Aug 22 I AM A SOLDIER IN THE ARMY OF GOD

I am a soldier in the Army of God. The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer.
The Holy Bible is my code of conduct. Faith, prayer and the Word are my weapons of warfare.

I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity and tested by Fire.

 I am a volunteer in this Army and I am enlisted for Eternity. I will not get out, sell out, be talked out or pushed out.

I am faithful, Reliable, Capable and dependable. If my God needs me, I am there.

I am a soldier, not a wimp. I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His Name and building His kingdom.

 I am Committed. I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around. I cannot be discouraged enough to turn myself aside. I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.

When Jesus called me into His army, I had nothing. If I end up with nothing, I will still come out ahead. I will win. My God has and will continue to supply all my needs. I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph.

 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Devil cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me. Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me. Battles cannot beat me. Governments cannot silence me. And Hell cannot handle me. I am a soldier. Even death cannot destroy me. For when my Commander Calls me from this battlefield, He will promote me to Captain and then allow me to rule with Him.

I claim the victory. I will not give up. I will not turn around. I am a soldier marching heaven bound. My desire is to know Christ more each day and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings.

Not that I have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brethren, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do; forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

-Author Unknown

Enjoy this lovely WARRIOR CALL SONG:   https://vimeo.com/58783863

 Would you like to join this great army today? The invitation is for one and all -Accept the Lord Jesus into your life and join today!

Take care, God bless,

Sparky Laurie

Aug 21st: ANALOGY: Spiritual Life of MAN with Modern Day COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY!

Hi friends,

Just sharing this beautiful thought I came across from the website turnbacktogod.com

It’s about how we can compare our Spiritual Life with Modern Day ComputerTechnology!

This one is especially dedicated to all you techies out there! Hope you enjoy it as much as I- (a total non- techie) did!

MAN THE COMPUTER

SPIRIT is our PROCESSOR,

SOUL - MONITOR,

BODY – KEYBOARD.

Satan created & spread the VIRUS (SIN).

JESUS SACRIFICIAL BLOOD is the ANTI-VIRUS (forgiveness of sins).

ACCEPTING JESUS IN THE HEART is REINSTALLING (born again).

MAKING JESUS LORD OF OUR LIFE is the OPERATING SYSTEM.

OUR DAILY WALK WITH JESUS is the FIREWALL PROTECTION (protection from evil).

PRAISE AND WORSHIP is the SPIDER WEB SOFTWARE (which protects us from attacks).

RENEWING OUR MIND is the SCREEN SAVER.

HOLY SPIRIT is the POWER CORD.

OBEYING GOD’S WORD is the CONTROL PANEL.

PRAYER is the INTERNET CONNECTION (connecting us to God).

HEAVEN is the MAIN SERVER.

BELIEVERS AROUND THE WORLD is the NETWORK.

TRANSFORMED LIFE is the WEBSITE.

FELLOWSHIP WITH BELIEVERS is CHATTING.

SHARING CHRIST & WITNESSING is SENDING EMAIL.

WE ARE SINNERS is the USER NAME.

SALVATION is the PASSWORD.

-      From TURNBACKTOGOD.com

Enjoy this lovely VIDEO : IN CHRIST ALONE 

Have a great week !

Take Care, God bless,

Sparky Laurie

Aug 17th 2011 RUNNING THE RACE OF FAITH

Hi there,

While prayerfully pondering over what to share with you this week, the Lord brought to my mind a dream I had many years back while I was in college. I share it in obedience believing that it will encourage someone in their spiritual walk with the Lord.

“I was running a race on a straight path ahead of me with lovely green trees on both sides. I  had a good head start and was actually enjoying the running.After some time, I  could see the finish line ahead. When I saw how little more there was to go- almost only an arms length, I looked back for the others and then suddenly as I lost my focus, I heard a loud alarm bell ring and suddenly a glass door closed which prevented me from being able to finish the race and cross to the other side. I was shocked, more so because it was by such a short distance that I had missed winning and entering to the other side !”

This dream really shook me but I also felt an inner peace as it was a warning in love by our Loving Father who warns His beloved Children of dangers so that we may avoid them. Though not immediately applicable at that time, I have treasured this dream in my heart since that day. It reminds me of  Gal 5:7 “ You were running a good race, what hindered you that you should not obey the truth?”

 Many of us start off our race of Faith with a good head start. However due to different reasons we unknowingly/unintentionally lose our focus. One of the main reasons for this may be the trials of life that make us weary or discouraged . I’d like to share with you some points by  Erwin W Lutzer  that can help us in understanding what a Temptation/Trial really is:

1)It is God’s method of testing our Loyalty to Him –

We actually prove our Love for God when we obey Him no matter what happens.

2)It is God’s Character Development Curriculum for us-

3)It is God’s magnifying glass showing how much work He has left to do in us.

4)To bring out our latent sinfulness, just like heating metals like gold brings impurities to the surface.

5)To confirm us to the Image of His Son- the actual finished product!

6)To bring out the best and worst in us- It often reveals hidden potential we never knew we had.

7)My fav one of all : God strikes at the core of our Motivation-He is not interested in applying a fresh coat of paint with new rules but wants to rebuild us with new values. He is intrested in our heart- our most important part - which nobody else sees except GOD and the person.

Lord enable us to say at the end of it all : 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” Run in order to win the prize!

Enjoy this lovely song as we run the race to win the prize!  HOMEWARD BOUND! https://youtu.be/2lYwaN5KdgM

Have a blessed week,

Take Care, God bless,

Sparky Laurie

PS: Post your prayer requests,if any on our Prayer Wall.

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Aug 11th 2011 Poem: THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF ALL

Hi, just sharing a poem I penned today.It's about Beauty everywhere around but most of all Beauty in the SON! This is also my first collage made with the pictures of the beautiful things I've mentioned in the poem! Hope you enjoy it!

MY BEAUTIFUL THINGS COLLAGE - Made by Sparky Laurie

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF ALL:

Beauty is everywhere -

In the eye of the beholder ; it’s there.

Beauty in the slowly rising sun,

In the laughter of children having fun.

In pretty butterflies fluttering around,

In colored autumn leaves falling to the ground.

In lovely fragrant flowers,

In cool rainy showers.

In a doggie wagging his tail,

In a loved one’s email.

In the gentle breeze,

In heavily- laden sweet smelling fruit trees.

In the smooth shells on the seashore,

In a youngster helping an aged person through the door.

In the joy of sharing a home-cooked meal,

In a lovely orange peel.

In the sweet kiss of a baby,

In the shy blush of a lady.

In the crisp fresh laundry just dry,

In the shining stars twinkling in the black sky.

In a multi-colored rainbow,

In the softly falling white snow.

In the aroma of freshly baked bread,

In watching a sunset turn the sky turn red.

In the warm embrace of a loved one,

But most of all, BEAUTY is in JESUS, God’s only begotten SON!

-         Laura Ann Jacob

(10/08/2011)

Click to enjoy this Week’s Musical Treat! https://youtu.be/DAPHq-q1vgQ

Have a blessed week,

Take care & God Bless,

Sparky Laurie

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Aug 9th 2011 TRUE LOVE LIKE NO OTHER : GOD & Dog Video

A Puppy that looks just like TIGER did !

Hi there,

Just wanted to share a few thoughts I was inspired to write as I came across this Beautiful Video- a song that tells us how the LOVE of GOD and our pet dog is similar in its completeness and sincerity! …..sometimes more than we humans can ever fathom!

Watching it brought fond memories of my first pet puppy TIGER and truly about 18 years later, I can still feel the warmth and affection of my pet all over again! These are the parallels between GOD and my DOG that I came up with :

1)BOTH PROTECT US FROM DANGER.

2)BOTH LOVE TO SPEND TIME WITH US.

3)WHEN WE MESS UP ,WE CAN RUN TO THEM WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING ACCUSED.

4) BOTH LOVE TO SEE US HAPPY AND KNOW JUST HOW TO MAKE US SMILE.

5)BOTH UNDERSTAND OUR SILENCES.

6)BOTH ARE ALWAYS WAITING FOR US TO RETURN

7) BOTH LOVE US UNTO DEATH FOR WHO WE ARE , NOT FOR WHAT WE DO.

Sharing with you this lovely Video GoD and DoG  by Wendy Francisco . Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

http://youtu.be/H17edn_RZoY

Have a wonderful day,

Take care, God bless,

Sparky laurie

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Aug 6th 2011 MEEKNESS IS NOT WEAKNESS!

 “Be like the rose that perfumeth the hand that crusheth it.”

This week I’d like to share a lesson we can learn from the rose flower that perfumes the hand that crushes it.

What is our normal response when someone hits us? To strike back and yet as Christians,we know better. This week I'd like to share with you the 8^th Fruit in our SPIRITUAL FRUIT SALAD   : MEEKNESS – a highly unpopular if not totally alien trait in today’s upside down world which preaches the gospel of SURVIVAL  & Self preservation at any cost with the modus operandi of blowing one’s own trumpet and getting rid of anything/ anyone in the way.

What Meekness is NOT :

Contrary to popular belief, meekness is not cowardice /lack of conviction.It is NOT mere human niceness. Meekness is also not being a spineless doormat who does not know to be assertive. MEEKNESS IS NOT WEAKNESS.

WHAT THEN, IS MEEKNESS?

Meekness is GENTLESNESS, a virtue that draws courage, strength, conviction and a good disposition from God and not from self.  It is  "ABSOLUTE POWER UNDER PERFECT CONTROL.”

Let's see what the Bible says about MEEKNESS:

Mathew 5:5 : “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”

Numbers 12:3 : “Moses was the meekest man on the face of the earth and hence was used greatly by God.”

Jesus set the perfect example of meekness. Mathew 11:29 : “ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

Isa 53:7: “ He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”

Philippians 2:5-10 : “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”

The Lord esteems the meek : Isaiah 66:2 “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.”

The Lord takes pleasure in the meek: Psalms 149:4 “For the LORD takes pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.”

The Lord raises up the meek: Psalms 147:6 “The LORD lifts up the meek: he casts the wicked down to the ground”.

When treated wrongly/ unjustly, we may feel like retaliating and giving the person who offended us a taste of their own medicine and yet what the Lord teaches us is not to resist an evil person. Mathew 5:39 : “when someone slaps  you on one cheek,  turn the other one also to him”

It can be very difficult to obey God in this area especially when treated unjustly, but we can rest assured because Deu 32:35 says : “ Venegance is the Lord’s and He will repay the wrongdoers.” So we just need to trust the Lord to deal with those who offend us.

When it gets hard to forgive, we can remember our Perfect Lord Jesus ; the epitome of meekness, The triumphant Lion of Judah and yet the humble Lamb of God - Meek and Majestic at the same time!   

Let me conclude with a suitable verse: 1 Peter 3:4 “ Clothe yourselves with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.”

Click to enjoy this beautiful song : HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD.

http://youtu.be/lv7WfvXPEQo

Have a great week!

Take care, God bless,

Sparky laurie

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4th Aug 2011 YUMMY SPIRITUAL FRUIT SALAD ;)

Hi there,

Just sharing a lovely poem I came across. It is about the FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT mentioned in Gal 5: 22-23. Hope you enjoy it!

Walking in the Spirit means living every day
Looking up to Jesus and following His way.
And when I give Him all of me
Just like a mighty tree--
My actions will become sweet fruit
For all the world to see.

Galatians 5 lists all nine fruits

The Spirit wants to grow
And if you read them for yourself
You will be sure to know

That LOVE comes first--the kind you choose,
Not feelings you may lose,
But actions that show sacrifice,
And branch out the Good News.

And then comes JOY, that you can hold
No matter what life brings
It's the Song of all God's promises
The glad heart daily sings.

Sweet PEACE comes next, a quiet heart
Though life may twist and turn,
Then PATIENCE shows it wants no part
Of sparks that quickly burn.

KINDNESS is an active fruit
It treats others with care
The love of Jesus is the root
That spreads it everywhere.

GOODNESS knows and does what's right--
Its actions match God's teaching
It spreads His shining, perfect light
Into a dark world reaching.

FAITHFULNESS is like a rock,
A firm and steady friend
Who never leaves you hanging--
But is loyal to the end.

GENTLENESS is tender strong.
It turns the other cheek.
It rarely ruffles when it's wronged.
(It's a synonym for "meek.")

And then at last, fruit number nine,
(Its growth requires practice).
It doesn't lash out, pout, or whine,
Or prickle like a cactus.
It doesn't need to over-dine
Or lick clean the ice cream bowl;
For with the Spirit/Helper, you can have fruit SELF CONTROL.

When you put the nine together,
A fruit salad you will make
That proves to all the world your life
Is lived for Jesus' sake!

- Janine Tomlin

Have a great weekend!

Take care,God bless,

Sparky Laurie