Showing posts with label vision. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vision. Show all posts

Thursday, June 16, 2016

THE PRAYER OF MOSES - PART 4

For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. (Psalm 90:4)
Time and Timing are of the Lord. Time on earth, in our world, began at the Creation of the planet around 6000 years ago. However, our Timeless and Eternal God has not only always existed but time is no consequence to Him. Humankind will discover on Judgment day when all the books will be open….along with the Book of Life (notice that there is only ONE Book of Life, and many books of the deeds of everyone else who ever lived!).

The vastness and fathomless depth of the Universe is incomprehensible. This is confirmed by Commander Scott Altman, the great American astronaut who was sent up by NASA in the STS-125 Atlantis space shuttle to fix the Hubble telescope in May 2009. After watching a private presentation where he explored the sheer size of the discovery of over 3000 plus galaxies picked up by our amazing Hubble telescope, Commander Altman stood in awe of the majesty and power of God as He read from Genesis 1 about the “real big bang” – that is – when God spoke the world into existence. The word of a man who has seen the universe close up as opposed to a 19th century failed seminary student who hated God – Charles Darwin, naturally is more credible.


The self-existent God not only gets to determine the time of a person’s life, but the timing of every event in that person’s life. It has always been so.  Daniel reported in Daniel 7, as he saw a vision of God as He really is - who holds 10,000 years the same as we would a week-long vacation. Daniel said in Chapter 7:9-10 "
9 “I watched till thrones were put in place,
And the Ancient of Days was seated;
His garment was white as snow,
And the hair of His head was like pure wool.
His throne was a fiery flame,
Its wheels a burning fire;
10 A fiery stream issued
And came forth from before Him.
A thousand thousands ministered to Him;
Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
The court was seated,
And the books were opened....Daniel 7:9-10

Daniel's incredible vision is a perfect representation of not just what the One True God looks like but what is going to happen on Judgment Day when the "books were opened". The brief experiment with man, which God came up with but which also cost Him the Life of His Son - the Creator of all things - is over, when Daniel recorded this, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit. At this, the God of Eternity, to Whom six or seven thousand years are about seven hours in Eternity.

When we were young, many years ago, time seemed so slow. The summers felt as if they would never end. Time seemed to drag. But now in the approach to senior years, time flies. A year feels like a thousand minutes to us. It feels thus, because That Day, when the Books are open, is fast approaching. Our lifetimes may appear to like one night watch to the Ancient of Days. However, if we approach life with an eternal perspective and understand the Power, Majesty and Richness of His Glory, we will spend Eternity with the One Who holds Time in His Hands- our Time. It's an amazingly incredible thing!

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

BRAND NEW FROM SUSAN ROHRER IN 2014

Author/Movie Producer
Susan Rohrer

JUST RELEASED:
"WHAT LAUREL SEES" 
(Fiction: May 2014)

Click here for more information

One reason Susan Rohrer is both my favorite bible study author AND
writer of dramatic fiction, is her ability to switch from rightly dividing the Word of Truth  in her previous work ("Secrets of the Dry Bones: Ezekiel 37:1-14") to what I think is her most accomplished work as a novelist! "What Laurel Sees" has just about every unexpected turn of events one can realize that involves a relatively small cast of characters in the book - which reads more like a screenplay. In fact, as an objective observer and reader, I would suggest that if Hallmark movies or Lifetime Channel were looking for their next dramatic made-for-TV classic, this would be it.

Among other things, the novel is basically a reflection of the sad shape we find the world in these days - a world where the rich, ambitious and powerful use all means necessary for their own personal gratification.  It is a world of political intrigue, adultery,  manipulation and the sad circumstances of what happens to a victim of religious abuse.  Add to this, the wronged ex-wife of a slain councilman - Frank Fischer, a woman who has the gift of prophetic vision from the Lord, and is therefore quickly discounted as a headcase by everyone else in her world.  Laurel Fischer is that ex-wife who lost her husband to the beautiful socialite Shana Fischer. Shana, the ambitious temptress and mistress of Frank Fischer worked the legal system, with him,  perfectly in their eyes and somehow managed to gain of Laurel's only child, Grace. The adulterous couple used Laurel's oft-spoken-of gift as a "seer" or "visionary" to  influence a judge to effect such a rare decision. This part of the narrative plays a strong role in the developing human drama, as Ms Rohrer's novel progresses.

The book gets on the off ramp of the freeway of mystery very early on. It picks up speed when the apparently unredeemed councilman is found slain. This sets off a chain of swift moving events. Events also swirl around a hard-nosed newsman. An unlikely romance springs up which sets this hardened self-described atheist reporter Joe Hardisty on the road to redemption, which could be a guidepost for many in the secular world of mainstream media! Somewhere in the first third of this novel, the well-crafted storyline grips you and never lets you pull off that freeway to the shoulder, until you are through reading it! This is what happened to me as I was unable to put it down on a three hour trip. As a person who almost never reads fiction, it takes a special gift of writing and credible authorship to get me to get even half way through such a book. "What Laurel Sees" is that kind of literary work and thus, it is highly recommended for your early summer reading! The dramatic conclusion of the book is worth the several hours of "page-turning"!

NEW: LIFE CHANGING BIBLE STUDY BY SUSAN ROHRER:

Secrets of the Dry Bones: Ezekiel 37:1-14 

The Mystery of a Prophet's Vision (Illuminated Bible Study Guides Series) [Kindle Edition]

"BEST KEPT SECRET IN CHRISTIANITY?"....READ THIS BOOK!

Having read all of Ms Rohrer's books, I venture to say that this is her most inspired, powerful, meaningful and capable of a transformative role in the life of the reader. It is written in such a way as to engage and appeal to both the new believer as well as the more mature Christian into an in-depth self examination. The Secrets of the Dry Bones will cause ANYONE who are serious about Will and Work of God in your life, to reevaluate and consider everything anew! I know it did me! I was so excited about having to look into the mirror of my own soul at some of the author's questions and promptings for study.The book, content, the Scriptural passages, the challenges met me at the current point in my life when all three of those things lined up perfectly to minister to me.

I found the book written in a fast moving, easy to read and comprehend style which can hold a reader who is interesting in inspiration, encouragement, illumination and transformation. A special treat to the reader is the early format of looking at evidence and clues to this transformation from the purposes and promises of God (Ezekiel 37). The author executes that flawlessly....sort of like the CSI of biblical exposition! I recommend this book as tremendous resources for discipleship and growth, for any child of God.


WHO IS SUSAN ROHRER & WHAT INSPIRES HER:

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

EXPLORATION OF JEREMIAH'S VISION OF CREATION



Truth is relative to an individual’s maturity level. While God is the Truth, his children are all in a process of learning and growing in Him. Some of God’s children are breastfed while some are milk drinkers, and others have graduated to meat.  We are all in a different level of learning so to one person truth may be at the milk level while to another person truth is at a meat level.  With that understanding in mind it takes a willingness to love people where they are in this process.  

Some people can be quite intolerant but that is not how we are to walk in love.  God is calling his people and we are all in a process of learning about Him, therefore we should endeavor, personally, to study, as the word tells us, to show ourselves approved of God as workmen, needing not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  We all are required to push ourselves to learn, rather than be spoon fed. 

by Lori Clayton
As we explore other scriptures relating to our creation story, we find a section in Jeremiah that is quite interesting.  In the context of this section, Jeremiah is prophesying to the Israelites that watchers, or gentiles would come and raise their voices against Israel because they have been rebellious toward God. Jeremiah 4:16-ff. God through Jeremiah says that destruction is coming because they did not know God. Then Jeremiah gives us a vision of the entire earth.  What he sees is the destruction that happened in Genesis 1:2.  Some might say that this is a future event but there are flaws in that argument which we will see later.  After the vision, Jeremiah prophesy’s again that the Lord says the whole land shall be desolate.  The first thing we have to take note of is the tense changing. 

First Jeremiah prophesy’s in present tense, then tells us a vision in past tense (saw, was, were) then Jeremiah prophecies again in the future tense (shall, will).  If we keep our tenses straight we can understand what he is saying.  For our purposes we will look at Jeremiah’s past tense vision, which is not a prophecy, just the explanation of a vision. This is an example of understanding scripture in light of the context.

Jer 4:23-31 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger.

Remembering Genesis1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.KJV The same Hebrew words for without form and void are used in Jeremiah’s vision.

Jeremiah sees the earth, not a city, not Israel, he sees earth formless and void, without light. There were mountains that moved and hills that moved which speaks of earthquakes.  Then he says he sees no man, and birds fled, and the gardens and the ranchlands became a wilderness, and the cities were broken down.  This means there were cities, that someone made, but there were no men anymore.  The earth became empty, wasteland, and dark because the Lord was angry. 

Let’s look at this section of scripture from two other translations

Jeremiah 4:23 I looked at the land - it was unformed and void - and at the sky - it had no light. 24 I looked at the mountains, and they shook - all the hills moved back and forth. 25I looked, and there was no human being; all the birds in the air had fled. 26 I looked, and the fertile fields were a desert, all the land's cities were razed to the ground at the presence of ADONAI, before his burning anger. (Complete Jewish Bible http://www.biblestudytools.com/cjb/)

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

MINISTRIES OF MEN

by Crystal Banks Tait(Bankie)

CRYSTAL BANKS TAIT
2 Timothy 2:4 "No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer."

That verse came to me when I saw a new ministry within a local church.  Do not involve yourself in ministries of men.  Stay with the ministries of God which please HIM.  That is how I knew I shouldn't be involved in that ministry.  It got me to thinking though.

I have quite a few things on the go.  My first blog is this blog, Love4AMAZED.  I meant for it to be a parenting and family oriented blog because I have a  big passion for families, including my own :)  If what we go through can encourage and help others I really want to be able to do that. I started blogging on MSN Live Spaces and carried the blog over when Spaces closed down.  Love4AMAZED is likely the only thing I do that wasn't "Inspired".... directly anyhow.

I then started God's Word for 365 in the summer to blog about and read God's Word Daily and be held accountable via blog.  I just started blogging that on my Love4AMAZED blog to keep things simple.  But I found that intertwining the two was difficult because I had family and child revelations that I wanted to share that didn't really fit in with my GW4365 that day or what have you.

Most recently I have started Eating4God, a record of my journey in eating as a way for honouring and worshipping God, feeding our spirit instead of feeding our flesh.  A vision started this blog as well... my first vision in a dream.

BUT.  My FIRST BIG passion is ACTION..  :)  I didn't know it at the time but ACTION. was my first vision.  That explains why it all seemed to real... it's kind of funny to me know that I know what it is that I jumped so quickly on it.  ACTION 2.5 years after the vision isn't even really on the table.  But I still have a phone line, fax line and web domain for ACTION.! lol  The vision was so real to me that I know it's going to come to pass, I'm just waiting for God's timing :)

That is alot of things on the go isn't it?  Some people might think it's too much on the go if you add in our 6+1 children to the mix :)  I would agree with those people likely... but since I am the one that have started all of them and now I sit wondering how to juggle all of them, I have to disagree :)

I have tried with all of these mini ministries to gain "friend" support or family support to no avail.  I mean obviously I have a few family members that support me but when I have over 100 family members on facebook and the ones that have spend the most time with me don't support my mini ministries it's difficult.  I have tried to get my church peeps support or church support to no avail.  There is really nothing that I have tried to start that has gone any where... and yet here I sit continuing to "start" things.  Some people would wonder why I bother since clearly nobody I know is intending on supporting me in my efforts.  And THIS blog is the answer.

Every single thing that I have started, every facebook fan page, blog, flyer, handout, plan that I have started was given to me by way of a vision from God.  Do you know what that means?  It means that I didn't really start it at all.... it means that God did.  Now the revelation to this is that since all of these things are NOT mine and I am simply doing what I have been asked to do with them, I am not as disheartened when people reject them.  I see it for what it is, people rejecting God.  Which makes me sad on some other levels and yes I have to fight the devil about not getting any personal support but at the end of the day, ACTION., GW4365, Eating4God is all God's.

In the spring of 2011 I had a vision for a children's ministry outline.  Wow was I on fire for that.  I thought maybe God gave it to me to write curriculum or maybe God's intention was to send me down that path!  I was so excited for it!  I was laying in my bed trying to sleep and these thoughts and word flooded my brain and I knew what it was right away!  A vision for the kids ministry program!  I was so thankful I couldn't stop thanking God for the gift!  I can't remember the name that came to me for it now ... I still have the notes but I won't bother to go search them out now. 

I had SUCH a fire and an excitement and I was SO excited to share this vision with my church's kids ministry to implement!  I knew that THIS was God's vision for this church.  I shared my vision and my passion for this vision, I had a meeting and poured out all my ideas, inspirations, experience from Home & School volunteer time and at the end of the day I was politely told that after sharing this vision given to me and after the ministry was going to implement almost all of my ideas, that I was to longer have part in it.  Obviously the story is bigger than that but that is the condensed version.  Not that any of those details mattered then or now.  God showed me so much through that situation and it took me a long time.. okay like almost a year to see this for what it was.

The kids ministry program and outlines and ideas were a vision that God GAVE to me.  Most of it was implemented and I see the fruits of that vision today.  I'm not involved in it but God's will is being done.  At the end of the day that's all that matters.  I am very very happy that I was able to be used by God to help bring about some change that He wanted to show us.  It just took me awhile to appreciate the situation for what it was.  God using me. WOW :)  I like it :)  None of it was of me, it was ALL of Christ.  I was just the messenger being taught some lessons along the way.

ACTION. or GW4365 or Eating4God... are all visions that God GAVE ME.  As long as I am faithful in doing what he has shown me and asked me to do, THAT is all that matters.  I don't know how these visions will be used but I MUST be faithful in what God has asked me to do with them.  And I know it's going to be awesome!  Tomorrow I'm going to delve into some plans I have been inspired by for GW4365.  The reason I love GW4365 so much is because it has honestly changed my life.  

Reading the Bible now for almost six months everyday has completely and utterly changed my life.  I know why God lead me to this... it's His heart for US to be close to Him!  Everything becomes clearer, I know who I am in Christ ten-fold what I did before I started on my GW4365 journey.  Now I'm going to ramp it up!  & hopefully I'm going to share that with you tomorrow!

Until then God Bless you!  Be BOLD in the things that God has given you!  Even if you do it alone, DO IT.  If God is for you who can be against you?  

2 Timothy 2:4 "No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer."



THAT is my main goal.  & THAT is why I do what I do and why I create blogs and record different journeys.... and throw ideas out to who I am told to throw ideas out to...  I want to please MY Commanding Officer :) The love of my life, Jesus Christ.

If you haven't had the pleasure of knowing Jesus Christ in an intimate relationship I urge you to Accept Jesus as your Saviour now, say that you believe He died on the cross for your sins and confess that you are a sinner in need of the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ :)  & start your journey in being a disciple of Christ :)

As always if you would like me to pray for you just let me know.  I don't need to know details.  God is a BIG God and the Holy Spirit will guide me in prayer.  :)  Just say "Yes! Crystal please pray for me!" :) & I will :)

All My Love in Christ!

DON'T GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS! :)
Remain faithful :) He remains faithful to YOU!
Crystal

Saturday, December 10, 2011

GLORY TO GOD OR GLORY TO YOU?


VISION
by

We hear this word A LOT. I have taken business in college so of course I have heard about vision with respect to business planning.
 
We all hear this word in churches with respect to the vision that God has planted in the heart of the pastor for a church.However, how often do we, or are we, directed to apply this word as a road map for our own lives?


Crystal Banks Tait
In watching a ministry leadership conference, my thoughts about vision that many pastors were speaking of directed me to the things that I "do" for God and why I do what I do. When I hear the pastors speak of things in relation to leading their churches I apply it to my family, my children, my position as a follower within my own church, as well as learning and developing skills for the plans that God has for me in the future.


What was MY vision for the things that I am doing in my life? 
I had never asked this question before. 
What IS my motivating force? 
This all seems so simple yet it is likely something that most of us are not doing I would venture to say. Have YOU asked yourself why you do what you do in your life? 


The first thing that came to my mind when I thought of the things “I do” for God was my blog. What is the motivating force behind my blog? What is my vision through this blog? Is it for myself or is it really for God?


I reflected on other things that I have been attempting to be involved in and get started for “God”. Things in which I am attempting to find my "place" in at our local church and really my "place" on the planet in God's grand scheme of things.

 
I have never assessed what my vision was for my life. Why do I do, what I do, and what do I hope to get accomplished by doing a, b, c, or d? 
Those should be the first questions we ask ourselves PRIOR to taking the action step! Vision and mission SHOULD always be developed IN PRAYER! 

The first thing I thought of after reflecting on my past year or two of activities was my blog. 

Why do I blog? What is my vision for my blog and what do I hope to accomplish through blogging. So I thought about it and my vision for my blog is that I want to share my life experiences in hopes that it will help others to continue in or change their lives in a way that will allow them to live in an intimate, real relationship with Jesus Christ. I want Christians to have God as a close friend and confidant and not only live as surface Christians and I want to share what that looks like so that they can have it for themselves.

God used that leadership conference to show me that what it all comes down to is vision. 
Your vision will set your path.

The vision for my life in general is to live my life in the most God honoring way that I possibly can. Making myself available however God wants me to be available to accomplish whatever He wants me to accomplish. I know God has a plan and a vision for my life. 


God has given me gifts and talents and I intend on developing them for His glory. When I get to heaven and God asks me what I did with the gifts, talent & treasures He gave me, I am hoping that my answer will be, “I used them to bring Glory to You.” The answer I hope to hear is "Well done!”

My blog is using my life story to inspire others to trust God. To inspire others to get to know God and to read His word every single day. God longs to know YOU. God yearns to know you and speak to you just as a mother or father longs to speak and hold their child. Or a child longs to speak and hold their mother or father.

Next time I want to get involved in something, instead of just throwing up a prayer and saying God, do you want me to do ___________. Or alternatively, should I?


I will PAUSE, look for the vision behind the action in PRAYER. 

I think we need to set a vision for all things we do in life.


I want to have a VISION for my family, a VISION for my marriage and a VISION as a parent to name a few. 


If the vision does not line up with the Word of God, and God is not behind what I do, even the small things that I involve myself in daily, it is time to do something different.


The vision sets the path for your footsteps and mine.


“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm119:105

Image courtesy Google Images