Worship Goes Beyond Praise

Praise can be a part of Worship, but Worship goes beyond praise. Worship is intertwined with surrender. WORSHIP is saying, I TRUST YOU even when my eyes don't see it. YOUR WILL BE DONE even when my heart doesn't feel it. I WILL FOLLOW YOU even when my mind doesn't understand. Worship gets to the heart of who we are. Whether you're in church, home or stadium, it's reserved for God alone. Praise is the joyful recounting of all God has done for us. It is closely intertwined with thanksgiving as we offer back to God appreciation for His mighty works on our behalf. 

It is through true Worship that we invite the Holy Spirit to speak to us, convict us, and comfort us. Through worship, we realign our priorities with God's and acknowledge Him once more as the rightful Lord of our lives.

God's Hand of Discipline

We cannot be a disciple without Discipline. God’s hand of discipline is a hand of love. He will not give us authority if we can't get under His authority, because without His authority we are not only helpless but wreckless as well. We know what happens when we don't discipline our children, they are out of control, (same scenario). His Heart grieves when we do things without His approval or consulting with Him.

What Jesus Meant By Love Everyone

Jesus didn't mean just love those who fit into our idea of lovable. He meant those who are broken; those who are scarred; those who no one else will touch . Jesus meant love them all even if they are not our kind. We don't get to pick and choose!

WHAT IF WE BEGAN TO TREAT OUR BIBLES THE WAY WE TREAT OUR CELLPHONES?

What if we began to treat our Bibles the way we treat our cellphones? What if we carried it everywhere? Check for messages throughout the day? Turned back to get it if we forgot it? Used it in case of an emergency? Spent an hour or more using it each day/ What If?

YOU CAN'T EDIT THE BIBLE TO BE RELEVANT IN JUSTIFYING A SIN; IF SO YOU HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD THE AUTHOR'S INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO LIVE YOUR LIFE.

THE BIBLE HAS HELD TRUE OVER CENTURIES. EVEN THOUGH IT DATES BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS, IT STANDS THE TEST OF TIME AND IS STILL RELEVANT AND SURPASSES THE UNDERSTANDING OF MODERN MAN.

YOU CAN'T EDIT THE BIBLE TO BE RELEVANT IN JUSTIFYING YOUR SIN.

THE LORD GOD GIVES US STERN WARNINGS ABOUT CHANGING HIS WORD

 IF SO YOU HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD THE AUTHOR'S INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO LIVE YOUR LIFE.

WE MUST FOLLOW THE SCRIPTURES AND APPLY THE INSTRUCTIONS TO OUR LIFE:

 GOD IS UNCHANGEABLE. GOD'S WORD IS UNCHANGEABLE TOO. IN MATTHEW 24:35, THE LORD JESUS SAID, "HEAVEN AND EARTH SHALL PASS AWAY, BUT MY WORDS SHALL NOT PASS AWAY." 

WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THE BIBLE IS A SPIRITUAL BOOK AND IS UNDERSTANDABLE TO THOSE WHO ARE LED BY GOD'S SPIRIT. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THE NATURAL MAN TO UNDERSTAND IT (I CORINTHIANS 2:14), HENCE PARAPHRASING OR SIMPLIFYING IT WILL DO NO GOOD. 

THE BIBLE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO READ LIKE A FAIRY TALE--PETER SAID, "FOR WE HAVE NOT FOLLOWED CUNNINGLY DEVISED FABLES" (II PETER 1:16).

REVELATION 22:18-19, IF ANY MAN SHALL ADD UNTO THESE THINGS, GOD SHALL ADD UNTO HIM THE PLAGUES THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK: AND IF ANY MAN SHALL TAKE AWAY FROM THE WORDS OF THE BOOK OF THIS PROPHECY, GOD SHALL TAKE AWAY HIS PART OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE, AND OUT OF THE HOLY CITY, AND FROM THE THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK.

PROVERBS 30:5-6, EVERY WORD OF GOD IS PURE: HE IS A SHIELD UNTO THEM THAT PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM. ADD THOU NOT UNTO HIS WORDS, LEST HE REPROVE THEE, AND THOU BE FOUND A LIAR.

THE BIBLE IS A COMPILATION OF 66 DIFFERENT BOOKS

-WRITTEN BY MORE THAN 40 DIFFERENT AUTHORS

-WRITTEN ON 3 DIFFERENT CONTINENTS, WRITTEN IN 3 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES--HEBREW, GREEK AND ARAMAIC

-WRITTEN OVER A TIME SPAN OF 1600 YEARS

-ALL THE AUTHORS CAME FROM DIFFERENT:
WALKS OF LIFE
CULTURES
BACKGROUNDS
COUNTRIES
TIME ERAS,
MOST OF THESE AUTHORS NEVER MET EACH OTHER-- YET THROUGHOUT ALL 66 DIFFERENT BOOKS, EVERY AUTHOR HAD ONE THEME- GOD'S PLAN OF REDEMPTION FOR HUMANITY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST WITHOUT A CONTRADICTION

-FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END OF THE BIBLE IT ADDRESSES EXTREME CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES, TOUCHY SUBJECTS SUCH AS:

*LIFE
*MEANING OF LIFE
*MARRIAGE
*HOMOSEXUALITY
*SIN
*GOD
*HEAVEN/HELL
YET WITHOUT A CONTRADICTION

-MILLIONS OF COPIES COME OFF THE PRESS EVERY YEAR, IT IS
STILL THE #1 SELLER AROUND THE WORLD, THE MOST SOUGHT
AFTER LITERATURE ON EARTH

*TRANSLATED IN WELL OVER 1000 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES

*THE BIBLE IS THE ONLY WRITING THAT APPEALS TO: THE MOST EDUCATED YET THE MOST UNSCHOOLED
THE OLDEST ADULT YET THE YOUNGEST CHILD ALIKE
CROSSCULTURAL, IT DOES NOT MATTER WHICH CORNER OF THE WORLD YOU GO TO, THE BIBLE WILL BE IN GREAT DEMAND

*THE BIBLE IS THE ONLY WRITING THAT SPEAKS WITH AUTHORITY--
WHERE WE COME FROM
WHY WE WERE CREATED
WHERE WE ARE GOING

God's DNA Is All Over Us.

The impression of a fingerprint is a form of identification, a trait revealing the original. We are an original of God. The Father DNA is all over us. His fingerprint is all over us. Every time we put our hands on something we leave a fingerprint. We should act, talk and look just like our Father. Authority is in our hands and mouth, what we touch and say should be in the likeness of Christ because we are an original of God.

The Difference Between Following Religion and Following Jesus

Religion gave birth to twins. One is Culture; the other is called Tradition. These twins often keep men and women from becoming what God designed them and redeemed them to be.

Religion says, "Look at your sin" God says, "Look at my Son". Religion can push you to change what you do, but only God can change who you are.

Religion: Change your behavior & it'll change your heart. Jesus: Let me change your heart & your behavior will change.

Contentment is hard to attain. Even with the Apostle Paul

Contentment is not possessing everything but giving thanks to everything you possess. 
If you want to know the greatest sum in addition - count your blessings.
Contentment is hard to attain. Even the apostle Paul, a hero of the faith, had to learn to be content (Phil.4:11).  It was not a natural character trait for him.  For Paul to write that he was content in every situation is truly amazing. At the time of this writing, he was in jail in Rome. 

Charged with sedition, treason,and other serious crimes, he had appealed to the highest court; Caesar himself.  Without other legal recourse and friends in high places, he had to wait for his case to be heard.  It seems asif Paul had the right to be an impatient and unhappy person.  Instead, he wrote to the Philippians to say that he had learned to be content.  How did he learn this?  One step at a time until he could be satisfied even in uncomfortable environments. 
He learned to accept whatever came his way and to receive with thanks whatever help fellow Christians could give.  And most important, he recognized that God was supplying all he needed.  

Contentment is not natural for any of us.  The competitive spirit in us drives us to compare, to complain, and to covet,  Few of us are in a predicament such as Paul's but we all face difficulties in which we can learn to trust God and be content.

Where Can We Put Our Hatred While We Say Our Prayers?

Where Can We Put Our Hatred While We Say Our Prayers?

Our worship is right only when we are right with God and with others. No one can be wrong with a man and right with God. The big question: Where can we put our hatred while we say our prayers? Unfortunately we put our hatred on the back burner where it simmers. Our prayers said, the back burner turns red again. Sin's contamination requires the Savior's cleansing.

Talking To God Is All The Therapy You Need

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

PLEASE READ THE BOLD PRINT AS IT IS CRUCIAL TOWARD YOUR THERAPY.

TALKING TO GOD IS ALL THE THERAPY YOU NEED

1.Why Is This: Because He created you and knows everything about you and your problem.

2. DURATION: Long term or Short Term:  (Both.)  Long term because it is ongoing, Short Term because you are immediately cured by accepting Christ as your personal Savior.

3. SIDE EFFECTS:  His Anointing: All side effects are good and positive

4.TRIGGERS: Stay OFF of Shady Lane. The enemy comes to Kill, Steal & Destroy. Take your medicine (His Word) and Your Tranquilizer (Daily Meditation of His Word) this will keep your mind & body safe. Put on the whole armor of God. You are defenseless without it, don't get caught off guard. Your Medicine (His Word) is a daily requirement and necessity for your therapy & life.

5. MEDICINE: His Word

6.TRANQUILIZER: His Word through Meditation

7.PRESCRIPTION: Take a dose of the Word daily

8.REGULAR VISITS & FOLLOW UP: Daily

9.LOCATION: Anywhere, Anytime

10: BOOK & MANUAL TO READ: The Bible. It's your instruction manual on how to live your life.

PROGNOSIS GUARANTEED: COMPLETELY HEALED 

PAYMENT: God, your all-knowing psychiatrist, doctor & therapist does not charge for His services.

J.P. OLSON