Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Doubts



Am I chasing the right dream?
Is what I'm pursuing consistent with God's calling on my life?
Am i operating out of what God made me to do, or out of my own needs for appearing important and significant?
Am i willing to remain in the cave if it means being true to God?

The cave named failure where David strengthened himself in the Lord

I cry out to the LORD with my voice; With my voice to the LORD I make my supplication.

I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk They have secretly set a snare for me.

Look on my right hand and see, For there is no one who acknowledges me; Refuge has failed me; No one cares for my soul.

I cried out to You, O LORD: I said, "You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.

Attend to my cry, For I am brought very low; Deliver me from my persecutors, For they are stronger than I.

Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise Your name; The righteous shall surround me, For You shall deal bountifully with me."

-Psalms 142-NKJV

Hope(less)


Hope is the fuel that the human heart runs on
Hope is what prompts a young man and woman to stand before a preacher and promise "I do" even though they have no guarantees.
Hope is what fuels the same couple, many years later , after broken promises and broken hearts, to give their promise another try.
Hope is why human beings keep bringing children into a fallen world.
Hope is why there are hospitals and universities.
Hope is why there are therapists and consultants.
Hope is why a composer agonise over a score.
Hope is why parents agonise over their children.

Hope.

Monday, March 05, 2007

The lord's word quicken!

Forgiveness Is For The Undeserving

Matthew 18:21
21… “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”


The Lord’s answer to Peter was simple: Up to seventy times seven. (Matthew 18:22) In other words, all the time!

“Well, Pastor Prince, he does not deserve my forgiveness.”

Neither did you deserve God’s. Listen, there is not a single person alive or dead who did not break all 10 of God’s commandments. There is no such thing as a “partial sinner” or “great sinner”. All of us were great sinners when Jesus saved us! And we need to have that revelation because if we know that we are forgiven much, we will love much. (Luke 7:47)

“Pastor Prince, how can you say that I have broken all 10 commandments? I have not committed adultery. I have been true to my wife since the day we married.”

My friend, Jesus said, “If you lust after a woman in your heart, you have already committed adultery with her.” (Matthew 5:28) That is God’s standard. Man looks outward, but God looks inward. God sees the heart. So everyone has broken all 10 commandments. Everyone is a great sinner.

Now, you are no longer a sinner if you have received Christ as your Saviour — you are now a new creation. But you were a sinner and God forgave all your sins through the death of His Son. You owed God big time, but God forgave you through His Son’s death your huge debt.

So if someone has wronged you, say this: “I did not deserve God’s forgiveness, but God forgave me through Christ. So I forgive this person also in Jesus’ name.” If you say something like, “He does not deserve it,” it makes no sense. Forgiveness is not for people who deserve it. If they deserve something, then it is punishment. No, forgiveness means that you extend grace. Grace means undeserved favour, like how God extends undeserved favour to you.

If you choose to hold on to bitterness, no one suffers but you. You lose your peace, health and sometimes even your life. It is not worth it! God says to you, “Let go. Forgive them their debts, just as I have forgiven you yours.” Don’t try to do it on your own. Bring the cross of Christ into the situation and you will find the grace to forgive!

© Copyright Joseph Prince, 2006–2007. All rights reserved.

Sunday, March 04, 2007

That sinking feeling




He who has never failed somewhere, that man can not be great. Failure is the test of greatness.

-Herman Melville-

I am yours

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're

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

-Casting Crowns-

Friday, March 02, 2007

Praise You In This Storm


I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped my tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen”, and 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

I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
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

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

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
- Casting Crowns

II Timothy 2:13 ….”Even when we are too weak to have any faith left,He remains faithful to us and will help us. For He cannot disown us who are part of Himself, and He will carry out His Promises to us.”