Friday, 9 May 2014
Pastor's Corner: What Christ Did Not Say On The Cross
Pastor's Corner: What Christ Did Not Say On The Cross: As Bible readers, we find instruction throughout all of the Scripture. We are fascinated by all parts, from general discourses to specific ...
Pastor's Corner: A House is NOT a Home
Pastor's Corner: A House is NOT a Home: Recently, in Baltimore, a car load of us passed by a few blocks of newly built houses. They were architecturally "homey" with beau...
Tuesday, 22 April 2014
Disappointed about a dead tomb ?
John 20
We see 2 pictures of love here... Mary was the last one at the Cross and the first one at the tomb.
None of JESUS's disciples really understood the scripture prophesying JESUS will rise again. The disciples went back home - despaired, downcast and disappointed. Mary too felt the same feelings yet she didn't go back home. She was at the tomb wondering where the body was.
Many times we are like Mary. We can identify with Mary. We remember the hurts, the disappointments... But CHRIST has risen ! As Christians we don't have to dwell on the dead things :-)
We don't stand outside dead tombs but in front of the Risen Savior !
JESUS asks Mary two questions - Why are you weeping and who are you seeking ?
Disappointments have a way of blinding us. Of blinding us to the presence of GOD and the possibilities of GOD !
We see 2 pictures of love here... Mary was the last one at the Cross and the first one at the tomb.
None of JESUS's disciples really understood the scripture prophesying JESUS will rise again. The disciples went back home - despaired, downcast and disappointed. Mary too felt the same feelings yet she didn't go back home. She was at the tomb wondering where the body was.
Many times we are like Mary. We can identify with Mary. We remember the hurts, the disappointments... But CHRIST has risen ! As Christians we don't have to dwell on the dead things :-)
We don't stand outside dead tombs but in front of the Risen Savior !
JESUS asks Mary two questions - Why are you weeping and who are you seeking ?
Disappointments have a way of blinding us. Of blinding us to the presence of GOD and the possibilities of GOD !
Tuesday, 15 April 2014
No Reserves. No Retreats. No Regrets.
In 1904 William Borden graduated from a Chicago high school. As heir to the Borden family fortune, he was already wealthy. For his high school graduation present, his parents gave 16-year-old Borden a trip around the world. As the young man traveled through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, he felt a growing burden for the world's hurting people. Finally, Bill Borden wrote home about his "desire to be a missionary."
One friend expressed disbelief that Bill was "throwing himself away as a missionary."
In response, Borden wrote two words in the back of his Bible: "No reserves."
Even though young Borden was wealthy, he arrived on the campus of Yale University in 1905 trying to look like just one more freshman. Very quickly, however, Borden's classmates noticed something unusual about him and it wasn't that he had lots of money. One of them wrote: "He came to college far ahead, spiritually, of any of us. He had already given his heart in full surrender to Christ and had really done it. We who were his classmates learned to lean on him and find in him a strength that was solid as a rock, just because of this settled purpose and consecration."2
During his college years, Bill Borden made an entry in his personal journal that defined what his classmates were seeing in him. That entry said simply: "Say 'no' to self and 'yes' to Jesus every time.
Although he was a millionaire, Bill seemed to "realize always that he must be about his Father's business, and not wasting time in the pursuit of amusement."9 Although Borden refused to join a fraternity, "he did more with his classmates in his senior year than ever before." He presided over the huge student missionary conference held at Yale and served as president of the honor society Phi Beta Kappa.
Upon graduation from Yale, Borden turned down some high-paying job offers. In his Bible, he wrote two more words: "No retreats."
William Borden went on to do graduate work at Princeton Seminary in New Jersey. When he finished his studies at Princeton, he sailed for China. Because he was hoping to work with Muslims, he stopped first in Egypt to study Arabic. While there, he contracted spinal meningitis. Within a month, 25-year-old William Borden was dead.
When the news of William Whiting Borden's death was cabled back to the U.S., the story was carried by nearly every American newspaper. "A wave of sorrow went round the world . . . Borden not only gave (away) his wealth, but himself, in a way so joyous and natural that it (seemed) a privilege rather than a sacrifice" wrote Mary Taylor in her introduction to his biography.
Was Borden's untimely death a waste? Not in God's perspective. Prior to his death, Borden had written two more words in his Bible. Underneath the words "No reserves" and "No retreats," he had written: "No regrets."
One friend expressed disbelief that Bill was "throwing himself away as a missionary."
In response, Borden wrote two words in the back of his Bible: "No reserves."
Even though young Borden was wealthy, he arrived on the campus of Yale University in 1905 trying to look like just one more freshman. Very quickly, however, Borden's classmates noticed something unusual about him and it wasn't that he had lots of money. One of them wrote: "He came to college far ahead, spiritually, of any of us. He had already given his heart in full surrender to Christ and had really done it. We who were his classmates learned to lean on him and find in him a strength that was solid as a rock, just because of this settled purpose and consecration."2
During his college years, Bill Borden made an entry in his personal journal that defined what his classmates were seeing in him. That entry said simply: "Say 'no' to self and 'yes' to Jesus every time.
Although he was a millionaire, Bill seemed to "realize always that he must be about his Father's business, and not wasting time in the pursuit of amusement."9 Although Borden refused to join a fraternity, "he did more with his classmates in his senior year than ever before." He presided over the huge student missionary conference held at Yale and served as president of the honor society Phi Beta Kappa.
Upon graduation from Yale, Borden turned down some high-paying job offers. In his Bible, he wrote two more words: "No retreats."
William Borden went on to do graduate work at Princeton Seminary in New Jersey. When he finished his studies at Princeton, he sailed for China. Because he was hoping to work with Muslims, he stopped first in Egypt to study Arabic. While there, he contracted spinal meningitis. Within a month, 25-year-old William Borden was dead.
When the news of William Whiting Borden's death was cabled back to the U.S., the story was carried by nearly every American newspaper. "A wave of sorrow went round the world . . . Borden not only gave (away) his wealth, but himself, in a way so joyous and natural that it (seemed) a privilege rather than a sacrifice" wrote Mary Taylor in her introduction to his biography.
Was Borden's untimely death a waste? Not in God's perspective. Prior to his death, Borden had written two more words in his Bible. Underneath the words "No reserves" and "No retreats," he had written: "No regrets."
The CROSS is the answer!
Chapter 5 of The Book of Revelation talks about 3 things - The Book, The Lamb and The Song.
Here we know that whatever CHRIST did HE did forever. .. What's written here is complete and finished.
JESUS is the Lion of the tribe of Judah who has the heart of a lamb.
The CROSS is the answer to humanity - human frailness, weakness and sinfulness.
What CHRIST did on the Cross was unimaginable. .Why did HE have to go through all these things - hunger, tiredness, loneliness, shame, rejection?
FOR ME - so I will know HE has experienced all this for me !
What GOD has started in my life HE will complete.
HE is not in the manger, HE is not on the Cross, HE is not in the tomb - HE is risen... HE is alive !
Thursday, 3 April 2014
We are known by GOD
God used the Midianites to discipline the Jews. They
oppressed the Jews and GOD raised Gideon to deliver them.
The 2 men just went
down on the orders of GOD.
A barley biscuit rose into the camp and smote the Midianites.
The poor would eat barley and not wheat. And wheat is a stronger grain.
GOD gave that dream to that man. The instruments of GOD are
so unusual. The instrument is unimportant but it is the power of GOD that makes things happen.
They were so amazed in Luke 17 that even that the devils
flee in JESUS’ name.
When we are moving in the power of GOD around us, and behind
us and we can take up a whole troop.
GOD wants us to know that we have HIM behind us and that we
are known by GOD!
If this is a difficult season for you, I want you to know that you are known by GOD. HE knows. HE will use unusual things to give you your breakthrough. Healing, employment, peace, victory, a dream, relationship or marriage... any of these situations is possible with the GOD who raises us and makes things happen !
Thursday, 20 March 2014
Life Broken Down
If the LORD gives you 70 years to live, you spend...
23 years sleeping
14 years working
8 years watching television
8 years in family time
6 years eating
4 years traveling
4 years talking
1 year reading
8 months = Church + Praying 10 minutes in the morning + 10 minutes in the evening.
23 years sleeping
14 years working
8 years watching television
8 years in family time
6 years eating
4 years traveling
4 years talking
1 year reading
8 months = Church + Praying 10 minutes in the morning + 10 minutes in the evening.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)