I am going to take the next few blogs to discuss the different gifts God has given His children in Christ and how they affect our lives. I decided to start with the gift of prophesy because of a pastor from Moody Bible Institute I heard speaking on the radio this morning. He said something I didn't agree with. He talked about when people come up to you and say that God has told them to tell you something or when you feel if God is talking to you that you should second guess it and that you should rely on the Bible. Now I do believe that you should read your Bible and pray about a fellow Christian brother or sister's message but I don't think we should be close minded to messages from others because it says in 1 Corinthians that through the Holy spirit there are some who are given gifts of prophesy. I think that people in the Bible heard from God more and from prophets more because their faith was stronger. Now-a-days we want to have hard evidence for everything and not trust that God is using someone for the very purpose of helping you grow spiritually. Now I'm not saying believe everything you hear someone say is from God but you shouldn't dismiss everything either. This has only happened to me once, from a woman I met at a women's conference and I knew what she told me was relevant and from God right away but I still prayed about it before I took action and more signs in my life began to follow what she had spoke over me. Not all have the gift of prophesy but is says that God has given some to have that gift.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines."
God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. Hebrews 2:4
Continue reading my blog for the discussion of the next gift and at the end of the gift discussion blogs there will be a blog with a biblical quiz to lead you to your gift.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
ThanksLiving
As we give thanks this thanksgiving for all the blessings we have in our lives. Let's remember to live in a thankful manner. Let's watch our complaining and our regretting. Let's take the time to thank God everyday for the day.
God Bless!
God Bless!
Thursday, November 16, 2006
God and the Homosexual
You ever wonder what God thinks of the homosexual? Do you think that He groups them differently then everyone else and they don't apply to His promises of love and forgiveness?
When I first became a Christian I was the young age of 8 years old. I think I was a mature 8 year old because I remember distinctly that I knew Jesus loved me so much He died for me and I wanted to go to heaven by accepting Him in my heart. I also remember loving church and the things my Sunday School Teacher said. So I knew what was wrong and what God expected of me ten years later, when I stopped going to church and became sexually active with my boyfriend and eventually pregnant at 19. When my son was about 1 and a half, I had the desire to go back to church. I loved and joined my friend's kesha church and everyone welcomed me with open arms being a teenage single mother.
So what does all that have to do with homosexuals? The fact that I was accepted isn't anything new or shocking to Christians now a days but homosexuals can't do that. Even though I was ministered to and told that having pre-marital sex was wrong, I wasn't shunned or told I was disgusting. So how come Christians can't do that with gays and lesbians? How come homosexuals have a hard time coming into a Christian church? Even someone who became a Christian and has fallen into homosexuality should be loved and ministered to, just as I was.
As many know, I am now married and I gave birth to 3 more kids. Even though, I am not in sexual sin anymore, I still do fall and I still need to be ministered to. We all do. Open your heart to someone and pray for them, and tell them that, even though you don't accept the sin they are in, you do accept them and want to show them the gift of Jesus Christ and help them to a life that will give them blessings and favor from God.
When I first became a Christian I was the young age of 8 years old. I think I was a mature 8 year old because I remember distinctly that I knew Jesus loved me so much He died for me and I wanted to go to heaven by accepting Him in my heart. I also remember loving church and the things my Sunday School Teacher said. So I knew what was wrong and what God expected of me ten years later, when I stopped going to church and became sexually active with my boyfriend and eventually pregnant at 19. When my son was about 1 and a half, I had the desire to go back to church. I loved and joined my friend's kesha church and everyone welcomed me with open arms being a teenage single mother.
So what does all that have to do with homosexuals? The fact that I was accepted isn't anything new or shocking to Christians now a days but homosexuals can't do that. Even though I was ministered to and told that having pre-marital sex was wrong, I wasn't shunned or told I was disgusting. So how come Christians can't do that with gays and lesbians? How come homosexuals have a hard time coming into a Christian church? Even someone who became a Christian and has fallen into homosexuality should be loved and ministered to, just as I was.
As many know, I am now married and I gave birth to 3 more kids. Even though, I am not in sexual sin anymore, I still do fall and I still need to be ministered to. We all do. Open your heart to someone and pray for them, and tell them that, even though you don't accept the sin they are in, you do accept them and want to show them the gift of Jesus Christ and help them to a life that will give them blessings and favor from God.
"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense -- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:1-2
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2nd Corinthians 12:9
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Pray for the Persecuted Church
Today is the International Day of Prayer for the persecuted church. We christians in America take for granted the freedom we have to worship our lord and savior Jesus Christ. But across the globe there are thousands who suffer and die so that they can worship the one true Lord. Please take today to pray for all those that God would ease their suffering and bless them abundantly as well as save souls who are out persecuting Christians and change them the way Paul was changed.
More Christians have died for their faith in the 20th century than in the previous 19 centuries combined. For 30 of those years I pastored churches in Canada. I have seen my share of internal disagreement and even discouragement within the Church of Jesus Christ.
… are a powerful testimony to God's promise never to leave us or forsake us.
But I recall no time when I feared for my life because of my faith in Christ. During the same time, though, in hundreds of places around the world, thousands of fellow Christians gave their lives, lost their jobs, or were cast out of their families because they chose to follow Jesus.
What were these courageous Christians thinking as they served and suffered for Christ?
During November, the Church is called to hear the voice of the persecuted Church. So this month we will lift up the voices and lives of believers whose suffering and joy in Christ are a powerful testimony to God's promise never to leave us or forsake us.
The Bible assures us that God hears the cries of His people. As the apostle Peter puts it, we are "God's elect, strangers in the world," and today we are "scattered" across the globe.
May God bless us as we journey through the scattered Church in our world. We will certainly be assured that nothing "in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39).
Rev. David Tigchelaar is Executive Director, Bible League of Canada.
Originally published in The Joy and Suffering of the Persecuted Church, 2002.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
NanoWriMo
update: I finished nanowrimo today 11/30/06 
51,422 words!! I will be posting an excerpt on my blog soon. This was a blessing because I had many challenges and didn't think I would finish.
November is national novel writing month and to celebrate nanowrimo.com offers everyone a challenge of writing a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. This novel writing marathon is open to everyone and the website keeps track of your word count. If you complete the challenge you will be recognized on the site. I have taken on this challenge as I have had an idea for a novel on my heart for some time now but always had an excuse to put it off. I started it, but then hated my work so stopped it. But this challenge is making me push forward and keep writing no matter how bad I think it is, and just when I don't like where it's going something comes up that I add and I begin to like it again. So I am basically having a relationship with my novel in process. So far I have 4,694 words written. I am busy, but I try to find the time to write at night while my kids are in bed. I find it's very calming. My novel is titled: Out of the Muck and Miry Clay(from Psalm 40) and it's about a young woman who is trying to make her dreams come true and is successful at it but once she becomes saved, her dreams change and she finds out they are better then what she had planned. So pray for my success in this project please and let me know if you sign up as well! God Bless!
51,422 words!! I will be posting an excerpt on my blog soon. This was a blessing because I had many challenges and didn't think I would finish.November is national novel writing month and to celebrate nanowrimo.com offers everyone a challenge of writing a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. This novel writing marathon is open to everyone and the website keeps track of your word count. If you complete the challenge you will be recognized on the site. I have taken on this challenge as I have had an idea for a novel on my heart for some time now but always had an excuse to put it off. I started it, but then hated my work so stopped it. But this challenge is making me push forward and keep writing no matter how bad I think it is, and just when I don't like where it's going something comes up that I add and I begin to like it again. So I am basically having a relationship with my novel in process. So far I have 4,694 words written. I am busy, but I try to find the time to write at night while my kids are in bed. I find it's very calming. My novel is titled: Out of the Muck and Miry Clay(from Psalm 40) and it's about a young woman who is trying to make her dreams come true and is successful at it but once she becomes saved, her dreams change and she finds out they are better then what she had planned. So pray for my success in this project please and let me know if you sign up as well! God Bless!
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
The "unlovable" (handling politics part two)
In last weeks blog I blogged about how we are commanded to love all and act in a loving manner toward all and God will do the rest to convince others of His righteousness. So, today I want to blog about how to love those you feel you just can't love.
The number one key may seem simple but it's something we forget in the loving department, prayer. A simple prayer about what bothers you about them or a group of people and asking God to release that from you does a world of good. Many times I walk away from a stressful situation pray to God and suddenly feel so much better. You know that sinking feeling you get at the pit of your stomach when you hear or read something that don't agree with you (or God's words which is more important) prayer takes that feeling away. It has for me many times. Your simple words to Him on how you feel and why you feel it and how you have faith God will help you and help you to witness to others who are in the dark about Him. If you are left with no words, the prayer in Colossians 1: 9-12 is perfect.
Which brings me to the next thing,
reading the Bible also helps. Read the many many many scriptures there is about love in the Bible. Reading them out loud really helps to release anger and frustration toward another. When you see how much God wants you to love Him and one another it will soften you heart. After all your number one priority should be to please Him.
Remember, "the flesh profits nothing"(John 6:63) so handling disagreements and differences by yelling and turning your back, or insulting won't profit or get your point across doing things God's way will.
The number one key may seem simple but it's something we forget in the loving department, prayer. A simple prayer about what bothers you about them or a group of people and asking God to release that from you does a world of good. Many times I walk away from a stressful situation pray to God and suddenly feel so much better. You know that sinking feeling you get at the pit of your stomach when you hear or read something that don't agree with you (or God's words which is more important) prayer takes that feeling away. It has for me many times. Your simple words to Him on how you feel and why you feel it and how you have faith God will help you and help you to witness to others who are in the dark about Him. If you are left with no words, the prayer in Colossians 1: 9-12 is perfect.
Which brings me to the next thing,
reading the Bible also helps. Read the many many many scriptures there is about love in the Bible. Reading them out loud really helps to release anger and frustration toward another. When you see how much God wants you to love Him and one another it will soften you heart. After all your number one priority should be to please Him.
Remember, "the flesh profits nothing"(John 6:63) so handling disagreements and differences by yelling and turning your back, or insulting won't profit or get your point across doing things God's way will.
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