tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60001119453114263722024-03-18T02:59:38.612+00:00MCF Life Church'But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well' Matthew 6:33 (NIV)Gary O'Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15686620694822791314noreply@blogger.comBlogger451125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-10551855297033424112024-03-16T20:54:00.000+00:002024-03-16T20:54:46.681+00:00If the Lord is God, follow Him!<p><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">And so it is today; if the Lord is God, then follow Him. We cannot serve two masters</span></span></b></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3kxWdX004rCPWNmjYS7QUvrfgvKlWMS_2x4xQaGG_776uqQ8sDCSQ817IsRAQU2gGd5bQOasbuJWkqUsudy7nqlvPOv6x4tL_a8NR2gVf5en-YNqnM5BAZEZICdISe2WgzQXYIleKH-Wmf-EILmQVaDuPW3lAbcrzFm9I021a0sHFTVSQtvWXn2qpkEE/s275/BIBLES.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3kxWdX004rCPWNmjYS7QUvrfgvKlWMS_2x4xQaGG_776uqQ8sDCSQ817IsRAQU2gGd5bQOasbuJWkqUsudy7nqlvPOv6x4tL_a8NR2gVf5en-YNqnM5BAZEZICdISe2WgzQXYIleKH-Wmf-EILmQVaDuPW3lAbcrzFm9I021a0sHFTVSQtvWXn2qpkEE/s1600/BIBLES.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">FaithHub</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We are blessed to have so many English translations of the Bible, each lending its own nuance to the true meaning of the Word; but translations they are, each with its imperfections and limitations of contemporary language.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">When we do find a particular word that the different versions cannot agree on, then it must be interesting and worthy of deeper research.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1Kings 18:21</i></b> says: <b>Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent. (NLT)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Elijah has challenged King Ahab, who has been vacillating between his wife Jezebel's influence in serving the false gods of Baal and Asherah, and his chief official Obadiah's example in serving the one true God of Israel. So Elijah invites the king and all the people to a showdown on Mt Carmel, a stronghold of Baal worship, and now he confronts the people with their syncretistic dithering.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The word 'waver' is translated elsewhere as falter, halt, limp, hesitate, and comes from the Hebrew 'pasach'. The word is also found in <b><i>Exodus 12</i></b> when the Lord would see the blood on the door lintels and 'pass over', not settling upon the Hebrew occupants but visit death on the Egyptian firstborn. 'Pesach' is the festival fulfilled by Jesus, the Hebrew firstborn whose blood was smeared on a cross to remove the curse of sin so that death would no longer settle on the repentant sinner. </span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-family: arial; font-size: large; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdnMlboAPvIRcUDEyL4yackMYGQKoSKTBWPAOsPYXuTCqDCUkmikir7OrtGQcc5p7PvbINvgZd6984g24MOACOrMkdFdaCqmmeFcYPzpdzoqxATWG9gmBnWlKF1u3Dud8qFj1InEMzuNRU2Lfa3WP37YzAjMevXeT1sShlgKdkJNjhGlQs5VoQYB27m0k/s390/BIRD.webp" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="390" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdnMlboAPvIRcUDEyL4yackMYGQKoSKTBWPAOsPYXuTCqDCUkmikir7OrtGQcc5p7PvbINvgZd6984g24MOACOrMkdFdaCqmmeFcYPzpdzoqxATWG9gmBnWlKF1u3Dud8qFj1InEMzuNRU2Lfa3WP37YzAjMevXeT1sShlgKdkJNjhGlQs5VoQYB27m0k/s320/BIRD.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">shutterstock</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This positive meaning of pasach is contrasted with a more negative sense by Elijah. It portrays a bird fluttering around from branch to branch and not settling, hence being interpreted as flitting from one opinion to another. Completing the analogy the word for 'opinion' describes a cleft in a branch - trying to walk on both at once will end in a fall. This is the challenge that Elijah puts to the people; they have to make a decision. The Bible suggests that God hates syncretism (mixing religions) even more than He hates apostasy (rejecting faith altogether). </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The people kept quiet, but it was time to choose, for they were about to witness the miraculous humiliation of the false gods of the day. And so it is today; if the Lord is God, then follow Him. We cannot serve two masters<i> <b>(Luke 16:13)</b></i>, we will love one and hate the other. There is no compromise. God is a jealous God, a consuming fire, who will not tolerate rivals<b> <i>(Deuteronomy 4:24)</i></b>. If we choose to follow Jesus we cannot do so part time, and we can serve no other. Whatever we do is for Him, and so we shall be with our Lord Jesus forever.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KtzCD_8KbjI" width="320" youtube-src-id="KtzCD_8KbjI"></iframe></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Auth</span></b><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">or: John Plumb</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p><p><br /></p>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-26973807384603814032024-03-09T20:29:00.003+00:002024-03-09T20:29:47.579+00:00Be single minded<p><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A double minded man is unstable in all his ways </span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibldvAtFLnO3vduzPEvbnZJgQiz-6BizY-qu-ILjar56LjtXx9eOqugI1bdJLwhIhRQcYyDpZsG0mufwm27yWtEbOGdGfDqGohGvmDLAFOeNDGoKzml5yIznW71Cv9ReMJRVWKh-IUv9V9AyVcM0Tb7j3hV_wTFNTDT5yV56PXGYHXJa14RTpQ3fM87jr9/s225/double%20minded.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibldvAtFLnO3vduzPEvbnZJgQiz-6BizY-qu-ILjar56LjtXx9eOqugI1bdJLwhIhRQcYyDpZsG0mufwm27yWtEbOGdGfDqGohGvmDLAFOeNDGoKzml5yIznW71Cv9ReMJRVWKh-IUv9V9AyVcM0Tb7j3hV_wTFNTDT5yV56PXGYHXJa14RTpQ3fM87jr9/s1600/double%20minded.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">instagram,com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The bible says <b>"he that is wavered is like a wave of the sea driven with wind and tossed, for let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the lord, a double minded man is unstable in all his ways" (<i>James 1:6-8, KJV</i>)</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We should pray and ask the Holy Spirit, to give us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for. A dream that is not clear, won't help us get anywhere. It doesn't take much effort to let our mind drift and dream. But it takes great effort to set our mind to the task of developing a clear goal of having a clear and compelling dream.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What do you want to accomplish? What do you want to contribute? Who do you want to become in God? What does success look like for you without God? Simple! There is no true success if God is not in it as He is the source of all things the Alpha and Omega.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The whole process begins with questions we must ask ourselves. The dream is always rooted in the dreamer in his or her experiences, circumstances, talents and opportunities.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Proverbs 4:25</i>: "let your eyes look straight ahead and your eyelids look right before you"</b>. You may ask what am I feeling? What are my emotions telling me? What am I sensing? What is my intuition telling me? What am I seeing? What is happening around me? What am I hearing? What are others saying? What am I thinking? What do my intellect and common sense say?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzfcDpzWi09QG9c-5FxCYy57oBKvPUM40zg9CfojCzYEUGe0JBcbnOYUYhHjXND6HLAbBi0UljFxqaHrFl9uLv2LzuitDwGorHwwXL8KRjzoWyj0JGlsKJ1hbjnDgnfyHQnRWeRcp1hb401ORzr4yQLYuxVch3nz09uvze2tACJVqvzhlu-grL4LqdadM/s311/mark%209%2024.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="311" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzfcDpzWi09QG9c-5FxCYy57oBKvPUM40zg9CfojCzYEUGe0JBcbnOYUYhHjXND6HLAbBi0UljFxqaHrFl9uLv2LzuitDwGorHwwXL8KRjzoWyj0JGlsKJ1hbjnDgnfyHQnRWeRcp1hb401ORzr4yQLYuxVch3nz09uvze2tACJVqvzhlu-grL4LqdadM/s1600/mark%209%2024.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">firelifeministries.org</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In all these questions the only way to get answers and achieve any of them is to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, and be led by the Holy Spirit without any doubt or wavering. <b><i>Mark 9:24</i> "Lord I believe, help my unbelief"</b>.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A clear picture may come to you all at once, but for most people it doesn't work that way. Most of us need to keep working at it. Clarifying it, redrawing it. If the process is difficult, that's no reason to give up. In fact if it's too easy, maybe we're not dreaming big enough.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Just keep working on it, because a clear dream is worth fighting for. If we can get a clear sense of who God is! who God says we are in Him! We are well on our way to understanding and embracing our purpose driven life God put us on the earth for.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Moses spent the first two thirds of his life working out what God wanted him to do. trying to do things his own way, only to fail. But he had a heart for God, and a vision from God and eventually he succeeded. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In conclusion I want to leave you with these words from <b><i>1 Kings 18:21:</i> and Elijah came to all the people and said, "how long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God follow Him, but if baal follow him". but the people answered him not a word.</b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pbMmRER9sAo" width="320" youtube-src-id="pbMmRER9sAo"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Auth</span></b><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">or: Herbert Jean</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-45299621256776770392024-03-02T20:19:00.000+00:002024-03-02T20:19:03.515+00:00Essential?<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">What do each one of us as individuals see the purpose of the bible as being, because this will steer our reading and approach to “God’s Word”</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRzQZ9jzVuL-aiDa7lX1rzCCQV4rwVVDJDZAxt2dMCDISVWv_ws3ld5YIpvwc-2MvzGyzu4M_jzUFeQUkbkTRwdkCdtWnC6Pzwf36n3try6DtQHjx7iXujdviF2xJvj7pF__jhnG_B7vk-9NRR6FPGmCKT1fvq1N7M5aJys83zZ8W0S8PT4G_PtqqMljg/s299/flat%20earth.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRzQZ9jzVuL-aiDa7lX1rzCCQV4rwVVDJDZAxt2dMCDISVWv_ws3ld5YIpvwc-2MvzGyzu4M_jzUFeQUkbkTRwdkCdtWnC6Pzwf36n3try6DtQHjx7iXujdviF2xJvj7pF__jhnG_B7vk-9NRR6FPGmCKT1fvq1N7M5aJys83zZ8W0S8PT4G_PtqqMljg/s1600/flat%20earth.jpg" width="299" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">thedailyapologist.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A young man that I met this week got me wondering. He is someone who came to faith through the internet. His coming to Jesus has profoundly changed his life and he has assimilated an encyclopaedic knowledge of the bible, significantly influenced by internet sources. In the group that we were in he was asserting that several scriptures teach us that the earth was originally flat.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In support of this the scriptures quoted included the use of expressions like <b>“the four corners of the earth” (<i>e.g. Isaiah 11:12</i>) “He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth” </b>and <b>“the ends of the earth” (<i>e.g. Job 37:3</i>) “Hear attentively the thunder of His voice, and the rumbling that comes from His mouth. He sends it forth under the whole heaven, His lightning to the ends of the earth”.</b> Spheres of course don’t have corners or ends and so, if taken literally, the earth would have to have edges. There are other bible passages which may be used to argue this way.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Of course, most bible believers and bible scholars will recognise that these passages are not intended to be taken literally. They are by and large figures of speech which indicate something else. In this example the passages are referring to reaching across the whole earth; or the extent / size of the earth; or going deeper, perhaps a Hebrew term relating to the extension of a bird’s wing that is used to suggest the extremity of anything stretched out.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I am not mentioning this discussion though, to go into “flat earth theology”, merely as a starting point, because the conversation that I have described made me think some more about the purpose of the bible and what it means to the world generally and followers of Jesus today. Every follower of Jesus will be aware that there are some areas of scripture where their interpretation will be different from someone else’s. There may be straight-forward reasons for this. From personal experience, sometimes I have discovered that even after years of reading the bible, I have just not read a passage properly. I read it again and well, it just doesn’t say what I thought it said. Sometimes I will look something up and find that I have taken a word out of context or not understood its full meaning. Sometimes a brother or sister will have pointed out something I have missed. Sometimes it will be a sermon, someone sharing or “teaching” which changes my view. Some scripture is still completely hidden from view.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Does it matter that I have not got it right first time? At one time in my life, I was really concerned about getting everything as “right” as possible (and of course failed)! Now I am not so worried… The passage of time has taken me from a point in my 30s when I “knew everything” (not!) to a point now where I realise that I know practically nothing at all. (Of course, I may have learned a few useful things in the course of life’s journey that might be worth passing on to younger generations - but by and large they are too busy learning the same things, by making the same mistakes for themselves to listen).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I am still trying to work it out, but I think that it is important to understand why God gave us the bible? In a favourite quote John Wesley said:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>“I have thought I am creature of a day, passing through life as an arrow through the air. I am a spirit come from God and returning to God; just hovering over the great gulf, till a few moments hence I am no more seen. I drop into an unchangeable eternity! I want to know one thing, the way to heaven--how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way: for this very end he came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that book! At any price give me the Book of God! I have it. Here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be homo unius libri [a man of one book].”</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7N8PoIqAZydt44b_b41KakjxZY50ciL9j6owINL8avt4vKNR4zLYVVT0mAM2omuS_jtNKpe2-ICNhMBGJq6Rr5FmUCfg7oWNb48OTy0gjhHMGLGF0VSVvL5LUrghnfi5hPlk9tFKNDKD5RMONHDV-nMKR2v5z2G2QTC0FmsM9Im7qlOX0N1rOCx5bMEFJ/s225/john%2017%203.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7N8PoIqAZydt44b_b41KakjxZY50ciL9j6owINL8avt4vKNR4zLYVVT0mAM2omuS_jtNKpe2-ICNhMBGJq6Rr5FmUCfg7oWNb48OTy0gjhHMGLGF0VSVvL5LUrghnfi5hPlk9tFKNDKD5RMONHDV-nMKR2v5z2G2QTC0FmsM9Im7qlOX0N1rOCx5bMEFJ/s1600/john%2017%203.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">biblehub.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Here John Wesley points to a purpose for the bible – to show us the way to heaven. Of course, Jesus is the way (<b><i>John 14:7</i>: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me"</b>) and Jesus Himself said (<b><i>John 17:3</i></b>) <b>“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent”</b>. What do each one of us as individuals see the purpose of the bible as being, because this will steer our reading and approach to “God’s Word”?</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">There is another quote commonly attributed to St Augustine but more recently tracked down to a 16th Century believer which says concerning unity amongst Christians and interpretation of scripture:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>“…If we preserve unity in essentials, liberty in non-essentials, and love in all things, our affairs will be in the best position…”</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In other words there are some things that all followers of Jesus believe, that all followers of Jesus must allow liberty for others to explore non-essentials, and then there are “my pet ideas and theories”… This is a useful quote perhaps except we are then left with distinguishing between what is essential and non-essential?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">There is a diagram above showing the three areas of belief. What would you put in the circles? Perhaps relabelling them “Core truths for Followers of Jesus”, “Things where its OK for Followers of Jesus to differ in interpretation” and “Things that I know are strictly my own beliefs about what’s going on”? Or – choose your own labels to help decide.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I think that having a clear view of the purpose of the bible is useful in helping to decide what interpretations and beliefs go in which circle – or “everything else”. With an honest approach we might be surprised at what goes where – and it may affect the way that we see and relate to others. For example, my fellowship with my young friend will not be harmed by his current belief in the shape of the world but it does have an impact.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Neither the Lord nor I might not mind at all that at this stage my friend has a perhaps ill-informed belief that at some point the world was flat. But was it wise for him to share it in a study group? He thought so because to him it was “essential” that we were not deceived by the world. I thought not because it offered unnecessary difficulties for others in the group over something that I saw as “everything else”. You might think that this is an obvious example, but I wonder how many times we have wandered from the true essentials onto “our particular convictions” with the result of discouraging others, or if they are still young in the faith, giving them unnecessary confusion?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Many have pointed to disagreements about “non-essentials” as the cause of church splits; such disagreements have even led to congregations being torn apart in the middle of great revivals / moves of the Holy Spirit. In this we might include attempts to label “non-essentials” and even personal favourite “anything elses” as part of the “essential core” for the fellowships in question. No wonder in his struggle with the problems in the Corinthian Church Paul took this stand: <b><i>1 Corinthians 2:2</i>: “When I came to you, my friends, to preach God's truth, I did not use big words and great learning. 2 For while I was with you, I made up my mind to forget everything except Jesus Christ and his death on the cross”</b> – essential ground indeed!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yavaBYEyAG8" width="320" youtube-src-id="yavaBYEyAG8"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Auth</span></b><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">or: Chris Pearson</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-27636173217322137092024-02-24T20:15:00.003+00:002024-02-24T20:15:54.317+00:00Working Out Our Own Salvation<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Sanctification is a once and for all act but also an ongoing one</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoOtGygiC8IWlhwG0WgE4QJQ6SYxq6AX_RnhcEgQnr22-qI7Xwj19Av_oLeZiziv7ATc85v_uYBRMO5w5IQgGWI80OE5j4AQWTRUME_cgF-Az21XYJcCThn8I1gefPvAkmrhiYcmufRv0CLvO1z3BmMucI5NwIlMDkACcXHWsJv0QnDqxUe60ukPtrEKe/s300/sanctification.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoOtGygiC8IWlhwG0WgE4QJQ6SYxq6AX_RnhcEgQnr22-qI7Xwj19Av_oLeZiziv7ATc85v_uYBRMO5w5IQgGWI80OE5j4AQWTRUME_cgF-Az21XYJcCThn8I1gefPvAkmrhiYcmufRv0CLvO1z3BmMucI5NwIlMDkACcXHWsJv0QnDqxUe60ukPtrEKe/s1600/sanctification.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">christfellowshipnc.org</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>‘Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure’ (<i>Philippians 2:12-13, ESV</i>)</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Recently I was listening to a short podcast by Sinclair Ferguson on sanctification and holiness. He is a gifted and very learned biblical teacher amongst many other things. It immediately drew my attention as I had previously written a blog on believers <b><i>‘walking worthy’</i></b>. This caused me, again, to meditate on this essential component of the Christian life – sanctification. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">To sanctify something, simply explained, means ‘to set apart’. Its biblical meaning is that something is set apart for God’s special use and purpose. Most of the time when we as Christians use the term sanctification, we mean the progressive work of God in making a believer more Christ like – more holy. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Sanctification, however, is also a position where we are placed as believers at conversion. As the apostle Paul wrote, <b>‘To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints …’ (<i>1 Corinthians 1:2 ESV</i>); ‘…’you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God’ (<i>1 Corinthians 6:11</i>)</b>. Note the past tense usage, therefore sanctification has already occurred by grace through faith in Jesus. Sanctification is a once and for all act but also an ongoing one. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the Westminster divines, in answer to question 35: What is Sanctification? states [it] <i>‘is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God and are enabled more and more to die unto sin and live unto righteousness’</i>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Part of the progressive process of sanctification believers are commanded to: <b>‘…walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God’ (<i>Colossians 1:10, ESV</i>)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>‘I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called… (<i>Ephesians 4:1, ESV</i>). </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Walking is not passive; it requires effort and determination and we as individuals are responsible for ‘walking’. It may be baby steps to begin with. The timing and distance travelled is certainly variable between individuals but with the help of the Holy Spirit, that indwells all Christians and His grace, progress is not only achievable but also mandatory. Paul issues the command to <b>‘work out your own salvation’ (Philippians 2:12).</b> Here he is referring to the ongoing work, required of every believer, in exercising faith and obedience in actively pursuing progressive sanctification in their daily walk with the Lord – enabled, of course, by God working in them and this of course for His good pleasure.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW49LAnSJEyBPkfOTnVm6VBw7eI0X0eEqyRNigvrSAVynWE7oI8qq1O1rsGnbYoFqGLdc7QCl9495RaK66_fZ875ZnPnzbPkXUCsLeaBnKmR75JFeLGTFGIeAr8THfEGvEk3I_HKDSSGvRTTFlCdb2cl_XsnQrt7xgoZWuQrNY1yndI64hFjeEz2GGlPw-/s259/perfect.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW49LAnSJEyBPkfOTnVm6VBw7eI0X0eEqyRNigvrSAVynWE7oI8qq1O1rsGnbYoFqGLdc7QCl9495RaK66_fZ875ZnPnzbPkXUCsLeaBnKmR75JFeLGTFGIeAr8THfEGvEk3I_HKDSSGvRTTFlCdb2cl_XsnQrt7xgoZWuQrNY1yndI64hFjeEz2GGlPw-/s1600/perfect.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">dailyverse.knowing-jesus.org</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Every Christian is expected to grow into full maturity.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> Jesus’ standard for us is to <b>‘be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect’ (<i>Matthew 5:48</i>)</b> - an arguably unobtainable goal for us, until Glory, but one we should keep our eyes firmly fixed upon. </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In <b><i>Peter’s</i></b> first letter, <b><i>chapter 1:15-16</i></b>, he instructs believers to be <b>…’obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, …’</b> in doing so we are being made more Christ like, becoming more like Him, more holy and in pursuing growing in godliness we more clearly reflect Jesus in our lives and bring honour to Him.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We grow in our Christian life, first and fore mostly by what God through His Spirit is doing in us, but we are not passive in this process, we are called to respond and work in harmony – to abide in Him (<b><i>John 15: 4-5</i></b>). We have been granted the means of helping us achieve and be successful in this by the word of God, prayer, the sacraments, and the meeting together for fellowship with fellow believers.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Evidence of new birth is a progressive change in the believer. The Holy Spirit is the agent of sanctification working in us and enabling the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit, <b>‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control’, (<i>Galatians 5:22</i>)</b>. All these attributes need to be developed in the believer. As we have been told, in so many sermons, it is one fruit with nine flavours. There is no ‘pick & mix’.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">If there is no evidence, no alteration in conduct, behaviour, attitude, if we don’t become more ‘set apart’ as we journey with Christ damming results are the consequence. The writer to the Hebrews says we must <b>‘strive for peace with everyone and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord’. (<i>12:14</i>)</b>. <i>'This verse does not make holiness a prerequisite for salvation, but it recognises it as the certain result. Sanctification is a characteristic of all who are redeemed, not a condition’ (MacArthur J. The Gospel According to Jesus, pp 211 2008).</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Yes, we get things wrong, yes, we make mistakes, yes, we stumble and fall in our Christian walk and yes, the enemy seeks to destroy. We must not trivialise this source, indeed the word says: <b>‘submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you (<i>James 4:7, ESV</i>)</b>. However, for most Christians it is the world around us and the flesh within us that causes us the most trouble with wrongdoing! Nevertheless, let us remember Paul’s words to the Corinthians, <b>‘if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come’ (<i>2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV</i>)</b>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Hallelujah! What assurance. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>‘I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me’ (Galatians 2:20, ESV)</b>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">--------------------------------------------</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Going back to that podcast. Sinclair Ferguson told a story about bonsai trees – with application to sanctification! He clearly stated that he knew nothing about these miniature trees. Nonetheless, what he heard tell by a Japanese bonsai expert was that all bonsai trees are shaped in the form of a triangle, all perfectly proportioned miniatures. All carefully, and no doubt, lovingly tended throughout their lives. The interesting ‘thing’, however, is that every triangle on a bonsai tree is not necessarily at the same angle on every tree. Using this natural observation, Sinclair thought this picture was a great metaphor for our sanctification. <i>‘Holiness, Christ likeness becomes evident in our lives when the fruit of the Spirit in increasingly well proportioned in us and has a Christ like shape BUT, the angle that shape takes in each person’s life will be slightly different from every other Christian’</i>. An interesting comment to think about! <i>‘We are all being re-shaped in the image of Christ but in a slightly different way.’</i> <i>(Sinclair Ferguson (25.8.23) Principles for Holiness: Things Unseen Podcast</i></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/936BapRFHaQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="936BapRFHaQ"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><b style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Auth</span></b><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">or: Irene Cherrill</span></b></p></span></b><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p></span>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-24157255690533440362024-02-17T23:26:00.000+00:002024-02-17T23:26:01.474+00:00 "Wait on the Lord”<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Above all, let us wait in patience, the Lord will respond, He will give us our answer.</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmv3iCD93h5CLDRju73CX3rzXkKWfUcFghOtD5iDuzBqTkJBgIrVbJDgNXRaxr2mzVz_zDHRuzim7fDS8a_aURcia0rSm3-Ah4QsFB4uVsrXpoeoP6YYH9ejdj7YJBA82a4c3qy2tFy6L3DJkcmFeWdgCz_p2W3HOBarbUCRnx1jqO4KW7VpdD1qxkD1f/s259/Wait%20On%20The%20Lord.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmv3iCD93h5CLDRju73CX3rzXkKWfUcFghOtD5iDuzBqTkJBgIrVbJDgNXRaxr2mzVz_zDHRuzim7fDS8a_aURcia0rSm3-Ah4QsFB4uVsrXpoeoP6YYH9ejdj7YJBA82a4c3qy2tFy6L3DJkcmFeWdgCz_p2W3HOBarbUCRnx1jqO4KW7VpdD1qxkD1f/s1600/Wait%20On%20The%20Lord.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Focus Magazine</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We have heard and spoken a great deal about the need to Wait on the Lord in these last few months. We are bombarded by so many streams of information and disinformation that it would be easy and, let’s face it, has been easy, for us to make the wrong decision.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It may seem an easy thing to wait, but we have to learn how. We live in a society that encourages us to; “just do it,” to; “never put off to tomorrow what you can do today,” that lives by the motto; “Carpe Diem” or “Seize the Day.” We are conditioned by our upbringing, by our education and increasingly, by social media, to “get on with it,” that it is better to recklessly embark on something and get it wrong than to do nothing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">But I would argue, along with many commentators that to Wait on the Lord is not to do nothing. I accept that it could be seen as an excuse for not acting but to Wait on the Lord is an active, not a passive activity;</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">If we desire, with all our hearts to serve the Lord but don’t know how to best do so, what do we do?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">* Lapse into despair and despondency and give up?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">* Seek help from those of our acquaintances who are willing to listen but may not be in tune with us spiritually?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">* Listen to the urging of “self” and rush into a course of action which may not be in the Lord’s will and could ultimately damage our relationship with Him? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">No, we are called upon to simply wait; but to wait actively.</span></p><p><b></b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyZaJdJec5ik72VVuZnl-Y8P2r9UuY910_uYPTlGhBBoUENnlx3v9m3JKmq0g1YN8G9LAYtB2dq-ClKnGmdVYMddre-qzZ5BIgJhcQBN9ElSsqw1kU1-wQsTk7-IW5ARVREtFZZ4pMwwk-QGi3m-nNdl4we9hbkqaxIXFrTcRZBJhy4b9Et6XWRU2Z4dn/s301/BE%20STRONG.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="168" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyZaJdJec5ik72VVuZnl-Y8P2r9UuY910_uYPTlGhBBoUENnlx3v9m3JKmq0g1YN8G9LAYtB2dq-ClKnGmdVYMddre-qzZ5BIgJhcQBN9ElSsqw1kU1-wQsTk7-IW5ARVREtFZZ4pMwwk-QGi3m-nNdl4we9hbkqaxIXFrTcRZBJhy4b9Et6XWRU2Z4dn/s1600/BE%20STRONG.jpg" width="168" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Pinterest</span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Wait for the LORD;</span></b><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> be strong and take heart</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b> and wait for the LORD</b>.<b><i> (Psalm 27 :14)</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">* Wait in prayer, plead our case, explain our difficulty and ask for the Lord’s help, as He has promised.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">* Wait in humility and what has been described as “simplicity of soul.” We can be sure of a successful outcome if we are aware of our own inadequacy and are earnestly and sincerely seeking God’s will.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">* Wait in faith, show our unwavering confidence in the Lord. The devil will try to shake that confidence but without trust our prayers become an insult to the Lord rather than a blessing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">* Above all, let us wait in patience, the Lord will respond, He will give us our answer. Let us not be tempted to complain, no matter how long we have to wait but praise and bless God for His grace and mercy. Accept things as they are and put the situation, as it stands, simply and with our whole heart, without any self-will, into the hands of our loving God. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">And we can pray the essence of the following prayer;</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">"Now, Lord, not my will, but Thine be done. I know not what to do; I am brought to extremities, but I will wait until Thou shalt cleave the floods or drive back my foes. I will wait, if Thou keep me many a day, for my heart is fixed upon thee alone, O God, and my spirit waiteth for Thee in the full conviction that Thou wilt yet be my joy and my salvation, my refuge and my strong tower."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Have a blessed week and may God reward you with His presence as you Wait on Him.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CR5IoWH9OiI" width="320" youtube-src-id="CR5IoWH9OiI"></iframe></div><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Auth</span></b><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">or: Alan Cameron</span></b></p></span></b><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Alan Cameron</span></p><p><br /></p>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-55689210777833378902024-02-11T08:18:00.000+00:002024-02-11T08:18:02.278+00:00Are we prepared for a Crisis<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>While preparing yourselves for the big crisis`s in your life don’t neglect preparing yourself for the small ones that sneak in unnoticed, and yet prove deadly</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWUTeHs3LyS8wetjh0xDbYDXxeYsKEt2WVvry473UDoHv0Xg54DYDMk5uaHqwCDe1KRgfJvzJjqeqLu5-nNXnmIJCeyLmeeBUsAQQq_kGW8ZzUqRxjo_mQ10938hMnCPDlEHVPud3vH-vn7h8_YPFrCrHPzZuw2unry2l8_h_JmOVZhEeTkTcVYqBv_4n/s276/parable%20virgin%20oil%20lamp.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="276" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWUTeHs3LyS8wetjh0xDbYDXxeYsKEt2WVvry473UDoHv0Xg54DYDMk5uaHqwCDe1KRgfJvzJjqeqLu5-nNXnmIJCeyLmeeBUsAQQq_kGW8ZzUqRxjo_mQ10938hMnCPDlEHVPud3vH-vn7h8_YPFrCrHPzZuw2unry2l8_h_JmOVZhEeTkTcVYqBv_4n/s1600/parable%20virgin%20oil%20lamp.jpg" width="276" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">gospelimages.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In our fellowship recently, there have been a few references to the parable of the 10 virgins, there have also been a posting on the church WhatsApp page about this parable which received a few acknowledgments amongst the fellowship. But as for me I have in the main ignored this parable and whatever points have been raised from it, because there is a lot of other stuff going on in my life and I did not find the time or the head space to read them. However, in preparing to write this blog the Lord again drew me to the truths and warnings of this parable. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It is found in <b><i>Matthew 25:1-13</i></b> and is a story told by Jesus to illustrate how we should be prepared for his return and how we should guard against complacency. And with all that is going on in the World at the moment and the tension and crisis everywhere it is a timely reminder that we need our lives (lamps) topped up with the oil of the Holy Spirit so we will not be found wanting and floundering when the Lord returns. But I was also challenged when reading a commentary about the parable by a new-testament scholar I had never heard of: Dan O. Via. He `considers the story of the bridesmaids as an example of a tragic parable with a U-shaped plot. The rising action of the parable is the preparation for the coming of the bridegroom, but a crisis occurs when the bridegroom is delayed. This is the turning point that leads to disaster` (Wikipedia reference). This really got me thinking about the things in life that come out of nowhere and throw us completely off course. Resulting in us finding ourselves feeling alone and separated from others, out of sync with the Lord`s plan and running around trying to work out what happened! In other words, we often plan and prepare for the big crisis`s in life (like the coming of the bridegroom (the Lord), but get thrown off course by a mini crisis (running out of oil) and find ourselves running around looking for answers in all the wrong places, and totally losing our peace and trust in the Lord. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I was talking to someone recently about one of my favourite Bible Characters Elijah. He called all the people together on mount Carmel, built an altar, called down fire from Heaven to burn up the sacrifice and killed all the prophets of Baal. He then told King Ahab to prepare for rain after a 3 year drought. (<b><i>1 Kings 18</i></b>) But after seeing the most amazing miracle from the Lord and knowing what it felt like to be in the centre of the Lord's plan for his own life and for calling the children of Israel back to the Lord, he was taken apart by the words of a Godless woman (<b><i>1 Kings 19:2-3 NLT</i></b>) <b>`So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you have killed them”. Elijah was afraid and fled for his life`.</b> Elijah has been prepared for the big crisis facing him, the calling of the people back to God by facilitating a miracle from the Lord and destroying the false teachings (prophets) in the land, but had allowed himself to be fearful and defeated by a simple threat. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDN9CtvI2Vr-ScK5Alt1krccBcMEmdEth6exBGCtt4yk__OkPXsdI_0p5gJGEetuDFkdM8rYGhJKDg1xZ-WV_nOpOvdEIP8ChX8uztvMkBgE9KtkCWGxJVQNSoWfRLXZeK7O2vDmYP19nmYsYZo1aiLl7weznDJbIg3a775GkZvvziK3JTVckRd8LiCmBV/s300/elijah%20afraid.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDN9CtvI2Vr-ScK5Alt1krccBcMEmdEth6exBGCtt4yk__OkPXsdI_0p5gJGEetuDFkdM8rYGhJKDg1xZ-WV_nOpOvdEIP8ChX8uztvMkBgE9KtkCWGxJVQNSoWfRLXZeK7O2vDmYP19nmYsYZo1aiLl7weznDJbIg3a775GkZvvziK3JTVckRd8LiCmBV/s1600/elijah%20afraid.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">woundedministries.org</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This is the warning to me and us all, from the account of Elijah and from the parable of the 10 virgins. While preparing yourselves for the big crisis`s in your life don’t neglect preparing yourself for the small ones that sneak in unnoticed, and yet prove deadly. For each of us they come in different forms, tiredness, illness, disappointment, fear, someone criticising us, stress and worry robbing us of our peace, these are only some but for each one of us the list is different but just as devastating. The crisis has come and we have no oil in our lamps so we get distracted, discouraged and finally we feel defeated. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We can find the solutions from the Word of God, we always can. Firstly, stop running around trying to find answers from lots of places, instead centre our attention on the Lord. In the case of Elijah, he had to stop bemoaning his lot and blaming everyone for his situation (<i><b>1 kings 19:10 & 14 NLT</b></i>) <b>`I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars and killed everyone of your prophets. I am the only one left and now they are trying to kill me`.</b> And was the Lord’s answer: - Oh so sorry Elijah, you poor man you have had so many bad things happen to you no wonder you feel so bad sob! Sob! No! it was a very practical caring answer: - Go back to where you started deviating from the path, and then do what I tell you to. Oh, and by the way you are not on your own as you thought, there are another 7000 people who are experiencing the same pressures you are and are serving me. So be encouraged. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In the case of the Virgins, there was a preparatory warning. They had to stop running around begging oil from other people, being distracted and fearful that they would not have enough for the nights wait and then sleeping through the time they should have been buying oil. The word of the Lord to them was don’t become complacent. Never think you have enough, be constantly coming to me for enough oil (Spirit and Word) for the duration of the nights wait. Sometimes the answer you seek (in this case the coming of the bridegroom) will be delayed, so be prepared beforehand. When they first became aware they may not have enough oil, (or when we see problems start to arise) we should seek oil (Spirit, Word Guidance) from the oil supplier, draw close to the Lord. Don’t sleep hoping it all goes away, be proactive.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I am grateful to the Lord that he never leaves us without guidance or direction. That His word is never too early or too late. In the need to prepare a blog (without a single idea in my head when I sat down to write it) He has shouted the guidance He has been trying to whisper to me over the last few weeks, if only I would have listened.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Thank you, Lord, for your mercy and for your grace that is always sufficient for all my needs. Today Lord help me to keep my lamp topped up both for the big crisis`s that face the world and maybe even our country and way of life, but also for the little crisis`s that slay me every day. Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning, trusting, serving, till the break of day. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d-SI_HRWooA" width="320" youtube-src-id="d-SI_HRWooA"></iframe></div><br /><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author: Jan Pearson</span></b></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-5430240647849527822024-02-03T20:21:00.001+00:002024-02-03T20:21:55.459+00:00 Love covers all<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">The disciple and apostle, Peter, knew what forgiveness meant, the joy of having the worst sins covered over.</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span>A few years ago I was helping a friend to change some halogen ceiling light bulbs in her mum’s kitchen. In the day these lights were very popular, but they were very hot as well as bright, and some bulbs / fittings didn’t have great longevity. So we were in her mum’s kitchen, which had only been installed for a few months, I was on the stepladder. Warning; for readers who are very sensitive about their kitchens, this incident may cause some distress. I removed the light fitting from the ceiling to check it over and replaced the bulb. Finding that it was on a long flex,</span><span> I lowered it </span>down onto the work surface and asked Thelma to switch on the lights to test it. What happened next is tragic but true. The lights were working but not only giving light, there was acrid smoke rising from the suspended light. Don’t panic Mr Mainwaring. As I lifted up the offending item it revealed a black circle, in the middle of a pristine worktop. </span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQt1X1jaQ0KX9WSNyPTZn4XPcI3bTlPmK3CqDRA9OwVWwWifOMC4RzKKq7ewtjtKDVmLr7hzJVdFXZr2KoiE4TtEyZT5usGbaY2FcarF1uac7hAIXPhuiyq7HfEdJe3XX7Tf0bj50ac-hOsHERLrFg7i0dtxi7NdwVSOwYSNjpDIFXbWXVaY_Xz9N_fr6/s251/Fruit%20Bowl.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="201" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQt1X1jaQ0KX9WSNyPTZn4XPcI3bTlPmK3CqDRA9OwVWwWifOMC4RzKKq7ewtjtKDVmLr7hzJVdFXZr2KoiE4TtEyZT5usGbaY2FcarF1uac7hAIXPhuiyq7HfEdJe3XX7Tf0bj50ac-hOsHERLrFg7i0dtxi7NdwVSOwYSNjpDIFXbWXVaY_Xz9N_fr6/s1600/Fruit%20Bowl.jpg" width="201" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Amazon UK</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We called Mum into the kitchen. I would describe Thelma’s Mum was a fine ‘straight speaking ‘lady who, ‘said what she meant and meant what she said’. While we waited, I remember admiring the worktop which ran the length of the kitchen, all neatly finished with tiles. After we had briefly explained the incident, she simply slid over a fruit bowl to cover the black circle. That was it. Mum declared that the bowl would live there, and that was the end of the matter. I made some weak protestation about how I could rectify the situation, but inwardly knowing that I would only make it worse. And, true to her word, there was never a word about the incident. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span>The psalmist declares in <b><i>Psalm 32</i></b>: <b>Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, </b></span><span><b>whose sin is covered.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I could barely believe that my mistake had been dealt with so graciously. It’s true that I had not set out to cause malicious damage, but being thoughtless or careless has consequences as we all know. Some may be familiar with the prayer of general confession:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned against you and against our neighbours, in thought and word and deed, in the bad we have done and in the good we have not done, through ignorance, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault….</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As I write this blog, I have been prompted to reflect, would I have been so gracious? The answer is no. Even if I had tried to brush it under the carpet (or the fruit bowl) then I certainly would have inspected it soon afterwards and probably told a few unfortunate souls about the careless DIYer who just lived around the corner - mentioning no names of course.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbPR0H3ANstTtmqQRfH9I6KeKpulYql-bHDQELK2LC0wMcTiUynqCSKvVvj-lYloxNQKvLF_jhMG9jLK276RypvnhMnbtNMLxWoC39dkvC1YoSNgCdtNyGSBTPbEQkud9QPCEkg_50UnU1kZFVgJqxyo74E_uQkCP8-tG0Jix-sY7M0Xh2Rg48Szqegbd/s225/LOVE.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbPR0H3ANstTtmqQRfH9I6KeKpulYql-bHDQELK2LC0wMcTiUynqCSKvVvj-lYloxNQKvLF_jhMG9jLK276RypvnhMnbtNMLxWoC39dkvC1YoSNgCdtNyGSBTPbEQkud9QPCEkg_50UnU1kZFVgJqxyo74E_uQkCP8-tG0Jix-sY7M0Xh2Rg48Szqegbd/s1600/LOVE.jpg" width="225" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The disciple and apostle, Peter, knew what forgiveness meant, the joy of having the worst sins covered over. He experienced it first hand from His master, his Lord and friend. He had caused the deepest hurt to his best friend, in the notorious triple denial, during our Lord’s darkest hour. Yet Peter’s example of sin and restitution has been the healing for countless believers and fellowships through the centuries. And so Peter exhorts us all in his timeless letter. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>(1 Peter 4:8) </i></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i4rZcN8dQpE" width="320" youtube-src-id="i4rZcN8dQpE"></iframe></div><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author: Richard Windridge</span></b></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-42693190648165756292024-01-27T14:34:00.000+00:002024-01-27T14:34:09.839+00:00As we forgive those that trespass against us?<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">It does not matter if our anger, hurt or resentment is justified, it will eventually lead to bitterness if not forgiven</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8u9btsA_1YbnxGv8EKY0w3EWEBDt4EcXLqe58_1cSat-Dw3986ghDtRB9KwincdGT6pPagUoqZl6UUsWXu-50lfcVmBx-a2JnC386LgSW4vJW94JZephz6Mzx2Ekhb0FKdeqEHV59t0moX5ytTyjVw0nOZ7t7J9w2GDCxAaiK_0RGssF3vncl52BNhQuW/s225/bitterness%20forgiveness.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8u9btsA_1YbnxGv8EKY0w3EWEBDt4EcXLqe58_1cSat-Dw3986ghDtRB9KwincdGT6pPagUoqZl6UUsWXu-50lfcVmBx-a2JnC386LgSW4vJW94JZephz6Mzx2Ekhb0FKdeqEHV59t0moX5ytTyjVw0nOZ7t7J9w2GDCxAaiK_0RGssF3vncl52BNhQuW/s1600/bitterness%20forgiveness.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">christyjohnson.org</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I asked the Lord what I should write my blog on this time and I felt He said ‘Bitterness’. It is not a subject that I would have normally thought of but having asked and then been given an answer, I am going to do my best to be obedient. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Some of the words that are given in the definition of bitterness are these: showing and feeling pain or hurt; resentful; bearing a grudge, cynical. If you look at these words they can all be associated with unforgiveness.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">People can hang onto bitterness and resentment for years and it does that person no good whatsoever. I knew a lady whose husband left her for someone else. She clung on to that bitterness for about 30 years, eventually visiting him regularly in his last months in a nursing home, where they became reconciled, leaving her at peace at the time of his death.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I read a story about a woman in her 90’s, who still told the story continually about her sister not giving her the dollar she needed to buy a pair of shoes, when they were younger. Every time she told it, she brought back the hurt and injustice on herself and could not let it go.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We, as Christians should have no place for bitterness in our lives. Satan loves bitterness, especially when he can influence us to hold on to it while thinking we are being righteous. It does not matter if our anger, hurt or resentment is justified, it will eventually lead to bitterness if not forgiven. We must not allow Satan to lie to us or even lie to ourselves about what we believe is our own righteous unforgiveness. There is nothing righteous about unforgiveness. The bitterness that comes from it may start small but it will take root if we let it and it will harden our hearts so that God cannot use us. We can look for other reasons, both real and imagined, why we should legitimately have this feeling towards the person that has caused us pain and with each piece of information that we accrue comes another layer of bitterness. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Proverbs 17:22</i> </b>says<b>: A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In other words the joy which comes from God acts as medicine, while a broken or bitter spirit will affect the body physically. It is like a poison. It has been proven, in patients, that often those who are the most joyful, recover the quickest. In his book ‘<i>None of These Diseases</i>’ Dr. McMillen points out how bitterness, can consume a man both physically and mentally. He wrote <i>"The moment I start hating a man I become his slave. I can’t enjoy my work anymore because he even controls my thoughts. My resentments produce too many stress hormones in my body and I become fatigued after only a few hours of work. The man I hate hounds me wherever I go. I can’t escape his tyrannical grasp on my mind.”</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Romans 12:18</i> </b>says<b>, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."</b> But how do we do that? How can we make sure our initial hurt doesn’t turn into bitterness? Or when it does, how can we rid ourselves of it?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Well, firstly God requires it. In <b><i>Ephesians 4:31-32</i></b> it says: <b>Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We don’t have a choice! You may not understand why the person did what he or she did but Jesus does. He suffered and died a terrible death so that we might be forgiven. He died too for whoever it was that offended you. You may feel that person does not deserve forgiveness, but do we? No, we don’t but Jesus did it anyway.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Secondly, we are called to pray for our enemies.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIkoTDO1ubfFv0ePaURCoDGPxgwi50zZIrfLTZGSZ257bB52adEdVrwPpeTSDzy2u7csS-W7dJBfV4QOrJ3lYHUjylg-9jE-RqJZwzNRzyp3Ymbp0c95Ck2F5aZZz-CkqXPPeaFWFQC-fXy129Sy2sUEGSpgJ3HGCS2-y1n4WvenXxUn_3YxWYMk5qkWc/s225/luke%206%2027&8.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIkoTDO1ubfFv0ePaURCoDGPxgwi50zZIrfLTZGSZ257bB52adEdVrwPpeTSDzy2u7csS-W7dJBfV4QOrJ3lYHUjylg-9jE-RqJZwzNRzyp3Ymbp0c95Ck2F5aZZz-CkqXPPeaFWFQC-fXy129Sy2sUEGSpgJ3HGCS2-y1n4WvenXxUn_3YxWYMk5qkWc/s1600/luke%206%2027&8.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">pinterest.co.uk</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In <b><i>Luke 6:27-28</i></b> it says: <b>“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." </b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Instead of being bitter we have to try to pray for those who have hurt us. Our Pastor told us how he once started to pray for someone he was holding a grudge against. He said that after a short while he felt nothing but love for the person who had hurt him so badly.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We know that bitterness only harms the one who is bitter. The object of our resentment may be totally unaware of how we feel. If we let it, bitterness will depress and can get you to the point where you cannot even function normally. Edwin Markham (1852 – 1940), a great American poet learned this. When he reached the age of retirement, he found out that his banker had defrauded him out of a large sum of money. He was penniless. He became so bitter he could no longer even write poetry. He became so obsessed with wanting to get his own back on this man, that it became foremost in his mind every day and he could not function properly. He wrote that one day, in a depressed mood, he was sitting at his desk thinking about this banker who had stolen all of his money, when the Holy Spirit spoke to him and said, “Markham, if you do not deal with this thing, it is going to ruin you. You cannot afford the price you are paying. You must forgive that man.” Markham said, “Lord, I will forgive him, and I do freely forgive him.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">At that exact moment Markham said he could feel the root of bitterness being pulled out. Joy began to fill his heart, his mind became unshackled and he sat down and wrote one of his most famous poems entitled, “Outwitted.”</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">He drew a circle that shut me out<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout,<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">But love and I had the wit to win,<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We drew a circle that took him in </span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Bitterness usually comes about for of one of three reasons.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">1. Because of what someone has said about us,<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">2. Because of what someone has done to us,<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">3. Because something has been taken from us.</span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Jesus talked about all three of these in His Sermon on the Mount. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In <b><i>Matthew 5:11</i> </b>He says:<b> “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.”</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In <b><i>Matthew 5:38-39</i> </b>He says:<b> “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.”</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In <b><i>Matthew 5:40</i> </b>He says:<b> “ And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.” </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Lord tells us clearly what we must do, however difficult it may be we have no choice but to get rid of our resentment and grudges and forgive as He forgave us. After all Jesus had every right to be bitter about the way He was treated and yet in His dying moments on the cross He said “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” How can we possibly not forgive. Let us seek the Lord so that we can truly say ‘Amen’ to the following prayer.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">From pettiness and that desire<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Which goads one to retaliate<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">With patience I would quench the fire<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Of vengeance, ere it be too late<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">And in defeat may I cast out<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The moods of envy and despair<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">And from my heart, Lord, I would rout<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">All bitterness. This is my prayer.</span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Lord, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Amen.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oIbCpy0CQEo" width="320" youtube-src-id="oIbCpy0CQEo"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author: Thelma Cameron</span></b></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-46835367361560573572024-01-20T20:19:00.000+00:002024-01-20T20:19:11.309+00:00How Do You Walk Out Your Faith?<p><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Abraham knew that if God said it, then it was, even if he couldn’t see it.</span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Hebrews 11:1</i></b> says <b>‘Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.’ (NIV).</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; font-size: large;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhh09lSyG2auX90D2wv16Ui1a0ApyY2tmWGEkex-_vwdCTXBL1gQDadLPAXjLdhp_Gfi2TsI7RhrSUsHcjz_QhoYswJ9nov6pSzALsspxFeNN007TL35tYmz6flWqvt7VD7brObwxNHpbQzHj1gQMFaM6bkzEKXVsY-6ez8nYgrcpbLodHc0QFCfFsXKMD/s406/Seek-and-Save-the-Lost-Do-You-Believe-God-website-pic.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="231" data-original-width="406" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhh09lSyG2auX90D2wv16Ui1a0ApyY2tmWGEkex-_vwdCTXBL1gQDadLPAXjLdhp_Gfi2TsI7RhrSUsHcjz_QhoYswJ9nov6pSzALsspxFeNN007TL35tYmz6flWqvt7VD7brObwxNHpbQzHj1gQMFaM6bkzEKXVsY-6ez8nYgrcpbLodHc0QFCfFsXKMD/s320/Seek-and-Save-the-Lost-Do-You-Believe-God-website-pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Seek and Save the Lost</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So how does this translate in our walk with God? Do we believe God when He makes clear what He wants us to do, and how do we demonstrate that?</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>James 2</i></b> tells us that it’s no good claiming we have faith unless it’s backed up by deeds.<b><i> Verse 14</i></b> says<b> ‘What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?</b> And <b><i>verse 18</i></b> says </span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">‘But someone will say, ‘’You have faith; I have deeds.’’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.’’</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">These scriptures and in particular chapter 4 of Romans have recently brought me to a decision that I can’t say I have faith in God unless I’m willing to believe Him and act on it, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">when He says He’s going to do something or makes it clear that He wants me to do something. W</span><span style="font-family: arial;">hich may be to physically do something or to take it back to Him in prayer as a starting point.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A good example of this is found in the book of Romans when Paul is talking about the faith of Abraham in chapter 4 which is what we will look at now. He starts this chapter by asking a question. <b>‘What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? <i>(Romans 4:1)</i></b> A good question, so what did Abraham discover and how did he demonstrate it? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Well for me the clue to this comes in </span><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">verse 17b-21</span></i></b> <b><span style="font-size: medium;">‘God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.’ </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">18</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">19</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">20</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">21</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.</span></b> <b style="font-size: large;"><i>(NIV).</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The key is in these words<b> ‘God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.’ Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed’ </b>and <b>‘gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Abraham knew that if God said it, then it was, even if he couldn’t see it. And against all hope he believed and because he not only believed but was fully persuaded that what God said would happen, because He had the power to make it happen, he gave Him glory. And the result was that God credited it to him as righteousness.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">There in lies the example to us, but how often do we walk in such faith and how often are we willing to proclaim to people that something has happened even when it can’t be seen?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Let me give you an example of this in way of my paraphrased testimony, and by doing so I know I may be putting everything on the line, but I can’t write this blog and not, at least, try to live it.</span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-family: arial; font-size: large; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXS0d77itQixExjvAgidNE0GEcivB6SWp7-j_KXT0P1T0jUmb_7NJKqHJdHX85MZrhzwOozl8OlTiJqy_9QkO9Rqd_KIf7iOCb85VDbd7RpwRl3gSUkQF-_Oq6RNPxmQOyXK2pOyJajvTL2jR34HZ8ZcbADLa6uuQh6d1g-vSFAGy4azZkwpgyANXbjzn/s640/Abraham.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXS0d77itQixExjvAgidNE0GEcivB6SWp7-j_KXT0P1T0jUmb_7NJKqHJdHX85MZrhzwOozl8OlTiJqy_9QkO9Rqd_KIf7iOCb85VDbd7RpwRl3gSUkQF-_Oq6RNPxmQOyXK2pOyJajvTL2jR34HZ8ZcbADLa6uuQh6d1g-vSFAGy4azZkwpgyANXbjzn/s320/Abraham.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Mountain Top Musings</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">At the beginning of May 2023 God clearly told me to treat Victory Hall in Castle Bromwich as a church plant, so I started to look at how I could do this. Since then, there have been a lot of ups and downs, twists and turns and a huge learning curve for me, but I now realise that God had a number of things to sort out first and also to get me to a point where I was ready to do it His way and His way alone. This includes God’s timing. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">You see when God gives a vision or instruction about something it doesn’t necessarily mean He wants it done straight away. Often there’s a preparation time, when you have to work out not only what God wants, but when He wants it done and how He wants it done.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">At the end of 2023 when all that I'd tried to do didn't work, I finally surrendered to God and admitted I hadn’t got a clue what to do or how to do it, so I gave it all back to Him. It was then that God started to move me and has brought me back to the place of realising that He alone is enough for me and I’m to walk this journey as though it’s already happened just like Abraham did. T</span><span style="font-family: arial;">his has released me to a place of freedom and peace.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">So, I’m giving glory to God and have started preparing Victory Hall for its first meeting of the church plant, believing that God has already called and equipped those He wants to bring along side me on this journey.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bottom line: we should walk as though what God has told us will happen, has happened, because He has the power to do what He says He will do, or what He has promised. As James puts it <b>’’Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.</b></span><b style="font-family: arial;">’’</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2 Corinthians 5:7</i></b> says <b>‘for we live by faith not by sight’. </b>Is this true of our lives?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I am fully aware that walking in this way will take courage, but what have we got to lose? Our reputation maybe? If that’s all then I believe it’s worth it, because Jesus lost a lot more than that for us. So I guess we need to ask ourselves, what are we willing to give up for him?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Let me finish with the scripture I started with.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>‘Now faith is <u>confidence</u> in what we hope for and <u>assurance</u> about what we do not see.’ <i>(Hebrews 11:1 NIV). (Underlines added).</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">May God give you courage and bless you with the confidence and full assurance that you can indeed trust Him and walk by faith not by sight. Amen.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BgWOcYpHm0o" width="320" youtube-src-id="BgWOcYpHm0o"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author: Kevin Hunt</span></b></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-43873493887768488202024-01-13T22:13:00.000+00:002024-01-13T22:13:23.371+00:00Understand and Know the Lord<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">The only acceptable boasting is in that we understand and know the Lord</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3a4Lmed2TZHLK5SQPigqQTMzJRMfAM1-Ftlcx3GxF8CLXlaDG-gNwaSJzjY1S_vUsNnuQqOWWdkDgocnwLUK5Gri-UQRXiEkpH6Vj2RXBmrYyHx5g7LSwk_bRuvOvP9aej-hU5Ux8Jx0fgOu3Zo4HGhn0dV7cBMarVJQHCydr_rz__LAiCxHUNriu2v5/s255/voice%20of%20God.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="197" data-original-width="255" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3a4Lmed2TZHLK5SQPigqQTMzJRMfAM1-Ftlcx3GxF8CLXlaDG-gNwaSJzjY1S_vUsNnuQqOWWdkDgocnwLUK5Gri-UQRXiEkpH6Vj2RXBmrYyHx5g7LSwk_bRuvOvP9aej-hU5Ux8Jx0fgOu3Zo4HGhn0dV7cBMarVJQHCydr_rz__LAiCxHUNriu2v5/s1600/voice%20of%20God.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">whomshallisend.blogspot.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Idolatry has consequences. God called on Jeremiah to pronounce devastation, destruction and deportation for the people who were supposed to have faithfully served him, but who had gone after other gods while still expecting deliverance from the Lord. (<b><i>Jeremiah 7</i></b>) This was the sin of syncretism, the mixing of religious practices and the validation of other beliefs which contradict biblical truth.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The parallels with our own nation are plain to see. We live in a post-Christian era, as even the church has embraced post-modern values in which truth is no longer absolute, individualism overrides family and community, morality is negotiable, sin is redefined, style is rated higher than content, hedonism supercedes service, consumerism replaces commitment, and woke culture denies us the authority to challenge.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Jeremiah calls it 'perpetual backsliding' (<b><i>8:5 ESV</i></b>). He fiercely denounces the 'whatever' culture, though perhaps reading between the lines we detect an answer of 'meh' from his people. 'Meh', popularised amongst modern teens on social media, expresses indifference, apathy and boredom, though the word originated in the yiddish language. It portrays the people of God sated and satisfied by what the world currently has on offer, while idly eyeing up the next novelty.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Jeremiah challenges us with an example from nature (<b><i>8:7</i></b>). The land of Israel has many species of migrating birds passing through, each of which knows their time and direction to fly. Here too we know that when the swallows arrive from Africa, back to the very same nesting spot, that spring has come, and when the field fares arrive from Scandinavia, that autumn is here. So even the birds know their times...'<b>but my people know not the rules (decrees/judgements) of the Lord.</b>' </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPXQIpmLb_Gybm0wxcYxmXGWeGKBayomxW_F9vc716W6PWql6Y-8QJ9tJjXkdJYDdJrcA7oAdKvLsR_mX6kDbJGBVH4V2BXoMLSESFKpprO54MY2jCrik-vK6HnFVQbwLnVR5DtGwe5KDpVdFX-GcDszkNG3mW88z17ngavJBypUTJ5Ryo686TqzlXiWn/s300/titus%202%2011.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPXQIpmLb_Gybm0wxcYxmXGWeGKBayomxW_F9vc716W6PWql6Y-8QJ9tJjXkdJYDdJrcA7oAdKvLsR_mX6kDbJGBVH4V2BXoMLSESFKpprO54MY2jCrik-vK6HnFVQbwLnVR5DtGwe5KDpVdFX-GcDszkNG3mW88z17ngavJBypUTJ5Ryo686TqzlXiWn/s1600/titus%202%2011.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">worldchallenege.org</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The prophet laments: '<b>The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.</b>' (<b><i>8:20</i></b>) Today through faith and by grace we have been saved, now included in the covenants of promise to Israel (<b><i>Ephesians 2</i></b>), and therefore we gentile believers also can and should know the rules, decrees and judgments of the Lord. <b>'For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.' (<i>Titus 2:11</i>)</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">So grace is no excuse for giving in to the influences of the world but rather instructs us how to reject and renounce them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">After yet more prophetic indictments through Jeremiah to a people who should have known the Lord's decrees, God gives a simple instruction:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practises steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” (<i>9:23-24</i>)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Boasting is literally giving praise to ourselves, so we are to shift that praise to the only One who could ever deserve it. The only acceptable boasting is in that we understand and know the Lord. In the original Hebrew (sakal) means to be given insight and comprehension, therefore to understand something of the nature and character of God, who He is and how He works. But this is not enough, we are also to let it be known that we know (yada) the Lord, and the form in which this word appears implies personal acquaintance. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Thank God for Jesus, who came that we might understand the ways of the Father through Him, and through whose life, death and resurrection we can have that personal relationship, living holy lives in the midst of a fallen world, in the power of the Holy Spirit.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BuKNg3NdiKc" width="320" youtube-src-id="BuKNg3NdiKc"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author: John Plumb</span></b></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-80152026851241068442024-01-06T22:03:00.000+00:002024-01-06T22:03:43.576+00:00Relax, rest and be renewed in God<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">What God ordains He sustains, we don't have to try and make it happen, because all things are in His hands, in this new year and forever</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJo1j71_mXvA7rBu2sO-MQW1WNdKtsa4Mow6HKE0UM9RLdhmcS-YIEj0lbAcurlA4szaZ7uvmU2kcvtKkoVIxSATiVqNRUnMTUeCHUqqr94ppiUi4aSV8V2fAdaFS2ggmu-3rV9XS3-8sJs5qMbx-8Jnz2waMXFzGYVDtWX3nj0LMBOUMYv2TFw6fkVy5H/s259/john%203%206.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJo1j71_mXvA7rBu2sO-MQW1WNdKtsa4Mow6HKE0UM9RLdhmcS-YIEj0lbAcurlA4szaZ7uvmU2kcvtKkoVIxSATiVqNRUnMTUeCHUqqr94ppiUi4aSV8V2fAdaFS2ggmu-3rV9XS3-8sJs5qMbx-8Jnz2waMXFzGYVDtWX3nj0LMBOUMYv2TFw6fkVy5H/s1600/john%203%206.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">steemit.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Flesh gives birth to flesh, but Spirit gives birth to Spirit.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">If we want to see God's promise fulfilled in our lives this year, we need to learn not to rush things or we might give birth to Ishmael. Ishmael was born because Sarah tried to accelerate/orchestrate events, by thinking she was helping God out. Because of that consequence in Genesis 16, the whole world has been living with this mistake ever since.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We must be led by the Holy Spirit in everything at all times. Be sure that our plans are born of God's Spirit and God's will, do not try to salvage anything that is flesh based.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">God said <b>My covenant will I establish with Isaac (<i>Genesis 17:21</i>), whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.</b> Isaac was born because of the result of God's will, done in God's way, in God's time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Jesus said in <b><i>John 3:6</i> "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but spirit gives birth to spirit".</b> Everything that is conceived in us comes from one of two sources. The flesh or the spirit. People will try to involve you in all kinds of schemes to rescue and promote yourself, be led by the Holy Spirit. <b><i>John 14:26</i> "but the helper the holy spirit whom the father will send in my name, he will teach you all things".</b> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxHovPNdSQJ_DcaeT2bGR6ShxsMOa3q9tGX0NHF816GXOQaKjgeVbblmgKYXaJo9tk9S7URA9_kOPBbkeHuXpNZPnslcdHBXGYsOpPfFOSPCbvjn6kKrBzttyXtoGl2yUCsCkJeyNZt9MPgmDPVDzRg_Y7z2TYRKteSi90K94eIrTGrLEq3QJS9SZUI89/s311/jeremiah%2029%2011.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="311" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxHovPNdSQJ_DcaeT2bGR6ShxsMOa3q9tGX0NHF816GXOQaKjgeVbblmgKYXaJo9tk9S7URA9_kOPBbkeHuXpNZPnslcdHBXGYsOpPfFOSPCbvjn6kKrBzttyXtoGl2yUCsCkJeyNZt9MPgmDPVDzRg_Y7z2TYRKteSi90K94eIrTGrLEq3QJS9SZUI89/s1600/jeremiah%2029%2011.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">dailyverses.net</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">God has a plan and a purpose for our life, <b><i>Jeremiah 29:11</i> "For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope".</b> For the time, and place, and seasons to bless us, because God will do whatever He says He will do and He never fails us. <b><i>Matthew 24:35</i> Jesus said "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away".</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">That is why, whenever satan attacks, we need to be able to point him to our spiritual birthplace and remind him that we were created in God's image, therefore we do not have to finish it. What God ordains He sustains, we don't have to try and make it happen, because all things are in His hands, in this new year and forever.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">So today know when God is dealing with carnality, pride or any obstacle in your path of life, do not get in His way. Let us surrender our life, and our will, and be obedient to God's will and purpose, and let the Holy Spirit guide and teach us, do not try and get ahead of him, but be in step with the spirit. We need to try less and trust more, too often we take God's presence for granted, as stated in <b><i>John 15:16</i> "You did not choose me, I chose you..."</b>. it's not God's job to follow after us, it is our job to follow Him, when we do we will find life in the spirit rewarding and fruitful, <b><i>Philippians 1:6</i> Being confident of this very thing that he who has began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">So this year let the Holy Spirit lead you in all things, relax and do not strive or struggle, the Lord will take you to good pasture.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">May the Lord bless you with a prosperous new year in all that you commit to him in spirit and in truth in Jesus name, Amen.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b7Hk3WFUMvo" width="320" youtube-src-id="b7Hk3WFUMvo"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author: Herbie Jean</span></b></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-8199550629501906942023-12-30T22:26:00.000+00:002023-12-30T22:26:53.600+00:00Start in me<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">I find that the answer to anything at all is – Holy Spirit please start in me</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMuGr-DNsN1dT_GuWv69WPvxEKBwSa0YW9eJC4AFHRIKcbB48BSHBCS5lW-XOQDFV3Jr8hDsh4KCCmF01UlfuS7qI_aBCObEM6HsE3yiejTqiqresA1o0Sza9kd03-mQ4wfHAwXKLdIl5hmfAY8YvMESqIVomQjZRWUrMkjxi5tL6Iqp1zn-dStINUwkS/s225/luke%204.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMuGr-DNsN1dT_GuWv69WPvxEKBwSa0YW9eJC4AFHRIKcbB48BSHBCS5lW-XOQDFV3Jr8hDsh4KCCmF01UlfuS7qI_aBCObEM6HsE3yiejTqiqresA1o0Sza9kd03-mQ4wfHAwXKLdIl5hmfAY8YvMESqIVomQjZRWUrMkjxi5tL6Iqp1zn-dStINUwkS/s1600/luke%204.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">pastorsings.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">There’s nothing like a few questions to get you examining yourself and thinking…I meet from time to time with a group of prisoners from a jail not too far from us and it can be a challenging experience. The first thing is the number and scope of questions that are asked, and the second is how penetrating they can be. The more that I participate in these conversations, the more humbled I am. Those asking the questions often want to find out what God is saying to them or to understand what is going on in the world from God’s point of view.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What did Jesus come to do?</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Luke 4:17-21</i></span></b><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Then Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath, he went as usual to the synagogue. He stood up to read the Scriptures and was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written: </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people.” </b></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. All the people in the synagogue had their eyes fixed on him, as he said to them, “This passage of scripture has come true today, as you heard it being read.”</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What did Jesus want us to do?</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>John 14:12-18</i>,</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> I am telling you the truth: those who believe in me will do what I do—yes, they will do even greater things, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask for in my name, so that the Father's glory will be shown through the Son. If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">“If you love me, you will obey my commandments. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever. He is the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God. The world cannot receive him, because it cannot see him or know him. But you know him, because he remains with you and is in you. “When I go, you will not be left all alone; I will come back to you. </span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What did Jesus say to the disciples when the crowd was hungry?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.” </b></span><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">He replied, “You give them something to eat.”</b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFp-DIiqrL9vC4BpwitPFrzRpFCfeblKtfQZFYIEVlSSHwyp3UPZlocFt5EIsOtAGbqbR-NPlHV4TAorGdFEO7clTm2KlZTKpn-fRW0blq3XbcqJZhyphenhyphenlhnsft55T1xUPQ_EyKVwteB7rFgIuUT_Zq9DvpqHTTL6Q0XyoUL32vNkNqYejXcq4kWd4EDznTU/s245/something%20to%20eat.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="245" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFp-DIiqrL9vC4BpwitPFrzRpFCfeblKtfQZFYIEVlSSHwyp3UPZlocFt5EIsOtAGbqbR-NPlHV4TAorGdFEO7clTm2KlZTKpn-fRW0blq3XbcqJZhyphenhyphenlhnsft55T1xUPQ_EyKVwteB7rFgIuUT_Zq9DvpqHTTL6Q0XyoUL32vNkNqYejXcq4kWd4EDznTU/s1600/something%20to%20eat.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">facebook.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I realize that this is a somewhat sketchy blog (parts of the story are missing for the sake of brevity) but the truth is that time and time again I find myself in the same place. No matter what my efforts might be without Jesus – without the Holy Spirit - I can do nothing. I can worry myself to death, I can work my fingers to the bone, I can spend all of the energy that I have trying to help others, but unless the Holy Spirit is involved it can be totally fruitless.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">If the Holy Spirit is not involved, I end up giving these young men bible studies or pat answers. If He is involved, He gets to the heart of a matter. So, I find that the answer to anything at all is – Holy Spirit please start in me…</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What is God’s answer to all of the problems in the world?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This, then, is how you should pray: </b></span><b style="font-family: arial;">“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. A</b></span><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">nd forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’</b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Where is the first place that this prayer needs to take effect? In me. Your kingdom come, Your will be done in me…without His rule in me how can His character be shown to others? Without His will being done in me how can I know how to hear the Holy Spirit prompting? How can I do what Jesus did? How can I be what Jesus wants me to be to others?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Why hasn’t God done anything about the world’s problems?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">He has – He has sent His people. Followers of Jesus are sent into the world to reveal God’s character, do His works and share His words. In this way the world will hear, and see and know what the Father is like, and understand and experience what He has done for them. Jesus constantly sought the face of the Father to know His will and therefore know what to do in the situations that He encountered, to glorify Him. Whether Jesus’ answer to people was “Yes” or “No” or “Not Yet” it always brought glory to the Father because that was His purpose. Without that yielding to the Holy Spirit and a focus and intention to glorify the Father come what may, our own efforts can become vague and purposeless and, in the end, although well-meaning and maybe very time-consuming, fruitless.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A prayer for the new year?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">These few imperfectly formed thoughts take me to a prayer for the New Year. It goes something like: “Holy Spirit please start in me. Lord, I know that means trying to find ways of spending more time in Your presence so that you can work on me and so that I can learn to hear You better and You can fill me more. Help me to be hungry for that time with You, so that people can see You in me, and I may do those things that You have already prepared for me to do and above all bring glory to Your name. Help me Lord because although this is what I want, I am inconsistent and weak in my determination to set the time aside to seek Your face”.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Here is a song link by Keith Green and an extract from the lyrics which are about the Lord “starting in me”: </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVgPQm06g2c</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Oh, Lord, You're beautiful, Your face is all I seek, for when Your eyes are on this child, Your grace abounds to me<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">I wanna to take Your word and shine it all around, but first help me to just to live it, Lord<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">And when I'm doing well, help me to never seek a crown for my reward is giving glory to You<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Oh, Lord, please light the fire, that once burnt bright and clear- replace the lamp of my first love, that burns with holy fear</span></span></i></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A seasonal offering with the same conclusion by Matt Maher can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW4c6DcxgGc</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">May the Lord bless us as we “start with Him” in 2024.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uVgPQm06g2c" width="320" youtube-src-id="uVgPQm06g2c"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author: Chris Pearson</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p></span></div>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-65111872084576960582023-12-23T22:02:00.000+00:002023-12-23T22:02:02.678+00:00The Gift of Christmas<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">May this Christmas be a time when we remember the greatest gift of all. A gift that never disappoints and one that constantly fills our hearts with joy and thanksgiving</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmYjhS1GNnq3vWgVKENBiO-4xaxyXIjK4smN0NDms7Ym50AAqAOVqxTw9fCiVWZn-ZXMyCVpdHsBgEGyeRxPCct5z6QtjhMcEHTb9x3j-2bRJjlAtcaahOD7uA4_eZXDIZ4TQVodDk1rfOYqmgi26LbA_gDEH1q9uDRsGsDlUmYYX2nrZ1BQERSALNWfr/s226/greatest%20gift.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="226" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmYjhS1GNnq3vWgVKENBiO-4xaxyXIjK4smN0NDms7Ym50AAqAOVqxTw9fCiVWZn-ZXMyCVpdHsBgEGyeRxPCct5z6QtjhMcEHTb9x3j-2bRJjlAtcaahOD7uA4_eZXDIZ4TQVodDk1rfOYqmgi26LbA_gDEH1q9uDRsGsDlUmYYX2nrZ1BQERSALNWfr/s1600/greatest%20gift.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">theconfidentmom.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As I have been thinking and mulling over what to write for this Christmas blog and unable to generate any (or limited) original thought my mind turned to the Gift of Christmas. Whether your reaction to the season is dread, delight or indifference I think it does us all good to remember and recall the greatest gift, given to mankind by the Triune God of the bible. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Certainly, disputes exist regarding the time of year of Jesus’ birth (the ‘when’ of His birth), however, the fact remains that He was born. This miraculous event, so significant, that it divides our history into two major epochs B.C. (Before Christ) or A.D. (Anno Domini ‘in the year of our Lord’, i.e. Christ) establishes, that at the centre of history stands the person of Jesus Christ. Even the more, dare I say, politically correct change to BCE (Before the Common (current) Era) and CE (Common (current) Era) and its supposed religious neutrality, what is it that makes, or explains the dividing line date? I leave that up to you to answer!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Many of us on Christmas morning are the recipients of a gift or two from loved ones. Over the years I am sure I am correct in saying some gifts have been enthusiastically and appreciatively received others perhaps less so. Some very desirous, practical and beneficial, others although aesthetically pleasing, their functionality and possible usefulness may be questioned. You all know the plethora of emotions you have felt over the years on receipt of gifts. Nonetheless the tradition of gift giving rests ultimately on the greatest and highest gift, which first came from God – His son. Therefore, let’s set aside the commercialised holiday of Christmas, that Western culture has deluged upon people, and turn attention to the supreme gift God has given the world.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The accounts of the birth stories in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, are very well known and the glorious theology of John’s prologue in his gospel is sheer beauty and are such wonderous gifts to us all. In addition, Paul in his letter to the Galations, succinctly records the good news of our greatest Christmas gift. In a short paragraph Paul sums up the theology, and beyond, of Christmas. It does us good to remember and remind ourselves exactly what that gift is.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>‘But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.’ <i>(Galatians 4:4-7 ESV)</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-JlMcp9_Kl-vA0AOMD36PwnUN0iXqkUPkMLrmuRv4mIq3BU8pwB_3YJI7YYvZ7RrrSI3TtwxVbiDgW8fyydC5yFMcfisu0GdktULGmJVkfLisIZk9vn4k00A_RkGi3wPLzQxKtp_GD2nyB5dsGZKFs-gX00aX4ISarBYHiJOgS6-luhB-rCY44b9o7Rt/s300/galatians%204%204.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-JlMcp9_Kl-vA0AOMD36PwnUN0iXqkUPkMLrmuRv4mIq3BU8pwB_3YJI7YYvZ7RrrSI3TtwxVbiDgW8fyydC5yFMcfisu0GdktULGmJVkfLisIZk9vn4k00A_RkGi3wPLzQxKtp_GD2nyB5dsGZKFs-gX00aX4ISarBYHiJOgS6-luhB-rCY44b9o7Rt/s1600/galatians%204%204.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">pinterest.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Everything about God’s gift was (and is) perfect. <b>‘But when the fullness of time had come’</b>…God sent His son at the right moment in human history when everything that had been ordained by God was in place. Scholars have debated the meaning of ‘fullness of time’ extensively and in detail. Some of the arguments highlight the anticipation, which was prevalent thinking amongst Jews at that time, of when Messiah would come. Roman oppression had made them hungry for His coming – if only to save them from such tyranny. Many knew the prophetic passages that their Scriptures spoke of in their ‘book’. They knew that centuries before, the prophets such as Moses, David, Isaiah had foretold of His coming. Expectancy was high, even if mingled with doubt and discouragement by some of this ever happening. Might these also be similar thoughts of believers today regarding His second coming?</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">On a practical note, Roman rule had undertaken extensive road building aiding travel and of course the spread of the Greek language, spoken throughout the Empire, facilitated trade but more importantly made it possible to communicate the future good news of the gospel.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">God ‘sent His son’; Paul clearly recognised the pre-existence of the Son. ‘Born of a woman…’ which acknowledges not only Jesus’ divinity but also his true humanity. Our Saviour was (and is) truly God and truly Man. ‘Born under the law to redeem those who were under the law’; our redemption required not only that Christ died for our sins, but that He lived a perfect, righteous life – to keep the law on our behalf something we cannot do because of the inheritance of the Adamic sin nature. But Jesus Christ made the way and His birth initiated God’s plan to save sinners.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>‘For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.’ <i>(1 Corinthians 15:21-22 ESV)</i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Surely this is gift enough. But no, Paul also states we are ‘adopted as sons’ – sons and daughters of The King. With sonship comes the right of inheritance. Ellicott’s (1971) bible commentary describes this as follows: <i>‘The admission of the believer into the Messianic Kingdom, with its immunities from sin and from law, implies an admission into the Messianic family, of which God is the Father and Christ the eldest Son – “first born among many brethren”.</i> What an inheritance. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It doesn’t stop here though! Not only are we ‘redeemed’, ‘adopted’ but also ‘indwelt’ with the gift of the ‘Spirit of God into our hearts’ for which we have the assurance of the rich reality that God has made for his children. We can open our hearts and cry out to Him as our Father and know we are received with great tenderness and delight. We are no longer a slave to fear, anxiety and concern that sin entraps us in but with the assurance of everlasting life through our Saviour Jesus Christ. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What a gift! May this Christmas be a time when we remember the greatest gift of all. A gift that never disappoints and one that constantly fills our hearts with joy and thanksgiving.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Warmest greetings to everyone who reads this short message. May you all have a Christmas time that is peaceful, joyful and blessed as we celebrate the greatest gift ever given.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R2Un5nwlL5w" width="320" youtube-src-id="R2Un5nwlL5w"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author: Irene Cherrill</span></b></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-81999329621606632292023-12-16T21:56:00.000+00:002023-12-16T21:56:41.040+00:00My Shepherd<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">His heart never stops beating with love for His church and He is always ready and willing to carry our burdens</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QN-HxYBQP8xObCZkHfjBUcxsGSzQ4FpP4i2fFNkhlS_tEUtTh9TkbIXyUhMAyYXrer8tep-drK5p3Tk_GdrSdYpfk6nGeENOYUiZzdjEB37OY-CdSEkVM8IfgabGCRkDvB6UIC4Ika76A5yQsWE3GTm_GiRnXU1qLf2CzpaqeAShu4k0FFe3NUbeOxl1/s259/micah%205.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QN-HxYBQP8xObCZkHfjBUcxsGSzQ4FpP4i2fFNkhlS_tEUtTh9TkbIXyUhMAyYXrer8tep-drK5p3Tk_GdrSdYpfk6nGeENOYUiZzdjEB37OY-CdSEkVM8IfgabGCRkDvB6UIC4Ika76A5yQsWE3GTm_GiRnXU1qLf2CzpaqeAShu4k0FFe3NUbeOxl1/s1600/micah%205.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I have been reflecting more and more lately on a fundamental truth which, I’ll be honest, so often escapes me, and I suspect, many of us, because it has become so embedded in our thoughts that we ignore it.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">That truth is: who Jesus is and what he does in our lives, day in and day out.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It is a truth that was included in scripture nearly 3000 years ago when the prophet Micah wrote: </span><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labour has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">And he shall be their peace. (<i>Micah 5:2-5 (ESV)</i>)</span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Our understanding of this has to start with our acceptance that we are no longer our own but, like sheep we need a shepherd. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In considering Jesus’ place in our lives, we should be continually asking ourselves; </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Does He have absolute supremacy, that of a King and a Shepherd?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">By supremacy, I mean that supremacy which the wise and tender shepherd exercises over his needy and loving flock; He commands and should receive our obedience, but it should be loving obedience, given freely and joyfully, when if we are honest about ourselves we know we often obey grudgingly after a lot of delay (Isn’t “I’ll pray about that” often our response and a means of delaying action?).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Do we recognise that Jesus’ reign is wholly practical?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Another translation of “shepherd” is “feed”. Jesus, as head of His church, actively provides for our needs. He is not a ruler who sits on His throne in state, He is totally ‘hands on’. He does everything we would expect of a shepherd; He feeds us, He guides us, He watches over us, He preserves us, He restores us, and He cares for us.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Do we appreciate that His reign is on-going?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRxpcxhFWajgKI7fChuSSOXwxDX3HCpPaMT4c5swMWGD3k4usxOWl2ZPylpQOpioGtpcA8x3K5b_8v2Pn5C-1EKbXY5pyk1vmuHZh231aXCCrZUtFqajsiUQPvoA9e0aSambqHxbRMN0rd0li8k4-EhnPR2kTdeXV8_I3yf6YvfJ47gfujhDgoGx7zqh1/s300/micah%205%20v4.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRxpcxhFWajgKI7fChuSSOXwxDX3HCpPaMT4c5swMWGD3k4usxOWl2ZPylpQOpioGtpcA8x3K5b_8v2Pn5C-1EKbXY5pyk1vmuHZh231aXCCrZUtFqajsiUQPvoA9e0aSambqHxbRMN0rd0li8k4-EhnPR2kTdeXV8_I3yf6YvfJ47gfujhDgoGx7zqh1/s1600/micah%205%20v4.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">idisciple.org</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The scripture says; “<b>And he shall stand and shepherd</b>” not “<i>He shall shepherd now and then and then leave</i>” not “<i>He shall give us a revelation of Himself one day and abandon us the next</i>”. Scripture tells us that His eyes never sleep, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">and His hands never rest. His heart never stops beating with love for His church and He is always ready and willing to carry our burdens.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Finally, have we accepted that Jesus does not reign alone?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">He reigns “<b>in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.</b>” </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Wherever Jesus is, God is there also. Whatever Jesus does is an act of Almighty God. The one who stands in intercession for us and lives within us, through the Holy Spirit, is “<i>God of very God</i>”, and one day every knee will bow before Him. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">When we give all these things their due place in our thoughts we shall “<i>dwell secure</i>” and “<i>He shall be our peace</i>”.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We should be overjoyed that we belong to a shepherd/king whose humanity connects with us and whose divinity protects and provides for us. We are left with no alternative but to bow down before Him and worship as the ‘sheep of His pasture.’</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">During lockdown, as a fellowship, encouraged by Pastor Kevin, we focused on the <b><i>23rd Psalm</i></b>;<br /></span><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> He makes me lie down in green pastures.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">He leads me beside still waters.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">He restores my soul.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.</span></b></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This beautiful Psalm says it all, really, but I have to confess, despite having said it and reflected on it almost daily during lockdown I can’t recall the last time I looked at it since then. How fickle my mind is. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">If you are like me, I pray you will be encouraged by the Micah passage and by the Psalm and that you will have a blessed week.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">(My gratitude goes again, to Charles Spurgeon for his daily reflection on the verse from Micah which I read in August and has been lying dormant since then)</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PLCM58m_w1Y" width="320" youtube-src-id="PLCM58m_w1Y"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author: Alan Cameron</span></b></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-53694691787818668622023-12-09T19:09:00.000+00:002023-12-09T19:09:38.799+00:00In Heavenly Armour<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">It is not our job to find solutions, it's our job to pray and let the Lord do the Heavy Lifting</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLPtHLCmlEK0Yc5mv-fVRjgcGeyPvwlc3bKZvgW-DZSRQvqopd1KFsCB7K1VpRkAJaUUWm4cuesuHAoGNNCoGNTTYP9GmjEgmrrtg7R-cwcXKR8D1zeUFVfJhIp0CXKm8CGFfsURq7xf9Qa1CWkxhbYQjrV2hyphenhyphenrobwa6ju5KAgye2B3eMCREshtjYLaje/s300/war%20room.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLPtHLCmlEK0Yc5mv-fVRjgcGeyPvwlc3bKZvgW-DZSRQvqopd1KFsCB7K1VpRkAJaUUWm4cuesuHAoGNNCoGNTTYP9GmjEgmrrtg7R-cwcXKR8D1zeUFVfJhIp0CXKm8CGFfsURq7xf9Qa1CWkxhbYQjrV2hyphenhyphenrobwa6ju5KAgye2B3eMCREshtjYLaje/s1600/war%20room.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">youtube.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Recently my mother-in-Law introduced us to the joys of the Antiques Road Trip programme on the TV whilst having a few meals at our house, and we really enjoyed it. We were thinking of something we could share with her that she would enjoy and remembered a film we had seen a good while ago and decided to show it to her. The film is a Christian film called The War Room, and it is well worth a watch. It is set in America and tells the story of a Christian family whose lives are falling apart, and a wife who meets an older Godly praying lady who is selling her house. A relationship builds between the ladies when the older woman introduces the younger to her favourite room in the house, a small closet room. The younger is astounded as the walls of the small room are covered with papers containing prayers and answers to prayer. What is this she asks? This is my war room, it’s in here I pray and see God answer is her reply. The rest of the film is about the younger woman establishing her own war room and the way the Lord moves in her marriage and life. A lovely film but it spoke to me again so much this week. I`d like to share some of the things the Lord spoke to me about through the film. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Firstly, make a time and a place to pray <b><i>Matthew 6:6</i></b> says <b>“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you” (NLT).</b> Now this might seem like an easy thing to do, but it takes time and determination to pray. You need to make time to be by yourself (not always the easiest thing to do in a busy house or a busy life) but however you do it, a small room or space in the house, a daily walk, or whatever works for you, clear time and space to pray; just you and the Lord. Shut the door behind you. If you’re in a room then use the physical door, close yourself in with the Lord or if not then shut the door to distractions (honestly the hardest thing I find, especially in this age of mobile phones they never cease with their enticement to just check something or text someone) or if finding space in the house is hard, go for a walk. Walk and talk with the Lord its good for the body and the soul! And your Father who sees everything will reward you. It takes time and practice but God is waiting for you to make the time and space and He will be there, waiting to meet you.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Secondly use the word of God as your strategy for prayer. Ask the Lord to give you promises and revelations from His word to pray over the people/ situations you are praying for. No General ever went into battle without a strategy, he would be called reckless and negligent to send his men into battle without a battle plan. God has given the battle plan through His word. We just need to ask the Holy Spirit how to use it. <i>“Lord please reveal to me today from your word how to pray and what to pray over these needs”.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Next takes notes of the meeting. When business meetings take place there is always someone taking the minutes (notes) of the meeting or people might forget the key points. I never used to make any notes of my prayer times with the Lord. But now I write down what I’ve asked for and what He has revealed to me through His word for my own growth and for prayer over situations. This not only reminds us of what we have prayed for but encourages us when we see the prayers answered. This encourages us to pray and be specific in our prayers.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">So now we are ready to pray! But it’s how to pray that is the question.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUetbGdRZD-lEZ0O5yHzU7AFFDJu0utuNAn39W6V8hjrZIAUKeelaBzWTmrAM6mvAZtEm_NqUL3ohuC_Km5SxAaGu-tS7T2iJle3voJ873iTTDo84wM23cuFAjcTXQ0bSOVyNU038wQB5VIvFc7vZI3_RKYVg5VkwCErtZWkGOo3mH9vFnPfuVA5la7Jbu/s225/Ephes%204%2016.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUetbGdRZD-lEZ0O5yHzU7AFFDJu0utuNAn39W6V8hjrZIAUKeelaBzWTmrAM6mvAZtEm_NqUL3ohuC_Km5SxAaGu-tS7T2iJle3voJ873iTTDo84wM23cuFAjcTXQ0bSOVyNU038wQB5VIvFc7vZI3_RKYVg5VkwCErtZWkGOo3mH9vFnPfuVA5la7Jbu/s1600/Ephes%204%2016.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">bible.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In the film the younger woman was asked to write down all the things about her husband and her marriage that was the problem. She filled 3 pages, but the older woman just ignored the list. When asked why she replied the list was the wrong list. It was full of bitterness towards her husband, and complaining about her unhappiness. The older woman explained that you can’t pray clearly out of bitterness. So, the first prayer was to repent of the bitterness, forgive her husband, and to ask the Lord to replace it with love. Ephesians gives really good guidance on this matter <b><i>Ephesians 4:26</i></b> <b>“Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry (hurt). For anger (hurt) gives a foothold to the Devil.</b> And <b><i>Verse 31</i></b> <b>Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behaviour. Instead, be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” (NLT)</b> This really spoke to me, bitterness can spring up over the most unexpected things, and if not dealt with can grow into a massive root and tree that blocks out all the sun of the Lord’s love. It can leave you feeling cold and hard and well just plain bitter! And you really can`t pray effectively out of bitterness. So, first step is to recognise and own the bitterness (honest it’s no good pretending with God) and repent. Ask the Lord to replace it with His love. It’s such a relief when he does, and then you can be in a better place to do battle for the person/situation.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The older woman then explained that the list was also wrong, as it sought to attack the person themselves. To list all their faults and behaviours and the results of the behaviours which was destroying her marriage and family life. She explained that to achieve victory and change we need to address the battle to the real source of the problem. <b><i>Ephesians 6:12</i></b> says <b>“For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (NLT).</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Now if we have been a Christian for a number of years we know this truth in our heads, but when we get overtaken with fear and emotion, we forget it. We start seeing the people/situation as the real enemy, and start to tell the Lord that He needs to put them right and how to do that. But I was so reminded that the battle is against the unseen world and the chaos that is being directed from there to disrupt our lives and rob us of our peace. So it is against these forces that we need to pray. We put on the armour of God to protect us, found in <b><i>Ephesians 6:10-11</i></b> <b>(“Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God`s armour so that you will be able to stand firm against all STRATEGIES of the devil.”) (NLT)</b> <b><i>Ephesians 6:13-17</i></b> list all of these. And <b><i>Ephesians 6:18</i></b> directs us to <b>“Pray in the spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere” (NLT).</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Then the older woman gave the younger woman one other priceless bit of advice. Go away and pray for your husband and family in this way, be repentant, forgive your husband and pray the word the Lord gives you over the situation, direct your prayers against the powers and authorities of the unseen world, and pray in the Spirit. She reminded her that it was not her job to sort out the problems, but to use Gods prayer (war) strategy to defeat the devils (war) strategy, and then thank the Lord in anticipation. Because it is not our job to find solutions, its our job to pray and let the Lord do the Heavy Lifting!!!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The film has been a great inspiration and tutorial for me this week. And as for the end of the story well………..You will have to watch the film to find out. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ir-XbtrgcRk" width="320" youtube-src-id="ir-XbtrgcRk"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author: Jan Pearson</span></b></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-23987585043946643592023-12-02T21:01:00.000+00:002023-12-02T21:01:04.244+00:00Ask for the ancient paths<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">The ‘olam’ (ancient) paths lead to ‘olam’ (everlasting) life. So let us fix our eyes on Jesus and walk in these ancient paths</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yk6T3cnQA4586wV5VgqnK1O0ClPzwq37P9eRacS-8FAL_nBNE3hH3my8lmF-9RkzMk-S8Nc-399URYDNjTt7FWtC9ZNSJYKRXkhf_jfxs7ewjGJbMJwujzAK5AaRs3RxsyIC6wsyuljHtFqLkEsFth_j5Jh_OHdBJYmT75J-qaFwPUA6h09uL_9E0LN8/s300/ancient%20paths.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yk6T3cnQA4586wV5VgqnK1O0ClPzwq37P9eRacS-8FAL_nBNE3hH3my8lmF-9RkzMk-S8Nc-399URYDNjTt7FWtC9ZNSJYKRXkhf_jfxs7ewjGJbMJwujzAK5AaRs3RxsyIC6wsyuljHtFqLkEsFth_j5Jh_OHdBJYmT75J-qaFwPUA6h09uL_9E0LN8/s1600/ancient%20paths.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">ironrosesister.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table>I do like to mull over a few thoughts for the blog for a week or two to try and get some sort sense of order. However my submission date has jumped out as a bandit on a simple soul. Remembering back to my short teaching career, I would try to prepare a short spiel about a topic but just stringing together a couple of sentences would seem to take the evening. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Anyway, last night as we were meeting together as MCF church, someone spoke a short exhortation which featured these words: <b>‘..Ask for the ancient paths..’</b> Some readers may recognise these words as from the prophet Jeremiah. We read in <b><i>Jeremiah (6:16)</i>: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.”</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What are these ancient paths, this good way? Is there a clue in the final clause, <b>‘and find rest for your souls’</b>? <b><i>Matthew’s gospel (11:28-29)</i></b> records Jesus saying these words: <b>“Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”</b> This open-handed invitation is made to all; saint and sinner, simple and sophisticated. Is this invitation the answer to our question? Could it be that the ancient paths lead us to Jesus? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ouZPZ6tIf6R0eBxkL9ccum79gF1VaCsNLzbJyxU7826hiO_ukGWwCn8i8wp5BKNLCYjAAvFbEXuOoJbqbbsBuPi7ev8r0s586gJKA7_lHaDnNi_XCyCsr108KF1bSiUVsAxSIOj8gar9kfBim46kLlyWS_nuxqgw6bOuyFzE10V-GPpuQmji_bxy45jf/s299/yolk%20is%20easy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ouZPZ6tIf6R0eBxkL9ccum79gF1VaCsNLzbJyxU7826hiO_ukGWwCn8i8wp5BKNLCYjAAvFbEXuOoJbqbbsBuPi7ev8r0s586gJKA7_lHaDnNi_XCyCsr108KF1bSiUVsAxSIOj8gar9kfBim46kLlyWS_nuxqgw6bOuyFzE10V-GPpuQmji_bxy45jf/s1600/yolk%20is%20easy.jpg" width="299" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">livingbulwark.net</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Perhaps we can learn a little more about the word translated ‘ancient’. In the Strong’s dictionary the Hebrew word is transliterated as ‘olam’ and has various meanings: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always. Most of the English bible translations use ‘ancient’ or occasionally ‘old’, but in a german translation that I sometimes read, it uses ‘Vorzeit- literally ‘before time’. Before time, takes us back to the biblical beginning, maybe the words at the opening of John’s gospel are appropriate: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Yes, Jesus the Word, as part of the God-head, created those ancient paths. According to <b><i>Proverbs chapter 3</i></b>, they are paths of peace, those who find them and walk in them will grow in wisdom and God’s favour. But Jesus also demonstrated how to walk in these ancient paths, even the ultimate path to the cross. The paths are not easy, as Jesus cried out in agonising prayer in the garden of Gethsemane: <b>‘not my will but yours be done’</b>. However, the ‘olam’ (ancient) paths lead to ‘olam’ (everlasting) life. So let us fix our eyes on Jesus and walk in these ancient paths.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fHvH7O1gDJs" width="320" youtube-src-id="fHvH7O1gDJs"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author: Richard Windridge</span></b></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p></div>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-7860595576462390932023-11-25T23:00:00.000+00:002023-11-25T23:00:55.810+00:00 The Solid Rock<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Jesus is the only stability we can have through life. He is the only sure thing.</b></span></span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCM9qq6ZjYsiuh3MNOtnZWTfb9upZyj1shhgzy5bNa4Mdh5jbBxtxwtGIuABI8-NZG1hg4K8JowOleuaVNjUXuP0HNd0Ar5eEjKsp8hEa7utELv9iMeaDSeR3KVFQRaObyUmBEFpWfrF4h3zWLjjbN6nXcb_jjTue5oVm6YjhF7Nvvok3tWl49WwAQPJU/s300/Solid%20Rock.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCM9qq6ZjYsiuh3MNOtnZWTfb9upZyj1shhgzy5bNa4Mdh5jbBxtxwtGIuABI8-NZG1hg4K8JowOleuaVNjUXuP0HNd0Ar5eEjKsp8hEa7utELv9iMeaDSeR3KVFQRaObyUmBEFpWfrF4h3zWLjjbN6nXcb_jjTue5oVm6YjhF7Nvvok3tWl49WwAQPJU/s1600/Solid%20Rock.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Biblia</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Some weeks ago, we were in a Primary School assembly, performing the parable of Jesus about a man who built his house on the rock. His house remained stable in a storm. Another man, who built his house on the sand had his house destroyed. In <b><i>Matthew 7</i></b> it says:</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">25</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">26</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">27</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I was standing there in the scene watching the story unfold, with these two grown men, wearing their one size fits all robes and their tea towels on their heads (actually our wardrobe is far more sophisticated than that but you get the picture), standing behind cardboard houses, acting out this story for the children, making them laugh in places, making them be the sound of the wind and the storm in other parts, when it suddenly occurred to me how important it is to build our life on the firm foundation that is Christ Jesus. I have read and heard this story many times over the years but this time it hit home.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Jesus is the only stability we can have through life. He is the only sure thing. We are tossed around by every type of storm not only in our own lives but also the world around us seems to be getting worse and worse every single day. Without our Solid Rock we could go under. Our lives could go crashing down, but if we choose to stand on the firm foundation that is Jesus, we can have love, joy, hope and peace no matter what circumstances we are facing and no matter what we read in the newspaper or hear on the news.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">‘On this the Solid Rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.’</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">There are many references to The Rock in the Bible, none more beautiful than David’s song of praise in <b><i>2 Samuel 22</i></b>: <b> He said: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;3my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my saviour—from violent people you save me.”</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This passage has come from David’s personal experience. David knew God’s deliverance first hand on many occasions. He also used this same name for God in many of the Psalms. He knew the Lord’s refuge in his times of trouble. We, too, can have that same refuge if we cling to Him and trust only in Him, our Rock of Ages. Jesus our Rock grounds and stabilises us. Even when the waves crash around us, He is our firm foundation and our true hope, a hope that the world cannot give.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We can be thrown around by every type of storm of life. Inflation, interest rates, job losses, money worries, family problems, health crises, broken relationships and many other circumstances can all bring us down if we are not careful. Only when we have built our house on the rock, is there stability. As the world appears to be getting worse in countless ways we need to hold on tight to that Rock.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“We have an anchor that keeps the soul,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Fastened to the Rock that cannot move,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Grounded firm and deep n the Saviour’s love.”</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Charles Spurgeon is quoted as saying: “I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me against the Rock of Ages” </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Wow!! I am not sure I have got there yet. It is hard to to rejoice in our trials but <b><i>James 1:2-3</i></b> says this:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">3</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It is difficult to literally be thankful and joyful in the problems we face and we cannot easily have an outward appearance of joy no matter what befalls us but we must trust the Lord, that everything works for the good of those who love Him and put our trust in Him. If we can let the waves of our suffering throw us against the Rock, then we can have a deep-seated joy and peace that passes all understanding.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul” </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">However, not everyone wants to build their house on the rock. Some people will stumble and fall against it. <b><i>Isaiah 8:14</i></b> says prophetically about Jesus that He is:<b> a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.</b></span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9K_KpD7U2DBcKb5PjeLF_Ifj7T4ObJ287UlDz6i12VLiIjQ53aVLE9jRnShncejfjyJVMejZBNJaZ-dHQaxcexbO6pmROZ1Zi7hvkzVztD3QN1uthKEfv63Z7yPnB6JMm_7rb8FmwiQ9rDQlzx9kQtM_au9htLz1F1vpJigALtfbJj83w3v7JKt-8vkRT/s259/Jesus%20the%20Stone.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9K_KpD7U2DBcKb5PjeLF_Ifj7T4ObJ287UlDz6i12VLiIjQ53aVLE9jRnShncejfjyJVMejZBNJaZ-dHQaxcexbO6pmROZ1Zi7hvkzVztD3QN1uthKEfv63Z7yPnB6JMm_7rb8FmwiQ9rDQlzx9kQtM_au9htLz1F1vpJigALtfbJj83w3v7JKt-8vkRT/s1600/Jesus%20the%20Stone.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Knowing Jesus</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">There are several references in the Bible to the fact that <b>“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”</b> The teachers of the Law in the time of Jesus rejected Him as their Messiah even though they were with Him and saw His miracles. Instead, they were more interested in accusing Him of breaking the Sabbath rules rather than being amazed and pleased about His ability to heal. Still today many people have rejected the Cornerstone and it will cause them to stumble. The Bible is black</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> and white not grey. There is no such thing as “many paths lead to God”. There is only one way. People are offended by this in society today but the word of God is quite clear. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Some time ago in a ladies’ meeting someone had a picture that has stayed with me. It was a rock standing in the middle of the sea with waves crashing around it. On the rock were the Christians and floundering in the stormy sea were the none Christians. The Christians were bending and struggling to pull up onto the rock those who were fighting for their life in the water. It made me think that there is no point, as Christians, to be content to be on the firm foundation when there are those around us needing help and guidance to find their way onto the Solid Rock.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As we stand on the Solid Rock let us tell others that they too can stand with us. Let us try to make them understand that their hope can only be in Jesus.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">My hope is built on nothing less,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Than Jesus' blood and righteousness</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">And I dare not trust the sweetest frame,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">But wholly trust in Jesus name.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">On this the Solid Rock I stand All other ground is sinking sand. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZP5qScuFUGI" width="320" youtube-src-id="ZP5qScuFUGI"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author: Thelma Cameron</span></b></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b> </span></p>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-71986197055067364812023-11-18T22:10:00.000+00:002023-11-18T22:10:11.568+00:00Worship - A Life of Surrender<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Even when our troubles seem like a prison sentence that has no end, there is one, because God is always there on the case for us, we just have to trust Him.</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; font-family: arial; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqv5ATB8eKAmDHByKdQiWo1KQ4n45Z2pxMsCpceEw29R0jEd48g4nFYvD54V2dWylhNj_N64LxZryJ9x9myY58lvyZac88n7KINlPzzjQwaollOGJUumefWe6FufpkDsqh5daMUj-B7cicwl32G6zL9wRU_D4d2tVBiK564slffPAThz_r6fuN0SVUurt/s300/WORSHIP.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqv5ATB8eKAmDHByKdQiWo1KQ4n45Z2pxMsCpceEw29R0jEd48g4nFYvD54V2dWylhNj_N64LxZryJ9x9myY58lvyZac88n7KINlPzzjQwaollOGJUumefWe6FufpkDsqh5daMUj-B7cicwl32G6zL9wRU_D4d2tVBiK564slffPAThz_r6fuN0SVUurt/w364-h204/WORSHIP.jpg" width="364" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Navigation Church</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">One of the things I love more than anything, is worship. When I praise God through singing, I really feel moved and connected to my faith. A powerful song is one written in a way that really helps you to reflect upon and engage with all the amazing qualities of our Lord, that makes you remember how much you love and trust Him.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This week the song 'battle belongs' was on my mind, so I stuck it on in the background. It immediately encourages a reflection of how when we see the difficulties of life, the battles, the obstacles, God is looking at the victories, the movement of those obstacles, because He is not trapped in an emotional troubled state, but can see what is beyond it. Even when our troubles seem like a prison sentence that has no end, there is one, because God is always there on the case for us, we just have to trust Him.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The chorus of the song is a big eye opener and challenge, it says "when I fight, I fight on my knees, with my hands lifted high, oh God the battle belongs to you" it is so crucial when times get tough, to start there. On our knees. Arms high, giving it over to God and trusting that He will fight on our behalf. Because we can't do it alone, there is no victory there. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Look at how many times people in the bible thought they could do it in their own strength and the result was an overwhelmingly disappointing failure. The bible is full of examples where God brought about victory in the most unlikely of situations (like when Gideon defeated the Midianites army with just 300 men in <b><i>Judges</i></b></span><b style="font-size: large;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 107%;"><span>7:22</span></span></i><span><sup><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"> </span></sup><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">When
the three hundred trumpets sounded,</span> the <span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span></span> caused the men throughout the camp to turn
on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as
the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath</span></b><span style="font-size: large;">, or Jonathan and his armour bearer taking on the Philistines in </span><b style="font-size: large;"><i>1 Samuel 14:12-14 </i></b><span><b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armour-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.” </span><span class="text 1Sam-14-12" style="font-size: large;">So Jonathan said to his armour-bearer, “Climb up after me; the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span> has given them into the hand of Israel.” </span><span class="text 1Sam-14-13" id="en-NIV-7522"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">13</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armour-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armour-bearer followed and killed behind him.</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span class="text 1Sam-14-14" id="en-NIV-7523"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">14</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">In that first attack Jonathan and his armour-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre).</span></span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-family: arial; font-size: large; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFb8oNPb5PEt6r9xSwpWc1xfyYd11523yJRDt1quS-CQQwOdesfZ8ZoWElxvwTQ3zOTWJZBXrX5i2mnYY35mtqMnq4Y53mMF5G8JzpdyGk24XSPjJv-yJEOVPP0jqFE-xwO_ncBp9rEtEJaoFe__M4g-DtrB28gFAQSYUFIhdEFzq0eUY2aZ1EQb3qgkl_/s290/David.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="290" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFb8oNPb5PEt6r9xSwpWc1xfyYd11523yJRDt1quS-CQQwOdesfZ8ZoWElxvwTQ3zOTWJZBXrX5i2mnYY35mtqMnq4Y53mMF5G8JzpdyGk24XSPjJv-yJEOVPP0jqFE-xwO_ncBp9rEtEJaoFe__M4g-DtrB28gFAQSYUFIhdEFzq0eUY2aZ1EQb3qgkl_/s1600/David.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">If I Walked With Jesus</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">And He used the most unlikely of people (like David and Saul who were the least in their family/clan) to enable us to get a sense of just how incredible He is and if we trust in that, we will be okay.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">So, when life is troubling and difficult or hope seems lost, let's start by getting on our knees, lifting our arms to the most amazing Lord of Lords and hand the situation over.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">That isn't easy, especially given we are human and prone to wanting to see results immediately, to have things our own way, to be in control. But if we don't make every effort to keep giving it over to God, we will just end up with overwhelmingly disappointing failure. There is hope in this increasingly dark and depressing world, His name is Jesus!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Proverbs 3: 5-6</i></b></span></p><p><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">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.</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qtvQNzPHn-w" width="320" youtube-src-id="qtvQNzPHn-w"></iframe></div><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></b><p></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author: Rebekah Cronk</span></b></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-9727923498845652122023-11-11T22:05:00.002+00:002023-11-11T22:05:53.901+00:00All things work for good<p><span style="color: red; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>It is the trials and sufferings of life that draw us closer to Him when we truly cry out to Him</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Y5SttYFBybF0exycz5hBwXt7UC6-OAOa3Jc1p9rnTLAj3mGXj1pOoI8OkcVFDMCtVmt9t1Sq8UHm84tLp8p54kTmvaRfCZSh8pUrCndU0tgmgmP08SfBuND3v6_mmahBpDo-9sL0t9R629G6V790e7rs31hkXbKPfL4RMPmrdzsyxOnxT2aEEDsx1r-g/s259/romans%208%2028.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Y5SttYFBybF0exycz5hBwXt7UC6-OAOa3Jc1p9rnTLAj3mGXj1pOoI8OkcVFDMCtVmt9t1Sq8UHm84tLp8p54kTmvaRfCZSh8pUrCndU0tgmgmP08SfBuND3v6_mmahBpDo-9sL0t9R629G6V790e7rs31hkXbKPfL4RMPmrdzsyxOnxT2aEEDsx1r-g/s1600/romans%208%2028.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">zondervanacademic.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>All things work for good, <i>Romans 8:28.</i> </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">How quickly we use this verse to placate ourselves or others to encourage and bless in times of difficulty. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Nothing wrong with that but let’s not take it out of context and look at the whole verse.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We …that is those of us who follow Jesus… know …it is fact. All things, all circumstances, all the troubles and cares of our lives together are intended to do us good as God works out His plans for each of us. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The world says how can this be? Surely God is love? Why does He let bad things happen? A huge question with no easy answers but I hope that your testimony agrees with mine. It is the trials and sufferings of life that draw us closer to Him when we truly cry out to Him.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This is one of the very first verses I was given as a new Christian in very testing circumstances and to this day I honour the church leader who (I think bravely) spoke it out over myself and my husband. Our newborn daughter was dying, I came to faith during my pregnancy and met Jesus for the first time through His Word and the guidance of the above church leader. I believe too that I was prayed into The Kingdom through the prayers of the church family I had just joined. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Our baby lived for two weeks and in that roller coaster time of emotions and dashed hopes God was truly my Rock. He was already working for good in my heart, giving me His supernatural strength and showing me His love. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9vzLdbDN3Embsk8XwH1lHzmBjkAvndeS_ZLQyGB61a6OMHA9gH6wcgkzBlnLReFz9P80e2OXQ8I1haxCrVxvRgWeCmCx6vxhxES4rTJyRPT7VlJB6DFloZEIKzsNUssfw3uPrye5k8FlFanoyGbpanjKjD4xJh6o3ujhTKl3Kss8CMHCpJltg6DS5YDX/s275/psalm%2093%204.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9vzLdbDN3Embsk8XwH1lHzmBjkAvndeS_ZLQyGB61a6OMHA9gH6wcgkzBlnLReFz9P80e2OXQ8I1haxCrVxvRgWeCmCx6vxhxES4rTJyRPT7VlJB6DFloZEIKzsNUssfw3uPrye5k8FlFanoyGbpanjKjD4xJh6o3ujhTKl3Kss8CMHCpJltg6DS5YDX/s1600/psalm%2093%204.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">etsy.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We talk about “the storms of life” and there are many scriptures describing the reality of these times and God’s presence through them. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">One such verse that speaks right into my experience is, </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Psalm 93:4</i> Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the seas, the Lord on high is mighty.</b></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As I was beyond prayer at this time God showed me a simple picture of a little dinghy without a sail being tossed about on a pitch dark stormy sea. I was on that boat desperately clinging on to the mast, it was all I had. God was that mast, with me right in the centre of that storm. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Of course when she died we still grieved and had to deal with our empty arms and empty cot but with a new found joy and comfort that only God can give. He used it for good as my husband came to faith too through this experience. We can both now testify to the hope we have in Him and the joy of knowing we will be reunited for eternity with our daughter. God truly removed the sting of death replacing our loss with His peace. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the early weeks of grief that followed a kindly neighbour spoke to me with that awkwardness that so often accompanies the subject of death. Asking how I was doing she stated how unfair it was as “we were such a lovely family”. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, I think I gave her some sort of reply to the effect that life seems unfair but God isn’t and what made us so special that it shouldn’t have happened?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Like most of us there have been countless more trials in our family over the years. Cancer, heart attack, redundancy, failed relationships and broken hearts. Each one a testimony of God’s faithfulness to hold our hands and carry us through, drawing us close. Each one with stories of His provision too many to mention here. The hope we have in Him covering all and working for our good as we who are called love Him and seek to follow Him. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IK5lBCPUlg4" width="320" youtube-src-id="IK5lBCPUlg4"></iframe></div><p><br /></p><div><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author: Margaret Riordan</span></b></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p></div>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-12940945265292993292023-11-04T21:53:00.000+00:002023-11-04T21:53:39.096+00:00World Peace?<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Real peace among humans can only be achieved when people first make peace with God</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFqUU_B3mkHi9C5N9gYr6zQdhjrkG6L0h3v0DZKdrvYDioxHGJYhUkWZw4FZl3JdqwDIb9whXkKTsz4-HB6roYTd8gT2zUDFrltdAN5fx94rqh4Q7ntlK5TzVU-RqQnvz36xjCfXXUx8uwqX7ZjBvUyIQFXXxLKtr0ysts4EwsMD5SjQNaXI8kvn9b2ak/s225/Isaiah%20Peace.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFqUU_B3mkHi9C5N9gYr6zQdhjrkG6L0h3v0DZKdrvYDioxHGJYhUkWZw4FZl3JdqwDIb9whXkKTsz4-HB6roYTd8gT2zUDFrltdAN5fx94rqh4Q7ntlK5TzVU-RqQnvz36xjCfXXUx8uwqX7ZjBvUyIQFXXxLKtr0ysts4EwsMD5SjQNaXI8kvn9b2ak/s1600/Isaiah%20Peace.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">hereadstruth.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Peace is a basic human need (though not a human right). Without it we cannot rest, nor can we work effectively; it is vital for our health. Peace is the essential ingredient for humans co-existing, for being together and functioning together. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Through Isaiah the Lord makes an offer: <b>"Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the Lord, “and I will heal him."</b> Then he says <b>"There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” (<i>Isaiah 57:19-21</i>)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Spiritualists tell us to 'visualize world peace', but at a human level you might just as well 'visualize whirled peas' (not my pun). I would go so far as to say that 'world peace' is an oxymoron. A godless world is incapable of peace and will always tend to greed for power resulting in oppression, conflict and annihilation. The evidence? - world history.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">'The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths; </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">they have made their roads crooked; no one who treads on them knows peace.' (<i>Isaiah 59:8</i>)</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2z03iQMrZur1KoIRMyLLU1CqZ4RCnR5OhIiH2t4GQ9l1kk4Ge-WytD5BYBJSbmAU6h2l5zSZfUh3py8UesMotzgNHkOFP0tuQyu1b9b9dJu-YPslX4kMSi470WPfqJFnvSl-sb1mGGCgif_hc-h22kGXJPr3mQItX7JtpZqkSvbXO2smnr1e1rd_B3Dy/s225/luke%2012.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2z03iQMrZur1KoIRMyLLU1CqZ4RCnR5OhIiH2t4GQ9l1kk4Ge-WytD5BYBJSbmAU6h2l5zSZfUh3py8UesMotzgNHkOFP0tuQyu1b9b9dJu-YPslX4kMSi470WPfqJFnvSl-sb1mGGCgif_hc-h22kGXJPr3mQItX7JtpZqkSvbXO2smnr1e1rd_B3Dy/s1600/luke%2012.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">bibleportal.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Even Jesus said: <b>'Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.' (Luke 12:51)</b> Jesus was correctly predicting that tribes and nations would fight as much over religion as they do over resources, and that persecution over creed would override even family cohesion.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Jesus came to offer a different kind of peace, one that the world could not understand. He knew that real peace among humans could only be achieved when people first make peace with God. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">On the eve of his crucifixion he made this promise to his disciples: <b>'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.' (<i>John 14:27</i>). </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This peace is not only available to each one of us but is a biblical command delivered through Paul: <b>'And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.' (</b><i><b>Colossians 3:15</b></i><b>)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The word 'rule' (Gk brabeuo) is best translated 'to act as referee'. In the recent Rugby World Cup the referee would confidently stand between two huge opposing prop-forwards, knowing that he has the authority to send off aggressive players. In the same way the peace of Christ is the authority that drives out the fear and anxiety that world events would instil in us. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As we lament over the cruel and tragic loss of life and well-being in Israel and Gaza, in Ukraine, and in many other wars across our troubled planet, we know that peace will only come when the Prince of Peace returns to the very spot from where he ascended, just outside Jerusalem.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Meanwhile we can know peace, not as the world gives, but the peace of Christ ruling in our hearts, sharing that peace with the church - the 'one body'. The peace of Christ drives out fear and panic from our hearts. No wonder we can be thankful.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Shalom</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BX_50AERr8M" width="320" youtube-src-id="BX_50AERr8M"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author: John Plumb</span></b></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p><div><br /></div>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-31372640736460018362023-10-28T21:43:00.002+01:002023-10-28T21:43:36.552+01:00Pray without ceasing<p><span style="color: red; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>When two of you get together on anything and make a prayer of it, our Father in heaven goes into action</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNjUo0WkwCW7dllE7PEQrzNznz1ekCHOpAUD28t-oR8eJndb927N6k-N45c6Ikfa-VuiTTVXhTL49ejt7LU8JUdDFrMwC8HK7m6JFKW6wJFL6vh1XS1vRaqasLZZeCw5OI9jQDaTHF5AB6HA4AqaRW-NTX3uI-_na-1uGLOzqUrK8bVSmE8zkD5dqPjl6/s300/mark%2011.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNjUo0WkwCW7dllE7PEQrzNznz1ekCHOpAUD28t-oR8eJndb927N6k-N45c6Ikfa-VuiTTVXhTL49ejt7LU8JUdDFrMwC8HK7m6JFKW6wJFL6vh1XS1vRaqasLZZeCw5OI9jQDaTHF5AB6HA4AqaRW-NTX3uI-_na-1uGLOzqUrK8bVSmE8zkD5dqPjl6/s1600/mark%2011.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">worldchallenge.org</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In current world events it's all the more apparent that we should wholeheartedly be in constant daily communication by talking/praising/praying to our Father God as it was for this purpose He made us. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">When we pray God works. Everything about prayer/talking to God is truly amazing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">God listens when we pray. <b><i>Mark 11:24</i></b> says, <b>"therefore I say to you whatever things you ask, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As redeemed people we have the greatest privilege imaginable - access to the control centre of the universe, (creator - God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, <b><i>Genesis 1:26</i></b>) yet we rarely use it as we should, and our lack of prayer saddens God. Through the prophet Ezekiel God lamented <b><i>Ezekiel 22:30</i> "So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall and stand in the gap before me on behalf of the land that I should not destroy it, but I found no one."</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In <b><i>Genesis 18:22</i></b> when Abraham heard that Sodom and Gomorrah were going to be destroyed, he did not rush to warn the people of the cities. No he chose to (remain) standing before the Lord. So are we today intentionally standing before the Lord for our nation and others.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Exodus 32:7-14</i></b> when God said the golden calf warranted a nationwide death penalty for Israel, Moses interceded and stood before God and saved the nation. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i></i></b></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSlm8glibxC6UW4O6tMFbXuu3CjZZ8o1XXtpg0lVSad1y4rIYKeHpHgnsfMNXB47HQoS706WVvJPHlUllqvHEJuqDvzzqSRzia-8Yt9c_qEFAkpKLT8xfTQREwV2wienPhiqTIiLwNYECNJ7L33T7XXG7PftIM15nm1kS2-fcblYX2dXk6cLfV5w2pB-A/s225/psalm%20106.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSlm8glibxC6UW4O6tMFbXuu3CjZZ8o1XXtpg0lVSad1y4rIYKeHpHgnsfMNXB47HQoS706WVvJPHlUllqvHEJuqDvzzqSRzia-8Yt9c_qEFAkpKLT8xfTQREwV2wienPhiqTIiLwNYECNJ7L33T7XXG7PftIM15nm1kS2-fcblYX2dXk6cLfV5w2pB-A/s1600/psalm%20106.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">biblepic.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Psalms 106:29-31</i> They provoked him (God) to anger with their deeds and the plague broke out among them an obscure priest by the name of Phinehas stood up and intervened before God and the plague was stopped and that was accounted to him for righteousness to all generation forevermore.</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Why should we place such a premium on prayer? Simple, because when we pray, God works, scripture attaches breathtaking power to prayer. When two of you get together on anything and make a prayer of it, our Father in heaven goes into action, according to <b><i>Matthew 18:19-20</i></b>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">God places prayer as a priority in our Christian walk. Pray without ceasing, pray continually in everything with prayer and supplication. Pray in the spirit at all times, pray with gratitude and thanksgiving</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I recently went to hospital to have a hip replacement. I can tell you that I felt so assured and confident going through the operation knowing my family, brothers and sisters in the Lord were praying for me. I remember walking to the theatre with a nurse on my left side, and the words that came to me was in <b><i>Isaiah 41:13</i> "For I the Lord your God will hold your right hand saying to you fear not I will help you"</b>. All went well according to His will and purpose. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The first thing I remember seeing when I woke up, was a clock, which reminded me that our time is in God's hands. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Let us remember God doesn't move by our eloquence, or multiplicity of our words. He's moved by a heart that tells Him of all our concerns of the day to the power of a God who can. Can what? Can do whatever we have the faith to believe Him for. <b><i>Mark 11:24 (nkjv)</i> Jesus - therefore I say to you whatever things you ask when you pray believe that you receive them and you will have them</b>. Our confidence in prayer is not only based on our ability to speak, but on God who is the great "I am". He knows what you are trying to say. We either daily pray/talk to God, or continue/hold on to worrying. What we give to God He handles what we keep we handle.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Spiritually when everything is going out and nothing coming in we collapse under the weight of it all. Is that where you are today? If so prayer is the answer, it restores what life depletes, when we pray we are saying Lord, I believe you're more able to deal with this, than I can, and I trust you and put everything in your hands. When we pray that way, the surgery you dread, your children, your finances and anything that concerns you are in his hands. God is ready to intervene on our behalf. Just pray from your heart, <b><i>Psalm 37:5</i> commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass</b>. May the Lord bless you and give you His peace.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TAyaXdvvbGU" width="320" youtube-src-id="TAyaXdvvbGU"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author: Herbert Jean</span></b></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-12526446273618083442023-10-21T22:34:00.000+01:002023-10-21T22:34:01.537+01:00Mary has chosen…<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Turn to Jesus, seek out the gospel and be obedient to it as soon as possible</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJdMzJLy6zGTMBnqNWBJTwofLIu243xGGuPI7JiIOh7LvJDkmJ-a6sDxH3FIF-DOtYtntXt-RgUtq8FRPNM0fF15P-hRURGYNKeIBGrUaV1kBWkvwUQAA-JyibGC2WXw1ZWLSfvQTMKcxMWFzaKu4WR7rC78o1_0gbMU97xoY5Q1GRPIKYl9_72j706WB/s245/psalm%2090.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="245" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJdMzJLy6zGTMBnqNWBJTwofLIu243xGGuPI7JiIOh7LvJDkmJ-a6sDxH3FIF-DOtYtntXt-RgUtq8FRPNM0fF15P-hRURGYNKeIBGrUaV1kBWkvwUQAA-JyibGC2WXw1ZWLSfvQTMKcxMWFzaKu4WR7rC78o1_0gbMU97xoY5Q1GRPIKYl9_72j706WB/s1600/psalm%2090.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">pinterest.co.uk</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It has been said that no one on their death bed says “I wish that I had spent more time in the office”. <b><i>Psalm 90:12</i> says: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”</b>. Commentators interpret this verse variously, but in its context, it urges us to understand how quickly time passes and to draw wisdom from that understanding. When we are say, 20, the course of life seems to stretch out before us with time for everything - but when we are 70 we understand that the time has passed swiftly by and we have had, had time for so little. If we have had children they have grown up in the “bat of an eye”, the things that we could do we cannot do so well or so quickly, and maybe some of the things that we wanted to make time for we just didn’t? No wonder the bible says in <b><i>Ecclesiastes 12:1</i>: ‘Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”’</b>… </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We understand that the preacher in Ecclesiastes is urging his audience to make time to find their Creator God, the Father of us all, as soon as possible in their lives. If heeded this appeal means that our lives can be aligned with His purposes from an early age bringing many benefits with it and avoiding the futility that is described throughout the book. The message to those who do not know the Lord is clear – turn to Jesus, seek out the gospel and be obedient to it as soon as possible.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I have reflected on this verse recently myself though, in a similar but slightly different context. My baptismal verse was <b><i>Psalm 27:14</i>: "Wait on the Lord be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart; wait I say on the Lord”</b>. I have been conscious through my life since I was baptized when I was 11 of this verse and thought to set time aside for precisely that – to wait on the Lord. I was brought up in the era of Pentecostal “waiting meetings” which then became “receiving meetings” where people would just gather in a room and ask the Lord to baptize them with the Holy Spirit, give them a fresh in-filling, use them in different spiritual gifts or just bask in the Lord’s presence. There was such an expectation and faith for the Holy Spirit to move. As a boy I was quite scared by it because even at a young age I realized this is where people met and did business with God. When people were born again, the next week they were in one of these meetings. They waited until the Holy Spirit was poured into them and they usually spoke in tongues.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpNL0nv8zR1nT2S8i_1n88-C4GW6Jy1OED3Z60PSMIAcVZJGU1zs881uVSHkofO_Eg57g7VhRcCPKjjao9NXySYz26hGIOnMu8tBB4ETzhcFjXaU3ZEWK0FkQvHyrgu6glfhDm6b8L5V0Qa5tPw9r3GiEWEJna34CIWsggyo4hSgiDrTLzlq-UUo2A6Rk/s225/psalm%2027%208.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpNL0nv8zR1nT2S8i_1n88-C4GW6Jy1OED3Z60PSMIAcVZJGU1zs881uVSHkofO_Eg57g7VhRcCPKjjao9NXySYz26hGIOnMu8tBB4ETzhcFjXaU3ZEWK0FkQvHyrgu6glfhDm6b8L5V0Qa5tPw9r3GiEWEJna34CIWsggyo4hSgiDrTLzlq-UUo2A6Rk/s1600/psalm%2027%208.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">biblepic.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Well, my confession is that this year I have found myself drawn to set some time aside to fulfil my baptismal text. It has been a blessed and revealing experience. First, I was anxious not to waste the time I had but the Lord reassured me that He had only been waiting for me to “turn up” – so that was a great relief. Then I started to realize that I didn’t know how to “wait on the Lord”. I was conscious that I was responding to another verse in <b><i>Psalm 27 (verse 8)</i></b>: <b>When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek”</b>… but I discovered that I didn’t know “how” to do it. This wasn’t apparent to me at first, but the deeper I started to go with the Lord, the more I realised how much everything flows from Him. The link with our starting verse is that I found myself saying to the Lord “Jesus I am sorry that I have waited this long in my life to set aside this kind of time for You”. Don’t get me wrong; I have had quiet times when the Lord has spoken to me (although I am not really a good and faithful prayer warrior and one of my prayers is “Lord teach me to pray”) and He has often revealed Himself in scripture in wonderful ways. In setting time aside to be with Jesus though I have become conscious that I have missed out on this for a long time – in any reckoning about “numbering my days” this had not been a high enough priority.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Clearly Mary learned this quickly. Here is the well-known story from <b><i>Luke 10</i></b>: </span><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha welcomed him in her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat down at the feet of the Lord and listened to his teaching. Martha was upset over all the work she had to do, so she came and said, “Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to come and help me!” </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha! You are worried and troubled over so many things, but just one is needed. Mary has chosen the right thing, and it will not be taken away from her.”</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Bible scholars again have some debate about the exact meaning of parts of the original text and make a number of connections. Its clear though that Mary had chosen something that Jesus approved of. So much so that He protected her choice – “it will not be taken away from her”. She attracted criticism from Martha who saw her role in the people who had to be fed and cared for – also possibly because in the culture she was ignoring what was “expected” of her being a woman of that time and place. She had chosen as the scholars say the “best portion” (links to Benjamin’s portion from <b><i>Genesis 43:34</i></b>) which has I think at least three components:</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Dedication – to ignore all and everyone else and spend time on the one thing that was needed</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Intimacy and submission – to sit in the presence of Jesus at His feet</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Learning – she listened to Jesus</span></li></ul></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” – I wonder what we will think to ourselves when we meet Jesus? “I wish that in my time on earth I had spent more time………. “? </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FTL8HxGd6lg" width="320" youtube-src-id="FTL8HxGd6lg"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author: Chris Pearson</span></b></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-79491493025833866892023-10-14T21:37:00.000+01:002023-10-14T21:37:08.185+01:00To the Glory of God<p><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">T</span><span style="font-family: arial;">he glory of God is the display of His infinite grandeur and vast greatness.</span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><i></i></b></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxctOogX5aRLexUoVzA4jdRBBQnCmmQM4fivykiN0Hx9l7Ulf6Lj5LOLvebP319Ssmdv4AQ9EGwy1f83bc85y3ZtN2uHRZ6qFS5YWgQC9k2OO8LIOX2gtanCskWireBbad2sG5wFLKClnaHI14izuv-aYQq-vwfmc_BS_g4wMylUEHmop0KlsyNfKhgIv/s259/1%20cor%2010.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxctOogX5aRLexUoVzA4jdRBBQnCmmQM4fivykiN0Hx9l7Ulf6Lj5LOLvebP319Ssmdv4AQ9EGwy1f83bc85y3ZtN2uHRZ6qFS5YWgQC9k2OO8LIOX2gtanCskWireBbad2sG5wFLKClnaHI14izuv-aYQq-vwfmc_BS_g4wMylUEHmop0KlsyNfKhgIv/s1600/1%20cor%2010.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>‘do everything for the glory of God’ (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV)</i></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It can be argued that the work of the Westminster Divines, in the 1600’s, remains one of the best introductions to the key doctrines of the Christian faith. At my bookcase the other day, I picked up a copy of The Westminster Shorter Catechism. Comprised of 107 questions and answers – all ‘agreeable’ to the word of God i.e. each question’s response is supported, most comprehensively, by Scripture. Although an old publication and cast aside by many modern day Christians it does, however, provide a helpful summary and answers clearly what Christians believe. Yes, the language may be considered ‘old’ and redundant by some, but I challenge any bible believing Christian today to fundamentally disagree with its questions but more importantly its responses. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Shorter Catechism commences with the question</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">:</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> ‘What is the chief end of man?’ Re-phrased into modern English by Kelly & Rollinson (1990), they ask ‘What is man’s primary purpose?’ </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What would your answer be? This pre-eminent question, with its response, may find you shouting an immediate response or a more thoughtful, considered reply. The Westminster Divines answer was emphatic: ‘Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever’. This caused me to pause and meditate on glorifying God and how we glorify God and enjoy him forever and to think about God’s glory? What a wonderful thought, but also challenging!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In his book ‘Show Me Your Glory (2020) Steven Lawson, says: ‘As related to God, the word glory represents the infinite weightiness of who He is. The glory of God reflects the sum and substance of His holy character. It encompasses His divine perfections, attributes and essence. It includes His holiness, sovereignty, righteousness, omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, truth, grace, mercy, goodness, love, and wrath. It is the goodness of God. In short, the glory of God is the display of His infinite grandeur and vast greatness.'</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">God’s glory exists prior to and apart from any manifestation of it – as Jesus prayed in <b><i>John 17:5</i> ‘And now Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.’ (ESV)</b> We do not add to His glory, we merely recognise it and acknowledge it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We glorify God: in our heart, thoughts, speech, and behaviour. I would, however, suggest that it begins with our heart and having the correct motives in seeking to continually honour and exalt Him. We do this by loving, desiring, fearing, believing and trusting, grieving for our sins and delighting and rejoicing in Him. It must be all for His glory and honour and not our own. Of course only a regenerate heart (person) can do this. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Steven Lawson simply says that to glorify God, ‘you just follow Christ. You do what Christ would do. You feel what Christ would feel. You see what Christ would see. You believe what Christ said. That is how to glorify God.’ (Verbal response to questions asked at Ligonier event 2003). These are certainly challenging words for us all.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As Christians we engage, either individually or corporately, in many and diverse activities – but all should be honouring and bring glory to God. We have been created (<b><i>Isaiah 43:7</i></b>) for His glory. Paul, in <b><i>1 Corinthians 10:31</i></b> instructs us to <b>‘do everything for the glory of God’.</b> To the best of our ability and in doing so, we acknowledge Him for who He is; the author, creator and sustainer of everything. He is the King of glory. This unquestionably brings Him pleasure and great joy to us.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuykhv7XvKPignTBJUAeW4cTvCsRgP_hmLkvpkwclhB0yDiPtv63hOq7Xle7IymHT3stpcc1saB9PJNe2rRJRUS7fcTCRbYVw_Y9XloCeOs2r2uvAzpmefCeIIRFE-E6hklXM8jfgToGrD6XQACR2CnzQCsW8ar_bHBHuBd1bweJCuZWaHidGaMtjqWZfc/s225/psalm%2063.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuykhv7XvKPignTBJUAeW4cTvCsRgP_hmLkvpkwclhB0yDiPtv63hOq7Xle7IymHT3stpcc1saB9PJNe2rRJRUS7fcTCRbYVw_Y9XloCeOs2r2uvAzpmefCeIIRFE-E6hklXM8jfgToGrD6XQACR2CnzQCsW8ar_bHBHuBd1bweJCuZWaHidGaMtjqWZfc/s1600/psalm%2063.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">pinterest.co.uk</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The most honourable use of our mouth and lips is to praise God. As David sang <b>(<i>Psalm 63</i>): ‘O god, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips’ (<i>ESV v1-5</i>).</b> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We can glorify God in many ways: by prayer, praise, dance, song. By being obedient to His word and not compromising when man’s secular worldview insists that Christians do so. How easy it can be for Christians to be seduced by what is dangled, by the world, in front of them?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A standard and universal activity is the gathering together on Sundays. Practised by (most) Christians, this day of the week, chosen because it was the day Jesus rose from the dead and now the first day of the week marks a special coming together. But for what purpose? If one was to undertake a straw poll of the reasons why Christians do this, no doubt, it would generate a variety of responses - a simple one is the enjoyment and fellowship of being with God’s people. This is certainly an excellent and important reason for Christians meeting together.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">God’s word also instructs us to <b> ‘...consider how to stir up one another to love and good works; not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some’ (<i>Hebrews 10:24-25a ESV</i>)</b>. Again this is an obedient and noble reason for meeting together. However, if affirming what the Divines state, can we say that our chief motive is, to glorify God, in everything we do? That the whole of our corporate worship time is to glorify and honour Him? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Perhaps it is easier to say yes to this when everything is going well with us; nevertheless, I acknowledge that this sometimes can be hard, especially if we are experiencing difficult and painful periods in our life. However, God understands all our feelings, our happy ones and perhaps most importantly our sad and sorrowful ones. He sees our heart state and therefore we can pour out our true feelings to Him and in doing so can still give glory to Him. How often do we read the most incredible testimonies of Christians in persecuted lands and the example they set, sometimes unto death, in giving glory to God for their situation?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In the Old Testament period, specific experiences of God’s glory were given to individuals and to Israel <b><i>(Exodus 33:18-23; 1 Kings 8; 10-11; Isaiah 6-1-7)</i></b> but the supreme revelation of the glory of God is in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ; <b>‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth’. (<i>John 1:14, ESV</i>)</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Definitely in writing, and perhaps in reading, this has been a particularly challenging blog. To contemplate what the Westminster Divines stated nearly 400 years ago. I, and maybe we, fall short in so many ways and at so many times – to glorify God in everything, however, I take comfort in knowing that <b>‘...we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin...’. (<i>Hebrews 4:14-15</i>).</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>‘For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen’ (<i>Romans 11: 36, ESV</i>).</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/22FUZCZuV7s" width="320" youtube-src-id="22FUZCZuV7s"></iframe></div><br /><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author: Irene Cherrill</span></b></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-10020874601822290642023-10-07T22:21:00.000+01:002023-10-07T22:21:28.521+01:00Lights in the World?<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">The light we present is at best, a reflected light, because we have no light of ourselves but rely on the source of our light, Jesus</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8-CUzbwy61eppLiB2gPUaeUxHiXDfr12-n4ZnlDEHE0ijTE4hDLWmCrQBdOFbqNyy7ueNmRU2wXMw4JqEkp5j6OzUSmkDbsgclu6BTxsUXHnsGs2lZx7ambPsq7aZk-gz96hlcJYjRNyG3RUIew56ULhvqUswYrEyWzoYyO5wWyAHOynHXjxnX06HL2s/s259/Lights%20in%20world.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8-CUzbwy61eppLiB2gPUaeUxHiXDfr12-n4ZnlDEHE0ijTE4hDLWmCrQBdOFbqNyy7ueNmRU2wXMw4JqEkp5j6OzUSmkDbsgclu6BTxsUXHnsGs2lZx7ambPsq7aZk-gz96hlcJYjRNyG3RUIew56ULhvqUswYrEyWzoYyO5wWyAHOynHXjxnX06HL2s/s1600/Lights%20in%20world.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I never cease to be amazed, that words written nearly 200 years ago, based on words written 2000 years ago, still resonate in my heart and provide me with both a challenge and encouragement.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As many of you will know, I love reading the words of the great Victorian preacher, Charles Spurgeon, not only for his Godly insight but also because of the exquisite use of the English language, dated as it may be.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">My daily ‘fix’ comes from two main sources; “Faith’s Chequebook”, published in 1888 and “Morning and Evening”, published in 1866.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">On 6th September the morning reflection from “Morning and Evening” was based on <b><i>Philippians 2:15</i></b>, however, I try to make it my practice to read the scripture in context of the whole chapter. As that other great preacher, David Pawson, was fond of saying; <i>“A text taken out of context is a pretext”</i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The ESV says, in <b><i>Philippians 2:12–17</i></b></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labour in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The first thing that struck me was that we are called to be lights in the world. There is only one light of the world, that is Jesus, as it says in <b><i>John 8:12</i></b>; </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The light we present is at best, a reflected light, because we have no light of ourselves but rely on the source of our light, Jesus.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In his reflection, Spurgeon talks about the purposes of the light we reflect, not about its qualities and this is where I found myself challenged, as to how I fulfil those purposes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">He lists four major purposes of light, Illumination, Guidance, Warning and Encouragement.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBjSVkIXjuv9bttGDchtTyH93Tud92mqYd2zChTYTmPrwOWMnsUTwaI9FvXCDybMs_ONzTtl4yHtm0nhIScBdPiRat0r9SVHGGsNldonv_Ge7yKUGfLxDVFue0l7uuBV-BWcFGr4y0kyQ1EHxb3p57w7A-mJLWOADsAJXHE65UesrcI3U9Pc51TeqLqMx/s300/spurgeon%20quote.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBjSVkIXjuv9bttGDchtTyH93Tud92mqYd2zChTYTmPrwOWMnsUTwaI9FvXCDybMs_ONzTtl4yHtm0nhIScBdPiRat0r9SVHGGsNldonv_Ge7yKUGfLxDVFue0l7uuBV-BWcFGr4y0kyQ1EHxb3p57w7A-mJLWOADsAJXHE65UesrcI3U9Pc51TeqLqMx/s1600/spurgeon%20quote.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">quotefancy.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">On the subject of Illumination, which he describes as, <i>“to make manifest”</i> he says that as Christians, our lives should reflect the light of Jesus in such a way, that <i>“a person could not live with us for a week without knowing the Gospel.”</i> Our conversation should make it obvious to all who hear, who we serve, and our daily lives should reflect the image of Jesus.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Wow! I wish I could say I ticked that box. When I consider my attitudes, behaviour and conversation, I’ve an awfully long way to go to truly reflect Jesus as I should.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Secondly, Spurgeon talks about Guidance. We are called to help those around us who are in the dark. We have the Word of life to offer them, and we are called to point sinners to the Saviour, to offer a place of rest to those who are weary. Like Philip we should be willing and able to explain God’s Word to those who may ask.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Once again, I find myself unable to say “Yes, I do that”. How can I offer Guidance to people in need if I keep what I have to myself, because it’s the ‘easy’ option?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Spurgeon then moves on to the light as a Warning. Light houses have been erected around our coast for many hundreds of years, to warn of the dangers of rocks and shoals. In the 18th Century, and even up to the present day</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In some parts of the world, wreckers use false lights to lure unsuspecting vessels onto dangerous shores. In the same way the world has labelled activities acceptable, or even advisable, which will lead people into wrong choices and alienate them from God. It is our task, as representatives of Christ, to warn them of the error of their ways, in a loving and non-judgemental way and to guide them back to the truth. How often have I simply ‘kept my head down’, to avoid 'offending people’ or through fear of being accused of bigotry? Too often, I’m afraid.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Finally, Spurgeon says, we, as Christians, should be Encouragers, he refers to a “Cheering Influence”. We should be prepared to be comforters, to be able to offer kind words and have sympathy in our hearts for those who are hurting. He ends by saying we should <i>“carry sunshine wherever we go and diffuse happiness around us”</i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">He often ends his reflection with a prayer, or the words of a hymn and he adds:</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>“Gracious Spirit dwell with me:<br /></i></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>I myself would gracious be,<br /></i></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>And with words that help and heal<br /></i></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Would thy life in mine reveal ,<br /></i></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>And with actions bold and meek<br /></i></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Would for Christ my saviour speak.”</i></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">At the start of this blog, I said that I found Spurgeon’s reflections Challenging as well as Encouraging. In this case I think the former holds true more than the latter. However, as with so many things in my Christian walk, I am encouraged that the God I serve is patient and knows my weaknesses and offers through the Holy Spirit the means to tick a few more boxes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The words of the above prayer are ones I shall claim for my own going forward. How about you?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Have a blessed week.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YXg2ztge8f0" width="320" youtube-src-id="YXg2ztge8f0"></iframe></div><p><br /></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author: Alan Cameron</span></b></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6000111945311426372.post-63235109359425074262023-09-30T21:59:00.000+01:002023-09-30T21:59:51.394+01:00Expectation<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>What ever David bought to the Lord he waited expectantly, assured that the Lord would hear, acknowledge the prayer and act appropriately according to His will. This is faith!</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1p2IiiMcilaliTlCADYb-4hPE9vgbit_V8K3PqvoRMvDYrTJqWIQZNZwThICtlWikCIwMBaWmx3hinQOShKW-cs-nSxRcoRTfqoR_h09clktNwiDuQR3pt4FR3Z75cZDKfHos1EML5Kj9aFP2kb26IcfzFXrfY8wxnQZ3q31Prqm5u4AO6WX1KNrUBSk/s259/psalm%205%203.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1p2IiiMcilaliTlCADYb-4hPE9vgbit_V8K3PqvoRMvDYrTJqWIQZNZwThICtlWikCIwMBaWmx3hinQOShKW-cs-nSxRcoRTfqoR_h09clktNwiDuQR3pt4FR3Z75cZDKfHos1EML5Kj9aFP2kb26IcfzFXrfY8wxnQZ3q31Prqm5u4AO6WX1KNrUBSk/s1600/psalm%205%203.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">heartlight.org</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As part of my daily readings this week I was directed to a few verses in <b><i>Psalm 5</i></b>, these verses have blessed and challenged me all week. <b><i>Psalm 5</i></b> is one of King David's Psalms and starts with a plea from his heart. <b>`Oh Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you. Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly` (<i>Psalm 5:1-3 NLT</i>).</b> I have found that starting the day with prayer is by far the best way to start every day. On days when for different reasons that does not happen somehow the day never quite feels balanced, it may go well but somehow there is the feeling that something is missing, that I’m not starting from a place of stability.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The psalm shows us that David was very aware of the need to ask the Lord to listen to him and pay attention to his cry for help. It also confirms that David acknowledged that even though he was King and could command anything he liked, his dependence was on God and no one else. I also realise that this is the position I need to take in coming before the Lord, to humbly ask Him to listen to me and to hear the cry of my heart, rather than just blundering into His presence with my requests and not recognising who He is and the awesomeness of His presence. The Lord is very gracious and sometimes in times of need a quick cry of <i>“help me or help them Lord”</i> is all we can cry and the Lord hears those prayers of desperation and answers. But in our morning prayers time is needed to really come into his presence knowing that he is our Father in Heaven and Hallowed is His name.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>`Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly`</b> However this was my greatest challenge. Do I? Do I really bring my requests and wait expectantly? I know I pray and offload all my cares and worries onto the Lord, I know I express my frustrations, fears and feelings to Him, I know I cast all my cares on Him for he cares for me, but do I really wait expectantly. And yet King David says I wait expectantly, wait for the answer, wait for direction, wait for guidance, wait for a miracle, wait for peace. What ever David bought to the Lord he waited expectantly, assured that the Lord would hear, acknowledge the prayer and act appropriately according to His will. This is faith! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55TRbGPnkuosgU_-FrfVhBOic5bisjwsxsZ9CwZYWGgPjWXFdMDJwo87Js3INLy58xAJZh9454oupCPHCO2KxZjGvVfuIPnqzwv8D-uteKNapHZlKiCDS76arrgDsceZX1Ubn6qDWqL-v0Wp5BL6aW2N5c_ekSzqYjpKJI9I44-9l7vz8ajahlVMSd9q6/s268/faith%20hebrews.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="268" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55TRbGPnkuosgU_-FrfVhBOic5bisjwsxsZ9CwZYWGgPjWXFdMDJwo87Js3INLy58xAJZh9454oupCPHCO2KxZjGvVfuIPnqzwv8D-uteKNapHZlKiCDS76arrgDsceZX1Ubn6qDWqL-v0Wp5BL6aW2N5c_ekSzqYjpKJI9I44-9l7vz8ajahlVMSd9q6/s1600/faith%20hebrews.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">prayersandpetitions.org</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The writer to the Hebrews tells us that <b>`Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen, it gives us the assurance about things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation` (<i>Hebrews 11:1 NLT</i>)</b> Wow, what a revelation. It was their faith not their deeds that earned them a good reputation. <b><i>Hebrews 11</i></b> then goes on to list some of the great people of the Old testament that put their faith in the Lord against all odds and saw His hand move in amazing ways. <b>`All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do that by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith` (<i>Hebrews 11:39 – Hebrews 12:2 NLT</i>).</b> It is hard to imagine that even as David prayed each morning and waited in expectation for the Lord to move, and we have lots of evidence of how God moved in his life, God has something better in mind for us. And that was a personal redeemed relationship with God the Father through Our Lord Jesus Christ!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This is an even bigger challenge to my sense of waiting expectantly. Because not only do I know that God is the great creator and can do anything but he also is living in me through the Spirit, and I have a living relationship with Him brought with love. So, in the light of this, me waiting expectantly should be an amazing journey of waiting to see how the Lord will work in to answer every prayer rather than hoping that He might.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This was the reading taken from `Jesus calling` its written in the form of Jesus speaking directly to us and goes:-</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Wait quietly in my presence while My thoughts form silently in the depths of your being. Do not try to rush this process, because hurry keeps your heart earthbound. I am the Creator of the entire universe, yet I choose to make My humble home in your heart. It is there where you know me most intimately; it is there where I speak to you in holy whispers. Ask My Spirit to quiet your mind so that you can hear My still small voice within you. I am speaking to you continually; words of Life...Peace…Love. Tune your heart to receive these messages of abundant blessing. Lay your requests before Me and wait in expectation (readings were <b>1 Kings 19:12, Psalm 5:3</b>) </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">So today Lord please help me to still my heart to come into your presence, so I can fully acknowledge who you are; the creator of the whole universe; and who I am; your child who you love. Help me to wait for you to speak to me in your still small voice and guide my prayers, and help me to wait in expectation for your will, your direction and your answers to my prayers. Thank you in faith filled anticipation.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RwG2gNFRqTw" width="320" youtube-src-id="RwG2gNFRqTw"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Author: Jan Pearson</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 36px;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">May God bless and enrich your life</span></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p></div><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.</span></b></span></p></span>MCF Life Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06749221631929924021noreply@blogger.com0