The New Year is only a few days old. Let's commit ourselves afresh to reading the Word of God day-by-day. Here are some links which I hope you will find helpful.
Read a specific comment online
Print a booklet containing monthly readings
Monterey is a picturesque community, 100 miles south of San Francisco. It is situated on the great Monterey Bay.
The Monterey Bay, gave to the city of Monterey all the bounty of the ocean. For decades Monterey fishermen brought back the fruit of the sea, the fish, that fed millions of people in America.
The backbone of this great fishery, and therefore of the economy in Monterey, was the annual catch of sardines.
These sardines were captured, brought to port, and then to Cannery Row – a row of fish canning operations lining the Monterey beach. There, of course, the sardines were packed into silver cans, wrapped in a red and black paper seal declaring them to be high-quality sardines from Monterey, California. They were then shipped throughout America and the world.
And the economy was good.
But, in the summer of 1905, something terrible happened. An economic disaster of unprecedented proportions happened to this bustling fishing town.
The disaster was this: the fishermen and their many boats, and many employees, simply over fished the sardine population. They did it to such a degree, that the sardines couldn't reproduce their stock – and, suddenly, sardines simply disappeared from the fisherman's nets! They were gone! And with them, were also, apparent to everyone, the good times for people in Monterey.
But – and this is a very important but – this was not the end of the story. A very great and ominous disaster had happened on their watch, but now something wondrous and hopeful, also took place on their watch.
Here is what, actually, happened: first, the people of Monterey and their churches, prayed. Now, whether you believe in prayer or not, that is secondary to the story. My duty is just to give hope and tell you how the story turned out, in actual history.
Most of the ship owners in Monterey doubled as their own ship captains. There were no big corporate fleets. It was mostly private fishermen who had built their fishing business to the level of having a ship or two, and going out daily and bringing the fish back. They worked hard at it, and they became better and better at what they did, and therefore became more and more successful.
But the sea had always helped them. Now that the sardines were gone, what next? What would happen to the economy, to the ship owners and captains, and to all the crews and their families?
The captains of the ships talked among themselves. As they talked, they told tales that they had heard long ago, about schools of great fish, that a Monterey fisherman and his ship and crew had once found.
But, these great fish, which were only known by the thin thread of perhaps a tall tale, were caught as far out as 200 miles from the shore! No Monterey fisherman and his crew, at least for decades, had gone beyond 20 miles!
No one ever dared to go that far! It had not yet entered the imagination of the people.
They had the vessels for it, and the crews. Now what they needed was some bold and intrepid captains, who would dare to go farther into deeper waters, than anyone ever had before.
And, in a true to life story, several believing captains, with their valiant ships and willing crews, set out to find out if the tales of these great fish had any truth to them.
They went fifty miles. Then eighty miles. Then over a hundred miles. But approximately one hundred and fifty miles out, they saw "boiling water" – a strange occurrence on the surface of the water that far out in the middle of the sea.
The captains and their crews, decided to fish these "boiling waters." For their efforts, they began to pull in yellowfin tuna anywhere from 100 to 300 pounds! And there was no end to them!
Now, dear reader, understand that until this date in history, no one in the entire world had ever eaten tuna. Well, maybe some long ago sea captain and his crew had. But for the most part, tuna had never been known before. It had never been seen or eaten!
So, the intrepid sea captains and their fishermen returned home to Monterey with great good news – and a big load of great fish!
Think about it. Sardines were only 4 to 8 inches long, and now the fishermen replaced them with tuna that were 4-8 feet long! The sardines weighed a half-pound at best, and the tuna weighed up to three hundred pounds. In fact, later, as fishermen found the will to go farther, they caught bluefin tuna, that weighed up to 1500 pounds!
Thus, by being willing to go further than anyone had gone before and by choosing to act in new ways rather than just sit and suffer, although the economy went down with the sardines – now it went up with the tuna! Following what might have been just a tall story by an old salt, turned out to give the people of Monterey a true, and much greater, story. They introduced tuna and tuna fishing to the world. Their ships got bigger. Their crews got paid more. More tourists came to Monterey. The little bustling fishing didn't go down with the sardines!
Somehow, the town, its people, and its economy all got a new lease on life. They grew. They prospered. And – they fed the whole world to a far greater degree.
In that summer day of 1905, when the sardine stock fell and the bottom dropped out of the sardine business, it shook everybody up. But, they said their prayers, decided to go further than ever before, chose to "seek a greater story" – and, however combined elements made it happen – tuna, much larger than sardines, and a tuna catch, much greater than the total sardine catch had ever achieved, was brought into the history, and to the palates, of the entire world.
The economy recovered and boomed.
My friends, could it be possible that right now, this very day, that even as you experience the loss of something you long felt secure and that you built your hopes on, just a little farther ahead, with a little willingness to keep your chin and morale up, exploring a little further, pursuing a greater, not lesser, story for you and yours, we might ourselves see our "sardines" not just gone, but our own kind of new, far greater, "tuna" right in front of us replacing our loss with something much better?
I believe that people with the American dream, don't just get better dreams. They get a better story. It comes complete with the faith, the new vision, the will to try, the solid meat of the fish, the adventures, and the tale to tell all our children about.
The measure of something great is that greater things still come out of it.
Say your prayers, stoke the embers of your dreams and visions. Listen to wise stories. Make your minds and ships go further into the ocean of the Spirit – and I believe either you yourself, or some intrepid captains, are going to come back with the equivalent of boatloads of silver tuna in our time – together with directions how you can get a lot more of them.
Copyright 2008 E. Zehnder
http://theeverlastingkingdom.blogspot.com
Mat 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
Mat 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
It is not suggested that the Bible does not require to be interpreted. By virtue of its finitude, human language is inadequate in its reference to God. To acknowledge the limitation of human language does not, however, lead inevitably to the demythologizing of the New Testament. That would also require a negative dogmatic assumption concerning the capacity of God to enter the human scene in a manner that is beyond human understanding. It may be more consistent as well as more Biblical, to acknowledge the limitation of human understanding in its reference to God and His activity in history. A recognition of this limitation would not lead to a bold demythologizing of the Gospel. It would lead to a humble faith in God and His amazing work of salvation. Christian theology must, therefore, be cautious of the idea of ‘the myth of God Incarnate.’ Those who think in terms of ‘the myth of God Incarnate’ appear to be more concerned with the question, “What can modern man believe? rather than the question, “What is the Christian Gospel?” To allow the first question to swallow up the second is to destroy the essential connection between the present proclamation of the Gospel and the historical foundation upon which that proclamation is built.
Religious language that requires to be continually modernized by a process of demythologizing or deliteralizing is no substitute for the New Testament Gospel which is grounded in facts - the fact of Christ’s resurrection which authenticates His incarnation (Romans 1:4). The centrality of Christ’s resurrection and incarnation for the Christian Gospel is made clear in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 15:3-11, 14, 17, 20; 1 John 4:2-3). Any interpretation of the Christian message which calls for a demythologizing or deliteralizing of the language of the New Testament must face the question of whether such an interpretation is not essentially founded on a denial of the basic facts of the Gospel. While the Gospel must be interpreted for each generation, we must take care that we don’t present an interpretation which is essentially a denial of the facts, for then we would have no Gospel to interpret.
Luke 1:26-38, 46-55 - Praising God For His Love, Grace And Mercy
God has come to us in love, grace and mercy. In love , He has sent His Son to be our Saviour. In mercy, He withholds from us the judgment we deserve. In grace, He pours upon us His salvation which we don’t deserve. Let us respond to Him by giving ourselves fully to Him. Committed to the Lord, trusting in Him and experiencing His power at work in us, let us join with Mary in praising the God of our salvation, “My heart overflowing with praise of my Lord, my soul is full of joy in God my Saviour” (Luke 1:46).
Luke 1:26-38, 46-55 - Commitment, Trust And God’s Action
Mary’s commitment was decisive. The conception of Jesus in her womb was a once-for-all event. With respect to His conception, her prayer, “Let it be to me according to Your Word” was unrepeatable. For us, there is a once-for-all beginning - the new birth. We are born of the Spirit of God. From this commitment, we move on to trust. We trust that there will be no ‘miscarriage’. God will complete His work in us - the work of His love, grace and mercy. When we trust in the Lord, persuaded that we are now “accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:6), we begin to experience the power of God at work within us - He “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).
Here are a few articles you may find helpful.
The Child Who Learned Dreams Come True is dedicated to children and the child deep within us all. That child who loves to dream, that loves adventure, that believes and hopes for great things.
Jesus Christ is the Word of
From the heights of heaven and the depths of suffering, ‘God... has spoken to us by His Son’ (Hebrews 1:1-2). Jesus Christ is
‘Exalt the Lord our
‘Good News’- Let us ‘shout for joy’. ‘Good News’- Let us sing ‘songs of joy’. There is the Good News of God’s reign - ‘Your God reigns’. There is the Good News of our redemption - ‘The Lord has redeemed’ us. We are not to keep the Good News to ourselves. This ‘news of happiness’ is to be shared with everyone. We must let ‘all the ends of the earth see the salvation of our
Just imagine spending 40 days and 40 nights in the Teton Mountains and surrounding areas. The beauty, nature, peace, wonderful moments, beautiful sunsets and endless hours of being far from the hustle bustle of life.
John 1:12 I am God's child.
John 15:15 As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1 I have been justified.
1 Corinthians 6:17 I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
1 Corinthians 12:27 I am a member of Christ's body.
Ephesians 1:3–8 I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
Colossians 1:13–14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
Colossians 2:9–10 I am complete in Christ.
Hebrews 4:14–16 I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.
YOU ARE SECURE…
Romans 8:1–2 I am free from condemnation.
Romans 8:28 I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
Romans 8:31–39 I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God.
2 Corinthians 1:21–22 I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.
Colossians 3:1–4 I am hidden with Christ in God.
Philippians 1:6 I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.
Philippians 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven.
2 Timothy 1:7 I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.
1 John 5:18 I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.
YOU ARE SIGNIFICANT…
John 15:5 I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
John 15:16 I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
1 Corinthians 3:16 I am God's temple.
2 Corinthians 5:17–21 I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
Ephesians 2:6 I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.
Ephesians 2:10 I am God's workmanship.
Ephesians 3:12 I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
Blessings, in Christ
inhisgloriousnameministriesonline.blogspot.com
The Child Who Learned Dreams Come True is dedicated to children and the child deep within us all. That child who loves to dream, that loves adventure, that believes and hopes for great things.
Rev 6:4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
Rev 6:5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
Rev 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
As we come to Christ, confessing Him as
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In the opening chapter of John's Gospel, we read much about John the Baptist, but our main focus of attention is to be on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God who became the Lamb of
The story of Jesus Christ begins with the words, "In the beginning" (John 1:1). The Old Testament prophets paved the way for Jesus Christ. They spoke of His coming. According to John 1:45, Jesus Christ is "Him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote." When we come into the New Testament, we find that the first preacher is not Jesus the Saviour. It is John the Baptist. John was the forerunner of Christ. He was the last in a long list of men sent from God to prepare the way of the Lord. John was not the Son of God. He was the Lord's messenger, pointing his hearers to the Son of God. John was not the Lamb of God. He was the preacher who directed attention to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
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"What is the chief end of man?" - "Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. " Notice the order - first,
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This is the eighth and final post in a series, based on John 1:14-18.
We receive His blessings by receiving Him. The Lord Himself is among us. He is speaking to us through His Word. His Spirit is bringing Christ to us. The Lord is giving us a glimpse of His glory. Jesus stands among us as the risen Lord. He invites us to begin a new life with Him. Jesus comes to us with the Gospel. He comes to us with Good News. That's what the word, "Gospel", means - Good News! A little girl was asked if she had ever received Good News. She said that she received Good News when she received the "Yes" replies to the birthday party invitations she had sent to her friends. This little girl's answer tells us something very precious about the Lord's love for us. We receive joy when we come to Jesus: !"If I come to Jesus, He will make me glad."
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This is the sixth post in a series, based on John 1:14-18.
"And from His fullness have we all received, grace upon grace" (John 1:16). "Grace and truth came through
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This is the third post in a series, based on John 1:14-18.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1). "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). Jesus Christ is described as "the Word." What do we use words for? We use words to communicate with one another. We use words to speak to one another. What does it mean to say, "Jesus Christ is the Word"? It means this -
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This is the second post in a series, based on John 1:14-18.
Through receiving Jesus Christ in faith, we become God's children. we are no longer merely God's creatures. We have entered into a new relationship with God. He is our Father. We are His children. Through becoming God's children, we come to enjoy His joy and peace. If our experience of this joy and peace is to be an ever-deepening experience, we must turn our attention, again and again, to Jesus Christ. As we look to Christ, we ask three questions. Who is Jesus Christ? What does He give to us? How do we receive His blessings?
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This is the first post in a series, based on John 1:14-18.
Here's something key. Be wise, don't become offended, press through, stand your ground and watch how God will strengthen you. In the end you will be exalted, and those who with a malicious heart and intent set themselves against you will be cast down and brought low.
"Remember, we fight not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers and spiritual wickedness in high places"
The purpose of the preacher is not to exalt himself. It is to preach Christ - "He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light" (John 1:8). Jesus Christ is described as "the true light that enlightens every man" (John 1:9). From the very beginning, He has been calling men and women to come to the light. This ministry of bringing men and women to the light has become much more clearly defined with the coming of Jesus into the world as a Man. He now stands before men and women, presenting them with a choice: Will you choose light or do you prefer to remain in the darkness? If you have come to Christ and are seeking to be an effective witness for Him, ask Him to lead you to those who have become aware of
What has the Lord Jesus been doing since the very beginning? - "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4). Jesus has been constantly at work in the hearts of men and women, calling them out of their spiritual darkness and into His marvellous light, out of spiritual death and into eternal life. How has Jesus Christ, the eternal Word of God, been speaking to men and women from the very beginning? He has been speaking to us through the created world (Psalm 19:1-4). Those who get a taste of the Lord soon find that they get hungry for more of Him. Once, we start to become aware of God the Creator, we long to know Him more fully, not only as Creator but also as Saviour. To know His saving power in our lives, we must turn only to the world created but also to the Word inspired by God (Psalm 19:7-10).
There is power and blessings in the prayers of a man who lifts his household up to God in prayer.
New Book Release!
So as a nation, as a people. Let us lift the next President up to God in prayer and ask God to give him the wisdom to make the right choices.
Blessings,
In His Glorious Name Ministries
inhisgloriousnameministriesonline.blogspot.com
This post is the first part of an article posted at my blog. The article is entitled, "Special Days: Remembrance Day – Micah 4:1-8; Psalm 9:9-20; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5; Luke 1:68-79"
If your dad is like mine he loves a great book to read. This book is filled with great sayings. Well many people call them quotes. The book is filled with fun, humorous, encouraging sayings that can be applied to everyday life. Dad's will love it. You can order it online at just about any online bookstore, at your local bookstore or drop me a comment and I will direct you to some great deals.
