LJ Christians

Praise music

2008-10-13T00:56:00Z

I really like that song "Mighty To Save" by Hillsong. I was wondering if you all had any recommendations of songs smiilar to that one. I like it's upbeat feeling. Thanks

ljchristians @ 2008-10-12T17:32:00

2008-10-13T00:55:49Z

A Surfer’s Christmas

It was a cold winter morning. Three figures crossed the lonely stretch of beach wrapped in their wetsuits and toting their boards. In the frigid air their breath steamed out before them. The only sound was the ever-present tumble of whitewater as it foamed its way toward the shore and then receded back to the sea.

The sun had yet to rise, but there was light enough.

The surfers waded into the water as far as they could go and then jumped on their boards to paddle out. The water was cool, but not the bitter cold of the air. Out they paddled across glassy water and perfect waves.

Wave after wave these surfers caught. The sun rose for a mere moment, a brief instant of perfection and then it was gone. A fog rolled slowly across the sun casting the world into murkiness.

At first it was a thin fog off in the distance. As it crept closer the contrast changed. The water and the sky merged into a gray plane and it became hard to tell when a wave was building. Still the surfers caught waves enjoying the calm waters and the solitude. Finally the fog rolled over them and onto shore.

The world changed. The beach was a hazy, half-seen swath of sand behind them. All around the grey fog obscured everything outside of fifty yards. The sounds of the breaking waves and the surfer’s splashes were dulled by the haze, but the perfect waves kept rolling in and the surfers kept surfing.

The fog thickened in the time in-between sets. Soon the shore was lost. Then came the lull. The surfers waited for the next set to roll in, telling stories of past surfing trips and listening to the dull crash of the inside waves pushing toward shore.

After they had waited twenty minutes with out a wave, without even an undulation of the water, the surfers realized that they could no longer hear any sound. They had been relying on the sound of the waves for direction and now it was gone. They were out amidst the fog and had no idea which direction land was. Any way they went could take them further from shore. They were lost.

They all sat on their boards, huddled together and so alone. Every so often one would think he heard the sound of a wave and would paddle in that direction, but never more than a few yards. The sound would never be repeated and he would turn back and rejoin his companions.

They had no idea where they were. Lost and adrift they could be miles out to sea before the fog cleared. They began to despair. They were ready to give themselves up for lost. It was then that they heard it.

It was a sound like no other on earth. It had the power to carry any distance, cut through any barrier, and call anyone. It was the sound of a baby crying.

Without hesitation the surfers struck out after the sound. They paddled as fast and as far as they could. Their arms tired; their hearts raced. On and on they paddled, urging, encouraging, and even provoking on another when they began to tire. It seemed to go on forever and then the water swelled beneath them. Waves began passing them by. They rode the waves all the way to shore.

They left their boards where they beached and sought the source of the cries. Through the fog they followed the sound of the baby’s voice. There, on the beach, they found a young mother. A woman off the streets who had just given birth to a son.

The surfers ran to their cars and brought back gifts. They brought warm dry clothes which they wrapped the mother and her child in. They brought a hot water bottle to clean the newborn. They brought food for the child’s mother. Warm and clean the baby stopped crying. His mother cradled him in her arms and the surfers gazed in wonder at the face of their savior. This was not the first time a child had come to save the lost.

ljchristians @ 2008-10-12T17:48:00

2008-10-12T21:58:00Z

Pray that we don't move again. I only have a year and a half until I'm 18, then they can do whatever they want.

But, honestly, I can't take it anymore. I can't take getting attached to people and then being ripped away every 3 to 10 months. It's too much and it's too hard. Please pray that we just stay in the same place for just 18 months. It would be so amazing.

Pray hard.

I know that I should be praying for what God wants.... but, I have a hard time believing that god wanted me to be in 40 houses by the time I turned 16. It's just that my dad is so unstable. I'm not like that... I would rather just stay in a place... keep my friends... and be able to love people without having to worry about when I'm going to have to say goodbye. I'm so jealous of these kids who can say "oh yeah... I've been here for 10 years now...' or "Yeah... I've lived here my whole life basically..." All I can say is that I've been here a couple months.

So please pray. Thanks.
-Samantha

ljchristians @ 2008-10-12T04:06:00

2008-10-12T15:23:01Z

I was just curious-

How many of you are just so excited about Jesus that you talk to Him all the time? XD

I am.

Just wanted to say that.

Praise God!!

The House of the Lord

2008-10-12T13:27:42Z

Psalm 122:1 I rejoiced with those who said to me ,Let us go to the house of the Lord.
Psalm 84:10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.

ljchristians @ 2008-10-11T18:51:00

2008-10-11T22:58:36Z

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/10/11/iraq.violence/index.html

^^ Let this be a reminder for us to pray for Christians everywhere and the next time you want to feel down just because someone made fun of your faith, allow this to remind you that there are Christians in this world having to face "real" persecution; persecution that is a lot more severe than most of us will ever have to deal with. Be thankful that all you have to deal with is some family member or guy down the street ridiculing you - cause at least they're not out there calling for your death.

ljchristians @ 2008-10-11T16:27:00

2008-10-11T20:27:59Z

Thanks for the prayers my Beloved :)

">Another boring day indeed, I wanted to go to the movies, but GOD had other plans for me as I was walking to the mall to the movie theater, and HE marched my butt into a 360 and sent me walking back home and into my Bible for my daily reading; still in the Book of Matthew where I came upon a verse that has always fascinated me and many have given different interpretations upon it. Yet, by Faith I believe the commentary in my Study Bible is accurate on this account ( Yes, I have disagreed on some of the commentary in this Study Bible )

"Wherefore I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men ( if they properly confess and repent the sin to the LORD); but the blasphemy against the HOLY SPIRIT shall not be forgiven unto men." ( When they accused HIM of casting out demons by the power of Satan, when in reality HE was doing so by the Power of the HOLY SPIRIT, they blasphemed the SPIRIT of GOD; blaspheming the HOLY SPIRIT can only be committed by someone who professes to know the LORD, as the Pharisees of old, or else has once known HIM, and then turned against HIM; the unredeemed, who have never known the LORD, cannot blaspheme the HOLY SPIRIT simply because they have no true knowledge of the SPIRIT)
Matthew 12:31 KJV

"And whosoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him ( once again, if forgiveness is sought) but whosoever speaks against the HOLY SPIRIT, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come." (such a person is doomed! However the statements do not mean that a backslider cannot come back to the LORD; but they do mean that one who has actually blasphemed the HOLY SPIRIT, will have no desire to come to the LORD, but in fact will continue to oppose HIM; anyone who desires to come to the LORD, which desire is placed there by the HOLY SPIRIT, can do so)
Matthew 12:32 KJV

I believe , by Faith the verses , as written and the commentary as interpreted; you have now , no excuse to not receive that Gift of Salvation that the SPIRIT is placing upon your hearts. Once this life ends, so does the opportunity to accept HIM as LORD.

What are you waiting for?

Ask me via email or text me and I will pray for you secretly. I love you and HE loves you infinitely more so!

PRAYING THE PSALMS

2008-10-11T15:38:26Z

Read Psalm 7 & 8

When I consider the Heavens and the moon and stars

Who am I Lord, that you are mindful of me?

Yet from the lips of children and infants

You have ordained praise.

I will give thanks to You because of Your righteousness

and I will sing praise to Your name, O Lord most high.

ljchristians @ 2008-10-11T10:06:00

2008-10-11T14:06:51Z

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of HIS understanding.

Isaiah 40:28 (King James Version)

TRUST IN THE LORD

2008-10-11T03:40:47Z

PROTECTED FOREVER

Read Psalm 37

For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, Psalm 37:28a NIV

* * *

As David grew old, he looked around and saw wicked men growing stronger and more violent–lying "in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives." (37:32) Yet David writes confidently, “If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.” (37:23–24)

David looks to the past and says, "I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken.”(37:25) He looks to the future and reminds us that "The days of the blameless are known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever…their children will be blessed."(37:18, 26b)

* * *

Dear Heavenly Father, I lean on Your faithful, everlasting love for us. You have promised that those who love You can look forward to a blessed future, saying, “Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” (Psalm 37:5 NKJV) I claim this promise for my family and for all of us who have received Your righteousness through the cross.

* * *

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:3-4 NIV

ljchristians @ 2008-10-10T09:43:00

2008-10-11T02:03:24Z

Psalm 121:1,2 I lift my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm95:6,7 Come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

Regarding the economy

2008-10-11T02:03:10Z

When the sand is clearly revealed to be sand, the Rock is that much more clearly revealed to be rock. See Matthew 7.

Prayer (again)

2008-10-10T17:33:36Z

Hi everyone,

My co-worker whose wife filed for divorce is not doing well at all. It pains me to see him like this. Today he was sobbing and actually went home. I am still praying for a reconciliation. Honestly, I don't know what to pray for though. He says it's too late. But with God it's never too late, right? Still, though, if God doesn't lead them back together, what should the prayer be?

ljchristians @ 2008-10-10T08:37:00

2008-10-10T12:38:06Z

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:57 (King James Version)

Sometimes...

2008-10-10T00:05:59Z

...when things are going really well, I feel like I totally understand God and find myself talking to other people about Him in a really positive way.
But when things take a turn for the worse--like something unexpected happens--I find myself completely freaked out and scared of Him.
What's that about? It's like I feel like I can no longer trust Him. I hate being afraid of Him. :(

prayer request

2008-10-09T18:05:07Z

Hi- My name is Lorrie and I have been a member for awhile but I have never posted here before.

I have a prayer request for my father. He is currently in the last stages of liver cancer, he is at home with hospice care and is not expected to last too much longer. He is a life long atheist. He is not even agnostic, he is 100% sure that there is no God of any type or form. I have been praying for his health and that the Lord would soften his heart. I asked him if he would pray with me the other day and he would not.

I would like prayer for my father's health and the his heart would be softened to the Lord and the message of the Cross.

thanks,
Lorrie

PRAYING THE PSALMS

2008-10-09T15:18:40Z

Read Psalm 5

In the morning, O Lord, I will lay my requests before You
and wait in expectation.
Thank You for giving me the freedom to
come into Your house of worship.
Because I am taking refuge in You
I will be glad and sing for joy!
You have blessed me and
surrounded me with Your favor as a shield.

ljchristians @ 2008-10-09T08:06:00

2008-10-09T12:06:58Z

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Revelation 3:19 (King James Version)

Please Pray for Stephanie

2008-10-09T00:19:32Z

Dear Friends,

As some of you already know, my neice, Stephanie Adcox, is being treated for severe eating disorders. You can read more about her at http://www.supportsteph.com/

Please keep Stephanie in your prayers, and please also pass this along to your churches and any prayer chains you are involved in.

Thanks,
James

ljchristians @ 2008-10-08T19:58:00

2008-10-08T23:58:46Z

Amazing how tradition is so inaccurate on a great many things that we sadly take for granted.

I just finished reading my Study Bible in the Book of Matthew 1-4, and according to the Written Word, there is no mention of Three (3) individual Wise men, in fact there is not a mention of the number at all, there could have been 6 or 12 for all we know; Wise men yes, but how many? And when they saw the LORD, in the flesh , they saw HIM, not as a newborn infant in the manger, they saw HIM in a home, already a small child, totally contrary to our Christmas traditions that the Modern church spews out. I'm glad that the LORD is taking me thru the Bible , on a daily basis from beginning to end and letting me see the mistakes we believe in that are NOT true.

Believe the Written Word of God to be True for the HOLY SPIRIT, Who is LORD, has all the characteristics of THE FATHER; i.e.: All-Knowing and Infinite. Meaning HE makes no mistakes and is well aware of how modern society would water down the WORD for the sake of political correctness.

I'm not asking for opinions here, I'm telling you what is written and what I am reading, and what I believe; the Written Word of GOD stands up to the ages!

Suicide

2008-10-08T23:22:45Z

I read some posts on suicide not long ago. This person wasn't suicidal, but was just asking questions. I believe there have been (and continue to be) people part of this community that struggle with it, or have known someone that has struggled with it. Some of the answers to the post I'm speaking of angered me. I was surprised at my anger... this is a very sensitive subject for some. I was always taught that when a person takes their own life, they miss heaven. It's something I never questioned, until recently. Like a small child that doesn't understand the repercussions of certain actions, I don't believe the Lord will hold a mentally impaired person responsible if they accidentally commit suicide. I believe Lord I serve does not hold a person responsible for something they didn't know or something they can not control. However, I'm not convinced all suicide is mental illness either. Someone that has given their life to the Lord at some point in time, and dies a suicidal death does not miss heaven if my understanding is correct. Upon receiving Jesus as my savior and salvation, nothing can separate me from his love... not even me. I believe suicides will be judged for their actions... but that is stepping into a different realm. I don't know how the Lord deals with suicides within the body of Christ. But He has begun to reveal to me deeper revelations of his love. Even though it's like a slap in the face of the Lord... even though Jesus suffered so that all that come to him believing might have life, and have it more abundantly.... if you've accepted Jesus' love he suffers it. I believe they make it to heaven. Nothing on earth, above the earth, or beneath the earth can separate someone from his love once a person accepts him. No matter what they're going through, what they've done, what they continue to do, what they have yet to do, even if they don't want the Lord anymore. Nothing can separate them from his love, not even them. But suicides outside of the love and salvation of Jesus miss heaven. Just as any one that rejects Jesus does. It is his will that all would be saved, but sadly this cannot be accomplished while we are blessed with free will. At least there is no way I could think of that such a thing could be done.

SECRET DISCIPLES

2008-10-08T17:22:48Z

Read John 19:38-42

* * *

After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus.

John 19:38 NKJV

* * *

Here are two Jewish men, one of them Nicodemus, a Pharisee and the other Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent wealthy council member; both of them secret disciples of Jesus. On one occasion Nicodemus tried to speak up at a council meeting by saying, "Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?" They ridiculed him by saying, "Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee." (John 7:52)

* * *

After the crucifixion, Joseph of Arimathea gathered up his courage and asked Pilot for Jesus' body. He and Nicodemus - no longer secret disciples - prepared the body for burial and laid it in Joseph's new tomb - fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy that Messiah would be buried in a rich man's grave.(Isaiah 53:9)

* * *

Lord, forgive me when I have been reluctant to speak up for You among unbelievers. Give me courage and discernment to know when and where to share my faith.

* * *

And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. John 19:39 NKJV

ljchristians @ 2008-10-08T07:30:00

2008-10-08T11:30:51Z

A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

Proverbs 16:9 (King James Version)

Thinking about God stuff: Devotion 1: Art and Creation

2008-10-08T05:49:28Z

With the up and coming art exhibition, I have been creating art works. I have to stop often and have a rest.
I used to think that the verse, "God rested on the seventh day" was due to all the physical labour of making the world but I wonder if God had to rest because the "creativity" was also exhausting...Nature's design and blue print...Wow, the thought and energy that went into all that is unfathomnable.

Yes, creativity can be exhausting. When I am tapping from within myself to produce something out of what seems nothing ( a blank canvas or piece of paper before me)... a page that was void until I created images or a design on it...well, then afterwards , I am physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually drained.

If we as humans, can create something from almost nothing or from a mere idea then why do we question God's ability with that very notion. That God could create the world and in six days, that God could create us in his image.... My art work is apart of me. I put a part of myself into my painting and God put a part of himself in us.

After I finish one of my paintings and when I am pleased with it, I too sit back , rest and say "It is good".

That very notion, that maybe it wasn't just all the "physical" or "material" work that made God tired but that it could have been the added demand of creativity that made him tired, just for some reason jelled with me and made an impact. I had never thought of the "creativity" exhausting God.

It often takes a small episode of realisation, like this, to appreciate things on a grander scale. No wonder God had to rest, all that creativity and creating, full of wonders...Wow!

Now I have just gone to my bible and it actually mentions work but also "creating" in Genesis 2:2, now how could I have overseen that little but important word after all these years?

"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done." (NIV Bible...Italics mine).

ljchristians @ 2008-10-07T22:06:00

2008-10-08T05:33:52Z

Aloha, everyone!

My name is Erika. I am 21 years old and from the Dallas, Texas area. I just came back to livejournal and am very excited. I realized how much I missed having an online diary/journal. Anyway, I'm looking into meeting new, exciting people on here. If you're interested in being friends, please leave a comment. :)

God bless!