| Directives from God 1. Wake Up !! Decide to have a good day. "Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118:24 2. Dress Up !! The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:7 3. Hush Up!! Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. "He who guards his lips guards his soul." Proverbs 13:3 4. Stand Up!!... For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything... "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10 5. Look Up !!... To the Lord. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 6. Reach Up !!... For something higher. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path." Proverbs 3:5-6 7. Lift Up !!... Your Prayers. "Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING." Philippians 4:6 Send this to the people you care about. Pass this on and brighten someone's day, and remember: God answers Knee-Mail. |
Showing posts with label Bible Quotes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible Quotes. Show all posts
Friday, October 26, 2007
Directives from God
Friday, August 24, 2007
NASA Proves the Bible is true
For all you scientists out there and for all the students who have a hard time convincing these people regarding the truth of the Bible,here's something that shows God's awesome creation and shows that He's still in control.
Did you know that the space program is busy proving that what has been called "myth" in the Bible is true? Mr. Harold Hill. President of the Curtis Engine Company in Baltimore Maryland and a consultant in the space program relates the following development: I think one of the most amazing things that God has for us today happened recently to our astronauts and space scientists at Green Belt, Maryland They were checking the position of the sun, moon, and planets out in space where they would be 100 years and 1000 years from now. We have to know this so we won't end a satellite up, and have it bump into something later on its orbits. We have to lay out the orbits in terms of the life of the satellite, and where the planets will be so the whole thing will not bog down.
They ran the computer measurement back and forth over the centuries and it came to a halt. The computer stopped and put up a red signal, which meant that there was something wrong either with the information fed into it or with the results as compared to the standards.
They called in the service department to check it out and they said. What's wrong?" Well, they found there is a day missing in space in elapsed time.
They scratched their heads and tore their hair. There was no answer.
Finally a Christian man on the team said. "You know, one time I was in Sunday School and they talked about the sun standing still". While they didn't believe him they didn't have an answer either. So they said, "Show us". He got a Bible and went back to the book of Joshua where they found a pretty ridiculous statement for any one with "Common sense". There they found the Lord saying to Joshua, "Fear them not. I have delivered them into thy hand: there shall not a man of them stand before thee". Joshua was concerned because he was surrounded by the enemy if darkness fell they would overpower them. So Joshua asked the Lord to make the sun stand still!
That's right - "The sun stood still and the moon stayed---and hasted not to go down about a whole day!" The astronauts and scientists said."There is the missing day!" They checked the computers going back into the time it was written and found it was close but not close enough. The elapsed time that was missing back Joshua's day was 23 hours and 20 minutes - not a whole day. They read the Bible and there it was "about (approximately) a day" These little words in the Bible are important.
But they were still in trouble because if you cannot account for 40 minutes you'll still be in trouble 1000 years from now. Forty minutes had to be found because it can be multiplied many times over in orbits.
As the Christian employee thought about it, he remembered somewhere in the Bible where it said the sun went BACKWARDS. The scientists told him he was out of his mind, but they got out the Book and read these words in 2 Kings.
Hezekiah, on his deathbed, was visited by the prophet Isaiah who told him that he was not going to die. Hezekiah asked for a sign as proof. Isaiah said "Do you want the sun to go ahead 10 degrees?" Hezekiah said it is nothing for the sun to go ahead 10 degrees, but let the Shadow return backward 10 degrees." Isaiah spoke to the Lord and the Lord brought the shadow 10 degrees BACKWARD! Ten degrees is exactly 40 minutes! Twenty three hours and 20 minutes in Joshua, plus 40 minutes in Second Kings make the missing day in the universe!
Isn't it amazing? Our God is rubbing their noses in His Truth!
Did you know that the space program is busy proving that what has been called "myth" in the Bible is true? Mr. Harold Hill. President of the Curtis Engine Company in Baltimore Maryland and a consultant in the space program relates the following development: I think one of the most amazing things that God has for us today happened recently to our astronauts and space scientists at Green Belt, Maryland They were checking the position of the sun, moon, and planets out in space where they would be 100 years and 1000 years from now. We have to know this so we won't end a satellite up, and have it bump into something later on its orbits. We have to lay out the orbits in terms of the life of the satellite, and where the planets will be so the whole thing will not bog down.
They ran the computer measurement back and forth over the centuries and it came to a halt. The computer stopped and put up a red signal, which meant that there was something wrong either with the information fed into it or with the results as compared to the standards.
They called in the service department to check it out and they said. What's wrong?" Well, they found there is a day missing in space in elapsed time.
They scratched their heads and tore their hair. There was no answer.
Finally a Christian man on the team said. "You know, one time I was in Sunday School and they talked about the sun standing still". While they didn't believe him they didn't have an answer either. So they said, "Show us". He got a Bible and went back to the book of Joshua where they found a pretty ridiculous statement for any one with "Common sense". There they found the Lord saying to Joshua, "Fear them not. I have delivered them into thy hand: there shall not a man of them stand before thee". Joshua was concerned because he was surrounded by the enemy if darkness fell they would overpower them. So Joshua asked the Lord to make the sun stand still!
That's right - "The sun stood still and the moon stayed---and hasted not to go down about a whole day!" The astronauts and scientists said."There is the missing day!" They checked the computers going back into the time it was written and found it was close but not close enough. The elapsed time that was missing back Joshua's day was 23 hours and 20 minutes - not a whole day. They read the Bible and there it was "about (approximately) a day" These little words in the Bible are important.
But they were still in trouble because if you cannot account for 40 minutes you'll still be in trouble 1000 years from now. Forty minutes had to be found because it can be multiplied many times over in orbits.
As the Christian employee thought about it, he remembered somewhere in the Bible where it said the sun went BACKWARDS. The scientists told him he was out of his mind, but they got out the Book and read these words in 2 Kings.
Hezekiah, on his deathbed, was visited by the prophet Isaiah who told him that he was not going to die. Hezekiah asked for a sign as proof. Isaiah said "Do you want the sun to go ahead 10 degrees?" Hezekiah said it is nothing for the sun to go ahead 10 degrees, but let the Shadow return backward 10 degrees." Isaiah spoke to the Lord and the Lord brought the shadow 10 degrees BACKWARD! Ten degrees is exactly 40 minutes! Twenty three hours and 20 minutes in Joshua, plus 40 minutes in Second Kings make the missing day in the universe!
Isn't it amazing? Our God is rubbing their noses in His Truth!
References: Joshua 10:8 and 12.13; 2 Kings 20:9-11
Thursday, August 23, 2007
A Little Girl's Prayer
"One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator. (We had no electricity to run an incubator.) We also had no special feeding facilities.
Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst. Rubber perishes easily in tropical climates. "And it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed.
As in the West it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.
"All right," I said, "Put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. "Your job is to keep the baby warm."
The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle. The baby could so easily die if it got chills.
I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died. During the prayer time, one ten-year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. "Please, God," she prayed, "send us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon."
While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added by way of a corollary, "And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?"
As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say, "Amen?" I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything. The Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there?
The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!
Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the verandah, was a large twenty-two pound parcel. l felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children.
Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot.
We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box.
From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas--that would make a nice batch of buns for the weekend.
Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out--yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle!
I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!"
Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted. Looking up at me, she asked: "Can I go over with you, Mummy, and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?"
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child--five months before--in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that afternoon."
Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst. Rubber perishes easily in tropical climates. "And it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed.
As in the West it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.
"All right," I said, "Put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. "Your job is to keep the baby warm."
The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle. The baby could so easily die if it got chills.
I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died. During the prayer time, one ten-year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. "Please, God," she prayed, "send us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon."
While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added by way of a corollary, "And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?"
As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say, "Amen?" I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything. The Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there?
The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!
Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the verandah, was a large twenty-two pound parcel. l felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children.
Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot.
We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box.
From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas--that would make a nice batch of buns for the weekend.
Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out--yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle!
I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!"
Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted. Looking up at me, she asked: "Can I go over with you, Mummy, and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?"
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child--five months before--in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that afternoon."
Helen Roseveare, a missionary doctor from England to Zaire Africa, told this as it happened to her in Africa
God is Always There
by Glynnis Whitwer
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” Isaiah 49:15 (NIV)
The children in the first grade “special needs” class were excited about the upcoming performance. They had practiced the songs for weeks and were ready to show all they had learned to their parents. James was no exception.
James’ life was difficult. He was being raised by a somewhat detached father and grandmother. James’ dad was on disability, and could easily retreat into himself. In the classroom James had a hard time following the rules. His inappropriate talking, interrupting, and disobedience resulted in many consequences for him. In spite of James’ situation, he was excited about the program.
The day finally came for the recital. Invitations had been sent out and everyone was ready. It was planned at the end of the school day so parents could arrive a little early, then take their kids home after the performance.
The auditorium filled up with many of the parents. The kids sang with gusto and the parents smiled proudly. Lita Jo, the teacher’s assistant, sat in the front row making sure the kids stayed on course and actually sang. Everyone sang, except James. “Oh James,” Lita Jo thought, “come on, sing.” She caught his eyes and tried to encourage him.
Then it hit her. James was looking for his father and didn’t see him. Tears were in his eyes, but he was TRYING to smile, TRYING to sing. But he was too occupied with trying to locate his father. He would start to sing, but then look out. No father. Every song! There were six of them. Still no father.
The performance ended and everyone applauded. James hung his head as the auditorium emptied. Lita Jo stood by his side, not saying anything about James’ father. It was too painful.
At the usual time, James’ dad came to pick him up. James immediately asked: "Where were you Dad? Why didn't you come? We were singing."
Lita Jo stood quietly by, anxious to hear the response. "Oh, I forgot about it … I was nursing a migraine."
A parent’s omission meant a child’s pain. How many James are there in the world? Little boys and girls, grown men and women, with no one to root for them. Standing on the stage of life, their tearful eyes scan the audience looking for someone to care, someone to love them enough to watch their singing. Although the audience might be devoid of human attention, God is always there.
Will someone tell James there is a Heavenly Father who will never miss a recital? Will James ever know the faithful love of God? Even the best parent can disappoint us at times. But what a joy that we have a Heavenly Father who is always watching. He never forgets. Never. When we worship Him, His eyes are on us. When we dance for Him, He delights in us. When our hearts are ready to break, our Heavenly Father comforts us.
Power Verses:
Psalm 33:13-15, “From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth - he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.” (NIV)
Psalm 121: 2-3, “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip, he who watches over you will not slumber …” (NIV)
Micah 7:7, “But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.” (NAS)
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” Isaiah 49:15 (NIV)
The children in the first grade “special needs” class were excited about the upcoming performance. They had practiced the songs for weeks and were ready to show all they had learned to their parents. James was no exception.
James’ life was difficult. He was being raised by a somewhat detached father and grandmother. James’ dad was on disability, and could easily retreat into himself. In the classroom James had a hard time following the rules. His inappropriate talking, interrupting, and disobedience resulted in many consequences for him. In spite of James’ situation, he was excited about the program.
The day finally came for the recital. Invitations had been sent out and everyone was ready. It was planned at the end of the school day so parents could arrive a little early, then take their kids home after the performance.
The auditorium filled up with many of the parents. The kids sang with gusto and the parents smiled proudly. Lita Jo, the teacher’s assistant, sat in the front row making sure the kids stayed on course and actually sang. Everyone sang, except James. “Oh James,” Lita Jo thought, “come on, sing.” She caught his eyes and tried to encourage him.
Then it hit her. James was looking for his father and didn’t see him. Tears were in his eyes, but he was TRYING to smile, TRYING to sing. But he was too occupied with trying to locate his father. He would start to sing, but then look out. No father. Every song! There were six of them. Still no father.
The performance ended and everyone applauded. James hung his head as the auditorium emptied. Lita Jo stood by his side, not saying anything about James’ father. It was too painful.
At the usual time, James’ dad came to pick him up. James immediately asked: "Where were you Dad? Why didn't you come? We were singing."
Lita Jo stood quietly by, anxious to hear the response. "Oh, I forgot about it … I was nursing a migraine."
A parent’s omission meant a child’s pain. How many James are there in the world? Little boys and girls, grown men and women, with no one to root for them. Standing on the stage of life, their tearful eyes scan the audience looking for someone to care, someone to love them enough to watch their singing. Although the audience might be devoid of human attention, God is always there.
Will someone tell James there is a Heavenly Father who will never miss a recital? Will James ever know the faithful love of God? Even the best parent can disappoint us at times. But what a joy that we have a Heavenly Father who is always watching. He never forgets. Never. When we worship Him, His eyes are on us. When we dance for Him, He delights in us. When our hearts are ready to break, our Heavenly Father comforts us.
Power Verses:
Psalm 33:13-15, “From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth - he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.” (NIV)
Psalm 121: 2-3, “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip, he who watches over you will not slumber …” (NIV)
Micah 7:7, “But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.” (NAS)
Monday, August 13, 2007
Diligence does pay off
Proverbs 24:23-34
"Thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds '" (v.31)
We spend one more day on the subject of diligence. What are diligence and perseverance all about? They are sticking to a task you know God wants you to do until it is completed, irrespective of the difficulties and frustrations. Diligence does pay off.
Two frogs who fell into a bucket of cream tried very hard to get out, but each time they slipped back again. One said, "We'll never get out of here," gave up and drowned. The other frog persevered with kicking. Suddenly, he felt something hard beneath his feet and discovered that his kicking had turned the cream into butter. He hopped on top of it and was able to leap out to safety.
Someone has described diligence as "an archaic word." It may not play a big part in today's world, but it plays a big part in the Bible. Those who have done great exploits for God have been men and women of persistence and perseverance. One of the greatest examples of diligence in the Bible is the apostle Paul. The verse that best brings this out is this: "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Cor. 4:8-9). He kept going when others would have given up.
I love the story of Sir Winston Churchill who, during his last years, and though failing and feeble, stood up to address a group of university students and said: "I have just one thing to say to you: Never give up. Never, never give up. Never, never, never give up." He sat down to a standing ovation.
from crosswalk devotionals
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
