01/2/14

Be Thou My Vision –A New Year Prayer (English Christian Hymn) with Lyrics

May this be your prayer for this New Year..
Song : Be Thou My Vision
(A SELAH version)
Lyrics : Dallan Forgaill(Original Irish),Mary E. Byrne(Translated to English)
,Eleanor H. Hull (Versified to the modern form)
Video Editing : Anish Thankachan

Charlene’s Source: youtube

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01/2/14

Book of Joel Chapter 1: 13 through 20– Lamentation and Desolation

A Call to Lamentation

 

 

The Prophet Joel is considered a minor Prophet, yet minor does not infer that Joel’s message to Israel was of less importance.  The nation of Israel is being judged, and the prophet has been sent to warn the people. Joel speaks to everyone, from the ministers of GOD to the workers in the field. This famine is a wake up call;  a trumpet in Zion to sound the alarm.  If there is no one to heed  the words of the prophet, destruction is nearby.  Read the entire Book of Joel, but for now observe how similar the circumstances in these verses are similar to what we face as a nation today.   Charlene

 

 

13 Put on sackcloth, you priests, and mourn;
wail, you who minister before the altar.
Come, spend the night in sackcloth,
you who minister before my God;
for the grain offerings and drink offerings
are withheld from the house of your God.

 

 

14 Declare a holy fast;
call a sacred assembly.
Summon the elders
and all who live in the land
to the house of the Lord your God,
and cry out to the Lord.

 

 

15 Alas for that day!
For the day of the Lord is near;
it will come like destruction from the Almighty.

 

 

16 Has not the food been cut off
before our very eyes—
joy and gladness
from the house of our God?
17 The seeds are shriveled
beneath the clods.
The storehouses are in ruins,
the granaries have been broken down,
for the grain has dried up.
18 How the cattle moan!
The herds mill about
because they have no pasture;
even the flocks of sheep are suffering.

 

 

19 To you, Lord, I call,
for fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness
and flames have burned up all the trees of the field.
20 Even the wild animals pant for you;
the streams of water have dried up
and fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness.

 

 

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

12/21/13

Rev. Billy Graham Messages of Awakening

Billy Graham influenced my life as a child.  He still has impact on a hurting world that is seeking answers in the midst of great turmoil. 

Have a Blessed Christmas Rev. Graham.   <3

credit: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Charlene’s Source: youtube

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12/11/13

Isaiah 7 (New International Version)

 

The Sign of Immanuel

 

 

7 When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it.

 

 

2 Now the house of David was told, “Aram has allied itself with[a] Ephraim”; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.

 

 

3 Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub,[b] to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field. 4 Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah. 5 Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s son have plotted your ruin, saying, 6 “Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.” 7 Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

 

“‘It will not take place,
it will not happen,
8 for the head of Aram is Damascus,
and the head of Damascus is only Rezin.
Within sixty-five years
Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people.
9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria,
and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son.

 

If you do not stand firm in your faith,
you will not stand at all.’”

 

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”

 

 

12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”

 

 

13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you[c] a sign: The virgin[d] will conceive and give birth to a son, and[e] will call him Immanuel.[f] 15 He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, 16 for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. 17 The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.”

 

 

Assyria, the Lord’s Instrument

 

 

18 In that day the Lord will whistle for flies from the Nile delta in Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria. 19 They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices in the rocks, on all the thornbushes and at all the water holes. 20 In that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River—the king of Assyria—to shave your head and private parts, and to cut off your beard also. 21 In that day, a person will keep alive a young cow and two goats. 22 And because of the abundance of the milk they give, there will be curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds and honey. 23 In that day, in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels,[g] there will be only briers and thorns. 24 Hunters will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers and thorns. 25 As for all the hills once cultivated by the hoe, you will no longer go there for fear of the briers and thorns; they will become places where cattle are turned loose and where sheep run.

 

 

Footnotes:

 

 

 

Isaiah 7:2 Or has set up camp in
Isaiah 7:3 Shear-Jashub means a remnant will return.
Isaiah 7:14 The Hebrew is plural.
Isaiah 7:14 Or young woman
Isaiah 7:14 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls son, and he or son, and they
Isaiah 7:14 Immanuel means G od with us.
Isaiah 7:23 That is, about 25 pounds or about 12 kilograms

 

 

New International Version (NIV)

 

 

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

12/6/13

December of 2012: Baby Jesus Stolen from Nativity Scene

By Kelly Schlicht, FOX 11 News

Updated: Friday, December 14, 2012, 5:33 PM CST

Published: Friday, December 14, 2012, 2:01 PM CST

 

5PM_FRI__Baby_Jesus_stolen_in_Menominee_378700000_JPG_24686927 (Photo courtesy: WLUK)

 

 MENOMINEE, Mich. – Christians around the world are getting ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus. But, the baby Jesus from a Nativity scene in Menominee, Michigan is missing.

 

 

People in Menominee say a very important baby has been missing for a week, and no one knows who took him.

 

 

“How sad at this time of the year, eleven days from Christmas,” said Lisa Fernstrum of Menominee, as she ate lunch with her family at the Serving Spoon Café.

 

 

At the Nativity scene in Great Lakes Memorial Marina Park, the cattle are lowing.

 

 

But Mary and Joseph stare at a blank pile of hay, instead of baby Jesus in the manger.

 

 

“I am pleading with the public if they do have any information that will assist us in the recovery of baby Jesus, it would be greatly appreciated,” said Menominee Police Chief Brett Botbyl.

 

 

 

The police chief says a passerby reported the statue stolen last Saturday. The posters have gone up around town, but there are no leads yet.

 

 

 

“There was a vulgarity-laden ransom letter in the manger and I must say it’s quite disturbing to me what was said with respect to baby Jesus,” said Botbyl, who declined to show FOX 11 News the letter.

 

 

Police say this isn’t the first time the baby Jesus figurine has been taken from the Nativity scene. It was stolen a few years ago and then replaced. Police aren’t sure if it’s a prank or a religious demonstration.

 

 

“Regardless of your religious beliefs or affiliation, the Nativity scene means a lot to many members of our community,” said Botbyl.

 

 

Folks having lunch across the street from the Nativity scene say it feels empty without the Christ child.

 

 

“I think it’s special. I know the women’s club sponsors it locally there and it’s been a part of this community for years and years. It’s the centerpiece of our Christmas decorations,” said Fernstrum.

 

 

The women’s club member in charge of the Nativity told FOX 11 News over the phone Friday that a baby doll will take Jesus’ place in the meantime.

 

 

But she says they hope he’s returned to the manger, no questions asked, by Christmas.

 

 

If you have any information about the missing statue, you’re asked to call the Menominee Police Department. Or, return the figurine to its place.

 

 

WUHW’s Source: Fox 11

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12/4/13

Birth As Life: Luke 2: 1-19 NIV

Luke 2: 11,12 NIV  Christmas  2013/2014

 

 

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the LORD. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 

 

The Birth of Christ is a scriptural truth known by most but not embraced by many. The Christmas Holiday has degraded over time into a pursuit of new technologies or toys. Many do not know that Christmas means “Christ’s Mass”– a covenant between Jesus and ourselves. He is “The Gift”. The world’s traditional gifts such as scarves, sweaters, and mittens still hang in there but have taken a back seat to tablets and smartphones. A desirable gift to me is still a book filled with treasures and truths. The ultimate book is The Holy Bible. Within its pages rests the history and spirit of a people and their GOD. Let us give praise for the birth of our Savior who came to repair the breach forged in the Garden of Eden–to bring GOD’s people back to Himself.

 

 

Let us rededicate ourselves to the fight for souls, and the filling of spirits. We know not the day nor the hour when Jesus the Christ will come back to earth to gather His Bride the Church unto Himself–but this we do know beyond earthly knowledge, for God’s Spirit dwells in us, that Jesus is coming back for those of us who have put ourselves in His ever loving care. This church lives in the hearts of men, women, and children all over the world, and is not exclusive to traditional four walled buildings.

 

 

There are some truths that speak for themselves. Mankind is trying to forget the birth of the baby Jesus in the manger, but truth will always exert over falsehood. This Christmas season should be a time for giving of ourselves and our Blessings. It is not about the commercialism, it is about the sacrifice.

 

 

Have A Wonderful Holiday Season.

 

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

 

 

Charlene

 

 

Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version©

 

 

Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2013-2015 Charlene Kirst
11/30/13

Ecclesiastes 12: Returning To the Dust

Ecclesiastes 12

 

 

Remember Your Creator in Your Youth

 

1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4 and the doors on the street are shut-when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low- 5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets- 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.

 

 

 

Fear God and Keep His Commandments

 

9 Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. 10 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.
11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

 

 

Charlene’s Source:  theWord ESV


Net Bible @ copyright © 1996-2007  by Biblical Studies Press LLC

(Old and New Testament)

 

11/14/13

Where is Jesus? Rev. Billy Graham via Devotions Daily

 

Where Is Jesus  by Billy Graham, from The Reason for My Hope

 

Editor’s Note: In what could be his final book, Billy Graham presents in The Reason for My Hope the core message that has guided his life and calling for more than 70 years. Filled with new stories and timeless truth, Dr. Graham once again calls the world back to its spiritual priority as only he can. 

* * *

 

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. — Acts 4:12

 

 What is the ultimate victory of the cross? That it could not hold the Savior of the world, who triumphed over sin and death, winning salvation for mankind. The resurrection story of Jesus Christ is what gives meaning and power to the cross. What a failure Christianity would be if it could not carry our hopes beyond the coldness and depths of the grave. You see, the resurrection means the salvation of our souls.

 

What does the resurrection mean to you? Many have never thought about it. Some believe that Jesus died leaving a legacy of “Do good to your neighbor,” never believing that He was raised from the dead. Others think the resurrection was a hoax. There are those who question whether Jesus even existed.

 

True believers in Jesus Christ have no doubt that He lived among us, died for our sins, and after three days was resurrected to life, conquering the sting of death, offering the human race the greatest gift— His sacrificial love.

 

Several months ago an entertainment network carried a story on the Billy Graham Library, highlighting it as a point of interest in the city of Charlotte, North Carolina. The show’s cohost, Kristy Villa, arrived on the property along with her crew and was met by a colleague who explained what visitors might experience while there. She drew the journalist’s attention to the many crosses displayed, including the forty-foot glass cross through which visitors enter the building.

 

Halfway through the presentation Villa said with a sense of awe, “I see all the crosses, but where is Jesus?” The colleague smiled and said, “He’s in Heaven, and He is also present in the lives of those who believe in Him and follow Him as their personal Lord and Savior.”

 

The journalist threw her hands around her face and exclaimed, “Oh, that’s right! Some worship a crucifix, but Christians worship a risen Christ.” After a moment Villa said, “I have been in church my whole life, but I have never heard the emphasis put on an empty cross.”

 

She may not have realized it, but she had just proclaimed the heart of the Gospel, as I have done for more than seventy years, and later told her viewers, “This destination [the Library] is a place you must come and see!” When I heard this marvelous report, it made my heart leap, and I thought about the words of the psalmist: “Come and see what God has done . . . for mankind!” (Psalm 66:5 NIV).

 


The question we must all answer is, “What does Jesus’ work on the cross and His resurrection mean to us, and what does it mean to be saved?”

 

Many people, including some who claim to be Christians, do not fully grasp the impact that the crucified and risen Christ makes upon the human heart. How do I know this? Because there is no change in them. Have you asked yourself, “What do I believe about the empty cross and the empty tomb?”

 

The foot of the empty cross is the ultimate destination in life. Your acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice, or your rejection of it, determines your future life. If you do not believe that Jesus died for you, then you will remain the same, being gripped by sin and dying by its penalty, with certainty of eternal judgment in Hell and banishment from God. But if you believe that Jesus rose from the grave, achieving victory over the cross of death, and you accept that He paid your penalty, you will never be the same.

 

 

The Empty Cross Is Full of Hope

 

The cross represents doom for sin and hope for sinners. It condemns sin and cleanses souls. The cross is where Jesus was crucified in our place and where Christ brings resurrection life to mankind. The bloodstained cross is gruesome to some, but the empty cross is full of hope.

 

Satan, overly eager to thwart God’s purposes, overstepped his bounds, and God turned what seemed to be life’s greatest tragedy into history’s greatest triumph. The death of Christ, perpetrated by evil men, was thought by them to be the end, but His grave became but a doorway to a larger victory.

 

The resurrection empowers faith in Jesus Christ. If I did not believe that Christ overcame death on the cross and bodily rose from the grave, I would have quit preaching years ago. I am absolutely convinced that Jesus is living at this moment at the right hand of God the Father and reigns in my heart. I believe it by faith, and I believe it by evidence found in the Scriptures.

 

 Luke, a physician and disciple of Jesus, was one of the most brilliant men of his day; he made this startling statement about the resurrection in the book of Acts: “He . . . presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3).

 

These “infallible proofs” have been debated for two thousand years. Many people have come to know the truth while they tried to prove Jesus’ resurrection a lie and failed. Others ignore the facts recorded in the best-selling book of all time, the Bible.

 

 

http://www.faithgateway.com/where-is-jesus/?utm

 

 

Your Turn

 

As Billy Graham asked in this excerpt, what does Jesus’ work on the cross and His resurrection mean to you? And how has this truth transformed your life?  Share your thoughts and comment on our blog! We would love to hear from you!  ~ Devotionals Daily

 

 

 

 Credit: Devotions Daily

Charlene’s  Source: www.faithgateway.com

 

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11/14/13

November 14, 2013 Thanksgiving Medley

Thanksgiving Medley

Along with Christmas and Easter, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I enjoy the subdued commercialism, the time with family, and the smells of this holiday–but most of all the opportunity to say Thank You to The Lord of Hosts. Every breath and every morsel has come through Him.

credit: crcworship

Charlene’s Source: youtube

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11/4/13

1 Corinthians 3 / 2 Corinthians 3 NIV : Let Us Not Be Puffed Up

Paul speaks of the tendency of humans to raise people above GOD. This is not necessarily a conscious act,  but it does have its consequences. On the surface of the epistle, Paul is speaking of how different ministers of the Gospel are being weighed one against another as if one has a more effective ministry than the other. The question is how do you weigh a ministry’s effectiveness?  Is it in the masses or numbers of individuals touched by the LORD through His servants? Is it in the one-on-one opportunities that allow the deeper needs of the person to be addressed? Is it the size of the congregation, the teachings, or the number of missionaries sent out into the world?

 

 

To be honest, it is all of the above and more. Where the dilemma lies is in the way that we as humans perceive the individuals who minister. There are some who are more visible than others, namely,  evangelists who are more visible through the media. These ministers of The Word receive more recognition because they are obviously doing the work. We should thank GOD for them. However, there are many who will never be visible to the masses on an international, national, or perhaps even regional level. These are the saints who labor each day in the local ministry; who perform the work without thought of reward or recognition.  Yet, even among these ministers people  tend to make comparisons, forgetting that the author and finisher of our faith is our LORD Jesus Christ.

 

 

Paul admonishes those who do not realize that the entire work of ministry is through The Spirit of The LORD, sent by Christ to labor with us here on earth as our guide, teacher, and comforter.  No one performs a perfect work except through Him; the recognition should be in Him.  Paul speaks of faith and hope that is realized through the Trinity:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We must be careful to give GOD the praise, not we as His servants. 

 

 

As born-again Christians, we should not be hampered by the veil which was split in two on the day of Christ’s death, thus the day of redemption.  We have complete access to Heaven because this veil no longer exists.  All of our needs are supplied directly by communication to the Spirit of GOD .  Do not honor man but honor The LORD. You shall receive your full reward through Him.

 

 

GOD Bless You, Charlene

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 3  NIV

 

 

 

3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?

 

 

5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

 

 

10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

 

 

16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

 

 

18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[a]; 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[b] 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[c] or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

 

 

Footnotes:

 

 

  1. 1 Corinthians 3:19 Job 5:13

  2. 1 Corinthians 3:20 Psalm 94:11

  3. 1 Corinthians 3:22 That is, Peter

 

2 Corinthians 3  NIV

 

 

3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

 

 

4 Such confidence we have through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

 

 

The Greater Glory of the New Covenant

 

 

7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

 

 

12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

 

 

Footnotes:

 

 

 

a. 2 Corinthians 3:18 Or reflect

 

 

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.