Friday 31 January 2014
I stand in awe of You
You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?
Who can fathom the depths of Your love? =)
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty enthroned above
And I stand, I stand in awe of You
I stand, I stand in awe of You
Holy God, to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You
Meg, Worship and Prayer 2014
A Rainstorm is Coming
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A Rainstorm is Coming
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:
Then Elijah said to Ahab, ‘Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!’
1 Kings 18:41, NLT.
TODAY'S WORD:
In First Kings 18, the Samaritans had been in a great famine. For three and a half years, there had been no rain. The prophet Elijah showed up and said to King Ahab, “I hear the sound of the abundance of rain.” When he said that, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, yet he chose to believe what he heard in his spirit in spite of what he saw in the natural. With his eyes, he saw drought, famine and barrenness; but inside, he heard the sound of the abundance of rain.
Friend, this is what faith is all about. You’ve got to believe what you hear in your heart even when you see just the opposite. God is saying, “There’s about to be an abundance of favor in your life. The drought is coming to an end. You’re going to see healing, restoration, new opportunities, new growth.”
Soon after, that rainstorm came. And just like Elijah, you have to believe that your rainstorm of blessing is right around the corner. No matter what anyone says, no matter what happens, keep believing and keep declaring because soon you will hear the sound of rain!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father, thank You for the blessing and victory You have in store for my future. Thank You for allowing me to see and hear in my heart the good things You have planned. I choose to keep my eyes on You and declare Your blessing over my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.” Proverbs 29:25 (NIV)
Satan’s favorite tool to diminish your faith is the fear of failure. But you cannot serve God and be constantly worried about what other people think. You have to move forward. Proverbs 29:25 says, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.” (NIV)
So how do you get rid of the fear of failure?
One way is to redefine failure. What is failure? Failure is not failing to reach your goal. Failure is not having a goal. Failure is not failing to hit your target. Failure is not having a target. Failure is not falling down. Failure is refusing to get back up. You’re never a failure until you quit. So if you’re attempting something for the glory of God, that’s a good thing. Failure is not trying and not accomplishing anything. Failure is failing to try.
Another way to get rid of the fear of failure is to never compare yourself to anybody else. You’re always going to find somebody who’s doing a better job, and you get discouraged. And, you’re always going to find somebody who’s not doing as good a job as you are, and you become full of pride. Both of them will mess up your life. Discouragement and pride will keep you from serving God’s purpose for your life.
The Bible says in Galatians 6:4, “Each of you must examine your own actions. Then you can be proud of your own accomplishments without comparing yourself to others.” (GW)
Did you notice that the Bible says there is a legitimate pride? There’s a good kind of pride and there’s a bad kind of pride. The bad kind of pride is comparing: “I'm better than so and so!” The good kind of pride is, “God, I'm proud of what you’re doing in my family, my business, my life, my walk of faith.” That’s the good kind of pride.
God hasn’t called me to be the best pastor in the world. God has called me to be the best pastor I can possibly be given the gifts, talents, and experiences he gave me. When you get to Heaven, God isn’t going to say, “Why weren’t you more like so and so?” He’s going to say, “Why weren’t you who I made you to be?”
Let go of your fear of failure, because anything you’re attempting for God in faith is a good thing, regardless of the results.
Talk It Over
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Thursday 30 January 2014
Stunning
While making his beach mural explorations, he uses a rope as a guide so that he can make the geometric patterns.
Consider yourself lucky if you happen to stumble across one of his playa paintings, because it won’t be there long.
Or even teaching others to create these beachscapes as part of a team building exercise.
According to Andres, it only takes a couple of hours once the tide is low enough to create the designs.
Andres’ creations are simply stunning and knowing that these delicate creations are temporary somehow makes them even more beautiful.
How great Thou art
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!" =)
Meg, Praise and Worship 2014
The End of Your Drought
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The End of Your Drought
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:
You, O God, sent a plentiful rain…
Psalm 68:9, NKJV.
TODAY'S WORD:
Every person goes through times of drought, or dry seasons, when we don’t see the changes we hoped for. We’ve got big dreams, we’re standing on God’s promises, but things stay the same. It’s dry and barren. Maybe you are blessed in one area and in a drought in another. It’s easy to think, “This is the way it’s always going to be. I’ll always have this struggle.” No, in 2014 that drought is coming to an end. Any area of brokenness, dryness, loneliness, every empty place, if you will stay in faith, God is going to rain down favor, healing, and restoration.
We declare that this year, you are going to see an abundance of rain! Every drought is only temporary. That dry season is not going to last forever. Struggle and lack is not your destiny. It’s temporary. Rain is headed your way! Declare it by faith, “Father, thank You that the drought is ending and the rain is coming; and in 2014, I will see an abundance of Your goodness in my life!”
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father, thank You for Your refreshing rain on the dry places in my life. Thank You for raining down provision, blessing, hope, wisdom, joy and peace. Give me strength to stand strong in You as Your plan unfolds for my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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by
“Now glory be to God, by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of — infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.” Ephesians 3:20 (LB)
Faith is choosing and believing God’s dream for your life. Nothing starts happening in your life until you start dreaming. God gave you the ability to dream, to create, to imagine. Dreaming is an act of faith. Everything you see on this planet started as a dream.
So, how do you get God’s dream for your life? You do three things:
First, you dare to ask for it. Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now glory be to God, by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of — infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.” (LB).
If you want God’s blessing on your life this year, you must dare to ask for it. You must say, “God, what’s your dream for my life? What do you want me to do?” Then you ask yourself, “What would I attempt for God if I knew I couldn’t fail?” Let that expand your vision.
Second, you believe God’s promises. The Bible says in Jeremiah 32:27, “I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?”(NLT)
Never let an impossible situation intimidate you. Let it motivate you to pray more, believe more, trust more, experience more, learn more, and grow more. Faith always works in the realm of the impossible.
Hudson Taylor said there are three stages to God’s will in your life: impossible, possible, and done.
Third, you dream big. “Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” Psalm 2:8 (NIV).
The size of your God should determine the size of your goal. You haven’t really believed God until you’ve attempted something that can’t be done in the power of the flesh. If you want to know how big your dream should be, ask yourself two questions: How much time do you have to give to it? If it’s a dream you can give the rest of your life to, then you can really dream big.
Second, what are you shaped to do? What are your spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences — the five things that make you you. What do you love to do? What are you gifted to do?
Dream great dreams for God. It’s the first step in your walk of faith.
Talk It Over
- Have you been waiting on God to make your dream happen? What have you asked of him concerning your dream?
- What is the seemingly impossible thing you would attempt if you knew you wouldn’t fail?
- How do your dreams reflect the amount of faith you have in God?
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GKhDCsLrUg
Wednesday 29 January 2014
Important Things
Scott Hassett
Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little way from the land (Luke 5:1-3, NASB).
Have you read the story in Luke 5:1-11 about Jesus and Simon Peter? Jesus came walking along the beach and preaching. He saw Simon and his brother cleaning their nets after a long fruitless day of fishing. So, He invited himself into Simon's boat and instructed him to put out a little from shore so that He could teach the people gathered on the beach. Peter did so.
After teaching, Jesus turned to Simon and told him to let down his nets--right there--in shallow water. Simon obeyed, but only after instructing Jesus about what a silly and useless thing it was to do.
Suddenly all the fish in the lake rushed to fill the nets. When Simon saw his nets beginning to break, he called desperately for help from his partners in the other boat. When both boats became overwhelmed by the size of the catch, Simon Peter threw himself at Jesus' feet and worshipped Him. At this point Peter had a decision to make.
What would history be like if, after bringing in the amazing catch, Peter had said, "Praise God! Look at all these fish! Thank You, Jesus. You have made me rich. Now I will be able to afford a bigger boat, hire a few Samaritan laborers, and expand my business. Yes-sir-ee! What a blessing this is!
"Well, here we are at the shore, Jesus. My partners and I have a lot of work to do cleaning all these fish, so if You don't mind getting out... Watch Your step there; the water is still a bit deep. You don't want to fall in and get all wet!
"So, thanks again, Jesus. Don't be a stranger now. Any time you want to use my boat as a pulpit, You just let me know. Say, we could do the whole 'let down your nets' thing again. That was a real crowd pleaser, don't You think?
"In fact, how about some time in the early part of the next fiscal quarter? That's a slow period for the fishing business and my numbers could really use a lift! What do You say, Jesus?"
How often we get sidetracked by the impressive and miss the important.
God does a redemptive work in our business or relationships and we become so focused on the miracle that we miss the work that He wants to accomplish in us.
Thankfully, this time Peter didn't miss it. The wonder of the miracle drove him to his knees before the Worker of the miracle. He responded to the glorious by humbling himself in worship. This act opened him up to Christ's invitation to something astronomically more significant and eternal than a catch of fish.
Discomfort and challenging circumstances often drive us to God. But how do we handle the challenge of blessing?
God wants us to live good lives, to be happy and satisfied and fulfilled. But His primary desire for each of us is an ever-deepening personal relationship with Him. He knows that the only thing that will satisfy us and fulfil us is Himself.
If we are constantly seeking the hand of God, we will miss the immeasurable blessing of seeing His face.
As we walk through the pressures of life today, as we pray through our list of needs and desires, as we see the abundant blessings that He has poured out upon us, let us be motivated in all circumstances to humble worship. In doing so, we will find the deeper and more enduring blessings that come from heeding His call and walking with Him.
© by Scott Hassett
FIRE BURNS
Your fire burns within me
burns within me with your fire
Your fire burns within me
burns within me with your fire =)
Lift up your eyes to see
The glory of the Lord is on the earth
Arise.. Arise.. Arise..
Meg, Prayer and Worship 2014
Like Fire in Your Bones
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Like Fire in Your Bones
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:
…But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not.
Jeremiah 20:9, NKJV.
TODAY'S WORD:
In scripture, God gave a promise to Jeremiah that he would become a great prophet and speak to the nations. But Jeremiah was young and afraid. He didn’t see how it could happen. He started telling God all the reasons why it wouldn’t work out. He said, “God, when I get up to speak, people mock me and make fun of me. I’m young. I’m tired. I’m intimidated.” Just when you think he is going to talk himself out of it, he says in Jeremiah 20:9, “Your Word in my heart is like a fire shut up in my bones.” He was saying, “God, I may not see how it can happen. All the odds are against me, but this promise You put in me will not go away. It’s like a fire. It’s alive. I can’t get away from it.”
You may be at a place right not where you could easily give up on what God has placed in your heart. But like Jeremiah, there is a fire shut up in your bones. What God promised you will not die. You can try to ignore it. You can try to talk yourself out of it. Your mind may tell you that it’s never going to happen, but deep down you feel a stirring, a burning, a restlessness. That’s the promise God put in you. He loves you too much to let you be average. He is going to push you into greatness. Get ready because the gifts, the talents, the skills, the ideas, the untapped potential is about to come forth!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father, Your truth is like a fire shut up in my bones. Help me to see Your plan for me. Help me to stand strong and trust You. Help me to boldly embrace everything You have in store for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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“God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others. What we mean is that God was in Christ, offering peace and forgiveness to the people of this world. And he has given us the work of sharing his message about peace. We were sent to speak for Christ, and God is begging you to listen to our message. We speak for Christ and sincerely ask you to make peace with God.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (CEV)
Nearly 60 years ago, five American missionaries headed to the rainforest of the eastern Amazon in Equator to make a second visit to the Huaorani tribe, which anthropologists said was the most vicious, violent society on the face of the earth. They had a culture of killing, and studies showed 60 percent of the tribe died by homicide.
As soon as the missionaries got out of the plane, they were speared to death by members of the tribe. The brutal murders made news around the world and the cover of Life magazine, Time, and Newsweek. Many newspapers reported the deaths of these men, who included Nate Saint and Jim Elliot.
A couple years later, Elisabeth and Valerie Elliot, wife and daughter of Jim, and Rachel Saint, sister of Nate, moved into the Huaorani village to show love and forgiveness and minister to the people who had killed their family. Eventually, Mincaye, the leader of the tribe, and the five men who participated in the missionary murders all became Christians.
The kind of forgiveness that Elisabeth Elliot and Rachel Saint modeled doesn’t make sense until you have been forgiven by God. Once you’ve experienced it, how do you forgive? You do the four things that these women did:
Relinquish your right to get even. Romans 12:19 says, “Don’t try to get even. Let God take revenge” (CEV). Leave it up to God. He’ll take care of it, and he’ll do a much better job than you ever could.
Respond to evil with good. How can you tell when you’ve completely forgiven someone? You can actually pray for God to bless the person who hurt you. The Bible says. “Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27b-28 NIV).
Repeat these steps as long as necessary. Peter asked Jesus in Matthew 18:21, “How many times should I forgive someone who does something wrong to me? Is seven times enough?” Jesus replied, “Not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!” (CEV) Sometimes forgiveness has to be continual.
Rescue others with the Good News of God’s forgiveness. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, “God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others. What we mean is that God was in Christ, offering peace and forgiveness to the people of this world. And he has given us the work of sharing his message about peace. We were sent to speak for Christ, and God is begging you to listen to our message. We speak for Christ and sincerely ask you to make peace with God.”
Talk It Over
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