CIO due to charges of corruption.
"West Side Story" opened on Broadway.
The International Geophysical Year (57 - 58) brought about a great amount of research into the environment.
The International Atomic Energy Agency was established to oversee the development and spread of nuclear technology and materials.
In the Middle East, the Suez Canal was closed due to conflicts.
Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn starred in Funny Face.
"I Love Lucy" was in its last year on TV. (Original episodes)
The "European Economic Community" (EEC) was established.
Willy Brandt became mayor of West Berlin.
Humphrey Bogart died.
Daniel Bovet won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his research into antihistamines.
"Bloom County" cartoonist Berkeley Breathed was born.
Antarctica explorer Richard Byrd died.
Albert Camus won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Dr. Seuss wrote The Cat in the Hat.
Mao Tse Tung was in power in China
Juan Batista was in control in Cuba.
John Diefenbaker was Prime Minister of Canada.
US Congress passed the Civil Rights Act.
"Papa Doc" Francois Duvalier was elected President of Haiti.
Anthony Eden resigned as Prime Minister of England and was replaced by Harold MacMillan.
Gamal Abdel Nasser was elected President of Egypt.
The first commercial nuclear reactor was opened in Shippingport, PA.
The "Everly Brothers" released their hit single Wake Up Little Susie.
First ascent of Broad Peak (12th highest mountain).
Major league baseballer Jackie Robinson retires.
Wham-O Company produces the first Frisbee.
Ellen Louks Fairclough sworn in as Canada's first woman Cabinet Minister.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney of The Beatles meet for the first time.
First appearance of "In God We Trust" on U.S. paper currency.

Fifty....50....1/2 a century.....my goodness.....where has the time gone. It was a tough one. I have never had a tough birthday to adjust to. This one was. I don't think it is the age. It is the idea of the age. I have nothing but admiration and gratitude for the God that brought me through so much to this point. Amazing.

April 18, 1981
Black Saturday....the day between Good Friday and Easter Monday. The day I became a married woman. The Covenant for me is still intact. This has been a case of great sorrow for me, and a lot of bitterness....He has brought me to the other side of this however.....I think, and after years, I have been able to see that I am not the one in control here.....it is the Father and He has used this for His purpose...I have been forgiven for my sins, past present and future and my Life is in Him. To focus on anything or anyone else is futility. This is a good place to be and even though I revisit the pain of the past, it is best left. God has been faithful to me, from the beginning of my Life in Him. Events, have shaped my earthly life but my identity.....who I am ....to the Father has never changed. He has lavished His love upon me. I am grateful.

Some other interesting things happened this year, like.........

Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper, is arrested.
Super Bowl XV: The Oakland Raiders defeat the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-10.
A fire at the Las Vegas Hilton hotel-casino kills eight and injures 198.
After 19 years presenting the CBS Evening News, Walter Cronkite signs off for the last time.
President Ronald Reagan is shot in the chest outside a Washington, D.C. hotel by John Hinckley, Jr., family friend of the Vice President.
The first IBM PC is introduced.
Xerox PARC introduces the computer mouse.
Death of Reggae legend Bob Marley.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that five homosexual men in Los Angeles, California, have a rare form of pneumonia seen only in patients with weakened immune systems (these were the first recognized cases of AIDS).
Major League Baseball players begin a 49 day strike over the issue of free-agent compensation.
Lady Diana Spencer marries Charles, Prince of Wales.
First broadcasts by MTV. The first video played was "Video Killed The Radio Star" by the Buggles.
The IBM PC, an early personal computer, is introduced.
The first Friday the 13th event held by motorcyclists in Port Dover, Ontario, Canada.

Enough about me....how has your month been? :)

I do believe in saints, I do ..I do...I do......Am I not one?

Tozer's devotional today. I like this one.....but I guess as a believer I know that in Christ I am a saint.....in comparison to the whole protestant, catholic discussion of saints.

Prayer: If God Answers Prayer

So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts."
Isaiah 6:5

Why does God answer prayer? Let's not imagine that it's because somebody was good. We Protestants think we don't believe in saints, but we do. We canonize them: we have Saint George Mueller, Saint C.H. Spurgeon, Saint D.L. Moody and Saint A.B. Simpson. We get the idea that God answered prayer for them because they were really good. They would deny that fervently if they were here.

Nobody ever got anything from God on the grounds that he deserved it. Having fallen, man deserves only punishment and death. So if God answers prayer it's because God is good. From His goodness, His lovingkindness, His good-natured benevolence, God does it! That's the source of everything.

The Attributes of God, pp. 46-47

Being Loved Unconditionally

"God's love(unchanging) is not human love(born of need)."

"Man was originally made to live loved."

"God loves us not because of who we are, but because of who He is."

Malcolm Smith

"May the Lord lead your hearts into God's love and Christ's patience."
2 Thessalonians 3:5

Tozer Today

from - http://lmi.gospelcom.net
Prayer: Confidence in Him

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Hebrews 4:16

You can have this confidence in God, and you can have this respect for His will. Do not expect God to perform miracles for you so you can write books about them. Do not ever be caught asking God to send you toys like that to play around with.

But if you are in trouble and concerned about your situation and willing to be honest with God, you can have confidence in Him. You can go to Him in the merit of His Son, claiming His promises, and He will not let you down. God will help you, and you will find the way of deliverance.God will move heaven and earth for you if you will trust Him.

Faith Beyond Reason, p. 49

Pain

I tend to agree with Elisabeth. I hesitate to agree but I think I know that pain has to come to all of us, and of course everyone's pain is specific to them. What might be a deal and a half to someone is but a sorry inconvenience for someone else, and interestingly enough, God knows those specifics. Whatever the case it can bring us to Him and that is a good thing. I know it brought me to Him. Pain is not always a bad thing. :) Always easier to say that in retrospect. Of course, I know He was the One, the Loving One who drew me in to Himself. Pain may have just been the vehicle.

"I am not a theologian or a scholar, but I am very aware of the fact that pain is necessary to all of us. In my own life, I think I can honestly say that out of the deepest pain has come the strongest conviction of the presence of God and the love of God."

Elisabeth Elliot

Colossians 1:16,17

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions of rulers or authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him.

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. (NASB)

For Those Tears I Died

say what you will about the Gaithers.... :) But
I came across this old Gaither video on YouTube and it brought a memory from the past to me.....thought I would share. I was ..hmmm...16 maybe...freshly saved and ready to change the world for God. I somehow coerced my brother and sister to sing this song in our 'church' accompanied by the dear organist and choir director, who ventured far off the traditional and high brow path of religion to allow us to do just that. I don't think my sibs knew the intensity of what this song meant to me and yet I kind of felt everybody had the same kind of 'religion' inside of them that I did ..... I was naive and wrong....but I think about that time and know that God orchestrated that time in my life. My 'church' never spoke of salvation, not in any way that I understood. I had to go outside the church to find Jesus. Interesting eh? This song resonates in my heart a time of innocence and new life....that God used to bring me to this moment .... right now....today, where I see Him more clearly and yet still as my Life, made new in Him.




For Those Tears I Died

You said You'd come and share all my sorrows
You said You'd be there for all my tomorrows
I came so close to sending You away
But just like You promised You came there to stay
I just had to pray

And Jesus said "Come to the water
Stand by my side
I know you are thirsty
You won't be denied
I felt every teardrop
When in darkness you cried
And I strove to remind you
That for those tears I died."

Your goodness so great I can't understand
And dear Lord I know that all this was planned
I know You're here now and always will be
Your love loosened my chains and in You I'm free
But Jesus why me?

Jesus I give You my heart and my soul
I know that without God I'd never be whole
Saviour You opened all the right doors
And I thank You and praise You from earth's humble shores
Take me, I'm Yours

The Anchor Holds

Even today, the sun is shining and life goes on....but not for some. May God give comfort to those who are mourning today.

Musings on a Monday

I met with walkingchurch yesterday morning, and during our short (?) walk through the woods, I was able to share and be shared with by a sister in Christ about this Life we live that is Christ. About the incredible Love that He has for each one of us. A real blessing. A real joy for me. I love to connect with the Church in this manner even though it is difficult at times to do just this. It is so much easier in a lot of ways to go to my 'church', or the 'church' that my daughter's attend. Easier in a lot of ways....arranging everyone's schedule, and not having to have that alarm set so early :). I don't have to connect there, I don't have to open myself up at all, I can just listen ... be entertained.... be numb at times..... just go ..... and then go back home. Easy. But, I am having a harder time doing this of late. I want the more, so desperately.

I am reading a book, called The Indwelling Life of Christ, by Major W. Ian Thomas, about how, "....there are so many things that can detract us from the sheer simplicity which is in Christ, the centrality of a Person, the Lord Jesus Himself, in residence within our redeemed humanity..." In 2 Corinthians 11:3, Paul speaks to us who know Christ, about this very thing. This is the one thing. In everything we go through in this life..... this is the thing. I love to read these books that are written by God's Children, eternal Truth by Saints of eternity.

Sharing this first couple of paragraph's of the introduction.
"To be entirely honest, I know of nothing quite so boring as Christianity without Christ.
Countless people have stopped going to a place of worship simply because they are sick of going through the motions of a dead religion. They are tired of trying to start a car on an empty tank. What a pity that there are not more people around to show them that Jesus Christ is alive.
I know of nothing so utterly exciting as being a Christian, sharing the very Life of Jesus Christ on earth right here and now, being caught up with Him into the relentless, invincible purposes of the almighty God, and having available to us all the limitless resources of Deity for accomplishing those purposes.
Can you imagine anything more exciting than that?"

The Major apparently has been sharing this message for at least 60 years and more, because I believe this was referenced a few years ago. The man was born in 1914. This Life, that is in Christ, and He in us.....not a new concept by any means. Look at Madame Guyon (1600's)!! Look at T. Austin Sparks (1888-1971). So many more of the great writers to read. Look at Paul's writings in the New Testament!! Talk to the Lord, He will reveal His Truth to you. It is a joy-filled and a blessed Life. Not always happy...in fact much sadness can fill this life and you can FEEL unblessed, but the Truth be told, written about, spoken about and revealed by Him, alone.....It is joy, pure joy filled with His perfect love for each one of us hearing with open hearts. Meeting my like or unliked minded brothers and sisters in Christ has been wonderful and it thrills my soul. Maybe the thrill is seeing Jesus, Alive and so multi-faceted in the lives of those who know Him.
As the Major summarizes Jesus' prayer to His Father in John 17:21-23 as: The world will know and the world will believe that You, the Father, have sent Me when My followers are in Us as I am in Thee, Father, and I am in them as Thou art in Me!"
"He ends his book, .... The indwelling Life of Christ - that is the truth that sets us free!"

From Tozer

Today's devotional "spoke" to me very quietly but very profoundly.

Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel answered, "Speak, for Your servant hears." --1 Samuel 3:10

Lord, teach me to listen. The times are noisy and my ears are weary with the thousand raucous sounds which continuously assault them. Give me the spirit of the boy Samuel when he said to Thee, "Speak, for thy servant heareth." Let me hear Thee speaking in my heart. Let me get used to the sound of Thy voice, that its tones may be familiar when the sounds of earth die away and the only sound will be the music of Thy speaking voice. Amen. The Pursuit of God, pp. 82-83

Peace

I like this video. From the beginning it gives me a sense of calm. Maybe it is the tea.:)
Some days I feel like this....life is busy....phones are ringing....traffic is noisy.....stuff is going on all around me.....and yet this overwhelming peace.....in the midst....takes me aback......I am not present in this earthly realm....I am in His Presence in the heavenly realm. Peace.

Leeland's - Tears of the Saints

For RoG

Judging Others?

Seeing beyond....with the eyes of Christ as well.

T. W. Hunt from The Mind of Christ

"This is why Christians should not judge other Christians. We have no way of knowing exactly how God evaluates us. It is possible that finally, under God, we will see some seemingly successful Christians as pygmies. The opposite is also true."

John Paul Jackson from Breaking Free of Rejection

His test to discover if rejection is empowering your life.

1. Do I anticipate or elicit a negative response from others?
2. When questioned, do I become agitated or angry?
3. Do I need to be considered an expert on almost everything?
4. Am I known for being argumentative?
5. Do I believe that I am on a higher spiritual plane and that my opinions should be favored above others' opinions?
6. Do I experience marked mood swings?
7. Do I do things merely to gain the acceptance or attention of others?
8. Have people told me that I am overly sensitive?
9. Is my mood often dictated by the moods of those around me?
10. Do I overvalue the positive evaluation of others?
11. Do I expect to be overlooked? Do I require special encouragement to participate in anything?
12. Do leaders consider me inconsistent or unreliable?
13. Do I seldom attend a Bible study, social event, party, or blend in with others, because I see myself as different?
14. Do I measure my personal value by the amount of spiritual insight I have?

The author suggests answering "yes" to any of these questions may reveal some roots of rejection in your life.

My thoughts from me

Knowing your identity in Christ....who you are, what He has said in His Word and by His Spirit helps you get through the muck of rejection in your life. If you never have been or felt rejected ..... I think you lie. My opinion. People will always fail you. Get that in your head. Then get past it. He is perfect in everything and He will not fail you. He will not reject you. He will always see you for who you are, not for what you have or have not done. His Love is given freely....not as the world gives. He said it, He has shown me this and it will never be any different. How can one live without this realization is beyond me. The breaking, the woundings, the pain, life, right?....how else can one live but in the Truth. It is beyond my comprehension.

Wow!

There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.

Philippians 1:6, The Message

Covenant Keeper

This song always moved me. Never say die.

I Will Sing (Pray, Worship, Love On, Be In the Presence of Almighty God)

Don Moen

Happy Resurrection Day

All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises
Paul Baloche

Hosanna

Paul Baloche

Second Free Hug Video

I see there are more than one of these floating around. This one makes me happy as well.

At The Cross

The Events (NASB)

Pilate Seeks Jesus' Release
13 Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people,
14 and said to them, "You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him.
15 "No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him.
16 "Therefore I will punish Him and release Him."
17 Now he was obliged to release to them at the feast one prisoner.
18 But they cried out all together, saying, "Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!"
19 (He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city, and for murder.)
20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again,
21 but they kept on calling out, saying, "Crucify, crucify Him!"
22 And he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has this man done? I have found in Him no guilt demanding death; therefore I will punish Him and release Him."
23 But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail.
24 And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted.
25 And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he delivered Jesus to their will.

Simon Bears the Cross

26 When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.
27 And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him.
28 But Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
29 "For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.'
30 "Then they will begin TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, 'FALL ON US,' AND TO THE HILLS, 'COVER US.'
31 "For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
32 Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him.

The Crucifixion

When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.
34 But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing " And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.
35 And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One."
36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine,
37 and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!"
38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS."
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!"
40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
41 "And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."
42 And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!"
43 And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour,
45 because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two.
46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT." Having said this, He breathed His last.
47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent."
48 And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, began to return, beating their breasts.
49 And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.

Good Friday

This material taken from a Biblical Study done by a good friend and kind Shepherd.


We must never minimize the awful cost of our salvation.
Is it possible that some Christians become tired of hearing about the cross?
Paul wrote to the Galatians, “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ”. (Galatians 6:14).
I am not suggesting that we “stop at the cross”, that we become so fixated with the suffering and death of Christ that we forget the empty tomb.
But there must be that Friday. We must come to the cross before we can come to the empty tomb.

What does that mean, “to come to the cross”? We hear it a lot, don’t we? How often do we hear, “I want to sit at the foot of the cross”?
But what does that really mean? And what are we to do when we come to the foot of the cross?
There is only one thing, my friends. And that is not to ask for comfort. It is not to ask for encouragement. It is not to ask for physical healing, or even worse, to demand healing. In fact, it is not to ask for blessings of any sort.
There is only one thing we are to do at the cross, and that is to repent of our sins, and to ask for His forgiveness. And then it is to thank Him. And to continue thanking Him every day for the rest of our lives for bearing our sins on that cross.
Yes, there will be comfort; there will be encouragement. There will be healing of our hearts and souls. But that is not why we go to the cross.
To think that we can skip the “repentance part” of the meaning of the cross is to mock the very cost of our salvation, to mock the cost of Calvary.

Without the cross, there would be no forgiveness. Without the cross, there would be no salvation. Without the cross, our sins would still be upon us. Without the cross, we would never be reconciled with our God, our Creator. Without the cross, we would be lost forever.
It cost Christ everything to redeem us. Let us never make light of what cost Him so dearly.

I read the story once of a father whose young son was killed in a tragic accident. In grief and enormous anger, he visited his pastor and poured out his heart. The man then said to the pastor, “Where was God when my son died?”
The pastor paused for a moment, and with great wisdom replied, “The same place He was when His Son died”.
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

This cry from the cross is for all the lonely and hurt people of the world. It is for the abandoned child . . . the abused child…. the widow. . . the divorcee struggling to make ends meet . . . the mother standing over the bed of her suffering child . . . the father out of work . . . the parents left alone . . . the prisoner in his cell . . . the aged sitting day in and day out alone in convalescent homes . . . wives abandoned by their husbands . . . singles who celebrate their birthdays alone. And yes, it is for the parents struggling to find meaning when a child dies.

This is the word from the cross for you, my friend: No one has ever been as alone as Jesus was on that cross that Friday we call Good Friday.
You will never be forsaken as He was. No cry of your pain can exceed the cry of His pain when God the Father turned his back and looked the other way.
“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”

But my friends, in absolute humbleness and gratitude, we can only thank God that it is true.
He was forsaken that you might never be forsaken.
He was abandoned that you might never be abandoned.
He was deserted that you might never be deserted.

Free Hugs

Thanks to Joel over at graceroots for bringing this video to light. It just makes me happy!

The End of the Beginning

David Phelps

Wonderful Merciful Saviour

This movie's images still almost too powerful for me to watch. This song is perfect.

Anyone "Feel" Like Fishing?

Max Lucado

From Next Door Savior

"We worked hard all night....and we caught nothing." Luke 5:5

Do you have worn, wet, empty nets? Do you know the feeling of a sleepless, fishless night? Of course you do. For what have you been casting?

Solvency? "My debt is an anvil around my neck......"

Faith? "I want to believe, but......"

Healing? "I've ben sick so long....."

A happy marriage? "No matter what I do....."

I've worked hard all night and caught nothing.

You've felt what Peter felt. You've sat where Peter sat. And now Jesus is asking you to go fishing. He knows your nets are empty. He knows your heart is weary. He knows you'd like nothing more than to turn your back on the mess and call it a life. But he urges, "It's not too late to try again." See if Peter's reply won't help you formulate your own.

"You say to put the nets in the water, so I will." Luke 5:5

Job 28:7

Came across this verse in my reading, and it jumped. :) It is so cool when that happens.

There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen."

Seems like there is a path, a life that is beyond, or above this life in the flesh that is sought out by the predators, scavengers, of this earth. Can we see God? Through the eyes of His Son, I think we can rise above to the heavenly places.

I pray He gives us each at least a glimpse of this life that we possess and yet most of the time do not realize it. The times that I have caught just a tiny, fleeting, moment of understanding, as I rest fully in Him, leave me craving and searching, ever searching for more of that deep well of Himself and the Life that He has given me.

An Accidental Quote

Last one tonight, I promise from Yancey's book, Prayer.

"A rabbi taught that experiences of God can never be planned or achieved. 'They are spontaneous moments of grace, almost accidental.' His students asked, 'Rabbi, if God-realization is just accidental, why do we work so hard doing all these spiritual practices?' The rabbi replied, 'To be as accident-prone as possible."

Every Blessing

I liked this prayer, found in Yancey's book, Prayer.

A Franciscan Benediction

May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships
So that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and
To turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

Amen

On Prayer

Quote from Miracles by C.S. Lewis as noted by Yancey in Prayer.

"This impossibility of empirical proof is a spiritual necessity. A man who knew empirically that an event had been caused by his prayer would feel like a magician. His head would turn and his heart would be corrupted. The Christian is not to ask whether this or that event happened because of a prayer. He is rather to believe that all events without exception are answers to prayer in the sense that whether they are grantings or refusals the prayers of all concerned and their needs have all been taken into account. All prayers are heard, though not all prayers are granted."

Yancey goes on, quoting Lewis, "Only faith vouches for the connection. No empirical proof could establish it."

Then Yancey says something that I think is so very cool and sings to me.

"We believe a prayer has been answered not because of any scientific criteria proving cause and effect, but because we have faith. Trusting God's character, we can see in the relation between our prayer and an event more than a coincidence. We see a true partnership, intimate and intertwined."

Sweet and smooth like honey.....this session I am having on prayer.

His Victorious Indwelling

From today's date

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he hath trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3 KJV

Dear Friend,
This is the word of the Lord God to thee:
Live in the wisdom of the life of God. And be still and silent from thy own wisdom, wit, craft, or policy that would arise in thee, stand single to the Lord, without any end to thyself. Then God will bless thee and prosper thee in his ways; thou wilt feel his blessing in thy generation.
And with thy mind stayed upon the Lord, thou wilt be kept in perfect peace, without any intent to thyself, to the glory of God. And there wilt thou feel no want, nor never a failing, nor forsaking, but the presence of the Lord God of life with thee. For now the state of this present age is, that the Lord is bringing his people into the life the Scriptures were given forth from, in which life people shall come to have unity with God, with Scriptures and one with another, for the establishing righteousness, truth, and peace, in which is the kingdom of God.

George Fox

This is the secret of all blessing - giving the Lord the supreme place. Thinking first of what is due to Him, and losing sight of all else until this is rendered.

Edward Dennett

On Prayer

Prayer is not merely an occasional impulse to which we respond when we are in trouble: prayer is a life attitude.
~Walter A. Mueller~

We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.
~Oswald Chambers~

Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day; give him a religion, and he'll starve to death while praying for a fish.
~Author Unknown~

The Profundity of it all

From "This Day's Thought"

Hold a true friend with both hands.

Nigerian proverb

Anybody up for a field trip?

Can Anybody Hear Her

by Casting Crowns

Offerings

Paul Baloche

Quietly .... Waiting

Not too much to say .... I am having a wonderfully reflective time. Enjoy the videos. 2 Corinthians 1:3,4

You Shine

Brian Doerksen

Healing Rain

Michael W. Smith

In the Arms of The Angels

by Sarah Mclaughlin



I don't know how "sound" this song is when aligned with the way I think. She has a voice that moves me and the song stirs something within. Leaving it there. Grace lets me do that.

Chris Tomlin

How Can I Keep From Singing?

Amazing God

My Amazing God knew ..."in the age before the creation...before the creation of things seen. Even before the creation of things unseen." (taken from Gene Edwards ...Living By The Highest Life.)

My Amazing God has brought these two angels of mine....into their 17th year...on the 15th of March.

Well, not always angels but mine ...nonetheless. Mine, but not mine, I guess. I have definitely, finally, given all the kids over to the Lord. They are His, after all.

Too sweet...makes my tears flow....where have all these years gone?

It is difficult, but who better knew misunderstanding?

Prepare to be Misunderstood

The paramount stigma of being today's man or woman is probably that of being misunderstood. Nothing is more painful than this. We can cope with a lot that people say against us - as long as they are fully in the picture and still disagree. But what hurts is when they aren't in the picture and they form judgments and perceptions that are based on limited information.

I sometimes think that much of Jesus' pain at His crucifixion was a result of His being misunderstood. Nothing made sense. It didn't add up that the same man who raised Lazarus from the dead a few days before was now hanging on a cross. Why didn't Jesus stop the proceedings that led to His crucifixion? Anybody who could control the wind and storm on the Sea of Galilee could surely have intervened before Herod or Pilate.

There were any number of ways in which He could have stopped being crucified. Common sense told everybody this. So why was He being crucified?

The disciples couldn't figure it out - they all forsook Him and fled (Matt. 26:56). Never once did Jesus explain Himself.

It must have been almost unbearable emotional pain for Jesus to see Mary Magdalene sobbing her heart out at the scene of the cross and not be allowed to whisper to her, "It's OK, Mary; all is going according to plan. I'm atoning for the sins of the world by My blood." But there was no hint of this. He had to bear the further stigma of being misunderstood, even by those closest to Him.

Whether others understood or not, He did the right thing - He listened to God.

Preceeding thoughts found in:
By Love Transformed by R.T. Kendall
(excerpted from The Anointing: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow)

In "Light" of the Anticipation of Spring

David Crowder

Prayer

by Philip Yancey "In a world that glorifies success, an admission of weakness disarms pride at the same time it prepares us to receive grace. Meanwhile, the very weakness that drives us to pray becomes an invitation for God to respond with compassion and power." The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. Psalm 105:4 "In the presence of the Great Physician, my most appropriate contribution may be my wounds."

A Little Biography

Asked for a little background on this author....check it out!

"T. Austin-Sparks was born in London, England in 1888 and was educated in both England and Scotland. At the age of 25 he was ordained as a pastor, however, a few years later his "career" took a decidedly different direction when a crisis brought him to a place of brokenness and he left the denomination with which he was involved and dropped the title of "Reverend"."

"Perhaps one of the earliest of his books can best give us a real clue to his whole life and ministry. It is called "The Centrality and Supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ". This was where he began, and this was where he ended, for it became noticeable in his closing years that he lost interest in subjects and concentrated his attention on the person of Christ. Christ is central! None of us will claim always to have been "on centre", and he certainly made no such claim, but it was his life's objective and the aim of all his preaching and teaching to recognize that centrality and bow to that supremacy."

"Based in Honor Oak, London, he published a bi-monthly magazine called "A Witness and A Testimony" from 1923 until his death in 1971."

"TAS deliberately made no provision for the continuing of his ministry following his death as he believed that what was from God and of God would be taken care of by Him. Time has proved that his trust was not misplaced as God has indeed preserved what was His own. TAS left behind a treasury of writings filled with the Wisdom, Life and Revelation of Christ."

Peace

Found this poem in the new book of Philip Yancey's
"Prayer Does It Make Any Difference?"

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair grows in me
and I wake in the middle of the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water,
and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water,
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Wendell Berry, Collected Poems

This poem has a serenity about it. The nature element provides this.
I almost find myself slipping into the imagery the author has created.
The quiet time that is difficult to find in this hectic paced world is found
in this poem. To find that place, my journey.

Sanctus Real - The Face of Love

Sparked

The Centrality and Supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ by T. Austin-Sparks "...when we have received Christ, everything with which we have to do in relation to Him, anything which we have a voice or an influence, any part that we can take in the Lord's interests, must be wholly, utterly and always for the expression of Christ, the revelation of Jesus Christ, the bringing into view of Christ. No assembly, no church, no movement, no testimony, no fellowship, is justified in its existence from God's standpoint except insofar as Christ is expressed by it." (Hmmmmm, ) "Beloved, we are speaking about the individual. I am not justified, and you are not justified, in claiming to be Christians except in the measure in which Christ is manifested in me, in you; and all the force and weight of hell is out against that. Believers have far more to provoke them to un-Christ-likeness than anyone else in this world. Believers have far more assaults to churn them up and to make them betray Christ than anyone else. Hell is dead set against the revelation of Jesus Christ. Everything begins with this, the revelation of Christ within." "...Christ is the beginning and Christ is the end, the A to Z, the Alpha and Omega.....It is: "Christ in you, the hope of glory,"....." Colossians 1 - Sparks says this ..."first chapter of Colossians carries us right back into the mind and heart of God before the world was, and we are shown what was going on in the mind and heart of the Father concerning His Son. It is called "the mystery," that is the Divine secret."

The Heart...again

From "This Day's Thought"...today
"O, to have the soul bathed all day long in this thought, "as the pebble in the willow brook" until the words come like the tears, because the heart is full, and we cannot help it; to feel, in the darkest hour, that there is an unseen Spectator whose eyes rest on us like morning on the flowers; and that in the severest sorrow, we can sink into a presence full of love and sympathy, deeper than ever breathed from earth or sky or loving hearts- a presence in which all fears and anxieties melt away as ice-crystals in the warm ocean. This is heaven."

Edward Thomson

A Little More....

Sparks ...The Centrality and Supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"When you are studying the person and the life and the work of the Lord Jesus, there must be a Divine quest in your heart, and that quest must be for those features which suggest universality(existing or prevalent everywhere)(relation, extension, applicable to all)(the quality of being universal, or existing everywhere). Approach again the reading of the life of the Lord Jesus with that thought; you will not want for helpful, profitable Bible study, and you will find that things begin to enlarge in a way which throws back your horizon and enlarges your own heart and makes you feel the wonder of Christ. Looking for features of universality you will not go very far before you find them."

Cry Out to Jesus

Song by Third Day

Who Is This King of Glory - Everything to me

Who is this King of Glory, Who pursues me with His love
And haunts me with each hearing of His softly spoken words
My conscience, a reminder of forgiveness that I have
Who is this King of Glory who offers it to me
Who is this King of angels, O blessed Prince of Peace
Revealing things of Heaven and all its mysteries
My spirit's ever longing for His grace in which to stand
Who's this King of glory, Son of God and Son of man
His name is Jesus, precious Jesus
The Lord Almighty, the King of my heart
The King of glory
Who is this King of Glory with strength and majesty
And wisdom beyond measure, the gracious King of Kings
The Lord of Earth and Heaven,
The Creator of all things
Who is this King of Glory,
He's everything to me
The Lord of Earth and Heaven,
The Creator of all things
He is the King of glory,
He's everything to me

by Third Day

Sparking on Sparks

Ok, so my brother, encourager, friend over at walking church has posted (and posted and posted, lol) on T. Austin Sparks. Some great words and understandings on our Life - Jesus Christ.

I have been encouraged to look into the FREE booklet "The Centrality and Supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ" by this author and have found that it is all that and more, for my particular questions at this time.

I don't know if RoG over there at walking church posted on this before but I know that I was just talking to a fellow saint yesterday about this very thing and some bell went off in my mind (which of course is the mind of Christ....and when I listen, it seems to undo me). This takes me to Sparks and this booklet, yet again.....

"The centrality and supremacy of the Lord Jesus is the pivot and the key to all the Scriptures."

"Of course the Lord Jesus Himself has told us as much. We know from Luke 24 that this is so. There we find Him talking Moses, the Psalms, and all the Prophets, and in them all speaking of the things concerning Himself. So that in our reading of the Word of God, wherever we happen to be reading, the question that should always be in our minds is "What has this to do with Christ?": and if you bring that question to your reading of the Word of God, wherever you may read (and that is not said without thought) you will at once get a new understanding of the Word, you will have a new value in your reading: for the Scriptures, and all the Scriptures, are they which speak of Him: although you may have difficutlty sometimes in tracing Him, yet He is there. The cumulative effect of all parts of the Word of God is to bring you to Christ."

Sparks goes on to suggest that whatever we read from the Scriptures to not limit the portion in terms of just historical, narrative, prophecey or any other such theme in itself....but to always have the question ..."What has this to do with Christ? This is the key to unlocking Scripture.
Now, you theologians out there.....know this already, I am sure....but for me....this was a real revelation. I knew this .... but to really think and meditate on this .....mind blowing!

Sparks reminds us that the reason for saying this is ...."the Lord Jesus is by Divine appointment, at the centre of everything in this universe, every phase and every aspect, and He is its explanation."

Way too cool!

Carried to the Table - Leeland - For RoG

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