STRONG & TRUST

     They say that the foundation of any relationship is their trust to each other. Have you ever asked yourself how is it with your relationship with God?

    The cornerstone of any strong relationship is trust. The dictionary defines "trust" as "to have confidence or faith in" or as "the trait of believing in the honesty and reliability of others."


     Trust requires time to build and it comes through various tests of confidence. It's doing what you say you're going to do, in the time and way promised. Another way to build trust is by helping propel others forward in life while maintaining their confidences and also protecting their back. All the other building blocks are meaningless without the placement of trust in the relationship foundation.


    Trust requires some level of intimate contact with another. It's personal. However, sometimes in order to get to the personal, you have to start with less intimate contact and progress towards the personal.


http://www.kathyherrmann.com


Here is a summary of the preaching in the church last January 23, 2011 talking about being STRONG. Just want to share it.


     We need to be STRONG always.


     Standing STRONG means you are full of unfolding promises of God and you have able to stand strong in the midst of obstacles.
   
     It is said in: JOSHUA 10:12-14 (NIV)
                              12 On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the
                              LORD in the presence of Israel:
                                  "Sun, stand still over Gibeon,
                                  and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon."
                              13 So the sun stood still,
                                   and the moon stopped,
                                   till the nation avenged itself on (a) its enemies,
                                   as it is written in the Book of Jashar.
                                   The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a
                              full day. 14 There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the
                              LORD listened to a human being. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!


     There are different obstacles and oppositions that happened in the book of Joshua that tells us about having faith and being strong in the midst of problem, having that faith and promise of God. The first one is CROSSING THE JORDAN RIVER Joshua 3-4 (NIV). And let us remember that when there's an obstacle, let God be ahead of you and just follow His way. The next one is the JERICHO WALL Joshua 5-6 (NIV). God tells the people of Israelites to put up their knives and circumcise their selves. Circumcision during that time meaning that you have a covenant with God or you are called covenant people. The third one is AI Joshua 7-8 (NIV). The Israelites lost because they didn't stand firm on their faith. Remember that even a small compromise or sin can take away the promise of God. And repentance is a LIFETIME not a ONE TIME event. The last one is GIBEONITES Joshua 9 (NIV). Remember that if we make mistakes and we turn to God and that mistakes can be turn to miracle by God.


Remember this:


Joshua 10:14 (NIV)
     There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened
     to a human being. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!


REFLECTION:


       The Lord will help us and fight on our battle but who's side are we in?
      There's a limit drawn between God and man that God is immovable,
      unchangeable and He will neither take our side nor the enemy's. But it
      depends on whose side are we on. Let it be on God's side.
    

0ctober 9 - Four of a Kind

     Margaret . . . the eldest of the four, was 16, and very pretty, being plump and fair, with large eyes, plenty of soft, brown hair, a sweet mouth, and white hands, of which she was rather vain.

     Fifteen-year-old Jo was very tall, thin and brown, and reminded one of a colt; for she never seemed to know what to do with her long limbs, which were very much in her way. She had a decided mouth, a comical nose, and sharp, grey eyes, which appeared to see everything, and were by turns fierce, funny or thoughtful. Her long, thick hair was her one beauty; but it was usually bundled into a net, to be out of her way.

     Round shoulders had Jo, big hands and feet, a fly-away look to her clothes, and the uncomfortable appearance of a girl who was rapidly shooting up into a young woman and didn't like it.

  

      Elizabeth . . . or Beth, as everyone called her . . . was a rosy, smooth-haired, bright-eyed girl of 13, with a shy manner, a timid voice, and a peaceful expression, which was seldom disturbed. Her father called her "Little Tranquility," and the name suited her excellently; foe she seemed to live in a happy world of her own, only venturing out to meet the few she trusted and love.

     Amy, though the youngest, was a most important person . . . in her own opinion at least. A regular snow-maiden, with blue eyes, and yellow hair, curling on her shoulders, pale and slender, and always carrying herself like a young lady, unmindful of her manners.

 Genesis 30:8

      Then Rachel said, " I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have my won."

Jeremiah 45-47 (Listen)

• Jeremiah 44
• Jeremiah 45–47
• Jeremiah 48

Message to Baruch

45 The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to sBaruch the son of Neriah, twhen he wrote these words in a book at the dictation of Jeremiah, uin the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: 2 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: 3 You said, v‘Woe is me! For the Lord has added sorrow to my pain. wI am weary with my groaning, xand I find no rest.’ 4 Thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord: yBehold, what I have built I am breaking down, and what I have planted I am plucking up—that is, the whole land. 5 And zdo you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, aI am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the Lord. But I will give you byour life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go.”

Judgment on Egypt

46 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet cconcerning the nations.

2 About Egypt. dConcerning the army of Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates at Carchemish and which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated in ethe fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah:

3 f“Prepare buckler and shield,

and advance for battle!

4 gHarness the horses;

mount, O horsemen!

Take your stations with your helmets,

fpolish your spears,

put on your armor!

5 Why have I seen it?

They are dismayed

and have turned backward.

Their hwarriors are beaten down

and have fled in haste;

ithey look not back—

jterror on every side!

declares the Lord.

6 “The swift cannot flee away,

nor the warrior escape;

din the north by the river Euphrates

kthey have stumbled and fallen.

7 “Who is this, lrising like the Nile,

like rivers mwhose waters surge?

8 Egypt rises like the Nile,

like rivers mwhose waters surge.

He said, ‘I will rise, I will cover the earth,

I will destroy cities and their inhabitants.’

9 nAdvance, O horses,

and rage, O chariots!

Let the warriors go out:

men of Cush and oPut who handle the shield,

pmen of Lud, skilled in handling the bow.

10 qThat day is the day of the Lord God of hosts,

ra day of vengeance,

sto avenge himself on his foes.

tThe sword shall devour and be sated

and drink its fill of their blood.

For the Lord God of hosts holds ua sacrifice

vin the north country wby the river Euphrates.

11 xGo up to Gilead, and take xbalm,

O virgin daughter of Egypt!

In vain you have used many medicines;

ythere is no healing for you.

12 The nations have heard of your shame,

and the earth is full of your cry;

zfor warrior has stumbled against warrior;

they have both fallen together.”

13 The word that the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of aNebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt:

14 “Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in bMigdol;

proclaim in bMemphis and bTahpanhes;

say, c‘Stand ready and be prepared,

for dthe sword shall devour around you.’

15 Why are your mighty ones face down?

They do not stand1

because the Lord thrust them down.

16 He made many stumble, fand they fell,

and they said one to another,

‘Arise, and let us go back to our own people

and to the land of our birth,

gbecause of the sword of the oppressor.’

17 Call the name of hPharaoh, king of Egypt,

‘Noisy one who lets the hour go by.’

18 i“As I live, declares the King,

jwhose name is the Lord of hosts,

like kTabor among the mountains

and like lCarmel by the sea, shall one come.

19 mPrepare yourselves baggage for exile,

O ninhabitants of Egypt!

For oMemphis shall become a waste,

a ruin, pwithout inhabitant.

20 “A beautiful qheifer is Egypt,

but a biting fly rfrom the north has come upon her.

21 Even her hired soldiers in her midst

are like sfattened calves;

yes, they have turned and fled together;

they did not stand,

for the day of their calamity has come upon them,

tthe time of their punishment.

22 “She makes ua sound like a serpent gliding away;

for her enemies march in force

and come against her with axes

vlike those who fell trees.

23 vThey shall cut down her forest,

declares the Lord,

though it is impenetrable,

because wthey are more numerous than locusts;

they are without number.

24 The daughter of Egypt shall be put to shame;

she shall be delivered into the hand of ra people from the north.”

25 The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, said: “Behold, I am bringing punishment upon xAmon of yThebes, and Pharaoh and Egypt zand her gods and her kings, upon Pharaoh and those who trust in him. 26 aI will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their life, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. bAfterward Egypt shall be inhabited cas in the days of old, declares the Lord.

27 d“But fear not, O Jacob my servant,

nor be dismayed, O Israel,

for behold, I will save you from far away,

and your offspring from the land of their captivity.

Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease,

and none shall make him afraid.

28 dFear not, O Jacob my servant,

declares the Lord,

for I am with you.

I will make a full end of all the nations

to which I have driven you,

but of you I will not make a full end.

eI will discipline you in just measure,

and I will by no means leave you unpunished.”

Judgment on the Philistines

47 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet fconcerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh struck down gGaza.

2 “Thus says the Lord:

hBehold, waters are rising iout of the north,

hand shall become an overflowing torrent;

they shall overflow jthe land and all that fills it,

the city and those who dwell in it.

Men shall cry out,

and every inhabitant of the land shall wail.

3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions,

lat the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels,

the fathers mlook not back to their children,

so feeble are their hands,

4 because of the day that is coming to destroy

all fthe Philistines,

to cut off from nTyre and Sidon

every helper that remains.

For the Lord is destroying the Philistines,

othe remnant of the coastland of pCaphtor.

5 qBaldness has come upon Gaza;

rAshkelon has perished.

O remnant of their valley,

show long will you gash yourselves?

6 tAh, sword of the Lord!

How long till you are quiet?

Put yourself into your scabbard;

rest and be still!

7 How can it2 be quiet

uwhen the Lord has given it a charge?

Against vAshkelon and against the seashore

whe has appointed it.”

    

Psalm 87

Glorious Things of You Are Spoken

A Psalm of lthe Sons of Korah. A Song.

    On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
        the LORD loves the gates of Zion
        more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
    Glorious things of you are spoken,
        O city of God. Selah
    Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
        behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush—
        “This one was born there,” they say.
    And of Zion it shall be said,
        “This one and that one were born in her”;
        for the Most High himself will establish her.
    The LORD records as he registers the peoples,
        “This one was born there.” Selah
    Singers and dancers alike say,
        “All my springs are in you.”
(Psalm 87 ESV)

RAIN - RAIN - RAIN

When we speak of RAIN what comes to your mind? Certain things will surely pops up to your brilliant brain. Rain nourishes the ground. But let's face it rain is something that not a lot of us desire. However Rain plays a key role in the cycle of returning water back to our earth. So it is obvious that we need rain in order for the world to continue functioning. Rain water's most well-known and most important effect is providing you with water to drink.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/179964-importance-of-rain-water/#ixzz1UKUEVH5L



Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man's growth without destroying his roots. 
Frank Howard Clark


However, rain is just like the Word of God - it nourishes our soul. We need it for us not to be weary and have a heavy soul. Every time that we read each word from God it help us, it revives our spirit. May it always be our nourishment everyday.

God’s Word is like rain — it will not return to Him empty

We are given a striking image in the Bible behind the mystery of how God’s Word works.  Rain and snow comes down from the heavens and brings life.  There is a purpose behind each raindrop and every snowflake.  Rain is often used as a symbol of abundance in the Bible and gives us a unique description of how Gods uses His Word in this world. 

The Bible says in Isaiah, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish… so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” 

Only God’s Word produces life in the hearts of sinners.  When rain falls to the ground, there does not seem to be an intended target for every drop.  In the same way, God’s Word showers upon the hearts of all people.  Like a spring rain falling on a parched land where life would seem impossible, God’s Word falls onto a barren heart, restoring or giving life to a soul aching for thirst.

How a seed blossoms into faith or not, goes well beyond our comprehension.  We simply trust the promise that His Word never fails to achieve its aim.  With this confidence, we can continue to share God’s Word, whether we see its effect or not. 

http://witnesswell.wordpress.com

The Rain 
Storm clouds gather. From heaven they grow bloated withmercy and power. The rain brings the water. The water brings life to the dry and lifeless sands of the desert.

In a dry and thirsty land, without meaning or purpose, God sends His rain - hope.

The Word of God is like the rain…

by purewordministry on June 23, 2011

….and the snow.

As a young pastor I often paused before preaching my Sunday sermon to pray briefly, asking the Holy Spirit to come and accompany the preached word of God in order to make it fruitful. In a similar way, after a public reading of the Scripture lesson the readers would often comment, “May God add his blessing to the reading of the word”. However, whenever I came across these words in Isaiah 55 and other passages of Scripture, I would wonder whether there was something amiss in our understanding of the efficacy of the word of God:

10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

and do not return there until they have watered the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout,

giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

These verses suggest that the power of the Holy Spirit does not merely accompany the word of Scripture, but is inherent in it. Like the rain and the snow which water the earth and thereby actually accomplish something by virtue of what they are, so God’s word does “not return to me empty” but actually accomplishes what God purposes and succeeds in that for which it was sent. The Bible not only demands that we accept what it teaches, it creates the acceptance of its teaching; the word of God actually produces faith and obedience.

For me, this comes as a refreshing concept which I don’t hear spoken of much in our evangelical circles. While there has been a tremendous (and needed) emphasis on the vital role of the Holy Spirit among us, the efficacy of Scripture is not an emphasis. Perhaps it is just a “given”, an understood-though-not-expressed belief; but even then, at least an occasional effort to bring it out in the open is worthwhile.

The apostle Paul expressed the efficacy of Scripture when he wrote about his own confidence in the gospel message he preached: “it is the power of God for salvation” (Rom. 1.16). God is not interested in a person’s mere intellectual assent to his word, as though the human heart could be won over by logical arguments or reasoning. He uses his word to create the living assent of faith. And this is done not by God “adding” his blessing to the word, but because of the fact that God’s blessing is already promised through the word. We see this “rain and snow” effect in the record of the conversion of Lydia in Acts 16: “The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. (v.14)”. Where the word is, the Holy Spirit is present and opens hearts. It is still true that the “the word of God is living and active” (Heb. 4:12); it is not some dead letter which can only be brought to life by the power of the preacher, or the time of worship, or even the Holy Spirit being asked to do something to it!

So when we come to God’s word, whether in private reading and study, or group Bible studies, or public worship, we can come to it with the assurance given by our Lord Jesus himself: “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (John 6:63)”.

Contributed by Reverend Donald J. Fisher

 
 Have a happy Sunday everyone.. May the Word of God be always like rain that nourishes the ground.