It's Time To Draw Near To God!




We are living through some very troubled, stressful and often depressing times.

ISIS terrorists are raging. The job of our devilish enemy is to wear out the saints. It seems like a new hoard of demons have been released on this world to kill and destroy. Only Satan would behead people – not the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

As Christians, we need to use all the help that is available to us. For our own good, now is the time for us to draw near to God and develop a strong relationship with Him.

James 4:7-8 (MEV) says Therefore submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

Psalm 73:28 (MEV) says But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have taken my refuge in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works.”

To draw nearer to God, consider the following:

GOD'S POWER

When we feel powerless, remember that God is all powerful. His strength can overcome the despair of any pain or trial and we can always trust that He will deliver, protect and sustain us.

Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV) says I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV) says Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Psalm 46:1 (MEV) says “God is our refuge and strength, a well-proven help in trouble.”

PRAYER

Prayer is you having a conversation with God in which you humbly communicate, worship, and sincerely seek God's face, knowing that He hears you, loves you and will respond, though not always in a manner you may expect or desire. Prayer can encompass confession, praise, adoration, supplication, intercession and more.

Start every day off with prayer to ensure that you have a much better day. Then, pray to God continuously throughout the day.

Your prayers should come often and regularly, not from legalistic duty, but from a humble heart, realizing your dependence on God in every aspect of your life.

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 (NIV) says pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

PRAISE

Focusing our thoughts on God moves us to praise Him. The more we know Him, the more we should praise Him for all He has done for us.

Ephesians 1:3 (NIV) says “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

Psalm 19:1-2 (NIV) says The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.”

THANKFULNESS

When we realize how we benefit from knowing God, we can fully express our thanks to Him. By thanking Him often every day, we develop spontaneity in our prayer life. Remember to turn all your complaints into thanks.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV) says “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Colossians 2:6-8 (NIV) says
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV) says But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

FORGIVENESS

Because God forgives us, we can pray to Him honestly and directly. When we receive His forgiveness, we move from alienation to intimacy, from guilt to love.

Acts 10:43 (NIV) saysAll the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

TRUST

People can be unfair and family and friends may desert us. But we can trust God. Knowing God intimately drives away doubt, fear, and loneliness.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

FEAR NOT

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV) says The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

End Of Post



What Is God's Word (The Bible) Like?




GOD'S WORD IS LIKE A FIRE

Jeremiah 5:14 (NASB) saysTherefore, thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, because you have spoken this word, behold, I am making My words in your mouth fire, and this people wood, and it will consume them.”

GOD'S WORD IS LIKE A SWORD

Hebrews 4:12 (NASB) says For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

GOD'S WORD IS LIKE A HAMMER

Jeremiah 23:29 (NASB) says “Is not My word like fire? declares the Lord, and like a hammer which shatters a rock?”

GOD'S WORD IS LIKE A SEED

1 Peter 1:23 (NASB) says for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.”

GOD'S WORD IS LIKE MILK

1 Peter 2:2 (NASB) says like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,”

GOD'S WORD IS LIKE SOLID FOOD

Hebrews 5:12-14 (NASB) says For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”

GOD'S WORD IS LIKE A LIGHT

Psalm 119:105 (NASB) says “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

GOD'S WORD IS LIKE A MIRROR

James 1:23-24 (NASB) says For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.”

READING GOD'S WORD EVERY DAY

 WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

This is the only way that you can grow from being a milk drinker to being a solid food eater (from baby to mature Christian).

Psalm 19:7-11 (NASB) says The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.”

FOR NEW CHRISTIANS

If you are a new Christian, we recommend that you begin your reading in the Gospel of John and then in the Book of Romans. These are the foundational books and are the easiest to read and understand. Initially, don't read more than one chapter each day. Give yourself time to meditate and gain a good understanding of what it is saying – especially to you.

May God richly bless you as you grow in Christ through the reading of God's Word,

Bill and Teddy Rogers

End Of Post


God Works In Mysterious Ways.

Note: This is a true story that helps us understand that things happen for a reason. Submitted by Pastor Rob Reid who says God does work in mysterious ways.



A BEAUTIFUL STORY

The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn, arrived in early October excited about their opportunity.

When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas eve.

They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc, and on December 18 were ahead of schedule and just about finished.

On December 19 a terrible tempest - a driving rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days.

On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high.

The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas eve service, headed home. On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity, so he stopped in.

One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church.

By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later.

She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area.

Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet. "Pastor," she asked, "Where did you get that tablecloth?"

The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria.

The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten "the tablecloth". The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria.

When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and she never saw her husband or her home again.

The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the pastor keep it for the church. The pastor insisted on driving her home. That was the least he could do.

She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job.

What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return.

One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn't leaving.

The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike?

He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison. He never saw his wife or his home again all the 35 years between.

The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier.

He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.

God Works In Mysterious Ways His Wonders To Perform.”
(William Cowper – 1774)

Romans 11:33 (NASB) says Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!”

End Of Post




Don't Stop Swinging The Hammer.

Note: We received the following in an email and thought it presented “A Message On Healing” so well that we want to share it with you. Unfortunately, the author is unknown. It's a fairly long read but well worth your time and effort.




When I was a child my parents purchased a home from my grandparents. It was the home my Dad grew up in, so it was obviously an older home that was very well established. In other words, it had been built onto repeatedly over the years and it seemed like every square inch of the lot had been developed in one way or another.

It had a guest house in the back part of the property, a large patio with a built in brick bar-b-q and fireplace, a second story over the back house where a large, walk-in, multi-room pigeon coop was built, and it seemed to me like there was concrete everywhere!

My Dad set out to completely remodel the home, and as it turned out, every square inch of the property as well. This of course took a few years to accomplish, and because I was big for my age, it meant a few of my summers were to be spent in helping with some of the restoration process.

I remember being about 10 or 11 years old, when my father informed me that I would be helping him instead of out playing with my friends during the summer months. Of course I wasn't too happy about it, and was even more sad when he placed a large, heavy sledge hammer in my hands and told me to get busy and break up a small section of concrete, load it in the wheelbarrow and dump it in the waste pile.

The summer sun was very hot, and my attitude was not the greatest, but I got to work. I swung the heavy hammer over head and came down as hard as I could, hitting the concrete with a thud! Much to my surprise, nothing happened, there was only a small scratch that could be seen. I swung the hammer back and let it fly again, and came up with the same result – nothing!

This stuff was hard, and it seemed to resist every one of my hearty attempts. I hit it again, and again, and again. Before long sweat began to run off my forehead and into my eyes which made them sting. My energy level was now just about gone and my muscles began to ache. Disheartened, I sat down and felt like giving up. It wasn't long before my Dad came walking by, encouraging me to keep going, assuring me that eventually it would break if I would just continue to hit it!

At this point I was feeling real sorry for myself, and I was convinced I was not up to the task. It just seemed that it was way too difficult for me. I was hot, sweaty and very discouraged, but I stood up, lifted the hammer and began to go at it once more. However, after many repeated blows I grew weary, my strength was spent, and my arms were sore. With great frustration, I sat down and felt like quitting, but as chance would have it, my Dad came by and convinced me to get up and continue the task.

So reluctantly, I once again began to repeat the process that I felt was so futile. Only this time as I hit it, some small hairline cracks appeared - something was finally happening that I could see. With renewed vigor and strength, I began to pound away. Then it happened - it began to shatter into small chunks that could be lifted out and placed into the wheelbarrow to be hauled away! Victory at last.

I want you to know that faith for healing is oftentimes much like breaking concrete. We're burdened down with the reality of the sickness or disease. The symptoms are very real, and may even be well established, having been there for quite awhile, and as we begin to stand upon the Word of God, sometimes it can seem as if the problem is as hard as concrete, resisting our every swing of the sledge hammer of God's Word.

We can grow tired, and discouraged, and may even be tempted to say, "Ah, what's the use! This is way too difficult for me." And we may even buy into the lie that it must not be God's will for us to be healed.

What you may not realize is, just like the concrete, though you may not see any change, it is beginning to crystallize and lose structural integrity from within, and is getting ready to shatter. Every stroke of the hammer of the Word of God brings it closer to the point where eventually it will crumble. This is a fact.

The Word of God reveals this truth to us in Jeremiah 23:29; "Is not My word like a fire?" says the LORD, "And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?"

We need to come to the place of understanding that the Word of God is all powerful. You cannot separate the Word of God from God. They are one in the same. John 1:14 speaks of this; "and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..."

The Word of God is a fire that purges and melts away all impurities, just as fire purifies precious metal, leaving only that which is treasured. It is also a hammer, that is able to crush even the most resistant, stubborn circumstances, even those that seem so hard, ingrained and established, that they could never be removed. The Word of God is what it is - the very Word of God! The question is not in the ability of the Word, it is in our perception of it.

Years ago I heard a wise man of God speak a phrase that I never forgot, and it is certainly true in light of the above verse - persistence breaks down resistance!

So go ahead, and take a break if you're tired, a praise and worship break that is, and get refreshed with His power and might, and then once again, take hold of the sledge hammer of God's healing Word with renewed vigor and strength, and command the problem, the symptoms and circumstances, to leave in Jesus' Name.

Get your healing Scriptures back out and begin meditating, pondering and mulling over the truth they contain, allowing your faith to become strong - then stare the problem square in the face and proclaim to it what the Word says concerning your victory. Make it personal, and proclaim them in the first person tense, declaring your ownership over them with "I" "me" "my" and "mine". After all, He did it all just for you, and would have done it just the same way if you were the only one who would have benefited from His going to the cross.

Begin to boldly declare, "I am free from the law of sin and death, and I am under the law of liberty in Christ Jesus. I'm redeemed from the curse of the law, and no weapon formed against me can or will prosper. I'm a Blood bought child of the King, Jesus paid the price for my salvation and for my victory and I will have it. He sent His Word and healed me, and I receive it, I believe it, it's mine now, I take it by faith and I'm not letting go of it. According to Jesus' work at Calvary, and according to the proclamation of the promises that are in the Word, I declare myself a free man. For the Word says that he who the Son sets free is free indeed. So I agree with the Word - I'm free from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. My organs are free, my heart is free, my blood is free, my mind is free, my back is free, my eyes are free, my joints are free, my skin is free, my cells are free - I'M FREE!!! Devil you get out of my life and take your sickness and disease with you. I'm going on with God and I will walk in the blessing of the Word, and I will fulfill the number of my days, and I will do the works that God has ordained for me to do. I walk in love, I walk in the power of the Spirit of God, I am anointed by God to live in victory, and I will have it." Now praise him for it!!!

Did you know that your Heavenly Father is not holding anything back from you that's revealed within the Word? When it comes to His revealed, written Word, He never says no. In fact, the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 1:20 "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us." The word "amen" means "so be it." So if you've been wondering if healing and deliverance are for you - you can finally stop wondering, because He says YES and SO BE IT!

Also, take a look at 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 "Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come — all are yours. And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's." Surely healing, health and well being are included in the phrase "all things." Now that ought to make you want to stand up and shout!!!

So come on, let's get back to work. I know it seems so hard, and the task seems so difficult, but by faith, take hold of the sledge hammer of the Word of God with His strength and give it another swing. Who knows, this next swing could just be the one that breaks it all loose!

End Of Post




Time Is Not For Sale.

NOTE: This is a Guest Post used with permission from Gloria Thomas Anderson, LMSW at http://www.hearttones.com.

 
Of all the gift-giving options you have, there is one that can make a tremendously positive impact on someone who needs a reason to hope - and that is the priceless gift of your time.

Time cannot be bought because it is not for sale, but it is something you have right now that is more precious than gold or silver.

During the holiday season, people can spend a lot of time and money buying the right gifts for all the wrong reasons. The expectation of family and friends to receive gifts places a heavy burden on the giver to come through. The consequences of leaving certain people off the gift list can cause more grief than it is worth.

How unfortunate that Christmas has been reduced to the selling and buying of things! All the hustle and bustle to go…to buy…to get…and to do can leave you exhausted, stressed and depressed.  Ironically, in this cheerful season of joy and hope, the suicide rate is highest, which suggests that all that glitters is not gold.

That’s why giving the gift of time can literally make the difference between life and death for so many who have no hope this season. If everyone would commit to giving at least one hour of their time to someone less fortunate, someone who has lost a loved one, or someone who is sick, the holidays will truly reflect the true meaning of Christmas—giving the gift of love from a heart of love.

Prosperity, Peace and Blessings,

Get Your Copy of the Special Edition, Original Classic Collections, 12th Anniversary e-booklet for only $1.99! Great to send as an online inspirational gift to those special people in your life for much less than the price of a quality greeting card! Available for instant download here.

End Of Post