Blessed and highly favored.

[quietbloke]

Living in the grace and favour of God does not mean that everything in life will be easy but it does mean that everything is working together for our good in Christ!

 

[Saint Steven]

Living in the grace and favour of God does not mean that everything in life will be easy but it does mean that everything is working together for our good in Christ!

I smiled when I saw there was a post from you. Even BEFORE I read the post.
Thanks for being you.

I agree with the post too.

 

[quietbloke]

Jesus gives us life flowing with grace. He is so generous to us. He provides all we need!

 

[Saint Steven]

Jesus gives us life flowing with grace. He is so generous to us. He provides all we need!

John 7:38
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said,
rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

 

[rocknanchor]

Ever hear this slighting of the preacher? (Paraphrasing) 'He can't be blessed, he reads his sermons'

As I recall, Paul rejoiced whenever possible at the lifting up of the Lord Jesus.

 

[Saint Steven]

Ever hear this slighting of the preacher? (Paraphrasing) 'He can't be blessed, he reads his sermons'

Reminds me of someone else who didn't amount to much. - lol

Exodus 4:10
Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent,
neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

 

[quietbloke]

'Take my lips and let them be consecrated Lord to Thee. Take my moments and my days,let them flow in endless praise'.

 

[quietbloke]

'May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight,O Lord!'

 

[Saint Steven]

Luke 9:23
Then he said to them all:
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves
and take up their cross daily and follow me.

 

[rocknanchor]

", , must deny themselves

I find it interesting that that may have run the course with Peter. For at one point he said,

“Silver and gold have I none”​

But then another who denied himself was John who said,

“I pray that in all respects you may prosper”​

And just as surely, Paul too,

“Don't you have homes to eat and drink in?”​

Do you suppose Jesus is wearied at the lack of insistence [following, taking up the cross] of addressing illness as He did? The same Spirit speaking through Jesus saying we “must deny” also questioned it unusual that we wouldn’t have “homes” to live in. But also mentioned “the Son of man hath not where to lay His head”, the One specifically.

Is the denial for blessing then fully a matter of spiritual prosperity?

 

[Saint Steven]

I find it interesting that that may have run the course with Peter. For at one point he said,

“Silver and gold have I none”​

But then another who denied himself was John who said,

“I pray that in all respects you may prosper”​

And just as surely, Paul too,

“Don't you have homes to eat and drink in?”​

Do you suppose Jesus is wearied at the lack of insistence [following, taking up the cross] of addressing illness as He did? The same Spirit speaking through Jesus saying we “must deny” also questioned it unusual that we wouldn’t have “homes” to live in. But also mentioned “the Son of man hath not where to lay His head”, the One specifically.

Is the denial for blessing then fully a matter of spiritual prosperity?

The "denial" is a denial of the leading of the flesh.
We take up "a cross" when we FOLLOW Jesus. And recommit DAILY.
It's NOT about the STUFF we may have (the blessing of God), it's about WHAT we DO with it.

 

[musicalpilgrim]

The "denial" is a denial of the leading of the flesh.
We take up "a cross" when we FOLLOW Jesus. And recommit DAILY.
It's NOT about the STUFF we may have (the blessing of God), it's about WHAT we DO with it.

I am sure that we all know that on this forum

 

[Saint Steven]

I am sure that we all know that on this forum

Right.
But even the choir sticks around for the sermon. How come?

 

[musicalpilgrim]

Right.
But even the choir sticks around for the sermon. How come?

At a church where I played the organ once, the choir, all oldies, got out the boiled sweets during the sermon and some had a nap. (Chuckle) a bit off topic

 

[Saint Steven]

At a church where I played the organ once, the choir, all oldies, got out the boiled sweets during the sermon and some had a nap. (Chuckle) a bit off topic

Boiled sweets?
Please tell me what that is.

 

[musicalpilgrim]

Boiled sweets?
Please tell me what that is.

An English sweet toffee sold in packets (noisy) and individually wrapped in selophane (even more noisy) also noisy whispers. "Would you like one of mine?"

 

[Saint Steven]

An English sweet toffee sold in packets (noisy) and individually wrapped in selophane (even more noisy) also noisy whispers. "Would you like one of mine?"

Sounds yummy. Thanks.

 

[Saint Steven]

Twas late in '19 when the virus began,
Bringing chaos and fear to all people, each land.

People were sick, hospitals full,
Doctors overwhelmed, no one in school.

As winter gave way to the promise of spring,
The virus raged on, touching peasant and king.

People hid in their homes from the enemy unseen.
They YouTubed and Zoomed, social-distanced, and cleaned.

April approached and churches were closed.
"There won't be an Easter," the world supposed.

"There won't be church services, and egg hunts are out.
No reason for new dresses when we can't go about."

Holy Week started, as bleak as the rest.
The world was focused on masks and on tests.

"Easter can't happen this year," they proclaimed.
"Online and at home, it just won't be the same."

Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the days came and went.
The virus pressed on; it just would not relent.

The world woke Sunday and nothing had changed.
The virus still menaced, the people, estranged.

"Pooh pooh to the saints," the world was grumbling.
"They're finding out now that no Easter is coming.

"They're just waking up! I know just what they'll do!
Their mouths will hang open a minute or two,
And then all the saints will all cry boo-hoo.

"That noise," said the world, "would be something to hear."
So it paused and the world put a hand to its ear.

And it did hear a sound coming through all the skies.
It started down low, then it started to rise.

But the sound wasn't depressed.
Why, this sound was triumphant!
It couldn't be so!
But it grew with abundance!

The world stared around, popping its eyes.
Then it shook! What it saw was a shocking surprise!

Each saint in each nation, the tall and the small,
Was celebrating Jesus in spite of it all!

It hadn't stopped Easter from coming! It came!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the world with its life quite stuck in quarantine
Stood puzzling and puzzling.
"Just how can it be?"

"It came without bonnets, it came without bunnies,
It came without egg hunts, cantatas, or money."

Then the world thought of something it hadn't before.
"Maybe Easter," it thought, "doesn't come from a store.
Maybe Easter, perhaps, means a little bit more."

And what happened then?
Well....the story's not done.
What will YOU do?
Will you share with that one
Or two or more people needing hope in this night?
Will you share of the source of your life in this fight?

The churches are empty - but so is the tomb,
And Jesus is Victor over death, doom, and gloom.

So this year at Easter, let this be our prayer,
As the virus still rages all around, everywhere.

May the world see hope when it looks at God's people.
May the world see the Church is not a building or steeple.
May the world find Faith in Jesus' death and resurrection,
May the world find Joy in a time of dejection.
May 2020 be known as the year of survival,
But not only that -
Let it start a revival.

 

[quietbloke]

Twas late in '19 when the virus began,
Bringing chaos and fear to all people, each land.

People were sick, hospitals full,
Doctors overwhelmed, no one in school.

As winter gave way to the promise of spring,
The virus raged on, touching peasant and king.

People hid in their homes from the enemy unseen.
They YouTubed and Zoomed, social-distanced, and cleaned.

April approached and churches were closed.
"There won't be an Easter," the world supposed.

"There won't be church services, and egg hunts are out.
No reason for new dresses when we can't go about."

Holy Week started, as bleak as the rest.
The world was focused on masks and on tests.

"Easter can't happen this year," they proclaimed.
"Online and at home, it just won't be the same."

Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the days came and went.
The virus pressed on; it just would not relent.

The world woke Sunday and nothing had changed.
The virus still menaced, the people, estranged.

"Pooh pooh to the saints," the world was grumbling.
"They're finding out now that no Easter is coming.

"They're just waking up! I know just what they'll do!
Their mouths will hang open a minute or two,
And then all the saints will all cry boo-hoo.

"That noise," said the world, "would be something to hear."
So it paused and the world put a hand to its ear.

And it did hear a sound coming through all the skies.
It started down low, then it started to rise.

But the sound wasn't depressed.
Why, this sound was triumphant!
It couldn't be so!
But it grew with abundance!

The world stared around, popping its eyes.
Then it shook! What it saw was a shocking surprise!

Each saint in each nation, the tall and the small,
Was celebrating Jesus in spite of it all!

It hadn't stopped Easter from coming! It came!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the world with its life quite stuck in quarantine
Stood puzzling and puzzling.
"Just how can it be?"

"It came without bonnets, it came without bunnies,
It came without egg hunts, cantatas, or money."

Then the world thought of something it hadn't before.
"Maybe Easter," it thought, "doesn't come from a store.
Maybe Easter, perhaps, means a little bit more."

And what happened then?
Well....the story's not done.
What will YOU do?
Will you share with that one
Or two or more people needing hope in this night?
Will you share of the source of your life in this fight?

The churches are empty - but so is the tomb,
And Jesus is Victor over death, doom, and gloom.

So this year at Easter, let this be our prayer,
As the virus still rages all around, everywhere.

May the world see hope when it looks at God's people.
May the world see the Church is not a building or steeple.
May the world find Faith in Jesus' death and resurrection,
May the world find Joy in a time of dejection.
May 2020 be known as the year of survival,
But not only that -
Let it start a revival.

Absolutely,spot on! Thankyou for that,Steve!

 

[quietbloke]

God's Smile is on His righteous ones!