The winter has passed, and out of its frost and frigidness comes Renewal.
A second chance if you will. A Rebirth of Life!
Our journey on planet Earth is often times like this…….Think about it.
Our Challenges are what has made us Grow.
The chill of a relationship gone sour. The coldness of loneliness. The Frozenness of despair or depression. The stabbing icicles of rejection by a “Friend.” The frigidness of failure. The coldness of Death; physical or spiritual…..
Mr. Freeze shows up and it appears as though the smile of summertime is dead.
But wait Springtime comes along and pushes the frost aside and a Renewal takes place!
I don’t like it, you don’t like it but it is the truth. Adversity and psychological suffering stimulate a yearning to transcend our frozen condition and wake up to find the greater wisdom, the greater good that will Revitalize our lives and our souls.
Life’s “Challenges” can be our greatest lessons. From them the flowers of Faith can bloom. The kind of Faith that only grows in difficult soil. Life changing. Mind Transforming faith!!!!
Learning about others helps us to Succeed.
Learning about ourselves helps us to Evolve.
Learning about The Holy Spirit helps us to “Transform.”
To change somebody or something completely, especially improving their appearance or usefulness.
This is what God wants to do for YOU!
So if you seek adventure, learn to pay attention to the seasons of life, pay close attention to each new spring day. Find the miraculous within the mundane.
A new bud, a new leaf, a new flower that was not there yesterday on your way to your boring little day at work. See it, notice it, and rejoice in it.
In the same way, if you push past the frost of your fears and failures you will begin to “SEE” ………..signs of a New Life!!!!!
See it. Notice it. Rejoice in it! God Does….
And so do Deb & I
You Are Not Who You Used To Be!
See you in Church…. (And could you post a “Comment” just tell us who and “Where” you are?)
DO NOT MISS THIS BIBLE STUDY!!! “Renewal”
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17 comments:
Well again I am blessed. Do not have time tonight to really READ the bible study, but it looks to be another challenge to the lifestyle! Tomorrow I will give it the required time and meditation!
But have to tell you PM the Blog is very encouraging. I have come through a difficult winter season in my physical and spiritual life and this was just what I needed to hear. Thanks.
Hello. From the U.K.
Renew me Lord.
Ah, SPRING! Summer used to be my favorite season, but this 50-somethingth year of my life, it's all about renewal, regeneration, transformation, growth! As I watch the glorious Dogwoods and May Pinks blossom, I also watch the Daffodils, Tulips and Hyacinths decay...one group is dying while the new life is springing forth - just as God has designed us! I'm dying to things my flesh screams for, and allowing the transformation power of the Holy Spirit to have His way...
The result...BEAUTY! JOY! LOVE!
And, by the way, that jerk that posted a nasty comment is obviously a sick soul and YOU, my friend, should give it over to the Lord - and not ponder it another moment! As you said, it's demoralilzing and that could be powerfully negative. Do as your mom has taught you - she talks to God about it - turns it over to Him to handle and refuses to think on it again! (get your CD and have a listen!) :-D
Yes Springtime is here thank God. I have had kind of a rough week, but Springtime is here, Bless God. Thank you Pastor Mark I needed that. Have a great day.
Mike Martini
Spring is very spiritual to me. It brings me back to the joy of my salvation. That's why I simply love spring flowers the best! It just seems that God made those the most beautiful and fragrant out of all the flowers. Thanks again, Pastor Mark,for all you do.
Well PM the Selah’s over the past two days were nourishing….thank you!
“Father in heaven, I bless your holy name. Thank You for opening doors for me that no one can close. Fill me with Your peace and joy today as I wait on You. In Jesus Name. ~ Amen.” Amen, Amen and Amen!!
I do thank God for being there to give me and my family a peace that does surpass all understanding as He plans for the next door to open in our lives…..praise Him \O/ !!
As for the bible study “Renewal”, wheeeew !!.....another masterpiece of a meal prepared better than a succulent T-Bone steak cooked to perfection, with garlic mashed potatoes and caramelized onions, sautéed spinach and an iced cold pint of b……iced tea at Ben Benson’s……you make Wolfgang Puck look like Chucky Cheese PM……
We are a blessed flock to have such Pastors as you, your Dad and P Jason….praise Him !!
I love feeding on His Word the way it’s prepared for us here at New Life, thank you!! I pray every day for His word and His Spirit to continue to nourish and fill my heart, my soul and my spirit….to keep me strong enough to be what He wants me to be…..I need Him so. I thank God I found New Life…
Thank you Banildo and Nora for bringing us here almost 2 years ago now.
Well PM I pray that I can gain all the spiritual weight I can and that my spiritual cholesterol goes through the roof by continually feeding on His word as you prepare it for us as the master chef that He has called you to be !!
Thank you PM !!
I, too, absolutely LOVE Springtime!! Have for YEARS! (I truly HATE winter! It's so dark and so COLD!)
Thinking of "winter" for a moment... I am asking for prayer. My right shoulder has been in pain for over 3 weeks, now. It started suddenly; I woke up with it one morning in mid-April. I have been to the Chiropractor several times, and my regular Dr once. I am going to have to go back to the Dr to have it checked out. (X-ray, MRI, whatever!) I have no idea what is going on in there, and I have cried out to God about it repeatedly!! (I went forward for healing prayer last week.) The pain comes and goes in waves. It's miserable. :( Things like this certainy ***DO*** stretch our faith!! I'm waiting for "spring" in this shoulder. :(
OK, back to more cheerful topics! :)
I don't think there is anything "unmanly" at ALL about loving the warmth, the fresh air, the flowers, birds singing, the living GREEN on the trees as their leaves come back! All reasons to rejoice in what God has done! \o/
I LOVE beautiful sunsets. I can stare at them until they vanish. Same with sunrises. When I see the splendor of God's handiwork, especially when there is an exceptional sunrise or set, it brings tears of joy to my eyes as I realize that God does this for no other reason than for us, His children, to delight in and thank Him for it!
A beautiful sky does nothing to assist the navigation of the birds, reproduction of various creatures, growth of plants, etc... no, it truly serves no valid scientific purpose. It is there, I believe, for one reason, and one only: To remind us that we have a LOVING Father in Heaven, and that we should truly take time to praise Him and worship Him every day, as often as we can! \o/
The shortest verse in the Bible speaks volumes: "Jesus wept." Nobody questioned His manhood. He was a carpenter. Strong, muscular... but more than that, of course... He was and is the Creator! He wept when a friend died... then He proceeded to raise that friend from the dead! (I look forward to the replay in Heaven!)
I read a cute saying somewhere: One of the nice things about being a Christian, is seeing a beautiful sunset and knowing Whom to thank. \o/
Willie...
Thanks for that Selah today PM…….mentoring or even being mentored is a great thing.
I remember so vividly being mentored by one of my elders in the first church attended when I became a Christian…….it was such a great experience…….the Pastor too, he made it his business to reach out to me often to see how I was doin’. Jesus I believe was a mentor…maybe we could say The Great Mentor !!
“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief to bare, what a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer…..”
Hey I wasn’t able to come to that Thursday to see Lee Strobel’s movie "The Case for A Creator", but I got it, watched it and wheeew !!…good stuff. He's great.
I mentioned before Lee has another great one, "The Case for Christ".
Another good guy in the Lord is Louie Giglio of the Passion Church in Atlanta GA. He did a great concert on DVD called "How Great Is Our God".
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=how+great+is+our+god
It's just another great faith building tribute to our great and powerful God of the universe who spoke it all into being but still knows me…...
Psalm 139:13-18 (New King James Version)
13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;[a] Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!How great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.
Matthew 10:29-31 (New King James Version)
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Guys, try this out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e4zgJXPpI4
It’s an excerpt from Louie Giglio How Great Is Our God……check it out
Praise Him \O/
Wow, Bob, you just blessed my heart with that passage from Psalm 139! \o/
Right now, I am dealing with agonizing PAIN in my right shoulder... and will be going to an Orthopedic Dr today. It has been hurting up and down for almost a month, now, but it got dramatically WORSE last night... so I have had no sleep. I sincerely appreciate the prayers of my Brothers and Sisters in Christ. :) I want to be at Bible Study tonight, and will do my best to be there.
God bless! :)
Willie...
UPDATE:
The Orthopedic Dr took a bunch of x-rays, and he says it's an arthritis condition in my neck, which is affecting the nerves... causing the PAIN! There is nothing wrong with the shoulder, itself. But man, when it decides to HURT, IT STINKIN' HURTS!!!!!!!!
He gave me a new medicine, which took about 2 hours to kick in. The pain is now "tolerable", but not anywhere near gone. I'm looking forward to tonight's Bible study! :)
Your prayers are so much appreciated! :)
Hey Will you've really gotta check out the Youtube piece I posted which is an excerpt from Louie Giglio's How Great Is Our God, THEN the Holy Spirit just blows you away with the power of the Psalm. Hope your elbow's feelin better there Will....
Hey PM the Selah was great....My prayer every morning (in my secret place) "Father in Heaven teach me to Appreciate all that I have NOW. As I strive to be all You need me to be. I thank You for all my Blessings. My home, my family, my friends, my church, my work. My Life! Thank You Lord for Your goodness to me. ~Amen".....AMEN AMEN AMEN \O/...that prayer is "right on the money".
In the past there was so much I took for granted....so many wrong things I was chasin'.....but thanks be to God that He's focused me on what's right, what's of real value, what's a lasting treasure.
Colossians 2:1-4
1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and[a] of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
We may not have Paul, but we have been blessed at New Life with a great group of Shepherds.
Praise Him \O/
Hey Mark - just want to say that I so appreciate you and the bible studies you prepare, as well as the Selah's...all are benefitting me so much - I'm growing in leaps and bounds!
I'd like to share with you what the Lord has done since the start of the current "The Secret Place" study on Thursday nights...I told Him that He can wake me up any time in the morning He desires and I will fellowship with Him, spend some quiet/quality time with Him, pray, read the Bible, listen, read devotional (Selah, Navigator, Bible study from your blog, etc.) Well, the first four mornings He woke me at 4 a.m. I'M NOT KIDDING! ON THE DOT! THAT'S how I knew it was Him. He was serious about letting me know how much He wanted the time with me...
I feel so loved and much less lonley as a result. Isn't God good? It's three weeks now, and not every morning is 4 a.m. - sometimes it's 5! But each and every morning we have our time, and it's resulting in some wonderful spirit changes in me...
So again, a big THANK YOU for the time and effort and sincerity you put into the studies.
A grateful student that loves and appreciates you so very, very much.
Morning Pastor Mark,
I caught the end of your study last night on the importance of music and how we should take it with us when we go to meet with God in the secret place. Well this morning as I was getting ready for my meet with God,(and making coffee!) I looked over on the counter and found my IPod there, so I picked it up and put on a song I sing along to so many times, but this time I sat and just listened to words...WOW! what a overwhelming sense of being in God's Presence, I still feel the tears fall as I write this note. Thanks again for teaching us how we can know the Secrets of the Secret Place.
see you at the office!
Patty
Hey PM another great Selah (thanks for the memories with the Hymn as the closing prayer)
I agree wholeheartedly. I have been focusing on this very “truth” from the moment I get to my secret place in the am, till the time I’m walking to the subway at the end of my day. I feel I’m in a war zone most of the day on that construction site and there aint none around that I’m getting any spiritual vibes from if you know what I mean……so I need my friend, my savior with me……it’s kind of funny, I find myself praying all the time……I’m talking to Him…….and I catch myself and say, how many people think I’m nuts; this guy’s talking to himself..LOL……when I pray I pray out loud but ever so quietly….I’m really talkin to Him (hey but then again I’m in New York and who isn’t walking around talkin to himself)…..I like to talk to Him that way.
Hey Patty, I know what ur saying…….I find myself also really feeling the words in these praise songs we sing……and when you come across a scripture, a psalm (like “At The Cross” / Psalm 139), and the words are in one of your favorite songs, man it’s great!
Strange how when you really get closer to Him, the little things become more evident……like you once spoke about PM, being more God Conscious……how true….how great.
To the point of today’s Selah, I catch myself feeling self conscious about blogging every day sometimes, but you know I love to talk about my re-born (re-built) life …..that’s what the blogs for anyway no?..…I feel like I’m talkin to yawl at church……Ana and I don’t have anyone we are akin to here in White Plains…..we r kind of alone.... So I talk and talk on the blog, because it’s spiritually therapeutic for me.
Praise Him \O/ Keep the blogg strong PM
Hey guys, check this out....I was just Youtubing for some music (in my secret place) this morning and I came across this song.....like Patty was saying yesterday....just listen to this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6G0U8Vg6nY
Now I said to myself, If only these young talented people gifted by God Himself only knew what they were singing (God I pray at least some of them do...maybe they do now)....it was done absolutely beautiful.....inspiring....a great start for the day...to extol, laud and magnify His name !!
Bless Him \O/
Great Selah today PM....it's so true....it's the toughest part of my walk with Him....God please transform me by the power of your Holy Spirit.
Hey guys, I came across a great book, Experiencing God by Henry T. Blackaby and Claude V. King.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=experiencing+God
(remember to go through PM's blog to get the Missions credits).....it's sooo much in keeping with our study on the secret place...really great stuff.
One thing it emphasizes is How God is the one that draws us...if it was up to man, we don't have the equipment to make the first move; it's God who takes the initiative...
Thank you Father for putting something in my heart and someone in my path that drew me to You.
\O/ Bless Him
I am a Roman Catholic and can honestly say I cannot name a time that I was ever so moved in church as I was this last Sunday. The sermon was outstanding and brought both my husband and I to tears. Thank you!
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