Oct

31

Julie’s E book on lulu.com #ID #7856434

By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off


PRAYING cover

Oct

30

Wall Building

By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off


Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” Nehemiah 2:17

When the Hebrews returned from exile, they saw the City of God was a pile of rubble.  It was open and vulnerable to attack.  What remained of the Temple where God had promised to dwell was in ruins.

Lives can be that way. Even ones that have asked God to dwell in their hearts.  Things happen that can tears us down and threaten to tear us apart. That is why it is so important to “rally the troops” and ask people to pray over you and for you. Build those walls before  evil invades.

Prayer builds walls, restores the rubble into a fine tower of strength and re-paves the road back to God.  It may be a daunting task on our own. That is why it is good to find a few steady hearted friends and pray regularly for each other. It doesn’t have to be in person. It can be over email, over the phone or even in Facebook chat or tweeted.  Use the modern means of communicating to God’s purpose and reach out and touch someone, as the old commercials used to say.

And if you see someone falling apart into a pile of ruined hopes, or illness, or despair, rally the troops. Wall them up in prayer.  Then watch God gather all the pieces and restore His temple.

But I will sing of your strength;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
and a refuge in the day of my distress.   Psalm 59:16

Oct

30

Armed and Ready

By Jan Ross | Comments Off


Armed and Ready

What would you do?  How would you react?  Have you given any thought to how you would react if you were commanded not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus?

“And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.”  (Acts 4:18)

It’s not a contemporary problem … the apostles faced this dilemma during the birth of the church and many across the globe today live under the same laws.

Surely by listening to the news, discerning the time in which we live is not too difficult.  An attempt to silence the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ has already been seen in many nations and it’s going to get worse.  Untold numbers of worshippers have to meet in secret, whispering, hiding, and closely disguising their lives so they can continue to gather as the Body to worship the Lord of lords and King of kings.  It’s hard to fathom.

What would be your response if a law was passed that prohibited you from speaking about the Lord, mentioning the name of Jesus, and preaching the Christ of Calvary?  Would your motivation be fear, causing you to go into hiding and never let it be known that you are a Christian?  Or, would your motivation be faith, with wisdom and care leading your life in a way that the light of the Christ you serve shines through you without ever speaking a word?

Regardless of your eschatological views, we all must admit that this is a very real possibility even in our own lifetimes.

Do you have enough of the Word of God hidden in your heart to carry you through a time that you might be commanded not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus?

Ps 119:11
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Ps 119:16
I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Ps 119:38
Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.

Ps 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Ps 119:114
Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

Ps 119:133
Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

John 17:17
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Acts 4:29
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

Consider your own “Word-Level”.  Are you running low or are you well prepared?  You don’t have to go into battle with an unloaded gun.  Open the pages of the precious Word of God and begin loading your weapon.  And, if your weapon is already “loaded”, make sure your ammunition isn’t old and outdated.  Keep it fresh daily.  Remember, the weapons of our warfare aren’t carnal (flesh and blood), but they’re mighty through God.  His Word is our most priceless possession, but it’s not worth a red cent unless we read it, receive it, and recycle it daily.

Father, it’s hard for me to fathom not being able to speak the name of Jesus or to teach openly the truth found in Your Word.  Forgive me for taking this right and privilege for granted when there are, right now in our world, people who suffer great persecution for gathering together to worship You.  Father, help me to be that one who has studied and shown to be approved, the workman that doesn’t need to be ashamed but who rightly divides the Word of Truth.  Teach me, Lord, and I will obey.  Open my heart and I will receive.  Open Your Word to me and I will hide it in my heart.  In Jesus’ name, amen and amen!

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Oct

29

Sow True

By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off


As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,  yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. Matthew 13:20-22

Reading this, it sounds like Jesus was speaking to people today, doesn’t  it? Well, actually He is.  Because today’s trials and tribulations, temptations and snares are the same as they have always been.

Choose God, or choose the world. Choose self or choose servitude. Choose life or choose death.

 

To me there is a comfort in knowing that Jesus’ words are still relevant today. We hear so much about how our civilization is going downhill into a death spiral – how greed, unethical antics and prideful self-involvement are on the rampage.   Not that things aren’t bad, they are. Not that we shouldn’t cling to the Cross in the storm – we should, and grab others to cling with us. 

But knowing that Jesus knows makes the difference.  There will always be rocky ground and thorny ground in which the seeds of Truth are sown.   Keeping the field fertile and ready for the harvest takes constant work. Like a garden, our souls need constant attention. You have to till it (upturn the hardened clumps of of  doubt and discouragement ), pull out the weeds ( of greed and pride), and chuck away the rocks (of anxiety and fear ). 

The great news? Jesus is there to help. Always has been, always will be.  Because He understands the heart of mankind, He has the tools to help prepare the soil and keep it free from weeds, rocks, and even bugs like anger, jealousy and hate that can eat away our tender shoots and ripening  fruits. 

 His love is the hoe, His Truth the rake.  We don’t have to do it all on our own. we just have to be willing to do our part – and that is to pray, read His word and be willing to serve in faith. Then, our soil will be ready for the seeds to be sown, our faith roots will stretch deeply down to absorb His promises and our crop will yield fruit in good (God’s) season.

Question- have you invited Jesus into your garden lately ? What rocks, weeds or bugs do you need His help getting out of your soil so His Word can richly dwell?

Oct

29

The Secret Place

By Jan Ross | Comments Off


Psalm 91 is one of the most-often read of all the psalms.  It is also one of the least understood as many don’t take the time to truly think about what it means to “dwell in the secret place of the Most High.”

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”  (Psalm 91:1)

Ask yourself these questions: Are you at home in God, at rest in Him? Are you acquainted with Him throughout your whole being? Is your heart-work the service of God? Do you worship within the veil, loving to be alone with Him and converse with Him in solitude?

Marriage between a man and woman has two faces—one that is seen in public and one that is perceived only in private between the husband and wife. A married couple holding hands, walking arm-in-arm, exchanging winks or touches . . . all these are “public” faces of a marriage relationship; all these are good and necessary but superficial and not intimate by definition. But, that which takes place in the “secret place” need not be spoken of, but the fruit of the intimate relationship can be seen without any word of public testimony.

Have you found that place of true intimacy with the Lord? Do you love being alone with Him, conversing with Him, sharing with Him, learning from Him? Have you learned to set aside some quiet, alone time to be in His presence where an intimate relationship can develop and grow?

Don’t take your time with Him lightly, but nurture it and allow it to grow deeper and deeper day after day for if we DWELL in that “secret place” of the Most High, we will ABIDE under the shadow of His wing.  No safer place can be found in all of creation!

Father, although our relationship has grown and blossomed since I first met You, I long for a deeper, more intimate relationship with You! I long to find that “secret place” where I can dwell and find my safety under the shadow of Your wing! Lord, help me love You more, know You more, serve You more! Lord, help me surrender to You more and more each day, that our relationship can be seen and perceived by all who meet me without ever having to say a word! Father, be glorified in our relationship today and every day! Amen!

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

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