What else needs to be said???
Our God deserves it…
So…
Get to Praisin’
Amen!!!!!
1 Chronicles 16:8
“Give praise to the LORD,
proclaim His name;
make known among the nations
what He has done.”
Revelation 7:12
“Amen!
Praise and glory
and
wisdom and thanks
and
honor and power
and
strength
be to our God
for ever and ever.
Amen!”
The Newsboys are spreading the Good News!!
Believe in the One Foundation…
Believe in the One Salvation…
Believe in God the Father…
Believe in Jesus Christ…
Believe in the Holy Spirit…
Believe He’s given us New Life…
Believe in the Crucifixion…
Believe that He conquered Death…
Believe in the Resurrection…
Believe He’s coming back again…
Believe the lost are found, the dead are raised!
When Love invades!
Believe the gates of hell will not prevail!
Believe the Power of God, has torn the veil!
Believe His Love will never fail!
Believe!
Mark 1:15
“The time has come,” he said.
“The kingdom of God has come near.
Repent and believe the good news!”
It was a rockin’ worship service!!
We all sang along with Brandon Heath…
“Jesus In Disguise”
Plus:
“I’m Not Who I Was”
“Give Me Your Eyes”
“The Light In Me”
“Your Love”
And with Mandisa:
“Overcomer”
Plus:
“Good Morning”
“My Deliverer”
“Stronger”
“Press On”
Psalm 100:1-2
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness:
come before his presence with singing.”
Psalm 98:4
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;”
Psalm 95;1-2
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before Him with thanksgiving
and extol Him with music and song.”
Such a joyful evening!!
Amen!
To serve the Lord!!!
Amen!
Revelation 3:15-17
“I know your deeds,
that you are neither cold nor hot.
I wish you were either one or the other!
So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
You say,
‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’
But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”
Revelation 3:22
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Well…
The downfall of our 12-year old Sears Kenmore side-by-side refrigerator/freezer…
Started with the melting ice cream in the freezer…
As with my dryer story…
With its faulty heating element…
The lifespan of my major appliances is limited…
Several years ago the microwave went…
No fast meals for us, ’til we bought a new one!
The washer has been repaired…
We remember lugging dirty clothes to the Laundromat to wash…
And lugging them back home to dry…
But I feel good about the length of time they’ve all lasted…
Nothing’s built forever now-a-days…
And in Florida, if it makes it through a hurricane…
We consider ourselves blessed!!
So, the ice cream was melting…
And I say, to my perfectly intelligent husband…
“The ice cream is melting in our freezer!”
And he says…
“No, it’s just that I bought Breyers Creamier Butter Pecan Ice Cream!”
What?!?!
“It’s Creamier Butter Pecan Ice Cream Soup!!” I say…
As I pour it into his ice cream bowl…
“It’s fine,” he says…
That’s just husband talk for…
“I don’t want to have to call Sears and deal with this!”
Well, I didn’t want to deal with it either…
Since, we just had Sears here to fix our dyer right after Christmas!!!
So, I said, “Okay!”
When I knew perfectly well that the old freezer was biting-the-dust…
Especially when I saw the delicious chocolate fudgesicles melting and dripping…
All over the thawed fish sticks…
But, when I, as the wife, could no longer agree that a lukewarm freezer was ok!!
And, after procrastinating way too long, we finally went to Sears…
Ordered a nice Kenmore Elite in the bisque color that’s apparently hard to find…
After 12 years…
But, of course that’s what we needed to match the other appliances…
Or, we’d have to get all new ones…
Are you crazy?!?!
And Sears rushed right out to deliver our much needed appliance…
Right??? Wrong!
We have to wait two weeks more!!!
So, now with no freezer, we’re either cooking everything we can save…
Or, throwing things out…
Just like after the hurricane!
Then, just like that…
The refrigerator side is not staying cold at all…
And when the milk tasted lukewarm…
I had enough of that ‘frig…
Yuk!!!!!
So we packed up all our salvageable items…
Vacuumed all the dog hair from behind that piece of junk….mopped…
And left that useless piece of lukewarm metal sitting there, lifeless!!
My husband scrubbed the fish-smelling little ‘frig in the garage…
Filled it up…
Since it was COLD!!!
And out came all the coolers we own…
Bags of ice…filling and refilling…we felt like we were camping…
And we’re not really camping people!
Then, 2 days before Sears…
Ahhhhh…
Was going to deliver our long-awaited new ‘frig…
Our highly intelligent, college graduate, teacher/tutor, and getting his Masters, son says…
“Oh, did you guys remember I have that small refrig from my dorm room???”
No, we didn’t…
Do you think we would have chosen to play with ice for two weeks???
This is how we roll in this house…
Everyone’s too busy to think anything all the way through!!
Ha!
So the moral of this story is that…
Lukewarm is not pleasing…
It doesn’t please the Lord!
He’ll spew you out of His mouth!!
My Mom used to call it, “So-So”
“How ya doing, Mom???”
“Oh, so-so!”
She’d reply…
Not good or bad…not hot or cold…lukewarm!!
Cold:
Refreshing, quenching, invigorating, level-headed, crisp…
Intense, keen, sharp, piercing, breath of fresh air…
Hot:
Passionate, alive, compassionate, contagious, blazing, fiery…
On fire, excited, masterful, impassioned, intense, significant…
Compelling, exhilarating, dedicated, fascinated, exuberant…
Glowing, fervent, healing…
Lukewarm:
Tepid; foul; disgusting; lacking enthusiasm, excitement, or conviction…
Indifferent; little ardor, energy, or zeal; half-hearted, unconcerned…
Apathetic, unresponsive, uninterested, useless, self-deceived…
Shallow, bland, mundane, neither hot nor cold, nauseating, wretched…
Miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, naked…
Jesus:
Cleanses, refreshes, cools, washes, renews…
Comes in a cloud….
In a pillar of fire…
He’s the breath of the Holy Spirit…
He’s the Living Waters…
An All-Consuming Fire…
He heals…
Revelation 3:15-17 The Message
“I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking.
You’re not cold, you’re not hot—far better to be either cold or hot!
You’re stale.
You’re stagnant.
You make me want to vomit.
You brag, ‘I’m rich, I’ve got it made, I need nothing from anyone,’
oblivious that in fact you’re a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.”
God wants complete commitment…
Not half-hearted service…
Are we totally in love with Jesus?
Or, are we lukewarm, half-hearted,
or partially committed?
Frances Chan says,
in his book Crazy Love
“There is no such thing as a lukewarm Christian.
Jesus calls for total commitment.”
View online videos at:
Frances Chan says:
We should be willing…
To say to God that He can have whatever He wants.
To believe that wholehearted commitment to Him is more important than any other thing or person in our life.
To know that nothing we do in life will ever matter, unless it is about loving God and loving the people He has made.
True faith means holding nothing back; it bets everything on the hope of eternity.
This whole swimming-upstream, pursuing-Christ, taking-up-your cross, counting-the-cost thing isn’t easy.
The road is narrow and few will actually find it!
We can’t afford to just assume we’re one of the few on the narrow way.
Be totally in love with Christ.
Even Heaven would be a desolate place without Christ.
Don’t just let life happen.
Love and desire Christ, for when we love, we are free!
Let God change us.
We need to let Him in our life.
We need God to help us love God, and if we need His help to love Him, a perfect being, we definitely need His help to love other fault-filled humans.
Don’t hold back, be consumed with Christ.
We need to show a “Love” that is crazy to the world.
True love, a kind found nowhere else, but through Christ.
Don’t be lukewarm, be obsessed with Christ.
People obsessed with Christ…
Love people and are friends to all…
They’re crazy risk takers for Christ…
They’re humble…
They serve…
They give…
They think about eternity…
They’re engrossed and delighted with God’s Word…
They’re passionately in love with God…
They’re unguarded and open with Him…
They meditate, are nourished by, and are rooted in the Word…
They’re dedicated and faithful to Christ.
They know they’re a child and a friend of God.
Let’s evaluate our lives…
Is what we’re doing, what we want to be doing, when Christ returns????
Taken from: Crazy Love by Frances Chan
Lukewarm is completely useless…
Neither like hot water (as in a comfortable bath)…
Nor like cold water (as in a refreshing drink)…
Interpret “hot” and “cold” in light of the historical context of Laodicea…
It had no permanent supply of good water…
Efforts to pipe water to the city from nearby springs were successful…
But, it would arrive lukewarm…
Located close to both natural hot springs by Hierapolis…
Often used for medicinal purposes…
And a cold, pure stream by Colossae…
Both hot and cold water are desirable…
Both are useful for distinct purposes…
All believers can be used of God…
The spiritual state of this church…
More closely resembled the tepid, lukewarm water…
That eventually flowed into Laodicean pipes…
Neither hot nor cold…
It was putrid!
The metaphor condemns Laodicea for not providing…
Spiritual healing (being hot)…
Or, spiritual refreshment (being cold) to those around them…
Revelation 3:15 is a condemnation of their lack of works and lack of witness.
They spread spiritual disease…
What disease?
They believed they were spiritually rich…
When in fact they had gone bankrupt…
They thought they could see…
But they were blind…
They thought they were healthy…
But they were corrupt….
They thought they were fully clothed…
But they were naked…
The difference was in their opinion of themselves…
vs reality…
They thought they were well off…
But they were starving to death…
They were spiritually content and self-satisfied…
Although actually they were wretched and pitiful…
In Revelation 3:17, they had the audacity to say…
“I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing.”
The problem with being lukewarm…
And the case against Laodicea…
Revolves around the idea of self-deception…
They were self-deluded…
The church at Laodicea was made up of Christians…
Who were trusting in themselves and their wealth…
Or, what they thought their wealth could buy them!
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, says,
Lukewarm…
Useless and self-deceived…
They thought they were of great value…
But were hypocritical…
Promoting themselves, as those who saw the truth…
When in fact they did not…
Actively covering their sins with a cloak of religious observance!
Lord…
Help us to be obsessed with You…
Show us where we’re lukewarm…
Give us the strength to deal with these areas…
Do whatever it takes…
For us to please You…
We need constant infilling of Your Presence…
A constant love relationship…
Constant prayer…
Constant worship…
Constant renewing of our minds…
With the Word of God…
We don’t want to be lukewarm:
A believer who isn’t a threat to satan’s kingdom,
A person who is unable to accomplish anything for the Lord,
Who no longer brings God glory,
Who no longer accomplishes His will,
Who no longer builds His kingdom.
Refresh!
Rekindle!
Our lukewarm hearts…
Restore!
Us to a heart perfect in its commitment to You!
Amen!!
Lukewarm is not enough…
Try Crazy Love!
Ahhh…
My new non-lukewarm refrigerator!!!!
Cold and Colder!!
To match my repaired non-lukewarm dryer…
Hot and Hotter!!
Forget lukewarm!
If a dryer’s not HOT…
Or, a refrigerator’s not COLD…
They’re useless…
And so are we!!
Amen!
Don’t sing these Top Ten Songs Of The Lukewarm Christian!!!
1. Blest Be The Tie That Doesn’t Cramp My Style
2. Pillow of Ages, Fluffed for Me
3. I Surrender Some
4. I’m Fairly Certain That My Redeemer Lives
5. Sit Up, Sit Up For Jesus
6. What An Acquaintance We Have In Jesus
7. Where He Leads Me, I Will Consider Following
8. He’s Quite a Bit To Me
9. Oh, How I Like Jesus
10. It Is My Secret What God Can Do
Taken from “Way of the Master”
Resources:
http://so4j.com/what-is-a-lukewarm-christian#hot_cold
http://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-lukewarm-faith.html
http://scripturenuggets.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/the-dangers-of-being-lukewarm/
http://www.learnthebible.org/lukewarm.html
http://maranathalife.com/teaching/lukewarm.htm
http://diggingtheword.blogspot.com/2010/03/top-ten-songs-of-lukewarm-christian.html
http://treymorgan.net/10-signs-you-might-be-a-lukewarm-christian/
Galatians 5:1
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.
Stand firm, then,
and do not let yourselves be burdened again
by a yoke of slavery.”
It hasn’t always been this way…
I remember brighter days!
(My son, Casey… and our drama team choreographer, Kaya… at a community Outreach)
Before the dark ones came…
Stole my mind…
Wrapped my soul in chains!
Now I live among the dead…
Fighting voices in my head…
Hoping someone hears me crying in the night…
And carries me away…
Set me free of the chains holding me...
Is anybody out there hearing me?
Set me free!!
Morning breaks another day…
Finds me crying in the rain…
All alone with my demons I am!
Who is this man that comes my way?
The dark ones shriek…
They scream His Name!!!
Is this the One they say will set the captives free?
Jesus, rescue me!!!
As the God man passes by…
He looks straight through my eyes!
And darkness cannot hide!!
Do you want to be free?
Lift your chains…
I hold the key!!
All power on Heav’n and Earth belong to Me!!!
You are free !
You are free !!
You are free!!!!
Do you want to be Free???
Romans 8:1-2
“Therefore,
there is now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus,
because through Christ Jesus
the law of the Spirit who gives life
has set you free from the law of sin and death.”
John 8:36
“So if the Son sets you free,
you will be free indeed.”
Amen!!
Psalm 133:1
“How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!”
Philippians 2:1-2
“Therefore,
if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,
if any comfort from His love,
if any common sharing in the Spirit,
if any tenderness and compassion,
then make my joy complete
by being like-minded,
having the same love,
being one in spirit and of one mind.”
Finally!!!!!!
A Christian Concert…
Close to home!!!!!
http://www.findingfavour.com/splash_918/index.html
It was awesome!
Featuring…
“Finding Favour”
“Hawk Nelson”
http://www.hawknelson.com/?cat=0
“The Afters”
and
“Building 429”
1 Corinthians 12:12-13
“Just as a body,
though one, has many parts,
but all its many parts form one body,
so it is with Christ.
For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—
whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—
and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”
John 17:23
“I in them and You in Me—
so that they may be brought to complete unity.
Then the world will know that You sent Me
and have loved them
even as You have loved Me.”
Colossians 3:14
“And over all these virtues
put on love,
which binds them all together
in perfect unity.”
Amen!!
My husband and I were talking the other night…
“I love you!”
Thanks for _______!!
Thanks for doing the_______!!
And fixing the_______!!
But, you forgot to_______!!
Well, you know how this conversation goes!
Ha!
So he says, “Oh, No!
I guess I’m fired from this job!?!?”
Is he kidding???
I answer, “Oh, No!
You’ll NEVER be fired from this job!!!”
Let’s think of all the things I’d have to do myself!!
Cook!
Grocery shop!
Fix the cars!
Take care of the landscaping!
Throw out the garbage!
The list is endless!!!
I love him for who he is…
But I also get the added benefit of what he does!
Lord,
I love You for who You are!!!
And I love and appreciate all you do!
Without You…
I’d have to totally take care of myself…
I’d have to heal myself…
I’d have to know all things…
I’d have to be everywhere…
See everything…
Especially the BIG picture!
I’d have to overcome my own sinful nature!
I’d have to grow and produce my own fruit of the Spirit!
I’d have to depend on my own wisdom!
I’d have to decide which path in life to chose, for myself…
By myself!
Without Your Divine Guidance???
Can’t do it!
I can’t see Love without Your eyes?
No one can comfort me with Peace like You can!
Who would calm my mind in times of trials and storms?
Help me discern right from wrong?
Teach me to know and understand the Truth from Your Word?
Who will care for me…
My husband, my son, and my family…
My ministries from you, my job, my home, my finances, etc.
Who would make up for all my weakness!?!
By showing up strong!
Who will determine which “work,”
(And how much, and how often I should do it!)
To put action to my faith…
So I don’t get stressed out!!
How will I get rid of all my sins?
Who else can give me my divine purpose here on earth?
Who will get me ready for eternity?
How will my mind be renewed???
How will my heart be purified???
How will my life be sanctified without YOU???
When will I know it’s time to…
“Step out in faith???”
How can I learn to quiet my busy life?
To hear with my heart
To obey when I hear, “Yes!”
And even when I hear, “No!”
To wait with patience for the Holy Spirit’s gentle whisper??
To listen closely…
Even when You’re silent!
The list is endless!!!
Me Without You??? What A Mess I’d Be!!
Just today, I messed up…again!!
I know me!
There’s no me without You!!!
Lord, you’ll have this job for eternity!!
“I’d be packing my bags when I need to stay…”
You’d better “Steal My Show,” Lord!!!
I give you the right to direct my life!
I shouldn’t be in charge of something so important!
Hey, you!
Don’t you try to live without Him either!!
Amen!!
John 15:5
“I am the vine;
you are the branches.
If you remain in Me and I in you,
you will bear much fruit;
apart from Me you can do nothing.”
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things
through Him
who strengthens me.”
Worthy is the, Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to Him who sits on
Heaven’s mercy seat
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You
Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and glory and power be
to You the only wise King
Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your Name
Jesus Your Name is power
Breath, and living water
Such a marvelous mystery
2 Corinthians 5:21
“God made Him
who had no sin
to be sin for us,
so that in Him
we might become
the righteousness of God.”
Revelation 4:8
“Each of the four living creatures
had six wings
and was covered with eyes all around,
even under his wings.
Day and night they never stop saying:
‘Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty,
who was,
and is,
and is to come.'”
Revelation 22:1-21
Eden Restored
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life,
as clear as crystal,
flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
down the middle of the great street of the city.
On each side of the river stood the tree of life,
bearing twelve crops of fruit,
yielding its fruit every month.
And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
No longer will there be any curse.
The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city,
and his servants will serve Him.
They will see His face,
and His name will be on their foreheads.
There will be no more night.
They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun,
for the Lord God will give them light.
And they will reign for ever and ever.”
John and the Angel
“The angel said to me,
‘These words are trustworthy and true.
The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets,
sent His angel to show His servants
the things that must soon take place.’
‘Look, I am coming soon!
Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.’
I, John,
am the one who heard and saw these things.
And when I had heard and seen them,
I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel
who had been showing them to me.
But he said to me,
‘Don’t do that!
I am a fellow servant with you
and with your fellow prophets
and with all who keep the words of this scroll.
Worship God!’
Then he told me,
‘Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll,
because the time is near.
Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong;
let the vile person continue to be vile;
let the one who does right continue to do right;
and let the holy person continue to be holy.’
Epilogue: Invitation and Warning
‘Look, I am coming soon!
My reward is with Me,
and I will give to each person
according to what they have done.
I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End.
Blessed are those who wash their robes,
that they may have the right to the tree of life
and may go through the gates into the city.
Outside are the dogs,
those who practice magic arts,
the sexually immoral,
the murderers,
the idolaters
and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
I, Jesus,
have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches.
I Am the Root
and the Offspring of David,
and the bright Morning Star.”
The Spirit and the bride say,
‘Come!’
And let the one who hears say,
‘Come!’
Let the one who is thirsty come;
and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll:
If anyone adds anything to them,
God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.
And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy,
God will take away from that person
any share in the tree of life
and in the Holy City,
which are described in this scroll.
He who testifies to these things says,
‘Yes, I Am coming soon.
Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus.
The grace of the Lord Jesus
be with God’s people.
Amen.'”
Writerly thoughts from a life in Christ
pursuing Knowledge. feeling Eternity
End Times Bible Prophecy and News, End Times Deception, Societal Collapse, Apostasy, False Christs - Prophets - Apostles - Teachers, Whore of Babylon Church, Opinion, Commentary & Bible Teaching, Demonic Power, War, Rumors of War, Famine, Pestilence, Familiar Spirits,Salvation in Jesus Christ, NWO, UFOs, Earthquakes, Counterfeit Christianity, New World Order, Conspiracies, Nephilim, Giants, Signs and Lying Wonders, End Times Sin & Corruption
A text & video blog striving to honor Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through Bible lessons, devotionals, Sunday School studies and small group studies.
A look at life from a pastor's point of view
Shelly talking about Him with friends!
lyrical, poetic, personal
Island photography and written words at their best.
Positive growth and change in our world
Featuring essays that matter
“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”
Global issues, travel, photography & fashion. Drifting across the globe; the world is my oyster, my oyster through a lens.
because anything is possible with Charisma
Prayers to strengthen your relationship with God. A collection of prayers from the 1800's to the present. Come to the throne room with me.
Life stories sharing Christ's love and purpose in the lives of people.
Be inspired
Worlds of imagination
blog of authors Heather Gilion & Holly Snell
Honest Talk about Personal Christian Pilgrimage
hacking health, designing life
"After the Rain, the Sun will Shine. God is Thinking About You"
Sharing thoughts and ideas as we prepare for the journey ahead
Encouraging others to live out God's call in their lives.
Pleasing God Daily
Theology in Plain English
Our Journey as Missionaries with BCM International
VIDA CUMPLE FELICIDAD
Freedom Worship Center/Jesus is my culture
musing about music and its Creator
Scripture exposition and commentary.
Journey's Of Protected Plans
Hunt4Truth.wordpress.com
melanie jean juneau
Life as a mom, nana and follower of Christ; hoping to share from lessons learned
We Soar with Jesus... Set Free Eternally Now.
Share The Word
An Island Boy's Musings about the World and Stuff
Glimpses of God's Glory
my train of thoughts
Musings on Life, Culture, and Christianity
Light in the Darkness
Just another WordPress.com weblog
Pathway to a prosperous and fruitful life
Thoughts on life and the world around me
Putting the "blah" in blog!!
melanie jean juneau
Dying to Live
Daily Reflections
godssceneryandpromises 