Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Twila Paris - Warrior is a Child / Do I Trust You



Fight the good fight!

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Ephesians 6: 10 - 19 The Holy Bible KJV



The Warrior is a Child
Words and music by Twila Paris


Lately I've been winning battles left and right But even winners can get wounded in the fight People say that I'm amazing, strong beyond my years But they don't see inside of me, I'm hiding all the tears
They don't know that I go running home when I fall down They don't know who picks me up when no one is around I drop my sword and cry for just a while Deep inside this armor - the warrior is a child.
Unafraid because His armor is the best But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest. People say that I'm amazing - never face retreat But they don't see the enemies that lay me at His feet.
They don't know that I go running home when I fall down They don't know who picks me up when no one is around I drop my sword and look up for a smile 'Cause deep inside this armor...
Deep inside this armor... Deep inside this armor... The warrior is a child.

I'm Not Who I Was (KXOJ Version #3)


There Was a Time
I do not know why Bad things happen to good people! I only know I am not the one who made all these bad things happen. I am not the sinner Lord! Why am I the one being punished? There was a time when those words crept into my heart perhaps even into my very spirit. I know I am not alone in that line of thinking others have asked me the same thing again and again.
Sin to me was a naughty word and I didn’t want my name attached to it in anyway not even at the sake of my own Salvation it took sheer desperation on my part the wanting to give my Family all that I never felt I had “The missing link” if you will to their happiness and mine.
I realized until I was happy with myself and Loved myself I would remain untouchable to the ones I loved the most so I swallowed the last bit of my pride, surrendered the last bit of control I had over me and I got me knees and I prayed.....

Sinner’s Prayer- That’s Not for Me!
“I’m not a sinner” -“I don’t go around sinning”-”I’ve never murdered anyone, I’m not like that!” Sinner is a word that gets a bad rap these days, as well it should but unfortunately, the bad rap it is getting is for the wrong reasons. Confronted with our shortcomings, we are quick to defend ourselves and because of that, we often don’t dig deep enough to see what the word says about sin. Sin simply means to miss the mark, fall short of your goal; it shouldn’t mean that some Christian stands in judgment of you waiting to hang a scarlet letter around your neck. The fact is we are all sinners for there is no one but our Lord Jesus Christ who lived a life that did not fall short of the Perfection God requires. We all deserve to pay the penalty for sin, which is to spend eternity in Hell.
Sin, according to the Bible, is any action that violates the law given by God in the Ten Commandments. A law given with the purpose of showing what it means to live a life deserving of God’s love. It was also given to show us that none of us could live that kind of life. God knew that in advance and that is why he sent his Son Jesus to be that perfect life for us! Jesus, God in human flesh, voluntarily laid aside His God-hood to connect with us, to show us that he understands us, and to give us a way to be reconciled to the Father, since none of us can keep the law to its letter.
“For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)
Sin may be something we cannot be free of, but we can be free of its penalty.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23)
As long as we are content to live our life in sin, the bible says we are separated from God. That may seem okay for you for now but it ultimately leads to misery and then to eternal separation from God.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death”(Proverbs 16:25).
The good news is that God Himself has made a way to be reconciled to Him, and He has done this through His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:6-15).
Are you content living your life for yourself, being the best for you, getting the most for you and dying anyway? Or do you want a life of hope? God, the one who created you, has a purpose for your life and wants to give you a new beginning. If you are ready to admit your need for a clean slate in life, the God of second chances is waiting to give it to you; ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK!

Are you ready? Is it time to be free at last?
Father God, I believe in you; I know that you are the Son of God, that you died for my sins, and that you were buried and rose again. Father, I am sorry for the things I have done to hurt you; I want to turn away from the sinful ways of my past. Please forgive me of all my sins. Come into my heart, take charge of my life and make me be the person you would have me be. Cleanse my heart, Father, with Your blood. You are my Lord and Savior. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and have your way. In Jesus’ Name, I give you thanks and all the praise and glory. AMEN!
“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38)
As you grow closer to Jesus, the Bible tells us to follow up on our commitment as Christians, so I encourage you to:
1) Get baptized as commanded by Christ.
2) Tell someone else of your new faith in Christ.
3) Spend time with God each day.
4) Develop a daily habit of prayer.
5) Read his word.
6) Ask God to increase your faith and understanding of the Bible.
7) Seek fellowship with other Christians.
8) Develop a support group of Christian friends to answer your questions and support you.
9) Find a local church where you can worship God!



PRAISE BE TO GOD I AM SAVED BY HIS GRACE AND I AM FREE AT LAST!
























Jeremy Camp - I Still Believe (live dvd version)

Rebecca St. James - Pray

COME TO ME




“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” Mathew 11:28

Is the Lord God our friend? Or is he just another stranger we meet in passing? The truth may be that he is a stranger to you. It is very easy for us to treat him that way. We may think of him only occasionally; we may only think of him at church, or occasionally at other times. If we only think of him in passing once in a while when something reminds us of him, he is as much a stranger as someone you would meet in passing on the way into the grocery store, doctor’s office or speak to only briefly on a telephone.
We may enjoy talking about him to others, at church, to would be Christians on the street, wherever but do we talk to HIM. If not are we not treating him as a stranger?
If God is a real person in our lives, if we actually know him, then we must talk to him, pray to him and listen to him in a real living way. We should not just go through the emotions of praying to him without thinking about what he is saying. Such shallow conversations are for acquaintances, not for friends, not for family, and not for God.
We need to have a personal relationship with him, we need to get close to him, and allow him to get closer to us. He was born of this earth and became a man that we might be close to him. He created and governs all things; he is all seeing and all knowing; he loves us and wants the best for us.
He is a person we are to trust, love, and come to in prayer. If our Lord God seems distant, if he does not seem like a real person, a person who cares for us like none other every day of our life then the problem does not lie in him but in us!
Prayer is a spiritual communication between man and God, a two-way relationship in which man should not only talk to God but also listen to him. Prayer to God is like a child’s conversation with their Father. It is natural for a child to ask a Father for things that he needs.
There are many promises in God's word to encourage us to pray, such as “He shall call upon and I will answer him: I will be with him (Psalm 91:15) “And it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking I will hear. (Isaiah 65:24) Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you find; knock and the door will be opened to you”(Mathew 7:7). The scriptures tell us that God hears and answers prayer.
When you receive Christ into your heart, you become a child of God and have the privilege of talking to him in prayer at any time about ANYTHING. The Christian life is a personal relationship to God through our Lord Jesus Christ and, best of all, it’s a relationship that will last for all eternity.

Josh Groban ft. Angie Stone - The Prayer

Chris Tomlin - Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)



"To those whom much is given; sometimes too much is asked in return"


WE NEED JESUS TO LEARN HOW TO LIVE LIFE AS GOD DESIGNED IT!
We need Jesus to help us through life’s struggles because life can at times be devastating. One struggle after another mounts upon you until the weight of the world itself seems to be on your shoulders. Lonely and discouraged, you easily start to believe that no one really understands and that, even if someone did, there is nothing he can do to help. As life brings you down, things start to shake the foundation of your very existence and the pain becomes unbearable. We need to remember that Jesus has never promised to take away all of our struggles but he has promised to carry us through them. No one has ever known suffering the way that he does. The bible calls him “a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering” (Isaiah 53:3).




Father God you are amazing beyond words.
You are everything we require.
Thank-you for your grace and mercy!

-Amen


Watermark - Captivate Us

Monday, June 11, 2007

You Were There

WHERE WERE YOU GOD

Many people have experienced tragedy. Some have lost their homes in fires,
Lost homes in hurricanes, earthquakes or tornadoes. Then there are those
Who, sadly, have lost everything. There are people who have lost relatives or friends to cancer and other threatening diseases. Some have lost jobs or have been faced with financial hardships. It seems natural for people to complain when faced with any tragedy such as these and often they find themselves asking the same questions that we might ask…

“Where were you God when we needed you the most?”

Where is God when we need Him? He is right with us. He is always with us!


"BUT WHY IF GOD IS SO GOOD?"

I have heard it asked often over the years, even asked the question myself a time or two. Why do I hurt? Why is there so much suffering in the world? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do the wicked prosper and the righteous take the beating? If God is so good and has the power to stop human suffering, why does he allow us to suffer? Where was GOD when I needed him the most?

Of all the questions that trouble the people of God, these have to be among the toughest. The connection between God’s goodness and our pain can be a mystery that can torment us for all of our lives if we let it.

When trying to find answers to these questions years ago, my husband had me turn to the book of Job. Have you considered my Servant Job…?
“He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). A lot of spiritual truth can be found in this simple statement.
“He knows the way that I take.... Job affirms his confidence that God sees him through his pain.
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:24) It is not uncommon for believers to lose sight of God’s presence during the darkest times of our lives. We wonder where he is during the pain of a divorce, times of extreme abuse, the feeling of betrayal when a friend turns on us, or the heartbreak of watching someone we love die.
Remember even the Lord Jesus cried out form the cross... “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34)


It is not wrong to feel that way and you have not sinned just because you have lost the sense of God’s presence. Job said, “I’ve got a case to present to the Lord if only I could find him; I've looked high and low for God but I can’t find him anywhere. I’ve searched every direction but he is nowhere to be found.” Then he rose to a higher level of faith and declared, “I can’t see him but it doesn’t matter because I know he sees me.”


We need to remember spiritual growth is a journey, not a destination. Job recognized the fact that it was God allowing his sufferings. You may say it was all Satan's doing, but that is not the whole truth. It was God who brought up Job’s name in the first place when he said, “Have you considered my servant Job?” (Job 1:8) It was God who set the limits on how far Satan could go in tormenting Job. Satan may have started it, but God set the rules for the game. “Go ahead; do what you want with all that is his. Just don’t hurt him.”(Job 1:12). In Job 2:6 God tells Satan you can do what you want to Job but do not kill him. Even after being stricken with terrible sores, Job did not curse God. He simply stated, “We take the good days from God; why not also the bad days.” (Job 2:10)


Suffering is part of God’s process to bring you to spiritual maturity. WE ALL HAVE TO DO SOME FURNACE TIME SOONER OR LATER. It is hot in there; it hurts; inside it feels like it will last forever and that you are all alone. None of us likes it but in the end those objections do not really matter.


Does God see us during times of suffering? In the Old Testament we meet a woman named Hagar. Hagar fled from the household of Abraham and Sarah. Pregnant and alone, she wandered in the barren desert. The Lord found her near a spring and told her to go back to Abraham and Sarah. He also told her to name her son Ishmael, which means “God hears,” because the Lord heard of her misery. She replied with one of the most wonderful statements in the Old Testament, “You are the God who sees me” (Genesis 16:13). You may not see him but he sees you. He knows everything you are going through.


What is God trying to do when he allows his children to go through hard trials and deep suffering? There are several answers to that question. First, God is trying to purge us of our sin and purify us of our inequity. Second, God uses suffering to test our faith. Will you still obey God in times of darkness? Will you serve God when things are not going your way? Will you hold onto the truth when you feel like giving up? Third, God uses times of difficulties to humble us. When things are going well, we tend to get a swelled ego (Big Head) because of our accomplishments but let the darkness fall and we are on our knees crying out to God. Fourth, God uses hard times to prepare us to minister to others. He comforts us so that we may comfort others. Finally, God uses hard times to prepare us for the understanding of his character. In the furnace we discover God’s goodness in a way we had never experienced it before.


I believe that hard times are a gift from God, a way to help us see how much we need a relationship with the Lord. Out of the pit of darkness we often learn of Gods great grace. We often forget of this until life falls apart around us.


Job said, “I will come forth as gold.” In the midst of all that Job was going through, and all the pain involved, he understood with eyes of faith that what God was doing had a purpose. All the terrible things that happened to him were not to destroy him but to improve him. When God wants to improve a person spiritually, he puts them through great trials.


Job compared it to the process of refining gold. To refine gold, you take raw chunks of gold (pieces of stone flecked with tiny pieces of gold) and put them into a fiery furnace. The heat causes the stone and dirt to melt and to rise to the top to be skimmed off so that all that is left is pure gold. It takes an enormous amount of heat but the end result is worth it. What you are left with is pure gold without any impurities.


In our own lives, the hotter the fire, the more the pain but the quicker the gold comes forth. The end result? You are both approved and improved by God. Approved: Found to be better; improved: made to be better.


For those among us who still find ourselves inside the furnace, the promise that it will not last forever may not help when the flames are still leaping up and around. I cannot promise when your trials will end; however, our God is always on time. You cannot rush him, but rest assured he is never late. When he deems the time appropriate, the fierce heat will dissipate and the gold of tested character will come forth in your life.


“My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. Job, a man in dire straits, far worse than most of us will ever know, boldly states: “I’m still serving the Lord. As bad as it has been nothing can make me turn away from God.” Wow! If we all had that much faith!


For those of us who survive great trials, it becomes easier to recognize that faith is a conscious moment-by-moment choice. It is not based on how we feel in any given moment. It is not an emotion. “I feel good today, things are going well.” Feeling-based faith will not cut it when life crashes in on us at every side. (It is only an emotion and lacks substance). Simply putting on a feel good “High” faith is easy but when thing’s are not going well, we lose that “High” as our faith is tested. In those moments of desperation, we have a choice to make. I am sure Job did not feel like following God after all tragedies he had endured but he did it anyway. Faith comes in many varieties, but in the end the faith that wins is the true faith that chooses to obey God in spite of our own circumstances.


A lot of us tend to forget that God is God and we are not. Until we understand this, we are going to be unhappy because we will end up fighting against God.


Let us pray:
Father God, I give you the right to set the agenda for my life moment by moment, day by day. Help me to understand the things that I do not. You can change the agenda any time you want without advanced warning. I pray, Father God that you will use me for your glory in a way that will please you and as you see fit! I surrender my agenda and control. Even when it makes me angry, I will allow you to be God. I am stepping out of the way! Thank-You, Lord. I give to you all the praise and Glory.... Amen!


If you find yourself in the fiery furnace, do not take matters into your own hands- that only makes matters worse. Escaping the furnace is an impossible task. Learn from this time; grow from it. God has wonderful things to teach you if you will only listen and learn. Grow from this experience. While you are in the furnace, you should seek a quiet heart, listen to God’s voice, look for God’s handiwork and stay faithful, no matter what.


If you are hurting today, you may feel like you cannot take anymore. My prayer for you is that you will hang on to the lord; turn to him; if you turn away, things can only get worse.
If God is good, why do we hurt? The truth of the matter is we can hurt with God or we can hurt without him. Do you trust God? If so, you can face the worst that life has to offer. Trust in him and know that he can be trusted to do what is right. Our God is faithful to keep every one of his promises. Nothing can happen to us except it first pass through the hands of a loving God. If your path is dark, keep on believing, light is soon to come. When your furnace time is over, you will come forth as gold!

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Free To Believe

THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME

When Jesus took up the scroll in the temple and read from the words of the prophet Isaiah (Luke 4:17-21), He read this far:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor;he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted,to preach deliverance to the captives,and recovering of sight to the blind,to set at liberty them that are bruised,to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Isaiah 61: 1-2a
Then He closed the book, returned it to the minister, and sat down. All eyes were upon Him, and He told them,
This day is THIS scripture fulfilled in your ears.



Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;



18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor Luke 4:18-19


PRAISE THE LORD AND PASS THE AMMUNITION!

Friday, May 25, 2007

Who Am I (Tears of War)-Casting Crowns

Little Esther



The Queen Esther Anointing


REFLECT UPON ESTHER AND YOURSELF....
Esther 4:14 . . . Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this."

- In the first chapter, the King is described along with all his wealth, associates, friends in high places, and spheres of influence. The King is throwing a little gathering for 180 days to celebrate and in the middle of his party his wife makes an unwise choice.

- In the second chapter, Esther, the story’s heroine is introduced. She is an orphan girl. One essential of walking in the "Queen Esther Anointing" or walking in the Favor of the LORD is to be adopted into GOD’s family. We are all orphans until adopted into GOD’s family. To have the favor of the KING, as in KING JESUS is to know the KING. Do you know your KING JESUS?

- In verse 2:8, Esther is taken to the palace…. which means she is taken from her home, her place of security, her place of identity, her place of comfort, her place of trust, and her family and thrust into an unknown place, with unfamiliar customs, without the comforts of her home and the love of her family. Are you willing to give up your family, your home and your place of comfort for your KING JESUS? It seems to be the second essential to walk in the fullness of the Queen Esther Anointing and to walk in the fullness of the LORD’s favor!

- In verse 2:10, Esther continued to respect and obey those in authority over her. It is vital until the time you are released in ministry or released in a position of authority that you seek wisdom and counsel from those the LORD has placed in authority over you. This could be a husband, a pastor, a friend, a brother, a father, a mother, an uncle, an aunt…each of us is accountable to someone…. and all of us are accountable to the LORD and to each other.

-In verse 2:14, Esther delighted the King. Do you know how to delight your KING JESUS? If so, do you?

- In verse 2:15, Esther listened to the advice of the King’s eunuch…. and followed his recommendations. Wisdom is finding out as much as possible before you enter another person’s territory.

- In 2:17, the King declares his love for Esther and he gives her his favor and grace. Hasn’t our KING JESUS declared HIS love for us and hasn’t HE given us HIS favor and grace freely?

- In 2:19, Esther continues to serve her King, continues to obey Mordecai, and brings truth to the King, which saves his life. Esther actively demonstrates her love for her King. Do we demonstrate our love for our KING JESUS? If so, how?

- Chapter 3 reveals Hamon’s plot to destroy, to kill, to annihilate, all the Jews, young and old, little children and women in a single day and plunder their possessions on the 13th day of Adar.

-The situation is revealed to Esther and she tells Mordecai about the consequences of going before the King and the possibility of death and the scepter not being extended to her. There is always a risk in obedience no matter what the LORD asks you to do, there is a risk….a risk of rejection, ridicule, betrayal, failure, loss, embarrassment, harassment and being misunderstood etc. What are you willing to risk? Really willing to risk?

- In verse 4:14 is one of the most popular verses "For such a time as this"……GOD is the author and finisher of our faith, HE is the one who had called us, HE is the one who prepares us…..long before Esther entered the palace GOD was preparing her. The key is do you allow GOD to prepare you? Do you want HIM to prepare you? Do you embrace HIS discipline? Do you embrace HIS fire? Do you trust HIM when you have no apparent earthly reason to do so?

-As the favor, grace and mercy of our KING JESUS is released to us we are set free to fly and we are transformed by HIS perfect love. When Esther went to the King's Chambers all of her history went with her. She was nothing more than a orphaned, Jewish girl in exile. Yet Esther was transformed by the love of her KING and became a queen. Isn't that what the love of GOD is really about? Transforming us unto the likeness of the KING of KINGS!

- In verse 4:16, Esther makes her commitment to her people, to her uncle, to her GOD! "If I perish, I perish!" Are we really willing to give our lives for each other? If you will ask the LORD to show you a way in which you could serve your family, your church family, your community, your city, your state, your nation….HE WILL SHOW YOU! SO ASK HIM!

- Esther fasted and prayed three days and on the third day she dressed in royal robes. In 5:1 she dressed appropriately for her king? Do we dress appropriately for our KING? When she went to see the King she did not demand entrance, interrupt and/or charge in….she waited until she was called. Do we wait for our KING to call us, to position us, to respond to us….or do we demand entrance, rudely interrupt, charge in and take over?

- In verse 5:3 the King offered her half the kingdom, this was 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia….not a small gift by any means. She did not get gold dust in her eyes….she was focused on her commitment, her mission for her people. Often wealth or money distracts us from the purposes of GOD in our lives…..if someone offered you hundreds of thousands of dollars would you be distracted from what GOD has called you to do? Staying focused on JESUS is an essential to walking the favor and anointing of the LORD!

- In verse 5:4, Esther served the King a banquet…..her heart was to serve her King. Is our heart to serve our KING JESUS?

- In verse 5:6, Esther served the King a Banquet of Wine…..again she was offered ½ the kingdom…..and her response…..was to serve HIM again…..including serving her enemy at the same table.

- In verse 5:8, Esther served her enemy as unto the timing of the LORD. GOD has a timing, even when HE requires that we serve our enemies. These are not demons, these are people. These people are also the enemies of GOD. You must trust HIM regardless of who HE asks you to serve….it may not be someone you like, let alone can barely tolerate! It is about hearing HIS voice and walking in immediate obedience and completely trusting HIM with the results.

- In Chapter 6 the King honored Mordecai because of a previous act of honoring the King. The timing was impeccable. Sometimes we are overlooked and it may seem unfair but GOD’s time is ONLY HIS! To walk in the favor of the LORD you must trust HIM implicitly! Faith is believing for someone else. Trust is believing for yourself.

- In Chapter 7 the enemy is destroyed. GOD is still on the throne, always has been, always will be!

-Esther’s people are saved in chapter 8, notice the enemy is destroyed first then the people are saved….that might not be the order you would do things. GOD’s order is perfect.

- In Chapter 9 the Jews destroy their enemies and bring home plunder. So not only were they vindicated they were blessed with provision.

- A feast of Purim is established for the Jews to celebrate this victory in the LORD! GOD does enjoy a good party! Especially a victory party! It is essential when walking in the favor of the LORD to take time to celebrate, to party, to rejoice, to give HIM GLORY!

-Chapter 10 Esther’s family is returned to her….Mordecai is now 2nd to the King and living in the palace. Perhaps one of the ways to know if you are walking in the fullness of the LORD’s favor…."the Queen Esther anointing"….is that your family has been returned and restored to you.

The thing that stands out most about the story of Esther is the fact God is never mentioned in the book that tells the story AND I believe we need to use this as I reminder that God working in our world is not always obvious—even to those in the church.

Sometimes God uses the small things, the little things, the things that could be easily overlooked to accomplish His purposes. PRAISE BE TO GOD!

Casting Crowns -

"When a friend calls you, how do you know it isn't just a prank caller? How do you know it's not your mother, father, brother, teacher or neighbor? You know because you know your friend. By spending time with your friend, you know how they talk—you know the expressions they use, the tone of their voice and the changes in their pitch when they're happy or sad. That's the way it should be with God: You know him—his character, his nature, his interests, his pleasures and displeasure, his joys and hurts—so well that you recognize him and his involvement in your life. God is inviting you to know more than just his voice, though. He is inviting you to know him."

Did Someone Whisper? The prophet Elijah had an awesome encounter with God, and it happened at the lowest moment in Elijah's life. The story, in 1 Kings 19, begins with the prophet hiding in a cave.

"Elijah, why are you here?" the Lord asked.

Exhausted and deeply sad, Elijah explained, "Lord, God All-Powerful, I've always done my best to obey you. But your people have broken their solemn promise to you. They have torn down your altars and killed all your prophets, except me. And now they are even trying to kill me.

Elijah was ready to call it quits. So what did the Lord ask him to do? Something a little odd, actually. He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain. I want you to see me when I pass by"

Elijah obeyed. But before he could step out of the cave, a thunderous wind hit the mountainside, shattering rocks in all its fierceness. But the Lord was not in the wind, or the violent earthquake that followed. He wasn't in the fire that rained from heaven after that. No doubt Elijah wondered what would come next: A lightning bolt? A flood? A volcanic outburst?

Instead, in the still silence, Elijah heard a gentle whisper. He knew it was the Lord. He got up, stood at the opening of the cave and hid his face with his coat.

The gentle voice asked Elijah the same question it had before: "Elijah, why are you here?" Elijah repeated his earlier answer. Then, the Lord gave Elijah specific instructions and told him he wasn't the only one refusing to worship idols. Seven thousand others had not left God to follow Baal.

Keep in mind that God whispered. To hear someone's whisper, you need to be near him or her. Whispering doesn't work very well if you're speaking to someone who's standing on the other side of the room. God doesn't want a long-distance relationship; he wants a close, intimate one.

How 2 Hear a Whisper

How do you begin to hear and recognize God's voice?

Five ways:

Have a seeking heart. In the Old Testament, David had this kind of heart. He once wrote, "In my heart, I long for you, as I would long for a stream in a scorching desert" (Psalm 63:1, CEV).
If you want to hear God's voice, you need to seek him like David. Be honest with him. Tell him any frustrations, fears or doubts you may have about hearing from him. Ask him to give you ears to hear and eyes to see the ways he is speaking to you. Ask him for the ability to recognize the difference between his voice and your thoughts.

Read your Bible. When you study the Bible, you open yourself up to the very heart and personality of God. As you study the Scripture, keep your eyes open for teachings and stories that reveal who God is and what he is like. Ask him to help you understand and apply what you're reading.

Be a good listener. Hearing God's voice requires one major thing: listening. While it may sound easy, actually making time to sit still can be a challenge in your super-busy world. It is hard to get quiet and even harder to stay that way. Prayer often gets interrupted by a "hold on a sec …" because the phone rings or someone's at the door.

Hearing from God is about more than just turning off the cell and getting away from doors. It requires a quiet heart. It means becoming still enough on the inside despite the craziness on the outside.

Practice patience. All of this takes time, effort and patience. Learning to hear, recognize and understand the ways God speaks doesn't happen overnight. It may take several years before you're completely comfortable with hearing and recognizing God's voice. No matter how long it takes, be confident that he has heard your prayers and will respond.

Obey God. Hearing from God doesn't mean much if we don't obey. But many people constantly wonder if what they hear is really from God. This keeps them from taking action. The fear of being wrong prevents them from ever having the opportunity to be right.

-Remember, God looks at the heart. When he sees you stepping out in faith—even if you're heading in the wrong direction—he can lovingly correct you, pointing you in the right direction.

-Through a pattern of obedience, you begin to develop a confidence and assurance that you really have heard from God. You can't really explain it. It's internal. Someone may ask how you know you're supposed to do something in particular. You respond, "I can just sense it inside. I just know."

-You just know. And the reason you know: You have been building a deep and growing friendship with God. It's a relationship so close that you can't help but hear that gentle whisper.

This article was adapted from God Whispers: Learning to Hear His Voice, by Margaret Feinberg. ©2002

On the frontline (Music video)

CAMS MILITARY TRIBUTE







REMEMBER OUR VETERANS THIS MEMORIAL DAY!






A Prayer For Our Nation

God in heaven, we pray for peace... for healing hearts… for comfort and rest for those in need… for a strong sense of your presence and loving care… for restoration of hope. Give all in need of it confidence in their capacity to forgive and to rebuild lives. Grant us your grace and peace, and anchor us in your love.
Amen.
Our hearts and prayers are with all in need.


31 WAYS TO PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY

1. Protection—Psalm 34:7, Psalm 32:72. Wisdom—James 1:53. Peace—John 14:26, Philippians 4:74. Presence of God—Psalm 46:15. Inner Strength—Ephesians 3:166. Clear Mind—2 Timothy 1:77. Security—Psalm 17:88. Health for Physical Body—Philippians 4:139. Courage—Joshua 1:910. To Help Others—Philippians 2:3-411. To be aware of God’s love for them—Psalm 4212. Family concerns—1 Peter 5:713. Rest—Matthew 11:28-2914. Adjust to time change, sleep—Psalm 4:815. Unity in purpose—1 Peter 3:816. Loneliness—Deuteronomy 31:617. Children of military—Isaiah 54:13, Psalm 68:518. Spouses of military—Isaiah 40:1119. Patience while waiting—Psalm 33:2020. God directing their steps—Psalm 32:821. Diligent in their work—Colossians 3:2322. Resist temptation—1 Corinthians 10:1323. Discernment—Philippians 1:924. Traveling safety—Psalm 121:7-825. Fighting Depression—Psalm 42:526. Protection from Evil—2 Thessalonians 3:327. Encourage those around them—Proverbs 11:2528. Personal prayer life—Jeremiah 33:329. Deliverance from the enemy—Psalm 31:1530. Angels to guard them—Psalm 34:731. Persistence for the task—Galatians 6:9





Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.




" as a day for strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, or hamlet churchyard in the land...It is the purpose of the commander-in-chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept from year to year while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of the departed."
-General John A. Logan of the Grand May 30, 1868

"Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies, and establish Thy justice among men and nations. Amen."GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON, JR.'S PRAYER "Patton Prayer" and Christmas greeting sent to the men of the Third Army December 8, 1944:





QUOTES TAKEN FROM VARIOUS MILITARY SOLDIERS, FAMIOUS PEOPLE AND COMMANDERS IN HISTORY...

"If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking."

"Do more than is required of you."
"The challenges we face are never as important as the challenges we face up to."

"Live for something rather than die for nothing." ."

Never let the enemy pick the battle site."

"Success is how you bounce on the bottom."

"You shouldn't underestimate an enemy, but it is just as fatal to overestimate him."

"I personaly think we developed language because of our deep need to complain"

"Good ideas are not adopted automatically. They must be driven into practice with courageous patience."

"As with anything you set out to learn in life, you don't get from point A to point Z without touching upon all those letters in between."

"A man must know his destiny… if he does not recognize it, then he is lost. By this I mean, once, twice, or at the very most, three times, fate will reach out and tap a man on the shoulder… if he has the imagination, he will turn around and fate will point out to him what fork in the road he should take, if he has the guts, he will take it."

"Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid."

"What our enemies have begun, we will finish"
"We will not tire, We will not falter, We will not fail."

"You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having both at once."

"Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding."

"It's an ugly world out there — that is why most people wear sunglasses"

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Stellar Kart - Life Is Good

How does a person get to heaven?



How does a person get to heaven?

If you ask most people this question, they will say something like, "If you do more good things than bad things, God will probably let you into heaven." The above thinking will reserve your place in hell. You need FAITH IN THE BLOOD OF JESUS. There are no good deeds that you can do on your own that will erase the sins that you have committed. Jesus SHED BLOOD for you sins. He came to save you from the GUILT of past sins and the POWER of sin over your life.

FACT

The Bible says that nobody is good enough to get into heaven. Each one of us has broken God's commandments--not one person is excepted. You have personally lied and committed other sins.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

I don't care how much "good" stuff you do, you still can't go to heaven. You are dead in tresspasses and sins. Your good deeds do not commend you to God in any way. You've ignored Him chosing to live life the way YOU see fit.
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)

According to the above verse, we still come up short even when we try to do good deeds BECAUSE we are not doing them under God's authority. We do them because WE think they are good. We ignore what God says.
But I'm a good provider,I don't lie, I never killed anybody, I don't beat my wife, I don't drink, smoke or do drugs!"
You're still a spiritual crook. You have broken the GREATEST COMMANDMENT IN THE BIBLE ...
What is the greatest commandment?
Matthew 22:36-38 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with ALL thy heart, and with ALL thy soul, and with ALL thy mind. THIS is the first and great commandment.

FACT

If we could earn our way into heaven, Jesus died for nothing!
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Galatians 2:21)

God is Holy. We are sinful. By His very nature, God cannot have fellowship with us sinners. There is no amount of "good" that we can do to make up for our crimes against God. They must be punished. And the wages are DEATH

The wages of sin is death...(Romans 6:23)

FACT

WE ALL DIE SOMEDAY PHYSICALLY BUT THE CHOICE OF DYING SPIRITUALLY LIES WITH US!

God doesn't want to remain your enemy and He does not want you to go to hell.
As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die... (Ezekiel 33:11)
The Lord is...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (II Peter 3:9)

FACT

In spite of your wickedness and rebellion, God loved you enough to send His ONLY BEGOTTEN Son to die for your sins

he Bible says, "... thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people FROM their sins." (Matt 1:21).
Jesus did not die so that you could keep sinning and go to heaven. He came to save you from the GUILT and the POWER of sin. Jesus DESTROYED the works of the devil on calvary (I John 3:8).

FACT

When you are unsaved, sin hath dominion over you. Sin is your boss and you can't do anything BUT sin.
The Father sent His only begotten Son, Jesus to die in your place. Remember that the wages of sin is death--that is why He died, to pay YOUR wages. The Lord Jesus Christ was your substitutionary sacrifice. The world's greatest love story is summed up in the following verse--
For God so loved the world, that he gave his ONLY BEGOTTEN Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
Jesus said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) How can you show more love than giving your very life for someone else's life?
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
...Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)

FACT

Love the Lord thy God with ALL thy heart, and with ALL thy soul, and with ALL thy mind. THIS is the first and great commandment.

ARE YOU READY TO REPENT OF YOUR SINS? -to forsake your evil ways and
listen to God?
-but now commandeth all men every where to REPENT. (Acts 17:30)
...TURN TO GOD, AND DO WORKS MEET FOR REPENTANCE. (Acts 26:20)

"And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:27)

If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, THOU SHALT BE SAVED. (Romans 10:9)

Jesus waits with open arms for those that want life. The choice is yours.

REPENT and talk to the Lord in prayer in your own words right now. Don't put off making a decision for Jesus, tomorrow may be too late.

Jeremy Camp - Take You Back

Take you back



LORD IT’S BEEN AWHILE SINCE I KNELT AND TALKED TO YOU
I THOUGHT I HAD EVERYTHING UNTIL I STUMBLED…
DO YOU RECALL WHEN I USED TO KNOW YOU?
YOU NEVER LEFT ME BUT I FORGOT ABOUT YOU…
I’M STILL A SINNER LORD CAN YOU FORGIVE MY FOOLISH WAYS?
I CALL OUT TO YOU LORD…
PLEASE TAKE ME BACK!
I CAN’T LIVE MY WHOLE LIFE OVER BUT I CAN START TODAY
I’LL PUT MY BEST FOOT FORWARD AND LET YOU LEAD THE WAY!
I LIFT MY VOICE IN PRAYER FORGIVE ME LORD MY FOOLISH WAYS!
JESUS TAKE ME BACK!
-S.MARIE-

Coming Back To Jesus

The Bible tells us of a very special story. In Luke 15 we read the parable of The Prodigal Son. It is so special ... While the son was in the far off land his father waited patiently for him to come home. This is Jesus' heart beat for you. Right now regardless of what you have done Jesus is waiting and willing to accept you. Right now I am going to invite you to pray a prayer with me to place your life back into His hands. Just as when you first said "Yes" to Him it is time to say "I'm back". He will take you gladly and with open arms. Let's pray.
Jesus here we are. Lord I am bringing a special child of yours back home. Jesus your child is willing to come back and to live the life. I pray that you would give him or her peace ... The peace that comes from you. I pray that you would give the person strength to face up to the life they have been living. I pray that you would lift off the burden and what Satan meant for bad to now be transformed.

Now friend it is your turn to pray. I don't doubt a number of things have happened over this past while in your life. Jesus has interest in you as well as setting you free from the life you have been living. Take time to pray right now. First off say "Hello" to Jesus again. Tell Him in your words that you are coming back. Jesus did something really special for us. He died to take the place of our sins. He will lift the burden off of you as you confess the sins you have been involved with in this last while. It may just be that you drifted and today you are coming home. It might be more then this. In any case you are welcomed and accepted by our Father in Heaven and by Jesus who died for you and bridged the way to life. Right now take time to pray..

Barlowgirl: Never Alone Music Video

Lonely But Never Alone




Lonely But Never Alone

ME AND MY LONLINESS

A true companion she's always there.
When I'm beaten and broken -tired and worn
she sits by me and adorns my home.
Alone at the table or on a room full of people
she indulges me in her presence.
Curled up with me in my bed at night
she's the constant that never goes away.
Exhilarated, angry, anxious or unhappy she is forever present.
No matter how preoccupied I am I still know she's there
What should I do-it's so hard to cope
With her Constantly by my side
-Shawn Moede-


"HE WHO BELIEVES IS NEVER ALONE"
Imagine that you're in a place so dark that you can't see even the faintest trace of light. You don't know where you are, and you're afraid to reach out because you don't know what's lurking around you. If you are overwellemed with emotions out of your control, that may be how you feel much of the time—and that's frightening. You wonder if the darkness will ever go away, if you'll ever see and feel the light of the sun on your face again. Nothing in your life feels stable, except for the continuing blackness around you.
God says not to fear because he is always with you. That means that even in the dark times, when you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, he is walking with you, holding your hand securely in his. And even when you don't know where you're going, he's gently leading you into healing and wholeness. That's why the Bible says you can still rejoice in God's goodness, and "rest in hope." (See also Job 30:16–31; Psalm 46; Lamentations 3:17–26.)

Lonliness comes from within and can affect every part of our feelings, thoughts, behaviors, relationships, and most importantly our Christian faith. One might say that loneliness comes from an inner need to be intimate and to "connect" on several personal levels (mentioned above) for the purpose of feeling safe and secure.


What causes loneliness? Many factors can precipitate loneliness. Factors such as: death, divorce, being single, physical/mental illness, breaking off of a relationship, being away from friends, family and home or maybe not having friends, family and a home.

Where do we turn when loneliness leads to despair? As Christians, we look to God and His Word for strength, guidance, comfort, and peace.

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength".Philippians 4:13

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Philippians4:6-7

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26


When I am anxious, tired and discouraged, I am reassured by the promises of God. I rest in those promises and arise to a new day remembering that I am sustained not by bread but by the word of God. Then I feel secure.


"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Mathew 11:28

"The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth" Psalm 145.18

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you." Psalm 55.22

"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20b

"I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved." Psalm 16:8

"I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved". Psalm 16:8

"God is with you even in the darkest night".Psalm 16:7–9

The battle has already been won, all we have left to do is call on the name of Jesus.

You may feel lonely but you are NEVER alone!




Casting Crowns - Voice of Truth

Jars Of Clay - Flood (Original Version)

LET GO LET GOD



LET GO OF THE PAST AND YOUR FUTURE WILL START, WHEN YOU FINALLY LET GO AND LET GOD.


Did you know:
A drowning man cannot be saved until he is utterly exhausted and ceases to make the slightest effort to save himself.

So you did it again, and you're feeling guilty. You're beginning to wonder if you'll ever break out of this vicious cycle. You feel like you've confessed the same sin to God more than a hundred times, and you're sure he must be tired of hearing about it. You promise God and yourself that you'll never let it happen again. But soon you find yourself in the same place—you've messed up, and you're too embarrassed to talk to God about it.
As long as we are trying to do anything, [God] can do nothing. It is because of our trying that we fail and fail and fail. God wants to demonstrate to us that we can do nothing at all, and until that is fully recognized, our disappointments and disillusionments will never cease.
There is no need to worry, pray every day. As of right now, chose to turn it over to God. He’ll take care of it.” Worring solves nothing, it just causes unneeded anxiety. If there is a problem that you are worried about STOP worrying. Just say a little prayer and let go of the problem and let God work it out. Then, trust, with all your heart that God will solve the problem, or bring the answer to you, or make the situation go away.
Whatever you are worried about becomes bigger the more you worry about it.
From this moment on, make the conscious decision to Just let go and let God handle it. Trust and everything will turn out right.
Philippians 4:6, we are commanded, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."
Since worrying is not a necessary part of a believer's life, how does one overcome worry? Let's see what God has to say about this matter. In 1 Peter 5:7, we are instructed, "cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." God does not want us to carry around the weight of problems and burdens. In this Scripture, God is telling us to give Him all of our worries and concerns. Why does God want to take on our problems? The Bible says because He cares for you. That's right, YOU. God is concerned about everything that happens to you. No worry is too big or small for His attention. When we give God our problems, He promises to give us His peace which surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7).

If there are worries in your life today, I encourage you to give them to Jesus. Jesus says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:30). Will you accept His invitation, right now? Jesus is only a prayer away

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

God in his LIVING word

God, in his living Word, makes innumerable promises in answer to every need and direction in every circumstance to those who love Him and obey His Word; and God will forever be faithful to his promises...

Jesus Christ says… “You may ask anything in my Name, and I will do it. If you love me, you will do what I command” John 14:14-15

“Fear not.. For I am with you” Isaiah 41:10

“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” Psalms 34;17-18


“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God” Isaiah 43:2-3c



“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” 1 Peter 4:12-13



“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” Mathew11:28


Father's Love Letter My Child… You may not know me, but I know everything about you…Psalm 139:1 I know when you sit down and when you rise up…Psalm 139:2 I am familiar with all your ways…Psalm 139:3 Even the very hairs on your head are numbered…Matthew 10:29-31 For you were made in my image…Genesis 1:27 In me you live and move and have your being…Acts 17:28 For you are my offspring…Acts 17:28 I knew you even before you were conceived…Jeremiah 1:4-5 I chose you when I planned creation…Ephesians 1:11-12 You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book…Psalm 139:15-16I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live…Acts 17:26 You are fearfully and wonderfully made…Psalm 139:14 I knit you together in your mother's womb…Psalm 139:13 And brought you forth on the day you were born…Psalm 71:6 I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me…John 8:41-44I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love…1 John 4:16 And it is my desire to lavish my love on you…1 John 3:1 Simply because you are my child and I am your father…1 John 3:1 I offer you more than your earthly father ever could…Matthew 7:11 For I am the perfect father…Matthew 5:48 Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand…James 1:17 For I am your provider and I meet all your needs…Matthew 6:31-33 My plan for your future has always been filled with hope…Jeremiah 29:11 Because I love you with an everlasting love…Jeremiah 31:3 My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore…Psalm 139:17-18 And I rejoice over you with singing…Zephaniah 3:17 I will never stop doing good to you…Jeremiah 32:40 For you are my treasured possession…Exodus 19:5 I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul…Jeremiah 32:41 And I want to show you great and marvelous things…Jeremiah 33:3 If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me…Deuteronomy 4:29 Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart…Psalm 37:4 For it is I who gave you those desires…Philippians 2:13 I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine…Ephesians 3:20 For I am your greatest encourager…2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles…2 Corinthians 1:3-4 When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you…Psalm 34:18 As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart…Isaiah 40:11 One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes…Revelation 21:3-4 And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth…Revelation 21:3-4 I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus…John 17:23 For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed…John 17:26 He is the exact representation of my being…Hebrews 1:3 He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you…Romans 8:31 And to tell you that I am not counting your sins…2 Corinthians 5:18-19Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled…2 Corinthians 5:18-19 His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you…1 John 4:10 I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love…Romans 8:31-32 If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me…1 John 2:23 And nothing will ever separate you from my love again…Romans 8:38-39 Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen…Luke 15:7 I have always been Father, and will always be Father…Ephesians 3:14-15 My question is…Will you be my child?…John 1:12-13 I am waiting for you…Luke 15:11-32
Love, Your Dad. Almighty God