Wine out of the Vine & Diamonds out of Dust!

Hi friends,
 Today I d like to share some thoughts the Lord gave me as I was going through my Morning Devotional .The Text is John 15 :5 : " I am the Vine and you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in Him bears much fruit.However, apart from Me, you can do nothing.
What the Lord is asking us to do is actually pretty simple, all that He's asking us to do is ABIDE in Him Instead of our struggle with sin,sickness, curses, unholiness,depression,shame,poverty,loneliness or death , we just accept Him as our Lord & Savior and He freely gives us all that is His.

As we take Communion, by partaking of the elements the bread which represents His Body broken for us and the Wine which represents the Holy Blood of Jesus, we are actually exchanging that which we have for that which is His.A Divine Exchange takes place.
1) We are forgiven and made righteous in exchange for our sin.(2 Corin 5:21)
2) We are healed from sickness and disease as He bore our transgressions and iniquities (Isa 53:4)
3) We are delivered from generational curses and are now totally blessed.(Gal 3:13)
4)We are clean because of His spoken Word over us.(John 15:3)
5)We are free from sorrow because His joy now fills our hearts.(John 15:11)
6) He took our broken minds and has given us His mind.(1 Corin 2:16)
7) He took our shame and covered us with His Glory(Hebrews12:2, Psalms 3:3)
8) He took our poverty and gave us His riches. (2 Corin 8:9)
9) He has taken our loneliness and calls us His Friend and promises never to leave us alone.(John 15:15,Joshua 1:5)
10)Instead of death, He gives us eternal life.(John 10:10)

Abiding in Jesus and filling our minds with His Word leads us to right thinking which then leads to right actions and finally right witness.( John 15:26,27) Spiritual talk doesn't always make sense to the unsaved but anybody can understand the fruit of the Spirit kindness, joy, peace and stability through loving actions. We are all a work in Progress and He will finish what He has started.(Philippians 3:10-17)
Let's surrender to our Lord who is the Master Craftsman and will never give up on us.

DIAMONDS OUT OF DUST: By Hawk Nelson   https://youtu.be/Yf1ARbpB0gA

Have a fruitful week!

Sparky laurie

'I will restore to you the years the Locusts have eaten!'

Hi friends,

Today’s post is one that speaks about the promise of God’s restoration for all that we have lost. It can be very frustrating to see the harvest that we have worked for (by sowing generously at the right time) be destroyed completely overnight by the locusts. In spite of our hard work, we are deprived of the fruit. Deu 28:38 “You shall carry much seed to the field but gather little in, for the locusts shall consume it.”

 I’ve always wondered how the destruction of the crops was so total and complete. Then I noticed that there was mention of the 4 different types of locusts. The assault almost seems coordinated. In Joel 1:4 “What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten; And what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.”

We see four types of locusts listed there. Let us study each one progressively.

    1)      The Chewing Locust- also known as the Cutting Locust refers to the Caterpillar Stage in the development of a Locust. In this phase, they chew up everything in sight, though they may not eat everything they chew. Also their bodies are vibrant green in color and they repel insects of their kind hence they live solitary lives.

    2 )   The Swarming Locust -refers to the Migratory Locust. These are the locusts that attacked Egypt in the plagues of locusts in Exodus 10:4. In this phase, the insect undergoes some chemical changes in their brain as a result of which their body color changes from green to striking yellow and black markings. They are no longer repelled from each other, rather they come together to form a group called swarm and attack every edible thing in sight. This phase is known as the Gregarious Phase.

    3)   The Crawling Locust- is also known as the Cankerworm.This is the locust that frustrates us. It just lingers around and persistently gnaws and licks everything green in its path. It is assigned to bother us by not moving.

    4)    The Consuming Locust- They are also known as Strippers. They strip vegetation. They set out to remove the bark from the tree before it becomes fully mature. They are assigned to look for any life and cause it to look dead. They consume everything as an act of cleaning up.

Thus we can see how what one type of locust left, the other type of locust attacked, till finally everything was totally destroyed.

God at different points in history brought swarms of locusts upon his disobedient people as a means of disciplining them. In Joel 2:25, God takes responsibility for the insect army which he sent among them as a punishment for sin and breaking the covenant. In the very next verse however He promises restoration for His people adding that His people would never be put to shame again. In vs 19, He sent grain and new wine and oil. In vs 22, that pastures are restored as are the fruit and fig trees and grapevines.in vs 23, God sends the former and latter rain as a sign of His faithfulness to His people. Now wheat fills the threshing floors (bumper crop) and vats of new wine and oil overflow (vs 24) now conditions have been restored to better than before, with peace, ample food and the resulting joy and gladness.

In the same way, those of us who have sowed faithfully for many years only to find the harvest plundered again and again, can stand on this promise of Restoration. That this time the Lord will restore to us everything that the enemy has stolen from us and that we- His people shall never be put to shame again. (Joel 2:26,27)

Luv n prayers,

Sparky laurie

Who do I think I am? I am just a Nobody.... trying to tell Everybody ....All about Somebody ! :)

1 Pet 2:9 "But we are a chosen generation, a Holy nation, a peculiar people that we may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light."

Dear Friends,
Its been a while since I've penned down something. I just came across this amazing Video that uplifts me each time I play it. Just want to share it with you...  It reminds us who we are in Christ. Hope it blesses you as much as it blessed me.

Casting Crowns NOBODY (feat Matthew West)

Why You ever chose me

Has always been a mystery

All my life I’ve been told I belong at the end of the line

With all the other Not-Quites,With all the Never-Get-It-Rights

But it turns out we’re the ones You’ve been looking for all this time

Chorus :

‘Cause I’m just a nobody

Trying to tell everybody

All about Somebody who saved my soul

Ever since you rescued me,

You gave my heart a song to sing

I’m living for the world to see

Nobody but Jesus

I’m living for the world to see

Nobody but Jesus

Moses had stage fright

And David brought a rock to a sword fight

You picked 12 outsiders nobody would’ve chosen

And You changed the world

Well, the moral of the story is

Everybody’s got a purpose

So when I hear that devil start talking to me, saying

“Who do you think you are?”

I say… I’m just a nobody Trying to tell everybody

All about Somebody who saved my soul

Ever since You rescued me

You gave my heart a song to sing

I’m living for the world to see

Nobody but Jesus

I’m living for the world to see

Nobody but Jesus

So let me go down down down in history

As another blood-bought faithful member of the family

And if they all forget my name, well, that’s fine with me

I’m living for the world to see

Nobody but Jesus

So let me go down down down in history

As another blood-bought faithful member of the family

And if they all forget my name, well, that’s fine with me

I’m living for the world to see

Nobody but Jesus

Cause I’m just a nobody

Trying to tell everybody

All about Somebody who saved my soul

Ever since you rescued me,

You gave my heart a song to sing

I’m living for the world to see

Nobody but Jesus

I’m living for the world to see

Nobody but Jesus

I’m living for the world to see

Nobody but Jesus

Mark Hall, Bernie Herms, Matthew West

Be Essential Songs (BMI) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com). My Refuge Music (BMI) (admin at CapitolCMGPublishing.com).
House Of Story Music Publishing/Highly Combustible Music/One77 Songs (ASCAP) admind at Kobalt Songs Music Publishing).
Xeva Music / Works by Pure Note Songs (BMI) (admin at The Royalty Network Inc.) (C) 2019 Provident Label Group LLC, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

                                 

I am a Christian

"For we walk by faith and not by sight."-2 Corin 5:7

Hi friends,

Hope you are doing fine. I just came across this amazing Song by NEWSONG . Its called I AM A CHRISTIAN and encourages us to WALK ON no matter how lonesome or tiring it gets. He is walking before us , besides us and behind us. Since we are surrounded by our Lord there is nothing that can touch us without His knowledge and approval. We can be confident of this. Click below and enjoy this beautiful and encouraging song.

Hope you enjoyed it. Here's a promise for you  "You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess."- Deu 5:33

Luv n prayers,

Sparkylaurie

Lord, Use Me Too

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!"- Isaiah 6:8

Hi friends,
Hope this post finds you all hale and hearty. Just came across this lovely song that echoes all I want to say since a very young age. All I wanted was to be used by the Lord for the Glory of His wonderful name. But as we all do, sometimes I would list down the reasons why the Lord would'nt choose me but His word says that "He has called us by name and that He has chosen us for His Glory" and so all I want to say is Lord Use Me, Use me too....

USE ME TOO - Jonny Diaz

*(I've highlighted my favorite lines and made some notes in pink.)

Lyrics

A little boy faced a giant man
With a few rocks and a sling in hand
He wasn't ready, but he was willing   *(How true that none of us will ever be fully ready!)
He said a prayer and looked to the sky
Wound it up and he let it fly- *(David did what he could and God did what David couldnt.)
No one could believe Goliath falling

It's amazing what You do
Oh the world would never choose *(His choice doesn't really make much sense from a worldly point of view.)

The small, the weak, with ready, willing, and open hands

That's who You seek to bring to life all Your biggest plans

All that I have is more than enough for You (*REVELATION )
Use me, use me too, too

Mary was just a small town girl
When she had a child that would change the world
Must have been so scared, but You were right there (* Our Faithful God is always there to help us carry out His purposes)

So no more listing the reasons why I am unqualified 
For You to use me, so come and use me

It's amazing what You do
When we give it all to You-* (Surrender is all God wants)

The small, the weak, with ready, willing, and open hands
That's who You seek to bring to life all Your biggest plans
All that I have is more than enough for You
Use me, use me too, too
Use me, use me too, too

I will go where You lead
I will not be afraid
You are all that I need
You have called me by name Use me too -*( The Anthem for marching on )

The small, the weak, with ready, willing, and open hands
That's who You seek to bring to life all Your biggest plans
All that I have is more than enough for You
Use me, use me too, too
Use me, use me too, too
Use me, use me too, too
Use me, use me too, too

Songwriters: PARDO JEFF / DIAZ JONNY

Use Me Too lyrics © Centricity Music Publishing

 Hope you enjoyed this post. Maybe you could take a moment to sing from your heart, Lord Use Me too.

Click to enjoy this beautiful song : https://youtu.be/HmsDYJWWBlo

Luv n prayers,

Sparky laurie

Overcoming Discouragement

Joshua 1:9 “This is my command- be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Hi friends, it’s been a while since I’ve posted. The truth is that for some time unknown to myself I was battling discouragement. Discouragement by definition is loss of confidence or enthusiasm ; (without which it is impossible to produce anything creative.) The last week I had some friends come over for some time of prayer and that was what helped me realize that it was discouragement that was holding me back from being all that I am and from becoming all that God wants me to become.

Why Discouragement ?

1)  Lack of purpose - Often, long times of waiting to see a dream fulfilled can cause us to doubt our purpose. The Bible reminds us in Gal 6:9 “Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”  I recently read of a story of a band of minstrels performing many years ago in Europe. It was winter time and the snow was falling. Fewer and fewer people came to watch their performances. One day, one of the troupe members got discouraged and said to the others, “Why bother performing? No one comes to watch us …let’s pack up and go home.” But an older member stood up and said “No, we must keep to our purpose. It doesn’t matter if only one or two come. Let’s perform better than ever before.” That night, they gathered their courage and performed better than ever before. Very few people showed up to watch. However after the show, one of the troupe members was handed a note …”I thoroughly enjoyed your performance. Excellent job. I loved it!” …The note was signed “Your king”. None of them knew that their King had been watching them all that time unknown to anyone else. Let us be encouraged by this story and remember to do everything we do to the best of our ability and for our King, the KING of KINGS.

      2) Lack of positive reinforcements- All of us find ourselves in situations marked by shortage of encouragement. At such times we must learn to encourage ourselves just like David, a man after God’s own heart did in the Bible 1 Sam 30:1-6 . I have read of this account in David’s life called The Worst Day in His life. He lost everything including his wives and his men also turned against him fearing the lives of their sons and daughters and so began to think of stoning him. But David encouraged himself in the Lord and asks the priest to bring the ephod and then he asks the Lord what to do and the Lord tells him to go after the enemy army and promises him that they would recover everything that was taken from him. Sometimes the person we most expect to understand may not be available or sometimes even able to understand us at such times we can remember Jesus the perfect Lamb of God is always interceding for us at the Father’s right hand for us. That will give us the courage to stand alone and encourage ourselves in the Lord.

3) Lack of guidance- We may not feel like associating with people when we are facing some kind of difficulty but the truth is that we need to first of all ask God what needs to be done. He may direct us to a particular person /an author /speaker to learn from. We read in 1 Cor 10:13 “No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.” This means that we can learn from the right people.  

HOW to Overcome Discouragement :

1)PRAYER- We should spend more time talking to God, whether or not we feel like. We could discuss our fears, doubts and struggles with Him. We must ask Him for forgiveness and guidance for the right steps to take. Psalms 37:23 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.” Psalms 18:33 “He makes my feet like the feet of a deer and stations me upon heights.”

 2) WORD OF GOD – This is the best time to dig deep into the Scriptures especially go back to those portions in your Bible which God has spoken to you in the past. My favorite verses are Jer 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to give you a hope and a future.”, Haggai 2:23 “… I will make you like a signet ring on my finger, says the Lord for I have chosen you.I , the Lord of Heaven’s Armies have spoken.”

         3)PRAISE & WORSHIP -  Sing and Play Praise and Worship Music in the house/Car. Praise God for what He has done for us .Give thanks with a grateful Heart. And   Worship the Lord for who HE is to us.  “He alone is your God, the only one who is worthy of your praise, the one who has done    these mighty miracles that you have seen with your own eyes.”- Deu 10:21 , “ Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”-1 Chron 16:29

  4)JOURNALING – We can start to write out our thoughts and ideas that we get during Prayer times. We may also record any dreams or visions or pictures the Lord may download to us. Answered prayers can be recorded and this will give us hope for new prayer requests.

 5) SHARE & CARE- “Freely you have received and so freely give.”-Mathew     10:8 Whatever we have received from the Lord, we can share with others …be it our testimony, intercession, volunteering, or financial aid , maybe even cooking a meal, visiting someone in hospital, etc Use wisdom and prayer before setting out , seek God about what can be done  to go out and be a blessing to someone else. When we focus on what God wants us to do for someone else, we will feel fulfilled and happy to be used by Him and that would be therapy for our discouraged soul. There is no greater joy than to be used of by GOD to wipe another's tears or to bring a smile to another’s face.

Click to enjoy this encouraging song:  https://youtu.be/VpJdFlWNyYc        

Hope you enjoyed this post. Consider it my way of Caring and sharing what the Lord has given me. Praying that it blesses you to bless another!

Luv n prayers,

Sparky laurie