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Keith Green - Oh Lord, You're Beautiful

Thursday, December 31, 2009

The secret closet!

Thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:6).


In the past I’ve taught that because of the demands of making a living, we may have a “secret closet of prayer” anywhere: in the car, on the bus, during a break at work.


In measure, this is true. But there is more to it.

The Greek word for “closet” in this verse means “a private room, a secret place.”

This was clear to Jesus’ listeners, because the homes in their culture had an inner room that served as a sort of storage closet.


Jesus’ command was to go into that secret closet as an individual and shut the door behind you. There you will enter into the kind of prayer that cannot happen in church or with a prayer partner.


Jesus set the example for this, as he went to private places to pray. Over and over Scripture tell us that he “went aside” to spend time in prayer.

No one had a busier life, as he was constantly pressed by the needs of those around him, with so little time to himself. Yet, we are told, “In the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35).


“When he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone” (Matthew 14:23).


We all have excuses for why we don’t pray in secret, in a special place alone.

We say we have no such private place, or no time to do it.


Thomas Manton, a godly Puritan writer, says this: “We say we have no time to pray secretly. We yet have time for all else: time to eat, to drink, for children, yet not time for what sustains all else.


We say we have no private place, but Jesus found a mountain, Peter a rooftop, the prophets a wilderness. If you love someone, you will find a place to be alone.”


Do you see the importance of setting your heart to pray in a secret place?

It is not about legalism or bondage, but about love.

It is about God’s goodness toward us.

He sees what’s ahead and knows we need tremendous resources, daily replenishing.

All of that is found in the secret place with him.


Monday, December 28, 2009

Sally's story!

Sally relates a story she experienced in a class, given by her teacher, Dr Smith.

She says, "Dr Smith was well known for his elaborate object lessons."

One particular day, she arrived at the school and knew they would be in for a "fun" day. On the wall was a big target, and on a nearby table were lots of darts.

Dr Smith then told them to draw a picture of some one they disliked, or someone who had made them very angry, and he would allow them to throw darts at the picture.

Sally girlfriend drew a picture of a friend who had stolen her boy friend. Another one drew a picture of a little brother.....Sally drew a picture of a former friend, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing....even putting dimples on her face.

She was very pleased with the likeness.

The class then lined up, and began throwing darts at the pictures with much hilarity and laughter. Some of the students were throwing the darts with such force it ripped the picture to shreds.
Sally looked forward to her turn, but before she could have a go, Dr Smith, because of the time limit, asked the students to go back to their seats.
Sally was very disappointed, and, as she sat thinking about how angry she was because she did not get her turn, at throwing the darts, Dr Smith began removing the targets from the wall.

Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus!

The room fell silent...as each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus!
Holes and jagged marks covered his face and his eyes were pierced.

Dr Smith said only these words....

"For as much as you did it to one of these....you did it unto me!" Mathew 25 v 40

No other words were necessary!
Tears welled up in the eyes of each student, focused only on the picture of Christ!

YES.....I do love God....
without Him I am nothing

He is my source of existence.... my Saviour....


He keeps me functioning each and every day....without him I am nothing...
Bless you all, as we enter a whole new Year with Christ our Saviour...

Yaddy

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Letter from Jesus about Christmas

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season.


How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President/Prime minister complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there.. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one.. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :


I LOVE YOU,

JESUS

blessings...

Yaddy



Tuesday, December 1, 2009

A FEW YEARS AGO......

About 30 or so years ago, I lived in the country,in a small town and we were holding a revival meeting...
In this small town lived an old farmer, who was known to be almost the richest farmer of this little town....way in the Australian bush somewhere.

And....he was dying!
He was also a wicked man....us kids used to sneak past his house just so we maybe steal a glimpse of all the " you beaut stuff" he had.
He spent the biggest part of his life hoarding stuff...anything he could get his hands on....
At the time a visiting pastor and a few others called on him, he was maybe in his 50's... (very old by our standard)
His local pastor had not been to see him yet, mainly because he knew how ungodly the fellow really was, (and lets face it, sending a visiting pastor who did not know anything about him, at that time, 3o or so years ago, was easier.)
Although the pastor did say.."I hope Mr Brown will let this pastor see him and give him a chance to tell him "where" he is going, when he dies, seeing he is so sick, if he does not change his ways."
Several days before the old farmer's death, though, he did let the visiting pastor see him, and he had the chance to talk to him about a lot of things including where did the man think he would be going after his death? "What was waiting for him?"

The old farmer's mind was dark....and full of unbelief. They talked earnestly with him
about the saving of his soul...but they had to leave him without getting anywhere much.

A day or so later the pastor and a friend called on the old man again, and he seemed a lot more willing to talk. Good sign!

But....he still seemed very far away from the Lord.
They pleaded with him to pray....talk to the Lord....and for God to have mercy on him For Jesus' name sake...

But....the old farmer replied...."Don't you see....I can't....the only time I used the name of Jesus was when I used it in a profane way... I blasphemed all the time....and I have used it that way all these years....why should he now listen to me....how does He know I am not using it profanely again? I have treated Jesus worse than a dog....why should He listen to me now?" And he sobbed and sobbed....
"I would give all I am worth....to feel....if I could feel the way you say you feel...!"
he was then told...."God is no respecter of person, He never turned anyone away who is sincere and comes to Him for forgiveness and pardon..."

He cried out....."I can not get any feeling.....my heart is so hard......what can I do...?"

Their hearts ached for him.....He was afraid to die without faith in Jesus, yet....he
seemed unable to repent....if only they could show or demonstrate to him that it was not hard...it was simple....just accept it.....and Jesus would do the rest....why was it so hard for him?

Before the visiting pastor left that little town, the old farmer went to meet his maker....

He had his "treasures" here on earth, but.......

where had he gone?

What did all those treasure do for him now?

But.....did you catch the cry of that man???

"I cannot get the feeling....!

and.....My heart is so hard....!"

Now that I am all grown up and well past the age of that old farmer....it stays with me what he said....and what Jesus said.....
"No one is able to come to me unless the Father who sent me....draws him....and gives him the desire to come to me!" John 6;v 44

We cannot come to Jesus when WE are ready....when it suits US!

There will come a time....when the time has come and gone and it is too late and "We cannot get that feeling" and "Our heart has grown too hard"

People fool themselves if they think they can resist the pull of the Holy Spirit all the way to their death bed and then decide "Well I will accept Jesus now...seeing I am dying..."
The Holy Spirit can and does leave a person to never try and convict them of their sin anymore!

The Bible says'''NOW is the time.....to wait for a "Better time" is folly, for our better time ....could be too late....

Bless you....

Yaddy