Psalm 32:8 (GWT) -- The Lord says,“I will instruct you. I will teach you the way that you should go. I will advise you as My eyes watch over you."
Lord, we pray for wisdom, favor, and influence for your glory. In Jesus' name. Amen
Holiness Unto The LORD!
Grateful
Showing posts with label influence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label influence. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Where is God?
We have hardly thought through the immense implications of the mystery of the
incarnation. Where is God? God is where we are weak, vulnerable, small and dependent. God is
where the poor are, the hungry, the handicapped, the mentally ill, the elderly,
the powerless. How can we come to know God when our focus is elsewhere, on
success, influence, and power?
-- Henri Nouwen
ALL JOY TO YOUR WORLD! ALL PEACE TO YOUR SOUL!
Grateful
-- Henri Nouwen
ALL JOY TO YOUR WORLD! ALL PEACE TO YOUR SOUL!
Grateful
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Live Careful Lives. Prayerful, too.
It was a Tuesday when I visited a hero of the faith in my life. Yes, Brother Charlie is now 74-years-old and lives in an assisted care home. A man of God and a church leader for most of his life, he now spends his days encouraging the residents and the caregivers within his seemingly smaller circle of influence.
I made the trip with Brother Charlie's grandson, who is now a ministry partner alongside me, and my own son also rode along with us for the fellowship. As we shared together, Brother Charlie kept holding his old Bible up and saying to us, This is a wonderful book. I wish everyone would read it. He also said that the one piece of counsel he would give to people today is: Live careful lives because people are looking to us as the Lord's witnesses.
Before leaving, I asked Brother Charlie if he would lead us in prayer. He said, Whenever I hear the word prayer, I come to a halt. Then he prayed the most beautiful prayer I have heard in a long, long time. With pin-point clarity he cried out to Jesus, offering splendid praises and specific petitions. In a way it was a Transfiguration-type moment, in that, his grandson, my son, and I were keenly aware that the moment was exceptionally holy and Jesus was indeed glorifying Himself through Brother Charlie's life.
Lord, help us to live careful and prayerful lives that glorify You. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
I made the trip with Brother Charlie's grandson, who is now a ministry partner alongside me, and my own son also rode along with us for the fellowship. As we shared together, Brother Charlie kept holding his old Bible up and saying to us, This is a wonderful book. I wish everyone would read it. He also said that the one piece of counsel he would give to people today is: Live careful lives because people are looking to us as the Lord's witnesses.
Before leaving, I asked Brother Charlie if he would lead us in prayer. He said, Whenever I hear the word prayer, I come to a halt. Then he prayed the most beautiful prayer I have heard in a long, long time. With pin-point clarity he cried out to Jesus, offering splendid praises and specific petitions. In a way it was a Transfiguration-type moment, in that, his grandson, my son, and I were keenly aware that the moment was exceptionally holy and Jesus was indeed glorifying Himself through Brother Charlie's life.
Lord, help us to live careful and prayerful lives that glorify You. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Twin Ministers: Presence & Absence
I've come to know that there are twins that minister in my life more than anything else. The twins are named Presence and Absence.
In John 16:7, the Lord told His disciples (and I paraphrase): I know you think having me visibly present in a good thing, but when I leave you visibly, things will go from good to great for you. Yes, in My absence, the ministry of My presence will go from "with you" to "within you". Yes, My Spirit will be "with you" and "within you" to constantly remind you of everything I told you when I was visibly present.
I don't pretend to be able to communicate in written form this awe-inspiring reality in my life as I am always being ministered to by the twin ministers -- Presence and Absence. However, let me just illustrate it like this:
When my godly Granny Margery was visibly present in my life, she allowed the Holy Spirit to minister the Life of Jesus through her, to me. It was an indescribable influence for her grandson. And since she has been noticeably absent from the body (*and without doubt is now present with her Lord) The Holy Spirit continues to undeniably minister the Life of Jesus to me in the unforgettable afterglow of Granny's life.
I'm pretty sure the best way to dumb down the delight in my soul is just to say: The longevity of holy lives lived for the glory of the Lord is the greatest of convincers on children and grandchildren, yes, when they are visibly present, but even more so when they are noticeably absent.
Future generations should, and must, be taught about the Lord, but let us never forget that being taught about the Lord is, at best, a weak substitute when compared with the impact of future generations being caught by the Lord in the afterglow of a loved one who has lived over the long haul for the glory of God!
* 2 Corinthians 5:8 (NKJV) -- We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
In John 16:7, the Lord told His disciples (and I paraphrase): I know you think having me visibly present in a good thing, but when I leave you visibly, things will go from good to great for you. Yes, in My absence, the ministry of My presence will go from "with you" to "within you". Yes, My Spirit will be "with you" and "within you" to constantly remind you of everything I told you when I was visibly present.
I don't pretend to be able to communicate in written form this awe-inspiring reality in my life as I am always being ministered to by the twin ministers -- Presence and Absence. However, let me just illustrate it like this:
When my godly Granny Margery was visibly present in my life, she allowed the Holy Spirit to minister the Life of Jesus through her, to me. It was an indescribable influence for her grandson. And since she has been noticeably absent from the body (*and without doubt is now present with her Lord) The Holy Spirit continues to undeniably minister the Life of Jesus to me in the unforgettable afterglow of Granny's life.
I'm pretty sure the best way to dumb down the delight in my soul is just to say: The longevity of holy lives lived for the glory of the Lord is the greatest of convincers on children and grandchildren, yes, when they are visibly present, but even more so when they are noticeably absent.
Future generations should, and must, be taught about the Lord, but let us never forget that being taught about the Lord is, at best, a weak substitute when compared with the impact of future generations being caught by the Lord in the afterglow of a loved one who has lived over the long haul for the glory of God!
* 2 Corinthians 5:8 (NKJV) -- We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
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