"Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you... Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well... pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." James 5:13-16 (NLT)
In light of current circumstances, this passage of Scripture has been on my mind in recent days. The experience of being surrounded with prayer is both comforting and assuring. It enables people of faith to trust believingly for a good outcome, despite present frustrations.
Believing prayer brings peace of mind, hope of heart and is a balm to the soul. James hit the nail on the head when he shared, "The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results."
Healer Lord, we believe!
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Sunday, 31 August 2008
Water Of Life
More often than not new tunes to old hymns results in fresh perspective and greater appeal.
In listening to my recently purchased copy of the Melbourne Staff Songsters' Every Breath CD, I was inspired by Richard Squibb's arrangement of General Albert Orsborn's song, entitled "Water Of Life". I was blessed deep in my soul with a personal assurance that the refreshment I need for today is always available when I come seeking God's grace and, in faith, believe that He will work in and through my circumstances. And true to His word, He did!
For your reflection, here are the words of the chorus. Better still, get a copy of the CD and listen to Track 6. You're sure to be blessed!
In listening to my recently purchased copy of the Melbourne Staff Songsters' Every Breath CD, I was inspired by Richard Squibb's arrangement of General Albert Orsborn's song, entitled "Water Of Life". I was blessed deep in my soul with a personal assurance that the refreshment I need for today is always available when I come seeking God's grace and, in faith, believe that He will work in and through my circumstances. And true to His word, He did!
For your reflection, here are the words of the chorus. Better still, get a copy of the CD and listen to Track 6. You're sure to be blessed!
The well is deep and I require a draught of the water of life,
But none can quench my soul's desire for a draught of the water of life;
Till one draws near who the cry will heed,
Helper of men in their time of need,
And I, believing, find indeed that Christ is the water of life.
(Salvation Army Song Book #351)
Thursday, 28 August 2008
Timely Word
We all need sources of personal encouragement to renew and refresh our spirits. As a Christian, the Bible often provides us with the encouraging word that we need to kick start our weariness and inspire us to focus on the future with confidence and hope.
This morning as I entered my blogspot, I was immediately encouraged by the promise of Isaiah 26:3 displayed in Verse Of The Day. With all that my wife and I have been facing in recent days, it was certainly a 'timely word'.
"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."
When you find yourself weary in body, mind and spirit, know that God provides the recharge we need when we need it the most. Be encouraged by God's Word to you!
This morning as I entered my blogspot, I was immediately encouraged by the promise of Isaiah 26:3 displayed in Verse Of The Day. With all that my wife and I have been facing in recent days, it was certainly a 'timely word'.
"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."
When you find yourself weary in body, mind and spirit, know that God provides the recharge we need when we need it the most. Be encouraged by God's Word to you!
Monday, 25 August 2008
Nun's Beauty Contest
Well...I never ceased to be amazed!
From correspondents in Rome
August 24, 2008 11:59pm
THE first beauty pageant for nuns debuts next month with the advent of Miss Sister Italy aimed at erasing a stereotype of nuns as being old and sad, a newspaper has reported today.
"Nuns are above all women and beauty is a gift from God,'' priest Antonio Rungi of the southern Italian diocese of Modragone told the daily Corriere della Sera.
"This contest will be a way to show there isn't just the beauty we see on television but also a more discrete charm,'' he said.
Nuns wishing to participate in the contest should send their picture to Rungi, who will publish it on his blog. Internet surfers can then vote for their favourite nun online.
The idea of organising a beauty pageant had been pushed by the nuns themselves, he said.
About 1000 were expeted to enter.
1 Samuel 16:7 (MSG) ~ "Looks aren't everything. Don't be impressed with his looks and stature. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart."
From correspondents in Rome
August 24, 2008 11:59pm
THE first beauty pageant for nuns debuts next month with the advent of Miss Sister Italy aimed at erasing a stereotype of nuns as being old and sad, a newspaper has reported today.
"Nuns are above all women and beauty is a gift from God,'' priest Antonio Rungi of the southern Italian diocese of Modragone told the daily Corriere della Sera.
"This contest will be a way to show there isn't just the beauty we see on television but also a more discrete charm,'' he said.
Nuns wishing to participate in the contest should send their picture to Rungi, who will publish it on his blog. Internet surfers can then vote for their favourite nun online.
The idea of organising a beauty pageant had been pushed by the nuns themselves, he said.
About 1000 were expeted to enter.
1 Samuel 16:7 (MSG) ~ "Looks aren't everything. Don't be impressed with his looks and stature. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart."
Sunday, 24 August 2008
Kept By God's Love
This morning we reflected on the fact that God provides for us in ways we may not at first recognize, for we are kept by God's love.
In her book The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom tells of difficult times in Holland during the German invasion. One night Corrie tossed restlessly in her bed as warplanes roared overhead, shattering the blackness with fiery artillery. Hearing her sister downstairs in the kitchen, and unable to sleep, she went downstairs for a cup of tea. She and her sister talked until the night was quiet again and the sound of the fighter planes had died away. Explosions had ripped nearby, but now all was quiet.
Groping through the darkness to her room, Corrie reached out her hand to pat her pillow before lying down. Suddenly she felt something sharp cutting her hand. It was a jagged piece of metal ten inches long - a piece of shrapnel from an exploded bomb.Corrie said to her sister, “Betsy, if I had not heard you in the kitchen...” To which her sister replied, “Don’t say it, Corrie! There are no IFs in God’s world. The centre of his will is our safety.”
Perhaps with eyes of faith you might look back on some experience of your own to see that God was at work providing for your needs. Maybe you did not recognize it at first, but looking at it now you can only say, “It was the hand of God, and I didn’t know it then!”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT) ~ "Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."
In her book The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom tells of difficult times in Holland during the German invasion. One night Corrie tossed restlessly in her bed as warplanes roared overhead, shattering the blackness with fiery artillery. Hearing her sister downstairs in the kitchen, and unable to sleep, she went downstairs for a cup of tea. She and her sister talked until the night was quiet again and the sound of the fighter planes had died away. Explosions had ripped nearby, but now all was quiet.
Groping through the darkness to her room, Corrie reached out her hand to pat her pillow before lying down. Suddenly she felt something sharp cutting her hand. It was a jagged piece of metal ten inches long - a piece of shrapnel from an exploded bomb.Corrie said to her sister, “Betsy, if I had not heard you in the kitchen...” To which her sister replied, “Don’t say it, Corrie! There are no IFs in God’s world. The centre of his will is our safety.”
Perhaps with eyes of faith you might look back on some experience of your own to see that God was at work providing for your needs. Maybe you did not recognize it at first, but looking at it now you can only say, “It was the hand of God, and I didn’t know it then!”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT) ~ "Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."
Saturday, 23 August 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)