Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. I've been a little busier this week since I started my school work. But it's good to be doing something different for a change. I didn't really have anything in particular to share but I figured that I should post something. I did really like what we talked about at Bible study on Tuesday night though, about growth.
Going to God in prayer daily. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Read God's Word daily. Acts 17:11
Obey God moment by moment. John 14:21
Witness for Christ in actions and words. Matthew 4:19
Trust God for every detail in your life. 1 Peter 5:7
Holy Spirit: allow Him to control and empower your daily witness. Galatians 5:16; Acts 1:8
I just thought that this was a great way how to describe how to grow in our spiritual walk. God bless!
Friday 31 August 2007
Saturday 25 August 2007
Blessings From Isaiah
As those of you who read my blog may have noticed, I have been really encouraged reading through the book of Isaiah. So, rolling with the continued theme, here are some more verses that stuck out to me this past week.
"As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:"
Isaiah 52:14
"For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of the dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth."
Isaiah 53:2-7
Despite the vivid description given in these verses, the first phrase that comes to mind is "the beauty of the cross." Physically, the image would be anything but beautiful. I don't think I could stomach watching the beatings and crucifixion of Jesus and yet the beauty so deeply lies in what He did for me and the love had for me in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. We were only deserving of hell, but He was yet willing to bear the suffering so that we could be reconciled with our Father and Creator. As He earnestly prayed in the garden of Gethsemane that the cup pass from Him, He chose to be obedient to the Father's will.
"Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the things whereunto I sent it."
Isaiah 55: 6-11
"As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:"
Isaiah 52:14
"For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of the dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth."
Isaiah 53:2-7
Despite the vivid description given in these verses, the first phrase that comes to mind is "the beauty of the cross." Physically, the image would be anything but beautiful. I don't think I could stomach watching the beatings and crucifixion of Jesus and yet the beauty so deeply lies in what He did for me and the love had for me in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. We were only deserving of hell, but He was yet willing to bear the suffering so that we could be reconciled with our Father and Creator. As He earnestly prayed in the garden of Gethsemane that the cup pass from Him, He chose to be obedient to the Father's will.
"Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the things whereunto I sent it."
Isaiah 55: 6-11
Monday 20 August 2007
A Few Thoughts
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
Isaiah 41:10
To me, this was just another reminder of God's faithfulness. I often wonder why I get worried so easily about such little things. God holds the whole universe in His hand and nothing ever happens that He is unaware of. He knows all things, all our worries, trials, and problems. We don't need to doubt that He will allow anything to befall us that we can't handle or that's not in his will, even if we don't always understand. He that has begun a good work will bring it to completion and all things work out for good to those that love Him.
"And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
Mark 8:34-38
Isaiah 41:10
To me, this was just another reminder of God's faithfulness. I often wonder why I get worried so easily about such little things. God holds the whole universe in His hand and nothing ever happens that He is unaware of. He knows all things, all our worries, trials, and problems. We don't need to doubt that He will allow anything to befall us that we can't handle or that's not in his will, even if we don't always understand. He that has begun a good work will bring it to completion and all things work out for good to those that love Him.
"And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
Mark 8:34-38
Friday 17 August 2007
A Few Words From Isaiah
"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God."
Isaiah 40:3
"The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."
Isaiah 40:6-8
"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."
Isaiah 40:11
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Isaiah 40:31
Isaiah 40:3
"The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."
Isaiah 40:6-8
"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."
Isaiah 40:11
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Isaiah 40:31
Monday 13 August 2007
Blessings
I knelt to pray when day was done
And prayed, "O Lord, bless everyone,
Lift from each saddened heart the pain
And let the sick be well again."
And then I woke another day
And carelessly went on my way,
The whole day long I did not try
To wipe a tear from any eye.
I did not try to share the load
Of any brother on the road.
I did not even go to see
The sick man next door to me.
Yet once again when day was done
I prayed, "O Lord, bless everyone."
But as I prayed, into my ear
There came a voice that whispered clear,
"Pause now, my son, before you pray.
Whom have you tried to bless today?
God's sweetest blessings always go
By hands that serve him here below."
And then I hid my face and cried,
"Forgive me, God, I have not tried,
But let me live another day
And I will live the way I pray."
Author Unknown
I was really encouraged when I read this poem. I have often found myself doing the same thing, asking God's blessing before I start each day. And yet, I fail to often try to be a blessing to those that so need it the most. I hope this encourages everyone that reads this to live out their prayers, to live for others, to "practice what you preach," to look for opportunities to bless and make a difference in the lives of others, and in this way be a simple yet powerful witness for Jesus Christ.
Saturday 11 August 2007
Blessings From God's Word
"His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into th joy of they Lord."
Matthew 25:21
I think that this verse really is something that everyone can apply to their lives. God can't give us big positions if we can't serve in the little ones.
"O Lord thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth."
Isaiah 25:1
"Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength."
Isaiah 26:4
"Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God."
Matthew 27:50-54
What a marvelous moment this is and how awesome it must have been to see it! In just one moment, the veil was taken away and the gap between man and the Father was bridged. In just one moment we are reconciled to our Creator never to be separated again. In just that one moment, the dead were raised and given life again. Absolutely remarkable!
Wednesday 8 August 2007
A Few More Thoughts
"So Jesus had compassion on them, ans touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him."
Matthew 20:34
I thought that this is such an amazing verse that often gets overlooked. These two men were healed by the Master and they followed him. They did not question him or doubt his power; their healing was all it took.
"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song: he also is become my salvation."
Isaiah 12:2
"And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."
Matthew 23:12
"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. ... Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."
Matthew 24:35,36,42
I hadn't posted for a week so I figured I would share a bit about what I had been learning this past week. God Bless and may He purify you with His refining fire.
Matthew 20:34
I thought that this is such an amazing verse that often gets overlooked. These two men were healed by the Master and they followed him. They did not question him or doubt his power; their healing was all it took.
"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song: he also is become my salvation."
Isaiah 12:2
"And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."
Matthew 23:12
"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. ... Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."
Matthew 24:35,36,42
I hadn't posted for a week so I figured I would share a bit about what I had been learning this past week. God Bless and may He purify you with His refining fire.
Wednesday 1 August 2007
A Few Thoughts
"Moreover the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover their secret parts. In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and round tires like the moon, The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, The rings, and nose jewels, The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantels, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails. And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of the girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty."
Isaiah 3:16-24
That was definitely enough to make me say "Wow." It reminds me of the verse Proverbs 31:30 which says that "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised." We need not adorn ourselves with other accessories when it doesn't please the Lord. If we let the beauty of Christ shine through us, we will be otherwise becoming even if we're not the prettiest girl around.
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