tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13901386128200709042024-03-18T01:44:04.536-07:00Lighthouse visionThe true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world and the world was made through Him, yet the world knew Him not. He came to His own home, and His own people received Him not. But to all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
John ch.1 vs.9-13Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.comBlogger221125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-88904697673577416232024-03-13T03:27:00.000-07:002024-03-13T03:27:52.065-07:00Take God with you<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b> I set out from my home at 8.50 in the morning with the intention of collecting a few items from the chemists before catching the 9.20 number X bus to Porthcawl, a seaside town a few miles from where I was living. I was looking forward to a very enjoyable day at the Christian writers seminar held at the Rest home for the elderly there. I had attended the previous year's seminar and anticipated meeting up once again with some very interesting people, with 'What have you been doing these last twelve months? ' being the topic of conversation around the dining table during lunch. I hurried from the chemist with the 'two for the price of one' Dove deodorants and the 'Awakening' perfume tucked into my already bulging handbag, and headed for the bus station.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>'Five minutes to spare'. I thought as I looked at the two clocks displaying different times above the job centre, which was in front of the bus station. I had opted for the one on the right which had previously proved to be correct. Once again I pondered on how anybody could come up with the idea of placing two clocks side by side facing away from the bus station, and not one facing towards it. Several people were in the bus shelter at stop one and two, the latter of which would be where the X7 would pull in. I sat down next to a young man with a shaved head for a few minutes and then, thinking it unwise to have my back turned to the stop, got up again. No sooner was I on my feet than a bus sped past the shelter. 'My bus!' I gasped, as I caught a glimpse of 'X7' above the windscreen. 'Oh no' I moaned inwardly, as I ran as fast as my boots and long Winter coat would allow me. Another would be passenger was a few yards ahead of me, banging on the side of the bus. The driver sped on with the obvious intention of not stopping. I eventually stopped running right outside the bus company's office. Both annoyance and curiosity climbed with me up the stars to where three drivers were relaxing in a cloud of cigarette smoke. 'Doesn't the X7 stop at stop two? I enquired, ready with 'Well it didn't after the anticipated 'Yes'. 'Not the one to Cardiff' said one driver, disappearing behind a cloud of exhaled smoke, who obviously had a much clearer picture of the situation than I did. If you want the one to Porthcawl you had better urn, it will be in just about now' he said, glancing at his watch. I hurried down the stairs with new companions, humility and gratitude, and we ran back to the bus station</b></span><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">.</b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">That was my hundred yard sprint for the day'. I said to the man who had banged on the bus. 'Where are you going?' 'To Cardiff' he said. I felt sorry that he had been at the wrong stop, and pointed out which stop he should be standing at. At least he would not miss the next one. Then the young man with the shaved head started chatting, and asked if I was going to Porthcawl. 'Yes', I said, 'Fancy that driver not stopping when that man was banging on the bus, I would have , wouldn't you?' 'Yes' he replied. I told him I was going to a writers' seminar and we chatted until the bus came in. We both got on the bus and he sat a few seats behind me.</b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">As the bus journeyed on I was reminded of the fact that I had some evangelical poetry in my bag which I give out in the street. My first thought was to give the young man a leaflet, and then reasoning set in. Was it my familiar enemy, complacency, pointing out the bulging handbag, and the need to fill the seat beside me with it's contents in order to reach the poetry? What should I do? I must 'go out into the highways and the byways', but also I must not give that which is holy to 'dogs', the spiritual term for 'outsiders'. Which instruction was for this man? I suddenly noticed a flock of crows over a ploughed field, and the song 'We plough the fields and scatter' came into my mind with 'the good seed on the ground' following. Whether they were the actual words of the song I do not know. 'Ah! I scatter the seed' I thought. Then chasing after the wrong bus came into my mind. 'Help me Lord,' I said in my heart. 'I feel You are telling me something but I don't quite know what'. There was a sudden shout from behind me. 'Who-oh', cried the young man with the shaved head. The driver stopped the bus and I realized that an elderly man had been running to catch it. The driver hadn't stopped at the bus stop because nobody had been on it.</b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>The Lord's message was now very clear. I was to give the young man the leaflet. In believing that the bus which had sped past me in the bus station was my bus, I had experienced all the anxiety of missing it, the disappointment of not being at the seminar and the meeting old friends, just because a driver had not cared enough to stop and pick me up. How much greater grief would be suffered if somebody could be hindered from coming to Christ because I had failed to share the gospel of salvation. This young man had cared enough about the elderly man to make sure that he caught his bus. My criticism of the first driver not stopping was now my judge. What joy to hand my leaflet to the smiling young man as he got off the bus bidding me 'Cheerio' and to say to him 'I don't want you to miss the bus, you will understand when you read it.' 'Thank you' he said, still helping others as he said to me 'You need to get off at the next stop'.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>What had I learned from this incident? I had learned not to worry if things did not run smoothly all the time, and that everything that happened in my life, including running for the wrong bus, was all happening for a purpose, and that empathy and experience were of great importance. They were the forerunners of sympathy and understanding, without which I probably would not be moved to want to see others saved. I had also learned how important it is to constantly be alert to how God speaks through everyday occurrences. I believe that even my buying the 'Dove' deodorant and the 'Awakening' perfume on that day was signalling a spiritual awakening, and it was to be this young man's. Keeping in touch constantly with the Lord in order to hear what He might be saying is very important. This was emphasized to me a couple of days later when I was in work, cleaning a nightclub during the daytime with my friend. On this particular day the young barman's mobile phone was on the bar and it was ringing. The barman was in the cellar and I thought 'What is the point of having a mobile phone if he doesn't carry it with him?'</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>God has a plan for every one of us and can speak to us as individuals in many ways.... if we keep our 'mobile' on.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia;">'Accept all things that come your way, they're meant for you alone. God may be working things for good, and that's not just your own. For there are others on the path, our Lord alone knows who, that through our tribulation may gain salvation too'</span></b></p>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-8732398375712238122024-02-25T07:29:00.000-08:002024-02-25T07:29:12.934-08:00My Testimony<p> <span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;">I just feel to re post my testimony to glorify my Saviour Jesus Christ. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Many years ago I had recorded onto a cassette some poems and songs that I had written. They related part of my testimony. While I was living down in West Wales an elder of a church I was attending put them on an mp3 disc for me. As I know very little about this kind of technology I have just been to the library to ask if anyone can link this disc to my blog. A young lady there has done her best regarding this, and so I am going to see if this link has worked - the young lady was not sure if it would. Most of these songs and poems I may have already put up, and I am definitely no 'singer', and only learned a few chords on my guitar to be able to play the tunes that came into my head at the time of writing the songs.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">However - one thing I learned at that time of learning from the Lord was that as we are taught by God through His precious Word, and go through our trials trusting in Him, we are able to get stronger spiritually. My journey is still on-going, I am forever learning, and I will not know whether this link will work until I publish this post. If it doesn't work, then I will have lost nothing through trying</span>.:-)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To listen to my testimony press the link below.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://soundcloud.com/brenda-rees-823318924/testimony-brenda" target="_blank">Testimony by Brenda Rees - Soundcloud</a></div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-75620001379131522492024-02-19T01:54:00.000-08:002024-02-19T01:54:17.089-08:00O light of Heaven - Holy King<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">O light of Heaven - Holy King</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">of Whom the hosts of angels sing</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">rekindle flame in darkened Earth</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">by stirring those of second birth</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">to speak with boldness of the love </span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">sent by the Father from above</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">When on a night so dark and cold</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">was prophesy fulfilled of old</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">a child, to maid of no renown</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">was born to wear man's thorny crown</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">to bear the shame and take the place</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">of mankind fallen from God's grace</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Who now with sin beneath His feet</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">stands at the side of God's own seat</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">declaring peace forever more</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">to those who enter through the door</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">of righteousness gained by God's Son</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">..... the Father's gift to everyone</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">For to us a child is born, to us a child is given, and the government will be on His shoulders, and He will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Isaiah ch. 9 v.6.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-43899278333738847502024-02-12T01:52:00.000-08:002024-02-12T01:52:25.565-08:00You don't have to be a driver to know the road<div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>One day I was on a bus going into the town centre. The driver had stopped to give directions to an oncoming truck driver, and they were talking through their open windows. I heard the truck drier ask where a certain trading estate was, and felt sure that the bus driver would know where it was, simply because he was a bus driver. However, the bus driver did not know where the trading estate was, and proceeded to give the truck driver instructions to get to a completely different trading estate.</b></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I was familiar with the trading estate that the truck driver needed to find and so was able to give him instructions on how to get there, and thought I should get up, go to the front of the bus and tell him. However, I hesitated too long, reasoning with whether or not I should do it, and missed the opportunity, and the truck driver went off in the wrong direction. I was taught a valuable lesson that day.</b></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">When we have been to a place we are able to instruct others on how to get there. Knowledge of how to get to a place does not depend on whether you are a driver or not, but on whether you have been to that place, and we do not all travel down the same road in life. The same rule applies with scripture. If in a particular situation we have been helped or comforted by the Word then we are able to pass that information on to others.</b></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Paul says in 2nd Corinthians ch 1 v.4 that God is the God of all comfort Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we ma be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. </b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Herein</b></span><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> we see the importance of each part of the body of Christ functioning in order to be built up by one another's faith when we gather together, as instructed by Paul the apostle in his first letter to the Corinthian church.</b></li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-35222321221999560362024-02-04T01:50:00.000-08:002024-02-04T01:53:59.879-08:00Your precious world<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Only You can satisfy<br />when lands are parched and streams run dry</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Lord only You can satisfy .... in this our hungry world</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Only You can comfort me</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">with words in answer to my plea</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">of 'Father change my destiny'</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Lord only You can comfort me ..... in this our troubled world</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Only You can bring me hope</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">while I in constant darkness grope</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">when sin does bind like tightening rope</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Lord only You can bring me hope .... in this our sinful world</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Only You can be my light</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">when wrong has overshadowed right</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">and daytime's fading into night</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Lord only You can be my light .... in this our darkened world</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Only You can give true love</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">brought forth as showers from above</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">descending gentle as a dove</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Lord only You can give true love .... in this Your precious world.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-27926515355925624292024-01-21T02:30:00.000-08:002024-01-21T02:30:57.890-08:00Mirror Image<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Lord may we learn from creation<br />may we look to the vast blue sea</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">to the mountains, the fields and the valleys</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">to know how we ought to be</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">May we look to the gentle dolphin</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">as he tries to befriend mankind</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">and follow this creature's example,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">leaving killing and hatred behind</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">May we look to the towering mountains</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">holding fast against tempest and rain</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">as we struggle with sorrow and tragedy,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">finding strength amidst suffering and pain</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">As we look to the fields and the harvest,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">all golden and bursting with grain,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">may we learn how to share with each other,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">may our 'giving' replace all our 'gain'</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Then, as in the river's reflection</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">of the blue of the heavens above</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">so too we will mirror the image</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">of God's totally unselfish love</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-58848584845162037022024-01-07T01:46:00.000-08:002024-01-07T01:46:03.918-08:00Where to find rest in this troubled world<p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Come unto Me</span></span></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b> all ye that labour </b></span></p><p><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b> and are heavy laden, </b></span></p><p><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b> and I will give you rest.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><b><span style="color: #d9ead3;"> <span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></b></span><span style="color: #d9ead3; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Matthew ch. 11 v.28</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></p>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-5321393480840567112023-12-24T02:18:00.000-08:002023-12-24T02:25:57.960-08:00For God so loved the world<p> </p><p> <span style="color: #d9ead3; font-size: large;"> <b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> The reason to celebrate CHRISTmas ?</span></b></span></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p> <b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"> <span style="color: #b6d7a8;">For God so loved the world,</span></span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"> that He gave His only begotten Son,</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"> that whosoever believes in Him</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"> should not perish, but have</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"> everlasting life.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"> <span style="color: #93c47d;">John <u>ch.3 v.16</u></span></span></b></p>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-45344088957908443872023-12-12T02:27:00.000-08:002023-12-16T02:09:53.184-08:00Look and see<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;"> <b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Look and see</span> </span></b></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <b><span style="font-size: medium;">All that look, that look on me </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b> see only here a dying tree<br /></b><b> in brittle branch and withered wood </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b> they find no beauty - see no good<br /></b><b> perceiving just what would have been </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b> if You had not come on my scene<br /></b><b> But shoots of green they do not see </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b> new budding leaves that struggle free<br /></b><b> from lifeless form that once was me<br /></b><b> For carnal mind and human eyes </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b> both dwell and gaze on all that dies<br /></b><b> and in this chrysalis of tree </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b> will fail to see eternity<br /></b><b> Oh all that look - look again at me</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b> look now through eyes of faith and see<br /></b><b> the hand of Jesus Christ, God's Son </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b> gaze on the work that's being done<br /></b><b> See miracle of power to save </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b> a soul once destined for the grave<br /></b><b> This Saviour, Whom my heart does love </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b> has come from God on wings of a dove<br /></b><b> to change my destiny of strife </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b> and bring to me eternal life<br /></b><b> So look again upon this tree </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b> see everywhere new greenery<br /></b><b> Don't look upon the dying wood </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> see my Saviour's beauty, see my Saviour's good</span></b></div><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-23368337758160162692023-11-27T02:21:00.000-08:002023-11-27T02:27:21.457-08:00Listening for God's voice <p><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>I feel led to repost what I wrote some time ago.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b> <span style="text-align: justify;">How often do we truly listen for God's voice in our lives? We may listen</span><span style="color: #e69138; text-align: justify;"> to</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">God's voice when we hear it being preached in church, or when we are reading our Bibles, but how often do we listen</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="color: #e69138;">for</span></span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">His voice through our everyday experiences, and how much of God's instruction and encouragement do we miss through not being finely tuned in to the way in which the Holy Spirit reveals things to us?</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>When I first became a Christian there were two scriptures that were highlighted to me very strongly. They were 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, don't lean on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He shall direct your path', and 'Take every thought into captivity to obey Christ' (2 Corinthians ch10 v5b. Yet every day I am in danger of allowing my carnal mind and circumstance to create the world that I live in, and rob me of what God has in store for me, by believing what the small part of the picture that I am seeing is forecasting instead of trusting in the revealed word of the One who sees the whole picture.</b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WsDh77s1GYI/T7EeA5WEJ2I/AAAAAAAAAFU/YZzP7exw-as/s1600/redkite.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WsDh77s1GYI/T7EeA5WEJ2I/AAAAAAAAAFU/YZzP7exw-as/s400/redkite.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><p><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Early last week we had high winds here in Llandybie. My husband and I had painted the door in the front hall that leads out to the porch that contains the front door to our bungalow. Merlyn had said that he wanted the door left open for two days in order to dry the paint. On the second night he closed the painted door. I looked across the road and noticed that a neighbour's up and over garage door was being blown open with the wind. The next morning, as I opened the blinds in the back room, I noticed that our garage door was also wide open. I shouted into the bedroom 'The garage door is open Merlyn', thinking it strange because he always locks it. 'I must have forgotten to close it yesterday' he said. I then went into the front hall and opened the painted door to see how it had fared being closed all night. It was very stiff because of the paint and the draught excluders around it, so I pushed it to without actually closing it to allow it to dry without sticking.. When I opened the blinds in the front lounge I noticed that the garage door across the road was still wide open. Some time later I went into the front hall intending to pull the painted door open to go into the porch to see if there was any mail. The painted door was side open. There is no way it could have opened by itself because it had been very stiff to close to, and there were no windows open in the porch that could have allowed a strong wind to open it. <br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I thought about the strangeness of all these open doors and it came into my mind also that the previous Sunday a man in the church had told me to leave the door open to the church on Tuesday after the internet session held there because someone was coming to check the fire extinguishers. A scripture came into my mind from Revelation ch.3 v.8 'Behold I have set before you an open door', so I looked.it up. In Revelation ch.3 the Lord is speaking those words to the angel of the church of Philadelphia for keeping His word and not denying His name. The word 'Philadelphia' means 'brotherly love'. Verse 7 reads 'And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write 'The words of the Holy One, the true One, who has the key of David, who opens and no one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens'.<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A strange thing happened in Swansea on Friday. I was handing out my scripture and poetry leaflets and offered one to three Korean looking girls walking towards me. I suddenly thought, looking at one of the girls, 'That girl is one of the girls that came to the church, the one who was so friendly' I said 'Hello', but she looked at me as if she did not know me and appeared quite unfriendly. I was completely baffled. I told her my name and the church I attended, but got the same reaction. As I turned from her a man in front of me dropped a key on the floor, almost as if he had thrown it down, then bent down and picked it up.<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I have thought about all these things and as far as the girl is concerned I think maybe she was someone who looked exactly like someone else, but was she used as sign accompanying everything else, saying that there is an open door to those of God's people who show brotherly love, who keep God's word ( the word that the Holy Spirit is speaking to the individual at the time ) and do not deny His name. Part of keeping God's word is loving one another, and that includes loving those who don't love us. The girl in the street appeared to be someone that I knew who appeared slightly hostile. It is easy to love those who love us, but how do we fare if a brother or a sister, whether natural or spiritual, does not appear to love us? Are we in danger of throwing away the key to that open door if we do not love as God wants us to love? The love described in 1 Corinthians ch. 13 keeps no record of wrongs. I started to see that there was a message for me in all that had happened.<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I know now, looking back, that the Lord was bringing to my attention something that was happening, and about to happen, in my life which would test me as to whether or not I would react according to what my natural mind was telling me to do in the situation, or whether I would react according to what God's word to me was saying to do, to love even those who did not appear to love me. The day after realizing this I went to look for my Bible concordence and came across a daily devotional that I'd had for some years, but had not looked at for a while. I opened it to the day and this was the heading. 'Love your way to success.' One of the sentences in the article read 'Now you may know some people with whom you may not want to be knit together. They may make some things a significant challenge for you. But you are commanded to walk in love, so do it.'<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God knew exactly what I was going through, and about to go through, at the time and not only instructed me what to do about it, love regardless, but also showed me that blessing would come from it. I have had so many experiences like this in my life, and a peace that passes understanding come as a result of acting on what I am being shown that, for me, nothing on earth can surpass it.<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Someone once said to me 'How can God allow horrible people to walk around the streets, people that have committed atrocities against others, and yet good people die before they are very old? I reminded her that earlier that morning she had said that she still loved a man who had left her and their son for another woman, and still lived i the hope that he would return to her one day. I went on to say that in the same way God carries on loving us even when we do sinful things which separate us from Him ( Isaiah ch.59 v.2 ), and wants us to return to Him.<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the Bible tells us that only God is good, that we have all sinned, and that when we sin it is against God that we do so. He wants us all to come to repentance and be saved and is not willing that any of us should perish<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> In the parable of the prodigal son we see that although the father allows his son to go his own way, the father's desire is always that the son would return to him eventually. It is only when the son ends up eating food that is fit for pigs that he grieves for his father and wants to return to him.<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Whether we have truly known God's ways and gone away from them, or known little of God's ways at all, without Him and the guidance of the Holy Spirit we will inevitably at some stage end up in a mess. Always after we have turned from the bad things we have got into, as the parable of the prodigal son demonstrates, God will run to meet us with forgiveness and bring us back to Himself and blessing. Such is the love that God has for us, a love that motivated Him to send His only Son Jesus to earth as the graceful means for unholy people mankind to be reconciled back to their holy creator.</span></b></p></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />That kind of love<br /><br />Lord I'll never know how a seed so small and insignificant<br />into a beautiful rose does grow<br />or why Your tender hands should form<br />a different face on each flake of snow<br />........ Could it be love?<br /><br />Lord I'll never know what motivates a God so full of purity and light<br />to sacrifice the One most dear to Him<br />to save humanity from their deserv-ed plight<br />of dark despair brought on by sin<br />......... Could it be love?<br /><br />Lord cause me to know that which I thought I would never know<br />......... Cause me to know that kind of love</span><br /></b><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-cJaSz-uEw/T7Jzl8BhquI/AAAAAAAAAGI/WfDW-FcRJn8/s1600/iwilllovetheea44web.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-cJaSz-uEw/T7Jzl8BhquI/AAAAAAAAAGI/WfDW-FcRJn8/s400/iwilllovetheea44web.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>I thank You Lord that You left the ninety nine and came looking for the lost one. Though there had been a wall between myself and my creator, You broke down that wall through Your crucifixion, making it possible for the unholy to have access to the holy. By grace I have been saved, and by grace I am kept.</b></span></p></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hOVGQ7T10Zw/T7EfLK_Q7JI/AAAAAAAAAFc/uxy3ZMJd8nM/s1600/sheep+over+wall.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hOVGQ7T10Zw/T7EfLK_Q7JI/AAAAAAAAAFc/uxy3ZMJd8nM/s640/sheep+over+wall.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Without Your sacrifice I would never be free<br /></b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Without Your love for me my eyes could not see</b><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">How can I thank You Lord, what can I do<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What can I say my Lord except 'I love You'</span></b></p></div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-74902893275860932102023-11-07T08:23:00.000-08:002023-11-07T08:23:51.133-08:00Sow What ?<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>People running everywhere </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>except towards the truth</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>each generation right in their own eyes</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>The young ones hating everyone</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>the aged mistrusting youth</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>separated by the Devil's lies</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Finding short lived happiness</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>yet knowing something's wrong</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>they seek delight through alcohol and dope</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Protesting through rebellion</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>and speaking out in song</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>For them the world's tomorrow hold's no hope</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>'Why was I born' the poor man cries </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>'What kind of life is this?' </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>For him - to live is agony</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>To die is almost bliss</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>While the rich man turns his eyes away</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>from the beggar at his gate</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>as selfishness and greedy gain</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>begin to separate.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>But is this as God planned it</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>when first the world began</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Oh no my friend. God formed the earth</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>but the seeds were sown by man.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Be not deceived: God is not mocked: For whatever a man sows</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>that shall he also reap. For he that sows to the flesh shall of the </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>flesh reap corruption. But he that sows to the Spirit shall of the </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Spirit reap life everlasting.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Galatians ch. 6 vs. 7 and 8.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-22142272558850045832023-09-17T08:14:00.003-07:002023-10-23T02:37:18.563-07:00God is Spirit<h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> God is Spirit, His Son is Spirit and the express image of His Father, and if we are born of that Spirit then we shall be in their image, and shall all be one, just as Jesus prayed in <span style="color: #b6d7a8;">John ch. 17 v.21 'That they may all be one, as Thou art Father in me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that Thou hast sent me.'</span> This imagery of all believers being a collective 'son' is a reflection of <span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Exodus ch. 4 v. 22</span> where God refers to the <span style="color: #b6d7a8;">whole nation of Israel as His Son and His firstborn.</span> As believers in Jesus we are the Spiritual Israel of God. However, we are told that the reason we are to be one with Christ and the Father, and to have His Glory is that the world may believe that God has sent Jesus. We have been given a mission and a commission by Jesus our Lord and some of us have been given gifts for building up the church and some have been given gifts of evangelising. With the body of Christ is the ability, through the spiritual gifts, to do all the works that He did while He was in a physical body on Earth, both with the house of God and with the world.</span></h4><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b>Gracious Father</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Gracious Father give me light </b></span><b style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> </b></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>to separate the wrong from right</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>cause Your face to shine on me</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>that in the darkness I might see</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>to bring my soul into subjection</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>lest I suffer Your rejection</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Gracious Father grant me truth</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>to break the foolishness of youth</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Inscribe Your Word upon my heart</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>lest from Your ways I might depart</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>May Christ Your Son renew my mind</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>restoring sight to eyes gone blind</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Gracious Father give me peace</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>from chains of bondage bring release</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>My soul is longing for the day</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>when earthly things will pass away</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>when pain and tears and aching heart</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>will finally from me depart</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Gracious Father lead me home</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>no longer let my spirit roam</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>guide me along that narrow way</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>using staff and rod each day</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>until this coat of skin and flesh</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>becomes a robe of righteousness</b></span></div><h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM_v3UE6bP96rOYFVZIt2qIxVqjOWW2yRoJVVcO24GGTcnsnfHCh0IRL_p_0VIcpisitMw9xLI-i-ocF4XjE0qxsEFNlrpJ6H36Li2c40jg1JjWKwrR3SMUD7yvF2jxEr2WG0fKZXQUT9DmeyhdaMNA65M-723y5T_h54QhKVkzT_wA-dVzir650gF3c/s2933/PIC00004.tif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2933" data-original-width="2198" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM_v3UE6bP96rOYFVZIt2qIxVqjOWW2yRoJVVcO24GGTcnsnfHCh0IRL_p_0VIcpisitMw9xLI-i-ocF4XjE0qxsEFNlrpJ6H36Li2c40jg1JjWKwrR3SMUD7yvF2jxEr2WG0fKZXQUT9DmeyhdaMNA65M-723y5T_h54QhKVkzT_wA-dVzir650gF3c/w405-h540/PIC00004.tif" width="405" /></a></div><br /> </span></h4>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-8132573948141903062023-08-31T02:26:00.000-07:002023-08-31T02:26:04.450-07:00From chrysalis to butterfly<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>This is a poem that I wrote some years ago, shortly after I had been born again. I just thought I would share it in case a newly born Christian comes over to my blog, or if someone is going through similar things :-</b></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Lord when I'm being taunted</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>and mocked for loving You</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>cause me to remember</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>that You was taunted too</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>When I'm being laughed at</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>for calling on Your name</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>let me see You standing there </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>and taking all that shame</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>And if I'm being tempted</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>to draw back into sin</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>tell me 'Turn away child</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>don't let the Devil win'</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Lord sometimes it's difficult</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>to die to sinful man</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>when the Spirit says 'you can't'</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>and the flesh says 'yes you can'</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>I'm so afraid I'll fail You</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>the old man can be strong</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>sometimes it's hard to tell, Lord</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>what's right and what is wrong</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>The old man says 'Retaliate!'</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>to every harsh word said</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>The new says 'You've been born again</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>the old man is now dead'</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>So Lord teach me to listen</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>when I hear You speak</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Create in me a spirit</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>that is lowly and meek</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Take away the 'old man'</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>of anger, greed and lust</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Form a new creation</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>inside this outer crust</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Help me to forgive them</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>when the world abuses me</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>teach me how to show Your love</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>that I know can set them free</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Lord help me go all the way</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>to that rugged cross</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Show me that to lose this 'life'</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>is gain and not a loss</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>And then just like the chrysalis</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>that hangs upon it's thread</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>I'll become a 'butterfly'</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>and You'll have raised the 'dead'</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-81669781708646949812023-08-22T04:46:00.001-07:002023-08-22T04:50:52.452-07:00To You, and You alone<div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>This is a song that I wrote some years ago - my words to my Lord Jesus</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">To You and You alone</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">will I come for peace and comfort</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">To You and You alone</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">will I come on bended knee</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In You and You alone</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">have I found God's grace and mercy</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In You and You alone</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">have I seen God's love for me</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">With You and You alone</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">can I walk back to the Father</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>With You and You alone</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>can eternal life be found</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>From You my loving Saviour</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>must I draw my strength and wisdom</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>for You and You alone</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>can place my feet on solid ground</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>I continue to sing these words to my Saviour</b></span></div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-76058213555464266052023-08-15T02:06:00.000-07:002023-08-15T02:06:10.864-07:00We can not be lukewarm<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We can not be hot (<b>the Lord</b>) and cold (<b>the world</b>). <b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Psalm 81 vs 13 and 14</span></b> says <span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><b>'Oh that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways. I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their foes.'</b></span><b> Jesus says in</b> <b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">John ch. 12 vs. 47 and 48</span></b> <b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">'If anyone hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him, for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who does not receive my sayings has a judge, the Word that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day.' </span></b> Neither does it matter by whom this word is spoken, for Jesus goes on to say in <b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">John ch. 13 v. 20 'Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives anyone whom I send receives me, and he who receives me receives Him Who sent me'</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Hebrews ch.11</span></b> is full of people who obeyed the voice of God and did not lose out. <b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Verse 7 says ' By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, took heed and constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith.' Verse 8 says 'By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance, and he went out not knowing where he was to go.'</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We need not be afraid of any <b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Word</span></b> which God speaks to us, whether it be to make us feel comfortable or uncomfortable. Being human, we do not naturally like or want to feel uncomfortable. Sometimes it is actually taught amongst God's people that we should only prosper and be happy, and that anything else is 'of the devil'. It is a 'feel good' doctrine. The church in Laodicea is spoken of as having self satisfaction physically but being spiritually poverty stricken <b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">(Rev. ch. 3 v. 17) </span></b>However, the Lord goes on in<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><b> v. 18</b></span> to advise them to buy from Him riches and garments and ointment, spiritual riches, garments and ointment, that they might spiritually prosper, spiritually be clothed, and spiritually see. In<b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> v. 19 </span></b>He says those whom He loves, He reproves and chastens. <b>Chasten</b> comes from the word <b>chaste</b> which means <b>pure. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When we, as born again believers, are <b>'chastened</b>' by the Lord it is only the natural, carnal side of us which feels uncomfortable. The Spiritual creation within us rejoices and grows at the Lord's voice whatever His Word might speak to us. It does not matter what church we go to, or what man is claimed to be a 'great man of God' or a 'wonderful prophet'. If any person instructs us to do other than the Word of God in any situation ( for there is instruction for every situation) then it is not of God. <b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> Deuteronomy chapter 13 vs. 1 - 4</span></b> tells us that even if a prophet arises amongst us and prophesies and it does come to pass, if he then instructs us to go after other gods to serve them, then we must not listen. Other gods can be anything that we put above the Lord, and because <b>the Lord is the Word</b>, gods can be anything that we put above His Word. We are told in this passage of scripture that the Lord our God is testing us to know whether we love Him with all our heart and with all our soul. We are told to walk after the Lord our God, to fear Him and keep His commandments and obey His voice, to serve Him and to cleave to Him. Jesus echoes this in<b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> John ch. 14 v.15 </span></b> where He says<b><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> 'If you love me you will keep my commands.</span></b></span></p>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-1940375332925502202023-07-28T01:46:00.000-07:002023-07-28T01:46:22.458-07:00Hybrid<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"> 'What's a hybrid now?' I asked the shop owner, as I noticed the word on one of the products that he sold in his game shop. I could not quite remember whether a hybrid was the original of something, or an original with something else grafted in. 'It's where something is grafted into something else to make a new species with the qualities of both donors.' he replied. ' Ah yes', I said. I had been reading that morning from Colossians ch. 3, where Paul was reminding the church at Colossae how the old nature, the fleshly nature, was dead, and that we are alive to Christ. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">I had thought, while reading, how careful we have to be not to resurrect that old nature . This passage of scripture now drifted back into my mind, as I pondered on the word 'hybrid', and I thought about how Christians could become hybrid, our nature being produced by a mix of our old and new nature, or a mix of God's Word and man's doctrine, if we did not stay alert. </span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">That evening I was sat in my lounge with my husband. He was watching a film on the television, which was set during the second world war. I am not very interested in war films, and so my mind started to reflect on other things. I was thinking about what I should take as a devotional for the writers' circle that I attend each month. The Lord had been speaking to me about His commandment in John ch 13 to us, to love one another as He has loved us, and I was thinking that maybe I would share something on this theme.</span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>In the midst of my thoughts, my husband said, 'That's a hybrid'. Suddenly, my mind was alert, I had heard this word twice in the space of a few hours, and once again I was reminded of the subject of the two natures in the book of Colossians. Turning to my husband, I asked 'What's a hybrid?'. 'That army vehicle' he said, looking towards the television screen. 'What do you mean, that vehicle is a hybrid?' I said. 'It can run on petrol or electricity' my husband replied. How would you clarify a hybrid I asked. 'It's a mix of two' he said. Two days later a friend rang me and said during our conversation 'My second nature's gone'. I realized almost immediately that she was talking about a Katherine Jenkins music CD that she had, that she had told me a few days before might have fallen down the back of a unit in her flat. The significance of what she said spoke spiritually to me, and I felt that the Lord was definitely bringing my attention to the carnal and the spiritual natures, and of how we can lose our new, spiritual nature if we do not allow the old, clay vessel to be broken and the new vessel to be moulded by heeding the Lord's teachings, and so it is on this theme that I have based the following thoughts.</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>If I, once I am born again of God's Holy Spirit, choose only to accept correction from God when it suits me by being a hearer of the Word and not a doer of the Word, or accept doctrine within a church when I know it is false doctrine, then my nature will be hybrid, a mixture of the carnal and the spiritual, and I will not be changed into the true image of Christ. Hence the importance of obeying God's Word, and also checking the word of man to see if it aligns with scripture.</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>In Colossians ch. 3 we are encouraged to seek and set our minds on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth because if we have been raised with Christ then we have died to the flesh and our life is hidden with Christ in God. Paul then goes on to instruct believers to put to death what is earthly in them:- fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry, on account of which, he says, the wrath of God is coming. So we see that the wrath of God is activated through the corrupt carnal nature. Paul further encourages us not to lie to one another, seeing that we have put off the old nature with it's practices, and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of it's creator. Then he lists the beautiful characteristics of this new divine nature of God which is revealed in Christ, as we are told to put on compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another, forgiving each other. As the Lord has forgiven us, he says so we also must forgive, and above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>If we look at the characteristics of love, as stated in 1 Corinthians ch. 13 we see that it is patient and kind, is not jealous or boastful, it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on it's own way, it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Jesus says in John ch. 13 vs.34 and 35 , 'A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another as I have loved you, even so I have loved you that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. Jesus does not say that He gives us a choice that we love one another, He says that He gives us a commandment to love one another. So we see that this new nature is essential, not only to bind the body of Christ together in perfect harmony, but also that it will be evidence to the whole world that we are His disciples. How important then that all of us be on our guard, and take every thought into captivity, recognising where these thoughts are coming from and if they are confessing Christ, and in line with the Word of God.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Proverbs ch. 7 vs. 1 to 5 says 'My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you, keep my commandments and live, keep my teachings as the apple of your eye, bind them on your fingers, write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, 'You are my sister,' and call insight your intimate friend, to preserve you from the loose woman, from the adventuress with her smooth words.' We need to ask the Lord for His wisdom and insight to keep our divine nature from being adulterated by worldly values.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Recently, a neighbour's house was burgled. The thief broke a kitchen window and entered the house in broad daylight, and in full view of neighbouring houses and passers by. This neighbour had cut down all the trees in his back garden that would originally have hidden his kitchen window from view. Whenever he went on holiday, there were three of his friends in the street that had keys to his house and looked around his property day and night. The Lord has shown me a spiritual principal in what has happened to my neighbour. It is that all the carnal wisdom and protection in the world may not spare us from the thief.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>I recognise in my own life how I am having to put off my old nature by examining daily, even hourly, whether my thoughts and actions are in accordance with what I see in Jesus' teachings, and the following poem is the prayer that I have written to the Lord to help me in this task.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>You and me</b></span></p><h4 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Increase the 'You' in me Lord increase the solid rock <br /></b></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>increase the strength the Father sent to protect from every knock<br /></b></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Increase the 'You' in me Lord when I try to stand alone<br /></b></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>remind me that I'm still a child, that in You I'm not yet grown<br /></b></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Increase the 'You' in me Lord, take all my foolish pride<br /></b></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>take the 'me' that still remains in me and place the 'You' inside<br /></b></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">increase the 'You' in me Lord th</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">at when all is said and done<br /></span></span></b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>and people say 'Thank you, thank you' I'll say 'Not me...God's Son.</b></span></span></h4>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-84322584948894140042023-07-17T03:18:00.001-07:002023-07-17T03:18:58.848-07:00River of Life<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One day last week I was looking at something I wrote some time ago called <b><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">'The river of life' </span></b>and thought that I might share it in a post on my blog. I had put it in a little booklet that I had put together called <b>'And by the word of their testimony'</b> which contains testimonies of experiences I have had over the years after coming to know the Lord. Then, the following morning, I was reading <b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">chapter twenty five</span></b> of <span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><b>the book of Job</b></span>. I have felt led to read a chapter of <b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">the book of Job</span></b> each day because I feel that I have been in a <b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">'Job'</span></b> situation, having the enemy inflict more sickness and pain on me since I believe the Lord has told me that He will heal me from something I have had for over twenty five years.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I came to <b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">verse 6</span></b> of <b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Job twenty five</span></b> I noticed that it read<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> 'how much less man, who is a maggot, and the son of man, who is a worm!'.</span></b> The version of the Bible that I have is <b>The New Oxford Annotated Bible.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I thought 'How strange, the article that I thought to put up as a post on my blog contains an incident concerning <b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">maggots</span></b> and <b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">worms</span></b>.' So it has prompted me to share that article.</span></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-size: x-large;"><b>The River of Life</b></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jesus said<b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> 'If anyone thirst let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said 'Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.'</span></b> We are told that He spoke this of the Spirit, which those who believed in Him were to receive </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">after</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> He was glorified. We are also told in <b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Ezekiel ch..47</span></b> that the river that flows from the temple brings life to every living thing where it goes and that there will be many fish in the waters that shall live because of it. This indicates that the river of life is both in us and we in it.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2DemI2NxK8M/Usqi3uDt6aI/AAAAAAAABF4/4WqgKidqALQ/s1600/river-of-life-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2DemI2NxK8M/Usqi3uDt6aI/AAAAAAAABF4/4WqgKidqALQ/s1600/river-of-life-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was on a photography course, and one of the women there had on a pink fleecy top with a zip up the front. There was a tag on the zip shaped like a fish, it reminded me of the symbol that many people wear to identify themselves as Christian, and my first thought was 'Oh, I wonder if she is a Christian?' Then I noticed that the image was not really a fish but was actually the skeleton of a fish. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When we went to lunch this lady bought some chocolate which, when she opened it, was found to have <b>maggots</b> in it. When we returned to our lesson room, she told us of <b>two fish</b> she had bought which, when cut open, had tiny <b>worms</b> in them. At the time we were also discussing Christianity and when I pointed out that it was strange that she had on her top a fish skeleton and she was experiencing finding <b>worms</b> and <b>maggots</b> in fish and chocolate, she said 'Maybe that's where I am going, down where the worms will get me.'</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This incident made me think of how, as a Christian, I must be careful what I 'eat'. I thought about how I could be robbed of spiritual growth, represented by the fish skeleton on the zip. The chocolate with the maggots in maybe representing allowing myself to just carry on 'eating' the goodies of this world, and what my carnal mind desires, and the two fish with the worms in them representing worldly doctrines within the Christian church (the fish being a symbol of Christianity).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">However, it was not until I read the <b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">6th verse</span></b> from <b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Job ch.25</span></b>, relating man to <b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">maggots</span></b> and <b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">worms</span></b> that I could fully understand what the Lord was trying to show me through this incident, that I could wear the name of 'Christian', but still be 'carnal' depending on what I choose to feed upon.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When Daniel was taken to Babylon he refused to defile himself with the rich food and wine offered to him, it was not permitted for the Jew to eat other than their own diet. The word Babylon in the Hebrew language includes the word that means confusion, so Babylon in spiritual understanding can represent a place of confusion. Babylon was particularly noted for being a place of pride and idolatry. The church, as God's Israel, has its own spiritual diet in the form of God's word, and just as Daniel shone with physical health as a result of not eating what the Babylonian king offered, so too the church will shine in spiritual health as a result of eating Gods word revealed to us through Jesus, and not through doctrines fashioned to please the carnal mind.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">If we try to be doers of the word spoken to us as individuals in Christ, then we can be likened spiritually to those fish that live in the sea where the river of life has gone. They eat, drink and breathe the substance of that water in order to continue living.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GP_umPZQcP0/Uswbw7WVZVI/AAAAAAAABGQ/sr6DSnnewxM/s1600/river-of-life.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GP_umPZQcP0/Uswbw7WVZVI/AAAAAAAABGQ/sr6DSnnewxM/s1600/river-of-life.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Shortly after being on my photography course I was at a writers' meeting that I attended monthly, and I felt very strongly that I was to leave early to watch a television program on 'Time'. One thing stood out to me in it. Scientists have discovered, through research into the genes in our bodies, that there is no program for death in us. There is a program in us for life and for maturity, but no program for death. Right from creation we were meant to have eternal life with our creator. It was only Adam's sin that induced a God given curse, which was fulfilled outside of the unique garden of blessing in which he had been placed after being formed from the dust of the ground.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The following is the poem that I wrote at the time.</span></div><br /><br /><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>River of Life</b></span><br /><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Oh river of life restore to me</b></span><br /><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>the glory that was meant to be</b></span><br /><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Flow through this doubting, troubled heart</b></span><br /><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>refreshing each and every part</b></span><br /><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>that fails to recognize the name</b></span><br /><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>of Holy Lamb that once was slain</b></span><br /><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>for all I do to cause Him pain</b></span><br /><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Wash every evil carnal thought</b></span><br /><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>with grace and love that Jesus bought</b></span><br /><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>In waters of eternity</b></span><br /><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>cause spirit lost to struggle free</b></span><br /><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>to cast aside the filth and shame</b></span><br /><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>that clings so tight to mortal frame</b></span><br /><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>once more to wear the Father's name</b></span><br /><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Oh river of life restore to me</b></span><br /><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>the glory that was meant to be</b></span><br /><span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br /><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: justify;">We are told that once he had sinned and felt convicted, Adam found himself 'naked'. I believe this 'nakedness' also stands for the loss of eternal life and the being clothed with mortality. In <b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">2 Corinthians ch.5 v.4</span></b> we are told by Paul that <b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">'we wait not to be unclothed, but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.'</span></b> For two thousand years, because of our Lords wonderful sacrifice, the river of life in the form of the Holy Spirit has been flowing from the temple, enabling us to be no longer under that curse, and to be reconciled back to God. If we swim in those waters of life, eating and drinking only what is provided in those waters, we shall truly live as we were meant to.</span></div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-5145392522924184572023-07-08T01:50:00.003-07:002023-07-17T01:11:58.539-07:00It broke all the rules<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b>Obedience to God</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Lord make me like Mary, so quick to believe</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>when the angel foretold what would be</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Take doubt from my heart that my mind might perceive</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>that which You are preparing for me</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Yes make me like Mary - God's Word to receive</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>with a heart and a mind that are meek</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Unlike Zachariah who would not believe</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>and for months was unable to speak</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Lord make me like Joseph, who thinking it right</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>would quietly put Mary away</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>but when visited by an angel one night</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>straightway at her side he did stay</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Yes, make me like Joseph who simply obeyed</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>when instructed that night in a dream</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>to do what You ask Lord and not be afraid</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>how to others it might make me seem</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Lord make me like Jesus - a babe in a womb</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>awaiting His birth in this world</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>though knowing one day He'd be sealed in that tomb</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>was obedient as God's plan unfurled</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Yes make me like Jesus - a true child of God</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>who came into this world to serve</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>and was born in a barn where animals trod</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>not the palace that He would deserve</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>For God was not ordered by man's plan or choice</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>and it broke on that day all the rules</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>when He spoke to a maiden through angel's voice</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>in spite of religion and wisdom of fools</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>No God is not ordered by man's plan or choice</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>as He sends You Lord Jesus to Earth</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>and through riddle and parable echoes His voice</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>as He brings His great Kingdom to birth</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b>Life is a gift</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Life is a gift of precious time - a lease of years untold</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>do we realize this naked truth as our given days unfold</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>and should we not be listening each moment of the day</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>to the voice that's crying out to us to walk the narrow way</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>One life we have upon this earth to live just as we choose</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>a span of precious moments of time - time that we must use</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>We find ourselves within a space - there are others there as well</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>and why they're brought across our path God alone can tell</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>We're everyone each loved by Him, every woman, child and man</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>and the only thing He'll ask of us is to do the best we can</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>and the only thing remaining as we stand before God's Son</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>will be God's book of remembrance and the deeds that we have done</b></span></div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-4871724781349895022023-06-28T02:51:00.001-07:002023-06-28T02:53:39.156-07:00Prepare ye the way of the Lord (Introducing Jesus to the outside world)<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> We both heard it! My friend and I had gone into the cafeteria in the garden centre to have a drink. As we walked through the area displaying the artificial flowers for sale we could hear a voice on the café radio saying 'Where is Jesus?'. If my friend had not heard it too I would have doubted hearing correctly. However, when we got into the café there was nothing on the radio to indicate that anything to do with religion was being spoken about. It was hot and stuffy inside the café and my friend said ' Shall we sit outside?'. There was an outside area designated for customers, with chairs and tables, so we paid for our drinks and went and sat down at one of the tables. There was a lady sat at another table who had her leg in plaster, and beside our table was a large pond with lots of fish in it.</span></b></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The Lord had been calling my attention to evangelism for some time. Shortly before I had gone on holiday to Lancashire a person I had not seen for a long time asked my friend and myself to visit a home for the elderly to sing the songs and read the poetry that we have been inspired to write since becoming Christians. I had felt a little apprehensive the day before we went there because I had not sung or played my guitar in public for some time. That morning I was reversing out of my drive thinking about this. The CD player had started automatically when the engine had been turned on, and the first song that had began to play was 'Prepare ye the way of the Lord'. After the Lord had spoken several other things to me from the scriptures I had been able to go to the home the next day with far more confidence, believing that it was indeed the Lord's will that I should do so. How true the scripture<span style="color: #93c47d;"> 'We can do all things in Christ Jesus Who strengthens us'.</span></span></b></div></b><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Sitting there in the café garden, I suddenly had a revelation that God was continuing to speak to me about evangelising to the outside world and was confirming it through hearing 'Where is Jesus', then moving outside to the garden to have our drinks. I felt the woman with the plaster on her leg represented the spiritually lame outside, and the fish represented the catch that would be had because the Lord had made us 'fishers of men'. This is the scripture that has been impressed on my heart for many years.</span></b></div></b><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">On the three occasions I had seen my friend while I was on holiday there had been much discussed and prayed about concerning evangelism to the world, and I felt that our last day spent together that week ended in such a beautiful way in the garden centre, with the Lord reminding me of the importance of introducing Him to the outside world. </span></b><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The Lord speaks to us in many different ways, and He continued to speak to me about my part in spreading the gospel to the outside world. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">While I was in Lancashire my attention was brought to a poster advertising a movie called 'Two Brothers'. It is about two tigers, and two tigers had been cropping up in my life for some time. I had an unfinished painting of two tiger cubs which I had entitled 'future power'. Also, before I went to Lancashire, I sketched out on a stretched canvas two tigers at a waterhole. When I returned home and started to paint it, I noticed that the picture I was painting it from was a leaflet for the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) and written across the front of the leaflet was 'Your gift of a legacy could make all the difference in the world'. </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">That same morning I had noticed that , where I had been wearing my sandals on holiday, the sun had burned stripes on my feet between the straps and I thought 'Gosh, they remind me of the tiger'. It suddenly fell into place why tigers had been cropping up in my life for some time. I felt it was to bring my attention to the words on the leaflet, that the Lord was saying through it all that whatever gift He has given me is part of His legacy and must be used to make a difference in the world, the marks on my feet emphasizing the fact that my feet must be shod with the gospel of salvation.</span></b></div></b><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When I arrived home there was a letter from my brother in Australia in my mail, and in it he mentioned a book which he has acquired written by an American evangelist called Rick Warren. It is called 'What on earth am I here for?' For me this said it all.</span></b></div></b><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">As the scripture says:- <span style="color: #93c47d;">'Everyone who calls out to the Lord for help will be saved.' But how can they call to Him for help if they have not believed? And how can they believe if they have not heard the message? And how can they hear if the message is not proclaimed? </span></span></b></div></b><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">Romans ch.10 vs. 13, 14.</span></span></b></p>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-41293777128297363932023-06-20T01:04:00.005-07:002023-06-20T09:37:20.880-07:00As I journey on in the Lord<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Show me Your face Lord</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>show me Your face</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>a face full of mercy</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>compassion and grace</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>with lips that sing love songs</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>to a world filled with shame</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>You tell of salvation</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>through Your wonderful name</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Show me Your face Lord</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>it's all that I seek</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>It's peace to the troubled</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>and strength to the weak</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Your eyes see the pain Lord</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>that lies deep in a heart</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Your ears hear the crying</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>of a soul torn apart</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>So show me Your face Lord</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>that I might have light</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>to guide my lame feet Lord</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>as I walk through the night</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>to brighten the path Lord</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>that I know I must take</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>the one that You took Lord</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>when You died for my sake</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Now I see Your sweet face Lord</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>it's there in Your Word</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>and 'though for the moment</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>it's just a bit blurred</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>I know if I only</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>will trust and obey</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>I'll see You quite clearly</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>one beautiful day</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>'Jesus said 'Follow me and I will make you to become fishers of men' </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Matthew ch.4 v.19</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>JUST TO BE A DOORKEEPER</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Father I'll never be highest</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>in the Kingdom of Your Son</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>but to be a doorkeeper in Your house</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>is an honour for anyone</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Lord I don't need to be greatest</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>as You send down Your power from above</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>all I ask of You Jesus is teach me</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>to show this cold world Your great love</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>As I go out into the darkness</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>where there's danger in every street</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>let Your righteousness be my garment</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>let Your Word be the lamp at my feet</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>No Father - I'll never be highest</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>in the Kingdom of Your Son</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>but just to be a doorkeeper in Your house</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>is an honour for anyone</b></span></div><p><br /></p>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-85400318103716592122023-06-16T01:27:00.000-07:002023-06-16T01:27:58.693-07:00What will you do<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <strong style="color: #d9ead3; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Oh what will you do when our Lord returns</strong></span></p><p><strong style="color: #d9ead3; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">if you've turned a deaf ear to His word</span></strong></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #d9ead3; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>oh what can you say to the Son of God</strong></span><br /><span style="color: #d9ead3; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>can you say friend that you've never heard?</strong></span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UQqwKEiPJ50/UNRvGuRHtVI/AAAAAAAAAuo/9YXbXUneLDI/s1600/sheep-over-wall.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UQqwKEiPJ50/UNRvGuRHtVI/AAAAAAAAAuo/9YXbXUneLDI/s320/sheep-over-wall.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><br /><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><span style="color: #d9ead3; font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Can you say you've not known </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">that we've all gone astray</span></strong></span></div><div><span style="color: #d9ead3; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"><strong>in our sins it's as if we were dead</strong></span></div><div><span style="color: #d9ead3; font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">that the curse brought on Adam </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">for turning away</span></strong></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #d9ead3; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>we've inherited just as God said?</strong></span><br /><span style="color: #d9ead3; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="color: #d9ead3;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Even now God still loves us </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">saying 'Turn and repent'</span></strong></span><br /><span style="color: #d9ead3; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>from all things that you know are sin</strong></span><br /><span style="color: #d9ead3;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For the time now is short </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and the door soon will close</span></strong></span><br /><span style="color: #d9ead3;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">on this world........... </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">so make sure that you're in</span></strong></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>'For as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive'</strong></span><br /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> <strong><span> 1 Corinthians ch. 15 v.22</span></strong></span></span>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-88350142914039098472023-06-07T01:56:00.000-07:002023-06-07T01:56:24.947-07:00Teach me my Father<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>This is a poem that I wrote shortly after becoming born again of the Holy Spirit.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Teach me my Father to be like Jesus</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>in everything I say and do</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>teach me my Father to love my neighbour</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>and not to abuse the things from You</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Teach me to share the gifts You send me</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>of love and joy and peace of mind</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>teach me to see the soul reaching out</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>from eyes that Satan has made blind</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Teach me to lean on Your love my Father</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>change this heart of doubt and fear</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>teach me to say to whoever You send</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>'Come inside, there's welcome here'</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Teach me my Father to be like Jesus</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>and not to care for worldly things</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>teach me to tell the poor and the sick</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>'My Lord has healing in His wings'</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>Teach me to tell them of Your love</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>of how Your work is being done</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>simply because - my wonderful Father</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>I believed upon Your Son</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>'Jesus answered and said unto them 'This is the work</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.'</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b> John ch.6 v.29</b></span></div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-7351215052353668122023-05-31T01:28:00.005-07:002023-06-04T01:39:56.440-07:00Is tradition cancelling out truth<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This is a repost:-</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;">A few nights ago I had a very vivid dream. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;"> </span><strong style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I was stood outside the door of an office in a church. Inside the office was a man who had been allotted as the pastor of the church. I had some money in my hand that I knew I had to give him, but he would not open the door to receive it. It was as if in the dream I could see through the door and the man was sat at his desk, knowing that I was there with the money, but had no intention of getting up to come and collect it.</span></strong></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When I awoke the dream spoke spiritually to me almost immediately. The spiritual meaning of money, as in silver and gold, is 'wisdom and knowledge (or understanding)', and if we have been given any spiritual wisdom or knowledge to share for the good of the church then it must be shared. In my dream my gift of 'wisdom and knowledge' was not being allowed to be shared, as the person in charge was not accepting it. This is not scriptural.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;"><strong>1 Corinthians ch. 12 vs. 7-</strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;">11</span></span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> states:-</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">'Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28642K" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28642K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></sup> <span class="text 1Cor-12-8" id="en-NIV-28643">To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom,<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28643L" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28643L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></sup> to another a message of knowledge<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28643M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28643M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></sup> by means of the same Spirit, </span><span class="text 1Cor-12-9" id="en-NIV-28644">to another faith<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28644N" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28644N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></sup> by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28644O" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28644O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)"></sup> by that one Spirit,</span> <span class="text 1Cor-12-10" id="en-NIV-28645"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>to another miraculous powers,<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28645P" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28645P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)"></sup> to another prophecy,<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28645Q" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28645Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)"></sup> to another distinguishing between spirits,<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28645R" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28645R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)"></sup> to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,<sup> </sup>and to still another the interpretation of tongues. </span><span class="text 1Cor-12-11" id="en-NIV-28646">All these are the work of one and the same Spirit,<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-28646T" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28646T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)"></sup> and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.'</span></span></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This was the second vivid dream that I have had over the last few weeks speaking of gifts given by God . The first one was as follows:-</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I was stood in front of a man, holding in my hand a sheet of paper on which was written a song that I felt God had brought me to write some time back. I suddenly put the sheet of paper down the front of the man's tee shirt up against his chest. After a while I reached into his tee shirt to take it back, but it was not there.</span></strong> </span><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I awoke knowing the meaning of that dream also. I believe I was being shown that whatever God gives us to share is not ours to keep. The song referred to not letting our hearts be hardened regarding learning the Father's ways, and that is why I believe it was put against the man's heart.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Both of these dreams have spoken to me about the necessity of, and reason for sharing, the gifts that have been given to each of us, as stated in the following two verses in the New Testament, and many more.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";"></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ephesians ch. 4 v.12</span>:-</span></strong></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> 'to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up'</span></strong><br /><br /><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><strong><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;">1 Peter ch.4 v.10</span>:-</span></strong></span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><strong></strong></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><strong>"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others..."</strong></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Revelation ch. 22 vs. 18-19</span> states:-</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong>I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If things are added to or taken away from scripture, then it adds to or takes away from the word of God. Today there are many '<span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>denominations</strong></span>' within the church, and within the doctrines of some of them words have been added and scripture has been taken away. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If we jiggle some of the letters of the word '<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">d</span><span style="color: #e69138;">e</span><span style="color: #f1c232;">n</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">o</span><span style="color: #d0e0e3;">m</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">i</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">n</span><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">a</span><span style="color: #b45f06;">t</span><span style="color: #ffd966;">i</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">o</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">n</span><span style="color: lime;">s</span></span></strong></span>' around it can spell '<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">d</span><span style="color: #e69138;">e</span><span style="color: #d0e0e3;">m</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">o</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">n</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">i</span><span style="color: lime;">s</span><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">a</span><span style="color: #b45f06;">t</span><span style="color: #ffd966;">i</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">o</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">n</span></span></strong></span>', and that is what is happening <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">sometimes</span>.</b></span> The devil is a liar and a thief, and can present himself as an 'angel of light' by bringing a lying spirit within the church through man made doctrines which add or take away from the truth. A liar speaks something that is not true and a thief takes something away, and this is what the lying spirit is trying to do within the church.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have this picture of my darling little cat in the garden. I know and love my cat and recognize her no matter what might be partially hiding her. So too do I know and love my Lord and recognize His Word of truth no matter what the spiritual enemy might be trying to add or take away from it through the doctrines of man.</span></div><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1bt761H2ljQ/WP7_BpHnOtI/AAAAAAAABtA/AAHlT1_s86chcnR0gmSZtiDlecoPX7nhACLcB/s1600/tinker-in-bush.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1bt761H2ljQ/WP7_BpHnOtI/AAAAAAAABtA/AAHlT1_s86chcnR0gmSZtiDlecoPX7nhACLcB/s400/tinker-in-bush.gif" width="400" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><strong>Ephesians ch. 6 v. 12</strong></span><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span><span style="color: #93c47d;"><strong>says:-</strong></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong>'For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms,'</strong></span><br /><strong><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></strong><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So this why we must always search the scriptures to see if what is spoken in church gatherings is true, and come together according to the instructions contained within</span> <strong><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "georgia";">1 Corinthians ch. 12 vs. 7-11</span></strong></span></span>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-11597889062275580102023-05-20T05:58:00.002-07:002023-05-21T01:01:18.172-07:00All things are passing by<p><b style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is a poem that I wrote some time ago.</span></b></p><p><b style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">All things are passing by</span></b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is a season for all things, <br /></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">a time and purpose too<b> </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">for God has fashioned every day </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">that we must travel through</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">There is a season to be strong</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">a season to be weak</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">a time to give opinion</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">and a time we should not speak</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And whether things be good or bad</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">all things are passing by</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">for this world is a testing place</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">to perfect both you and I</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">So do not worry if some days</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">all things do not go right</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Just be yourself - maintain your ways</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">be honest in God's sight</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And if today you need more strength</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">or patience to endure</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">just call upon the Saviour's name</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">His counselling is pure</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">'Tis He alone Who understands</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">the 'wherefores' and the 'whys'</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">and nothing in this world of 'man'</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">is hidden from His eyes</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">So seek instruction from the One</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Who watches from above</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">for every Word that comes from Him</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">is blessed with grace and love</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>The eyes of the Lord are in every place, </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>keeping watch on the evil and the good.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Proverbs ch. 15 v. 3</b></span></div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390138612820070904.post-59053427655733121552023-05-04T02:16:00.002-07:002023-05-04T02:16:55.998-07:00Shoes<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I feel led to share again a story which I wrote and put on my blog some time ago.</span></p><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Shoes</b></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Mark felt like he had just ste</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">pped back in time as he quietly closed the door behind him. the old man slowly raised himself from his chair behind the counter, bowed his head slightly, and said, ' Good morning to you young sir '. ' Morning ', the young man replied as he looked around the large dusty room. Mark had come into the old second hand shop to look for a pair of shoes with very little money, and optimism to match. For some time now a pessimistic attitude had gradually been taking over his naturally pleasant personality.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Slowly he scanned the cluttered shop, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. It was getting harder to live on job seekers allowance and at the moment, although he was only seventeen, the prospect of finding work with a decent wage seemed to be as much in another era as did this shop... only in the far distant future. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> 'I ... er, I'm looking for a pair of shoes, size eight ' Mark said slowly, ' strong leather shoes. ' . The old man came around the counter and limped over to a dark corner of the shop. ' These are size eight ' he said, as he bent down and picked up a pair of dark brown shoes. Blowing the dust from them he held them towards the young man. Mark took the shoes and examined them. They were strong shoes, leather too, and hardly worn by the look of them. ' How much? ' he asked, as he pulled his old worn trainers from his feet and eased the dark brown shoes on in their place. They were a perfect fit. ' Three pounds ' said the old man, with a tone that said ' No offers '. ' Three pounds ! ' Mark said, rather too loudly. ' I could practically buy a new pair for that ' He was fed up with the old cliche which had now become part of his life as he traipsed around charity shops and second hand shops whenever he needed something, and which rarely got him a reduction in the price anyway. He decided he would slip into silent acceptance in future. ' I'll take them ', he said grudgingly. He slapped three pound coins onto the counter, behind which the old man was now wrapping the shoes in a newspaper, that lay on the counter, while muttering ' I have to make a living you know ', half to himself and half to the boy, adding ' I'm sorry, I don't have a carrier bag '. Mister, I wouldn't mind being in your shoes ' Mark said, as he took the package and walked to the door. As he tugged at the latch he turned to see the old man now bathed in a brilliant shaft of light that was coming through the open door, and saw something in the dark, deep set eyes that made him feel a little uneasy at what he had just said.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That evening Mark was getting ready to go out. It was Friday, the day his mother made his favourite meal, spaghetti bolognaise and although he loved his mother very much, even this weekly event had become a monotonous chore in the light of his poor social life. He hated not having enough money to be able to go out somewhere special with his friends even one night a week. He hated also the fact that his mother had to do a cleaning job every day to make ends meet ever since his father had left her for another woman. How he would love to be earning enough not only to enjoy his own life, but also to enable her to enjoy her life too. ' Why couldn't I have been born rich? ' he sighed as, seated on his bed, he reached down and put on his brown leather shoes .....</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Back in the flat above the second hand shop the old man blinked, suddenly startled as he sat in the antique, worn, once beautiful, burgundy velvet chair. What a strange feeling, for a split second he had actually felt as if he had been transported into his past, when he had been a boy of seventeen. The memories came flooding back. He had been sent at the age of eleven to England to live with his mother's cousin, Rosa, in Northants. Things were none too good for Jews in Germany in 1939, and his parents had felt that England would be a safer place for their son, Benji. How he had missed his beautiful homeland, and the family home with its fine furniture and extensive grounds. He'd had a wonderful, happy childhood, wanting for nothing. His father had owned a very grand jewellery shop, catering for Berlin's high society, and his mother had always had servants in the house, enabling her to spend a great deal of time with her son. His parents had intended to follow him to England, but things had happened so quickly after he had arrived at Rosa's. His mother's letters were regular once a week for a time, then they started to arrive every few weeks and he began to sense a fear in the beautifully penned lines, a fear which eventually became a deep anxiety that could not be hidden by her over assurance that everything was alright in their homeland. Eventually the letters had stopped coming altogether. Weeks turned into months, months into years, and a war with Germany raged that was to ensure he was never to see his beloved parents again. He would willingly have sacrificed all of the wealth he had been born into not to have had to bear the extreme heartache and suffering that finally learning at the age of seventeen, that his parents had been sent to the gas chambers, had caused him throughout his life.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">' No, no! ' Mark was flung forward from the bed, sobbing uncontrollably. ' Mother!, father! he screamed, the feeling of grief was unbearable. He looked around the unfamiliar room, ' Where was he, this was not aunt Rosa's house, what .... where ... Slowly, comforting reality returned, and Mark realized that the only explanation for what he had just experienced had to be supernatural. He'd felt as if he had actually been another person, Jewish and born in Berlin. He's had a complete memory of a seventeen year old boy living in England, who had just been informed that his parents had been sent to Hitler's gas chambers. He could not believe what had just happened to him. ' Are you alright Mark ', his mother's concerned voice travelled up the stairway from the kitchen, where she had been happily washing spaghetti bolognaise from dinner plates. She always loved Friday nights when she prepared her son's favourite meal. He had missed out on so much during the five years that her husband had been gone. ' I heard you shouting '. ' Uh... yes mum ' he called back to her ' it was nothing, er I just slipped off the bed '. How could he possibly explain to his mother what had just happened. He could not explain it to himself.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Later that evening he and his friends walked along the same old streets that led to the same old cafe that they congregated in with the same old kids in the same old predicament, jobless and with very little cash to spend. Every aspect of life had become monotonous and boring to Mark, he felt there was nothing to look forward to. As they walked they discussed what they would do if they only had money. ' Even if I had a job, I probably wouldn't have enough to buy the things that I want ', one of Mark's friends spat out angrily, ' what they pay in some of the jobs offered wouldn't buy a pair of designer jeans. ' ' You're better off being a criminal these days' added another friend. 'You're right, ' said Mark ' who says crime doesn't pay. I wish right now that I was the most famous thief that ever lived '.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Suddenly Mark found himself spinning backwards in a dark tunnel at tremendous speed, noises, smells filling his ears and nostrils, changing by the second from familiar to unfamiliar,. He had the distinct impression that each change in sound and smell represented an era in time, and that he was being drawn back into those once distant ages. Fear and fascination mingled in his emotions, fear of what was actually happening to him yet fascination at a deep sense of a great power that was totally in control of the situation, and in whose presence he would be completely safe. The spinning gradually ceased and he was aware that, although he was still being drown backwards, the darkness was disappearing and he seemed to be drifting past scenes that changed almost as if he was being shown an incredibly enhanced slide show. There were scenes of beautiful mountains, rivers and tribes of foreign looking men on horseback with spears in their hands, and more scenes of soldiers of different nations and different eras, all bright pictures on a dark background. After a while Mark was suddenly aware of a green glow filling the dark space around him, and of the scenes gradually becoming drawn into this glow, which itself was now before his eyes changing into a scene, a truly breathtaking scene of a magnificent garden of sheer beauty. Mark had never seen colours of this kind before. There were flowers of every sort, exquisitly beautiful, alive and in harmony with everything around them, and animals of every kind that showed no sign of aggression towards one another. What was this strange place where no decay appeared to be present? It was like Mark's own world and yet totally different. Mark felt absolute peace as he watched from his position which seemed to be within the scene and yet outside of it. The feeling of well being in him was immense, and he was aware that it was a feeling he had never experienced before in his life, and was a force that was also reflected in this place before him, and which he had felt in the great power he had known was in control of his strange journey, as if all were connected and from the same origin.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Suddenly the beautiful picture began to crumble before his eyes, reverting back to the green glow, which gradually started changing to pale purple and orange colours mingled with shades of grey. Now Mark saw before him a totally different scene, and was aware that his position had also changed. His body felt completely restricted, and he was elevated. A cool breeze brushed across his face carrying with it a strong, pungent smell. There were sounds also in the air, diverse sounds. He could hear strong sounds, aggressive, cursing and mocking. Gentle sobbing sounds also hung in the air, the two sounds combating one another almost as in a tug of war in which two opposing parties wrestled for victory. Mark turned his throbbing, swollen face to the left as horror slowly became the dominant emotion, eventually struggling with grief at what he saw. He looked upon the most beautiful face he had ever seen, the forehead of which was torn by and encompassing gircle of long, ugly thorns. Mark realized that the amazing beauty was coming from the man's eyes and was not a physical attribute. The deep, dark eyes appeared to reflect a love and compassion beyond comprehension, and something else too was reflected there... It was suffering. Mark had seen a glimmer of this kind of suffering before, it was back in the second hand shop, in the eyes of the old man as the light from the open door had shone on his face. He knew immediately that he was not only witnessing, but experiencing the love of his and all of mankind's creator. It was as if the eyes had the ability to convey to the one gazed upon a love which could never be described with words, but which the one gazed upon had been searching for all his life. He knew that the blood that flowed from the piercings in this man's head, hands and feet was shed for him. He knew that the pain, the cramps, intense thirst and dizziness he was feeling in his body was nothing in comparison to the sufferings that this man who hung beside him had been brought to bear. In that instant, as he looked into those eyes, he knew as surely as the thief whose torment he was now experiencing had, that everything he had ever heard about this man was true. He felt himself being made to say, rather than speaking the words, ' Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom ', knowing at the same time that he was only experiencing a glimpse of what had actually happened that day, that for him there was no such suffering requred as that thief would have experienced in those times. He was living in a time where there was hope for all mankind, a hope that had been bought by this divine Saviour, which all of manking could now search for and have fulfilled through faith in Him.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The magnitude of this revelation was so intense in Mark that even the dimmed physical pain of the torture of his body had little effect on him, and it had been dimmed. He knew that the physical pain he was experiencing had to be no where near the actual pain of crucifixion.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Once again change began taking place as he felt himself evving out from the twisted flesh. His soul ached both with the loathing and longing as he began slowly to be drawn away from this incredible scen, not wanting to remain in the teffible reality of crucifiction, yet his desire to remain in the compassion, love and total protection of those beautiful eyes causing him to dread his departure. ' Truly, I say to you.... ' The words could be heard plainly by him, even though the scene was fast disappearing. In dense blackness now, he felt himself once again starting to spin, being pulled backwards. ' today you will be with Me in Paradise. ' As if in an echo chamber the words vibrated right through his being, over and over until eventually he felt himself slowly emerging from this strange experience as if coming out of anaesthetic in an operating theatre. ' Whoosh... ' . There was a blast of cold air against his ear drums as reality returned in time for him to hear himself speaking the last word of the sentence about wanting to be the most famous thief that ever lived.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fully aware of what had happened Mark knew that there was no hope of explaining his experience to his friends. How could he possibly have had that experience when no actual time had passed. Even if he thought they would believe him, there was a strange feeling of reluctance to say anything of his experience to them, almost as if it was too precious to share with anyone. Yet he knew now what it was all about. His amazing spiritual slide show had portrayed images of what mankind had turned into, and it was aggressive and warlike. He had been taken right back to what had been originally intended for man, love and harmony with God, as shown in that beautiful garden. Then he had been shown that he had a choice in this world. There had been two criminals crucified with Christ, but Mark had only been put in the position of the one who trusted, and asked to be brought into God's kingdom. He had been shown which choice to make, and it was the positive one in every circumstance that grew from love, trust and hope, not the negative that sprouted from greed, envy and hatred. His friends' laughter at what he had said filled the air and gave him time to compose himself, and then he was able to withdraw into listening mode as they continued their negative conversations along to the café. Something had changed inside Mark, a new, or maybe a reviving of an old, attitude. By the time they got to the café he was in a completely different frame of mind. Instead of the usual doom and gloom conversation, new ideas and encouraging thoughts of work prospects caused him to speak positively about his situation, and by the time they left the café Mark's candle of encouragement had become a beacon of hope and determination in the little group. They had spent this evening in the café discussing, not the situation itself, but what they could do about it, and it had all been dur to one person's unforgettable experience of love and hope.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">' Goodnight mum ' Mark shouted as he mounted the stairs to his bedroom. How strange his experience just a few hours ago in this room, when he had been shown that being born rich also had its griefs. The anguish of losing his mother had been so real...... . He had so much to be thankful for. Even with all the difficulties in his life at the moment, he still would not rather be in anyone else's shoes. As he started to undress, he noticed the newspaper in the little bin in the corner of the room. It was the newspaper that the old man had wrapped his shoes in. Something stood out to him as he focused on it. He went over and picked it out of the bin. ' Wanted, ' He read ' young person to train alongside handyman in care home for the elderly. Good pay and a chance to go further in social services in the future '. Mark decided he would ring the number given the following Monday, and yes, he would accompany his mother to the local Pentecostal church this Sunday. She had gone there for as long as he could remember, and he knew deep down that her faith had helped her through the hard times in her life. He had stopped going with her to the church about two years ago, but he now realized that his attitude to life had changed during those two years. He had allowed weeds of negativity and cynicism to choke optimism and joy in his life. Things needed to change. Then he settled down in his bed with a great feeling of well being as he thought about his incredible day.</span></div>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16165344093549650260noreply@blogger.com16