Comparisons of Planets/Stars
“Is not God high in the heavens?
See the highest stars, how lofty they are!”
Job 22:12
“He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names.”
Psalm 147:4
Category: spiritual lessons
Coming Home
Returning Home:
“Then the men who were designated by name rose up and took the captives, and from the spoil they clothed all who were naked among them, dressed them and gave them sandals, gave them food and drink, and anointed them; and they let all the feeble ones ride on donkeys. So they brought them to their brethren at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.”
2 Chronicles 28:15
I once was held captive by sin, ransacked and naked, starving and bereft of hope.
Lord, thank You for saving me, restoring me and returning me to the place I belong . . with You. And here’s a simple poem . . .
Brought Back 
Love clothes me
and feeds me
and fills up
my flaws.
Love anoints me
and establishes me
in the presence
of all.
………..
See Deb’s blog at http://iftodaywehear.wordpress.com/
The Quiet Power of Jesus
“The master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside.” John 2:9
Jesus Christ performs the first miracle of his short ministry. He will perform thousands of them in his brief work on planet Earth. This miracle was done silently, there was absolutely no fanfare or hoopla. (What a contrast for ministry today!)
Silently, quietly, much like he does today, he touches the hearts of thousands of men and women. I wouldn’t have done it this way, I would’ve advertised, had the 12 disciples out doing some PR work, maybe some autographs and definitely make it quite the show!
He is not in the storm, or the fire, or an earthquake. That is not the way he operates (but he can). He comes quietly in a still, small voice to our confused hearts. Silently help comes to us, and silently the answers to our prayers glide down to us. Not a shred of ostentation; no gaudy bows or ribbons. When Jesus is ministering to someone who is in a horrible fix, he does it peaceably–quietly and calmly. He is infinitely gentle.
It is significant that “the servants who had drawn the water knew”. Often those who minister for Christ get to see his omnipotence and his power, they know it first-hand. As a young man, I worked as a full-time evangelist in San Francisco. I saw God change people! Addicts, gays and transvestites would often come for the Bible studies, and God would work and they were changed. As you and I mature and step into service, we are privy to the work of Jesus. We are no longer strangers but friends, and he lets us see his wonders for ourselves. I have been allowed to see up close his workings in a twisted heart of a lost soul. The water is turned into wine. I simply stand in awe.
The master of the feast did not know what had happened. Is this not the same with us quite often? We cannot explain where the blessings come from. It happens quickly and quietly. Look, over there, see the confused woman as she desperately seeks an intervention. She sobs out in prayer, imploring the Lord for mercy. Suddenly, through faith something happens, and it is completely supernatural. And no trumpets sounded, for these are common, regular everyday miracles.
We drink the wine, but we don’t quite grasp the miracle. But that’s okay. Our limited understanding handles these quiet miracles and we will step into the light that grace leaves behind. The water has become wine and we are changed as well, forever, by the quiet power of Jesus.
ybic, Bryan
Let the Church Be the Church
“Any church that will not accept that it consists of sinful men and women, and exists for them, implicitly rejects the gospel of grace. As Hans Kung wrote, “it deserves neither God’s mercy nor men’s trust”.
The church must constantly be aware that its faith is weak, its knowledge dim, its profession of faith halting, that there is not a single sin or failing which it has not in one way or another been guilty of.
And though it is true that the church must always disassociate itself from sin, it can never have any excuse for keeping any sinners at a distance. If the church remains self-righteously aloof from failures, irreligious and immoral people, it cannot enter justified into God’s kingdom. But if it is constantly aware of its guilt and sin, it can live in joyous awareness of forgiveness. The promise has been given to it that anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Brennan Manning
Broken Believers 