Answered Prayer for a Baby

Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers! (Proverbs 31:2 NIV)

(Image courtesy of Lightstock)

Dear Father,

King Lemuel’s mother prayed for a child and she prevailed. And that child even became a king.

Oh, Lord, let me be next! I also pray for a child, and I will prevail.

I will have a baby.

You answer prayers, oh Lord, even prayers for a baby.

I make this vow: that the child you give me will be raised in the reverent fear and knowledge of the King of kings.

Oh my Lord, please be delighted to grant this request.

Bishopric and Episkopé: The Ministry of Visitation

The KJV word is bishoprick , which is now archaic in spelling. Most Bible translators didn’t use the modern spelling ‘ bishopric,’ and that, for a good reason. #Acts1v20 For it is written in the book of Psalms: “Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell in it.”, and, “His bishopric, let another take.” A quick google search shows that bishopric means: the office or rank of a bishop. · a district under a bishop's control; a diocese. But looking closely at the Greek word, episkopé, reveals a deeper meaning: a visiting, an overseeing [Strong's]. Here's the kicker: bishopric k is not a desk job; it's fieldwork. An excellent, Spirit-filled bishop or pastor performs the act of visitation. How does one effectively "oversee" a flock? By being with them, by being among them. When God calls one to be a pastor of a people, the expectation is not like that of a manager who stays in the offic...

The Curse of the Thief

I n the middle of audit week, our company accountants decided not to show up. As it turned out, they embezzled some money. What struck me the most was that the people who did it were not strangers; they were like mothers and aunts. We saw them almost every day, smile at them, laugh with them, and made plans together. As part of the management team, we ate out and had a friendly good time. It was heartbreaking to realize that the people in the news for some criminal activity had the same profile as those that I had warm and cuddly relations with. But loyalty goes up. My love for God supersedes any other relationship. I feel sad, yes, but I have no inkling to cover for them. If anything, I am upset because I was this close to them, and yet, clueless. My colleagues and I were mixed emotions. On one hand, we felt betrayed. The suspects were like family. We confided in them and planned activities with them in all sincerity and warmth. But maybe, just maybe, they were truthful and sincere...

Acts 2

the king version And when the day of Pentecost had [1] fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly, there came a sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like fire [2] , and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in [3] other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were Jews dwelling at Jerusalem, devout men out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because every [4] man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, “Behold, are not all these who [5] speak Galilaeans? 8 And how we hear every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesop...

Acts 5

the king version But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has [1] Satan filled your [2] heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own power? Why have [3] you [4] conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied unto men, but unto God.” 5 And Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and gave up the spirit [5] , and great fear came on all those who [6] heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wrapped [7] him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about after [8] three hours later [9] when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 An...

Acts 4

the king version And as they spoke [1] unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day, for it was now evening [2] . 4 But by now [3] , many of those who [4] heard the Word believed, and the number of the men was about five thousand (5,000). 5 And it came to pass on the next day [5] , that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, 6 and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family [6] of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power, or by what name, have you [7] done this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, “You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9...

Thoughts on Non-Christian Copywriting

Christ Jesus is the First Word and the Living Word, and He has the last say. I choose to write my life story in Him. The godly way to be skilled is to be filled with the Spirit. See, I have called by name ( put your name here ) . And I have filled ( him/her ) with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship… (Exo 31:2-3) I sit in the counsel of the godly. (Psa 1:1) I don’t immerse myself in darkness, and then use their wisdom to craft my own. I trust the Lord God that He is the Source. If there is no godly person to emulate, then let me be the first one that Christ Jesus will raise up for others to copy and exemplify. Be a role model in God's eyes, His standard, and His par of excellence. Know then that God is always the First One. Remember, Christ Jesus is the Living Word. And because this matter of interest on copywriting is about words, then I put my trust and devot...

Laws of Seed and Harvest (Part 1)

There is a force at work in our lives that governs our prosperity. It is a mechanism set in place by God that goes on and on even when we are not aware of it. Image courtesy of Lightstock The Lord has said, “ As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest...will never cease .” (Gen 8:28) Seedtime and harvest is a paired action and reaction. Sowing and reaping always go together. The laws of seed and harvest are so embedded and ingrained in our system, both physical and spiritual, that the Bible says, “ God can not be mocked. A mans reaps what he sows. ” (Gal 6:7) So now we have a responsibility to embrace these biblical principles and have them be deep-rooted into our consciousness. The seed must be planted I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. (John 12:24 NIV) A seed for planting will remain to be just that, a seed - single, unproductive a...

The Origins of the Human Race After Adam

Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth; and sons were born to them after the flood. 2 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. 3 And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. 4 And the sons of Javan: Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. 5 By these the isles of the Gentiles were divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations. 6 And the sons of Ham: Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan. 7 And the sons of Cush: Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtechah. And the sons of Raamah: Sheba, and Dedan. 8 And Cush fathered Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one in the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore, it is said, “Even as Nimrod, the mighty hunter before the Lord .” 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 Ou...

Faith vs Godlessness: Re-Crucifying Jesus To Public Shame

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. (Hebrews 6:4-6 NIV) I don't get it. How can a pastor become atheistic ? On the day I read this in my email, a lot of Scriptures came rushing into my heart. (I’ll try to sort most of them below.) I was bothered, and it seems that the only way to get peace about this is to confront it head on. And so I prayed: I put on the helmet of salvation to protect my mind, to protect how I think. I put on the breastplate of righteousness to protect my heart, to protect how I feel. I put on the buckle of Truth to keep it all together... (Ephesians 6:14-17) I can't help but think that in the course of studyi...

Strap On Your Bible-Sword

There was the true story of Aaron when · he casted a golden calf, and the · the people had gone wild - much to the shame of their enemies. And Moses asked who was on the Lord's side. And to the Levites who rallied to him, he commanded to strap on their swords. (see Exo 32) Today, in our world, we still strap on our swords, that is, the Bible. In this age of grace, it is not a letter that kills, but one that brings life. We have new marching orders: restoration and reconciliation in the Lord. Yes, strap your swords - wield the Bible wisely, and win the erring brother over from the dark side. Our Lord Jesus puts it this way: If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by ...

writonautics

Search This Blog