Give Me Jesus

 

 

This is the 132^nd letter:

 

Text for the day: Galatians 6:14

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Gal. 6:14.

 

 

Our Theme for the day:

The minister got up and preached a message on the seven ways to stop a thief, on his first week as the new distract Pastor. On the second week he spoke on how the church can make money by building a hall to care for babies. By the third week all the older leaders of the church were sitting up front. As the new pastor came to the pulpit he looked at his audience and said, this morning I am impressed to speak to you on my success in life, and how to run your way to health. But before the preacher could get started, one of the old male members in the front row stood up and said, now pastor we have set here for the past three weeks and listened to you. Then a older sister who was ninety four years old stood up and said, with that pastor, I have been praying for you. But before she could finish the old brother who was eighty nine years old said, we have not come for money because we know how to stash, and hold on to it. We have not come here to try to be more successful, not that there is anything wrong with being successful and in health.

And finally we did not come here to learn about the seven ways to stop a thief. Then the old lady came in and said, we have come to learn about Jesus, give me Jesus. Then all the seniors in the front of the church stood and started singing, “In the morning, when I rise, in the morning, when I rise, in the morning, when I rise, Give me Jesus. Give me Jesus, give me Jesus. You can have all this world, just give me Jesus. Oh when I am alone, oh when I am alone, oh when I am alone, give me Jesus. When I come to die, when I come to die, when I come to die, give me Jesus. Give me Jesus, Give me Jesus. You can have all this world, just give me Jesus. Give me Jesus. Give me Jesus, Give me Jesus. You can have all this world, you can have all this world, you can have all this world, give me Jesus. At the end of that service people started to talk. As the next week rolled around every one knew that either the pastor started preaching from the word or find a new calling. As the pastor came forward to the pulpit to give the message for the day everyone was there, members, non-members, leaders of the community and other officers from the main office of the church.

 As the new preacher started, he asked all to turn to Galatians 6:14.  “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” The new pastor continued, if we remove the cross from the Christian that would be like blotting out the sun which illumines the day. If we remove the cross from the Bible, it would be like having the heavens at night without the moon and the stars. The cross of Christ brings us nigh to God, it reconciles mankind to God, and God to mankind. As the Father looks upon the cross, He saw the suffering of one who knew no sin becoming sin for us. He willed to give His son, and the son willed to come. Jesus willed to endure the pain in order to save the human race from hopelessness, and misery, by drawing man to Himself. As the preacher paused for a moment you could not hear a pin drop. Then he said, I know that the cross has been almost lost sight off in sermons for the past fifteen to twenty years on prosperity and success. That is why many people have left church, because they did not have Jesus. They now have success, and prosperity but no love.

For the past three weeks I was only trying to see how near or far this church is to the Bible. Let us never forget, without the blood of Jesus spilled on the cross there is no connection with the Father, and no unity with the Lamb in the midst of the throne in heaven. Without the death of Jesus on the cross, there is no welcome reception of the wandering who would return to the forsaken path of righteousness and truth. Without the cross, there is no hope for the transgressor in the Day of Judgment. Without the cross, there is no means provided for overcoming the power of Satan and all his evil angels, because every ray of hope hangs upon the cross. Finally, through the death of Jesus on the cross we learn that our heavenly Father loves us with an infinite and everlasting love, and draws us to Him with more than a mother's yearning sympathy for a wayward child. Can we see now why Paul exclaimed, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ"? Today as servant Leaders it is our privilege also to glory in the cross. It is our privilege to give ourselves wholly to Him who gave Himself for us, that the light of His love may shine to all. As that church service came to a close that day, they all knew that God had sent them a messenger with a message, who knows Jesus.

 

Join us next time for another ray of sunshine from Garden Ministry.

 

Our Prayer for today: Father help all your servants lift up Jesus, so all can be dawn to you, in sons name Amen.     Prayer Request Let’s us pray for the health of Michael Smith who after   reaching Tanzania to do missionary work became ill.   It was determined that he should fly back home to   Springfield for treatment.   A person who loves the Bible will also love to pray, and a person who loves to pray will delight themselves in the Bible.   We are into our 37th since starting Garden Ministry; it is growing with new people asking to subscribe to it each day. If you are gaining spiritual muscle mass, and strength through Garden Ministry, and would like to help some-one else gain Spiritual muscle mass and strength also. Then send Garden Ministry your Testimony at, http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ . Garden Ministry would love to share your Testimony with our faithful viewers and readers. So ask yourselves, which letter or message from Garden Ministry helped you to hold on to your faith, or helped someone else hold on to theirs?   Remember, you’re the only Jesus some will ever see.   If you are blessed by these “uplifting gems”, share them.   These letters are written by Elder Kevin Santucci   For further information, comment or requests, E-mail Garden Ministry: http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/   Garden Ministry would love to thank you today for your prayers and continual faithfulness of sharing these letters with others like your self. Thank you for your insightful comments to Garden Ministry. If you love to leave a comment, go to our website at http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ and then comment, follow the directions and then you will be finished. Truly I am encouraged how little can become much when you place it in the master’s hand. To all our faithful readers on behalf of the Garden Ministry team, we wish you Gods riches Blessings.

 

 

 

"Thy word"

This is the 131^st letter:

Text for the day: Psalm 119:11

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee

Our Theme for the day: “Thy word”

Our Devotional

A study on immoral behaviour in 2006 found that when laws against shopping or doing what ever you please are eliminated on days for worship, church-goers begin to skip attendance and significantly increase their consumption of drugs and alcohol, and even sex before marriage. The report, entitled “The Church vs. the Mall: What Happens When Religion Faces Increased Secular Competition?” was published by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Not only did church-goers show a marked increase in drug use and alcohol consumption, the Washington Post reported, with a parallel decline in Church attendance, but the greatest behaviour change was found in those who had been the most faithful attendees of religious services.

Going on, in talking about the laws that governs days set aside for worship by God. “After these laws are repealed [church attendance] falls to 32 percent” while Marijuana use increased by 11 percent among church-goers after the shopping laws changed, compared to those who never attended church. Cocaine use increased by almost 4 percent, and heavy alcohol consumption increased by about 5.5 percent.” It is a known fact that the more faithful people are to God before problems arise, the more likely they will stay in Christ through their storm. On the other hand, if you are one who takes your relationship with the Lord lightly, the more likely you will leave the church and start to indulge in immoral behaviors when the first trouble comes. We can not hide from the secular world, but we can make sure our minds are filled with spiritual food through the Holy Spirit.

In the words of King David we can say, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee,” (Psalm 119:11). In this Psalm David sets forth the joy and happiness that come to the man who takes the law of the Lord as his counsel and guide. The psalm is acrostic, consisting of 22 sections, each containing 8 verses. The first verse is the main text upon which the rest of the psalm is a discourse. When you get to verse 11 you are now open to the secret of true Christian living.

Through this text we see that a mere knowledge of the Bible will not keep us from sin. The times that we live in, calls for every servant leader to treasure up every ray of light from God’s word in their mind, so that they can fight off all the weapons of Satan, (Job 23:12; Prov. 2:1, 9; Jeremiah. 31:33). If the counsels of the Word of God are faithfully followed, the saving grace of Christ will be brought home to all; who yield themselves to the molding power of the Holy Spirit. In closing I ask this question, are you standing fully on the word of the God, or are you just following Jesus for the Secular gain? Today let all give close study to the Word of God. Once received into the soul, it will prove a mighty barricade against immorality and the temptations of life.

Join us next time for another ray of sunshine from Garden Ministry.

Our Prayer for today: Lord, allow every word from thy lips to me from the paths of the destroyer in Jesus name, Amen. Prayer Request Let’s pray for my niece Beverly D. Evans who is do to have a heart operation on March 9th 2010. A person who loves the Bible will also love to pray, and a person who loves to pray will delight themselves in the Bible. We are into our 37th since starting Garden Ministry; it is growing with new people asking to subscribe to it each day. If you are gaining spiritual muscle mass, and strength through Garden Ministry, and would like to help some-one else gain Spiritual muscle mass and strength also. Then send Garden Ministry your Testimony at, http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ . Garden Ministry would love to share your Testimony with our faithful viewers and readers. So ask yourselves, which letter or message from Garden Ministry helped you to hold on to your faith, or helped someone else hold on to theirs? Remember, you’re the only Jesus some will ever see. If you are blessed by these “uplifting gems”, share them. These letters are written by Elder Kevin Santucci For further information, comment or requests, E-mail Garden Ministry: http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ Garden Ministry would love to thank you today for your prayers and continual faithfulness of sharing these letters with others like your self. Thank you for your insightful comments to Garden Ministry. If you love to leave a comment, go to our website at http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ and then comment, follow the directions and then you will be finished. Truly I am encouraged how little can become much when you place it in the master’s hand. To all our faithful readers on behalf of the Garden Ministry team, we wish you Gods riches Blessings.

WHO IS IT THAT JUDGETH? (Part 3) (Touch not)

This is the 130^th letter:

Text for the day: 1 Chronicles 16:22

Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

Our Theme for the day: WHO IS IT THAT JUDGETH? (Part 3) (Touch not)

Our Devotional

I once read a sign which said, “If you judge people, you have no time to love them”. “This was the fate of Miriam and Aaron as they spent most of their day judging or accusing their brother Moses. As they engaged in this evil, they were doing the very work that God condemns. Some have asked the question, what led to this bad spirit toward their brother? They were jealous of Moses, and this jealousy led to the exhibition of selfishness, bitterness, and almost hatred. They censured Moses because he did not consult them, and move according to their judgment. Looking back at this account it says, "And they said, hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath he not spoken also by us?" Through it all, notice how Moses did not seek to vindicate his course, but God Himself interposed. "And the Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forth. And he said hear now my words:

If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold; wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and he departed. And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow." Numbers 12: 5-10. In this story we see the steps which Satan takes in breaking down unity, and success in ministry. With over a million people who had just come out of slavery God was moving His people to the promise land, but through the person of His choosing not theirs. This is a very important point, many people may have the will to lead, but very few have the gift that is needed to be a leader.

Now notice the first step in the breaking down of unity, and success in ministry is jealousy, which leads to accusation. Secondly if jealousy is continued it leads to the spirit of selfishness. Thirdly if the spirit of selfishness is not stopped it leads to bitterness. Fourthly if bitterness is not controlled, it finally leads to hatred and murder. But you may say how do people kill one another in ministry, or in the work place? Easy, through what is called censor or just plainly cut them off. Like Moses, many have been cut off from there colleagues in ministry, many have been cut off in the work place. But the question always comes why? Some may hide from the truth, but the answer is still the same, misjudging. What does God say to those who spend their day judging people, instead of loving people? “Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm” (Chronicles 16:22).

God had laid the burden of his work upon Moses, and when others presumed to heap upon him the burden of their censure and condemnation, the Lord declared them guilty of a great sin. He judged and condemned Miriam who had unjustly judged and condemned Moses. He to whom the hearts of all men are as an open book, read the hidden motives. He saw that the heart of Miriam was leprous with sin, and he caused the plague of the heart to be revealed in the dreadful judgment of physical leprosy. As leprosy is a sure death if permitted to take its natural course in the body, so is the leprosy of sin if permitted to take its spiritual course, it would destroy the soul unless the sinner received the healing of the grace of God. Since we cannot read the heart of any one, let us beware of ascribing wrong motives to any men, lest we find ourselves involved in guilt similar to that of Miriam, and thus bring upon ourselves the rebuke of God.

Further, in the Bible the work of judging is called "rejoicing in iniquity." But Love "rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things; love never faileth,” In other words, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. Love is not rude, Love is not self-seeking, Love is not easily angered, and Love keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:7-8)

So how does one stop judging or having a false perception of others? Firstly you must see that Jesus alone is our judge, our lawgiver, our king; and that it is he who will save us, Isaiah 33:22. In other words, it is not our place to be in the judgment box, this is exclusively set aside for Jesus, remember we are called to be his witnesses. Secondly, we must recognize that we are living in the present day of God’s judgment in that He, will judge each one of us according to our ways, 1 Peter 4:17, Where by He cries today repent! Turn away from all your offenses; that sin be not your downfall, Ezekiel 18:29-31.

Soon the day will finally come, when God the righteous judge will judge between many people and will settle the disputes for strong nations far and wide. In that day the warring nations will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore, Micah 4:2-4.If you see something out of the way today, before you form your ideas, do not judge. In other words, do not judge and you will not be judged, do not condemn, and you will not be condemned, for we shall all give an account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. (Luke 6:37, 1 Peter 4:5)

Join us next time for another ray of sunshine from Garden Ministry.

Our Prayer for today: Father help us to guard our hearts in Jesus name, Amen. Prayer Request Let us continue to pray for a nine year old boy who needed heart surgery in Boston. His name is Valiant, he has been taken off the breathing machine and holding his own, they are now taking him out of the bed into a lounging recliner so he is able to sit up. So all looks well and he is doing well and hopefully by tomorrow he will go to a regular room and at that time I am sure he will be excited to talk to some people other then us. Thank you all again sister Amber, mother Shirlene, and dad Duane. A person who loves the Bible will also love to pray, and a person who loves to pray will delight themselves in the Bible. We are into our 36th week since starting Garden Ministry; it is growing with new people asking to subscribe to it each day. If you are gaining spiritual muscle mass, and strength through Garden Ministry, and would like to help some-one else gain Spiritual muscle mass and strength also. Then send Garden Ministry your Testimony at, http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ . Garden Ministry would love to share your Testimony with our faithful viewers and readers. So ask yourselves, which letter or message from Garden Ministry helped you to hold on to your faith, or helped someone else hold on to theirs? Remember, you’re the only Jesus some will ever see. If you are blessed by these “uplifting gems”, share them. These letters are written by Elder Kevin Santucci For further information, comment or requests, E-mail Garden Ministry: http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ Garden Ministry would love to thank you today for your prayers and continual faithfulness of sharing these letters with others like your self. Thank you for your insightful comments to Garden Ministry. If you love to leave a comment, go to our website at http://gardenministry.blogspot.com/ and then comment, follow the directions and then you will be finished. Truly I am encouraged how little can become much when you place it in the master’s hand. To all our faithful readers on behalf of the Garden Ministry team, we wish you Gods riches Blessings.