A Crucified Life - - Receives Comfort From God

 

2 Corinthians 7:6,8

But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus. His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you. When he told us how much you long to see me, and how sorry you are for what happened, and how loyal you are to me, I was filled with joy.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3870

Comfort: console, encourage and strengthen, advocate

From the Greek word 'parakaleó' (pronounced par-ak-al-eh'-o).

    God is 'up close and personal' with His people. He is not a faraway God, but the near God, the 'I will never leave you nor forsake you' God. 

• Hebrews 13:5
• Deuteronomy 31:6,8
• Joshua 1:9.17
• Isaiah 41:10-14

    God comforts His people when we are downcast (low in spirit, humble, meek). We are comforted by His presence, His nearness. And we are grateful that this is our God.

    Paul was writing to the believers in Corinth who had supported him on his journeys; thanking them for their loyalty and their mission support to him. We need to remain faithful to our missionaries, too. They need us to express our love for them not only in our prayers, but in our giving. 

    Missionaries who are faithful in sharing the gospel receive comfort from God through us who impart love and mercy to them, as Titus did when God sent him to Paul. Titus had good things to say, words which encouraged Paul and compelled him to reach out to the little church. 

    Let us continue to work together, as the believers did in the beginning of the age of the church, to advance the kingdom of God with our witness and our testimony. 

Give Me Faith by Elevation Worship

This Is Our God by Phil Wickham

Shepherd of My Soul by Rivers & Robots

Draw Me Close To You by Michael W. Smith

The Lord Is Near 

God With Us by MercyMe

 

A Crucified Life - - Loves Without Restraint

 

2 Corinthians 6:12

You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4729

(ESV) restricted;(KJV) straitened; (BSB) restrained; (HCSB) limited. 

Restricted: to be made narrow; to compress.

From the Greek word 'stenochóreó' (pronounced sten-okh-o-reh'-o). Literally, to hem in, to keep in a closed space. But, figuratively speaking, restricted means to withhold affection for someone because the heart is closed.

    Paul and his companions had great love for the Corinthian church, but this love was not reciprocated. And he called their attention to it in his letter to them. 

    As believers who have the heart of Christ beating in us, we should have ample room to love and support other believers when necessity arises. For all of our finances came from God and all of our finances are at His disposal.

    Putting a leash on our love is to rein in our generosity to the missionaries we have helped put in the fields to share the gospel.

Their expression of love towards Paul had dimmed and their generous hearts were now tightfisted. 

    Atherosclerosis is a hardening of the arteries in the body which prevents the blood from flowing through it, sort of a trickle effect. The same was happening in the hearts of the Corinth church. They weren't listening to the Spirit, who guides each of our hearts into the ministry which has been prepared for us by God. Towards Paul and his fellow-workers they were denying them love and support. 

    Some churches take up love offerings to send to their missionaries. Some folks support varying Mission 3:16 mission-minded groups, such as VOM or Samaritan's Purse or Operation Outpour voluntarily. Even if a missionary is able to work wherever they are sent, our support is still vital; not just to them, but to us.

    Our hearts need to be open and enlarged to be able to accomplish the work which God has called us to do. That only comes about when we have the Love of God living in us through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, Who is the extension of God's Love to the world. 

    Even a small church, even one person, can have an impact in God's kingdom when they, we, have God's Love, God's Son Jesus Christ, living and loving through us. But a church without such compassion has yet to reach its full potential as a church.

MISSION 316 full album

MISSION 316 full movie 

    

My Full Potential

If the life you are living is not pleasing to God, 


then you are not living up to your full


potential. ~Me


What do you see 
when you look at me?
Am I a reflection
of God's redeeming grace?
What do you see 
on my face?



Am I living up to my full potential in Christ?

My heart is right with Christ.

I am saved from eternal damnation.

I am filled with the Holy Ghost.

I am serving in God's kingdom.

Tomorrow, March 8, is International Women's Day. 

It is a celebration of how far women have come in the history of the world.

It is an acknowledgement  of how much women have accomplished in their countries.

It is an awareness of the lack of women in business and industry;

of women in politics and science; of women in leadership positions.

The Day is focused on Women Around the World 

and their desire to improve their world 

by having women involved in decision making processes 

that would change the world for the better.

But, in all the articles I have read, from around this world I live in,

not one is written from a Christian woman's perspective.

Though a few were written by women, most articles were still written by men.

And a couple of these articles were dehumanizing to women.

Where are the daughters of God?

I am the handmaid of the Lord. ~Joel 2:29

Our voice is not silent:
In Ministry:

http://bigbible.org.uk/2012/02/strengthened-to-serve-simon-peters-mother-in-law/#.T1fkHsAfSCw

http://www.iamawomanofgod.com/ - shopping

https://www.facebook.com/abundantpeace

http://www.joycemeyer.org/

https://www.facebook.com/AboutChristianity

https://www.facebook.com/unveiledwife

https://www.facebook.com/Katherine.Damore.H.I.S

https://www.facebook.com/pages/She-That-Prays/107991435912978

http://dailychristianquote.com/dcqwomom.html

http://www.ladiesforjesus.com/

http://womenofvalorministry.org/wimba0.aspx

http://graceforwomen.blogspot.com/2009/01/rebekah-virtuous-woman.html

In Music:
http://rsjames.com/
http://nataliegrant.com/#!/ss:facebook
http://www.francescamusic.com/
http://www.barlowgirl.com/
http://amygrant.com/#!/ss:facebook
http://www.brittnicole.com/
http://www.nicolecmullen.com/
http://www.jacivelasquez.com/
http://cecewinans.com/
http://sandipatty.com/#!/ss:facebook
http://www.twilaparis.com/
http://audreyassad.com/desktop/
http://heatherwilliamsmusic.com/
http://www.jamiegrace.com/

In Comedy:
http://www.anitarenfroe.com/
http://www.chonda.org/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amy-Barnes/134674643271548?sk=wall
http://www.christiancomedyacts.com/Kelly-Swanson/
http://www.christiancomedyacts.com/lena-green/ ` love her!

The daughters of God are actively seeking to improve the lives of all women.

We are joined at the heart in Spirit and in Truth.

We are raising our voice in shouts of Triumph..

Our hands are on our Sword as we wage war on

social injustice, poverty, abuse, addiction.

We are the Overcomers by Faith in the Power of God

to change our world one person at a time together.

We learn from each other.

We teach each other.

Our desire to change the world we live in is expressed by our actions every day.

As we learn from God, through the power of His Holy Spirit,

how to change our lives, we share our values, our journeys,

our joys, our wisdom, our tears and our pain,

our words reach millions on the internet.

And their lives are changed for the better.

God empowers women by calling them, also.

We, too, are called to serve in God's kingdom.

I am His servant.

And I will change the world.

You Don't Even See Me Cry

Matthew 25:41-45

(this song is dedicated to Kyle and Natalie C)

written August 8,2008

Family Camp

I stand on an empty corner

My cup is empty, my well is dry

Reaching out my hand to you

But you walk by, you walk by

You don't even see me cry.

I shiver and shake in winter's winds

My filthy rags barely cover my skin

Reaching out my hand to you

But you walk by, you walk by

You don't even see me cry.

I was thirsty in a thirsty land!

And no water you gave to me

I was naked in a season of loss

And no raiment was laid on me.

But you walked by, you walked by

You didn't even see me cry.

I hid in a darkened alley

Searching meals from dirty bins

Reaching out my hand to you

But you walked by, you walked by

You didn't even see me cry.

I'm chained in a dark, cold prison

Hope and faith don't recognize me

Reaching out my hand to you

But you walk by, you walk by

You don't even see me cry.

I was hungry in a blanket of waste!

And no sustenance was given me.

I was behind iron bars and stone!

Yet no freedom was offered me.

My name is Savior!

Saving even the least of these.

My name is Fountain of Living Water

Quenching thirst for righteousness.

My name is Holy Father, Creator

I cover you with My blood.

My name is Bread of Life, and Manna

Multiplied to satisfy hunger

For more of Me

For more of Me

My name is Jesus! Redeemer!

Releasing you from your sins.

All you have to do

Is reach out your hand

to Me.

But you walk by, you walk by

You don't even see Me cry.........