Wednesday, January 28, 2009

check out Times Square Church Website

I am still taking a time out from the internet but during my time of seeking the Lord I went to the time square website and listened to David Wilkerson.


I had wanted to post the video here but have not been able to figure out how...I am not sure then what it meant by posting but I did agree to the terms...so please go to the link below and click on the sermon how to live by one's faith david wilkerson -I believe it was dated January 18th. I will say that it is a hard message but stay with him through the end of the message.


http://www.tscnyc.org/sermons.php?filter=y&media_type=WMV

How to live by one's faith

Friday, January 23, 2009

I too will be taking a time out..

For awhile I have felt that I wanted to write/comment and did not know what to write/comment.
I know that the Lord has asked me several times in the last few years to come away and spend time with Him. I confess I have not really responded with my whole heart. I have not given the Lord my full attention. I even doubted that I heard correctly. I know that others are also experiencing this call and are taking time away from blogging. I just read Edie's blog about taking a time out and sense that I also need to finally heed the call. So I too will be taking a time out.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Memory Verse

"Jesus Wept" John 11:35
The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they say Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, she goeth unto the grave to weep there.
Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
Jesus wept. John 11:31-35

The ladies of the LPM blog are posting scripture to memorize on the 1st and 15th of each month.
I just joined them this morning and the scripture that came to my mind to memorize was Jesus Wept.
Jesus didn't just "feel their pain", he experienced their pain. We have a Lord and Savior who is not just someone who observes what we go through and has compassion on us. It is not that He relates our experience to His own since He knows the truth the beginning and the end of each circumstance. Jesus saw their weeping and in the Spirit He connected with and experienced their suffering. I believe when we hurt for our love ones and friends that it is just a small taste of what Jesus' experiences for everyone of us. When we intercede for others we sometimes experience the experience of another. How do we respond when we see beyond the immediate grief that someone is experiencing and they only see the moment? Are we tempted to speak only to a wonderful outcome? Will we let ourselves stand beside them and experience the grief of the present time? I am not talking about a pity party...but sometimes we are too focused on ushering someone out of the grief and pain...when the response that is required is to experience the grief alongside them. Then encourage and move with toward a blessed resolution.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Hallelujah Your Love Makes Me Sing!

EXODUS 7:8-13

EXODUS 7: 8-13
And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron , saying,
When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.
And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the Lord had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, the also did in like manner with their enchantments.
For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.


MATTHEW HENRY:
-13 The first time that Moses made his application to Pharaoh, he produced his instructions only; now he is directed to produce his credentials, and does accordingly. 1. It is taken for granted that Pharaoh would challenge these demandants to work a miracle, that, by a performance evidently above the power of nature, they might prove their commission from the God of nature. Pharaoh will say, Show a miracle; not with any desire to be convinced, but with the hope that none will be wrought, and then he would have some colour for his infidelity. 2. Orders are therefore given to turn the rod into a serpent, according to the instructions, ch. 4:3. The same rod that was to give the signal of the other miracles is now itself the subject of a miracle, to put a reputation upon it. Aaron cast his rod to the ground, and instantly it became a serpent, v. 10. This was proper, not only to affect Pharaoh with wonder, but to strike a terror upon him. Serpents are hurtful dreadful animals; the very sight of one, thus miraculously produced, might have softened his heart into a fear of that God by whose power it was produced. This first miracle, though it was not a plague, yet amounted to the threatening of a plague. If it made not Pharaoh feel, it made him fear; and this is God’s method of dealing with sinners—he comes upon them gradually. 3. This miracle, though too plain to be denied, is enervated, and the conviction of it taken off, by the magicians’ imitation of it, v. 11, 12. Moses had been originally instructed in the learning of the Egyptians, and was suspected to have improved himself in magical arts in his long retirement; the magicians are therefore sent for, to vie with him. And some think those of that profession had a particular spite against the Hebrews ever since Joseph put them all to shame, by interpreting a dream which they could make nothing of, in remembrance of which slur put on their predecessors these magicians withstood Moses, as it is explained, 2 Tim. 3:8. Their rods became serpents, real serpents; some think, by the power of God, beyond their intention or expectation, for the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart; others think, by the power of evil angels, artfully substituting serpents in the room of the rods, God permitting the delusion to be wrought for wise and holy ends, that those might believe a lie who received not the truth: and herein the Lord was righteous. Yet this might have helped to frighten Pharaoh into a compliance with the demands of Moses, that he might be freed from these dreadful unaccountable phenomena, with which he saw himself on all sides surrounded. But to the seed of the serpent these serpents were no amazement. Note, God suffers the lying spirit to do strange things, that the faith of some may be tried and manifested (Deu. 13:3; 1 Co. 11:19), that the infidelity of others may be confirmed, and that he who is filthy may be filthy still, 2 Co. 4:4. 4. Yet, in this contest, Moses plainly gains the victory. The serpent which Aaron’s rod was turned into swallowed up the others, which was sufficient to have convinced Pharaoh on which side the right lay. Note, Great is the truth, and will prevail. The cause of God will undoubtedly triumph at last over all competition and contradiction, and will reign alone, Dan. 2:44. But Pharaoh was not wrought upon by this. The magicians having produced serpents, he had this to say, that the case between them and Moses was disputable; and the very appearance of an opposition to truth, and the least head made against it, serve those for a justification of their infidelity who are prejudiced against the light and love of it.

DANIEL 2:44
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall ever be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

Satan is a great imitator setting out to deceive and turn people from the truth. The bible tells us that in the last days that if it were possible even the very elect will be deceived. Those who are in Christ Jesus dwell in Jesus and He in them. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in those who believe- they Holy Spirit will lead us in all truth. There are some who will continue to believe a lie even when presented with the strong evidence of the truth. They will hold unto to their almost truth to be as valid as the whole truth. Each time the deny the truth their hearts become harder and harder. Pray for God to soften their hearts and that they will allow the truth of God's word to heal, deliver and save them. Moses and Aaron were obedient to God, they did as God commanded them. They did not shy away because of Pharaohs unbelief. We do not hear them discussing that this is pointless - Pharaoh is not listening...let's just forget about it and work on delivering God's people another way...certainly we heard wrong...true Moses heard directly from God...but if we believe that the Bible is God's word then we too are hearing directly from God. We know that when someone speaks or entices us to behave in a way that opposes His Word. But what about the times when it comes close or close enough? Do we know the word of God well enough to discern? Spend time in His word, spend time in communion with God through worship, praise and prayer. Let us know Him so intimately that no cleverly devised imitation will draw us away.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Thou shalt have no other gods before me

Exodus 7:1-7 And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them. And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded them, so did they. And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.

Egypt had many gods. The Lord had made Moses as a god unto Pharaoh and Aaron as Moses' prophet. God had told Moses and Aaron what they should say to Pharaoh and they did as God had commanded them. But God had hardened the heart of Pharaoh so that Pharaoh would not listen and let the children of Israel leave Egypt. So even though God had made Moses a god in Pharaohs site-Pharaoh would not obey. Because Pharaohs heart was hardened and he did not obey even when God increased His signs and wonders throughout Egypt this provided God the opportunity to go in with His Armies and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt. The Egyptians would would know that it was God who had delivered His children out of captivity.
We often will look to the world and see how they idolize and make gods out of celebrities. We see other faiths where they make gods of men or objects. But do we sometime find ourselves in the same trap of exalting men and women of god rather than God and God alone.
Paul said in Corinthians 1:12 -!3 Now this I say, that every on of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Let us remember not to taint the message and work of God's people by idolizing them instead of worshiping Our Lord and Savior. God's hand had to come down upon Egypt rather strong before they could see that Our God is God.
Exodus 20:3-6 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thous shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.