The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory is partnering with the international 24/7 prayer movement and committing ourselves to a year of non-stop prayer right across the territory. Our 24/7 Prayer vision is "to be an Army of people seeking God's heart; listening to His voice (above every other); experiencing God's grace; obeying His commands; reflecting His glory; and bearing fruit for His kingdom."
What a great spiritual and faith challenge! The Inala Chapel has taken a step of faith and claimed 17 to 20 January 2008 as our prayer commitment.
Have you caught the vision splendid? If so, click here to visit the 24/7 prayer website and register now. Do your part and then watch God do His yet again!
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) ~ "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
Monday, 23 July 2007
Sunday, 22 July 2007
Hey Jude
We all get letters from time to time. Frankly, there are some letters that we enjoy receiving and then there are those that we would just rather not open. Jude’s letter is one of the former. One that is enjoyable to read ~ in summary, ‘short and sweet’.
His opening greeting is all-encompassing. “To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ: …Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.”
Then, after offering some wise warnings, Jude goes on to write words of affirmation and encouragement to his readers ~ 20But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Not a bad letter to receive, is it? But wait…there’s more! Jude’s concluding words reveal just how awesome and abundant God is and clearly motivates ‘those who are called; loved by God and kept by Jesus’ to go on living faith-confident lives. So, here’s the more!
24(Now) to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
These final 25 words give us a real assurance that God is abundantly able.
Now (that's the present)
to him (that’s the person of God)
who is able (that’s His power)
to keep you (that’s His protection)
from falling (that’s to make you perfect),
and to present you faultless (that’s to make you pure)
before the presence of his glory (that’s His prestige)
with exceeding joy (that’s our pleasure).
His opening greeting is all-encompassing. “To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ: …Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.”
Then, after offering some wise warnings, Jude goes on to write words of affirmation and encouragement to his readers ~ 20But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Not a bad letter to receive, is it? But wait…there’s more! Jude’s concluding words reveal just how awesome and abundant God is and clearly motivates ‘those who are called; loved by God and kept by Jesus’ to go on living faith-confident lives. So, here’s the more!
24(Now) to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
These final 25 words give us a real assurance that God is abundantly able.
Now (that's the present)
to him (that’s the person of God)
who is able (that’s His power)
to keep you (that’s His protection)
from falling (that’s to make you perfect),
and to present you faultless (that’s to make you pure)
before the presence of his glory (that’s His prestige)
with exceeding joy (that’s our pleasure).
Wednesday, 18 July 2007
Wonder-working Power
God's power always has wonder-working outcomes. Consider the life of Peter. The Peter we meet in the gospels is remarkably different to the Peter we meet a little later on in the book of Acts. Same person, but different personality. Once an insignificant, failure-prone follower of Jesus hiding behind his human limitations, God's power at work changed him into a significant, Spirit-obedient messenger who became the promised Rock of the Church.
Seeing God's power at work in the lives of His people is evidence enough that God longs to interact personally with us. A changed life is a powerful testimony of God's ability and a tangible reward of ministry.
What will God's wonder-working Power do through you? He alone knows.
2 Peter 1:3 (CEV) ~ "We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God's own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness."
Seeing God's power at work in the lives of His people is evidence enough that God longs to interact personally with us. A changed life is a powerful testimony of God's ability and a tangible reward of ministry.
What will God's wonder-working Power do through you? He alone knows.
2 Peter 1:3 (CEV) ~ "We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God's own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness."
Tuesday, 17 July 2007
Perseverance
While watching the Tour de France recently, my mind went to a series of inspirational art and motivational sayings that I enjoy.The wording for the Perseverance picture reads "It is to the one who endures that the final victory comes." Don't you love it?
When the world says "Give up!", Christian faith and hope echo "Give it another go!"
Perseverance might be a challenging principle to uphold in the everyday, but be assured that it always pays off in the end.
Luke 11:9-10 (NLT) ~ "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."
Monday, 16 July 2007
Visions Splendid
Here is a meditation that was recited by my mum's uncle, Major John Cross (Rtd), during his visit to Australia in the 1980s. I remember dictating the words as a teenager and being blessed by his dramatic retelling of this personal testimony in his broad Scottish accent.
You say you have read your Bible from Genesis right the way through.
Then you’ll quite understand the pictures I’m going to paint for you.
Six scenes are here presented, which speak of Love Divine,
And in each the central figure is personal Friend of mine.
JESUS ~ MY LORD
The first scene is a stable with cattle lying around.
Bare rafters low above them and straw upon the ground.
I saw a wooden manger and there was laid one night
A God-sent little stranger who came to give us light.
JESUS ~ THE SAVIOUR
And now I see one leaning against a workshop door.
A carpenter, his tools I see, and shavings upon the floor.
He looks both sad and weary, the toil has been hard today.
And now that his workers leave him, He reverently kneels to pray.
JESUS ~ THE WORKER
A crowd collect around Him ~ the blind, the halt, the lame,
They gathered in the hope of being made fit and well again.
And now I see the worker, a carpenter no more,
Healing them all with His words or touch on the banks of the Jordan shore.
JESUS ~ THE HEALER
Behold, I see a prison, the flash of soldiers’ spears,
And Jesus, my Redeemer, is greeted now with jeers.
But, never a word of anguish does He answer to their cries:
“Away with this impostor! Crucify Him, let Him die!”
JESUS ~ THE PRISONER
And so they hanged my Saviour upon a cruel tree.
In agony He suffered for love of you and me.
The earth was dark with sorrow; I bowed my head in shame.
It seemed a bright tomorrow would never dawn again.
JESUS ~ THE CRUCIFIED
But, He rose; you know the story how the stone was rolled away
And how in all His glory He is coming back one day.
And, softly, through the stillness there come His words to you:
“All this I did for you, my child, for me what wilt thou do?”
JESUS ~ THE RISEN ONE
O weary, helpless, wandering soul who knoweth not my Lord.
Come now to Him, rely on Him and trust upon His Word.
He’ll ease your care, your burdens share, o listen to His call.
Then you’ll quite understand the pictures I’m going to paint for you.
Six scenes are here presented, which speak of Love Divine,
And in each the central figure is personal Friend of mine.
JESUS ~ MY LORD
The first scene is a stable with cattle lying around.
Bare rafters low above them and straw upon the ground.
I saw a wooden manger and there was laid one night
A God-sent little stranger who came to give us light.
JESUS ~ THE SAVIOUR
And now I see one leaning against a workshop door.
A carpenter, his tools I see, and shavings upon the floor.
He looks both sad and weary, the toil has been hard today.
And now that his workers leave him, He reverently kneels to pray.
JESUS ~ THE WORKER
A crowd collect around Him ~ the blind, the halt, the lame,
They gathered in the hope of being made fit and well again.
And now I see the worker, a carpenter no more,
Healing them all with His words or touch on the banks of the Jordan shore.
JESUS ~ THE HEALER
Behold, I see a prison, the flash of soldiers’ spears,
And Jesus, my Redeemer, is greeted now with jeers.
But, never a word of anguish does He answer to their cries:
“Away with this impostor! Crucify Him, let Him die!”
JESUS ~ THE PRISONER
And so they hanged my Saviour upon a cruel tree.
In agony He suffered for love of you and me.
The earth was dark with sorrow; I bowed my head in shame.
It seemed a bright tomorrow would never dawn again.
JESUS ~ THE CRUCIFIED
But, He rose; you know the story how the stone was rolled away
And how in all His glory He is coming back one day.
And, softly, through the stillness there come His words to you:
“All this I did for you, my child, for me what wilt thou do?”
JESUS ~ THE RISEN ONE
O weary, helpless, wandering soul who knoweth not my Lord.
Come now to Him, rely on Him and trust upon His Word.
He’ll ease your care, your burdens share, o listen to His call.
And you will prove this joyful news that Christ is all in all.
Sunday, 15 July 2007
Claiming Victory
What do you do when worries, concerns and fears take hold of you? Do you ride the emotional rollercoaster? Ignore the issues perhaps? One of our congregation told us today that she tells the Devil to go back to hell and asks Christ to come in with His perfect peace!
Faith in Christ strengthens us to claim the victory in all circumstances and experiences of life.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG) ~ "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track."
Act on this advice sooner rather than later. You'll be pleasantly surprised at just what God has in store for you.
Faith in Christ strengthens us to claim the victory in all circumstances and experiences of life.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG) ~ "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track."
Act on this advice sooner rather than later. You'll be pleasantly surprised at just what God has in store for you.
Friday, 13 July 2007
Book Of Salvationist Prayers
While surfing the IHQ website today, I sourced the following prayer from "A Little Book Of Salvationist Prayers" that reflects my thoughts from yesterday's post.
Dear Lord,
Help me not to be so caught up in religious activity that I am sadly unaware of the needs of others. Help me not to be so engrossed in helping others that I fail to keep company with you. Keep me separate in nature, but involved in love, so that I may be like Jesus.
Not sure who wrote it or how to obtain a reference copy, but I'm interested to keep researching. If you know, be sure to let me know.
Dear Lord,
Help me not to be so caught up in religious activity that I am sadly unaware of the needs of others. Help me not to be so engrossed in helping others that I fail to keep company with you. Keep me separate in nature, but involved in love, so that I may be like Jesus.
June 26, Daily Prayers
Not sure who wrote it or how to obtain a reference copy, but I'm interested to keep researching. If you know, be sure to let me know.
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