|
|
|||||||
| To God Be The Glory! A Place to Praise, Honor and Glorify our God! Words of Praise and Encouragement. Poems, Hymns, Prayers, Words of Wisdom, Knowledge and Prophetic Speaking |
Topic Review (Newest First)
|
| 04-28-2014 04:41 AM | |||||
| InChristAlone |
Re: Praising Him in song! Last time I shared some of my favorite Protestant hymns. And this time I want to share a few hymns they sing in the Russian Orthodox Church. Sergei Rachmaninoff's "Bogoroditse Devo, raduisya" from his "All-Night Vigil" (Vespers) is my all-time favorite song. One must like chants, choral, and liturgical singing to appreciate these chants. You can't dance when you're listening to them. 1 Sergey Rachmaninov (Sergei Rachmaninoff) - "Bogoroditse Devo, raduisya" Different choirs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dp82BXNwrWc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Tu9moIJ3uM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTEtwm7sHXU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMXZvlrjk08 2 Moscow Sretensky Monastery Choir, Psalm 33 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVxkTEvkvXY 3 Russisch Orthodox - Liturgische Gesänge / Russian Orthodox - Liturgycal Chants http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a6rtOYKWH4 4 Tchaikovsky - Hymn of the Cherubim http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZQzW_QfPew 5 Rachmaninov - "Bless the Lord, O My Soul" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYxklAuKkao 6 Sergei Rachmaninoff - Vespers - All-Night Vigil http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIxQ_B3Wpzg |
||||
| 04-12-2014 02:28 AM | |||||
| InChristAlone |
Re: Praising Him in song! Thank you, brother Awareness. --- Once some thieves came to an old hermit and said, "We are taking everything in your cell." He answered, "Take whatever you need, my children." They took almost everything in the cell and left. But they missed a little bag of money that was hidden. The elder picked it up and went after them, crying, "Children! You forgot something!" The thieves were amazed. Not only did they not take the money, but they returned everything that they had taken. "Truly," they said, "this is a man of God." This happened in the sixth century A.D. in Palestine. St. John Moschos recorded it, along with many other stories about Orthodox monks, which he heard firsthand. The old monk did not read sermons to his impolite guests. He did not rebuke them or threaten them, nor did he have a conversation with them. What then caused the thieves to change their mind and correct their deed? They had beheld in him a different sort of man: a man of God. Only a man who is rich in God can be so free from attachment to possessions and to money, which have enslaved humanity. Only a man who is rooted in God can unfailing preserve peace and magnanimity when confronted with manifest evil. But most of all, the thieves were touched by the love the elder showed them. Only a man who has become like God can demonstrate such love to outlaws who have come to rob him, such that he can sincerely place their interests above his own. This could not have happened if the monks faith had been confined to rituals, collections of rules, and pretty words about God, without real experience of life in Christ. *** How mistaken are those people who seek happiness outside of themselves, in foreign lands and journeys, in riches and glory, in great possessions and pleasures, in diversions and vain things, which have a bitter end! In the same thing to construct the tower of happiness outside of ourselves as it is to build a house in a place that is consistently shaken by earthquakes. Happiness is found within ourselves, and blessed is the man who has understood this. Happiness is a pure heart, for such a heart becomes the throne of God. Thus says Christ of those who have pure hearts: "I will visit them, and will walk in them, and I will be a God to them, and they will be my people." (II Cor. 6:16) What can be lacking to them? Nothing, nothing at all! For they have the greatest good in their hearts: God Himself! (St. Nektarios of Aegina, Path to Happiness, 1) God loves us more than a father, mother, friend, or any else could love, and even more than we are able to love ourselves. (St. John Chrysostom) A certain monk told me that when he was very sick, his mother said to his father, "How our little boy is suffering. I would gladly give myself to be cut up into pieces if that would ease his suffering." Such is the love of God for people. He pitied people so much that he wanted to suffer for them, like their own mother, and even more. But no one can understand this great love without the grace of the Holy Spirit. (St. Silouan the Athonite, Writings, IX.10) As it is impossible to verbally describe the sweetness of honey to one who has never tasted honey, so the goodness of God cannot be clearly communicated by way of teaching if we ourselves are not able to penetrate into the goodness of the Lord by our own experience. (St. Basil the Great, Conversations on the Psalms, 29) No matter how much we may study, it is not possible to come to know God unless we live according to His commandments, for God is not know by science, but by the Holy Spirit. Many philosophers and learned men came to the belief that God exists, but they did not know God. It is one thing to belief that God exists and another to know Him. If someone has come to know God by the Holy Spirit, his soul will burn with love for God day and night, and his soul cannot be bound to any earthly thing. (St. Silouan the Athonite, Writings, VIII.3) A man becomes spiritual insofar as he lives a spiritual life. He begins to see God in all things, to see His power and might in every manifestation. Always and everywhere he sees himself abiding in God and dependent on God for all things. But insofar as a man lives a bodily life, so much he does he do bodily things; He doesn't see God in anything, even in the the most wondrous manifestations of His Divine power. In all things he sees body, material, everywhere and always - "God is not before his eyes." (Ps. 35:2) (St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ, I.5) Food is not evil, but gluttony is. Childbearing is not evil, but fornication is. Money is not evil, but avarice is. Glory is not evil, but vainglory is. Indeed, there is no evil in existing things, but only in their misuse. (St. Maximus the Confessor, Chapters on Love, 3.4) Just as people do not enter a war in order to enjoy war, but in order to be saved from war, so we do not enter this world in order to enjoy this world, but in order to be saved from it. People go to was for the sake of something greater than war. So we also enter this temporal life for the sake of something greater: for eternal life. And as soldiers think with joy about returning home, so also Christians constantly remember the end of their lives and their return to their heavenly fatherland. (St. Nicholas of Serbia, Thoughts on Good and Evil) A humble man who lives a spiritual life, when he reads the Holy Scriptures, while relate all things to himself and not to others. (St. Mark the Ascetic, Sermon, 1.6) When you begin to read or listen to the Holy Scriptures, pray to God thus: "Lord Jesus Christ, open the ears and eyes of my heart so that I may hear Thy words and understand them, and may fulfill Thy will." Always pray to God like this, that He might illumine your mind and open to you the power of His words. Many, having trusted in their own reason, have turned away into deception. (St. Ephraim the Syrian) A Christian must be courteous to all. His words and deeds should breath with the grace of the Holy Spirit, which abides in his soul, so that in this way he might glorify the name of God. He who regulates all of his speech also regulates all of his actions. He who keeps watch over the words he is about say also keeps watch over the deeds he intends to do, and he never goes out of the bounds good and benevolent conduct. The graceful speech of a Christian is characterized by delicateness and politeness. This fact, born of love, produces peace and joy. On the other hand, boorishness gives birth to hatred, enmity, affliction, competitiveness, disorder and wars. (St. Nektarius of Aegina, The Path to Happiness, 7) With all your power, ask the Lord for humility and brotherly love, because God freely gives His grace for love towards one's brother. Do an experiment on yourself: one day ask God for love towards your brother, and another day - live without love. You will see the difference. (St. Silouan the Athonite, Writings, XVI.8) Love sinners, but hate their deeds, and do not disdain sinners for their failings, so that you yourself do not fall into the temptation in which they abide... Do not be angry at anyone and do not hate anyone, neither for their faith, nor for their shameful deeds... Do not foster hatred for the sinner, for we are all guilty... Hate his sins, and pray for him, so that you may be made like unto Christ, who had no dislike for sinners, but prayed for them. (St. Isaac the Syrian, Homily 57,90) Find evil in yourself and not in other people or things, were with you have not learned how to relate properly. This is how a child relates with fire or a knife: he burns himself, he cuts himself. (St. Sebastian of Karaganda) Do not lose your temper with those who sin. Do not have a passion for noticing every sin in your neighbor and judging it, as we usually do. Everyone will give an answer for himself before God. Especially, do not look with evil intention on the sins of those older than you, with whom you have no business. But correct your own sins, your own heart. (St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ, I.6) To judge sins is the business of one who is sinless, but who is sinless except God? Who ever thinks about the multitude of his own sins in his heart never wants to make the sins of others a topic of conversation. To judge a man who has gone astray is a sign of pride, and God resists the proud. On the other hand, one who every hour prepares himself to give answer for his own sins will not quickly lift up his head to examine the mistakes of others. (St. Gennadius of Constantinople, The Golden Chain, 53-55) If you have the sinful habit of judging your neighbor, then whenever you judge someone make three prostrations that day with this prayer: "Save, O Lord, and have mercy on him (whom I have judged) and by his prayers, have mercy on me, a sinner." Do this every time you judge someone. If you do this, God will see your sincerity and will deliver you from this sinful habit forever. And if you never judge anyone, then God will never judge you. In this way you will even receive salvation. (Priest-confessor Sergei Pravdolubov) Whoever prays for those who hurt him lays the demons low; but he who opposes his affronter is bound to the demons. (St. Mark the Ascetic, Homilies, 1.45) Do not desire to hear about the misfortunes of those who oppose you. For those who listen to such speech later reap the fruits of their evil intention. (St. Mark the Ascetic, Homilies, 2.173) I ask you to try something. If someone grieves you, or dishonors you, or takes something of yours, then pray like this: "Lord, we are all your creatures. Pity your servants, and turn them to repentance," and then you will perceptibly bear grace in your soul. Induce your heart to love your enemies, and the Lord, seeing your good will, shall help you in all things, and will Himself show you experience. But whoever thinks evil of his enemies does not have love for God and has not known God. (St. Silouan the Athonite, Writings, IX.21) Do not say: "I have sinned much, and therefore I am not bold enough to fall down before God." Do not despair. Simply do not increase your sins in despair and, with the help of the All-merciful One, you will not be put to shame. For He said, "he who comes to Me I will not cast out." (John. 6:37) And so, be bold and believe that He is pure and cleanses those who draw near to Him. If you want to accomplish true repentance, show it with your deeds. If you have fallen into pride, show humility; if into drunkenness, show sobriety; if into defilement, show purity of life. For it is said, "Turn away from evil and do good." (I Pet. 3:11) (St. Gennadius of Constantinople, The Golden Chain, 87-89) How can you find out if you are living within the will of God? Here is the sign: If you are troubled about any thing, this means that you have not completely given yourself over to the will of God. A person who lives in the will of God is not concerned over anything. And if he needs anything, he gives both it and himself over to God. And if he does not receive the necessary thing, he remains calm nevertheless, as if he had it. The soul which has been given over to the will of God is afraid of nothing, not of thunder nor of thieves - nothing. But whatever happens, she says, "Thus it pleases God." If she is sick, she thinks: this means that I need to be sick, or else God would not have given it to me. Thus peace is preserved in both soul and body. (St. Silouan the Athonite, Writings, VI.4) The Lord has given the Holy Spirit upon the earth, and in whomsoever He dwells, that one feels paradise within himself. You might say: why hasn't this happened to me? Because you have not given yourself over to the will of God, but you live according to yourself. Look at the one who loves his own will. He never has peace in himself and is always displeased with something. But whoever has given himself over to God's will perfectly has pure prayer. His soul loves the Lord, and everything is acceptable and good to him. (St. Silouan the Athonite, Writings, VI.14) Fasting, prayer, alms, and every other good Christian deed is good in itself, but the purpose of the Christian life consists not only in the fulfillment of one or another of them. The true purpose of our Christian life is the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God. But fasting, prayer, alms and every good deed done for the sake of Christ is a means to the attainment of the Holy Spirit. Note that only good deeds done for the sake of Christ bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Everything else that is not done for the sake of Christ, even if it is good, does not bring us a reward in the life to come, not does it bring the grace of God in this life. This is why our Lord Jesus Christ said, "Whoever gathereth not with me scattereth" (Matt. 12:30). (St. Seraphim of Sarov, Conversation on the Goal of the Christian Life) If you want the Lord to hide your sins, then don't talk to people about what kind of virtues you have. For as we relate to our virtues, so God relates to our sins. (St. Mark the Ascetic, Homilies, 2.135) Do not say that faith in Christ alone can save you, for this is not possible if you do not attain love for Him, which is demonstrated by deeds. As for mere faith: "The demons also believe and tremble" (James, 2:19). The action of love consists in heartfelt good deeds toward one's neighbor, magnanimity, patience, and sober use of things. (St. Maximus the Confessor, Chapters on Love, 1.39-40) Love for Christ overflows into love for one's neighbor, love for truth, love for holiness, for the world, for purity, for everything divine, for everything deathless and eternal ... All these forms of love are natural manifestations of love for Christ. Christ is the God-man, and love for Him always means love for God and for man. When we love Christ God, we also love all that is divine, immortal and Christ-like in people. We can't truly love people if we do not love them for the sake of these causes. Any other love is pseudo-love, which is easily changed into lovelessness and hatredness toward people. True love for man comes from love for God, and love for God grows in accordance with the keeping of His commandments. (St. Justin Popovich, Explanation of the I John, 4:20, 5:2) If you find that there is no love in you, but you want to have it, then do deeds of love, even though you do them without love in the beginning. The Lord will see you desire and striving and will put love in your heart. (St. Ambrose of Optina) Do you think that the man-loving God has given you much so that you could use it only for your own benefit? No, but so that your abundance might supply the lack of others. (St. John Chrysostom, Conversations on the Book of Genesis, 20) They asked and elder, "What is humility?" The elder said, "When your brother sins against you, and you forgive him, before he repents before you." (Ancient Patericon, 15.74) He does not show humility who accuses himself (for who will not accept rebukes from himself?), but he who, being rebuked by another, does not decrease his love toward him. (St. John of the Ladder, Ladder, 22.17) Let them push you, but do not push; Let them crucify you, but do not crucify. Let them insult, but do not insult. Let them slander, but do not slander. Be meek, and do not be zealous in evil. (St. Isaac the Syrian, Homily, 89) Seek the simplest in all things, in food, clothing, without being ashamed of poverty. For a great part of the world lives in poverty. Do not say, "I am the son of a rich man. It is shameful for me to be in poverty." Christ, your Heavenly Father, Who gave birth to you in the baptistery, is not in worldly riches. Rather he walked in poverty and had nowhere to lay His head. (St. Gennadius of Constantinople, The Golden Chain, 24-25) Understand two thoughts, and fear them. One says, "You are a saint," the other, "You won't be saved." Both of these thoughts are from the enemy, and there is no truth in them. But think this way: I am a great sinner, but the Lord is merciful. He loves people very much, and He will forgive my sins. (St. Silouan the Athonite, Writings, XVII.1) A certain monk asked one of the elders, "Why are my thoughts always inclined to defilement, so that they give me no rest even for an hour, and my soul is troubled?" The elder said to him, "If the demons inspire thoughts in you, do not give in to them." It is their nature to tempt constantly. And even though they never leave off this temptation, they cannot force you to sin. It depends on your will to listen to them or not to listen." The brother said to the elder, "What should I do? I am weak and the passion is conquering me." The elder answered, "Guard against them, and when they begin to speak to you, do not answer them, but pray to God: Son of God, have mercy on me!" (Ancient Patericon, 5.35) When bad thoughts are planted in you, then cry to God: "Lord, my Maker and Creator. You see that my soul is in agony from bad thoughts. Have mercy on me." Teach yourself to root out thoughts immediately. But when you forget and don't root them out immediately, then offer repentance. Work on this, so that you get a habit. (St. Silouan the Athonite, Writings, XVII.4,6) The devil makes small sins seem smaller in our eyes, for otherwise he can't lead us to greater evil. (St. Mark the Ascetic, Homilies, 2:94) We have within us deeply rooted weaknesses, passions, and defects. This can not all be cut out with one sharp motion, but patience, persistence, care and attention. The path leading to perfection is long. Pray to God so that he will strengthen you. Patiently accept your falls and, having stood up, immediately run to God, not remaining in that place where you have fallen. Do not despair if you keep falling into your old sins. Many of them are strong because they have received the force of habit. Only with the passage of time and with fervor will they be conquered. Don't let anything deprive you of hope. (St. Nectarios of Aegina, Path to Happiness, 3) [It is possible to struggle against love of honor and vainglory in this way:] When you hear that your neighbor or friend has reproached you in your absence or presence, then show love and praise him. (St. John of the Ladder, 22:15) If suffer some misfortune, then think: "The Lord sees my heart, and if it pleases Him, it will be well both for me and and others." And thus your soul will always be at peace. But is someone murmurs, "This is bad, and that is bad," then he will never have peace in his soul, even though he fasts and prays a lot. (St. Silouan the Athonite, Writings, IV.1) Are you angry? Be angry at your sins, beat your soul, afflict your conscience, but strict in judgement and a terrible punisher of your own sins. This is the benefit of anger, wherefore God placed it in us. (St. John Chrysostom, Conversation of Ephesians, 2) A child cries when his mother washes him, and those of little faith murmur at God when they are in trouble, which cleanses the soul like water cleanses the face. (St. Symeon of Daibabe, Sayings, 89) No matter what bitterness has befallen you, no matter what unpleasantness has happened to you, say, "I shall endure this for Jesus Christ!" and it will be easier for you. For the name of Jesus Christ is powerful. Through it all unpleasantness is calmed, and demons disappear. Your disappointments will also be calmed and you pusillanimity will be quieted. (St. Anthony of Optina) In the spiritual life we can do nothing worthy without repentance, but the Lord has much mercy on us because of our intentions. He who compels himself and holds on to repentance until the end, even if he sins is saved because he compelled himself, for the Lord promised this in the Gospel. (St. Mark the Ascetic, Homilies, 3) A Christian receives divine wisdom in three ways: by the commandments, teachings, and faith. The commandments free the mind from passions. Teachings lead it to true knowledge of nature. Faith leads to the contemplation of the Holy Trinity. (St. Maximus the Confessor, Chapters on Love, 4.47) If you become rich, consider whether or not you could worthily bear poverty. If you are happy, imagine how you could worthily meet unhappiness. When people praise you, think how you might worthily bear insult. And, all your life, think how you might worthily meet death. (St. Nicholas of Serbia, Thoughts on Good and Evil) So, being the portion of the Holy God, begin to do all that pertains to holiness, running away from evil words, unclean and shameful relations, drunkenness, passions and innovations, base lusts, defiled adulteries and overweening pride. For it is said: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (I Pet. 5:5). So, let us unite ourselves to them to whom grace has been given by God. Let us put on oneness of mind, let us be humble, temperate, far from any cursing or evil speech, making ourselves righteous by deeds and not by words... Let our praise be from God, and not from ourselves. God hates those who praise themselves. Let the witness of our good deeds be given by others. (St. Clement of Rome, Corinthians, 30) Christians, have we understood the great responsibility that we have taken on before God through baptism? Have we come to know that we must conduct ourselves as children of God, that we must align our will with the will of God, that we must remain free from sin, that we must love God with all our hearts and always patiently await union with Him? Have we thought about the fact that our heart should be so filled with love that it should overflow to our neighbor? Do we have the feeling that we must become holy and perfect, children of God and heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven? We must struggle for this, so that we may not be shown unworthy and rejected. Let none of us lose our boldness, nor neglect our duties, nor be afraid of the difficulties of spiritual struggle. For we have God as a helper, who strengthens us in the difficult path of virtue. (St. Nektarius of Aegina, The Path to Happiness, 2) http://orthodox.cn/patristics/300sayings_en.htm |
||||
| 04-10-2014 07:41 AM | |||||
| awareness |
Re: Praising Him in song! Quote:
|
||||
| 04-10-2014 04:39 AM | |||||
| InChristAlone |
Re: Praising Him in song! Irish priest astounds at wedding with incredible rendition of 'Hallelujah' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYKwqj5QViQ A young couple were given the ultimate wedding surprise when their priest, Father Ray Kelly gifted them with an impromptu song. Chris and Leah O'Kane wed in his parish in Oldcastle, Co Meath, when Fr Kelly (60) burst into a customised rendition of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' and has become an overnight YouTube sensation. http://www.independent.ie/irish-news...-30170170.html |
||||
| 02-08-2014 07:16 AM | |||||
| InChristAlone |
Re: Praising Him in song! "Start by doing what is necessary, than what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible." (St. Francis of Assisi, 1181-1226) Thank God for what you have, TRUST GOD for what you need. God gives you this day only once, use it for His glory and don't waste it. The Creator's Gift I prayed and asked God for strength, And He gave me troubles so that I became stronger. I asked God for wisdom, And He gave me problems so that I could solve them. I asked for prosperity, And God gave me muscles and a mind and thus I worked. I asked for courage, And God put me in peril and placed obstacles and thus I overcame them. I asked for love, And God sent me the destitute and the indigent and thus I helped them. I asked for mercy, And God gave me opportunities. I got nothing I wanted, I got all I needed. It was the answer to my prayer. Life is lived forwards, but understood backwards. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing. Worry: The interest you pay on trouble before it comes. "Frogs have it easy; they can eat what bugs them." "The Lord gave us two ends - one to sit on and the other to think with... Success depends on which one you use the most... Heads you win, Tails you lose." Cure for Sorrow There is an old Chinese tale about a woman whose son just died. In her grief, she went to the holy man and said, "What prayers, what magical incantations do you have to bring my son back to life?" Instead of sending her away or reasoning with her, he said to her, "Fetch me a mustard seed from a home that has never known sorrow. We will use it to drive the sorrow out of your life." The woman went off at once in search of that magical mustard seed. She came first to a splendid mansion, knocked at the door, and said, "I am looking for a home that has never known sorrow. Is this such a place? It is very important to me." They told her, "You've certainly come to the wrong place," and began to describe all the tragic things that recently had befallen them. The woman said to herself, "Who is better able to help these poor, unfortunate people that I, who have had misfortune of my my own?" She stayed to comfort them, then went on in search of a home that had never known sorrow. But wherever she turned, in hovels and in other places, she found one tale after another of sadness and misfortune. She became so involved in ministering to other people's grief that ultimately she forgot about her quest for the magical mustard seed, never realizing that it had, in fact, driven the sorrow out of her life. So, friend, if you feel you are the most wretch person in the world, just go and try to find that magical mustard seed... A man spoke with the Lord about heaven and hell. The Lord said to the man, "Come, I will show you hell." They entered a room where a group of people sat around a huge pot of stew. Everyone was famished, desperate and starving. Each held a spoon that reached the pot, but each spoon had a handle so much longer than their arms that it could not be used to get the stew into their own mouths. The suffering was terrible. "Come, now I will show you heaven," the Lord said after a while. They entered another room, identical to the first - the pot of stew, the group of people, the same long-handled spoons. But there everyone was happy and well-nourished. "I don't understand," said the man. "Why are they happy here when they were miserable in the other room and everything was the same?" The Lord smiled, "Ah, it is simple," he said. "Here they have learned to feed each other." There were three men who died and before God would let them into heaven, God gave them a chance to come back as anything they wanted. The first guy said, "I want to come back as myself, but 100 times smarter." So God made him 100 times smarter. The second guy said, "I want to be better than that guy, make me 1000 times smarter." So God made him 1000 times smarter. The last guy decided he would be the best. So he said, "God, make me better than both of them, make me 1,000,000 times smarter." So God made him a woman. Two buddies, Bob and Earl, were two of the biggest baseball fans in America. Their entire adult lives, Bob and Earl discussed baseball history in the winter, and they poured over every box score during the season. They went to sixty games a year. They even agreed that whoever died first would try to come back and tell the other if there was baseball in heaven. One summer night, Bob passed away in his sleep after watching a Yankee victory earlier in the evening. He died happy. A few nights later, his buddy, Earl, awoke to the sound of Bob's voice from beyond. "Bob is that you?" Earl asked. "Of course it me," Bob replied. "This is unbelievable!" Earl exclaimed. "So tell me, is there baseball in heaven?" "Well, I have some good news and some bad news for you. Which do you want to hear first?" "Tell me the good news first." "Well, the good news is that, yes, there is baseball in heaven, Earl." "Oh, that is wonderful! So what could possibly be the bad news?" "You're pitching tomorrow night." "Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many, not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some." (Charles Dickens, English novelist, 1812-1870) Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the number of apples in a seed. (Robert H. Schuller) To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common--this is my symphony. -William Henry Channing, clergyman, reformer (1810-1884) This one will cause you to stop and think. Voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small desert like island. The two survivors, not knowing what else to do agreed that they had no other recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island. The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat its fruit. The other man's parcel of land remained barren. After a week, the first man was lonely and decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, there was nothing. Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, &more food. The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing. Finally the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive God's blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered. As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven booming. "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?" My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them," the first man answered. His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything." You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him, "He had only one prayer, which I answered. "If not for that you would not have received any of my blessings." Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "What did he pray for that I should owe him anything?" He prayed that all your prayers be answered." For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but those of another praying for us This is too good not to share.My prayer for you today is that all your prayers are answered. Be blessed. |
||||
| 02-08-2014 06:34 AM | |||||
| InChristAlone |
Re: Praising Him in song! People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway. From The Paradoxical Commandments, by Dr. Kent M. Keith. Mother Teresa quoted this often. You say: "It's impossible" God says: "All things are possible" (Luke 18:27) Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated" God says: "Cast all your cares on ME" (I Peter 5:7) Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. You say: "I can't manage" God says: "I will supply all your needs" (Philippians 4:19) And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. You say: "I can't go on" God says: "I will direct your steps" (Proverbs 3:5-6) Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. You say: "I can't do it" God says: "You can do all things" (Philippians 4:13) I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. You say: "I don't have enough faith" God says: "I've given everyone a measure of faith" (Romans 12:3) For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. You say: "I'm not able" God says: "I am able" (II Corinthians 9:8) And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every goodwork. 2 Corinthians 5:7 We live by faith, not by sight. You are a light unto my path and a lamp unto my feet (Ps 119:105). Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Isaiah 40:28-31 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you;never will I forsake you." You are my strength and my strong tower (Ps 18:2). The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn [a] of my salvation, my stronghold. Ephesians 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Joshua 10:25 Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight." Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. Exodus 15:2 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. Deuteronomy 6:5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Nehemiah 8:10 Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. 1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Psalm 20: 7-8 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Ezra 10:4 Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it. Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Matthew 21:21-22 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Mark 9:23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Psalm 55:22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Him Who strengthens me. Mark 11:22-23 "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him." 1 Cor. 10:13 ...God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. James 2:14-26 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James 1:5-6 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. Jeremiah 33:3 Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know. Matthew 6:33 Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 1 Cor. 10:13 ...God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Psalm 37:4,7 Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass ... Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. Matthew 6:19-34 I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. 1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Luke 11:9-10 "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me Bible: Philippians 4:13 A blessing I will condense and pass on to you: May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you, and give you peace. Bible, Numbers 7:24-26 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; year, I will up hold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 |
||||
| 02-08-2014 06:32 AM | |||||
| InChristAlone |
Re: Praising Him in song! Somebody has well said that there are only two kinds of people in the world - there are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good morning, Lord," and there are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good Lord, it's morning." Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to the garage makes you a car. A Presbyterian, a Methodist, and a Baptist pastor and their wives were on a cruise. A tidal wave came up and swamped the ship; they all drowned, and next thing you know, they're standing before St. Peter. First came the Presbyterian and his wife. St. Peter shook his head. "I can't let you in. You loved money too much. You loved it so much, you even married a woman named Penny." Then came the Methodist. "Sorry, can't let you in, either. You loved food too much. You loved to eat so much, you even married a woman named Candy!" The Baptist turned to his wife and whispered nervously, "It doesn't look good, Fanny. A priest and a bus driver both go to Heaven at the same time. St. Peter shows the bus driver his house, which is three houses away from God. During this time, the priest is thinking to himself, "Since I'm a priest I should be right next to God!" Then St. Peter turns towards the priest and beckons him to follow. The priest follows for three miles when they finally come to a house. St. Peter tells the priest that this is his house. The priest looks horrified and says to St. Peter, "I don't understand! The bus driver is really close to God and I'm a priest! That doesn't make sense! St. Peter replies, "Oh, that's easy to explain. When you preach, people sleep. When the bus driver drives, people pray." The Pastor's title A local Pastor joined a community Service Club, and the members thought they would have a little fun with him. Under his name badge they printed, "Hog Caller" as his occupation. Everyone made a big fanfare as the badge was presented. The Pastor responded by saying, " I usually am called the "Shepherd of the sheep"... but I guess you know your people better than I do." Church Bulletins "Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your husbands." The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been cancelled due to a conflict. Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help. Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days. For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs. This evening at 7 P.M. there will be a hymn sing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin. Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done. The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The Congregation is invited to attend this tragedy. Where do we come from? A little girl asked her mother, "Where did people come from?" Her mother answered, "God made Adam and Eve and they had children and that's how all mankind was made." A couple of days later she asked her father the same question. The father answered, "Many years ago there were monkeys, which the human race evolved from." The confused little girl returned to her mother and said, "Mommy, how is it possible that you told me that we were created by God, and Daddy said we came from monkeys?" The mother answered, "Well, dear, it is very simple. I told you about my side of the family and your father told you about his." The minister was preoccupied with thoughts of how he was going to ask the congregation to come up with more money than they were expecting for repairs to the church building. Therefore, he was annoyed to find that the regular organist was sick and a substitute had been brought in at the last minute. The substitute wanted to know what to play. "Here's a copy of the service," he said impatiently. "But you'll have to think of something to play after I make the announcement about the finances." During the service, the minister paused and said, "Brothers and Sisters, we are in great difficulty; the roof repairs cost twice as much as we expected, and we need $4,000 more. Any of you who can pledge $100 or more, please stand up." At that moment, the substitute organist played the National Anthem ... ... and that is how the substitute organist became the permanent organist! There once was a rich man who was near death. He was very grieved because he had worked so hard for his money and he wanted to be able to take it with him to heaven. So he began to pray that he might be able to take some of his wealth with him. An angel hears his plea and appears to him. "Sorry, but you can't take your wealth with you." The man implores the angel to speak to God to see if He might bend the rules. The man continues to pray that his wealth could follow him. The angel reappears and informs the man that God has decided to allow him to take one suitcase with him. Overjoyed, the man gathers his largest suitcase and fills it with pure gold bars and places it beside his bed. Soon afterward he dies and shows up at the Gates of Heaven to greet St. Peter. St. Peter seeing the suitcase says, "Hold on, you can't bring that in here!" But, the man explains to St. Peter that he has permission and asks him to verify his story with the Lord. Sure enough, St. Peter checks and comes back saying, "You're right. You are allowed one carry-on bag, but I'm supposed to check its contents before letting it through." St. Peter opens the suitcase to inspect the worldly items that the man found too precious to leave behind and exclaims, "You brought pavement?" God will Provide A young woman brings home her fiance to meet her parents. After dinner, her mother tells her father to find out about the young man. The father invites the fiancee to his study for a drink. “So what are your plans?” the father asks the young man. “I am a Torah scholar.” he replies. “A Torah scholar. Hmmm,” the father says. “admirable, but what will you do to provide a nice house for my daughter to live in, as she’s accustomed to?” “I will study,” the young man replies, “and God will provide for us.” “And how will you buy her a beautiful engagement ring, such as she deserves?” asks the father. “I will concentrate on my studies,” the young man replies, “God will provide for us.” “And children?” asks the father. “How will you support children?” “Don’t worry, sir, God will provide,” replies the fiance. The conversation proceeds like this, and each time the father questions, the young idealist insists that God will provide. Later, the mother asks, “How did it go, Honey?” The father answers, “He has no job and no plans, but the good news is he thinks I’m God!” An atheist was walking through the woods one day, admiring all that evolution had created. Suddenly he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. Turning to look, he saw an 8 foot grizzly bear beginning to charge toward him. He ran as fast as he could down the path. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was rapidly closing on him Running faster yet, he looked again and the bear was even closer. His heart was pounding in his chest. He tried to run faster. But alas, he tripped and fell to the ground. As he rolled over to pick himself up, the bear was right over him, reaching for him with its left paw and raising its right paw to strike him. The atheist cried…”GOD DAMN!…” Time stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent. Even the river stopped moving. As a brilliant light shone upon the man, a thunderous voice came from the sky. “YOU DENY MY EXISTENCE FOR ALL THESE YEARS, TEACH OTHERS THAT I DON’T EXIST AND EVEN CREDIT CREATION TO SOME COSMIC ACCIDENT. NOW, YOU EXPECT ME TO HELP YOU AND DAMN THIS BEAR? AM I TO COUNT YOU AS A CHRISTIAN?” The atheist looked directly into the light and said, “Why don’t you try and make the bear a Christian?” “VERY WELL,” said the voice. The light went out. The river ran. The sounds of the forest resumed. … and the bear dropped down to his knees, brought both paws together, bowed his head and spoke: “Lord, thank you for this food which I am about to receive.” Today's Hymn Reverend Clive Morgan was completing his homily in St John's Church about the dangers of alcohol and the need for moderation and temperance. He announced at the end of the sermon in a loud, clear voice, 'If I had all the beer in the world, I'd take it and throw it into the river.' With even greater emphasis he added, 'And if I had all the wine in the world, I'd take it and throw it into the river.' Finally, he intoned in an extremely serious manner, 'And if I had all the whiskey in the world, I'd take it and throw it into the river.' The Reverend Morgan then sat down. Jerry, St John's leading chorister stood up and announced with a smile, 'For our closing hymn this Sunday, let us sing together hymn number 109: 'Shall We Gather at the River.' Who is the Fool? Father George was opening his mail one morning. Taking a single sheet of paper from an envelope, he found written on it only one word: 'Fool'. The following Sunday, in church, Father George announced to the assembled congregation, 'I have known many people who have written letters to me and forgotten to sign their names. But this week I received a letter from someone who signed his name and had forgotten to write a letter.' God will save me — A man climbs fast to the roof of his house which is being over-run by flood waters. A boat comes by and the person in it offers to take the man. The man replies: “No thanks. God will save me.”The water keeps rising and reaches the man’s neck. A helicopter comes by to save the man and he replies: “No thanks. God will save me.”The man drowns and goes to heaven. There he asks God: “I believed in you. Why did you not save me?”God answers: “I sent you a boat. I sent you a helicopter. What else did you want me to do?” A college student was in Philosophy class, where a class discussion about whether or not God exists was in progress. The professor had the following logic: "Has anyone in this class seen God?" Nobody spoke. "Has anyone in this class touched God?" Again, nobody spoke. "Has anyone in this class ever heard God?" When nobody spoke for the third time, he simply stated, "Then there is no God!" One of the students did not like the sound of this, and asked for permission to speak. The professor granted it, and the student stood up. "Has anyone in this class seen our professor's brain?" he asked. Bubba's boss was getting tired of Bubba proclaiming that he "knew everybody" in the world. "Okay, Bubba," his boss said one day, "Prove to me that you know everybody in the world. Do you know Tom Cruise?" "Oh, me and Tom go way back," said Bubba. So the boss bought airline tickets to Hollywood, and pretty soon Bubba was knocking at Tom Cruise's door, and was shortly admitted by the butler. Tom rushed to greet Bubba and invited him for lunch, and they had a good time discussing movies and things. "Well, I'm impressed," said the boss when they left. "But I bet you don't know President Bush." "Aw, sure I do," said Bubba, and with that they were off to Washington, and pretty soon, the White House guard was escorting the two men into the Oval Office. "Hiya, Bubba!" said the President, warmly embracing him. After a nice visit and a chat with the Cabinet secretaries, they left. The boss was suitably impressed, but not giving up. "Okay, Bubba, I'm going to ask you if you know the ultimate celebrity -- the Pope." "Why, for sure I do!" said Bubba, and pretty soon they were on an airplane to Vatican City. They found themselves in St. Peter's Square in a crowd of thousands, and Bubba said, "Heck, I can't see nothin' from here," and so he went right up to the Swiss Guards and the doors opened to him. The boss waited outside in the square. Pretty soon the door to the upstairs balcony opened, and out comes John Paul II and Bubba. They began to smile and wave at the crowd, with their arms around each other. Shortly thereafter Bubba decided to return to the Square. When he got there, an ambulance was loading his Boss into the back. Bubba rushed up and said, "What happened, Boss?" The boss says, "I was doing fine until you came out on the balcony and the guy next to me says, 'Who is that guy on the balcony with Bubba?'" A guy is at the pearly gates, waiting to be admitted, while St. Peter is leafing through the big book to see if the guy is worthy of entering. Saint Peter goes through the book several times, furrows his brow, and says to the guy, "You know, I can't see that you did anything really good in your life, but, you never did anything bad either. Tell you what, if you can tell me of one REALLY good deed that you did in your life, you're in." The guy thinks for a moment and says, "Well, there was the time when I was driving down the highway and I saw a group of biker guys gathered around this poor girl. I slowed down my car to see what was going on, and sure enough, there were about 20 of 'em tormenting this girl." "Infuriated, I got out my car, grabbed a tire iron out of my trunk, and walked straight up to the leader of the gang, a huge guy with a studded leather jacket and a chain running from his nose to his ear. As I walked up to the leader, the gang formed a circle around me. So, I ripped the leader's chain off his face and smashed him over the head with the tire iron. Then I turned around and yelled to the rest of them, 'Leave this poor, innocent girl alone! You're all a bunch of sick, deranged animals! Go home before I teach you all a lesson in pain!'" St. Peter, impressed, says, "Really? When did this happen?" "Oh, about two minutes ago." Lord Help me Dear Heavenly Father, So far, today, I've done all right. I haven't gossiped or lost my temper. I haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, or self centered. I'm really happy about that so far. But in a few minutes I'm going to be getting out of bed and then I'm going to need a lot of help. Thank you! Amen Favorite Hymns of Different Professions The Dentist's Hymn ... Crown Him With Many Crowns The Weatherman's Hymn ... There Shall Be Showers Of Blessing The Contractor's Hymn ... The Church's One Foundation The Tailor's Hymn ... Holy, Holy, Holy The Golfer's Hymn ... There Is A Green Hill Far Away The Politician's Hymn ... Standing On The Promises The Optometrist's Hymn ... Open My Eyes That I May See The IRS Agent's Hymn ... I Surrender All The Gossip's Hymn ... Pass It On The Electrician's Hymn ... Send The Light The Shopper's Hymn ... In The Sweet By and By The Realtor's Hymn ... I've Got A Mansion Just Over The Hilltop The Pilot's Hymn ... I'll Fly Away The Paramedic's Hymn ... Revive Us Again The Judge's Hymn ... Almost Persuaded The Psychiatrist's Hymn ... Just A Little Talk With Jesus The Architect's Hymn ... How Firm A Foundation The Credit Card Telemarketer's Hymn ... A Charge To Keep I Have The Zoo Keeper's Hymn ... All Creatures Of Our God And King The Postal Worker's Hymn ... So Send I You The Waiter's Hymn ... Fill My Cup, Lord The Gardener's Hymn ... Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming The Lifeguard's Hymn ... Rescue The Perishing The Criminal's Hymn ... Search Me, O God The Baker's Hymn ... When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder The Shoe Repairer's Hymn ... It Is Well With My Soul The Travel Agent's Hymn ... Anywhere With Jesus The Geologist's Hymn ... Rock Of Ages The Hematologist's Hymn ... Are You Washed In The Blood? The Men's Wear Clerk's Hymn ... Blest Be The Tie The Umpire's Hymn ... I Need No Other Argument The Librarian's Hymn ... Whispering Hope A married couple were arguing who is making the coffee, the wife said that in the Bible it says that men should make the coffee and the husband asked her where it said that. The wife opened the Bible and said: "Right here in HeBREWS!" A young woman teacher with obvious liberal tendencies explains to her class of small children that she is an atheist. She asks her class if they are atheists too. Not really knowing what atheism is but wanting to be like their teacher, their hands explode into the air like fleshy fireworks. There is, however, one exception. A little girl has not gone along with the crowd. The teacher asks her why she has decided to be different. "Because, I'm not an atheist." Then, asks the teacher, "What are you?" "I'm a Christian." The teacher is a little perturbed now, her face slightly red. She asks her why she is a Christian. "Well, I was brought up knowing and loving Jesus. My mom is a Christian, my dad is a Christian, and my grand parents are too, so I am a Christian." The teacher is now angry. "That's no reason," she says loudly. "What if your mom and your dad were idiots. And what if your grand parents were idiots? What would you be then?" She paused, smiled and said, "Oh, I guess that I'd be an atheist!" There were two men shipwrecked on this island. The minute they got to the island, one of them started screaming and yelling. "We're going to die! We're going to die! There's no food! No water! We're going to die!" The second man was propped up against a palm tree and acting so calmly it drove the first man crazy. "Don't you understand?!" We're going to die!!" the first man said. "You don't understand. I make $100,000 a week," said the second man. The first man looked at him quite dumbfounded and asked what difference does it make? We're on an island with no food and no water! We're going to die!!!" The second man answered, " You just don't get it. I make $100,000 a week. I tithe. My pastor will find me!" A woman was at work when she received a phone call that her daughter was very sick with a fever. She left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication. She got back to her car and found that she had locked her keys in the car. She didn't know what to do, so she called home and told the baby sitter what had happened. The baby sitter told her that the fever was getting worse. She said, "You might find a coat hanger and use that to open the door." The woman looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger that had been thrown down on the ground, possibly by someone else who at some time or other had locked their keys in their car. Then she looked at the hanger and said, "I don't know how to use this." So she bowed her head and asked God to send her some help. Within five minutes an old rusty car pulled up, with a dirty, greasy, bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag on his head. The woman thought, "This is what you sent to help me?" But, she was desperate, so she was also very thankful. The man got out of his car and asked her if he could help. She said, "Yes, my daughter is very sick. I stopped to get her some medication and I locked my keys in my car. I must get home to her. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car?" He said, "Sure". He walked over to the car, and immediately the car was opened. She hugged the man and through her tears she said, "Thank You So Much! You are a very nice man." The man replied, "Lady, I am not a nice man. I just got out of prison today. I was in prison for car theft and have only been out for about an hour." The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried out loud, "Oh, Thank you God! You even sent me a Professional!" A short history of medicine "Doctor, I have an ear ache." 2000 BC - "Here, eat this root." 1000 BC - "That root is heathen, say this prayer." 1850 AD - "That prayer is superstition, drink this potion." 1940 AD - "That potion is snake oil, swallow this pill." 1985 AD - "That pill is ineffective, take this antibiotic." 2000 AD - "That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root!" A father was reading a Bible story to his young son. He read, "The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city, but his wife looked back and was turned to salt." His son asked, "What happened to the flea?" A pastor and a lawyer are seated next to each other on a flight from LA to NY. The lawyer asks if he would like to play a fun game? The pastor, tired, just wants to take a nap, politely declines, and rolls over to the window to catch a few winks. The lawyer persists and explains that the game is easy and a lot of fun. He explains, "I ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, you pay me $5.00, and vise versa." Again, he declines and tries to get some sleep. The lawyer, now agitated, says, "Okay, if you don't know the answer you pay me $5.00, and if I don't know the answer, I will pay you $500.00." This catches the pastors attention and figuring there will be no end to this torment unless he plays, agrees to the game. The lawyer asks the first question. "What's the distance from the earth to the moon?" The pastor doesn't say a word, reaches into his wallet, pulls out a $5.00 bill and hands it to the lawyer. Okay says the lawyer, your turn. He asks the lawyer, "What goes up a hill with three legs and comes down with four legs?" The lawyer, puzzled, takes out his laptop computer and searches all his references, no answer. He taps into the air phone with his modem and searches the net and the library of congress, no answer. Frustrated, he sends e-mails to all his friends and coworker, to no avail. After an hour, he wakes the preacher, and hands him $500. The pastor says, "Thank you", and turns back to get some more sleep. The lawyer, who is more than a little miffed, wakes the pastor and asks, "Well, what's the answer?" Without a word, the pastor reaches into his wallet, hands the lawyer $5.00, and goes back to sleep. One day while walking down the street a highly successful Human Resources Director was hit by a bus and she died. Her soul was met at the Pearly gates by St. Peter himself. "Welcome to Heaven", said St Peter. "Before you get settled in, it seems we have a problem. You see, we've never had a Human Resources Director make it this far and we're not really sure what to do with you". "No problem, just let me in," said the woman. "Well, I'd like to, but I have higher orders. What we are going to do is let you have a day in Hell and a day in Heaven and then you can choose whichever one you want to spend an eternity in." "Actually, I think I've made up my mind, I prefer to stay in Heaven", said the woman. "Sorry, we have rules... " And with that St. Peter put the executive in an elevator and it went down to hell. The doors opened and she found herself stepping out onto the putting green of a beautiful golf course. In the distance was a country club and standing in front of her were all friends - fellow executives that she had worked with and they were all cheering for her. They ran up and kissed her on both cheeks and talked about old times. They played an excellent round of golf and at night went to the country club where she enjoyed an excellent steak and lobster dinner. She met the Devil who was actually a really nice guy (kinda cute) and she had a great time telling jokes and dancing. Everybody shook her hand and waved goodbye as she got in the elevator. The elevator opened at the Pearly gates and she found St. Peter waiting for her. She spent the next 24 hours lounging around on the clouds and playing the harp and singing. She had a great time and before she knew it her 24 hours were up and St. Peter came and got her. "So you have spent a day in hell, and a day in Heaven. Now choose your eternity," he said. The woman replied: "Well I never thought I would say this, I mean, Heaven has been really great and all, but I think had a better time in Hell." So St. Peter escorted her to the elevator and again she went back to Hell. When the doors opened she found herself standing in a desolate wasteland covered in garbage and filth. She saw her friends were dressed in rags and were picking up the garbage and putting it in sacks. The Devil came up to her and put his arm around her. "I don't understand," stammered the woman, "yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and a country club and we ate lobster and we danced and had a great time. Now all there is are wastelands and garbage and all my friends look miserable." The Devil looked at her and smiled. "Yesterday we were recruiting, today you're staff..." There was an old lady who would come out every morning on the steps of her front porch, raise her arms to the sky, and shout, "Praise the Lord!" One day an atheist moved into the house next door. Over time, he became irritated at the little old lady. So every morning he would step out onto his front porch and yell after her, "There is no Lord!"Time passed with the two of them carrying on the way every day. Then one morning in the middle of winter, the little old lady stepped onto her front porch and shouted, "Praise the Lord! Lord, I have no food and I am starving. Please provide for me, oh Lord!"The next morning, she stepped onto her porch and there were two huge bags of groceries sitting there. "Praise the Lord!" she cried out. "He has provided groceries for me!" The atheist jumped out of the hedges and shouted, "There is no Lord. I bought those groceries!" The little old lady threw her arms into the air and shouted, "Praise the Lord! He has provided me with groceries and He made the devil pay for them!" Mildred, the church gossip and self-appointed arbiter of the church's morals, kept sticking her nose into other people's business. Several residents were unappreciative of her activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence. She made a mistake, however, when she accused George, a new member, of being an alcoholic, after she saw his pickup truck parked in front of the town's only bar one afternoon. She commented to George and others that everyone seeing it there would know what he was doing. George, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and then just walked away. He didn't explain, defend, or deny. He said nothing. Later that evening, George quietly parked his pickup in front of Mildred's house.......and left it there all night. The two Brothers There were two evil brothers. They were rich, and used their money to keep their evil ways from the public eye. They even attended the same church, and appeared to be perfect Christians. Then, their pastor retired, and a new one was hired. Not only could the new pastor see right through the brothers' deception, but he also spoke well and true, and the church membership grew in numbers. A fund-raising campaign was started to build a new assembly. All of a sudden, one of the brothers died. The remaining brother sought out the new pastor the day before the funeral and handed him a check for the amount needed to finish paying for the new building. "I have only one condition," he said. "At the funeral, you must say my brother was a saint." The pastor gave his word, and deposited the check. The next day, at the funeral, the pastor did not hold back. "He was an evil man," he said. "He cheated on his wife and abused his family." After going on like this, he finally concluded, "But, compared to his brother, he was a SAINT." |
||||
| 02-08-2014 06:19 AM | |||||
| InChristAlone |
Re: Praising Him in song! A man with one watch knows what time it is; A man with two watches is never quite sure Don't look where you fall But where you slipped. Look at life through the wind-shield, Not through the rear view mirror. People may doubt what you say But they never doubt what you do. Be nice to people on the way up Because you will need them on the way down Never explain Your friends do not need it Your enemies will never believe it. While seeking revenge Dig two graves ......... one for yourself. Time you enjoyed wasting ......... was not wasted. Courage is not lack of fear But the ability to act while facing fear You've got to do your own growing No matter how tall your father is. The best way to predict your future Is to create it. Life Philosophy: 10 Thought-provoking Quotations The meaning of life is to give life meaning. Find something you love to do and you'll never have to work a day in your life. If someone seeks advice, give them direction, not correction. Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong. Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will. Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. You can't make someone else's choices. You shouldn't let someone else make yours. Even a fool knows you can't reach the stars, but that doesn't stop a wise man from trying. When an affliction happens to you, you either let it defeat you, or you defeat it. This quote deserves inclusion: You can do what you want to do. You can be what you want to be. Things God won't ask on THAT day 1. God won't ask what kind of car you drove. He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation. 2. God won't ask the square footage of your house. He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home. 3. God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet. He'll ask how many you helped to clothe. 4. God won't ask what your highest salary was. He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it. 5. God won't ask what your job title was. He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability. 6. God won't ask how many friends you had. He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend. 7. God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived. He'll ask how you treated your neighbors. 8. God won't ask about the color of your skin. He'll ask about the content of your character. The Man in the Glass: A Poem With Meaning When you get what you want in your struggle for self And the world makes you king for a day, Just go to a mirror and look at yourself, And see what that man has to say. For it isn't your father or mother or wife, Who judgement upon you must pass; The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life Is the one starring back from the glass. He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest. For he's with you clear up to the end, And you've passed the most dangerous, difficult test If the man in the glass is your friend. You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years. And get pats on the back as you pass, But your final reward will be the heartaches and tears If you've cheated the man in the glass. Author: Dale Wimbrow, Copyrighted in 1934 |
||||
| 02-08-2014 06:17 AM | |||||
| InChristAlone |
Re: Praising Him in song! But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear ; do not be frightened." Take Courage 1 Peter 3:14 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 "Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD." Psalm 25:4-7 "But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one." ~ II Thessalonians 3:3 ~ "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." ~ Galatians 5:22-23 ~ "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." ~ I Peter 2:9 ~ Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13 "Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help. You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever." Psalm 30:10-12 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6 "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever." Psalm 28:7-9 "LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." Psalm 16:5-8 Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it." Ezra 10:4 "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" 1 Corinthians 3:16 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 "I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs." [Frederick Douglass, escaped slave] "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears." Psalm 18:2-6 "The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from violent men you rescued me. Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD; I will sing praises to your name." Psalm 18:46-49 "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." Proverbs 16:3 "The LORD is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1 "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time--God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen." 1 Timothy 6:12-16 |
||||
| 02-08-2014 06:16 AM | |||||
| InChristAlone |
Re: Praising Him in song! It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31:8) The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. (Deuteronomy 33:27) The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. (Psalm 9:9-10) I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8) I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4) Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. (Psalm 34:10b) When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. (Psalm 34:17) Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31) So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10) Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord you God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1b-3a) O Lord, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress. (Jeremiah 16:19) You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13) See, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27) Trust in the Lord and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him. (Psalm 37:3-5, 7a) Your father knows what you need before you ask him. So do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today's trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:8b, 31-34) Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11: 28-31) Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. (John 15:4-5,7,10) If God is for us, who can be against us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8: 31b, 35, 37-39) Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. (Psalm 61:1-4) Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:6-8) I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation . . . . I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4: 12-13) Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith . . . . And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5: 7-10) Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. (Exodus 14:13a,14) You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress; my God in whom I trust." (Psalm 91:1-2) Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31:6,8) The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. (Deuteronomy 33:27) Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9) Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10b) The Lord is my light and my salvation -- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life -- of whom shall I be afraid? Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. (Psalm 27:1,3-5) Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! (Psalm 27:14) When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all. (Psalm 34:17-19) Trust in the Lord and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him. (Psalm 37:3-7a) Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation. (Psalm 91:14-16) Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:7-9a,10) There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:18-19) For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:4-5) So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27) If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you. (Romans 8:11) Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm 103:2-5) Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. (Psalm 61:1-4) Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation. (Psalm 91:14-16) Praise the Lord! Happy are those who fear the Lord. They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord. Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid. (Psalm 112: 1a, 7-8a) In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength. (Isaiah 30:15) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6) |
||||
| 02-06-2014 11:36 PM | |||||
| InChristAlone |
Re: Praising Him in song! If God is your co-pilot, swap seats. Don't be unhappy if your dreams never come true -- just be thankful your nightmares don't. In the dark? Follow the Son. Stand still and watch the world go by -- and it will. God still speaks to those who take the time to listen. Feed your faith and doubt will starve to death. Great minds discuss ideas; normal minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. Keep your temper -- nobody wants it. A clean conscience makes a soft pillow. Real friends are those who, when you feel you've made a fool of yourself, don't feel you've done a permanent job. When we have done what we can, God will do what we can't. Genuine faith is assuring, insuring and enduring. A careless word may kindle strife A cruel word may wreck a life A timely word may level stress A loving word may heal and bless. Exercise daily. Walk with the Lord. The will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not protect you. Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace. The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us. God gives and forgives. Man gets and forgets. A wise man will desire no more than he can get honestly, use wisely, and leave cheerfully. Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. A coincidence is when God performs a miracle and decides to remain anonymous. A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle. The best way to stand up before the world is to kneel down before God. Thank God for what you have -- Trust God for what you need. You don't have to attend every argument you're invited to. If you want to defend Christianity, practice it! Your life may be the only bible some people read. Belief is the truth held in the mind. Faith is a fire in the heart. (Joseph Newton) Worry looks around. Sorry looks back. Faith looks up. Your mind is like a parachute. It functions only when open. The heaviest thing you can carry is a grudge. Those who walk with God reach their destination. Your job is not to judge. Your job is not to figure out if someone deserves something. Your job is to lift the fallen, to restore the broken, and to heal the hurting. You can worry or you can trust God. The only thing worse than being blind is having sight and no vision. Anger is what gets most of us into trouble. Pride is what keeps us there. “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” Eleanor Roosevelt It does not matter if the glass is half empty or half full... Be grateful that you have a glass and there is something in it. Worrying is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere. Happiness is like glass. It may be all around you, yet be invisible. If you ever find happiness by hunting for it, you will find it, as the old woman did her lost spectacles, safe on her own nose all the time. Josh Billings "If you hope for happiness in the world, hope for it from God, and not from the world." - David Brainerd God can't give us peace and happiness apart from Himself because there is no such thing. — C.S. Lewis. We don’t realize that, somewhere within us all, there does exist a supreme self who is eternally at peace. ―Elizabeth Gilbert When you understand God is your source, circumstances can’t stop you. Jeremy Foster God answers prayer in 3 ways: He says “Yes” and gives you what you want. He says “No” and gives you something better. He says “Wait” and gives you the best. |
||||
| 02-04-2014 02:05 AM | |||||
| InChristAlone |
Re: Praising Him in song! Revive Us Again http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=treyei-EhhA To God be the Glory http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhZEtCwVG5w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV6z3TcYOBQ Christians United for Israel - Hava Nagila Texas Style http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WF6irnzAiI Lord, I'm Coming Home http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQuJhyTI0Tk Christ the Lord Is Risen Today http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWbpsmBbZMg O The Deep, Deep Love Of Jesus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPXapfFfesA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PQbHmhLhGY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqTMJxSA7EM Oh The Deep, Deep Love - Sovereign Grace http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MjHBvOsVJM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMGp9HYEWe8 Chamber Harp Ensemble |
||||
| 02-04-2014 01:01 AM | |||||
| InChristAlone |
Re: Praising Him in song! How Great Thou Art http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNxIbbHji2Q Softly and Tenderly – from “Junebug” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XakhJYnGA3w Don Moen - Our Father, As We Worship You, Here We Are & Have Your Way w/ lyrics http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNf1MtjChFI Be Thou My Vision, from "Clothed in Gladness" - David Abramsky, cellist http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk2LWZ9PHPY |
||||
| 02-03-2014 10:20 PM | |||||
| InChristAlone |
Re: Praising Him in song! And Can It Be That I Should Gain? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQeIGbKqiw8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t66l03XmQI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-PP_shmvEw -- Not many hymns begin with a question as does this one. However, it is not an expression of doubt but of wonder and awe. · How can it be that the shedding of Jesus’ blood 1900 years ago is relevant to me today? · How was it possible for the Song of God to have died for me? · Why should our Lord empty Himself of all His divine glory and become a man, in order to save “Adam’s helpless race?” There is considerable evidence that this hymn was written by Charles Wesley soon after his own conversion. Charles Wesley’s crisis experience occurred on May 20, 1738. He had been sick in body as well as in spirit. It seemed that God spoke to him through a vision. According to his Journal, this confrontation took place after reading the bible for some time. Following is his account: “At midnight I gave myself up to Christ: assured I was safe, sleeping or waking. I had continued experience of his power to overcome all temptation; and confessed, with joy and surprise, that he was able to do exceedingly abundantly for me, above what I can ask or think.” —Cliff Barrows http://www.tanbible.com/tol_sng/sng_...shouldgain.htm |
||||
| 02-03-2014 09:16 PM | |||||
| InChristAlone |
Re: Praising Him in song! Amazing Grace: The Story Behind the Song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33fA-oeuvFs Amazing Grace - David Nevue http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWmIjVe_Nnw Amazing Grace - John Doan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V09zJnSotBc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-XOd7gOjdQ Mason Williams - Art Maddox - John Doan - Amazing Grace http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_P6XWd8ItY AMAZING GRACE - THE KELLY FAMILY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quuiSTwrcaI AMAZING GRACE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzRdoJwVCx8 Amazing Grace - Darlene Zschech http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4qbmPpfG6s Amazing Grace - Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lajq1U6X9kI Amazing Grace with Orchestra, Choir and Bagpipes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p2CbHG9O0s --- Hymn Story Amazing Grace John Newton crammed a lot of living into his 82 years. His mother died when he was six years old, and he joined his father at sea when he was eleven. He served his apprenticeship as a sailor, and rose through the ranks until he became the captain of a slave ship. He abandoned the religious training that he had experienced as a child, and reveled in the dissolute life of a slave trader. He was noted for his profanity and his cruelty. But one stormy night, when his ship was in danger of sinking and he was in danger of dying, Newton had a real change of heart. It might have been his religious training at his mother's knee surfacing after all those years –– or it might have been his love for Mary Catlett, a Christian woman whom he later married –– or it might have been his reading of the book, Imitation of Christ, by William Law –– or it might have been all three. In any event, Newton had a real conversion experience. For awhile, Newton continued on his slave ship, but he began to treat both the slaves and his crew with a good deal more compassion. Finally, convinced that the slave trade was wrong, he left his ship and took a job onshore. He then felt a call to the ministry, and was ordained at age forty and assigned to a church at Olney, England. He continued in ministry through the rest of his long life, even after failing eyesight made it impossible for him to read. This hymn, Amazing Grace, is in a sense Newton's own story. It was amazing grace that saved him, and it was amazing grace that was the focus of his preaching. But Amazing Grace is the story of every Christian. It is amazing grace that saves us –– nothing else –– no works of our hands or gifts of our wealth. It was amazing that God would love and save John Newton, but it is amazing that God would love and save any of us. It is indeed a sweet sound to hear about it, but it is so amazing that it is hard to believe. Believe it, because it is true. –– Copyright 2007, Richard Niell Donovan http://www.lectionary.org/HymnStorie...ng%20Grace.htm |
||||
| 02-03-2014 09:40 AM | |||||
| bearbear |
Re: Praising Him in song! I Love Your Presence http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI82-Hi4stE In the glory of Your presence I find rest for my soul In the depths of Your love I find peace makes me whole Chorus: I love I love I love Your presence I love I love I love Your presence I love I love I love You Jesus I love I love I love Your presence Bridge: If you want it come and get it for crying out loud The love that I have given You was never a doubt Let go of Your heart Let go of Your head and feel it now |
||||
| 02-03-2014 08:13 AM | |||||
| InChristAlone |
Re: Praising Him in song! ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER (I SURRENDER ALL) - ROBIN MARK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO3BouKCtDs I Surrender All - Don Moen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_DfJ_Yhvo4 Author --Judson W. Van de Venter, 1855-1939 Composer --Winfield S. Weeden, 1847-1908 "He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." Matthew 10:39 History of Hymns: “I Surrender All” by C. Michael Hawn "I Surrender All" J. W. Van DeVenter The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 354 All to Jesus I surrender; all to him I freely give; I will ever love and trust him, in his presence daily live. I surrender all, all to thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all. Songs of personal commitment to Christ often stem from a particular experience in the life of the author. This is a good example. Hymnologist Kenneth Osbeck cites an account left by Van DeVenter: The song was written while I was conducting a meeting at East Palestine, Ohio, and in the home of George Sebring (founder of Sebring Campmeeting Bible Conference). For some time, I had struggled between developing my talents in the field of art and going into full-time evangelistic work. At last the pivotal hour of my life came, and I surrendered all. A new day was ushered into my life. I became and evangelist and discovered down deep in my soul a talent hitherto unknown to me. God had hidden a song in my heart, and touching a tender chord, he caused me to sing. This testimony makes more sense when knowing more about the author’s life. Judson Van de Venter (1855-1939) was raised on a farm near Dundee, Michigan. After graduating from Hillsdale College, he taught art in public schools in Sharon, Pennsylvania. Van Deventer was active as a layman in his Methodist Episcopal Church, including participation in revivals held at the church. Based on his fervent faith and service to the church, friends encouraged him to leave his field of teaching and become an evangelist. It took five years for him to finally "surrender all" and follow the advice of his friends. His ministry took him to various places in the United States, England, and Scotland. Perhaps the most important influence that Van de Venter had was on the young evangelist Billy Graham. The Rev. Graham cites this hymn as an influence in his early ministry. His account appears in Crusade Hymn Stories, edited by Graham's chief musician, Cliff Barrows: One of the evangelists who influenced my early preaching was also a hymnist who wrote "I Surrender All" -- the Rev. J. W. Van de Venter. He was a regular visitor at the Florida Bible Institute (now Trinity Bible College) in the late 1930's. We students love this kind, deeply spiritual gentleman and often gathered in his winter home at Tampa, Florida, for an evening of fellowship and singing. More than sixty of Van de Venter's hymns appeared in various twentieth-century hymnals, but "I Surrender All" (1896) is his most famous. One of the characteristics of many gospel songs is the repetition of a key word or phrase throughout the hymn. Each of the five stanzas begins with the line, "All to Jesus I surrender." The refrain includes the phrase, "I surrender all" three times in the melody and an additional two times in the men's part. This means that the one who sings all five stanzas would sing the word "surrender" thirty times. The other key word – "all" – would be sung forty-three times! The stanzas all revolve around the key word. Stanza one stresses complete surrender: "all to him I freely give." In stanza two, the singer forsakes "worldly pleasures." Stanza three prays to "feel the Holy Spirit." Stanza four asks for Jesus' empowerment, to be filled with "thy love and power." In the final stanza, the singer "feel[s] the sacred flame," an image of the Holy Spirit. The result of feeling Christ's "full salvation," is to sing "glory to his name." http://www.gbod.org/lead-your-church...-surrender-all |
||||
| 02-02-2014 05:40 PM | |||||
| InChristAlone |
Re: Praising Him in song! Great is Thy Faithfulness - BRIAN DOERKSEN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO1UqeEL5Yo Great Is Thy Faithfulness Thomas Chisholm – 1925 Great Is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father! There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Though changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be. Refrain: Great Is Thy faithfulness, Great Is Thy faithfulness, Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me! Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love. Refrain Pardon for Sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide, Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Refrain The Story Behind the Hymn: 1) Thomas Obediah Chisholm was born in a log cabin in Franklin, Kentucky in 1866. He received his education in a little country schoolhouse, and at age 16 began teaching there. He became a Christian at age 27, and with no college or seminary training was ordained to the Methodist ministry at age 36. He served as a Methodist minister for a year, but ill health made it impossible for him to continue. He moved to Vineland, New Jersey, where he opened an insurance office. Always interested in poetry, Chisholm wrote hundreds of poems during his lifetime. He was inspired by Lamentations 3:22-23 to write the text for "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." Those verses read, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Chisholm experienced that faithfulness. He suffered ill health most of his adult life, and never made much money –– but he said, "God has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care which have filled me with astonishing gratefulness." Chisholm sent the words to "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" to his friend, William Runyan, and Runyan wrote the music for this hymn. Runyan was a friend of Dr. Will Houghton, the president of Moody Bible Institute, and "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" soon became Houghton's favorite. Dr. Houghton invited George Beverly Shea, an unknown singer at the time, to sing hymns on the Institute's radio station. Shea, of course, included Dr. Houghton's favorite hymn in his repertoire. Billy Graham, then a student at Wheaton College, became familiar with George Beverly Shea (and this hymn) through those radio broadcasts, and invited Shea to become part of his ministry. It was through their work that this hymn became popular internationally. Even though he suffered ill health for most of his adult life, Chisholm lived to the ripe old age of 94. During his later years, he lived in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, a Methodist camp meeting town, where he died in 1960. –– Copyright 2007, Richard Niell Donovan http://www.lectionary.org/HymnStorie...ithfulness.htm 2) http://www.gbod.org/lead-your-church...y-faithfulness |
||||
| 02-02-2014 07:47 AM | |||||
| InChristAlone |
Re: Praising Him in song! How sweet the name of Jesus sounds - Matthew Perryman Jones http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTRnz4j6BpY It's a new tune but also gracious. The story behind it. --- "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds" by J. M. K. Today I want to say a few words about a hymn we all love, and never grow weary of: "How sweet the name of Jesus sounds." It was written by a most remarkable man, John Newton. In his young days he was very wild and wicked — a sinner of the blackest dye, but by the grace of God, he was converted, and became one of the holiest of saints, and the writer of this and of many other beautiful hymns. The secret of his salvation lay in the happy fact that he had had one of God's greatest and best gifts; a godly, praying mother. She died when he was only seven, but she had so stored his mind with texts and Bible teaching, she had so prayed for him, and dedicated him to God, that her influence never left him; and in due time her prayers were answered, and her labours were rewarded. What a call we have here, to every mother, at once to decide to come to Christ, and to love, and serve, and follow Him. Come, dear mothers, if only for the sake of your dear children, that you, too, may win them for God's service here, and for Heaven, in the Life Beyond. John Newton was born in London, July 24, 1725. He was an only child. His father was a sea captain; his mother a godly, praying woman. She died when John was only seven. At the age of ten the little motherless lad went to sea with his father. The young boy was thrown amongst a lot of loose and abandoned companions, and he quickly learnt their evil ways; so much so, that even among them he became notorious for wickedness. He would curse and blaspheme so terribly that sometimes even the men were surprised at his depravity. Then he was forced by the press-gang into the Navy. He was at once promoted to the rank of midshipman; but he was soon disgraced, and later dismissed for insubordination. He took service under a West African slave dealer; and was at one time captain of a slave ship, and engaged in the capture and traffic of slaves. At the age of twenty-three a ship in which he was sailing was overtaken in a terrific storm. She sprang a leak, and was thought to be sinking. In his agony and alarm John Newton cried aloud, "May the Lord have mercy upon us!" This was the first prayer he had uttered for years. The ship was saved, and he began to think. He took his Bible, and read and prayed, and slowly the light of Christ shone in upon his soul. He also came under the influence of a godly captain, who greatly helped him. He gave up his seafaring life, and in 1750 married Mary Catlett, a true woman, and an early love of his. This pure and early attachment and his sainted mother's influence and prayers were the two merciful sheet anchors which held John Newton from destruction. Soon after his marriage he came under the influence of John Wesley and George Whitefield. At length after eight years at Liverpool, during which time Newton used his spare time chiefly in reading theological books, and in increasing his knowledge of Greek, and Hebrew, and Latin, he was licensed, in his thirty-ninth year, to the curacy of Olney, in Buckinghamshire — where he lived and worked for fifteen years (from 1764-1779). During this time he became acquainted with the poet William Cowper, and between them they composed and published "The Olney Hymns." Of these Cowper wrote 67, while Newton contributed 281. The following are some of Newton's hymns: "How sweet the name of Jesus sounds"; "Glorious things of Thee are spoken"; "Begone, unbelief, my Saviour is near"; "Approach my soul the mercy seat"; "In evil long I took delight"; "Come my soul thy suit prepare"; "Rejoice, believer, in the Lord"; "Great Shepherd of Thy people hear"; "May the grace of Christ our Saviour." In 1779 John Newton became the Rector of St Mary's Woolnoth, Lombard Street, in London, where for twenty-seven years more he lived and loved and laboured. The church is close to the Royal Exchange and the Bank of England. His preaching attracted large crowds. No London clergyman of that day exercised a greater influence than did John Newton. His one desire was to show what Christ had done for him, and could do for others. Two years before his death, when, on account of his age and infirmities, he was pressed to discontinue preaching, his reply was, "What, shall the old African blasphemer stop while he can speak!" A sweet story of him is told, that when he was nearly eighty he was almost blind, and could scarcely see to read his manuscript sermon, so a helper stood beside him to assist him in the pulpit. One Sunday morning John Newton had twice read the words, "Jesus Christ is precious." "You have already said that twice," whispered his helper; "go on." "John," said Newton to him, "I said that twice, and I am going to say it again." The roof timbers rang as again he cried, "Jesus Christ is precious!" On December 21st, 1807, he fell asleep in Jesus, in his eighty-third year. William Jay, of Bath, saw him not long before his death; the bright mind had become clouded and the speech affected, but the visitor carried away one precious utterance; let us never forget John Newton's dying words. He said to Mr. Jay: "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things — that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Saviour." He was laid to rest in the chancel vault of St Mary's Woolnoth, and a simple tablet to his memory was placed on the wall behind the pulpit, bearing an inscription written by himself: JOHN NEWTON, CLERK, ONCE AN INFIDEL AND LIBERTINE, A SERVANT OF SLAVES IN AFRICA; WAS BY THE RICH MERCY OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, PRESERVED, RESTORED, PARDONED, AND APPOINTED TO PREACH THE FAITH HE HAD LONG LABOURED TO DESTROY. NEAR SIXTEEN YEARS AT OLNEY IN BUCKS, AND TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS IN THIS CHURCH. I have given you a brief outline of the life of John Newton, writer of the hymn, "How sweet the name of Jesus sounds." Now I will say a few words about the hymn itself. In the Olney collection it contains seven verses. The fourth verse is not generally quoted. It is as follows : "By Thee my prayers acceptance find, Although with sin defiled; Satan accuses me in vain, And I am owned a child." The title of the hymn is, "The Name of Jesus," and the text given, Canticles 1:3, "Thy Name is as ointment poured forth." The name of Jesus is, verily, more fragrant than the sweetest perfume, more full of melody than the most perfect of earth's music. "How sweet the name of Jesus sounds In a believer's ear! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, And drives away his fear." A loving wife and mother lay dying. Her husband leaned over her, and said: "Do you know me, my darling?" "No," said the dying woman, "I do not know who you are." Her daughter came. "Mother, dear, surely you know me?" "No, I do not." Then her husband tried again: "Do you know Jesus, my dear one?" "Jesus," she said, and at the precious name the light came back into the pale face. "Jesus," she repeated. "Yes, I know Him. He is my Shepherd, Husband, Friend," and, even as she spoke, she passed away to be with Him for ever. What can the name of Jesus do for you, and for me? Listen to the second and third verses. It is medicine. It can heal the wounds of sin. It is balm. It can give peace. It is food. It can satisfy the hunger of the soul. It is a soft pillow. It can give rest: "It makes the wounded spirit whole, And calms the troubled breast; 'Tis manna to the hungry soul, And to the weary rest." It is a sure and tried foundation, on which we can safely build. It is a protection and refuge against our enemies. It is an inexhaustible bank from which we may freely draw. "Dear Name! the rock on which I build, My shield, and hiding-place, My never-failing treasury, fill'd With boundless stores of grace." The next verse tells us that the name Jesus stands for One Who is nearer and dearer than any earthly friend can be; One Who is able and willing to guide us, love us, understand us, and to be our all in all: "Jesus! my Shepherd, Brother, Friend, My Prophet, Priest, and King, My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, Accept the praise I bring." And then, how exactly the hymn goes on to describe our feebleness of feeling, the coldness of our heart; and to lament the poorness of our expressions of gratitude to this Blessed Saviour, Who has done, and is still doing, so much for us! "Weak is the effort of my heart, And cold my warmest thought; But when I see Thee as Thou art I'll praise Thee as I ought. Till then I would Thy love proclaim With every fleeting breath; And may the music of Thy Name Refresh my soul in death. Amen." I will end by quoting some words of the Rev. G. P. Bassett-Kerry. He says, in a paper that he wrote on this sweet hymn: "Let our last thought be this. This hymn, which breathes such devotion to Christ, was written by one who had wandered far into the wilds of wickedness and vice. If the grace of God could so transform him, can it not do the same for us?" "And if the name of Jesus became so precious to him, shall not we be stirred up to love it more and more?" God has set the name of Jesus above all other names. Let us exalt it in our hearts and lives. Thus shall we prove increasingly, with John Newton, "How sweet the name of Jesus sounds." "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved" Acts 4:12. Copied by Stephen Ross for WholesomeWords.org from Bright Talks on Favourite Hymns... by J.M.K. London: The Religious Tract Society; Chicago: John C. Winston Co., [1916?]. |
||||
| 02-02-2014 07:33 AM | |||||
| InChristAlone |
Re: Praising Him in song! “For with God nothing will be impossible.” (Luke 1:37) But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” (Luke 18:27) “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20) “My son, do not forget My law, but let your heart keep My commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.” (Proverbs 3:1) Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim. 2:1 “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.” (Exodus 15:26) Proverbs 17:22- A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones. Isaiah 41:10 'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' Psalm 50:15 And call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me." |
||||
| 02-02-2014 07:32 AM | |||||
| InChristAlone |
Re: Praising Him in song! O love that will not let me go. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-tXgsBq418 Some people don't like this new version of the old Christian hymn but it makes my heart sing. The story behind it: ------ Guest Post by Dane Ortlund O Love that will not let me go I rest my weary soul in thee I give thee back the life I owe That in thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be O Light that foll’west all my way I yield my flick’ring torch to thee My heart restores its borrowed ray That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day May brighter, fairer be Stabilizing lines, especially for those in darkness. Do you know the story behind it? At age 20 George Matheson (1842-1906) was engaged to be married but began going blind. When he broke the news to his fiancee, she decided she could not go through life with a blind husband. She left him. Before losing his sight he had written two books of theology and some feel that if he had retained his sight he could have been the greatest leader of the church of Scotland in his day. A special providence was that George’s sister offered to care for him. With her help, George left the world of academia for pastoral ministry and wound up preaching to 1500 each week–blind. The day came, however, in 1882, when his sister fell in love and prepared for marriage herself. The evening before the wedding, George’s whole family had left to get ready for the next day’s celebration. He was alone and facing the prospect of living the rest of his life without the one person who had come through for him. On top of this, he was doubtless reflecting on his own aborted wedding day twenty years earlier. It is not hard to imagine the fresh waves of grief washing over him that night. In the darkness of that moment George Matheson wrote this hymn. He remarked afterward that it took him five minutes and that it was the only hymn he ever wrote that required no editing. O love that will not let me go. Heartening hope for you and me. Here’s the last stanza. O Cross that liftest up my head I dare not ask to fly from thee I lay in dust life’s glory dead And from the ground there blossoms red Life that shall endless be. http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/...not-let-me-go/ --- |
||||
| 01-27-2014 09:10 PM | |||||
| InChristAlone |
Re: Praising Him in song! Good morning, brothers and sisters. This is my first time posting a message, and I’d like to start it with a praise to the Lord. Marty Nystrom - MEDLEY ALBUM: IN CHRIST ALONE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_DL302cLWc Marty Nystrom - Times Of Refreshing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U6LmrnR8Kk As the Deer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa6kplL3wjk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZv3jzOTE70 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfKt3eIw9ac Come Thou Almighty King http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gucvRWOd2fc Battle Hymn of the Republic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgUZYRWYlow Robin Mark - All to Jesus I surrender http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFK4fpewPWE Worthy Is The Lamb - Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gae-n0Pb7Q The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir - I'll Say Yes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a57JHeYJzG8 You are my hiding place http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AfbHXfhZYA Instrumental music: Hillsong - Shout to the Lord [Solo para bebes] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DksDydzmxmY Hillsong - Worthy is the lamb [Solo para bebes] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZIgTt-AbHw Hillsong - Hosanna [Solo para bebes] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x9_oy3u7_c Don Moen I Just Want To Be Where You Are http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4hWvR_Vv1Q Don Moen - Give Thanks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Rf_iPsB8LU Don Moen - GOD WILL MAKE A WAY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQQrYrtD2Zs Be Thou My Vision - Ancient Irish Hymn from 8th Century http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aurILJtBA4U Darlene Zschech и Hillsong - Shout to the Lord http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-j7CFfDvHc#t=24 How sweet the name of Jesus sounds - Matthew Perryman Jones http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTRnz4j6BpY Josh Groban -- Noël -- 05 Angels We Have Heard on High duet with Brian McKnight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdqYtDRS62w How great Thou art http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GKhDCsLrUg Kelly Willard - "What Child Is This" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnFVLDVP_x4 Hark the Herald Angels Sing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_g3A6tEGzs Doris Day & Frank Devol - Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL1YJRmEQ4U Blessed Assurance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Sp1_tGMUU John Doan - Amazing Grace http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_P6XWd8ItY David Nevue's piano - Amazing Grace http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWmIjVe_Nnw Instrumental Music, "Amazing Grace" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-XOd7gOjdQ Jazz music. Sam Levine - Be Thou My Vision http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbzi1B0wfN0 I Surrender All - Sam Levine & Friends http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwVhL-vhEJk Hallelujah To The Lamb by Don Moen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h78rF-6HYEY Anthony Burger plays piano, "Give Thanks" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODh8utkPcVs Happy moments, PRAISE GOD. Difficult moments, SEEK GOD. Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD. Painful moments, TRUST GOD. Every moment, THANK GOD... Blessings! |
||||
| 01-10-2014 09:34 AM | |||||
| countmeworthy |
Re: Praising Him in song! Song of the Hour: Keith Green - Psalm 51 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD847UcRbL4 Blessings! Carol |
||||
| 01-04-2014 10:19 AM | |||||
| bearbear |
Re: A song for me Quote:
It's funny I've been going through some of the same feelings as Ray also. After my struggles with also wanting to please God, I've come to know it just comes down to how much we desire God and our intimacy with Him. Many times the enemy will make us feel guilty and not deserving to be in God's presence and will discourage us from spending time with him from feelings of unworthiness. I just want to encourage everyone here that our God still loves us despite our mistakes and is yearning for us to return to him like any Father would. How much we mess up doesn't change the fact that we are still God's children as long as we realize that He is always a Father who wants to be with us. Our intimacy with God empowers us to walk in faith and please him. Often times we have it the other way around and try to please him to "work" our way up to being children. In His mercy, he see's us as his children first and remembers our sins no more even when we are far from being perfect. God even goes further than that because He knows we don't have the ability to obey him even when we want to, so he gives us his Holy Spirit to empower us when we simply desire to obey him. Acts 5:32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” God just wants us to turn to him above all else after which his grace empowers us to overcome the world (1 John 5:4) and walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called (Ephesians 4:1). What a good Father we have! |
||||
| 01-04-2014 09:22 AM | |||||
| NeitherFirstnorLast |
A song for me "Grace to you all, from our Lord Jesus Christ." Paul begins his epistles to the saints in the churches with words like these, and he ends those epistles in the same way: "The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all" The gospel of God begins and ends with Grace. That's the message. That's a thing entirely too easy to forget. This week for me has been one of revelation and prayers answered - that sounds esoteric and deep, but I don't mean it that way. It was a week where God made His Word real to me in a way it hadn't been before. I'd like to share that, in the hopes that it encourages others here - as many of you often encourage me. That's what fellowship is about, after all. A brother on this board recently reached out to me, asking if I was in need of prayer or encouragement. The truth is, I was (and still am, aren't we all?) - and his concern was very much appreciated. I want that dear brother to know that his concern, his prayers, have been heard. In this post, on this thread, I want to share some of that - and perhaps more later. Friends, I have to confess that I've been "working" for God. Since coming to faith in Christ, I've been laboring to be worthy of Him. I've pursued a growth in spiritual stature the same way I've pursued growth in my career. I read books by spiritual men, I read my Bible (never as often as I ought), I listen to audiobooks, audio-bibles, and I seek out sermons and teachings on line and try to sift through them to "see whether these things are so".... but in spite of "doing" all these things, I have not grown in my "position in Christ". Does that make sense? What I mean is, if you work hard at your job, you get noticed and you get promoted. In my spiritual life, I have seemed to have harbored the opinion (perhaps unconsciously, perhaps not), that if I labor really hard for God, He will honor that and "promote" me by calling me into service somewhere... and He hasn't. He won't. And truth be told I've been angry and miserable and resentful of God about that. I have no heart for my career, like I have a heart for my God. I WANT to please Him. I WANT to be His "good and Godly servant". But I haven't wanted those things for the right reasons or in the right way. Like a foolish Galatian, I was trying to perfect with the flesh what had begun ONLY in and by the Spirit. My problem, I very recently (and only by His mercy) came to understand, was that I had become spiritually proud. I have not labored for His glory. I've labored for my own. I have sinned against Him in this, robbing Him of the glory that is due entirely to Him. This is what I confessed to the brother that reached out to me here. What I went on to say was that "now that I understand what my sin is, I don't know how to repent of it. If my sin were porn or alcoholism, I could repent - I could turn my back on those things - but how do I repent from wanting to "do" for God? I don't even know what that would look like." What the Lord later made me realize, is that human beings can't repent of ANY sin apart from God's grace. Sin is of the flesh, it's our nature as children of Adam. In this life, we still inhabit the flesh, and only God's grace can call us to repentance. As with any other sin, my sin of spiritual pride could be covered by Grace. I understood that on a mental level, but this week I experienced it. Here's the first part of that: In my testimony, I said I grew up in a nominally Christian home and was sent to Lutheran church for Sunday school and catechism. That church was weak on the gospel, weak in faith, and attendance there did a lot of harm rather than good. I left that church as a teen, having lost faith in Christianity as a truth and reality. I determined that I was done with God, but (as I said) He wasn't done with me. He reached out to me, He worked circumstances in my life and He showed me His grace. In 1987, as a teen with a hardened heart, I heard this song and loved it - a song that the Lord brought into my mind these many many years later just this week. This song was on the billboard charts in Canada in 1987 - by a Canadian singer and songwriter by the name of Paul Janz. I didn't remember any of these details, of course, but the tune came into my head when I was sitting here at my computer, in my usual pursuit of "spiritual things". I haven't heard the song in decades, but suddenly the chorus is playing in my head and I went to look for it on youtube. To me, as apparently to many in my generation, the song was a typical 80's love song. It was entirely secular and worldly, but beautiful; or so I thought.... But this song was God's message for me, back then, and only now has the Lord shown me that He cared enough even then, while I was "yet a sinner", to send it. Here's the song: Believe in Me <-- Link Here. ******************************* Lyrics: "How many silent dreams reach into heaven and fall away In Your eyes I see a promise that won't fade I've been searching so long for someone true, a love that's real In Your heart I've found a vision I can feel Is this moment here to stay, it takes my breath away Believe in Me You open up my mind, now You know what I'm about This kind of love's not blind, it breaks through walls of doubt And the light that's in Your eyes shines for me This time it's all I need Believe in Me, reach out with your heart No power in the world will keep us apart Believe in Me and love will remain Believe in your heart, love stays the same In every lonely face there's a space, an open door You speak to me in ways I've never felt before When I'm a thousand miles away you'll still here me say Believe in Me, reach out with your heart No power in the world will keep us apart O no, no. . . Reach out with your heart No power in the world will keep us apart Believe in Me and love will remain Believe in your heart, love stays the same Believe in Me, reach out with your heart No power in the world will keep us apart Believe in Me. . ." Paul Janz was born in 1951 in Three Hills, Alberta, Canada the very town of only 3,300 people to which the Lord called my wife and I, and where we currently live. Paul was raised in Basel, Switzerland amongst the Brethren, for whom His father ministered. He is a Canadian singer/songwriter and Christian rock musician best known for the hits Every Little Tear, Close My Eyes, Stand, I Won't Cry and many others. He began his music career in the 70s with his brothers in a band called Deliverance, who are best remembered for the hit "Leaving LA" released in 1979. In 1984, he launched his solo career, which culminated in four projects with a string of chart-topping hits from each album. The success of his projects led to the nomination of the much-coveted Canadian Juno Awards (the equivalent of the Grammy Awards). Despite achieving great success in Canada, the recording label's restructuring of its roster of artists, such as Janz, led to the ending of A & R promotion in the American market. Janz's last and final recording project, Trust, which was recorded under the Attic Records label, continued on in the same ground-breaking tradition with Janz's trademark lyrical compositions and driving melodic rhythms. Since that time, Janz hasn't released any new material. Presently at King's College, London, he formerly taught philosophy at Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia and has recently written a book entitled God, the Mind's Desire: Reference, Reason and Christian Thinking published by Cambridge University Press. In 2004, Paul's first album High Strung was re-released on CD for the first time by Escape Music in the UK ****************** I want to thank GOD, that from no merit of my own, He chose me out of the world to be Saved. He did it in mercy and grace and I prayed that He humble my heart, even humiliate me, and bring me into a right standing with Him. Not so that I can "get a promotion", but so that I can TRULY understand the depths of my debt to Him, and give Him the glory. My debt is boundless. I can never repay it. Christ paid it all. I am nothing. He is everything. And to any of you reading out there, I want to apologize. I want to apologize if I have ever offended any of you. I want to ask your forgiveness if I have ever come across as being "holier than thou". I am not. I am nothing apart from Christ, and I am a far worse sinner than most. I am ugly, and if there's anything beautiful I've ever written or said it was ONLY through Him who saved me. Jesus Christ is Lord. Ray |
||||
| 01-01-2014 10:40 AM | |||||
| NeitherFirstnorLast |
Praising Him in song! Happy New Year, to all! May Christ draw each of us to Himself in 2014. May He bind up the wounded, may He heal the broken hearted, may He give sight to the blind and joy to the mirthless. May His will be done unhindered. Lord Jesus, we love you; have Your way in us I pray! With all the talk of the need of repentance on this board of late (and "repenting" is a necessary part of the gospel), I felt we must also not lose balance (or the hope of the faith which lies within us), and remember that a repentant heart is a gift of God, and not something we work up in ourselves. Indeed, we can't work ourselves into repentance; for those without Christ are dead in their trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1-10, Colossians 2:13) and have hard hearts of stone which God must first replace with a softened heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). To that need of balance, I was of a mind to share this beautiful song of God's grace by Matt Maher. My wife and I enjoyed his testimony and his music in person. This brother in Christ is a gifted evangelist whom our sovereign God has kept in the Roman Catholic Church; although Matt believes it is 'high time all God's children come together to serve the Lord and to love one another as Christ loves us'. Some revile Matt for his association with the RCC, I am not one who will do that. Matt's song shared here is "Alive Again", and it is about the grace of God rescuing the sinner and giving Him a new life in Christ. Listen to "Alive Again" <-- Link Here. ********************* About the song: Matt says the genesis of this song came from Saint Augustine of Hippo’s writing entitled “Jesus is the Only Way to God.” After searching for God through Eastern Cults and Greco-Roman Philosophy, he finally found Him through the same Christianity that he had rejected as a teen. He came to the conclusion that everlasting life can only be found through Christ! Here is the exerpt from the Confessions of Saint Augustine. Urged to reflect upon myself, I entered under your guidance the innermost places of my being; but only because you had become my helper was I able to do so. I entered, then, and with the vision of my spirit, such as it was, I saw the incommutable light far above my spiritual ken and transcending my mind: not this common light which every carnal eye can see, nor any light of the same order; but greater, as though this common light were shining much more powerfully, far more brightly, and so extensively as to fill the universe. The light I saw was not the common light at all, but something different, utterly different, from all those things. Nor was it higher than my mind in the sense that oil floats on water or the sky is above the earth; it was exalted because this very light made me, and I was below it because by it I was made. Anyone who knows truth knows this light.Here’s what Matt had to say about the song: Alive Again is about waking up to the kingdom of God. It started with a moment, driving north toward San Antonio. It was dark. Then it got light outside, but the Sun hadn’t broken the horizon. Yet I could see. It spoke to me of the pre-imminence of Christ – shining around us, helping us see “the light before we see the sunrise” (Colossians 1) – I think one of the main themes of the whole record, really – that He is at the head, and in Him, “all things are held together”.- See more at: http://www.csworshiparts.com/behind-....5Z0aqxu8.dpuf |
||||
| 12-15-2013 04:16 PM | |||||
| Unregistered |
Re: Praising Him in song! Quote:
This christian experienced faith is stronger and peace is greater, also life and joy is fresh day by day as our Lord is Life and Resurrection, also hope is strengthened and love a living spring. Come Lord Jesus, I love to see thee face to face! |
||||
| 12-15-2013 08:57 AM | |||||
| NeitherFirstnorLast |
The Purpose of This Thread Good morning, I wanted to write this morning to speak to the purpose of this particular thread; as it is something that the Lord had put on my heart to begin. I had started this thread with the burden that we don't spend right time on this forum in proper worship. Rather, a lot of time has been spent on this forum defending our calling out of LSM's Local Church movement; and little time really ministering to one another. For those who come to visit that are still in LSM's LCs; there is little "sharing of our common faith", perhaps I might even say there is little evidence that our faith - the faith of those who've left - is actually stronger and not weaker since leaving. That our peace with God is not less but greater; our walk a better testimony to the genuineness of our faith than when we were amongst them. I started this thread as a ministry, I believe at the Lord's leading, to show them that indeed we are still Christians, not perfect but being perfected through trials by Him. How is this done, if not by lecturing and exposing? Through proper heart-felt, mountain-moving worship. God is the one who turns hearts of stone to hearts of flesh. We can't do that. Jesus Christ is the one who gives sight to the blind and restores the withered hand of the diseased. Our Lord is the one who calls out the dead into eternal life. Saving people from false teachings and false teachers is His work, not mine... not any of ours... But if we pray together, if we worship together, if we stay in the Word together, perhaps He will have mercy. Perhaps He can use what we share to soften, to enlighten, to restore, and to enliven... After all, it is said "the prayers of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16) The songs that I share here are the songs of saints. Genuine saints who were not ever a part of LSM's LC... and they're people undeniably touched by the Holy Spirit and converted. LSM would reject fellowship with them (unless they came and joined with them, and became like them); but this thread was started to prove that this should never be. This thread fights LSM's hypocritical sectarianism and explodes the lie that God only works in LSM brand LCs... the lie that grieves the Bridegroom by calling His Bride a Whore. To that end, I offer this for all the saints as a reminder of what we are called to in Christ; by living out his example.. and a reminder as to who we were apart from His Grace. *************************** Jesus Friend of Sinners<-- Link here. Casting Crowns' frontman, Mark Hall wrote "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" to address the idea that the world knows those who follow the Christian faith more for what they oppose than what they support; he stated that the song is a "reminder that we need to do something about that". He also commented that, despite the use of "strong words"in the song to grab attention, the true focus of the song is the chorus, which calls the church to be more aware of the world and to let their hearts be "led by mercy". While Hall noted the song was "one of the more direct songs [Casting Crowns] have written",he said that "it also speaks truth. And I think believers should speak truth to each other as long as we do it in love". Additionally, Hall noted that the band isn't simply criticizing others within the church with the song; he commented the first verse of the song speaks about himself. "...the world can't see Christ in us because we're too busy pointing our fingers at each other; at other believers. The unity and love that Christ spoke of in His church isn't there as it should be." - Jennie. |
||||
| 12-01-2013 03:59 PM | |||||
| countmeworthy |
Re: A song of Praise for the Advent of Christ Quote:
And if you read my thread of "Away in a Manger", I tell you the Truth. The Holy Spirit showed me those words this past June/July. I was in a deep sleep and struggled to remember the words so I forced myself to wake up and google the song. The tender Song is about the Lord Jesus...and do we not all love Him so much? It took a few weeks of asking the Lord for the meaning of the dream/vision. We often are reminded "No one knows the day or the hour" (as if we are to stop watching.  ) But we do know He IS coming and we are in the "season"  !  So I find Luke 12:40 quite curious too: Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Do you suppose Our Saviour could come in December ??? Who is expecting Him in December? How COOL would that be for all of us!!! No more bickering, no more divisions, no more sorrows, etc.. OK...maybe not THIS December for all you nay sayers! But He could! Quote:
. And the beast & the false prophet will be cast into the Lake of Fire & Brimstone once and for all. Halleluiah to the Lamb of God!! Come Lord Jesus...May it be this year. But AMEN to whatever day and hour You choose to return for us. Quote:
|
||||
| 12-01-2013 02:33 PM | |||||
| NeitherFirstnorLast |
A song of Praise for the Advent of Christ I was raised in a Lutheran tradition, and to Lutherans as well as to Catholics, the Sundays before Christmas are the celebration of Advent. Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve... and it is celebrated as a reminder that we are to prepare for the coming of our Christ, not just His first coming, but His second coming. God keeps His promises, and we know that He will come again just as He departed; in the clouds, with great power and glory. I wanted to share this traditional Advent Hymn with you all; it's been sung by so many saints throughout the ages. It's beauty, and it's message, is timeless. We look forward to your coming again Lord, and as the saints of old, we wait with patience, looking forward to that day knowing that You are a keeper of covenants. "O come, O come, Emmanuel (<-- Link here) is the mid-19th century translation byJohn Mason Neale and Henry Sloane Coffin of the Ecclesiastical Latin text "Veni, veni, Emmanuel". It is a metrical version of the O Antiphons from the final week of Advent vespers, which now serves as a popular hymn. Its origins are unclear: it is thought that the antiphons are from at least the 8th Century, but "Veni, veni Emmanuel" may well be 12th century in origin. The text is based on the biblical prophecy from Isaiah 7:14 that states that God will give Israel a sign that will be called Immanuel (Lit.: God with us). Matthew 1:23 states fulfillment of this prophecy in the birth of Jesus of Nazareth". History of this Hymn courtesy of Wikipedia. |
||||
| 11-25-2013 06:24 PM | |||||
| NeitherFirstnorLast |
Re: Praising Him in song! Quote:
 Ray |
||||
| 11-25-2013 09:07 AM | |||||
| aron |
Re: Praising Him in song! Quote:
|
||||
| 11-25-2013 08:12 AM | |||||
| countmeworthy |
Re: Praising Him in song! Quote:
So in the end.. I don't concern myself whether a person can lose their salvation or not. I never 'warn' anyone of that for as long as we are here, it is our responsibility to point and lead people to their Savior and Deliverer- Jesus. There truly is power, power wonder working power in repentance & the Blood of the Lamb. Quote:
Muchos Blessings to you ! Carol G |
||||
| 11-24-2013 01:41 PM | |||||
| NeitherFirstnorLast |
Re: Praising Him in song! Quote:
Quote:
Amen again brother, well said! Your study shows the faithful heart God has given you; and your sharing here is still sharing with a group of mixed believers and sinners. I too have benefited from this group (Forum) over the years, and I want you to know that what you share you don't share in vain... You too teach transgressors His ways, and turn them back to Him. Thanks Aron. |
||||
| 11-24-2013 01:23 PM | |||||
| NeitherFirstnorLast |
Re: Praising Him in song! Rev 3:5 "He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels." Quote:
Good to hear from you too, and I want to say that I have enjoyed the things you've shared lately as well - you are always an encouragement in your love of the Lord. As for your question - well, that's probably one of THE most controversial questions asked in Christian Theological circles around the world - and too often (unfortunately, in my view) those who have an opposing view label the other a heretic. In fact, the view that believers could lose their salvation (an Arminian point of view) was officially declared a heresy by the Synod of Dordecht in 1618-1619. That said, we live in a town which has launched Missions around the world through our Bible College (the longest such established in Canada).... and missionaries are more often (I am told) Arminian in their thinking... and some of them certainly feel that Calvinism (which teaches Perseverance of the Saints) is a heresy. The Bible Study of which my wife and I are a part is not advocating any one particular school of thought; not advocating any particular view apart from what the Full Council of Scripture teaches (and we admit that in some matters, that may be up for debate - and respectful debate is healthy). What we have is daily homework to do; working through the passages for that week, exploring related passages, and considering what the histories (esp. pertinent in the case of the book of Revelation) teach us about the cities to whom the letters were written, the condition of those cities, the populace, it's wealth, and (ultimately) what became of it. We get together then on Tuesday evenings to review, to share as individuals, and to pray and to launch into the next section. Your question is definitely worth discussing, but this isn't the right thread for that. It's a question that has spurred many volumes and arriving at either answer really does require the Full council of Scripture - because, I believe, God has spoken throughout His Word about the nature of our Salvation... and if any one passage seems to conflict with the view we are given elsewhere in Scripture, and we truly believe that Scripture is inerrant and that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, then we are misinterpreting something, or reading out of context. Quote:
The real problem which Arminians tend to have with these tenets of Calvinism are that they believe Calvinists are teaching what you've suggested; that a person who only "confessed His name with a repentant heart at one point" but who "have chosen not to live sanctified lives" can actually have ever been saved. The truth is, Calvinism allows for a believer to "backslide" for a period of time, but ultimately, God's grace is irresistible, and He disciplines his own as a father does his sons (and daughters). God does the work through the life of the Elect to conform them to the image of His Son Jesus Christ; and will continue to work circumstances in the lives of His children to draw them back to Himself.... I believe we see evidence of this throughout Scripture in the lives of the Old and New Testament saints.... and I can personally testify that He did it in my own life. I made a confession with a repentant heart when I was a teenager, but I walked a dark road (drugs, drinking, illicit sex) and even denied His name for many years. I didn't come back to Him because of any merit of my own. The truth is, even when I told Him I wanted nothing to do with Him (in very graphic terms) and I didn't believe in Him any longer, He never let me go. He brought me back to Himself, using some pretty painful tools to get me there... and thank You Lord that You did! Our God is an Awesome God, isn't He Carol? ...And finally, look again at the promises given to the Overcomers: You receive Eternal life, not perishing. You receive Christ Himself (the Holy Spirit, as a seal) You receive A new name (as a new creation?) You receive white garments (washed in the blood of the Lamb) You will dwell with Christ in His Temple You will rule and reign with Christ Question: Can you imagine any Christian not receiving any one of these things? Can a Christian perish, and not live eternally? Can a Christian be a Christian if he doesn't have Christ or the Holy Spirit? Can a Christian NOT be a new creation in Christ? Can a Christian still walk unclean in crimson stained garments, disdaining the cleansing of Christs blood to wash him of his sins? Can a Christian be left out of the Temple, the Body of Christ, or not go to be with Him? Can a Christian NOT rule and reign with Christ? |
||||
| 11-24-2013 10:52 AM | |||||
| aron |
Re: Praising Him in song! Quote:
 Probably why I post on here so much. Anyway, I am glad for your opportunity. I rejoice that you get to open the Word (especially Revelations!) with your fellows. What a blessing indeed!As cmw said, "Blessed are those who read these words of prophecy, and who keep them" Quote:
An overcomer is one who, in the words of Revelation 2:5, has failed, and remembers the height from which they have fallen, and repents, and turns again to the first works. Now, what is the first work? Remember what the disciples said to Jesus in John 6:28? "What may we do, that we may work the works of God"? Jesus replied, "The work of God is that you believe into Him whom God has sent." I posit that our first, and even unique, work as Christians is to repent and remember our Father in heaven, and return again to Him through our obedience to the faith in (and of) Jesus Christ. Jesus, as you've written, is the unique Overcomer. He is the One who said, "I have overcome the world". We did not overcome; rather we were overcome (by sin, the flesh, the devil and the world) and we fell and were cut off from the Father. Jesus did not sin, yet He who knew no sin was made sin on our behalf (2 Cor 5:21). So Jesus' overcoming was to 1) not sin, and 2) become a sinless propitiation on our behalf. Our overcoming is to "see Jesus" and repent, and come back to the Father through faith in Him. My point in writing is this: what of the "Christian" who "falls from the height", a la Rev 2:5? My exemplar in this regard is none other than St. Peter, who didn't "fall" more than you or I but rather whose failures are so well documented in the text. In the apostle Peter I see the Father presenting a model of the "normal" christian experience of failure, repentance and return. Again and again, "seventy times seven" as Jesus counseled him. It is the ones who seem to act as though they were somehow beyond failure (MOTA, anyone?) that are probably in most peril. It seems as though they think the word 'repent' doesn't apply to them. To reiterate: I see an overcomer as one who: 1) Fails, 2) Remembers the height from which he/she has fallen, 3) Repents, 4) And comes back (returns) to the first works. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Prayer I contend that we never 'graduate', in this present age from the position of 'mercy'. We just keep going. Some may think they are now immune: "Hold fast to your crown", as in Revelation 3:11. But that may be the minority position: 1 out of the 7 epistles says to hold fast, compared to 5 out of 7 urging repentance. So I still think it safe to be somewhat pessimistic in my position. The good news is this: Once we have turned, and come back, we are able to help those who likewise suffer and go astray. Luke 22:31 Jesus says (to Peter) "And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." Likewise, Psalm 51, the famous "psalm of failure and repentance", says 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. How about that? David the overcomer! |
||||
| 11-23-2013 03:56 PM | |||||
| countmeworthy |
Re: Praising Him in song/Away in a manger Quote:
AWAY IN A MANGER Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down His Sweet Head. The stars in the sky looked down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes; I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever, and love me, I pray; Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there. I have a testimony/dream/vision I will share with the readers about this song. I will start a new thread. Stay tuned. |
||||
| 11-23-2013 03:25 PM | |||||
| countmeworthy |
Re: Praising Him in song! Quote:
Good to 'see' you...Great to hear such an uplifting post too! Very timely as I was just walking about singing "We are washed, we are washed in the soul cleansing Blood of the Lamb etc... Quote:
It is chapter 1 vs 3 Quote:
Quote:
If they have chosen not to live sanctified lives, I believe they will not receive all the rewards that overcomers receive. However, I read a short bio of an astrologer and tarot card reader who was on Coast to Coast radio show recently. Her bio states she is an officially ordained Pentecostal pastor meaning she did not get an online pastoral degree. But some tragedy she experienced caused her to dig deep into astrology and tarot card reading. She is quite the renowned tarot card reader/counselor and publisher of numerous books etc. So will her name be erased from the book of Life? I hope not. I am not GOD and am not her Judge. I am wondering what the word 'erase' means. Glad you are back. Thanks for sharing. Blessings, Carol |
||||
| 11-23-2013 01:30 PM | |||||
| NeitherFirstnorLast |
Re: Praising Him in song! Quote:
It's been a while since I've been around again, and just wanted to share a little from what's new in my life. The past number of months have been full of too much "work" - labor at the office as I struggle to keep up with the amount of business with which I've been, "blessed"? Lord, You have blessed my family - but don't ever let me forget that the real blessings that come from You are those that lead back to You and bring You Glory! In any case, apart from work I have had the opportunity to enjoy real Bible Study with a group in town on the Book of Revelation. This is a deep two-year study, going not through commentaries by any author, but the actual Biblical text both in common literal translations (NASB, ESV), but also in the original Greek and through authoritative secular histories (Josephus, Eusebius). The first four months of our study has been about the letters to the seven churches, and last week we touched on the Overcomers - who are they? This is what I want to share. Let's consider what promises are made to the Overcomers, to determine who they are: 1) The Overcomer will be granted to eat of the Tree of Life, which grows in the Paradise of God (Rev 2:7) Eating of this tree will grant the Overcomer life forevermore (Genesis 3:22). John 3:16 (and many other verses) teach that whomsoever believes in Christ will not perish, but have life everlasting. This promise applies to ALL believers in Jesus Christ, and not an exclusive set of super-spiritual believers. 2) The Overcomer will not be hurt by the second death (Rev 2:11). As above, the believer will not perish. 3) The Overcomer will receive the hidden manna, and a white stone with a new name written on it which no one knows but him who receives it (Rev 2:17). Christ Himself is the hidden manna, the bread from heaven supplied by God which (who) gives life to the world (John 6:31-40). What the Overcomer receives therefore is Christ Himself, and everyone who receives Him receives eternal life (John 1:12). The white stone may be a mystery (see "Got Questions" for possible answers to what it might signify), and I would suggest that a "new name" is due any "new creation in Christ", for old things have passed away... (2 Cor 5:17). God gave new names to his saints of Old (Abraham, Sarah, Israel, etc), and specifically named John & Jesus (both through His messenger, Gabriel), Peter and Paul(?) in the New Testament. These promises are not unique to a special class of believer, but can rightly be claimed by all who come to the saving Faith. 4) The Overcomer will receive authority over the nations, to rule with a rod of iron, and will receive the morning star (Rev 2:26-28). If we died with Him (if we are "crucified with Christ"), we also live with Him, and if we endure, we reign with Him (2nd Tim 2:11-12), just as prophesied by Daniel in the Old Testament (see Dan 7:18, 22 & 27). Christ Himself is the "Bright Morning Star" whom we receive (Rev 22:16), and just as God said to Abraham "I AM your exceeding great reward" (Gen 15:1)... 5) The Overcomer will be clothed in white garments; and his name will not be erased from the book of life, and his name will be confessed before God the Father and His angels (Rev 3:5). The white garments are the righteous acts of the saints (Rev 19:8), which were prepared by God for those who have been saved to do (Eph 2:10).. those Saved ones whose names God wrote in the book of life from before the foundation of the World (Rev 13:8, Eph 1:4) - those who don't deny Him before men, whom He promises not to deny before His Father and the angels (Mat 10:32). 6) The Overcomer will be made a pillar in the Temple of God, not going out from it. He will have God's name, the name of the city of God, and Christ's new Name written on him (Rev 3:12). Christ'sBody is the Temple (John 2:19-21), and We who are born again of the Spirit, the Church, are His Body (1 Cor. 12:27 & Col 1:18) - and upon our hearts He promises to write His Word (Jer 31:33 & Heb 10:16), and is not Christ the Living Word of God (John 1:1-14)? 7) The Overcomer will sit down with Him on His throne (Rev 3:21). As pt 4, we who are alive in Christ will rule and reign with Him. My point? My point is that the Overcomers are not an elite class of believer, they are simply true believers... found in every one of the seven churches, regardless of it's condition. When the LSM hymnal asks if we will be an overcomer (see Hymn #894), it makes that a "choice" a Christian must make. It focuses the believer on himself, and not on God, and teaches him to rely on his strength and wit to do what is required of him... Is that right? Christ is the Overcomer. And that is why we are told that we will Overcome, by the Blood of the Lamb (Rev 12:11) which washes the crimson stains from our garments, our filthy rags, and makes them white as snow (Isaiah 1:18); and the word of our testimony (the truth and reality of the life-changing experiences worked in us by the Holy Spirit, not our regurgitation of others teachings, be they true or false. For this reason, I commend again this song "Overcome" - because it reminds us from the Word of God of how we who are in Christ have Overcome, and it gives Him, and not the individuals in a particular church, the Glory. I would like to commend also "Jesus Paid it All"*, for indeed, ALL to Him we owe! ********************************* *The words to the song "Jesus Paid it All" were written by Elvina Hall (1822-1889) in 1865. Elvina was a member of the Monument Street Methodist Church in Baltimore, Maryland. The Choir Director of the same church was John Thomas Grape (1835-1915). Unaware of Elvina's composition, Grape composed a tune he called All To Christ I Owe. The pastor of Monument Street Methodist Church, Rev. George W. Schreck heard the music written by Grape and immediately thought of the verse written by another of his parishioners, Elvina Hall. At the pastor's suggestion, Hall's lyrics and Grape's music were combined, and then sent to Professor Theodore Perkins, publisher of the periodical Sabbath Carols. The hymn quickly became a favorite and has been published in and sung from hymnals across America ever since. (history of this song courtesy of Share Faith) |
||||
| 02-05-2013 08:02 PM | |||||
| NeitherFirstnorLast |
Re: Praising Him in song! We will Overcome! Yea, by the Blood of the Lamb, AND the word of our Testimony (Revelation 12:11). Praise the Lord, who Alone is Worthy! To know You is to love You, Lord Jesus! "Overcome" |
||||
| 01-13-2013 06:52 AM | |||||
| countmeworthy |
Re: Held Very moving. Very touching. Thanks for sharing NFNL! |
||||
| 01-12-2013 10:14 PM | |||||
| NeitherFirstnorLast |
Held Having just shared the piece on the Amish School Shooting, and the forgiveness offered to the family of the shooter (as well as the man himself), I have been reminded of this song; and the beauty of the Truth contained within it. For that reason, I'd like to share it here tonight too. Held - written by Christa Wells, performed by Natalie Grant "Patti had been a widow for less than five years when we first met. And she was only about 40 years old. With three young daughters. My first encounter with Patti’s family was when I heard her then 10-year-old daughter sing…wow. Her raw talent and beauty were stunning. We soon met her other two daughters who were equally remarkable and we thought: How is she doing this?? Patti had only had a year to prepare for her husband’s death. And her husband, by the way, was young, tall, handsome, strong, athletic, intelligent, devoted and successful. How does this happen? Toby and I fell in love with Patti’s family instantly…here was a woman who had lost her HUSBAND, the FATHER of her very young children and she was still LIVING. She was transparent in her grief and questions and struggles and she was determined in her faith. She shared her heart and her story with us over dinner, coffee, in the swimming pool…I particularly remember her talking about the idea of us “giving” everything over to God, except for some unspoken “sacred” parts of our life. We mean to say: “Of course, you won’t ask this of me.” Vaneetha was already a survivor before the tragic death of her baby boy. She had contracted polio as a baby and spent her childhood in hospitals around the world. She continues to live with the effects of the disease, but when I met her she was (and still is) a beautiful, vibrant wife, mother, friend, leader. A handful of months after we met, but before we became real friends, her infant son, Paul David, died from a heart defect that had been treated at birth. Paul was doing remarkably well and had just been celebrated at a church-wide baby shower, when he died unexpectedly in the night. The first verse of “Held” refers to Vaneetha and her son, Paul. She has always spoken to me about how knowing sorrow has allowed her to also know joy…and about the strange reality of feeling God’s presence most keenly in the moments of deepest grief. Sherry is my mother-in-law. She had mentioned her daughter Erica to me at different times, but I remember one conversation in particular when she talked about Erica’s birth and death in detail. She spoke through tears about the pain of carrying a child to term and then having to let her go without even getting to take her home from the hospital. She told me about the still, small voice that spoke to her in the delivery room, saying: You have to choose how you will carry this loss after this moment. You can choose bitterness. Or you can choose to let me wrap you up in peace that can’t be explained and that will lead to hope. You can choose to trust that you are not alone, and that everything you suffer here will someday be redeemed. This conversation with Sherry eventually helped write the third verse. Other words from these women became the second verse, taught me that no person of faith since the beginning of time has ever lived without suffering. In fact, they said, those who are students of Jesus have been promised that we certainly should expect pain and suffering in this life. BUT. But. In the middle of that heartache. At every lonely, dark, lost moment…the Truth. That in those moments, even then, especially then…we are held, held up, held together, by the the One who has walked here and knows the pain, and who also holds all of time, every story, my story, your story, the Greatest Story in his hands." Listen to Held here. |
||||
| 01-06-2013 04:44 PM | |||||
| UntoHim |
Re: Praising Him in song! Thanks NFoL for starting this thread! Praise Him! |
||||
| 01-05-2013 09:18 AM | |||||
| NeitherFirstnorLast |
One Day Who will call hymns with me? Who will give praise to the Lamb of God? Come people! Come brothers and sisters! Let us sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs; this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! Here is a song inspired by Hebrews 9:28 Written by J. Wilbur Chapman, Evangelist and Pastor, in 1908. Bio: John Wilbur Chapman was born in Richmond, Indiana, on June 17, 1859. His parents Alexander H. and Lorinda Chapman prepared him for a life of Christian ministry. The young man felt he could never pinpoint a date for his conversion, but did make public his acknowledgement of Christ at age seventeen. In 1876 Chapman joined the Richmond Presbyterian Church and later that year left to attend Oberlin College. After one year at Oberlin, Chapman transferred to Lake Forest University where he received his B.A. in 1879. His seminary years, 1879-1882, were spent at Lane Theological Seminary in Cincinnati, during which time he was ordained on April 13, 1881. From 1904-1909 Chapman began to develop and promote a new method of urban evangelism. His idea was to hold several meetings throughout a city simultaneously, thereby reaching more people and stirring more hearts to enter into Christian service. The first city to try Chapman's theory was Pittsburgh in 1904. The city was divided into nine districts with nine meeting places as the revival was conducted. Chapman took the central position and his assistants the rest. The first joint campaign between Chapman and was held in Philadelphia from March 12 to April 19, 1908. The city was divided into forty-two districts with twenty-one teams of evangelist-musicians. Three weeks were spent in each half of the city with estimates of eight thousand conversions. The following revival held in Boston from January 26 to February 17, 1909, is considered to be Chapman's most successful. The city was divided into twenty-seven districts and recorded seven thousand conversions! "One Day", aka "Glorious Day" - Praise the Lord! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xODpgyqGCYM |
||||
| 12-30-2012 11:49 AM | |||||
| NeitherFirstnorLast |
Re: Praising Him in song! Coming out of Worship this morning, I really have a burden that if we are to really and genuinely fellowship here on this Forum, we need to spend time in Worship together too. With that in mind, I would like to continue this thread - and ask my fellow believers in Christ Jesus our Lord to share Worship songs here that we can all enjoy; Songs that speak to us in our times of need, songs that speak of His Glory and Mercy and Grace, songs that He used to speak to us. Please, share the songs that have touched you... whatever ministry they might have come from. God sees and judges the hearts of His people; so let us Worship Him together... We can't have proper fellowship without it. With these things in mind, I feel burdened to share this song which might be familiar to some from the Local Church, although here in the words with which it was originally penned by Dennis Jernigen: In 1981, God delivered musician Dennis Jernigan from a lifelong struggle with homosexuality. "He began teaching me," Dennis explains, "that being a new creation means the 'old Dennis' really is dead." Dennis married, became the father of nine children, and committed to living his life in praise to God. He wrote "You Are My All in All" at an Oklahoma City church where he led a daily prayer meeting at 6:00 A.M. It's Jernigan's habit always to carry a music manuscript book with him. "I believe God sings over me," he explains, referring to [today's Key Bible Verse], "so I need to be listening. When I hear God, I write it down right away." He was sitting at the piano thanking God "that He bore the punishment of my sin fully with the first drop of His blood." In that moment, the line came to him, "seeking You as a precious Jewel, Lord, to give up I'd be a fool." The song emerged in pieces. "I'd start the people praying over a specific need in the church, then I'd go back to singing what I was sensing in the Lord. With my left hand I'd play the piano, and with my right hand I'd write down the melody and the words." Key Bible Verse: The Lord your God has arrived to live among you. He will exult over you by singing a happy song." (Zephaniah 3:17). Dennis Jernigan Bio courtesy of Christianity Today, Friday November 22, 2002. Let us praise Him who set us Free! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNJyjYt5h9k |
||||
| 12-25-2012 10:37 AM | |||||
| NeitherFirstnorLast |
Praising Him in song! Wanted to share this this morning - as we celebrate the birth of our Savior and Lord! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS0QOYsoGOU |
||||
