Grab Their Knees

I'm reading one of our church's missionary books "Africa's Soul Hope: The AIDS crisis and the church" by Ellen Decker and I came across a quote from Charles Spurgeon "If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for."

What a task we have...Grab their knees and don't let go.

The Great Commission

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:16-20

I was hungry...

I was hungry
and you formed a humanities group
to discuss my hunger.

I was imprisoned
and you crept off quietly to your chapel
and prayed for my release.

I was naked
and in your mind
you debated the morality of my appearance.

I was sick and
you knelt and thanked God for your health.

I was homeless and
you preached to me the spiritual love of God.

I was lonely
and you left me alone
to pray for me.

You seem so holy, so close to God,

But I am still very hungry --
and lonely --
and cold.

- found at the Oak Street House Exhibit at “San Diego ’89” Missions and Ministry Conference

The Sheep and the Goats

31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45 "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." Matthew 25:37-46

What does God expect?

Greetings,

Some friends and I are discussing family as God would like it to be. Can you as a godly man, (if a woman is reading this, please share these questions with your husband - thanks) please answer these few questions for us as we strive to make our homes what God would like them to be? Thank You!

Robin

1. In your opinion, what does it mean to be the spiritual leader of the family?

2. What does it mean to be submissive as a wife? What does it mean to submissive as a husband?

3. List some of your ideas of what the husband/father should do to be effective as the spiritual leader of the family?

4. What do you think the wife should do to help her husband effectively serve as the spiritual leader of the family?

Today's Prayer from Ephesians Four Ministries

This prayer is something we all need to consider and learn from as we walk along our journey of life... Robin

Prime Time with God
Today's Prayer August 11, 2007
Dear God, who created mankind in your image, you sure made a colorful world of people! As I stop and watch and reflect on the people I see, I notice how everyone is unique. Sometimes I'm frustrated by others' personalities and actions; other times I am blessed; still other times I am amused. The fact is, though we were made in your image, you gave us each a will of our own and instilled different gifts, personalities, and potential within us. How boring it would be if we were all just alike! The "spice" of life is made up of all those different people, with different ideas, and various contributions. Thank you for caring enough that we are not your puppets, but are unique individuals, each called to fill special places in your great plan for our lives. I pray that you will keep my eyes open, my mind alert, and my will in tune so that I will use all you have given me--gifts, personality, skills, desires--to the best of my ability, for the edification of the saints, reaching the lost, and glorifying you. Please forgive my past failures and empower me today for all you want to do through me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

-taken from today's email (minor changes were made adding color and fonts)

Eternal Perspective - Prayers for Husband

I found a perpetual prayer calendar somewhere??? a while back and entered the calendar into my email calendar and set it to send me a reminder each day... today's prayer for my husband is...

Day 18 - Pray that your husband will have an eternal perspective—living in light of eternity. Pray that he will reject materialism and temporal values and put God first in his life. (Matt. 6:33; Deut. 6:5; Ephesians 5:16; Psalm 90:12)

The eternal perspective is what I'm trying to grow in myself with God's help, so its a good thing to pray for my husband and children too.

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father, Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth:

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord:

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary:

suffered under Pontius Pilate;
was crucified, dead and buried;
He descended into hell;

the third day he rose again from the dead:

He ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:

from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy Church universal,
the communion of saints:

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.
Amen.

Who am I

by Casting Crowns

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGU76is9BuY&NR=1

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling Lord,
You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

Who Am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who Am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

I am Yours
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
'Cause I am Yours
I am Yours

Praise You In This Storm

by Casting Crowns

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntXcRUKXpQM

I was sure by now God you would have reached down and wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day. But once again, I say amen that it's still raining as the thunder rolls I barely hear your whisper through the rain, I'm with you and as your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus:

And i'll praise you in this storm and i will lift my hands that you are who you are no matter where I am and every tear I've cried you hold in your hand you never left my side and though my heart is torn I will praise you in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind you heard my cry you raised me up again my strength is almost gone how can I carry on if I can't find you and as the thunder rolls I barely hear you whisper through the rain I'm with you and as your mercy falls I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away

Chorus

And i'll praise you in this storm and i will lift my hands that you are who you are no matter where I am and every tear I've cried you hold in your hand you never left my side and though my heart is torn I will praise you in this storm

I lift my eyes unto the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth I lift my eyes unto the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

Chorus

And i'll praise you in this storm and i will lift my hands that you are who you are no matter where I am and every tear I've cried you hold in your hand you never left my side and though my heart is torn I will praise you in this storm

Now Is the Time...

Come, Now Is the Time to Worship

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzRfB0oN6Wo

sung by Phillips, Craig and Dean
written by Brian Doerksen

Come, now is the time to worship Come, now is the time to give your heart Come, just as you are to worship Come, just as you are before your God, come One day every tongue will confess you are God

One day every knee will bowStill the greatest treasure remains for those Who gladly choose you now

It is written: " 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.' " So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:11-12

Bring the Rain

by Mercy Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElISFieaukc&mode=related&search=

I can count a million times People asking me how I Can praise You with all that I've gone through The question just amazes me Can circumstances possibly Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed Long before these rainy days It's never really ever crossed my mind To turn my back on you, oh Lord My only shelter from the storm But instead I draw closer through these times

So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace Bring the chance to be free Bring me anything that brings You glory And I know there'll be days When this life brings me pain But if that's what it takes to praise You Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of The dark clouds that may loom above Because You are much greater than my pain You who made a way for me By suffering Your destiny So tell me what's a little rain

So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace Bring the chance to be free Bring me anything that brings You glory And I know there'll be days When this life brings me pain But if that's what it takes to praise You Jesus, bring the rain

Holy, holy, holy Holy, holy, holy Is the Lord God Almighty Is the Lord God Almighty