Month: July 2013

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Kingdom Questions

Last evening, our pastor gave us 11 questions to answer focusing on the Kingdom. This morning I am sharing them with you.  Devoting time to see exactly where I am in the Kingdom is what I call “spiritual re-alignment“.  Just as our tires need regular realignment after miles and miles of travelling, so our spirits, minds and souls need a “spiritual re-alignment” to stay steady and straight on the road(s) of life.  I pray this exercise will be a blessing to you as you re-align yourself closer to Almighty God.

1. What is the Kingdom [of God]?
2. Are you in the Kingdom of God?
3. How long have you been in the Kingdom?
4. Do you work for the Kingdom?
5. What do you do in the Kingdom?
6. How many people have you recruited into the Kingdom?
7. How do you effect the Kingdom?
8. Will you support the Kingdom?
9. Will you work harder for the Kingdom?
10. Will you spread the word about the Kingdom?
11. Will you pray for the Kingdom?

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Diligence

“Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge…2 Peter 1: 5,6

I awoke this morning rather tired after a full week of ministering and hosting saints at our annual convention.  I truly had to press through on all levels, as I and the amazing team of volunteers attempted to demonstrate (exhibit) and embody the theme of the convention; “A Spirit of Excellence.”   Diligence is the persevering application, according to Merriman-Webster Collegiate Dictionary to an assignment.   It is the hard work, and the belief that work is good in itself.  This was a good work; the intersection of gratefulness and desire to please God.  The unity and love which guided our determined conviction opened the door for exuberant praises, and manifestations of healings, and revived spirits.  I am thankful that God in His infinite grace kept us on course through every minute details, every tasks, every crisis and every celebration.  As He does in so often throughout our lives, God demonstrates his diligence in taking care of his children.

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Morning Meditation by C. H. Spurgeon

“Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.” Exodus 14:13

These words contain God’s commend to the believer when he is reduced to great straits and brought into extraordinary difficulties. He cannot retreat; he cannot go forward; he is shut up on the right hand and on the left; what is he now to do? The Master’s word to him is, “Stand still.” It will be well for him if at such times he listens only to his Master’s word, for other and evil advisers come with their suggestions. Despair whispers, “Lie down and die; give it all up.” But God would have us put on a cheerful courage, and even in our worst times, rejoice in his love and faithfulness.  Cowardice says, “Retreat; go back to the world’s way of action; you cannot play the Christian’s part, it is too difficult. Relinquish your principles.” But, however much Satan may urge this course upon you, you cannot follow it if you are a child of God. His divine fiat has bid thee go from strength to strength, and so thou shalt, and neither death nor hell shall turn thee from thy course. What, if for a while thou art called to stand still, yet this is but to renew thy strength for some greater advance in due time. Precipitancy cries, “do something. Stir yourself; to stand still and wait, is sheer idleness.” We must be doing something at once-we must do it so we think-instead of looking for the Lord, who will not only do something but will do everything. Presumption boasts, “If the sea be before you, march into it and expect a miracle.” Faith listens neither to Presumption, nor to Despair, nor to Cowardice, nor to Precipitancy, but it hears God say, “Stand still,” and immovable as a rock it stands. “Stand still;” –keep the posture of an upright man, ready for action, expecting further orders, cheerfully and patiently awaiting the directing voice; and it will not be long ere God shall say to you as distinctly as Moses said it to the people of Israel, “Go forward.”

Amen.

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Sacred versus Secular

Prophet, priest, preacher, pastor, nun, clergy, deacon, missionary, minister, reverend…all titles when spoken or read brings to mind roles devoted to the “sacred“.  Work or activities thought to be set apart from everything else.  The doctor, lawyer, corporate executive, dishwasher, cook, mechanic, receptionist, or teacher is involved in “secular” pursuits. These are relegated to the “other” realm.  One group is sacred, holy, the highest of all endeavors.  The “other” is lower, common, valued but certainly not on the same level as those involved in God’s work.   “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”…,and God said “it was good”.   Our creator, the maker of all there is and every will be, engaged in work and called it good.   He used, of course we don’t know how, his eternal glorious matter to “create”, to bring into existence that which did not exist previously.  When we are engaged in “work”, we are also creating that which is good, and had not existed before, or at least not at same level, nor in same way.   One is holy, and one is not.  One is for God, and the other is for man.  To quote Eugene Peterson, “Separating life into distinct categories of “sacred” and “secular” damages, sometimes irreparably, any attempt to live a whole and satisfying life, a coherent life with meaning and purpose, a life lived to the glory of God”.   Work is not just what we do from Monday to Friday with an hour or half hour lunch break, or whatever the schedule may be. Work is about the “sacred creative process” of using everything, our very “eternal matter” and bringing into existence the “good”.   Our engagement into the seamless activity of vocational sacredness links our divine gifts into a symphony of harmony unto God.  There is no fragmentation, or “great divide”.  There is wholeness which combines our minds, bodies and souls to Him.   We received from him, and through our work, we give back to Him.

Be reminded, it does not matter your occupation, rank, profession, career, or job, for as God made us for Himself, our work life is a consecrated extension of our entire life.

God, thank you for allowing us the privilege of using our work life to bring honor and glory to you. Amen.

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Psalms 118

Blessings and greetings in the name of our Holy God.  How wonderful it is to know who God is, and in those moments of despair receive a reminder of how great and wonderful He is.

The Holy Spirit instructed me to share this scripture today.  May it blessed you this day.

Psalms 118 (NKJV)
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

2 Let Israel now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”

5 I called on the Lord in distress;
The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
6 The Lord is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
8 It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in princes.

10 All nations surrounded me,
But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
11 They surrounded me,
Yes, they surrounded me;
But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
12 They surrounded me like bees;
They were quenched like a fire of thorns;
For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
13 You pushed me violently, that I might fall,
But the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.

15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation
Is in the tents of the righteous;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
17 I shall not die, but live,
And declare the works of the Lord.
18 The Lord has chastened me severely,
But He has not given me over to death.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness;
I will go through them,
And I will praise the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord,
Through which the righteous shall enter.

21 I will praise You,
For You have answered me,
And have become my salvation.

22 The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This was the Lord’s doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save now, I pray, O Lord;
O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.
27 God is the Lord,
And He has given us light;
Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise You;
You are my God, I will exalt You.

29 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

Blessed is our God. His mercy endures throughout all generations. Rest in the knowledge that our God is good, and He will never leave us nor forsake us.

http://nelsonbibles.com/

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My country shall be great

Here are some quotes from the founding fathers.  May our prayers for the leaders of this great nation heal our land.

Abraham Lincoln: “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us finish the work we are in…to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and a lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”

Thomas Jefferson: “Almighty God, Who has given us the good land for or heritage; We humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will.”

George Washington: “Preserve and defend our rulers I church and state. Bless the people of this land, be a father to the fatherless, a comforter to the comfortless, a deliverer to the captives, and a physician to the sick. Let thy blessings guide this day and forever through Jesus Christ.”

Samuel Adams, “Let divines and philosophers, statesmen and patriots, unite their endeavors to renovate the age by impressing the minds of men with the importance of educating their little boys and girls, inculcating in the minds of youth the fear and love of the Deity.”

Patrick Henry, “It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, people of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.”

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

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My Name Shall Be There

I’m reading verses from 1 Kings 8, where Solomon dedicated the temple to the God. He thanked God for remembering his covenant, and asked Him to remember their prayers when they sinned and repented.  This building divinely ordained and designed stood as a reminder of God’s pledge of His presence, provision and his name.  The Lord told them I am God, maker of heaven and earth, and my name shall always be there. 

That got me thinking about his name being present in all situations and circumstances.  With all the wrong in the world, there is comfort in knowing that God’s name; his holy and righteous name is there.  There is no other name in heaven or on earth like his.   His name brings healing, power, deliverance, and love.  My name shall be there.  What a wonderful way to start the day; to remember His name shall be there.

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