Monthly Archives: July 2011

07/28/11

Spirit of Truth

 

The Dangers of Compromise

John 16:13  NIV 

 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

What is being led by God’s Spirit?  It is a state of awareness in which we are constantly approaching The Throne of Grace with questions and trusting  God for answers. Jesus came to earth to sacrifice His life so that we could have a direct line to Heaven to help and strengthen us. In a modern world that is becoming more unstable every day we have more reason than ever to approach God’s Spirit for comfort and guidance.

Recently, I was watching Fox News when the story about Campus Crusade For Christ was aired.  We have to ask as a Christian community, “Is this name change a sell-out or is it a true means to win others to Christ?  How many decades have gone by with the name Campus Crusade For Christ representing an organization whose focus is on winning young souls for Christ. Whether on campus or around the world–the name has represented the spirit of those who were a part of it, laborers in God’s Vineyard.

How sad it is to see Christians back down from a full out effort to proclaim Christ as LORD of this world. The world is plunging headlong into apostasy and change of every imaginable kind. This is not the time of compromise, especially to a name such as “Cru’. This name has no relationship in the mind of the masses to the wonderful work that Campus Crusade For Christ has done. To remove Christ from the name will set a precedent that cannot be reversed.

Today’s Christians are usually either fanatical or complacent. True Christians are neither one of these. True Christians keep a steady pace with a goal in mind. They do not waver to the right nor to the left, their faith is strong and their guide is The Word of GOD.  John 1:1. What has been in the past still has validity. We cannot compromise our faith.

Does this mean that we do not seek ways to bring other converts into the Kingdom? No, this is still Jesus’ goal through the Great Commission.  It is by consistency and sticking to what is truth that others are led to Christ. It is standing and having done all to still stand.  Cru?  What does that mean to you?

Charlene

07/12/11

Psalm 16 Expounded

DAVID, the shepherd boy and future King who became one of the most memorable and influential people in history, penned this Psalm as a testimony of his continued trust in GOD. Even though David was as human as you or I , he had the ability through God’s Spirit to see His mistakes and to correct them with God’s help.

Reliance on Christ is what will get you through the hard times–when it seems as if everything you put your hands to is foiled or deflected.

David lived through some of the most challenging circumstances a person could face, but because of his faith he was able to overcome and to be a living example of humility and obedience. Check out his story in the Books of First and Second Samuel and  first Kings 1 and 2. King David is still a Christian model for us all.

Hebrews 1: 1& 2  “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.”

Faith is what holds you steady and trusting that what GOD says He will do He will perform. Have patience and wait upon the LORD. Jesus intercedes for you and will heal your wounds.     God’s Blessings, Charlene

07/11/11

Psalm 16–A Miktam of David

   

PSALM 16 

New International Version (NIV)

 

A miktam[a] of David.

 1 Keep me safe, my God,
   for in you I take refuge.

 2 I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
   apart from you I have no good thing.”
3 I say of the holy people who are in the land,
   “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
4 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
   I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
   or take up their names on my lips.

 5 LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup;
   you make my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
   surely I have a delightful inheritance.
7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
   even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I keep my eyes always on the LORD.
   With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
   my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
   nor will you let your faithful[b] one see decay.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
   you will fill me with joy in your presence,
   with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

07/5/11

Psalm 91 — A Song of Deliverance

 
 Psalm 91 is the favorite Psalm of many people. It is a Psalm of Comfort, a Psalm of Joy, and a Psalm of Deliverance. It speaks to us about trusting and resting in the shadow of God’s wings. We are assured that disease will not defeat us and those we love, and that the plotting of evildoers will be foiled.
Also, the most important lesson to learn is that you cannot logic all that God is and represents.
 
Trust is the key to understanding this Song from the Scriptures. Trust will allow you to relax in Christ, knowing that he has your interests and your welfare covered. Jesus’  blood covers all circumstances.   Charlene
 
 
 

PSALM 91

 1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
   will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
   my God, in whom I trust.”

 3 Surely he will save you
   from the fowler’s snare
   and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
   and under his wings you will find refuge;
   his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
   nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
   nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
   ten thousand at your right hand,
   but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
   and see the punishment of the wicked.

 9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
   and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
   no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
   to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
   so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
   you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

 14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
   I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
   I will be with him in trouble,
   I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
   and show him my salvation.”

 

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 91:1 Hebrew Shaddai
  2. Psalm 91:14 That is, probably the king
New International Version (NIV)