Bible verse for Today

Our Heritage - Eternal Life!

Jesus said to her,

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

John 11:25,26 NIV 

He Lifts Up the Humble

Psalm 147:2-6

The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel ... The LORD lifts up the 

Do you ever feel like an outcast because of your faith in God? This may, in fact, be a good thing. When life humbles us, we can allow the Lord to build us up.

humble"Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and above is trouble."

MY MOTHER AND MY BROTHERS by Chip Brogden

While [Jesus] was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, 'Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.' But He answered and said to the one who told Him, 'Who is My mother and who are My brothers?' And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, 'Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother'" (Matthew 12:46-50 NKJV).

"One of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to [Jesus], 'Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed.' But He said, 'On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it' (Luke 11:27,28 NASB).

Those still debating about the organization of "church" have not yet seen the Ekklesia as a family. And so their emphasis is on the proper government of "church": is it a single pastor, or a plurality of elders? What are the relationships between pastors, deacons, elders, and presbyters? What about the relationships between apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers? Or are they for today? What about the women - can they hold a position or not? Where are the lines of authority? Who are we supposed to submit to? Who is our covering? Do we need a covering? And so on.

Many disputes arise as to how "church" should be organized and who should submit to whom. Millions of people have been killed over these disputes, and millions more have been abused - spiritually and emotionally, if not physically. These disputes have been with us for two millennia and have never been resolved to everyone's satisfaction.

The only way to resolve a dispute along the lines of organization is to let go of the earthly altogether and embrace the spiritual reality. But for many (particularly those in leadership) this is simply too much to give up. Some will say, "But there is organization in the Bible." And I would respond that there is a Spirit-and-Truth order in the Bible, but not organization along the lines of a corporate hierarchy, bureaucracy, or benevolent dictatorship. Those are all carnal expressions of carnal men. They are not for the Ekklesia.

If we really saw the Ekklesia we would no longer debate these issues at all. In fact, if we could really see the Ekklesia for what it is - a family - then we will immediately know Who the Head of the family is, who the elders are, what they are supposed to do, who has authority, and who does not. We would no longer be concerned with a corporate structure, but we would simply relate to one another as members of the same family.

The Ekklesia that Jesus is building is a spiritual house of living stones. This Ekklesia is a family, and "of [Jesus] the whole family in heaven and earth is named" (Ephesians 3:15). Which family? The family of believers. Some of the family is in heaven, while some of the family is on earth. In this family, God is Father, and Jesus is the Firstborn among many brothers and sisters (cf. Romans 8:29). When we become a disciple of Jesus we become members of a family, not members of an organization. This is one of the key differences between a living Ekklesia and a dead "church".

That is what Jesus conveys to the people in the two instances illustrated from the Gospels. In the first case His mother and brothers were prevented from approaching Him because of the crowd. The Scriptures say that Jesus was still speaking to the multitudes when someone interrupted His teaching to tell Him that His mother and brothers had arrived and wanted to speak to Him. An ordinary person may have become angry over the interruption, or would have excused themselves from the crowd to go to say hello to his relatives. But Jesus is no ordinary person; He is the Son of the Most High God.

What He demonstrates to them (in word and in deed) is that everyone who does the will of God is His brother, sister, and mother; that is to say, all the members of His family are on equal ground before Him. In this family He plays no favorites, He gives no preferential treatment. He does not have special brothers and special sisters; all are equally precious, all are equally valuable in His sight. Others may argue over who will be the greatest and seek the recognition and praise from man with their title, degree, position, or gifting, but Jesus said, "It must not be so among you" (Matthew 20:26ff). If He makes no distinction among brothers and sisters then we dare not do so.

In the second case, as in the first, Jesus is teaching when someone interrupts Him. A woman calls out from the crowd and blesses Mary, the mother of Jesus. Again, an ordinary person may have been disturbed over this interruption, or might have started talking about how much they loved their mother. But once again, we see the uniqueness of the Lord Jesus, and we touch upon the depth of His wisdom and character.

Certainly Jesus loved His earthly mother. At the same time, with His keen discernment, Jesus perceived that this outburst of emotion was mere sentimentality. Though it was intended as a compliment, it came from the flesh, added nothing to His teaching, and only served to distract the people from Himself. With the benefit of 2,000 years of church history behind us, we can see how this kind of fleshly adulation over the mother of Jesus is, in and of itself, a tremendous distraction from Jesus Himself.

And so, for the benefit of the crowd (as well as for our benefit), Jesus speaks a gentle word of correction, one that honors His mother without idolizing her: "Yea rather..." the King James Version says; that is to say, "True enough, but get your eyes off of the earthly and onto the heavenly. There is a greater blessing to be had, and this blessing is not restricted to one woman, but this blessing is open and available to all who will have it."

How is this blessing obtained? According to Jesus, those who hear the Word of God and obey it are blessed. And this is not surprising, since everything Jesus ever taught makes a plain distinction between people who merely listen to His teaching and those who actually put His teachings into practice. Blessed are they who hear it and keep it; while those who hear it, and do not practice it, are building on a sandy foundation that will collapse the moment they are challenged.

The principle thing in both cases is: what constitutes someone as a true brother or sister? And in both cases the answer is the same: doing the will of the Father; hearing the Word of God and keeping it. Doing the will of the Father is the same thing as hearing and keeping the Word of God. Simple obedience. Doing what the Father wants. Not hearing only, but hearing and doing.

Now the "church" is full of hearers. If we could qualify someone as a brother or sister merely on the basis of hearing then just about everyone would be included. It is common in many circles to address others as "Brother So-and-So" or "Sister So-and-So." Presumably this means that we are all in the same family and we have the same Father. Yet these same "brothers" and "sisters" will never fellowship with anyone outside their little group. Their criteria is narrow - attend the same group as we do, or join the same denomination, and we will be brothers and sisters. This is a good example of hearing what Jesus says, even preaching what Jesus says, and then failing to put into practice the very truth they have just claimed to believe.

Bear in mind that what makes someone a part of this Family is not hearing, or accepting, or believing, or teaching the will of God - it is doing the will of God. Jesus did not call every religious person, "Brother" or "Sister". This was a term of endearment for his true disciples. True disciples take it to heart and put it into practice. "IF you continue in My Word, then are you My disciples indeed" (John 8:31b). IF, IF, IF. What if you do not continue in His Word? Then you are not My disciples, and you are not My brother, or sister, or mother. To be in My Family you have to do the Will of My Father.

What about the others? Jesus would not acknowledge them as brothers and sisters. Why not? Because they did not have the same father. "You are of YOUR father the devil, and the desires of YOUR father you want to do" (John 8:44a). They heard the Word of God. They listened to the law and the prophets every Sabbath day. But they did not do the will of God. In fact, they did not desire the will of God at all; they lusted after the same things their father lusted after, and that did the devil's bidding, not the Father's.

On top of all the other trials and tribulations Paul endured, he mentioned being "in perils among false brethren" (II Corinthians 11:26b), and blamed part of his troubles on "false brethren secretly brought in, who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage" (Galatians 2:4). False brothers! It is a strong word. But this is how false Christs, false apostles, false prophets, and false teachers make their beginning - as false brothers.

So the question that Jesus asked bears repeating today: Who is my brother? Who is my sister? Who is my mother? Certainly not everyone who says, "Lord! Lord!" will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. In similar manner, not everyone who says, "Brother! Brother!" is really a brother. Yet learning how to be a good brother or a good sister is the first thing Jesus wants to teach us. When we are born into this Family that is all we are - a brother or a sister. Every apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, pastoral, or teaching ministry must have, as its foundation, the spiritual depth and maturity of knowing how to "just" be a brother or sister. We skip this necessary preparation at our own peril, and the Family of God suffers as a result.

Jesus says, "I will declare Your Name to My brothers, in the midst of the Ekklesia will I sing praise to You!" (Hebrews 2:12). Nothing brings more pleasure to the Father's heart, and gives our Lord Jesus more reason to rejoice, than to be with His brothers and sisters in the midst of the Ekklesia that He is building. If He is in the midst of the Ekklesia then that is where I want to be. May the Lord confirm this word to our heart. May His Will be done. Amen.

"While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him." LUKE 24:15,16 ESV

You see that Christ is revealed or hidden from men as He so desires. So many professed disciples of the Lord Jesus fail to recognize Him.

Even His closest disciples are prone to doubt and unbelief. After the resurrection, Thomas declared, "I will not believe unless I see the scars and put my hand into the wound in His side." When Jesus therefore appeared to them He did not argue or try to convince Thomas. He simply said, "Look! See My hands and My feet!" When Thomas saw the Lord, he spontaneously cried out, "My Lord, and my God!" This is revelation. Revelation does not require any arguing or convincing, as if it all depends on how well we can make a defense of the Gospel. I see no argument in the Lord Jesus, I only see Him. Seeing Him, I am convinced, and no argument is necessary.

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

God made us the way He wants us to be. Believe it. There could never be a more beautiful you. —

Dave Branon

Lord, we are Yours, You are our God;

We have been made so wondrously;
This human frame in every part
Your wisdom, power, and love we see. —Anon.

We are beautiful masterpieces designed by God.

WITH A THANKFUL HEART

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLMbRbFCLcw

PUSH! GOD ANSWERS!

A man was sleeping one night in his cabin when suddenly his room was filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man that he had a work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man has to Push the rock with all his might...

So, this is what the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sundown. His shoulders set squarely against the cold on a massive surface of the unmoving rock pushing with all his might! Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, Feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Since the man was showing discouragement, the adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind: (He will do it every time)!

You have been pushing against that rock for a long time and it hasn't moved." Thus, he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man.
Satan said, "Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough."

That's what the weary man planned to do, but instead he decided to make it into a matter of Prayer and to take his troubled thoughts to The Lord.

"Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in Your Service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"
The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed.

But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back shiny and brown; your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. True, you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be Obedient and to push and to exercise your Faith and trust in My Wisdom. That you have done. Now I, my friend, will move the rock."

REFLECTION;
At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He Wants, when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the Faith that moves mountains,but know that it is still God Who moves the Mountains.

The Lord is my Shepherd = That's Relationship!

I shall not want = That's Supply! 

Patience

Patience

"If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." -1 Corinthians 12:26

I was mindful of this verse this past weekend when I spent two days climbing a ladder to paint my house. After hours of climbing and descending and stretching under eaves to apply fresh coats of paint, I'm not sure I was fully prepared for the stiffness and soreness in my legs that was to come. For the following several days, it was all I could do to concentrate on other tasks because of the painful twinges in the muscles in my legs. Interesting how painful relationships have a similar effect. We've all had relationships strained by disagreement and circumstances, and no matter how hard we seem to try, whenever we are around those people, all our minds can think about is the pain of those strained relations. Paul speaks the truth in 1 Corinthians 12:26, that "if one part suffers, every part suffers." Is it a wonder that just four verses later, 1 Corinthians 13 begins...truly, one of the greatest definitions of love to be found in any literature: "Love is patient, love is kind, it is not proud, it does not dishonor others..." Friends, how would our relationships with others change if we were mindful to remember that, when one part suffers, every part suffers? And when one part is honored, every part rejoices. Since love is patient, as the old song says, "Why not put a little love in your heart?" You may be surprised how quickly your relationships change for the better!       *                       *                      *    PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for patience! Thank You for Your love that gives me the ability to love...anyway! No matter what comes my way or what circumstances confound me, Your love gives me the ability to love others. Thank You, Lord! In Jesus' name, Amen Who could you love more today?

Jesus You Are My Healer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFjbCA4RLJY

Arise from the Wreckage

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" Romans 8:28 (KJV)
I'd read the book of Acts before and honestly, it fell dull and familiar as I read again. But when I came to chapter nine, something new jumped out at me. I began to see the word "rejection," although it was not in written form. Perhaps I saw what I was feeling that day—rejected.
I was reading at the part of the story where Saul, a murderer, had just been transformed into Paul, a disciple of Christ. Even though Paul was a changed person, many rejected him because of his past reputation and lifestyle.
Not only that, but as Paul became fully devoted to serving Christ—sacrificing his education, his life, and remaining single so he could better serve the Lord—he was falsely accused, thrown into prison more than once and shipwrecked on several occasions. Doesn't that seem odd for a man called of God? Wouldn't God's favor protect him from such adversity?
I thought about an illness that had lingered with me for months. It was so severe I was all but bed-ridden week after week, unable to do life and ministry. I had felt rejected by God. It didn't make sense. I was serving Him in more ways than I could count. Then, without warning, strong winds came and ushered what felt like a storm into my life. Clouds hung overhead and before I knew it, I felt "shipwrecked."
Perhaps, you've been there, too. Maybe you've been rejected by family, friends, and co-workers. Or you've been falsely accused. Maybe you're imprisoned by finances, or being blown around by the consequences of someone else's sin?
It seems so unfair. You've tried to live right. You walk in obedience the best you can. You take God at His Word and trust in His promises. Shouldn't faith like this call for smooth sailing, instead of stormy, shipwrecking seas?
If we follow Paul's journey, we find God working through the rejection, the trials, the prison time, and the shipwrecks. Paul shared the gospel with the Pharisees through his rejection and imprisonment. People saw God's power at work when Paul survived the storms, when the snake bite didn't kill him, and when the jail shook—opening doors and loosing chains.
Paul didn't let his circumstances wreck him with a sense of rejection. He didn't allow self-pity and doubt to overtake him. Instead, we see in Acts 16:22-31 that after being stripped, beaten, severely flogged, thrown in the inner cell of a prison and his feet in stocks, Paul prayed and sang hymns to God. And others around him were listening. The power of God came in such a way that the prison guard begged Paul to tell him, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" He replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus" (vs. 30b-31, NIV).
God kept His promise to work all things together for the good of this man who loved Him and was called according to His purposes. As Paul depended on God and trusted His faithfulness in the midst of his adversity, many witnessed God's power and believed.
And the same is true for us. God doesn't waste our pain, our rejection or our "shipwrecks." He uses them to bring about His plan—to position us so that others can see His transforming power at work in our lives and believe in the living God.
If that's true, and it is, then our challenge is to rise from the wreckage, like Paul, so that our lives will give testimony that draws others to the Jesus. Today I will no longer sit on the sidelines of life full of self-pity. I choose to rise, pray and praise, so that God can position me to shine for His glory, and so that others will believe.
Dear Lord, forgive me for wallowing in self-pity and rejection. I trust that You see the bigger picture. I believe there is a purpose for my pain. Strengthen me to rise from my ashes so that others will see You are my help and my salvation. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Micca Monda Campbell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gN6A13V3EI&feature=player_embedded

The Heart Of A Woman

They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up against injustice when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without new shoes so their children can have them.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about a birth or a new marriage.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They have sorrow at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all sizes, in all colors and shapes.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world spin!
Women do more than just give birth.
They bring joy and hope.
They give compassion and ideals.
They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have a lot to say and a lot to give.

Proverbs 31:25-31
Daniel 6:26-27
Colossians 3:12-17
Hebrews 10:24-25
Psalm 119:10

Prayer for the Day

Dear Lord, I began with the Spirit and I want to stay in step with the Spirit. Help me to rely on You and not my own effort. When I am capable, allow me to be reminded of my own inadequacy so that I would never try to do things by human effort, but always through Yours. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Identifying Insecurity

Psalm 139:13-16
Let me ask you to do what may be an uncomfortable exercise. We are going to examine statements that insecure people often make about themselves. As you read each one, ask yourself, Do I think similarly?
Insecure people make comments like:

• Why bother trying? I'll never get it right.
• Everyone is looking at me, just waiting for me to make a fool of myself.
• I'm a failure.
• I am ugly and awful to look at.
• I can never win. I'm just a loser.
• No matter how hard I work, I never get any recognition.
• I am incompetent at everything.
• Nobody could ever speak well about me.
• I have failed before; once a failure, always a failure.
• I don't see how anyone could ever like, respect, or accept me.
• I don't deserve to be treated well.
• I don't fit here or anywhere else.
• Everyone else looks so "together." I feel "out of it" compared to them.
• I am an incomplete person, and nothing can change that.
• Why would anyone care to hear what I have to say?
• No one cares about what I think or feel.
• People are nice to me only when they want something from me.

Did any of the above statements ring true for you? Prayerfully consider the ones that got your attention. Then, take those specific fears to the Lord, and allow Him to show you His truth in each area. God wants to set you free from anything hindering your spiritual development.

"God is able to make all grace abound toward you."

"God is able to make all grace abound toward you."

2 CORINTHIANS 9:8

God will not LEAD you where His grace cannot KEEP you. That is to say, when we undertake the work assigned to us by the Lord we will find the Life of the Lord is present to give us all the inner spiritual strength to see it through to completion.

I am not saying everything will go smoothly and you will never have any self-doubt or fear. Far from it. But listen to what Paul says: "We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:8,9). His secret? "I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily" (Colossians 1:29). Not I, but Christ. This is the secret to the Christian life and it is the key to all fruitful spiritual work.

John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease."

Today's Inspiring Thought: Less of Me

More Like the Master

More like the Master I would ever be,
More of His meekness, more humility;
More zeal to labor, more courage to be true,
More consecration for work He bids me do.

More like the Master is my daily prayer;
More strength to carry crosses I must bear;
More earnest effort to bring His kingdom in;
More of His Spirit, the wanderer to win.

More like the Master I would live and grow;
More of His love to others I would show;
More self-denial, like His in Galilee,
More like the Master I long to ever be.

Revelation Knowledge For Your Spirit Only

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God" (1 Cor. 2:12).

Revelation knowledge is the very foundation upon which the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is built. Whether or not the church walks in victory or walks far below victory depends on whether or not it is exercising this very issue of revelation knowledge. That makes revelation knowledge important to the body of Christ, wouldn't you say?

There are two kinds of knowledge in this world, sense knowledge and revealed knowledge. Sense or natural knowledge is gained through the five physical senses. It comes from what you hear, see, taste, touch, and smell. It's the kind of knowledge we gain in school and from life experiences. It is received from the outside in.

Then there is revealed or revelation knowledge. The Holy Spirit reveals knowledge to you. You don't get this knowledge because you saw, heard, smelled, tasted, or felt something. This knowledge comes from the inside out.

Colossians 2:2-3 tells us that the treasures of God are hidden in Jesus for us. God's supernatural treasure of wisdom and knowledge is hidden in Jesus. Why would God hide it? God hid it from Satan in order to keep it reserved for the believer.

Satan can only operate by sense knowledge. Satan can only operate against believers in the natural realm; he can only deal with us through the five physical senses. That's why Satan wants to crush revelation knowledge, because he can't operate in it.

he knows it's been hidden away from him and hidden for the believer. He doesn't want the believer to operate in revelation knowledge. Satan does not want the believer to "be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding."

When we walk in this knowledge, Satan can't stop us. We may be hindered or slowed down; but when we operate in revelation knowledge from God we cannot be stopped.

We need to always remember that "God's supernatural treasure of wisdom and knowledge is hidden in Jesus...God hid it from Satan in order to keep it reserved for the believer."
Scripture reference: Col. 2:2-3; Col. 1:9
 By : Keith Butler

The DESERT EXPERIENCE - An Introduction -by Ken Brown

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My
ways, declares the Lord.  As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are My ways higher than your ways." (Isaiah 55:8-9)

- It is imperative that every child of God should understand His ways.
- We think in straight lines and fixed points, and move in a
consecutive manner, that is, from point to point (we start and finish
a book; we look forward to something, and look back on something;
we measure progress by time spent or goods produced; when we
travel, we leave a departure point and arrive at a destination point, etc.)

- God doesn't think in straight lines, He thinks in circles.  He's
doing many things simultaneously, He's at the beginning and the
middle and the end of many things - all at the same time. 
Therefore, He doesn't think of things in the context of time, He
exists outside of time.  Time is irrelevant to Him.  He is not
affected by time.

- God's timelessness presents a very real problem for us.  God
may speak into our life today and we will assume that it's going to
happen today, or very soon.  We will probably place it on a time
line of some sort.  But, God may be speaking to us from a point
that is still far into our future.  The reason is because He is not
concerned with time, and this is why: God does not measure time;
He measures growth!  When God deals with us, His purpose is
growth, maturity, and preparation.  And, it always involves death to
self!  God will draw us into a desert experience with Him to give us
the opportunity to grow (to die to self), to learn to trust Him or to
gain more insight into His ways.

- And, because of the way we think, our first question is always
"How long is this going to take?"  We're not having fun.  Dying to
self is never fun.  But God won't tell us how long it's going to take,
because He understands that if we know how long, we'll just try to
hold our breath until it's over.  He doesn't want us to hold our breath. 
He wants us to die!...

- For us the practical result of all this is that God has spoken
words into our lives (even though we must be careful and know,
what was spoken by God, and what wasn't).  And because of this,
we know He has wonderful plans for us, and that excites us.  We
have aspirations for God.  We want to do all those great things
He's spoken into us.  But, many times what we really experience
is great frustration, because those things He's spoken aren't
happening yet!  When you're frustrated, know that God loves
frustrated people.  He knows you're frustrated because you care. 
Also know that the reason they may not be happening yet is that
God is still measuring growth, not time.

- In our relationship with God, His purpose is to conform us to the
image of His Son.  And, He's content to take as much time as
necessary.  We, on the other hand, want everything to happen now,
without suffering, pain, or sacrifice on our part.  And God's only
response to that is - too bad.  Adjust your thinking.  I'm doing this my way.

- When God is dealing with us, we must learn the value of doing
nothing.  This seems to be a contradiction; but most everything we
do with God (if we do it right) is a contradiction to us...
We have to learn the value of doing nothing before God.  That's
why quiet time with God is so great - you don't have to do anything. 
Just hang out with God. 

You don't have to fast for three days to get His attention, or recite
long prayers to impress Him.  Just rest quietly before His presence
and wait for Him.  If He doesn't speak immediately, He will
eventually.  But, you do have to learn to wait.  It's a matter of
respect and submission on your part.  God does not act according
to your time, He acts according to His will.  Anytime a believer
decides to press in to God and really get to know Him, one of the
first things God will teach him is His Sovereignty!  God moves in
His time and acts according to His ways.  Religion teaches that
man is the creator and God is what they created.  They expect
Him to do what they say, when they say it.  Of course, He doesn't. 
But they're too stupid and bound up in their own deception to notice.
- Also, God operates on a different noise level than we do.  When
we cry out to Him, He whispers back to us.  God wants us to learn
to be quiet, even when everything around us is in turmoil.  Psalm 46
starts out with an earthquake and a tidal wave and ends with God
telling us to "be quiet and rest assured that I am God (and
everything is under control, regardless of what you see or hear)".

But know this, when you learn how to rest in God, you'll be
accused of not caring about what's going on around you.  In this
world, anxiety and hand wringing is the universal sign that you
really care (that, and whether or not you're wearing the appropriate
color ribbon or symbol on your lapel).  However, in the Kingdom of
God, anxiety is only proof that you're dumb.  After all, you're
supposed to be having a relationship with the Prince of Peace.

- God delights in drawing us into times of intimacy with Him.  Later
in this paper we will see just how He does that.  In each cycle of
intimacy there are two specific points we must be able to recognize. 
The first is submission and the second is obedience.  In order for
us to benefit from being in God's presence, we must first
acknowledge Who He is in submission, and then be ready to obey. 

Please comment on this topic at the website below-

http://www.johnthebaptisttv.com/

Source-

http://lovestthoume-outofthefire.blogspot.com/2011/06/ways-of-god-desert-
experience-ken-brown.html

Shout To The Lord All The Earth And Sing !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGhr68iq7ck&feature=related

A PLACE FOR THE LORD

"And when [Jesus] saw a fig tree in the way, He came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, 'Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever.' And presently the fig tree withered away" (Matthew 21:19).

It is not too difficult to find a meeting or a service in which you get a sense of death, not of Life. The music, preaching, and fellowship may be well and good: but you come away hungry and deflated because the Lord's Need is not met. The measure of the presence of the Lord or the blessing of the Lord upon a meeting, a work, or a people is always the Life. Let us not judge by outward appearances. Remember that it is not the leaves of the fig tree, but the figs, which contain the Life. The fruit of the Spirit is the outward manifestation of the inward Life.

Resurrection Life is that which has died, but now lives. It has the mark of the Cross upon it. It has passed through death once, and death can no more touch it. If we have not already passed through death then we are constantly fearful of dying, but the one who has already died and lives again has nothing more to fear from death. As we are decreased through the daily carrying of our cross, Christ in us is increased, and the strength of His Life is matured through our weakness.
by Chip Brogden

add

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q8ESzK5pCw

Treasure

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 2 Corinthians 4:7
You may not have a lot of money, but you have incredible wealth. You may not have an abundance of things, but you possess more than you could ever ask or think. God has placed within you the greatest treasure anyone can ever possess—it is the life of Jesus Christ. You have, living within you, the beauty of His holiness, the kindness of His grace, the freedom of His truth, the compassion of His mercy, the greatness of His power, and the riches of His love. He has freely lavished upon you a treasure house of blessings that you can freely give away to others.

Roy Lessin 

Knowing the person behind the book

Knowing the person behind the book

"To own a Bible—to know we have it if we need it—brings a certain measure of peace. When we actually read and begin to understand it we are better able to receive peace of mind and heart. And when we apply what God's Word teaches, our lifestyle actually becomes a fertile place where peace can grow. But when we truly grow to love this wisdom given to us by its loving author, we have actually come to put our trust in the person behind the book. The writer of Psalm 119 grew to love God's law because it revealed who God was. We can rest assured when we follow the principles that issue from God's great love and wisdom.

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
"It is well, it is well with my soul."

How do we listen to God’s Word?

“How do we listen to God’s Word? The answer is that we listen to it in three ways. We listen with the ear of the mind trying to understand it, we listen with the ear of the heart trying to see how it applies to our lives, and we listen with the ear of the soul talking to God about it asking Him to make our lives conform to his word

A Prayer For Wisdom

Precious Father,Precious Lord Jesus, Wonderful Holy Spirit, O Precious All In All,
May only your will and your design for my life be fully worked out.
Bring your wisdom, O Lord, when I am hammered with frustrations,
temptations, and stresses trying to corrode my soul and throw me into
the pits of failure.Bring your wisdom and let me succeed only in doing your will rather than my own will.
Bring your wisdom and let me succeed in being humble and contrite.
Bring your wisdom and let me make only reasonable decisions.
Bring your wisdom and let me make successful decisions based upon your
love and your work in the world.
Bring your wisdom and show me how I can be more effective.
Bring your wisdom and show me how I can give all I have to you.
Help me rely upon you to secure my family and loved ones both in this
world and in the world to come.
Let me be able to assess the true darkness of this world and bring your light.
Let me see facts and truth not opinion.
Let me see how things work, so your good can then be duplicated and
evil can be avoided. Let me strike blows against the darkness while letting your Light  shine in all I say, think, and do. Thank you, Lord Jesus.
I love you, O Lord. I adore you, Precious One.All these things I humbly pray.
In the name of God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy
Spirit who lives within me and touches me,Amen

Jesus My Lord and God

MOLLY CYRIAC

 

ABOUT ME

molly.cyriac

Kottayam, Kerala, India

In early oct,2003 during my personal prayer, time, i was inspired to share my walk with God ,sitting back, the world behind me and enjoying His Presence every moment of my life have become a great joy,strength and power in my life.As i meditate the word of God, from morning , 24 hrs of the day even while in the company of others around, i am with my beloved in secret, getting inspirations, insights, revelations and praying in the midst of any situation and it's really a joy to know, that we are blessed with such an art that we can enjoy the presence of God. The Lord's presence is available any time we need, only in obedience to HIM, one receive this gift. Actually the inspiration began a month back starting with the verse in Isaiah 33/ 6

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If God isn’t leading you to a certain place, why go there?

Lord, I am following You. I will not run around in circles trying to find my own way. I place my feet in Your footsteps. I take the place that You have prepared for me. I will faithfully remain where You have placed me until You make it clear it is time to move on.

(If God hasn’t asked you to do a certain task, why perform it?)

Lord, I will only carry what You ask me to lift. I lay down my agenda and my ideas of what I think needs to be done. I say “no” to all stress and striving and “yes” to the peace that comes from obeying what You are asking me to do.

(If God hasn’t directed you to speak something, why declare it?)

Lord, put Your words in my mouth. I want to speak words that are fitting for the moment—the right word, the true word, the edifying word, the anointed word, the word in due season—the word from Your heart to others.

(If God wouldn’t be pleased with your choice, why choose it?)

Lord, I choose those things that will bring a smile to Your face. My greatest pleasure is to please You.

(If “for His glory” is the right reason, why do something for the wrong reason?)

Lord, I love Your righteousness. I want to live right, think right, and act right. I want my motivation to be for Your sake, and my attitudes to be a reflection of who You are. May others want to know You more because of what they see of Your life in me.

May the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified and become more glorious through and in you. 2 Thessalonians 1:12 AMP

Roy lessin