Sunday, August 21, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Talk Tuesday-In The Shadow of Death
"It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart," Ecclesiastes 7:2.
We recently attended a funeral where we heard the following sermon preached, "Each day you are living brings you closer to death. Live your life for Christ so that when you die in Him, you will live with Him forever." These were very sobering, powerful words. I began to ponder the meaning of this, reflecting on my own life. The temptation to live for 'self' is always there, beckoning, enticing and attempting to waylay our desire to live for Christ. Jesus tells us that He has come to give us life, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly," John 10:10.
Then He teaches us about what is required:
"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?" Luke 9:23-25
I am reminded to take stock of my life, to persevere, to ask for help when I fall and receive the hand of mercy and grace God so readily extends in the brokenness of my spirit. Even when times seem hard, He is always near. His love is so deep, His faithfulness so limitless, His grace so wide and His mercy so great that He stands always ready to lift us up, bind us up, heal us and send us forth to be His hands of love upon this earth. So, instead of looking to ourselves, let us look to Him expectantly. Continue to walk in love and obedience, pursuing the higher call of Christ. Let us walk with Him, even in the shadow of death.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who set Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life," John 5:24
We recently attended a funeral where we heard the following sermon preached, "Each day you are living brings you closer to death. Live your life for Christ so that when you die in Him, you will live with Him forever." These were very sobering, powerful words. I began to ponder the meaning of this, reflecting on my own life. The temptation to live for 'self' is always there, beckoning, enticing and attempting to waylay our desire to live for Christ. Jesus tells us that He has come to give us life, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly," John 10:10.
Then He teaches us about what is required:
"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?" Luke 9:23-25
I am reminded to take stock of my life, to persevere, to ask for help when I fall and receive the hand of mercy and grace God so readily extends in the brokenness of my spirit. Even when times seem hard, He is always near. His love is so deep, His faithfulness so limitless, His grace so wide and His mercy so great that He stands always ready to lift us up, bind us up, heal us and send us forth to be His hands of love upon this earth. So, instead of looking to ourselves, let us look to Him expectantly. Continue to walk in love and obedience, pursuing the higher call of Christ. Let us walk with Him, even in the shadow of death.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who set Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life," John 5:24
"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come...So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him." Matthew 24: 42 & 44
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Prayer Wall - August
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Thursday, July 21, 2011
Talk Tuesday-Pray For A Faithful Heart
The truth is that I want to finish well. I want to live out the remainder of my days as a sacrifice of praise and honour to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I know many Christ followers who share the same desire, yet we struggle with fear and worry. How can I believe that GOD is ever-powerful, but continue to be rocked by worry and fear? Of course, at the end of that worry is the fear that I do not finish well.
I would like to share a story with you. The LORD is faithful. I was diagnosed with an illness that prevented me from travelling for three years. The LORD has been healing me in stages and I am getting much better with each new day. So, I prayed for a trip. I asked the LORD to provide us with the means and destination for a vacation. We did not have a few thousand lying around for leisure, but I prayed in faith. Surely enough, GOD provided the EXACT AMOUNT needed, and the perfect location for the trip. The goodness of the LORD blew my mind. He is so good to the undeserving, and the truth is that we are all undeserving of such unmerited favour.
On my way back into Toronto, I sat on the plane enjoying the aerial view. As random thoughts began to race through my mind, worry started setting in. Then the Holy Spirit gently said, "PRAY FOR A FAITHFUL HEART." As I repeated the words to myself, a peace infused every part of my soul. It was so simple, yet so profound. If we pray for a faithful heart, GOD will grant it. If our heart is faithful, then we will obey. If we walk in obedience to our LORD and Saviour JESUS CHRIST, we will indeed finish well. It brings me back to that old saying, 'Why worry when you could pray?' Let us spur one another on towards OBEDIENCE in CHRIST, as we pray for ourselves and for each other to have a A FAITHFUL HEART.
"Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called 'today,' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: 'Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.'" Hebrews 3:12-15
I would like to share a story with you. The LORD is faithful. I was diagnosed with an illness that prevented me from travelling for three years. The LORD has been healing me in stages and I am getting much better with each new day. So, I prayed for a trip. I asked the LORD to provide us with the means and destination for a vacation. We did not have a few thousand lying around for leisure, but I prayed in faith. Surely enough, GOD provided the EXACT AMOUNT needed, and the perfect location for the trip. The goodness of the LORD blew my mind. He is so good to the undeserving, and the truth is that we are all undeserving of such unmerited favour.
On my way back into Toronto, I sat on the plane enjoying the aerial view. As random thoughts began to race through my mind, worry started setting in. Then the Holy Spirit gently said, "PRAY FOR A FAITHFUL HEART." As I repeated the words to myself, a peace infused every part of my soul. It was so simple, yet so profound. If we pray for a faithful heart, GOD will grant it. If our heart is faithful, then we will obey. If we walk in obedience to our LORD and Saviour JESUS CHRIST, we will indeed finish well. It brings me back to that old saying, 'Why worry when you could pray?' Let us spur one another on towards OBEDIENCE in CHRIST, as we pray for ourselves and for each other to have a A FAITHFUL HEART.
"Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called 'today,' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: 'Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.'" Hebrews 3:12-15
Monday, July 4, 2011
Talk Tuesday-Rebellion, A Father's Pain
The importance of obedience is central to the Biblical message-obedience to parents, to those in authority and to the law of God. When Moses went up to Mount Sinai, God gave Him a list of commandments to teach Israel how to live in holiness. Here we see that OBEDIENCE IS KEY. The first commandment with a promise is the one that instructs on how to behave with our parents: "Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the LORD your God is giving you," Exodus 20:12. Why does GOD emphasize obedience to parents, and what is the correlation between us and God?
The word 'honour' denotes respect, and respect, obedience. Before Moses' death, he speaks to the children of Israel about the BLESSINGS ON OBEDIENCE and the CURSES ON DISOBEDIENCE. One path brings joy, the other pain. It is God, our Heavenly Father, who laid down the law for us to receive or reject. It is there to protect us, not to harm us. However, when we rebel it not only brings us pain, but it grieves the Father's heart. In Judges Chapter 10, when Israel once again chooses to disobey God's commands, they begin to reap the fruit of their rebellion-pain and suffering. In the midst of this, they recognize their sin, put away their idols and cry out to God. Here we see the Father's heart in grief, "And He could bear Israel's misery no longer," Judges 10:16.
God's heart is a Father's heart. Godly parents and godly leaders are there to be obeyed and honoured. When we think we know better, the seed of rebellion begins to take root in our hearts, then our eyes become clouded and our judgment impaired. "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry," 1 Samuel 15:22-23.
In this season let us seek to walk in obedience. God does not instruct us contrary to His Word, and His Word provides a lamp unto our feet. Let us live as salt and light, resisting the urge to go our own way. We are living in the age where the 'urge' is glorified and it is called, 'the pursuit of happiness.' "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death," Proverbs 14:12. Remember, REBELLION BRINGS PAIN to you and those who love you, especially to the Father's Heart.
2 Timothy 3:2-5 warns us about the last days: "People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- having a form of godliness but denying its power." Let us stand and bring joy to our Father which art in heaven!
Click on the comments link below to share your thoughts with us on the importance of OBEDIENCE.
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