Master's Call

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. John 3:8 ❤

Soar

The best way to soar... is for us to spread our wings in faith.

[Author Unknown]

Isaiah 40:31 ... But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Hebrews 11:1 ... Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 Corinthians 5:7 ...  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) ❤

I Give Up

Here I am, standing on the edge.
I can't make it alone anymore.
I fall to my knees,


Lord, I give up. Forgive me.

I've come to the place,
Where you are is what I need.
I have no one to blame.
I give up, take away these sins.

Too long the road I've walked,
Carrying in my heart,
Those things I should cast aside.
This is where I give up.

Here I am, waiting for your love;
Waiting for your embrace,
Giving my soul and might to you.

Forgive me.

[ a prayer of surrender to the Lord by: Adam Herring]

Matthew 16:24 ... Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 

1 John 1:9 ... If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Acts 22:16 ... And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. ❤

Are You Saved?

John 3:17 ... For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Romans 10:13 ... For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

2 Timothy 1:9 ...  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, ❤

Notes from God

1) Will The Road You're On Get You To My Place? - God  


2) C'mon Over And Bring The Kids - God

 

3) What Part of "Thou Shalt Not..." Didn't You Understand? - God 


4) We Need To Talk - God


5) Keep Using My Name in Vain And I'll Make Rush Hour Longer! - God


6) Loved The Wedding, Invite Me To The Marriage - God


7) That "Love Thy Neighbor" Thing, I Meant It - God

 

8) I Love You...I Love You...I Love You... - God


9) Need a Marriage Counselor? I'm Available - God


10) Follow Me - God


11) Big Bang Theory? You've Got To Be Kidding - God


12) My Way Is The Highway - God


13) Need Directions? - God


14) Tell The Kids I Love Them - God


15) Have You Read My #1 Best Seller?  There Will Be A Test! - God


[message from the Internet]

Four Friends

Once upon a time there was a girl who had four friends.

She loved the fourth friend the most and adorned him with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies.  She gave him nothing but the best.

She also loved the third friend very much and was always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms.  However, she feared that one day he would leave her for another.

She also loved her second friend. He was her confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with her.  Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult times.

The girl's first friend was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom.  However, she did not love the first friend, although he loved her deeply, she hardly took notice of him!

One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered, "I now have four friends with me, but when I die, will I be alone."

Thus, she asked the fourth friend, "I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you.   Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"  "No way!", replied the fourth friend, and he walked away without another word.

His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart.

The sad girl then asked the third friend, "I loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"   "No!", replied the third friend. "Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to marry someone else!"  Her heart sank and turned cold.

She then asked the second friend, "I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me.  When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!", replied the second friend. "At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave."  His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was devastated.

Then a voice called out: 'I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go.' The girl looked up, and there was her first friend. He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect.

Greatly grieved, the girl said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!"

In truth, you have four friends in your lives:

Your fourth friend is your body.  No matter how much time and effort you lavish in making it look good, it will leave you when you die.

Your third friend is your possessions, status and wealth. When you die, it will all go to others.

Your second friend is your family and friends.  No matter how much they have been there for you, the furthest they can stay by you is up to the grave.

And your first friend is your spirit. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world.

However, your spirit is the only thing that will follow you where ever you go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of you that will follow you to the throne of God and continue with you throughout Eternity.

[Author Unknown]

Ecclesiastes 12:7 ... Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. 


Romans 8:6 ... For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.


John 6:63 ... It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Galatians 6:8 ...  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. ❤ 

Stairway to Heaven

Drifting on wings of an angel,
The stairway to Heaven unfolds,
The steps leading up to a city,
The pathways transparent of gold.

At the base of the ascending staircase,
A lamb sits soft at the door,
Surrounded by lilies and lions,
Grace has transcended the roars.

The Lamb offers peace in His presence,
Your fears He'll caress like a dove,
The soft gentle fleece of His body,
Will cover you up in His love.

Then soft as the wings of an angel,
He'll carry your cares to the door,
The Lamb knows the steps of the staircase,
He's traveled this pathway before.

The bright shining lights at the entrance,
Glowing like elegant gems,
Reflect the love of His shepherd,
As he beckons His Lamb to come in.

All of your burdens and heartaches,
Which the Lamb has offered to bear,
He lays at the feet of the Shepherd,
Whose love has invited them there.

Then drifting on wings of an angel,
The stairway to Heaven descends,
The powerful peace of the Lion,
Waiting soft in the heart of the Lamb.

[Jean Penner]

And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 

And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 

And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Genesis 28:12-14 ❤ 

It's Easier ...

It's easier to train up a child, than it is to repair an adult.

[Author Unknown]

Colossians 3:20 ... Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

Ephesians 6:4 ... And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Proverbs 22:6 ... Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. ❤

Make a Difference

A vacationing businessman was walking along a beach when he saw a young boy. Along the shore were many starfish that had been washed up by the tide and were sure to die before the tide returned. The boy was walking slowly along the shore and occasionally reached down and tossed the beached starfish back into the ocean.

The businessman, hoping to teach the boy a little lesson in common sense, walked up to the boy and said, “I have been watching what you are doing, son. You have a good heart, and I know you mean well, but do you realize how many beaches there are around here and how many starfish are dying on every beach every day? Surely such an industrious and kind hearted boy such as yourself could find something better to do with your time. Do you really think that what you are doing is going to make a difference?”

The boy looked up at the man, and then he looked down at a starfish by his feet. He picked up the starfish, and as he gently tossed it back into the ocean, he said, “It makes a difference to that one.”

[Author Unknown]

Philippians 2:3-4 ... Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. ❤

Love that Reaches

Love that reaches up is adoration.

Love that reaches across is affection.

Love that reaches down is grace.

[Donald Barnhouse]

 

2 Thessalonians 2:16 ... Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

 

1 Timothy 1:14 ... And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.



John 3:16-17 ... For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.


John 15:13 ... Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. ♥

All You Need is God

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.  Ephesians 3:17-19 ❤

Image: Creation Swap

Holy Ghost Power

I myself do nothing. The Holy Spirit accomplishes all through me.

[William Blake]

Luke 12:11-12 ... And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:  For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.



Acts 1:8 ... But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.



Romans 15:13 ... Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

John 15:5 ... I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 🕊 

Image: Creation Swap

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

He's got the whole world in His hands
He's got the whole world in His hands
He's got the whole world in His hands
He's got the whole world in His hands

John 13:3 ... Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

Genesis 14:19 ... And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

Psalm 103:19 ... The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. ❤

Jerusalem ~

As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.  Isaiah 31:5 ❤

Psalm 8

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! ❤

Stability

Hope is called the anchor of the soul because it gives stability to the Christian life. But hope is not simply a 'wish' (I wish that such-and-such would take place) rather, it is that which latches on to the certainty of the promises of the future that God has made.

[R.C. Sproul]

Hebrews 6:19... Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

Lamentations 3:22-24 ...  It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

Jeremiah 29:11 ... For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ❤

Beware

There are a lot of false prophets huffing and puffing in the pulpit. If you are not careful, they will blow your house down.

[Author Unknown]

Matthew 7:15 ... Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Matthew 7:26-27 ...   And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

1 John 4:1 … Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Matthew 10:16 ... Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.❤

Flame of Fire

God wants to flow through you with measureless power of divine utterance and grace till your whole body is a flame of fire.

[Smith Wigglesworth]

Song of Solomon 8:6 ... Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.

Luke 24:49 … And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Psalm 104:4 ... Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: ❤

God Hears

Jeremiah 29:12 ... Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

 1 John 5:14-15 ... And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.


Proverbs 15:29 ... The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. ❤

Psalm 122

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.

Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:

Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.

For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.

For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.

Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good. ❤  

Preach the Gospel

G o ye into all the world. 

(Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Matthew 28:19)

O bedience is required. 

(And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;  Hebrews 5:9)

S alvation is provided. 

(That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  Romans 10:9)

P reaching is commanded. 

(Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  Matthew 28:20)

E verlasting Life is promised. 

(For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  John 3:16)

L ove has provided it.

(Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  1 John 3:16)

[message from the Internet]

Romans 1:16 ... For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Luke 4:18 ... The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Romans 10:15 ... And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

1 Corinthians 1:17 ... For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. ❤  

Wherever I Open My Bible

I find my Lord in the Bible,

Wherever I chance to look;

He is the theme of the Bible,

The center and heart of the Book.

He is the Rose of Sharon,

He is the Lily fair;

Wherever I open my Bible,

The Lord of the Book is there.

He, at the Book's beginning,

Gave to the earth its form;

He is the Ark of shelter,

Bearing the brunt of the storm.

The Burning Bush of the desert,

The budding of Aaron's rod;

Wherever I look in the Bible,

I see the Son of God.

The Ram upon Mount Moriah,

The Ladder from earth to sky;

The Scarlet Cord in the window,

And the Serpent lifted high.

The Smitten Rock in the desert,

The Shepherd with staff and crook;

The face of my Lord I discover,

Wherever I open the Book.

He is the Seed of the Woman,

The Savior Virgin- born;

He is the Son of David,

Whom men rejected with scorn.

His garments of grace and beauty,

The stately Aaron deck;

Yet He is a Priest forever,

For He is Melchizedek.

Lord of eternal glory,

Whom John, the Apostle, saw;

Light of the Golden City,

Lamb without spot or flaw.

Bridegroom coming at midnight.

For whom the Virgins look;

Wherever I open my Bible,

I find my Lord in the Book.

[Author Unknown]

Deuteronomy 4:29 ... But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

Jeremiah 29:13 ... And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

John 1:1 ... In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ❤

The Spirit's Blessed Presence

As sacred oil, He anoints the head of the believer, sets him apart to the priesthood of saints, and gives him grace to execute his office aright.

As the only truly purifying water He cleanses us from the power of sin and sanctifies us unto holiness, working in us to will and to do of the Lord's good pleasure.

As the light, He manifested to us at first our lost estate, and now He reveals the Lord Jesus to us and in us, and guides us in the way of righteousness. Enlightened by His pure celestial ray, we walk no more in darkness but in the light of the Lord.

As fire, He both purges us from dross, and sets our consecrated nature on a blaze. He is the sacrificial flame by which we are enabled to offer our whole souls as a living sacrifice unto God.

As heavenly dew, He removes our barrenness and fertilizes our lives. O that He would drop from above upon us at this early hour! Such morning dew would be a sweet commencement for the day.

As the dove, with wings of peaceful love He broods over His Church and over the souls of believers.  He dispels the cares and doubts which mar the peace of His beloved. He descends upon the chosen and bears witness to their sonship by working in them a filial spirit by which they cry Abba, Father.

As the wind, He brings the breath of life to men; blowing where He wills He performs the quickening operations by which the spiritual creation is animated and sustained. Would to God, that we might feel His presence this day and every day.

[Sermon by: Charles H. Spurgeon]

Only God ...

Can turn a Mess into a Message

Can turn a Test into a Testimony

Can turn a Trial into a Triumph

Can turn a Victim into a Victory

[Author Unknown]

Jeremiah 32:17 … Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

Psalm 94:14 … Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

Romans 8:36-37 … As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. ❤

Heavenly Armor

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 

Ephesians 6:10-18 ❤

The Battle

The army of Israel looked at Goliath through the eyes of man and said he's too big to beat.   David looked at him through the eyes of God and said he's too big to miss.

[Wally Carter]

Deuteronomy 3:22 ... Ye shall not fear them: for the Lord your God he shall fight for you.

Deuteronomy 20:4 ... For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.



1 Samuel 17:47 ... And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands.

Jeremiah 1:19 ... And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee. ❤