Thought for the evening of Fri August 1, 2014

Verse

"Thou crownest the year with thy goodness."

— ps 65:11

Thought

All the year round, every hour of every day, God is richly blessing us; both when we sleep and when we wake his mercy waits upon us. The sun may leave us a legacy of darkness, but our God never ceases to shine upon his children with beams of love. Like a river, his lovingkindness is always flowing, with a fulness inexhaustible as his own nature. Like the atmosphere which constantly surrounds the earth, and is always ready to support the life of man, the benevolence of God surrounds all his creatures; in it, as in their element, they live, and move, and have their being. Yet as the sun on summer days gladdens us with beams more warm and bright than at other times, and as rivers are at certain seasons swollen by the rain, and as the atmosphere itself is sometimes fraught with more fresh, more bracing, or more balmy influences than heretofore, so is it with the mercy of God; it hath its golden hours; its days of overflow, when the Lord magnifieth his grace before the sons of men. Amongst the blessings of the nether springs, the joyous days of harvest are a special season of excessive favour. It is the glory of autumn that the ripe gifts of providence are then abundantly bestowed; it is the mellow season of realization, whereas all before was but hope and expectation. Great is the joy of harvest. Happy are the reapers who fill their arms with the liberality of heaven. The Psalmist tells us that the harvest is the crowning of the year. Surely these crowning mercies call for crowning thanksgiving! Let us render it by the inward emotions of gratitude. Let our hearts be warmed; let our spirits remember, meditate, and think upon this goodness of the Lord. Then let us praise him with our lips, and laud and magnify his name from whose bounty all this goodness flows. Let us glorify God by yielding our gifts to his cause. A practical proof of our gratitude is a special thank-offering to the Lord of the harvest.

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Thought for the morning of Fri August 1, 2014

Verse

"Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn."

— ru 2:2

Thought

Downcast and troubled Christian, come and glean to-day in the broad field of promise. Here are abundance of precious promises, which exactly meet thy wants. Take this one: "He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax." Doth not that suit thy case? A reed, helpless, insignificant, and weak, a bruised reed, out of which no music can come; weaker than weakness itself; a reed, and that reed bruised, yet, he will not break thee; but on the contrary, will restore and strengthen thee. Thou art like the smoking flax: no light, no warmth, can come from thee; but he will not quench thee; he will blow with his sweet breath of mercy till he fans thee to a flame. Wouldst thou glean another ear? "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." What soft words! Thy heart is tender, and the Master knows it, and therefore he speaketh so gently to thee. Wilt thou not obey him, and come to him even now? Take another ear of corn: "Fear not, thou worm Jacob, I will help thee, saith the Lord and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel." How canst thou fear with such a wonderful assurance as this? Thou mayest gather ten thousand such golden ears as these! "I have blotted out thy sins like a cloud, and like a thick cloud thy transgressions." Or this, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Or this, "The Spirit and the Bride say, Come, and let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely." Our Master's field is very rich; behold the handfuls. See, there they lie before thee, poor timid believer! Gather them up, make them thine own, for Jesus bids thee take them. Be not afraid, only believe! Grasp these sweet promises, thresh them out by meditation and feed on them with joy.

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Psalm 119:114

“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”



via Bible Gateway's Verse of the Day http://ift.tt/UPem7B

City Of Refuge

As we entered a town in Australia, we were greeted by a sign that declared: “We welcome all who are seeking refuge and asylum.” This kind of welcome seems to resonate with the Old Testament concept of the cities of refuge. In the Old Testament era, cities of refuge (Num. 35:6) were established to be a safe haven for people who had accidentally killed someone and were needing protection. God had the people establish such cities to provide that refuge.

via Our Daily Bread http://ift.tt/1s93jmT

Back to Basics: What is a miracle?

Helix Nebula, Creative Commons photo

Miracle is one of those words that gets overused and then its meaning it diluted, like "awesome".



"This ice cream is awesome!"

"God is awesome!"



The dramatic rise in people accepting and even seeking the charismatic gifts means that more people believe that people are performing miracles, and believing that God is doing miracles left and right. Healings, gold fillings, gold dust falling, a wind coming up at just the right time, a financial windfall...all are claimed as miracles. But are they? What exactly are miracles, according to the bible? And does God do miracles today?



While cessationists like me by no means deny that God has always had the power and will to do a miracle, and does them today, they are much less frequent than we suppose, IF in fact, perhaps nonexistent. But nowadays, everyone is claiming a miracle.

Today, we hear an awful lot of talk about miracles, somebody says, "I had a financial need and a miracle happened. The mailman came and in the mail was a check for just the amount of money I needed. It was a miracle." Or you hear someone say, "I went to the mall and there was a parking place right by the entrance. It was a miracle." Or a mother might sense something wrong in an adjoining room and investigate just in time to stop her little toddler from putting a paper clip into an electrical outlet, and say, "It's a miracle." Or maybe you were thinking and praying for somebody and just seemingly at the time you were doing that, the phone rang and it was the very person you were thinking about, and they were right there to be encouraged and you say, "That was a miracle." Well, we call those things miracles, but they're not miracles. A miracle is a supernatural event which has no human explanation. More than that, a miracle is a supernatural event which suspends natural law. (Source )

A miracle gives full warrant that it is from God.

~Augustus Strong

The popular African charismatic evangelist Angus Buchan, of the movie Faith Like Potatoes , planted potatoes and said it was a miracle that they grew. To be sure, the soil in his field was not conducive to bumper crops of potatoes, and he had been warned if a high probability of failure, but he attributed the fact that potatoes grew to a supernatural, direct and divine miracle.



Christian Apologetics and Resource Ministries defines miracle as

A miracle is an out-of-the-ordinary direct and divine intervention in the world. Examples would be the parting of the Red Sea, Jesus walking on water, the resurrection of Lazarus, etc. Some hold that it is a violation of the natural order of physical laws. Others maintain that there is no such violation upon God's part but only a natural manifestation of His work.



They are also known as powers and signs (Mark 9:39; Acts 2:22, 19:11) and mighty works (John 10:25-28). They are a manifestation of the power of God over nature (Joshua 10:12-14), animals (Num. 22:28), people (Gen. 19:26), and illness (2 Kings 5:10-14). They are produced by God's power (Acts 15:12), Christ's power (Matt. 10:1), and the Holy Spirit's power (Matt. 12:28).

I like Augustus Strong 's definition,

A miracle is an event in nature so extraordinary in itself and so coinciding with the prophecy or command of a religious teacher or leader as fully to warrant the conviction on the part of those who witness it, that God has wrought it with the design of certifying that this teacher or leader has been commissioned by him.

Why are there miracles?



Strong again :

Miracles are the natural accompaniments and attestations of new communications from God. The great epochs of miracles—represented by Moses, the prophets, the first and second comings of Christ—are coincident with the great epochs of revelation. Miracles serve to draw attention to new truth, and cease when this truth has gained currency and foothold.

Some of the miracles in the Incarnation of Jesus' time were making the blind to see. Do you realize there was no other recorded healing of this type in the Old Testament or the New, until Jesus did it? John 9:1-7 records Jesus performing a miracle of making an adult man born blind to see.



This is an amazing case, because Jesus didn't cure a temporary condition recently onset, he reversed a biological, genetic defect.



The case of Lazarus was also a bona fide miracle, because Jesus raised a man who had been dead so long. Once again, He reversed biology by renewing the man's very cells at the same time He gave Lazarus life again.



Finding a parking space in the front row, by comparison, is not a miracle.



Easton's Bible Dictionary defines miracle as:

An event in the external world brought about by the immediate agency or the simple volition of God, operating without the use of means capable of being discerned by the senses, and designed to authenticate the divine commission of a religious teacher and the truth of his message (John 2:18; Matthew 12:38).

The Apostles performed bona fide miracles also. They healed, raised the dead. Philip was whisked in a lateral 'rapture' or snatching away from one place to another. (Acts 8:39-40). That was a miracle. I'm hoping that in the New Jerusalem we can all travel that way ;)

Wisps, CC, by The Mighty Tim Iconnu

To look at what a miracle is, let's look at why they exist. S. Lewis Johnson said in his sermon "Divine Providence, or What About Miracles? " (Matthew 12:25-30),

Now you can see from just these passages that in our Lord’s mind, the miracles were not done simply to give evidence of the power of God, but they were given and performed by him with reference to a particular Messianic purpose. That is, the ultimate coming of the Messianic kingdom.

As for the apostles, the reason they were given power to do signs, is as Dr Johnson explains in the same sermon,

2 Corinthians 12:12, “Truly, the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience in signs, wonders and mighty deeds.” Now notice here the expression, “The signs of an apostle.” And he goes on to say that the signs of the apostles are signs, wonders and mighty deeds. Miracles were the signs of the relationship of the apostles to our Lord. They were the signs that they were apostles, and they also were signs that in their ministry there was a connection between what they were saying and the kingdom of God that would come upon the earth.

Miracle of the Fishes, 1874 Alexander Bida

We don't need people to perform a miracle any more because the bible now tells us about the Kingdom. We were not alive to hear Jesus in His incarnation, but the Spirit recorded the words through men, and we can read them and hear them. The signifying events are no longer necessary.



Miracles were done in in Moses’ day; in Elijah and Elisha’ day; in the day of our Lord and the apostles. He performed the miracles Himself or through men so as to accomplish His redemptive purposes. The miracles were signs of the accomplishment of his purpose of salvation. He will perform miracles again, Himself, via angels, and through men during the times prophesied in Revelation.



Here is a list of all the miracles, according to ATS Bible Dictionary,



The creation of all things, Genesis 1:1-31.

The deluge, comprising many miracles, Genesis 6:1-22.

Moses &the Burning Bush, illustration from 1890 Holman Bible

The destruction of Sodom, etc., Genesis 19:1-38.

The healing of Abimelech, Genesis 20:17,18.

The burning bush, Exodus 3:2-4.

Moses' rod made a serpent, and restored, Exodus 4:3-4 7:10.

Moses' hand made leprous, and healed, Ex 4...6-7.

Water turned into blood, Exodus 4:9,30.

The Nile turned to blood, Exodus 7:20.

Frogs brought and removed, Exodus 8:6,13.

Lice brought, Exodus 8:17.

Flies brought, and removed, Exodus 8:21-31.

Murrain of beasts, Exodus 9:3-6.

Boils and blains brought, Exodus 9:10,11.

Hail brought, and removed, Exodus 9:23,33.

Locusts brought, and removed, Exodus 10:13,19.

Darkness brought, Exodus 10:22.

First-born destroyed, Exodus 10:29.

The Red Sea divided, Exodus 14:21-22.

Egyptians overwhelmed, Exodus 14:26-28.

Waters of Marah sweetened, Exodus 15:27.

Quails and manna sent, Exodus 16:1-36.

Water from the rock, in Horeb, Exodus 17:6.

Amalek vanquished, Exodus 17:11-13.

Pillar of cloud and fire, Numbers 9:15-23.

Leprosy of Miriam, Numbers 12:10.

Destruction of Korah, etc., Numbers 16:28-35,46-50.

Aaron's rod budding, Numbers 17:8.

Water from the rock, in Kadesh, Numbers 20:11.

Healing by the brazen serpent, Numbers 21:8,9.

Balaam's ass speaks, Numbers 22:28.

Plague in the desert, Numbers 25:1,9.

Water of Jordan divided, Joshua 3:10-17.

Jordan restored to its course, Joshua 4:18.

Jericho taken, Joshua 6:6-20.

Achan discovered, Joshua 7:14-21.

Sun and moon stand still, Joshua 10:12-14.

Gideon's fleece wet, Jud 6:36-40.

Midianites destroyed, Jud 7:16-22.

Exploits of Samson, Jud 14:1-16:31.

House of Dagon destroyed, Jud 16:30.

Dagon falls before the ark, etc., 1 Samuel 5:1-12.

Return of the ark, 1 Samuel 6:12.

Thunder and rain in harvest, 1 Samuel 12:18.

Jeroboam's hand withered, etc., 1 Kings 13:4,6.

The altar rent, 1 Kings 13:5.

Drought caused, 1 Kings 17:6.

Elijah fed by ravens, 1 Kings 17:6. Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—(Galatians 3:5).

Meal and oil supplied, 1 Kings 17:14-16.

Child restored to life, 1 Kings 17:22-23.

Sacrifice consumed by fire, 1 Kings 18:36,38.

Rain brought, 1 Kings 18:41-45.

Men destroyed by fire, 2 Kings 1:10-12.

Waters of Jordan divided, 2 Kings 2:14.

Oil supplied, 2 Kings 4:1-7.

Child restored to life, 2 Kings 4:32-35.

Naaman healed, 2 Kings 5:10,14.

Gehazi's leprosy, 2 Kings 5:27.

Iron caused to swim, 2 Kings 6:6.

Syrians smitten blind, etc., 2 Kings 19:35.

Hezekiah healed, 2 Kings 20:7.

Shadow put back, 2 Kings 20:11.

Pestilence in Israel, 1 Chronicles 21:14.

Jonah preserved by a fish, Jonah 1:17 2:10.



New Testament Miracles.

The star in the east, Matthew 2:3.

The Spirit like a dove, Matthew 3:16.

Christ's fast and temptations, Matthew 4:1-11.

Many miracles of Christ, Matthew 4:23-24 8:16 14:14,36 15:30 Mark 1:34 Luke 6:17-19.

Lepers cleansed, Matthew 8:3-4 Luke 17:14.

Centurion's servant healed, Matthew 8:5-13.

Peter's wife's mother healed, Matthew 8:14.

Tempests stilled, Matthew 8:23-26 14:32.

Devils cast out, Matthew 8:28-32 9:32-33 15:22-28 17:14-18.

Paralytics healed, Matthew 9:2-6 Mark 2:3-12.

Issue of blood healed, Matthew 9:20-22.

Jairus' daughter raised to life, Matthew 9:18,25.

Sight given to the blind, Matthew 9:27-30 20:34 Mark 8:22-25 John 9:17.

The dumb restored, Matthew 9:32-33 12:22 Mark 7:33-35.

Miracles by the disciples, Matthew 10:1-8.

Multitudes fed, Matthew 14:15-21 15:35-38.

Christ walking on the sea, Matthew 14:25-27.

Peter walking on the sea, Matthew 14:29.

Christ's transfiguration, etc., Matthew 17:1-8.

Tribute from a fish's mouth, Matthew 17:27.

The fig tree withered, Matthew 21:19.

Miracles at the crucifixion, Matthew 27:51-53.

Miracles at the resurrection, Matthew 28:1-7 Luke 24:6.

Draught of fishes, Luke 5:4-6 John 21:6.

Widow's son raised to life, Luke 7:14,15.

Miracles before John's messengers, Luke 7:21-22.

Miracles by the seventy, Luke 10:9,17.

Woman healed of infirmity, Luke 13:11-13.

Dropsy cured, Luke 14:2-4.

Malchus' ear restored, Luke 22:50-51.

Water turned to wine, John 2:6-10.

Nobleman's son healed, John 4:46-53.

Impotent man healed, John 5:5-9.

Sudden crossing of the sea, John 6:21.

Lazarus raised from the dead, John 11:43-44.

Christ's coming to his disciples, John 20:19,26.

Wonders at the Pentecost, Acts 2:1-11.

Miracles by the apostles, Acts 2:43 5:12.

Lame man cured, Acts 3:7.

Death of Ananias and Sapphira, Acts 5:5,10.

Many sick healed, Acts 5:15-16. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (Hebrews 2:4).

Apostles delivered from prison, Acts 5:19.

Miracles by Stephen, Acts 6:8.

Miracles by Philip, Acts 8:6,7,13.

Eneas made whole, Acts 9:34.

Dorcas restored to life, Acts 9:40.

Peter delivered from prison, Acts 12:6-10.

Elymas struck blind, Acts 13:11.

Miracles by Paul and Barnabas, Acts 14:3.

Lame man cured, Acts 14:10.

Unclean spirit cast out, Acts 16:18.

Paul and Silas delivered, Acts 16:25-26.

Special miracles, Acts 19:11-12.

Eutchus restored to life, Acts 20:10-12.

Viper's bite made harmless, Acts 28:5.

Father of Publius, etc., healed, Acts 28:8,9



It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. (Daniel 4:2)



But in no way were miracles themselves proof of faith. Miracles confirm already existing faith, but rarely if ever catalyzed a person to faith. As A. Strong describes :

Miracles alone could not produce conviction. The Pharisees ascribed them to Beelzebub. Though Jesus had done so many signs, yet they believed not.... Though miracles were frequently wrought, they were rarely appealed to as evidence of the truth of the gospel. They are simply signs of God's presence in his world. By itself a miracle had no evidential force.

Depiction of the Holy Spirit dove

(ceiling fresco in St. Charles's Church,

Vienna, 1700's)

There are interior miracles, and external miracles. An interior miracle would be prophecy, as the LORD gave words to the mind of the prophets and as the Spirit inspired the New Testament writers. Another interior miracle is the breaking of sin's hold on a newly regenerated person. Justification is an internal miracle. We can't see the actual breaking of bonds or the new heart, but we can see the effects of this interior miracle, the fruit of the Spirit.



The Spirit indwelling men is an internal miracle. The growth of a person in sanctification is another internal miracle. These are miracles because they are done by God without an intermediate instrument directly upon a person's soul, heart, mind, and body. It truly IS a miracle when we are saved!! These are the miracles in works of grace.



An external miracle are all the others I posted above in the ATS Dictionary list. Consistently, the word for miracle in the bible is "sign". A sign points to something. In the case of a miracle, the sign points to God.



John MacArthur said in his sermon, Does God Do Miracles Today?

And the types of miracles that are being claimed today are absolutely nothing like New Testament miracles, absolutely nothing like them. In fact, the types of miracles today could be distinctly seen as different than New Testament miracles. Jesus and the apostles instantly and completely healed people born blind, a paralytic, a man with a withered arm. All obvious and disputable miracles, even Jesus' enemies didn't challenge the reality of His miracles that He had the people there to verify them. He raised the dead, of course, as we well know. They never did a miracle that was slow, they never did a miracle that took time, they never did a miracle that was less than permanent. By contrast, most modern miracles are partial, gradual, temporary, sometimes reversed, and almost impossible to verify.

So before we go around claiming this or that miracle, let's honor the Holy Spirit, our High priest

The Gathering of the Manna, c1470

Jesus, and Father God by pausing a moment to decide if we need to use different terminology. The miracles in the Old Testament and the New signify of God. There were miracles of creation, where He used no instrument but by the power of His word, created. Genesis 1:1 is an example of that. So was the coin in the fish's mouth and the appearance of manna. There are miracles of healing, of triumphs over demons, of demonstration of power over nature, such as calming the storm at Galilee or shriveling the fig tree or causing rain or stopping the rain. There were miracles over animals, such as making Balaam's donkey speak or the animals passively migrate to the ark or instructing the ravens to feed Elijah.



Miracles are a tremendous thing to ponder in scripture and to reverentially ascribe to God's power, love, and creative artistry. Let's not willy-nilly diminish that awe and reverence by calling mundane things miracles or ascribing to God what He has not done.



For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Mark 13:22)



A final word. Providence. Readers of this blog know I speak of it often and I'm fascinated by it. In my opinion, one of the reasons I love God's Providence is because it is a complicated and wonderful miracle. It is certainly a tremendous thing to part the Red Sea. But how much more tremendous to providentially direct each and every step of both Mary's and Joseph's ancestors' lives since the time of Adam and Eve, so that the two would meet at the perfectly correct time, and produce the babe Jesus?



Orchestrating each and every molecule of all material matter at every moment so that God's plan for His Son come to pass is such a miracle that my mind cannot comprehend a God who does this so easily and by the power of His word and His will. Our God is not to be trifled with, loving as He is. Miracles are done every day in sustaining this world alive, and all the people on it. Let's not diminish that by rejoicing over a parking space at the mall. Convenient, yes. Miracle? No.

FIRE IN THE SKY:APOCALYPSE" THUNDER STORMS ROLLS INTO YELLOWKNIFE

JEWISH KING JESUS IS COMING AT THE RAPTURE FOR US IN THE CLOUDS-DON'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.THE BIBLE TAKEN LITERALLY- WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE MAKES GOOD SENSE-SEEK NO OTHER SENSE-LEST YOU END UP IN NONSENSE.GET SAVED NOW- CALL ON JESUS TODAY.THE ONLY SAVIOR OF THE WHOLE EARTH - NO OTHER



STORMS HURRICANES-TORNADOES



LUKE 21:25-26

25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;(MASS CONFUSION) the sea and the waves roaring;(FIERCE WINDS)

26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear,(TORNADOES,HURRICANES,STORMS) and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth:(DESTRUCTION) for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.(FROM QUAKES,NUKES ETC)



FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS



REVELATION 8:7

7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.



Fire in the sky: 'Apocalypse' thunderstorm rolls into Yellowknife-Storm clouds mixed with wildfire smoke, producing optical illusions like 'red' lightning-CBC News Posted: Jul 30, 2014 6:36 PM CT Last Updated: Jul 31, 2014 7:09 AM CT



Lightning appeared red behind a thick cloud of smoke that blanketed Yellowknife as a storm rolled in on Wednesday. A thunderstorm that hit Yellowknife, N.W.T., on Wednesday night mixed with thick clouds of smoke from nearby wildfires, rendering the sky shades of orange and yellow, and making some lightning strikes appear almost red in colour.Is it smoke or rain, or both? moke from N.W.T. forest fires followed by thunderclouds brought nightfall early to Yellowknife Wednesday. People took to social media to post photos of the skies described as everything from "eerie" to "apocalyptic."



More photos

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cbc.ca

kyla o'connell

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Former Members of Mars Hill Church Plan 'Peaceful Protest' Over Pastor Mark Driscoll's 'Anonymous' Claim

Not wanting to remain "anonymous" as implied by Pastor Mark Driscoll, former members of his Seattle-based Mars Hill Church plan to express their frustration over the lead pastor's recent apology at a "Peacefull Protest" at the church's main site on Sunday.



via The Christian Post Church & Ministries http://ift.tt/1s7kmEY

Church Letters From 1724 Discovered, Put Into Historic Collection in Massachusetts

The First Congregational Church in Middleborough, Massachusetts has a rich history that has been made even more so by the discovery of letters of application to the church that date back all the way to 1724. The letters are believed to come from some of the first settlers in America because one of the church was founded in 1694.



via The Christian Post Church & Ministries http://ift.tt/1uKSElJ

Evangelicals Praise Pope Francis' Visit to Pentecostal Church, Apologize for Evangelical Discrimination Against Catholics

Pope Francis' first official visit to a Pentecostal church in Italy was praised by some evangelical leaders, who thanked the pope for asking for forgiveness for Roman Catholic persecution of Pentecostals in the past. The Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance, Rev. Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, in turn apologized for evangelical discrimination against Catholics.



via The Christian Post Church & Ministries http://ift.tt/1xEUNf5

Tim Keller Reveals Love of Harry Potter, Support for Old Earth Creationism in Twitter Chat

Earlier this week, Redeemer Presbyterian Pastor Tim Keller took to Twitter to answer questions about his feelings on ​Harry Potter​, Matthew Vines ​and why he's not a sports fan.



via The Christian Post Church & Ministries http://ift.tt/1s6RUTA

Thought for the morning of Thu July 31, 2014

Verse

"I in them."

— joh 17:23

Thought

If such be the union which subsists between our souls and the person of our Lord, how deep and broad is the channel of our communion! This is no narrow pipe through which a thread-like stream may wind its way, it is a channel of amazing depth and breadth, along whose glorious length a ponderous volume of living water may roll its floods. Behold he hath set before us an open door, let us not be slow to enter. This city of communion hath many pearly gates, every several gate is of one pearl, and each gate is thrown open to the uttermost that we may enter, assured of welcome. If there were but one small loophole through which to talk with Jesus, it would be a high privilege to thrust a word of fellowship through the narrow door; how much we are blessed in having so large an entrance! Had the Lord Jesus been far away from us, with many a stormy sea between, we should have longed to send a messenger to him to carry him our loves, and bring us tidings from his Father's house; but see his kindness, he has built his house next door to ours, nay, more, he takes lodging with us, and tabernacles in poor humble hearts, that so he may have perpetual intercourse with us. O how foolish must we be, if we do not live in habitual communion with him. When the road is long, and dangerous, and difficult, we need not wonder that friends seldom meet each other, but when they live together, shall Jonathan forget his David? A wife may when her husband is upon a journey, abide many days without holding converse with him, but she could never endure to be separated from him if she knew him to be in one of the chambers of her own house. Why, believer, dost not thou sit at his banquet of wine? Seek thy Lord, for he is near; embrace him, for he is thy Brother. Hold Him fast, for he is thine Husband; and press him to thine heart, for he is of thine own flesh.

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Thought for the evening of Thu July 31, 2014

Verse

"And these are the singers ... they were employed in that work day and night."

— 1ch 9:33

Thought

Well was it so ordered in the temple that the sacred chant never ceased: for evermore did the singers praise the Lord, whose mercy endureth for ever. As mercy did not cease to rule either by day or by night, so neither did music hush its holy ministry. My heart, there is a lesson sweetly taught to thee in the ceaseless song of Zion's temple, thou too art a constant debtor, and see thou to it that thy gratitude, like charity, never faileth. God's praise is constant in heaven, which is to be thy final dwelling-place, learn thou to practise the eternal hallelujah. Around the earth as the sun scatters his light, his beams awaken grateful believers to tune their morning hymn, so that by the priesthood of the saints perpetual praise is kept up at all hours, they swathe our globe in a mantle of thanksgiving, and girdle it with a golden belt of song.

The Lord always deserves to be praised for what he is in himself, for his works of creation and providence, for his goodness towards his creatures, and especially for the transcendent act of redemption, and all the marvellous blessing flowing therefrom. It is always beneficial to praise the Lord; it cheers the day and brightens the night; it lightens toil and softens sorrow; and over earthly gladness it sheds a sanctifying radiance which makes it less liable to blind us with its glare. Have we not something to sing about at this moment? Can we not weave a song out of our present joys, or our past deliverances, or our future hopes? Earth yields her summer fruits: the hay is housed, the golden grain invites the sickle, and the sun tarrying long to shine upon a fruitful earth, shortens the interval of shade that we may lengthen the hours of devout worship. By the love of Jesus, let us be stirred up to close the day with a psalm of sanctified gladness.

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John 1:12-13

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”



via Bible Gateway's Verse of the Day http://ift.tt/1rJrGFD

Just As I Am

Good memories flooded my mind as I sat in a concert. The group’s leader had just introduced the song they were about to sing: “Just As I Am.” I remembered how years ago at the end of his sermons my pastor would ask people to come forward while we sang that song, indicating they would like to receive the forgiveness Christ offers for their sins.

via Our Daily Bread http://ift.tt/1ocJk0u

Son of Ergan Caner, President of Brewton-Parker College, Commits Suicide

Braxton Caner, the 15-year-old son of apologist and Baptist college President Ergan Caner, has apparently committed suicide.



via The Christian Post Church & Ministries http://ift.tt/1lXcAso

Episcopal Church Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Female Ordination

The Episcopal Church celebrated the 40th anniversary of the denomination's ordination of the first women as priests Tuesday. In 1974, 11 women were ordained at the Church of the Advocate in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.



via The Christian Post Church & Ministries http://ift.tt/XfmwaY

CCCU Names First Woman as President Following Controversial Firing of Previous Leader

The Council of Christian Colleges and Universities has named Shirley Hoogstra as its seventh president, following a tumultuous year under which they fired her predecessor after serving less than a year on the job. Hoogstra, a former practicing attorney turned vice president of student life at Calvin College, will become the first female to hold this position.



via The Christian Post Church & Ministries http://ift.tt/UL5HTt

Hope Carpenter Repents, Apologizes to SC Megachurch for First Time Since Husband Ron Carpenter Revealed Marital Woes

Hope Hilley Carpenter, wife of Pastor Ron Carpenter, has addressed for the very first time their marital woes that were made public last year before the congregation she and her husband founded over 20 years ago. Mrs. Carpenter repented and apologized to members of Redemption World Outreach Center, but did not cite the specific sins or behavior she regards as stumbling blocks to her husband, family and church community.



via The Christian Post Church & Ministries http://ift.tt/1kmiWXh

Kong Hee's City Harvest Megachurch Celebrates 25th Year Anniversary Amid High-Profile Trial

Pastor Kong Hee's City Harvest Church, one of the biggest megachurches in Singapore, has celebrated its 25th year anniversary despite the ongoing high-profile trial of Kong and five other church officials accused of misusing millions in church funds.



via The Christian Post Church & Ministries http://ift.tt/1AycoJR

Thought for the evening of Wed July 30, 2014

Verse

"Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

— joh 6:37

Thought

No limit is set to the duration of this promise. It does not merely say, "I will not cast out a sinner at his first coming," but, "I will in no wise cast out." The original reads, "I will not, not cast out," or "I will never, never cast out." The text means, that Christ will not at first reject a believer; and that as he will not do it at first, so he will not to the last.

But suppose the believer sins after coming? "If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." But suppose that believers backslide? "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him." But believers may fall under temptation! "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." But the believer may fall into sin as David did! Yes, but he will "Purge them with hyssop, and they shall be clean; he will wash them and they shall be whiter than snow"; "From all their iniquities will I cleanse them."

"Once in Christ, in Christ for ever,

Nothing from his love can sever."

"I give unto my sheep," saith he, "eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." What sayest thou to this, O trembling feeble mind? Is not this a precious mercy, that coming to Christ, thou dost not come to One who will treat thee well for a little while, and then send thee about thy business, but he will receive thee and make thee his bride, and thou shalt be his for ever? Receive no longer the spirit of bondage again to fear, but the spirit of adoption whereby thou shalt cry, Abba, Father! Oh! the grace of these words: "I will in no wise cast out."

Devotional provided by Heartlight^®

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via Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon http://ift.tt/16xq0Ed

Thought for the morning of Wed July 30, 2014

Verse

"And when he thought thereon, he wept."

— mr 14:72

Thought

It has been thought by some that as long as Peter lived, the fountain of his tears began to flow whenever he remembered his denying his Lord. It is not unlikely that it was so, (for his sin was very great, and grace in him had afterwards a perfect work. This same experience is common to all the redeemed family according to the degree in which the Spirit of God has removed the natural heart of stone. We, like Peter, remember our boastful promise: "Though all men shall forsake thee, yet will not I." We eat our own words with the bitter herbs of repentance. When we think of what we vowed we would be, and of what we have been, we may weep whole showers of grief. He thought on his denying his Lord. The place in which he did it, the little cause which led him into such heinous sin, the oaths and blasphemies with which he sought to confirm his falsehood, and the dreadful hardness of heart which drove him to do so again and yet again. Can we, when we are reminded of our sins, and their exceeding sinfulness, remain stolid and stubborn? Will we not make our house a Bochim, and cry unto the Lord for renewed assurances of pardoning love? May we never take a dry-eyed look at sin, lest ere long we have a tongue parched in the flames of hell. Peter also thought upon his Master's look of love. The Lord followed up the cock's warning voice with an admonitory look of sorrow, pity, and love. That glance was never out of Peter's mind so long as he lived. It was far more effectual than ten thousand sermons would have been without the Spirit. The penitent apostle would be sure to weep when he recollected the Saviour's full forgiveness, which restored him to his former place. To think that we have offended so kind and good a Lord is more than sufficient reason for being constant weepers. Lord, smite our rocky hearts, and make the waters flow.

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Matthew 5:14,16

““You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”



via Bible Gateway's Verse of the Day http://ift.tt/1qJPEo8

Family Trademarks

The Aran Islands, off the west coast of Ireland, are known for their beautiful sweaters. Patterns are woven into the fabric using sheep’s wool to craft the garments. Many of them relate to the culture and folklore of these small islands, but some are more personal. Each family on the islands has its own trademark pattern, which is so distinctive that if a fisherman were to drown it is said that he could be identified simply by examining his sweater for the family trademark.

via Our Daily Bread http://ift.tt/1zsAW5v

'When God Left the Building' Film Director: The American Church Is Dying

A new documentary, "When God Left the Building," slated for release in August, will examine the decline of the American church and the overall deteriorating spiritual condition of the United States.



via The Christian Post Church & Ministries http://ift.tt/1nFtU9U

A Different Kingdom - A Different Economy

via parablesblog http://ift.tt/1xvZCag

US Conference of Catholic Bishops Sends 1,200 Bibles to Illegal Immigrant Children

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has distributed over 1,200 Spanish language Bibles to illegal immigrant children and adults who are being detained by U.S. Border Patrol near Nogales, Arizona.



via The Christian Post Church & Ministries http://ift.tt/1AvzhO4

Alabama Church Holds 'Spa Day' for Homeless Men

A congregation in Alabama has recently hosted a "Spa Day" for the homeless men in their neighborhood.



via The Christian Post Church & Ministries http://ift.tt/1zrFOYv

The first and last women mentioned in the bible

Jezebel, Byam Shaw, 1898.

I recently studied the four women of Revelation . My favorite books are Genesis and Revelation. I love firsts and lasts, the beginnings and endings of things. The 4 women of Revelation are the Jezebel of Rev 2 representing the pagan church, Woman clothed with the Sun in Rev 12 representing Israel, the Whore of Babylon of Rev 17 representing the apostate church, and the Wife of Rev 21 representing the true church.



So here is how the Holy Spirit extended my thinking some more. I was thinking about the covenant of marriage as described in the bible and reading some passages from the bible.



I took a break and was watching a tv show online from 15 years ago that used to be on the Pax channel, called Hope Island. It is a family oriented drama, a kind of faith show. It is an excellent show, the best scripted drama Pax ever put on, and it got high reviews and fan raves. So they canceled it right away. But enough about my grief.



In the episode I was watching, two main characters are getting married. She is 25 and still lives at home, not with her intended husband-to-be. Even by 1999 standards this was unusual. So the ceremony was concluded with all due gravitas and it was good, and I got to thinking about marriage and what it means to be a wife.



And then I realized that in my penchant for thinking of extremes, firsts and lasts, that if I learned in my study time a few days ago the last woman mentioned in the bible is "Wife/Bride".

Whore of Babylon, Russian engraving, 1800s

Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” (Revelation 21:9)



The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” (Revelation 22:17)



The first woman mentioned in the bible was wife also!



And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:22-25)



God takes marriage very, VERY seriously. In watching the very good clip of Ryan Anderson of the Heritage Foundation explaining why gay marriage doesn't exist, it hammers the point home even more. And not just homosexual marriage, bigamy or polygamy is an affront to God. Divorce is also, if done under any conditions but the allowances given in the bible . The first woman is mentioned as wife in Genesis and at the end in Revelation the entire human history is seen to be God's gathering a wife for His Son.

Margaret Murray Prior, 1882 wedding dress

It also brings home the importance of women in God's plan. Complementarians know this, but egalitarians don't. God loves His people. He made two genders and two genders only. This is for many reasons, some obvious and some known only to God. But one thing is sure, one reason was so that we could unite and form a marital union ordained by God, grown by God, and pleasing to God.



And pleasing God is the thing for which we are made.



For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10).

Angels are an amazing part of the created order

Angels figure very, very prominently in the NT. People don't really know this, or they overlook angels int he created order. At the other end of the scale, some are so preoccupied with angels they nearly fall into angel worship.



In terms of the Providence of God, if Ezekiel's wheels within wheels are a kind of visible/invisible machinery of providence (as Spurgeon described it in his sermon "God's Providence" #3114 ), then perhaps the other angels are also a kind of visible/invisible machinery of God's providence, like we glimpsed in Jacob's ladder. (Genesis 28:12)



Dr RC Sproul has two lectures available on angels, part 1 & 2 . He said the Greek word for angel appears in the NT more often than does the Greek word for sin (hamartanó). It also appears more often than the Greek word for love (agape).

Chris Koelle Book of Revelation Graphic Novel

Sproul taught from Hebrews and Colossians and also 2 Kings, and said it was obvious given the texts devoted them that there had been a problem in the first century of people giving them junior deity status and ascribing worship to them, with even Paul & Silas being mistaken for angels.



But with all the warnings not to overestimate angels in their position, neither does the NT deny the importance of them, Sproul said.



He also said something interesting,

Part of the problem we have with angels, is that we tend to associate angels with the supernatural realm. We think of the angels as being a supernatural being. In one sense it is correct to call angels a supernatural being. In another sense it's quite dangerous to refer to them as supernatural beings, because the one thing that's clear in the scriptures about the nature of angels is that they belong to nature. They belong to the created order. Angels are not divine. Angels are creatures, part of the original creation that God made. In THAT sense, angels are natural beings.

The reason they are looked at as supernatural beings is because of their constituent nature. The bible tells us they are creatures, but they differ from us and animals and plants in that their nature is a spirit nature rather than a physical or a material nature. Because they are spirit beings under normal circumstances, they remain invisible to the naked eye. Unless they manifest themselves in a kind of angelophany, their basic nature is invisible, dwelling in a realm that is invisible to us.

RC Sproul

Sproul said, how often do we think of angels? Of course we're not to adore them, or be preoccupied with them, but we are to give them due meditation, as they are an important part of the order and are referred to frequently in the bible. He said we need to be thinking about why there is such a heavy concentration of angels at certain times in history.



This was something that was brought to my attention back some years when I listened to John MacArthur preach through Revelation . It was an eye-opening series in many ways.



Sproul's lectures focused on the angels as messengers and angels as ministering spirits. But that is not all they are. Angels are also vehicles of Judgment. It is angels who mainly bring the judgments of Revelation. For example,



Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. ... Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them. The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. (Revelation 8:2, 6-7)



In addition to angels being part of the machinery of God's providence, messengers, ministering agents, judgment-bringers, they are also warriors.

Archangel Michael fighting the Dragon, Durer 1497

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven (Revelation 12:7)



When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:15-17)



Angels are an amazing part of the created order! I recommend both of the Sproul lectures. They are about 25 minutes each.



RC Sproul: Angels Part 1

RC Sproul: Angels part 2



Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones also has a series on angels, here

S. Lewis Johnson preached about angels from Hebrews 1:4-6, Angels Worship the Son!

John MacArthur preached "Angels- God's Invisible Army "



Enjoy learning about angels, our ministering helpers, messengers of God, fighters against evil for our Holy Trinity.

Pastor Carl Lentz Says 'Religion Is Dead;' Prefers 'Relationship With God'

Hillsong NYC Pastor Carl Lentz has said that his church does not use the word "religion" because he finds it to be outdated, and says that he prefers the term "relationship with God."



via The Christian Post Church & Ministries http://ift.tt/1nDtC3f

Thought for the morning of Tue July 29, 2014

Verse

"Nevertheless I am continually with thee."

— ps 73:23

Thought

"Nevertheless,"-As if, notwithstanding all the foolishness and ignorance which David had just been confessing to God, not one atom the less was it true and certain that David was saved and accepted, and that the blessing of being constantly in God's presence was undoubtedly his. Fully conscious of his own lost estate, and of the deceitfulness and vileness of his nature, yet, by a glorious outburst of faith, he sings "nevertheless I am continually with thee." Believer, you are forced to enter into Asaph's confession and acknowledgment, endeavour in like spirit to say "nevertheless, since I belong to Christ I am continually with God!" By this is meant continually upon his mind, he is always thinking of me for my good. Continually before his eye;-the eye of the Lord never sleepeth, but is perpetually watching over my welfare. Continually in his hand, so that none shall be able to pluck me thence. Continually on his heart, worn there as a memorial, even as the high priest bore the names of the twelve tribes upon his heart for ever. Thou always thinkest of me, O God. The bowels of thy love continually yearn towards me. Thou art always making providence work for my good. Thou hast set me as a signet upon thine arm; thy love is strong as death, many waters cannot quench it; neither can the floods drown it. Surprising grace! Thou seest me in Christ, and though in myself abhorred, thou beholdest me as wearing Christ's garments, and washed in his blood, and thus I stand accepted in thy presence. I am thus continually in thy favour-"continually with thee." Here is comfort for the tried and afflicted soul; vexed with the tempest within-look at the calm without. "Nevertheless"-O say it in thy heart, and take the peace it gives. "Nevertheless I am continually with thee."

Devotional provided by Heartlight^®

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Thought for the evening of Tue July 29, 2014

Verse

"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me."

— joh 6:37

Thought

This declaration involves the doctrine of election: there are some whom the Father gave to Christ. It involves the doctrine of effectual calling: these who are given must and shall come; however stoutly they may set themselves against it, yet they shall be brought out of darkness into God's marvellous light. It teaches us the indispensable necessity of faith; for even those who are given to Christ are not saved except they come to Jesus. Even they must come, for there is no other way to heaven but by the door, Christ Jesus. All that the Father gives to our Redeemer must come to him, therefore none can come to heaven except they come to Christ.

Oh! the power and majesty which rest in the words "shall come." He does not say they have power to come, nor they may come if they will, but they "shall come." The Lord Jesus doth by his messengers, his word, and his Spirit, sweetly and graciously compel men to come in that they may eat of his marriage supper; and this he does, not by any violation of the free agency of man, but by the power of his grace. I may exercise power over another man's will, and yet that other man's will may be perfectly free, because the constraint is exercised in a manner accordant with the laws of the human mind. Jehovah Jesus knows how, by irresistible arguments addressed to the understanding, by mighty reasons appealing to the affections, and by the mysterious influence of his Holy Spirit operating upon all the powers and passions of the soul, so to subdue the whole man, that whereas he was once rebellious, he yields cheerfully to his government, subdued by sovereign love. But how shall those be known whom God hath chosen? By this result: that they do willingly and joyfully accept Christ, and come to him with simple and unfeigned faith, resting upon him as all their salvation and all their desire. Reader, have you thus come to Jesus?

Devotional provided by Heartlight^®

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Psalm 119:93

“I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.”



via Bible Gateway's Verse of the Day http://ift.tt/1oE0gC4

Confident Access

Mont Saint-Michel is a tidal island located about a half-mile off the coast of Normandy, France. For centuries it has been the site of an abbey and monastery that has attracted religious pilgrims. Until the construction of a causeway, it was notorious for its dangerous access that resulted in the death of some pilgrims. At low tide it is encompassed by sand banks, and at high tide it is surrounded by water. Accessing the island was a cause for fear.

via Our Daily Bread http://ift.tt/1oDw5La

Appeals Court Rules in Favor of Breakaway Illinois Diocese over Episcopal Church in Property Suit

An appeals court has ruled in favor of a small diocese in Illinois that broke away from The Episcopal Church over theological differences, including the appointment of openly gay Gene Robinson as bishop.



via The Christian Post Church & Ministries http://ift.tt/1tTVOj3

Ryan Anderson explains why gay marriage doesn't exist

Here is a 4-minute clip well worth watching for its logical, lawyerly speech regarding marriage. The responder is Ryan Anderson. Ryan T. Anderson researches and writes about marriage and religious liberty as the William E. Simon Fellow at The Heritage Foundation.



The homosexual man at the microphone is asking why he, as a married gay man, can't have the same tax advantage when it comes time to file IRS tax returns, as a heterosexually married couple.









Anderson is brilliant in his response. The homosexual man doesn't seem tounderstand the underlying principle of what Anderson tried to get at three times, so finally Anderson answers the gay man's question within its limited scope. But he does that brilliantly too.

Mission: Peru

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)



We just prayed over and sent our 12-member mission team off to Lima, Peru. May God bless their steps and carry their words on the wind of the Spirit. Lord, may You loosen their tongues so they boldly speak of the Savior. May angels minister to them, and smooth their way. Prepare divine appointments and receptive hearts. May You keep them in Your hand as they go out and share the Gospel to the ends of the world.



And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Historic Centre of Lima, Peru. Wiki CC. Photo by Martin St-Amant

Thought for the morning of Mon July 28, 2014

Verse

"So foolish was I, and ignorant; I was as a beast before thee."

— ps 73:22

Thought

Remember this is the confession of the man after God's own heart; and in telling us his inner life, he writes, "So foolish was I, and ignorant." The word "foolish," here, means more than it signifies in ordinary language. David, in a former verse of the Psalm, writes, "I was envious at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked," which shows that the folly he intended had sin in it. He puts himself down as being thus "foolish," and adds a word which is to give intensity to it; "so foolish was I." How foolish he could not tell. It was a sinful folly, a folly which was not to be excused by frailty, but to be condemned because of its perverseness and wilful ignorance, for he had been envious of the present prosperity of the ungodly, forgetful of the dreadful end awaiting all such. And are we better than David that we should call ourselves wise! Do we profess that we have attained perfection, or to have been so chastened that the rod has taken all our wilfulness out of us? Ah, this were pride indeed! If David was foolish, how foolish should we be in our own esteem if we could but see ourselves! Look back, believer: think of your doubting God when he has been so faithful to you-think of your foolish outcry of "Not so, my Father," when he crossed his hands in affliction to give you the larger blessing; think of the many times when you have read his providences in the dark, misinterpreted his dispensations, and groaned out, "All these things are against me," when they are all working together for your good! Think how often you have chosen sin because of its pleasure, when indeed, that pleasure was a root of bitterness to you! Surely if we know our own heart we must plead guilty to the indictment of a sinful folly; and conscious of this "foolishness," we must make David's consequent resolve our own-"Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel."

Devotional provided by Heartlight^®

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Thought for the evening of Mon July 28, 2014

Verse

"Who went about doing good."

— ac 10:38

Thought

Few words, but yet an exquisite miniature of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are not many touches, but they are the strokes of a master's pencil. Of the Saviour and only of the Saviour is it true in the fullest, broadest, and most unqualified sense. "He went about doing good." From this description it is evident that he did good personally. The evangelists constantly tell us that he touched the leper with his own finger, that he anointed the eyes of the blind, and that in cases where he was asked to speak the word only at a distance, he did not usually comply, but went himself to the sick bed, and there personally wrought the cure. A lesson to us, if we would do good, to do it ourselves. Give alms with your own hand; a kind look, or word, will enhance the value of the gift. Speak to a friend about his soul; your loving appeal will have more influence than a whole library of tracts. Our Lord's mode of doing good sets forth his incessant activity! He did not only the good which came close to hand, but he "went about" on his errands of mercy. Throughout the whole land of Judea there was scarcely a village or a hamlet which was not gladdened by the sight of him. How this reproves the creeping, loitering manner, in which many professors serve the Lord. Let us gird up the loins of our mind, and be not weary in well doing. Does not the text imply that Jesus Christ went out of his way to do good? "He went about doing good." He was never deterred by danger or difficulty. He sought out the objects of his gracious intentions. So must we. If old plans will not answer, we must try new ones, for fresh experiments sometimes achieve more than regular methods. Christ's perseverance, and the unity of his purpose, are also hinted at, and the practical application of the subject may be summed up in the words, "He hath left us an example that we should follow in his steps."

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Philippians 3:14

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”



via Bible Gateway's Verse of the Day http://ift.tt/1oyMh0m

Psalm 31:14 NLT

But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, "You are my God!"

via K-LOVE Encouraging Word http://ift.tt/1l4pFQy

Thought for the morning of Sun July 27, 2014

Verse

"Exceeding great and precious promises."

— 2pe 1:4

Thought

If you would know experimentally the preciousness of the promises, and enjoy them in your own heart, meditate much upon them. There are promises which are like grapes in the wine-press; if you will tread them the juice will flow. Thinking over the hallowed words will often be the prelude to their fulfilment. While you are musing upon them, the boon which you are seeking will insensibly come to you. Many a Christian who has thirsted for the promise has found the favour which it ensured gently distilling into his soul even while he has been considering the divine record; and he has rejoiced that ever he was led to lay the promise near his heart.

But besides meditating upon the promises, seek in thy soul to receive them as being the very words of God. Speak to thy soul thus, "If I were dealing with a man's promise, I should carefully consider the ability and the character of the man who had covenanted with me. So with the promise of God; my eye must not be so much fixed upon the greatness of the mercy-that may stagger me; as upon the greatness of the promiser-that will cheer me. My soul, it is God, even thy God, God that cannot lie, who speaks to thee. This word of his which thou art now considering is as true as his own existence. He is a God unchangeable. He has not altered the thing which has gone out of his mouth, nor called back one single consolatory sentence. Nor doth he lack any power; it is the God that made the heavens and the earth who has spoken thus. Nor can he fail in wisdom as to the time when he will bestow the favours, for he knoweth when it is best to give and when better to withhold. Therefore, seeing that it is the word of a God so true, so immutable, so powerful, so wise, I will and must believe the promise." If we thus meditate upon the promises, and consider the Promiser, we shall experience their sweetness, and obtain their fulfilment.

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Thought for the evening of Sun July 27, 2014

Verse

"Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?"

— ro 8:33

Thought

Most blessed challenge! How unanswerable it is! Every sin of the elect was laid upon the great Champion of our salvation, and by the atonement carried away. There is no sin in God's book against his people: he seeth no sin in Jacob, neither iniquity in Israel; they are justified in Christ for ever. When the guilt of sin was taken away, the punishment of sin was removed. For the Christian there is no stroke from God's angry hand-nay, not so much as a single frown of punitive justice. The believer may be chastised by his Father, but God the Judge has nothing to say to the Christian, except "I have absolved thee: thou art acquitted." For the Christian there is no penal death in this world, much less any second death. He is completely freed from all the punishment as well as the guilt of sin, and the power of sin is removed too. It may stand in our way, and agitate us with perpetual warfare; but sin is a conquered foe to every soul in union with Jesus. There is no sin which a Christian cannot overcome if he will only rely upon his God to do it. They who wear the white robe in heaven overcame through the blood of the Lamb, and we may do the same. No lust is too mighty, no besetting sin too strongly entrenched; we can overcome through the power of Christ. Do believe it, Christian, that thy sin is a condemned thing. It may kick and struggle, but it is doomed to die. God has written condemnation across its brow. Christ has crucified it, "nailing it to his cross." Go now and mortify it, and the Lord help you to live to his praise, for sin with all its guilt, shame, and fear, is gone.

"Here's pardon for transgressions past,

It matters not how black their cast;

And, O my soul, with wonder view,

For sins to come here's pardon too."

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Hebrews 12:1

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,”



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TORAH PORTION FROM JULY 27-AUGUST 02,2014

JEWISH KING JESUS IS COMING AT THE RAPTURE FOR US IN THE CLOUDS-DON'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.THE BIBLE TAKEN LITERALLY- WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE MAKES GOOD SENSE-SEEK NO OTHER SENSE-LEST YOU END UP IN NONSENSE.GET SAVED NOW- CALL ON JESUS TODAY.THE ONLY SAVIOR OF THE WHOLE EARTH - NO OTHER



TORAH PORTION FROM JULY 27-AUGUST 02,2014

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Divine Perspective

Jason took a trip to New York during spring break. One afternoon he and some friends piled into a cab and headed for the Empire State Building. To Jason, the ride on the ground seemed chaotic and dangerous. But when he got to the observation deck of the skyscraper and looked down on the city streets, to his amazement he saw order and design. What a difference a change in perspective made!

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Crisis on the Border

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Teens plant white flags atop Brooklyn Bridge

This is interesting on so many levels. First, the kids waltzed up the Brooklyn Bridge undetected, despite a plethora of cameras and herds of patrolling terror cops. Turns out the video is too blurry and doesn't have facial recognition capability. Okey dokey then. Thanks for the million$.



Second, I get the joke. I mean, it could be that the suspects, four skateboarding teens, planted a white flag to make a statement that we must surrender. But I think they are making a statement that we HAVE surrendered. As a nation. Here is the story. It is still unfolding.

Skateboarder, friends sought by cops in Brooklyn Bridge flag switch

A skateboarder and four young pals emerged Wednesday as the unlikely suspects who eluded around-the-clock NYPD security to scale the venerable Brooklyn Bridge and raise two white flags. While cops had no real leads in the second day of their probe, the five youths wanted for questioning were described as in their late teens or early 20s, a source told the Daily News. There’s still no explanation for the removal of two U.S. flags or the bizarre substitution of two bleached-white American flags left flying above the bridge’s two towers Tuesday. New Yorkers on the bridge amid ramped-up security Wednesday were still wondering how anyone could reach the top of the two towers on the 131-year-old landmark without detection. “It’s crazy that someone was able to do this when there are all these cops around,” said Kristen Ames, 30, who walks across the bridge to work every day.

Millions of Manhattanites and Brooklyners awoke to white flags on top of the most iconic NY landmark in the city and one of the most identifiable landmarks in the world. I understand that this might have cause a great deal of fear on the minds of those who lived through the worst terror incident on our soil, ever, the September 11, 2001 Islamic attacks.



But I think it is more of a teenage prank joke. Putting a white flag up to bring a visual to what we all already know: our nation's president has caused this nation to capitulate. At least that's how I read it.



It got me thinking about flags and banners. I recently posted a story about how the American Embassy in Israel hoisted a homosexual rainbow flag in support of Gay Days in Tel Aviv . That sparked outrage and anger in the US and abroad.

Flags mean things. They are a potent symbol.



When my husband and I lived aboard our sailboat, we had anchored in the James River in Virginia, near William and Mary College. It was an out of the way anchorage, far upriver, and not many cruisers made it up there. We thought we had the anchorage to ourselves, until we heard a cannon shot! I was the Tall Ship HMS Rose, a training Tall Ship. They came in gangbusters. They circled us, downed their national flag and hoisted the pirate Jolly Roger . We got a huge kick out of that. They were probably training the cadets on rope work. We saw them scrambling up and down and everywhere. They shot the cannon once more and then re-hoisted the national flag and headed back downriver. It happened so fast we thought it was a mirage! That was twenty years ago but I still get a chuckle from remembering it.

HMS Rose hoisting the Jolly Roger

Back in pirate times though, if a ship downed its national flag and hoisted the Jolly Roger, you knew you were in for the fight of your life, literally. You fought and maybe died, or you surrendered and definitely died. The Jolly Roger struck fear. It meant something.



Who doesn't feel a certain amount of national pride in thinking of the American flag planted on the moon? I do.

Source- Times Herald

By our flag you know who we are. Back in when I was traveling to Europe a lot, I noticed a decline in affection for Americans between 1990 and 1998. By the end of the decade, Americans were sewing Canadian Maple Leaf ensigns on their backpacks and luggage, in hopes of getting better service at the least, and to avoid a fight at the most.



A white flag on an important landmark like the Brooklyn bridge, and BTW an important piece of infrastructure, is a signal, whether the teens intended it to be or not. They perhaps performed a prank, or maybe something more intentional. They haven't been caught and brought to justice yet so we don't know. But a white flag means surrender. Has America surrendered? I believe so. Many fine Americans are still willing to fight for our liberty, but if our national life blood is in the hands of the top officials, then yes, I do believe we've surrendered.



How I wish the nation would surrender to Jesus, how I wish the capitulation would really mean that every knee is bowing and every tongue is confessing. I pray that almost every night. I pray, "Lord, will tomorrow be the day that every knee shall bow and Your name shall be lifted in glory?" I can't wait for that.



God spoke to Moses. He told Moses to tell the Joshua and the Israelites that He purposed to utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.



And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The LORD Is My Banner (Exodus 17:15)



The Hebrew word in this verse for banner means "a standard, ensign, signal, sign." Right now on earth there are a multitude of flags for 193 nations, a number of emblems, like the perverted rainbow flag, and banners galore. There is even a Christian flag. But someday there will be ONE Leader, ONE banner, ONE symbol. We will all identify under it, the cross, and our Leader is Jesus. Everyone who surrendered to Him before death will be given white, this time meaning the righteousness of Jesus imputed to us.



What a day that will be.

Source

Isaiah 26:4 NLT

Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

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Thought for the evening of Sat July 26, 2014

Verse

"That he may set him with princes."

— ps 113:8

Thought

Our spiritual privileges are of the highest order. "Among princes" is the place of select society. "Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." Speak of select society, there is none like this! "We are a chosen generation, a peculiar people, a royal priesthood." "We are come unto the general assembly and church of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven." The saints have courtly audience: princes have admittance to royalty when common people must stand afar off. The child of God has free access to the inner courts of heaven. "For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." "Let us come boldly," says the apostle, "to the throne of the heavenly grace." Among princes there is abundant wealth, but what is the abundance of princes compared with the riches of believers? for "all things are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's." "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" Princes have peculiar power. A prince of heaven's empire has great influence: he wields a sceptre in his own domain; he sits upon Jesus' throne, for "He hath made us kings and priests unto God, and we shall reign for ever and ever." We reign over the united kingdom of time and eternity. Princes, again, have special honour. We may look down upon all earth-born dignity from the eminence upon which grace has placed us. For what is human grandeur to this, "He hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus"? We share the honour of Christ, and compared with this, earthly splendours are not worth a thought. Communion with Jesus is a richer gem than ever glittered in imperial diadem. Union with the Lord is a coronet of beauty outshining all the blaze of imperial pomp.

Devotional provided by Heartlight^®

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Thought for the morning of Sat July 26, 2014

Verse

"Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge, etc."

— 2pe 1:5, 6

Thought

If thou wouldest enjoy the eminent grace of the full assurance of faith, under the blessed Spirit's influence, and assistance, do what the Scripture tells thee, "Give diligence." Take care that thy faith is of the right kind-that it is not a mere belief of doctrine, but a simple faith, depending on Christ, and on Christ alone. Give diligent heed to thy courage. Plead with God that he would give thee the face of a lion, that thou mayest, with a consciousness of right, go on boldly. Study well the Scriptures, and get knowledge; for a knowledge of doctrine will tend very much to confirm faith. Try to understand God's Word; let it dwell in thy heart richly.

When thou hast done this, "Add to thy knowledge temperance." Take heed to thy body: be temperate without. Take heed to thy soul: be temperate within. Get temperance of lip, life, heart, and thought. Add to this, by God's Holy Spirit, patience; ask him to give thee that patience which endureth affliction, which, when it is tried, shall come forth as gold. Array yourself with patience, that you may not murmur nor be depressed in your afflictions. When that grace is won look to godliness. Godliness is something more than religion. Make God's glory your object in life; live in his sight; dwell close to him; seek for fellowship with him; and thou hast "godliness"; and to that add brotherly love. Have a love to all the saints: and add to that a charity, which openeth its arms to all men, and loves their souls. When you are adorned with these jewels, and just in proportion as you practise these heavenly virtues, will you come to know by clearest evidence "your calling and election." "Give diligence," if you would get assurance, for lukewarmness and doubting very naturally go hand in hand.

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Hebrews 11:1

“[Faith in Action] Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”



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The Work Of Our Hands

Spring had just turned into summer and crops were beginning to produce fruit as our train rolled across the fertile landscape of West Michigan’s shoreline. Strawberries had ripened, and people were kneeling in the morning dew to pick the sweet fruit. Blueberry bushes were soaking up sunshine from the sky and nutrients from the earth.

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Not All Millennials Want a Trendy Church, Says Young Christian Author

Millennials are not necessarily inclined to attend a church that mixes sacred tradition with secular trends, says Christian writer and author Andrea Palpant Dilley.



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Catholic Television Station to Open Studio at Former Crystal Cathedral

An Alabama-based Catholic television station will be opening a new studio at the campus of the former Crystal Cathedral of Orange County, California.



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Theologian Says 'Love' Is the New Cultural Apologetic Affirming Immoral Activities Such as Assisted Suicide

Advocates for behavior considered immoral by Christians who believe the Bible is God's inerrant word, have successfully used the idea of "love" to affirm homoerotic behavior, to redefine marriage and family, to justify pedophilia, and as theologian and pastor James Emery White recently pointed out, to justify assisted suicide.



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Psalm 9:10 NLT

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

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