Thursday, December 18, 2008

At The Foot of God's Throne

We always hear about the importance of prayer in our Christian experience- the breath of the soul, the unleashing power, the great Audience that is ours when we simply close our eyes, with heads bowed in reverence.

However, no matter how many times we hear it or are urged by Paul to 'pray earnestly' in our daily reading, it seems to go in one ear and out the other. Failing, continually, to realise that great men in the Bible spent hours in the divine presence of our Maker.

Daniel, for example, when face with the possible sentence of being fed to the lions, was not afraid but would rather die than miss his 'appointments' with the LORD.

Is praying so important to you that you would rather DIE than miss it?

Would you be so bold not to miss your special time with God? Do you even have that special time with God?
Cadey asked me, 'Why couldn't Daniel just whisper silent prayers to the Lord throughout the day instead of kneeling down THREE TIMES A DAY in front of a window!?' while I was writing this as a draft, and I was taken aback by it.
As I think about it, it must have taken a boldness and divine strength, that cannot be attained through human means but is given by request from 'the Rock that is higher than'* ourselves.

David had time he spent with God, he told the Lord:
*'Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.
Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.'
I especially like the way the New Living Translation put it, although I don't quote from that version regularly, it creates an air as though David regularly sought the Lord *'with all [his] heart and with all [his] soul.'

In addition, if this is not enough we are most definitely and fervently to follow our Lord and Saviour as Christians [[Christlike]] should imitate Christ as He, *'in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.'

With This as our example we have no excuse to be lacking in prayer, the opening of one's heart to God as a friend; and if we find ourselves lacking in that aspect, we should humble ourselves on our knees and ask for a willing spirit to Petition
, Repent, Appreciate, Yield, Experience and Rejoice, so that we are in constant communication with our Lord.

Leila.S.&Cadey.H.

Psalm 5:3 (NLT)*
Deuteronomy 4:29 (NKJV)*
Mark 1:35 (NKJV)*

Saturday, December 13, 2008

On perusal through my email inbox I found an email from my weekly subscription to Christian Teens on about.com
Making A Difference Every Single Day
The title really caught my attention it's something I feel as Christians we should implore others to do and I have to quote Kelli on this one:
'Not every act of change is going to come along the lines of Jesus feeding the five thousand in Matthew 14 or Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt in Exodus. Margaret Mead had a great saying about making a difference, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."'

Kelli goes further to indicate that changing the world comes in small packages like
'offering a kind word to a hurt friend, picking up a piece of garbage on the sidewalk, saying a prayer to bless people...these are all examples of what we usually think are everyday things that actually go a long way in making that difference.'

Although, we often have times where we feel as though no one is as kind to me, so why should I be kind to others? Remember, that we are not worthy of the greatest Sacrifice and act of love that took place some two thousand years ago.

With this great act of love in history as our example, we should really put on [[Romans 13:11-14]] Christ and be as humble, kind, patient and gentle He was. As I type this, I, myself, feel as though there is much more I can do to help the Lord in comforting others around me.

As we pray let us pray for the fruit of the Spirit 'against such there is no law'

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Leila.S.&&Cadey.H.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Now that said, have you just had a tough day today? [See below blog]
Failed a test you studied ages for? Hurt a family member or friend? Lost your school folder? Or even worse? Something life changing and you don't know how you'll even get through tomorrow? We
all have days like this. Sometimes you get home and you just want to give up. You feel like just throwing in the towel and saying " I give up. I've tried and I can't take it any longer. I'm out."
The most attractive thought is just getting away from it all. You listen to some sad music, cry, curl up and eat sweet stuff.

But wait a second.



What does the Lord have to say about days like this? Let's check it out:

" We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed but not in despair {not altogether without help}; persecuted but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed."- 2Corinthians 4:8,9


Let's dissect that. Did it say " You're never gonna have a bad day!"? Did it say " You might have some rough patches, if you don't do everything right."? No. It said you WILL have difficulty; after all the Lord has said in

Romans 5:3- "And not only so, but we glory in tribulation also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience , experience; and experience hope; and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed broad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us"


We will have hardships, there is no question about that. But sometimes we forget the parts in red. Yes we are under attack by the enemy and his agents but we are: NOT DISTRESSED, NOT IN DESPAIR, NOT WITHOUT HELP, NOT DESTROYED AND NOT FORSAKEN.


Also:

"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal"- 2Corinthians 4:18


So let's not look at our problems, because they are as the winds; they will soon blow away. But let's look toward the God who will solve our problems and wipe away every tear from our eyes and every sorrow from our hearts. For He is the Great I AM.




And don't forget:


Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance, And the young men and the old, together,
For I will turn their mourning into joy, And will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow. -Jermiah 31:13






May God bless and prosper you. He WILL come through for you if you like Jacob/Israel in Genesis 32:24-30 surrender completely to Him. Trust Him, He'll bring your life to its full potential and let you meet your true calling in life.

-Cadey & Leila
Has anyone ever asked you how your day was and your answer was something like...
"Awful"
"Just horrible"
"Don't even ask"


Are you breathing? Can you see, read? Have you drank, eaten this week? Most importantly- do you know you have a Saviour who died for YOU? If you're reading this right now, my guess is that you've answered YES to every question! You answer should be "I'M BLESSED, thank you", then.

Now... that's not to say that there are not some days that are tougher than others, or ar just downright a challenge to get through. But we're Christians! We are too blessed to complain!

Monday, December 1, 2008

The Journey To DO HARD THINGS 1


Well, I was reading Do Hard Things and I really couldn't put it down, besides the compelling urge to do something to change this world, I felt as if God was tugging at my heart to do something, be someone who will change the community and country from it's current state. Ideas kept flooding through my mind and I got really excited but we all know that there's that someone who doesn't want you to succeed in fulfilling God's purpose for you.

Then, I began to doubt.
Who in their right mind would want to join?
Do I really think someone would care?
People are too busy fixing their own problems.

The desire to serve started to die down, but Thank God for prayer.
I remember that same morning (yesterday) I read Solomon's prayer in 1 Kings 3:5-9
At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”
And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” [NKJV].

Which then reminded me of when the Lord called Jeremiah:
Jeremiah 1:4-8 [NKJV]
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
“ Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Then said I: “ Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” But the LORD said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD. And as if that wasn't enough thinking about it now another text comes to mind:
Isaiah 41:13 [NKJV] For I, the Lord you God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you'.



In our quest to "Do Hard Things" or "Change the World", we sometimes forget that it is not through our power, but through God's. We look not to if we are capable of a work, but know what we are vessels of God's work. Our focus, then, becomes on finding out what God's will is and praying for His power that we may carry it out.

So this week our quest is: Prayer
Praying that God will use us in the way He sees fit and that we will not let our own wills hinder His perfect one.



~*It is not I that lives, but Christ that lives in me.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Welcome!



Welcome to our blog!
We pray that God will inspire you and use this to bring you into a more meaningful relationship with Him.
It is our humble, privelege to be able to use this to point a post-Christian world to our Saviour.

Have fun reading and may God bless you fully!

Leila and Cadey