And God Said No

I got this in a grief group at ny church. Everyone who I showed this to thought is was truely inspirational. I agree!

And God Said No
by Claudia Minden Weisz

I asked God to take away my pride,
And God said, “No.”
He said it was not for him to take away,
But for me to give up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole,
And God said, “No.”
He said his spirit is whole,
His body is only temporary.
I asked God to grant me patience,
And God said “No.”
He said that patience is a byproduct of tribulation,
It isn’t granted, it’s earned.
I asked God to give me happiness,
And God said “No.”
He said he gives blessings,
Happiness is up to me.
I asked God to spare me pain,
And God said “No.”
He said, “Suffering draws you apart from worldly
cares and brings you closer to me.”
I asked God to make my spirit grow
And God said “No.”
He said I must grow on my own,
But he will prune me to make me fruitful.
I asked God to help me love others,
As much as he loves me,
And God said,
“Ah, finally, you have the idea.”

My First Mission

I started my first mission ministry today! I am a volunteer Christian counselor at a Christian homeless outreach center. I feel God led me here as several times in the last week, a similar subject would come up. Let me say that I am disabled, with several severe spine problems that prevent me from most types of employment, but I have my brain and my heart. I was speaking to my pastor just Monday night at a grief group about my disability and life experiences, and he asked me if I’d ever thought about being a grief counselor. I had never considered that though I had thought about lay ministry. Now Wednesday, after visiting the homeless outreach for the daily preaching only 3 times, I was approached by the ministry coordinator and asked if I would be interested in volunteering to counsel clients! In just a matter of days, God placed all these people and situations in my path to give me an opportunity to serve Him.

I was nervous this morning as I prayed and prepared for my day, but I knew I had the word in my heart, and the Holy Spirit would give me the right words to say. I’ve always had an easy time with people, and with some of my history before being saved, I can relate to the clients and some of the social problems at the center, including alcohol abuse. I realized soon after my first day visiting that is only but for the grace of God that I am not a client. I am hurting some tonight, but the joy I feel from my service to the Lord radiates my entire being. I am blessed.
I thank you Jesus for my disabilities, hardships, and multitude of trials you put in my path, because without them, I would not be able to be doing Your work today. Amen

A Zimbabwe Covenant

I heard this in a sermon by Dr. John Nunes of Concordia University – Irvine, CA. I do not know the origin of it, but I really thought it was wonderful. Watch the sermon, titled, “Healing Hurts”, online here.

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die is cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus. I will not look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I am finished and done with low-living, sight-walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotion, or popularity. I do not have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on God’s presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven. My road is narrow, my way rough, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not give up, shut up or let up. I will go on until Christ comes, and work until Christ stops me. I am a disciple of Jesus.

Yoga – Doctrine of Devils

A brief overview with article links on Yoga for Christians. It is dangerous, and should not be practiced by Christians!

Classical Yoga Hindu Academy States:

“Is Yoga a religion that denies Jesus Christ? Yes. Just as Christianity denies the Hindu MahaDevas such as Siva, Vishnu, Durga and Krishna, to name a few, Hinduism and its many Yogas have nothing to do with God and Jesus (though we do respect
that others believe in this way). As Hindus who live the Yogic lifestyle, we appreciate when others understand that all of Yoga is all about the Hindu religion. Modern so-called ‘yoga’ is dishonest to Hindus and to all non-Hindus such as the Christians.”
Danda,
Dharma Yoga Ashram
(Classical Yoga Hindu Academy)

A Charismatic Experience

Somehow, I just can’t seem to let go of the Word-of-Faith church I used to go to. Even though I now go to Lutheran Church of the Redeemer (LCMS) that as I have discerned, rightly divides the word of God, I am compelled to visit Living Water Ministries Inc. of Vero Beach, FL. Today, I came away from LWM feeling as if God was being mocked. I stayed for about an hour and twenty minutes and only one verse was read from the Bible (1 Corinthians 13:1-3), and that was taken out of context, not understanding that these verses are an exaggeration to show that without the greatest gift, love, all else is futile. (see also Henry’s Complete Commentary)

Of course, the totally unscriptural praise and worship music was way too loud, vibrating my very bones. I read Scripture during this time as not to be drawn into the mezmorizing effects of the repetitive rock music. After several songs, Rick McDanial, the associate pastor went into a flurry of pseudo-wisdom from his mind, not the word of God. In general, this opening talk was whipping people up, saying that, “we’re getting loose.”

On Binding Satan

by Ray C. Stedman
After pastoring for forty years I can state unequivocally that the most common cause of spiritual weakness in a Christian (or a church) is a failure to recognize the flesh in its disguise of religious zeal. Like Peter flashing a sword in Gethsemane the fleshly Christian thinks he is doing God’s will and fighting God’s battles for him.

Perhaps one of the commonest expressions of this misguided zeal is the practice of “binding Satan” before Christian ministry is attempted. The Word of God gives no justification for this practice. None of the apostles utilized this approach and no Scripture commands Christians to practice it. It is an extra-biblical performance, arising from the desire of the flesh to look committed and powerful in the service of God. Christians are told to “resist the devil” but never to bind him. Resisting the devil is done by putting on the whole armor of God, as Paul describes it in Ephesians 6. The “binding and loosing” mentioned in Matthew 18:18 refers to the agreement in prayer of believers in line with the promises of God revealed in his Word.

Relativism

C.A.R.M (CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS & RESEARCH MINISTRY )

1. “All truth is relative”
   1. If all truth is relative, then the statement “All truth is relative” would be absolutely true. If it is absolutely true, then not all things are relative and the statement that “All truth is relative” is false.
2. “There are no absolute truths”
   1. The statement “There are no absolute truths” is an absolute statement which is supposed to be true. Therefore it is an absolute truth and “There are no absolute truths” is false.
   2. If there are no absolute truths, then you cannot believe anything absolutely at all, including that there are no absolute truths. Therefore, nothing could be really true for you – including relativism.

Purpose Driven Deception

Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Scripture Twisting
In this brief examination of Warren’s popular book we will point out some examples of his purposeful, heretical distortion of the Holy Scripture. This is not to say that everything he says is wrong. The irony is that often he will say something that is Biblically correct, but rather than use proper Scriptural support, he chooses to twist the meaning of some other passage to prove his point. Our concern here is focused on his blatant twisting of the Biblical text to suit his purposes.

Another Visit to a Word of Faith Church

2 Peter 2:1 ₁But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

I went to a good solid, Bible preaching church early this morning, and was fed a good message. I also attended the Bible study lesson. However, I also chose to later go to yet the Word/Faith (WOF) church, Living Water Ministries Inc. of Vero Beach, FL I had once attended. I don’t know why I continue to visit this WOF church. I tell myself it’s as if I’m in the mission field. I should listen the Apostle Paul:

Romans 16:17-18 ₁₇Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.
₁₈For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. [emphasis mine]

The Heretical Word-Faith Movement (Part 3)

What happens to the victims – those who lose “Faith in Faith”?
In counselling those who have been caught up in the Word-Faith doctrines and then have been disillusioned, one finds many who have difficulty breaking free of these teachings. A consistent pattern of behaviour can be observed in these people. First, as with all cultic teachings, no one has ever come up with this teaching through Bible study alone. People generally find it through the influence of Word-Faith churches and the literature, tapes and seminars which originally promulgated from the USA. At this level, strong indoctrination takes place. It is through the literature and seminars that people become “positive confessors.” At this point, no negatives are allowed. God wants you healthy, wealthy, and wise. Sickness, poverty, and want are signs of spiritual weakness. If something does not go right, lack of faith is at fault. There are unfortunates, deceived by this heresy, who are still awaiting the replacement of an artificial leg or eye “when they have enough faith.” Unfortunately the Word-Faith teachers never mention the casualties of their deception which are often picked up by orthodox Christian counsellors.