Praise the LORD!!!
Yes, it is!?! Yes, our churches are full of hypocrites. Backbiters, gossips, thieves, liars, the sexually immoral, adulterers and the list can go on and on. For where else should you find those whom are sick and seeking healing???
Surely it is the truth, that many of these, think they're already healed. Not realizing that they truly are only in remission, waiting around, only to take their dying breathes. But yes, they're there, in the only place where true healing can begin.
Not a building with four walls, but amongst a BODY of believers that realize there is but one source of healing for their sicknesses.
Sin, that reached sickness. That makes one think they're healthy. Not in need of anything. Rich, yet poor by all means. Slowly passing away from starvation, though their tables are set with the finest of foods. Having all sorts of the finest pleasures to keep them occupied, yet wasting away with loneliness.
Where else will you find all those that are having their hearts stirred, their bodies torn, their minds running rampant with thoughts and desires of all that they truly need??? In the presence of the only ONE that can, and will, heal them of all their worries. The "GREAT PHYSICIAN," lingers in the midst of all these. HE seeks to heal all, yet holds HIS hands back from healing them, until they've been fully convicted of their great needs. Prepared fully to receive that which is free, yet comes with a great price.
The cost. It is nothing, yet it is everything. For one to receive these needed gifts, they must be willing, willing to forsake all. Forsake all that they hold dear. Forsake all that they've learned to believe is of need to survive. To forsake all that their futures may hold.
Oh, to but touch the fringe of HIS garment and I shall be made whole. One glance from HIS loving eyes. One touch of HIS gracious hands.
Can you??? Or will you??? Forsake all and follow HIM !!!!!!!
Seek out GOD from within HIS WORD!!! Talley the cost and listen to HS voice, calling out to you. The choice is yours alone!!!
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
Showing posts with label guide me. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guide me. Show all posts
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Laying hold
Praise the LORD!!!
With the beginning of a new year many people's minds are focused on that which lays ahead and that which is behind. When really the matter that should be our primary focus, "is that which today holds."
We are not promised a future day, but are given this one alone and that which we do within it's confines is up to us. Will we use it to the fullest to bring glory to the LORD??? Or will we use it for self gratification and the fulfillment of our lust??? The answer is one that only you can make and is totally dependent upon your relationship with the LORD!!! Have you taken up your cross to follow HIM??? Or do you maneuver around within this world as a fleshly entity, wrapped in Christian apparel??? "Forsake all and follow me" isn't just a suggestion, but a command of our LORD. One we must strive to bring about within our lives!!!
The year that lays behind us should be considered, but not in a way that most would think. We must consider the "points" of our walks and those thing accomplished for the glory of GOD and leave behind those things that were worldly. We must also consider those places within the last year where GOD moved within our lives. Those places where HE was either leading us to learn from HIM a better WAY, or where HE was pruning us, teaching us those things that we needed to leave behind to perish in the winds of change!!! Many are those that will want to hold onto these things, when they're truly not for us to hold, only to reflect upon and learn the lessons of the LORD from within them.
Let us each lay hold of this day, live it to the fullest. Living it to the glory of the LORD and praying that if we do well with this task at hand, HE may well bless us with more days ahead to repeat this task!!! GOD has set a path before us. HE has placed people in our way, people we should interact with and lead towards the proper paths for their own lives. We can not carry them along with us, but they must make their own choices. The choices they make are dependent upon that which you do to guide them, but ultimately it rest in the hands of the LORD. HE is the one that has directed your paths to cross. HE is the one that has formed each of you into that which you are and it is HE that has purpose for these interactions between your lives. So do your best to listen and react with these others. Do your best to follow your guide. Do your best to leave an impression that will continue to lead them on. This my friends is the way, we make the most of that which we've been blessed with and can look forward to days ahead, if it is HIS will !!! :{)))
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
With the beginning of a new year many people's minds are focused on that which lays ahead and that which is behind. When really the matter that should be our primary focus, "is that which today holds."
We are not promised a future day, but are given this one alone and that which we do within it's confines is up to us. Will we use it to the fullest to bring glory to the LORD??? Or will we use it for self gratification and the fulfillment of our lust??? The answer is one that only you can make and is totally dependent upon your relationship with the LORD!!! Have you taken up your cross to follow HIM??? Or do you maneuver around within this world as a fleshly entity, wrapped in Christian apparel??? "Forsake all and follow me" isn't just a suggestion, but a command of our LORD. One we must strive to bring about within our lives!!!
The year that lays behind us should be considered, but not in a way that most would think. We must consider the "points" of our walks and those thing accomplished for the glory of GOD and leave behind those things that were worldly. We must also consider those places within the last year where GOD moved within our lives. Those places where HE was either leading us to learn from HIM a better WAY, or where HE was pruning us, teaching us those things that we needed to leave behind to perish in the winds of change!!! Many are those that will want to hold onto these things, when they're truly not for us to hold, only to reflect upon and learn the lessons of the LORD from within them.
Let us each lay hold of this day, live it to the fullest. Living it to the glory of the LORD and praying that if we do well with this task at hand, HE may well bless us with more days ahead to repeat this task!!! GOD has set a path before us. HE has placed people in our way, people we should interact with and lead towards the proper paths for their own lives. We can not carry them along with us, but they must make their own choices. The choices they make are dependent upon that which you do to guide them, but ultimately it rest in the hands of the LORD. HE is the one that has directed your paths to cross. HE is the one that has formed each of you into that which you are and it is HE that has purpose for these interactions between your lives. So do your best to listen and react with these others. Do your best to follow your guide. Do your best to leave an impression that will continue to lead them on. This my friends is the way, we make the most of that which we've been blessed with and can look forward to days ahead, if it is HIS will !!! :{)))
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
Saturday, January 23, 2010
3.18.10_ a repost_Jere. 17:10_ To look inside...
Praise the LORD!!!
Today is the second day of my quitting smoking (Cigarettes) and my mind is a bit unfocused. I had begun to write a devotional, got a bit sidetracked and then after writing more on it decided it wasn't worthy of going out it it's current form. So today's posting will be a re post of an earlier one. I hope you can bare with me until I'm blessed with getting this habit under control. Only the LORD knows what tomorrow holds, so maybe a fresh post will come tomorrow?
Today we will seek to look inside ourselves. Both by our own eyes and through the power of the LORD. With introspection comes knowledge, knowledge of ones self!
Jeremiah 17:10
" I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."
As with all things in our lives, we should start with the LORD doing the first parts of it. For this is to be our 'foundations' for existence. All that we are, should be centered on GOD and HIS will for our lives. All throughout history the great saints have drawn on GOD first and then and only then on the understanding that GOD graced them with to further proceed with any task. We too should seek GOD's inspection of our lives first and then begin to follow through on that which HE has started and revealed.
When life has brought us to the point of wondering what our very existence is for or why things have been the way they have. We must start with prayer for GOD to open our eyes to our hearts, for this is the seat of our being and the dwelling place of the LORD MOST HIGH within us. Allowing HIM to examine our very deepest of thoughts and motives and then revealing them to us. From here we proceed, with HIS guidance, to search out all that we've been allowing to distract our focus from upon HIM. I say this, because this is the most common of reason for trials and tribulations in our daily routines. We've allowed our personal burdens to center our focus on ourselves and away from GOD and HIS calling for closer relationship to HIM.
After receiving GOD's leading, those deep convictions within, proceed to expand on these. Let's say that GOD has shown us that we've been allowing to much of the world to hold our attentions away from HIM. Where have we done this? Is it from watching to much TV? Or listening to the wrong types of music or gossip about the neighbors? Jot down a list of things that you think are the reasons GOD has shown you them. Taking note to be as forthright about them as possible. You must be honest with yourself or this process will be a waste of time, both ours and GOD's! Once we have our 'spring cleaning list,' let us take it to GOD in prayer. Asking HIM to reveal to us each of the truths in these and the manor to remove them from our lives.
Now here is where things begin to get exciting and at times, embarrassing. We will have to take each of these, one at a time and begin to remove them from the list. No matter what it takes, we must proceed to completely remove it from within our lives. Lets say GOD has revealed that we've been listening to gossip about our friends and worst yet, passing it on and increasing it. We will have to go to each and every person that we've allowed to plant this seed in our lives and tell them that we can't continue on doing such within our lives. This is the easy part. For then we must go to each of those that we've talked about, whether they know it or not, and ask their forgiveness for taking part in the rumor mill. This can be very embarrassing, because a lot of the time they may not even know this has been taking place behind their backs and that you a friend were taking part in it. Talk about something that will bring about a humble spirit within a person, this truly will, because you're be opening yourself up completely to a well deserved lashing by someone, friend or not!
Know we've gone through the list that GOD has given us, from top to bottom, now where do we go? Back to GOD! For this is to be both the starting point and the finishing point of our existence and actually everything in between should focus on our relationship with HIM!!! We've allowed GOD to search our hearts, we've searched them, gone through the list from top to bottom and now we're back at the beginning, with GOD. Pray for HIS strengthening, for HIS wisdom and understanding and most of all for HIS grace to be poured out upon your life, so that you can continue to remain in close relationship with HIM. For though we live in this world, we are not to live for it, but to live for CHRIST JESUS and to HIS glory. We can not show forth the glory of JESUS within our lives when we focus on everything but HIM. With the cleaning process that we just went through, we must be aware of every detail of our existence and where we're placing our attention. Am I seeking to glorify HIM by listening to this music, or watching this TV show? Are the words that proceeding out of my mouth glorifying HIM? Are each of my actions reflecting CHRIST within me or are they revealing that I've allowed the world to enter back in? It is best to judge oneself and allow GOD to take care of all others, for in this we know that our slate is clean before GOD, and we won't care about the witness of others, because if we stand worthy before GOD, anything that any other could say would be but a lie!!!
Use these verses, but don't stop with them, cross reference and seek out GOD from within HIS WORD!!!
Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org
You might also like reading my other blog, Blogs from the VINE
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
Vine Ministerial Network International
Today is the second day of my quitting smoking (Cigarettes) and my mind is a bit unfocused. I had begun to write a devotional, got a bit sidetracked and then after writing more on it decided it wasn't worthy of going out it it's current form. So today's posting will be a re post of an earlier one. I hope you can bare with me until I'm blessed with getting this habit under control. Only the LORD knows what tomorrow holds, so maybe a fresh post will come tomorrow?
Today we will seek to look inside ourselves. Both by our own eyes and through the power of the LORD. With introspection comes knowledge, knowledge of ones self!
Jeremiah 17:10
" I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."
As with all things in our lives, we should start with the LORD doing the first parts of it. For this is to be our 'foundations' for existence. All that we are, should be centered on GOD and HIS will for our lives. All throughout history the great saints have drawn on GOD first and then and only then on the understanding that GOD graced them with to further proceed with any task. We too should seek GOD's inspection of our lives first and then begin to follow through on that which HE has started and revealed.
When life has brought us to the point of wondering what our very existence is for or why things have been the way they have. We must start with prayer for GOD to open our eyes to our hearts, for this is the seat of our being and the dwelling place of the LORD MOST HIGH within us. Allowing HIM to examine our very deepest of thoughts and motives and then revealing them to us. From here we proceed, with HIS guidance, to search out all that we've been allowing to distract our focus from upon HIM. I say this, because this is the most common of reason for trials and tribulations in our daily routines. We've allowed our personal burdens to center our focus on ourselves and away from GOD and HIS calling for closer relationship to HIM.
After receiving GOD's leading, those deep convictions within, proceed to expand on these. Let's say that GOD has shown us that we've been allowing to much of the world to hold our attentions away from HIM. Where have we done this? Is it from watching to much TV? Or listening to the wrong types of music or gossip about the neighbors? Jot down a list of things that you think are the reasons GOD has shown you them. Taking note to be as forthright about them as possible. You must be honest with yourself or this process will be a waste of time, both ours and GOD's! Once we have our 'spring cleaning list,' let us take it to GOD in prayer. Asking HIM to reveal to us each of the truths in these and the manor to remove them from our lives.
Now here is where things begin to get exciting and at times, embarrassing. We will have to take each of these, one at a time and begin to remove them from the list. No matter what it takes, we must proceed to completely remove it from within our lives. Lets say GOD has revealed that we've been listening to gossip about our friends and worst yet, passing it on and increasing it. We will have to go to each and every person that we've allowed to plant this seed in our lives and tell them that we can't continue on doing such within our lives. This is the easy part. For then we must go to each of those that we've talked about, whether they know it or not, and ask their forgiveness for taking part in the rumor mill. This can be very embarrassing, because a lot of the time they may not even know this has been taking place behind their backs and that you a friend were taking part in it. Talk about something that will bring about a humble spirit within a person, this truly will, because you're be opening yourself up completely to a well deserved lashing by someone, friend or not!
Know we've gone through the list that GOD has given us, from top to bottom, now where do we go? Back to GOD! For this is to be both the starting point and the finishing point of our existence and actually everything in between should focus on our relationship with HIM!!! We've allowed GOD to search our hearts, we've searched them, gone through the list from top to bottom and now we're back at the beginning, with GOD. Pray for HIS strengthening, for HIS wisdom and understanding and most of all for HIS grace to be poured out upon your life, so that you can continue to remain in close relationship with HIM. For though we live in this world, we are not to live for it, but to live for CHRIST JESUS and to HIS glory. We can not show forth the glory of JESUS within our lives when we focus on everything but HIM. With the cleaning process that we just went through, we must be aware of every detail of our existence and where we're placing our attention. Am I seeking to glorify HIM by listening to this music, or watching this TV show? Are the words that proceeding out of my mouth glorifying HIM? Are each of my actions reflecting CHRIST within me or are they revealing that I've allowed the world to enter back in? It is best to judge oneself and allow GOD to take care of all others, for in this we know that our slate is clean before GOD, and we won't care about the witness of others, because if we stand worthy before GOD, anything that any other could say would be but a lie!!!
Other verses to read: 2 Chronicles 6:30; Jere. 11:20; Psalms 1, 17:3, 139:23,24; Rev. 2:23
Use these verses, but don't stop with them, cross reference and seek out GOD from within HIS WORD!!!
Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org
You might also like reading my other blog, Blogs from the VINE
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
Vine Ministerial Network International
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