Are You Listening?

Listening is an art that is difficult to master, for it means to take an intense interest in the person who is speaking. Listening is the art of closing one’s mouth and opening one’s ears and heart. Listening is loving the neighbor as oneself; his concerns and problems are sufficiently important to be heard.
(Simon J. Kistemaker )

Oh Church Arise

O church, arise and put your armor on;
 Hear the call of Christ our captain;
For now the weak can say that they are strong
In the strength that God has given.
With shield of faith and belt of truth
We'll stand against the devil's lies;
An army bold whose battle cry is "Love!"
Reaching out to those in darkness.

Our call to war, to love the captive soul,
But to rage against the captor;
And with the sword that makes the wounded whole
We will fight with faith and valor.
When faced with trials on ev'ry side,
We know the outcome is secure,
And Christ will have the prize for which He died—
An inheritance of nations.

Come, see the cross where love and mercy meet,
As the Son of God is stricken;
Then see His foes lie crushed beneath His feet,
For the Conqueror has risen!
And as the stone is rolled away,
And Christ emerges from the grave,
This vict'ry march continues till the day
Ev'ry eye and heart shall see Him.

So Spirit, come, put strength in ev'ry stride,
Give grace for ev'ry hurdle,
That we may run with faith to win the prize
Of a servant good and faithful.
As saints of old still line the way,
Retelling triumphs of His grace,
We hear their calls and hunger for the day
When, with Christ, we stand in glory.
 Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music

Hiding God's Word in Our Heart Take 2

Here is the second Quiz given for Lesson 2 of a biblical counseling study done by a couple of our church ladies.  We are sharing it today so you can give it a go!

Hebrews 4:12 (state complete verse)

Philippians 2:3-4

Do nothing from ­__________________ or empty conceit, but with ____________________of mind _________________ one another as _______________  _________________ than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own __________________ interests, but also for the ______________ of others.

Romans 12:21 (state complete verse)

 Matt. 7:1-5

Do not ____________ so that you will not be _____________.  For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by __________   ___________ of measure, it will be measured to you.  Why do you ____________ at the speck that is in your _____________ eye, but do not ______________ the log that is in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let ____ take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?  You _____________, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

If possible, look each verse up in a commentary so you can get a better understanding of it's meaning.

Audio by Elliot

The following audio from Elisabeth Elliot relates perfectly with previous post on dying to self.
click here and select:
Transformed Mind

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Rom 12:1 NAU)

Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH. 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 5 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; 6 not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 7 With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. 9 And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him. 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. 21 But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts. 23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.
 (Eph 6:1 NAU)

Hiding God's Word in Our Heart

Last summer a couple of our church ladies went through a biblical counseling class together.  Part of the homework was to memorize Scripture.  The following Quiz (yes, they had a quiz ;o) )  was given for Lesson 1.  We are sharing it today so you can give it a go!

1 Corinthians 11:9 for indeed man was not ______________ for the woman's sake, but ____________ for the man's sake.

_________________  Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

1 Peter 2:1-3  Therefore, putting aside all _____________  and all guile and hypocrisy and ____________  and all slander, 2 like newborn babes, ___________ for the pure milk of the  ____________  , that by it you may _____________ in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the ________________  of the Lord.

 

Genesis 2:18 Then the LORD God said, "It is not ___________ for the man to be ______________; I will make him a helper _______________ for him."

So, how did you do?   Isn't it wonderful to have His Word hidden in your heart!