the little children all the children of the world!
Red and yellow black and white they are precious in His sight!
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
But Jesus called for them, saying, "Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
"Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all." Luke 18:16-17
At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. Matthew 11:25-26
Only children can enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who believe become children of God. When Jesus says we need to be born again, He meant that we become like children again. Not everyone who is a child is a child, and not everyone who is old is an "adult" The children of God are chilren at heart! God turns our sulf-sufficient "adult" like hearts into childlike ones that can understand and know him.
Children, just believe and trust whatever their parents have to say. They don't doubt or question or try to argue with them. They understand that they are dependent and need their parents in their lives.
Adults on the other hand are very skeptical.
They judge and analyze every little word that is said and love to give their own opinions on different things because they want to make themselves look good. They are "grown ups" who have everything under control. They don't need to listen to their parents, because they already know everything. Their pride drowns out the voice of the Father.
But its only when we become like children and LISTEN that God can truly reveal Himself. We are all very adult like, even children have this heart inside them. If you go to an elementary school children all want to be first, they all want to look the best to be the smartest. They can't wait to be "grownups" It is only God who makes a child a child so that He can show them who He is.
When children listen and obey their parents, they stand out among the otherkids!
They may not understand why they need to do the things they are told but eventually they grow to see how their obdience has lead them to excel amidst their peers. They might be teased along the the way, but in it was far more worth it. The hours they put in studying instead of playing led them to be honoured in front of their peers as the valedictorian.
As Children of God, we need to learn to be even more childlike! As we listen to our Father and humbly obey, we are exalted because His blessings are seen in our lives by thouse around us.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Heart Breathings
(excerpt from Leonard Ravenhill)
The need of the Church today is for spiritual
millionaires who can bring down the wealth of
the world above on this stricken church age.
It is my solemn conviction that the Lord put
the Church to groan in this groaning creation
(Rom. 8:26) that she might reach millions who
would otherwise groan for eons in a devil's hell.
Are we (who still have coals of fire on our altars)
measuring ourselves by the fireless altars of
neighboring churches instead of checking on
the praying blaze of our saintly forebearers?
THE NAME OF CHRIST
If we today could rediscover
The virtue in that Name,
The victory in that Name,
The violence in that Name,
We could set this world alight for God.
A sermon born in the head reaches the head;
A sermon born in the heart reaches the heart.
No Christian is greater than his prayer-life.
The pastor who is not praying is playing;
the people who are not praying are straying.
The two prerequisites to successful Christian
living are vision and passion, both of which are
born in and maintained by prayer.
The ministry of preaching is open to few;
the ministry of prayer - the highest ministry of
all human offices - is open to all.
Prayer grasps eternity!
The understanding soul prays;
the praying soul gets understanding.
The secret of praying is praying in secret.
Elijah was a man skilled in the art of prayer,
who altered the course of nature,
strangled the economy of a nation,
prayed and fire fell,
prayed and people fell,
prayed and rain fell.
We need rain, rain, rain!
The churches are so parched that seed
cannot germinate. Our altars are dry,
with no hot tears of penitents.
Oh for an Elijah!
Elijah was a man
subject to like passions as we are,
but alas, we are not men
of like prayer as he was.
His whole life is summed up in two words,
"He prayed." (James 5:17)
Watch and pray,
or rust and decay.
No amount of prayer
will deliver us from temptation,
but it will deliver us in temptation.
Prayer is the language of the poor in Spirit.
The self-sufficient do not need to pray;
The self-satisfied will not pray;
The self-righteous cannot pray.
Prayer produces courage and joy
to do God's will
even if tears are shed doing it.
The man who kneels in prayer
has some standing before the Lord.
Many ask God for help.
Few ask God for mercy.
We need preachers
who can preach up a storm,
but our greater need is for pray-ers
who can pray down the fire.
Most Christians pray to be blest
few pray to be broken.
Prayer is not argument with God
to persuade Him to walk our way,
but an exercise by which He enables us by His
Spirit to walk His way.
Who can tell the measure of God's power?
Prayer is as vast as God
because He is behind it.
Prayer is as mighty as God,
because He has committed Himself to answer it.
The need of the Church today is for spiritual
millionaires who can bring down the wealth of
the world above on this stricken church age.
It is my solemn conviction that the Lord put
the Church to groan in this groaning creation
(Rom. 8:26) that she might reach millions who
would otherwise groan for eons in a devil's hell.
Are we (who still have coals of fire on our altars)
measuring ourselves by the fireless altars of
neighboring churches instead of checking on
the praying blaze of our saintly forebearers?
THE NAME OF CHRIST
If we today could rediscover
The virtue in that Name,
The victory in that Name,
The violence in that Name,
We could set this world alight for God.
A sermon born in the head reaches the head;
A sermon born in the heart reaches the heart.
No Christian is greater than his prayer-life.
The pastor who is not praying is playing;
the people who are not praying are straying.
The two prerequisites to successful Christian
living are vision and passion, both of which are
born in and maintained by prayer.
The ministry of preaching is open to few;
the ministry of prayer - the highest ministry of
all human offices - is open to all.
Prayer grasps eternity!
The understanding soul prays;
the praying soul gets understanding.
The secret of praying is praying in secret.
Elijah was a man skilled in the art of prayer,
who altered the course of nature,
strangled the economy of a nation,
prayed and fire fell,
prayed and people fell,
prayed and rain fell.
We need rain, rain, rain!
The churches are so parched that seed
cannot germinate. Our altars are dry,
with no hot tears of penitents.
Oh for an Elijah!
Elijah was a man
subject to like passions as we are,
but alas, we are not men
of like prayer as he was.
His whole life is summed up in two words,
"He prayed." (James 5:17)
Watch and pray,
or rust and decay.
No amount of prayer
will deliver us from temptation,
but it will deliver us in temptation.
Prayer is the language of the poor in Spirit.
The self-sufficient do not need to pray;
The self-satisfied will not pray;
The self-righteous cannot pray.
Prayer produces courage and joy
to do God's will
even if tears are shed doing it.
The man who kneels in prayer
has some standing before the Lord.
Many ask God for help.
Few ask God for mercy.
We need preachers
who can preach up a storm,
but our greater need is for pray-ers
who can pray down the fire.
Most Christians pray to be blest
few pray to be broken.
Prayer is not argument with God
to persuade Him to walk our way,
but an exercise by which He enables us by His
Spirit to walk His way.
Who can tell the measure of God's power?
Prayer is as vast as God
because He is behind it.
Prayer is as mighty as God,
because He has committed Himself to answer it.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
in all godliness
train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
-1 Timothy 4:7b-8
In all things godliness has value.
When Jesus says to seek first the Kingdom of heaven and then all these things will be added unto you,this is what he meant.
The godly are not those who are morally perfect but those who seek the Lord with all their heart soul and mind. Striving against themselves, the world around them, the forces of hell and even life itself to know this God. Who is this King of Glory? A life that is living with this very purpose without compromise will be honored by the Lord For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully commintted to Him and He rewards those who diligently seek Him As they seek they receive grace to live a life of worship. They are enabled to live a disciplined, self-controlled life filled with power, love in all holiness and in every aspect of life.For our God is indeed All in All and an all consuming fire.
So that in everything we do we can truely do it in the Name of our Lord Jesus.
Today I wrote an exam, and sadly had to skip church to do so. After writting the exam I was surprised at how easy it was! I hadn't really realized it, but the grace God had given me to be disciplined in my prayer time overflowed into discipline that produced good fruit even in this life! When I look back on it, I studied a lot, 13 hours straight of productive studying and not once did I waste time on mundance things.
I always think that I am doing behind in school because I don't think I spend many hours on it. It always seems to be the last thing on my mind. Surpisingly, I received 2 papers this past week and reeived an A+ and A- on them. After looking back on it, I actually did put a lot of work into them without even realizing it.
Whats also strange is that my relationships with other people are so much better! I make friends very quickly without even realizing it. I'm so filled with God that I want to talk to people and don't mind sharing my life with anybody and everybody.
I'm reading the bible I always hear about encouragements to endure through suffering and about all the trials we must face and yeah there are those times but then there are these times and I can't be helped but stand in awe.
-1 Timothy 4:7b-8
In all things godliness has value.
When Jesus says to seek first the Kingdom of heaven and then all these things will be added unto you,this is what he meant.
The godly are not those who are morally perfect but those who seek the Lord with all their heart soul and mind. Striving against themselves, the world around them, the forces of hell and even life itself to know this God. Who is this King of Glory? A life that is living with this very purpose without compromise will be honored by the Lord For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully commintted to Him and He rewards those who diligently seek Him As they seek they receive grace to live a life of worship. They are enabled to live a disciplined, self-controlled life filled with power, love in all holiness and in every aspect of life.For our God is indeed All in All and an all consuming fire.
So that in everything we do we can truely do it in the Name of our Lord Jesus.
Today I wrote an exam, and sadly had to skip church to do so. After writting the exam I was surprised at how easy it was! I hadn't really realized it, but the grace God had given me to be disciplined in my prayer time overflowed into discipline that produced good fruit even in this life! When I look back on it, I studied a lot, 13 hours straight of productive studying and not once did I waste time on mundance things.
I always think that I am doing behind in school because I don't think I spend many hours on it. It always seems to be the last thing on my mind. Surpisingly, I received 2 papers this past week and reeived an A+ and A- on them. After looking back on it, I actually did put a lot of work into them without even realizing it.
Whats also strange is that my relationships with other people are so much better! I make friends very quickly without even realizing it. I'm so filled with God that I want to talk to people and don't mind sharing my life with anybody and everybody.
I'm reading the bible I always hear about encouragements to endure through suffering and about all the trials we must face and yeah there are those times but then there are these times and I can't be helped but stand in awe.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Thoughts....
The human that is in relationship with God is innately aware of their nakedness before Him; both in the physical and spiritual. They live their day to day lives with a deep understanding of His sovereignty. They are found speechless and sit in reverent awe as they meditate and accept that God is familiar with all their ways, thoughts, actions and words. They look at themselves and wonder how dust can become a living being that can understand. Their lives are marked with a peace and rest accepting that their days were already set apart for them before they were even created. This trust and understanding gives them no fear in being obedient and following whatever God places in their hearts to do. They need not seek acceptance or approval from any person because they know their immense value. Their Creator spent an eternity thinking of them before they were and knit them together with the utmost care, cell by cell. They were born out of His deep intimacy and love, in His most hidden places that only He knows of and understands. With this in mind, they are content in any circumstance and are able to love others as the love of their Creator flows through them.
The Creator-creation relationship is indeed a unique one, unlike anything a human can comprehend. It is not as simple as a person looking at a colony of ants going about their work. The person would have to be able to dwell in, understand, empathize, enjoy and share in what each individual ant was doing simultaneously. The Lord has infinite thoughts for every person and His thoughts are all equally infinite for each of them; He is all in all. Each relationship with each person is uniquely different yet has a familiarity with each one, much like how the relationship between different people are different but also similar.
When one understands God’s sovereignty, they cannot help but see how sinful they are in every little thought, action or feeling that opposes this sovereignty. A yearning to want to be obedient is placed in their hearts. They willingly open their whole being to their Creator so that they can be searched and conformed to His ways no matter how much it may hurt them. Their love for the Creator is greater that their pride and so they are willing to allow themselves to be shamed if it means a deeper understanding and relationship with God. The relationship sparks a passionate zeal for those who live in complete enmity to this truth. They love the Lord so they will despise those who hate Him and mock His name.
In contrast, the one who is dull to God lives their life as a restless wanderer. They go from place to place trying to escape the grasp of God’s sovereignty in their life. The very thought of that God is omnipotent makes their spirit uncomfortable. Like Cain who built cities and hid himself with the many distractions of life and like Adam and Eve who hid among the bushes, so the person will surround themselves with spiritual places to hide. Although they try to hide, there will be no peace in their hearts until they submit to God.
As God’s people, we are a restless people. It is difficult for us to sit and wait upon the Lord. In our times of prayer our hearts and thoughts are scattered and in our reading of His Word we find trouble in meditating and understanding. This leads to an unfulfilled relationship with the Lord and many times we leave empty when we should be overflowing. We must forced ourselves to slow down and cast each anxiety on Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strengthen. Only then can our hearts be open for the Lord to fill them!
(Psalm 139)
The Creator-creation relationship is indeed a unique one, unlike anything a human can comprehend. It is not as simple as a person looking at a colony of ants going about their work. The person would have to be able to dwell in, understand, empathize, enjoy and share in what each individual ant was doing simultaneously. The Lord has infinite thoughts for every person and His thoughts are all equally infinite for each of them; He is all in all. Each relationship with each person is uniquely different yet has a familiarity with each one, much like how the relationship between different people are different but also similar.
When one understands God’s sovereignty, they cannot help but see how sinful they are in every little thought, action or feeling that opposes this sovereignty. A yearning to want to be obedient is placed in their hearts. They willingly open their whole being to their Creator so that they can be searched and conformed to His ways no matter how much it may hurt them. Their love for the Creator is greater that their pride and so they are willing to allow themselves to be shamed if it means a deeper understanding and relationship with God. The relationship sparks a passionate zeal for those who live in complete enmity to this truth. They love the Lord so they will despise those who hate Him and mock His name.
In contrast, the one who is dull to God lives their life as a restless wanderer. They go from place to place trying to escape the grasp of God’s sovereignty in their life. The very thought of that God is omnipotent makes their spirit uncomfortable. Like Cain who built cities and hid himself with the many distractions of life and like Adam and Eve who hid among the bushes, so the person will surround themselves with spiritual places to hide. Although they try to hide, there will be no peace in their hearts until they submit to God.
As God’s people, we are a restless people. It is difficult for us to sit and wait upon the Lord. In our times of prayer our hearts and thoughts are scattered and in our reading of His Word we find trouble in meditating and understanding. This leads to an unfulfilled relationship with the Lord and many times we leave empty when we should be overflowing. We must forced ourselves to slow down and cast each anxiety on Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strengthen. Only then can our hearts be open for the Lord to fill them!
(Psalm 139)
Thursday, December 9, 2010
2 Chronicles 16:9
For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully commintted to Him.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
The Bride and the Harlot
Children of God,
We, the Bride of Christ are being made pure and white without blemish or stain. For He has ravished our heart with His love and desires to bring us, to take us to His home, a place where we will behold His glory. His banner over us is love and He is teaching us, preparing us for we are His beloved and we are His. We wait expectantly for great wedding feast of the Lamb that will soon take place!
Make yourself ready! The bridegroom is coming soon! go buy oil quickly for He shall come like a theif in the night while people are living their day to day lives. Suddenly He shall appear on a whitehorse, the rider Faith and True! Don't be found naked! Clothe yourselves with fine linen,the righteous acts of the saints. Buy refined gold as a worthy gift, a dowry for the bride. Adorn yourself with precious stones that are worthy of the Lamb. For she shall be called chosen and faithful, tried and true.
Children of God,
The devil deceives. For as the Lord is preparing Himself a pure bride, so the devil is raising up an imposter, a fake, one who shames the Bridegroom and His Name. The Great Harlot of Babylon. With passion dripping from her lips she is quick to indulge in immorality. She despises her sister and becomes drunk on her blood. She has given herself to countless lovers, allowed her self to be a dwelling place for demons and unclean spirits. Yet with a proud smile on her face she laughs and says I am not a widow, I have no shame, I need no husband.
There is a battle raging for this generation. Will we become the harlot or the bride? The harlot cannot contain her desire and goes to pleasure herself in everything possible. The bride waits patiently for the bridegroom staying faithful to Him. In this hour not many are waiting they think they can compromise, let one little spot stain the linen. Others think that don't need to be dressed, they can sleep till the Bridegroom comes and when He does, they will be naked having nothing to offer Him.
Jesus gave His life for us and when He returns He deserves a return. Will you have something to offer Him? or will you be found poor and needy on that day?
Is He really worthy to you?
(Songs of Soloman 2:4, 2:16, 4:9 Rev 17-19)
We, the Bride of Christ are being made pure and white without blemish or stain. For He has ravished our heart with His love and desires to bring us, to take us to His home, a place where we will behold His glory. His banner over us is love and He is teaching us, preparing us for we are His beloved and we are His. We wait expectantly for great wedding feast of the Lamb that will soon take place!
Make yourself ready! The bridegroom is coming soon! go buy oil quickly for He shall come like a theif in the night while people are living their day to day lives. Suddenly He shall appear on a whitehorse, the rider Faith and True! Don't be found naked! Clothe yourselves with fine linen,the righteous acts of the saints. Buy refined gold as a worthy gift, a dowry for the bride. Adorn yourself with precious stones that are worthy of the Lamb. For she shall be called chosen and faithful, tried and true.
Children of God,
The devil deceives. For as the Lord is preparing Himself a pure bride, so the devil is raising up an imposter, a fake, one who shames the Bridegroom and His Name. The Great Harlot of Babylon. With passion dripping from her lips she is quick to indulge in immorality. She despises her sister and becomes drunk on her blood. She has given herself to countless lovers, allowed her self to be a dwelling place for demons and unclean spirits. Yet with a proud smile on her face she laughs and says I am not a widow, I have no shame, I need no husband.
There is a battle raging for this generation. Will we become the harlot or the bride? The harlot cannot contain her desire and goes to pleasure herself in everything possible. The bride waits patiently for the bridegroom staying faithful to Him. In this hour not many are waiting they think they can compromise, let one little spot stain the linen. Others think that don't need to be dressed, they can sleep till the Bridegroom comes and when He does, they will be naked having nothing to offer Him.
Jesus gave His life for us and when He returns He deserves a return. Will you have something to offer Him? or will you be found poor and needy on that day?
Is He really worthy to you?
(Songs of Soloman 2:4, 2:16, 4:9 Rev 17-19)
Sunday, December 5, 2010
I've Got the Joy .......
O how I love Jesus! O how I love Jesus!
O how I love Jesus! Because he first LOVED ME!
To me He is so wonderful and I love him!
To me He is so wonderful and I love him
To me He is so wonderful and I love him because he first LOVED ME!
I wish I could worship God all the time.
Sadly I have to live life.
I look forward to the times when I can minster before the Lord.
I would not be able to survive if I didn't have that time.
Spiritual attacks are very strong lately.
It comes out of nowhere anger, jealousy, hate, depression
BAM BAM BAM BAM
It gets to the point where its a struggle to function and only by grace can I get through it.
God gives JUST ENOUGH grace so you can get through it but doesn't do everything so that you need to struggle to make it through.
Its confusing when you feel the love and grace of God overflowing through your spirit till the point of tears WHILE your going through some major suffering.
I can't help but rejoice!
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance
Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
I keep thinking on how I am being made clean and that all the sin that I hate so much is being removed and it brings me joy!
O the wonderful cross! O the wonderful cross!
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live!
In all the times of crying out to the Lord and praying for the loss souls,
a part of me is happy because I'm going through what Jesus went through.
Each time I force myself to pray for that person one more time, my love for them grows and I scold myself later for not doing it sooner!
I CAN EVANGELIZE MORE OFTEN NOW TOO!!!!
The Lord is definitely moving and I am excited to see what will happen in the next little while.
Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning!
Give me oil in my lamp I pray!
Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning burning burning
Keep me burning til the break of day!
O how I love Jesus! Because he first LOVED ME!
To me He is so wonderful and I love him!
To me He is so wonderful and I love him
To me He is so wonderful and I love him because he first LOVED ME!
I wish I could worship God all the time.
Sadly I have to live life.
I look forward to the times when I can minster before the Lord.
I would not be able to survive if I didn't have that time.
Spiritual attacks are very strong lately.
It comes out of nowhere anger, jealousy, hate, depression
BAM BAM BAM BAM
It gets to the point where its a struggle to function and only by grace can I get through it.
God gives JUST ENOUGH grace so you can get through it but doesn't do everything so that you need to struggle to make it through.
Its confusing when you feel the love and grace of God overflowing through your spirit till the point of tears WHILE your going through some major suffering.
I can't help but rejoice!
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance
Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
I keep thinking on how I am being made clean and that all the sin that I hate so much is being removed and it brings me joy!
O the wonderful cross! O the wonderful cross!
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live!
In all the times of crying out to the Lord and praying for the loss souls,
a part of me is happy because I'm going through what Jesus went through.
Each time I force myself to pray for that person one more time, my love for them grows and I scold myself later for not doing it sooner!
I CAN EVANGELIZE MORE OFTEN NOW TOO!!!!
The Lord is definitely moving and I am excited to see what will happen in the next little while.
Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning!
Give me oil in my lamp I pray!
Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning burning burning
Keep me burning til the break of day!
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