A Moment Of Epiphany...

A Moment Of Epiphany..., originally uploaded by emptybelly.

In the Greek Orthodox Tradition, today is :

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today

The Lord said this parable, "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:9-14

Burning with Joy!!

Burning with Joy!!, originally uploaded by emptybelly.

Joy is prayer. Joy is strength. Joy is love. Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. God loves a cheerful giver. She gives most who gives with joy. The best way to show our gratitude to God and the people is to accept everything with joy. A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love. Never let anything so fill you with sorrow as to make you forget the joy of the Christ risen.
Mother Teresa

No fishing!

No fishing!, originally uploaded by emptybelly.

Once you have asked God to forgive you for a particular sin, dont go fishing in order to do the same sin again...

"For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin." Psalm 38:18 (KJV)
"But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." 1 John 1:9 (NLT)

Solitude...

Solitude..., originally uploaded by emptybelly.

"As often as possible Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer." Luke 5:16 (The Message)

When was the last time you withdrew in solitude to converse with the living God?

Masks...

Masks..., originally uploaded by emptybelly.

Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we're not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don't twist God's Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.

2 Corinthians 4:1-2 (The Message)

Block Placement Prayer Letter #01

Just a quick letter, whereby we have our prayer requests:

1. That as I go on block placement ot Lymington Baptist church, that the following would occur:

a. For people I deal and interact with:

That t the end of placement they should be able to know that they have had the gospel clearly explained, and continue to move on in their spiritual journey

b. That at the end of placement I should be able to evaluate the contribution that the improvements to the church website and the podcasts have made to evangelism and discipleship in LBC, whilst being able to identify the lessons that I have learned for my own future ministry about evangelism, discipleship and motivating others.

2. That dissertation will continue to be worked upon... The title of my dissertation "Is Virtual Church part of the one, holy, apostolic and catholic church: An analysis of the Virtual Church movement." Pray please that the case studies will be co-operative!!

3. Our future life and ministry and where we should go after graduation. Our mutual & current feeling is to find some form of ministry job and contine studying for a Masters... We are open to moving back to Australia in order to help the church in rural climes there...

4. Pray for Youngmi and her wrists... In September she had an operation to relieve Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in her left wrist. She is still not able to play her violin, and as that is/was her major form of relaxation, you can imagine that she is sometimes frustrated...

5. Some in the past have asked how they could help us out financially... If you would like to assist us financially in our final year at Moorlands, then you can do so by looking at our Amazon.co.uk wishlist, which is at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/registry/1GLJRCNWYSWK2

6. If you have something about which you would like us to pray for you, please do let us know

Thanks for your support, prayers and supplications...

Dave

Atheism...

"Atheist's fight hard against something that, as they see it, doesn't exist...Why are they so angry about it? I don't understand it. Such animosity represents moral rebellion against God. And that rebellion is a fight to the death--the death of one's own willfulness."- Chuck Colson...

Good question, Chuck!! The reason people put up barriers against belief in God, is due not to the perceived irrationality of holding a belief in God. The main barrier is their own immorality which would necessitate a change in their lifestyle, would they to become believers in God. This is of course true... But to turn to God, you dont need to change anything... Once you do turn to God, following Him wholehearedly, you commence a journey whereby you seek to please Him and Him alone, whereby you will want to change your life to one where He is honoured...

Christmas every day...

I wonder if this is your experience. Over the past few weeks, people have said things like "Don't you just enjoy Christmas time of year?", to which I usually reply, that for me, Christmas is every day of the year. As a Christian, the very incarnation of Jesus has a direct affect on me. When God became as a little baby two thousands years ago, in order to offer all people salvation as a free gift, it affects every part of my life and belief. If there was no first Christmas, I would still be lost and without relationship with God. If Jesus didnt come to earth, there would have been no sacrifice on the cross for our sins. If that baby, 33 years later hadnt risen from the dead, then my faith would have been in vain. More than these things, my prayers would merely bounce off the ceiling or nearest cloud, instead of going to our mediator who sits at the right hand of God. When I die, I would not be guaranteed a place in paradise through Jesus' sacrficial work and my name would not be written in the Lamb's book of life. Most of all, Christmas is for every day, because each day gives the chance for people to accept the free gift of salvation offered by Jesus. Each day, people accept that gift. Why dont you?