I Feed My Birds Manna From Heaven

I put out bread and water for the wild birds every day.

Isn’t this like God who put out manna in the desert for Israel?

If I can do this, who’s to say God couldn’t do it too in His wisdom and power and abilities.

The birds have no idea where or how the “manna” comes from. If I tried to explain the what, why and how of it, it would be so far over their heads, they would totally not understand it at all. Not even the language I was using.

Isn’t this the same way God could possibly be with us?

If I even tried to get near them, (to explain it) they’d be frightened to death of me.

Just like we would be frightened to death of meeting God.

I put out the bread because I love them and I love to see them feasting on it.

Isn’t this probably the same way God sees us – His children?

This opens up a whole new realm of possibilities for the super-natural to occur doesn’t it?

If God can bring down manna, who’s to say He couldn’t do other (to us) “super-natural” things as well(?) Like feeding 5,000 with a piece of bread and a fish; walking on water; healing all kinds of sickness instantly; etc, etc, etc.

To us this is impossible, and it is for us. But maybe God has the ability to operate under a whole different set of “rules”; just as we operate under a whole different set of rules than the birds do.

There’s absolutely no difference between how God is with us, than how I am with my birds.

Until today, my faith has been lacking regarding “super-natural” happenings. I am a doubting Thomas. Because I wasn’t there to actually witness these things, my logical brain could not truly, honestly, believe. But seeing this – how it is for me with my birds – has increased and deepened my faith a huge amount. And Jesus having to die to save us. And us receiving a new Spirit to live inside us. Though I can’t understand these things, as I watch my birds who can’t understand, I can logically believe. Well doesn’t it really make totally logical sense?

So I gratefully take the manna, believing God can do many things I could never understand.

As long as I am in this body, I am the same as the birds.

Still don’t believe? Still no faith? Put some bread out for the birds – and watch. See for yourself.

I don’t really have anything to say about myself other than the fact that I “feel” the Holy Spirit in me on a 24/7 basis. I’m a sober alcoholic and it is only by the Holy Spirit’s power that I am still alive.

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Under the blue and sunny sky

I open my heart and sing

In praise to the heavenly father

For the beauty of the morning

And raise up my hands in worship

Of my one true God and King

I am a fifty something family man with a passion for writing and I draw inspiration from those around me.

paul.curtis1956 @ btinternet.com

http://www.dreamagic.com/poetry/poetry.html

http://www.peculiar-poetry.com/

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In kindergarten, I was taught that to make a word that ends with “y” plural all I have to do is change the “y” to “ies”. For instance, the plural of fly is flies. Similarly, I can say the plural of “pray” is “praise” (permit me for the grammatical error).

Thank God for prayer but praise work faster. The truth about prayer is that it moves the hands of God but praise moves the heart of God. Which would you prefer?

Prayers can be deferred but praise commands God’s urgent attention. God values the praise of mankind because that is the main reason for man’s creation. In Isaiah 43:7&21 God says

They are my own people, and I created them to bring me glory.

They are the people I made for myself, and they will sing my praises!

So they asked Jesus, Do you hear what they are saying? Indeed I do, answered Jesus. Haven’t you ever read this scripture? You have trained children and babies to offer perfect praise. Matt 21:16

Write down for the coming generation what the lord has done, so that people not yet born will praise him. Psalm 102:18

The reason we don’t receive answers for prayer is because we pray amiss, so friends you can pray amiss but you can never praise amiss. Praise put a sign of urgency on our mail to God, and a thanksgiving son will always receives preferential treatment. We don’t even know what we pray for, most times we pray in doubt and in sin, for you to receive answers for your prayers you must be whole because God will always send His angels to deliver answers and angels must follow certain protocol before you get delivery but when you praise God, He steps down from His throne for your sake. How do I know this? In the book of Act, the Bible gives us two basic illustrations about God’s response to prayer and praise.

In Acts 12:5-10;

So Peter was kept in jail, but the people of the church were praying EARNESTLY to God for him. The night before Herod was going to bring him out to the people, Peter was sleeping between two guards. He was tied with two chains, and there were guards on duty at the prison gate. Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood there, and a light shone in the cell. The angel shook Peter by the shoulder, woke him up, and said, Hurry! Get up! At once the chains fell off Peter’s hands. Then the angel said, Tighten your belt and put on your sandals. Peter did so, and the angel said, put your cloak around you and come with me. Peter followed him out of the prison, not knowing, however, if what the angel was doing was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed by the first guard station and then the second, and came at last to the Iron Gate that opens into the city. The gate opened for them by itself, and they went out. They walked down a street, and suddenly the angel left Peter.

After several hours of fervent prayers (that had probably lasted for days) by the church, the only God did was to just an angel to get Peter out of the prison. Please note that the manual gate was turned to an auto gate by the presence of an angel (in verse 10). But in Act 16:25-30 something bigger happened, God came down Himself;

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and SINGING hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, which shook the prison to its foundations. At once all the doors opened, and the chains fell off all the prisoners. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he thought that the prisoners had escaped; so he pulled out his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul shouted at the top of his voice; don’t harm yourself we are all here! The jailer called for a light, rushed in, and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. Then he led them out and asked, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

This time around the door did not just open but all the doors were let loose and all prisoners set free. When God steps in, there is always a lasting impact, He will not just sneak you out of that situation but will cause an earthquake for your freedom and liberation. Paul and Silas did not sing praise fervently all they did was just to sing hymns and God came down.

God can not turn down your praise, it is impossible. That is His own food, He doesn’t ask you for sandwich, bugger or hot dogs all you can give God is praise. Praise is the life blood of God: But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3 that is why the key card to open the gate to the dwelling of God is thanksgiving and the sole command the door to His court responds to is praise.

Enter the Temple gates with thanksgiving; go into its courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise him. Psalm 100:4.

There is a huge difference between thanksgiving and praise. Thanksgiving is done gentlemanly, that is, when you raise your hands and say “thank you God for this or that” but praise is more intense, it means misbehaving in the presence of God. You dance and dance and dance as if you are a baby. My pastor is one of the richest men in my country but you need to see how this man dances whenever it praise time. We don’t joke with praise. God will go to any length to protect those who praise Him and He can do anything, just about anything for them. People that praise God do not need to lift a finger to fight their battles, God automatically respond on their behalf. Oh! I love the story of Jehoshaphat. He did an interesting thing that gave him and the Judeans victory in 2Chronicles 20:18 & 21. In verse 22-24 God responded with another lasting impact;

When they began to sing, the Lord threw the invading armies into a panic. The Ammonites and the Moabites attacked the Edomite army and completely destroyed it, and then they turned on each other in savage fighting. When the Judean army reached a tower that was in the desert, they looked toward the enemy and saw that they were all lying on the ground dead. Not one had escaped.

The best kind of praise is the type you give God while you are in pain (suffering, lack or depression, etc.), it puts the devil in confusion and spur God to action. The best blow you can give to the devil is confusion. That is what praise does. Praise also demonstrate your faith better than prayer.

Praise can turn things around for you. Even when God Himself closes your case praise can easily turn His decision around in your favour. There was a King named Hezekiah who was really ill and God sent His prophet to warn him that he will not recover (2 kings 20:1) but he reminded God of something in verse 3, he said; “..and that I have always tried to do what you wanted me to.” (and remember as quoted earlier, the only thing God requires of us is praise), immediately God said “oh! Sorry Hezekiah. Now Isaiah, turn back and say to him that I have added to him 15 more years” (verse 4-6).

My pastor will always say that God has no problem blessing you as long as you have no problem returning the trophy back unto Him. Of course, the trophy is praise.

I am the worst sinner you can think of but you need to see me dance before God in my room and yet I still don’t praise Him well enough but He just keep surprising me with unmerited blessings. You don’t have to wait till you are in church before you praise God, it can be even in your bedroom, office, etc. Every morning when you wake devote five minutes of your time to God in thanksgiving and praise.

Remember, when you sweat before God everything in life sweats for you, that is, you can not sweat for God and still sweat over your finance, over sickness, over depression, over failure, etc., that will make God a liar. You can not give Him what He wants and not get what you want. My God never lies.

Always endeavour to carry around you, in any situation, an atmosphere of gladness. Never get tired of praising God because He is never tired of blessing you.

You can climb even higher more in that career if you praise Him a little bit more. What is it that is giving you concern? Praise God for it and He will act in your favour.

David enjoyed God’s favour and blessings because he was a king that knows how to praise God. Nebuchadnezzar was dethroned because he failed to give God praise (Daniel 4:28-33) and as soon as he realized his mistakes and gave God praise everything he lost was restored back to him. Please it is very dangerous not to give God thanks and praise because when you failed to acknowledge Him you are merely telling Him that you got all you have all by yourself and it signifies contest with God. Can any man contest with his maker? Can a pot say to the potter; ‘I am better than you’? God hates proud men for He is a jealous God and will never share His glory and praise with anyone (Act 12:23).

Give God what belongs to Him and enjoy what belongs to you.

SEUN JOHN, Nigerian, male, 27 yrs old. jumefolly@yahoo.com

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A corporation was started and personnel were sought out from every corner of the world. The corporation was to be for the benefit of all. Everything needed including all benefits needed for abundant living was provided. The benefit that the CEO/Pres. would get would be Fellowship with his people in this corporation.

The vice president chosen was provided with many benefits including living expenses, transportation, and an expense account. Anybody with this opportunity should have been well contented, but that wasn’t enough for this vice president. He wanted to be the big boss the CEO/ president himself.

He knew that he could not do this on his own, so he decided to recruit the ones that he could sway to his way of thinking. It should have been difficult for him to turn people away from the CEO/president because of all the benefits that He provided. Everybody working there had everything they needed for an abundant life.

The vice president was able to get a third of the personnel to follow him, but that wasn’t enough to take over the CEO/presidency position. So he decided to form his own corporation by imitating the original corporation. He would fool his personnel into believing they had security with him, but it was just a front.

Whenever a new recruit would go to the good corporation for a personal interview he would wait until they came out and tried talking to them about going to his corporate. He would paint a great illusion of what could be expected at his corporation. The prideful, rebellious, and self-centered gladly went to his corporation.

God created the heavens and the earth, and he created man in his own image. God wanted Fellowship with his creation. The devil was once one of God’s greatest Angels until he rebelled, because he wanted to be like God. The devil convinces the first created beings Adam and Eve to believe him and turn away from God. Sin came into the world by the deception of Satan.

Whenever a person turns his life to Christ, the devil comes around trying to deceive him into going back into his old lifestyle. The devil would like nothing better than to destroy you before you have a relationship with God.

In the above scenario, the new corporation is heaven and the Imitation Corporation is hell. The new recruits are the believers when they hear the word; it is how they receive it in their hearts whether they choose to stay in heaven or hell. The devil comes to steal the word from your heart. The word must be well planted with many roots in order to withstand the deception of Satan.

Remember Satan’s plans are never original, the only game plan that he has is to imitate God. He does all the opposite of what God calls good.

Henry Miranda is a Bible teacher, preacher and author has published five Christian books

most recent “THE PATH TO ETERNAL LIFE” Currently had his latest book “Beware the Winds of Doctrine” proof read and is ready to find a publisher. http://henrypmiranda.com

http://www.authorsden.com/henrymiranda

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As a child, I had a very limited view of the concept of fear. I was afraid of the dark, old haggish witches and particularly of being kidnapped. I felt they were pretty legitimate things to be scared of back then. These fears were of things that were tangible, things that I could always easily be able to separate myself from. However, as I grew, my range of possible fears grew and matured. They were no longer just tangible fears, but intangible fears that would affect my life eventually despite my efforts to avoid them. One could also say, if analyzed enough, two distinct categories of fears were formed; those healthy fears that saves those who listen from destructive danger, and those fears that seem to overwhelm us despite their irrationality and/or ignorance of significance of the thing we fear, such as fear of commitment or fear of change; we forget that some of these things are actually beneficial. These two types of fears can be further explained by comparing between those given by God and those formed, manipulated, and churned over and over by Satan (sometimes those given by God have also been distorted by Satan).

Fear in its simplest form is a wonderful thing, this emotion warns us that something wrong may happen according to previous experiences and certain repeating aspects at the moment. It prevents us from getting into trouble and hurting ourselves and others, purely from connecting the past with the present in a quick and reliant way. It also creates a sense of respect for the power that is out of our hands, thus creating an opportunity for God to demonstrate His complete power over everything. However, fears are quickly amplified with lies and distortions of the truth, replayed with a greater degree of urgency and revolt each time.

The result is a fear that is completely unnecessarily overpowering. These fears are not only irrational in the sense of the reaction to the stimulant or suggestion, but they sometimes cause us to avoid aspects of life that are contrary to the nature of danger and harm. For an example, consider the fear of commitment. Commitment is a God-given characteristic of human life, one’s life is devoted to God and his/her significant other. But past events and experiences plus the churning of imagination and doubts magnifying only the negative possibilities, commitment is seen as dangerous and destructive to one’s self. This fear overpowers a person causing them to avoid situations in which this may occur.

Now a fear of commitment to a marriage relationship with a violent man is reasonable and utilizing the true purpose of the emotion fear. But a generalized fear of commitment is detrimental. Same with the fear of change, or fear of losing everything apparently we alone have been working and planning our whole lives for, or fear of the future, or fear of rejection and abandonment; and the list could continue. The point is these fears run our lives more than we think they do. Think for a moment on any fears you may be harbouring inside you in the past week, the number may or may not surprise you.

The list could go on to include fear of correcting stereotypes, fear of failure, fear of succumbing to consumerism, fear of forgetting something important, etc. I recently saw an episode of How I Met Your Mother, where the main character Ted is offered his dream job, to be the architect for a building going up in New York City. Ted had been dreaming this up for years and already had plans drawn up. However he also has been teaching as a professor for some time. During his refusal for the proposal of the project to his friends Barney and Marshall, he explains that he has become comfortable in his life right then, and was willing to give up this once- in-a-lifetime-dream-come-true offer to keep it that way.

He was fearful of the unstableness and insecurity of the architect business he had witnessed before, fearful enough to leave his dream unfinished. Eventually Ted comes to an epiphany while teaching class that he would not leave his dream unfinished and incomplete just as the architects he was lecturing on had been forced to with their buildings. He races to sign the deal he thought he had given up. The point of this example of legendary television was to illuminate the result of leaving your fears unleashed and unchecked with reality. Just as Ted eventually could not leave his dream unfinished, so should we not be afraid to stick with the plan God has for us.

The fear of change, commitment, the implications for the future, rejection or completely missing the mark of what God had planned for us should not overwhelm us to the point of paralysis. Praying over the fears we have and allowing God to guide us in our interpretation and deep meditation of the origin of the fears in order for us to calmly follow His lead is a hard but essential tool for Christianity. Many people I know have greatly matured in this, discerning from not only their own fears, but from other’s as well, which are well-founded and given by God to avoid obstacles wisely and which are ploys used by Satan to weaken our confidence of the right path and to diminish our ambition to follow through. The tremendous amount of trust in God has created a deeper and stronger relationship that no detour will be able to stop them from following God’s guiding hand. In a life living to the max, a motto introduced at a local worship conference in memory of a devoted and fearless Christian, fear distorted by evil forced on us at times of doubt has to be controlled and brought back to God’s reality. It may not be our dream that needs to be finished (but it could be) by conquering a fear or two of intangible and sometimes unexplainable properties, but it is God’s most holy and unfathomable kingdom that has ultimately yet to be built. Sure I still have a fear of the dark, plus some others lingering about, but that’s the beauty of letting God untangle that festering mess, His comfort is never-ending. Let’s not leave God’s plan unfinished, live life to the max!

Written by Erin Dijkema. A recent graduate from Redeemer University College, I have lived most of my life in a small town called Athens,ON. A church participant all my life, I have just recently was blessed to be baptized in His Church.

Email: erin.dijkema@hotmail.com

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In my last blog, “Does God Still Give Gifts?” I firmly established that spiritual gifts did not disappear with the passing of the apostles in the first century. In 1 Corinthians 12 the Apostle Paul lists the nine gifts of the Spirit as words of wisdom, words of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, spiritual discernment, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. Each of these gifts was given to the church as tools to bring the body of Christ into perfect unity in the image of the head, Jesus Christ. Without these gifts, it is impossible for the body of Christ to ever fulfill that purpose. Over the last one hundred years, a special grace was poured out on the church bringing her into this truth and causing her to embrace the gifts as a present reality. What was lost through ignorant traditions was restored.

As with any tools, there is a danger that comes with embracing the spiritual gifts. Legitimate gifts can be misused out of selfish ambition and pride. Immature believers, with their youthful zealousness, may use them without wisdom and bring injury to individuals and the church. At times, lack of understanding of how to properly operate in the gifts to bring true edification may cause disillusionment. These hazards can only be averted in a setting of strong discipleship and submission. Without strong discipleship by those with experience and clear understanding of scripture, future generations of the church will be filled with lone rangers at best, and heretics at worst. Scripture clearly warns us about false prophets and teachers who would come and deceive many. Even in the days of strong leadership from the apostles heretics were a constant problem.

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not. (2 Peter 2:1-3)

False teachers and prophets infiltrated God’s work within the nation of Israel and the early Church, and are ever present with us even today. Satan, as an angel who parades himself as an angel of light, knows his best chance to thwart the plans of God are to work from within the church to bring confusion and anarchy. Because his messengers seldom come with obvious heresy, we as believers must be vigilant to ferret them out wherever they seek to get a foothold. If simply asking someone if they believe Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God were a strong enough test they would not have been sitting among the apostles of the early church! In fact, the Apostle Paul, understanding how quickly false doctrine could enter the church, tells us this:

He (an overseer of the church) must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. (1 Timothy 1:9-11, 13-16)

Although there will always be some who teach unsound things in the church because of immaturity or lack of understanding, false prophets and teachers come into the church to draw men away after themselves. The former should be taught and corrected, as Paul instructs, so that they may become more firmly founded on sound doctrine. False prophets and teachers, however, will not submit to discipline or instruction founded on sound doctrine. Church leaders should warn of false doctrines and practices being taught within the church, but should be far more careful of labeling someone as a false prophet or teacher. That being said, we do need to sound a warning when we see those with influence willfully teaching and walking in error. Although there is a place for sound interpretation and illumination of scripture, warning flags should be raised when new “teachings” or “revelations”, not found in scripture, are introduced. No one, whether someone claiming to bear a message from angels, someone who has accurately prophesied about past or future things, or even someone who has taught scripture accurately in the past is above examination when they introduce such things. The Apostle Paul, himself, extolled the virtues of the rigorous cross examination of the Jews in Berea.

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. (Acts 17:10-11)

Sound interpretation of scripture is the ultimate litmus test for false teaching. We must be vigilant to grow in our understanding of its meaning as well as examining ourselves and others by its light. We are imperfect people with an imperfect understanding of scripture and God’s ways. When we find those we believe are false prophets or teachers, we must confront them knowing that our understanding of scripture may need stretching. However, scripture gives us many of the attributes of false teachers.

1. Insubordinate – Titus 1

2. Empty talkers Titus 1

3. Deceivers Titus 1

4. Detestable Titus 1

5. Disobedient Titus 1

6. Deny Christ 2 Peter 2

7. Greedy Titus 1 & 2 Peter 2

8. Indulge in fleshly lustful acts 2 Peter 2

9. Despise authority 2 Peter 2

10. Blasphemers in things they don’t understand 2 Peter 2

11. Willful 2 Peter 2

12. Partiers 2 Peter 2

13. Adulterous eyes 2 Peter 2

14. Can’t stop sinning 2 Peter 2

15. Entice unsteady souls 2 Peter 2

16. Boasters 2 Peter 2

17. Promise freedom (false grace) while being slaves to sin 2 Peter 2

18. Escaped defilement of sin through knowledge of Jesus Christ, but went back to sin.

19. Bear bad fruit as they will not obey God Matthew 7

20. Perform lying signs and wonders Mark 13

21. Claim to be Christians Matthew 24 2 Peter 2

It seems we are living in a time when people are looking for new teachings, more spiritual “power” and an easier life. We will gravitate to those who speak to those things our ears want to hear. We must examine whether our motives are pure or tainted by our worldly desires.

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:3-5)

Right now there are men, pretending to be believers, who are teaching heresy. Some claim their message comes from angels who visit them. One has even publically bowed to an angel in direct violation of scripture. Some openly mock the Holy Spirit and scripture, reducing them to drugs. Others are teaching us that there is profit in seeking mysticism through occultists and other false religions. They are often caught walking in the sins of the flesh. They claim to repent, but then fall again, demonstrating they are not really living under grace. Peter calls these false prophets and teachers “spots and blemishes.” We cannot afford to follow these imposters!

They are spots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you. (2 Peter 2:13)

The church, as the bride of Christ, cannot enter the wedding feast with spots on her garment. She must be purged from the destructive heresies that keep her from perfection before Christ’s return.

Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25-27)

We must stay in the study of scripture and be careful to exercise true discernment. In my next blog, “False Gifts and Manifestations,” I will delve into how we can know if the displays in our churches are from God or not.

Kevin Swartzendruber was raised from an early age to know scripture and to seek God. Hunger for more of God lead him into many seasons of prayer, bringing with them a greater understanding of the divine purpose for the church as seen through scripture. See more at http://www.chronicallychristian.com

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A wonderful woman of God spoke a message entitled ‘What is your wants?’ She asked us to think about what we wanted in life? After five minutes of thinking time she then turned the message around to what God wants from us she read the scripture John 4:23-24 ‘Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

Often times we are so concerned about what we want that we forget what’s really important in our Christian life. When we get so caught up in our wants it can cause us to deteriorate spiritually and cause backsliding.

That’s what happened to the character in my book ‘Don’t Look Back- The Harmful Consequences of backsliding’ the character Esther Jacobs was more interested in what she desired than seeking the face of God, and when she didn’t get her request immediately she became resentful and started to handle situations her way. That was one of the reasons why she backslidden which had disastrous consequences.

There is nothing wrong in desiring things, I believe that as children of God we should have what we want, if it’s wealth then we should have it, if it’s a new career then we should strive towards that career and have it. But in doing so let’s remember what is important in our Christian walk and that is God.

Let’s remember what God wants from us he wants worshippers who will worship him in Spirit and in truth. God wants people to love him because of who he is and not what we can get out of him.

Think about it, would you honestly feel happy if someone came to you just because they wanted something from you not because they desire to want to know you. If were honest then we wouldn’t be happy with that person, but that is how we’re like with God. I’m not saying that we do it intentionally but we must be aware and stay alert not to get caught up in our wants.

When was the last time you went down on your knees and just worshipped God thanking him for who he is and what he has done for you rather than just going down on your knees and asking him to give you your desires? If you haven’t done so in a long time start doing it now.

Start returning back to your first love, remember the time when you first got saved and all you desired was God and to do his work. Once you start seeking him first you’ll be amazed how life will get much easier for you and all your wants will surely be added onto you.
Thank you for reading this article may God bless you.

Marie Grossett aka Vanessa Grossett is a published Author of the book ‘Don’t Look Back’, Published by Tate Publishing & Enterprises. She is also the Director of Keeping It Real Magazine the magazine.

http://www.womenscommunity.co.uk

http://vgrossett.wordpress.com

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Ye have copied the world!

I felt compelled very strongly later yesterday evening by the Holy Spirit to read 1 Corinthians. There were many things that the Holy Spirit drew my attention to but one in particular hit me so hard I knew it was the LORD. Again this morning I felt led again by the Holy Spirit to 1 Corinithians and actually opened up exactly at the same page I had read the evening before and exactly the same place I had read before I retired. I felt very strongly to post this scripture and write just as the LORD leads.
Companies, individuals buy motivational tapes, ways agendas to live a better life. What do I see the christians do? I see that they copy exactly the same!

Is this right? No! God forbid! We are not to copy the world in any wise manner at all!!

Again I write this scripture as of the LORD

What is my reward? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ WITHOUT CHARGE that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

On a personal note the Holy Scriptures I read were given to me free. I have had the use of a car over the last 23yrs on odd occasions. I do not boast in this except I believe the LORD has kept this idol from me. Life is simpler for sure and it sure is cheaper. I have walked everywhere all of my life for the most part. I believe this was part of my calling too so that when I spoke of the gospel I am face to face with the person just as Jesus would have and does even now.

The Holy Spirit is so burning in me to really impress that we are not to copy AT ALL the ways of the world.

Truly when the scriptures speak that even the elect are deceived it is true!

Have I been deceived? Most definitely! I have copied the church and as a new believer I thought they were right! I thank God that most of my christian walk has been outside of the church and not in it! Does this mean that Christ left me? God forbid that He is a liar! He is not! Everyman is a liar and God is true! His Word speaks that He will never leave nor forsake thee! Those who walk in His Commandments He shall never leave!

Christ walked with me, even in ignorance as a new believe and even now speaks to me as a believer who is finally eating meat and not being sucked with milk!

When I being young in faith I asked the LORD to baptize me with the Holy Spirit. He did!! In my living room no less. My daughter at nursery, a young mother in a terrible marriage too. My confusion began and many questions when I told the christians at church what had happened to me. They had no idea what I was talking about! Here was my journey as a believer in Christ to be alone and cut off!

The power which I received from above has absolutely nothing to do with the power in the world and yes even the so called power within the church which is a form of godliness but has no power hence the mirror image of the church with the world. The church has copied the nations around them and they wonder why no one is converted!

Being baptized at the time I was in the Holy Spirit filled me with such love, joy, peace and patience and also long-suffering as I was in an abusive relationship. The man, my husband, the father of my child was a psychopath and it was a wretched place to be. Although separated for a time it was a long time before a divorce came and this was due to the fact he had an adulterous affair. God released me! I was though able to keep his violence from me, although not completely as it was when I was out of the marriage that the trouble really started. I loved this man, God helped me love him despite the abuse. His family were christian and went to church. They knew about this and did nothing. I loved them too!

I worked as Paul worked, I suffered as Paul suffered. I suffered as Christ suffered bearing all things but the burning coals were heaping upon my husband’s head. I lived in poverty selling what clothes I had to feed my daugher. Any birthday money or ironing money as I used to iron for a christian lady kept me and my daughter fed and clothed to a bare minimum. I had family but they too refused to help. Am I bitter?

Not now but I have been bitter and the LORD has healed me. Was it difficult? Yes without a doubt but I could not have done it without the help of God not at all!

Yes I was baptized with water by men but baptized by the Holy Spirit from on High from Jesus Christ no less!

God called me to write prophetically when I was a very new christian but I failed miserably in english at school so it was quite a surprise that God would use me this way many years later. I also worked for a christian author very early on who wrote on Judgement so the seeds were being planted.

During the beginnings of my writings I came across so many who were putting them into books for sale and wondered if I should do this as it seemed the normal thing to do not only in the world but more importantly the church were doing it as well. Perhaps I could help God along!

But God pressed upon me not to do this, not to conform to the pattern of this world despite what I was seeing happening in the church and indeed many christians.

What is my reward?

‘For though I preach the gospel, I have n othing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me: yea woe is me if I preach not the gospel’

I have been persecuted because of not only my writings but my life as a believer. My christian husband left me for another woman. The town scorned me, I have been abused and seen as a witch which is ironic as I had never even heard of witchcraft until I went to church.

I have indeed been persecuted and many and lost many friends, lost houses, jobs, family indeed the prophetic Word of God makes it so that your life should reflect the very words of Christ and to those whom persecution comes.

But blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of Christ for thy name is written in the Book of Life. Reading again yesterday daytime the Book of Revelation, slowly and taking in everything it is prophetic and will come to pass.

So through my own testimony and the witness of the Holy Spirit I ask you as God asks you what is your reward to preach the gospel?

I leave these words from Paul in 1 Corinithians v 19

“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more”

Christ came humbled from heaven God made flesh as a servant. Paul copied the example of Christ and I know he thought nothing of himself as I do too. I can only by the Grace of God do what I can through His power and not man’s which is as nothing.

Even so hath the LORD ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel
May God be glorified!

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultles before the presence of his glory with exceeding Joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and ever. Amen” ….Jude v 24-25

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Is it possible to be like Jesus–one with God? The requirement involves more than going to church, praying, speaking in tongues, and laying hands on the sick. Fulfilling this requirement is God’s plan, but we must trust Him. How many times have we cried to Him to meet our financial needs, or we prayed and confessed healing scriptures when our bodies were wrecked with pain, or we believed the Word and prayed some more when we were at odds with a loved one or friend? Time and time again God answered through provision, favor, healing or reconciliation. Through the good, the bad and the ugly, we have made it. Isn’t God’s track record good enough? Then truly we can trust God’s method for oneness with Him: worshipping like Jesus which is dying to ourselves.

As we worship like Jesus, God can move through us accomplishing His will. If we don’t do it like Jesus, we can’t be like Jesus. God’s Word was formed in Jesus; therefore, He had God’s very thoughts, emotions and will. Jesus lived his life as our example, bowing down His life to God.

Jesus only did God’s will. (Mathew 26:39-42, John 6:38)

I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. John 5:30 KJV

Jesus said what God said. (John 8:25-28, John 14:9-10)

For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. John 12:49 KJV

Jesus did what He saw God do. (John 5:19-20, John 8:29)

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater John 5:19-20 KJV

In Luke 22:42 Jesus said “nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Jesus died to himself throughout His life, therefore He was able to live out God’s thoughts, feelings, and will. Dying to ourselves is the only way of becoming one with God. Do we choose to be like Jesus?

(c) 2010

Audrey Bryant has a passion for helping others become more intimate with God and Jesus. We share what we have so that all of us get better each day. The free e-booklet Sharing What I Have:Encouragement, Prayers, and Things To Think About is available at http://fromworshiptoservice.com

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Oh God in heaven

I thank you

For your son

For supporting me

Embracing me

Accepting me

For offering me your hand

Your loving hand

We sing oh Lord

To praise you

For you support us

Embrace us

Accept us

You offer us your hand

Your loving hand

We give ourselves oh Lord

Into your love

I am a fifty something family man with a passion for writing and I draw inspiration from those around me.

http://www.peculiar-poetry.com/

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October 31, All Hallow’s Eve, 1517, Martin Luther, theology professor and Roman Catholic priest, nailed ninety-five theses to the door of Castle Church in Wittenburg, Germany. The Protestant Reformation had begun. And the seeds for the Holocaust were planted.

When pushed to recant his teachings before the council at Worms, Luther proclaimed with famous defiance, “I can not recant!” This is the stuff of legend. One man standing with God alone against a corrupt religious government. A youth pastor of my acquaintance actually had T-shirts printed in the man’s honor. He speaks highly and often of Luther to the teens he shepherds, but like many Protestant leaders, he chooses not to teach the whole story.

Luther grew as popular with the masses as he was unpopular with the leaders of the day. He studied with Jews, because he believed that Christian faith could be found in a Hebraic perspective of the Bible, and he found in Jews fellow resisters of Catholicism. In ‘Jesus Christ was Born a Jew’, Luther called for compassion on Jews, who were subject to discrimination and forced to live in ghettos. Later in life, on the issue of compassion for Jews, with no prompting from any council, Martin Luther most vehemently recanted.

When the Jews he befriended refused to convert to Christianity, he reacted with fury. In ‘On the Jews and Their Lies’, Luther called for blood. He said that all Jews are lying, lazy, blasphemous thieves. Christian individuals and governments, he said, must take Jews’ belongings, burn their homes, burn their synagogues and holy books, run them out of Germany and wherever they may be found, not allow them safe passage, make slaves of their young, and deal harshly with them, killing thousands in a day. He asserted that God’s wrath would consume not only Jews, but anyone who showed them mercy, because showing mercy to Jews only makes them worse, he said.

Many Protestants who consider Luther a hero have never heard this murderous doctrine. But many have. I see leaders deliberately choosing to revise history to support their own denominational preference.

A favorite excuse for selective teaching is that we all are sinners. No man’s life is without faults, so we overlook the bad and celebrate the good. C’mon. Not everyone provided fuel for the Holocaust. Really. That’s not a thing to overlook.

I also hear, “Many of the Church reformers were Antisemitic. He just reflected the views of the day.” As if that makes it OK. So, he joined the ranks of Rameses, Haman, and Antiochus. Not good company. Not a group I want to be aligned with.

And the best one, “I just accept all people.” This statement means nothing in regard to Luther. The man is no longer among the living to be accepted or rejected. All we have is his theology, which insists that the problem with Christianity is that Christians did not kill all the Jews. I reject that.

I’m not against teaching history. Luther’s life serves as a warning to us all. When he was on the side of the Jews, he saw great spiritual victory. He stood up to misuse of religion and preached salvation through faith in Christ alone. He translated the New Testament into the language of the people. Against the Jews, and under the curse of Genesis 12:3, he died bitter and sickly, an enemy of God. Let us learn a lesson from his life, rather than hold him up as a hero.

For more on the life of Martin Luther, visit http://www.luther.de/en/legenden

For more on his writing, ‘On the Jews and their Lies’, visit http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/anti-semitism/Luther_on_Jews.html

Copyright 2010, Kathryn A. Frazier.

Kathryn celebrates holidays in Jewish and Christian harmony. Tell her where you saw this and what you think! PreciousHolidays@yahoo.com

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Growing up in a household that never went to church, never believed in God, and constantly used Christ’s name in vain, I can honestly say that I had no conception of what church should be or what it really looked like outside of what I saw on TV or in the movies (“Footloose”). After accepting Christ into my life and learning to understand what the Church should be, my fresh perspective can almost be considered a hindrance…well, at least inconvenient.

At the age of 24, in January of 2001, I accepted Jesus Christ into my life as my personal Lord and Savior. I knew from that moment that everything He says is the truth–He is the way, the truth, and the life—the only way to reach salvation, eternal life in glory.

I was extremely blessed to have my first church “home” be a magnificent, organized, hotbed for the Lord in the Tampa, Florida, area. The teachings were awesome, the worship was Spirit-led, and the main thing was, well, THE MAIN THING! There was no backing down from the Word and what it had to offer and what the Lord was saying through it–constantly. There was no watering down of what sin will do to us as humans, culpable of being seduced by the enemy. Sure, there were problems and hiccups with minor things such as parking or baby/kid church, but the heart was there and the leadership knew how to address the needs of the congregants (for the most part). You can’t please everyone all the time.

My family and I recently (2006) moved to Austin, Texas, after spending five years in Tampa. Finding a church home has proven to be more difficult than we imagined. And it’s also exposed, what we believe, is a serious flaw in the body of Christ today.

There is a theory going around today that too many church-goers are consumers and they are seeking churches that fit their needs. These church-goers are trying to find the perfect childrens’ ministry or the best music or a church that doesn’t emphasize giving tithes and offerings. They don’t want to be convicted by the fact that sin does exist. In short, some people want a nice meeting place, where they can say they believe in god by espousing, “see, we go to church on Sunday”.

I understand the desire to quickly label these folks, and I have been vigilant about not becoming one of these church-hoppers. I do not want church to be about what it can do for me, but what I can do for the entire body of Christ.

Many folks in the “know” in church-plant circles believe the Austin area to be prime for new churches, ready to reach the un-churched. With this information, many people who have felt the call to be pastors have started churches like small franchises at such a rate that would make McDonald’s, Chick-fil-a, Wendy’s, Carl’s Jr, and Whataburger jealous. Everywhere we turn we see new churches being promoted, usually at your local elementary school’s cafetorianasium.

Who am I to dispute a man’s calling? I’m not going to question what the Lord has placed on the heart of a man. But what I will question is how these men are coordinating together, as part of Christ’s single body.

Imagine a city of not yet 30,000 people. Now picture at least two dozen churches sprouting up within that small city. Some churches are bigger than others and some serve very different “needs”, but rarely do the leaders of these small churches speak, let alone pray together seeking ways to bring a lost city to Christ.
These small churches serve different people looking for different things. Some people want a live band, others want a good teacher. Some people are looking for a place to drop their kids off as they hear the Word, other folks are looking for a church that goes out into the community. Some church-goers even are drawn to a church that is active on Facebook or provides podcasts. But in many instances, there is a failure to thrive, and atrophy sets in because the entire body isn’t being used as a whole.
Just as the churches have something to offer, so does each individual pastor of these small flocks. As I said before, I’m not going to argue a man’s calling—but being a pastor is far different than being a shepherd. I know many men who are excellent pastors, with the ability to pray and counsel. I also know men who are excellent administrators, who have the ability to organize and set a movement in motion. Then there are those men who know the Word inside and out and can teach, and teach, and teach…but rely on them to counsel a grieving family and it’s just not built into them.
I’m not looking for the perfect church–it doesn’t exist. But what I am looking for is the body to be one, under Christ, constantly feeding the flock and seeking the lost. This cannot be done as a fragmentation. This has to be done in unity, with the churches either becoming one or at least leaning on each other through strength, being solid brick and mortar. Did Paul write 17 different letters, “To the 17 different churches in Ephesus:”?
I envision each city or town having a “lake” church, thriving with a vast variety of life, supporting the ecosystem with everything it needs—nutrients, air, light, food. As it stands now, we have multiple little puddles, that evaporate quite quickly, not able to sustain the life that seeks to be served.
It is my prayer that the body connects, becomes one, and strengthens for His kingdom. Anything short of this is simply a diminished possibility…appetizers, anyone?

William Wright–married, with children.

Educated in Seattle, saved in Zephyrhills, “raised” in Tampa, and still growing in Austin.

“I once considered myself a selfish church hopper…I now realize that my hunger drives me to continue to seek nourishment. I’m a growing babe!”–William

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As I sat in church this past week listening to the pastor talk about clarity and contemplation, I wondered if the congregation really grasped the significances of what he was sharing. He spoke of prayer and spending time with God, but did it register or was it just another Christian ideal that sounded good but had no real practicality. Knowing what I have learned about contemplation, meditation, and prayer, it takes discipline to carve out time everyday to spend time with God in stillness and reverent solitude. As I continued to listen, I wondered if mere words were enough to demonstrate the magnitude of such a practice. Was a sermon about contemplation and meditation enough or must further steps be taken? Do pastors not only need to talk about reverent silence, contemplation, and Christian meditation, but practice it as a body as well? And if so, how?

The service I attended consisted of praise and worship, some scripture reading, teaching, and ended with gospel music playing so loudly that you’d have a hard time hearing your neighbor talk to you. Where was the contemplation in that I thought? If we are to talk about meditation (or words similar to it), isn’t it just as important that we teach it and practice as a body of believers?

In the course of our church services, I imagine believers entering the main sanctuary in silence and holy reverence to God as they turn their hearts over to Him and enter into His presence. This would be followed by 10 to 20 minutes of scripture meditation with eyes closed and as we slowly grazed over the scripture passage selected for the day. Christian meditation would allow God’s word to wash away every care and dissolve every weight that we carried in with us- the act of hiding God’s word in our heart. As we mentally repeated the scripture passage, following the principles of meditation, any time we discovered our minds wandering off in thought, we would gently returned our attention back to the verses, thus creating a greater space to hear God and fellowship with Him from within. For those who attend church for the entertainment factor or an emotional experience, this might not go over so well.

And as the congregation saw the real affects of true contemplation and meditation acted out in service each week, they could then take the same practice to their homes. Once they got a taste of a true spiritual connection with God, not based on doing, but on “being” and “dwelling” in his presence, I believe it is something that they couldn’t live without. Many believers would discover their own link to God, the source of all their power and strength. This is the basis for when Jesus said that “when the Spirit comes, you will not need a man to teach you for the Holy Spirit will teach you all things.” The problem for most believers is that we don’t know how to access that Spirit living inside us because it is continually crowded out by distractions, noise, thoughts, and deceptions. We’re often like Samuel who kept hearing the voice of God calling him in the middle of the night and continuing to say, “Is that you Lord?” But unlike Samuel who had the Prophet to guide him and tell him it was the Lord calling, go and listen, we don’t have any one doing the same for us. So we just dismiss the voice and go about living on the same earthy plane and miss out on the intimate fellowship we can have with God.

Through Christian meditation and contemplation we experience transformation from the inside out. We learn that true blessings come from within, in the form of peace, joy, and contentment, instead of without, which we are frequently taught, even in many churches. They say your blessing is right around the corner or over the next mountain. God says you possess them already, for God has given us everything we need for a life of holiness and godliness, but we must access them from within. It will never be in the next relationship, the spouse, the house, the new car, the job or some external desire or perfect circumstance. These things don’t satisfy the real void in our heart. They only mask them for a short time.

Jesus said that “the kingdom of God is within you,” and that is the only place we will find lasting joy, contentment, purpose and peace. But take note that entering the kingdom of God, this sacred place, has nothing to do with more dancing, shouting, preaching, or doing. We enter it through stillness and silence, by “being still and knowing that (He) is God.” We enter it by quieting our minds and shutting out or eliminating all the distractions that interfere with us touching the hem of Jesus’ garment- the fears, illusions, and doubts. “For if I can just touch the hem of his garment, I will be made whole,” said the women as she crawled on the ground, maneuvered through the crowd, singly-focused and intent on reaching and touching the only one that provided her any hope of being made well and whole. And in an instant she was transformed. Jesus responded by saying, “Who touched me, for I perceive that virtue has come out of me?” Although he was being pushed and thronged by many and on every side, only the touch of one with the single intent to know Jesus made an impression.

Jesus said, “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart,” but for many believers that means gracing a weekly church service and an occasional Bible reading. They don’t understand that to walk with God is to give of your very lives, day by day, hour by hour, and minute by minute. And they don’t know because it’s not what they are taught. Most believers live their lives on the testimony and teaching of others without investigating for themselves. Job illustrated it clearly when he said, I have heard of your power, but now I have experienced you for myself (paraphrased). They are told to join more committees, or attend more groups, and if they miss a church service they may be on the verge of backsliding from God. Nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, these are important, but like Jesus told the Pharisees when they paid their tithes but neglected to show mercy and faith, you should have done this as well as that.

Seeking God with all your heart, soul, and strength begins with prayer, contemplation, and meditation, but not the kind of prayers that petition God for more. Instead, the type of prayer and meditation that demonstrate that God is already enough, where we abide in the vine, where we become one with the Lord, and where we put on the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says that “God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth, for these are the types of worshippers the Lord seeketh.”

I understand that church is a time of celebration, fellowship, and corporate worship and that these are important functions, but what better place to teach corporate meditation and contemplation. Many Christians don’t even know what it means to be still before the Lord or they avoid it altogether. For the stillness shines a neon light of what is really in our hearts and what is missing from our lives. The good news is that we can take this awareness to God for inner healing. Shouldn’t church be the very place to teach this? What if during our church services we created a special time of silent worship, scripture meditation, and inner contemplation? I can only imagine the transformation that would take place in sanctuaries all around the world. For when we allow the light of God to flood our hearts and minds, it will dispel the darkness- the hate, the worry, and the fear.

Are you ready to grow deeper with God this year? Rhonda Jones is the creator of 25 Christ-centered meditation and affirmation CDs and the author of Detox Your Life Now and Awaken Your Inner Spirit. Visit http://www.thechristianmeditator.com and http://www.detoxyourlifenow.com.

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Do you have a deep longing for genuine relationships and Christian fellowship with other believers? Do you feel that it is very hard to build those relationships? In this article you will learn how to overcome the pitfalls of Christian fellowship.

It is not an accident that the Bible speaks of the Body of Believers. You can only have a healthy physical body, if all the parts of your body are working together in harmony. If only one part of your body is outside of this created harmony, the whole body is suffering. In the same way can the Body of Christ, His Church, not function in the way God has attended it, if members of this body do not life together in harmony.

If relationships in the church are broken and not restored, the church cannot be a light to the community. You can have thousands of programs, but if the members don’t live in healthy and loving relationships, these programs will just be one more activity. The Bible teaches very clear, that the people outside of the church will only be able to understand the love of God if they see the love, that the members of the church have for one another.

What keeps us from experiencing true Christian fellowship within the church? There are walls that we have build around us. Walls, that don’t allow us to have true fellowship. I call them Relationship Bugs. Here are the four main ones:

1. Independence

Many Christian groups suffer from uncommitted members. Commitment does not mean to serve the other just once in a while. Commitment means I am permanently attached to another person. I entered into a relationship.

But many Christians don’t want that. They want to be independent. Sure, we like the good feelings within a fellowship, and we criticise if the fellowship does not keep up to our expectations. But we ourselves don’t want to make a commitment to this fellowship.

We are only expecting something from other people. They have to do this and do that. They have to love me! They have to help me! They have to make the first step. They have to change. They have to come to me!

And don’t tell me what to do! Don’t talk to me about things that can be approved in my life – but be prepared to listen to what I think about you! Don’t come to close to me.

Our desire to be independent shows that we are fearful of others seeing our shortcomings. We want to keep our front. We want to be the good ones.

Independence has only one root: pride! But healthy Christian Fellowship does not mean limited freedom.

2. Fear of Rejection

If you, in the past, were disappointed by others who you had trusted, you, my dear friend have to fight this fear. Don’t be afraid to open up again and engage in deep relationships.

Many people experience an atmosphere of openness and trust for the first time when they come into a Christian setting. But they carry with them a big load of hurts from disappointments. But if you want to live in healthy and genuine relationships, you have to overcome this fear of rejection. You have to take a new risk. The fear of being rejected makes people defensive in their actions. This fear is like a magnet. It attracts new misunderstandings and disappointments.

3. Lack of forgiveness

Unresolved conflicts will kill every fellowship and destroy all relationships. Gossip, the most terrible sin that we find within the church makes it impossible to have fellowship with one another.

If gossip or other sins have destroyed your Christian relationships with others, then there is only one cure: Forgiveness!

But let me make one thing perfectly clear: If you say that you forgive your fellow Christian but that forgiveness does not start the process of new fellowship and relationships, then there was no true forgiveness.

Always remember one thing: If something goes wrong between you and other believers, forgive right away. Don’t put your relationships in danger.

4. Living behind masks

The danger of wearing masks is, that you get used to them. After a little while you believe what you are portraying. We wear masks, because we don’t want to be known.

Christians wear masks because they think that Christians have to be perfect. But because they realise that they are far from being perfect, they do everything in their power to appear perfect. They put on a mask. And all of a sudden they are so holy. They are so wise! They know right from wrong and they have the right theology. They hear from God himself three times a day. And of course, they have no problems.

But you take that mask away from them and you find the most insecure people.

It doesn’t matter how week or how strong you are. God did not make you part of his body to compare yourself with others or others with yourself. We are one body in order to grow together, inspire and encourage one another.

You will never experience the beauty of Christian fellowship and relationships, if you don’t get rid of your masks.

Let’s sum it up:

The main components of genuine Christen fellowships are love, acceptance and forgiveness – not in word, but in deed. Let me encourage you to find a group of Christian friends. Be real, honest and transparent with them. Don’t wear a mask. Kill the relationship bugs in your own life by repenting from your independence, by starting to love others unconditionally and by being the first one to forgive.

Don’t forget: the foundation for good Christian fellowship is not so much your strength and your abilities but your weaknesses and your common dependence on God.

Pastor Reinhard wants to encourage and inspire you to live the abundant live Jesus died for and wants you to enjoy; a life overflowing from God’s Goodness, Blessings and Mercies. Download Reinhard’s free MP3 teaching “How to renew your mind and Self-image” at http://www.myspiritualsupport.net

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Thank you for the morning

For the new day dawning

Thank you for the dawn chorus

Refreshing and delighting us

Thank you lord for another day

And for tomorrow if I may

I am a fifty something family man with a passion for writing and I draw inspiration from those around me.

http://www.peculiar-poetry.com/

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