Columbine, Friend of Mine

This is a tribute to those who died at Columbine High School, on April 20th 1999. Here’s the lyrics to this song:
Columbine, flower bloom, tenderly I sing to you.
Columbine, rose blood red, heartbreak overflow my head.
Columbine, flower bloom.
Columbine there’s hope for you.
Columbine, friend of mine.
To your gain, on the mark.
With your love, love again.
Comfort peace and sweet release come from you.
Where, it’s true, I hide myself in you.
Can you still hear raging guns ending dreams of precious ones.
In God’ son, hope will come, his red stain will take our pain.
Columbine, friend of mine.
Peace will come to you in time.
Columbine, friend of mine.
Turn our pain, to your gain.
Keep your heart on the mark.
Comfort us with your love.
Love again.
Christ of grace attend this place we look to you.
Honor you.
Fix you in our view.
Columbine, flower bloom.
Tenderly I sing to you.
Columbine, rose blood red, heartbreak overflows my head.
Columbine, friend of mine.
Peace will come to you in time.
Columbine, friend of mine.

The Visual Bible – Acts 2:11-3:17

Part 2 of 22 – Acts Chapter 2:11 through Chapter 3:17

• The Holy Spirit is poured out at Pentecost
• People from many different languages hear believers who are filled with the Holy Spirit speaking of the wonderful things God has done in their own languages
• Peter testifies that the prophesy from Joel 2:28-32 has been fulfilled in their presence
• Peter speaks boldly to the crowds about the prophesies about Jesus and how He fulfilled them all
• Peter tells them to repent of their sin and turn to Jesus, their Messiah, to find forgiveness and to receive the Holy Spirit
• A deep sense of awe came over them all and the Apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders
• The Lord added to the group of believers, the first Church, those who were being saved
• Peter and John went to the Temple to pray and healed the lame man who begged at the Beautiful Gate
• Peter then preaches the Gospel message to all who were in awe and wonder over this miraculous healing
• Peter gives glory to God for all God does through him to heal and deliver the people in the name of Jesus

ALL SUFFICIENT GOD

ALL SUFFICIENT GOD

O lord of grace,

The world is before me this day,

And I am weak and fearful,

But I look to thee for strength;

If I venture forth along I stumble and fall,

But on the Beloved’s arms I am firm as the eternal hills;

If left to the treachery of my heart I shall shame thy name.

But if enlightened, guided, upheld by Thy Spirit,

I shall bring Thee glory.

Be Thou my arm to support, my strength to stand,

and my light to see, my feet to run,

my shield to protect, my sword to repel.

To enrich me will not diminish Thy fullness;

All Thy loving kindness is in Thy Son.

I bring Him to Thee in the arms of faith,

I urge His saving name as the One who died for me.

I plead His blood to pay my debts of wrong,

accept His worthiness for my unworthiness,

His sinlessness for my transgressions,

His purity for my uncleanness,

His sincerity for my guile,

His truth for my deceits,

His meekness for my pride,

His constancy for my backslidings,

His love for my enmity,

His fullness for my emptiness,

His faithfulness for my treachery,

His obedience for my lawlessness,

His glory for my shame,

His holy life for my unchaste ways,

His righteousness for my dead works,

His death for my life.

Something Beautiful ~

LIKE OUR KING: ‘Be’ Attitudes

          LIKE OUR KING by David Guzik    EnduringWord.com
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.“ vs. 5:9.

The Beatitudes begin the famous Sermon on the Mount recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. These 8 statements of blessing describe for us the character of true citizens of the Kingdom Jesus preached – the Kingdom of His reign.

So far we have seen that when Jesus is King in our life there will be:

– Poverty of spirit, recognizing our need for God vs. 5:3

– Mourning over our sinful condition and that of this lost world vs. 5:4

– A meek, gentle attitude that trusts God more than self vs. 5:5

– Hunger and thirst after righteousness, both received from God and 

  seen in our life vs. 5:6

– Mercy to others, remembering mercy received vs. 5:7

– Purity of heart, leading to greater relationship with God vs.5:8

Next Jesus announced a blessing, describing another aspect of being a citizen of His kingdom: “Blessed are the peacemakers.” 

 

This does not describe those who live in peace, but those who actually bring about peace, overcoming evil with good.  One way we accomplish this is through spreading the Good News of what Jesus did for mankind at the cross, because God has entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation 2 Cor. 5:18.  In evangelism we make peace between people and the God whom they have rejected and offended.

 

This blessing for making peace comes after the blessing for purity.  This is the order of spiritual life:  first purity, then peace.  It isn’t making peace with sin or evil; the citizen of Jesus’ kingdom sets their face against all that goes against God and His purity.  Yet once this is received through faith, then peace grows forth. 

 

We commonly think of this peacemaking work as being the job of one person who stands between two fighting parties.  This may be one way this is fulfilled; but one can also end a conflict and be a peacemaker when they are party to a conflict; when they are the injured or the offended party.  It is the attitude that says, “I have been hurt and offended.  But I chose to forgive and forget, thereby making peace.”  This is very much consistent with the heart of God.  After all, it is the devil who stirs up trouble and hatred between men.  In contrast, God loves reconciliation and longs to make peace. 

 

Notice the reward fo rthe peacemakers:  “For they shall be called sons of God.”  Their reward is that they are recognized as true children of God.  They share His passion for peace and reconciliation, the breaking down of walls between people. 

 

Indeed, God does bless the peacemakers; though people may treat them badly, they are blessed by God.  They are blessed to be among the children of God, adopted into His family, surrounded by brothers and sisters through the ages. 

 

For the most part being a peacemaker is a thankless job, at least among men.  To take the iniative to reconcile or to bring two parties in conflict may be quite unappreciated.  Yet in Jesus’ kingdom we do this for God’s sake, not for the applause of man.  Perhaps unappreciated by man, God welcomes them as sons and daughters. 

 

If anyone knew that blessedness of the peacemaker, it was Jesus Himself.  He set Himself between two un-reconciled parties, and in doing so was afflicted by both sides.  Think of Jesus on the cross: afflicted by man, who beat Him, nailed Him there, and mocked Him; and afflicted by God the Father Himself, Who put upon Him the guilt and judgment our sin deserved.  Yet in enduring this suffering from both sides, Jesus made peace between man and God. 

 

King Jesus was the greatest peacemaker ever; no wonder that the citizens of His kingdom who also make peace shall also “be called sons of God.”  It’s worth thinking about:  Where does God want me to make peace today?  There is a blessing in it for you.

Jon Gibson shares his love for Jesus through his music

You Are The One

You Gotta Love Somebody

Can’t Live Without Jesus

Forever Friends

Happier Than The Morning Sun

 

 

 

Jesus Born On This Day ~ God Came From Heaven To Earth

Jesus Born on This day
Today a child is born on earth
(Today a child is born on earth)
Today the glory of God
Shines everywhere
For all the world
Oh Jesus born on this day
He is our light and salvation
Oh Jesus born on this day
He is the King of all nations

Behold the Lamb of God has come
Behold the Lamb of God has come
Behold the Savior is born
Sing of His love To everyone

Oh Jesus born on this day
Heavenly child in a manger
Oh Jesus born on this day
He is our Lord and our Savior

Today our hearts rejoice in Him
(Today our hearts rejoice in Him)
Today the light of His birth
Fills us with hope
And brings peace on earth

Today a child is born on earth
(Today a child is born on earth)

He is light, He is love, He is grace
Born on Christmas day

Questions and Biblical Answers by Pastor Greg Laurie

What Is Repentance?

Why  Do Christians Need To Know The Gospel?

Aren’t People Basically Good?

What must I do to be saved?

How Do I Get Right With God?

What Is The Essential Gospel Message?

What Is The Gospel?

Do I Have To Believe In Theology?

Why did God call out to Adam?

Why Are We Always Drawn To What’s Forbidden?

 

What Are Some Of Satan’s Tactics?

How Does Sin Change Things?

Why Do We Take Communion?

What Is The Book Of Genesis About?

Is Man Basically Good?

Story Of A Pastor Who Made A House Call – (humor)

Strange Warning Labels – (humor)

Can A Non-Believer Partake In Communion?

What About Temptation?

Temptation From Being In The Wrong Place

Resist Temptation by Obeying God’s Promises

How to Overcome Sin

When Does Temptation Usually Come?

New Believers Are Tempted to Doubt Their Salvation

Mature Christians, Used By God, Are Tempted Too

Romans Road Gospel Message:

Romans 3:10
“There is no one righteous, not even one…”
Romans 3:23
“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”
Romans 5:8
“God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 6:23
“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 10:9-10
 “If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord”, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
Romans 10:13
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Jude 24-25 – “Now to Him Who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”  

                                                                                                                                                

 

Prayer of Repentance for Our Nation

Holy God we humble ourselves in repentance and call out to You for mercy

Holy God in Heaven,

Please humble our nation that we may know that You alone are God so that we may draw close to You in repentance that You may have mercy upon our nation – may Your will be done:

 Isaiah 5:20 says: 

‘Woe to those who call good evil and evil good,

who put darkness for light and light for darkness,

who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter,’

but that is exactly what our nation has done.  

Because of our sin we have lost our spiritual equilibrium

and reversed our values: 

 when we exploit the poor and call it the lottery – 

when we promote unproductive lives and call it welfare – 

when we support abortion, the death of a precious baby in the womb and call it a woman’s own personal choice – 

when we agree with those who hate and kill abortionists and call it justifiable –  

when we neglect to lovingly discipline our children and call it building their self esteem –  

when we allow the abuse of power in our government by false representation and empty promises and call it politics – 

when we covet our neighbor’s possessions and positions and call it ambition –  

when we pollute the air with profanity and pornography and call it freedom of expression –  

when we ridicule the Biblical  values of our forefathers who have been used by God to build the foundatin of our free nation and call it enlightenment – 

Holy God, please ‘Search us, and know our hearts;

test us and know our anxious thoughts –

See if there is any offensive way in us,

and lead us in the way everlasting.’

Psalm 139: 23-24

Jesus says: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

Matthew 4:17

Holy God, may we listen to You speak to us and repent!

In Jesus’ name!

Amen.

Here i Go Again ~ The Voice of Truth

Here I Go Again by Casting Crowns

Father hear my prayer

i need the perfect words

words that he will hear

and know they’re straight from You-

i don’t know what to say

i only know it hurts

to see my only friend

slowly fade away-

So maybe this time

i’ll speak the Words of Life

with Your fire in my eyes

but that old familiar fear

is tearing at my words-

What am i so afraid of

’cause here i go again

talkin’ ’bout the rain

and mulling over things

that won’t live past today-

And as i dance around the Truth

time is not his friend

this might by my last chance

to tell him that You love him

but here i go again –

Here i go again

Lord You love him so

You gave Your only Son

if he just believed

he will never die-

But how then will he know

what he has never heard

or never seen mirrored in my life-

So maybe this time

i’ll speak the Word of Life

with Your fire in my eyes –

But that old familiar fear

is tearing at my words-

What am i so afraid of

’cause here i go again

talkin’ ’bout the rain

and mulling over things

that won’t live past today-

And as i dance around the Truth

time is not his friend

this might be my last chance

to tell him that You love him-

But here i go again

here i go

here i go-

So maybe this time

i’ll speak the Words of Life

with Your fire in my eyes-

But that old familiar fear

is tearing at my words-

What am i so afraid of

’cause here i go again

talkin’ ’bout the rain

and mulling over things

that won’t live past today-

And as i dance around the Truth

time is not his friend

this might be my last chance

to tell him that You love him-

This might be my last chance

to tell him that You love him

You love him

You love him-

What am i so afraid

what am i so afraid

what am i so afraid of-

How then will he know

What he has never heard