I'll speak spiritually... When I was very young I was playing on the playgorund that my brothers and sisters used to go to for summer camp. I was on a playground with my brother Daniel, and they just built an addition to this very large playground. I wanted to play on it. Now, I can't really discern or reason why, but a woman came up to me and started pulling me arm. She kept pulling and pulling. I resisted her. I made my way across the playground, past all of the kids, when she found me again. I resisted and resisted. I resisted so much that the lady just got fed up and left. And so I found my brother, and we played together. Then, time was come for him to return to some group that he was in. Then it started to hail. We put our arms up to shield ourselves from the bullet-sized hail pebbles tossed from the heaven. I had nowhere to go. I somehow found my way back to a certain building, after finding the whole playground empty of all of its kids. I walked up to this big dark olive doors, and pushed them open. There was this furious black woman. And she said, "Where have you been?" And every eye in the room was on me. I resisted the pulls and tugs of a woman who was an administrator, maybe, and she made me explain why I didn't come in. Everyone was sitting down, eating, and watching my favorite movie on a television. There were so many people. Why did I resist the lady?
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God. As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life… Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you’re my disciples, if you love one another." Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
… I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" And I pray that the participation in and sharing of your faith may produce and promote full recognition and appreciation and understanding and precise knowledge of every good thing that is ours in our identification with Christ Jesus and unto His glory. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground… Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields–and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life… Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, says the Lord.
I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. …as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" — The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! Who than shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. THEREFORE if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
I came home from Aunt Paulma's funeral today. Her children got up and spoke verses from the bible, followed by her sisters, Verona and Esme. Then the preacher got up and preached about the judgement day to come. We went and buried Aunt Paulma in the same bed of funeral-home as my Grandmother is buried. Afterwards, we went back to the church and ate.
The church was packed with relatives I hadn't known or seen since I was 5. Strangers. All of them. Family D.s with hair coming out of their ears, literally. When it was time to sit down and eat, the table with my family was full, and so I sat next to a certain elderly couple. There was a lady that sat down across from me and introduced herself, and then introduced the man sitting right next to me, and then proceeded to check the two ladies sitting next to her - to see if they were having a good time. So, I sat and ate. I was praying whether I should speak with this woman or not, because she was sitting right there, and I know the Lord would want me to speak to her, even though she's a stranger. And so she said that she had to get up and get a plate of food.
She took the papers with her that said, 'How to be saved.' I was longing for and her and waiting for her to get back so we talk, to see what she would say. And so when she returned and sat down, I said, So have you ever had to use that stick of yours before? (When she introduced herself she said that the stick that she had was her rod of correction...) And she said Yes, several times with people with guns. She said, I'm a minister, and crime is getting tougher in this city. And so I replied to her, seeing she opened up the spiritual by saying 'minister,' and said, Oh, do you watch Christian television? Do you get TBN? There's this show on TBN called Way of the Master where they go and share the Gospel with people out on the streets. Ever seen it? She said, Maybe a long time ago... So then I started talking more about the show to see if she'd pick up on what it was and say, Ooh, with Kirk Cameron, I've seen that! - This is what's usually happened when I mention the show. But she said, How old are you? I said, 20. She said, well, you need to talk to people your age. I'm 60. Do you see the age difference? She took out a napkin and wrote it down, as a subtraction problem. And said, Do you see the difference? I felt very bad. But I went back into the show and went on, and she said, You need to come to a bible study at this church and talk to people your age. Talk to the Pastor. I mentioned that I talked to him earlier, but that still didn't settle her stomach. There was no love in her words at all, no compassion, she was being very hard. At that time, my sister and my cousins across the room called to me. As they did, I looked away and asked them what was wrong, and then she got up and left while I had my head turned.
I sat there for a good while and thought about it, and I felt really bad. Do I need to be 60 in order to have a conversation with someone who's supposed to be a minister of the Gospel? I mean, I felt really bad. But I prayed, and said I trust in the Word rather than my own eyes. She had no love, and carried a stick, so she may be a minister, but she's not a minister of the Word and certainly not 'of God,' because Jesus stated clearly several times, You will know them by their fruit. If a man say they follow Christ and don't have love, they don't have anything at all (1 Cor. 13:3). And that really made me look at myself really bad, because what if I don't have love? What if I can't love my neighbour as myself and fulfill that second commandment of Christ's? Man did I feel bad. If I have not love, I have nothing. She said that she carried the stick for the people out there on the streets, and not the people in the church. What if inside I harbour the same evil sentiments?
Oh I have sympathy for the lady. Because it IS hard to love people outside of the church. :-( But carrying a stick is no solution that Jesus endorsed, and I didn't mention that, but what if spiritually I'm doing the same? The Word says in 2nd Tim 2:24-25 "And the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient" "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance unto the acknowledging of the truth."
I thank my Lord Jesus Christ for the minister, Mr. Smith, at my church that really sat down with me and had a good talk with my sister and I when we first entered the church, not out of the Pride of Life, I'm 40 and you're not, but as a minister of the Word, a disciple and follower of Christ, showing love in sincerety and truth. I loved it, and I really thank the Lord for that minister. I'm going to pray for this lady. Please pray for those at the funeral that heard the message preached today. The Pastor didn't directly preach the Gospel, but he did talk about Judgment and Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit convicting those of Judgement (John 16:8)... I may never see some of those family members ever again.
So please lift this vail from off my eyes. My burning sin will some day rise:
And so I replied:
And that's the reason Jesus died. Ever stolen, lusted, hated, or lied? In hell will you burn w/ pride. But Jesus died to set you free. I'm hoping you will one day see.
"He experimented with the works of Italian Composer Antonio Vivaldi, and numerous Cantatas and organ works... Bach is almost a kind of patron saint for church musicians. All around the world he is recognized as one of the greatest composers that ever lived. He spent his entire life in Germany, and was greatly influenced by the legacy of Martin Luther. Luther himself had been a musician declaring music to be second only to the Gospel itself. Bach was to be the reformer's greatest musical disciple."
"For him, composition was to be involved in the act of creation that was a paled imitation of the creativity of God... Bach said, and I quote, 'The aim and final reason of all music was none else but the glory of God.' And Bach would frequently initial his blank manuscript writings with the markings J.J., which meant in Latin, 'Jesus help me.' And when he finished, he put at the end, S.D.G. Soli Deo Gloria, 'glory to God alone.'"
From The Glory of God Alone: Life of Johann Sebastian Bach
"Soli Deo Gloria" is a phrase derived from the practice of the eminent 17th century musician, Johann Sebastian Bach, who inscribed many of his compositions with the Latin phrase, SOLI DEO GLORIA (to God alone be the Glory).
Thank you, Lord, for today. Today was a day where I did get many things done: a haircut, money order to help pay for the car, and cleanings and certain things.
You wouldn't believe what happened yesterday. I was at work and I worked all day from 2-11 praising God in my heart in melody and song and sound and prayed and read scripture on my break, as well as a few things to eat. I love the work the Lord's doing in my heart. He's really disciplining me at work. And so that evening, I was put on register 12 and was checking out the last few people of the night I think and then this man came through my line who I recognized as someone trying to pass through a bad check, because they tried to do it before and failed. I immediately went to one of my assistant manag.'s and told them about him, wearing a yellow shirt. And I asked them to keep an eye out. And so, I rang him up and the total was $309 worth of stuff: a flat screen monitor, a vacuum, pop rocks, and maybe something else. Then, he said, Hold on, let me run to my car, I forgot my checkbook!
So, I called the assistant manager, and the man wouldn't wait, and so he went and came back. I put the monitor underneath the register, along with the Pop Rocks. Then, he went away and came back. I did a line of customers and got back to him, and he said, 'Do you still have that monitor?' I took it out and rung it up. This time, he had an iron that brought it even higher. Then, he handed me the check with the fake name on it. I asked him for the ID, and he handed it to me. It was fake - looked fake and the picture was stretched out. The back looked like a photocopy of a license. In my mind, I was praying:
"Oh Lord, I can't pray for justice for this man. Oh my Lord, if you gave me justice, I'd end up in hell. So I'll pray that you'll have mercy on him.'' And I repeated this. And so, I was going to run the bad check through and let it print and then hit the other button at the Print Ok? screen and then go get the Supervisor to take a look. So, I put the check in the machine. It sucked it up a little, then, complete froze! I hit clear to see what happened, the machine completely FROZE!!! That's never, ever happened before and I've worked there for 1 year, 6 months, and have done all sorts of checks and all sorts of problems and rung up hundreds of people per day, and dealt with many bad checks and all the machine does is read the number, check it against the database of known bad checks, and print on the back!! But the register was frozen, which was nearly impossible because the one can't really affect the other, if you think about it!
So, I called the assistant manager over, and in that time, the man wanted to leave because he felt he could be getting busted. I prayed for him. So, the assistant manager said that he needed to reboot the system so he has to hold onto the check, and he left without the check! They can turn it in and track this young man... I'm so thankful to the Lord! He heard my prayer! He executed His justice in front of me and I'm so glad, He took it off of my shoulders. :-) What a day. Trust in the Lord at all times, He's soo good, He does these things without anyone knowing. It will all be revealed on Judgement day, but from what the Lord's showing and teaching me, I can't wait! I am so thankful for the mercy of the Lord. His mercy truly does endure forever!!! He delivers from such hard, and perilous things and moments, it's so amazing. I pray for that man, that he can repent, and put his trust in Jesus Christ, and see what a mighty thing the Lord's done for me in this age. Praise the Lord!
