Noah's Ark Life Lessons

All I need to know I learned from Noah's Ark
* One. Don't miss the boat.
* Two. Remember that we are all in the same boat.
* Three. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
* Four. Stay fit. When you're 600 years old someone may ask you to do something really big.
* Five. Don't listen to critics, just get on with the job that needs to be done.
* Six. Build your future on high ground.
* Seven. For safety's sake travel in pairs.
* Eight. Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
* Nine. When you're stressed, float awhile.
* Ten. Remember the Ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic by professionals.

* Eleven. No matter the storm, there's always a rainbow waiting.

Grief and sorrow

I attended the funeral of the dearest 22 year old daughter of a friend of mine yesterday, and afterwards I had to take the time to consider grief and sorrow.

They are demanding enemies.

Kings and Priests

We know that we must (one day) reign as Kings and Priests. I have had a statement given to me recently, by a friend fo mine, that we are now reigning as Kings and Priests over the earth. I think, no doubt, he bases his statement on :

Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

My first reaction was - no - it cannot be. The time has not come, we are only Priests, because we serve reconciliation and atonement with God through the the Blood of Jesus Christ as in :

Fill my cup Lord!

Like the woman at the well I was seeking
For things that could satisfy
And then I heard the Savior speaking
Draw from my well that never shall run dry

There are millions in this world who are craving
The pleasures earthly things afford
But none can match the wondrous treasure
That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord

So my brother , if the things this world gave you
Leave hunger that won't pass away
My blessed Lord will come and save you
If you kneel to Him and humbly pray

Chorus

Fill my cup, Lord I lift it up, Lord
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul
Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more-
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole

I wonder - have I done my best for Jesus?

I wonder have I done my best for Jesus,
Who died upon the cruel tree?
To think of His great sacrifice at Calvary!
I know my Lord expects the best from me.

Refrain:

How many are the lost that I have lifted?
How many are the chained I’ve helped to free?
I wonder, have I done my best for Jesus,
When He has done so much for me?

We'll talk it over....

Tho' shadows deepen, and my heart bleeds
I will not question the way He leads;
This side of heaven we know in part
I will not question a broken heart.

Chorus:
We'll talk it over in the bye and bye.
We'll talk it over, my Lord and I.
I'll ask the reasons--he'll tell me why.
When we talk it over in the bye and bye.

Verse 2:
I'll trust His leading, He'll never fail,
Thru' darkest tunnels or misty vales;
Obey his bidding and faithful be
Tho' only one step ahead I see.

Verse 3:
I'll hide my heartache behind a smile
And wait for reasons till after while.
And tho He try me, I know I'll find
That all my burdens are silver lined.

An old but beautiful song!

To be Obedient

1 Samuel 15:22 “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed, better than the fat of rams.” Here we see how upset Samuel was that Saul took matters into his own hands and not follow the right protocol, by choosing to not be obedient to God. This was the beginning of his fall. Had he had respect for God and their traditions and obeyed it, he would have been blessed.

Who Am I - Casting Crowns

Suicide Watch.

The age old question: Can you go to Heaven if you commit suicide?

How will we know? It's not like we can pick up the phone and ask them. Although I cannot conceive that our merciful God will not have any circumstantial clause where we can be forgiven and still go to heaven, I understand that it is a great sin and one the Bible warns us against. I also know that a lot of people have been saved by the bell so to speak, like the murderer who hung on the cross next to Jesus. When he realised Jesus is innocents and took accountability for his own sins with true repentance, God told him that they will be together in paradise that same day. 

Why would you want to take your life? It is so unnatural, that even people who commit premeditated suicide, almost always end up with scratch marks on their necks, hands, or car handles, as evidence that they wanted to quit at the last minute, but wasn't physically capable of doing so successfully.

Striking up a conversation with God - Part 3

Conversing with God - Part 3 - by P.K.Odendaal - 23 June 2011.

The question I wish to ask is - How can we fulfill our obligation towards God to strike up a conversation with Him ?

My view is that we need all the skills we can muster to communicate all these things to God. He wants to know what our problems and aspirations are, how we feel, what we think of Him, what we like, how we adore His creation, how we adore our fellow men, what He can do for us. what do we like and what don't we like and a myriad other things. We need to communicate with Him on all levels.

Chris Barnard wrote a very basic prayer (Prayer for the Earth) by someone he knew, and I repeat and translate it here as best I can :