How to add a video to your blog

CLICK HERE for the link to blogger help that explains this.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The Lord gave me this song one day on the way to work. By saying "gave to me" I mean that I heard this on the radio and at work and really enjoyed it. It was a tremendous blessing to me and also helps me remember that I'm supposed to "praise" in the good times and the bad.

Blessed Be Your Name

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

Repeat Chorus

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name

by Matt Redman

album: Where Angels Fear To Tread (2002)

Behavior

This year, or this month, or, more likely, this very day, we have failed to practise ourselves the kind of behaviour we expect from other people.
(The Case for Christianity)

C.S. Lewis

Good Quotes

Anon.
When sorrows assail us or terrors draw nigh,
His love will not fail us, He'll guide with His eye.
And when we ar fainting and ready to fail,
He'll give what is lacking and make us prevail.

Amy Carmichael - Missionary to India
"Sometimes when we read the words of those who have been more than conquerors, we feel almost despondent. I feel that I shall never be like that. But [then I remember that] they won through step by step: by little bits of will; little denials of self; little inward victories; by faithfulness in very little things. They became what they are. No one sees these little hidden steps. They only see the accomplishment, but even so those small steps were taken. There is no sudden triumph, no sudden spiritual maturity. That is the work of the moment."

Gossip

I don't know who wrote this but I'm going to post it.

Killing With Words

My Name is Gossip.

I have no respect for justice.
I maim without killing.
I break hearts and ruin lives.
I am cunning, malicious.
and gather strength with age.

The more I am quoted, the more I am believed.
I flourish at every level of society.
My victims are helpless.
They cannot protect themselves against me.
All because I have no name and no face.
To track me down is impossible.
The harder you try, the more elusive I become.

I am nobody's friend.
Once I tarnish a reputation,
It is never the same.
I topple governments,
And ruin marriages.
I end ministries set up by God.

I ruin careers.
I cause sleepless nights, heartache and indigestion.
I spawn suspicion,
And generate grief.
I make innocent people cry in their pillows.
Even my name hisses.

I am called Gossip.

Add a Gadget

How to add a Gadget to a Blog.

Watch the video here.

Puddles : )

Originality

Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.

C.S. Lewis

One Year Bible Blog

Need to check this out some day. Also consider using this for the bible reading next year.

Be Real

John 12:12, 13 King James Version (KJV)

12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Revelation 7:9 (King James Version)

9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

There are two very different times and two very different groups of people. One happened in the streets of Jerusalem, the other in the realm of Glory. Both peoples lauded him with palms in their hands.

The first group of people wanted something earthly. They wanted the Lion of the tribe of Judah to deliver them in the here and now and to restore the Kingdom of David. He came as the Lamb and they rejected him. The Lamb provided for eternal deliverance and bliss. They wanted their blessings for the here and now. They rejected the Lamb and the cross because they desired the earthly. A week later they were screaming “crucify him! crucify him!”

Jesus knew it was a farce as he rode down the street on the ass’s foal. I believe his heart was breaking.

The second group of people fell in love with Him and desired the heavenly kingdom so as the bride they could live with him forever. They wouldn’t be rejecting Him on earth when the cross came and so they made it over to the Eternal abode. Maybe he thought of this crowd when “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross” [Hebrews 12:2]. Maybe in His omniscience He saw the second crowd and so could endure the first. I don’t want Him to just endure me. I want to know and love Him.

“If we aim at heaven…” we get the Lion and the Lamb. When He comes back He comes as our conquering King [the Lion] to end the reign of sin and death. We already have the Sacrifice [the Lamb] that taketh away the sin of the world. Moses’ typology in the Rock in the wilderness comes true. The first time they smote the Rock and the second time we speak [praise] to the Rock.

My Jesus, My bright and morning star… I see you in these the darkest of times. As the planet Venus, during the darkest time of the night, reflects the coming of the Sun, so I see in you a brand new day, a new world.

“Venus reaches its maximum brightness shortly before sunrise or shortly after sunset, for which reason it is often called the Morning Star or the Evening Star.” Wikipedia.

The Hope

If you have a chance you ought to see the HOPE [HERE].
It might be good to share it with a friend.

Puddles

Scripture

Isaiah 40:31 (King James Version)

31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Individuality

Be sure that the ins and outs of your individuality are no mystery to Him; and one day they will no longer be a mystery to you.

C.S. Lewis

LOVE

Love is something more stern and splendid than mere kindness.

C. S. Lewis

Encouragement

God can revive what he gives us. Has he given you a gift?

Elisha told the Shunammite woman that she would have a son. She desired it and blurted out "Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid." She didn't want her hopes unnecessarily raised only to be disappointed. God doesn't give us gifts to then turn around and disappoint us.

Later the child grew sick and died. She was devastated. She said this time "Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?" She was hurting so bad she thought the worst. Elisha prayed and the child came back to life.

But it's God's desire to restore our gift and use us. I had a man of God pray for me and tell me this story lately. He said that he wondered why God had laid it on him and then had him preach in a different direction. Then when while he was praying he said he knew it was for me.

What an encouragement! I felt as if God was exactly reading my heart and telling me the plans He had in store for me. I greatly appreciate the sensitivity of this Preacher.

Literature

Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become.

C.S. Lewis

Good Reading,

Puddles

A Good Lesson

From Today in the Word
1 Thessalonians 2:5-8 (New International Version)

5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.

As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, 7but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Rather than impersonal duty, we see Paul’s deep affection for his spiritual children. Rather than some memorized script, we find Paul sharing his very life. Hearts are won when we share our lives, not just the right answers or doctrine. This is a real challenge to the impersonal atmosphere present in many churches today, where individuals remain anonymous, never experiencing the tender love and intimate care that is pictured in this passage. What a model for ministry today’s verses give us!

Puddles

Father / Child Relationships

This from TODAY IN THE WORD

In 2004, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published a report entitled “Fathers and Father-Figures: Their Important Role in Children’s Social and Emotional Development.” The authors note, “Evidence shows that the quality of interactions in a father-child relationship positively impacts the cognitive, social and moral development of young children.” They go on to state that positive play time between a father and child may also be linked with that child’s ability to interact well with other children.

1 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (New International Version)

9Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.

10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

Let the ministry be like this Great Apostle. How quickly people's lives would be changed if we just imitated the life of this man. Not too quick to judge or rebuke, but gentle and tender.

I would never leave a church as long as I sincerely believed the ministry loved me.
Puddles

Experience

"Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn."

C.S. Lewis

Learning to Blog

Learn about blogs at:
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/blog.htm
I’ve read 3 of the 5 articles there.

Anyone have advice on searching blogs?