Wednesday, February 7, 2018

STORMS OF LIFE - Jesus tells us that life will be full of storms. But the storms are sandwiched between His peace and His overcoming power. These are two powerful truths that give us a new perspective on the daily struggles of life.

Here's what to do when the storms of life crash in around you. 
What to Do Until the Storms of Life Blow Over
Leonard Davidson 
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Recently I heard a meteorologist on the Weather Channel say something profound — “No one knows when, or where the next devastating storm will come. But we do know this; there will be another storm."Sounds a lot like life, doesn't it?
It has been said that we are either in a storm, coming out of a storm, or about to enter a storm.
Is this just a fatalistic attitude, or is it the reality of living in a fallen world?
Remember what Jesus said? "In the world you will have tribulation." (John 16:33). 
The Greek word for "tribulation"(“thlipsis”) literally means affliction, trouble, anguish, persecution and burdens.
Paul tells us that Satan is the "prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2).
And the ruler of "the cosmic powers over this present darkness ...  the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).
When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, authority and power were given over to Satan.
No wonder we face so many storms in life!
Some of these are: the loss of a child, depression, anxiety, a doctor's unwanted diagnosis, a loveless, lifeless marriage, prodigal children, and financial difficulties.
The list goes on and on—from one storm to another.
We too often desperately struggle to find relief and wonder how to survive—mentally, physically, and especially spiritually.
It is interesting to see the statements Jesus precedes, and then follows his "tribulation" statement with—all in the same verse.
He begins with "In me you may have peace" (John 16:33). 
He finishes with "but take heart; I have overcome the world."
Jesus tells us that life will be full of storms. But the storms are sandwiched between His peace and His overcoming power. 
These are two powerful truths that give us a new perspective on the daily struggles of life.
Perhaps that is what John meant when he declared "... for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4).
We live in a fallen world which is for now under the authority of the evil one.
But Someone greater — all powerful — almighty —everlasting in love — eternal — allows us to run to Him in the midst of the storm, and experience His peace ... and His overcoming power.
King David understood this all too well. 
At one point, trying to avoid death at the hand of Saul, he found himself hiding in a cave.
His words ring true even today — "Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me! For my soul seeks refuge in You; in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until the ruinous storm passes by" (Psalm 57:1, MEV)
"Until the hurricane blows over."
I don't know about you, but more than once life has felt like a category 5 hurricane — complete with 155 mph winds, rain blowing sideways and an 18 foot ocean surge with lightning and thunder all around.
During these times—and we all have them—remember that the storm is wedged in between the peace of Jesus ... and His overcoming power.
Take heart. Those two divine, eternal truths won't remove you from the storm — but they will change your perspective and you will overcome.
Prayer Power for the Week
Thank God for His overcoming power and that His peace can sustain and carry you through any storm you have to face.
Thank Him that He is faithful to His promise to never ever leave or forsake you.
Allow His Spirit to produce His fruit of righteousness in you so that you can continually walk in joy, peace and all the other fruit of the Spirit.
Continue to pray for our spiritual and government leaders, for worldwide revival, the expansion of God's kingdom, and the persecuted church.
Pray that Israel fulfill God's purpose in this hour. Lift up our military and their families.

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Tuesday, February 6, 2018

JESUS IN YOUR STORM - Jesus is seeking to perfect your faith. Sooner or later, the real Jesus will require you to look straight in the eye of the impossible and believe God for His power. He does not come in daylight; He comes at night in the midst of a violent storm. Consider when the Lord sent His disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee. Later that night, Jesus comes to them walking on water. Contrary winds are causing the sea to churn with turbulent swells. Jesus could have waited for a calm day to walk on water. Or He simply could have arrived at the other side of the sea supernaturally. No, the Lord comes to the disciples with something in mind: a lesson on faith. This is a violent storm. He does not let them practice on puddles or wait until winter so they could walk on frozen water first. He waits for a storm to teach how to walk on water, which is by all accounts harder to do on rolling waves than on a placid sea. Then, on top of that, He does not come in daylight; He comes at night. Jesus comes to the disciples in the middle of the sea, in the middle of a storm, in the middle of the night to teach them how to walk on water. Jesus does not make lessons in faith easy! Scripture says that the sight of a figure walking on the water, coming out of the blowing wind and spray in the darkness of the night, turns the disciples' fear into terror. They cry out, "It is a ghost!" When Jesus says in the midst of your storm, "It is I," it is a call to faith.


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Jesus In Your Storm
The Real Jesus
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Jesus is seeking to perfect your faith - He does not make lessons in faith easy! The real Jesus will require you to look straight in the eye of the impossible and believe God for His power - He does not come in daylight - He comes at night in the midst of a violent storm 
Francis Frangipane





They cry out, "It is a ghost!"




A Storm, a Ghost or Jesus?
Get used to the idea that Jesus is seeking to perfect your faith
“. . .2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 English Standard Version (ESV)
Sooner or later, the real Jesus will require you to look straight in the eye of the impossible and believe God for His power.
Consider when the Lord sent His disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee.
Later that night, Jesus comes to them walking on water (see Matthew 14:22-33).
Contrary winds are causing the sea to churn with turbulent swells.
Of course, Jesus could have waited for a calm day to walk on water. Or He simply could have arrived at the other side of the sea supernaturally.
No, the Lord comes to the disciples with something in mind: a lesson on faith.
Please note that this is a violent storm.
Jesus offers no preliminary instruction, no "Basic Water-Walking 101."
He does not let them practice on puddles or wait until winter so they could walk on frozen water first. 
He waits for a storm to teach how to walk on water, which is by all accounts harder to do on rolling waves than on a placid sea.
Then, on top of that, He does not come in daylight; He comes at night.
So Jesus comes to the disciples in the middle of the sea, in the middle of a storm, in the middle of the night to teach them how to walk on water.
If you are taking notes, write this down: Jesus does not make lessons in faith easy!
But this is the real Jesus with His real disciples, who were both physically tired and more than a little fearful.
Scripture says that the sight of a figure walking on the water, coming out of the blowing wind and spray in the darkness of the night, turns the disciples' fear into terror.
They cry out, "It is a ghost!"
As Jesus approaches the boat, He calls out, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."
When Jesus says in the midst of your storm, "It is I," it is a call to faith.
When He says, "Take courage," it is a call to action.
For true faith is a verb, not a noun.
Again, if you are taking notes, write this down: true faith will always, at some point, require courage.
Peter says, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."
This is wonderful, really. Here is an insight not only into the real Jesus but also into Peter's relationship with Christ.
Ever since Peter has known Jesus, the Lord has required the disciples to do impossible things: heal the sick, feed multitudes with a lunch pail of food, raise the dead.
Over and over Peter has seen Jesus work miracles; and then, over and over, Jesus has empowered Peter to do what he just saw Jesus do. 
That night on the stormy sea, Peter has this amazing discernment, and this too is something you should underscore.
He realizes that if it is really the Jesus he knows, in a moment He will tell him to do the impossible.
And true to form, Jesus calls to Peter: "Come!"
Now Peter is not about to walk on the water, not really.
When he steps out, Peter is walking on the word of the Lord: Come.” 
Peter knows that the power to accomplish the impossible resides in obedience to Christ's word. It is this supernatural reality upon which he steps.
You see, faith is all about trusting the integrity of Jesus Christ's command.
Do you think Peter feels power when he steps on the water? I don't think he feels anything besides the storm. No goose bumps. No "glory chills."
Just obedience to the Lord’s word.
With the spray in his face, Peter sits on the topside rail of the rocking boat, then swings his legs over the churning water.
Peering through the wind and rain, he looks at Jesus. Then he slips down and stands upright on the rolling sea!
Splash! One step. Splash!
Then another and another until Peter walks right up to Jesus. This is no little walk. 
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Admittedly, anyone can walk on water for the first step. It is the second step and beyond that is difficult..
Peter walks until the waves grab his attention; he takes his eyes off Jesus, and then he begins to sink.
Jesus saves him, of course, and when they get into the boat the wind stops.
Maybe we would expect the Lord to say, "Peter, you did it!"
Maybe Peter was expecting praise for his short water-walking career, but no, Jesus lovingly rebukes him, saying, "Why did you doubt?"
Christ sees the beginning of something great within Peter, and He does not want it contaminated by religious pride or self-pity.
Most of us want a medal every time we do something for God, but He is not about to let Peter or us build a monument to our accomplishments, especially when we are just beginning.
If this miracle of Peter's were done by some of us here in America, in two weeks we would have tours, T-shirts and commemorative celebrations of the day we walked on water.
But Jesus will allow none of that for His disciples. He sees greatness emerging in Peter, and He will not press His disciples toward anything other than conformity to His character.
Remember: God's goal is that we become Christ-like.
Therefore, the real Jesus is going to call us to do the impossible.
Walking with God means that we will be called to do what we have never done before.
You will see Jesus ahead of you, probably in some kind of storm, but it will be the beginning of a miracle that will change you and touch the world around you.
“Lord, forgive me for seeking a safe life instead of a supernatural life. I want more of You. Call me out of the boat of my familiar, predictable world. Master, for the sake of reaching the lost, increase my faith until I am standing with You on the water of divine potential. In Jesus' Name, Amen.” 
God never calls us to do something for Him that He does not empower us to do if we are willing to do the work and time. Take the time to get to know God in an intimate way.
As your relationship with Him grows, you move up in rank and are assigned harder missions. Your purpose on earth is to shine God’s love to a lost and dying world.
Open your ears and your heart to the Lord and be excited about your new future serving Him in spirit and truth.
God has made it possible for you to know Him and experience an amazing change in your own life.
Serve Him.
Wait on Him.
And expect … for He is able to do much much more than you can ask or imagine.
Settle that sin issue ...
“Father God, I confess I am a sinner and my sins have separated me from You.
I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and live a new life pleasing to You.
Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again.
I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.
I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Thank You that according to Your Word, I am now born again.
Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. I promise to study Your Word – the Bible.
Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.”
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If you have just put your trust in Jesus Christ, you have been born into God’s family.
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As a spiritual baby, you need to grow by feeding on God’s Word – the Bible (1 Peter 2:2).
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You must have a good modern translation Bible and begin prayerfully reading it. Start in the New Testament, such as the Gospel of John or Paul’s letters to the Ephesians.

Also, you need to join a Christian fellowship where the Bible is taught and where God is truly worshiped.

God bless you as you begin your new life with Him! 
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You Are My King    

Monday, February 5, 2018

TILL THE STORM PASSES BY - Mosie Lister - In the dark of the midnight, Have I oft hid my face; While the storm howls above me, And there's no hiding place; 'Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry; "Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by."


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Till The Storm Passes By
lyrics

In the dark of the midnight,
Have I oft hid my face;
While the storm howls above me,

And there's no hiding place;
'Mid the crash of the thunder,
Precious Lord, hear my cry;
"Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by."

'Til the storm passes over,
'Til the thunder sounds no more;
'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky,

Hold me fast, let me stand,
In the hollow of Thy hand;

Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by.

Many times Satan whispers,
"There is no need to try;
For there's no end of sorrow,
There's no hope by and by";

But I know Thou art with me,
And tomorrow I'll rise;
Where the storms never darken the skies.

'Til the storm passes over,
'Til the thunder sounds no more;
'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky,
Hold me fast, let me stand,
In the hollow of Thy hand;
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by.

When the long night has ended,
And the storms come no more,
Let me stand in Thy presence.
On that bright, peaceful shore.

In that land where the tempest

Never comes, Lord may I
Dwell with Thee when the storm passes by.

'Til the storm passes over,
'Til the thunder sounds no more;
'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky,
Hold me fast, let me stand,
In the hollow of Thy hand;
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by.

Hold me fast, Let me stand,
In the hollow of Thy hand;
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by.
'Til the storm passes by.
 
In 1939, Mosie Lister studied music at the Vaughan School Of Music in Tennessee. He began his musical career as a singer, performing as an original member of the Sunny South Quartet before World War II. After a four year stint with the Navy, he worked a few months again with the Sunny South Quartet before leaving to form the Melody Masters with Jim Wetherington, Alvin Tootle, Lee Kitchens, and Wally Varner in 1946. Lister remained in Atlanta when the Melody Masters moved to Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1948, Lister was tapped by Hovie Lister to be the original baritone for the Statesmen. (Despite their common last name, similar first names and involvement with the Statesmen, Mosie is no relation to Hovie).
Lister soon gave up his professional singing career to devote his attention to writing, continuing to work as an arranger for the Statesmen. In 1953, he formed the Mosie Lister Publishing Company. Some of Lister’s better known tunes include “Then I Met The Master,” “I’m Feelin’ Fine,” “His Hand In Mine,” and “’Til The Storm Passes By.”
Lister was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall Of Fame in 1976 and into the SGMA Hall Of Fame in 1997. Over the years, Lister also became a popular arranger of choral music for Lillenas Publishing. He has continued to write songs for popular Southern Gospel groups in the early 21st century. The Dove Brothers, Booth Brothers, and Palmetto State Quartet are just a few of the modern groups to recorded songs written by Lister. The Dove Brothers released a project titled A Tribute To Mosie Lister in 2004, which Lister also produced.
Bible Verses
Isaiah 25:4 - You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall and like the heat of the desert. 

BEAUTIFUL GIRL - Jose Mari Chan - Beautiful girl, wherever you are I knew when I saw you, you had opened the door I knew that I'd love again after a long, long while I'd love again. You said "hello" and I turned to go But something in your eyes left my heart beating so I just knew that I'd love again after a long, long while I'd love again.


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Beautiful Girl
Jose Mari Chan




lyrics

Beautiful girl, wherever you are
I knew when I saw you, you had opened the 
door
I knew that I'd love again after a long, long while
I'd love again.

You said "hello" and I turned to go
But something in your eyes left my heart beating so
I just knew that I'd love again after a long, long while I'd love again.

Refrain : 

It was destiny's game
For when love finally came on

I rushed in line only to find
That you were gone.

Whenever you are, I fear that I might
Have lost you forever like a song in the night
Now that I've loved again after a long, long while
I've loved again.

*Repeat Refrain

Beautiful girl, I'll search on for you
'Til all of your loveliness in my arms come true
You've made me love again after a long, long while
In love again
And I'm glad that it's you

Hmm, beautiful girl.


Jose Mari Chan: His every song has a story
DIRECTLINE By DIRECTLINE Boy Abunda
Singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan is responsible for some of the biggest OPM hits in music history. He treats his songs like his children. "Like my children, I want each song to reach its highest potential. They are treated differently. Like your kids, you don’t play favorites so I don’t have any favorite composition. Each is unique. Each has its own story."
Some of the stories behind his well-loved songs are chronicled in his book, Words and Music, Jose Mari Chan Volume Two.
For the monster hit Please Be Careful With My Heart, Joe writes, "It started out as a solo piece which I wrote for Jam Morales in 1982...It became a hit for Jam. But something was urging me to do a male response as if the music muse wanted the song made into a duet. It took four years before the duet version could be performed in public.....and it was a young Lea Salonga who first breathed life into it.... Two years later, following the exact musical arrangement of Louie Ocampo, I recorded it for the Constant Change album with a new artist named Regine Velasquez and thank God, we turned it into a 16-platinum album."
For Beautiful Girl, Joe Mari reveals that, "(Beautiful Girl) is a ballad about seeing an attractive lady from a distance and never getting to meeting her. Losing a girl like a ‘song in the night.’ ... Spending 11 years in the US made me even more appreciative of American country and western songs and their influence on my songwriting is evident in this composition...."
For I Remember the Boy, Jose Mari discloses, "In August of 1979, Mary Ann and I took our children Liza, Jojo and Michael up in Canada during their summer vacation... While waiting one morning for room service to deliver our breakfast, I heard a long lost song on the radio. A simple piece that meant a lot to me and a girlfriend some years back. Music has this unique power of bringing back feelings and memories. The thing is, was while the song did remind me of the girl, somehow the feeling was gone. Thus I wrote the song I Remember the Girl. When I gave it to Joey Albert to record a year later, we naturally changed the ‘girl’ to ‘boy.’"
Diva of divas Mariah Carey, who is also a singer and songwriter like Jose Mari Chan says that each song she makes has a story behind it. "It’s not like if I write a song, nothing was happening inside me. Songwriting is a catharsis and talk to any composer he or she will tell you something profound that has happened to him or her." The same goes for Jose Mari Chan. Each song is a story....each story has a song.
Know more about the stories and the songs in his book, Words and Music Jose Mari Chan Volume Two available in all major bookstores nationwide.
The vocal Direk Joey When director Joey Reyes talks, everyone listens.
Take for example his take on the country’s political situation. "I’m so disgusted. It’s just too much. We are in a country of blind people. But I still have faith in our country. I know we can go much further and progress as a nation."
On love, the award-winning director says, "You only love a person when you accept him or her not only for what you like but what you don’t like."
On friendship: "Friendship is all about listening and your ability to understand. Patience is the measure of friendship."
Although he doesn’t talk in his latest movie Kung Ako Na Lang Sana, much of his views about friendship, love and the Filipino psyche are in the movie. Starring Aga Muhlach and Sharon Cuneta, Kung Ako Na Lang Sana is the story of a barkada who sticks to one another through the decades.
Kung Ako Na Lang Sana also stars Dominic Ochoa, Jennifer Sevilla, Christine Bersola, Patrick Guzman and Mickey Ferriols. It is released by Star Cinema and will open on Sept. 24. It also has a soundtrack that will be released simultaneously with the movie and features the title song interpreted by Sharon Cuneta. It also contains Through The Years interpreted by Piolo Pascual, It’s All Coming Back To Me Now by Full Circle, Ayoko Na Sana by Michelle Ayalde and many more.
Singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan is responsible for some of the biggest OPM hits in music history. He treats his songs like his children. "Like my children, I want each song to reach its highest potential. They are treated differently. Like your kids, you don’t play favorites so I don’t have any favorite composition. Each is unique. Each has its own story."
Some of the stories behind his well-loved songs are chronicled in his book, Words and Music, Jose Mari Chan Volume Two. For the monster hit Please Be Careful With My Heart, Joe writes, "It started out as a solo piece which I wrote for Jam Morales in 1982...It became a hit for Jam. But something was urging me to do a male response as if the music muse wanted the song made into a duet. It took four years before the duet version could be performed in public.....and it was a young Lea Salonga who first breathed life into it....
Two years later, following the exact musical arrangement of Louie Ocampo, I recorded it for the Constant Change album with a new artist named Regine Velasquez and thank God, we turned it into a 16-platinum album." For Beautiful Girl, Joe Mari reveals that, "(Beautiful Girl) is a ballad about seeing an attractive lady from a distance and never getting to meeting her. Losing a girl like a ‘song in the night.’ ...
Spending 11 years in the US made me even more appreciative of American country and western songs and their influence on my songwriting is evident in this composition...." For I Remember the Boy, Jose Mari discloses, "In August of 1979, Mary Ann and I took our children Liza, Jojo and Michael up in Canada during their summer vacation... While waiting one morning for room service to deliver our breakfast, I heard a long lost song on the radio.
A simple piece that meant a lot to me and a girlfriend some years back. Music has this unique power of bringing back feelings and memories. The thing is, was while the song did remind me of the girl, somehow the feeling was gone.
Thus I wrote the song I Remember the Girl. When I gave it to Joey Albert to record a year later, we naturally changed the ‘girl’ to ‘boy.’" Diva of divas Mariah Carey, who is also a singer and songwriter like Jose Mari Chan says that each song she makes has a story behind it. "It’s not like if I write a song, nothing was happening inside me. Songwriting is a catharsis and talk to any composer he or she will tell you something profound that has happened to him or her." The same goes for Jose Mari Chan.
Each song is a story....each story has a song. Know more about the stories and the songs in his book, Words and Music Jose Mari Chan Volume Two available in all major bookstores nationwide. The vocal Direk Joey When director Joey Reyes talks, everyone listens. Take for example his take on the country’s political situation. "I’m so disgusted. It’s just too much. We are in a country of blind people. But I still have faith in our country.
I know we can go much further and progress as a nation." On love, the award-winning director says, "You only love a person when you accept him or her not only for what you like but what you don’t like." On friendship: "Friendship is all about listening and your ability to understand. Patience is the measure of friendship."
Although he doesn’t talk in his latest movie Kung Ako Na Lang Sana, much of his views about friendship, love and the Filipino psyche are in the movie. Starring Aga Muhlach and Sharon Cuneta, Kung Ako Na Lang Sana is the story of a barkada who sticks to one another through the decades. Kung Ako Na Lang Sana also stars Dominic Ochoa, Jennifer Sevilla, Christine Bersola, Patrick Guzman and Mickey Ferriols.
It is released by Star Cinema and will open on Sept. 24. It also has a soundtrack that will be released simultaneously with the movie and features the title song interpreted by Sharon Cuneta. It also contains Through The Years interpreted by Piolo Pascual, It’s All Coming Back To Me Now by Full Circle, Ayoko Na Sana by Michelle Ayalde and many more.