Martyrs

Yet not as I will but as You will. Jesus' prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus' heart must have been so very broken at the thought of being separated from You Abba. The pain of His broken heart must have masked the pain inflicted on His broken body. I always thought if I was told to renounce You or suffer torture I, being a coward, might renounce You. Now as I think of the pain of a broken heart if separated from You I think that my body could suffer anything being done to it. Martyrdom must be a deeply spiritual thing. Lord as You srengthen and empower us in our daily lives You must really empower martyrs when they are suffering. I love you so much Lord. I pray Ephesians 3:14-21 for my family, friends and others that no matter what their circumstances they would renounce their sins and say Yet not as I will but as You will.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

God is so amazing

God is so amazing and sometimes I can hardly believe how dense I am. November 11th I was sitting at the computer thinking I'm hungry, missing a friend, thinking of the times in my life when I feel lonely and I always turn to food. As I'm sitting there trying to think of what I'm hungry for, thinking that I've eaten so I don't need food but still craving something and thinking of what food I have yet knowing that none of it will satisfy me I finally cry and ask God why I always feel this way and turn to food when I feel lonely and the food doesn't satisfy me. God said "My Word satisfies" and instantly the hunger for food was gone, the loneliness was gone, I had peace and knew I wanted to / needed to read the Bible. God is so-o amazing. My soul, my craving was satisfied as soon as I started reading the Word.

the Bible versus the book of mormon

check out the following link. christianity has history, geography, archaeology, flora, fauna, metallurgy, writing, coins, warfare, temples, historical figures to support the Bible, there is no evidence at all to support the book of mormon. two of the people interviewed are ex-mormon anthropologists and archaeologists who were trying to prove that the book of mormon was true. couldn't do it. there is evidence to prove that Jesus Christ of the Bible existed. an LDS anthropologist said the Jesus Christ of the book of mormon existed only in the imagination of joseph smith. the bible - an authentic historical account. the book of mormon - 19th century book of religious fiction.

it's long but well worth the time to watch it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1mFdO1wB08

teaching that turns people off from church

after what i heard at two different churches this morning it's no wonder some christians leave the church and why some christians give the church a bad name.

my saturday night church is a mennonite church. my sunday morning church is a free methodist church but as my grandchildren were going skiing last sunday i didn't go to church in mission. instead i decided to check out a nearby church in abby. while looking at the brochures at the info table at the alliance church i overheard an older woman ask about a camp squeah brochure. looking at the brochure she said "camp squeah, isn't that a mennonite camp?" a gentleman responded yes and she said in what i thought was an indignant voice "what's it doing here?" the gentleman said that maybe people liked variety or in case their camp was full.

i thought about unity how we are all one in the body of Christ and wondered what the teaching was at that church that this woman would speak the way she did.

i was really early for the service and decided to check out another nearby church. the lead pastor said that a pastor from this pentecostal church had crossed the river to mission and started a church service in the local theatre. i have heard great things about this theatre church. however the lead pastor spoke of this theatre church service as "touching a segment of the community that we wouldn't be comfortable with." i could not believe it. 9 people were baptized there there sunday morning. with teaching such as i heard they are going to grow up to be just as hypocritical as the pastor and congregation.

needless to say i won't be going back there.

new year's resolution

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2 (NIV)

I suspect Paul only had one resolution on his list: “This year I resolve to know nothing but Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

Paul’s message is radically simple: Salvation is in Christ alone. What does this mean?

It’s not Christ plus your good behavior.
It’s not Christ plus the number of Bible verses you memorize.
It’s not Christ plus your tithe or the church you attend.
It’s not Christ plus wisdom from the latest Christian seminar.
It’s simply Christ plus nothing. Christ and Christ alone.

2009 Purpose Driven Life.

God's gift today

today i was thanking God for the precious gift of His Son. as i do sometimes in monday night class i asked Him if He had another gift for me. He said peace. i was feeling sad that i couldn't spend christmas with the one person i really wanted to spend christmas with. God knew what i needed and He gave it to me. praise God. thank You Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Christmas

we have 2 feet of snow and i'm sitting indoors at my computer feeling sad because the one person i want to spend christmas with isn't here.

christmas isn't about getting things. christmas is about the King who was born today. God who, because of His incredible love for us, took on flesh and lived among us. who, because of His incredible love for us, suffered, died and rose again, for us, because of His incredible love.

everything He did He did for us out of love. thank you Jesus. happy birthday!

Jesus is better and greater than Santa

Santa lives at the North Pole.
JESUS is everywhere.
Santa rides in a sleigh
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.
Santa comes but once a year
JESUS is an ever present help.
Santa fills your stockings with goodies
JESUS supplies all your needs.
Santa comes down your chimney uninvited
JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.
You have to stand in line to see Santa
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.
Santa lets you sit on his lap
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.
Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?"
JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.
Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly
JESUS has a heart full of love.
All Santa can offer is HO HO HO
JESUS offers health, help and hope.
Santa says "You better not cry"
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.
Santa's little helpers make toys
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.
Santa may make you chuckle but
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.
While Santa puts gifts under your tree
JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.
It's obvious there is really no comparison.
We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.
We need to put Christ back in Christmas.
Jesus is still the reason for the season.

May the Lord Bless and Watch over you and your loved ones this Christmas 2008
And may He prosper and bless the work of your hands in the New Year 2009.