Friday, January 25, 2013

Social Media according to the Bible


A reader emailed in with this request:

Could you do a blog or something on how Christians should be handling Facebook and Twitter and social media?

That seemed like a really good idea, as social media has given each of us a louder voice and therefore much more power. And, as Uncle Ben would say, “With great power comes great responsibility.”

So how do Christians responsibly use the power of social media? Luckily, there is a book that answers that question for us. It’s called the Bible.
Jesus on Facebook

The Bible and Social Media
How can a book written millennia before the internet even existed have anything to say about social media?

The Bible actually has a lot to say on the subject, because it talks extensively about how we are to communicate and relate to people. Try looking up the word “tongue” for starters; it occurs 137 times in the Bible, and almost all of them have to do with speaking. For example:

  • When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. – Proverbs 10:19
  • A man of knowledge uses words with restraint…Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. – Proverbs 17:27-28
  • He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. – Proverbs 21:23
 And there are many other verses that likewise have reminded me, at various times, to shut up.

A Time to Speak
But that is clearly not the whole story. We are also called to tell the good news (Romans 10:14-15), to demolish arguments (2 Corinthians 10:5), and to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

  • Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. – Proverbs 31:8-9
  • The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him. – Proverbs 18:17
  • Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. – Colossians 4:5-6
So we are to make the most of the opportunity we have online—which means we should say something—but we have to be careful what we say.

Social Media Tips
Let’s get practical. Here are some specific tips for how to use social media for Jesus:

  • Be intentional. Saying something on social media is roughly the equivalent of standing up and announcing it to a room of 500 people. Now, maybe you really would announce to such a crowd that “These Dorito tacos are amazing!” After all, they are pretty good. But don’t neglect the power of that platform to also say something truly important. (“This Jesus is amazing!”)
  • Be clear. As much as 90% of face-to-face communication is nonverbal, conveyed through body language or tone of voice. You lose all of that online (unless you are posting a video). To make sure you are not misunderstood, think before you type (James 1:19).
  • Watch your language. Your non-believing friends might not get the message if you speak in Christianese.
  • Don’t argue in the comments section. It just doesn’t seem to do any good. Online arguments rarely ever cause anyone to change their position, and they tend to be much less civil than if the same people were having the same discussion in person. (2 Timothy 2:23-25)
  • Connect with people personally. Most social media posts are broadcast to no one in particular. A personal, one-on-one message or conversation is much more powerful.
  • Be a true friend. Sometimes people share very personal things, or red flags, on social websites. This is a chance for you to reach out personally and show the love of Christ (John 13:34-35).
  • Live it out. None of this should be that much different than what you are doing offline. And social media makes our lives today very public; if what you say doesn’t match up with what you do, people will see right through it (and have the pictures to prove it). It is not about using social media to present your life in a favorable light, but rather living your life in a light-filled way (Ephesians 5:8-16).
What have you found that works (or does not work) on social media? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF DAILY


QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF DAILY

At the beginning of this year, I sat down to shepherd myself, I decided to come up with a group of questions that I could ask myself EVERY DAY to evaluate how I am abiding with the One I profess to follow.  It all starts with daily learning more of Jesus and His ways and continually yielding to His Spirit which dwells in all who believe.  My deep conviction is that as our lives increasingly have full and meaningful answers to the following questions our lives will increase in joy, fullness and serve as a greater source of glory to our King.  I am sure you can improve on my list of questions, but as for me and my house, we are going to purpose to improve our ability to faithfully answer them every day (Matt 6:33-34).  Feel free to add your own….but in all your adding stay focused on using them to sharpen each day the Lord gifts you (Psalm 90:12). Hope you are encouraged!

LEARN:
What have you done to grow in wisdom and stature today?
What do you know today about God, His Word or His purposes that you did not know yesterday?
What are you going to do differently as a result of what you have learned?
1 Tim 4:7; James 1:22

LEAD:
How is this world or are others better today because you have stepped up and been God’s servant?
When you showed up, how was evil restrained, injustice conquered, love multiplied, captives rescued and/or joy increased.
Luke 4:16-21

LOVE:
What have you done today to make someone else know of God’s great love for them?  Has your motivation for everything been love of God and others?
“May this small act of kindness remind you of God’s great love for you.”
1 Cor 13:1

LAUGH:
Have you laughed out loud today?
Have you laughed uncontrollably?
Have you laughed till you cried?
Have you made others laugh much today?
Prov 17:22

LIVE generously:
How have you shown generosity today?  Who is better off because God stewarded you with His resources?
2 Cor 8:9
LIVE with gratitude:
How have you expressed a heart filled with Thanksgiving today for the multitude of blessings you have received?
Eph 5:20;

LIFT others up:
Who have you encouraged today with a word, a phone call, an email, a text, a note or a card?
Heb 3:13

LEAN on others:
Who are you relying on to spur you on?  Confront you? Shepherd you?
Who has access to your heart? Who faithfully reproves you?  Sharpens you?  Admonishes you when you are unruly?
When is the last time you repented and changed because someone who loves you “smote you in kindness”.
Ps 141:5; Pr 13:20

LIVE it all by faith (by yielding to the Spirit):
What have you done today that only makes sense because you believe and depend on the grace of Christ and the resurrection of the dead?
Have you lived today by faith, in the power of and in constant relationship with the Spirit?
Col 1:29; Eph 5:18

Monday, November 26, 2012

Elijah's Rain

The Bible says that after the prophet Elijah prayed and asked God to end the drought, he said to the people, “I can hear the sound of an abundance of rain.”

He was saying in effect, “There is a yes from God in our future!”

Elijah told his assistant to go look on the other side of the mountain to see if there was any sign of rain. When the assistant came back, he said, “No, Elijah. There’s not a cloud in the sky. It’s perfectly clear.” Elijah didn’t get discouraged and think, “What are we going to do now? I might as well quit this prophet business.” No, he simply said, “Go back and look again.”

This happened six different times, but Elijah kept saying, “Go look again.” On the seventh time, the servant came back and said, “Elijah, I saw a small cloud in the sky. It isn’t much, just the size of a man’s hand.” Elijah’s answer was basically, “You’d better get your umbrella. Rain is coming!”

Friend, like Elijah, maybe you are believing for something and aren’t seeing anything happen. Don’t give up, go look again! If God has promised it, He will do it. It won’t be long until you see His showers of blessing pouring down on every area of your life!

Saturday, October 27, 2012

DWELLING IN THE SEVEN THUNDERS

 DWELLING IN THE SEVEN THUNDERS

       Many see a certain facet or a certain quote on the Seven Thunders and catch the Truth of it and immediately let their eyes of understanding drift shut and then remain closed and think they have it all. God just doesn't work that way and never has. There is no ending to God and of His Revelations to His Bride nor can there ever be in His eternal realm. The Prophet said that if the coming of the Lord was 50 years from now God will still be revealing more of His Word. Our God is a great BIG "GOD" and He has no limits on the fullness of Revelation that is continually adding to our Understanding. Throughout the Millennium and the eons upon eons upon more eons of eons of the timeless ages of eternity we will be learning of Him and sharing the Anointing of the Presence of He who has no beginning and no ending. Because God's thoughts are always Perfect and have been expressed in that Perfection through His prophets we can stand assured in the reality that even though there is always a Progression of Revelation, nothing will ever change the foundation of Truth already established by the Word. God's Unfailing Words of Promise cannot be added to nor taken away from in their fulfillment and purpose of His Eternal Planning.
     

Now think or the greatest Thunder storm you were ever in. There was no beginning or ending of the Thunders as they rolled and rolled into one another, you couldn't tell when one stopped and the next started. The Revelation of the Mysteries of this Message are sounded the same way; and spiritually that is how the Seven Thunders are proclaimed and then received into the Bride Body's Understanding. These Seven Thunders are the full expression of the fullness of God's Voice in Spoken Word form and have been since the first Spoken Word rang out in the Beginning as, "let there Be" and the worlds sprang into existence. Seven is God's number of completion and in every Church Age, God had something special to say to His little Bride about the hour of her manifestation in order to give her strength and courage to face the trials of Her earthly walk in the allotted day and Age that She had to express Herself. God used a Messenger in each Church Age as His Voice of Thunder manifestation to the Elect. Because the Anointing of Truth was measured to each Age there were many loose ends that yet had to come to the Revelation for the entire Bride Body. Christ chose to come Himself in the Perfection of Mighty Angel Anointing at the End Time. He then Sounded forth a Message of Seven Thunders, through His Prophet, that came as One Thunder Voice, SOUNDING FORTH THE THUNDERING VOICE of the Mighty Angel that was to pick up and reveal all those Seven Mystery Loose Ends of the Church Ages.

THE FIRST SEAL
     "The voice is a thunder. The voice came from where? From the throne where the Lamb had just left as intercessor. Now, He's standing here to take His position and His claims. But the thunder came from the inside of the throne, thundered out. And the Lamb was standing out here. The thunder, where the Lamb had left, left the Father's throne to go to take His own throne...Glory. Now don't miss it, friends.
     We all know as Christians that God swore to David that He would raise up Christ to set on His throne and give Him an everlasting Kingdom here on the earth. He did it. And Jesus said, "He that overcomes the anti-christ and all the things of the world shall set with Me on My throne as I have overcome and have set down on My Father's throne." See? Now, someday He rises from the Father's throne, and goes to take His own throne. Now He comes forth to call His subjects. How's He going to claim them? He's already got the Book  of Redemption in His hand."

THE INDICTMENT
     "Now, and Christ is God's provided Lamb. Notice how appropriate it was now, showing that Jerusalem had--was ceasing. When? It was in effect until that hour: the blood of the Lamb was all right until that day. But now, at the crucifixion it changes. THE OLD SYSTEM IS DONE. There was a new one, and the--the Lamb was at the sacrifice. The Lamb, the sacrificial Lamb, was on the grounds. They were condemning and doing the very thing there that they had to do. That's right. [God be blessed for seeing this wonderful heavenly Light in this last day] because the churches is doing the same thing today. Until the hour that organization religion is condemned and proved to be sacrificing Christ's Word. [Fron then on comes the Word and the Word only. From... The old paschal lamb passed away, and Christ became our Lamb at the day of the crucifixion. And the day that the denomination crucified the Word of God and accepted a creed in the stead of the Word, THAT'S THE DAY THE WORD COME INTO FULL EFFECT. THAT'S JUST BEEN RECENTLY."

CHRIST IS THE MYSTERY
     "The reason that was such a tremendous thing, that he spoke of it here and showed those Seven Thunders and "Look" and "Life" magazine there, packed that circle of of cloud and light there that they could not understand and don't know it yet, but here telling, "Go there and wait for these mysteries to be revealed" and here months before it happened; and then it happened, and exactly the way He said it would do. Did you notice in that picture even that Angel on the right when He was being materialized, coming down, with His wings back and His head setting sideways? There it is right there in the picture just exactly: months before it happened, told here that He's going to bring the Body of believers together to reveal, TAKE UP THEM LOST ENDS."

     Brother Branham preached a Message titled, "Recognizing your day and it's Message". We as Bride must recognize that those Seven thunders are still sounding to us right now at these ending of days for the Bride. Those hidden Thunder mysteries are still ringing out through the Prophet's Voice sounding and bringing forth and Revealing the Hidden Mysteries from out of that Seventh seal Opening of the little Book. Where is the Prophet's Voice now? It is in the fulfillment of Rev. 10:8-11. The full Message of the Seven thunders is being poured out in "Understanding" through the true Five-Fold ministry of the hour for our "perfecting" and complete "unity" and it is the Bride Body of the Capstone that catches i, proclaims it, and lives it before the world one last time. "She overcame by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of her testimony". We have come to the hour of, "The Uniting Time and the Sign". This union by the Understanding of the word poured from out of those Messages of the Seven Thunders is what will take us into that secret Rapture that the church world and unfortunately many claiming this Message [without the Token] will completely miss.

     "From out of the Ages come the Seals, the Trumpets, and the Vials bursting on the scene like a Roman candle". We read this from chapter 1 of the Church Age Book. "Also from out of the Ages come the Seven Thunders. The Thunders are Voices, and the Voices are seven in number." Watch these next two quotes closely, for in them we will see that the Thunders uttered their Voices from the earth and that the Voices were the Seven Stars in His hand that spoke to each Church Age. Seven Stars directed by Seven Spirits to speak on earth that which was directed from Heaven. The Thunders sounded in the Voices of those Church Age Messengers bring their portion of Truth in each Age. Hidden in that Truth were the mysteries of those Thunders kept secret by John the Revelator as he wrote in symbol form, just as he had been instructed by the Angel."

IS THIS THE SIGN OF THE END SIR
     "Look where the voices was in the thunders, not in heaven, ON EARTH. The thunders never uttered from the heavens; they uttered from the earth. And I was about to write; when I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal...[Capital S-e-a-l]...Seal up those things which the Seven Thunders uttered, and write them not."

THE THRONE OF MERCY
     "Now, "The voice of the throne..." Notice in this throne, "before the throne was the seven stars," the voice of the stars, "Voices..." You see, there was more in the Revelations 4here or 5, we find out, "And out of the throne proceeded lightning, thrunders, and voices." Not one voice: voices, plural. What was it? God speaking to the church, reflecting Himself through the seven Spirits. When the True anointed of God speaks, it's the Voice of God. To reject it is to remove the candlestick. See? "Voices," the VOICE of the SEVEN CHURCH AGES [over here in the corner], the VOICES speaking with THUNDER and lightning."

THE SEVENTH SEAL
     "Remember the constellation of the vision of the Angels when I left here to go to Arizona? You remember, "What Time Is It Sirs?" Do you remember that? Notice, there was ONLY ONE GREAT BURST OF THUNDER, and seven Angels appeared. Is that right? One burst of Thunder, seven Angels appeared. And I saw the Lamb when He had opened the FIRST SEAL, and I heard as it was a voice of a thunder, and one of the four beasts said , "Come and see". Notice, ONE THUNDER, SEVEN MESSAGES THAT'S BEEN SEALED UP AND CANNOT BE REVEALED UNTIL THE LAST DAY, AT THIS AGE. see what I mean."

     To those of the Brethren looking for seven men, Look no father!!!, for these seven men have already sounded from out of the ages and the mysteries they did not understand in their hour are fully proclaimed by the Seven Thunders in this eighth day by the Sounding of the Prophet of God. IN THIS LAST DAY THE LOOSE ENDS OF THE SEVEN MEN AND THEIR PARTIAL UNDERSTANDING IS MADE KNOWN BY THE SEVEN THUNDER REVELATION FALLING UNDER ONE THUNDER THROUGH THE SOUNDING OF REV. 10:7 BY THE MESSAGE OF OUR PROPHET. Also Remember that seven is God's number of completion and the ONE Mystery is finished in the Seven thunders of the One Message that bursts forth with the Opening of the Seals.
     Now we as the Bride, the fulfillment of the complete Word, are caught up into the Capstone Revelation, the Mystery of the Seventh Seal, The Token Life of the Seven Thunders now releasing us into a Marriage Relationship with Christ, the Bridegroom, Himself. Christ is the Mystery of God Revealed and by those /seven Thunders coming alive in us by the Token Life we, The Bride, stand ready to take a Rapture. We do have a job to complete, first we must leave the one last witness that this old gentile world will ever hear or receive.
     "We are caught up in the "Mystery of the 7th Seal", and we know the two hidden things for the Bride were the Seven Thunders and the Seventh Seal."

FEAST OF THE TRUMPETS
     "This is not just makeup, friends, this is "THUS SAITH THE LORD, the Scripture. And at no time...Now as soon as this Church, the Bride is drawed together, she's taken up; in that mystery of the Seventh seal, or the Seventh Seal, the Mystery going."

     [Caught already in the Understanding we are resting until the completed Manifestation--CCC]

     The "hidden element" or the very expression of the Token Life of Christ through the Token Word that we witness to the world, will in itself give forth Life or Death. {The seven Thunders is the hidden element in this day] Once again the Scripture points to another time, another Fullness Hour, that will reconcile all things for the Bride body of Christ. As we become one by our Marriage relationship with Christ the Word, the Words we speak become Mercy or Judgement. "The Spirit and the Bride say come." To reject the Bride's Voice , which is now the Spoken Word, is to reject Christ. "Know ye not that the Saints Judge the earth?" is not just a mere statement, it is a living fact that will be fulfilled and come to pass.
     So many want to just leave this authority in a Prophet and ride into a Rapture on his coat tails. No, Brother or Sister, the "Voice of the Thunders" did not leave with the Man of God; His Message placed that the Sounding of the mysteries into the Bride and with it all the authority of the hidden element  of the Spoken Word now made known.

LAODICEAN CHURCH AGE
     "In the days of the seventh messenger, in the days of the Laodicean Age, it's Messenger will reveal the mysteries of God as revealed to Paul. He will speak out, and those who receive that Prophet in his own name will receive the beneficent effect of that Prophet's ministry. And they that hear him will be blessed and become part of that Bride of the last day who are mentioned in Revelation 22:17, "The Spirit and the Bride say come". The corn of wheat [The Bride Wheat] that fell ionto the ground as Nicaea has come back to original Word Grain again. Praise God forever. Yes, listen to the authenticated Prophet of God who appears in this l;ast Age. WHAT HE SAYS FROM GOD, THE BRIDE WILL SAY. The Spirit and the Prophet and the Bride will be saying the same thing. And what they will say will have already been said in the Word. They are saying it now, "Come out from among her now and be ye separate." The cry has gone out. The Cry is going out. How long will the Voice cry? We do not know, but one thing we do know, it won't be long, for this is the last age."

     The "Shout" of the Message has become the "Voice", Seven Thunder, cry of the Spoken word of the Bride, leaving only the "Trump" gathering of the living and departed Saints for the 30 to 40 day period just before the Rapture. The silence of the Seventh Seal in Heaven in Revelation 8:1 only shows that the action has moved to the earthly realm and that the Spoken Word through the Seven Thunders is in it's fullness on the earth. God in Flesh. Brother Branham tells us in the sermon, "It is the Rising of the Son" page 25 that, "If it was flesh in that day by the Son, the Groom, it's of Flesh today by the Bride".

GOD'S PROVIDED PLACE OF WORSHIP
     "Now, Jesus, Himself said, "At the day when the Son of man is being revealed..." in other words, "the Son of man, the ministry of Jesus Christ, hisself." The church will come through Justification, through Luther, through Sanctification, through Wesley; through the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, of the Pentecostals; and grow right on into the perfection of the Son of man, that when Husband and Wife will be the same-self persons. God will be so manifested into His Bride, His church, till they'll both be the same. They are one. Now, you see where we're at."

     [Revelation the 10th chapter shows us God's order for placing the Spoken Word or Seven Thunder Revelation into the Bride:]

     #1. Christ, Himself, comes on the scene with the open Book of Redemption. The full Understanding of God's total plan to reconcile His Bride unto himself. ----"And I saw another mighty... another mighty Angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon His head, and His face as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: And He had in His hand a little Book open: and He set His right foot on the sea, and His left foot on the earth" [Now this is the time of the Message of the Seven thunders crying out, and not back into the partial understanding of the Messengers of the Church Ages.] Yes, each Messenger was a Thunder for his particular Age but the Seven Thunders are the Loose Ends that the Church Age Messengers could not bring forth because it was not the hour. The Seals had not yet been opened and the Mysteries of the full Word Of God were written in the unopened Little Book of Redemption.
   

  #2. The Mighty Angel uses His Seventh earthly Messenger to pour the Understanding of the Mysteries out to the Bride who receives them all by eating the Book. The mysteries of God's plan and purpose have now been revealed in their fullness.----"But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as He has declared to His servants the Prophets."
   

  #3. John eats, receives, and becomes one with the Understanding of Revelation of that Book. Remember that John is always the type of the Bride.----"And I went unto the Angel, and said unto Him, Give me the little Book. And He said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make they belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. And I took the little book out of the Angel's hand, ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter."
   

  #4. The Bride now speaks the open message and mystery one last time to the world. It is the Spoken Word Message that finishes the gospel to the gentiles.--------"And He said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings."
    

 #5. Now where are the Seven Thunders? THEY ARE IN THE HEART OF THE BRIDE, down under rib number five on the left hand side.

Holy Humor 2

HOLY HUMOR
During these serious and troubled times, people of all faiths should remember these four great religious truths:

1. Muslims do not recognize Jews as God's Chosen People.

2. Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

3.Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian world.

4. Baptists do not recognize each other at the liquor store.

GOOD SAMARITAN
A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan.
She asked the class, "If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?"
A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence. "I think I'd throw up."

DID NOAH FISH?
A Sunday school teacher asked, "Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark ?"
"No," replied Johnny. "How could he, with just two worms."

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible - Psalm 23 . She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter. Little Rick was excited about the task - but he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line. On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, "The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know."

UNANSWERED PRAYER
The preacher's 5 year-old daughter noticed that her father always paused and bowed his head for a moment before starting his sermon. One day, she asked him why.
"Well, Honey," he began, proud that his daughter was so observant of his messages. "I'm asking the Lord to help me preach a good sermon."
"How come He doesn't answer it?" she asked.

BEING THANKFUL
A Rabbi said to a precocious six-year-old boy, "So your mother says your prayers for you each night? That's very commendable. What does she say?"
The little boy replied, "Thank God he's in bed!"

ALL MEN / ALL GIRLS
When my daughter, Kelli, said her bedtime prayers, she would bless every family member, every friend, and every animal (current and past). For several weeks after we had finished the nightly prayer, Kelli would say, "And all girls." It soon became part of her nightly routine to include this closing. My curiosity got the best of me and I asked her, "Kelli, why do you always add the part about all girls?" Her response, "Because everybody always finishes their prayers by saying 'All Men'!"

SAY A PRAYER
Little Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his grandmother's house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. When Little Johnny received his plate, he started to eat right away.
"Johnny! Please wait until we say our prayer," said his mother. "I don't need to," the boy replied.
"Of course, you do," his mother insisted. "We always say a prayer before eating at our house."
"That's at our house." Johnny explained. "But this is Grandma's house, and she knows how to cook.
 

Holy Humor

It's good to laugh once in awhile. ;))

 If you don't mind, I'd like you to read this
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A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.
The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.
The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah".
The teacher asked, " What if Jonah went to hell?"
The little girl replied, "Then you ask him".

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A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.
The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."
The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."
Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."

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A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to "honor" thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?" Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, "Thou shall not kill."

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One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head. She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?"
Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white."
The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, "Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture.
"Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, there's Jennifer, she's a lawyer, or that's Michael, he's a doctor." A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher, she's dead."

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A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, "Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face." "Yes," the class said.
"Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn't run into my feet?" A little fellow shouted, "Cause your feet ain't empty."

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The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Christian elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The teacher made a note, and posted on the apple tray: "Take only ONE. God is watching."
Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples."

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Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Commit or Get Out

Imagine how honoured you would feel if a president or prime minister decided to visit you and spend the night at your house. You wouldn't leave dirty dishes piled up in the sink, clothes strewn across the floor, and a ring around the bathtub. No, you'd give the place a radical makeover! And you wouldn't make them sleep in the garage, the box room or the attic; you'd vacate the master bedroom and give it to them. Your goal would be to honour them in every way because their presence had honoured you

Now read this:

 'You have declared today that the Lord is your God. And you have promised to walk in his ways, and...do everything he tells you. The Lord has declared today that you are his people, his own special treasure, just as he promised, and that you must obey all his commands. And if you do, he will set you high above all the other nations he has made. Then you will receive praise, honour, and renown...' (v. 17-19 NLT).

Let's take this a step further. When Old Testament priests entered the ministry they went through a rite called 'consecration.' From that moment on they belonged exclusively to God and were committed to obey Him in all things. You say, 'What does any of this have to do with me?' A lot: if you want God to use you, to honour and promote you, you can't marginalise or compartmentalise Him. You must commit yourself to doing His will! And that includes your time, your talent, your treasure, your body, your mind, your spirit, and your all. God wants 'total commitment.' Get Commited or get out. #FREEMANSLOUNGE