All over this city, Billboards with nothing but scripture have gone up,
A lifesize bronze stature depicting Jesus, standing beside the Lake, with a net in His hands,
Gospel singings going on in restaurants,
A sixty foot lighted cross at the entrance to the city,
Prayer meetings held on business properties for motorist to see God's people praying together,
It's amazing what is happening...ALL due to travailing before God for His will to be done in this city. As a result, those of us who have joined in unified prayer, are receiving personal blessings of answered prayer.
"YES, you can feel the Wind. You can see where the Wind has been because things are changed, there is movement, there is displacement, there is a cool brush across your soul and you want to look up into the sky and see Jesus coming down.
WHEN THE WIND BEGINS TO BLOW, YOU FEEL HIS PRESENCE AND THERE IS AN EXCITEMENT, IT'S IS LIKE A CHILD LOOKS FOR WARD TO CHRISTMAS MORNING FOR HE KNOWS THAT THE THINGS HE DREAMED OF ARE GOING TO BE A REALITY.
DARLINGS, GRAB HOLD OF A BROTHER OR SISTER'S HAND AND PRAY HEAVEN DOWN. THE lORD IS WANTING TO SHOW HIMSELF MIGHTY, MIRACLES TO US ARE JUST NORMAL HAPPENINGS FOR HIM. HE IS WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO CARE ENOUGH TO TRUST HIM.
You can, yes you can experience the feeling of God's Holy Presence right where you stand.
In the middle of The Water,
Benji
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
A Blanket or a Hug...
Last week, as I was remembering back to my early child-bearing years, living in an inner city, low rent housing project. The thought came to me, "What did I need more than anything during that barren time?"
We needed everything that made for convenience, comfort and even the barest necessities to live a decent life. We were poverty stricken. But, there was one thing that would have been more appreciated and valuable to me than any physical provision.
Consider with me what is the most needed thing in every human being's life. Without a doubt the poor need money, they need a blanket to keep them warm, they need food. But, just giving them food will never meet the greater need.
The food will run out, the blanket will wear out, the money will be spent out.
And, then, a handout is needed all over again.The same one that gives the money, the blanket or the food, without giving the everlasting thing, will be no more than a sounding brass or tinkling cymbal.
To give a pat on the shoulder from a compassionate and truly caring heart will warm their soul for years to come.
To give a tender affectionate hug will feed their hunger for love and self-worth long after the money thins out. God loves a cheerful giver and so does the poor man. The coat, the blanket or the sweater given without a tender smile, a twinkle in the eye, will never speak of Jesus' love for them. To warm and feed their flesh without warming their heart with genuine concern for their souls is to miss eternity.
Saying, "You're going to make it." without compassionate caring will go in one ear and out the other. But to say, "How can I help you make it?" will stand them upright.
There is no wonder why Paul wrote the elements of true love to the Corinthians.
They did every thing up right, they were not amiss in any of the gifts. Paul went as far as to say, "If you thought you could give me your eyes, you would do it..."
I have found some church leaders who think that to meet the physical needs, to have the finest of everything for their church building. Including the greatest choir and organization is enough.
But I tell you as one who lived in dire poverty and shame, I needed someone to wrap their arms around me and just stay that way until I could cry out that reservoir of depair, shame and feeling of absolute aloneness. I was the mother with five children, no Mama, no Daddy, no church, no one in the world to care. I have lived without genuine love from "Christians" that thought that helping with the basic physical needs was all that was necessary.
A word of encouragment, a hug from the heart, caring eyes that teared up and said louder than words, "I truly care." would have stayed with me eternally. Because of Jesus I don't live in that deplorable, destitute situation any longer.
However, recently I was the speaker at a certain function and everything had been prepared in the most excellent way. They had left no stone unturned, so to speak. There was only that one, most important thing missing; LOVE! Oh, I am sure they would have said it was because of love that they had done so much but when true love is present, you can feel it. You can see it in their smile, hear it in their caring words, see it in their eyes, feel it when they reach out and touch you with a hug, a pat on the back. Maybe someone will just come up from behind and start scratching your back. Then....you know they really do care about you!
I still need bunches and gobs of that wonderful stuff! In fact, the next time I see you, you're going to get a great big hug. When I see Jesus, I plan on kissing him the first thing.
Loving you,
Benji
Last week, as I was remembering back to my early child-bearing years, living in an inner city, low rent housing project. The thought came to me, "What did I need more than anything during that barren time?"
We needed everything that made for convenience, comfort and even the barest necessities to live a decent life. We were poverty stricken. But, there was one thing that would have been more appreciated and valuable to me than any physical provision.
Consider with me what is the most needed thing in every human being's life. Without a doubt the poor need money, they need a blanket to keep them warm, they need food. But, just giving them food will never meet the greater need.
The food will run out, the blanket will wear out, the money will be spent out.
And, then, a handout is needed all over again.The same one that gives the money, the blanket or the food, without giving the everlasting thing, will be no more than a sounding brass or tinkling cymbal.
To give a pat on the shoulder from a compassionate and truly caring heart will warm their soul for years to come.
To give a tender affectionate hug will feed their hunger for love and self-worth long after the money thins out. God loves a cheerful giver and so does the poor man. The coat, the blanket or the sweater given without a tender smile, a twinkle in the eye, will never speak of Jesus' love for them. To warm and feed their flesh without warming their heart with genuine concern for their souls is to miss eternity.
Saying, "You're going to make it." without compassionate caring will go in one ear and out the other. But to say, "How can I help you make it?" will stand them upright.
There is no wonder why Paul wrote the elements of true love to the Corinthians.
They did every thing up right, they were not amiss in any of the gifts. Paul went as far as to say, "If you thought you could give me your eyes, you would do it..."
I have found some church leaders who think that to meet the physical needs, to have the finest of everything for their church building. Including the greatest choir and organization is enough.
But I tell you as one who lived in dire poverty and shame, I needed someone to wrap their arms around me and just stay that way until I could cry out that reservoir of depair, shame and feeling of absolute aloneness. I was the mother with five children, no Mama, no Daddy, no church, no one in the world to care. I have lived without genuine love from "Christians" that thought that helping with the basic physical needs was all that was necessary.
A word of encouragment, a hug from the heart, caring eyes that teared up and said louder than words, "I truly care." would have stayed with me eternally. Because of Jesus I don't live in that deplorable, destitute situation any longer.
However, recently I was the speaker at a certain function and everything had been prepared in the most excellent way. They had left no stone unturned, so to speak. There was only that one, most important thing missing; LOVE! Oh, I am sure they would have said it was because of love that they had done so much but when true love is present, you can feel it. You can see it in their smile, hear it in their caring words, see it in their eyes, feel it when they reach out and touch you with a hug, a pat on the back. Maybe someone will just come up from behind and start scratching your back. Then....you know they really do care about you!
I still need bunches and gobs of that wonderful stuff! In fact, the next time I see you, you're going to get a great big hug. When I see Jesus, I plan on kissing him the first thing.
Loving you,
Benji
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