Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Support One Another - Thouhgful Tuesday


It is the Thoughtful Tuesday today.

There are many people who have been close to God and have given us good thoughts to meditate on.

God's Word gives us many verses we need to pray about.

Today is dedicated to those thoughts, ideas, verses and words that make us think and make us want to be closer to God.

Here are today's thoughts!


Hence we must support one another, console one another, mutually help, counsel, and advise.
Thomas a Kempis


He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Luke 10:2
The New International Version


Mutta Jumalan lupausta hän ei epäuskossa epäillyt, vaan vahvistui uskossa, antaen kunnian Jumalalle, ja oli täysin varma siitä, että minkä Jumala on luvannut, sen hän voi myös täyttää.
Room. 4:20-21 KR33/38




This post is part of the Thoughtful Tuesdays series.

Monday, March 30, 2015

E. M. Bouds - By Prayer Things Are Mightily Moved - Prayer Monday


Edward McKendree Bounds (August 15, 1835 – August 24, 1913) prominently known as E.M. Bounds, was an American author, attorney, and member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South clergy.

He is known for writing 11 books, nine of which focused on the subject of prayer. Only two of Bounds' books were published before he died. 

After his death, Rev. Claudius (Claude) Lysias Chilton, Jr., grandson of William Parish Chilton and admirer of Bounds, worked on preserving and preparing Bounds' collection of manuscripts for publication. By 1921, more editorial work was being done by Rev. Homer W. Hodge.


E. M. Bounds was a saint of God known for his extraordinary prayer life. A lawyer during the Civil War, Bounds spent an average of four hours in prayer every morning. 

Immediately following prayer, he would write his most intimate prayer experiences. Like other spiritual leaders of his generation, Bunds discovered the tremendous value of applying God’s Word in his prayers.

"Edward McKendree Bounds did not merely pray well that he might write well about prayer. He prayed because the needs of the world were upon him. He prayed, for long years, upon subjects which the easy-going Christian rarely gives a thought, and for objects which men of less thought and faith are always ready to call impossible. From his solitary prayer-vigils, year by year, there arose teaching equaled by few men in modern Christian history. He wrote transcendently about prayer, because he was himself, transcendent in its practice.


"As breathing is a physical reality to us so prayer was a reality for Bounds. He took the command, 'Pray without ceasing' almost as literally as animate nature takes the law of the reflex nervous system, which controls our breathing."
Claude Chilton, Jr., in the Foreword to Necessity of Prayer .

E. M. Bounds once testified,

“The Word of God is the fulcrum upon which the lever of prayer is placed, and by which things are mightily moved. God has committed Himself, his purpose, and his promise to prayer. His Word becomes the basis, the inspiration of our praying, and there are circumstances under which by importunate prayer, we may obtain an… enlargement of his promises.”
E. M. Bounds, The Possibilities of Prayer


This message is part of the Prayer Monday series.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Because Of Who You Are - Wednesday Worship



It’s Wednesday today and time to worship the Lord!

Worship is to reverently honor and give homage to God.

It is an adoring reverence that dedicate to God.

Worship is giving God the best that He has given you.

And we should be careful what we do with the best we have.

Whenever we get a blessing from God, we should give it back to Him as a love-gift.

Take time to meditate and pray before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship.



What is the cure for the heavy heart?

Do you delight in knowing God?

Is your relationship with Him exciting and rewarding?

Worship the Almighty, and let the truth of who He is illuminate your path.



This is post is part of Wednesday Worship series.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

True Love Hurts - Thoughful Tuesdays


It is the Thoughtful Tuesday today.

There are many people who have been close to God and have given us good thoughts to meditate on.

God's Word gives us many verses we need to pray about.

Today is dedicated to those thoughts, ideas, verses and words that make us think and make us want to be closer to God.

Here are today's thoughts!




 True love hurts.  It always has to hurt.  It must be painful to love someone, painful to leave them, you might have to die for them.  When people marry they have to give up everything to love each other.  The mother who gives birth to her child suffers much.  It is the same for us in the religious life.  To belong fully to God we have to give up everything .  Only then can we truly love.  The word “love” is so misunderstood and so misused.
Mother Teresa


Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.  It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
Proverbs 3:7-8
The New King James Version


Ja tämä on hänen käskynsä, että meidän tulee uskoa hänen Poikansa Jeesuksen Kristuksen nimeen ja rakastaa toinen toistamme, niinkuin hän on meille käskyn antanut.

1. Joh. 3:23 KR33/38





This post is part of the Thoughtful Tuesdays series.

Monday, March 23, 2015

Better A Meal Of Vegetables Where There Is Love - Prayer Monday


Do you have financial worries?

Prayer for the needed funds is in order.

But so are the rewards God has promised us!

“Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.”
Proverbs 15:17


Instead of praying for financial blessings.

We could focus on love, if we learn to live on little.

We may find an added bonus of leaning harder on Him.

As well as to each other.

Let there be love in our homes, magnificent riches of love and care.


Do you wish for a bigger, newer home?

We all want to move up in the world, don’t we?

But it is good to remember Jesus’ example.

“Foxes have holes and birds in the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Luke 9:58

“Dear God, no servant should be above his Master. Help me to minimize my desires. Help me to gladly examine our needs in the light of our budget, and show me how to live in a way that reflects Your priorities. Teach me to live on little and to lean on You and to each other in everything that we need. Let the focus of my life be You. Amen.”



This message is part of the Prayer Monday series.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

He Grew Downward In The Pain Of Contrition And He Grew Upward In The Joy Of Adoration - Thursday Devotionals


When Charles Simeon was old and could look on much success, he wrote to a friend on the fiftieth anniversary of his work:

“But I love the valley of humiliation. I there feel that I am in my proper place.”
Charles Simeon

In the last month of his life he wrote:

“In truth, I love to see the creature annihilated in the apprehension, and swallowed up in God; I am then safe, happy, triumphant.”
Charles Simeon


Why is this evangelical humiliation a place of happiness to Simeon?

“By constant meditating the goodness of God and on our great deliverance from that punishment which our sins have deserved, we are brought to feel our vileness and utter unworthiness; and while we continue in this spirit of self-degradation, everything else will go on easily.

We shall find ourselves advancing in our course; we all feel the presence of God: we shall experience His love; we shall live in the enjoyment of His favour and in the hope of His glory…

You often feel that your prayers scarcely reach the ceiling; but, oh, get into this humble spirit by considering how good the Lord is, and how evil you are, and then prayer will mount on wings of faith to heaven.


The sigh, the groan of a broken heart, will soon go through the ceiling up to heaven, aye, into the very bosom of God.”
Charles Simeon

The secret of Charles Simeon’s perseverance was that he never threw overboard the heavy ballast of his own humiliation for sin and that this helped keep his mast erect and his sails full of the spirit of adoration.

“I love simplicity; I love contrition… I love the religion of heaven; to fall on our faces while we adore the Lamb is the kind of religion which my soul affects.”
Charles Simeon


As Simeon lay dying on October of 1836, a friend sat by his bed and asked what he was thinking of just then.

“I don’t think now; I am enjoying.” Charles Simeon’s answer on his deathbed.

He grew downward in the pain of contrition and he grew upward in the joy of adoration.


The weaving together of these two experiences into one is the achievement of the cross of Christ and the deepest secret of Charles Simeon’s great perseverance.



This post is part of Thursday Devotionals series. Right now it is going through the life, work and faith of Charles Simeon.

Would you like to read the first part, Are You Ready To Suffer For Christ?

You might also enjoy the second part of the series, Growing Downward.

I also recommend the thrird part for the children of this generation called, All Consuming Interest.

The fourth part is called, Peace Flowed In Rich Abundance.

If you have not yet read the fifth part  This Sweet Hope.

Take some time to read the sixth part also, Blessed Are The Peacemakers.

Hope you will enjoy reading the seventh part, A Double Blessing To Your Ministry.

Are you willing for, A Little Suffering For Christ's Sake.

The part before this was about Growing Upward In Adoration Of Christ

How to attain, a Broken And Contrite Spirit?

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

God Favored Me - Wednesday Worship



It’s Wednesday today and time to worship the Lord!

Worship is to reverently honor and give homage to God.

It is an adoring reverence that dedicate to God.

Worship is giving God the best that He has given you.

And we should be careful what we do with the best we have.

Whenever we get a blessing from God, we should give it back to Him as a love-gift.

Take time to meditate and pray before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship.



Genuine worship honors the Lord.

And it also transforms believers' lives.

All people—not just pastors and spiritual leaders— are called to join in the chorus of praise around God's throne. 

What makes the Lord worthy of our praise?



This is post is part of Wednesday Worship series.

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Eternity To Look Forward - Thoughtful Tuesdays


It is the Thoughtful Tuesday today.

There are many people who have been close to God and have given us good thoughts to meditate on.

God's Word gives us many verses we need to pray about.

Today is dedicated to those thoughts, ideas, verses and words that make us think and make us want to be closer to God.

Here are today's thoughts!



When founding father John Jay was asked how he planned to spend his retirement years, he replied with a warm smile, “I have a long life to look back on and an eternity to look forward to.”
Unknown


be sure your sin will find you out.
Numbers 32:23
The King James Version


Hän sanoi: "Jos sinä kuulet Herraa, Jumalaasi, ja teet, mikä on oikein hänen silmissänsä, tarkkaat hänen käskyjänsä ja noudatat kaikkea hänen lakiansa, niin minä en pane sinun kärsittäväksesi yhtäkään niistä vaivoista, jotka olen pannut egyptiläisten kärsittäviksi, sillä minä olen Herra, sinun parantajasi".

2. Moos. 15:26 KR33/38



This post is part of the Thoughtful Tuesdays series.


Monday, March 16, 2015

Your Promises Have Been Thoroughly Tested - Prayer Monday


How many times have your heard people to pray for healing, finances, and safety or job promotions?

Or maybe you have prayed for these things yourself.

It’s natural for us to worry about our situation here in the world.

But we are not of the natural world anymore.

We are citizens of Heaven!

If you or someone you care about has a serious illness, a prayer for healing is definitely in order.

But don’t forget the robust blessings of Bible!


“Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.”
Psalm 119:140

We have received promises from God.

They may not assure us good health for the time we are here on the earth.

But they promise us something much better.

We can always trust on those promises!

“Dear God, You know the health issues that are testing Your promises in my life. But You are faithful to every promise You have made to me. Let me come to truly love Your promises through this time of testing! Amen.”



 This message is part of the Prayer Monday series.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Broken And Contrite Spirit - Thursday Devotionals


Have we thrown the ballast overboard?

Was Charles Simeon right?

And is this why contemporary Christians are emotionally capsized so easily – so vulnerable to winds of criticism or opposition?

Is it that in the name of forgiveness and grace, we have thrown the ballast of our own sinfulness overboard?

Simeon’s boat drew a lot of water.

But it was steady and on course and the mastheads were higher and the sails bigger and more full of the Spirit than most people’s today who talk continuously about self-esteem.


For Simeon, adoration of God grew best in the plowed soil of his own contrition.

In 1794 his friend Marsden found Simeon “so absorbed in the contemplation of the Son of God, and so overpowered with a display of His mercy to his soul, that he was incapable of pronouncing a single word, till at length, he exclaimed, “Glory, glory.”

Few days later, another friend called Thomason found Simeon at the hour of the private lecture on Sunday scarcely able to speak, “from a deep humiliation and contrition”.

According to  H.C.G. Moule these two experiences are not the alternating excesses of an ill-balanced mind.

Rather, according to Moule, they are “two poles of a sphere of profound experience”.


Simeon had no fear of turning up every sin in his life and looking upon with great grief and hatred, because he had such a vision of Christ’s sufficiency that this would always result in deeper cleansing and adoration.

“I would have the whole of my experience one continued sense – first, of my nothingness, and dependency on God; second, of my guiltiness and desert before Him; third, of my obligations to redeeming love, as utterly overwhelming me with its incomprehensible extend and grandeur. Now I do not see why any of these should swallow up another.”
Charles Simeon

Simeon was convinced that Biblical doctrines at once most abase and most gladden the soul.

“I have deep and abundant cause for humiliation, I have never ceased to wash in that fountain that was opened for sin and uncleanness, or to cast myself upon the tender mercy of my reconciled God.”
Charles Simeon


He actually fled for refuge to the place which we today try so hard to escape.

“Repentance is in every view so desirable, so necessary, so suited to honor God, that I seek that above all. The tender heart, the broken and contrite spirit, are to me far above all the joys that I could ever hope for in this vale of tears. I long to be in my proper place, my hand on my mouth, and my mouth in the dust… I feel this to be safe ground. Here I cannot err… I am sure that whatever God may despise… He will not despise the broken and contrite heart.”

Charles Simeon



This post is part of Thursday Devotionals series. Right now it is going through the life, work and faith of Charles Simeon.

Would you like to read the first part, Are You Ready To Suffer For Christ?

You might also enjoy the second part of the series, Growing Downward.

I also recommend the thrird part for the children of this generation called, All Consuming Interest.

The fourth part is called, Peace Flowed In Rich Abundance.

If you have not yet read the fifth part  This Sweet Hope.

Take some time to read the sixth part also, Blessed Are The Peacemakers.

Hope you will enjoy reading the seventh part, A Double Blessing To Your Ministry.

Are you willing for, A Little Suffering For Christ's Sake.

The part before this was about Growing Upward In Adoration Of Christ