What are YOU doing Here??

Elijah had just had tremendous victory on Mount Carmel, had seen fire come down from heaven, and had had victory over Baal, and yet when he finds out that the Queen Jezebel is after his head, he runs for His life.

How similarly do we react today. We see God work in mighty ways, we see Him part the red sea, and work a great victory, and then we hear some bad news, and we go running for safety, wondering why He even allows us to live another day! And so Elijah finally ends up…. in a cave, of all places… he's hiding.

"And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?" 1 Kings 19:9

Have you ever had God ask you that question? "Just look at what I've done for you. I've vindicated my name, I've delivered you over and over again, and now you are hiding and having a pity party. What are you doing here? What about the work I called you to do?"

Well, recently I was having my own little pity party, feeling sorry for the burdens I'm bearing and wishing for another task, and it was like I could hear God's voice telling me, "Mel, what are you doing here? If I've brought you this far, do you think my work has been in vain? Why would you doubt me now?"

"Ok God, I get the message! I guess I need to get out of this cave of self-pity and get back to work."

As I move forward, I'm reminded of the simple but profound promise: "For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee." Isa. 41:13

Let us move forward, holding His hand today! Whatever cave we may be hiding in, it's time to get out and get going! Even if you are melancholy tendencies and weakness like me, you have no excuse to stay. :-)

Review:

• Bible Thought: If God calls you to a task, a mission, a place, don't run away, even when bad news comes. He will help you, just as He's helping me.
• Blessings: So thankful for a long-suffering patient God that endures all our backsliding pity parties and yet so patiently encourages us forward. :-)
• Battles: To keep moving forward even when I feel like running away!

Do we Beg Christ to Teach us to Pray?

“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray…” Luke 11:1

One day the disciples, after returning from an errand, found Christ absorbed in deep communion with God. They were awed and as a result, recognized their great need.

“They had marked how often He spent long hours in solitude in communion with His Father. His days were passed in ministry to the crowds that pressed upon Him, and in unveiling the treacherous sophistry of the rabbis, and this incessant labor often left Him so utterly wearied that His mother and brothers, and even His disciples, had feared that His life would be sacrificed. But as He returned from the hours of prayer that closed that toilsome day, they marked the look of peace upon His face, the sense of refreshment that seemed to pervade His presence. It was from hours spent with God that He came forth, morning by morning, to bring the light of heaven to men. The disciples had come to connect His hours of prayer with the power of His words and works. Now, as they listened to His supplication, their hearts were awed and humbled. As He ceased praying, it was with a conviction of their own deep need that they exclaimed, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Prayer, p. 290

Do we beg Christ to teach us to pray today, or do we assume, growing up in Christian homes or having attended Christian schools or the seminary, that we already know how, and so we devote our time to learning more important skills? Christ spent most of His life preaching, and He knew the disciples would do the same. Yet, it's interesting that, while Christ gave the subject matter for preaching (it was His life), He never specifically taught His disciples how to preach, except by His example. And yet, He took the time to teach them about prayer. I think He knew that it was more important that they know how to talk to God effectively than that they knew how to talk to man effectively, because He knew that if they had power with God, they would have power with men!

Often, although I am passionate about prayer, I find myself at Jesus feet begging that He will teach me to pray. I often feel so week and feeble and inadaquate when I consider the spiritual battle at hand. Why should I be ashamed of this? This is where we all are. Yet I am encouraged that Christ promises to give us JUST what we need day by day. 

So let us ask Him again today, "Lord, teach us to pray… take us deeper today!"

Review:

• Bible Thought: Learning to pray more effectively always starts with recognizing our need. May our prayer be today, "Lord teach us to pray!"
• Blessing: I think God allows me to see my own frailties so I will stay dependent upon Him. He's reminded me of a few recently, and for this, I am thankful. ;-)
• Battles: To stay on my knees, even when all my instincts say, get to work!

In the Audience Chamber with God

On the same vein of thought as I shared yesterday, I often feel overwhelmed over different mountains that I face; maybe a loved one that I'm praying will be converted, but seems to be walking deeper into doubt and unbelief, or maybe over a very large roadblock to the ministry going forward. There are many LARGE seemingly unsurmountable obstacles that I face, and we all face, in the Christian life. But I must remind myself again and again that it doesn't matter the size of the mountain, or the difficult circumstances that stand before us or our loved ones. What matters is that we serve the God of the impossible! So my focus is not on the difficulty or the largeness or complexity of the issues at hand, but on God. 

We must keep praying, keep persevering…even when we don't see immediate answers to our prayers. God is working and He will do a greater work if we hold on to Him!

"The greatest victories gained for the cause of God are not the result of labored argument, ample facilities, wide influence, or abundance of means; they are gained in the audience chamber with God, when with earnest, agonizing faith men lay hold upon the mighty arm of power.

True faith and true prayer—how strong they are! They are as two arms by which the human suppliant lays hold upon the power of Infinite Love. Faith is trusting in God,—believing that He loves us, and knows what is for our best good. Thus, instead of our own way, it leads us to choose His way. In place of our ignorance, it accepts His wisdom; in place of our weakness, His strength; in place of our sinfulness, His righteousness. Our lives, ourselves, are already His; faith acknowledges His ownership, and accepts its blessings. Truth, uprightness, purity, are pointed out as secrets of life’s success. It is faith that puts us in possession of these. Every good impulse or aspiration is the gift of God; faith receives from God the life that alone can produce true growth and efficiency." Gospel Worker, p. 259

Review:

• Bible Thought: Even though small and insignificant and apparently helpless, we can have HOPE for we serve a great God!
• Blessing: So thankful for the many daily answers to prayer God has been bringing! It appears that the family of skunks that had moved under my cabin have, of their own free accord, moved away! ;-)))
• Battles: I must keep consistently taking the time I need with God each day. 

No strength except His Strength!

Sometimes I find myself so utterly void of strength for the work at hand. I just don't know how I can write, how I can speak, how I can work with the effectiveness needed, especially when you consider the work that should be done.

[To the left I stand overlooking Hong Kong, a city population of over 7 million! What we are doing in ministry and even in the church is hardly a drop in the bucket compared with the ever expanding unbelieving population of our world.]

However, while I feel no strength, and am hardly a mouse in the corner considering the vast need, God has gently reminded me that it's not my strength that is to do the work anyway…it is His! Praise the Lord for this! So rather than looking at my weakness or my own inadequacies, I look to Him!

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." 2 Cor. 12:9,10 

I love this quote and since I'm claiming it today as I move forward, I thought I'd share it for today's Morning Sonshine.

"Nothing is apparently more helpless, yet really more invincible, than the soul that feels its nothingness and relies wholly on the merits of the Saviour. By prayer, by the study of His word, by faith in His abiding presence, the weakest of human beings may live in contact with the living Christ, and He will hold them by a hand that will never let go." Ministry of Healing, p. 182

"There is no limit to the usefulness of the one who, putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God." Christan Service, p. 254

Review:

• Bible Thought: His strength is made perfect in our weakness!
• Blessing: That the work being accomplished is NOT dependent on my strength or skill. 
• Battle: To allow Christ to do the work in me that He came to earth to do.

A Miracle Resurrection Testimony!

"Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?" Acts. 26:8

Once again, rather than sharing a profound devotional thought or reading, I'm going to share a testimony!

The past several days I've been weighted down with a huge burden. As many of you know, most of my work with ARME and the Prayer ministry is done on the computer, and as a result, I have accumulated a LOT of files over the last 4-5 years. These files take up a lot of hard drive space….several Terabytes worth of space, in fact.

Well, as my last computer was about to die this past year, I loaded up all my most recent crucial files and pictures and ministry projects on to an external hard drive. (About 450 GB's worth of stuff!)

Thankfully, this Spring God provided me with a new computer. However, I've been pretty busy, and I never made time to put these files on my new computer, or to back them up on a second hard drive. (I just kept carrying around this external hard drive, and using my files from off the hard drive.) 

Well,  this past Thursday, that hard drive crashed! And with it, I lost (or so I thought) many of my key files and projects from the past 4-5 years, since ARME began. As you can imagine, I was most distraught. And I began praying passionately that God would resurrect my hard drive. Not only had I lost most of my important ministry files, but I'd also lost most of my pictures from this past year…which included our ARME trip to the United Kingdom and Wales, and my prayer ministry trip to Germany. (And I had gotten to travel around quite a bit in Germany with Raluca, visiting the trail of Martin Luther, so these pictures were irreplaceable!)

So for the last three days (minus Sabbath) we have done everything we could (and even with expert help) to restore the hard drive and to retrieve my files, but with no success. I kept praying! As I've done some more research I've realized there is still hope if I send the hard drive away to experts, or if I try to download a program that would help. But all these options cost money, a lot of money, and more money than I want to spend. 

So I kept praying, reminding God that first, He's raised the dead to life, so He can surely raise my hard drive back to life. Secondly, my money is His money, and I know He doesn't like His money wasted, so if He doesn't want me to waste His money, He needs to do the "healing work" Himself, so I don't have to pay a worldly wise-man to do the job!

This morning I spent two hours out walking around my trail, praying and crying. I finally told God, "It's ok. You can have my hard drive. If this helps me be more dependent on you, it's ok. I don't need all those files. BUT…if you feel that those files would help me be more effective in your service, I know you can bring them back, either by yourself or with a professional's help, and I'm just going to praise you in advance. Because I know whatever you do will be best." 

After I got back from the walk, my mom and I tried again to get the computer to read the hard drive, but no success. Then after lunch, I attempted to get the hard drive to load on my computer, but still to no avail. Then I looked online, and decided, even though I didn't really have the funds to pay for the program, and I didn't think it was a good use of God's money, I'd try a "recovery" program and see if it would work. So I filled out all the online form, put in my payment info, and right before I clicked "submit payment," I felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit to go back ONE MORE TIME and try to open my hard drive files. 

I clicked, and suddenly, everything was there…I almost was in shock as I was able to view all my folders, my pictures, and my ARME files, and quickly, with tears clouding my eyes, I began downloading all the files to my computer!!!

It took THREE HOURS, and I probably cried half the time in thanksgiving and gratitude, but with God's help, I was able to rescue and save ALL my lost files!!!!!!!!!!! (You can believe I will have them all double backed up from here on out!)

Most of us view things that die as being dead. How could God possibly bring something back to life! But He can…In Acts we are told:

"Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?" Acts. 26:8

This shouldn't be incredible. This should just be normal life!!! Yes, God can raise dead people to life, and if He can do that, He can raise dead computers, dead hard drives, and dead hearts! I just praise the Lord! Once again, He has come through for me, right at the last minute, right when I was seconds away from spending money I shouldn't have been spending for earthly wisdom and solutions!!!! 

I just want to praise God for hearing and answering this prayer!!!!

Break out of the Mold…

In Bangladesh, they make blocks for building homes with a mold out in the sand. The process is simple. They have a small box, then they fill this box with loose sand so the mud won't stick. Then they pour mud into it and let it dry. Then they flip it over and a block comes out. They can make every block the same, because they have a mold. 

Now why am I telling you this and what does this have to do with today's "Morning Sonshine"?  Well, as I'm writing today, I've been thinking about the verse in Romans 12:2. It goes like this:

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Rom. 12:2

We are NOT to be conformed after the image of the world. 

You see, the world has a mold they want to put us in. Satan has a mold he wants to put us in! Even religion has a mold…to make us just like we ought to be. But the traditional "religiosity" of the world is not going to make us like God wants us to be. Instead, it will give us the "form" without the power. 

We have to break out of the mold of the world, and there’s only one way to do this. By renewing our mind!

Today, as we begin a new week, I challenge you to look at your life and how you have conformed in so many areas to the ways of the world. And then look at Christ and His Word, and ask Him how He wants you to be transformed. If you look in His Word, He will show you!

Review:

• Bible Thought: Not conformed, but to be transformed!
• Blessing: So thankful that God has given us everything in His Word which pertains to life and godliness.
• Battles: To fight against the worldly mold, and seek after the transforming power of Christ, through His Word. 

Perfect Peace…even in the Storms!

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Isa. 26:3

"He who commits his soul to Jesus need not despond. We have an all-powerful Saviour. Looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith, you can say, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea” (Psalm 46:1, 2) Let us have more confidence in our Redeemer. Turn not from the waters of Lebanon to seek refreshment at broken cisterns, which can hold no water. Have faith in God. Trustful dependence on Jesus makes victory not only possible but certain. Though multitudes are pressing on in the wrong way, though the outlook be ever so discouraging, yet we may have full assurance in our Leader; for “I am God,” He declares, “and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:22). He is infinite in power, and able to save all who come to Him. There is no other in whom we can safely trust." In Heavenly Places, p. 17

Review

• Bible Thought: Perfect peace…not imperfect, not partial, or anything else. We can have perfect peace in Christ.
• Blessings: So thankful that even in the midst of storms, we can have peace. Jesus is our safety, and I will trust in Him, no matter what happens around me!
• Battles: To continue to walk with Christ…even as the storms increase. (And in all reality, I don't feel like I'm facing storms, like many have this past week.) But each day, every time God asks me to do something, I have the choice to obey or to follow my own will. So this is the storm I refer to…the spiritual battle to yield self and continue to take up my cross! I will not turn to broken cisterns for help!

Jesus still says today, "Peace be Still!"

Even in the storms (both current and coming), I'm so thankful that our Lord still is in control of all. And He does not leave us to walk through the storms alone… He walks with us. And He still says today, "Peace be still." 

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

"Never did a soul utter that cry unheeded. As the disciples grasp their oars to make a last effort, Jesus rises. He stands in the midst of His disciples, while the tempest rages, the waves break over them, and the lightning illuminates His countenance. He lifts His hand, so often employed in deeds of mercy, and says to the angry sea, “Peace, be still.” The storm ceases. The billows sink to rest. The clouds roll away, and the stars shine forth. The boat rests upon a quiet sea. Then turning to His disciples, Jesus asks sorrowfully, “Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith?” Mark 4:40, R.V.

"A hush fell upon the disciples. Even Peter did not attempt to express the awe that filled his heart. The boats that had set out to accompany Jesus had been in the same peril with that of the disciples. Terror and despair had seized their occupants; but the command of Jesus brought quiet to the scene of tumult. The fury of the storm had driven the boats into close proximity, and all on board beheld the miracle. In the calm that followed, fear was forgotten. The people whispered among themselves, “What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

"When Jesus was awakened to meet the storm, He was in perfect peace. There was no trace of fear in word or look, for no fear was in His heart. But He rested not in the possession of almighty power. It was not as the “Master of earth and sea and sky” that He reposed in quiet. That power He had laid down, and He says, “I can of Mine own self do nothing.” John 5:30. He trusted in the Father’s might. It was in faith—faith in God’s love and care—that Jesus rested, and the power of that word which stilled the storm was the power of God."

"As Jesus rested by faith in the Father’s care, so we are to rest in the care of our Saviour. If the disciples had trusted in Him, they would have been kept in peace. Their fear in the time of danger revealed their unbelief. In their efforts to save themselves, they forgot Jesus; and it was only when, in despair of self-dependence, they turned to Him that He could give them help."

"How often the disciples’ experience is ours! When the tempests of temptation gather, and the fierce lightnings flash, and the waves sweep over us, we battle with the storm alone, forgetting that there is One who can help us. We trust to our own strength till our hope is lost, and we are ready to perish. Then we remember Jesus, and if we call upon Him to save us, we shall not cry in vain. Though He sorrowfully reproves our unbelief and self-confidence, He never fails to give us the help we need. Whether on the land or on the sea, if we have the Saviour in our hearts, there is no need of fear. Living faith in the Redeemer will smooth the sea of life, and will deliver us from danger in the way that He knows to be best."

The passages above came from the devotional reading of Desire of Ages, p. 335-336

Review

• Bible Though: Our peace is in Christ. In the world, we will not have peace, but only in Him.
• Blessing: Praising the Lord, that He is the calmer of the storm. Sometimes He calms the storm, and sometimes He only calms the child to live through the storm.
• Battles: To walk with Him and cling to Him continually!

The End of Time is drawing near…Get in the ARK!

The following passages aren't really that "bright and cheery" but just as Noah preached about the coming flood, God has called us to also warn the world of the coming storm and the coming crisis. The following statements, from a number of different books, were written over a hundred years ago. However, they appear very prophetic when you compare them with the circumstances of today, with the scandals currently happening in our government and society, and with the disasters occurring on every side. 

"Transgression has almost reached its limit. Confusion fills the world, and a great terror is soon to come upon human beings. The end is very near. We who know the truth should be preparing for what is soon to break upon the world as an overwhelming surprise." Testimonies for the Church Vol. 8, p. 28

"We are standing upon the threshold of great and solemn events. Prophecies are fulfilling. Strange, eventful history is being recorded in the books of heaven. Everything in our world is in agitation. There are wars, and rumors of wars. The nations are angry, and the time of the dead has come, that they should be judged. Events are changing to bring about the day of God which hasteth greatly. Only a moment of time, as it were, yet remains. But while already nation is rising against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, there is not now a general engagement. As yet the four winds are held until the servants of God shall be sealed in their foreheads. Then the powers of earth will marshal their forces for the last great battle." Christian Service, p. 51

"The restraining Spirit of God is even now being withdrawn from the world. Hurricanes, storms, tempests, fire and flood, disasters by sea and land, follow each other in quick succession. Science seeks to explain all these. The signs thickening around us, telling of the near approach of the Son of God, are attributed to any other than the true cause. Men cannot discern the sentinel angels restraining the four winds that they shall not blow until the servants of God are sealed; but when God shall bid His angels loose the winds, there shall be such a scene of strife as no pen can picture. The days in which we live are solemn and important. The Spirit of God is gradually but surely being withdrawn from the earth. Plagues and judgments are already falling upon the despisers of the grace of God. The calamities by land and sea, the unsettled state of society, the alarms of war, are portentous. They forecast approaching events of the greatest magnitude. The agencies of evil are combining their forces, and consolidating. They are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones." Christian Service, p. 51-52

"The time is at hand when there will be sorrow in the world that no human balm can heal. The Spirit of God is being withdrawn. Disasters by sea and by land follow one another in quick succession. How frequently we hear of earthquakes and tornadoes, of destruction by fire and flood, with great loss of life and property! Apparently these calamities are capricious outbreaks of disorganized, unregulated forces of nature, wholly beyond the control of man; but in them all, God’s purpose may be read. They are among the agencies by which He seeks to arouse men and women to a sense of their danger." Prophets and Kings, p. 277

Bible thought:

• Bible Thought: Get in the ARK - get in Christ, while there is still time. Our only security through the storm is being in Christ, covered by His blood!
• Blessing: I'm so thankful that just like God gave Noah and his family the Ark, He has also provided a place of refuge for us!
• Battle: We must wake up to the times we are living in and get in the Ark of safety!

The Coming Storm…

Last night I didn't sleep very well. As lightning and thunder shook the heavens and wind, rain and hail pelted down on my roof, threatening to move my house from its foundation, I thought about the many that had already lost their homes, and sometimes their loved ones in this very same storm. (My heart and prayers go out to them.)

However, today as I look at the pictures of devastation that cover Moore Oklahoma (and their surrounding communities), I'm reminded about another storm that is coming. A much bigger and more scary storm…a storm that is going to tear much of professing Christianity from its foundation.

"For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." 1 Thes. 5:3-6

Here's a couple passages I was just reading this morning about the coming storm.

"God has revealed what is to take place in the last days, that His people may be prepared to stand against the tempest of opposition and wrath. Those who have been warned of the events before them are not to sit in calm expectation of the coming storm, comforting themselves that the Lord will shelter His faithful ones in the day of trouble. We are to be as men waiting for their Lord, not in idle expectancy, but in earnest work, with unwavering faith. It is no time now to allow our minds to be engrossed with things of minor importance. While men are sleeping, Satan is actively arranging matters so that the Lord’s people may not have mercy or justice." Counsels for the Church, p. 335

"Soon God’s people will be tested by fiery trials, and the great proportion of those who now appear to be genuine and true will prove to be base metal. Instead of being strengthened and confirmed by opposition, threats, and abuse, they will cowardly take the side of the opposers. The promise is, “Them that honor me I will honor.” Shall we be less firmly attached to God’s law because the world at large have attempted to make it void? Already the judgments of God are abroad in the land, as seen in storms, in floods, in tempests, in earthquakes, in perils by land and by sea. The great I AM is speaking to those who make void his law. When God’s wrath is poured out upon the earth, who will then be able to stand? Now is the time for God’s people to show themselves true to principle. When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when his law is most despised, then should our zeal be the warmest and our courage the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few,—this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason. The nation will be on the side of the great rebel leader." Review and Herald,  January 11, 1887

Review: 

• Bible Thought: We know from the Bible that destruction is coming upon the earth, and more so, as Jesus coming draws near. However, we are not in ignorance. We are children of light. Let us watch and be sober, and not miss the warning signs of impending doom!
• Blessing: I praise the Lord that my family in Oklahoma are safe, although they were only miles from some of the tornadoes that hit yesterday. I also praise God that the hail did not destroy our garden last night.
• Battles: Today more storms are expected. Even as I type, thunder and lightning are shaking my desk. I praise God that I'm never alone even in the storms.

Ask ye of the Lord Rain…

One of the promises I keep claiming says: "Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field." Zach. 10:1

Speaking of the Latter Rain which is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, we are told:

"The promise of the Holy Spirit is not limited to any age or to any race. Christ declared that the divine influence of His Spirit was to be with His followers unto the end. From the day of Pentecost to the present time, the Comforter has been sent to all who have yielded themselves fully to the Lord and to His service.

God desires to refresh His people by the gift of the Holy Spirit, baptizing them anew in His love. There is no need for a dearth of the Holy Spirit in the church. After Christ’s ascension, the Holy Spirit came upon the waiting, praying, believing disciples with a fulness and power that reached every heart. In the future the earth is to be lightened with the glory of God. A divine influence is to go forth to the world from those who are sanctified through the truth. The earth is to be encircled with an atmosphere of grace. The Holy Spirit is to work on human hearts, taking the things of God and showing them unto men.

It is true that in the time of the end, when God’s work in the earth is closing, the earnest efforts put forth by consecrated believers under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, are to be accompanied by special tokens of divine favor. Under the figure of the early and the latter rain, that falls in Eastern lands at seed-time and harvest, the Hebrew prophets foretold the bestowal of spiritual grace in extraordinary measure upon God’s church. The out-pouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the beginning of the early, or former rain, and glorious was the result. To the end of time, the presence of the Spirit is to abide with the true church.

The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the “former rain,” and glorious was the result. But the latter rain will be more abundant. What is the promise to those living in these days?—“Turn you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope; even today do I declare that I will render double unto thee.” “Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.”

This passage came from the book Christian Service, p. 250-251

Review:

• Bible Thought: Asking for Rain
• Blessings: God has promised it will come…I believe we are feeling raindrops!
• Battles: The enemy wants us to slumber so we miss this outpouring! We cannot allow him to succeed. 

Heaven's Family Reunion

Do you ever stop and think about what Heaven will be like? When I was young I use to think about it all the time…and I do still even today. Of course, the most exciting thing is that Jesus will be there. But I think the second most exciting thing is that we will be with our families and loved ones. 

Yesterday we had a lot of friends gathering for a "family reunion" as we celebrated my grandma's life. Yes, there were tears, but it was a memorial of HOPE, as we have the resurrection to look forward to. I can't wait until that heavenly family reunion when we will all be together in person.

The Bible tells us:

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thes. 4:16-18

At the close of the program, I played a song "The Family Reunion" that I put together with pictures for my grandma. (If you've ever lost a loved one, or are homesick for heaven, you will really appreciate this song!) But it wasn't just that. In this slide show, I also shared a final message that my grandma recorded for her family….months before she died. I thought some of you, even if you didn't know her, would enjoy seeing this! (It's short!)

Here's the YouTube Link! :-)

Blessings on all as you start a new week!

Review:

• Bible Thought: Looking forward to when Christ shall descend from Heaven with a shout to take all of us home.
• Blessings: That we have this HOPE!
• Battles: That we not let go of Christ, for if we hold on to Him, trusting in His blood, we will be part of this heavenly family reunion very soon!

Is Christ at Home?

Is Christ at HOME in your home and heart? Is He at home in mine? 

My friend Annie shared this quote and thought a little while back, and I thought I'd repost it for today's Morning Sonshine as it's well worth contemplating! :-)

"If you desire Christ for a perpetual guest, give Him ALL the keys of your heart; let not one cabinet be locked up from Him; give Him the range of every room, and the key of every chamber; thus you will constrain Him to remain." - Spurgeon 

Annie continues…"Every dollar in savings, every internet hour, every Saturday evening, every item of clothing, every task before me, every future plan, every hope… It all goes to Thee, the worthy One of my life. He who humbled Himself and was obedient unto death, my death! Shall I hold anything back, however small, for the One who gave everything for me, of worth far greater than I can fathom?"

Review: 

• Bible Thought: "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Cor. 6:19,20
• Blessing: That Christ even wants to live in this (my heart) home, is unbelievable! So amazing!
• Battles: To not let in any intruders. I pray everyday, "Lord, please don't allow the enemy a foot-hold in my heart or in my home!"

The Value of One Soul…

It's hard to understand how Christ loves us so much that He would risk all, even for one of us…and how we should risk all to save others. I keep praying, "Lord, give me this kind of love! A love that will put my all on the line to save souls!"

"For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish." Matt. 18:11-14

"The wealth of earth dwindles into insignificance when compared with the worth of a single soul for whom our Lord and Master died. He who weighted the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance, regards a human soul as of infinite value." Gospel Workers, p. 92

Review:

• Bible Thought: It is not God's will that even ONE should perish!
• Blessing: I'm so thankful He was willing to come for even one, because if there was only one, it probably would have been ME!
• Battles: Praying to have a greater heart of love for the lost…

There's MORE with us!!!

The next few "Morning Sonshine's" are going to be brief! This is the Memorial Weekend for my grandmother, and we have lots going on here, as well as friends coming in from out of town, so I don't have time to blog very much with all the activity. But I hope you are blessed by the brief thoughts I will share. :-)

Was reading in 2 Chronicles 32, and was soooo encouraged about how King Hezekiah encouraged his people when the Assyrians came against. Here's the two verses that really stood out to me:

"Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah." 2 Chron. 32:7-8

You may feel like all the multitude of evil has come against you, but remember, if God be for us, who can be against us. Let's keep our eyes on Him, no matter what the enemy says against us!

You want to see how this story ended?? Read 2 Chron. 32:9-23! It is AMAZING!!!!!

Review:

• Bible Thought: There are ALWAYS more with us than with the powers of darkness that come against us!
• Blessing: So thankful for these stories God has given us, to encourage our faith!
• Battles: Let's not be distracted by whatever King Sennacherib "or those in this world" try to say against us. God is in control!

Did you know that God cares about Gravel?

One of my favorite promises is Ephesians 3:20. I've probably already quoted it on this blog a couple times. It says:

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."

Rather than sharing what I studied in the Word today, or what I'm thinking on at the moment, I have to share a testimony.

For quite a few months now, I've been writing down each answer to prayer that I receive. I actually challenged God awhile back that I wanted to see Him answer at least one prayer every day. I don't have the courage yet to pray for "one soul a day" like Praying Hyde prayed for, but I do have courage to ask for one answered prayer every day! 

Well, since I put God to this challenge, I've of course been praying quite fervently. And He's been faithfully answering. Every single day He gives me answered prayers, often times more than one. I never realized before how faithful He always takes care of me, and how He's working in my life until I started trying to keep record. It's amazing…

Well, yesterday was extra-ordinary as I have SEVEN answers to prayer, all in one day!!!!! ;-) But there's one in specific I have to share about. To most people this wouldn't seem that exciting or special, but to me, it means the world. 

You see, for a number of months now, I've been trusting God with my needs. One thing that I've been praying for since January is for some gravel to make a parking spot for my car, and for my driveway, so I don't get stuck when it rains. It's not anything urgent…and I could probably survive another few years without getting it, but it's just something I need. God has sent me funds…but to be honest, besides paying essential bills, I just have a hard time using them on myself or on stuff here around the house as I know there are so many people dying without a knowledge of the truth. So…. although I probably could have bought the gravel by now, I just haven't been able to do it. So I've kept praying!

Well, yesterday, Dad came to my office where I was working and he was very urgent. I need your help to drive the truck to the local community church, about 5 miles away. They have a pile of gravel there, and they have used all they need, now they are trying to get rid of it. They just called and asked if we could use any? I was so shocked. I was like, "Daddy! I've been PRAYING for GRAVEL!! In fact, I just prayed for it this morning!!!" Now my dad was shocked. "Really?? You never told me! But I guess you told the right person. You told God." 

So we went to get gravel. We got like 4 truck loads of the stuff, plus 2 trailer loads. It was enough to fill in most of the ruts in our driveway, make me a parking spot, plus put gravel on the wet places around my jogging trail. At the end, our neighbor even brought over one more tractor barrow of the stuff that he still hadn't found a place for. (Talk about personal delivery!) I couldn't believe it! My mom told me, "All the years we've lived here, we've never been given free gravel before! Truly God answers prayer!"

Again, to some, this may seem crazy to get excited about, but I have just been in awe and thanksgiving ever since. God knew I didn't want to spend the money on the stuff, so He just gave it to me, without charge! Isn't He amazing??? 

I could go on and on telling you stories of the way He's answering my prayers. It's unbelievable! We truly serve an amazing God. And I'm so grateful that He cares not just about our big problems, but about little things too, like gravel for our driveway! ;-))))

Review:

• Bible Thought: Trust God with your needs. Nothing is unimportant to Him, and He truly can supply!
• Blessing: God not only cares for my needs, like gravel, but He's my ROCK, and He never lets me down. I'm so blessed to have Him as my Heavenly Father!
• Battles: At the moment, I'm like floating on the top of the world… ;-)

To Receive the gospel…means to let go of something else!

"Which [gospel] also you received and in which you stand…" 1 Cor. 15:1

In 1 Corinthians 15:1, we see that they [the Corinthians] RECEIVED the gospel. This is important and all too often lacking in our own modern day watered down version of gospel living. But what does RECEIVE really mean anyway?

This is how Paul Washer explains it according to the Scriptures. Powerful!

1. When two things are diametrically opposed to one another, to receive one is to reject the other. Since there is no friendship between the gospel and the world, to receive the gospel is to reject the world. To receive the gospel is not merely to pray a prayer and ask Jesus into our hearts. It is to put away the world, and to embrace the fullness of the claims of Christ.

2. A man who receives the gospel trusts exclusively in the person and work of Jesus Christ as the only way of standing before God. The Christian faith is exclusive. To receive Christ is to throw off every other hope but in Christ alone. To genuinely receive the gospel not only involves a disdain and turning away from sin, but also a disdain for and turning from any confidence other than Christ, especially a confidence in self.

3. To receive the gospel is to live in submission to the Lord of our lives. All too often we tell Christians they need to make Christ the Lord of their lives. God does not call men to make Jesus Lord (as if they had that power), but He calls us to live in absolute submission to the Lord that He has made. Therefore, if we desire to receive the benefits of the gospel, we must first decide if we are wiling to turn over all autonomy and self government to the Lord of the gospel. 

4. Finally, to receive the gospel, Christ must become the center of everything in our lives, and therefore He reaches everything! Like a pebble cast upon a lake, the ripple effect of the gospel will eventually reach the full circumference of the believers life and touch every shore upon his soul. A believer does not receive the gospel as an addition to His previous life, but in exchange for it. 

As Paul exhorts, "We should never present Christ to the unbelievers as the cherry on top of an already wonderful life. The unbeliever must see that he has no life, and that all his personal achievements prior to Christ are only monuments to his own vanity." 

My friend Annie recently shared this quote and comment and I thought it very fitting here:

"If you desire Christ for a perpetual guest, give Him ALL the keys of your heart; let not one cabinet be locked up from Him; give Him the range of every room, and the key of every chamber; thus you will constrain Him to remain." - Spurgeon

And Annie continues the thought…"Every dollar in savings, every internet hour, every Saturday evening, every item of clothing, every task before me, every future plan, every hope… It all goes to Thee, the worthy One of my life. He who humbled Himself and was obedient unto death, my death! Shall I hold anything back, however small, for the One who gave everything for me, of worth far greater than I can fathom?"

Review: 

• Bible Thought: Praying that God will help me and help us as a people to RECEIVE HIM and in so doing, to release the Love of the world and self!
• Blessing: I'm so thankful that everything that Christ asks us to relinquish He replaces with something much much better! HIMSELF!! (But wow… I still have soo much to learn about this great gigantic gift and what it means to my life!)
• Battles: My battle is to not be divided in my loyalty… for we are told, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." Only Christ can give me a hate for the things I once loved, and a passionate love for the things I once lightly esteemed. The world is still too much in my heart, but I know that He can change this!

My heart was Broken…

I remember the very day when the weight of my sins and the beauty of the Cross impacted me more deeply than it ever had before. When I realized that He did all that for ME!!! When I realized how desperately lost I was without Him. It actually wasn't that long ago. It was September of 2008, and I was in the city of Dhaka in the country of Bangladesh! Suddenly as I looked at a city in ruins filled with broken homes and people, it hit me what my heart and life is like without Christ. At that moment,  I cried and cried…. for the first time I realized the power of the gospel. My heart is just like that country, there's so much self and pride within, it is humanly impossible to make pure and right. Only Christ's blood can wash away my sins. Although I'd been a Christian my whole life, and had been seeking to serve God faithfully, it wasn't until this day that the power of the CROSS really impacted me so dramatically. Finally…what Christ had done for me became REAL!!! I felt it. I understood it. And I was struck down with weeping in gratitude!! I wish I'd realized sooner, instead of waiting so many years after I had given my life to Christ. But sometimes when you've been raised in the church with the treasure before you, you don't even realize what God has done for you.

This week, as I was looking up verses on the gospel, it struck me again! How could God possibly LOVE us soooo much, that His Son would be willing to come and die?? I wept again! 

Have you taken time to consider this recently? Or has the gospel and Christ's sacrifice for you just become another one of those beliefs you tuck away for a rainy day?

There's a song I often sing, but it takes on new significance as I reconsider His sacrifice:

"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sound. All other ground is sinking sand."

"The theme of redemption is one that the angels desire to look into; it will be the science and the song of the redeemed throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Is it not worthy of careful thought and study now?" 

"The infinite love and mercy of Jesus, the sacrifice made in our behalf, calls for the most serious and solemn reflection. We should dwell upon the character of our dear Redeemer and Intercessor. We should meditate upon the mission of him who came to save his people from their sins. As we thus contemplate heavenly themes, our faith and love will grow stronger, and our prayers will be more and more acceptable to God, because they will be more and more mixed with faith and love. They will be intelligent and fervent. There will be more constant confidence in Jesus, and a daily, living experience in his power to save to the utmost all that come unto God by him." Christian Education, 57


Review:

• Bible Thought: Is our Hope built on Jesus Christ or on something else? 
• Blessing: As I am reminded of the incredible God I serve, who loved me so much that He gave His Son, I am in awe once again. 
• Battles: The enemy tries to steal my focus and distract me…even in my Christian walk. I'm praying I won't ever let Him distract me from the study of redemption and from the Cross of Christ.

The Gospel is NOT just Basic - it's the fullness of everything there is to know!!!!

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." 1 Cor 15:1-4

I want to correct an error of statement that I made. (Yep, although in earnest and very sincere, even I am not above making errors! I hope my friends will forgive me.) When I was blogging about the gospel last week, I wrote, "Of course, this may seem rather elementary to some. After all, the GOSPEL is something we've grown up reading and hearing about our entire lives, right?? But all too often, I think that we Christian's can forget the basics, or the basics don't touch us, because we've known them from childhood!"

I think the problem with Christianity in this modern age is precisely this… and I am just as guilty as everyone else! We all too often look at the gospel as merely the first step of our faith. We look at it as just a BASIC! We consider it elementary and then we move on to deeper theology and truths. I have thought that myself or I wouldn't have made the statements that I just did. But the more I am re-studying this precious truth, the more I am aware of my own errors. I have minimized the power of the gospel. I have minimized the truth of the gospel! I have minimized the gift of the gospel! I have minimized the Savior of the Gospel. I honestly am not even sure that I have understand the magnificence of the gospel…and yet I profess to believe and preach the gospel! "Oh woe is me!" 1 Cor. 9:16

I love the Lord with all my heart, and I rely upon His blood and His atoning work to stand in my place. But I still think sometimes I am missing something. I just don't get it. I have to admit that my dulled senses sometimes need some extra pushing and prodding before I awaken to my need. And that came by picking up a book my brother had purchased called The Gospel's Power and Message, by Paul Washer. Here's a statement he shares in his first few chapters that I think is worth repeating:

"The gospel is not merely an introductory message to Christianity - it is the message of Christianity. It is the message of salvation, the means of our progress toward sanctification, and the pristine fountain from which flows every pure and right motivation for the Christian life. For the believer, Jesus is the Manna that comes down from Heaven, the Rock that gushes forth living water in the midst of a desert, and the Vine in which he remains, and from which he receives life and fruitfulness. The believer who has truly partaken of Christ ceases to spend himself for what is not bread and cannot satisfy, but seeks to eat only that bread that comes from Heaven that he may eat and not die" 

Unfortunately, this isn't the way that we often treat the gospel…It's all too often, just the cherry on the cake, when in reality, the gospel is the cake. It's not just something that adds flavor to our Christianity, but it is the basis of Christianity. It's so much more than I've thought or given it credit for! So much more…

Well, I'm not going to try to share the truth and grandeur of this gift in this short blog post… I couldn't even if I wanted to, because I don't understand or comprehend it yet, as I should. But I do see my need! Praise the Lord for that!!! Maybe it's just me… and maybe I'm all alone in this error. But I think we as Christians need to seriously revisit this issue and make it more our focus and our message. What is the Gospel and what does it truly mean! Do we understand this great gift? I'm praying God will make this the focus of my life and study, and that the beauty of this gospel will pervade everything else that I share. 

Review:

• Bible Thought: The Gospel is not just a basic theory…it is to be our life and study! It is the fullness of all we should build upon, the Rock that we anchor to!
• Blessing: I don't understand it as I should, but I'm so thankful God is bringing me back to this important truth again! 
• Battle: I think the devil would be just happy if we had all the religion and Christianity we wanted as long as we don't understand the gospel. Why? Because the Gospel is the power of God to salvation. This is so key! We have to get this!!