2012 - Christian Random Thoughts Thread

[Nice & Wavy]

"The job of the church is not only to point people toward heaven, but to point people who are going to heaven on how to act heavenly on earth. It's discipleship."


Pastor Tony Evans

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"God calls ordinary people. When God chooses a man, He chooses him knowing that the man is flawed, that he is fallible, that he is limited, that he is broken and that he has a propensity toward problems. Yet, God is not afraid to get involved with human depravity and to touch you where you are."

and

"Maybe you have had some doors close in your life. In spite of everything, know that God is stirring you to accomplish His purpose in your life. God knows what it takes to bring order back to your life. Trust Him. He’s working on something and when He’s done, everything around you will be made better."


Bishop TD Jakes

 

[Nice & Wavy]

Have you ever felt like the least likely candidate to do something great? Have you ever looked back on a portion of your life and thought, "There's no way God can redeem that; how could my past ever be used for good?" God can use you in three powerful ways:

1. God can use you to influence the insiders…use your influence to share supernatural love with those closest to you.

2. God can use you to overcome the outsiders…God's truth will always expose the lie, but conflict is how God opens the eyes of the blind. In Christ, you can overcome any hostile outsider.

3. God can use you to bless the BELOVED…there are plenty of brothers and sisters in the Lord who need your love and your encouragement.

Get ready for God to do GREAT ACTS…starting with YOU!

Great Acts - http://tdjakes.org/great/

 

[kila82]

Faith Tabernacle
February 29, 2012
SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by MARSHA BURNS:

Beloved, set a watch for the enemy's seduction designed to get you into a vague or undefined sense of depression or melancholy. The purpose for this attack is to paralyze you spiritually and keep you from the discernment you need to do productive warfare and to gain the victory. The next spiritual shift is now taking place, and you will need to keep your emotions under control in order to be effective and to avoid frustration, says the Lord.

Isaiah 61:3 To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."

 

[LaFemmeNaturelle]

I made a stupid mistake and I'm really going through something right now. I feel like there's something else inside of me. A demon of some sort? IDK but it's NOT me! I've never felt this way before actually. I can feel "it" going crazy inside my head. I can hear it screaming.

I was going to fast "in the future" but I need to start TODAY! There's no point in putting this off. I keep praying and it's not going away so I feel fasting needs to be my next step. Please pray for me sisters!

 

[sidney]

Faith Tabernacle
February 29, 2012
SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by MARSHA BURNS:

Beloved, set a watch for the enemy's seduction designed to get you into a vague or undefined sense of depression or melancholy. The purpose for this attack is to paralyze you spiritually and keep you from the discernment you need to do productive warfare and to gain the victory. The next spiritual shift is now taking place, and you will need to keep your emotions under control in order to be effective and to avoid frustration, says the Lord.

Isaiah 61:3 To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."

God lead me to Isaiah 61 this morning too, I was lingering on verse 3 for some reason...you confirmed that this is indeed a word from God. I posted a similar message in a thread this morning. Agreeing with you kila, he will exchange mourning for the oil of joy, ashes for beauty, the spirit of heaviness for the garment of praise!

Agreeing with you, I am enjoying your messages, Amen!

 

[sidney]

I made a stupid mistake and I'm really going through something right now. I feel like there's something else inside of me. A demon of some sort? IDK but it's NOT me! I've never felt this way before actually. I can feel "it" going crazy inside my head. I can hear it screaming.

I was going to fast "in the future" but I need to start TODAY! There's no point in putting this off. I keep praying and it's not going away so I feel fasting needs to be my next step. Please pray for me sisters!

Praying and agreeing with youLaFemmeNaturelle! We declare that the enemy has no place over you!

 

[Laela]

February 29

John 3:26
So John's disciples came to him and said, "Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan river, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us." (New Living Translation)

The disciples of John the Baptist were concerned that their popularity was waning. John clearly understood his role from the very early days of his life. He never tried to be the central focus. Even when his ministry was in full force, he dwelt in the wilderness and demonstrated behavior some would consider strange. John was an interesting swing between the last of the Old Testament prophets, and the first of the New Testament disciples.

Wouldn't it be grand if we all could just send others to Christ without worrying about our popularity? No matter how publicly noteworthy your ministry is right now, you should be preparing to pass the baton. My first message to leadership is always: "immediately start preparing your replacement because if you don't pass the baton, you will just drop it one day." The only person that cannot be replaced is Jesus. John identified Him as the one they were waiting for and working for: now it's time to truly decrease so He can increase.

Elder S R Henderson, Pastor
Newness of Life Ministries

 

[DreamLife]

I have a ton of catching up to do on here. Right now I'm overwhelmed thinking about how far God has brought me. I'm so grateful that I have several weeks away from full time school and work so that I can take care of myself. Even though some things are still in limbo I feel at peace. God has been my strength through these long hours, missing church and just crying out to God bc I was so drained. I'm just grateful bc I know I could not have done it without Him.

 

[sidney]

Agreed, the only who should be drawing attention is Jesus himself! We are just empty vessels being used to point to Christ! What was John's words...If God most increase, I must decrease! I for one, hope to remain unpopular so that I can share his word without influence or motivation. Thank you, Amen!

February 29

John 3:26
So John's disciples came to him and said, "Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan river, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to him instead of coming to us." (New Living Translation)

The disciples of John the Baptist were concerned that their popularity was waning. John clearly understood his role from the very early days of his life. He never tried to be the central focus. Even when his ministry was in full force, he dwelt in the wilderness and demonstrated behavior some would consider strange. John was an interesting swing between the last of the Old Testament prophets, and the first of the New Testament disciples.

Wouldn't it be grand if we all could just send others to Christ without worrying about our popularity? No matter how publicly noteworthy your ministry is right now, you should be preparing to pass the baton. My first message to leadership is always: "immediately start preparing your replacement because if you don't pass the baton, you will just drop it one day." The only person that cannot be replaced is Jesus. John identified Him as the one they were waiting for and working for: now it's time to truly decrease so He can increase.

Elder S R Henderson, Pastor
Newness of Life Ministries

 

[sidney]

We don't have to do anything to earn God's grace, mercy, and favor. They are gifts. When we praise God, our "end" is to praise him. Our worship is to glorify him. We don't have to do anything to force God's hand. His gifts are all unmerited. We take practical steps for advancement...but from a spiritual point of view, all we need to do is focus on God and lifting the burdens of others...God will supply all of our needs!

 

[LifeafterLHCF]

I have small hope that I will have come comfort in areas of my life in the future. Right now I'm like totally unrested both physically and mentally. I'm happy I'm at least trying to do daily devotionals but the peace some say they have I may never experience I just want to be not anixious about the sad state of my life and achievements.

 

[kila82]

sidney AMEN AMEN AMEN!!! it always blows my mind when God sends confirmation lol I just sit here like "wooow!!!" He is so amazing! When I read this I felt compelled to post this because that spirit of depression/melancholy was trying so very hard to get to me on Monday, but God! I am now feeling like myself! NO WEAPON formed against me shall prosper!!

 

[loolalooh]

So frustrated ...

My mother called me today to discuss the "reality" of my situation. She doesn't get why I won't stay at this place, where it is "safe", where I can get "more" at the end. She even had my aunt call me to talk some "sense" into me. Plain and simple, I have absolutely no desire to be at this place. I try to find the desire but nothing. It also doesn't help that obstacles have presented themselves over the course of my time here. (I'm used to obstacles, but these obstacles have a "foreign" nature to them. They don't feel like "I am testing you" obstacles, but like "you are not meant to go this route" obstacles.)

I've been praying and praying, and though God led me to the original place that fell through and eventually gave way to this place, I don't feel in my spirit that He intends for me to stay here. However, I do question my spirit.erplexed It doesn't help that the economy, my mother, and a few other factors, all point to me "sucking it up" and staying here in the "safe" place.

I get that there are times when God wants us to do something that we may not want to do. However, this doesn't feel like one of those situations.erplexed I tell Him "God, my staying here doesn't glorify You. You can use me so much more in the other place." I ask him "God, if you want me to stay here, then put the desire on my heart." Nothing. Despite what I see in the "natural" and despite what my mother says, my desire is drawn towards another place ... a place where I feel God could use me. However, what if I'm being presumptuous about how God can use me?

I don't believe I would disappoint the Lord by going to the other place. The other place would give me a church home again. It would put me in the presence of the world. (We are to be like "salt" and the opportunity does not present itself here.) It would put me in a financial position to better help the hungry. But at the same time, that place isn't here yet.

However, when I get calls like this one making the "reality" all the more real, I start to question Him. "Am I being stupid to think You'll come through for me at the last minute?" "Am I being blind to think You want me to go to the other place?" "Are my desires of the flesh or are they of the spirit?"

All I have are a few scriptures that I "thought" He revealed to me recently. Scriptures encouraging me that He is in motion and that I should wait. I would feel so much more confident if He would just "speak out loud" to me. We all know that we can twist certain Scriptures to say what we want them to say. The enemy attempted to do so to Jesus.

 

[loolalooh]

Example of Scripture twisting:

Immediately after the breakup with my ex years ago, I asked God to reveal to me Scripture concerning the situation. Here is what He revealed to me:

James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Because I was so "in love" with my ex, I missed the true meaning of this Scripture. I thought it was indicating that "we" were facing trials as a "couple" and needed to remain strong. That this trial was merely bringing us closer to God as a "couple". It wasn't until months later that I realized this Scripture was for "me" ... not for "us".

God, please don't let me miss the point again.

 

[LifeafterLHCF]

I know when tears fall from my eyes I'm def under stress. I feel like I'm having to do so much at the same time. I trying to lose weight,gain experience in my field, grow in my spiritual walk, create a path for continued education, be found by a man, not be everything that I see as a horrid loser.

I fee like I can't think at all. I feel alot of pressure like I can't move. I'm trying to hold on because if not I know what I would do. I try to hold on to the one scriputure I would read while I growing up would cut my wrist..Psalms 30:5. I know many may think you can't be a christian with so many conflicting things. If I could only share the true me I would be seen as so wrong and I know better not to show too much.

It's darkness all around me and I'm fighting to not to allow it to win. Part of me is optimistic for the future the other is like will this be for something? I hope all this isn't in vain. I pray that this is the path I'm suppose to be on. I love what I want to become it's what keeps me trucking. God all I want right now is solace is that even possible for me?

 

[loolalooh]

Crying to this song. If anyone is broken, I encourage you to listen to this:

J Moss, "Rebuild": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eigz3vs_FQE&feature=related

Lord rebuild me(2x)
For I've taken what You've made & thrown it's value away
Oh Lord, won't You rebuild me

There's that piece of Love
There's that piece of Joy
There's that piece of Righteousness oh my soul make it whole again
There's that piece of Hope
There's that piece of Faith
There's that piece of Happiness oh my soul
God rebuild again

Bless my soul
Please, won't You do it
I've lost some things
My heart is broken
Won't You fix me Jesus
Won't You fix me Lord
I can't do without Ya
Search me, Cleanse me, Wash me
I need, I need it
I won't let go til You bless my soul
Rebuild Again

 

[LoveisYou]

Lord, give me strength! Please!

 

[kila82]

Meditating on this tonight:

"my old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die."
Galatians 2:20-21(NIV)

 

[Laela]

Heard this lil joke on the morning radio (not in those exact words)

Soo... Little Jimmie was so excited about sharing the Scripture he learned and memorized in Sunday School. He was happy to repeat it to his mom: "Luke 19:10 - For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost," he said proudly.

Mom quizzed, "Who is come to seek and to save?"
"The Son of Man!" he answered quickly
"And who did the Son of Man come to save?"
"The witch" he answered quickly..

 

[loolalooh]

Meditating on this tonight:

"my old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die."
Galatians 2:20-21(NIV)

We read the same Scripture. Amen.

 

[LoveisYou]

The secular music thread was RIGHT ON TIME!
That really explains some things for me, so on time!
Thanks to all the ladies who commented on that thread

 

[kila82]

We read the same Scripture. Amen.

Wow that's crazy!!! Lolol! I'm trying to memorize this scripture it's so powerful. If we can get the realization of what this scripture is saying we would be unstoppable!

 

[Laela]

This is so profound.... and worth repeating.

We don't have to do anything to earn God's grace, mercy, and favor. They are gifts. When we praise God, our "end" is to praise him. Our worship is to glorify him. We don't have to do anything to force God's hand. His gifts are all unmerited. We take practical steps for advancement...but from a spiritual point of view, all we need to do is focus on God and lifting the burdens of others...God will supply all of our needs!

 

[loolalooh]

Encouragement for strength:

Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

 

[alive]

I made a stupid mistake and I'm really going through something right now. I feel like there's something else inside of me. A demon of some sort? IDK but it's NOT me! I've never felt this way before actually. I can feel "it" going crazy inside my head. I can hear it screaming.

I was going to fast "in the future" but I need to start TODAY! There's no point in putting this off. I keep praying and it's not going away so I feel fasting needs to be my next step. Please pray for me sisters!

LaFemmeNaturelle just said a prayer for you. God sees your heart and He will honor your fast in Jesus name. He will never leave you when you need Him the most *hugs*

 

[Nice & Wavy]

Oh my.....

 

[aribell]

I made a stupid mistake and I'm really going through something right now. I feel like there's something else inside of me. A demon of some sort? IDK but it's NOT me! I've never felt this way before actually. I can feel "it" going crazy inside my head. I can hear it screaming.

I was going to fast "in the future" but I need to start TODAY! There's no point in putting this off. I keep praying and it's not going away so I feel fasting needs to be my next step. Please pray for me sisters!

LaFemmeNaturelle
Praying for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLvG9_Ki1LA

 

[Laela]

March 1

II Kings 10:10
Know then, that not a word the LORD has spoken against the house of Ahab will fail. The LORD has done what he promised through his servant Elijah. (New International Version)

Ahab and Jezebel wreaked havoc in the lives of God's people. God never really wanted His people to be like the other nations, but He allowed them to have a king. He wanted to be their king so He could demonstrate His love and favor. Many years after the children of Israel had Saul as their first king, Ahab and Elijah had many confrontations. Elijah the prophet had to stand up against the evil Ahab represented. Although it seemed at the time that Ahab prevailed, God had other plans; especially for his descendants. This same book tells us the outright slaughter of the descendants of Ahab, the horrible death of Jezebel, and the ruin of Ahab's posterity. It may take many, many years for God's word to come to pass, but rest assured He always comes through. God hasn't forgotten what He promised Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Elijah, Jesus, and YOU! Someone may be a thorn in your side now, but by the time God finishes with them, they will be utterly finished! His promises will far outlast your problems.

Elder S R Henderson, Pastor
Newness of Life Ministries

 

[LongTimeComing]

Being hidden isn't a bad thing.

 

[CelineB]

"God hasn't forgotten what He promised Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Elijah, Jesus, and YOU! Someone may be a thorn in your side now, but by the time God finishes with them, they will be utterly finished! His promises will far outlast your problems."

Amen, Amen, Amen .

Blessings