James Calvert
Wesleyan Methodist Missionary
Missionary to Fiji Islands
On his way to The Fiji Islands,
the ship captain tried to turn him back, saying, "You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages." To that, Calvert replied, "We died before we came here."
Monday, July 19, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
The Bible is the Word of God
Supernatural in origin,
Eternal in duration,
Inexpressible in valor,
Infinite in scope,
Regenerative in power,
Infallible in authority,
Universal in interest,
Personal in application.
Inspired in totality.
Read it through, write it down, pray it in, work it out, and than pass it on. Truly the Word of God changes a man until he becomes an "epistle of God." It transforms his mind, changes his character, moves him on from grace to grace,and makes him an inheritor of the very nature of God.God comes in, dwells in, walks in, talks through, and sups with him who opens his being to the Word of God.
Smith Wigglesworth
"Behold to obey is better than sacrifice" I Samuel 15:22
Thursday, July 15, 2010
TRUTH THAT HURTS BUT HELPS.
When we come to a place in our life or society where we cannot give or receive truth we are in danger. We are instructed not to tell others anything that might hurt their feelings. Yet many of those who are trying to control us with this type of thinking go about saying whatever they want. It is a devious work of the enemy trying to stop truth from being spoken.
The Bible states that there are times when friends may say things to us that may hurt our feelings but in the end it is beneficial for our own welfare. Proverbs 27:6b states "...but faithful are the wounds of a friend" NIV. Nobody likes to be wounded. It hurts. It is uncomfortable. But in the end we will benefit from the advice given to us if we receive it and act upon it.
I do not enjoy confronting others with words that I know might hurt their feelings but as a friend there are times I need to speak them. I will pray over the situation for some time before I would share with any individual.
We need to also check our attitudes when involved in such a situation. Ephesians 4:15 states that we need to be, "...speaking the truth in love" NIV. That means that when I go to speak to another person I will be patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not full of self-pride, not rude, not seeking my own selfish desires, not angry, and not going with a list of things that the other person did that was wrong. I will go with an attitude that seeks truth and not with rejoicing in evil. I will also go with an attitude that wants to protect the other person and trust them. I must go with an attitude of hope that will cause me to want to persevere so that the person or relationship can be restored. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). If we will do this, according to Ephesians 4:15, "...we will in all things grow up into Him, Who is the Head, that is, Christ" NIV.
The Bible states that there are times when friends may say things to us that may hurt our feelings but in the end it is beneficial for our own welfare. Proverbs 27:6b states "...but faithful are the wounds of a friend" NIV. Nobody likes to be wounded. It hurts. It is uncomfortable. But in the end we will benefit from the advice given to us if we receive it and act upon it.
I do not enjoy confronting others with words that I know might hurt their feelings but as a friend there are times I need to speak them. I will pray over the situation for some time before I would share with any individual.
We need to also check our attitudes when involved in such a situation. Ephesians 4:15 states that we need to be, "...speaking the truth in love" NIV. That means that when I go to speak to another person I will be patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not full of self-pride, not rude, not seeking my own selfish desires, not angry, and not going with a list of things that the other person did that was wrong. I will go with an attitude that seeks truth and not with rejoicing in evil. I will also go with an attitude that wants to protect the other person and trust them. I must go with an attitude of hope that will cause me to want to persevere so that the person or relationship can be restored. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). If we will do this, according to Ephesians 4:15, "...we will in all things grow up into Him, Who is the Head, that is, Christ" NIV.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
A HOLY INSPIRATION!
I feel a holy inspiration to join the heavenly celebration.
With the heavenly host and the Holy Ghost.
Angels, heaveny creatures, saints, alive and dead gathered around the throne.
Worshipping and praising in a heavenly tone.
Bowing down in adoration to Father and to Son.
Thanking them for the complete victory they had won.
Suddenly a holy hush fills the entire place.
As all begin to gaze upon the Savior's face.
What is just a heaveny moment feels like eternity.
As all look upon The One that has set mankind free.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!!! All begin to cry.
Filled with holy emotions...All hands are lifted high.
WE LOVE YOU JESUS!!!
WE LOVE YOU ABBA!!!
by Bruce J. Bender July 11, 2010
With the heavenly host and the Holy Ghost.
Angels, heaveny creatures, saints, alive and dead gathered around the throne.
Worshipping and praising in a heavenly tone.
Bowing down in adoration to Father and to Son.
Thanking them for the complete victory they had won.
Suddenly a holy hush fills the entire place.
As all begin to gaze upon the Savior's face.
What is just a heaveny moment feels like eternity.
As all look upon The One that has set mankind free.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!!! All begin to cry.
Filled with holy emotions...All hands are lifted high.
WE LOVE YOU JESUS!!!
WE LOVE YOU ABBA!!!
by Bruce J. Bender July 11, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Tale of Two Man
Some time ago there were two men. Both of them were taken advantage of by many people over and over again.
One of them continually thought of the abuse he had received and as a result grew angry and bitter. Because his thoughts were always on the abuse he had received he even began to believe things that were not true. He wanted to prove to everyone that he had been mistreated unfairly. He was so involved with trying to justify himself that he never accomplished all the great things God had prepared for him.
The other man was also treated unfairly at times but his attitude was different. Instead of accusing others of what they had done to him he tried to look for the best in them. When someone would inform him how he had been mistreated by others he would refuse to allow it to enter into his spirit and instead would make excuses for them and pray for the best for them. As a result he had a continual joy and peace about him that was a blessing to all who came around him.
Which man was blessed by God? " Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous - with life joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account. Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense),..." (Matthew 5:11,12 Amplified Bible).
All of us feel that we have been mistreated by others at times. Sometimes it might have been an actual deliberate attack against our character by someone wishing to gain power or achieve some other type of recognition to promote themselves. Other times it may not have been premeditated.
The important thing is how we react or respond in these type of situations. Our "flesh" wants to retaliate and "get even" but the scriptures state otherwise. If anyone had the right to defend themselves...Jesus did. But scriptures state, " He was oppressed, [yet when] He was afflicted, He was submissive and opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb (silent), so He opened not His mouth. " (Isaiah 53:7 Amplified Bible).
Some may say, " But that was Jesus. I am not Jesus! " That may be true... but the Same Holy Spirit that lived in Him and anointed Him to love and serve also lives within every believer. Scriptures state, " ...But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God." (Romans 8: 9b Amplified Bible).
That is why Jesus commanded His disciples, " ...Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44b Amplified Bible). He equipped us to be able to do that which is contrary to the "natural" unregenerate man.
Romans 5:5b states, " ...God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us." (Amplified Bible). Therefore let us all yield to the Word of God and Spirit of Christ and we will enter into a realm of God where the world will know we are Christians by our love to one another and the kingdom of God will be established in our lives and here on earth. " Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Amen.
Remember... God gives His love to us so we can give that same love to others.
Have a blessed week in Jesus, brother Bruce and sister Snooks
One of them continually thought of the abuse he had received and as a result grew angry and bitter. Because his thoughts were always on the abuse he had received he even began to believe things that were not true. He wanted to prove to everyone that he had been mistreated unfairly. He was so involved with trying to justify himself that he never accomplished all the great things God had prepared for him.
The other man was also treated unfairly at times but his attitude was different. Instead of accusing others of what they had done to him he tried to look for the best in them. When someone would inform him how he had been mistreated by others he would refuse to allow it to enter into his spirit and instead would make excuses for them and pray for the best for them. As a result he had a continual joy and peace about him that was a blessing to all who came around him.
Which man was blessed by God? " Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous - with life joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account. Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense),..." (Matthew 5:11,12 Amplified Bible).
All of us feel that we have been mistreated by others at times. Sometimes it might have been an actual deliberate attack against our character by someone wishing to gain power or achieve some other type of recognition to promote themselves. Other times it may not have been premeditated.
The important thing is how we react or respond in these type of situations. Our "flesh" wants to retaliate and "get even" but the scriptures state otherwise. If anyone had the right to defend themselves...Jesus did. But scriptures state, " He was oppressed, [yet when] He was afflicted, He was submissive and opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb (silent), so He opened not His mouth. " (Isaiah 53:7 Amplified Bible).
Some may say, " But that was Jesus. I am not Jesus! " That may be true... but the Same Holy Spirit that lived in Him and anointed Him to love and serve also lives within every believer. Scriptures state, " ...But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God." (Romans 8: 9b Amplified Bible).
That is why Jesus commanded His disciples, " ...Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44b Amplified Bible). He equipped us to be able to do that which is contrary to the "natural" unregenerate man.
Romans 5:5b states, " ...God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us." (Amplified Bible). Therefore let us all yield to the Word of God and Spirit of Christ and we will enter into a realm of God where the world will know we are Christians by our love to one another and the kingdom of God will be established in our lives and here on earth. " Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Amen.
Remember... God gives His love to us so we can give that same love to others.
Have a blessed week in Jesus, brother Bruce and sister Snooks
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
New Life
The Bible says that we love God because He first loved us. The following contain a narration of Scriptures from the Bible that reveal how much God loves and cares for us. These are just a few of the many contained in the Bible. May you be blessed as you hear what God says about you.If after hearing what God says about you and you want to be blessed as He wants you to, just believe in your heart and say with your mouth, " Thank You God for loving me so much. I believe that You sent Your Son, Jesus, to die as a sacrifice to pay the price for all the mistakes I ever made in life, so I can be cleansed from my sin and be made righteous with You. Forgive me for not acknowledging You in my life. I am coming to You for a clean start. You said that when I come to You, You will accept me into Your family and I will be a whole new creation. You also said that You will give me Your Holy Spirit, Who will pour Your love out in my heart, empower me to live for You, teach me, give me Christian fruit and gifts and lead me as I love and serve the Lord. I turn from doing things my way and turn to You to use me as You see fit. Thank you God, that You are now my Father. Thank You Jesus for dying for my sins. Thank You Holy Spirit for coming into my life."Now that your new life has begun, begin to read the Bible and do what it says, pray (which is simply talking to God) and listening in your spirit to what He has to say to you and spend time with others who are a part of God's family. If you have any questions or have responded to God as previously mentioned you can e-mail us and we will help to the best of our knowledge. Have a blessed eternity!
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