If You wanna steal my show, I’ll sit back and watch You go If You got somethin’ to say, go on and take it away Need You to steal my show, can’t wait to watch You go So take it away My life My friends My heart It’s all Yours, God Take it away My dreams My fears My family My career Take it away Take it away It’s all Yours, God Take it away Take it away It’s You I wanna live for
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together God hates visionary dreaming; it makes the dreamer proud and pretentious. The man who fashions a visionary ideal of community demands that it be realized by God, by others, and by himself. He enters the community of Christians with his demands, sets up his own law, and judges the brethren and God Himself accordingly. He stands adamant, a living reproach to all others in the circle of brethren. Source Is there a difference between a true visionary and visionary dreaming? Yes! I believe that there is a difference between a true visionary and visionary dreaming. It is a subtle but very critical difference. A true visionary is a man who actually gets his vision from God. There is no presumption or assumption. The vision is given to him by God. He doesn’t act as if he knows it all and have all the answers. He is willing to abandon his ideas about the work of God and embrace God’s Visionary dreaming is sometimes tied up in ambition, ego, idealism or even cynicism. A …
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 The word labor here can be illustrated by the story of a man who has a great load laid upon him, which he must carry to a certain place: every step he takes reduces his strength, and renders his load the more oppressive. However, the load must be carried using his utmost exertions to reach the place where it is to be laid down. It is only logical for a kind person, seeing his distress, to offer him help to ease his load, that he may enjoy rest. This is exactly what Jesus offers. Back in the day, when training a new animal (such as an ox) to plow, farmers would often yoke it to an older, stronger, more experienced animal who would bear …
I am sure you have heard or seen couples fight about the lack of quality time together. My wife’s idea about quality time is walking around the mall for hours or shopping until you drop. Well, yesterday after Church, we had lunch then we went to the mall. As we drove to the mall, I decided to convince my wife to go somewhere else with me. So I invoked a recent Article I read to convince her not to throw away our afternoon. In the article, the author shares some very practical tips to avoid the mall. Needless to say, I was unsuccessful. Few hours later, I am sitting near the women fitting room; directly in front of some very beautiful paintings. A young couple stood by, already with a cart full of paintings. Apparently, they were paintings wife liked. She seemed happy pushing the cart. Anyways, the guy wanted to buy two more paintings, but his wife didn’t like them. She told him that she didn’t like the paintings and didn’t want them anywhere in …
Let me be a prophet of doom for a moment. If you’ve never had a bad day, brace yourself; it is coming soon. It is not a matter of if; it’s only a matter of when. We all have bad days, the Bishops do; the giants of faith do, the Apostles do; the Prophets do, Pastors do and most certainly – you will too. The question here is how do you handle those very bad days? This is important because the way you handle a bad day could make or break you. You need to change your attitude and make some spiritual and practical adjustments. Only than can you grow your faith and bring yourself out victoriously. Here are a few things to consider: Take it to the Lord in Prayer Go easy on yourself and don’t be nasty toward others Count your blessings Be grateful for things that are going great Give God some sacrifice of praise, you may not feel like it, but do it anyway Remember to lean on the promises of …
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!
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 …
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 …
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. NIV Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord. KJV Romans 12:11 The word Slothful/Lazy means to hesitate, to be slow. Slow and “poky” as in Matthew 25:26… “you wicked lazy slave… A lazy Christian is a contradiction of terms. Having been saved from the guilt and ravages of sin, the Christian is man at the zenith of his best powers. Strength, zeal, enthusiasm, vigor, and the full thrust of his total energy should distinguish the Christian’s performance in business, trade, profession, study, artistic creation, or in anything else that he pursues as a vocation; and, above everything, such qualities should characterize his devotion and service in the church. The opposite of what Paul commanded here is lukewarmness, a negative condition represented as disgusting to God himself (Revelation 3:16). Coffman’s Commentary I believe what God desires and applauds in a believer is his or her passion and zeal not only for the things of God but for God himself. Here are four …
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Acts 13:2 So, you are sitting there and asking yourself – What’s my next move? What does God have in store for me? Should I do this, should I do that? Let me share with you a very simple advice. Jesus’ disciples understood a very important principle in determining next step ventures. It wasn’t coming up with the best ideas about what they needed to do with their lives. It wasn’t seeking out counsel from mentors and spiritual giants. There is a time and place for those. It was about being with God, waiting on God and listening for the Spirit to Speak. Your first step to next step ventures is taking time – short or extended times of worship and fasting and waiting on the Holy Spirit to speak. I am afraid too many have missed this all important step and have ended up wasting their lives simply …
Walter Bright 
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