The Bible is a harp with a thousand strings...Play on all of them, keeping them in their places in the divine scale, and you will hear heavenly music all the time.
William P. White
Psalm 33:1-3 1 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful. 2 Praise the LORD with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. 3 Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
Luke 4:4 4 But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”
Luke 11:28 28 But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
I don't know about you, but I like heavenly music. I love harmony. In today's Christian churches we need harmony & unity.
I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8
There can be only one Lord in this relationship, or it will not work. Any other combinations results in confusion, distraction and disobedience.
I think of the men in the Bible who gave up everything, dropped their lives, and followed Jesus. With God's word today to guide us we have no doubts about following Jesus today. Or do we?
The Bible urgently advises us to become "slaves" or "bond-servants" of Jesus Christ (see Ephesians 6:6; Acts 16:17; 2 Corinthians 4:5). We are all slaves of some master. If that master is sin, we will be enslaved to evil. If that master is self, we will be in bondage to our pride. It is Jesus Christ who gives us the power to break free from these masters and find life in Him as our true Master.
Serve God, not self. When He is Lord, you have the best Master in the World.
Pray that God will make you willing to be His bond-slaves.
What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
It took a few times reading this verse to really stick and understand what the Lord was telling me with it. I read it first in an email that I received.
I just spent the past four days in a continuing education class to add to my business toolbox for massage/body work. After hearing several of the other students in the class that I worked with tell me that I helped them feel good. It started to sink in that my success has nothing to do with how big my business is, how many articles/books I might have written, classes I taught or recognition by society of my work. My success is how many lives I've touched and helped improved. My success in the Lord is how many lives I've shared my testimony with & witnessed to them.
Here's a quick story by Ruth McGinnis, Singer & author:
One of the most powerful insights I've had as a result of this unexpected detour in my well-planned life is truly understanding that the value of my work--the books I've written, my instrumental recordings, the speaking and performing I've done for countless years--has nothing to do with commercial success. I always thought that to be "successful," I would have to register in the marketplace with some measurable impact, like making the New York Times best-sellers list. As a result, even though I've enjoyed a rewarding career as a creative person, I've always felt that somehow I'd never quite arrived--that my life was incomplete.
Having cancer has forever changed this. The cards, letters, gifts, phone calls, and emails I've received from people I know--and many I've never met--have revealed to me that the reach of my work and the value of my simply being here is greater than I ever could have imagined.
I am convinced this is true for each one of us. That we all tend to be hard on ourselves and measure our achievements against harsh standards. We fail to appreciate our own contributions, and we forget to acknowledge the gifts, beauty and efforts of others.
I will never think of success, fulfillment and contentment the way I used to. Cancer has swept the veil away from my eyes--has given me a new way of looking at life and rethinking everything. It is an unexpected gift.
How have you measured success in your life? We can all re-evaluate and reassess ourselves. Allow the Lord to use you how HE wants to.
The video below is Barack Obama personally, not his racist "pastor". He is mocking Christians and rank-and-file Americans about the understanding of the Bible WHILE pulling short snippets of Bible verses out of context to use them for political gain.
This is not just insulting to serious Christians, it’s insulting to every American who lives by Judeo-Christian principles. It’s even more insulting to be mocked by someone who attends a racist, America-hating church; a man who obviously knows LITTLE TO NOTHING about the Bible, except to prooftext portions of verses for political gain, and from someone who gives so little regard to Scripture, that he voted against a bill that would protect the life of aborted babies who survived the attempted murder. He doesn’t want to impede the right of the mother to “choose”. How brave.
Evidently, it’s above his “pay grade” to think babies born alive even after abortion are entitled to protection. It’s bad enough to think that one minute, a baby in a womb who could survive a birth is a candidate for extermination… then magically, outside the womb they are now a “baby” and not a “fetus”. That is bad enough… but then to want to deny an aborted-but-living baby any protection, that is INFANTICIDE, plain and simple.
And this man mocks you and I by saying, “evidently you haven’t been reading your Bible” because we believe the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount and the “good citizen” principles presented by the Apostle Paul are NOT things we should consider when making laws for America. See for yourself:
This is where America is heading. It probably can't be stopped, but electing Obama will be a quantum leap forward in one day (election day).
McCain certainly has his problems, and even he will represent a far too liberal and compromising presidency... but he is unequivocable in his answer about abortion ("life begins at conception"), his courage to defend America, and his respect for the people and religion that founded and made America the greatest nation on earth: CHRISTIANITY.
We live in tough times, spiritually speaking. There is no doubt that America, and the world, is long past deserving of God's judgment for all the spilled blood, debauchery and mockery of the Creator. It is scary on the one hand knowing God's hand of judgment is sure to fall sooner, rather than later... but we rejoice on the other knowing that we are reaching a time "as in the days of Noah" when Jesus says He is soon to return.
2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 3 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:
“Great and marvellous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! 4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgements have been manifested.”
On the after note of the remembrance of HIS Resurrection; here is some scripture and a music video to express my love for HIM. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 93 1 The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. 2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting. 3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. 4 The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. 5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.
Matthew 26:57-68 57 And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. 58 But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, 60 but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward 61 and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’” 62 And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” 63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” 64 Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! 66 What do you think?” They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.” 67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?”
No matter what the consequence was Jesus never denied who He is. Will you falsely testify against Jesus this week because you're afraid of the conseqence? As one of my thoughts.com friends said to me... "We have the blessing of the Scriptures, which tell us the rest of the story - we get to see the whole thing rather than live out a few days of complete grief and bewilderment at the thought of a dead Savior." Let's share the testimony of Christ this week. There's much work to be done!
Matthew 26:36-56 36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” 40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.” 47 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” 49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. 51 And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. 52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” 55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. 56 But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
Our Master's life is on the line, HIS disciples flee HIM. Just picture is; Jesus left with his captors; dragged away. I believe the disciples were scared out of their wits. Where's their faith? It left them at that moment. I don't know about you... but, I would die for my Savior, Jesus Christ. But, looking back at this those disciples don't see what we of today have seen in Scriptures. They only experiences the moment at hand. That's the thing that gets to me the most though... they were by HIS side and walked with HIM and talked with HIM and were able to experience HIS miracles first hand. Where do you stand in your faith with Jesus today? Will you betray HIM?
35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
Life is full of adversities. If feels like a constant storm. We feel we can not fight it. Yes, life has adversities. Do you have faith? Faith in our Father to meet our needs? Adversities help in building our character. Are we focused on building character of Christ or of the world? I thank God that HE is there by my side and when I can't handle life's issues He carries me through. I have faith that God is my protector, my counselor, my ALL in ALL. He gets me through the storms.
I'm including a music video that I pray will be an inspiration that the Lord will help us through our storms.
First I want to start out defining grace according to the Bible. Here's the definition given in the dictionary: grace/greɪs/Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[greys] noun, verb, graced, grac·ing. –noun
favor or good will.
mercy; clemency; pardon: an act of grace.
Theology.
a.
the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.
b.
the influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.
c.
a virtue or excellence of divine origin: the Christian graces.
d.
Also called state of grace, the condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.
Here's two scriptures which stand out in God's word that give a great definition of God's grace.
Ephesians 2:1-9 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Romans 3:21-25 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
Here is a wonderful video sharing one man's interpretation of the song "Amazing Grace".
