HEARING FROM GOD

DIRECT INSPIRATION OR INSTRUCTION

This experience is something we would all like more of! If we have a real heart towards God, that is.

Throughout history God has communicated directly with His people in an audible voice.

It started with Adam and Eve who, before the fall, walked with God in the garden in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8)

The principle is confirmed in Deuteronomy.

The Lord Is God

32 Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of? 33 Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived? (Deuteronomy 4:32-3)

Moses spent more time (other than Jesus) directly communicating with God, particularly when being given the Law on Mount Sinai, but through out his later life too. The prime Old Testament picture of Jesus.

18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, 19 and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. 20 The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up 21 and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the LORD and many of them perish. 22 Even the priests, who approach the LORD, must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.” (Exodus 19:18-22)

Two occasions in which the audible voice of God was heard by others, during the ministry of Jesus, were at the time of His baptism.....

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)

.....and at the time of His transfiguration.

5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)

Paul heard the voice of God (Jesus) on the road to Damascus.....

3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:3-6)

.....as did Peter in his (pork validation! Thank you Lord!) vision.

13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” (Acts 10:13-15)

We are instructed to not to ignore God's voice. It was reinforced by repetition 3 times in Hebrews!

15 As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” (Hebrews 3:15)

When John came to write the book of Revelation, God (Jesus) spoke to him.

10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. (Revelation 1:10-13)

Personally, I have had a number of occasions on which the Lord has spoken directly to me in an audible voice. These have generally been completely unexpected and have occurred at times of a certain inconvenience, when I was involved in doing something else.

For example, many years ago now I was getting our youngest son, Cameron, ready to go off to pre-school, for Kathy was at work. All of a sudden the Lord dictated a song to me, which I had to stop and write down immediately.

Put your hand on my shoulder,
Be with me all the way.
I need You to guide me, lest I go astray.
Lead me in my walk through life,
On your path to stay.
Lo-rd be with me, all of the day.

He also gave me the tune, which I stored in my mind, to later get a musical friend to transcribe into 'music speak, on sheet music, for me.

Walking With Jesus Ministries was born out of an audible request of the Lord, while I was working in the fields tending our commercial crops of cut flowers. Hence what you are reading today is a response to the direct voice of the Lord. PTL!

Our last major shift of cities was the result of the audible voice of the Lord speaking to me right in the middle of (loud) worship at the church we belonged to at the time. It came completely out of the blue! Both Kathy and others confirmed the word in other ways, which we will look at another day.

Hearing God's voice is something most of us desire. But when God speaks to us audibly, we can be sure it is important, so we need to obey His voice! That is where 'the rubber hits the road!'

May we listen out for, and obey God's voice.

But most of the time, He talks to me through the Bible.

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FROM THE WORD

At Mount Sinai

"In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on the very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the LORD had commanded him to speak. The people all responded together, “We will do everything the LORD has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD. The LORD said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the LORD what the people had said. And the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. He shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on him. Whether man or animal, he shall not be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they go up to the mountain.” After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.” On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up 21 and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the LORD and many of them perish. Even the priests, who approach the LORD, must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.” Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’” The LORD replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the LORD, or he will break out against them.” So Moses went down to the people and told them." (Exodus 19:1-25)

The Transfiguration

"After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist." (Matthew 17:1-13)

Saul’s Conversion

"Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” "Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength." (Acts 9:1-19)

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DAVID'S DOODLINGS

HEAVENLY TRUTHS GOD HAS SHOWN ME

739. - 809. God has shown me that...

... the reward for loving others is found in Heaven, rather than on earth.

... life is to be our investment in eternity.

... ultimately, I am the one responsible for me.

... salvation is a process, not an event.

... life's limitations are man driven, not God given.

... when my wants line up with His desires, things happen.

... I need to place godliness even above wisdom.

... to be effective for Him, the light within, must shine without.

... happiness comes and happiness goes, but joy stands firm.

... we have second chances in life but not in death.

... we only get to live life once.

... my time invariably runs ahead of His time for me.

... to wait is still to grow.

... my job is simply to be available to Him.

... yesterdays faith is to become today's normality.

... exercising my 'will' frequently involves my 'wont'.

... the wall of faith is built one brick at a time.

... to 'overcome' I need to 'undergo' change in my life.

... God is God, is God.

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CRANWELL'S CARTOON

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” 4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” 9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. (John 3:1-13)




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TUESDAY TEACHINGS

THIS WEEK: A REVELATION OF... THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD

We will see how Holy Spirit living reflects in our outward actions, particularly in sacrificial love.

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As Christians, if we can't laugh at ourselves, others will! A fun way to start your day.

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LAUGHING AT OURSELVES

***Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused***

*** "Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others." ***

255. THE MONK'S SOUND
A man is driving down the road and breaks down near a monastery. He goes to the monastery, knocks on the door, and says, "My car broke down. Do you think I could stay the night?"

The monks graciously accept him, feed him dinner, even fix his car. As the man tries to fall asleep, he hears a strange sound. The next morning, he asks the monks what the sound was, but they say, "We can't tell you. You're not a monk."

The man is disappointed but thanks them anyway and goes about his merry way. Some years later, the same man breaks down in front of the same monastery. The monks again accept him, feed him, even fix his car. That night, he hears the same strange noise that he had heard years earlier.

The next morning, he asks what it is, but the monks reply, "We can't tell you. You're not a monk."

The man says, "All right, all right. I'm dying to know. If the only way I can find out what that sound was is to become a monk, how do I become a monk?"

The monks reply, "You must travel the earth and tell us how many blades of grass there are and the exact number of sand pebbles. When you find these numbers, you will become a monk."

The man sets about his task. Some forty-five years later, he returns and knocks on the door of the monastery. He says, "I have travelled the earth and have found what you have asked for. There are 256,897,103,145,236,284,232 blades of grass and 561,281,219,999,129,382,756,124,512,999 sand pebbles on the earth."

The monks reply, "Congratulations. You are now a monk. We shall now show you the way to the sound."

The monks lead the man to a wooden door, where the head monk says, "The sound is right behind that door."

The man turns the knob, and behind that door he is amazed to find the source of that strange sound.

But I can't tell you what it is because you're not a monk.


253. WHICH VIRGIN?
A ten-year old, under the tutelage of her grandmother, was becoming quite knowledgeable about the Bible. Then one day she floored her grandmother by asking, "Which Virgin was the mother of Jesus? The virgin Mary or the King James Virgin?"


252. ALIKE?
My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, "Grandma, do you know How you and God are alike?" I mentally polished my halo while I asked, "No, how are we alike?" "You're both old," he replied.

FREE DOWNLOAD: You can now download the book 'Laughing At Ourselves' in PDF format at LAUGHING AT OURSELVES

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FACTS FOR FUN

LAST WEEKS QUESTION: King Edward II of England (1324) decreed the standard measurement of the ‘inch’ to be equal to what?

ANSWER: Three barleycorns laid end to end. (Measurement didn’t get any easier after that – until metrics.)

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Which 'King' in a pack of cards doesn’t have a moustache?

Answer Next Week.

SOME FUN FACTS

160. INSECT KILLER
It is estimated that a single toad may catch and eat as many as 10,000 insects over the course of a summer. (Maybe we should keep some inside too?)

161. FUTURE PLANNING
President George Washington oversaw construction of the White House, but never lived there. It remained for the second U.S. president, John Adams, elected in 1796, to first occupy it. Yet his term was nearly over by the time he moved in, and only six rooms had been completed. (Bet they weren’t out on the street though!)

162. THAT'S HOT!
The highest man-made temperature – 70 million degrees Celsius – was generated at Princeton University in a fusion power experiment in 1978. (How did they contain it?)

A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU

Make another word from this word using all the letters.

ASPIRES

Answer at the end of A David Musing

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BIBLE QUESTION - WHERE IS THE QUOTATION FROM?

18) 'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.'

A - Luke 9:27
B - Jonah 1:8
C - Matthew 4:19
D - Acts 8:22

Source: www.biblequizzes.com

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IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!

"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""

!!!!!!! "Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." (Karl - age 5)

!!!!!! "Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." (Chrissy - age 6)

!!!!! "Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." (Terri - age 4)

!!!! "Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." (Danny - age 7)

!!! "Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." (Bobby - age 5)

!! "Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." (Noelle - age 7)

! "Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." (Tommy - age 6)

100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...

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THE WORLD'S GREATEST GROANS

NEW GROWTH
A detective who spent his entire career in plain clothes quit the police force and bought a farm.

"What kind of crops do you plan to grow?" the police chief asked the farmer-to-be.

"Carrots and potatoes," the man replied.

"Why carrots and potatoes?" asked the chief.

"Because," answered the ex-detective, . . . "I'm very fond of undercover crops."

FLUFFY - THE WET WABBIT
A woman walks into a vet's waiting room. She's dragging a wet rabbit on a leash. The rabbit does not want to be there.

"Sit, Fluffy," she says.

Fluffy glares at her, and sopping wet, jumps up on another customer's lap, getting water all over him.

"I said sit, now there's a good Fluffy," says the woman, slightly embarrassed.

Fluffy, wet already, squats in the middle of the room and urinates.

The woman, mortally embarrassed, shouts, "Fluffy, will you be good?!"

Fluffy then starts a fight with a Doberman and pursues it out of the office.

As the woman leaves to go after it, she turns to the rest of the flabbergasted customers and says:

"Pardon me, I've just washed my hare, and can't do a thing with it!"

ENFORCING THE LAW
Driving to work, a gentleman had to swerve to avoid a box that fell out of a truck in front of him.

Seconds later, two policemen came by. While one pulled the gentleman over, the second carefully stopped traffic and recovered the box so as to avoid any further mishaps. When they opened the box, they found it contained large upholstery tacks.

"I'm sorry sir," the first trooper told the driver, "but I'm going to have to write you a ticket."

Amazed, the driver asked, "For what??"

The trooper replied, "Tacks evasion."

THE THREE BEARS TODAY
The three bears had been having some trouble recently and had ended up in family court. Mama and Papa bear were splitting up, and baby bear had to decide who he was going to live with. So, the judge wanted to talk to baby bear to see what he thought about living with either of his parents. When he asked baby bear about living with his father, baby bear said "No, I can't live with Papa bear, he beats me terribly."

"OK," said the judge, "then you want to live with your mother, right?"

"No way!" replied baby bear, "She beats me worse than Papa does."

The judge was confused by this, and didn't quite know what to do.

"Well, you have to live with someone, so are there any relatives you would like to stay with?" asked the judge. "Yes," answered baby bear, "my aunt Bertha bear who lives in Chicago."

"You're sure she will treat you well and won't beat you?" asked the judge.

"Definitely," said baby bear, "the Chicago Bears don't beat anybody."

INVESTIGATION
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson were going about their rounds, and trying to get into a house that they needed to search. After trying the door handle, Watson exclaimed "Oh, no, Sherlock, we'll never get in. It's locked!"

At which point, Sherlock removed a yellow citrus fruit from his pocket, and squeezed the juice into the keyhole. The door then opened, and the two were able to search the house.

"How did you manage that?" exclaimed Watson

"A-lemon-entry, my dear Watson," replied Holmes.

More Great Groaners here.....

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BIBLE TRIVIA (Manners and Customs - Clothing and Accessories)

THE BEDOUIN'S TENT IS USUALLY OBLONG......

.....and divided into 2, or maybe 3, rooms divided by goat hair curtains. The entrance leads into men's quarters where guests are received. Beyond this is the women's and children’s area. Sometimes a 3rd section is used for servants or cattle. The women in the inner section are screened from those in the reception room, but can hear what is said. Remember how Sarah overheard the angel and laughed. (Genesis 18:10-15)

Adapted from: '1001 Surprising Things You Should Know About The Bible' MacGregor & Prys

Lots more 'God Facts' are found at...

'Blue Like Jazz' Fans Raise Over $156,000 to Save Faith-Based Film

By Jennifer Riley|Christian Post Reporter

More than 2,000 fans of the bestselling Christian memoir Blue Like Jazz have helped raise enough money to resuscitate the production of the book’s film adaptation.

Fans of the book had raised the needed $125,000 within only 10 days, and collectively pledged $156,097 for the project by Tuesday afternoon – two weeks before the Oct. 25 deadline. With the first goal reached, supporters of Donald Miller’s book now aim to surpass $200,641 by the campaign’s closing date to hold the record as the largest project ever funded on Kickstarter.com, a site that allows fans to support artists.

“[W]e are beyond grateful for your contribution to save Blue Like Jazz, the movie,” wrote Miller on his blog Monday. “This movie went from dead to front-page news overnight because of you.”

After years of trying to get the book on the silver screen, Miller wrote on his blog on Sept. 16 that there would be no film-version of the New York Times bestseller due to lack of funding. But two fans of the book – Jonathan Frazier and Zach Prichard from Franklin, Tenn. – launched savebluelikejazz.com to raise the bare-minimum amount of $125,000 for the film to start production.

Blue Like Jazz, published in 2003, is a semi-autobiographical book in which Miller reflects on his growing understanding of God, Jesus and his Christian faith. His authentic struggles and insightful yet relatable revelations have appealed to younger Christians in their 20s and 30s.

For the film adaptation, producers tapped Marshall Allman of HBO’s “True Blood” as the lead actor. And it was decided that shooting for the film would mostly take place in Tennessee, where director Steve Taylor lives. Some scenes will be filmed in Portland, Ore., where Miller lives and where most of the story takes place.

Though even a $200,000 budget for a movie would be small by Hollywood’s standards, church-produced flick “Facing the Giants” notably grossed over $10 million with just a $100,000 production budget.

On the other hand, faith-based movie “Letters to God” had a $3 million budget but only grossed $2.8 million, proving the point that money isn’t everything.

Despite whatever uncertainty, producers of the upcoming film are investing all they can into the project with hope for success. To date, no one that has been involved since the beginning of the writing stages has been paid anything. And while over $150,000 has been pledged, it wasn't immediately clear how much has been received.

Still, with the pledges, producers plan to begin filming for the movie on Oct. 28 in Nashville. Shooting is expected to last about five weeks.

Miller further reports that about ten percent of the film’s profit will be donated to a yet-to-be-determined nonprofit organization.

Many more Godfacts at...

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DAVID'S DOWNLOAD

A REVELATION OF……. GIVING TO GOD

In Christianity, we hear an awful lot about what God has done for us, but much less of what He desires from us in return!

There is a saying that 'salvation is a free gift, but discipleship costs us everything!' For as Jesus sacrificed His life for us on Calvary's grim hill, so we, in turn, are to model Him, and sacrifice our life for God and for others.

In this study we are going to look at the ways in which we are to offer God the sacrifices He so much desires from us - Praise and Worship, Prayer and Fasting and Tithes and Gifts.

My God sacrificed His son Jesus, for me! Surely, the first thing I can do for Him is to offer back the sacrifices He desires of me. Is that too much to ask?

In theory we would probably agree, but the practice of our lives often tends to fall short of our good intentions!

I trust that this study will encourage you, as it has me, to give back to God what He desires of each one of us.

Download your free PDF File here.....

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WAXING LYRICAL

Written over several weeks, this poem is the culmination of several months of looking and looking, and looking, for premises for another recycled clothing shop in our sister city, 20km away. Everything happens in the Lord's timing!

THE BUILDING

Look, look, look,
It's all it took,
Not by the book,
Nor how to cook.

Look at one,
Yes, its done!
Too much mon,
It's no fun.

But this week?
More to seek.
Find no leak,
Must be meek.

Offer Tuesday,
Answer Friday.
Delayed Monday!
Relaxed today.

More delay,
Here stay.
Only pray.
One day!

Met landlord,
Seeming accord.
All aboard?
Monday Lord!

Contract signed!
Grateful mind.
God's kind,
We dined!

All's well,
Ring bell.
Clothes sell?
Months tell!

Thanks Lord.
Bon-accord.
Praises afford,
Welcome aboard!

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A DAVID MUSING

The celebration of a monumental milestone in our family took place this weekend!

MY MUM IS 90!

Yes, today my Mum has turned ninety!
Threescore years, plus ten, plus twenty!
Where have all those years gone?
To us, a right royal paragon
Of virtue, befitting a hundred and fifty.

My Mum was born in Northern Ireland.
Green grass, grey sky, but her land.
Taken to Canada when oh so small,
Before arriving on New Zealand soil,
Where, on the farm, she leant a hand.

Experiencing the quake of 31 at school,
Where, of course, she was nobody’s fool.
Yes, dux of her year, you would expect no less,
With lots of brains, the Lord, my Mum did bless.
Getting it right, not the exception, but the rule.

Then up and away, to work on her bike,
Along the embankment, fast as you like.
In a lawyer’s office, my Mum did lurk,
Behind a typewriter, she did work.
Through a mountain of paper, Mum did hike.

One day in a shoe shop, she did meet her match,
A dastardly plan, my Dad, he did slyly hatch.
One wrong shoe in a box,
Put in by the wily old fox,
Return she did, where now, he made his catch.

Along came wedding bells and the knot was tied,
And then a son, bearing whom, she nearly died.
A time of blindness to go along with the pain,
But a bonny boy (if I may say so) she did gain!
To bring him up right, was what she always tried.

Eighteen months later, he was joined by a cute sister,
Judith Lorraine, a girl to dote on, not another mister.
Now there were two, with each other to fight,
Or rather, over which, a proud Mum, to skite.
Our Mum, she now had her son and her daughter.

I remember my Mum out on the tennis court,
A pretty picture in her dress, oh so short.
And then, of course, she charmed the Queen,
On the Britannia, where not many have been,
An experience, money could not have bought.

First MP’s wife, then as the gracious Mayoress,
Napier City, with her presence, she did bless.
Public life though, was not easy for her,
Home with family, she did rather prefer,
Always beautiful, in the way she did dress.

Mum and Dad, they travelled far and wide,
From Taj Mahal, to Sistine Chapel, inside.
They took us to Australia to visit a sewage farm,
A memorable pong that surely did me no harm.
While a cricket ball, round the MCG, it did glide.

Then came the shock diagnosis of multiple sclerosis,
But my Mum would not let it become a neurosis,
The Catholic charismatics prayed so hard,
That our God, played His trump card,
The disease never reaching its terrible prognosis.

Mum, you’ve been so brave and stoic in the challenges of life,
Always with a shrug and a smile, even when in great strife,
An example to me, and others, you have been,
In the good and the bad, and the in-between,
You have coped, persevered, always the good Mum and wife.

From Thompson to Kennedy Road, then up on the hill,
To Avon Terrace, several houses you and Dad did fill.
But in time, your husband, our Dad, did die,
Putting on a brave face, inside you did cry.
Then to get on with your life, it became your will.

Over the past 14 years I have watched you grow,
A new Lady Tait, have been privileged to know.
As you have made a new life on your own,
Into a new dimension you have grown.
A fresh dash of yeast to leaven your dough.

From Knightsbridge Village to Devonshire Place,
You’ve inspired others with your smile and grace.
A contentment in the face of difficulties you have found,
A model, to me, and to others, whom you are around.
In your later years, you have truly found your place.

Yes, as you have reached the milestone of 90 today,
The longest lived lady, in 300 years, you can now say,
All your family together, we’re so blessed by your life,
A faithful daughter, mother, grandmother and wife.
I thank and love you. ‘My Mum’, you will ever stay.

David Tait: Saturday 16 October 2010

Until next week.......

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.

His servant and yours

David Tait

Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: PRAISES

TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' ANSWER: 18) C - Matthew 4:19

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ABOUT US

WALKING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES is a non-profit, non-denominational, Bible based ministry located in Hastings, New Zealand. A ministry dedicated to developing discipleship, fostering unity amongst God’s people to achieve the Great Commission, and in doing so, preparing for Christ’s return. It is securely based upon the foundational principles of the Apostles Creed while recognising the wide and rich diversity of beliefs amongst Christians in other areas. In accordance with the Lord’s direction, materials produced by the ministry are available, free of charge, to genuine enquirers upon request. The ministry is solely funded by donations, as the Lord provides. A list of materials available (plus some fun!) is obtainable and freely downloadable from our website
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Walking With Jesus Ministries
7 Bull Street
Ahuriri
Napier
New Zealand

Phone: (06) 835 0567 International (+64) 6 835 0567

Email: enquiries@wwj.org.nz
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Our role is to bless and encourage those in ministry while promoting co-operation and unity of direction amongst the body of Christ, as emphasised 3 times by Jesus in His longest prayer, immediately prior to His arrest and crucifixion. "… so that they may be one as we are one." (John 17:12, 21, 23-4) Our website is currently being developed to encourage your participation one with another, to share resources, and to enable you to promote events and items of interest to the body as a whole – and have a smile while doing it!

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