Call to overcome

I can hear my Saviour calling
Calling on me to come up higher
Calling me to a deeper life
Beseeching me to lay aside the sin that easily besets me, the cares of the world, and idleness.
Beseeching me to overcome the sins of the day, as worldliness, self-sufficiency and lukewarmness
Urging me to refuse complacence and go all the way with Him.
Telling me to settle for nought but His personal life in me. 

Inspired by sermon;How can I overcome precached by Rev. William Branham 

Character

Your character shows who you are.
Read more at: http://youngfoundations.org/en/articles/11132014_Character

While I wait

Always concerned about what will be, always planning for tomorrow, always living in the future and never in the present. But yesterday today was tomorrow. I did not cherish yesterday because I was busy planning for today, planning how to overcome the day’s foes and enjoy it. But I can’t seem to enjoy today because tomorrow is again uncertain. I need to plan for it and remove any obstacles in joy’s way.
And this has become pathological, for today’s always and tomorrow remains uncertain. I find that I’m always waiting for or planning something, but when it comes or happens I don’t cherish it-because then the cycle must start again. It’s a circle of madness trying to make life perfect so I can enjoy it. Realising that joy does not come from without but within, will help me much.  The bible long recorded;” sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof”-so no matter how precisely I plan for it, tomorrow will have evil.
But writing this piece was to ask the question; what do I do while I wait? Okay, I think there are two things to consider here. One’s that joy is not when everything is fine and dandy. The other’s that while I wait for a solution to my problem, life should not stop and it must be lived today. Oh and, trouble will always be present.
Sometimes (If not all the times) the solution to one problem brings more problems."

-“Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof”
>>Matthew 6:34

-"Oh, if we didn't have so many other things on our mind. You know, sometimes we'll come to church, thinking about, "Tomorrow I gotta do this; the next day, I've got to do this." When we come to church, we ought to lay aside every thought and every thing of the world, and enter into fellowship with Christ and worship: meditating, worshipping in our hearts, and giving songs and praises to Him, thinking of His goodness, and what He means to us, worshipping in the Spirit, singing spiritual songs, making melodies in our heart. Even the Bible said, "If there's any afflicted, let them sing songs." Be happy; be in meditation, always expecting God at any moment to appear to you."
>>Rev. William Branham in sermon; Mary's Belief 60-0311
http://branham.org/williambranham

Let me die and know

(It's not really a poem, just me trying to express myself on paper..or screen rather ^_^) 

For to Know thee is life.
I would know thee, oh Precious Lord
Beget me today, and may I know thee in the power of thy resurrection
For to know thee is surely life
Kill my senses, consume me at thy brazen altar
Let me to this sinful nature die
That holds me afar from thee
Birth me, that I may know thee
Lead me down the road of calvary
And there may I behold thee in simplicity, that I may live
I desire not that I’d hear of thee
From those before me
Who’ve died and yet again live
But I want to know thee, that I may begin to live.
How I love to hear of thy mighty deeds
Written in the pages of thy holy Word
But I can’t get warm by a painted fire
I want to say this; that this day I know that the Lord surely is alive,
He lives in my heart and He’s yet the same as He was
Oh be thou real to me.
It’s not pleasant to die, but let it be dear Lord.
Hold not back, neither stop at anything to save
Though all hell gets loosed against me, let it not prevail.

A life rejected by the world

Lately, I've been feeling like a complete stranger to the world. I've been feeling vast incompatibility between my life and the lives of those around me. 

It has occurred to me that my faith and lifestyle are “strange”, and have no place whatsoever in this modern world. The things I believe in are deemed folly by not only the world, but even the Christians of today. While those I shun and believe to be abomination, have become a normal part of life to everyone, yes; including ‘Christians’. From what I wear and don’t, to how I entertain myself or spend my free time, they all seem so foolish and insipid. I feel like such an outcast!, and I feel that the only way to live this life, is to shun off from the world. Not to be an isolationist  but to be a Christian whose life speaks of a different land , and whose conduct is influenced by things heavenly. 

Now I understand what they mean by the following; the reproach of Christ, a peculiar people, pilgrims, not of this world…

Hebrews {11:13} These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

{11:26} Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 

{13:12} Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 

{13:13} Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

1 Peter {2:11} Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.

Deuteronomy {26:18} And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments. 

{14:2} for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

Experience

Journeying along my Christian path, I felt like God owed me; felt the road is filled with too many hardships (which I shouldn’t go through).

 Whenever I’d get an obstacle in front of me, I felt God should make haste to remove it immediately.
When I’d fall, I felt He had to come- lift me up, wipe the dust off me, and carry me on His shoulder-and He had to do it now! That was His duty. 

But He didn’t always come when I wanted Him to, or the way I figured He’d come. And this wasn’t too pleasant for me. As long as He came? No! That was not the attitude I had. He had to come on my terms, and If He didn’t, I’d think it’s because He doesn’t love or care for me much.

It came to a point, I went to church because I was scared He’d punish me If I didn’t go. I lived the way I did because I didn’t want to go to hell. I did not consider how much God invested in me, No..in this relationship it was all about me, what I could get out of it..

I’d murmur silently within and wouldn’t let it out. I kept it too far out of sight, shunned it out of my conscious state because I knew it’d condemn me. It was too grey to face, yet deep down knew I didn’t love Him they way I ought to. I didn’t give Him the love he deserved. 

But there came a time, He brought it all out to my conscious state. A succession of unpleasant events took place gradually, things were going horribly wrong. And as I cried out of despair and dread, I opened up my bible to this scripture:

Job 15:13” Though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him: but I will maintain mine own ways before Him”.

As I read it, I began to recall quotes from the prophet, pertaining to love.

“I don't live true to my wife because I think she'd divorce me. I live true to my wife because I love her. It's a legal position that we have taken, that we love one another. First, before it could be there, it had to be a love. I love her. Although I believe if I done something wrong, she'd forgive me; still I wouldn't do it anyhow. I love her.

That's the way it is with Christ” [Adoption.3- 60-0522M]

 “[I] said "Though He slay me, yet I love Him. If He sends me to hell at the judgment day, He's just. I love Him anyhow. Something happened one day down in my heart. He'd put love in there. It's part of me. And it's more me than I am myself.." [Hear ye Him. 57-0519A]

” And if He sends me to hell, and in hell there's such a thing as having love, I'll still love Jesus Christ. 'Cause it's become a part of my life; it's become me. And I can't help it; there's something in there makes me love Him.” [Do you now believe. 53-1206E]

 “But I don't serve the Lord because I think He'd send me to hell if I didn't; I serve Him because I love Him. I serve Him because there's something in me. If you go out and say, "Well, I have to quit doing this because my church don't believe in it," you're just playing the part of a hypocrite. That's right. But if you do it because that it--you love it, and--and it's a contribution to God, and something in your heart making the love of God so greater to you than these things, now you're on the right line” [QUESTIONS.AND.ANSWERS_  59-0628E]

“As I've often said, I don't run around with other women because I'm afraid my wife will divorce me. I don't run around with other women 'cause I love my wife. That's it. I don't believe that you should run around. But a law isn't what keeps it, my marriage vow; it's my love. And it's reason I love God. Not because I'm afraid He'd send me to hell; I don't believe He'd do that. But because I love Him so much I don't want to do it. There's nothing in me to make me do it. I love Him too much; I wouldn't hurt Him for nothing. Certainly, I love Him.” [The Church choosing law for grace_610316]

“I said, "Lord, You give her to me. You're taking her away. Though You slay me, like Job said, yet, I love You and I believe You. If You send me to hell, I'll love You, anyhow. I can't get away from that." There you are.

Just an intellectual, it all broke away. But you got to have personal relationship. You've got to be born again.” [Is your life worthy of the gospel_63630E].

All I can say now is, thank God for sending Elijah! I am no longer what I used to be!!

This I wrote a while ago ..somehow its relevant to post it now.

My soul is vexed within me, How I want to shed a tear

For such has been my custom ere when in sin I was still living

How hard it is, to let go of old habits
How I want to shed a tear, for in this found I my acute comfort ere I heard the Voice
King David found his in the holy Word, 
I try to follow after this, but I still find the need to shed a tear
I find I’m filled with anxiety, I don’t want to wait on the Rock
I want to shed a tear, and how else can I, than to conclude that it is not well
But if I would believe His promises, then I’d gleefully await for provision
I would not exert outstanding pity upon mine-self
Pity that whispers ; Poor you, you’re so miserable and alone
Pity that deceives me into believing no one cares, and no one around me suffers as much
How deadly self-pity is, how cruel and depressible
If only it was easy to let go of old sticky habits
Nonetheless, in birth, there is no  ease, but pain
I must go through this, to be born anew!

“Beautiful one, forsake those tears

Which you display to your false fears.

They all shall fall like needless rain

Because your sorrow is in vain.

I have made you, by My design,

A light to emulate and shine;

A priceless gem before My eyes,

So do not heed the world's harsh lies.

Gather them up, give them to Me,

And I will keep you safe and free.

Free of the self-doubt prowling inside,

And safe from the rage of wounded pride.

Oh hear Me now, and do not grieve,

My words are all you should believe.

I am the light, the truth, the way!

Listen, dear one, to what I say:

I have made each morning new,

And I will always be with you;

Your name is written on My heart,

And you are blessed and set apart.

Abide in Me, for I'm in you,

And witness what your Lord will do!

My love will come upon sunrise,

And night will fall on all their lies”- Jeff Bidman

The deception of feelings…

As of a fresh-born eaglet, taking its first ride, effortfully grasping for a breath of air.
Battling to look above and live, struggling to trust and obey,
Overwhelmed with a feeling of death, of failure, of no-worth…
Looking around, I cannot locate the great mother eagle-one who promised to never leave me
Who promised to help me, and told me to fear not
I fail to understand it ..why didn’t it go well? Why did I seem helpless?
Had it gone well, wouldn’t my eyes be stimulated to look?
Wouldn’t it have been therapy to overcome my issues of trust?
It’s a tad too easy to say that God is with you, be discouraged and don’t lose heart, and yes it’s true that He’s here. But I’m human, with a heart of feelings..and when it bleeds hyperactively, the affect cannot be easily ignored..the feelings linger! I heard on Sunday, of a woman whose faith was stronger than her raging feelings. She begged for food, and was called a dog, but she realised that she could still eat of the food, or crumbs, though being a dog. That, to me, is true courage displayed; to trust even when you’re battered. To know that feelings are not a true representation of reality, and be stronger than what you feel. He who can achieve this, is the greatest to me. For I stand with the proverb: “…he that ruleth his spirit [is] better than he that taketh a city”
If I can fly up, high above my feelings, then I shall see better, not blurrily, as of the present. For I once wrote:
The view is always blurry to eyes full of tears. Just because you don't see Him, doesn't mean He's not there.
You be still and know that He is God. He promised never to leave you nor forsake you.
Encourage yourself in the Lord, and believe in Him.

Psalm 27: 13
"I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of
the LORD in the land of the living.
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

Blessings..

Door bell: ring,ring!!     

You: Who is it?  

Postman:  ''Postal Service. Special delivery; A box of live rattlesnakes!''

    

What would you do?

"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to

quench all the fiery darts of the wicked".

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith". 

-Ephesians 6:16, 1 John 5:4

An excerpt from a sermon titled: "Expectations", by Rev. William Branham. 

What if someone came up in the morning to your door, express agent, and throwed a whole basketfuls  of rattlesnakes, and had your name on them. Said, "Here they are; they're yours."You know they're there, just like you know your symptoms is there. If you receive them, they're yours. But you don't have to take them. You can say, "I don't want them."

Say, "Your name's on them."

Say, "I don't want them. I won't have them."
He can stand there and argue as much as he wants to. But until you take them and sign for them, they belong to the express company until you sign for them. Don't sign for nothing the devil brings. You say, "There it is, though I refuse to have it." That's right. "Take it back." Have nothing to do with it."
If you won't testify that you've got it... When you testify you still have your sickness, the devil keeps it with you. But you refuse to testify of it. Say, "I won't have it. No, sir."

 Oh, my. That's when you're getting faith. Give your faith a chance. Turn it loose; unbridle it; let it work. You've got it all bound down with traditions. Turn it loose; cut it loose. Let God have His way with you. Somebody's word's right, either what you're looking at or what God says. God's Word is true. Believe It. All right.But the first time you testify of your sickness, it brings you right down to that realm again. You signed for it. Refuse to sign for it. Testify of what you believe.
When I had stomach trouble, so bad till even the doctors said there's not...?... you. That was Mayo's too. I accepted Him upon this Scripture. He's the High Priest of my confession. I said, "I refuse to testify any more, nothing but what God says. I believe His Word."Jesus died to heal us. Every one of you is healed. Every one of you is healed right now. Jesus has already healed you; you just have to confess it and believe it. That's right. By His stripes you were (past tense) healed. That's when He did it at Calvary. That's when He overcome all sickness and sin and all, at Calvary, for you. Just like a table set, it's there. Only thing you have to go is go eat. You have to accept it, believe it in your heart, and confess it. And He's the High Priest of your confession.

So,   Would you accept the ''Box of Rattlesnakes?''

You do not have to accept anything the devil offers you, Regardless of what it is. Give your faith a chance. Turn it loose and let God have His way with you!

I hope you've enjoyed reading this post. I pray that it has blessed and encouraged you as much as it has me.May God's divine peace be upon whoever reads this. 
Post by Shalom G.

It's really the life that matters

Rather live me a life, than preach me a thousand sermons
Show me with your life which is the provided way of God
Shine on the narrow path, Illuminate it with your light for me to see
Prove to me by your fruits, that Christ has resurrected and in your soul doth he live
Speak to me less, and act more.
Let me see the life of your Master, whom you profess to love and faithfully serve.
Let me see it expressed in you.
For everybody else professes the same, all claim to be in the faith.
But where are the works? Did He not say greater works will you do?
Or did it say greater speech will you have? I beg your pardon.
Why then do you cast your attention upon preaching to me, do you not preach to yourself first?
Wonderful words I hear from your lips, words that irradiate higher knowledge than I had
I could tell that thou hast insight, and I reckoned it was only inevitable that your life will likewise testify.
Were my expectations haywire?
Oh I pray tell me, where is that power you speak of that transforms lives? I am dying to know, and so is the world. An antidote of love it needs, but where are His disciples to administer it?
So many preach and teach. They all claim to be His followers.
But where are those whose life they have?
Those who know that knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
Those who will ooze out unfeigned love to even the unlovable, who do not put up an act.
Thou knowest very well that these are confusing times; you say there’s more confusion in the world than there’s ever been. How then can I know which is truth, when all say they’ve got it?
How I loved it when I heard you say, “by their fruits you will know”.
And I ask you, where are your fruits?

Why?

All day e'ryday I will be found dressed in a skirt (or dress). Yes, everyday.

If you've seen me you've probably asked yourself; why does she do it?

So why?

Why do I  wear long loose garments that leave me looking undesirable to the world? garments that at times bring upon me reproach from peers? ...
Why do I veil my body and its form from the eyes of the world? ..
Why not show off a little? 
Why do I just do it?

Is it to be different? 
Is it because of culture or (African) tradition? 
In Christian terms, Is to present myself as a self righteous fanatic clinging to the ways of the Old Testament saints?
Is it to appear holier than thou?
Is it because I perceive that God’s favour is bought and am thus attempting to out-shine others before Him, that He may give me the biggest candy(in other terms, trying to obtain justification through the law)?
Is it because that’s how my church has ordained that it should be?

well, the answer is NO. 

I will tell you why I do it. (in another post)

Sufficient, not infinite

2 Corinthians 5:21→We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

Pondering upon this verse in the wee hours of Saturday morning, I found myself with a glimpse of inspiration to pen down what it means to I. This is due to having been irradiated with the knowledge; God’s grace is sufficient, not infinite, for there will come a day when it’s no more-how dreadful that day will be. The sanctified ones will reign with Him, and the meek will inherit the earth. If that’s to be, and of an utmost surety it will, how then ought I to live, having freely received the Grace that worketh salvation?  Can I live and breathe anyhow I please, considering that merits will not save a soul? If God hath provided grace to save me, the waters of the Word to wash me, the blood of the Lamb to sanctify me, His Spirit to fill and seal me till the Day of redemption, what then ought I to do? What part is mine to play? Having been set free from the bondage of sin and slavery of death, what does my freedom mean?

 I could scribble a few of my thoughts here, but I choose to wait for a revelation from above. For If I’m to provide answers to these questions, then must my life parallel with them. And I consider that it’s not merely knowledge that bringeth change, but Revelation in the sincere heart.

To be continued♦♦♦♦

Love

But one thing is required of me, that I may love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul and mind.

To love Him with all I have, to have a deep, selfless love for Him, A love that is without condition and incentive, A love that's pure and true, till it almost consumes & overwhelms me, till I’m drunken and saturated by it. That even when it may seem like He’s failed me, I may still love Him. That even when it may seem like He’s left and forsaken me, that he will not answer my prayer, that he may send me to hell, that He’s rejected me and left me destitute, I may still love Him. 

If only I’d know what He did for me, what my freedom cost Him, what price He had to pay that I may be who I am today. If only I had a revelation of Calvary, of His love, knew just how much He loved me, and still loves me, then surely will I have this kind of love for Him. Then I would live differently, a life worthy of the Sacrifice and the Gospel. I’d live a life that’s identified with the Lamb. I’d walk in humility & reverence, not boasting of my own works, but constantly bearing in mind that grace so sovereign and amazing.
So Help Me Father…