Monday, April 11, 2011

Restoration~

Sometimes we feel the emptiness of interrupted fellowship with our God, yet in
each in moment...there lies... an opportunity that shines with the possiblity of new life.


If we claim that we're free of sin, we're only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing.
1 John 1:9

{Humility }



When I am full of myself, He resists me;

but as I bow my heart before Him in humility,

His grace is given generously.



As we humble ourselves before the Father and

 ask His forgiveness for falling short, then

He gathers us in His strong arms and the next breath

 shows the promise like a fresh morning dew.



There is Liberty.

Peace abounds.


In the brokenness of humility, we are spilled out.

  There, Christ finds a place to dwell.


  The burden of sin is lifted and we rise on the winds of forgiveness.





Household of Faith






Here we are at the start committing to each other
By His word and from our hearts
We will be a family in a house that will be a home
And with faith we'll build it strong


We'll build a household of faith
That together we can make
And when the strong winds blow it won't fall down
As one in Him we'll grow and the whole world will know
We are a household of faith


 
Now to be a family we've got to love each other
At any cost unselfishly
And our home must be a place that fully abounds with grace
A reflection of His face




We'll build a household of faith
That together we can make
And when the strong winds blow it won't fall down
As one in Him we'll grow and the whole world will know
We are a household of faith
(written by Steve Green)

 


 “Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them,
 I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
  and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house;
 and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.



 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them,
 will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:
  and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house;
 and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Matthew 7:24-27



Sunday, April 10, 2011

Influence Lives...With Stories...Books


Lamplighter... Building character one story at a time....



It is a delight to bring to the forefront this line of books and products.


We are so excited about the opportunity to feature these powerful,

 poignant stories on Heritage of Truth.


We believe these products will enrich and challenge the lives of those who read them.



{ Many times the reading of a book has made the future of a man.}
~RALPH WALDO EMERSON~



Written below is a brief history of Lamplighter Publishing.

 Following this history is a powerful video called
 Defy the Darkness that casts the vision of this ministry.

Mark Hamby, hated reading as a child. When he became a Christian at age 22, he was introduced to Christian biographies, which ignited a passion in his heart for great Christian literature. He was always looking for a role model whom he could follow, someone from whom he could learn and who would inspire and motivate him in his new life of faith. When he read his first biographies of D. L. Moody, George Mueller, Hudson Taylor, Amy Carmichael, Gladys Alwardt, and Abraham Lincoln, he knew he had found his mentors.

 Today, thirty years later, Mark is still praying the prayer of D. L. Moody: “The world has not yet seen what God can do through one man wholly committed unto Christ.” Several years later, after completing seminary training, Mark read The Basket of Flowers, which had such an influence upon his life that he knew immediately that the world had to read it!

 God continued to give Mark the desires of his heart by helping him to find some of the greatest life-transforming literature ever written. Through Lamplighter Ministries, we now have one hundred thirty titles published and a million in print! In 1994, it became a 501 C-3 non-profit organization.


This year, Mark is particularly thankful because his 76-year-old father came to know the Savior after reading Christie’s Old Organ and Buried in the Snow. A few months later, he went to be with the Lord. You can imagine the joy that Mark experienced knowing that he will some day see his dad again! I think some day it might become a Lamplighter story—in fact, I am sure it will!



We believe the following video will ignite a fire in your heart!


Defy the Darkness 
 
 



Lamplighter Publishing offers products for many different age groups.

There are audio stories as well as children books.

Adults will find help help and encouragement through the books and seminars offered.

Our family has been reading these wonderful books aloud for 10 years.

We are currently reading The Hidden Hand.




We are pleased to have become Lamplighter Publishing affiliates.
 If you order through our site, you will receive a 15% discount off your order
 and we will receive a commission. This will help support our family's vision of full-time ministry.

You can enter the Lamplighter site through the Lamplighter button
located in the sidebar on the righthand side.

If  you choose to order through our site, please include the Unique Tracking Code.
This code is GUILD 13 and is not case-sensitive.

Thank you very much and God Bless you~






Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Give Praise

       





 Hallelujah   

To praise ~ to throw the voice

To utter a loud sound

To exclaim...to exult...to sing...to rejoice

{To praise or WORSHIP God}

PRAISE

Thanksgiving to God.

(Webster's 1828)


Hallelujah ! Hallelujah!
To The One who is Holy.
You're worthy;
King of all Kings~
[ by Tamara]


Why do I honor God with my praise and worship?

Because I love Him. His word tells me to. The gratitude in my heart just overflows and I can't help myself. He is merciful, just, kind, and faithful. His compassion does not fail and He has written my name on the palm of His hand. The joy that His love and faithfulness brings overwhelms me.

He inhabits the praises of His people; When I praise Him, He is here.

While Paul and Silas were shackled, they sang praises. The chains were broken and they were free.

There is LIBERTY in praise.
 
Bondages are broken.
 
{Spiritual}

{Emotional}

{Physical}



 But what happens when I feel let down?

 Suppose God seems silent and far away.

Maybe I am angry.



Then what do I do? Is my devotion to Him based on feelings? 

At this point....  

My love for God overflows and changes into reverance.

He is not just my Master, He is the Master.  The Creator of the universe who knows all and sees all and is THE all in all.

How can I not offer Him everything that I am? My entire being.

{He is worthy of so much more than I can give.... of everything..}

Psalm 100
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who made us and not we oursleves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting.
And His truth endures to all generations.


Praise  the name of Jesus forever and ever.
Amen

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Can Trials Be a Blessing?

A trial that takes your breath away.

 Pain that rips at your heart.

 You feel as if you won't be able to live another day.

 You can't face another sunrise.

 A day full of responsibilty.

Peope asking questions.

Uncertainties that leave you feeling empty and afraid.

I have visited this place many times.  

 If that is your reality today,You can be sure that He will not leave you there. There is hope beyond any situation you may be facing.
Your Heavenly Father is watching this very moment.. His word says  in Psalm 56:8 ,"That He bottles your tears."


Perhaps for a moment, you can consider the height and depth of His love.

Have you ever looked back at a difficult time and been able to see the blessing that was birthed through it? Have you even been able to thank God for it? There was so much growth during that time. Gratitude towards God overflows. It brought you to your knees and closer to Him. He held you up with His righteous right arm. Your love for Him grew deeper than ever before. He had shown His faithfulness.


It is in these times that we truly learn that His grace is sufficient. There is nothing else that sustains or satisfies. Our faith increases. We experience a true ownership of what we believe because we lived it. It is out of love that He doesn't leave us to ourselves.


He sees you. He knows you. He loves you.
 His love exceeds anything you can possibly understand. Knowing this, you realize that you can trust Him with all the broken pieces of your heart. He will handle them with love and compassion. He knows how to mend and restore. He will lead you through the dark places by the light of His truth and love.


Thou, O Lord, canst transform my thorn into a flower.  And I want my thorn transformed into a flower.
 Job got the sunshine after the rain. But was the rain a waste? Job wanted to know, I want to know if the shower had anything to do with the shining.
And Thou canst tell me-- Thy cross can tell me. Thou hast crowned Thy sorrow. Be this my crown, O Lord.
 I only triumph in Thee when I have learned the radiance of the rain.

George Matheson, Streams in the Desert

Lord, in my heart, I plan my course, but You determine my steps. (Proverbs 16:9)
Life is not going as I planned. I am so grateful that You are not caught off guard. You knew everything that was going to befall me. Please direct my steps as You determine. I need You, Lord. Carry me whn I cannot walk.


Father, continue to bring me along so that I can also rejoice in my sufferings because I know that suffering produces perseverance.  (Romans 5:3)


Praying God's Word   by Beth Moore

 

                   the beautiful song BLESSINGS by Laura Story~





Know in your heart of hearts that the God of love is loving you. Your pain and trials belong to Him. He feels every ache and sees every teardrop. He delights in bringing healing rain to His suffering children. He is walking with you and watching over you as He awaits to rejoice with you as you arrive on the other side~


Can we get to place where we can always say," Your will, not  mine?" Can we recklessly abandon our places of refuge and trust fully in Him? 

He will  take  all of your circumstances and work them for good. You are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28