Privilege

To know Christ — is true wisdom;
to love him — is the evidence of grace; and
to walk with him — is the highest honor that can be put upon a sinful creature!

 'The glories of Christ' by James Smith

Things we don't hear much!

I believe of all christian graces developed in a believer's life, the one that blesses most other people is the grace of thoughtfulness. It is the result of a humble heart before GOD, a heart full of sympathy and love for others and a desire to live a life of sanctification, doing all things as unto HIM.

It blesses most because the heart moves away from its fleshly inclinations of pleasing self and turns itself to GOD and what 'HE would have us to do unto others'.

It blesses because one of the consequences of a thoughtful heart is that it seeks to comfort and edify with kind, appropriate,timely words and deeds.

Thoughtfulness is thinking of others, and modifying one's conduct so as to avoid whatever would give trouble, inconvenience, or hurt to others.

In a world that praises self-assertion, self-centeredness and self love it is not often that we hear how God-glorifying the grace of thoughtfulness is.   

J.R. Miller  has written this beautiful, short article on The grace of thoughtfulness (1896).

Two more quote if you are not yet convinced about reading it. :)

There are some rare Christians who seem born for thoughtfulness. They have a genius for sympathy. Instinctively they seem to understand the experiences of pain in others, and from their heart there flows always a blessing of tenderness which is full of healing. This is the highest and holiest ministry of love. It is not softness nor weakness; it is strength—but strength enriched by divine gentleness. Not all love possesses this crowning quality. There is love that is heedless, and lacks the fine sense of others' feelings which is needed to make it perfect in its helpfulness.

Thoughtfulness is one of the truest and best tests of a noble Christian character. Thoughtlessness is rudeness, boorishness. It is selfishness, cold-heartedness. (...)

In older days, in sermons and in prayers, much reference was made to sins, as divided into those of omission and those of commission. In the confession of sins, the worshiper acknowledges that he has left undone—the things he ought to have done. Perhaps we give altogether too little attention to our sins of omission. We may think we are living fairly well, because we do not commit grave and flagrant errors and sins; but how about the other side of our life? Are we doing the thousand acts of kindness, which sincere love would prompt? Do not the weary, and the heart-hungry, and the tempted, and the struggling, and the needy—pass by us continually, with their silent appeals to us for what we have to give them—yet pass by in vain? [bold emphasis not in the original]

May the LORD be pleased to enrich us in this grace.  

 Read the Grace of Thoughtfulness

Wilderness

The Lord always makes the world - to be a wilderness to His people. They cannot feel at home in it - nor will it yield them suitable or sufficient supplies. In the wilderness - they learn His ways. They learn . . .

  to trust in Him,

  to look to Him, and

  to expect everything from Him.

In the wilderness - He becomes everything to them!

In the wilderness - He prepares them for 'Canaan'. He . . .

   weans them from the world,

   empties them of self, and

   shows them the insufficiency of all creatures!

All who follow the Lord as their leader - arrive safely in their Heavenly home. He does not lead them by the shortest way, nor by the easiest way - but He leads them in the right way, which is the best way. 

Prayer

It melts His heart, and opens His hand. God cannot

deny a praying soul.

Thomas Watson

Christian Zeal

A zealous man in religion is pre-eminently a man of one thing.

It is not enough to say that he is earnest, hearty, uncompromising, thorough-going, whole-hearted, fervent in spirit. He sees one thing, he cares for one thing, he lives for one thing, he is swallowed-up in one thing — and that one thing is to please God.

Nothing teaches us so much the preciousness of the Creator, as when we learnt the emptiness of all besides.

Spurgeon

Dare to stand alone!

It is possible to live for God in a hostile world. Godliness can, and does strive  where there are no ideal circumstances. (...)When we think of difficulties, we usually  only think only of our own. We persuade ourselves that everybody has it easy, and that we would make more spiritual progress if we were in some other situation.  The factory worker thinks it is easier to live the Christian life in the office, while the office worker is convinced that it is easier to be a Christian housewife at home. The housewife is not aware of the difficulties of living for Christ at school, and the student looks forward to the day when he will face comparatively easier challenges of the factory floor. (...) We each imagine that nobody has difficulties as great as our own.We excuse our poor standards of Christian living by pointing to the circumstances in which we are found.

The book of Daniel exposes us completely. It proves that true spirituality never depends upon things being easy.

Excerpt from Dare to Stand Alone by Pr. Stuart Olyott

Keeping the Heart

The great difficult in conversion is to win the heart to GOD, and the great difficult after conversion is to keep the heart with GOD. Herein lies the very pinch and stress of religion; here is that which makes the way of life a narrow way, and the gate of Heaven a straight one. 

from guarding your heart by Arthur Pink

No longer I

(...) " Yes you've always something to see about except your own business. It is too bad!"


But something else exclaimed, " your own business! have you really any of your own!"


"No, I am not my own!" She answered, " and I am glad I am not.  I am glad there is a GOD and that I am His child, and that I haven't anything to do but just to obey Him."


The restless feeling vanished for the time and she went cheerfully about her work, ' doing it as unto GOD.'

Excerpt from the Flower of the family by Mrs. E. Prentiss

No longer I

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me . . . —Galatians 2:20

Has that breaking of my independence come? All the rest is religious fraud. The one point to decide is— will I give up? Will I surrender to Jesus Christ, placing no conditions whatsoever as to how the brokenness will come? I must be broken from my own understanding of myself. When I reach that point, immediately the reality of the supernatural identification with Jesus Christ takes place. And the witness of the Spirit of God is unmistakable— “I have been crucified with Christ . . . .”

The passion of Christianity comes from deliberately signing away my own rights and becoming a bondservant of Jesus Christ. Until I do that, I will not begin to be a saint.

Oswald Chambers

No longer I

Yes, our life is hid with Christ in God, in actual truth as well in God's purpose, if it has come to this that it is "no longer" we that live but Christ that liveth in us. Oh! the simplicity of that "no longer" - as the seed-vessel pictures it now, taken up with the seed it bears, and heedless of itself and whatever may come. And yet, in the absolute simplicity, there is a depth of mystery that the former days never knew. It is like a soul that has come into the Holiest, where it has God alone.

excerpt from Parables of the Christ-Life by LiliasTrotter

A rather tricky mind of mine!!

Take care lest you fall into the error so common among anxious souls of making a savior of the “frames” of your own mind. Your own experience is delightful, but it is a poor substitute for Christ. The most elevated state of mind cannot prove a savior. It is upon Jesus bleeding, dying, atoning for sin, and suffering under the dreadful stroke of the sword of God’s justice, that your eye must be fixed; and if so, you will feel that “peace that passeth all understanding” keeping your heart and mind, and “joy unspeakable and full of glory” will spring up within your soul. [Jonah 2:9, Rom. 5:11, Phili. 4:7, 1 Pet. 1:8]

William Reid

Let us take our lot in life just as it comes, courageously, patiently, and faithfully never wondering at anything that the Master does.

Mrs E. Prentiss

The key of the greater work

 . . I say to you, he who believes in Me, . . . greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father —John 14:12

Prayer does not equip us for greater works— prayer is the greater work. Yet we think of prayer as some commonsense exercise of our higher powers that simply prepares us for God’s work. In the teachings of Jesus Christ, prayer is the working of the miracle of redemption in me, which produces the miracle of redemption in others, through the power of God. The way fruit remains firm is through prayer, but remember that it is prayer based on the agony of Christ in redemption, not on my own agony. We must go to God as His child, because only a child gets his prayers answered; a “wise” man does not (see Matthew 11:25).

Circumstances

" You may be sure of one thing: God Himself has placed you in your present circumstances, and it is He who appoints for you your daily task. Now, is it possible to conceive that a Being of so much wisdom and goodness would place you amid duties whose tendency is to draw you away from, rather than towards Himself? 

excerpt from "The flower of the family", by Mrs. Prentiss

Iran

And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.( Revelation 6)

Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani's sentence has been upheld. He received a death sentence for apostasy(leaving Islam). He appealed to the supreme court in Iran - and was heard last Sunday 25/09 for 4 days- in which he was asked to recant his faith in the LORD Jesus Christ, but refused to do so. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

My own sin

If you do not find out your sin, and bring it to Calvary to get it pardoned and washed away through the blood of Jesus, be sure your sin will find you out, and bring you to the judgment seat, to be condemned by Jesus, and sent away into everlasting punishment.”

William Reid (1914-1986)

The "go" of unconditional indentification

"One thing thou lackest..come take up the cross and follow Me."

Mark 10:21

The rich young ruler had the Master passion to be perfect. When he saw Jesus Christ, he wanted to be like Him. Our LORD never puts personal holiness to the fore when He calls a disciple, He puts absolute anihilation of my right to myself and idnetification with Himself  - a relationship with Himself ub which there is no other relationship. 

Luke 14:26 has nothing to do with salvationor sanctification, but unconditional identification with Jesus Christ. Very few of us know the absolute "go" of abandonment to Jesus. 

" then Jesus behold him and loved him." The look of Jesus will mean aheart broken forever from alleginance to any other person or thing, Has Jesus ever looked at you? The look of Jesus transforms and transfixes. Where you are "soft" with GOD is where the LORD has looked at you. If you are hard and vindicative, insistent on your own way, certain that the other person is more likely to be in the wrong than you are, it is an indication that there are whole tracts of your nature that have never been transformed by His gaze.

" One thing thou lackest..." The only "good thing" from Jesus Christ's point of view is union with Himself abd nothing in between. " Sell whatsoever thou hast..." I must reduce myself until I am a mere consious man. U must fundamentally renounce possesions of all kinds, not to save my soul ( only one thing saves a man - absolute reliance upon Jesus) - but in order to follow Jesus.

" Come and follow Me." And the road us the way He went.

Excerpt from My Utmost for His highest  by Oswald Chamber

180

Conversion

False Profession

Worldly people seem to be well aware that it is only in this life that they will be able to get vent to their worldliness. They quite count upon death putting an end to it all; and this is one of the main reasons for their dread of death, and their dislike even of the thoughts of it.

The character as well as the life of these men is undecided and feeble. They are not decided in their worldliness, and they are not decided in their religion. If they were compelled to choose between their two masters, the probability is that they would prefer the world; for their heart is not in their religion, and religion is not in their heart. Religion is irksome [ so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness. ] to them; it is a yoke, not a pleasant service. Their consciences would not allow them to throw it off; but it occupies a very small part of their thoughts and affections. They are, in fact, worldly men varnished over with religion; that is all. They are made up of two parts, a dead and a living; the living part is the world, the dead is religion. These are the ambiguous disciples of our age, who belong to Christ but in name. These are the stony-ground or thornyground hearers (Luk 8:14); men who have a place at our communion tables, who figure at religious committees, who make speeches on religious platforms, yet are, after all, wells without water, trees without root, stars without either heat or light (Jude 12-13).

The religion of such is but a half-and-half religion; without depth, or decision, or vigor, or self-sacrifice. It is but a picture or a statue, not a living man.The conversion of such has been but a half-and-half conversion. It has not gone down to the lowest depths of the man’s nature. I do not say it is a pretence or a hypocrisy; but still, I say it is an unreality. It has been a movement, a shaking, a change, but it has not been a being “begotten of God,” a being born from above (1Jo 5:18).

Pragmatism?!?

The work done in…apostolic days by the preaching of the Gospel was very decided. The religion that it produced was of no diluted nor ambiguous kind. The Christians then were men about whom there could be no mistake—uncompromising, unworldly, out-spoken men, who were not ashamed of their faith, or of their Lord, or of His badge, the cross. They came out and were separate, and touched not the unclean thing. It was in this way that “the masses” of Corinth, and Ephesus, and other Gentile cities were “evangelized” and “elevated,” not by concerts, and clubs, and amusements either for eye or ear.

Pakistan

Christians in Pakistan...
 Though the Church exists and we are thankful for that, her activities are curtailed through a set of laws that make evangelism to Muslims and conversion to Christianity a crime. Fundamental Islamists cause discrimination from grass root levels all the way up to a governmental level. Islamic identity gives the man on the street power over a Non-Muslim and violation of his or her rights, without the fear of being reprimanded by the authorities. Christians are denied opportunities to become literate.  Discrimination of Christians in the workplace, in receiving scholarships, education, healthcare and in some extreme and remote areas even in accessing basic amenities like clean water, food etc. 

Let the whole world know  Posted on 08/26/2011 12:00 AM

Friends this is an urgent prayer request. On the 4th of January, earlier this year Salman Taseer, the Governer of the Punjab was killed. He was killed because he defended Aasya Bibi, the Christian woman who has been in prison for almost two years now on false blasphemy charges. He has refered to the Blasphemy law as an unjust law and has even gone as far as saying it was poisonous. Although he himself was not a believer, he was killed because he spoke up for the rights of Christians in Pakistan. Today his son Shahbaz has been kidnapped! Pakistan's Christians ackowledge that the Taseer Family have already paid a high price for our rights in Pakistan. We do not want them to lose another member of their family. As I heard this news I was led by the Holy Spirit to pray a prayer. I want to share that prayer with you. Will you pray it with us that Shahbaz be released in more ways than one? My friends, you have prayed for men of courage to rise in Pakistan, you have prayed for Christians in Pakistan and the voice of these men rose because of your prayers. Salman gave his life because you prayed that someone would speak up for us, his son has been kidnapped because of that. Now it is time to pray that God will honour the sacrifice of this family and our prayers and will free Shahbaz and will bring him into a knowledge of God's protection. The prayer God led me to pray was 'Dear Lord Jesus, I know Salman was not a believer in Jesus, but I also know that he spoke up for us and I know you will honour that. Lord his son is suffering because his father spoke for the Maarias and the Aasyas and the Abraham's of Pakistan. So Lord please make yourself known to Shahbaz wherever he is. Lord visit with him and say to him, 'My Son Peace to You'. You have said that the weary should come to you, Lord invite Shahbaz at this moment, still the storm in him and calm him and speak with him Jesus please'

The Religion of the Day

“Head religion”

The popular religion of the day is either a head or a hand one: that is to say, the labouring to acquire a larger and fuller intellectual grasp of the things of God, or a constant round of activities called “service for the Lord.” But the heart is neglected! Thousands are reading, studying, taking “Bible-courses,” but for all the spiritual benefits their souls derive, they might as well be engaged in breaking stones. Lest it be thought that such a stricture is too severe, we quote a sentence from a letter recently received from one who has completed no less than eight of these “Bible-study courses:” “There was nothing in that ‘hard work’ which ever called for self-examination, which led me to really know God, and appropriate the Scriptures to  my deep need.” No, of course there was not: their compilers—like nearly all the speakers at the big “Bible conferences”—studiously avoid all that is unpalatable to the flesh, all that condemns the natural man, all that pierces and searches the conscience. Oh, the tragedy of this head “Christianity.”

“Hand religion”

Equally pitiable is the hand religion of the day, when young “converts” are put to teaching a Sunday school class, urged to “speak” in the open air, or take up “personal work.” How many thousands of beardless youths and young girls are now engaged in what is called “winning souls for Christ,” when their own souls are spiritually starved! They  may “memorize” two or three verses of Scripture a day, but that does not mean their souls are being fed. How many are giving their evenings to helping in some “mission,” who need to be spending time in “the secret place of the Most High”! And how many bewildered souls are using the major part of the Lord’s day in rushing from one meeting to another, instead of seeking from God that which will fortify them against temptations of the week. Oh, the tragedy of this hand “Christianity”!

How subtle the devil is! Under the guise of promoting growth in “the knowledge of the Lord,” he gets people to attend a ceaseless round of meetings, reading an almost endless number of religious periodicals and books, all under the pretense of “honouring the Lord” by all this so-called “service.” He induces the one or the other to neglect the great task which God has set before us: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Pro 4:23). Ah, it is far easier to speak to others, than it is to constantly use and improve all holy means and duties to preserve the soul from sin, and maintain it in sweet and free communion with God. It is far  easier to spend an hour reading a sensational article upon “the signs of the time,” than it is to spend an hour in agonizing before God for purifying and rectifying grace!

Excerpt from Guarding your heart by A.W. Pink

May the LORD keep us from living in such manner.

In Christ

J

Contentment

Many people place great expectations in varied circumstances and conditions. One thinks he could serve God much better if he were more prospered temporally; another, if he passed through the refining effects of poverty and affliction. One thinks his spirituality would be promoted if he could be more retired and solitary; another, if only he could have more society and Christian fellowship. But, my reader, the only way to serve God better is to be content with the place in which He has put you, and therein get a better heart! We shall never enter into the advantages of any situation, nor overcome the disadvantages of any condition, until we fix and water the root of them in ourselves. Out of the heart are the “issues of life,” and not from our surroundings. “Make the tree good, and his fruit good” (Mat 12:33): get the heart right, and you will soon be superior unto all “circumstances.”

A.W.Pink

Book Giveaway

This wouldn't be a blog without a book giveaway right?!?
Well the time has come! I want to give out a few copies of Secret Believers. This book has changed dramatically my view on the responsibility of our prayers for Christian's worldwide being born-again in places where their Christian lives might be rather short.
Prepare yourself to be challenged in prayers, challenged in the  way you see life and Christianity, and the question " Is Christ worth dying for ? , are you willing, ready, prepared?

Algeria

Signs of an impure heart

An Ignorant heart is an Impure heart.

To be ignorant of sin or Christ argues impurity of heart.(...) Ignorance is Satan’s stronghold (Act 26:18). The devils are bound in chains of darkness (Jude 6). So are all ignorant people. Impossible it is that an ignorant heart should be holy. It is knowledge that makes the heart good: “That the soul be without knowledge, it is not good” (Pro 19:2). For any to say that though their mind is ignorant, yet their heart is good, they may as well say that though they are blind, yet their eyes are good.

In the Law, when the plague of leprosy was in a man’s head, the priest was to pronounce him unclean. This is the case of an ignorant man. The leprosy is in his head: “He is unclean.” That heart cannot be very pure which is a dungeon. Grace cannot reign where ignorance reigns. An ignorant man can have no love to God: “He cannot love that which he does not know.” He can have no faith: knowledge must usher in faith (Psa 9:10). He cannot worship God aright (Joh 4:22). Though he may worship the true God—yet in a wrong manner. Ignorance is the root of sin. Blindness leads to lasciviousness (Eph 4:18-19; Pro 7:23). Ignorance is the mother of pride (Rev 3:17). It is the cause of error (2Ti 3:7), and, which is worse, a willful ignorance: “It is one thing to be ignorant; it is another thing to be unwilling to know.” Many are in love with ignorance: they hug their disease (Job 21:14; 2Pe 3:5). Ignorant minds are impure. There is no going to heaven in the dark!

A sincere heart is willing to come under a trial. “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts” (Psa 139:23). That metal is to be suspected which men are afraid to bring to the touchstone. A sound heart likes the touchstone of the Word; it is for a searching ministry. Hypocrites fly from the light of truth; they fly from that light which would reveal their sin. They hate that physic [medicine]
of the Word that, meeting with their ill humors [evil inclinations] begins to make them sick and troubles their conscience. A gracious soul loves that preaching best which makes a heart- anatomy.

Are you pure in Heart?

 A pure heart abhors all sin.
1. A man may forbear sin, yet not have a pure heart.
a. A man may forbear sin for lack of occasion to sin. He may forbear sin as one may hold his breath while he dives under water, and then take breath again. The gunpowder makes no noise until the fire is put to it. The clock stands still until the weights are put on. Let a temptation come, which is like the hanging on of the weights, and the heart goes as fast in sin as ever!
b. He may forbear sin for fear of the penalty. A man forbears a dish he loves for fear it should bring his disease upon him of the stone or gout. There is conflict in a sinner between the passions of desire and fear. Desire spurs him on to sin; but fear, as a curb and bit, checks him. Nor is it the crookedness of the serpent he fears, but the sting of the serpent!
c. He may forbear sin out of a design. He has a plot in hand, and his sin might spoil his plot. Some rich heir would fly out in excess, but he behaves properly to prevent being cut off from the inheritance. How good was Joash while Jehoiada the priest lived! Prudence as well as conscience may restrain from sin.

Hiding God's word - The secret of Spiritual Progress

Hiding God's Word in our Hearts is the secret of spiritual progress.
" If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed."
The man who grows in grace is the man who grows in knowledge, and the man who grows in knowledge is the man who keeps close to God through His Word.
For spiritual progress this is the secret:
" Thy Word have I hid in my heart."
Whenever a Christian is growing in grace, experiencing more joy, more rest of soul, more peace of heart, more knowledge of truth,more blessing  in service, more hope in trial, more endurance in suffering, the explanation is as clear as it is simple. He is spending more time with his Bible.
There is no need for spiritual declension, no necessity for backsliding, no warrant for anything but ever joyous progress as we go from strength to strength through the year. But this will only be through hiding God's Word in our heart.

from Life Abiding and Abounding 

by W.H Griffith Thomas

Quench not the Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:19

As fire is put out by withdrawing fuel, so we quench the Spirit if we do not stir up our spirits, and all that is within us, to comply with the motions of the good Spirit; and as fire is quenched by pouring water, or putting a great quantity of dirt upon it, so we must be careful not to quench the Holy Spirit by indulging carnal lusts and affections, or minding only earthly things.  

Matthew Henry Commentary

Holiness

 Pr. Stuart Ollyot

That old blue book...

I guess most of you that know us have come across Paulo's favorite book at the moment. Yes that blue old fashioned one (God's gospel of grace).

That collection of good sermon's has been the source of many pleasant hours being feed by man that knew the LORD in ways that we long to know HIM.

Well, I guess you also probably heard me saying that in the English language we are so blessed with good material so it is such a shame that we don't read more and have so little knowledge on things that could be so beneficial to our spiritual growth. I won't even start on saying how books are very expensive in Brazil and that there are an increasing, but really still small number of sound books translated into our language.So you get the point right? You've got to study your Bible and get all the good aid that is so widely available out there.

Anyways we just want to recommend Chapel Library  as they have all the " good stuff " in PDFs and if you are in New Zealand or some other countries on the list, the distribution of Free Grace Broadcaster is free of charge. So you also can get one of those nice little blue books that Paulo has :)...

So that's it... do let's us know what you found out there...

It is the habitual temper of every sanctified soul to hunger after the word of God as its necessary food, which there is no living without. Matthew Henry 

In Christ

When our LORD stands

Last weekend proved to be a challenge.On Sunday we heard on the persecuted church...that speaks for itself.

 Brother George, is a full time worker with Open Doors ministries ( founded by brother Andrew, author of the millions-selling book:God's smuggler ). He presented the sermon and some of what God is doing among the Body of Christ worldwide. 

He went through some chapters on the book of Acts (Acts 6,7,8,9). We read about Stephen and the early church. Stephen was a man full of faith, of the whole Ghost and power (Acts 6:5,8) .

 On Stephen he remarked that there we had the first martyr ( witness ) for the sake of Christ. The first of many that would die in HIS NAME, and FOR HIS GLORY.

That passage struck all of us : Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 

We see our LORD standing. Please compare that to these verses:

I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left (1King 22:19)

And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. (Mat 14:62)

It amazed me to see that the LORD Jesus would stand.I never saw that passage in this way.

The Lord Jesus, the LORD of glory cared for His church, for that first martyr,  HE stands as one of His suffers and dies as a witness...

The will of God

“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification” (1Th 4:3). 

Are you low in the world? Perhaps it is not the will of God that you should be rich. But it is the will of God that you should be holy.
 “This is the will of God…your sanctification.”

The pure in heart  by Thomas Watson 

"As long as the gratification of any innocent taste does not absorb time that could and should be better spent; as long as you can return to religious duty or religion devotion, with unchecked delight, as long as Christ holds unmistakably His place as the King of your soul, that you count all your treasures but loss that you may keep Him there, - so long you are safe in your human pursuits and pleasures. 
But if these things, innocent in themselves have the boldness and impertinence to beguile you from duty, form prayer, from Christ, to you they cease to be innocent.They are thieves and robbers and murderers; they will steal your most priceless treasures and slay your soul.'

 Mrs.E Prentiss

What, Why, How, When? Part 2

In the last post we attempted to find what the given verses from the Bible had in common.( To go back to the Bible verses click here ).

I was thinking recently on how the Bible describes our Christian walk; out of pure curiosity I tried to find out what verses I knew from the Bible that talked about walking or walk. 
I knew one who reads " from that time they walked with him no more ( reference to  Joh 6:66).
For we walk by faith and not by sight,... let us walk diligently,... now there is no condemnation for those that are in Christ, who walk not according to the flesh..., and so forth...

I never thought there was so many reference about a walk with God ( I had 65 verses down, if you read it ).

When young I always thought interesting the thought that Abraham was GOD's friend ( Isaiah 41:8), that Enoch walked with GOD (  Gen 5:24 ), but since I (and most of us) were raised hearing a gospel that is based on a once in a lifetime decision, ( more specifically a repeated prayer) , many of our generation do not understand what the Christian life looks like in practical daily  living. As a Child in my young years, I was conformed with a life of  "accomplishments for God", an impeccable Sunday apparel but a weekly living that lacked the understanding of this other way: GOD's way.

We seem (I did at least) to see the Christian life more or less like something static, boring and purposeless.We keep a set of rules and that's it, nothing else to be done... We compare ourselves with others and when we look a bit better that's great, forget GOD's absolute standards and holiness.

Many of us are not even aware of how much sinful we truly are...well, we do understand that Christ died once and for all for the sins of those who believe, but do we really understand the implications of it? Do we understand why the Invisible God had to slay his only Begotten Son, simply because Holiness cannot tolerate sin?

Camp 2011

*Note: Some names have been changed to protect the privacy of the kids. Please excuse the lack of creativity in some of them...:)

First day of Camp
(AAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhh yes, this year the kids still had to scream when they heard the word "CAMP"...):

Is Christ your Lord?

We do not ask: Is Christ your “Savior,”?—but is He, really and truly, your Lord? If He is not your Lord, then He is most certainly not your “Savior.” Those who have not received Christ Jesus as their “Lord” and yet suppose Him to be their “Savior,” are deluded, and their hope rests on a foundation of sand. Multitudes are deceived on this vital point, and therefore, if the reader values his or her soul, we implore you to give a most careful reading to this little tract.

When we ask, is Christ your Lord? we do not inquire, Do you believe in the Godhead of Jesus of Nazareth? The demons do that (Mat 8:28-29) and yet perish notwithstanding! You may be firmly convinced of the Deity of Christ,and yet be in your sins. You may speak of Him with the utmost reverence, accord Him, His divine titles in your prayersand yet be unsaved. You may abominate those who traduce His person and deny His divinity, and yet have no spiritual love for Him at all.

When we ask, Is Christ your Lord, we mean, does He in very deed occupy the throne of your heart, and does He actually rule over your life? “We have turned everyone to his own way” (Isa 53:6) describes the course which we all follow by nature. Before conversion every soul lives to please self. Of old it was written, “every man did that which was right in his own eyes,” and why? “In those days there was no King in Israel” (Jdg 21:25). Ah! that is the point we desire to make clear to the reader. Until Christ becomes your King (1Ti 1:17; Rev 15:3), until you bow to His scepter, until His will becomes the rule of your life, self dominates, and thus Christ is disowned.

Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ!

And knowing the time, that now is high time to awake out of sleep: for our salvation is now nearer than when we believed.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the ARMOUR of LIGHT. Let us walk honestly, as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the LORD JESUS CHRIST and MAKE NO PROVISION FOR THE FLESH, TO FULFIL ITS LUSTS THEREOF. Romans 13:11-14

I confess these verses are just "shouting" at my face. Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ? make no provision for the flesh?  Let us put on the armour of light? How does all of that takes place...?
Does Christ's word has a say to the way we live? Does the Bible tells in detail how life is to be lived? I guess if there is a time to concern ourselves with finding answers to those questions this time is just now. How long will we sleep for? How long will we live as if Eternity is not a reality?

Been there ...done that!

As my trip comes to almost an end I was just trying to figure out were I have been in the past month. God has been extremely gracious. I was able to be in more places than I thought possible. I was also blessed with real fellowship and true Christian hospitality...Oh blessed be the LORD!!!

Here goes on "easy-to follow graphic terms" all the places that I've been to, at least for a day or so..:) ...I would still do with more additions :) but I think that might be another trip :p...

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Just some random photos ...

God's glory...displayed

There is more of GOD, more of His essential glory displayed in bringing one sinner to repentance and forgiving His sins for the sake of Christ, than in all the wonders of creation...In this work, creatures may see, if so express it, the very heart of GOD.

 excerpt from " Joy in Heaven over Repenting Sinners" in the complete works of Edward Payson

Ola from Christchurch!

Not exactly,( so I was told).

I am currently in Rolleston, which is about  20 km from Christchurch.

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So I only feel the aftershocks if they are over 4.0 ...( felt one this morning by the way).

Visited Christchurch today; yes they were really affected by the earthquake. It is hard to believe that another would hit on Monday, just when things where starting to get back to normal...

Well, meanwhile, here go some other pictures from Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook. 

Four Steps That Lead to Peace

I have just been to see Mrs Campbell. In answer to my routine lamentations, she took up a book and read me what was called, as nearly as I can remember, "Four steps that lead to peace."
"Be desirous of doing the will of another, rather than thine own."
"Choose always to have less, rather than more."
"Seek always the lowest place, and to be inferior to every one."
"Wish always, and pray that the will of God may be wholly fulfilled in thee."

Excerpt taken from Stepping Heavenward

Mrs E. Prentiss

The week in pictures

Fox Glacier, Franz Joseph Glacier, Lake Matheson, Hotikika (Gorge)

Sanctification

"My dear," she said after a time, "have you a perfectly distinct, settled view of what Christ is to the human soul?"

"I do not know. I understand, of course, more or less perfectly that my salvation depends on Him alone; it is His gift."

"But do you see with equal clearness that your sanctification must be as fully His gift as your salvation is?"

"No," I said after a little thought. "I have had a feeling that He has done His part and now I must do mine."
"My dear," she said with much tenderness and feeling, "then the first thing you have to do is to learn Christ."

"But how?'

"On your knees, my child, on your knees!" She was tired, and I came away; and I have indeed been on my knees.

Excerpt taken from Stepping Heavenward

Mrs E. Prentiss

Greeting from Te Anau!! Part 2

We are now leaving to the Milford Sound. So before we do so here we have a few more beautiful memories...

Greeting from Te Anau!!

Hello Everybody!! Greeting from Te Anau!

This is a little town in the middle of nowhere. Interestingly enough there is Internet here...
We landed in Queenstown yesterday to a beautiful day ( it must be all your prayers :). I don't know how that could be called winter :) Amazing place.
 We were discussing how people could ever take such beautiful place for granted. Then again we were convicted by the fact that we think very little of all the goodness and blessedness the LORD gives us daily.





I don't really know how Paulo managed to drive all the way from Queenstown to Te Anau. I wouldn't have done so. I guess we would have stopped at every corner to take a shot. Anyways I am glad he did :)

Queenstown

We stopped in Te Anau in order to avoid driving 5 hours straight to the Milford Sound...so here goes some pictures...

Enough

There is certainly enough in our Savior, if we only open our eyes that we may see it, to solve every doubt and satisfy every longing of the heart; and He is willing to give it in full measure. If a glimpse of our Savior here on earth can be so refreshing, so delightful, what will it be in Heaven? 

From Thoughts Concerning the King

 by Elizabeth Prentiss

Hymn of the week 9 - Thine love indeed!

Though the hymn of the week has become quite an irregular serie in this blog , I don't want to lose the joy and blessedness that comes with thinking upon the truth of each of those gems.

I came across this hymn this week. I knew the beautiful melody but have never listen to it sung in the church...yet. I sat down to play and learn it...well it was more than what I was expecting....

Jesus I am resting , resting in the joy of what Thou art;

I am  finding out the the greatness of Thy loving heart;

Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee; and Thy beauty fills my soul,

for by Thy transforming power, Thou hast made me whole.

What, Why, How, When? Part 1

What do these verses below have in common??

'even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1

who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:4

Two Important Days in Life

 Paul Washer

April Pictures

Beautiful and longer days...

Some pictures of the month of April. Very summery-like!

Flowers, skies, trees, sun, shadows...

Faith and Humility

The Absence of Christ


 I know that, as night and shadows are good for flowers, and moonlight and dews are better than a continual sun, so is Christ's absence of special use, and that it has some nourishing virtue in it, and gives sap to humility, and puts an edge on hunger, and furnishes a fair field to faith to put forth itself, and to exercise its fingers in gripping what it does not see.

Samuel Rutherford

I got to think over this quote. It might come as a surprise to us (it definitely was to me) that the absence of Christ  and his presence both benefit us in one way or the other. 

Paulo + Northland = Move to NZ

Praise the LORD, this week I could finally visit the Northland. It was an amazing, superb, great experience. I do not think I have ever seen such beautiful place in my life. Pictures follow:

Hymn of the week 08 - There is a fountain

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

As the Scriptures says...

I remember one day, I asked the little congregation, "Who of you believes in Jesus Christ?" Then I did something which I normally avoid. I said, "I would like those of you who believe in Jesus to raise their hands." Of course there wasn't a single person who didn't raise his hand. So I said, "Look, we have to face things squarely. Jesus says if we believe in Him, as the Scriptures say, then rivers of living water will flow out of our lives. Now let me ask you a personal question: Are there rivers of living water flowing out of your lives?"

"No!" they said.

"Does that mean that you don't believe in Jesus?"

"But we are sure that we believe in Jesus. We have accepted Christ, we surrendered our lives to him. We can't doubt that," they replied.

"Well, if that's the way it is, then we are either deceiving ourselves, or the words Jesus said aren't true."

Pictures of March

This post is at least 7 days late. I know... But better late than never!

Those are random pictures taken last month:

Hunger...

Hymn of the week - 07 - Help us to See!

The Hymn of the week is a bit late this week :) 

This is a Tami's favourite, so i got the suggestion from her. This hymn describes the attributes of GOD that are very difficult to grasp with our human intellect alone.

O help us to see! is it possible that even after having GOD described in HIS majesty and power, we still lack the proper holy fear and awe of HIM? 

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,

Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,

Almighty, victorious, Thy great Name we praise.