1. Travel light during your journey in this foregn land.
2. Trust God to guide.
3. Trust God to provide.
Jesus didn’t travel with any luggage (or baggage). He had confidence in the Father to guide and provide.(Paraphrased from Walking with Jesus, by Wayne Stiles)
From Immanuel’s Church
DYING TO SELF
When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don’t sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ.
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take in all in patient, loving silence.
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any impunctuality, or any annoyance; when you stand face-to- face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility-and endure it as Jesus endured.
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
When you are content with any food, any offering, any climate, any society, any raiment, any interruption by the will of God.
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good works, or itch after commendations, when you can truly love to be unknown.
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances.
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart.
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
Are you dead yet? In these last days, the Spirit would bring us to the cross.
“That I may know Him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” Phil.3:10
The following is from Beth Moore’s study title “Living Free”
My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
I cheat you of your God-given destiny … because you demand your own way.
I cheat you of contentment … because you “deserve better than this.”
I cheat you of knowledge … because you already know it all.
I cheat you of healing … because you’re too full of me to forgive.
I cheat you of holiness … because you refuse to admit when you’re wrong.
I cheat you of vision … because you’d rather look in the mirror than out a window.
I cheat you of genuine friendship … because nobody’s going to know the real you.
I cheat you of love … because real romance sacrifice.
I cheat you of greatness in heaven … because you refuse to wash another’s feet on earth.
I cheat you of God’s glory … because I convince you to seek your own.
My name is pride. I am a cheater.
You like me because you think I’m always looking out for you .
Untrue.
I’m looking to make a fool of you.
God has so much for you, I admit, but don’t worry … if you stick with me, you’ll never know.
Change for the better is not to be found in our political system nor will lasting change be created by our governments. Whether you are republican or democrat, a conservative or liberal, live in a democratic replubic or socialist country real change is not created by the people or the lawmakers.
Change for the better is not made by the people who create and manipulate our financial systems. Whether you invest or you save, have billions in the bank or live on $1 a day, change is not found in our financial systems. True wealth has nothing to do with how much money and / or stuff you have.
Change for the better does not take place because we become tolerant of each individual’s interpretation of right and wrong, deny the reality that there are absolutes and believe that truth is whatever each of us chooses to believe it is.
Do you really want change? Change that promises a transformed life? Change that is permanent?
If you do want that kind of change I have a challenge for you…read the Word of God. Start by spending an equal amount of time reading the Bible as you do listening to and watching your preferred pundits. I promise there is real change is found in the Word of God.
“ For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.” Hebrews 4:12 & 13
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” Romans 12:2
After my sister-in-law died in July of 2005 we raised funds for a memorial Orphan Rescue Unit to be established in Africa through the non-profit organization Aids Orphans and Street Children, a ministy of Teen Missions. The rescue unit is called Connie’s Heart and is in Funda, Zambia. This week I received an e-mail with the following story from Funda about a boy called Future. As I write this post I am reminded that one of the verses that became precious to our family during our great sorrow was Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” And now a boy called Future is a part of our family, God’s family…
Here is an excerpt from the boy called Future’s story…
I would like to tell you a story about one of the orphans that stays with Angel out at Funda. We’ll say his name is Future Lipoko. You see we don’t really know what his name is, neither does he. It seems that one day Future saw his friends going to school so he decided he would go to school. When he arrived he wasn’t registered so he was taken to the office to get registered. The first question was his name. When he said Future Lipoko they said no that is not your name it is a ladies name. He said well that is correct. Lipoko is the name of my mother, or so His grandfather had told him. You see Future had never seen his father or mother and only knew what his grandfather had told him, and that was that Lipoko was his mothers name. The grandfather had never said what Future’s name was. You see Future’s grandfather was a witch and didn’t care much for his grandson or give him any information about the him. So the registration continued with the next question, “What is your age?” Again Future didn’t know his age or his birth date. Can you imagine not knowing your name, age or birth date? How would this effect your self image? He could ask, “Does anyone care about me, or does anybody love me?”
Well, Future didn’t have a home and when Teen Missions came to Funda he was allowed to stay at the unit and has been there since. Oscar strongly felt that Future and his three friends, Poster, Lucky, and Chola, who also stayed at the unit, be allowed to come to this years orphan boot camp in Ndola. So Oscar informed Angel the date and time he was going to pick them up at Kapelamekwa. When the day of their departure arrived the boys were up at 1:00 A.M. They didn’t need to get up this early and could have easily waited another 4 or 5 hours before getting up but sleep had left Future, he was so excited. The 12 mile hike to Kapelamekwa wasn’t even a factor, they could easily do that. And indeed they were at Kapelamekwa on time and met Oscar for the ride to Ndola. Why would Future be so excited? Well he had been down the Kapelamekwa road before but only to Katembula, another 15 miles away. Never in his life had Future been more that that distance from where he had been born. Just think he was going to Ndola, and to get there he was going to see Kitwe. Oscar said that Future’s eyes were so wide open and his mouth dropping as they pasted through Kitwe. Never had he seen homes that were not made of grass. And when they left Kitwe they traved on hard roads that weren’t muddy. One road was for cars going in one direction and the other for cars going the other way. It was so amazing to see how big the trucks and busses were. He had never seen anything like it.
The first night’s rally was also an experience for Future. Oscar said he couldn’t help but notice that Future was staring at the ceiling and looking first at one light then the other and then back again. You see Future had never seen electric lights before, this was the first time. Oscar said that is was hard for Future to keep working when he was assigned to level dirt out by the road because he kept staring at the passing trucks, busses, and cars. But the boot camp went on and one night Future stepped forward and gave his heart to the Lord. Finally Future’s life was in the hands of someone who cared and loved him.
Nelson was the one who transported Future back to Funda. He said that as soon as the people of Funda heard the truck coming they ran behind the truck so anxious to see Future. When he got off the truck they even threw him up into the air. Future was their hero. And when his feet hit the ground he started talking and probably still hasn’t stopped. Telling his friends of the houses without grass, the hard roads with no mud, the road that goes two ways, the big trucks and busses, and the bright shinning things on the ceilings, and oh yes, his new friend Jesus. Someone who knows his name.
Obama Receives Red Envelopes: National Catholic Register
Posted using ShareThis
You can post the number of envelopes you send at RedEnvelopeProject.org
I don’t know who to give credit to for this, but it was forwarded to me by a friend. Since I have thought along these lines and asked myself similar questions about our culture’s addiction to technology and information in general (and fight against being sucked in), I am putting this out in cyberspace for your consideration…
I received the following in an e-mail that was forwarded to me. I think this is a simple, quiet and powerful way to communicate my sorrow in our country’s new Preisdent’s policy changes that provide for the shedding of the blood of the unborn. Please join us in creating a red sea of envelopes…
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days…” Deuteronomy 30:19 & 20
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Dear Friends and Intercessors:
This afternoon I was praying about a number of things, and my mind began to wander. I was deeply distressed at the symbolic actions that President Obama took as he began his presidency. Namely, that he signed executive orders releasing funds to pay for abortions, permission to fund human stem cell research, and federal funding for contraception. I have been involved in the pro-life movement for nearly 20 years, and it pained my heart to see a man and a political party committed to the shedding of innocent blood. This man, and this party lead our country, but they do not represent me or the 54% of Americans who believe that abortion is wrong and should no longer be legal.
As I was praying, I believe that God gave me an interesting idea. Out in the garage I have a box of red envelopes. Like the powerful image of the red LIFE tape, an empty red envelope will send a message to Barack Obama that there is moral outrage in this country over this issue. It will be quiet, but clear.
Here is what I would like you to do:
Get a red envelope. From a party supply store or office supplies. On the front, address it to
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington , D.C. 20500
On the back, write the following or similar message.
This envelope represents one child who died in abortion.
It is empty because that life was unable to offer anything to the world.
Responsibility begins with conception.
Put it in the mail, and send it. Then forward this email to every one of your friends who you think would send one too. I wish we could send 50 million red envelopes, one for every child who died before having a a chance to live. Maybe it will change the heart of the president. Or a some staff people…..
My last entry noted that I would be voting for the candidate who supports and protects the unborn and Israel. It is stunning to me that any Christ follower would vote for someone whose record shows a consistent vote against legislation that would protect the unborn - or even a child who has survived an abortion and is left to die. Are we really going to drink the kool-aid America?
Click here to read an analysis of Obama’s record on abortion.
Psalm 139 (The Message)
13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
before I’d even lived one day.
God have mercy on our nation…
I don’t usually jump into these political conversations, but so much is at stake for us as a nation (under God) and many of my brothers and sisters in the Lord are sounding very much like the world that I feel I must. Ultimately, as a Christ follower my decision is based on the issues that relate to God’s economy and are dear to His heart rather than man’s ecomony, which is faulty at its best, done at worst. The candidate who will protect and support the unborn and Israel will be getting my vote. I will exercise my prviliege/responsiblity to vote, but God will decide who holds the office of President of the United States.
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