Send the Fire

Many years ago, there lived a man who looked upon the moral and spiritual decay of the world and the church and realized that something radical needed to happen to bring this world back to God. His name was William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army. With this realization, came fervent prayer and through prayer the lyrics to this song:

O Thou Christ of burning, cleansing flame,
Send the fire! Send the fire!
Thy bloodbought gift today we claim,
To burn up ev'ry trace of sin,
To bring the light and glory in,
The revolution now begin..

These precious words have as much meaning as they did when they where first written. Many of us have lost our sense of moral urgency and spiritual fervency and only the fire of God can burn away deception and cause the true light of Jesus to be seen in our hearts and lives.

SEND THE FIRE

Thou Christ of burning, cleansing flame,
Send the fire! Send the fire!
Thy bloodbought gift today we claim,
Send the fire! Send the fire!
Look down and see this waiting host;
Give us the promised Holy Ghost;
We want another Pentecost;
Send the fire! Send the fire!

God of Elijah, hear our cry!
Send the fire! Send the fire!
O make us fit to live or die!
Send the fire! Send the fire!
To burn up ev'ry trace of sin,
To bring the light and glory in,
The revolution now begin,
Send the fire! Send the fire!

'Tis fire we want, for fire we plead:
Send the fire! Send the fire!
The fire will meet our ev'ry need,
Send the fire! Send the fire!
For strength to ever do the right,
For grace to conquer in the fight,
For pow'r to walk the world in white,
Send the fire! Send the fire!

To make our weak heart strong and brave,
Send the fire! Send the fire!
To live a dying world to save,
Send the fire! Send the fire!
O see us on Thy altar lay
Our lives, our all, for Thee this day;
To crown the off'ring now, we pray,
Send the fire! Send the fire!

~ William Booth

* Dearest Lord God Almighty, please send Your great revival and refining fire to the hearts of Your people in GLCC and for those who are making it for ACTS Camp and Teenz Koinonia Camp..please do such a deep and amazing work in each and every person. Send the fire, we plead..please accomplish a truly glorious work in the lives of Your adults and teenagers in GLCC like never before. Spirit of the living God, please burn up every trace of sin, bring Your light and glory in..that a true holy and spiritual revolution can begin in each and every one of Your precious children. Our lives, our all upon Your altar..please show Yourself so strong and work Your wondrous miracles of true passionate revival in all of us. May we never ever be the same again having met with You in a most supreme and awesome way. In Jesus' name, amen. *

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

~ Hosea 10:12

What is Revival?

It presupposes that the church is sunk down in a backslidden state, and a revival consists in the return of the church from her backslidings and the conversion of sinners.

1. The foundations of sin need to be broken up. A revival always includes conviction of sin on the part of the church. Backslidden professors cannot wake up and begin right away in the service of God without deep searchings of heart. In a true revival, Christians are always brought under such conviction; they see their sins in such a light that often they find it impossible to maintain a hope of their acceptance with God. It does not always go to that extent, but there are always, in a genuine revival, deep convictions of sin, and often cases of abandoning all hope.

2. Backslidden Christians will be brought to repentance. A revival is nothing else than a new beginning of obedience to God. Just as in the case of a converted sinner, the first step is a deep repentance, a breaking down of heart, a getting down into the dust before God, with deep humility, and a forsaking of sin.

3. Christians will have their faith renewed. While they are in their backslidden state, they are blind to the state of sinners. Their hearts are hard as marble. The truths of the Bible appear like a dream. They admit it to be all true; their conscience and their judgment assent to it; but their faith does not see it standing out in bold relief, in all the burning realities of eternity. But when they enter into a revival, they no longer see "men as trees, walking," but they see things in that strong light which will renew the love of God in their hearts. This will lead them to labour zealously to bring others to Him. They will feel grieved that others do not love God, when they love Him so much. And they will set themselves freely to persuade their neighbours to give Him their hearts. So their love to men will be renewed. They will be filled with a tender and burning love for souls. They will have a longing desire for the salvation of the whole world. They will be in an agony for individuals whom they want to have saved -- their friends, relations, enemies. They will not only be urging them to give their hearts to God, but they will carry them to God in the arms of faith, and with strong crying and tears beseech God to have mercy on them, and save their souls from eternal damnation.

4. A revival breaks the power of the world and of sin over Christians. It brings them to such vantage ground that they get a fresh impulse towards heaven; they have a new foretaste of heaven, and new desires after union with God; thus the charm of the world is broken, and the power of sin overcome.

5. When the churches are thus awakened and reformed, the reformation and salvation of sinners will follow. Their hearts will be broken down and changed. Very often the most abandoned profligates are among the subjects. Harlots, and drunkards, and infidels, and all sorts of abandoned characters, are awakened and converted. The worst of human beings are softened and reclaimed, and made to appear as lovely specimens of the beauty of holiness.

6. When can a revival be expected? A revival may be expected when Christians have a spirit of prayer for a revival. That is, when they pray as if their hearts were set upon it. When Christians have the spirit of prayer for a revival..when they go about groaning out their hearts' desire..when they have real travail of soul upon crying out to God that He may rain His righteousness upon them..then true revival will be poured out upon these very hearts..hearts of utterly broken and humbled men.

~ Charles Finney

Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.
Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.
For shame hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.
We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.

~ Jeremiah 3:22-25

Dearest Heavenly Father, thank you so much for being all that You are to me. You have shown me great and mighty things throughout this 1 life that You have given me and for this, my heart overflows with utmost praise to You, my Lord and my King. From my heart, thank you so much for loving me with an eternal and everlasting love.

Lord God Almighty, please forgive me for all the times that i have failed in my walk with You..forgive me of my many, many sins especially of not being a shining testimony for You wherever You have placed me, of carelessly offering You costless sacrifices and borrowed gifts with my sinful, cold and empty heart..forgive me for being a disgrace, a failure to You..forgive me of my total lack of faith in prayer and the weakness of my love for You. i have been distracted by many things..by things of this world, by personal ambitions and by opinions driven by utter selfishness. Lord Jesus, please answer my heart's desire to be fully given to You..to be wholly surrendered to You in every single aspect of my life. Teach me daily that the issue is not what i can do for You or what i can receive from You, but rather what You passionately desire to make of me through Your divine power and might.

Dearest Lord God, i desire to be true..to be real..to be wholly filled by You, Holy Spirit of God..i desire so much to experience You truly in my life. Please daily grant me a heart of utter faith and pure worship to You alone..give me no peace at all until my heart is moved by Your working Hand to surrender my all to You every day of my life. By Your grace, make my relationship with You my All in all, please totally consume me with Your purifying fire until all that the world sees is You and You alone. Please burn away the scaffolding of empty, meaningless rituals, aimless and frivolous activities, and besetting sins from my heart and life. Please make me totally dead as a doornail to these horrible temptations and the sinful things of this world. From my heart, i thank you so much for salvation so rich and free, thank you for forgiving me and blotting out all of my transgressions and mistakes of the past, and cleansing me from all unrighteousness with the perfect, sinless and precious blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Thank you so much for Your infinite resurrection power, thank you for living within my heart always. Spirit of the living God, please help me through this pilgrim journey..i need You so much to lead and guide me. Breathe life like never before into my heart daily as i commit myself to Your eternal purposes and plans. Having prayed this prayer, i know that the evil one will wage his satanic warfare against me..please bind his wicked hands strongly and remove his ensnaring influence upon my life. Thank you so much that defeat and failure have no place in my life because the ultimate victory is Yours for eternity. Spirit of God, please fall afresh upon me and descend upon my heart every day of this 1 life. Dearest Lord, please help me claim Your rich and wondrous promises by faith in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ..that i can live the abundant life so victoriously by the power of Your holy name. Thank you so much for being my glorious Saviour and precious Lord, i love You truly..in Jesus' name i humbly pray, amen.

The 23rd Channel

The 23rd Channel - Warning: TV Addiction..Beware :O !

The TV is my shepherd; my spiritual growth shall want.
It maketh me to lie down on the sofa and do nothing for His name's sake, because it requireth all my leisure time.
It leadeth me away from the faith; it destroys my soul.
It leadeth me into the paths of sin and violence for the TV programme's sake.
It keepeth me from fulfilling my duty as a Christian because it presenteth so many good shows that I must see.
It restoreth my knowledge of the things of the world, and keepeth me from the study of God's Word.
It leadeth me into the paths of failing to attend church and doing absolutely nothing for the kingdom of God.
Yea, though I walk in the shadow of Christian responsibilities and live a hundred years, there shall be no interruption, I will keep viewing my TV for as long as it functions, for it is my closest companion that is ever with me.
Its cable, remote control, sounds and pictures, they comfort me.
It preparest a commercial for me in the presence of my worldliness;
It presenteth entertainment before me and keepeth me from doing important things with my family.
It fills my head with ideas which differ from those in the Word of God.
It anoints my head with humanism and consumerism, my coveteousness runneth over.
Surely laziness and ignorance shall follow me all the days of my life.
No good thing will come out of my life because of so many wasted and fruitless hours, and I shall dwell in my remorse and bitter memories at my house upon watching TV forever..

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit..

~ Ephesians 5:14-18

You have nothing to do but save souls.
Therefore spend and be spent in this work.
It is not your business to preach so many times;
But to save as many souls as you can
To bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance,
And with all your power to build them up in holiness,
Without which they cannot see the Lord.

~ John Wesley

A Common Love

A common love for each other,
A common gift to the Saviour,
A common bond holding us to the Lord;
A common strength when we're weary,
A common hope for tomorrow,
A common joy in the truth of God's Word.

In His family, we can meet each one's needs,
We can light each one's path, for each other we plead;
As His children, we can comfort each care,
We can build each one's faith,
We can serve, we can share.

In His family, all the love that we show,
All the help that we give, all the joy we bestow;
As His children, they're an offering we make,
Not expecting return,
Just a gift for His sake.

A common love for each other,
A common gift to the Saviour,
A common bond holding us to the Lord;
A common strength when we're weary,
A common hope for tomorrow,
A common joy in the truth of God's Word.

~ C. F. Brown ~

'The Life and Diary of David Brainerd' by Jonathan Edwards...am just embarking on my journey through this book which i managed to borrow from Favian when a group of us went to surprise him at his place on his 28th birthday =).

Favian told me that this book has inspired many Christians to dedicate their lives to the Lord and serve Him in the mission field. It is no wonder because from David Brainerd's writings i can gather that he is one who has truly lived a selfless life of prayer and devotion. i have simply no doubt at all about him being a truly courageous preacher and faithful missionary to the American Indians..one who really walked with God and also mourned when the light of God's countenance was dimmed or absent in his life. How inspirational his life was..how wonderful to know that someone was so focused on walking as how our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ walked! You can know a person's heartbeat through his writings..thank God i can truly feel the heartbeat of this dear missionary as i read his biography and diary. How i wish i can just have a fraction of his zeal and passion in life and service to God! When i take a glimpse at my awfully cold and empty heart within myself, i just feel utterly ashamed. i really wonder if i can ever have such immense power in my witness and victory in my testimony and spiritual life as this dear missionary did. i dare say that i have had enough of living a life of spiritual defeat and mediocrity. Am praying that God Himself would touch my heart and move His Holy Spirit within me to start a great unquenchable revival in my life..i really desire to feel His presence in my life..so strongly and amazingly like never before. May He daily purge me completely of self and sin as He leads me on. Dearest God, one holy passion to fill my frame..please make my heart the altar and Your love the flame..

Farewell, vain world; my soul bid Adieu:
My Saviour's taught me to abandon you.
Your charms may gratify a sensual mind;
Not please a soul wholly for God designed.
Forbear to entice, cease then my soul to call:
'Tis fixed through grace; my God shall be my ALL.
While He thus lets me heavenly glories view,
Your beauties fade, my heart's no room for you..

Lord, I'm a stranger here alone;
Earth no true comforts can afford:
Yet, absent from my dearest one,
My soul delights to cry, My Lord!

Jesus, my Lord, my only love,
Possess my soul, nor thence depart:
Grant me kind visits, heavenly Dove;
My God shall then have all my heart..

~David Brainerd

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

~ Hebrews 12:1,2

Who I Am in Christ

I am accepted..

John 1:12
I am God's child.

John 15:15
As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1
I have been justified.

1 Corinthians 6:17
I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.

1 Corinthians 12:27
I am a member of Christ's body.

Ephesians 1:3-8
I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.

Colossians 1:13-14
I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.

Colossians 2:9-10
I am complete in Christ.

Hebrews 4:14-16
I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.

I am secure..

Romans 8:1-2
I am free from condemnation.

Romans 8:28
I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.

Romans 8:31-39
I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22
I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.

Colossians 3:1-4
I am hidden with Christ in God.

Philippians 1:6
I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.

Philippians 3:20
I am a citizen of heaven.

2 Timothy 1:7
I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.

1 John 5:18
I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.

I am significant..

John 15:5
I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.

John 15:16
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.

1 Corinthians 3:16
I am God's temple.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21
I am a minister of reconciliation for God.

Ephesians 2:6
I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.

Ephesians 2:10
I am God's workmanship.

Ephesians 3:12
I may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

I am free in Christ forever!

Broken for a Purpose

When God wants to do an impossible task, He takes an impossible man and breaks him.

Moses' lifeline:
1st 40 years of his life - learning to be somebody
2nd 40 years of his life - learning that he is a nobody
3rd 40 years of his life - discovering how God can use a nobody

King David was another individual that had to acknowledge his frailty, his sinfulness and be utterly broken by God in order for God to use him mightily.

Charles Spurgeon said, ‘We are but men, frail, feeble, and apt to faint.’ I am intrigued by the word ‘broken.’ It means, literally, to become 'crushed' and ‘shattered'. The sacrifice to God, according to Psalm 51:17, is a shattered spirit and a bruised heart. It is not until the pride of our sinful and selfish hearts is shattered utterly that we will begin to understand the deep things of God. The shattering and the bruising are so designed by God for the preparation of His servants. God will not despise a broken and contrite heart. All of God’s spiritual giants have been very weak and extremely broken men and women.

~ Gary Dozier

* Dearest Lord, please daily break, shatter and crush me completely - make me absolutely nothing in the sight of man..that in You alone i can find my everything..my All in all.. *

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

~ Psalm 51:17

My Tribute

How can i say thanks
For the things You have done for me
Things so undeserved,
Yet You give to prove Your love for me?

The voices of a million angels
Could not express my gratitude
All that i am and ever hope to be,
i owe it all to Thee.

To God be the glory,
To God be the glory,
To God be the glory
For the things He has done.

With His blood He has saved me,
With His pow'r He has raised me
To God be the glory
For the things He has done.

Just let me live my life
Let it be pleasing, Lord, to Thee:
And should i gain any praise,
Let it go to Calvary.

With His blood He has saved me,
With His pow'r He has raised me
To God be the glory
For the things He has done!

A Sleepy Deepy Day

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

~ Psalm 4:8

I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

~ Psalm 2:5

As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

~ Psalm 17:15

He's Altogether Lovely

My Lord is like the mountain
Away up in the sky.
My Lord is like the fountain
That never can run dry.

He's altogether lovely
He's altogether lovely
He's altogether lovely
To me eternally.

My Lord is like the ocean
Whose waves forever roll.
My Lord is like the treasure
Whose wealth can ne'er be told.

My Lord is like the morning
Whose coming brings the dew.
One day He is returning
To rapture me and you.

He's altogether lovely
He's altogether lovely
He's altogether lovely
To me eternally.

My Lord will bless and favour
With joy forever true.
So sinner, come and sever
The chain that's binding you.

He's altogether lovely
He's altogether lovely
He's altogether lovely
He'll be thine eternally.

*Thank you so much, dearest Lord..for being ours eternally. You are indeed altogether lovely..~*

Sisters for Eternity!

O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.
With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.

~ Psalm 98:1-6

A New Creature in Christ..that's you dear Cherie! :D

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

~ 2 Corinthians 5:17

True Revival

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
~ Psalm 139:23-24

Confession of sin is needful for close fellowship with God. Repentance from sin is necessary for a personal revival of our spiritual life. Below you will find a series of questions to help you think through areas of your life that may need cleansing. On reading these questions, as you are convicted of sin, confess it at once to God. Then you can claim cleansing and forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Prayerfully, meditate upon following Scriptures then consider and answer the questions which come after truthfully. Every "yes" answer means you are "missing the mark" in your life. "Missing the mark" (like an arrow missing the target) is the literal meaning for one of the Greek words (Greek - hamartia) for sin. When we sin, we miss the target. We fail to be all that we could be in Christ. We fail to know God's blessing - which He eagerly desires to give us.

Be sure to name your sin to God: "Lord, I have not put You first in my plans," or, "I have neglected Your Word and prayer." Do not make the least excuse for sin of any kind in your life. Refrain from making the least excuse for sin of any kind in your life. Proverbs 28:13 says "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."

As you are convicted of sin upon reading these questions, confess every transgression at once to God in prayer. With this, you can freely claim God’s cleansing and His complete forgiveness.

You may wish to write down the specific sins that come to mind as you read the questions. Then when you are finished praying to God for cleansing, tear the paper into bits and throw it away as a reminder that God does indeed cleanse you from "all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9b). Embrace the promise of Psalm 103:12: “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

No matter what others do, or do not do, dear Christian, leave nothing undone on your part. God wants to work through you to extend His kingdom on earth. He can begin by your agreeing with every requirement shown by the Lord through the Holy Spirit and His Word. Personal revival from the presence of the Lord can begin today - if you desire it.

Matthew 6:12-15: Is there anyone against whom you hold a grudge? Anyone you haven't forgiven? Anyone you hate? Anyone you do not love? Are there misunderstandings that you are unwilling to forget? Is there any person against whom you are harboring bitterness, resentment of jealousy? Anyone you dislike to hear praised or well-spoken of? Do you allow anything to justify a wrong attitude toward another?

Matthew 6:33: Is there anything in which you have failed to put God first? Have your decisions been made after your own wisdom and desires, rather than seeking and following God's will? Do any of the following, in any way, interfere with your surrender and service to God: ambition, pleasures, loved ones, friendships, desire for recognition, money or your plans?

Matthew 5:21-24 & Matthew 18:15-17: Have you failed to take steps to reconcile with your Christian brother or sister? Have you sinned against a brother (or sister) and you have failed to go to him and ask his forgiveness (Matthew 5:23)? Is there a Christian brother (or sister) who has sinned "against you" and you have failed to go to them (Matthew 18:15)?

Mark 16:15: Have you failed to seek the lost for Christ? Have you failed to witness consistently with your mouth for the Lord Jesus Christ? Has your life not shown to the lost the Lord Jesus Christ?

John 13:35: Are you secretly pleased over the misfortunes of another? Are you secretly annoyed over the accomplishments or advancements of another? Are you guilty of any contention or strife? Do you quarrel, argue or engage in heated discussions? Are you a partaker in any division or party spirit? Are there people whom you deliberately slight?

Acts 20:35: Have you robbed God by withholding His due of your time, talents and treasure? Have you failed to support Kingdom work either by service, prayer or giving? Have you robbed God by withholding the small amount He requires of time, service, and money? Have you given less than you ought to for God's work? Have you failed to support the weak either in prayer or in offering?

1 Corinthians 4:2: Are you undependable so that you cannot be trusted with responsibilities in the Lord's work? Are you allowing your emotions to be stirred for things of the Lord, but doing nothing about it?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20: Are you careless in any way with your body? Do you fail to care for it as the temple of the Holy Spirit? Are you guilty of intemperance in eating or drinking? Do you have any habits which defile the body?

1 Corinthians 10:31: Do you take the slightest credit for anything good about yourself, rather than give all the glory to God? Do you talk of what you have done rather than of what Christ has done? Do your statements begin mostly with "I"? Are your feelings easily hurt? Have you made a pretense of being something that you are not?

Ephesians 3:20: Are you self-conscious rather than Christ-conscious? Do you allow feelings of inferiority to keep you from attempting things you should in serving God? Do you put off doing things which Christ has called you to do because of feelings of inadequacy?

Ephesians 4:28: Do you underpay? Do you do very little in your work? Have you been careless in the payment of your debts? Have you sought to evade payment of debts? Do you waste time? Do you waste time for others?

Ephesians 4:29: Is your talk filthy or unwholesome? Do you curse and swear at others? Does your language include sexual innuendoes and snide remarks? After speaking with you do people leave feeling torn down rather than built up?

Ephesians 4:31: Do you complain? Do you find fault? Do you have a critical attitude towards any person or thing? Are you irritable or cranky? Do you ever carry hidden anger? Do you become impatient with others? Are you ever harsh or unkind? Are you a person of evil temper? Are you irritable or cranky? Do you ever carry hidden anger? Do your co-workers, subordinates, spouse or children fear your anger? Are you a brawler? Do you cut down others with your tongue? Do you slander?

Ephesians 5:15-16: Do you listen to unedifying radio or TV programs? Do you read unworthy magazines or web sites? Do you find it necessary to seek satisfaction from any questionable source? Are you doing certain things that show you are not satisfied in the Lord Jesus Christ?

Ephesians 5:20: Have you neglected to thank Him for all things: the seemingly bad as well as the good? Have you virtually called God a liar by doubting His Word that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him"? Do you worry instead of thank? Is your spiritual temperature based on your feelings instead of on the facts of God's Word? Have you neglected thanksgiving at meals?

Philippians 1:21: Are you taken up with the cares of this life? Is your conversation or heart joy over "things" rather than the Lord and His Word? Does anything mean more to you than living for and pleasing Christ?

Philippians 2:14: Are you a grumbler against God's will in your life? Do you cooperate with God in His salvation work or long for "Egypt" like the Israelites? Do you grumble against those who are your brothers? Do you gossip? Do you speak unkindly concerning people when they are not present? Do you have an argumentative spirit? Do you carry prejudice against true Christians because they are of some different group than yours, or because they do not see everything exactly like you? Do you ever, by word or deed, seek to hurt someone?

Philippians 4:4: Have you neglected to seek to be pleasing to Him in all things? Do you carry any bitterness toward God? Have you complained against Him in any way? Have you been dissatisfied with His provision for you? Is there any unwillingness in your heart to obey God fully? Do you have any reservations as to what you would or would not do concerning anything that might be His will? Have you disobeyed some direct leading from Him?

Colossians 3:9-10: Do you engage in empty and unprofitable conversation? Do you ever lie? Do you ever exaggerate? Cheat? Steal? Do you overcharge?

Hebrews 10:25: Do you stay away from meetings where you can be encouraged by God's Word and God's people? Do you whisper or think about other things while God's Word is being read or preached? Are you irregular in attendance at services? Have you neglected family devotions?

Hebrews 13:17: Do you hesitate to submit to leaders in the church? Do you rebel at legitimate requests given to you to help in the work of the gospel? Do you in any way have a stubborn or unteachable spirit? Do you help your leaders to do their work with joy?

James 1:19: Do you spend more time talking than listening to others? Do you find yourself thinking about what you are going to say next rather than listening? Do you blurt out rather than considering what you should say? Are you quick-tempered?

James 4:6: Are you proud? Do you insist on having your own way? Do you insist on your "rights" before God?

James 4:11: Have you dishonored the Lord and hindered His work by criticizing His servants? Have you gossiped about a Christian brother or sister rather than going to them directly? Have you failed to pray regularly for your spiritual leaders?

1 John 3:3 & 2 Timothy 2:22: Do you have any personal habits that are not pure? Do you read that which is impure or suggests unholy things? Do you allow impure thoughts about the opposite sex to stay in your mind? Do you indulge in any unclean entertainment? Are you guilty of the lustful look?

Once you have confessed your sins, ask God to fill You with His Holy Spirit, who will give you power to resist temptation and sin (1 Corinthians 10:13; Philippians 4:13; Ephesians 1:19-23; 2 Timothy 1:7; Romans 6:1-16).

Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have sinned against You by directing my own life. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ's death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
~ Psalm 19:12-14

- adapted from 'Preparation for Personal Revival' at Christian Women Today website

I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.
I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.
Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?
Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?
Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies?
And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.
I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.
Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people..

~ Psalm 77:1-3, 7-15

Wings as Eagles

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

~ Isaiah 40:28-31

God takes away the world, that the heart may cleave more to Him in sincerity.

~ Thomas Watson

A truly humble man or woman is sensible of his natural distance from God; of his dependence on Him; of the insufficiency of his own power and wisdom; and that it is by God's power that he is upheld and provided for, and that he needs God's wisdom to lead and guide him, and His might to enable him to do what he ought to do for Him.

~ Jonathan Edwards

Anywhere, Anytime and Anything, Lord

One evening, a call for dedication was given at a church missions conference. Beverly, a homemaker from Kansas and her husband, together with their 3 small children made a personal dedication to serve the Lord with their lives. They walked down the aisle together as a family and headed towards the front of the church, praying to the Lord, "Anywhere, anytime, and anything, Lord."

2 years later, Beverly walked into a tarpaper shack that was to be her home in the mission field of Papua New Guinea. It had a two-foot sepration between the walls and the roof, allowing anything to enter or leave the shack. She looked around her surroundings and feeling discouraged, whispered to herself, "I didn't mean this, Lord."

She cried for 2 weeks, and when her husband asked if she wanted to leave the mission field and head for home, she said yes. But the Lord gently and patiently showered His unfailing love upon her until she could say again, "Anywhere, anytime, anything, Lord." She and her husband were most blessed and privileged to see many people come out of darkness into God's marvellous light as they served Him boldly together in Papua New Guinea.

7 years later, Beverly waved goodbye to her only son returning to college in the United States. In her heart she cried, "I didn't mean this, Lord." But again, after much struggling within her heart, she trusted God to take good care of her son while he was half a world away from the family.

2 years later, her family was happily reunited when they were transferred to North Carolina where her husband was to train other aircraft mechanics at the Jungle Aviation and Radio Service base (JAARS, a branch of Wycliffe Bible Translators). Her son planned to become a pilot for the jungle aviation program.

One night Beverly answered the insistent ringing of the telephone. A doctor from a local hospital urged, "Come quickly. There's been an auto accident." Beverly and her husband rushed to the hospital. The doctor met them, and with his voice breaking, he said, "Your son's girlfriend is taking her X-rays now - we think she is going to make it. But...I'm sorry to tell you that your son did not."

Into Beverly's mind flashed the image of a young couple with their 3 small children between them, walking down the aisle of a church and saying, "Anywhere, anytime, anything, Lord." And the enemy of her soul taunted, "See! See what God does when you give everything to Him?" Her heart cried in agony, "Oh, I didn't mean this, Lord."

Then quietly to her heart the Lord said, "Beverly, I gave my only Son for you. Are you willing to let yours go to be with Me?" And she was able to respond with a humble heart of absolute surrender, "Anywhere, anytime, anything, Lord."

All of us ordinary people have an extraordinary call to an extraordinary God, who daily calls each of us to total commitment. Our heart commitment is imperative, our willingness to be totally His - anywhere, anytime, and in anything. God wants us to be wholehearted in following Him. Totally sold out. Willing to pay the price of being His disciples, His servants. The purpose of our lives is to know God..this simply means having total unwavering commitment to God and to His Word with our whole being.

~ Carole Mayhall

Reading about Beverly's testimony in a Christian book entitled 'Words that Hurt, Words that Heal' reminded me of the prayer of surrender that i had prayed to God in October 2004. Truly God held me to my word..eversince then, the Lord has been presenting me with a series of trials, lessons and choices that i had never ever encountered or experienced in my life. It has almost been 2 years since that step of faith and during this period of time, there had been a few times when i have reacted in a faithless and discouraging manner (how ironically we behave when we act in the flesh) and said to Him in my heart.."i didn't mean this, Lord.", "This is just too difficult, Lord." or "Why, Lord?". However, looking back now at all the steps that was taken during my tumultous and winding journey for God, i am so thankful and glad that i can rejoice totally in my heart at this point of my life, and thank God for everything that He had unfolded so wonderfully in my life. i truly see His wondrous Hand everywhere.

i remembered sharing with Mel after Teenz worship one Friday regarding the prayer of commitment and absolute surrender to God..'take the world, take everything away..but give me Jesus'. i remembered telling her that this is really such a tough prayer to pray coupled with a tough call to follow. It is a blessed prayer of total commitment to God and it definitely comes with a price. It is one prayer that when prayed with a truly sincere and tender heart, the Lord will definitely answer swiftly by purging you of every gross, besetting and hidden sin of your life, by making things of this world so dull, boring, unattractive and useless in your sight, by using people and events in your life to reveal to you how very evil, ugly and desperately wicked you are within your sinful heart, by moving deep within your heart to live out the words "Thy Will be done, Lord.", by making you fall so deep in love with Him and His precious Word once every appearance of evil is being purged out from your life each day (because nothing..absolutely NOTHING can compare to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ), by moving you to willingly give up everything that you once held important or precious in your heart and life, etc. God graciously did all that to me..and i am sure that He will keep working on this worthless vessel of me till i see Him face to face in glory one day.

He has shown me so much about myself through all that He has done with each passing day..my weaknesses, my sins, my stubborn will, my sinful heart, my attitudes gone awry when not walking in the Spirit, my reactions in the flesh, my oh-so-very-chicken-little faith in who He is, what He is capable of doing in this generation + this entire universe, and all that He will be doing to fulfil His eternal purposes for me. Just hoping and praying that as He breaks me down and crushes me to make me totally dead to self that He will continue to reveal many precious spiritual lessons along life's way and help me make necessary changes for the better, as well as take appropriate steps of faith for Him. My heart yearns for the passion that He had placed in my heart many, many months before with regards to Cambodia..His beautiful land and His beloved people there. O Lord, please hear my cries for true revival in my heart and life. i truly need You to inflame my very being again with unwavering passion to serve You in utter faithfulness and to love Your people with Your love. Spirit of God, please take my heart and purge it to the maximum..please weed out anything and everything which is not of You in my life. Continue to daily bind so strongly the hands of the evil one and protect and preserve the lives of loved ones, brothers and sisters-in-Christ, especially the lives of Your precious teenagers, from the wicked, horrible and evil ways and lies of the devil. May an undying, passionate love for You, Your Word and Your ways be our radiant light and guide in the midst of this dark and dying world. Thank you so much for making me realise that i am truly nothing without You..may You continue to mould and shape, break and humble me as You fulfil Your divine purpose in spiralling Your beloved children onwards to higher ground for Your ultimate glory.
In Jesus' name,
The Name above all names,
Amen.

For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them..
And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

~ Luke 9:56a, 57-62

Just a Closer Walk with Thee

I am weak, but Thou art strong;

Jesus, keep me from all wrong;

I’ll be satisfied as long

As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee,

Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,

Daily walking close to Thee,

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Through this world of toil and snares,

If I falter, Lord, who cares?

Who with me my burden shares?

None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

When my feeble life is o’er,

Time for me will be no more;

Guide me gently, safely o’er

To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

Just a closer walk with Thee,

Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,

Daily walking close to Thee,

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be..

For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God..

~ 2 Corinthians 13:4 ~

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God..

~ Psalm 42:1, 2a

Brokenness

Our life is full of brokenness - broken promises, broken hearts, broken relationships, broken expectations. How can we live with that brokenness without becoming bitter and resentful except by returning again and again to God's faithful presence in our lives?

~ Henri Nouwen

Make me a stranger

Make me a stranger on earth, dear Saviour,
Make me a stranger more like Thee.
Help me keep my focus on heavenly treasures,
And not on earthly, may it be.

Lord, lead me onward as a pilgrim
Bound for heaven never to roam.
Make me a stranger on earth, dear Saviour,
Till I see my heavenly home.

Lord, I've found myself loving earthly treasures:
Simple pleasures taking Your place.
Nothing can measure to heavenly treasures:
Hearing "Well done," and seeing Your face.

Lord, lead me onward as a pilgrim
Bound for heaven never to roam
Make me a stranger on earth, dear Saviour,
Till I see my heavenly home.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

~ Luke 4:18-19

Dearest Heavenly Father,

For those in need of recovery from illness: please grant them Your divine power, which has the ability to turn sickness into health and sorrow into joy.

For those undergoing suffering: grant mercy and relief, forbearance, spiritual refreshment and renewed life. Help them find in Jesus their All in all, their unfailing strength and comfort, so that their trust in Your precious promises may be made so new day by day.

For those who serve to heal others: please bless and guide physicians, nurses, technicians and all others who work to help bring healing to people who are afflicted physically. Grant them great wisdom and skill as well as wondrous compassion and patience.

For family and friends: continue to grant them resilience and gentleness, patience and faithfulness in their spiritual life. Let their hope be in You..and through their ministry of love, may Your divine love be made known to so many.

For those facing treatment decisions: please present a light upon their ways, that they may be able to make appropriate decisions empowered by Your guidance and wisdom, and motivated by love, mercy, and reverence for Your gift of life.

For their loved ones: please grant them Your grace and comfort, Holy Spirit..that their hearts may be strengthened in Your divine power and might so that they can be a precious encouragement and inspiration to others during their trial of faith.

For those who are broken within: please mend their broken families and relationships, and create new beginnings for their lives. Grant Your presence to the lonely, Your comfort to the worried, Your direction to the confused, Your serenity to the angry, Your solidarity to the rejected and Your love to the unloved. Thank you so much for accomplishing what man can never do. Thank you for always giving the best to Your children and working amazing miracles in our lives.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live.

~ Isaiah 38:16

God is still on the throne

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

~ Hebrews 12:1, 2

Have you started for glory and Heaven?
Have you left this old world far behind?
In your heart is the Comforter dwelling?
Can you say, “Praise the Lord, He is mine”?
Have the ones that once walked on the highway
Gone back, and you seem all alone?
Keep your eyes on the prize, for the home in the skies;
God is still on the throne.

God is still on the throne,
And He will remember His own;
Tho’ trials may press us and burdens distress us,
He never will leave us alone;
God is still on the throne,
He never forsaketh His own;
His promise is true, He will not forget you,
God is still on the throne.

Burdened soul, is your heart growing weary
With the toil and the heat of the day?
Does it seem that your path is more thorny
As you journey along on life’s way?
Go away and in secret before Him
Tell your grief to the Savior alone;
He will lighten your care, for He still answers prayer;
God is still on the throne.

You may live in a tent or a cottage,
Unnoticed by those who pass by;
But a mansion for you He is building
In that beautiful city on high;
It will outshine the wealth and the splendor
Of the richest on earth we have known;
He’s the Architect true, and He’s building for you;
God is still on the throne.

He is coming again, is the promise
To disciples when He went away;
In like manner as He has gone from you,
You will see Him returning some day;
Does His tarrying cause you to wonder,
Does it seem He’s forgotten His own?
His promise is true, He is coming for you;
God is still on the throne.

God is still on the throne,
And He will remember His own;
Tho’ trials may press us and burdens distress us,
He never will leave us alone;
God is still on the throne,
He never forsaketh His own;
His promise is true, He will not forget you,
God is still on the throne... :)

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus!

Yesterday evening, managed to head down to church earlier before Bible Doctrines Class after a busy day of work..made my way to the sanctuary, opened a Majesty Hymnal and enjoyed a personal time of prayer and worship with the Lord. Thank God for the truly precious time..thank God for His sweet presence as i sat alone in the church sanctuary meditating on the words of some hymns and singing them to the Lord. Really felt God's amazing love and comfort in a very deep and unexplainable way yesterday..prayed for a number of dear people that He brought to my mind too. This very, very special and meaningful hymn - 'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus - is one of my favourites. May all of you ponder upon the wonderful lyrics and the story behind this beautiful song...

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
And to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

~ The Story behind the Song ~

"Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus" was written in 1882 by Louisa M. R. Stead. Louisa had always felt the call of God upon her life to be a missionary and to serve in China. But due to fragile health, she remained in America. She married Mr. Stead and they had a daughter named Lily. When Lily was 4 years old, the family went on vacation to a sunny beach at Long Island Sound, New York. While eating their picnic lunch, they suddenly heard cries of help and spotted a young boy drowning in the ocean. Mr. Stead swam out to sea and tried to rescue him. The struggling boy pulled his rescuer under the water with him and both of them drowned before the terrified eyes of both wife and daughter. Louisa was left without any means of financial support after her husband's sudden death and she only had God's divine providence and care to depend on wholly during this very dark period of her life. She and her daughter were in dire poverty - one day when there was no food in the house and no money to purchase any, Louisa opened the front door to discover that someone had left groceries and money sitting at the doorstep for her.

That very same day she sat down and wrote "Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus"...out of her deep "Why?" struggle with God, flowed the hymn's precious lyrics from the soul of Louisa Stead. She later became a missionary to Africa and remarried. A few years after, she was forced to stay in America due to her ailing health. By God's grace, Louisa recovered completely and she headed back into the missionary field in Rhodesia and later died in Zimbabwe. Her daughter Lily married and became a missionary as well.

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

And to take Him at His Word;

Just to rest upon His promise,

And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”

These beautiful words were written during a time of deepest grief. Why is that? Where is the comfort? In the simplicity of taking God at His Word and in the absolute confidence in the divine character of God, knowing that 'Thus saith the Lord,' means that all that God decrees for our lives is for His utmost glory and our ultimate good.

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,

Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;

And I know that Thou art with me,

Wilt be with me to the end..

* With me..in me..to the end. This is true peace, the peace of Christ within the heart of a child of God. This is and will always be our eternal treasure..forever and ever..Amen. *

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

~ Psalm 28:7

God moves in mysterious ways

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

*Thanks heaps for sharing this beautiful and meaningful hymn with us, Jamebo bro..appreciate it very much. Dearest Lord, thank you so much for always moving in mysterious ways.. =)*

A quote which touched my heart heaps..~*

Every circumstance that touches our lives has first been filtered through God's fingers of love and is a part of a great eternal plan that He is working out in this world and in our individual lives.

Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

~ Deuteronomy 32:3, 4

My precious Heavenly Father,
i acknowledge that You are good and that everything You do is good. Thank you that You don't ever make any mistakes and that You can be trusted with every detail of this entire universe and of my life. By faith, i accept that You have my best interests at heart and that You are always working to fulfil Your perfect plan in my life and in the lives of others around me. Please forgive me for the times i have doubted Your unfailing wisdom, Your outstanding goodness, or Your everlasting love. i confess that i know so little of You and Your ways and that my view of You is often flawed and myopic and not according to the wondrous truth of Your Holy Word. Forgive me, my dearest Lord..please turn my eyes to You and keep them focused on You throughout each day of my life. Please teach me to know and love and trust You as You really are.
Thank you so much for everything that You have unfolded in my life.
From my heart, i love You, my Lord God Almighty.
i trust in You..completely and utterly.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.
They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;
To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.

~ Psalm 145:8-12