WHAT GOD HATH PROMISED

God hath not promised

Skies always blue.

Flower-strewn pathways

All our lives through;

God hath not promised

Sun without rain

Joy without sorrow,

Peace without pain.

But God hath promised

Strenghth for the day.

Rest for the labour,

Light for the way,

Grace for the trials,

Help from above,

Unfailing sympathy,

Undying love.



                                                                               -Annie Johnson Flint

 Read more @ http://www.preceptaustin.org/annie_johnson_flint's_biography.htm

Take a Stand.

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. -Revelation 3:21
  Jesus died to be a propitiation (sacrifice) for our sins ( 1 John 4:10) Jesus now lives to show us the way to eternal life.
In John 8:12 Jesus says: ''I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.'' Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and for those who know the truth the truth will set them free ( John 14:6 & 8:32)
  The problem that many of us face today, is that we only want to be partially surrendered to Christ, we're afraid to give our all in all; to totally surrender though be it the only way to have true peace, inner peace.

Walking on the straight path and choosing the narrow way is a lifelong commitment (with the best benefits), you have to truly want it; being on the fence won't save you. Revelation 3:15-16 says: ''I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.'' BUT Praise God who gives us grace -verse. 20 says ''Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.''
  So what's the answer? ''Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.'' ( Matt. 26:41) But just praying and watching alone is not going to be enough for ''we all like sheep have gone astray every man to his own way'' (Isa. 53:6) The God of all, grace who '' is able to keep you from falling'' (Jude 1:24) has made  for us a faithful promise; he says: ''My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in (your) weakness. Most gladly therefore will I (a sinner) rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.''
  I exort you my friends to listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah who said ''Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.'' (Isaiah 1:18-20)

I Live in a World - Dean Cullinane

BE COURAGEOUS!

 

Assurance

2nd Corinthians 5:7- ''We live by faith, not by sight.''

  God will always make a way. The father knows exactly what HIS children need; HE knows them inside out. HE knows their wants and is familiar with all their trials and tribulations. HE is able to save us, if we only call. HE will answer and deliever us from all our insecurities.

The name of the Lord is mighty to save and HE is able to keep all who call upon HIM. In HIS pavillion shall he hid you (Psalm 27:5) HE provides a way of escape in every aspect of our lives, HE did it for me and HE will do it for you....

When you feel like giving up..remember



God's love is over, it's underneath, it's inside, it's in between, the times you doubt Him when you can't feel, the times when you question ''Is this for real?'' The times you're broken, the times that you mend, the times you hate him and the times that you bend. His love is still over, it's underneath! it's inside it's in between,  the times when you're healing and when your heart breaks, the times when you feel like you've fallen from grace, the times you're hurting, the times that you heal and times you go hungry and are tempted to steal. In times of confusion, chaos and pain He's there in your sorrow under the weight of your shame, He's there through your heatache, He's there through the storm! HIS LOVE WILL KEEP YOU! HE DOESN'T CARE WHERE YOU'VE FALLEN OR WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN HE'LL NEVER! FORSAKE YOU. HIS LOVE NEVER ENDS

Keep your eye on the prize!

  I learnt a great lesson while swimming one day. My goal was to reach to where my mom was-some distance away-but the further out I went I became afraid and I took my eyes off the goal and to the rising waters and that's when things started to go wrong....

  Our purpose in life is to keep our eyes on Jesus (the goal) and HIM ALONE, but when we let our eyes wander to the things of this earth, the troubles and trials, the deep waters around us, we lose sight of our goal and we become afraid, just like Peter did (Read Matt 14).

  When Peter saw Jesus walking on the water, in his faith he ran out to him, but when even for that very second he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the tempestuous winds and crashing waves, he was afraid and began to sink. So it is with us, when we take our eyes off Jesus and place our hope and security in the things of this world, we are overwhelmed and start to sink into the cares and worries of this life. But just like Peter when he was sinking, cried out to Jesus and he immediately saved him, so we ought to cry out to HIM.

  Jesus hears and answers our every cry. Just like a father cares for his children and would not allow them to sink, Jesus cares for us, for HE IS the perfect father. But we must call on him, for he surely will answer.

Self Worth.

How can we love others, without first love for ourselves? In the bible it says to ''love your neighbour as yourself'' (Matt. 22:39), but how can we without self worth?
  As God's handiwork, created in HIS image, in HIS likeness, designed, molded and fashioned by HIM we should have a high standard of self esteem. The opposite of this is pride and vanity, which ''goeth before a fall'' (Proverbs 16:18).
  Striking the balance is crucial in our everyday lives, but today I'm focusing on people who suffer with low self esteem, people who've ''never felt good enough'' and ''never felt pretty enough''.To people with doubts and insecurities I'm here to tell you what the beloved disciple of Jesus said in John 8:36- ''If the Son therefore shall make you free ye shall be free indeed.''
There is nothing, nothing that can separate you from HIS LOVE and power in your life, not even your past, or even your present, don't look at where you are today but consider where you can be tomorrow. You are not too broken, unmendable, unworthy or unrighteous  for Jesus came to seek and save the lost! (Luke 19:10) He died so that you might live and live an abundant life! (John 10:10). You are fearfully and wonderfully made! (Ps.139:14) Created in HIS image. You are priceless. You are special. Christ died for You, You!  HE made You a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of HIM who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light (1 Peter 2:9). He made Your body a temple, HIS temple (1Cor. 6:19).
  YOU ARE WORTH IT. YOU ARE WORTH MORE. More than what anyone can give to you. He gave you His life. His death was meant to be Your death. His life is Your redemption. He loves You, died to save You. He gave You value; that value no one can take away from You... whenever you feel insecure remember: Jesus died because HE knew you were worth it.

The choices you make don't make you who you are. What Christ has done for You makes You who You are...Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:17)

Words of Inspiration

''But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.''For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.'' Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us (Jesus).''For with God nothing shall be impossible.''(The Christian) lives by faith not by sight.''Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.''But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.''


Taken from- (Matt.4:4, Eph.6:12, Rom.8:37, Luke 1:37, 2nd Cor. 5:7, Heb.11:1, Heb.11:6)

Skit Guys - Baggage - YouTube

Skit Guys - Baggage - YouTube: "We cant find our self worth based on what other people think of us, we have to find our self worth in Christ and our relationship with Him"

Come.

''Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.'' -Matthew 11:28-30

  Sometimes we feel like giving up; sometimes we do. Sometimes things get too much, the burdens too heavy, the load unbearable. Hope non-existant, relief a distant dream, the Saviour no longer on our minds, help no where to be found, no one to turn to, alone, desperate and in despair. Shamed, abandoned, bruised and broken. Whatever situation you find yourself in today, remember:

 Love is here. Love is now, Love is pouring from His hands from His brow. Love is near, it satisfies. There are streams of mercy flowing from His side. So, to the bruised and fallen, captive bound and broken hearted Jesus is the Lord! By His stripes He paid our ransom; from His wounds we drink salvation!
Come to the water ye who thirst and you'll thirst no more, come to the Father ye who labour in vain, come to the treasure ye who search and you'll search no more, come to the lover ye who want and you'll want no more...

The Sabbath: Part Two

NB: Someone made a very good point in saying that God's law was set forth from the beginning... God walked with earth's 1st parents, talked with them and explained His plan for their lives to them. The children learnt from their parents, as things were passed down from generation to generation. How else did Cain know he sinned when he killed Abel if he did not know the law? If we look back even before Mount Sinai we see man obeying and disobeying God- keeping and not keeping His law.

Part Two

  So why don't we keep the sabbath?

Here are two popular beliefs-

Well some say that ''it was done away with, it was nailed to the cross when Jesus died, to take away the oppression that the Jews imposed.'' Where in the bible does it say that after Jesus' resurrection that He changed the day to Sunday? or that Jesus kept the sabbath day on Sunday? Jesus even rested in the tomb on Saturday- the sabbath keeping with the commandments of His Father.

• Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Others say that ''we go to church on Sunday because we are celebrating Jesus' resurrection from the dead.''
Where in the bible does it say that Jesus told His disciples to ''honour him'' by worshiping on the day he was resurrected? Jesus told His disciples to ''Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20) If Jesus said anything to His disciples that would ''distinguish'' them from others it would be this: By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35)

Confused? The Kings James bible puts it like this- And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32) and the truth hurts...trust me BUT it will set you free.. take off your shackles of ignorance and come into the light. Jesus said- ''I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.'' (John 8:12) Child of darkness, step into the light. Don't be afraid, for HE has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2nd Timothy 1:7) Why conform? take a stand for God and he will stand up for you. Have faith. Trust HIM and prove this for yourself, don't put your faith in man for man will let you down.  Trust. God for He will never fail you....

The Sabbath: Part One

Exodus 20:8 - Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

  I think I can justly say that this, is one of the most ignored, misunderstood and blantanly opposed texts in the bible. It seems like out of the whole bible the majority of christians choose to somehow ignore or ''do away with'' this text. But why? tradition? ignorance? conformity?
Well let us first establish the date and orgin of the sabbath, which takes us back to the beginning- the start of it all- Genesis. Most of us know the story of Moses and the wayward children of Israel in the wilderness (well, we should do) and how God with his own finger wrote the Ten commandments on a tablet of stone for man thus He (God) gave it to the people via Moses on Mount Sinai. We can establish that (Read Exodus 19) then what happened? Moses read the ten commandments to the people. (and we should know them)

NB- (taken from the Kings James Version) Exodus 20:3

1st-  (v.3) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2nd- (v.4) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: (v.5) Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; (v.6) And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
3rd- (v.7) Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
                                                     BUT
When we get to the fourth commandment, we skip over it? sad to say but many of us do.
4th- (v.8) Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

• Clear precise and to the point, so why do we ignore it? verses 9 & 10 give us the the conditions under which we are to keep it holy.

(v.9) Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

• Isn't God good! he gives us six days out of a seven day week for ourselves! Talk about reasonable!

(v.10) But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

• God asks us to be faithful in all things and he can only give according to our measure of faith. God went into so much detail for us because he knew that we would forget... verse eleven further explains why we should keep the sabbath day.

(v.11) For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

• The word ''hallowed'' means to make holy or sacred, to sanctify or consecrate- to set apart.

So why don't we keep the sabbath day?

In Numbers 23:19 it says ''God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?''  It also says in 2nd Timothy 3:16 that ''All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.''

So 1. God does not lie. and 2. the scripture is inspired by God- that's authenticity!

Reunited, not divided.

Youth ministry. We all know about it, I mean, aren't we all about it? Well what if I told you, we've got it all wrong? What if we're not doing things Gods way? What if ''youth ministry'' is not biblically approved? I'm getting confusing now aren't I? What if I told you we we're never meant to be separated? What if I told you, that though our motives are usually genuine- ''trying to reach young people for Christ''- that we are going about it in the wrong way? OK, really confused? I was too...Until my eyes were opened, and I saw the light.
  Sometime in my thirteenth year, I wanted to become a youth pastor. I saw the need of my generation and I wanted to help- I still do. But after watching ''divided'' (links below) I was convinced that most methods used today for ''reaching young people'' are actually doing more harm than good. It was eye-opening, revelating and it gave me hope.
We as christians need to turn back to the solid bible truths and stop mixing the world with the church. (The below texts in ''BE A WITNESS'' reaffirm this.) We need to give our hearts, bodies, souls, beings, our everything over to God. We need to be truly surrendered to HIM and HIM alone. We need HIS power, HIS guidance, direction, protection. HIS saving grace, mercy and love. We need to come back to HIM! For we, all like sheep have gone astray every man to his own way and the LORD hath laid upon HIM (Jesus) the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)
 We can change, we can live again, we can recommit ourselves to God again, we have this hope, there's hope, hope for this generation, hope for tomorrow. All we have to do is surrender fully to God... Will YOU take the stand today?
http://dividedthemovie.com/#top

True Love = Gods Love

I seem to be dwelling often on the subject of love. Not worldly love, lust, infatuation or even passion. HIS LOVE. A love that is pure, just and true, holy and incorruptible. GODS LOVE. So great, so powerful, always ready to save a lost sinner....like me
  So, ''What is love?'' kind of a blatant question don't you think? the answer = God. Is. Love.
But most people today view love as a figure or an item (not Christ) so the word ''love'' becomes ''sooo cliche''. How many times have you seen people misuse the word love? abuse it? how many times have you had people say ''I love you.'' or  ''I'm in love with you.'' does it last? how many times have you had people claim to ''love'' you, get what they want and leave? sad isn't it? But it's true. The word love or ''luv'' is so misused, abused  and if I didn't know better broken. But let's move past all that and discover what real love is.
  Love. Love is: patient, kind, considerate, polite, unselfish, unproked, clean, truthful, forebearing, believing, hopeful, enduring and LOVE. NEVER. FAILS. (one could add long lasting and forever also). Have you experienced real love?  A love that's pure and true, holy, special, beautiful, that my friend is TRUE LOVE, GODS LOVE.

Never doubt Gods love for you... 1 John 4:10 says'' Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.''

Faith

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

Faith is something that you can't see but you still believe in it. So why do we want proof? why do we always want to see for ourselves before we believe? Look at the story of the doubting Thomas. Shortly after Jesus' resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples (minus Thomas) and the disciples on Thomas' return said that they had ''seen the Lord''. '' Execpt I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.'' was Thomas' reply (John 20:25). Aren't some of us like that today? unbelieving? But notice what Jesus says to him ''Thomas, because thou hast seen me thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.'' John 20:29.

   It's a trust issue you see. We won't put our trust in the unseen or the unknown...and in a sense that's a good thing, for we need not believe everything we hear, BUT sometimes we just need to step out in faith, trust in the unknown; let go and let God.

  So as a christian, faith has to be our basis for living. Taking the shield of faith, where with ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked ( Ephesians 6:16). Faith is our shield; faith is our defence.
Christian = Christ + ian

''ian'' means = (I am nothing) and this means

Without Chirst. I AM NOTHING!

    Still looking for proof? The creation proves the Creator, the heavens prove His glory, the Son proves the Father and the cross proves HIS LOVE!

Look for the proof....

BE A WITNESS!

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.  James 1:27

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2

.

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. Isaiah 52:11

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,  2^nd Corinthians 6:17

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Revelation 18:4

He that hath an ear, let him hear… that’s all that needs to be said.

The Father's Love for Us ♥

But God commendeth HIS love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

     Ever considered Christ's magnificent, all powerful, over, underneath, inside, in between, amazing, never failing, unending love for us as sinners? ( the above verse sums it up pretty well)
Amazing love, how can it be? that YOU MY KING (Jesus) would die for me? Astounding right? some would say ridiculous, but whatever you call it IT'S TRUE!  It's so powerful that nothing, absolutely nothing, NOTHING-  can separate us from HIS love which is in Christ Jesus- Romans 8:39.
    Still don't believe me? What if I told you that HE loves you all the same, whether broken, healing, mending, doubting, hurting, tempted, when you've fallen so low that you think all hope is lost.. when you've got no one to turn to.. when you're lost, HES THERE!  He says:
'' I don't care where you've fallen or where you have been. I'll never forsake you, MY LOVE NEVER ENDS...'' He says ''You're my beloved, lover I'm yours, death shall not part us, it's YOU I died for. For better or worse, forever we'll be, MY LOVE it unites us and it binds you to me..it's a mystery.
     Still think it's crazy right? Well call me crazy but I KNOW the love THE FATHER has for me and to every one of HIS children. We're loved, more than we think, more than we know, more than we could ever ask or hope for. Isn't that amazing! And that's just it AMAZING LOVE!

Amazing love, how can it be?
That you, my king. would die for me
Amazing love, I know it's true
Its my joy to honor you
In all I do
I honor you

A new beginning

God impressed me to write this blog...
        I was going through a time of...emptiness, a time where nothing could satisfy me- a time where nothing would satisfy me. Like the woman at the well, I was searching for something I could not find. I was screaming (literally) '' show me what I'm looking for" http://youtu.be/m3KBdUsp3hk. And yeah I was a ''christian'' saved by grace the whole works! ( I've actually been a christian my whole life!), but I was empty, there was something...something missing, I mean there had to be something more, there just had to be, this couldn't just be it...could it? So I tried music.
 Music has always had a deep connection with me, music was my well.. my everything!, my venting place, my happiness, my inspiration, whether rock or pop, country or soul , hip hop or rnb whatever the mood the music. Well that didn't work.. and I just got more depressed that I was tempted to cut myself to ease the pain! I mean how pathetic of me, me a so called ''christian'' had fallen this low? But that's not the point, the point is that I wasn't dealing with the real issue of the matter, I was still holding on to some sins that I just wouldn't let go of.
        I was addicted, addicted to a world of make believe, a song I used to sing says ''yeah you build up a world of magic, because your real life is tragic, yeah you build up a world of magic..'' To avoid the problems at home I would go into my secret world an alternate universe where the problems weren't my own and I wasn't myself. But I knew I needed to change, I had to, but I was afraid. Afraid of change, afriad of being different, afraid of standing up for God..... and I didn't think I could do it. I couldn't do it..without God's help that is!
I was inspired from a most unlikely person a girl 2 years younger than me! A girl who had something that I wanted a girl who had faith and love. A girl who was not afriad to stand up for HIM.  All I could hear was ''Yes Sam you can do it! Just trust ME''and that was the day I let go and let God. I said Jesus take the wheel, take it from my hands cuz I can't do this on my own. I'm letting go so give me one more chance, save me from this road I'm on. Jesus! take the wheel ( I know I got it from a song).
        It's a step by step process really, still overcoming addiction among other things but I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me -Philippians 4: 13. I  learnt the importance of letting your light shine before all men, that may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven- Matthew 5:16. This has given me the need to share my story with others and thus ''show people the way''

Come to the water, you who thirst and you'll thirst no more. Come to the Father, you who work and you'll work no more and all you who labor in vain and to the broken and shamed. Love is here.Love is now.
Love is pouring from HIS hands from HIS brow. Love is near it satisfies,streams of mercy flowing from HIS side, cause Love is here