A NEW YEARS RESOLUTION – THE MASTER PLAN

The message below was written by a very dear friend of mine, Al Donley. He is a true brother in Christ and is always willing to share his faith. He wrote this article many years ago but it is truly fitting for today. It is a message of hope through Jesus Christ.

As you begin this new year, let it be the year of your surrender to Christ. It will be the beginning of a new life which can never be destroyed. You will know that you have a future with promise no matter what struggles you face. You will understand that your life is now in the hands of the Master and he will not fail you.

Throughout this year, I will be praying for all of you who visit this site. Please know that you are loved and that God will never leave you alone to fight your battles. You now have hope because Christ lives!

A NEW YEARS RESOLUTION – Which plan will you choose?
By Allen Donley

As we awaken each new day and reality replaces the night dreams, do we find ourselves still imprisoned and enslaved? But you say we are free to move about and do as we please, so how could we possibly be slaves or prisoners? Yet in the deep recesses of our minds we are not totally sure and we ask the age-old question, why?

Are we indeed imprisoned by our own thoughts and desires? Do
we have no hope? Why do the mistakes of yesterday or even of
years gone by still plague us? We seem to dwell on them all of our
waking moments. Is there no answer, no solution? Doesn’t this
world always offer instant gratification? There must be those who
have the answers, the keys to all of life’s problems. These people
are all around us. We have seen them. They have broad smiles, a
quick handshake, and a pat on the back. Some even call themselves
Christians. We have all heard them brag about their tried and proven plans, for many of them have written volumes on their one formula that fits all problems. I have to admit that it certainly has worked for many of them, so I don’t see any reason it won’t work for me.

Perhaps I will be one of the enlightened ones that will be able to expound on the subject and make my fortune. I have to admit I’m a little anxious, even at times skeptical, but I have been assured not to fear. If the plan doesn’t work right away, I just have to work harder.

I might even have to try a different approach, but it is guaranteed to work! Really, I ask, guaranteed? By whom? Why it’s guaranteed to work by you, the user. You just have to keep trying. How long do I have to keep trying? Don’t you get it? You keep trying until it works. It’s guaranteed!

That’s good enough for me. I’ll just read the book, study it, map out my plan, write it down, visualize it, then, pour my whole being into it.

What’s that old saying? Body, mind, and soul? I never have quite
figured out the soul part, but it sounds good. It just takes self-confidence and time, and I’m still young so I have plenty of time to develop it; but I do have to admit my parent’s were right, time does seem to go quicker with each passing year. But then why should I worry about that, that’s for people my dad’s age to worry about. You know I have been working this plan for quite some time now and I have to admit that I don’t quite understand why I still wake up each morning with the same old anxieties and worries. Somehow I still feel like a slave to the system. I guess I’ll just have to work harder because I Know this plan is guaranteed to work. I probably just haven’t recognized it yet. That’s strange, the time is passing rather quickly and I’m getting overwhelmed. Maybe if I tell others about the plan, even teach them what I know to be true, then I can master it.

I’m getting more anxious by the day because the time is passing
faster and faster. This plan must work; it’s guaranteed! Time is
running out and the plan still isn’t working. I don’t understand this.

I’m in a state of shock. This cannot be happening. I refuse to
believe it. I have spent my entire adult life pursing this plan. It’s guaranteed! I’m getting desperate. Could there be another plan? One that doesn’t take so long to develop, because the sands of time have taken its toll, and the last grains are about to pass through the narrow opening. The narrow opening, the narrow opening, why is that important?

Let me analyze this thought. Is the phrase the narrow opening significant or even an awareness to a bigger and better plan? Or is my mind just desperately searching for a plan that doesn’t exist?

Is there perhaps another part of my being that I have refused to
acknowledge? The soul? Is there a real soul in each person? I
remember as a small child hearing of a plan, a very simple plan; but it seems too simple, and how could something so simple really work?

The sand is still draining through the narrow opening, and it’s nearly finished. All I can do is stare at the hour-glass in total disbelief. I know I have only moments left and my mind is reeling in total shock. I’m scared, even terrified. What was that plan, the simple plan? Oh God, if you are real, please hear my desperate cry for help. I can’t remember the simple plan. A prayer; but from my heart? Yes, God!

Just ask for forgiveness and accept the finished work on the cross by the carpenter – the carpenter from Nazareth. Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God who has the Perfect Plan. He died in my place and took all of my sins upon Himself so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life, for if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead you will be saved. Lord Jesus, I believe, and accept your free gift of salvation. Thank you Lord Jesus for revealing Your Perfect Plan to me – as the last grain of sand passes through the narrow opening!

 

KNOWING THE POWER OF GOD

“For I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that he is able to guard that which I trust to him for that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)

In order to have a life of joy and victory no matter what trials you face, you must know the God you serve.  There must be nothing that keeps you from standing against the enemy no matter how difficult things become in your life.  For that reason, your faith must be hinged on knowing that Christ is more than enough to take you through your pain.  You must know that he will never fail you. And unless you have his Spirit living in you and working through you, you will never experience all that God has for you.

There is always going to be storms and trials in life.  Jesus came to this earth to set us free from the bondage of sin but he told us that we would have trouble in this life.  His purpose was not stop all struggles in this life but rather to show us his power and his character as he takes us through them all.  It is only in going through the fire that you know that God is over the fire.  It is by facing disappointments and heartache that you find that God is able to heal your pain and make you new.  Only by living through the battles that you face here on earth can you realize that your God is bigger than any enemy you face. And it is by facing the winds and waves of trouble that you know without a doubt that God is in authority and control over all things.  You can have peace despite all that you endure because you know that nothing can destroy you and all things will be used for your good – for the purpose he allowed.  God’s permission must be given for everything that touches the life of a believer who lives in Christ.

If you know Christ as Lord and Savior, you have the protection of legions of angels who are commanded to watch over you.  The enemy knows that he can’t win over the army of God so he works to convince you that God is not able to help you.  When you start to fear in the midst of a trial, you are giving the devil a foothold to take you down.  You are letting the seeds of doubt overwhelm you and take your eyes from the truth. You are letting a lie keep you in bondage instead of taking God at his word.

The Apostle Paul knew his God.  He trusted that whether in life or death, God was in complete control.  There was nothing that Paul was going to face that God did not know in advance and prepare him for.  Paul did not look at his circumstance and cower in fear.  He looked at the power of his God and fought the good fight until the end.  He understood that death could only bring him to see the face of the God he loved.  Nothing was going to happen to him outside of the will of Christ who had every detail of his life secure.

When you face difficulties and trouble in your life, you can choose to believe God or fall victim to the deceiver from hell.  We are only passing through this life. It is a journey that is going to take us to riches and glory that our minds cannot now comprehend.  We will live with Christ is a place of unspeakable beauty that will never end.  Never let that truth leave your heart.

Start today to seek out Christ in everything that you do.  He is able to give those who trust him the peace and joy and work out all of their struggles.  When you give in to fear, you are giving in to a lie from hell.  Jesus overcame the world and he has the power to help you get to victory.    I am praying for you!

 

ALWAYS DIGGING DEEPER FOR THE TREASURE

 I found this message on the Watchman Nee Ministries and I felt it was one that I should share with you. We are all going through trials and struggles and sometimes we  grow weary trying to understand it all.  I ask that you read through this message and find some peace knowing that God is fully aware of all you are enduring.   God bless you, my friends, as you grow in God’s grace and mercy!

 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bible Verses ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2 Cor. 4:7  But we have this treasure [Christ] in earthen
vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and
not out of us.  (8)  We are pressed on every side but not
constricted; unable to find a way out but not utterly without
a way out;  (9)  Persecuted but not abandoned; cast down but
not destroyed;  (15)  For all things are for your sakes that
the grace which has abounded through the greater number may
cause the thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Words of Ministry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is an amazing thing that in our experience the Holy Spirit
can empty us. When we first became a Christian, we considered
ourselves to be rather good and capable in everything. But
after some time we noticed that the life we were living was
short of the Christian standard; we realized that we had
failed and could not go on anymore. Consequently, we felt
dissatisfied, and we prayed for God to fill us up and make us
obedient. God then ordered some unbearable and distasteful
circumstances to come upon us. Yet by the grace of God, we
eventually overcame them. Then we had something to testify
about, and we were able to say that we overcame. We were able
to say that we overcame a certain particular matter and that,
at a certain point in time, God filled us. We may have even
thought that we would be an overcomer from that point on. But
surprisingly, after some time, the victory was lost, and
failure came back again. We thought that it was very easy to
overcome, but it seemed as if all strength was gone, and new
obstacles were before us again. There seemed to be a wall in
front of us; we could not find any way out, and there did not
seem to be any way to bypass it. Consequently, we said that
our previous victory was lost, and we were no longer filled
with God.

What is the significance of this kind of experience? You
should bear in mind that in God’s eyes the Christian life
should be an ever-deepening life. A Christian should become
emptier and emptier, and the Lord’s riches to him should
become fuller and fuller. After passing the first hurdle, you
may think that there can be no higher life than what you have
experienced; you may think that you can advance no further
and that you have reached the summit. The Lord knows your
condition. He does not want you to think that you have
abundant life already. Therefore, He allows new difficulties
to come upon you, and He places impossible things before you.
Based on your past experiences, you may think that you will
overcome again. But you fail at your first attempt. You may
attribute your failure to the lack of vigilance and effort,
and you may take greater care and exert more energy in
tackling the situation the second time. Yet you fail again.
Eventually, you will find that you cannot overcome this
hurdle; there is no way to handle the matter. But God has
only one reason for doing this–to lead you on further and to
dig more deeply into you so that you may receive more
filling. This is why new difficulties are in front of you all
the time. Unless you have fresh filling, you will not be able
to overcome these fresh difficulties. All your difficulties
are ordered by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of creating a
stronger craving and hunger in you for Him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible
and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, General Messages,
Vol. 37, in The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, pp. 133-135. 
Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.

 

CONQUERING YOUR STRUGGLES

                            It doesn’t depend on man’s desire or effort but on God’s mercy

Troubles can plague every single one of us.  Right now,  your situation may be pretty bleak andit may seem like there is no hope in sight.  It may even appear that your world is crumbling right before your eyes.  So what do we do and what does God’s word tell us about our problems?  Paul tells us this truth in the book of Romans: 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  (Romans 8:28) 

In all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37) 

No problem that you face is able to destroy a child of God who has faith in the work that Jesus did for us on the cross.  God knows how to change your situation and make the outcome one of hope.  He knows how to restore families, heal sicknesses and provide for all of your needs in life.  He is more than able for  the price has been paid at Calvary for your victory. There is nothing sadder than to see a believer downcast and acting defeated by the burdens he has.  Each trial and struggle has a purpose in your life to bring you to the knowledge of the love and power of the God you serve.  Never surrender in your difficulties and think that your situation is too impossible for anyone to help.  God is the Master and the Lord over all things on this earth and in heaven.  He calls the stars out one by one each night and he does not lose one.  He has the days of your life numbered and nothing can change that.  He has given you purpose and design so that you can live in victory despite what others may think or how bad your problems are.  

Your past has nothing to do with your future when you have surrendered yourself to Christ.  He already knows where you are and he knows how to get you where he wants you to be.  He is the lifter of your head and he is the one who carries your burdens.  His love never fails an you cannot fall too far for him to help you.  In all things he is sovereign and his power knows no end. The winds of every struggle must obey his will in your life!

So what do you fear in your life? What anxious thoughts do you dwell on?  Whatever they are, give them over to Christ.  There is nothing that you can do to help yourself for your strength is limited.  Give your struggles, your problems, your fears and your desires to the One who can make all things happen for the good in your life.  Trust in the power that Jesus died to give you. Decide this day that you will choose to follow Jesus.  Then watch and see how he gives you back what the enemy stole from you –  your future!  

God bless you and never doubt that you are loved and that God’s grace can meet you where you are.  Just surrender your will to his.  There are no losers with Christ!

 

Hurting from an Abortion?

    I know that there are a lot of ladies out there who are hurting from an abortion, so I just wanted to put this blog up for those who are hurting.   

     I wanted to share an email that a good friend in Christ shared with another friend of mine who was praying for someone she knew who was seriously considering abortion.  He emailed this out to her very early in the AM and I thought that it might help someone out there.  Feel free to comment and I will be sure to forward your comments to Marc.  He may even comment back to you on the blog page.  May the Lord do an amazing work in the lives of people thinking about or have had and abortion. 

      “Hello, Well as time ticks by I’ve been prompted a number of times tonight to email my experience to you. So as always I’m slow to listen it 1:45 am. I hope this doesn’t come to late and sound to corny. Use if you think it will help and if not I understand. I’ve never wrote it out before, well here we go. I came to Christ at 37 years old “8 years ago” and before that lead a some what wild life. At one point I gave someone money for a abortion “not my baby” but gave the money and means to go forward with it. And one was mine and the mother decided she did not want a child, I figured it was her body and her choice, although we did talk about the options. We opted for the abortion.

After coming to faith I never really repented or took responsibility for my part in this whole thing. I’m sure God was trying to get me to take responsibility but remember I’m a little slow to listen. The night God decided to nudge me, I want to make clear I had NOT watched a movie or read anything or had any thing that would of triggered my experience. As Paul said “whether in the body or out of the body I do not know” I call it a dream but a dream of like I have never experienced, so vivid so real. First I’m in heaven and I hear God’s voice tell me I must take responsibility for my actions, he never said what, but some how I knew. I start crying and said I’m was so sorry and that I didn’t understand. And asked him to please forgive me. Then he told me I need to tell them and I raised my head and saw two little kids running toward me. I fell to my knee’s and wrapped my arms around them sobbing. I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry I kept saying and that I didn’t understand. Please forgive me. This went on for a minute or two. Then I woke up sobbing so uncontrollably that I was gasping for breath. It took me 15 to 20 minutes just to settle down and stop crying and catch my breath. I was gasping so hard that I was somewhat hyperventilating. I know it sound a little strange but it was the most humbling experience of my life.

As a guy we don’t like to talk about crying but it was crying on a whole new level for me, I had never cried like that. But that’s what happens when God brings us to accountability and you face your sin and your pride is stripped away. I don’t know where this young lady is with her walk with Christ but I do know this that one day she to will stand before Christ and have to answer for her choice one way or another. I’m not trying to scare her but trying to inform her that her baby is alive in God’s eyes and it wants to live. And know this if you make the right choice it may not be easy but God will honor it. God loves you and wants you to live with out regrets. Regrets that can haunt you and “us” for a life time. I do know that the one woman has had a hard time getting over her abortion and feels great guilt. When you look back some day, if you choose to give your baby life, I know one thing you won’t have guilt hanging over you. Most likely it will be the best decision you ever make or at least one of them.

 I will continue to Pray and if you guys need to talk or would like to talk, please call.

God Bless, Marc”

Check out this site about abortion and get the facts. This ministry in based in Rockford, IL.  Amazing site!

http://www.abort73.com/

 

Bottom line is, people need the love of Jesus Christ and need to be saved.  Help us to spread the our “Internet Offensive” and call people, especially our ‘church’ culture, back to the Truth of the Gospel!  Click below.

http://time2stand.wordpress.com/2008/12/30/professing-christians-churches-church-members-this-is-your-wake-up-call-the-time2stand-is-now-a-urgency-to-rise-is-at-hand-we-will-be-held-accountable/

 

LEARNING OBEDIENCE THROUGH SUFFERING

                                                                    Our struggles have a purpose

The storms of this life sometimes make it difficult to understand that God is with us in all things.  The truth is that is that he never leaves us no matter how painful the trials are in our life.  God has a purpose to use the struggles we experience to bring us to a deeper understanding of him and his great love. Anyone who has been used for greatness has had to suffer that their faith might be proved genuine. In Hebrews 5:8, we read that there was purpose in what Jesus had to endure:

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.

 If Jesus learned obedience from what he suffered, why do I despair over the struggles in my life that God is using to mold me into the image of his Son? The cries   of Jesus were heard because of his reverent submission!   Jesus, the Son of the true God humbly submitted to what he was given no matter how difficult or painful it might be.  He knew that there was a reason and an eternal consequence for all he had to go through. God was working all things out in his perfect plan to save us who were lost.

 Each day brings trouble and strife to all especially in a world that is perishing. We, who belong to Jesus Christ and are his church, will eventually suffer for our   beliefs as darkness hates the light and seeks to destroy it.  But, as Christ learned obedience through suffering, we too will be strengthened and equipped as we     persevere in hardships to fight the good fight, to finish the race and to keep the faith.  God never forgets the work we do for him and his kingdom. And our reward  will be complete joy in the presence of God for eternity.  What could ever be better than that?