It isn’t what the book costs; it’s what it will cost if you don’t read it.
http://twitter.com/JimRohnQuotes
Monday 21 June 2010
Friday 18 June 2010
Do you need a lifting?
Have you ever been there before? You have done all you know how to do and it seems your efforts are not good enough. Don’t give up, there is someone that can lift you up!.
The application of the word ‘lift’ can be applied in various settings. One application is when you can do it yourself e.g. lift up your hands, and another application is when you cannot do it and you need help. This article is based on the second application of the word ‘lift’.
Lets look at an example from scripture:
Luke 13: 11And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
Just because you have been in a situation where it seems you cannot lift yourself out of it does not mean it is over. Remember that with God, nothing shall be impossible, Our God specialises in impossibilities.
This woman could not lift up herself, She could not take herself out of the situation but the Lord stepped in. The rest is history.
Be encouraged, He will lift you up. His Word will lift you up! Help is at hand.
Psalm 3:2-4
Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah
Don’t give up!. Wait on Him, trust in Him and He will lift you up!.
Bisi Oladipupo
The application of the word ‘lift’ can be applied in various settings. One application is when you can do it yourself e.g. lift up your hands, and another application is when you cannot do it and you need help. This article is based on the second application of the word ‘lift’.
Lets look at an example from scripture:
Luke 13: 11And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
Just because you have been in a situation where it seems you cannot lift yourself out of it does not mean it is over. Remember that with God, nothing shall be impossible, Our God specialises in impossibilities.
This woman could not lift up herself, She could not take herself out of the situation but the Lord stepped in. The rest is history.
Be encouraged, He will lift you up. His Word will lift you up! Help is at hand.
Psalm 3:2-4
Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah
Don’t give up!. Wait on Him, trust in Him and He will lift you up!.
Bisi Oladipupo
Monday 14 June 2010
Food for thought- the cross
The nails did not keep Jesus on the cross. What kept him on the cross is the love He has for you and me.
Friday 11 June 2010
Heavens grocery store
I was walking down life’s Highway a long time ago
One day I saw a sign that read, “ Heaven’s Grocery Store”.
As I got a little closer the door came open wide.
And when I came to myself, I was standing just inside.
I saw a host of Angels, they were standing everywhere.
One handed me a basket, and said, “My child, please shop with care”
Everything a Christian needed was in that Grocery Store.
And all you couldn’t carry you could sure come back for more.
First I got some patience. Love was in the same row.
Further down was understanding you need it wherever you may go.
I got a box or two of Wisdom, a bag or two of Faith.
I just couldn’t miss The Holy Ghost, for it was all over the place.
I stopped to get some Strength and Courage to help me on this race.
By then my basket was getting full, but I remembered I needed Grace.
I didn’t forget Salvation, for Salvation that was free!.
So I tried to get enough of that to save both you and me.
Then I started up to the corner to pay my bill.
For I thought I had everything to do my Father’s will.
But as I went up the aisle I saw Prayer and I just had to put that in.
Peace and Joy were plentiful; they were on the last shelf.
Song and Praise were hanging near, so I just helped myself.
Then I said to the Angel, “How much do I owe?”
He smiled and said, “just take your basket wherever you may go”.
Again I looked at him and said, “How much do I owe?”
He smiled again and said, “My friend, Jesus paid your bill long ago.”
From the living word library
One day I saw a sign that read, “ Heaven’s Grocery Store”.
As I got a little closer the door came open wide.
And when I came to myself, I was standing just inside.
I saw a host of Angels, they were standing everywhere.
One handed me a basket, and said, “My child, please shop with care”
Everything a Christian needed was in that Grocery Store.
And all you couldn’t carry you could sure come back for more.
First I got some patience. Love was in the same row.
Further down was understanding you need it wherever you may go.
I got a box or two of Wisdom, a bag or two of Faith.
I just couldn’t miss The Holy Ghost, for it was all over the place.
I stopped to get some Strength and Courage to help me on this race.
By then my basket was getting full, but I remembered I needed Grace.
I didn’t forget Salvation, for Salvation that was free!.
So I tried to get enough of that to save both you and me.
Then I started up to the corner to pay my bill.
For I thought I had everything to do my Father’s will.
But as I went up the aisle I saw Prayer and I just had to put that in.
Peace and Joy were plentiful; they were on the last shelf.
Song and Praise were hanging near, so I just helped myself.
Then I said to the Angel, “How much do I owe?”
He smiled and said, “just take your basket wherever you may go”.
Again I looked at him and said, “How much do I owe?”
He smiled again and said, “My friend, Jesus paid your bill long ago.”
From the living word library
Wednesday 9 June 2010
After Seeing Jesus in a Dream, Voodoo Priest Gives His Life to Christ
Until the dream, the voodoo priest had been very resistant to the Gospel.
(Port-Au-Prince, Haiti)—The Baptist Standard has reported a voodoo priest in Haiti recently claimed Jesus as his Lord and Savior after he approached a Baptist missionary and relief worker, Fred Sorrels, for medical aid. .
The priest, Jean Odlin, reportedly told Sorrels he "had a dream the night before in which Jesus had written his name on his arm."
After Sorrels shared the Gospel with Odlin, he immediately prayed to receive Christ.
"Not only had Jesus written his name on his arm," said Sorrel, "but he also had his name written in the Book of Life."
According to the report, Sorrell said he wanted to destroy all his voodoo items and with the help of a Haitian pastor, they gathered the items into a large pile and burned them. That pastor later told Sorrels everyone knew Odlin and had tried to reach out to him, but he had been "very resistant," until that moment.
The following day, after coming across the Scripture of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, Sorrell felt strongly that he should do that for Odlin. "I'd never had the experience of washing someone's feet before, but it was such an honor," Sorrels said. "Those feet that had been leading people into darkness will now lead them into the light."
Read rest of story at: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=7688
(Port-Au-Prince, Haiti)—The Baptist Standard has reported a voodoo priest in Haiti recently claimed Jesus as his Lord and Savior after he approached a Baptist missionary and relief worker, Fred Sorrels, for medical aid. .
The priest, Jean Odlin, reportedly told Sorrels he "had a dream the night before in which Jesus had written his name on his arm."
After Sorrels shared the Gospel with Odlin, he immediately prayed to receive Christ.
"Not only had Jesus written his name on his arm," said Sorrel, "but he also had his name written in the Book of Life."
According to the report, Sorrell said he wanted to destroy all his voodoo items and with the help of a Haitian pastor, they gathered the items into a large pile and burned them. That pastor later told Sorrels everyone knew Odlin and had tried to reach out to him, but he had been "very resistant," until that moment.
The following day, after coming across the Scripture of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, Sorrell felt strongly that he should do that for Odlin. "I'd never had the experience of washing someone's feet before, but it was such an honor," Sorrels said. "Those feet that had been leading people into darkness will now lead them into the light."
Read rest of story at: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=7688
Monday 7 June 2010
In Heaven! Experiencing the Throne of God By Dean A Braxton
Book overview
When I first arrived in heaven and knelt before Jesus, all I could do was say, "YOU DID THIS FOR ME?!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, and THANK YOU!!" I could have said this for the next 3000 years or more and still would have wanted to keep going......I know EVERYTHING - IS - RIGHT, where Jesus is, and THERE IS NOTHING WRONG!! Some say it is peaceful, but it far exceeds past peace because there is nothing to be peaceful from...... Dean & Marilyn Braxton are licensed ministers. They currently attend By His Word Christian Center in Tacoma, Washington They have been in the ministry for over 15 years, as assistant pastors with Marilyn ministering in music. They have been married for 25 years and have six children. For the past 3 years, they have been sharing their testimony of how Dean died for 1 hour and 45 minutes and was miraculously prayed back to life. He was told by Jesus, "No, it is not your time. Go back!" Marilyn shares about how she pressed into God through this experience, the medical side of things, and what it took on her part to believe for healing for Dean off his death bed. Their experience has given much life and hope along with a great sense of how much God loves each and every one of us.
http://books.google.com/books?id=YR_3QciW0jYC&source=gbs_navlinks_s
Sunday 6 June 2010
Saturday 5 June 2010
So much to learn from the old saints: Fanny Crosby a blind songwriter
Mother, if I had a choice, I would still choose to remain blind…for when I die; the first face I will ever see will be the face of my blessed Saviour.”
Blind for all of her life, Fanny Crosby, the greatest hymn writer in the history of the Christian Church, later wrote, “And I shall see Him face to face, and tell the story — Saved by grace.” She saw over 8,000 poems set to music and over 100,000,000 copies of her songs printed. As many as 200 different pen names, including Grace J. Frances, were given her works by hymn book publishers so the public wouldn’t know she wrote so large a number of them.
Fanny gave the Christian world such songs as: “A Shelter in the Time of Storm,” “All the Way My Saviour Leads Me,” “Blessed Assurance,” “Close to Thee,” “He Hideth My Soul,” I Am Thine O Lord,” “Jesus Is Calling,” “My Saviour First of All,” “Near the Cross,” “Pass Me Not,” “Praise Him Praise Him,” “Redeemed,” “Rescue the Perishing,” “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” “Saved by Grace,” “Saviour “More Than Life to Me,” “Speed Away,” “Take the World But Give Me Jesus,” “Tell Me the Story of Jesus,” “The Lights of Home,” “Thou Mighty to Save,” “Tho’ Your Sins Be as Scarlet,” “‘Tis the Blessed Hour of Prayer,” “To God be the Glory,” “To the Work,” “Will Jesus Find Us Watching?” to mention but a few.
Born in a one-story cottage, her father, John, was never to be remembered by Fanny for he died in her twelfth month. When Fanny was six weeks old, she caught a slight cold in her eyes. The family physician was away. Another country doctor was called in to treat her. He prescribed hot mustard poultices to be applied to her eyes, which destroyed her sight completely! It was later learned that the man was not qualified to practice medicine, but he had left town and was never heard of again. Fanny never felt any resentment against him, but believed it was permitted by the Lord to fulfil His plan for her life.
At the age of eight, she wrote her first recorded poetry:
O what a happy soul am I!
Although I cannot see,
I am resolved that in this world,
Contented I will be.
How many blessings I enjoy,
That other people don’t.
To weep and sigh because I’m blind,
I cannot and I won’t!
Around nine years of age, the family moved to Ridgefield, Connecticut, where she was to stay until age 15. Mother was kind, but busy making a living for both of them, so it was Grandmother who became an unforgettable influence in her life. Grandmother spent many hours describing the things of nature and heaven to her. Also, she introduced Fanny to the Bible and this book now became more familiar to her than any other. She began to devour the scriptures. It is said, that as a child, she could repeat from memory the Pentateuch, the book of Ruth, many of the Psalms, the books of Proverbs,Song of Solomon, and much of the New Testament! This furnished the themes, inspiration, and diction for her imperishable gospel hymns.
Near her 15th birthday came a happy announcement…Mother could send her to a new school, The Institution for the Blind in New York City. Fanny clapped her hands joyfully and cried, “O thank God, He has answered my prayer, just as I knew He would.” So it was on March 3, 1835, that Fanny boarded a stage for Norwalk and then a boat for New York City. She was to spend the next 23 years of her life there, as a student for twelve years,and then as a teacher for eleven years more.
As a result of this witness, she began to make friends with the great political and religious leaders of her time and no one could forget her once they met her. During her lifetime, she knew all the presidents except George Washington. President VanBuren dined with her and remained one of her warmest friends.She heralded the virtues of William Henry Harrison even though he served but one month.
Romance came into the life of Fanny Crosby, also. As early as age 20 she fell in love with another blind student by the name of Alexander VanAlstyne.Finally, on March 5, 1858, she was married at age 37. Life was just beginning for Fanny Crosby, for her life’s ministry was still ahead.
The marriage was a happy one with VanAlstyne, who lived until 1902. The couple had one child, only to be taken in death while yet a baby. Perhaps this incident helped inspire Fanny to write, “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” which was to comfort thousands of grief stricken parents suffering a similar fate.
Upon her marriage, she intended to use the name Mrs. VanAlstyne, but her husband insisted that she continue to use her maiden name, which was already quite famous.
”Blessed Assurance” is her most famous hymn, according to a hymn poll taken some time back by “The Christian Herald.” It placed twelfth in the poll. Of favorite hymns, “The Old Rugged Cross” was number one. One of Fanny’s close friends, wife of the founder of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, was Mrs. Joseph Knapp. On one of her visits to the blind poetess, in 1873, she brought in a melody she had composed. Several times she played it on the piano for Fanny. Then she asked, “Fanny, what does that tune say to you?” Hesitating but for a moment, she replied,”Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine!” One of the greatest gospel songs of all time was born.
”To God be the Glory” was not really discovered until 1954, when it was introduced to Bev Shea in London. It was first sung by Shea and the Billy Graham Crusade Choir in Toronto in 1955. Since then, it has become a beloved hymn of the faith. Sankey did include it in his first hymnbook,published in England in 1873, but not in later subsequent editions published in America.
At 90 she declared, “My love for the Holy Bible and its sacred truth is stronger and more precious to me at ninety than at nineteen.” Asked about her long years, she said her secret was that she guarded her taste,her temper and her tongue. A famous saying through the years was,”Don’t waste any sympathy on me. I am the happiest person living.”
From: http://www.truthfulwords.org/biography/crosby.txt
Blind for all of her life, Fanny Crosby, the greatest hymn writer in the history of the Christian Church, later wrote, “And I shall see Him face to face, and tell the story — Saved by grace.” She saw over 8,000 poems set to music and over 100,000,000 copies of her songs printed. As many as 200 different pen names, including Grace J. Frances, were given her works by hymn book publishers so the public wouldn’t know she wrote so large a number of them.
Fanny gave the Christian world such songs as: “A Shelter in the Time of Storm,” “All the Way My Saviour Leads Me,” “Blessed Assurance,” “Close to Thee,” “He Hideth My Soul,” I Am Thine O Lord,” “Jesus Is Calling,” “My Saviour First of All,” “Near the Cross,” “Pass Me Not,” “Praise Him Praise Him,” “Redeemed,” “Rescue the Perishing,” “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” “Saved by Grace,” “Saviour “More Than Life to Me,” “Speed Away,” “Take the World But Give Me Jesus,” “Tell Me the Story of Jesus,” “The Lights of Home,” “Thou Mighty to Save,” “Tho’ Your Sins Be as Scarlet,” “‘Tis the Blessed Hour of Prayer,” “To God be the Glory,” “To the Work,” “Will Jesus Find Us Watching?” to mention but a few.
Born in a one-story cottage, her father, John, was never to be remembered by Fanny for he died in her twelfth month. When Fanny was six weeks old, she caught a slight cold in her eyes. The family physician was away. Another country doctor was called in to treat her. He prescribed hot mustard poultices to be applied to her eyes, which destroyed her sight completely! It was later learned that the man was not qualified to practice medicine, but he had left town and was never heard of again. Fanny never felt any resentment against him, but believed it was permitted by the Lord to fulfil His plan for her life.
At the age of eight, she wrote her first recorded poetry:
O what a happy soul am I!
Although I cannot see,
I am resolved that in this world,
Contented I will be.
How many blessings I enjoy,
That other people don’t.
To weep and sigh because I’m blind,
I cannot and I won’t!
Around nine years of age, the family moved to Ridgefield, Connecticut, where she was to stay until age 15. Mother was kind, but busy making a living for both of them, so it was Grandmother who became an unforgettable influence in her life. Grandmother spent many hours describing the things of nature and heaven to her. Also, she introduced Fanny to the Bible and this book now became more familiar to her than any other. She began to devour the scriptures. It is said, that as a child, she could repeat from memory the Pentateuch, the book of Ruth, many of the Psalms, the books of Proverbs,Song of Solomon, and much of the New Testament! This furnished the themes, inspiration, and diction for her imperishable gospel hymns.
Near her 15th birthday came a happy announcement…Mother could send her to a new school, The Institution for the Blind in New York City. Fanny clapped her hands joyfully and cried, “O thank God, He has answered my prayer, just as I knew He would.” So it was on March 3, 1835, that Fanny boarded a stage for Norwalk and then a boat for New York City. She was to spend the next 23 years of her life there, as a student for twelve years,and then as a teacher for eleven years more.
As a result of this witness, she began to make friends with the great political and religious leaders of her time and no one could forget her once they met her. During her lifetime, she knew all the presidents except George Washington. President VanBuren dined with her and remained one of her warmest friends.She heralded the virtues of William Henry Harrison even though he served but one month.
Romance came into the life of Fanny Crosby, also. As early as age 20 she fell in love with another blind student by the name of Alexander VanAlstyne.Finally, on March 5, 1858, she was married at age 37. Life was just beginning for Fanny Crosby, for her life’s ministry was still ahead.
The marriage was a happy one with VanAlstyne, who lived until 1902. The couple had one child, only to be taken in death while yet a baby. Perhaps this incident helped inspire Fanny to write, “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” which was to comfort thousands of grief stricken parents suffering a similar fate.
Upon her marriage, she intended to use the name Mrs. VanAlstyne, but her husband insisted that she continue to use her maiden name, which was already quite famous.
”Blessed Assurance” is her most famous hymn, according to a hymn poll taken some time back by “The Christian Herald.” It placed twelfth in the poll. Of favorite hymns, “The Old Rugged Cross” was number one. One of Fanny’s close friends, wife of the founder of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, was Mrs. Joseph Knapp. On one of her visits to the blind poetess, in 1873, she brought in a melody she had composed. Several times she played it on the piano for Fanny. Then she asked, “Fanny, what does that tune say to you?” Hesitating but for a moment, she replied,”Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine!” One of the greatest gospel songs of all time was born.
”To God be the Glory” was not really discovered until 1954, when it was introduced to Bev Shea in London. It was first sung by Shea and the Billy Graham Crusade Choir in Toronto in 1955. Since then, it has become a beloved hymn of the faith. Sankey did include it in his first hymnbook,published in England in 1873, but not in later subsequent editions published in America.
At 90 she declared, “My love for the Holy Bible and its sacred truth is stronger and more precious to me at ninety than at nineteen.” Asked about her long years, she said her secret was that she guarded her taste,her temper and her tongue. A famous saying through the years was,”Don’t waste any sympathy on me. I am the happiest person living.”
From: http://www.truthfulwords.org/biography/crosby.txt
Wednesday 2 June 2010
Rescue Service
Flowing slowly with the traffic on my way to work one morning I could not help noticing a van with the inscription RAC Rescue Service pass by.
The sight of the van reminded me of the experience I had a few weeks before, and how I had to wait helplessly in my vehicle for the car rescue service man to arrive.
If you have ever been vulnerable to danger before, you will appreciate the need for help.
Whether it is an ambulance, a policeman or just a passer-by, you will receive them gladly, more so, if it is a matter of life and death.
If we accept rescue from people who try to help us when we have a broken-down vehicle in the middle of nowhere, or when we are in danger, why do we reject people who are trying to rescue us from eternal judgement?
God has an international Rescue Service, made up of His Word and His people.
He is constantly prompting people with His Spirit to help them out of danger with His Word.
The stranger who passed you this tract, the work colleague, neighbour, relative or friend at school are all part of Gods Rescue Team.
Do you accept their help gladly, or do you reject it flatly?
Maybe you do not appreciate how much danger you are in if you died without Christ. God does. That is why He is sending help to you again and again.
The Bible declares that Jesus Christ is the only way to God. Indeed, He is our only hope of escaping eternal separation from God.
Respond to Him today, by saying this prayer from your heart; Father I come to you in Jesus name, Jesus come into my life.
I receive you now as my Lord and saviour. Amen Now look for a good bible believing Church that would help you grow in this new walk with God.
Bisi Oladipupo
The sight of the van reminded me of the experience I had a few weeks before, and how I had to wait helplessly in my vehicle for the car rescue service man to arrive.
If you have ever been vulnerable to danger before, you will appreciate the need for help.
Whether it is an ambulance, a policeman or just a passer-by, you will receive them gladly, more so, if it is a matter of life and death.
If we accept rescue from people who try to help us when we have a broken-down vehicle in the middle of nowhere, or when we are in danger, why do we reject people who are trying to rescue us from eternal judgement?
God has an international Rescue Service, made up of His Word and His people.
He is constantly prompting people with His Spirit to help them out of danger with His Word.
The stranger who passed you this tract, the work colleague, neighbour, relative or friend at school are all part of Gods Rescue Team.
Do you accept their help gladly, or do you reject it flatly?
Maybe you do not appreciate how much danger you are in if you died without Christ. God does. That is why He is sending help to you again and again.
The Bible declares that Jesus Christ is the only way to God. Indeed, He is our only hope of escaping eternal separation from God.
Respond to Him today, by saying this prayer from your heart; Father I come to you in Jesus name, Jesus come into my life.
I receive you now as my Lord and saviour. Amen Now look for a good bible believing Church that would help you grow in this new walk with God.
Bisi Oladipupo
Tuesday 1 June 2010
Gods standard of communication
Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers
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