Category: Cloud of Witnesses

Living or Dying?

Posted on | by Kim Carroll

Living or Dying

Are you living or dying? I’m not talking about your physical life. All of us are either living life as Jesus wanted or we are dying, there is no in between, or neutral. This seems like a harsh statement but in reality, it is either one or the other. 

Growth Cycles

Mark 4:28

‘All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk,

 then the head, then the full kernel in the head. ‘

One thing I have learned in my own Spiritual walk, God is always causing things to grow, in particular, He wants me to grow. Sometimes it was easy and sometimes it was hard learning the lessons the Lord was teaching me. However, growth is a process built into the universe. Which means anything living will go through growth cycles. People are no different. Nothing with the Lord stops growing. I have also come to understand that growth is a great word. I can come through a failure, and if I learn from my  mistake, I will grow and eventually get it right. It is how we measure things in this life.

In the plant world we know when something is growing and when something is not, it eventually becomes apparent. As parents we can tell when our children are growing. From birth they are obviously getting bigger physically, they are learning to put more and more words together thus they seem to be getting more intelligent. As they get bigger they go from crawling to walking and then running. Being born again is no different. The actual term is birthed from above. We are growing into a mature man or woman in Christ. God wants us to grow spiritually. Growth is going to happen, it’s a fact.  All of us have witnessed something growing. It can be  seen in our physical world all around us. 

A few years back I bought an apple tree and planted it in my backyard. It was a single skinny 12 to 20 inch stick, with no apples. In fact apples didn’t grow until two or three years later and then only a couple of apples appeared. Now 8 years later it is 20 feet tall and in the spring covered with apples. Just observing the world around us we know growth is a way of life. Even scientists say the universe itself is still expanding. Everything created by God is meant to grow. Again, He built this into everything He created. It’s a sign which reveals something is alive. Everything was designed to grow. We need to understand that growth is good. The process of growth is great. It is always happening, and to understand how it works and learn how to work with it, is all part of living life.  

Part of the growth process is knowing how and when something has matured. We know a person or plant will physically grow older but this doesn’t mean they will mature properly. 

(Maturity; is the state of being fully developed,

 it’s the level of something or someone functioning right, which is attained through proper growth)

We can say someone or something matured when it appears to be developed. When it is not functioning at a certain level of development which is perceived as normal for its age, we say it is immature. We can see an apple growing on the tree, in the spring, it’s small and green and we say it is not yet ripe. We know this by what an apple looks like when ripe or matured. For an apple to mature it needs time through the summer sun and rain to get bigger and turn red. As the apple grows, we evaluate its ripeness based on certain perimeters we know as proper maturity.  If we know there has been the proper amount of time for growth, but it has not achieved a certain level which should be seen as normal, then we say it is immature or worse it is sick. This means we see the age, meaning the time period of growth, and know it should be functioning at a certain level, yet we do not see this. It is no different in the Spiritual realm. We are either continuing to mature or we are still immature. We are either growing or dying. 

Of course as we grow we gain knowledge of what works and what does not work. Life is a constant state of growth as we learn and mature. Navigating life can be tricky at times but as we gain the right knowledge we can grow properly. If we disregard this knowledge, we will stay immature which is another way of saying we didn’t grow. We need to learn, not just what works in life, but also how to continually apply these truths of growth and keep maturing. Life will have its ups and downs which is all a part of growth. However, knowing what and how to apply certain principles of growth through all phases of life keeps us moving forward.

I once met an older missionary in Mexico. He had been a missionary for decades. He started many years back as a Wycliffe bible translator. He had the most amazing stories, some funny, and some stories of hardships suffered. I was taking him down out of the mountains back to the airport in the city, which took a few hours by truck. I asked him this question, “Knowing all which you have done and accomplished, and all the things that failed and just didn’t work, if you could do it over what would you change?” He didn’t hesitate to think at all, and said, “nothing”. I was taken back a bit and looked at him in disbelief repeating “nothing”. I had already started a list of definite things I would do differently. He then said even the things I made mistakes on, or failures on my part in walking with the Lord and Him picking me up, helping me, correcting me, and times He ministered His love and mercy instead of  judgment. He was teaching me who He was, which caused me to be stronger not just physically and Spiritually but stronger in my relationship with Him. He helped me to grow and learn to be a better man, how could I take those times away to do it differently. After he explained, I felt I needed to check my attitude. I still pressed him asking him if there would be something he would do differently. He finally said, I would study the Word of God twice as much for it has all the answers to life. This was coming from a man who knew Hebrew, Greek, Spanish, Aztec, had 2 Phds,  and three master degrees, was an expert in Pauline Epistles and on the history of the early church. To do Bible translation he would have to take scriptures from Hebrew and Greek to Aztec. I now felt like I was in grade school.

This goes along with an account I read a few years back of a biosphere experiment. A biosphere is an enclosed climate controlled environment, with no outside influence. Many species of plants, animals and humans live in this self contained atmosphere. One phenomena they reported was the branches on the trees would droop. Eventually it was realized by having no storms or temperature changes, such as the cold of winter or heat of summer, the trees, although healthy, did not have any strength. The branches just hung down.   

With a Christian there is no difference. A person gets saved and many think this is all that is required. Sometimes they may grow a little and stop. Sometimes they start to grow and come against some form of hardship and stop.  To think nothing negative will happen in your walk is not a healthy mentality. Instead a healthier way to understand is, whatever happens in life the Lord will be there, standing with you to help, I can stand being positive and faith filled in Him. Hardships and difficulties are all part of living. Learning to trust and rely on the Lord through these times is all part of spiritual growth. Salvation is just the beginning, and to think there is no need to grow in our salvation is wrong, or immature thinking. Salvation is the start which puts a person on the right path of true growth. 

The person of Jesus, His Spirit, is now positioned within a person, helping them grow the right way. He is constantly going to push them toward not just growing but mature growth. The goal of this growth is to make them more and more like Jesus everyday. He is bringing them into the mature person of Christ. He will mold and shape this individual, which if you examine these words, means it is going to require pressure. To mold or shape anything requires a picture, model, or mold and then a pressing to shape the material being worked with till it looks like the mold or model. Jesus is the model and His Spirit is doing the shaping to be just like Him. If we are to be like Jesus, then you have to realize the threats, persecutions, and all the negativity towards Him was part of His doing the Father’s will. Now put the trial, cross and death into this picture. All of these were also just as much a part. We tend to think only of victories He had, the miracles and endless love and mercy He showed toward mankind. Yet it’s the whole picture which made Him Lord. We cannot remove any part of what He went through. The same is true with ourselves. We must trust the whole process of our journey and believe we are in His hands. His Spirit knows perfectly what to do with our life to get us where He wants us to be for Him. His Spirit works with our Spirit to gain the wisdom to know what works and what does not work. This is not just so we can navigate life properly, but also to show those around us who He is.

Looking at my personal growth over the years as a christian has been an amazing journey, and a journey I have realized never ends till I see him as He is (1 John). Yet I have met many people who have just quit, they didn’t see the need to keep growing. Growth slowly became not as important as it once was. They found a form of autopilot. They are sleepwalking christians. There have been times in my own life it was hard, and I even wondered if the area of growth was worth it. I was thinking of finding an autopilot for myself. I mean, I was okay, comfortable, so did I really need to press forward? However, inside I knew there was more, all the while knowing on the outside I could just coast. I had to keep in mind, God wasn’t finished with me.

Hopefully over the years we have seen how some things change and some things do not. If change is required, it will just about always be ourselves which will have to change. For change to happen in my heart I know some things around me will not change but will still require me to change. I know some things will change around me and again require me to change. Both will need my thinking to change. Change becomes the key element for growth. I once heard, as a young christian, this statement, “constant change is here to stay”. So the ability to keep growing is fully embracing change in our life. After all, He is the God who doesn’t change, so it’s obvious to keep moving forward we will be the ones to change, and this according to Him working in our lives.  This means to get to the mature man of Christ will require us to change many times in our lives here on earth. If we reach a place where we are not willing to change, this is usually the place where our growth stops as well. Truth is if we are not willing to change then we are choosing. Change can be something externally, or it can be something internally. Whichever it is, whether internally or externally without the necessary changes we will remain the same. This is where me, you, everyone must decide, do we want to change or ignore this and fool ourselves and think we are moving on. The sad reality is, if ignored, without making the necessary changes, life will not change, it will still be the same, and we are not really living but just existing.  

A couple of years back I planted 5 blueberry plants along my fence line. They seemed to do good for the first season, however by about the third season, I noticed they seemed to be struggling. They were not getting any bigger, at first I didn’t think much about it.  I just let them go. I did not want to take the time to do anything with them. Toward the end of this third season they were slowly dying. I knew I had to do something. So one afternoon I dug them up and transplanted them to a better section of my yard and within a week they were already looking healthier and by 3 weeks they were already growing again. I shared this illustration because this is just like us, if we  ignore certain elements in Spiritual growth we just slowly die. I don’t think anyone sets out to spiritually die, they just let it slowly and gradually happen. 

It seems ironic that by not doing anything, how easy it is to permanently change your life for the worst, yet it will require work to change things for the best. Simply put, we just do not want to take the time and energy to change things, it’s uncomfortable. Of course this is a choice we make, and if we choose not to, we become those branches that droop. Our outside appearance looks good but we didn’t let the right pressure produce what was needed for change. The greater truth is, by changing what needs to change we increase and grow in Lord. We are gaining more of His life in us. It is how He becomes closer to us and how we become closer to His heart with ours. He is continually sorting out what holds us back in being close.

We must always keep in our hearts and minds, the Lord has more for us. It was the Father’s good pleasure to give us the Kingdom. It’s our inheritance and the Lord is continually trying to give this to us. It is Him giving us life in its greatest form. He is always wanting to draw us closer and closer. He wants us to know Him deeply which means we need to keep growing. He wants you to be as close as you possibly can to Him. This isn’t just His heart for us but should be our heart for Him as well. Do we truly desire more of Him, and if we do, then this desire will keep us moving forward on a path of growth. When I meet people who seem to be content, it’s as if they are saying this is all I want I don’t need any more, when they pass from this life to the next what does this look like to the Lord. I wonder if it’s like saying I don’t need all of your love, I didn’t need the things you wanted for me.  Truth is everybody wants all of He has for them, all of His love for them, which He freely gives, but again do they want to change to love Him with all they can give back. This is the whole path of growth.

In the navigation of life we need to understand there are certain truths and principles which if applied in the heart keeps a person on a path of growth, if not applied will hinder growth. It’s important to know what will change given the right circumstances and what will never change. These truths and principles have nothing to do with age, what ethnicity, or the country and culture where you live. They will work with everyone anywhere in the world and they work the exact same way. Remember, He is always working with you to give you the best life you possibly can have here and not just in the next life. He always has more for you.  This is what God is trying to do with us at all times. He is the greatest Father and just like any good parent He will teach His children right from wrong with the goal of growing them to a mature person. He wants to give them the best, because He is a great Heavenly Father.

Sowing The Right Stuff

Posted on | by Kim Carroll

I was speaking at a conference and after my session I was approached by a young man, who had been obviously touched by the Spirit and asked me this question, “How do I get into doing the things of God, how do I get going in this life”. I knew he was meaning how do I start doing the work of God,  how do I use my life for Jesus. I responded with one simple word “SOW”. He instantly said he was going to sow some money into my ministry, however that was not what I meant. 

 While ministry support is always welcomed, I went on trying to explain what I meant, which was “sow his life”. I was instructing him to give away of his life for Jesus and His Kingdom. Now please hear my heart in this matter. While the systematic giving of one’s finances is sowing, it is only a part. Knowing how to give your life away for the Lord and His cause, to serve anyone in need, whether you like it or not, and especially whether you want to or not, is what I am referring to in my statement, sow. Learning to look for the opportunities and knowing how to give your life away sets up amazing events to bring forth the life of Jesus. 

Much of the time this word sow is over emphasized with the giving of money within the Christian community. So much so, we may have forgotten sowing covers all areas of life, not just your finances. Again, no question about the sowing of your finances being a solid biblical truth and we should be givers in this area. However, the Bible is clear, so a man sows so a man reaps and this covers all areas of one’s life.

Galatians 6:7-10 ‘Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap. For the one who sows to his flesh [his sinful capacity, his worldliness, his disgraceful impulses] will reap from the flesh ruin and destruction, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in. So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers). ‘ AMP

In these scriptures Paul was referencing to be careful as to not sow to the flesh, carnal life, worldliness, thinking of self, living life by following your sinful nature and not God’s Spirit. When we see someone living a life of sin we do not instantly think they are sowing their money wrong. No, instead we think they are living wrong. We can see by the fruit of their life they are sowing the wrong things. If what they are sowing is selfishness, worldliness and sin, they will reap the consequences of this into their life. 

Whether a Christian or not, everyone will reap what they sow. No one gets out of this principle who lives on this earth. This simple rule, you sow you reap covers all of life on this planet. This is the way God set up life on this earth. Everyone living on the earth is under God’s system of sowing and reaping. It doesn’t matter if the person is a Christian or not. 

This scripture in Gal.6, reveals this truth, but He also states how we should be sowing. We should take the opportunities to do good to others, especially other Christians. Doing good to others is sowing your life. So is encouraging other believers, helping them succeed in life. Covering other believers in prayer is sowing. Praying for non-christians is sowing. Just in general being helpful and kind, doing what you can to assist others for their good is sowing. This is how you give your life away. God wants us to sow the right things with our life, because He knows our life will benefit greatly by doing this. He wants us reaping a Spiritual life, one linked to His eternal realm.

Look at this next scripture. 

Luke 6:37-38 “ Do not judge [others self-righteously], and you will not be judged; do not condemn [others when you are guilty and unrepentant], and you will not be condemned [for your hypocrisy]; pardon [others when they truly repent and change], and you will be pardoned [when you truly repent and change]. [Matt 7:1-5] Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over [with no space left for more]. For with the standard of measurement you use [when you do good to others], it will be measured to you in return.” 

Again, Here in these scriptures Jesus is addressing the way we treat others. He is not referring to money. He specifically states that we should do good to others. Here in these scriptures before verse 37, He speaks of family and forgiveness. These are things you sow. How you treat others is something you sow. 

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 [6] Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. [7] Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. [8] And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. [9] As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” [10] Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. [11] You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. NIV

 Paul is referring to the giving of finances but look at the principles he brings out about sowing. These are truths in giving and not just with finances.

1. If you sow generously, this will be the measure by which you will reap. Scriptures in Luke state the same.

2. God loves a cheerful giver, when we sow or give away from ourselves, attitude is everything. Whatever we are sowing, do we have a cheerful heart attitude? 

3. Whatever is being sown with the right attitude. God makes sure it comes back to us or that we reap the same back except in greater quantity. This helps to keep us in a right relationship with Him.

4. When we sow from the right heart attitude, it causes others to Thank God. Others look at God as the one who helped them. The giving away of our life will bring glory to God. 

Just about all these deal with the attitude of heart and motive for sowing. Our attitude is something we sow as well. So when you hear the word sow or give, think about your whole life, all areas of your life and your attitude toward these areas. 

Can you give your time, other resources, tangible possessions  someone may be in need of, or your enthusiasm, energy/physical strength in helping others and the attitude by which you do this? 

Always be willing to check your mental disposition in helping others. According to scripture we will reap in these areas as well. 

Next time you sow with your finances ask yourself if you are showing in all areas of your life as well. Finances are just a part. Money is just a part of the whole understanding in giving away your life. 

So, returning to the beginning, how do you get involved in what God is doing right now,  how do you get into doing the works of God? Sow your life. The one who knows how to sow their life God will always use to bring His Kingdom here on earth.

Proverbs 11:25   Those who live to bless others will have blessings heaped upon them, and the one who pours out his life to pour out blessings will be saturated with favor. TPT

The Extraordinary, Exceptional, Enjoyable God

Posted on | by Kim Carroll

Extraordinary: not ordinary, instead remarkable, amazing, basically over and above what would be perceived as normal. 

Exceptional: not typical, stands out among others or is seen as outstanding

Enjoyable: being delighted, bringing pleasure, to experience with joy

Heb 12:2-3 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. NIV

We look away from the natural realm and we focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God! TPT

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. AMP

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. NLT 

Keep your eyes on Jesus, our leader and instructor. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterwards; TLB

Everyday we get to experience God’s love for us. His love was not a one time event that took place when He saved you, but is an ongoing, perpetual, never ending, and an always encompassing attribute of His we get to enjoy every morning when we wake up. His love is always there and always will be there. From when our eyelids first pop open till we close them to go to sleep we get to enjoy our Lord. This of course then repeats itself once again day after day. We get up and get to enjoy Him all over again. However I know that occasionally I must remind myself how enjoyable God truly is.  I think it is easy to let this slip and take for granted the knowledge of His love for us and the fact we get to do this.

When we ask people about God it’s a given they know God loves them. I mean I know that I know this truth. It is part of my ongoing relationship with Him.  However, something that helps me in this truth is knowing joy is a two way street. 

God’s Two Way Street

God’s joy is something which we possess based on the work He did in saving us. However, it is also something He possesses based on His relationship with us. I put Heb.12:2 at the beginning of this article and highlighted a portion of the scripture from various translations to emphasize this point. While we get to experience and enjoy Jesus, He gets to experience and enjoy us. 

His sacrifice to purchase and save us provides an endless life of joy for us with Him, but He also sacrificed so that He could have an endless experience of joy with us. We get to enjoy the Lord and He is very enjoyable, but He also gets to enjoy us. We bring joy to His heart.

He draws pleasure, and joy when thinking of you. You bring joy to His heart. When we think of Jesus it’s usually joy we find or draw from in the fact He accepted us and saved us. However, because of the sacrifice of His on the cross and from nothing we did, He now finds joy in you as well. His sacrifice for us, which now brings us joy, now brings him joy as well. His selfless sacrifice for us also brought Him joy in us being with Him.

Think of it like this. I have some friends when we get together, maybe a few times a year, we sit and share with each other our true selves. We talk about His Kingdom, our problems, and struggles, or the latest things we were involved with which makes us happy. We encourage and edify each other and after a couple of hours hug each other say, “love you friend”, and after departing and going home I always feel full. I will even send a text sometimes stating how enjoyable being with them was. When I get home my wife will even ask me, “How was that?”, to which I reply, “It was good. It was a great time together”. 
Being with Jesus should be the same. We should enjoy spending time with Jesus and in our understanding know so does He enjoy spending time with you. Part of salvation is He gets to be with you and enjoy you. So next time you are with the Jesus, think how much He enjoys being with you. What an amazing, extraordinary, exceptional, and enjoyable Lord.

Going From Ordinary To Extraordinary

Posted on | by Kim Carroll

(Translations in Portuguese, Spanish, Romanian, and French)

Going From Ordinary To Extraordinary

[Special: different from what is normal or usual; unusual in a good way; 

better or more important than others; something that stands out; 

merits greater attention to;]

My wife and I recently celebrated our 47th wedding anniversary. Of course we celebrate this event every year and for 47 years it has been a special occasion. 

It’s special to us because 47 years ago we married. It wouldn’t be special to anyone else except us. But this made me question, what makes it special? Every year since we have celebrated the day we got married. After multiple years later, it is just another anniversary which has come and gone, is it really special? We have seen this 47 times. We have come to just expect that we will celebrate this occasion. 

The main reason we celebrate is because this event reminds us of our love for each other and our devotion to each other. Every year we have had together represents our commitment  we made to travel life’s road with each other, and our devotion, which has only grown deeper, making it a special occasion for us.  

As I thought about this I was reminded of all the other special occasions in our lives. It may be a birthday, a special holiday, or an event you celebrate and treasure as a special day. 

How do we determine what makes it special? Will you just know? Perhaps there will be something significant that happens and then you will know this is a special occasion. For it to be a special occasion means it is valuable to us and we give our full attention to it. If we see it as important then it will stand out, making it special.

How about today? Could today be a special occasion? This would be determined on how we see today. So how special is today? Part of the answer would depend on what makes it special to us. 

Based on our definition of special, we might say there is nothing special about today. If we see it as ordinary then it most likely is or will be. If it’s just another day then it is just another day. 

Just like my wife and my anniversary, if we are not looking at it as different from other days, seeing what makes it special, then it was just another anniversary which has come and gone, no big deal. But if we see it as different from all other days then we look for what makes it more important and this is what we focus our attention on. 

Have you ever thought about what’s special to God? The Bible reveals two main concepts that are very special to Him. 1. His Son Jesus. 2. Mankind, us. What’s unique is He brought these two together making those who accept His Son very special to Himself. The Father and His Son have now focused all their attention on us. In fact they have a special celebration concerning us, specifically you.   

Jesus continued, “In the same way, there will be a glorious celebration in heaven over the rescue of one lost sinner who repents, comes back home, and returns to the fold—more so than for all the righteous people who never strayed away.”

Luke 15:7 TPT

That’s the way God responds every time one lost sinner repents and turns to him. He says to all his angels, ‘Let’s have a joyous celebration, for the one who was lost, I have found!’ ” Luke 15:10 TPT

To God everyday is special. You are special, if you are  walking with Jesus. An ordinary day for Jesus does not exist. Every day is special, because He sees you as special, today. There is no such thing as an ordinary day with the Lord. He sits on His throne and focuses all of His love and power toward what’s special to Him, which is us. Everyday He so loves the world which is why He gave His Son and His Son is giving life to us everyday, which makes it very special. This is where He focuses His attention. 

Everything Jesus is doing with us spiritually is not just ordinary, but extraordinary, it’s very special. So is this just another day of Jesus living and abiding in our heart? What makes the difference between ordinary and extraordinary? Again, could it be the way we see today that will determine this? Here are a few things to think about which can take you from having an ordinary day to an extraordinary day, to where you say, “Wow, what a special day with Jesus this truly is!” 

Special: different from what is normal or usual; unusual in a good way; better or more important than others; something that stands out; merits greater attention to;

What will be special about today?

  1. His Presence: What makes today amazing, absolutely extraordinarily special is You are here. You, Lord Jesus, are with me. The greatest, single, special event to take place today is I woke up to this fact, You are here with me.                                      

Every single moment you are thinking of me! How precious and wonderful to consider that you cherish me constantly in your every thought! O God, your desires toward me are more than the grains of sand on every shore! When I awake each morning, you’re still with me.   Psalms 139:17‭-‬18 TPT

  1. His Love: You are placing all of Your love on me today. You are focusing Your attention on me to faithfully love me. Your love is here with me, and is always for me, especially today. Today is special because the Father in heaven is right now looking at me the same way He looked at His Son Jesus. I am special in God’s eyes, the same way Jesus was special in His Father’s eyes.   

I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”    John 17:23‭, ‬26 NIV.                                                                              

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through your faith. And may you, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love, be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love]; and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself]. Ephesians 3:17‭-‬19 AMP.                                                                                    

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us]. For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37‭-‬39 AMP

  1. His Life: You have given all of Your life to me today. You have never held anything back of Your life and goodness from me. Today You are providing everything I need and I have Your abundant life.  Everything You said and promised to give me, You are faithfully doing so today.                                                                        

A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect —life in its fullness until you overflow! John 10:10 TPT

Everything we could ever need for life and godliness has already been deposited in us by his divine power. For all this was lavished upon us through the rich experience of knowing him who has called us by name and invited us to come to him through a glorious manifestation of his goodness. 2 Peter 1:3 TPT

  1. His Plans; What is He planning today? Whatever it is, it’s guaranteed to be special. What is He writing on my heart today? What is He going to use me to do for Him, today? Because it’s a brand new day,  all new possibilities are open to me, with God all things are possible, anything is possible to the one who believes, 

and I believe today that with God I can  have all new experiences from new things you are bringing to me today. New open doors, greater understanding, deeper wisdom and fresh insight from You and Your Words.                

For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]. Ephesians 2:10 AMP.                                                                         

You are so intimately aware of me, Lord. You read my heart like an open book and you know all the words I’m about to speak before I even start a sentence! You know every step I will take before my journey even begins. You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness you follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past. You have laid your hand on me!                     Psalms 139:3‭-‬5 TPT.                                                        

You show that you are a letter from Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Corinthians 3:3 AMP

Jesus said to him, “[You say to Me,] ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!” Mark 9:23 AMP.                                                             

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”  Mark 10:27 NLT 

  1. Other People: What is special today? God is with other people.  God is ministering and saving people all around you. He is loving and working in people’s lives. He is doing something special with them. I get to hear their stories. There are special stories happening with other people wherever we go. Everyone has a story. Are you looking for the story of God’s hand working with those around you.                                                

The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.   2 Peter 3:9 AMP.    

who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge and recognition of the [divine] truth. 1 Timothy 2:4 AMP.                                                                                          

“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 AMP

You need to tell yourself, with God today it is going to be special. Go ahead and see today as a special day. Start looking for and seeing the specialness of today. He makes everyday special. He is always working with us making our day a special occasion.

(Portuguese)

Passando de ordinário para extraordinário

[Especial: diferente do que é normal ou usual; incomum em um bom sentido; melhor ou mais importante do que outros; algo que se destaca; merece maior atenção].

Minha esposa e eu comemoramos recentemente nosso 47º aniversário de casamento. É claro que comemoramos esse evento todos os anos e, há 47 anos, ele é uma ocasião especial. 

É especial para nós porque há 47 anos nos casamos. Não seria especial para ninguém mais, exceto para nós. 

Mas isso me fez perguntar: o que o torna especial? Todos os anos, desde então, comemoramos o dia do nosso casamento. Depois de vários anos, é apenas mais um aniversário que veio e se foi. Ele é realmente especial? Já o vimos 47 vezes. Passamos a esperar que comemoremos essa ocasião. 

A principal razão pela qual comemoramos é porque esse evento nos lembra de nosso amor e de nossa devoção um ao outro. Cada ano que passamos juntos representa o compromisso que assumimos de trilhar a estrada da vida um com o outro e nossa devoção, que só se aprofundou, tornando essa ocasião especial para nós.  

Ao pensar nisso, lembrei-me de todas as outras ocasiões especiais em nossa vida. Pode ser um aniversário, um feriado especial ou um evento que você celebra e valoriza como um dia especial. 

Como determinamos o que o torna especial? Você simplesmente sabe? Talvez haja algo significativo que aconteça e então você saberá que é uma ocasião especial. O fato de ser uma ocasião especial significa que ela é valiosa para nós e que damos a ela toda a nossa atenção. Se a considerarmos importante, ela se destacará, tornando-a especial.

Que tal hoje? O dia de hoje poderia ser uma ocasião especial? Isso seria determinado pela maneira como vemos o dia de hoje. Então, quão especial é o dia de hoje? Parte da resposta dependerá do que o torna especial para nós. 

Com base em nossa definição de especial, poderíamos dizer que não há nada de especial no dia de hoje. Se o considerarmos comum, então provavelmente é ou será. Se for apenas mais um dia, então é apenas mais um dia. 

Assim como minha esposa e meu aniversário de casamento, se não o considerarmos diferente dos outros dias, vendo o que o torna especial, então será apenas mais um aniversário que chegou e passou, nada demais. Mas se o vemos como diferente de todos os outros dias, então procuramos o que o torna mais importante e é nisso que concentramos nossa atenção. 

Você já pensou sobre o que é especial para Deus? A Bíblia revela dois conceitos principais que são muito especiais para Ele. 1. Seu Filho Jesus. 2. a humanidade, nós. O que é único é que Ele uniu esses dois conceitos, tornando aqueles que aceitam Seu Filho muito especiais para Ele. O Pai e Seu Filho agora concentraram toda a sua atenção em nós. Na verdade, Eles têm uma celebração especial por nós, especificamente por você.   

Jesus continuou: “Da mesma forma, haverá uma gloriosa celebração no céu pelo resgate de um pecador perdido que se arrepende, volta para casa e se junta ao rebanho – mais do que por todas as pessoas justas que nunca se desviaram.”

Lucas 15:7 TPT

É assim que Deus responde toda vez que um pecador perdido se arrepende e se volta para Ele. Ele diz a todos os seus anjos: “Vamos fazer uma festa alegre, pois encontrei aquele que estava perdido! ” Lucas 15:10 TPT

Para Deus, todo dia é especial. Você é especial se estiver caminhando com Jesus. Para Jesus, não existe um dia comum. Todo dia é especial porque Ele o vê como especial hoje. Não existe dia comum com o Senhor. Ele se senta em Seu trono e concentra todo o Seu amor e poder naquilo que é especial para Ele, que somos nós. Todos os dias Ele ama tanto o mundo que é por isso que deu Seu Filho e Seu Filho está nos dando vida todos os dias, o que os torna muito especiais. É nisso que Ele concentra Sua atenção. 

Tudo o que Jesus está fazendo conosco espiritualmente não é apenas comum, mas extraordinário, é muito especial. Então, este é apenas mais um dia de Jesus vivendo e permanecendo em nosso coração? O que faz a diferença entre o comum e o extraordinário? Novamente, será que é a maneira como vemos o dia de hoje que determinará isso? Aqui estão algumas coisas para pensar que podem levá-lo de um dia comum para um dia extraordinário, até o ponto em que você diga: “Uau, que dia especial com Jesus este realmente é!” 

(Especial: diferente do que é normal ou usual; incomum em um bom sentido; melhor ou mais importante do que outros; algo que se destaca; merece maior atenção;)

O que será especial no dia de hoje?

  1. Sua presença: O que torna o dia de hoje incrível, absolutamente extraordinariamente especial é o fato de o Senhor estar aqui. Você, Senhor Jesus, está comigo. O maior, único e especial evento que aconteceu hoje é que acordei para este fato: Você está aqui comigo.                                      

A todo momento, o Senhor está pensando em mim! Como é precioso e maravilhoso considerar que o Senhor me valoriza constantemente em todos os seus pensamentos! Ó Deus, seus desejos para mim são maiores do que os grãos de areia de todas as praias! Quando acordo todas as manhãs, o Senhor ainda está comigo.  

Salmo 139:17-18 TPT

  1. Seu amor: O Senhor está colocando todo o Seu amor em mim hoje. Ele está concentrando Sua atenção em mim para me amar fielmente. Seu amor está aqui comigo e é sempre para mim, especialmente hoje. Hoje é um dia especial porque o Pai Celestial está olhando para mim neste momento, assim como olhou para Seu Filho Jesus. Sou especial aos olhos de Deus, assim como Jesus era especial aos olhos de Seu Pai.     

                                                                                                                     Eu neles e vocês em mim – para que eles possam ser levados à unidade completa. Então o mundo saberá que o Senhor me enviou e os amou assim como me amou.                Eu te dei a conhecer a eles, e continuarei a te dar a conhecer, para que o amor que tens por mim esteja neles e eu mesmo esteja neles.” João 17:23, 26 NVI.                                                                              

para que Cristo possa habitar em seus corações por meio de sua fé. E para que vocês, estando [profundamente] arraigados e [firmemente] alicerçados no amor, sejam capazes de compreender, com todos os santos (o povo de Deus), a largura, o comprimento, a altura e a profundidade do Seu amor [experimentando plenamente esse amor incrível e infinito]; e [para que] conheçam [na prática, por meio de experiência pessoal] o amor de Cristo, que excede em muito o [mero] conhecimento [sem experiência], para que sejam cheios [em todo o seu ser] de toda a plenitude de Deus [para que tenham a mais rica experiência da presença de Deus em suas vidas, completamente cheios e inundados pelo próprio Deus].  Efésios 3:17-19 AMP.                                                                                    

Em todas essas coisas, porém, somos mais do que vencedores e obtemos uma vitória esmagadora por meio daquele que nos amou [tanto que morreu por nós]. Pois estou convencido [e permaneço convencido – sem qualquer dúvida] de que nem a morte, nem a vida, nem os anjos, nem os principados, nem as coisas presentes e ameaçadoras, nem as coisas futuras, nem os poderes, nem a altura, nem a profundidade, nem qualquer outra coisa criada poderá nos separar do amor [sem limites] de Deus, que está em Cristo Jesus, nosso Senhor.    Romanos 8:37-39 AMP

  1. Sua vida: Você me deu toda a sua vida hoje. Nunca me negou nada de Sua vida e bondade. Hoje, o Senhor está provendo tudo o que preciso e tenho Sua vida abundante.  Tudo o que o Senhor disse e prometeu me dar, o Senhor está fazendo fielmente hoje.                                                                        

Um ladrão tem apenas uma coisa em mente – ele quer roubar, matar e destruir. Mas eu vim para lhe dar tudo em abundância, mais do que você espera – vida em abundância até transbordar! João 10:10 TPT

Tudo o que poderíamos precisar para a vida e a piedade já foi depositado em nós por seu poder divino. Pois tudo isso foi derramado sobre nós por meio da rica experiência de conhecer aquele que nos chamou pelo nome e nos convidou a vir a ele por meio de uma gloriosa manifestação de sua bondade. 2 Pedro 1:3 TPT

  1. Seus planos; O que Ele está planejando hoje? Seja o que for, com certeza será especial. O que Ele está escrevendo em meu coração hoje? O que Ele me usará para fazer por Ele hoje? Porque é um novo dia, todas as novas possibilidades estão abertas para mim, com Deus todas as coisas são possíveis, todas as coisas são possíveis para aquele que crê, e creio hoje que com Deus posso ter todas as novas experiências das coisas novas que o Senhor está trazendo para mim hoje. Novas portas se abriram, maior compreensão, sabedoria mais profunda e novas percepções sobre o Senhor e Suas palavras.                

Porque somos feitura Sua [Sua própria obra-prima, uma obra de arte], criados em Cristo Jesus [renascidos do alto – espiritualmente transformados, renovados, prontos para serem usados] para boas obras, as quais Deus preparou [para nós] de antemão [seguindo os caminhos que Ele traçou], para que andássemos nelas [vivendo a boa vida que Ele preparou e traçou para nós]. Efésios 2:10 AMP.                                                                         

Você me conhece tão intimamente, Senhor. Você lê meu coração como um livro aberto e sabe cada palavra que vou dizer antes mesmo de começar uma frase! O Senhor conhece cada passo que darei antes mesmo de minha jornada começar. O Senhor entrou em meu futuro para preparar o caminho e, graciosamente, segue atrás de mim para me poupar dos danos do meu passado. O Senhor colocou sua mão sobre mim!                     Salmo 139:3-5 TPT.                                                        

O Senhor mostra que é uma carta de Cristo, entregue por nós, escrita não com tinta, mas com o Espírito do Deus vivo, não em tábuas de pedra, mas em tábuas de corações humanos.

2 Coríntios 3:3 AMP

Jesus lhe disse: “[Você me diz:] ‘Se você pode? Todas as coisas são possíveis para aquele que crê e confia [em Mim]!” Marcos 9:23 AMP.                                                             

Jesus olhou para eles atentamente e disse: “Humanamente falando, isso é impossível. Mas não com Deus. Com Deus, tudo é possível”.  Marcos 10:27 NLT 

  1. Outras pessoas: O que há de especial no dia de hoje? Deus está com outras pessoas.  Deus está ministrando e salvando as pessoas ao seu redor. Ele está amando e trabalhando na vida das pessoas. Ele está fazendo algo especial com elas. Posso ouvir suas histórias. Há histórias especiais acontecendo com outras pessoas onde quer que vamos. Todos têm uma história. Você está procurando a história da mão de Deus trabalhando com as pessoas ao seu redor?                                                

O Senhor não demora [como se fosse incapaz de agir] e não é lento em Sua promessa, como alguns consideram a lentidão, mas é [extraordinariamente] paciente para com vocês, não querendo que ninguém pereça, mas que todos cheguem ao arrependimento. 2 Pedro 3:9 AMP.    

que deseja que todas as pessoas sejam salvas e cheguem ao conhecimento e ao reconhecimento da verdade [divina]. 

1 Timóteo 2:4 AMP.                                                                                          

“Porque Deus amou e prezou o mundo de tal maneira que deu o seu Filho unigênito, para que todo aquele que nele crê e confia [como Salvador] não pereça, mas tenha a vida eterna. João 3:16 AMP

Você precisa dizer a si mesmo que, com Deus, o dia de hoje será especial. Vá em frente e veja o dia de hoje como um dia especial. Comece a procurar e a ver a especialidade do dia de hoje. Ele torna cada dia especial. Ele está sempre trabalhando conosco para fazer do nosso dia uma ocasião especial.

(Spanish)

Pasar de lo ordinario a lo extraordinario

[Especial: diferente de lo que es normal o habitual; inusual en el buen sentido; mejor o más importante que otros; algo que destaca; que merece mayor atención].

Mi mujer y yo hemos celebrado recientemente nuestro 47 aniversario de boda. Por supuesto, celebramos este acontecimiento todos los años, y durante 47 años ha sido una ocasión especial. 

Es especial para nosotros porque hace 47 años nos casamos. No sería especial para nadie más que para nosotros. Pero me hizo preguntarme: ¿qué lo hace especial? Desde entonces, cada año celebramos el día de nuestra boda. Después de varios años, no es más que otro aniversario que ha llegado y se ha ido. ¿Es realmente especial? Lo hemos visto 47 veces. Nos hemos acostumbrado a celebrar esta ocasión. 

La principal razón por la que lo celebramos es porque este acontecimiento nos recuerda nuestro amor y nuestra devoción mutua. Cada año que pasamos juntos representa el compromiso que adquirimos de recorrer el camino de la vida el uno con el otro y nuestra devoción, que no ha hecho sino profundizarse, lo que hace que esta ocasión sea especial para nosotros.  

Mientras pensaba en ello, me acordé de todas las demás ocasiones especiales de nuestra vida. Puede ser un cumpleaños, una fiesta especial o un acontecimiento que celebremos y apreciemos como un día especial. 

¿Cómo determinamos qué lo hace especial? ¿Simplemente se sabe? Tal vez ocurra algo significativo y entonces sabrá que se trata de una ocasión especial. El hecho de que sea una ocasión especial significa que es valiosa para nosotros y que le prestamos toda nuestra atención. Si lo consideramos importante, destacará, haciéndolo especial.

¿Y hoy? ¿Podría ser hoy una ocasión especial? Eso dependerá de cómo veamos el día de hoy. Entonces, ¿cómo de especial es hoy? Parte de la respuesta dependerá de lo que lo haga especial para nosotros. 

Basándonos en nuestra definición de especial, podríamos decir que hoy no tiene nada de especial. Si lo consideramos ordinario, probablemente lo es o lo será. Si es un día más, entonces es un día más. 

Al igual que mi esposa y mi aniversario de bodas, si no lo vemos como diferente de otros días, viendo lo que lo hace especial, entonces era sólo otro aniversario que vino y se fue, no es gran cosa. Pero si lo vemos diferente de todos los demás días, entonces buscamos lo que lo hace más importante y en eso centramos nuestra atención. 

¿Has pensado alguna vez en lo que es especial para Dios? La Biblia revela dos conceptos principales que son muy especiales para Él. 1. 1. Su Hijo Jesús. 2. La humanidad, nosotros. Lo que es único es que Él ha unido estos dos conceptos, haciendo que aquellos que aceptan a Su Hijo sean muy especiales para Él. El Padre y Su Hijo han centrado ahora toda su atención en nosotros. De hecho, Ellos tienen una celebración especial hacia nosotros, específicamente hacia ti.   

Jesús continuó: “De la misma manera, habrá una gloriosa celebración en el cielo por el rescate de un pecador perdido que se arrepienta, regrese a casa y se reúna con el rebaño; más que por todos los justos que nunca se descarriaron.” Lucas 15:7 TPT

Así responde Dios cada vez que un pecador perdido se arrepiente y se vuelve a Él. A todos sus ángeles les dice: “¡Alegrémonos, porque he encontrado al que se había perdido! “Lucas 15:10 TPT

Para Dios, cada día es especial. Tú eres especial si caminas con Jesús. Para Jesús no existen los días ordinarios. Cada día es especial porque Él te ve como especial hoy. No hay día ordinario con el Señor. El se sienta en Su trono y enfoca todo Su amor y poder en lo que es especial para El, que somos nosotros. Cada día El ama tanto al mundo que es por eso que El dio a Su Hijo y Su Hijo nos esta dando vida cada día, lo que los hace muy especiales. Eso es en lo que El enfoca Su atención. 

Todo lo que Jesús está haciendo con nosotros espiritualmente no es ordinario sino extraordinario, es muy especial. Entonces, ¿es éste un día más en el que Jesús vive y habita en nuestros corazones? ¿Qué hace la diferencia entre lo ordinario y lo extraordinario? Una vez más, ¿podría ser que sea la forma en que vemos el día de hoy lo que lo determine? Aquí tienes algunas cosas en las que pensar que podrían llevarte de un día ordinario a un día extraordinario, hasta el punto en que digas: “¡Vaya, qué día tan especial con Jesús es éste!” 

Especial: diferente de lo que es normal o habitual; inusual en el buen sentido; mejor o más importante que otros; algo que destaca; que merece mayor atención;

¿Qué tendrá de especial el día de hoy?

  1. Su presencia: Lo que hace que el día de hoy sea asombroso, absolutamente extraordinario, es que el Señor está aquí. Tú, Señor Jesús, estás conmigo. El acontecimiento más grande, único, especial que ha sucedido hoy es que me he despertado a este hecho: Tú estás aquí conmigo.                                      

En todo momento, Tú piensas en mí. ¡Qué precioso y maravilloso es considerar que el Señor me valora constantemente en todos sus pensamientos! ¡Oh Dios, tus deseos para mí son más grandes que los granos de arena de todas las playas! Cada mañana, al despertarme, sigues estando conmigo.   Salmo 139:17-18 TPT

  1. Tu amor: El Señor pone hoy todo su amor en mí. Él está centrando Su atención en mí para amarme fielmente. Su amor está aquí conmigo y siempre es para mí, especialmente hoy. Hoy es especial porque el Padre Celestial me está mirando en este momento, tal como miró a Su Hijo Jesús. Soy especial a los ojos de Dios, igual que Jesús era especial a los ojos de Su Padre.     

Yo en ellos y tú en mí – para que puedan ser llevados a la unidad completa. Entonces el mundo sabrá que tú me has enviado y que los has amado como me has amado a mí.  Yo te he dado a conocer a ellos, y seguiré dándote a conocer, para que el amor que me tienes esté en ellos y yo mismo esté en ellos”.                          Juan 17:23, 26 NVI.                                                                              

para que Cristo habite en sus corazones por medio de su fe. Y para que ustedes, estando [profundamente] arraigados y [firmemente] cimentados en el amor, puedan comprender plenamente, con todos los santos (el pueblo de Dios), la anchura, la longitud, la altura y la profundidad de su amor [experimentando plenamente este increíble e infinito amor]; y [para que] lleguen a conocer [en la práctica, a través de la experiencia personal] el amor de Cristo, que supera con creces [el mero] conocimiento [sin experiencia], para que sean llenos [en todo su ser] de toda la plenitud de Dios [para que tengan la experiencia más rica de la presencia de Dios en sus vidas, completamente llenos e inundados de Dios mismo].                Efesios 3:17-19 AMP.                                                                                    

Pero en todas estas cosas somos más que vencedores y obtenemos una victoria aplastante por medio de aquel que nos amó [tanto que murió por nosotros]. Porque estoy convencido [y sigo convencido – sin ninguna duda] de que ni la muerte, ni la vida, ni ángeles, ni principados, ni lo presente y amenazante, ni lo por venir, ni potestades, ni lo alto, ni lo profundo, ni ninguna otra cosa creada podrá separarnos del amor [sin límites] de Dios, que es en Cristo Jesús Señor nuestro.        Romanos 8:37-39 AMP

  1. Tu vida: Hoy me has dado toda tu vida. Nunca me has negado nada de Tu vida y bondad. Hoy, Tú estás proveyendo todo lo que necesito y tengo Tu vida abundante.  Todo lo que dijiste y prometiste darme, lo estás haciendo fielmente hoy.                                                                        

Un ladrón sólo tiene una cosa en mente – quiere robar, matar y destruir. Pero yo he venido a darte todo en abundancia, más de lo que esperas: ¡vida en abundancia hasta rebosar! Juan 10:10 TPT

                                                                                                                                      Todo lo que podemos necesitar para la vida y la piedad ya ha sido depositado en nosotros por su poder divino. Porque todo esto ha sido derramado sobre nosotros a través de la rica experiencia de conocer a aquel que nos llamó por nuestro nombre y nos invitó a venir a él mediante una gloriosa manifestación de su bondad.

 2 Pedro 1:3 TPT

  1. Sus planes; ¿Qué está planeando hoy? Sea lo que sea, seguro que será especial. ¿Qué está escribiendo hoy en mi corazón? ¿Qué hará hoy por mí? Porque es un nuevo día, todas las nuevas posibilidades están abiertas para mí, con Dios todo es posible, todas las cosas son posibles para el que cree, y hoy creo que con Dios puedo tener todas las nuevas experiencias de las cosas nuevas que el Señor me está trayendo hoy. Nuevas puertas abiertas, mayor entendimiento, sabiduría más profunda y nuevas percepciones de Ti y de Tus palabras.                

Porque somos hechura suya [Su propia obra maestra, una obra de arte], creados en Cristo Jesús [renacidos de lo alto – espiritualmente transformados, renovados, listos para ser usados] para buenas obras, las cuales Dios preparó [para nosotros] de antemano [siguiendo los caminos que Él trazó], para que anduviésemos en ellas [viviendo la buena vida que Él preparó y trazó para nosotros]. Efesios 2:10 AMP.                                                                         

Tú me conoces tan íntimamente, Señor. Tú lees mi corazón como un libro abierto y sabes cada palabra que estoy a punto de decir, ¡incluso antes de que comience una oración! Conoces cada paso que daré antes de que comience mi viaje. El Señor se ha adentrado en mi futuro para preparar el camino y me sigue amablemente para evitarme el daño de mi pasado. ¡Tú has puesto tu mano sobre mí!       Salmo 139:3-5 TPT.                                                        

Muestras que es una carta de Cristo, entregada por nosotros, escrita no con tinta, sino con el Espíritu del Dios vivo, no en tablas de piedra, sino en tablas de corazones humanos. 2 Corintios 3:3 AMP

Jesús le dijo: “[Tú me dices:] ¿Si puedes? Todo es posible para el que cree y confía [en Mí]”. Marcos 9:23 AMP.                                                             

Jesús los miró fijamente y les dijo: “Humanamente hablando, esto es imposible. Pero no con Dios. Con Dios, todo es posible”.  Marcos 10:27 LBLA 

  1. Otras personas: ¿Qué tiene de especial el día de hoy? Dios está con otras personas.  Dios está ministrando y salvando a la gente a tu alrededor. El está amando y trabajando en las vidas de las personas. Está haciendo algo especial con ellos. Puedo escuchar sus historias. Hay historias especiales que suceden con otras personas dondequiera que vayamos. Todo el mundo tiene una historia. ¿Estás buscando la historia de la mano de Dios trabajando con la gente que te rodea?                                                

El Señor no se demora [como si no pudiera actuar] y no es lento en su promesa, como algunos consideran lentitud, sino que es [extraordinariamente] paciente para con vosotros, no queriendo que ninguno perezca, sino que todos procedan al arrepentimiento. 2 Pedro 3:9 AMP.    

que quiere que todos los hombres se salven y lleguen al conocimiento y reconocimiento de la verdad [divina]. 1 Timoteo 2:4 AMP.                                                                                          

“Porque de tal manera amó y quiso Dios al mundo, que ha dado a su Hijo unigénito, para que todo aquel que cree y confía en él [como Salvador] no se pierda, sino que tenga vida eterna. Juan 3:16 AMP

Tienes que decirte a ti mismo que con Dios, hoy será especial. Sigue adelante y ve el día de hoy como un día especial. Empieza a buscar y ver lo especial del día de hoy. Él hace que cada día sea especial. Él siempre está trabajando con nosotros para hacer de nuestro día una ocasión especial.

(Romanian)

Trecerea de la obișnuit la extraordinar

[Special: diferit de ceea ce este normal sau obișnuit; neobișnuit în sensul bun; mai bun sau mai important decât altele; ceva care iese în evidență; care merită o atenție mai mare].

Eu și soția mea am sărbătorit recent cea de-a 47-a aniversare a căsătoriei noastre. Bineînțeles, sărbătorim acest eveniment în fiecare an și, timp de 47 de ani, a fost o ocazie specială. 

Este special pentru noi pentru că acum 47 de ani ne-am căsătorit. Nu ar fi special pentru nimeni altcineva în afară de noi. Dar asta m-a făcut să mă întreb: ce o face specială? De atunci, în fiecare an, am sărbătorit ziua nunții noastre. După câțiva ani, este doar o altă aniversare care a venit și a trecut. Este cu adevărat specială? Am văzut-o de 47 de ori. Am ajuns să ne așteptăm să sărbătorim această ocazie. 

Principalul motiv pentru care sărbătorim este că acest eveniment ne amintește de dragostea și devotamentul nostru unul față de celălalt. Fiecare an pe care îl petrecem împreună reprezintă angajamentul pe care ni l-am luat de a merge pe drumul vieții unul alături de celălalt și devotamentul nostru, care nu a făcut decât să se adâncească, ceea ce face ca această ocazie să fie specială pentru noi.  

În timp ce mă gândeam la ea, mi-am amintit de toate celelalte ocazii speciale din viața noastră. Poate fi o zi de naștere, o sărbătoare specială sau un eveniment pe care îl sărbătoriți și îl prețuiți ca pe o zi specială. 

Cum determinăm ce o face specială? Veți ști pur și simplu? Poate că se întâmplă ceva semnificativ și atunci veți ști că este o ocazie specială. Faptul că este o ocazie specială înseamnă că este valoroasă pentru noi și că îi acordăm toată atenția noastră. Dacă o considerăm importantă, aceasta va ieși în evidență, făcându-o specială.

Ce ziceți de ziua de astăzi? Ar putea fi astăzi o ocazie specială? Acest lucru ar fi determinat de modul în care vedem ziua de astăzi. Așadar, cât de specială este ziua de astăzi? O parte din răspuns va depinde de ceea ce o face specială pentru noi. 

Pe baza definiției noastre de special, am putea spune că nu există nimic special în ziua de astăzi. Dacă o considerăm obișnuită, atunci probabil că este sau va fi. Dacă este doar o zi oarecare, atunci este doar o zi oarecare. 

La fel ca și aniversarea nunții mele și a soției mele, dacă nu o considerăm diferită de alte zile, văzând ce o face specială, atunci a fost doar o altă aniversare care a venit și a trecut, fără mare lucru. Dar dacă o vedem ca fiind diferită de toate celelalte zile, atunci căutăm ceea ce o face mai importantă și asupra acestui lucru ne concentrăm atenția. 

V-ați gândit vreodată la ceea ce este special pentru Dumnezeu? Biblia dezvăluie două concepte principale care sunt foarte speciale pentru El. 1. Fiul Său Isus. 2. omenirea, adică noi. Ceea ce este unic este faptul că El a unit aceste două concepte, făcându-i pe cei care Îl acceptă pe Fiul Său foarte speciali pentru El. Tatăl și Fiul Său și-au concentrat acum toată atenția asupra noastră. De fapt, Ei au o sărbătoare specială față de noi, în special față de tine.   

Isus a continuat: “În același mod, va fi o sărbătoare glorioasă în ceruri pentru salvarea unui singur păcătos pierdut care se pocăiește, se întoarce acasă și se alătură turmei – mai mult decât pentru toți oamenii neprihăniți care nu s-au rătăcit niciodată.”

Luca 15:7 TPT

Acesta este modul în care Dumnezeu răspunde de fiecare dată când un păcătos pierdut se pocăiește și se întoarce la El. El le spune tuturor îngerilor Săi: “Haideți să facem o petrecere veselă, căci l-am găsit pe cel care era pierdut! ” Luca 15:10 TPT

Pentru Dumnezeu, fiecare zi este specială. Tu ești special dacă mergi cu Isus. Pentru Isus, nu există o zi obișnuită. Fiecare zi este specială pentru că El te vede ca fiind special astăzi. Nu există zile obișnuite cu Domnul. El stă pe tronul Său și își concentrează toată dragostea și puterea asupra a ceea ce este special pentru El, adică noi. În fiecare zi El iubește lumea atât de mult încât de aceea L-a dat pe Fiul Său, iar Fiul Său ne dă viață în fiecare zi, ceea ce le face foarte speciale. Acesta este lucrul asupra căruia El își concentrează atenția. 

Tot ceea ce face Isus cu noi din punct de vedere spiritual nu este doar obișnuit, ci extraordinar, este foarte special. Deci, este aceasta doar o altă zi în care Isus trăiește și rămâne în inimile noastre? Ce face diferența între obișnuit și extraordinar? Din nou, s-ar putea ca modul în care vedem astăzi să fie cel care va determina acest lucru? Iată câteva lucruri la care să vă gândiți și care v-ar putea duce de la o zi obișnuită la o zi extraordinară, până la punctul în care să spuneți: “Uau, ce zi specială cu Isus este aceasta cu adevărat!”. 

Special: diferit de ceea ce este normal sau obișnuit; neobișnuit într-un mod bun; mai bun sau mai important decât alții; ceva care iese în evidență; merită o atenție mai mare;

Ce va fi special în ziua de astăzi?

  1. Prezența Lui: Ceea ce face ca ziua de astăzi să fie uimitoare, absolut extraordinar de specială este faptul că Domnul este aici. Tu, Doamne Isuse, ești cu mine. Cel mai mare, unic, special eveniment care s-a întâmplat astăzi este că m-am trezit la acest fapt: Tu ești aici cu mine.                                      

În fiecare clipă, Tu te gândești la mine! Cât de prețios și de minunat este să te gândești că Domnul mă prețuiește constant în toate gândurile Sale! O, Doamne, dorințele Tale pentru mine sunt mai mari decât grăuntele de nisip de pe toate plajele! Când mă trezesc în fiecare dimineață, Tu ești încă alături de mine.     Psalmul 139:17-18 TPT

  1. Iubirea ta: Domnul își pune toată dragostea Sa în mine astăzi. El Își concentrează atenția asupra mea pentru a mă iubi cu credincioșie. Dragostea Lui este aici cu mine și este mereu pentru mine, mai ales astăzi. Ziua de astăzi este specială pentru că Tatăl Ceresc se uită la mine chiar acum, așa cum S-a uitat la Fiul Său Isus. Eu sunt special în ochii lui Dumnezeu, așa cum Isus a fost special în ochii Tatălui Său.     

Eu în ei și voi în mine – pentru ca ei să poată fi aduși la unitate deplină. Atunci lumea va ști că tu m-ai trimis și că i-ai iubit așa cum m-ai iubit pe mine.   Eu te-am făcut cunoscut lor și voi continua să te fac cunoscut, pentru ca dragostea pe care o ai pentru mine să fie în ei și eu însumi să fiu în ei.”                          Ioan 17:23, 26 NIV.                                                                              

pentru ca Hristos să locuiască în inimile lor prin credința lor. Și pentru ca voi, după ce ați fost [adânc] înrădăcinați și [bine] întemeiați în dragoste, să fiți pe deplin capabili să înțelegeți, împreună cu toți sfinții (poporul lui Dumnezeu), lățimea, lungimea, înălțimea și adâncimea dragostei Lui [experimentând pe deplin această dragoste incredibilă și infinită]; și [pentru ca ei] să cunoască [în practică, prin experiență personală] dragostea lui Hristos, care depășește cu mult [simpla] cunoaștere [fără experiență], pentru ca ei să fie plini [în întreaga lor ființă] de toată plinătatea lui Dumnezeu [pentru ca ei să aibă cea mai bogată experiență a prezenței lui Dumnezeu în viața lor, complet umpluți și inundați de Dumnezeu Însuși].      Efeseni 3:17-19 AMP.                                                                                    

În toate aceste lucruri, însă, suntem mai mult decât biruitori și obținem o biruință covârșitoare prin Acela care ne-a iubit [atât de mult încât a murit pentru noi]. Căci sunt convins [și rămân convins – fără nicio îndoială] că nici moartea, nici viața, nici îngerii, nici principatele, nici lucrurile prezente și amenințătoare, nici cele viitoare, nici puterile, nici înălțimea, nici adâncimea, nici vreun alt lucru creat nu va putea să ne despartă de dragostea [nemărginită] a lui Dumnezeu, care este în Hristos Isus, Domnul nostru.                                         Romani 8:37-39 AMP

  1. Viața ta: Tu mi-ai dat astăzi întreaga Ta viață. Niciodată nu mi-ai ascuns nimic din viața și bunătatea Ta. Astăzi, Tu îmi oferi tot ce am nevoie și am viața Ta din belșug.  Tot ceea ce ai spus și ai promis că îmi vei da, Tu faci cu credincioșie astăzi.                                                                        

Un hoț are un singur lucru în minte – vrea să fure, să ucidă și să distrugă. Dar Eu am venit să-ți dau totul din belșug, mai mult decât te aștepți – viață din belșug până la revărsare! Ioan 10:10 TPT

                                                                                                                                        Tot ceea ce am putea avea nevoie vreodată pentru viață și evlavie a fost deja depus în noi prin puterea Sa divină. Căci toate acestea au fost revărsate asupra noastră prin experiența bogată a cunoașterii Celui care ne-a chemat pe nume și ne-a invitat să venim la El printr-o manifestare glorioasă a bunătății Sale. 2 Petru 1:3 TPT

  1. Planurile Lui; Ce plănuiește El astăzi? Orice ar fi, cu siguranță va fi ceva special. Ce scrie El pe inima mea astăzi? Ce mă va folosi El să fac pentru El astăzi? Pentru că este o zi nouă, toate posibilitățile noi sunt deschise pentru mine, cu Dumnezeu toate lucrurile sunt posibile, toate lucrurile sunt posibile pentru cel care crede, și cred astăzi că cu Dumnezeu pot avea toate experiențele noi din lucrurile noi pe care Domnul mi le aduce astăzi. Noi uși deschise, o mai mare înțelegere, o înțelepciune mai profundă și noi perspective despre Tine și cuvintele Tale.                

Căci noi suntem lucrarea Lui [propria Lui capodoperă, o operă de artă], creați în Hristos Isus [renăscuți de sus – transformați spiritual, reînnoiți, gata de a fi folosiți] pentru fapte bune, pe care Dumnezeu le-a pregătit [pentru noi] dinainte [urmând căile pe care El le-a trasat], ca să umblăm în ele [trăind viața bună pe care El a pregătit-o și a trasat-o pentru noi]. Efeseni 2:10 AMP.                                                                         

Tu mă cunoști atât de intim, Doamne. Îmi citești inima ca pe o carte deschisă și știi fiecare cuvânt pe care sunt pe cale să-l spun înainte ca eu să încep o propoziție! Tu știi fiecare pas pe care îl voi face înainte de a începe călătoria mea. Domnul a pășit în viitorul meu pentru a-mi pregăti calea și urmează cu bunăvoință în urma mea pentru a mă scuti de pagubele trecutului meu. Tu ți-ai pus mâna pe mine!                     Psalmul 139:3-5 TPT.                                                        

Arătați că este o scrisoare de la Hristos, transmisă pentru noi, scrisă nu cu cerneală, ci cu Duhul Dumnezeului celui viu, nu pe table de piatră, ci pe table de inimă omenească.

2 Corinteni 3:3 AMP

Isus i-a zis: “[Tu Îmi spui:] ‘Dacă poți? Toate lucrurile sunt posibile pentru cel care crede și se încrede [în Mine]!” Marcu 9:23 AMP.                                                             

Isus s-a uitat la ei cu atenție și a spus: “Din punct de vedere omenesc, acest lucru este imposibil. Dar nu și pentru Dumnezeu. Cu Dumnezeu, totul este posibil”.  Marcu 10:27 NLT 

  1. Alte persoane: Ce este deosebit în ziua de astăzi? Dumnezeu este cu alți oameni.  Dumnezeu slujește și salvează oamenii din jurul tău. El iubește și lucrează în viețile oamenilor. El face ceva special cu ei. Pot să le aud poveștile. Există povești speciale care se întâmplă cu alți oameni oriunde mergem. Toată lumea are o poveste. Cauți povestea mâinii lui Dumnezeu care lucrează cu oamenii din jurul tău?                                                

Domnul nu întârzie [ca și cum ar fi incapabil să acționeze] și nu întârzie în făgăduința Sa, cum consideră unii că este lentoarea, ci este [extraordinar de] răbdător față de voi, nevrând ca nimeni să piară, ci ca toți să vină la pocăință. 2 Petru 3:9 AMP.    

care dorește ca toți oamenii să fie mântuiți și să ajungă la cunoașterea și recunoașterea adevărului [divin]. 1 Timotei 2:4 AMP.                                                                                          

“Fiindcă atât de mult a iubit și a prețuit Dumnezeu lumea, încât a dat pe singurul Său Fiu născut, pentru ca oricine crede și se încrede în El [ca Mântuitor] să nu piară, ci să aibă viață veșnică. Ioan 3:16 AMP

Trebuie să-ți spui că, alături de Dumnezeu, ziua de astăzi va fi specială. Mergeți mai departe și vedeți ziua de astăzi ca pe o zi specială. Începeți să căutați și să vedeți caracterul special al zilei de astăzi. El face ca fiecare zi să fie specială. El lucrează mereu cu noi pentru a face din ziua noastră o ocazie specială.

French

Passer de l’ordinaire à l’extraordinaire

[Spécial : différent de ce qui est normal ou habituel ; inhabituel dans le bon sens du terme ; meilleur ou plus important que les autres ; quelque chose qui se distingue ; qui mérite une plus grande attention].

Ma femme et moi avons récemment célébré notre 47e anniversaire de mariage. Bien sûr, nous célébrons cet événement chaque année, mais depuis 47 ans, il s’agit d’une occasion spéciale. 

C’est spécial pour nous parce qu’il y a 47 ans, nous nous sommes mariés. Ce ne serait spécial pour personne d’autre que nous. Mais cela m’a amené à me poser la question suivante : qu’est-ce qui rend cet événement spécial ? Depuis, nous célébrons chaque année le jour de notre mariage. Au bout de quelques années, ce n’est plus qu’un anniversaire de plus. Est-ce vraiment spécial ? Nous l’avons vu 47 fois. Nous nous sommes habitués à célébrer cette occasion. 

La principale raison pour laquelle nous le célébrons est que cet événement nous rappelle notre amour et notre dévouement l’un envers l’autre. Chaque année que nous passons ensemble représente l’engagement que nous avons pris de parcourir le chemin de la vie l’un avec l’autre et notre dévouement, qui n’a fait que s’approfondir, ce qui rend cette occasion spéciale pour nous.  

En y réfléchissant, je me suis souvenu de toutes les autres occasions spéciales de notre vie. Il peut s’agir d’un anniversaire, d’une fête particulière ou d’un événement que vous célébrez et chérissez comme un jour spécial. 

Comment déterminer ce qui le rend spécial ? Le savez-vous tout simplement ? Il se peut que quelque chose de significatif se produise et que vous sachiez alors qu’il s’agit d’une occasion spéciale. Le fait qu’il s’agisse d’une occasion spéciale signifie qu’elle a de la valeur à nos yeux et que nous lui accordons toute notre attention. Si nous le considérons comme important, il se distinguera, ce qui le rendra spécial.

Qu’en est-il aujourd’hui ? Aujourd’hui peut-il être une occasion spéciale ? Cela dépend de la façon dont nous voyons ce jour. Dans quelle mesure cette journée est-elle spéciale ? Une partie de la réponse dépend de ce qui le rend spécial à nos yeux. 

Selon notre définition du mot “spécial”, nous pourrions dire qu’il n’y a rien de spécial à propos d’aujourd’hui. Si nous le considérons comme ordinaire, alors il l’est probablement ou le sera. Si c’est un jour comme les autres, c’est un jour comme les autres. 

Tout comme ma femme et mon anniversaire de mariage, si nous ne le considérons pas comme différent des autres jours, si nous ne voyons pas ce qui le rend spécial, alors ce n’est qu’un autre anniversaire qui est passé, sans importance. Mais si nous le considérons comme différent de tous les autres jours, alors nous cherchons ce qui le rend plus important et c’est sur cela que nous concentrons notre attention. 

Avez-vous déjà réfléchi à ce qui est spécial pour Dieu ? La Bible révèle deux concepts principaux qui sont très spéciaux pour lui. 1. Son Fils Jésus. 2. l’humanité, c’est-à-dire nous. Ce qui est unique, c’est qu’il a uni ces deux concepts, rendant ceux qui acceptent son Fils très spéciaux pour lui. Le Père et son Fils ont maintenant concentré toute leur attention sur nous. En fait, Ils ont une célébration spéciale envers nous, et plus particulièrement envers vous.   

Jésus poursuit : “De même, il y aura dans le ciel une fête glorieuse pour le sauvetage d’un seul pécheur perdu qui se repent, rentre chez lui et rejoint le troupeau, plus que pour tous les justes qui ne se sont jamais égarés.” Luc 15:7 TPT

C’est ainsi que Dieu réagit chaque fois qu’un pécheur perdu se repent et se tourne vers lui. Il dit à tous ses anges : ” Faisons une fête joyeuse, car j’ai retrouvé celui qui était perdu ! “Luc 15:10 TPT

Pour Dieu, chaque jour est spécial. Tu es spécial si tu marches avec Jésus. Pour Jésus, un jour ordinaire n’existe pas. Chaque jour est spécial parce qu’il te considère comme spécial aujourd’hui. Il n’y a pas de jour ordinaire avec le Seigneur. Il est assis sur son trône et concentre tout son amour et sa puissance sur ce qui est spécial pour lui, c’est-à-dire nous. Chaque jour, il aime tellement le monde qu’il a donné son Fils et que son Fils nous donne la vie chaque jour, ce qui les rend très spéciaux. C’est sur cela qu’il concentre son attention. 

Tout ce que Jésus fait avec nous spirituellement n’est pas ordinaire mais extraordinaire, c’est très spécial. Alors, est-ce un jour de plus où Jésus vit et demeure dans nos cœurs ? Qu’est-ce qui fait la différence entre l’ordinaire et l’extraordinaire ? Encore une fois, se pourrait-il que ce soit la façon dont nous voyons aujourd’hui qui détermine cette différence ? Voici quelques éléments de réflexion qui pourraient vous faire passer d’un jour ordinaire à un jour extraordinaire, au point de vous faire dire : “Wow, quel jour spécial avec Jésus c’est vraiment !” 

Spécial : différent de ce qui est normal ou habituel ; inhabituel dans le bon sens ; meilleur ou plus important que les autres ; quelque chose qui se distingue ; qui mérite une plus grande attention ;

Qu’est-ce qui sera spécial aujourd’hui ?

  1. Sa présence : Ce qui rend cette journée étonnante, absolument extraordinaire, c’est que le Seigneur est là. Toi, Seigneur Jésus, tu es avec moi. L’événement le plus important, le plus unique, le plus spécial qui s’est produit aujourd’hui, c’est que je me suis réveillé avec ce fait : Tu es ici avec moi.                                      

À chaque instant, Tu penses à moi ! Comme c’est précieux et merveilleux de considérer que le Seigneur me valorise constamment dans toutes ses pensées ! Ô Dieu, tes souhaits pour moi sont plus grands que les grains de sable de toutes les plages ! Quand je me réveille chaque matin, tu es toujours avec moi. Psaume 139:17-18 TPT

  1. Ton amour : Le Seigneur met tout son amour en moi aujourd’hui. Il concentre son attention sur moi pour m’aimer fidèlement. Son amour est ici avec moi et est toujours pour moi, surtout aujourd’hui. Aujourd’hui est spécial parce que le Père céleste me regarde en ce moment même, tout comme il a regardé son Fils Jésus. Je suis spécial aux yeux de Dieu, tout comme Jésus était spécial aux yeux de son Père.     

                                                                                                                      Je suis en eux et toi en moi – afin qu’ils puissent être amenés à l’unité complète. Alors le monde saura que tu m’as envoyé et que tu les as aimés comme tu m’as aimé.   Je t’ai fait connaître à eux et je continuerai à te faire connaître, afin que l’amour que tu as pour moi soit en eux et que je sois moi-même en eux.    Jean 17:23, 26 NIV.                                                                              

afin que le Christ habite dans leurs cœurs par leur foi. Et afin que vous, qui avez été [profondément] enracinés et [fermement] fondés dans l’amour, puissiez comprendre, avec tous les saints (le peuple de Dieu), la largeur, la longueur, la hauteur et la profondeur de son amour [en faisant pleinement l’expérience de cet amour incroyable et infini] ; et [afin qu’ils] connaissent [en pratique, par l’expérience personnelle] l’amour du Christ, qui surpasse de beaucoup la [simple] connaissance [sans expérience], pour être remplis [dans tout leur être] de toute la plénitude de Dieu [afin qu’ils aient l’expérience la plus riche de la présence de Dieu dans leur vie, complètement remplis et inondés de Dieu lui-même].   Ephésiens 3:17-19 AMP.                                                                                    

Mais en toutes ces choses, nous sommes plus que vainqueurs et nous remportons une victoire écrasante par celui qui nous a aimés [au point de mourir pour nous]. Car je suis convaincu [et je reste convaincu – sans aucun doute] que ni la mort, ni la vie, ni les anges, ni les principautés, ni les choses présentes et menaçantes, ni les choses à venir, ni les puissances, ni la hauteur, ni la profondeur, ni aucune autre chose créée ne pourra nous séparer de l’amour [illimité] de Dieu, qui est dans le Christ Jésus notre Seigneur.                                         Romains 8:37-39 AMP

  1. Ta vie : Tu m’as donné toute ta vie aujourd’hui. Tu ne m’as jamais rien refusé de ta vie et de ta bonté. Aujourd’hui, tu me fournis tout ce dont j’ai besoin et j’ai ta vie abondante.  Tout ce que Tu as dit et promis de me donner, Tu le fais fidèlement aujourd’hui.                                                                        

Le voleur n’a qu’une chose en tête : il veut voler, tuer et détruire. Mais moi, je suis venu pour vous donner tout en abondance, plus que vous ne l’attendiez – la vie en abondance jusqu’à ce que vous débordiez ! Jean 10:10 TPT

                                                                                                                                       Tout ce dont nous pouvons avoir besoin pour la vie et la piété a déjà été déposé en nous par sa puissance divine. En effet, tout cela a été déversé sur nous grâce à la riche expérience de connaître celui qui nous a appelés par notre nom et nous a invités à venir à lui par une glorieuse manifestation de sa bonté. 2 Pierre 1:3 TPT

  1. Ses plans : Qu’est-ce qu’il prévoit aujourd’hui ? Quoi qu’il en soit, c’est sûr que c’est spécial. Qu’est-ce qu’il écrit sur mon cœur aujourd’hui ? Que va-t-il faire de moi pour lui aujourd’hui ? Parce que c’est un nouveau jour, de nouvelles possibilités s’offrent à moi, avec Dieu tout est possible, tout est possible à celui qui croit, et je crois aujourd’hui qu’avec Dieu je peux avoir de nouvelles expériences à partir des nouvelles choses que le Seigneur m’apporte aujourd’hui. De nouvelles portes s’ouvrent, une plus grande compréhension, une sagesse plus profonde et de nouveaux aperçus de Toi et de Tes paroles.                

Car nous sommes son ouvrage [son propre chef-d’œuvre, une œuvre d’art], créé dans le Christ Jésus [renaître d’en haut – spirituellement transformé, renouvelé, prêt à être utilisé] pour de bonnes œuvres, que Dieu a préparées [pour nous] d’avance [en suivant les chemins qu’il a tracés], afin que nous marchions en elles [en vivant la bonne vie qu’il a préparée et tracée pour nous]. Ephésiens 2:10 AMP.                                                                         

Tu me connais si intimement, Seigneur. Tu lis dans mon cœur comme dans un livre ouvert et tu sais chaque mot que je vais dire avant même que je ne commence une phrase ! Tu connais chaque pas que je vais faire avant même que mon voyage ne commence. Le Seigneur s’est avancé dans mon avenir pour préparer le chemin et me suit gracieusement pour m’épargner les dégâts de mon passé. Tu as posé ta main sur moi !  Psaume 139.3-5 TPT.                                                        

Tu montres que c’est une lettre du Christ, remise pour nous, écrite non avec de l’encre, mais avec l’Esprit du Dieu vivant, non sur des tables de pierre, mais sur des tables de cœur. 2 Corinthiens 3:3 AMP

Jésus lui dit : “[Tu me dis :] “Si tu peux ? Tout est possible à celui qui croit et qui se confie en moi”. Marc 9:23 AMP.                                                             

Jésus les a regardés attentivement et a dit : “Humainement, c’est impossible. Mais pas avec Dieu. Avec Dieu, tout est possible.  Marc 10:27 NLT 

Autres personnes : Qu’y a-t-il de spécial aujourd’hui ? Dieu est avec les autres.  Dieu exerce son ministère et sauve des gens autour de vous. Il aime et travaille dans la vie des gens. Il fait quelque chose de spécial avec eux. Je peux entendre leurs histoires. Partout où nous allons, des histoires spéciales se déroulent avec d’autres personnes. Tout le monde a une histoire. Cherchez-vous l’histoire de la main de Dieu qui travaille avec les gens autour de vous ?                                                

Le Seigneur ne tarde pas [comme s’il était incapable d’agir] et ne tarde pas à faire sa promesse, comme certains l’estiment lent, mais il est [extraordinairement] patient envers vous, ne voulant pas qu’aucun périsse, mais voulant que tous arrivent à la repentance. 2 Pierre 3:9 AMP.    

qui veut que tous les hommes soient sauvés et parviennent à la connaissance et à la reconnaissance de la vérité [divine]. 1 Timothée 2:4 AMP.                                                                                          

“Car Dieu a tant aimé et chéri le monde qu’il a donné son Fils unique, afin que quiconque croit et se confie en lui [comme Sauveur] ne périsse pas, mais ait la vie éternelle. Jean 3:16 AMP

Vous devez vous dire qu’avec Dieu, ce jour sera spécial. Allez de l’avant et considérez ce jour comme un jour spécial. Commencez à chercher et à voir le caractère spécial de ce jour. Il rend chaque jour spécial. Il travaille toujours avec nous pour faire de notre journée une occasion spéciale.

“the running father”

Posted on | by Kim Carroll

I’m sure most Christians are familiar with the story of the Prodigal Son.  But my daughter told me about a Bible study she was in a couple of months ago where she learned in the Middle East it was referred to  as the story of The Running Father. It was not so much about a rebellious son repenting and coming to his right mind but instead the story was about the actions of a father. This intrigued me, so I began my own study on this concept (Luke 15:11-31). The following hopefully will bless those who want to see another take on this parable.

In Luke 15 before you even come to this story you have the shepherd that searches for the one lost sheep (4-7). Most sermons focus on the one lost sheep instead of the heart of the shepherd and His commitment to his sheep. It is revealed in verse 7, Jesus states the attitude of heaven is one which reflects the attitude and heart of our God, which was joy. The same with the woman who searches for the lost coin (8-10). Again, the emphasis needs to be on her heart and commitment in finding the coin. Here again it reflects the heart and attitude of heaven in verse 10, even the angels are rejoicing over the lost being found. 

Jesus is pointing to the heart of the Father in heaven. It’s about a shepherd and his dedication to search, not so much a lost sheep, or a dedicated woman to find, not so much a lost coin. These are the parables leading up to the prodigal son. The emphasis is on the attitude and heart of the one searching and not so much on what was lost. 

Now what is lost is important but really understanding the heart of the one searching and the attitude of heart toward what was lost is the emphasis. So looking at this third parable we should put the emphasis on understanding the attitude of the heart, and the commitment of the father. Also, to truly see this we need some insight into the culture of a Jewish community during this time period as well. 

Cultural Observations in a Jewish Community at this time. 

The Son:(12-19)

To ask for his inheritance was the same as saying his father was dead to Him. 

For the Father to give him what he asked for would mean putting into cash what would have been his share, of the land, livestock, business, etc..The father would have to act on the premise of how much would the son get if He were dead. The whole time the father is putting this share together it’s as if he were dead. As the Father does this it would have been heartbreaking to him. This would not have been an overnight transaction, it would have required a little time. This means there would have been tension throughout the family which the son’s action brought on all of them. The entire household would have known what was going on and most likely the community as well. This could not have been a task done in secret or overnight without others involved and knowing full well what was happening. It would have brought dishonor, embarrassment, and shame on not just the father but the family as well.

A Kezazah Ceremony) Hebrew: cutting off; It was the technical term used when a family severs its connection to a member of their family. It is where the family and community disown the individual.The whole community gathers to meet with the individual at the city gate, and the elders would break a large clay pot in front of him and say out loud for all to hear, “You are now cut off from your people!”  and then the community would totally reject him and sever all ties. It’s interesting that according to some historical accounts during the kezazah, if it was a child the father was not allowed to be present. However, the mother could attend and ask for mercy for the child, but not the father.

The son was old enough to know all of the implications that went with this, to his family, to his community, culture, traditions, he was turning his back to all of this. In a manner of speaking, he wanted absolutely nothing to do with any of them any longer. He wanted to be completely separated from His father, family, and community in which they lived. 

The wording here implies he left to live and eventually join himself to non Jewish people, which was forbidden for Jews. 

He obviously lived way above his means and making poor decisions which eventually cost him everything. He was, in our terms, flat busted broke, completely penniless. He goes from the stature of one who has money and influence to one who becomes a servant. This would have been very humiliating to him. During this time period It states he came to his senses, further stating he knew he sinned against God and his father and was not worthy to be a son but maybe a hired hand. He knew even the servants of his father’s house were treated better than his own life at that moment. His thinking is in the mindset of a servant, a hired hand. He is not thinking as son any more. His image has changed completely.

Now let’s pick up in scripture the response of the father. 

Luke 15:20-32

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'” NIV

The Father:

A long way off:(20) He knew it was his son even at a long distance off. His son could not have looked the same yet the father knew it was his own. For him to react as he did it would have been already in his heart to do so if given the opportunity. There had to have been a hope that one day he would return, something he must have continually thought about. The point was he had never forgotten his son.

Filled with compassion:(20) (Compassion; to take action to relieve the suffering of another, compassion is the action of mercy. The word compassion is not just a feeling but is the action taken to lift and if possible take the suffering off of the one needing compassion.)

Instead of disdain or contempt it was the opposite reaction. This was the son who told his father you are dead to me and I want nothing to do with you anymore, yet the father was filled with compassion. Upon seeing His son he felt the condition of His son and wanted to relieve him of his suffering. The son feeling shame, humiliation, and embarrassment, truly at his lowest possible point as a human being received only compassion from His father. 

He ran to his son:(20) This small part of the parable was huge, in this culture and time period. It was seen as an undignified action for a person of his stature and influence in the community to run. Men of his status just did not run. To run required he lift up his garment and expose his legs. Men in his position have servants to do the running. However, him running to his son immediately reveals his heart. He knew how people would react to his son returning. But before anyone could condemn or reject his son, He got to him first. By running to his son he also drew attention to himself, taking the attention off his son and his condition. The father made sure by his actions the community could see plainly the position he had concerning his son making sure no one could say anything else. The father completely accepted his son`s return.

 The son is fully aware of what he should expect from his father. But instead sees his father running towards him. The son had to have thought the same as everyone else, why is He running toward me?  He knew he was not worthy to be a son but he could be a hired servant. The son didn’t even get all of his rehearsed speech out, his father hugged and kissed him which would have been a shock to the son as well as everyone else. The son knew how He treated his father, Yet his father acted as if it never happened. Instead he starts the process of restoring his son to his place as a son born into his family. To the father even though the son told him he was dead to Him, He was and always would be His son. The father only saw his son. The father shows He would have it no other way. The suffering this young man endured, even though self-inflicted, was instantly lifted off of him by his father. 

This is why in the thinking of Middle East culture it was titled “the Running Father ”. The focus is not so much on the son but on the father’s actions. Jesus was making the point of God the Father’s heart, how the Father in heaven sees us and how He responds to us when we come to Him. It’s hard to picture God the Father in heaven so excited to see us returning home that He would run toward us, yet this is the picture Jesus wants us to see. God sees us no other way but as his children. He sees Himself as our Father and us as His son or daughter. 

Quick, bring the best robe, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.(22) The father instantly restored him to the status of a son, his son, making a distinction between a servant and his son. He obviously had to look disheveled and more like a servant. But the father never saw him any other way, but as his son. The robe instantly covers his son, gives him honor back and changes the condition he was found in, the ring signifies to all His identity and who he belongs to and belongs with, his authority and position in the family given back to Him.  The sandals give purpose to his path again, no longer a servant but a son, remember he had fallen to the place of a hired servant, now he is restored back to a son. The Father never once brings up the past, except to say He was dead but now alive, he was lost but now found.

The father throws a feast,(23-24)

He celebrates and displays publicly how he sees his son who just returned. He is overwhelmed with joy. Everyone from servants to the rest of the community would have known what was happening. Even more importantly, it would have revealed to everyone the position the father took concerning his son.

Through this parable Jesus is revealing how God sees all of us. He is painting a picture of His Father’s heart toward those who are lost. The minute we turn and start toward home He watches and sees us. Even a long way off He runs toward us. He doesn’t care what anybody else thinks. This is truly the definition of His grace. An unmerited love and favor which no man deserves but still receives from God. He never brings up the past mistakes. He doesn’t focus on who we were or what we have done but the focus is on how God the Father sees us and who we are to Him. He instantly restores us to our rightful and proper place in His family. He covers us, He gives back our dignity. He establishes us as one of His own with the position of one born into His family. His heart is ecstatic, and overwhelmed to see us come home. He is rejoicing, celebrating when we come home. All of heaven above reflects His attitude of celebration and joy. 

The Other Son:(25-32) 

Obviously the other son had a bad attitude. He probably felt justified to some extent. His focus was on what His brother had done and who he had become. However, this is not how the father saw things. Look at the father’s response to what this son says, and how he says it. The other son states he has slaved for his father, always obeying His father and yet never received a party with the fatted calf. He states his brother was wicked and not deserving. His focus was on the worth of who he had become. He saw only his brother’s past actions. This son thought he was better. He judged and looked down on his brother for his past actions. He thought His actions made him special to his father, he was different and not like his brother. 

This son did not know his father’s heart like he should have. Jesus points out that even though this son was not like the returning son, he still did not know who his father really was and his attitude and heart was wrong. 

The father corrects this son’s view of his brother. The father saw this son the same as he saw the returning son, no different. I think of how often Christians make condemning remarks, in the same way as the other son did, by feeling superior, “I’m not like them”. But by the fathers response we know this is not what he wanted from his son. He should have had the same heart and attitude of his father. This son should have been rejoicing, overwhelmed to see the return of his brother just like his father. Forgetting his past mistakes and seeing only as a brother restored back into the family.

This is a good place to look at our lives, especially if we have been walking with the father for any length of time. Do we still see ourselves by our past actions? Now that we are home and we have been serving God for sometime, what is our place and position? Do we see ourselves like the other son, quick to judge others by their past. Do we think since we have been serving God all these years we are better? 

To mature and grow and keep the same heart and attitude of our Heavenly Father is what Jesus is wanting us to see. This is what Jesus displayed through His life, death and resurrection. We are to continually have in our mind how joyful it is to see a returning son or daughter and that He sees us the same as He did when we returned home. We should encourage anyone to see themselves the way the Father sees them. This is how He always sees us, we are special but no more special than anyone else who has returned home. So what the father tells his other son is the mindset the Father wants all of us to have. 

My son(31)

We are completely totally accepted with God as one of His own. You are one of His children accepted just like He accepts Jesus. You must be secure in how He sees you. No one has a right to say anything else. This is our place and position with the Father. He put the best robe on us, put a ring on us, and sandals on our feet. We now have the right to see ourselves this way and should always see ourselves this way. God only sees a son, He only sees a daughter. He sees nothing else because He fully accepted you. Just because He rejoices when another son or daughter who returns home does not mean they are any more special then you. He sees us all the same and treats us all the same.  

You always have me(31)

We can always rely on Him being there with us and for us. He proved this with the son that was lost. He proved this with Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. The true question is, are we enjoying being with Him or is He still a distant Father? His position is for us to be with Him and  to enjoy every aspect of Him and His Father’s heart toward us. 

All I have is yours(31)

Everything of God’s is ours, He has never held anything back from us. All He has is ours. He shows no partiality but freely accepts us as a full family member with all the rights and privileges which come with our place with Him. 

I Won’t Give Up

Posted on | by tomahawk

The following was found among papers of a young pastor in Zimbabwe after he was martyred.

I’m a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His and I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I’m done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power. My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear. I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He does come for His own, He’ll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!

A Trumpet Call

Posted on | by tomahawk

Martyr Missions A Trumpet Call by John G. Lake

The following is the transcript from a commissioning sermon John G. Lake delivered to a band of apostolic laborers in Africa before scattering into the dark continent to bear witness to the light of the Gospel a century ago. May his words pierce the hearts of another generation of martyr missionaries mobilizing into the hardest and darkest places of the earth.

The thirteenth chapter of Acts tells us the story of the ordination and sending forth of the apostle Paul, his ordination to the apostleship. Paul never writes of himself until after the thirteenth chapter of Acts. He had been an evangelist and teacher for thirteen years when the thirteenth chapter of Acts was written, and the ordination took place that is recorded there. Men who have a real call are not afraid of apprenticeships.

There is a growing up in experience in the ministry. When Paul started out in the ministry he was definitely called of God and was assured of God through Ananias that it would not be an easy service but a terrific one, for God said to Ananias:

Arise and go into the street which is called Straight and inquire, in the house of Judas, for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. He is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My Name before the gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will show him how great things he must suffer for My Name’s sake.

That is what Jesus Christ, the crucified and the glorified Son of God, told Ananias to say to the apostle Paul. He was not going to live in a holy ecstasy and wear a beautiful halo, and have a heavenly time, and ride in a limousine. He was going to have a drastic time, a desperate struggle, and a terrific experience. And no man in biblical history ever had more dreadful things to endure than the apostle Paul. He gives a list, in his second letter to the Corinthians, of the things he had endured.

Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep; in journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren. In weariness and painfulness, in watching often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness.

They stripped him of his clothing, and the executioner lashed him with an awful scourge, until bleeding and lacerated and broken, he fell helpless, and unconscious and insensible, then they doused him with a bucket of salt water to keep the maggots off, and threw him into a cell to recover. That was the price of apostleship! That was the price of the call of God and His service. But God said, “He shall bear My Name before the gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel.” He qualified as God’s messenger.

Beloved, we have lost the character of consecration here manifested. God is trying to restore it in our day. He has not been able to make such progress with the average preacher on that line. All too often, it is, “Mrs. So and So said so and so, and I am just not going to take it!” That is the kind of preacher, with another kind of call; not the heavenly call; not the God call; not the death call if necessary. That is not the kind the apostle Paul was, or was called to be.

Do you know why God poured out His Spirit in South Africa like He did no where else in the world? There was a reason. This example will illustrate. We had one hundred and twenty-five men out on the field at one time. We were a very young institution and were not known in the world. South Africa is seven thousand miles from any European country. It is ten thousand miles by way of England to the United States. Our finances got so low, under the awful assault we were compelled to endure, that there came a time I could not even mail to these workers, at the end of the month, a $10 bill. It got so I could not send them $2. The situation was desperate. What was I to do? Under these circumstances I did not want to take the responsibility of leaving men and their families on the frontier without real knowledge of what the conditions were.

Some of us at headquarters sold our clothes in some cases, sold certain pieces of furniture out of the house, sold anything we could sell, to bring those hundred and twenty-five workers off the field for a conference.

One night in the progress of the conference I was invited by a committee to leave the room for a minute or two. The conference wanted to have a word by themselves. So I stepped out to a restaurant for a cup of coffee, and came back. When I came back in, I found they had rearranged the chairs in an oval, with a little table at one end, and on the table was the bread and wine. Old Father Vanderwall, speaking for the company said, “Brother John, during your absence we have come to a conclusion. We have made our decision. We want you to serve the LORD’s Supper. We are going back to our fields. We are going back if our wives die. We are going back if we have to starve. We are going back if we have to walk back. We are going back if our children die. We are going back if we die ourselves. We have but one request. If we die, we want you to come and bury us.”

The next year I buried twelve of those men, along with sixteen of their wives and children.

In my judgment, not one of them, if they had a few things a white man needs to eat, could but what might have lived. Friends, when you want to find out why the power of God came down from heaven in South Africa like it never came down before, since the time of the apostles, there is your answer.

Jesus Christ put the spirit of martyrdom in the ministry. Jesus instituted His ministry with a pledge unto death. When He was with the disciples on the last night, He took the cup, “when He drank, saying.” Beloved, the “saying” was the significant thing. It was Jesus Christ’s pledge to the twelve who stood with Him, “This cup is the New Testament in my blood.” Then He said, “Drink ye all of it!”

Friends, those who were there and drank to that pledge, of Jesus Christ, entered into the same covenant and purpose that he did. That is what all the pledges mean. Men have pledged themselves in the same cup from time immemorial. Generals have pledged their armies unto death. It has been a custom in the human race. Jesus Christ sanctified it to the Church forever, bless God!

“My blood in the New Testament… Drink all of it!” Let us become one. Let us become one in our purpose to die for the world. Your blood and mine together. “My blood is the New Testament.” That is my demand from you. It is your high privilege!

Dear friends, there is not an authentic history that can tell us whether any one of them died a natural death. We know that at least nine of them were martyrs, possibly all. Peter died on a cross, James was beheaded. For Thomas they did not even wait to make a cross they nailed him to an olive tree. John was sentenced to be executed at Ephesus by putting him in a cauldron of boiling oil, God delivered him, and his executioners refused to repeat the operation, and he was banished to the Isle of Patmos. John thought so little about it that he never even tells of the incident. He says, “I was in the Isle called Patmos, for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” That was explanation enough. He had committed himself to Jesus Christ for life or death.

Friends, the group of missionaries that followed me went without food, and went without clothes, and once when one of my preachers was sunstruck, and had wandered away, I tracked him by the blood marks of his feet. Another time I was hunting for one of my missionaries, a young Englishman, twenty-two years of age. He had come from a line of Church of England preachers for five hundred years. When I arrived at the native village the old native chief said, “He is not here. He went over the mountains, and you know him, he is a white man and he has not learned to walk barefooted.”

That is the kind of consecration that established Pentecost in South Africa. That is the reason we have a hundred thousand native Christians in South Africa. That is the reason we have 1250 native preachers. That is the reason we have 350 white Churches in South Africa. That is the reason that, today, we are the most rapidly growing Church in South Africa!

The Chocolate Soldier

Posted on | by tomahawk

HEROISM is the lost chord; the missing note of present-day Christianity! Every true soldier is a hero! A SOLDIER WITHOUT HEROISM IS A CHOCOLATE SOLDIER! Who has not been stirred to scorn and mirth at the very thought of a Chocolate Soldier? In peace true soldiers are captive lions, fretting in their cages. War gives them their liberty and sends them, like boys bounding out of school, to obtain their heart’s desire or perish in the attempt. Battle is the soldier’s vital breath! Peace turns him into a stooping asthmatic. War makes him a whole man again, and gives him the heart, strength, and vigour of a hero. EVERY TRUE CHRISTIAN IS A SOLDIER—of Christ—a hero “par excellence!” Braver than the bravest scorning the soft seductions of peace and her oft-repeated warnings against hardship, disease, danger, and death, whom he counts among his bosom friends.

THE OTHERWISE CHRISTIAN IS A CHOCOLATE CHRISTIAN! Dissolving in water and melting at the smell of fire. “Sweeties” they are! Bonbons, lollipops! Living their lives on a glass dish or in a cardboard box, each clad in his soft clothing, a little frilled white paper to preserve his dear little delicate constitution. Here are some Portraits of Chocolate Soldiers taken by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. “He said, ‘I go sir,’ and went not.” He said he would go to the heathen, but he stuck fast to Christendom instead.

“They say and do not”—they tell others to go, and yet do not go themselves. “Never,” said General Gordon to a corporal, as he himself jumped upon the parapet of a trench before Sebastopol to fix a gabion which the corporal had ordered a private to fix and would not fix himself, “Never tell another man to do what you are afraid to do yourself.”

To the Chocolate Christian the very thought of war brings a violent attack of ague, while the call to battle always finds him with the palsy. “I really cannot move,” he says. “I only wish I could, but I can sing, and here are some of my favorite lines:

“I must be carried to the skies On a flowery bed of ease,Let others fight to win the prize, Or sail thro’ bloody seas. Mark time, Christian heroes, Never go to war; Stop and mind the babies Playing on the floor. Wash and dress and feed them Forty times a week. Till they’re roly poly— Puddings so to speak.

Chorus:

Round and round the nursery Let us ambulate, Sugar and spice and all that’s nice Must be on our slate.”

GOD NEVER WAS A CHOCOLATE MANUFACTURER, AND NEVER WILL BE. God’s men are always heroes. In Scripture you can trace their giant foot-tracks down the sands of time.

The rest can be read at: http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/msctserm.html

4th-Century Christian Monk

Posted on | by tomahawk

Chuck Colson tells the story of Telemachus, a 4th-century Christian Monk.

This man lived in a remote village, tending his garden and spending much of his time in prayer. One day he thought he heard the voice of God telling him to go to Rome, so he obeyed, heading out on foot. Weary weeks later, he arrived in the city at the time of a great festival. The little monk followed the crowd surging down the streets into the Colosseum. He saw the gladiators stand before the emperor and say, “We who are about to die salute you.” Then he realized these men were going to fight to the death for the entertainment of the crowd Telemachus cried out, “In the name of Christ, stop!”

As the games began, he pushed his way through the crowd, climbed his way over the wall, and dropped to the floor of the arena. When the crowd saw this tiny figure rushing to the gladiators and saying, “In the name of Christ, stop!” they thought it was part of the show and began laughing. When they realized it wasn’t, the laughter turned to anger. As Telemachus was pleading with the gladiators to stop, one of them plunged a sword into his body. He fell to the sand. As he was dying, his last words were, “In the name of Christ, stop!” Then a strange thing happened. The gladiators stood looking at the tiny figure lying there. A hush fell over the Colosseum. Way up in the upper rows, a man stood and made his way to the exit. Others began to follow. In dead silence, everyone left the Colosseum.

The year was 391AD, and that was the last battle to the death between gladiators in the Roman Colosseum. Never again in the great stadium did men kill each other for the entertainment of the crowd, all prompted by one tiny voice that could hardly be heard above the roar, one voice that spoke the truth in God’s name.

You know, it takes something to be the only voice. It takes guts to be the lone man or woman, sticking out in a crowd. It takes heart to speak out when it’s easier to keep still. It takes courage to stand up when you’re standing alone.

Becoming A Wall Builder

Posted on | by tomahawk

“Like a city that is broken into and without walls 
Is a man who has no control over his spirit. (Proverbs 25:28 NASB)”

In Old Testament times, major cities would often be fortified with large stone walls surrounding them. The erection of these walls was no doubt labor-intensive, time-consuming and expensive. However, once completed these walls served as an effective deterrent to invading armies, since the walls could only be breached by large armies able to surround the city and mount an extended siege.

Many times our culture tries to teach us that manhood consists solely of machismo, and that self-control is for wimps. But clearly that’s not the case from God’s point of view. Think about it: how many men’s lives and families have been traumatized by lack of self-control? Whether it comes in the form of verbal, physical or sexual abuse of women and children, pornography, substance abuse or addictions of other kinds, the lack of self-control has wreaked havoc on our society.

At the same time, there is hope! Our walls can be rebuilt, but it will take time, effort, patience, resilience and willingness to accept help from others. We rebuild our walls one stone at a time, taking the many truths from God’s word that have been given to protect us and putting them in their proper place. What it takes to start is the realization that our self-control is worth the time, the effort and the fight to reclaim and possess. Self-control is a gift of God’s Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Don’t let the enemy take away what God wants you to have.

Welcome to the fight!