Which Survivor Are You ?

Only In Silence

A Jewish boy, the only son of his devout parents, was a most biddable child, with one exception! He resisted learning the Torah. To his parents, nothing could have been more distressing. read more...

The Chief Rabbi was to visit their Synagogue. They decided to ask him to visit their home. He did, and after the meal the parents expressed to the Rabbi their concern about their son.
The Rabbi asked permission to place his arms around the boy. The parents agreed, moving to one side. They watched and waited, expecting to hear some word of advice from the Rabbi to the boy. But the only word they heard was silence as they watched their son rest close to the Rabbi’s heart.
The next day the boy began to study the Torah. His passion for God’s word grew. Years later he became a wise and loving Rabbi. Many asked him whence his knowledge came. He simply said, ‘I put my ear close to the Chief Rabbi’s heart and in that moment I heard the heartbeat of God.’
In the Gospel of John the ‘beloved disciple’ has his ear on Jesus’ heart. It is a privileged place. But I too am a beloved disciple, so I can do likewise. Only in silence can I hear the Lord’s heartbeat.
Lord, enrich my days with moments of silence, in which I simply listen to you.

NO OTHER NAME

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever (Psalm 23:6, NIV).


Life is a marathon – not a fifty yard dash. When the psalmist says, “I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever,” he is reminding us that we were created for eternity. But instead of focusing on eternal things, we waste precious emotional energy and priceless spiritual power by fixing our gaze on the here and now. I am not saying that we need to ignore what God gives us to do today because the truth is that each step on each day’s path is filled with God ordained opportunities. What I am saying is that much of our stress comes when we measure life and hold it up against the wrong backdrop.








We must be very careful to choose the right backdrop against which we live our lives. Our backdrop is eternity – not the tyranny of urgent demands made by a relentless world. Our backdrop is an old rugged cross and an empty tomb – not the temporary trials or painful circumstances we face in this very fleeting life. We are “forever” people. Like the old song says, “This world is not my home. I’m just passing through.”


My favorite words in the Bible are “but God.” Those two words create an eternal backdrop that changes everything. Everything looks different when He comes. Everything is made different by His presence. To survive and succeed in life, we must stop and take the long look, refusing to fix our gaze on the “little things” that are meant to divert God’s plan. If we want to live a life of victory, our glance must be on the circumstances and ourgaze must be on Him.






Choosing an eternal perspective is a spiritual discipline that makes stress yield to God’s peace. Does that mean we will float through each day without facing trials, defeats, enemies or impossibilities? No – but it does mean that the backdrop against which we view those dark moments will be replaced with the truth that there is an eternal purpose in every pain and that is through the struggle out of that darkness that we gain the strength to fly and become all God created us to be – now and forever.

CHOOSING JOY !!!

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10, NKJV).

Jesus lived and died so that we can experience abundant life, a life exuding joy, a life so full that others crave to know the source of that fullness. Jesus did not come so that we can merely survive life. Pagans can survive life. Jesus came to be our joy.

I came across this quote: “Joy is the flag that flies above the castle of our hearts indicating that the King reigns within.” If that is true, then why are so many women living lives with little or no joy? I’m afraid that we have bought the lies of the enemy, allowing him to steal our joy. Discouragement, weariness, disillusionment, shattered dreams and unrealized goals are some of his favorite weapons, but the truth is that the enemy can only use what we allow him to use.

It is time for us to reclaim surrendered ground. Do you sometimes think you are fighting the same old battles you have been fighting for years? I do. Clinging to familiar pain, we find our identity there. Consumed with our own agenda, joy is buried under a mountain of self.

Joy is not the result of outward circumstances. Joy is an inside job, a deeply rooted confidence that God is in control. Every trial or loss, every defeat or victory measured against this confidence can be counted as joy.

The Apostle Paul was a man of great joy. By human terms, he had every right to be angry and even bitter. Persecuted, imprisoned and facing His own death, Paul says, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:12-12, NIV).

The expression, “Have a good day” is a common greeting. I heard about one woman who, when told to have a good day, responded, “Thanks, but I have other plans.” Sound familiar? We rise to face each day with a perspective of pending doom instead of the certain joy that is ours through Jesus Christ. God created the world in a process of one day at a time. At the end of each day, He examined his work and announced: “It is good!” We, too, can learn to see the good in each day. We can learn to be joyful. How?

• Check your heart.

“My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God” (Psalm 84:2, NAS).

In this verse, “heart” literally means “body and soul” or “whole being.” In other words, what’s down in the well comes up in the bucket. Real joy is found in and flows from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. God’s very presence in our lives is His eternal reminder that Jesus died on a cross, rose from the grave and is coming again. Have you turned your heart and life over to Jesus?

• Choose to rejoice.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2, NIV).

We cannot avoid pain but we can avoid joy. The pursuit of joy is a matter of choice. Our inward perspective does not have to reflect our outward circumstances. We can choose joy!

A little boy was overheard talking to himself as he strutted through the backyard, a baseball cap on his head, ball and bat in hand. He was muttering, “I’m the greatest hitter in the world!” Then he tossed the ball in the air, swung at it and missed. “Strike one!” He picked up the ball, threw it into the air and said to himself, “I’m the greatest hitter ever!” He swung at the ball again. “Strike two!” He paused, examined his bat and ball and threw the ball into the air, missing a third time. He cried out, “Wow! I’m the greatest pitcher in the world!”

Yes, the pursuit of joy is a matter of choice and perspective. It is also a matter of obedience. As Christians, one of our spiritual priorities should be joy.

“One ship sails east.
One ship sails west.
Regardless of how the winds blow,
It is the set of the sail
And not the gale
That determines the way we go.”
(Author unknown)

Set your sails for joy, girlfriend! Celebrate! Revel in who God is, in what He has done, is doing and will do in your life when you choose joy.



Read Psalm 16:11. “Being with You will fill me with joy.” What does this verse

SAVING THE CHURCH AND FAITH IN JESUS

 Prayers for  the critical life, health, and future ministry direction of many congregations.

This is a prayer guide: Psalm 100, Joel 2:12-17, Matthew 28: 19-20

Read Ezra 3:11

Let us give thanks for the love of GOD revealed in tangible ways...

for the foundation laid for us in Christ Jesus...

for the same mindset as Christ Jesus who emptied himself...

for the faithful witness of the saints who have gone before...

Read Revelation 2:1-7

Let us repent of our complacency and disengagement with our denomination...

the inordinate value we place on programs and participation...

our tendency to regard prayer as just a supplement...

treating our brothers and sisters in ways that dishonor Christ...

allowing the culture to permeate the church in ungodly ways...

loving the American dream more than the Savior Jesus...

proclaiming the message of the cross without clarity and passion...

Read Exodus 33:13-14

Let us pray for a teachable spirit...

for assurance that in life and in death we belong to our Savior Jesus Christ...

that we would trust the peace giving presence of God at all times...

for God's people around the world who suffer true persecution for the gospel...

for those who do not yet know Jesus Christ as Savior, or who have turned from him or been led away from the truth of his love...

Read Psalm 24:3-8

Read Psalm 19:1-4;7-9

Let us give thanks for God's glory, revealed all around us...

for God's Word, at work in all his people...

for God's radiance that will lead and sustain us through this day...

for God's promise that we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus...

Read Matthew 24:3-7;12-14

Let us pray for wisdom in our leadership to exhibit the Kingdom of God...

a spirit that will glorify Christ in discussion and reconciliation...

vision to see God's future and the ability to communicate that vision with hope and humility...

endurance and renewed vitality...

protection from the confusion and arrogance that fosters disunity...

Read 1 Thessalonians 3: 12-13

Let us pray that God would increase our love for each other and especially for those who are outside the reach of the Church...

that the Holy Spirit will strengthen our hearts in times of temptation and discouragement...

that our love for God would be revealed in holy attitudes and humble behavior...

that those who lead Jesus' followers around the world would see the Church increase in witness and service...

Read Malachi 2:17; 3:7b

Read Psalm 68:26

Let us give thanks for how the praise and adoration of God arises in the life and worship ...

for how we experience the unity of the Holy Spirit in the work and worship...

Read Acts 15:22-35

Let us pray repenting of any bitterness and ungodliness we have brought into our life together...

that Christ would be honored in all conversations and decisions..

that together we glorify God and exhibit God's Kingdom...

for a spirit of mutual justice, fairness, and charity...

that each congregation may find freedom to respond in this challenging season through different Christ-honoring ways...

for strength, grace, and wisdom for our leaders...

for congregations who are struggling...

for vision, wisdom, and persistence in the work of the Middle Governing Bodies Commission.

Read Revelation 4:9-11

With that image in mind, let us pray that in all our deliberation, we would be aware of the presence of the One who truly reigns for ever and ever...

that we would relinquish our need to rule and control, deferring to the will and purpose of the Lord of all...

that congregations would once again become places of prayer, study, worship, nurture, and mission...

that we would listen to the admonition and encouragement of sisters and brothers called to ministry around the globe...

Read Hebrews 10:23

Read Psalm 63:1-3

Let us give thanks for times when we have seen God in sanctuary...

for the gift of God's perspective in our lives...

for ways in which God enables us to give public witness to His grace and His glory...

Read Acts 5:27-39

Let us pray repenting of self-interest that blinds us to God's calling...

that we would yield our hearts to God's will in every situation...

that confusion would not obscure God's purpose...

for the wisdom and understanding in difficult conversations...

THE EMPTY CHAIR

A woman's daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her mother.
When the minister arrived, he found the woman lying in bed with her head propped up on two pillows.

An empty chair sat beside her bed.
The minister assumed that the woman had been informed of his visit...
'I guess you were expecting me, he said.

'No, who are you?' said the mother.
The minister told her his name and then remarked, 'I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up..'

'Oh yeah, the chair,' said the bedridden woman
'Would you mind closing the door?'
Puzzled, the minister shut the door.
'I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter,' said the woman.

'But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right over my head...'

I abandoned any attempt at prayer,' the old woman continued, ' until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me, ' Prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here is what I suggest.. 'Sit down in a chair;
place an empty chair in front of you,
and in faith see Jesus on the chair.

It's not spooky because he promised, 'I will be with you always'..
'Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now...'

'So, I tried it and I've liked it so much
that I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful though.If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm.'

The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old woman to continue on the journey.
Then he prayed with her, anointed her with oil, and returned to the church.

Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her mama had died that afternoon.
Did she die in peace?' he asked.

Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, she called me over to her bedside, told me she loved me and kissed me on the cheek.
When I got back from the store an hour later, I found her .

But there was something strange about her death. Apparently, just before Mom died, she leaned over and rested her head on the chair beside the bed. What do you make of that?'

The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, 'I wish we could all go like that.'