July 2011 Blog Posts (44)

Every Battle A Victor!

Right now, as we speak . . . er, you read, how do you feel? When you looked in the mirror this morning, were you looking at the face of a Winner! . . . . or a loser? Well, sometimes that’s the way we feel, isn’t it? Oh, maybe not you, but some do. Please hear me out on this. You are NOT a loser. Our Father has promised that you would come out of every battle a victor, that you would be crowned by his strength. We should rejoice with the Psalmist as he signs out, “Be exalted in your strength,… Continue

Added by Nickolas Hiemstra on July 30, 2011 at 1:47am — No Comments

Ambassadors for Christ

Ambassadors for Christ part 2

2 Cor 5:20-21 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

There may be tea available in the teapot but the only way it becomes accessible to us is through a cup. Similarly the only that the unbelieving world is…

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Added by Solomon Gopaul on July 29, 2011 at 11:01am — No Comments

Who Is Your Pastor? (pt 3 of 3)

The last couple of days I have been discussing the role of a Pastor. Something I may have hinted at, and hopefully you caught this, but within the Scripture the word translated, “Pastor,” is not a title, but rather a function in the Church. The Greek word used that is translated as, "pastor," is poimen. In some verse it is also translated as a “shepherd.”

Some Greek lexicons and dictionaries define it as the one “in control” of the sheep.… Continue

Added by Nickolas Hiemstra on July 29, 2011 at 3:00am — No Comments

Back to the Basics

Father continues to reveal His perfect plan as we travel about the Philippines.

Fri., July 15 – We spent the day at Samaritana which is a transformation community for women trapped in prostitution. It was a day for training women coming off the streets to learn be to servent leaders to other women on the streets! We had the opportunity to personally pray with two of the women. What an honor!

We went out to the streets in the evening and were introduced to a…

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Added by Bonnie Jaeckle on July 28, 2011 at 6:00am — No Comments

Who Is Your Pastor? (pt 2 of 3)

I am talking about the description--and role--of a Pastor. Yesterday I ended the introduction by saying that there are three verses that include the word “pastor” in some form or another: There is Ephesians 4:11, Acts 20:28, and I Peter 5:2. Let's look at the verses over the next couple of days, and see what we can find.

In Ephesians 4:11, Paul discusses various roles that Christ placed in the church.

"Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the…

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Added by Nickolas Hiemstra on July 28, 2011 at 3:00am — 2 Comments

Who Is Your Pastor? (pt 1 of 3)

Many times I have said that the guy up front every Sunday could be your pastor, but not necessarily. There are all kinds of teachers and preachers in The Church today, but I argue that a Pastor is a unique calling. In fact, some use the term Pastor/Teacher making you think they are synonymous, but they are not. They are two distinct "callings" or "anointing"

Boy, people begin to look at you strangely when you say things like that, but I am convinced it is… Continue

Added by Nickolas Hiemstra on July 27, 2011 at 3:00am — 1 Comment

A Psalm of Pain

I am part of a writing group that shares an assignment with each other and then we write something - this last assignment was to write a Psalm on one of the darkest time times in your life.

The following is my response to this assignment - it reflects back on the death of our eldest son (he was 19 at the time of his death)

A Psalm of Pain…

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Added by Terry and Carol Jarbo on July 26, 2011 at 6:51pm — No Comments

The Sign He is There

I’ve been giving you various name of our Father: Jehovah Nissi: The Lord our Banner; Jehovah Rohi: The Lord my Shepherd; Jehovah Rapha: The Lord my Healer. The list goes on. Each name, or “shem,” represent His attributes, His nature. Well, this morning I want to introduce you to yet another shem of Yehoveh . . . it is Jehovah Shammah—“The Lord is Here.”

To be honest, I think every church and every believer should be known by that name. You can find… Continue

Added by Nickolas Hiemstra on July 26, 2011 at 5:54pm — No Comments

Considering Grace vs. Law

Whenever someone mentions the need to obey YWHW's Word, people will always respond by accusing you of legalism or that you are requiring some type of works. But here's the thing . . . the reason for the Hebrews’ obsession with doing—their motivation—was not because they were trying gain something from it. Their obedience was due to their overwhelming gratefulness of being one of God’s chosen people. Do you hear the difference?

If you are a disciple… Continue

Added by Nickolas Hiemstra on July 25, 2011 at 2:00am — No Comments

Times of Prayer

Everyday people all over the world are subjected to the most heinous and hideous attacks on their lives. Suicide bombers, acts of terrorism and human trafficking in the most terrible way. The latest is the merciless murders of innocent children in Norway.

As darkness covers the earth and as we continue to see the systems of this world failing we become more and more desperate for the divine intervention of God. Let us join together in…

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Added by Solomon Gopaul on July 24, 2011 at 1:11pm — No Comments

It's All in His Name

I love perusing those old and forgotten books of the Bible. I visited a book called Micah. We don’t know much about Micah, except what Jeremiah said about him in Jeremiah 26:18:

Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says:
“‘Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with…

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Added by Nickolas Hiemstra on July 24, 2011 at 4:30am — No Comments

His Promise

I am always trying to get believers to live beyond the “ordinary,” and pursue righteous and adventurous living. Those of us who know Christ’s righteousness should never live like those who are without hope. We have been blessed with both the love and the fear of God. And his will for us in the darkest, most terrible times is to obtain his joy and gladness. Even as we see judgment falling around us, we are to sing, shout and rejoice—not because judgment has come—but in spite of… Continue

Added by Nickolas Hiemstra on July 23, 2011 at 2:30am — No Comments

Ambassadors for Christ

Many have preached about the sin and ungodliness that surrounds us in this world. The preaching of God’s Word must be coupled with His people manifesting It. We must become the Word that we preach other wise what we say becomes another ideology or philosophy to the world.

As much as we will speak out against every kind of evil, we have to show the world that there is a “better way” and the “better way” works. Using demonstrating…

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Added by Solomon Gopaul on July 22, 2011 at 10:00am — No Comments

It Is The Word

There are all kinds of new trends in churches. Some are still the traditional old-style of worship service, but there are also many non-traditional (in some ways, peculiar) meetings going on as well.

People are able to get together in all kinds of venues (which is great), but with all our “spiritual" activities, many are just plain carnal. You see, while there were many very good things happening, it just seems that something is missing.

What seems to be missing… Continue

Added by Nickolas Hiemstra on July 22, 2011 at 2:30am — 3 Comments

Such Sweet Indulgence

Albert about organic gardening and canning! It is so refreshing to visitng with a young man so eager to learn!

Sat. July 9 - We have had many deep and intimate conversations with Molong & Lisa. Even after such a short time my heart over flows with love for them. Lisa calls me “Mommy” and my heart leaps every time I hear her say it. I’ve noticed that I can’t help but “mother” them – it seems so very natural to embrace them under my wing.

The evening was spent with… Continue

Added by Bonnie Jaeckle on July 21, 2011 at 6:00am — No Comments

A Positive Message

In one of my Facebook groups (Doulos Studies), I was going through the book of Acts, and mid-way through the 20^th chapter, I explained that Paul’s messages were birthed through his blood and tears because of all the difficulties and trials he had to endure.

The reality is that lesser men would have taken a “sabbatical” or maybe restated their teaching so they could avoid the… Continue

Added by Nickolas Hiemstra on July 21, 2011 at 3:30am — No Comments

The Shepherd Revisited

Yesterday I brought up Psalm 23, which is has to be the most well-known Scripture in the entire Bible. “The Lord is my Shepherd . . .” Then I told you some things about this “Shepherd,” like his Hebrew title was Jehovah Rohi (pronounced Je-HO-va-RO’-ee); that by referring to our Lord as “Jehovah Rohi" he had particular characteristics that made him unique to caring for “Sheep.” One thing I did not address, though, is that our great shepherd loves… Continue

Added by Nickolas Hiemstra on July 20, 2011 at 2:30am — No Comments

The Shepherd

All of us are familiar with the 23^rd Psalm. Its message comforts even non-believers. It was written by King David and its most famous passage is contained in the opening verse: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want . . .”

The Hebrew word used here for want, actually means lack. In other words, the Psalmist is saying “I shall not lack anything.” When we combine this meaning with the first part of the verse, David is saying, “The Lord leads, guides and… Continue

Added by Nickolas Hiemstra on July 19, 2011 at 2:18am — No Comments

Vegetable Soup

Vegetable soup

Mission 2

Story 2

Birmingham at St Martins in the Bullring

In the late sixties I was living in Birmingham and trying very hard to have an effect on young people. At that time we were running an event each Sunday night at my local church, it was attracting hundreds of youngsters including ‘rockers’ on their motor bikes, which did not make us particularly…

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Added by Adrian L Hawkes on July 18, 2011 at 3:05pm — No Comments