To be a true believer, as a Christian should, you cannot place conditions on God. Serving God cannot be accomplished on your terms. You can’t decide to serve Him today but not tomorrow. You don’t get to pick and choose when, where and how to serve God. The many religions of this world will tell you otherwise. A convenient god is a man made god. A convenient god is a god created in man’s image. It is a god that is only here to serve you. You bring him down from the shelf when you need his help, then return him when you don’t. He places no demands on you or your time. He is more like a magic genie than a god. You only think of him when you are in trouble or when you want something. You think that by doing some good deeds from time to time you will earn “heavenly points” that will all be added up when you die to help get you into heaven. That is the kind of deception that will keep you out of heaven, out of your blessings that God has for you and land you in hell instead.

Most religions are steeped in traditions, routines, duty and respect for their religion. Very little if any importance is ever placed on serving God rather it is placed on serving your religion. Mark 7:6-8 6He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: ” ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’ 8You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.” In these verses Jesus gives the best definition of religion and their followers.

When you treat God like a god of convenience you are treating God with casual indifference. Casual indifference lacks respect and fear of God. It brings God down to the same level as man. God then is treated worst then someone would treat their own casual friends. Lack of time, lack of priorities, lack of caring, lack of interest in your God will cause lack of spiritual growth, lack of wisdom, lack of prayer and lack of faith. Then when you do pray in the middle of your troubles your prayers just don’t seem to get through, I wonder why?

Casual indifference towards Christ existed in His day as well as today as these verses point out. Luke 7:39-48 39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she isthat she is a sinner.” 40Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41″Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. 44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgivenfor she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” 48Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Simon the Pharisee had invited Jesus over for dinner but didn’t bother to show Jesus the common courtesies shown regular guests. Simon didn’t like the attention that the woman was giving to Jesus. Jesus used the parable to show the difference between the way Simon had treated Jesus and the way the woman had treated Him. Simon treated Jesus with casual indifference. The woman treated Jesus with respect, fear, adoration and with grateful love.

Don’t let religion be your source of Biblical truth and how to act as a Christian, trust your reading and studying of the Word. Don’t let friends and relatives tell you how to treat God. In your daily time with God in prayer let the Holy Spirit guide you into all truth and let the love of the Father guide you in how to love and fear God. Are you ready?!?

My name is Steve and I was born and raised in a good Christian home in Phoenix Arizona. In 2004 God spoke to me to let me know that He would start sharing things with me that I would share with others. Little did I know how powerful and meaningful those things would be! Thank you Lord!!

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Vs1:

Treasure Jesus above all things

Let Him be the Lord of your all

Let Him be your heart’s sweet delight

Be not ashamed to lift Him up

Refrain:

Treasure Jesus, treasure Him

Anywhere your treasure is

There will your heart also be

Treasure Jesus, so love Him!

Vs2:

Treasure Jesus before all men

Rev’rence Him, Oh, adore Him

Make Him the anchor of your soul

Let the world know that you’re His own

Vs3:

Treasure Jesus of Highest Price

Cling unto His relationship

Walk daily as before His eyes

Serve Him with a heart of worship

Vs4:

Treasure Jesus above this world

Treasure and tremble at His word

Take pleasure in doing His will

Take pleasure in suffering for Him

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“7. I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could again Christ.”

- Philipians 3:7-8 (NLT)

Is Jesus your treasure?

“If the sweet Lord Jesus is your treasure; the sweetness of your heart; the delight of your soul, you will not be afraid to lose anything or anyone because of Him, to still have Him. Make Him your permanent treasure. If He becomes your treasure, He will not bother to ask you for love and devotion because in Him will your heart be (dwell, settle, abide, and lay strong hold on).”

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Sixtus Onyeanusi is passionate about hymn writing, sharing God’s word, practically helping and simply being a Fool for God…to please Him.

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E-mail: esixtusw@yahoo.com

Mobile:+2348178485544

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Vs1.
As you go by the road and street
Heaven sends men for you to meet
Don’t you see the mercies of God?
It does show that the Lord is true
It does show that Heaven needs you

Vs2.
As you wake up in each new day
Heaven sends men to show the way
Won’t you now just try to obey?
Taste and see that Jesus is true
You need Heaven; Heaven needs you

Vs3.
As you look round you’ll see the saints
Who love Jesus and keep the faith
Don’t you see how they shine as lights?
In Heaven’s path they lay their hearts
Join their chariot; Heaven needs you

Vs4.
As you pay heed, the gospel sounds
Of how God’s love and grace abound
Will you lay hold on this favour?
It’s free, it saves without labour
See now how much Heaven needs you

Vs5.
Many are no where to be found
Many got killed without a chance
Don’t you still want to be His child?
Now you have life, call Christ; He’s true!
Hell is not yours; Heaven needs you

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Sixtus Onyeanusi is passionate about hymn writing, sharing God’s word, practically helping and simply being a FoolforGod…to please Him.

E-mail: esixtusw@yahoo.com

Mobile:+2348178485544

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Revelation 19:7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. We who are called His children, His church and who Christ is the Head are also known collectively as the bride of Christ. Jesus Christ is the Bridegroom who is coming back to get His bride that has been promised Him by God the Father. That will only happen when the bride is prepared and ready.

God’s unified church will be different than what the world sees and knows as church and religion today. Gone will be all the petty differences. Gone will be all teachings, theologies, beliefs, doctrines, prophecies and any thing that contradicts, takes away or adds to the infallible Word of God. There will be alignment and agreement between churches, pastors, preachers, teachers, shepherds, church leaders and all church congregations across different denomination lines. It has already started! Cooperation, support, understanding and God’s love will all be part of the fruit of God’s unified church. The only thing that will matter is “do you attend God’s church?”

Matthew 3:11-17 11″I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” John baptized for repentance symbolizing death to the old flesh and sin nature as you are submerged and raised in new life as a new creation in Christ. That being said, why was Jesus Christ baptized? He had no sin to repent of or a sin nature to leave behind. The difference is that Jesus was not only baptized by water to confirm John’s ministry but by fire of the Holy Spirit when Jesus came back up out of the water. That is why the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove landed on Him. It was after Jesus was baptized that His ministry started for He was now empowered by the Holy Spirit to work miracles, signs and wonders.

Likewise, Jesus’ disciples started their ministry after they received the Holy Spirit in the upper room. They were empowered with the Holy Spirit to perform miracles, signs and wonders. Part of the preparing of the bride is that the bride must be baptized with the fire of the Holy Spirit. Only then will each of the children of God be empowered, authorized, infused and saturated with the Holy Spirit to perform miracles, signs and wonders. Acts 2:15-21 15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 6No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17″ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. All people means all people. People from around the world will experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit by fire. Contrary to some beliefs the baptism of the Holy Spirit doesn’t happen at the time of salvation. Just as the disciples were believers before they received the Holy Spirit at the day of Pentecost. This is not a baptism for salvation for the dead as some religions teach. For you can only be saved unto salvation while you are alive not after you are dead. God is God of both the living and the dead.

Being baptized with the Holy Spirit is a very important part of who you are in Christ and Christ in you. It is important to your ability to be a powerful witness for Christ. It is important to your faith, trust and hope as you witness the Shekinah glory of God working through you. It is important to you, His child, for the things to come. Haggai 2:9 ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” It is the destiny that God the Father has for His children to fulfill. The bride is prepared in unity, alignment and agreement in God, His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit. All you have to do to receive and be empowered by the Holy Spirit is talk to your pastor or a friend who attends a Holy Spirit filled church to find out how. Are you ready?!?

My name is Steve and I was born and raised in a good Christian home in Phoenix Arizona. In 2004 God spoke to me to let me know that He would start sharing things with me that I would share with others. Little did I know how powerful and meaningful those things would be! Thank you Lord!!

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Romans 8v37 begins, Nay,in all these things. all these things is saying something,1 Peter 4v12 Beloved,think it not strange concerning the fiery trials which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.Not if, but when trials come, know that we are more than conquerors because of our LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST and his victory at the cross.

When I was in the world there was nothing I couldn’t conquer, I believed I could do anything and everything. Now that I am a born again believer the same principles should apply, I not talking about reckiess abandoment, becaue we have a guide, John 16v13 Howbeit: when he the Spirit of truth is come,he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself: but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak:and he will show you things to come.

Who is he hearing from? John14v26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,Whom the Father will send in my name ( Jesus Christ ).he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever Ihave said unto you. With assistance like that how can we fail, the sad part is we do, the apostle Paul in verses 38,39 of the eight chapter of Romans, say’s that there is nothing that will separate us from GOD’s love,which is in Christ Jesus, that being the case let’ take our rightful place. The Bible say’s in Ephesians 2v6 And hath raised us up together, and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Come on Saints let’s take our rightful place.

not applicable at this time

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Nothing can separate you from the love of God. God who cares enough about you that He not only knows you better than you know you but God wants to be involved in EVERY decision you make. Not just the big ones but ALL of them. When Jesus lives within you it is in every day living. It is the habitation of the Holy Spirit, Jesus and the Father. Not visitation like on most Sundays but a daily habitation. “But I’m not worthy of God’s habitation?” Jesus makes you worthy and deserving. Sin and un-forgiveness are the two things that will remove you from God’s presence in your life. I said His presence not His love. The truth about removing God’s presence is that God doesn’t remove Himself from us but by our sin and un-forgiveness that we remove ourselves from His presence.

Holding un-forgiveness or staying offended in your heart against someone means that God can forgive you your sins but you cannot forgive others whom have sinned or wronged you. By doing so you elevate yourself to be higher than God. Mark 11:24-25 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your sins.” God never leaves us. In fact He is always there waiting for you to turn back to Him with His arms wide open.

To really grow in the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to work through you, you must establish a daily walk with God, study His Word and rid yourself of sinful habits and all un-forgiveness. That is what I experienced back on 2004 when I was teaching a John Bevere’s “Bait of Satan” series class which is all about holding un-forgiveness/offense and how you must forgive and release people who have wronged you. That is when God showed me an old offense in my life that I had never addressed. God couldn’t work through me, as He wanted until I got rid of ALL of my trash, offenses and obstacles that were in the way. “whatever you ask for in prayerand when you stand prayingforgive him” will help get your prayers through and allow God to work through you!

It has to be a “natural” thing to try to figure out and visualize what the moving of God’s Spirit should be like when He pours out the Holy Spirit on all flesh. There seems to be so much that needs to happen first before that can happen. That is the flesh talking. We serve a God of the impossible, God who makes possible out of the impossible. The church body, that is all of us His children, will be in perfect unity, agreement and alignment with God’s Word, the Holy Spirit and God’s perfect will that will usher in the powerful movement of the Holy Spirit world wide. My spirit knows that I don’t have to see it with my natural eyes to know when or how it will happen. My God said it will and I know it will. It will happen so quickly that regardless what petty differences we may have between all of the Christian religions, we all have one thing in common and that is that we serve and love the one and only true God and believe on Him!

“Wait upon the Lord.” “Wait” doesn’t mean to go to sleep or to become useless or dormant. “Wait” means to wait on someone as to serve them in this case to serve the Lord continuously. Pray, declare and read out loud His Word every time you read it, for there is power in the spoken Word! The world is starving for a supernatural encounter. The problem is that they are looking in the wrong places and at false gods/demons for an encounter. The harvest is great but the workers are few. We are God’s representatives of His kingdom. When people see and hear you they should know by your actions and your words that there is something totally different about you. You have a peace and joy when all other “normal” people are full of fear and doubt.

You always show mercy and compassion when helping others. You never “bad mouth” others or spread rumors about friends or co-workers. You always get upset at injustice, immorality and sinfulness with righteous indignation. You never condone in silence bad behavior when it is made known to you. You always encourage and support others who are in need of helpful advice. You have no problem praying for someone when you feel the Spirit nudge you. You lay hands on the sick and they are healed. You cast out demons. You help to disciple others who are new in Christ. Your ministry is wherever you go or happen to be. You are always responsive to God’s voice in total obedience. You are a child of the Most High God! So remove ALL of the obstacles that are in the way of God working mightily through you today. It is time to stand!

My name is Steve and I was born and raised in a good Christian home in Phoenix Arizona. In 2004 God spoke to me to let me know that He would start sharing things with me that I would share with others. Little did I know how powerful and meaningful those things would be! Thank you Lord!!

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THE WORLD HAS BEEN OVERCOME

The most astonishing statement ever made was when Jesus said to His disciples, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

What did He mean by that? It certainly begs an analysis for it has far-reaching consequences.

THE CAMP OF THE ENEMY

Firstly, what was there about the world to overcome? His statement seems to label the world as a place that needed serious attention, as if the world was an enemy camp – in which case, anyone living in this world was under serious threat of being detected and swallowed up by the enemy. We know that Jesus was sent by God. He had a mission. And by stating that He had overcome the world for us must surely mean that He had accomplished His mission.

Perhaps we should look at what God thinks of the world in order to grasp the meaning of this statement.

1 John 2:15,16 reads, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

We see here that the lust of the flesh is of the world. Let’s look at the definition of this. “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contention, jealousy, wrath, selfish ambition, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelry, and the like, of which I tell you beforehand, just as I have also told you in times past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:19-21)

And if the world is an enemy camp, then these “works” must be the works of the enemy and it must have something to do with Jesus’ mission. “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8)

That’s it! The works of the devil is sin and Jesus came to destroy his works, which means he has overcome the world and what it represents.

So, if we are living in the enemy camp which is the world – and we cavort with the enemy, then we are in an adulterous relationship and no longer in relationship with our Heavenly Father. It actually means that we are living in sin. “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4.)

BE OF GOOD CHEER

Jesus said that He had overcome the world and, therefore, we should “be of good cheer”. Obviously, if Jesus had destroyed the works of the enemy, then we should not fear living in the enemy camp, but why leave us here if the world all around us is dancing with the enemy and tempting us to follow suit? Jesus said He had overcome the enemy so that “ye might have peace” and be cheerful about it. What kind of peace can be had living with the enemy?

Well, to put it bluntly, those that are indulging in the things of the world (in an adulterous relationship with the enemy) are going to perish and God does not want them to spend eternity in hell. There’s a reason for it and that reason is His love for the man he created. “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)

As for leaving us in the enemy camp, Jesus passed on a mission to us and that is to convert followers of the prince of this world (the devil) so that they may also inherit the Kingdom of God. We are in this world but no longer of this world and that is what gives us the peace mentioned by Jesus. The world is waiting for the Good News of Jesus Christ who has overcome the world. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Mt 28:19,20)

WE ARE ONE

Those who have stepped over to the Kingdom of God are now one with the Father and Jesus Christ. While still in the enemy camp they will suffer persecution, but they are of good cheer, for they have also overcome the world through Him.

The prayer of Jesus puts it in a nutshell.

John 17:13-23. “And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”

Are you still in an adulterous affair with the world?

Jack has a background in marketing and advertising and has been a student of the Bible for over 30 years. His Christian eBooks may be downloaded at

Website: http://www.earthboundlife.com

CONTACT AT Email: jackv357@gmail.com

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“It’s interesting how God defines himself. He told Moses that he is the God of your fathers; the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. He did not define himself by his omnipotence or his omniscience but by his personal relationships with these common men.” (http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=11747)
So reflected Cardinal Albert Vanhoye, leader of the Roman Curia’s Lenten retreat in 2008. I think that is absolutely fascinating because for many skeptics, God’s omnipotence and omniscience are not only God’s defining characteristics, but the logical basis by which many of them reject him. The presence of an omnipotent and omniscient being can only lead to fatalism in their minds, regardless of the number of times that I’ve seen Christians refute this notion.

Because the skeptic cannot conceive of how an omnipotent and omniscient being could exist simultaneously in a universe that has free moral creatures, they conclude no such being exists. Therefore, God does not exist.

That’s called argument from incredulity. The Counter-Creationism Handbook states that most creationist arguments against evolution fall into that trap. Because the creationist cannot conceive of evolution possibly doing something, they dismiss it as impossible. As the Handbook points out, this isn’t a valid argument.

But it cuts both ways. Simply not understanding how a being with perfect omniscience can coexist with beings that have moral freedom is not a rational basis for rejecting the notion, particularly in light of the fact that such reasoning against evolution is soundly rejected by the same folks. And so we expose another double standard from the skeptical camp.

Interestingly, according to Cardinal Vanhoye, God doesn’t identify himself on the basis of his attributes. He identifies himself on the basis of his relationship to creation. How much more should we, then, identify ourselves on the basis of our relationship to him. I think that the real problem is that the skeptic is ruled by his sinand his sin is how he defines “fun.” Drinking, gambling, drugs, premarital sexall of these things are “fun,” but all of these things have consequences.

Defining oneself on the basis of one’s relationship to God will have consequences, too. One must focus one’s thoughts on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable (Phil 4:8)and it is easy to conclude even without a Bible (cf. Gal 5:16-24) that those things I just defined as “fun” from a secular point of view do not fit with that mode of thinking.

Defining oneself on the basis of a relationship with God brings with it freedom from sin (cf. Rom 6:14). Paul exhorts us not to use that freedom for sin, “but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another” (Gal 5:13-14).

So, brothers and sisters in Christ, if God identifies himself on the basis of a relationship to his creatures, why do the creatures not identify themselves on basis of a relationship to him?

Cory Tucholski is a passionate defender of the Christian faith. He is the husband of one amazing woman and the proud daddy of two fantastic children. Cory runs the apologetics blog Josiah Concept Ministries (http://josiahconcept.org).

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An unexpected storm dumped about 2 feet of snow here in Traverse City last night. Snow blanketed everything, as if Thomas Kinkade had personally orchestrated the event. The view from my window this morning was stunning.

But the beauty of winter is a mixed blessing. While the snow hangs delightfully on the trees, and my boys made a 6-foot-tall snowball, and snowmobilers are out in force, there is downside. Thousands are without power, a lot of people ended up in the ditch, and the city declared a State of Emergency.

In my own yard I see this tension between beauty and pain. The branches on the apple tree hang to the ground like a wintery willow, but some of those branches will break, and I will not get apples next fall. My dog loves playing in the snow – but my dogwoods are smashed to the ground by the weight of the storm.

Winter is one of those seasons that highlights the tension between the pain embedded in a fallen creation and the beauty that still lingers from God’s original design. Winter has moments that remind us what this world could have been like if it had not fallen: a world where the beauty of snow does not carry with it the danger of death and destruction; a world in which happiness and awe do not have to be tempered by the sobering reality of death and destruction.

While we enjoy the displays of God’s creativity and power, in the background we hear the groaning of a creation waiting for redemption. (Or was that my boys when I told them it was time to shovel?)

In Game of Thrones, Eddard Stark keeps warning people: “Winter is coming.” For us, winter is already here. There is a season in which living things die, killed by that which is simultaneously beautiful, stark, glorious and dark. We live in a world inhabited by a lot of things that go bump in the night, that crouch just around the corner waiting to do us in. If we are not careful, our very souls become wintery, frozen and blustery, refusing to see the beauty around us as we slide into the ditches that rob us of life.

But Spring is on the way. New life is just around the corner. The winter of our discontent does not have to turn into a life of disillusionment. Even on the coldest, most blustery days, God embeds his beautiful, broken world with reminders that He is not limited by the ravaging effect that our freely chosen sin has had on our existence. Even as I type this, I know that underneath the snow in my front yard hyacinths have already broken through, ready for the warmth and life of spring.

The world may be temporarily broken – it is still wintery – but it is still God’s. And He is pretty good at putting things right.

Anthony Weber is a pastor, teacher, husband, father, and blogger (http://learningtojump.blogspot.com). He has published a book on the journey through grief entitled Learning To Jump Again (http://www.learningtojumpagain.com). Contact Anthony at anthonyweber@clgonline.org

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I have walked with God in my few years of being a Christian and have found His presence the sweetest and best place to ever be. One thing I so much enjoy about His presence is that you not only enter into it but can also carry it wherever you go. It is the best place anyone can ever be full of security. Little wonder the Word of God says:

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust” [Psalms 91:1,2]

This was what Adam & Eve enjoyed at Eden’s garden in the beginning before they fell. It was so wonderful that God would come down to fellowship with them. His presence was all the comfort they ever needed.

But there’s always the devil who tries to oppose God’s plans in the life of a man. He showed up and made Adam & Eve commit the sin of disobedience thereby bringing guilt to them. Guilt so much filled their hearts that they left the presence of God.

“But the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” [Genesis 3:9 NIV]

It shocked me so much to see God, the all-knowing One ask such a question. Does it mean He no longer sees them? Of course He does but not as the Children He once knew. Sin covered them. They’ve gone far from Him!

“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” [Isaiah 59:1,2]

Perhaps you are reading this and long to abide in God’s presence, Jesus is your hope. Yes, He is. His Blood cleanses us from every guilt & sin, bringing us back to God’s presence. It’s such a Blood that is greater than every sin we’ve committed. Every genuine repentance always unlocks God’s mercy.

God is saying to you now: “Where are you that I may make you a light to your world?” Where are you so that I will make the best out of you?” Where are you?

Oh! How God our Father longs for an unending relationship with Him.

An Evangelist cum Author

http://www.facebook.com/okwudili.umeweni

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Over the years I’ve visited a few jails where people who have gotten into trouble have been arrested, felt the guilt of their crime and asked for a minister. Generally these folks know that they have done wrong and want to make things right. There are those who have been called by God to minister to prisoners and it is a ripe and open field of opportunity for the Gospel.

There are some of those jailhouse experiences that I have questioned over the years. Now don’t get me wrong; I know that many have genuinely come to the Lord from the jails and prisons. These are men and women who have had a real and lasting experience with Christ. I completely admire those who are willing to put up with ridicule and often even danger to go into the jails and prisons to tell these men and women about Jesus.

However, I have run into some who only wanted to make a commitment to the Lord thinking that somehow life behind bars would be easier and that perhaps their conversion experience would influence a judge into giving them a lighter sentence. I’ve seen those who once they have gotten back onto the streets have turned out to be worse than they were when they went in. These individuals only desired to use God to get what they wanted out of jail and back out into the public. Somehow I know that their use of God for their own personal gain will catch up with them someday.

But this doesn’t mean that we should stop ministering in the jails and prisons. In fact, this particular facet of ministry is one that is mentioned by our Lord, Jesus Christ in no uncertain terms. We are to do it. I know that if it were me behind bars facing who knows what that I’d certainly be focused on God because I know that He’d be my only hope!

In Acts 16:22-34 we read about a pair of jailbirds who were arrested not because they had committed a crime but because they had been good witnesses for the Lord. They were none other than Paul and Silas who had come to the Greek city of Philippi. They had just embarked on this new phase in their ministry for God. In a vision Paul had seen a Greek man beckoning to them to come and help them. It was a vision from God giving them direction as to where they should go next. It was exciting to have heard from God and know that they were going exactly where He was leading them. According to the chapter a lady by the name of Lydia of Thyatira had become their first convert and it seemed that all was going well. From there they entered Philippi where they preached the Gospel openly.

While there a slave girl began following them around taunting them saying “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” Those words on the surface seem to be noble words. But apparently she spoke them in a manner of mockery. This girl, as it turned out, was possessed by a demon spirit and had been used by her master to tell the future of others. Her master had made a lot of money from her. But one day Paul just got fed up with it, and under the influence of the Holy Spirit commanded that the evil spirit leave the girl. It did but after that she lost her ability to tell fortunes and so her owner lost a big chunk of income.

That was it; he reported it to the authorities and shortly after Paul and Silas found themselves beaten, bleeding and locked in the inner jail not only behind bars but also fastened up in the stocks. Hurting, and cold, instead of complaining “Lord, it was Your idea for us to come here, so why are You punishing us like this?” they instead were found singing praises to the Lord at midnight. Can you imagine that? It’s mighty hard for me to put myself in their place and have the same attitude. I’d probably be crying “Woe is me!” Because of their praise an earthquake from God shook the prison and the stocks fell from them and all the cell doors were thrown open. To shorten this a bit, the head jailer thought that all the prisoners had escaped and was about to kill himself with his own sword when Paul cried out, “Don’t do anything harsh to yourself; we’re all here!”

Not only were the jail cell doors open but now the door was open to this man’s heart to hear the Gospel and that very night he and all in his house were saved! Talk about a revival! The point is that God does want to do a work in us and for us. He does have our best interest at heart even though sometimes it doesn’t seem like it. We may find ourselves literally in prison. But just as bad and sometimes worse, we may find ourselves in the prison of life. We feel bound up. We may be suffering a deadly sickness or disease. We could be in such financial difficulty that there seems there is no answer. But I want you to listen to the jailhouse gospel. Hear the praises echoing through the chambers in the dead of night and know that God is about to shake open those prison doors and change your life, just like He did for that jailer, forever.

Jerry D. Ousley is the Author of five books, “Soul Challenge”, “Soul Journey” “Ordeal” “The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional” and his first novel “The Shoe Tree.” Listen to the daily broadcast Spirit Bread. Find out more by visiting http://www.spiritbread.com

or email us at jousley@spiritbread.com

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When I was a child, I used to say prayers for butterflies. Sweet, slightly naive petitions like: “God, please save this butterfly with the broken wing. Help it to get better and make it fly among the flowers again, just like it used to. Thank-you, God. I love you God. Amen.” And then I would either put the poor sick foundling butterfly in a jar which Mom supplied, or together, Mom and I would let it go in the garden, setting it on a dewy leaf or a pretty flower, and then having said the miraculous prayer, we’d go on our way again.

I for one, didn’t concern myself further with the predicament of the poor, sick butterfly; I had given it all my love in that one, pure moment, and with the offering of the precious prayer, I knew that the great hand of God would fix that ailing butterfly, pretty much as He fixed everything sooner or later, in the glory of His infinite wisdom. I know now, looking back, that that “butterfly moment” was the moment of pure faith that the child has, not only in the God above him, but in the process of life around him: days are either sunny or grey, dessert is either jelly and ice-cream or its not, you either stay on that new bike, or you fall off! Yes, tears might flow, but smiles would always arrive and fix them; somehow the universe was this one holistic beam of happy hopefulness – every day was an adventure in the company of butterflies, you just had to grab someone’s hand and go and find them, or maybe, if you were very lucky, a butterfly would come and find you.

What is it that we lose as we grow older? When was the last time you got down on your knees and said a heart-felt prayer for a mere, hapless butterfly? Maybe, as we grow older, we need to take more heed of small and seemingly inconsequential things, things like tiny butterflies. In their beauty and fragility, butterflies are surely close to God. As God’s privileged creation, we too, are beautiful and fragile – sometimes, in this crazy, busy world of ours, we forget this. Think of somebody you love, who needs your prayers right now, and say a prayer to God, for your beautiful and fragile broken butterfly.
Laura Swindon-Ross

This work is copyright, all rights reserved.

I’m a teacher and Christian writer, currently studying for a Ph.D.

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MARTHA, DO YOU BELIEVE?

You have worked so hard to make a living,

you have looked everywhere searching for a solution

you have called on every person you think can help you out of the sticky situation

MARTHA, LISTEN TO ME

For too long you have fished on the shallow side

you have looked everywhere except heaven

you have called every number but have refused to dial my rescue line……..Martha, wouldest thou believe in me?

MARY, WORSHIP ME!

I seek those who will sing my praises irrespective of what they are going through

I have said, “in all things give thanks”

I mean, no matter what the problem is, focus on me…..Mary, get on your knees and worship me!

LAZARUS, COME FORTH!

For how long has the trouble been?

for how long have you been covering it because it stinks?

for how long have you cried and been pitied?

listen Martha, listen Mary, your Lazarus is coming forth

every destiny wrapped in grave cloths will be loosed now!

now is the acceptable time of the Lord, I will have mercy and show you favour

Martha, do not faint! Mary, keep singing for surely your Lazarus is coming out of the grave.

Hannah Idowu written March 2002

Hannah Idowu

I love God. He is the reason behind everything I am today.

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How much of the giving power do you have? The wisdom of giving cannot be over-emphasized. How disposed you are to giving determines your level of prosperity. A giving person will always enjoy a prosperous life. This article gives the relationship between giving and a prosperous life.

There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty- Proverbs 11:24 (KJV)

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again – Luke 6:38 (KJV)

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive – Acts 20:35 (KJV)

The world system says hold back as much as you can but God says give as much as you can if you want to prosper. This is most common in the area of finances. But I am happy to point out now that the world is learning to adopt God’s own principles for a prosperous life.

All round prosperity can never be complete without giving. The more you give the more you receive. What you make to happen for another, God will make to happen for you. Certainly what you sow, you will reap.

What can you give? You may be saying now, that you don’t have to give. But you do! You can give love, your time and energy, money, your knowledge and skill, hospitality, your possessions, etc. So, can you see what you can give now?

The power of giving never leaves the possessor empty. He is the first beneficiary. The benefits are enormous and encompass the spirit, soul and the body of the individual, which results to prosperous life. For example, you have joy when you share whatever you have with another. When you put a smile on someone’s face, you inevitably do so also on your face.

It has been proven that if you are depressed and you go and help another depressed person, your spirit gets lifted too. Also, when you share a useful knowledge or skill, you tend to learn more. Furthermore, when you help anyone in need, God sends help to you when you are in need too.

It is more blessed to give than to receive. You don’t wait to receive first before you give. No! You have to initiate it first. A farmer does not receive any harvest before he plants his seeds. One thing is certain; your harvest will be more than your seeds.

Consider our father, the God almighty, He gave His only son Jesus and He reaped and is still reaping multitude of saints. Also, mother Theresa gave love and reaped among other things joy, honour and fame. Again, Bill Gate gave his time and knowledge and reaped a lot, financial prosperity inclusive. The power of giving is amazing!

Furthermore, my mother offered our house to many people for different reasons and when we, her children, needed accommodations, people were eager to offer their houses to us. In addition, I derive joy and fulfilment sharing my knowledge by writing articles and publishing them. When someone is blessed by them, I get blessed too.

A prosperous life is impossible without the power of giving. You don’t have to go far to give what you have. That person near you needs it. Receive the giving grace today.

Ngozi Nwoke Is a teacher and a counselor. A product and distributor of love. She has a passion to teach people how to enjoy God’s love and fellowship for more fulfilling life. Want more fulfilling life? subscribe for free email updates today. http://stepswithgod.com

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Vs1.

Like a sponge that has long been dry

Like a deer runs to the water

Like a child to the mother cries

So my soul leaps for the altar

To be at the feet of my Lord

To eat and gulp all of His word

Though Jesus lives inside of me

I just can’t have enough of Him

Lord I’m hungry, come fill my heart

Chorus:

I love it that I’m hungry Lord

Hungry, thirsty for You Lord

Yes You touched me yesterday

Yet I need You everyday

Lord come in a fresh new way

Come Lord Jesus, don’t delay

Vs2.

Like a man on a long journey

Famished, worn out, longing for rest

Like the bees stick to their honey

Like a bird flies up to her nest

So my spirit thirsts for the Lord

To be with Him out of this world

To be wrapped in His Comfort arms

To stand up tall in His safe palms

Lord I’m hungry, come fill my heart

** ** ** * *** * ** **

Sixtus Onyeanusi is passionate about hymn writing, sharing God’s word, practically helping and simply being a FoolforGod…to please Him.

His vision is to see the hearts of youths, and all men filled with joy, love and power by the presence of Jesus.

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