Tuesday, September 15, 2009
excerpt from 40 Day Devotion: Day 22: 9/15/09
Monday, September 14, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
the foundation for a better life
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
LOOK BACK FROM ETERNITY -by Penny your fellow God's Embrace member
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Sunday, July 12, 2009
Who Should Be In Charge?
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Friday, July 10, 2009
Strongholds Over Industries
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Graham Power Speaks to World Christian Leaders
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you are called to fellowship with Jesus
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Fellowship With God
1 CORINTHIANS 1:9 NIV
9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
You need to stop and think about this. God wants to have fellowship with you.
We are not talking about some lower level person. Not just a leader of a country. Not just a billionaire.
God!
Stop and think about God, all His knowledge, all His wealth, all His power -- the ruler of the Universe, and all that He could choose to do.
Why would God desire your company?
Honestly, I don't know. All I can say is that He does,
according to the Bible.
But what an opportunity! What a privilege! To fellowship with GOD!
What does fellowship mean? The word used in 1 Corinthians 1:9 is the Greek word "koinonia" (koy-nohn-ee'-ah). Some meanings are fellowship, association, communion, participation, intimacy, partnership, and a having in common.
That is what God wants with you. Koinonia.
The same word is used in the following verse. Notice how the Living Bible translates it.
2 CORINTHIANS 13:14 LB
14 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. May God's love and the Holy Spirit's friendship be yours. Paul
SAY THIS: I will respond to God's call and fellowship with Him.
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an atheist friend
A young man who had been raised as an atheist was training to be an Olympic diver. The only religious influence in his life came from his outspoken Christian friend. The young diver never really paid much attention to his friend's sermons, but he heard them often.
�
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Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Towel of servanthood
Daily Devotion
John records that: "Jesus...rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself...poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, 'Lord, are You washing my feet?''' (Luke 13:3-6 NKJV).
Source: The Word For Today
Jesus...laid aside His garments...
John 13:3-4 NKJV
Jesus didn't wait for His disciples to make the first move, He went first. He taught that in order to serve God you must be willing to lay aside your image, your comfort and your agenda. And He dramatised it in a way His disciples would never forget. By laying aside His garments He showed them God has no time for form or fashion. Real ministry is not image conscious; it's done with a complete loss of distinction. God incarnate clothed Himself in humility. Amazing! But Peter didn't get it. He was embarrassed to think that His Lord would allow Himself to be seen in such demeaning light. So Jesus said, "You call Me Teacher and Lord...If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you...If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them" (John 13:13-17 NKJV).
If you want to be blessed, don't join the 'Spiritual elitists' who are impressed by their own speeches and display their own accomplishments. Lay aside everything you privately glory in and pick up the towel of servanthood. And don't wait for others. Somebody at your table needs to start a trend. Today let it be you!
SoulFood reading: Jer 28-30, Luke 5:12-26, Ps 110, Pr 15:8-9
This Daily Encouragement comes from The Word for Today devotional available free from UCB Australia. For more information, please visit The Word For Today website at www.thewordfortoday.com.au
Friday, July 3, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Proverbs 18 : 16
Doors, many doors are opening to you. God is opening up new avenues of release in your life. Your gift has made room for you. He has given you a greater venue in which to express what He is speaking to your Spirit. (Proverbs 18:16) A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. |
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
It's going to be alright
It's Going to Be Alright
"I've read the last page of the Bible. It's all going to turn out all right."
Billy Graham
DON'T GIVE UP
Don't Give Up
"Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: You don't give up."
Anne Lamott
Sunday, June 14, 2009
LET EACH ONE OF YOU SPEAK TRUTH... EPHESIANS 4:25
Daily Devotion
Two forceful personalities in a relationship are like two rivers flowing into one; there's going to be a strong current. Anger can be instant like a flash of lightning, or prolonged like the rumble of thunder. Sometimes we clash painfully, other times we distance and silently abandon the relationship. But anger handled the right way doesn't have to destroy. Here are God's rules for handling your anger.
Source: The Word For Today
...Let each one of you speak truth...
Ephesians 4:25 NKJV
Rule 1: Keep it honest. "Stop telling lies. Let us tell...the truth...don't sin by letting anger control you..." (Eph 4:25-26 NLT). When you're angry don't deny it. Anger can be constructive. We're right to get angry when people are mistreated and wrongs are not made right. Saying, 'I've been feeling angry and because I value our relationship I'd like to talk about it,' is honest, non-threatening and invites resolution. Observe: (a) Ignoring, stifling, suppressing, or pretending you're not angry is basically dishonest. (b) Another form of lying when you're angry is exaggeration. "You never listen to what I say." "You always ignore my wishes." "Nobody does anything around here except me." Such generalisations are untrue and serve only to aggravate and polarise, guaranteeing the real problem gets obscured and goes unsolved. (c) Another way to lie when you're angry is blaming. "If you'd arrive on time I wouldn't have to nag you," or "If you'd quit nagging so much, maybe I'd start being on time." Blaming is a way of evading your own responsibility while pointing the finger at others. It angers others, perpetuates your own anger and never produces the result you want. God's way is, "Let each one of you speak truth," and it works when you do it in love.
SoulFood reading: 2 Kings 7-9, Luke 1:1-10, Ps 73:1-16, Pr 13:17-19
This Daily Encouragement comes from The Word for Today devotional available free from UCB Australia. For more information, please visit The Word For Today website at www.thewordfortoday.com.au
HOLD ON TO YOUR DREAMS
Hold On to Your Dreams
Friday June 12, 2009
In a world that revolves around money and commerce, it is all too easy to become seduced by the notion that the only contributions we make to the world that matter are economic ones. But it's not true.
No doubt, we all need to earn enough money to support our families and take care of our financial needs and responsibilities. And, it may also be true that many of the things we love to do can be challenging to make a living at but...that should not keep us from doing them.
If we abandon our gifts and our dreams there can be unexpected side effects. Clients who come to me after years of not expressing their gifts often feel depressed, less vital, or without a sense of purpose in their lives. These feelings cannot be suppressed indefinitely and sometimes they can create real life consequences that can effect our health or relationships.
So, regardless of your financial circumstances, I strongly encourage you to continue to express your gifts purposefully and passionately, even if you never make money doing so. Your unique gifts and talents are how you express the Divine Spirit within you. These are God's gifts to us that we are given unconditionally and asked to express unconditionally.
No matter what financial hardships you may be undergoing, it is very important that you acknowledge that you and your gifts are valuable. When you value and express your gifts freely and without attachment to a monetary outcome, you will feel better about yourself and feel more energized and enlivened. Then, with this renewed energy, you can move forward to focus on revitalizing your career and improving your financial circumstances and perhaps, along the way, someone may hire you to do what you love. If not, it's still a blessing to have a job that supports you and your family while you continue to express your gifts, whenever and however you can.
Hold on to your dreams!
The greatest tragedy in life is not death;
the greatest tragedy takes place
when our talents and capabilities are underutilized
and allowed to rust while we are living.
~ Amma
HOLD ON TO YOUR DREAMS
Hold On to Your Dreams
Friday June 12, 2009
In a world that revolves around money and commerce, it is all too easy to become seduced by the notion that the only contributions we make to the world that matter are economic ones. But it's not true.
No doubt, we all need to earn enough money to support our families and take care of our financial needs and responsibilities. And, it may also be true that many of the things we love to do can be challenging to make a living at but...that should not keep us from doing them.
If we abandon our gifts and our dreams there can be unexpected side effects. Clients who come to me after years of not expressing their gifts often feel depressed, less vital, or without a sense of purpose in their lives. These feelings cannot be suppressed indefinitely and sometimes they can create real life consequences that can effect our health or relationships.
So, regardless of your financial circumstances, I strongly encourage you to continue to express your gifts purposefully and passionately, even if you never make money doing so. Your unique gifts and talents are how you express the Divine Spirit within you. These are God's gifts to us that we are given unconditionally and asked to express unconditionally.
No matter what financial hardships you may be undergoing, it is very important that you acknowledge that you and your gifts are valuable. When you value and express your gifts freely and without attachment to a monetary outcome, you will feel better about yourself and feel more energized and enlivened. Then, with this renewed energy, you can move forward to focus on revitalizing your career and improving your financial circumstances and perhaps, along the way, someone may hire you to do what you love. If not, it's still a blessing to have a job that supports you and your family while you continue to express your gifts, whenever and however you can.
Hold on to your dreams!
The greatest tragedy in life is not death;
the greatest tragedy takes place
when our talents and capabilities are underutilized
and allowed to rust while we are living.
~ Amma
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD - medley
Seek ye first
�� | Mode:�mp3/MIDI |
- Seek ye first the�kingdom of God
And His righteousness;
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Hallelu,�Hallelujah! - Ask, and it shall be given unto you;
Seek, and you shall find.
Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah! - Man shall not live by bread alone,
But by every word
That proceeds out from the mouth of God.
Hallelu, Hallelujah!
A problem child in the family
Daily Devotion
You say, "She's such an obedient child, but her brother breaks every rule!" Or, "Our first child's so organised; our second's a disaster area!" Children are created unique. Dealing with that reality is a parent's great challenge. Look at God's directives in Proverbs 22:6.
Source: The Word For Today
Train up a child in the way he should go...
Proverbs 22:6
(1) "Train up a child." Thoughtful, loving, productive, happy children don't just evolve - they're trained. Our latchkey generation has proved "...A child left to himself disgraces his [parents]" (Pr 29:15 NIV). Wise parents choose their child's direction, then maintain it by�positive reinforcement�and consistent discipline. They mould their child's attitude and behaviour in line with�God's Word. Solomon's reference to a child in this Scripture indicates a pre-teen who can still be moulded. If you miss those early training years your job's tough, but with God's help, not impossible. (2) "In the way he should go." Ever hear of 'cross-grain parenting'? It's trying to make your child something they're not meant to be. Forcing�square pegs�into round holes invites rebellion in spirited children and creativity-destroying conformity in compliant ones. This Scripture in The�Amplified Bible�advocates training a child, "In the way... [In keeping with his individual gift or bent]." Study your child's gifts, then direct them accordingly. Putting square pegs into square holes reduces resistance, invites cooperation and recognises your child's God-ordained destiny. When it's their path, not yours, they'll commit to it.�
(3) "When he is old he will not depart from it." When they're in the place God designed them for, nobody needs to manipulate, control or threaten them. They're invested, creative, challenged, fulfilled and happy to grow up in the square hole God shaped for them!
SoulFood reading: 2 Kings 4:18 - 6:33, Mark 16:1-20, Ps 80:12-19, Pr 13:13-16
This Daily Encouragement comes from The Word for Today devotional available free from�UCB Australia. For more information, please visit The Word For Today website at�www.thewordfortoday.com.au
Thursday, June 11, 2009
John Harper was preaching ARE YOU SAVED while Titanic was sinking
Ninety-six years ago today, the "unsinkable" Titanic met it fate in the icy waters of the North Atlantic. The following is the story of one of the unsung heroes of that dreadful night - Pastor John Harper. May his story inspire us still today.
John Harper was born to a pair of solid Christian parents on May 29, 1872. It was on the last Sunday of March 1886, when he was thirteen years old that he received Jesus as the Lord of his life. He never knew what it was to "sow his wild oats." He began to preach about four years later at the ripe old age of 17 by going down to the streets of his village and pouring out his soul in earnest entreaty for men to be reconciled to God.
As John Harper's life unfolded, one thing was apparent...he was consumed by the Word of God. When asked by various ministers what his doctrine consisted of, he was known to reply, "The Word of God!"
After five or six years of toiling on street corners preaching the gospel and working in the mill during the day, Harper was taken in by Rev. E. A. Carter of Baptist Pioneer Mission in London, England. This set Harper free to devote his whole time and energy to the work so dear to his heart. Soon John Harper started his own church in September of 1896 (now known as Harper Memorial Church). This church, which John Harper had started with just 25 members, had grown to over 500 members when he left 13 years later. During this time he had gotten married but was shortly thereafter widowed. However brief the marriage, God did bless John Harper with a beautiful little girl named Annie Jessie "Nina" Harper.
read more ...
http://randomresponses.blogspot.com/2008/04/true-hero-of-titanic.html
WALLACE H. HARTLEY
LEADER OF THE EIGHT MAN BAND AS THE TITANIC WAS SINKING PLAYED " NEARER MY GOD TO THEE"
WALLACE HENRY HARTLEYInformation taken from Wikipedia - view license Wallace Henry Hartley (June 2, 1878 - April 15, 1912) was a violinist who led the band on the RMS Titanic on its maiden voyage. He became famous for leading the eight member band as the ship sank on April 15, 1912. read more...Information taken from Wikipedia - view |