Making 'John' / Making Me
Hello friends.
I hope you're catching all the latest news from Sharon via the email newsletters available at gospelaccordingtojohn.com and brucemarchiano.com
Bruce has always said that God is building a testimony through the making of JOHN, and I find it to be very true.
Psalm 25:4 reads like this in The Message paraphrase: "Show me how you work, God / School me in your ways." As we pray for Bruce's dad through his health ordeal, I find that I am no more making JOHN than it is making me -- as people, things, and events connected to JOHN become a tool in God's hand to broaden and deepen my ability to trust Him.
Every day is a new adventure for me. Of course this "adventure" includes cliff-hangers, soaring heights of emotion, but mostly (and most powerfully) moments of quiet submission to God in simple trust.
"Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts"(Isaiah 26:8).
On the Journey...
31 comments:
I hear you Ronald!!!
It is only when we spend intimate time with someone ,that we really get to know them....
and i for one can testify to the most eye-opening revelation of Jesus i have ever had...in the last while.
Sometimes,He takes us into the desert,and it is so He can speak comfort to us,and really get close!
I wouldn't recommend fighting this experience,as this is where we really hear what Jesus says!!!!
Distractions aside,and just focusing on HIM!!!!
WOW!!!!
If we ever say to ourselves
I want to be a better Christian...
all we have to do
is
be like JESUS....simple !!!!
Jesus chooses the poor to be rich in Faith,
and that is so true!!!!
When the props are gone,and it's just you and Jesus....
amazing things happen!!!!
Jesus is
everything!!!!
Praise His Wonderful Name!!!
Being part of this Ministry has
really been
a beautiful trek
along the trail of
development
and i just love the
whole experience!
SAINTS IN CIRCULATION
by Charles R. Swindoll
Jeremiah 12
During the reign of Oliver Cromwell, the British government began to run low on silver for coins. Lord Cromwell sent his men to the local cathedral to see if they could find any precious metal there. After investigating they reported: “The only silver we can find is in the statues of the saints standing in the corners.”
To which the radical soldier and statesman of England replied: “Good! We’ll melt down the saints and put them in circulation!”
That brief but direct order states the essence of the practical goal of authentic Christianity. Not rows of silver saints crammed into the corners of cathedrals, but melted saints circulating through the mainstream of humanity. Where life transpires in the raw.
On campuses where students carve through the varnish of shallow answers. In the shop where employees test the mettle of everyday Christianity. At home with a houseful of kids, where R&R means run and wrestle. In the concrete battlegrounds of sales competition, seasonal conventions, and sexual temptations, where hard-core assaults are made on internal character. On the hospital bed, where reality never takes a nap. In the office, where diligence and honesty are forever on the scaffold. On the team where patience and self-control are checked out.
The cost factor of being a saint occurs on Monday and Tuesday and throughout the week. That’s when we’re “melted down and put in circulation.” “Sunday religion” may seem sufficient, but it isn’t. And pity the person who counts on it to get him through.
Sure, you can opt for an easier path. You can keep your own record and come out smelling like a rose:
Dressed up and drove to church. Check
Got a seat and sat quietly. Check
Gave money . . . listened to the sermon. Check
Closed my Bible, prayed, looked pious. Check
Shook hands, walked out. Check
Still a saint? A silver one, in fact. Icily regular, cool and casual, consistently present . . . and safely out of circulation . . . until the Lord calls for an investigation of the local cathedral.
Those who successfully wage war with silent heroism under relentless secular pressure—ah, they are the saints who know what it means to be melted.
What a journey we are on....through valley's, waters, mountain tops and beautiful meadows. There is nothing boring about this "walk" so much to do, so much to take in, so much to understand and enjoy. What a privilege to walk with Jesus.
God bless - Esme'
P.S. to all the USA folk - have a great MEMORIAL DAY on Monday 28th May.
Hi there from South Africa. Where is everyone - gone fishin ?
I trust everyone OK and still around. Missing the interaction.
God bless Esme'
Hello Esme'.....
Gone fishin'?no....
i WISH!
Sounds good....calm lake...sleek canoe...picnic basket full...
clear sky...birds sing with careless JOY....
water laps unintrusively on bow......
silence ...broken only by God's Creation singing His Praises!!!!!
Line in...patience..
abundant commodity
all the time in the world to
recline in
serene pleasure.....
and all of a sudden...
a tug...and another...
sharply alert now...
to discover the "prize"
at the end of this line ...this quest for a
fresh fish lunch on the shore,slow grilled over a make-shift fire.....
YUM!!!
Up and out it flies...flipping in protest
not a bad size!!!yeehar!!!
It's a keeper....
we eat!!!!!
Sometimes...it's good
to "blue-sky dream"......
keeps you amped!!!!
In the wake of Mr. Marchiano's recent heart-breaking loss.....
it is vividly essential...that
we stay focused...on ALL that is
JUST JESUS.....
Everything we do in life
pivots on HIM....
the CENTRE of our LIVES!!!!
We go forward with strong
determination...to
do what God alone...has for us to do!!!!
The concentration of prayer for this Ministry and its team...
is a top priority ...AMEN!!!!
Every day..
heralds a brand new
opportunity to seek God ,and pray for this entire "family"/project....
Thanking Him for this wonderful Ministry....
and with a heart of thanksgiving...
ask for ALL that is needed to for its advance!!!!
JUST...To look into Jesus'
warm,loving Eyes...and
"be" in the very "palm"
of His plans for us!!!!!
Prayer for Sharon at this time is crucial,as she takes up management
of Marchmin for a time....
I know you will all join me in supporting and encouraging her,as she
carries the duties that have been assigned...
Bless The Lord for His Immense Love and
Purpose for us all!!!!!
How much do you LOVE this extended family?????
Where we can count on each other,
and as a tight -knit "body"...
rally 'round and focus/channel
our intense prayer for the good of each other!!!
COOL!!
This is why Jesus teaches us and gives LOVE...
to share it all around...
to GIVE IT AWAY....
It has little value kept to ourselves...
it is by the giving it away...spending it...that it shows its real VALUE!!!!!!
I hope this finds you well Esme'...
May God richly bless you
and
Ronald...and please know...
you are always
in
my
thoughts and
prayers!!!!
When we see with the Eyes of Jesus...
He yakes us on global-journeys that know no bounds...
the places my heart goes would clock up enough air-miles to see me right forever!!!!!
All this free travel!!!!
Jesus sees into the heart of every person on the globe,
so
what a pleasure it is to
"go there"
with the eyes of my heart
and know that
Almighty God is Ministering to the deepest places in a person...that nobody else sees...
as i ask Him to.....
He is a very willing and enthusiastic GOD!!!!!
AMEN!!!!
His plans are for a good future for us...
He doesn't cause harm
He gives us HOPE!!!!!
You are so right - Rough Diamond - it is good to "blue sky dream" and glory in His Goodness towards us.
It is always just about Jesus and looking to Him for comfort, hope for the future, and direction and His leading. I am sure and dont doubt for a moment that Marchiano Ministries is precious in His Sight and that He has Plans and a Purpose for all invovlved whether it be working in the field or ministry or praying etc. He is totally in Control and Sovereign. Our love to Bruce and his dear family at this sad time. You are right - we love this extended family and this ministry and hold them all up constantly to the Throne of God.
Dont you just love this blog ? to be able to just speak about Jesus and get to know "family" spread far and wide? Thanks Ronald for giving us this opportunity.
Have a great day ! love Esme'
"JOY".....
Quite different to happiness...
Happy is more of a mood...
depends on circumstance....
Joy is deeper down...
a well-spring ..put there by God...
when we think of what He has done for us...
PURE JOY!!!!
We can draw on this any time...and
it is permanent!!!
Thank The Lord for THAT!!
We ALL know...there are plenty of things in life,that make us unhappy...
but...
we never lose our deep JOY!!!
Just thought i'd share that!!
No thief can steal our JOY!!
Hallelujah!!
Thank You Lord!!
hiahp"JOY".....
Quite different to happiness...
Happy is more of a mood...
depends on circumstance....
Joy is deeper down...
a well-spring ..put there by God...
when we think of what He has done for us...
PURE JOY!!!!
We can draw on this any time...and
it is permanent!!!
Thank The Lord for THAT!!
We ALL know...there are plenty of things in life,that make us unhappy...
but...
we never lose our deep JOY!!!
Just thought i'd share that!!
No thief can steal our JOY!!
Hallelujah!!
Thank You Lord!!
"Jesus is OUR PLACE"......
When we get to thinking...
i don't "fit"
or
where is my "place"....
and we look at our lives,and things don't feel right
and we seem to be the "wrong shape"
for our surroundings....
remember...
There is ONE
who stands
ready and waiting
to be
"OUR PLACE"....
Jesus is my place....
Amen...
that all we need to know!!!!!
From there...the world makes better sense,
and
our days are so much more do-able
and our hearts
know PEACE!!!!!!
Thank You Lord God !!!
I love You.....
Amen.....
"Bigger Wings".....
I used to sit and sing
on my little branch
close to the ground
"safe & sound".....
One day,a storm came and
lifted me high
and dashed me to the ground....
Broken was my little branch
where i used to sing
Broken too was my little wing!
Healing came and
now i am stronger
my wings
are bigger
than before....
No longer on a little branch
i sing
just above the ground
But all across the skies
i sing
and soar
SAFE and SOUND!!!!
I wrote this song
this afternoon,
and wanted to share it with you...
be encouraged!!!
ADJUSTMENTS
by Charles R. Swindoll
James 1
Ever made a mental list of things that irritate you? Here are a few I’ve got on mine: traffic jams, long lines, misplaced keys, stuck zippers, interruptions, late planes, squeaking doors, incompetence, and flat tires.
One of these days it should dawn on us that we’ll never be completely free of irritations as long as we are on this planet. Never. Upon coming to this profound conclusion, we would then be wise to consider an alternative to losing our cool. The secret is adjusting.
Sounds simple . . . but it isn’t. Several things tend to keep us on the edge of irritability. For one thing, we develop habit reactions, wrong though they may be. Also, we’re usually in a hurry—impatient. Add to that the fact that our daily expectations are unrealistic; there’s no way we can possibly get it all done anyway. All this increases the level of pressure within us. And when you increase the heat to our highly pressurized system by a fiery irritation or two (or three) . . . BOOM! Off goes the lid and out comes the steam.
When it comes to irritations, I’ve found that it helps if I remember that I am not in charge of my day . . . God is. And while I’m sure He wants me to use my time wisely, He is more concerned with the development of my character and the cultivation of the qualities that make me Christlike within. One of His preferred methods of training is through adjustments to irritations.
A perfect illustration? The oyster and its pearl. An irritation occurs when the shell of the oyster is invaded by an alien substance—like a grain of sand. When that happens, all the resources within the tiny, sensitive oyster rush to the irritated spot and begin to release healing fluids that otherwise would have remained dormant. By and by the irritant is covered—by a pearl. Had there been no irritating interruption, there could have been no pearl.
No wonder our heavenly home has pearly gates to welcome the wounded and bruised who have responded correctly to the sting of irritations.
J. B. Phillips must have realized this as he paraphrased James 1:2-4: “When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realise that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men [and women] of mature character.”
How many pearls have you made this week?
Taken from Charles R. Swindoll, Day by Day with Charles Swindoll (Nashville:
"Mosaic Mural".....
"Up be-times"(AS Samuel PEPYS used to say in his diaries).....
(But)
BEFORE i rose
this morning.....
i got the picture of a conveyer belt ...with porcelain/china/glass crockery slowly moving along...and someone there to take them off and wrap them/sort them...so systematically,and smoothly.
But,then
the picture of the person NOT there...and of course,the crockery was left to fall off the end of the belt and smash and crumple into an unattended pile
of glistening debris....
But ,as the vision progressed...
there came a whisper...
"Turn...look...and see!".
A huge,magnificent Mural
made up of all the broken and seemingly abandoned fragments of
glass and porcelain
i thought were mistakenly broken!
The Hands of God
had Lovingly collected them all
and
put together a
MASTERPIECE
of
the times
i thought
i was alone
and the conveyer belt was
unattended!!
IT is just such a powerful
picture of
JESUS
being always PRESENT
in our lives...
no matter how
or why
we are dropping our crockery,
and
thinking it has no use now
in its broken/imperfect state....
Nothing escapes God's Watchful Eyes!!!!
No pieces are allowed to fall unless He says so...
and in His perfect plan..
He collects them all and
Fashions a Magnificent Mural of all the Dazzling colours
of
all the fallen shards!!!!!!
Thank You Lord God!!!!
You are Majestic!!
I wish to share some mighty powerful Words of God...as found in The Message....
These came to me a couple of nights ago.......
Luke 4:
"To set the burdened free"
"God's Spirit is on Me;
He's chosen Me to preach The Message of good news to the poor,
Sent Me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind,
To set the burdened and battered free,
to announce,
"This is God's year to act"!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John 12: "A grain of wheat must die"......
"If any of you want to serve Me,then follow Me.
Then you'll be where I AM,ready to serve at a moment's notice.
The Father will honour and reward anyone who serves Me.
Right now I AM storm-tossed.
And what am I going to say?
"Father,get Me out of this? No,this is why I came in the first place.
I'll say
"FATHER, PUT YOUR GLORY ON DISPLAY!"
A voice came out of the sky:
"I have Glorified it,and I will Glorify it again"......
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THAT has to be the MOST POWERFUL Phrase around!!!!!
FATHER..........PUT YOUR GLORY ON DISPLAY!!!!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trouble DOES come...in this world....
but
we can take heart...'cause
Jesus has OVERCOME THE WORLD!!!!!!
TALK about Faith in reverse!!!!
Just LOOK where we are coming BACK from!!!!!!!
The CROSS and HEAVEN!!!!
Oh GLORY!!!!!!
Jesus' Sacrifice and Conquering Power
Gives us ALL
EVERYTHING we need to
get ahead in this crazy world!!!!
Hallelujah!!!!
Yes...there is a lot to pray for...
and
this is the way it always WILL be
as we daily bring our requests and needs to Almighty God......
Each day is a fresh opportunity to fulfill
ALL that God Has planned for us!!!!!!
Hello there from a very cold SA !
I just loved the story of the crockery - Boy can I identify with that - so often our lives feel like we have crashed and smashed into a thousand little pieces but how Jesus picks us up and puts us together. A bit battered and bruised and scarred but a beautiful piece of artwork in His Hands. There is hope that once this has happened, He doesnt leave you - you are much better than before. Thank you Rough Diamond for reminding me of His Grace. Jesus loves us with an everlasting love. Praise His name ! Esme'
Greetings Beloved of God!!!!
Oh the explosive...and vast LOVE
that The Holy Spirit
implants into us!
Of ALL the implants that are currently popular.....
hee hee
THIS HAS to be the FAVOURITE!!!!
Today...
when i ponder the IMMENSE LOVE of ALMIGHTY GOD......
It is OBVIOUS
that at the root of it all...
IS JESUS>>>>******~~~~~^^^^<<<<<<
there can be NO CLICHE' in that...
please ...people...
sit and
be still...
and let the
enormity
of this TRUTH really
grab hold of your heart
your mind
your spirit
your imagination
your core
your place of awareness
your soul
....
you know...
i had the "misfortune" to read
THE SECRET....as Dad was given it and
let me read it first....
o.k.
like i have said before on this topic...
POSITIVE thoughts are all good....
but
not for one second!
would i accept
that we are perfect
we are the masters of our destiny
and
we created ourselves....
oh
folks...
that hardly deserves to be printed....
the whole message i wish to convey is
Jesus SACRIFICED Himself for US!!!!
We are only made "perfect" through HIM!!!!
We need Him every second...
and reading that book
has only made me MAGNIFY and WORSHIP HIM even more!!!!!
It is with a humble
and GRATEFUL heart
that i
THANK GOD for HIS MAGNIFICENT LOVE for me...
and
with His help...
i focus my thoughts on HIm
and make decisions as Honouring HIM
by BELIEVING
that
With God all things are possible!!!!
He wants our faith to be active...
He wants the GLORY!
He requires us to have LOVE for one another....
He loves to part the red sea for us...
He wants our worship......
He wants to BLESS us with ABUNDANCE and a great life
IN HIM!!!
AMEN!!!!
Not for one second...would i
take credit for attracting good things into my life...as
pulled off
solely by me
but
as my FAITH is set in motion...
good things come
Faith without works is dead!
O.K.
As i mentioned once before....
there is no way i for one
would have a relationship with
the universe...
My heart is a veritable
powder-keg of LOVE today...
and I seek to
express only
that
JESUS
DOES LOVE US
and HEAL us
and SHOWS us
and
MAKES US NEW!!!!!
It is by
THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF YESHUA
that we are made whole
and well
and healed
and joyful
and optimistic
and saved
and restored
and mended!!!!
and
and
and
YOU name it....
every good ,
acceptable,
and perfect thing
comes from
THE MIGHTY HAND oF GOD!!!!
Today...we Thank God for the GROUND-SWELL of
SALVATION that is about to
take place in AFRICA...
at the August Crusades!!!!
God will Manifest His Love
in the healing of lives
hearts
minds
situations
and ......
Beautiful stories of
renewal,
recovery,
restoration,
deliverance,
release
repair
replenishment and
EVERLASTING LIFE are about to be told!!!!!
God Bless you all today...
and remember...
GUARD YOUR HEARTS and MINDS....
Let no foreign doctrine
take root in you...
JESUS
JUST JESUS!!
Greetings Beloved of God!!!!
Oh the explosive...and vast LOVE
that The Holy Spirit
implants into us!
Of ALL the implants that are currently popular.....
hee hee
THIS HAS to be the FAVOURITE!!!!
Today...
when i ponder the IMMENSE LOVE of ALMIGHTY GOD......
It is OBVIOUS
that at the root of it all...
IS JESUS>>>>******~~~~~^^^^<<<<<<
there can be NO CLICHE' in that...
please ...people...
sit and
be still...
and let the
enormity
of this TRUTH really
grab hold of your heart
your mind
your spirit
your imagination
your core
your place of awareness
your soul
....
you know...
i had the "misfortune" to read
THE SECRET....as Dad was given it and
let me read it first....
o.k.
like i have said before on this topic...
POSITIVE thoughts are all good....
but
not for one second!
would i accept
that we are perfect
we are the masters of our destiny
and
we created ourselves....
oh
folks...
that hardly deserves to be printed....
the whole message i wish to convey is
Jesus SACRIFICED Himself for US!!!!
We are only made "perfect" through HIM!!!!
We need Him every second...
and reading that book
has only made me MAGNIFY and WORSHIP HIM even more!!!!!
It is with a humble
and GRATEFUL heart
that i
THANK GOD for HIS MAGNIFICENT LOVE for me...
and
with His help...
i focus my thoughts on HIm
and make decisions as Honouring HIM
by BELIEVING
that
With God all things are possible!!!!
He wants our faith to be active...
He wants the GLORY!
He requires us to have LOVE for one another....
He loves to part the red sea for us...
He wants our worship......
He wants to BLESS us with ABUNDANCE and a great life
IN HIM!!!
AMEN!!!!
Not for one second...would i
take credit for attracting good things into my life...as
pulled off
solely by me
but
as my FAITH is set in motion...
good things come
Faith without works is dead!
O.K.
As i mentioned once before....
there is no way i for one
would have a relationship with
the universe...
My heart is a veritable
powder-keg of LOVE today...
and I seek to
express only
that
JESUS
DOES LOVE US
and HEAL us
and SHOWS us
and
MAKES US NEW!!!!!
It is by
THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF YESHUA
that we are made whole
and well
and healed
and joyful
and optimistic
and saved
and restored
and mended!!!!
and
and
and
YOU name it....
every good ,
acceptable,
and perfect thing
comes from
THE MIGHTY HAND oF GOD!!!!
Today...we Thank God for the GROUND-SWELL of
SALVATION that is about to
take place in AFRICA...
at the August Crusades!!!!
God will Manifest His Love
in the healing of lives
hearts
minds
situations
and ......
Beautiful stories of
renewal,
recovery,
restoration,
deliverance,
release
repair
replenishment and
EVERLASTING LIFE are about to be told!!!!!
God Bless you all today...
and remember...
GUARD YOUR HEARTS and MINDS....
Let no foreign doctrine
take root in you...
JESUS
JUST JESUS!!
"DO YOU LOVE ME?"
As seen in "The Message"....
After breakfast,Jesus said to Simon Peter,
"Simon,son of John,do you love me
more than these?"
"Yes,Master,you know i love you".
Jesus said,
"FEED MY LAMBS".
He then asked a second time,
"Simon,son of John,
do you love me?"
"Yes,Master,you know i love you".
Jesus said..
"SHEPHERD MY SHEEP".
Then He said a third time:
"Simon,son of John,
do you love me?"
Peter was upset that He asked for the third time,
"Do you love me?"
so he answered,
"Master , you know everything there is to know .
You've got to know that i love you".
Jesus said,
"Feed My sheep.
I'm telling you the TRUTH now:
When you were young you dressed yourself and
went wherever you wished,
but when you get old
you'll have to stretch out your hands
while someone else dresses you
and takes you where
you don't want to go".
He said this to hint at the kind of death by which Peter would Glorify God.
And then He commanded,
"FOLLOW ME".
Turning his head,Peter noticed the disciple Jesus loved following right behind.
When Peter noticed him,
he asked Jesus,
"Master,what's going to happen to HIM?"
Jesus said,
"If I want him to live until I come again,
what's that to you?"
"YOU-- FOLLOW ME"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"God is building Testimonies
to His Faithfulness"!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Words are chariots
rumbling over this lanscape...
but they are inadequate to cover the ground
of the human heart that sees God's Glory!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As i said in the "Mosaic Mural" vision...
"It will be amazing to look at the BIG PICTURE
of all the times we dropped our crockery
'cause we couldn't hold any more....
The times we felt alone
the times our heart shattered in humble summission before God...
the times our heart broke from loss...
and seeming abandonment...
when our world crumbled all around us...
We will see what it took for
God to "gather us" to Himself
and make us more like Him....."
It will be astounding!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is not until we are broken Before God...
That He can use us
for His Kingdom......
Fully equipped for any task!
Amen.
The Ultimate TRANSFORMER.....
"PEACE."...
is not the absence of turbulance...
but the
perfect balance of...
Mighty Confidence
and
termoil....
The Peace God gives passes all that we understand!
Millions of people all over the world want peace...
but the sad misconception...is
that
if they numb themselves enough...
there is peace...
no my friends...
PEACE is what is found in the midst of life...
all aspects of it!
But the difference is....
The Peace Jesus gives...
bestows mighty confidence
to deal with whatever life throws at us!
Amazing!!
If we think that a stress-free existence will offer peace...
i'd like to know where THAT Island is!
me be on the next plane!!(man)...
NO...
Jesus gives HIS PEACE...
and you know how HE dealt
with life when He walked the dusty paths 2000 years ago!!
He KNEW who He WAS!!!!
And So Do WE!!
Have a brilliant day!!
"Hot air balloons".....
'Just dawned on me...
speaking to a woman here in the Library...
Who rented the movie...
"Legend of 1900..."
Brilliant...
without giving anything of the movie away...
I said to her..
" Oh ...the fears that keep us from
our optimum best!"...
Sharing our gifts to the world!!!
AS it is with fear in general...
We fear stuff...
and it
keeps us from shining!
From sharing....
from singing!
from Flying...
higher than ever !
Fear is like the sand-bags and ropes on the side of a
hot air balloon!
would (not) you rather be floating high above terra -firma?!
taking in the sights
only these
privileged eyes see?!
YES!! We cried in unison!
She said...all in her 78th year of life...
I love to sing ,but something holds me back!
WELL!
I had to say....
no matter the voice...
there is always an ear that enjoys your
offering!
Did you know...
that the baby penguin...
sings its song
to its FATHER,....
and after that
THE Father...
identifies that song!and
can find his little baby
amongst the thousands on the ice!!!!
OH friends....
sing your song to The Lord....
and He will Hear you
and
RECOGNISE YOU
Amongst the thousands and millions
in this world!!!!
Amazing!
I LOVE THAT!!!!
Sing your heart-song to The Lord...
and
He will INCLINE HIS EAR UNTO YOU!!!!
That is a PROMISE!!!
(post script)...
"The Legend of 1900..."
is a Movie....(DVD)....(not a book)
well maybe...but my reference was to the movie....
beautiful/thought-provoking...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The other morning...i woke with a thought...yes..it DID hurt a little...HA!
It was that...
All of life's "manure"...
(you know when people say...
I'm in the **** right up to 'here'
and rising!'.....
well
It is to be seen as:
"the fertiliser" to
make the gardens of our imagination and promise-filled futures
GROW!!!!
A fertile imagination,and
GARDEN OF GRATITUDE
requires
"the other"
liberally applied
as in
the attitude of gratitude...
turning compost into
flourishing brilliance!!!!
That was my thought...
Have a great day!!!
"No Plain Peace".....
There was "no plain peace" in Thessalonica for whole -hearted Christians.
One of the greatest compliments ever paid Christianity came out of Thessalonica.
"These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also...
or
"These upsetters of the whole world have come here,too!"
Here was true Christianity,established on
The Kingship of Christ--
so full of peace that men could face any kind of crisis with calm brows,
so revolutionary that it changed the whole world of values.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~****************~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Peace" we say is the lovely gift that comes to those
Who,mid life's turmoil,keep their faith serene
And while hemmed in with this world's claims,
still hold
To things Unseen.
STILL HOLD TO THING UNSEEN!!!!!
(bears repeating)........
Peace is not something waiting anywhere,
It is the
PERFECT BLESSING CHRIST IMPARTS!!
When self cast out,
we have made room
for
Him
Within our hearts.
The Peace He offers is not a glassy calm,
but a MIGHTY CONFIDENCE--
peace
BALANCED by DISTURBANCE.
And if Christianity has never disturbed us,
we have not yet learned what it is!
Peace does not mean the end of striving,
* * * *
Peace is the power that comes to souls
arriving
Up to
The Light
where
God Himself appears!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"He initiates every new advance"
And it is under His Providence,
and in giving Him the sole right to be your God
that we find our Peace!!!
Amen!
"No Plain Peace".....
There was "no plain peace" in Thessalonica for whole -hearted Christians.
One of the greatest compliments ever paid Christianity came out of Thess.
"These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also...
or
"These upstters of the whole world have come here,too!"
Here was true Christianity,established on The Kingship of Christ--
so full of peace that men could face any kind of crisis with calm broes,
so revolutionary that it changed the whole world of values.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~****************~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Peace" we say is the lovely gift that comes to those
Who,mid life's turmoil,keep their faith serene
And while hemmed in with this world's claims,
still hold
To things Unseen.
Peace is not something waiting anywhere,
It is the perfect blessing Christ imparts
When self cast out,we have made room for
Him
Within our hearts.
The Peace He offers is not a glassy calm,
but a mighty confidence--
peace balanced by disturbance.
And if Christianity has never disturbed us,
we have not yet learned what it is!
Peace does not mean the end of striving,
* * * *
Peace is the power that comes to souls arriving
Up to The Light where
God Himself appears!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"He initiates every new advance"
And it is under His Providence,
and in giving Him the sole right to be your God
that we find our Peace!!!
Amen!
THE DEPTHS
by Charles R. Swindoll
Romans 11:33-36
Anyone who loves the sea has a romance with it as well as a respect for it.
The mind moves into another gear as the primeval rhythms of the seashore erode tidy resolutions and hectic deadlines.
Anne Morrow Lindbergh beautifully describes this in her classic Gift from the Sea . . .
The mind . . . begins to drift, to play, to turn over in gentle careless rolls like those lazy waves on the beach.
One never knows what chance treasures these easy unconscious rollers may toss up, on the smooth white sand of the conscious mind; what perfectly rounded stone, what rare shell from the ocean floor. . . .
But it must not be sought for or—heaven forbid!—dug for.
No, no dredging of the sea-bottom here.
That would defeat one’s purpose. The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient.
To dig for treasures shows not only impatience and greed, but lack of faith.
Patience, patience, patience, is what the sea teaches.
Patience and faith. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach—waiting for a gift from the sea.
What is hidden in the sea is also hidden in God’s wisdom.
“We speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;
the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;
but just as it is written,
‘THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND WHICH HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.’
For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.” (1 Cor. 2:7-10)
Those fathomless truths about Him and those profound insights from Him produce within us a wisdom that enables us to think with Him. Such wisdom comes from His Spirit who, alone, can plumb the depths and reveal His mind.
The hurried, the greedy, the impatient cannot enter into such mysteries.
God grants such understanding only to those who wait in silence . . . who respect “the depths of God.” It takes time.
It calls for solitude.
Get alone with God and gain a new respect for His wisdom.
It won’t come in a hurry.
Don’t be afraid to seek the depths. Ideally, find a beach where you can stroll, a weather-beaten bench where you can sit and think . . . where you can be still and know . . .
Find your own “seashore” of solitude and reflection.
MIRACLES"....
If the good God were suddenly
To make a solitary Blind to see,
We would stand wondering all
And call it a miracle;
But that He gives with lavish hand
Sight to a million souls,we stand
And say,with little awe,
He but fulfills a
NATURAL LAW !!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miracles are not rare birds
they fly in
flocks!!!!!
"God's Endless Surprises".....
I went to the theatre
With the author
of the successful play.
He insisted on explaining everything:
Told me what to watch
The details of direction
The errors of the property man
The foibles of the star.
He anticipated all the surprises
And ruined the evening.
Never again!
And mark you,
The Greatest Author of all
Made no such mistake.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nor can we think
that the
Surprises of God end here,
in this life!!!!!!!!!!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When we sing in our well-known hymn
God moves in mysterious ways...
His wonders to perform....
We can only mean mysterious to us,not Him.
Loving us,with all the laws of the universe at his disposal,
there is no least reason why He should not use them.
Miracles lie very close to everyone
but beyond all gifts
is the gift of
open eyes to
see how near!
Come Spirit Wind!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Because the eagle floats on winds provided
it
soars with ease....
Let us therefore
not think of ourselves as
EMUS!!
Not only flightless
but
seemingly headless
as most of their time is
spent
with their head in the
sand!!
The significance of saying EMU...
is that
it is the Ostrich that bears the
"natural tendancy" to
stick its head in the sand!
We ought not!!!
In case you thought i had got that wrong...Ha!
Hope your day is
an
open heart
before
Our God....
Oh...how He loves to
fill it with
His Big Love!!!!
"God Hangs The Moon"....
Last night...i waited for sleep
in another room...
and was fortunate
to gaze upon
a cinematic
view of the night sky....
I was spell-bound....
basking in the beauty of the starry spectacle...
God's diamonds thrown liberally!!!!!
and
sliding into a new position....
was
met by the most
breathtaking sight...
the fullest moon
hung
high in the frame...
the biggest lamp
imaginable
and i was struck by
the amazingness of God....
and how He never turns
His Lights off!!!!!!
That is a comforting thought....
and truly did
give me the
most overwhelming sense
of His Magnificence
and
Grandeur!!!!
I felt so
looked after...
you know?!
The Creator of this
Universe
is personally watching me sleep...
Who could want for anything more?!!!
"The Eyes of Calm"....
This morning at 6am...
i had a dream...
my Dad was full-faced...
the look was
serenity...
calm
peace
love
"fear does not live here"....
his eyes ARE blue...
but now...
sky-blue...
baby blue!
clear
soft
gentle
at rest
tranquil
I have seen those eyes before...
The day Jesus
looked at me
and smiled!!!!
and all this from a chap
who most times.....
carries
just behind those navy blue eyes...
a quiet torture
a silent anguish....
a failed marriage...
a love missed...
a life sucked dry....
so he thinks....
he bears the scars of failure:
abandonment
lost hope...the end of his dream...
BUT....
at the point of this dream...
once i saw his eyes...
he slowly,gently,nodded
and closed his eyes!!!
I woke...
and
as well as feeling soothed...
also
felt a surge of
agitated curiosity!!!!
and mild urgency...
as to the idea that
this is the face of someone who has SEEN JESUS!!
Although he is a robust 69 yrs.old...
and as strong as
ARNOLD "you know who"....
I had an unrelenting pull towards...
wondering if he was o.k....
and praying like mad that i would not
go to his house
and find him
helpless on the floor!!
Thinking that the vision
was God's way of breaking it to me gently...
and all that...
you know...
the last picture would be
the best ever!!!!
Anyhoo...
i ventured over
and
immediately had my fears allayed
to see him at the front of his house...
boldly standing by his BMW....trailer in tow...to no doubt
seek yet another "irresistable purchase" that he CAN live without!
and as shocked as "all get go" to see me
so early in the morning!!!!
Long ...short...
i told him of the dream...and we ended up having the most
blessed day....
i got to witness first-hand...
his actions
that rank him
among the angels...
as he visits elderly...terminally ill friends...and
shares his devotion and kindness...
his immeasurable wealth of knowledge re: life-giving foods and juices that indubidubly lengthen the health-life of the consumer....
like
no other than Christ Himself...
I got home
and was
so overcome with a rush of
pride
and the realisation that
Jesus spent time with all types of society...
and gave His love wherever it was needed!!
I was floored by his lack of discrimination...
and
his tireless
care
for these precious people!!
YES...
i was in a new zone...
but
i tell you what!!
I was never
MORE COMFORTABLE!!!!
We drank tea...and
savoured dainty delights...
all set out by
my Dad...
and
as the afternoon melted away....
(the company now grown to three...as Dad had phoned a third party to attend our impromptu gathering...)
rolling over peels of laughter...
stories from distant memories...
and current topical renditions of
humorous anecdotal offerings....
cascading waterfalls of recollections
that made us all heave in
involentary raptures
of child-like joy!!!!!
I was mesmerised ...and held captive in
an invisible web of love that tied us all together in that wonerful room...with lead-light windows...and
a depth of memories for the hostess...that
went right back to her childhood!!
Oh the Precious Love of Jesus...
it spans distances
and joins the oddest couplings...
and creates
magical...wonderful encounters...
in the unsuspecting heart !!!!!
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