Imagine God's Eyes...

Imagine God's eyes when He thinks about His beloved human beings.

Deep, deeper, the deepest multi-colored eyes sparkling like soft light dancing over the blue ridges of a lake tickled by a cool, sunset breeze. His eyes dance, but it is a waltz whose tempo is slowed by pain, the echo of a faraway evening when He danced with us. His eyes ache with burning anticipation of another evening when the music resumes, we take His hand, and His constant, throbbing, black and white daydream He's dreamed for millennia is colored in with our presence.

"That where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:3).

Keep gazing into those dancing eyes.

--Steven Winn

Show Love and Compassion

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17

Great responsibility comes to those who have been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Strive to understand the meaning of the words “Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” In the new life upon which you have entered, you are pledged to represent the life of Christ....

The old sinful life is dead, the new life entered into with Christ by the pledge of baptism. Practice the virtues of the Savior’s character. Let His word “dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” ...

These things are to be presented in the churches. Love, compassion, and tenderness are to be revealed among us. Put on, as the elect of God, mercy and kindness. The sins that were practiced before conversion are to be put off with the old man. With the new man, Christ Jesus, are to be put on “kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.”

Those who have risen with Christ to walk in newness of life are the elect of God. They are holy unto the Lord, and are acknowledged by Him as His beloved. As such, they are under solemn covenant to distinguish themselves by showing humility of mind. They are to clothe themselves in garments of righteousness. They are separate from the world, from its spirit, its practices, and they are to reveal that they are learning of Him who says, “I am meek and lowly in heart.”

If they realize that they have died with Christ, if they keep their baptismal vow, the world will have no power to draw them aside to deny Christ. If they live the life of Christ in this world, they are partakers of the divine nature. Then, when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, they also will appear with Him in glory.—Manuscript Releases 19:236, 237.

Praying Powerful Prayers Part Two

2)You must be thankful. 
“Don’t worry about anything. Instead, tell God about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to him” Philippians 4:6. Giving thanks to God humbles us. God is worthy of praise and thanksgiving. When we give thanks in prayer it solidifies our belief in God that He hears our prayers and will grant our prayers if it is according to His will. It is easy to focus on the negatives. Being thankful makes a cheerful heart (Proverbs 17:22).
 
3)You must be at one with God. 
 Jesus said. “If you remain joined to me and my words remain in you, ask for anything you wish. And it will be given to you” (John 15:7). It is important to continue to have a relationship with Jesus and keep His words. This shows our love to God. In 2 John 1:6 it says “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments.”  Our prayers will be much more effective if we keep His commandments and have faith in Jesus (Revelation 14:12). Because of God’s love and grace, these motivate us to love Him and desire (want) to do His will.

4)  Surrendering to His will.  
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14 NKJV). Prayer requires us to surrender ourselves to God and trusting Him to work in our lives, to grow into the person He designed us to be. Being able to surrender completely to God means we have to know God. We have to believe that He loves us unconditionally (without limit). He will not forsake us. He has the best plans for us. It puts God in control as we surrender our lives to Him and allow Him to change us into Christ’s image or character.

5)  Cherish no sin. 
“If I enjoy having sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” Psalm 66:18. This does not mean we need to be perfect before we approach God. Jesus invites sinners to call on Him. The verse means unless we are sorry for our sins and are willing to  turn away from sins and be cleansed by God, then our prayers will be more effective. If we pray for selfish reasons such as winning the lottery, He will not hear our prayers. “When you do ask for something, you don’t receive it. Why? Because you ask for the wrong reasons. You want to spend your money on your sinful pleasures.” James 4:3.

We can come to Jesus in prayer and tell Him our needs, our struggles and our troubles. God will not turn us away empty. He invites, "Come to me, all of you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28. “The prayer of a godly person is powerful. It makes things happen" James 5:16.

Amanda Colgan

Praying Powerful Prayers Part One

Growing a relationship with God is the most important thing in a Christian person’s life. When a man wants to date a woman, they go out on a date to get to know each other. It is the same with God. To have a relationship with Jesus is to spend time with Him. One of the ways we can grow in Jesus is Study the Bible; not because you “should” but because you want to hear from God and learn what He is saying to you through His word. Talk with Him in prayer. Pray not because you have to and not  to just to ask Him for a list of things, but as a way to know Him and experience Him. That’s what God desires, for us to spend time with Him. As we spend time with God, we will naturally grow in Him. Our minds will become more aware of His will and His plan for us.

Prayer plays a big role in our relationship with God. There is no right or wrong way to pray. Prayer requires faith to believe that God will answer. God will not say ‘yes’ to everything we ask for in prayer but He will answer to our prayer even though it’s not what we asked for. Most often times His answers are far better than what we ask for!

There are some factors (points) that help prayers to be answered more effectively. Let’s go through some of the factors:

1)  Have faith. 
Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Jesus said to "pray and believe." We can believe if we are asking according to God's will. Whaen God promises He cannot go back on what He says He will do. Unfortunately, many of us do not believe that God is true to His Word and the reason we do not have the faith is because we do not really know Him (Hebrews 11:6). We do not trust Him because we are not really walking with Him. We are not really diligently (carefully) seeking Him, so we do not know Him. “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” (Matthew 21:22 ESV).

Will continue tomorrow morning...

Amanda Colgan

Righteousness: Connecting with God and One Another - Part 3

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7

Third, we need to share righteousness by faith. This is where connecting with one another comes in. As we connect more and more deeply and more and more consistently with God, we will be inspired to connect more and more deeply and more and more consistently with one another. Paul wrote that he wished believers were "knit together in love" (Colossians 2:2). In John 17, Jesus prayed that believers would be "one." Now, it's not enough to just come together in unity. 

We know that the last-day powers under the enemy's control will be promoting unity under force of law. But we must not let the enemy's false unity distract us from what Christ desperately prayed for among believers: unity in Him. Let's strive for answering Christ's prayer for unity among believers! 

How can we be "one" in Christ if we don't seek to connect with each other? How do we connect with each other?  

By really listening to one another, demonstrating Christ's delight in one another, and looking for the good God has placed in one another. It's not solving each other's problems but just being with one another as we patiently and prayerfully wait for God to show us what to say and what to do. It is committing to one another that nothing they say or do will make us leave them to fight their battles alone. By letting them know that no matter where they've been or what they've done, we will allow Christ to live His desperate, never-ending love for them through us.

 God designed church to be a place of worship, but He also designed it to be a place for genuine community. A place of genuine community is a place where we know each other, trust each other, support each other, listen to each other, and accept each other with the astonishing, unconditional acceptance that Christ has lavished upon us. Christ commanded us to love one another as He has loved us.
--Steven Winn

Righteousness: Connecting with God and One Another - Part 2

"...Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith--"Philippians 3:9

Second, we need to experience righteousness by faith. So how do we connect with God? It's not by doing the right thing. It's by acknowledging God's overwhelming greatness, acknowledging our overwhelming weakness, and saying yes to the connection God desperately desires and sacrificially offers to us.  

We experience righteousness by faith by gazing wide-eyed at our God who unconditionally accepts us as we sit in a pool of our own filth. Because we don't deserve His gracious, complete acceptance of us, we are then filled with a deep appreciation of Him. This appreciation is the only door through which Christ can come in and begin the process of living His victorious, perfect life within us (Galatians 2:20). Christ our Righteousness desires in us, thinks in us, speaks in us, acts in us, and reacts in us more and more completely every day.
--Steven Winn

Righteousness: Connecting with God and One Another - Part 1

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  Ephesians 2:8,9

So the first thing we need to do is understand righteousness by faith. What is righteousness? As I continue to look up every instance of the word "righteousness" in the Bible, I am discovering that it means something much more than the definition with which I grew up as a Christian: right-doing. 

In defining it as right-doing, we have caught the creature by the tail. The tail end of righteousness is right-doing, but the heart of righteousness is connection--connection with God. Over and over in my word study, the word "righteousness" appears in a context centering around the same three things: God's overwhelming greatness, our overwhelming weakness, and a saving connection that God desperately desires and sacrificially offers to us. Ellen White referred to Jesus as "Christ our Righteousness." 

Righteousness at its heart is not an object, perfect record, or ability to behave that Christ gives us. Righteousness is Christ Himself. We desperately need to be near God the Father because He is our only Source of life. Christ is the glue that sticks us where we need to be. Christ is the Glue that connects us with God the Father.
--Steven Winn

It's All About Jesus

"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree')" (Galatians 3:13).

Christ redeemed me by absorbing the inevitable result of trying to keep the law on my own: death, representing complete and utter failure.

Yet He was victorious because His death allowed me to absorb the inevitable result of coming into His presence: life, representing complete and utter victory.

One of the many wonderful results of remaining in His presence is Him keeping the law through me.Gazing wide-eyed at Who it's all about...
------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30).

We have no trouble admitting that there's nothing we can do to contribute to our justification...that's all Jesus. And we don't argue a bit that there's nothing we can do to contribute to our glorification...that's all Jesus. Why do we think there's something we can do to contribute to our sanctification? That's all Jesus, too! 

--Steven Winn 

Father Lead Me Part Two

Can you imagine.  The Holy Spirit has been given to us as with Jesus to lead us, work His works in and through us, and speak through us.  Yet we so often say in one way or another; "Ok Lord lead me." and then we go on our merry (or not so merry) way doing it our way, in our strength/abilities, and with or words.  All along the Holy Spirit is sitting on the side lines in aw.  I can imagine Him saying something to the effect of "are you serious right now.  Is that what you want my power, experience, and purposes to be in your life.  Are you really satisfied with that.  Don't you understand the realities of really being lead verses claiming to be lead and then leading yourself."

Ouch!  Yet, I know for me I have lived that reality for so long it is hard to change.  It is hard to submit to Actually Being Lead.  I mean there is a lot of fear, anxiety, and pride in that.  What if I can't follow?  What if I fail?  What if I don't want to do what He is leading me to?  What if I actually have to do something?  What if I can't take care of the situation He leads me in?  What what what what if...

Oh to allow the Spirit to be real.  We often wonder why we don't "SEE" the Holy Spirit.  Perhaps it is because we cannot see past the leaders, ourselves...

Matt F Mattzela

Father Lead Me Part One

Father lead me...

This is such a powerful statement, invitation, and adventure.  This was perhaps the greatest guiding principle of Christ's life.  Father, lead me.

I have been thinking about the realities of this in our walk with God.  When we are being led do we know we are being led or is it some ambiguous understand we have with the one leading?

The answer seems so simple yet so elusive.  Of course we know we are being led especially when we are asking to be led right.  Perhaps and perhaps not.  I think we would all agree that when usually led by the devil we tend to not even think about it or recognize it.  Yet deep down do we really know?

Lets say we should know.  If we put the question to the life of Jesus what do we find?  Did Jesus know He was being led by His Father or when He said He did nothing nor spoke nothing but what the Father showed and told Him was He just speaking in general?

When someone says let me lead while going hiking or says let me drive while on a road trip I usually am pretty aware of them being in front of me or behind the wheel.  I know they are leading and I am fully aware of their presence. 

What about with Christ.  It seems that His perception of His Fathers leading through the Holy Spirit was pretty real, personal, and practical.  I mean that's what He said anyway.  He even went so far as to say that whatever was seen in and of Him was of the Father and if they saw it from Him than they where actually seeing the Father.  Wow, that sounds like pretty personal leading to me. 

If this is true what are the ramifications in regards to my life with Jesus.  He invites me to "follow" Him.  He holds me in His arms and says "abide" with me.  He says let me "do" my works in and through you and allow me to "speak" my words through you.  Ok, so does that mean I should just learn what I think that should look like, sound like, and be like and then try to 'do like' all of that?  Well maybe, if we didn't have the Holy Spirit...

Matt F Mattzela

Let's Sing a New Song

"Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things....The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations" (Psalm 98:1, 2).

Our God is almost unbelievably great! He is so great that we can't even comprehend His greatness! But He's even greater than that....

Have you ever tried to explain the beauty of a sunset to a blind person? Have you ever tried to explain something to someone who just wasn't getting it?

Not only is God incomprehensibly great, but He has communicated His greatness to us who are incredibly "slow of heart to believe" (Luke 24:25).

Let's sing a new song to our Lord today as we work, go to school, or whatever we do, marinating in a mindset of praise to our God who is even greater...

--Steven Winn

Appreciation

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17

Appreciation is the recognition of the good qualities in someone. Appreciation is often lacking in this world.  Every person deserves to be recognized in some way.  The least talented to the most gifted have the right to hear an applause every once in a while. We need to be an advocate for ourselves and let people know how truly thankful we are of them. Each person on this planet thrives on appreciation and gratitude.  The more we let others know how much we appreciate them, the better this world would be.  

As for me, I want nothing more than to show people they are valued, appreciated and loved by the way I speak and the way I act.  Through this experience, I have made more of an effort to express my appreciation to everyone I interact with.  Appreciation goes a long way. 

          In the name of appreciation, let us glorify God by giving Him the credit He deserves and through His life, may we learn to express our gratitude and appreciation to those around us.

Let Us Rise!

I am amazed at the train of events and happenings as of late.  Truly the signs of times are all around us.  I am even more amazed at my spiritual apathy to these obvious events. The more clear the realities of Jesus' coming become the more lethargic, complacent, and ingrained I seem to find myself in the realities of what and who I am.

As of late I have been often reminded of the Apostle Paul's cry saying "who shall save me from this body of death?!"  Yet even more clearly I can hear the clarion response;  Romans 8:34 >> Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Truly this world and the things of it are growing increasingly meaningless, worthless, and empty to my heart.  The realities of those once little besetting sins that seemed almost insignificant years ago now are like mountains in the way of a better country, an eternal inheritance, an immortal intimacy with Jesus.

To me now a relationship with Jesus is the only thing to be prized yet seeing these areas of my heart that steal that reality gives my heart an even deeper heart longing for freedom, victory, completeness, and wholeness in Jesus Christ.  These realities perhaps for me are the greatest reality of Jesus' soon coming.

Lets press on oh saints of God.  Let us realize that being holy and acting righteously is not so much about being and doing.  Being holy is most about being wholly in the loving arms of your Saviour at the expense of all else that would keep you there and being righteous is about being right with Him all the time allowing Him to have the best of you and you to have the best of Him at the expense of those things that would steal this experience. 

Let us not be deceived any longer.  Let us let go of those things that steal our love experience from and with Him.  Let us allow our love relationship with Jesus arise to the top of all things in our lives.

Matt F Mattzela

Praising God Always!

Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Psalms 150:1,2

"Praise draws us to the very presence of God. Praise allows self to be forgotten and the power of Christ to be seen in the christian."--Chelsie Mittleider

"Praise God! Praise is not extra credit in the Christian life. It is not the frosting on the Christian cake. It IS the cake! Praise is so very vital because it draws us into His presence where He can finally just be near us and do what He's been waiting to do through us."--Steven Winn

"Each day, I'm reminded how much we have to praise God for. Each morning and evening we experience His loving kindness and faithfulness. And each day, God continues to answer my prayers. It's so unbelievable and amazing--yet it's TRUE! What a great God we serve! And to think that what we see now is only the beginning of what God has in store!"--Melodious Echo

 

Let it Shine!

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.--Matthew 5:16

Like the flame of a candle brings light into the dark room, we are to shine out to others who are in darkness.

However, there is danger of losing our light.  I am sure you are familiar with the popular kids' song titled "Let it shine."  One verse goes like this: "Don't let Satan blow it out, I'm going to let it shine! Don't let Satan blow it out, I'm going to let it shine, let it shine let it shine!"  

Our source of light comes from Jesus.  When we disconnect ourselves from Jesus, we bring in darkness.  How do we lose the light?  Through negligence of prayer and Bible study. Even doubt and unbelief can snuff out the light.  

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:2
  
The good news is the Lord is so forgiving and merciful.  Through Him we can shine with His glory!  Let us not bring darkness by our selfishness and sins, but let us repent and ask Jesus to live in use so people can see Jesus' glory through us.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16

Peter's Weakness

And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.--Matthew 14:28-32


"Looking unto Jesus, Peter walks securely; but as in self-satisfaction he glances back toward his companions in the boat, his eyes are turned from the Saviour. The wind is boisterous. The waves roll high, and come directly between him and the Master; and he is afraid. For a moment Christ is hidden from his view, and his faith gives way. He begins to sink. But while the billows talk with death, Peter lifts his eyes from the angry waters, and fixing them upon Jesus, cries, "Lord, save me." Immediately Jesus grasps the outstretched hand, saying, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" 

Walking side by side, Peter's hand in that of his Master, they stepped into the boat together. But Peter was now subdued and silent. He had no reason to boast over his fellows, for through unbelief and self-exaltation he had very nearly lost his life. When he turned his eyes from Jesus, his footing was lost, and he sank amid the waves. 

When trouble comes upon us, how often we are like Peter! We look upon the waves, instead of keeping our eyes fixed upon the Saviour. Our footsteps slide, and the proud waters go over our souls. Jesus did not bid Peter come to Him that he should perish; He does not call us to follow Him, and then forsake us. "Fear not," He says; "for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour." Isa. 43:1-3.

Jesus read the character of His disciples. He knew how sorely their faith was to be tried. In this incident on the sea He desired to reveal to Peter his own weakness,--to show that his safety was in constant dependence upon divine power. Amid the storms of temptation he could walk safely only as in utter self-distrust he should rely upon the Saviour. It was on the point where he thought himself strong that Peter was weak; and not until he discerned his weakness could he realize his need of dependence upon Christ. Had he learned the lesson that Jesus sought to teach him in that experience on the sea, he would not have failed when the great test came upon him. 

Day by day God instructs His children. By the circumstances of the daily life He is preparing them to act their part upon that wider stage to which His providence has appointed them. It is the issue of the daily test that determines their victory or defeat in life's great crisis. 

Those who fail to realize their constant dependence upon God will be overcome by temptation. We may now suppose that our feet stand secure, and that we shall never be moved. We may say with confidence, "I know in whom I have believed; nothing can shake my faith in God and in His word." But Satan is planning to take advantage of our hereditary and cultivated traits of character, and to blind our eyes to our own necessities and defects. Only through realizing our own weakness and looking steadfastly unto Jesus can we walk securely."[i]
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[i] Desire of Ages, p. 381,382--Ellen G White

Happy Love Day

I don't know why, but Valentines has been one of my favorite holidays for years. Maybe it's because I'm a sentimental person and I love all the hearts and roses and nice fluffy teddy-bears I see everywhere.  One of my friends was actually born on Valentines and I always thought that was the coolest thing. 

Valentines is a big holiday in Bangladesh, and as I was leaving to come back to the States this past week, I was piled high with valentines cards and love notes from all my kids. These gifts I will treasure for years to come as I look back on this wonderful adventure.

As they say, "Love is what makes the world go round." But as I was lying awake in bed last night, after just returning from Bangladesh, I was thinking, "Love is what makes the world period."

It was LOVE that created our world to begin with. It was LOVE that rescued mankind when they stepped away from God's original perfect plan. Yes, it was LOVE that sent Jesus, the King of the universe down to our dark dying world to take our place on the cross. And it's LOVE that sends us around the world to LOVE the least of these today.

Unfortunately, I think we all too often forget the gift of LOVE that we've been given. We also forget to pass on the LOVE God has given us.

Think about it: 

God – The greatest being

So Loved – The greatest principle

The World – The greatest people in need (that’s us)

That He Gave – The greatest action

His Only Begotten Son – The greatest gift

That Whosoever Believeth – The greatest invitation

Might not Perish – The greatest rescue from the greatest disaster

But have Eternal Life – The greatest lasting privilege and eternal joy

We are told, “The heart of God yearns over His earthly children with a love stronger than death. In giving up His Son, He has poured out to us all heaven in one gift. The Savior’s life and death and intercession, the ministry of angels, the pleading of the Spirit, the Father working above and through all, the unceasing interest of heavenly beings, all are enlisted in behalf of man’s redemption.”[i] He did not give just any gift, “He gave the choicest gift of Heaven, and [as a result] the treasures of Heaven are at our command.”[ii]

Do we realize the gift of LOVE we've received? Are we willing to pass this gift of LOVE on to those who still do not yet know? Think about it. And while you do, have a happy "love" day, loving all those nearest. Remember, this isn't just a holiday for boyfriends and girlfriends or husbands and wives - it's for all of us! 

ENDNOTE: By the way, in 2009 I wrote an article called "My Perfect Valentine." The online girls magazine where it was published has since gone through reformatting, so it's not available online anymore, but I still have the short article. I think some of you might enjoy it. CLICK HERE to view!

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[i] Steps to Christ, p. 21

[ii] 1^st Selected Messages, p. 324