Month: February 2013

Saturday Morning Praise and Prayer

Published by

Welcome to Saturday Morning Worship and Prayer Psalm 80:3, 7, 19 Let your face shine, that we may be saved! I really urge you to take 4:00 minutes of your precious time this morning to worship and pray the words to this song. It will lift you, inspire you and draw you closer to the Lord. Make the words to this song your very words not only in praise to the Lord, but also a prayer. In the name of Jesus – I bless you this today May the Lord make His face shine upon you. Amen!

The Prayer of Impartation

Published by

The book of Numbers has a very short but powerful prayer that was used to bestow blessings upon the people of God. Moses and Aaron were commanded by God to bestow blessings upon His people, but they were to do it according to the formula detailed in the verses below. Unless the Lord gives me a different way to close my Sunday morning worship service, I always close with that prayer. I call it A Prayer of Impartation. It is important to note here that it was God himself who put the words in the mouth of the priest. What that means is that there should be room for the movement of God’s Spirit in that moment of impartation. You don’t necessarily have to read the verse word for word, but you will need to tap into the spirit of the words. Another thing worth mentioning is that they were to put the name of the Lord upon the people. Nothing else could bring about the blessing from the Lord. To be blessed by God is to …

In our world no one is rubbish

Published by

Spend a few days on Africa Mercy Ship and you will see how two worlds collide at the intersection of courage and compassion. I lived in Togo for about 8 years as a missionary. So I am very pleased to see Mercy Ship back in Togo. The story of few doctors and nurses reaching, serving and touching lives of people who have been utterly rejected and labelled rubbish. Take a few minutes of your time and watch this video you will not regret it. Their story was featured in ’60 Minutes’ which aired Sunday Night on CBS. This is what the Christians are all about – looking right into the eyes of the hurting and ostracized to say “you are God’s child – and you are not rubbish.” This one is for all my SISTAS who were told that they are damaged goods… that is a lie straight from hell. You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Calming the storm: A missed opportunity for the Disciples

Published by

Imaging with me for a moment. Let’s say you have prepared almost all your life or for a short period for this moment – an interview, internship, a first date, a marriage proposal, your first surgery as a doctor, your first game, your first message as a pastor, or your first solo act and you completely freak out and fail to rise to the occasion. How would you feel? How will your teacher, mentor, coach, parent or friends react? The disciples had been in training for a while with Jesus. They saw the miracles and demonstration of supernatural power. They saw his compassion. They saw his life up close and saw how he dealt with adversity and challenges. He taught them how to pray, how to fight the fight of faith, how to cast out demons and what it will take to move mountains. Yet when the perfect occasion arose for them to exercise their faith and put into practice what they’ve learned from the master – they completely freaked out. We find their story …

20 Seconds of insane Courage

Published by

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 What you need is just 20 seconds of insane courage. Literally, just twenty seconds of embarrassing bravery. And I promise you something great will come out of it. Did you know that the phrase – “Be strong and courageous occurs more than 10 times in the NIV Bible? This must be pretty important for the Lord to remind us over and again. So give yourself permission today to “be strong and courageous.” No matter to outcome of your courage or bravery, just make sure that fear doesn’t paralyze you.

It’s not about things but it’s all about Him!

Published by

He is all I’ll Ever Need Sometimes all we want from God is a quick fix, a blessing, an answer to our questions or at least an explanation for our pain, sufferings and tragedies. So we cry out, fast and pray, seek, chase and pursue Him as if He is playing hide and go seek – until it dawns on us – that it is not about things but about Him. It’s about finding Him, being with Him, getting lost in Him, becoming crazy about Him, loving Him.  When you come to that place – than you will understand that this is all you want – all you will ever need – all you will ever live for. So today, let Him capture your heart again, let Him bring you to a place of depth in Him, a place you have never been before. A place where you are completely lost in the wonder of His love. Only than will you understand that it is not about things but it’s all about Him!

A Mighty Fortress is our God: A bulwark never-failing

Published by

Listen to Chris Rice’s A Mighty Fortress is our God – Here Instead of posting a video or audio of this classic Hymn, I decided to just post the words. I found it moving and inspiring. I hope you feel the same way. I know some have changed the words over the years – I think the old school (original) version is better. A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never-failing; our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe; his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal. 2. Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, were not the right man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing. Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he; Lord Sabaoth, his name, from age to age the same, and he must win the battle. 3. And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to …

How life’s pressure affects Good Judgment

Published by

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 I am confident that every one of us know the story of how Abraham and Sarah were desperate to have children. Even though they had a promise from God there was always an inexplicable delayed either by God or some unforeseen circumstance. Like you and I, these giants of faith did the very same thing we do when we are under pressure. They decided to take matters into their own hands. I have seen it happen over and over – couples with a horrible marriage, people dealing with illness or the loss of a family member or friend – when people come under pressure they always try to take matters into their own hands. As we see with Abraham and Sarah – it never works – it always backfires. So the word of God proposes a different and sometimes difficult approach. As difficult as things might …

Overcoming Temptation

Published by

For decades I have applied this battle plan to sexual temptation but hardly at all to the sins of selfishness, anger, self-pity, blaming, and sullenness. I have engaged my will head-on with sexual lust. I have heard Jesus say, “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell” (Matt. 5:29). Nobody spontaneously tears out his eye. That is an act of will overcoming all kinds of natural disinclination. That’s what I do when any illicit sexual thought tries to gain the ascendancy in my mind. I go on the attack with A.N.T.H.E.M.: AVOID. Say NO! within five seconds. TURN to something magnificent, like Christ crucified. HOLD the pure thing in the mind until the temptation is gone. ENJOY the greater pleasure of the blood-bought promises of God. MOVE on to meaningful Christ-exalting activity. There is nothing passive in my will when the lion of lust comes out of the bushes. I …