Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Posted by appolus on April 22, 2014
In Numbers chapter 13 we see the story of the spies sent in to spy out the land by Moses. In verse 23 we see that they come to the Valley of Eshcol , near Hebron. Now Eshcol means cluster. It was from that valley that they took a branch with one cluster of grapes. Now, the Bible says it took two men to carry one cluster of grapes, they had to put a pole through it and carry it on their shoulders. This was an extraordinary fruitful place. Can you imagine the contrast between the desert and this valley? It must have seemed like heaven itself.
Now brothers and sisters, we know that the majority of spies gave a bad report, not least because very close to that valley dwelt the Anakim, the giants. It was also in this region that the Patriarchs were buried. So we can see just how significant this particular area was. By their burial in this land, the patriarchs were keeping watch and giving claim to the land of promise.
And so what can we take from that? Where the truth and promises lies there is great riches, great abundance. Yet, barring the way to this abundance is the fear of giants. We know that there is an abundant life to be had in Jesus. We know that the Lord came to give us life and that more abundantly. But let’s be honest brothers and sisters, how many saints do you know who are living that abundant overcoming life in Christ? Is it not true that out of the twelve spies, only two had the audacity, the faith and the boldness to go and take the land right away? Perhaps that ratio holds up till this very day? So many, held back by their fears, their lack of boldness. There it is , tantalizingly close, an abundant rich valley with fruit so large it takes two men to carry a cluster of grapes, yet the decision is to turn back into the desert.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
Posted by appolus on April 12, 2014
I will never leave you
Can you hear Me?
Can you hear Me in the wind?
Can you hear me?
I will never forsake you
Can you see Me?
Can you see Me in the sunset?
Can you see Me in the heavens?
Can you see Me in the ocean waves?
Can you see that I’m the one who saves ?
I am always near you
Can you hear Me?
Can you hear me in the waterfall?
Can you hear Me when the choir sings?
Can you hear me through all the noise?
Can you hear my still small voice?
I will give you rest for your soul
Can you see Me?
Can you see me in the dawn?
Can you see me in the baby born?
Can you see me on the mountain high?
Can you see my glory fill the sky ?
I can see you Lord!
I can see your glory fill the sky
So vast, I ask myself who am I?
I wonder and fall down upon my face
So small, but yet known by you
My God, my King my everything, my faithful and true
I can hear you Lord!
I still my soul and hear you through the noise
I diligently listen and hear your still small voice
Just one word from you overflows my soul
Each syllable is manna from above
It fills me and fills me and fills me with love!
I see you and I hear you
You walk with me each day
You light my path and feed my soul
You are the one who made me whole
You are my Truth my life my way
You came to me and you came to stay.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
Posted by appolus on April 6, 2014
In the Scriptures there are a few different stories of women with alabaster boxes that anoint Jesus, one story says His head is anointed and another His feet. Some say it was Mary Magdalene and some say it was not. Putting that aside, we do know a woman approached Jesus who had been caught up in many sins and we have supposed over the centuries that this woman had been a prostitute, perhaps the one thrown down at the Lord’s feet. I believe this to be so and we can imagine the horror of the Pharisees that this woman was in the same room as Jesus, never mind coming close to Jesus and touching him. We also know that the Apostles themselves were none too happy with the pouring out of expensive oil, most of all Judas of course.
I would like you to think of this for a moment. A prostitute comes to Jesus and has in her possession, an oil, a fragrance that is worth about a year’s wages. In today’s terms, we see something that may represent the value of an expensive, brand new car. She takes this possession of hers and she pours it out for Jesus. If this woman was indeed a prostitute, then we know where she probably got the money for this oil. Can you imagine this scene. A lifetimes savings, something that would represent this woman’s security for her future, simply poured out over Jesus. This is an incredible thing. This oil is the results of a lifetime of sin. She comes to Jesus and in exchange for a lifetime of sin, which she simply pours out at the feet of Jesus, she receives an eternity of love and forgiveness. And the fact that she was such a ” great sinner,” only meant that she received even more love and forgiveness. Brothers and sisters, this brought me to tears as I considered the open arms of Jesus to the sinner, to the sinner still in his/her sin.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, prostitutes, revival, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | 9 Comments »
Posted by appolus on February 6, 2014
From depths unreachable
To heights unattainable
You came from heaven to earth
With love unexplainable
From time immemorial
And places unexplorable
You came to save us from death
And a hell most deplorable
You brought joy without measure
And heavenly treasure
You came to show us the way
For your will and good pleasure
You brought freedom from captivity
And your presence into proximity
You came to show us life
And to reveal your divinity
You healed the broken-hearted
And the enemy departed
You came to give us a heart
And that’s where it started
Your breath makes life livable
And all things forgivable
The life you have given us
Is simply inexplicable
Now it’s on to eternity
No doubts nor uncertainty
Life forever with you
This will be our identity
This life extraordinary
Is the life lived passionately
From heights now attainable
And love unexplainable
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christian poetry, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
Posted by appolus on February 3, 2014
There is a very dark and murky world of Melancholy. It presents many dangers to the world at large and specific dangers to Christians and should be avoided at all costs. Now what is this world of melancholy? It’s a world of past events that exists in the minds of all humans. The more tragic the event or events are, the more deeply someone can be drawn into this world. It also can depend upon the sensitivity of the person and their over all emotional make-up , but nevertheless, it can affect everyone.
Hippocrates said that the causes of the effects of this ” world,” were due to an excess of ” black bile,”which is why we have the word ” melancholia,” meaning black bile. Of course this is not true but it is somewhat of an appropriate description, it conjures up images that are not out-of-place. Okay, two examples of the world of melancholy and why I believe it has a dangerous spiritual element. Example number one is a dear saint from Scotland whose adult son was shot and left to die in the street. This made many headlines in Scotland as we do not have a lot of guns or gun related murders. She publicly announced her forgiveness of her son’s murderer and that was a tremendous witness for the Lord. It has now been many years since that murder but she would tell you that every so often this ” feeling” comes upon her. Now this, I would argue, is the call of this world of melancholy, like the sirens of Greek mythology who lured unsuspecting sailors onto the rocks and killed them. What is this ” feeling?” Well, she is drawn into a place where she re-lives all the intense emotions that she experienced when her son was murdered and it begins to drag her down like quicksand.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Tagged: melancholy | 9 Comments »
Posted by appolus on February 1, 2014
I GIVE TO THEE MY ALL
Show me Lord the cross
Where thou did suffer loss
Walk me through the fire Lord
And burn up all the dross
I give to thee my all
I hear you when you call
Stretch forth thy hands and catch me Lord
Catch me lest I fall
I’ve come to seek thy face
And daily run the race
Come forth my Lord and show to me
Thy mercy and thy grace
I long to see thee more
Living waters through me pour
Stand forth oh Lord in front of me
So I may worship and adore
Overwhelm me with desire
Lead me through refining fire
Come now oh Lord and take my hand
And lead me ever higher
Ever higher my great desire is to come to where you are
My King, my Lord, my everything, my bright and morning star.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
Posted by appolus on January 17, 2014
Below are the poems and songs I wrote in 2013 all in one place. I pray that they bless you…………..bro Frank
TO HELL AND BACK
How to keep your soul
From burning in the fire
Sometimes to walk this world
Is to wade through muck and mire
To see what Spirit sees
Would drop man to his knees
And in agony look up
And see Christ drink the cup
All the hell in all the world
Came together in one place
Yet even in the midst of hell
There was love upon His face
If we could see this hell
Then what would be the toll?
Shattered in the night
And forever lose our soul?
Hell is fought by Christ alone
And we can look into His face
And as we look we’ll see it there
Tis mercy and tis grace
If you have been to hell and back
And survived to tell the tale
If you would laugh and love again
You must be found behind the veil
He that conquered death and hell
And broke those deadly chains
Is the one that can deliver us
Despite the awe-full pains
—————————————————
TO BE FOUND IN HIM
Just to meet you in the darkest night
Sets my soul on fire, it gives me light
To meet you on the highest peak
Is to feed my soul, tis all I seek
Whether high or whether low
Is neither here nor there
For you alone I want to know
I want to see your face so fair
Can a valley be a mountain?
A prison cell a sanctuary?
Can a man in chains and fetters
Claim to be completely free?
There is a freedom wrought by man
He fights and kills to see it done
There is a freedom wrought by God
On Calvary’s battle-field was won
So whether in the darkest night
Or transfiguration on the hill
I’ll walk by faith and not by sight
I shall not run, I shall be still
Be still when all around are crying
Stand fast when all are set to flight
Know the Lord, and in the dying
His presence overcomes the night
Darkness ends and has no power
And Christ outshines the brightest sun
He is our Rock and strong high tower
No more to fight, the battle won.
— Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
Posted by appolus on January 15, 2014
For Jews require a sign and Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, to the Greeks , foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1st Cor 1:22-24)
Madam Guyon writes…………….I am deeply grieved that so many in this day(she lived 300 years ago, people never change)even some good people, allow themselves to be led astray by the enemy. Has not God warned us against false prophets and lying wonders of the last days? All true prophets have spoken in the name of the Lord-”Thus says the Lord.” The enemy gains great advantage because people love extraordinary manifestations, signs and wonders. I believe the inordinate love of external signs is used of the enemy to draw people away from the Word of God and from the inward way of faith.The signs that come from God encourage you to die to yourself. (Intimacy with Christ..p21)
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Tagged: Madam Guyon, stumbling block | 7 Comments »
Posted by appolus on January 13, 2014
When David left the Ark with Obed -Edom, it was reported that all that pertained to his house was blessed of the Lord. Our modern day prosperity teachers would convince us that God enriched Obed-Edom but Jewish history shows that Obed-Edom’s family were enriched by the birth of many children in the short time the Ark was there. Women of the household giving birth to multiple babies. There was life in the house of Obed-Edom and that more abundantly. The presence of God gives us life and that more abundantly. Life in God, life in the Spirit , the overcoming power of God that comes from walking in His Spirit. Obed-Edom would later be found as a guard of the Temple treasure and involved in the worship of the temple. It seems he followed the Ark, he followed the presence of God and dwelt there as a door-keeper. Have you been touched by His presence? Would one day in His presence be better than a thousand elsewhere? Will you follow Him where He leads? Has the presence of God taken hold of your life?
THE DOOR-KEEPER
In His presence there is joy beyond measure
To feel His touch is heavenly treasure
To rest in the arms of our glorious King
Is to lay down and listen to the angels sing
Your presence lets me walk upon water
Your presence sustains your sons and daughters
In your presence the lions mouth’s shut tight
Your presence brings hope to the darkest night
Oh for the joy of a single touch
I am overwhelmed it is almost too much
In your presence the darkness disappears
In your presence there is a river of tears
And this river it flows from Your throne
From the heart of God to the heart of His own
Time stands still it exists no more
When I am the keeper of the temple door
When I pass through the valley of weeping
I am blessed to find God’s not sleeping
Indeed my tears become pools of blessing
And comfort for those who require refreshing
One day in thy presence is all that it takes
To stand firm in my God when everything shakes
And though trials and temptations often come nightly
No good thing He withholds to those walking uprightly
One day at a time each day in your presence
Reminds me of your beauty, your very essence
Where even the sparrow has found its place
To dwell in the arms of eternal embrace
Oh blessed is the man who trusts in thee
Who has knelt before bloody Calvary
Who night and day and with all of his heart
Seeks to walk with His lord and never apart.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Tagged: Obed-Edom | 10 Comments »
Posted by appolus on January 6, 2014
The post below is by Steve Gallagher, he is a good brother in the Lord whom I have met and my spirit witnessed with…….bro Frank
Every day we are inching toward the one-world government predicted by Scripture. But it is not biometric computer chips, the proliferation of surveillance cameras or the NSA’s spying on American citizens that has me concerned. What alarms me is a new mindset that is becoming entrenched in the world. I believe people are getting frightfully close to openly welcoming the “man of sin.”
One thing that has puzzled me over the years is how it could be possible for billions of people to willingly take the “mark of the beast” in spite of the fact that it has been foretold in Scripture. Yet, it seems that spiritual forces are quietly at work which are bringing people to the point of willingly yielding their souls to Satan.
To accomplish such a feat has entailed a decades-long scheme that has been both comprehensive and brilliant in its scope. Unquestionably, there are many factors at work, but I believe the two primary keys the enemy is fostering within humanity are Cynicism and Delusion.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, prophecy, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
Posted by appolus on January 3, 2014
The emptying process. He removes the stones and rocks and clods from our hearts and refines the flesh. The desires of the world lose all their allure as He draws us to Himself. If we yield to the process then He draws us closer. I would love to say that in my experience it has been a one time yielding, but no, not so simple. Time and again the calling comes. The deeper and the closer we come, oftentimes the deeper the cut. Shall we yield to the surgeon’s knife? Shall we yield to the sculptor’s chisel? I would say that only a vision of heaven itself could draw us to such yielding.
Just one moment in His presence. Can a single moment ruin us for the things of this world? Is it possible that after that moment the world turns to black and white? Then another miracle happens. As we begin to look at the world through these captivated eyes, the color begins to return but it’s not the color of the world, it’s the color of heaven. Now one truly sees the sunset because one has been intimate with the artist. I can see a waterfall and my spirit soars because I know the hand that crafted it. These majestic mountains and stars that fill the heavens raises me up to higher places than them , to the place where they were born. The hand of a child, a single ray of sunshine though the clouds, a wave that crashes to the shore, soon enough I see my Lord in all of it. I see His beauty everywhere.
Yet the darkness prevails and time and time again it comes against the light . Yet, out of that moment, out of His presence there is born an eternal longing that no darkness can quell just as no hand could hold back the tide. He comes. Yes and He comes again to those who would wait upon Him. How long shall we wait? However long it takes. This is the kind of love that would wait a thousand years. And so we yield , and so we die to this world. And we are drawn ever closer to the next until the day comes when we step over into the world that has touched us and called to us. There is glory in all of it. It is a grand tapestry and we are but a thread. Can we see the vision of the artist? Can we see the vision of the sculptor? It is not so important to see the vision of the artist or to see the finished sculpture , it only really matters that we see Him, Him who creates it all. And when we see Him the yielding is simply a matter of trust and of longing, of hunger and of thirst as the deer panteth for the water-brooks.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
Posted by appolus on January 1, 2014
As I was walking and talking with the Lord today, He gave me a word for the coming year ” Strength for the battle.” God has been teaching His people how to survive in the wilderness, how to praise Him in the midst of the valley, how to find life where there only seems to be death. These teachings in the life of a believer are for a season or seasons. It is good to know that God hears us when we weep. It is good to know that oftentimes in our walk with the Lord that we will face many different types of persecution and adversity. There is a time for weeping and there is a strength and grace that comes in the very midst of our trials. Yet, there is another kind of strength, there is an anointing for the battle. We see a spirit of indignation come upon David as he runs towards Goliath. We see this same Spirit after Ziklag is burned down and all the woman have been taken captive, after David dries his tears he gets up and pursues and overtakes the enemy, he takes the fight to the enemy.
I believe God is breathing that Spirit into His children. In Romans 8 we see this phrase in verse 2 ” Spirit of life,” and it is this Spirit of life that frees us from the law of sin and death. The Greek word for “Spirit,” is ” pnyoo-mah,” it literally means a current of air, a breeze, a breath. So another translation of that Scripture would be ” breath of life.” God breathes life into us. We see this when He creates us in the flesh in Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and He breathed into his nostrils the ” breath of life,” and man became a living being.”
In Romans we see that same breath of life being breathed into men of flesh who now have the life of the Spirit, the breath of life, spirutal beings as opposed to merely living beings. And with this wind, this breeze, this breath of God that blows spiritual life into His children’s souls, we see the culmination or Romans 8 when Paul tells us by the Spirit that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. We are ready for the battle. Despite death and persecution and everything the enemy throws at us, nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. This is our strength for the battle ,the wind of the Spirit, the breath of life blowing into the sails of our souls and propelling us forward .
As God continues to draw back the veil this coming year and exposes and shakes everything that can be shaken, He also breathes upon His children’s lives and this breath is the life of the Spirit. He is calling us forward, He is calling us upwards and onwards. There is a call to arms going on right now in the Spirit. The question now becomes for all of Christendom ” who will fight?” In order to fight we must be filled with the breath of God so that we can walk in the power of God. Can we cry out to Him this year ” Fill me Lord, breathe into me your life that I may run to the battle.”
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, prophecy, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Posted by appolus on December 19, 2013
I want to rest in the arms of your love
I want to soar with the eagles above
I want to spread my wings
And fly to where the angels sing
I want to lay down in pastures green
I want to go where I’ve never been
To simply rest in the knowledge of you
Is all that I want to do
I want to go to that place of rest
A place of refuge from trial and test
To the mountaintop in the valley so low
That’s the place that I want to go
I want to be found in the depths of you
To fly in the sky above so blue
I want to walk into the Father’s heart
And from there never be apart
You brought light to the darkness in me
You touched me and set me free
Your thoughts of me are beyond measure
This knowledge is my heavenly treasure
I asked for a rose and you gave me a garden
In the depths of my sin you brought me a pardon
And you have forever set me free
And gave me eyes that can truly see.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christian poetry, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, spiritual poetry, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | 11 Comments »
Posted by appolus on December 7, 2013
I am fragile I can be broken
Broken by the words spoken
Can’t you see your words are clawing me apart?
Can’t you see how you’re crushing my heart?
How my heart longed to hear warm words spoken
Full of beauty and light from above
Why didn’t you just reach out and touch me?
And cover me and hold me in love.
The broken child in you
Now breaks the child that you can see
Two broken children collide
Only wanting to be free
I am fragile I can be broken
Broken by the words left unspoken
And this brokenness is now a void in me
That is deeper and wider than the deepest sea
What can fix a broken heart?
And fill this vast expanse in me
What can fill an endless void?
That’s deeper than the deepest sea
So many tears, enough to fill an ocean
Shed by all the children, broken
A Saviour comes and walks upon this sea of tears
He calms the stormy sea and quells the fears
I have come to mend the broken heart
To heal the wounds where you were torn apart
I have come to set the captive free
To dry up every tear that fills the deepest sea
I hold the universe in my hand
I cause the blind to see and the lame to stand
And every star in the heavens, I know them all by name
And I will touch you and you shall never be the same
The words I speak they are life and they are love
I know every sparrow that falls from above
I created the sun and the moon and the rain
I still the stormy seas and I take away the pain
Come and bring your emptiness to me
And I will fill you with a love that’s deeper than the sea
Come all you broken and contrite
And I will heal you and set you free this night
And so I came and took my Saviour’s hand
Out of the pit on the solid Rock I stand
A broken heart replaced and reconciled
Standing whole and new, I am my Father’s child
And every word spoken, they are life to me
Your love and Your kindness, they have set me free
And by thy Spirit my eternity is sealed
And by thy love my broken heart was healed.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Tagged: broken heart | 2 Comments »
Posted by appolus on November 26, 2013
The holidays are here. We see people rushing to and fro. Images abound on billboards and TV and for many it is a truly wonderful time where family and friends gather together. And I say God bless them all. Yet there are many folks who dread this time of the year. Perhaps an empty seat at the table reminds you of someone dear who is no longer with you? Or maybe it’s the people in the seats that’s the problem? Maybe your family is not exactly the Cleavers? My own son will not be sitting at my table and has not now for the last four years. He is in prison. Fathers feel the need to be strong. You have to steel yourself. I believe that there is no greater agony than watching your child suffer and being powerless. This is not the first time I have felt this kind of agony with this, my eldest son who is now 30. When he was two he was burned over 60% of his body with third degree burns. Part of his treatment, to keep him alive, was to plunge him into a salt bath everyday and remove and replace his bandages. The nurses would have a parent help them with this. If you have ever had a small cut on your finger and got some salt in it, you know how painful that is. Now imagine a small child having to endure the agony of being forced into a salt bath day after day after day. The absolute helplessness I felt was a hell on earth as I helped force my child into this bath as he kicked and screamed and cursed. There was no way he could possibly understand why his dad was doing this to him.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
Posted by appolus on November 20, 2013
Today most pastors try to be all things to all men. Many complain that this is foisted upon them, but the reality in so many churches is that this is by design. It is the nature of what we now call church. God has shown us that church is where two or three or ten or 100 are gathered together in His name. The number is not important, what is important is God’s definition of what church is and how it should operate.
Now we know that the Body of Christ is just that, it is a body. It was God Himself who uses this analogy and if we are to follow Him then we have to follow what He has laid down. “For the body is not one member but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If all the body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If all hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body as it has pleased Him. And if they were all one member, where would be the body?” (1 Cor 12:16-19)
Where is the body today brothers and sisters? Does it function as you have just read? Does your church function in the Biblical fashion or is it ” one member,” a pastor who does all the preaching, all the praying, all the exhorting all the prophesying , all the words of knowledge and so on? The truth is that this is the Catholic model and it is indeed a sick model. How can the body function if it operates as one member? In your church, are you merely a spectator? What does your participation look like? Paul says ” We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the sphere which God appointed us.” ( 2 Cor 10:11)
God has appointed men and women to operate within the church in the gifts He has bestowed upon them. Any system which suppresses these gifts or simply does not allow them to function is in direct conflict with that which God has ordained. And so, rather than measure themselves against the Word of God, modern pastors ‘measure themselves by themselves.’ This is not wise and God will not participate in any system that so directly violates His commands and instructions.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Tagged: church | 2 Comments »
Posted by appolus on October 22, 2013
One of the hardest things I ever dealt with as a Christian was unforgiveness. In fact, it almost dashed me on its rocks, threatening to undo all the work the Lord had ever done in me. It brought me to a place of great darkness within my soul. I cried out to God that what He was asking me to do, to forgive, was not possible, at least not for me. He was asking me to do something that was simply impossible for me. And of course the truth was, in me, it was impossible, but in Him, all things are possible. I wrote the poem below to speak to this subject of forgiveness and the great danger of un-forgiveness.
How many times should I forgive
Once or twice or seven?
How is it that I should walk
As one whose been forgiven?
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Tagged: forgiveness | Leave a Comment »
Posted by appolus on September 30, 2013
When all my hope has taken flight
And is carried off into the night
When I have suffered grevious loss
You’ll find me wrapped around the cross
When hopes and dreams have disappeared
And trials come that I had feared
When fire and flood encompass me
I simply cling to Calvary
When heartache seems to overwhelm
And eyes are blind to the heavenly realm
And I am lost in a stormy sea
I simply cling to Calvary
When the enemy comes with all his might
And I am plunged into the darkest night
When the door is locked and there is no key
I simply cling to Calvary
And all at once I see the light
And it vanquishes the darkest night
A hand appears and beckons me
That nail scarred hand of Calvary
And as His hand takes hold of mine
My thoughts and His they do align
And now once more I clearly see
The victory won on Calvary
Oh death where be thy deadly sting?
In light of my almighty King
Oh grave where be thy victory?
Tis swallowed up at Calvary
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Posted by appolus on September 10, 2013
In light of yet in spite of
The life that you now lead
You are deeply loved by God above
Deeply loved indeed
Who is this God of glory
Who loves you even now?
Despite the fact you turn away
And before His throne refuse to bow
In the depths of all your sinful ways
And in spite of all you’ve done
He stretches out His hand to you
And it points towards His precious Son
See Him there upon the cross
The things He did not have to do
To sacrifice His very life
That He might die instead of you
How is it that you can allow
Someone to die and take your place?
And continue to live the life you lead
And so to spit upon His face
He died and then He rose again
You too must die today
And from the ashes you will rise
To find and walk the narrow way
The arms of God are open wide
To those who come to Him
And in these arms life springs anew
And love is born from deep within
http://www.poemhunter.com/frank-mceleny/
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Tagged: arms of god, god of glory, precious son | Leave a Comment »
Posted by appolus on September 7, 2013
2Pe 1:3-7 according as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who has called us to glory and virtue, through which He has given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, so that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also in this very thing, bringing in all diligence, filling out your faith with virtue, and with virtue, knowledge; and with knowledge self-control, and with self-control, patience, and with patience, godliness, and with godliness, brotherly kindness, and with brotherly kindness, love.
Life and Godliness. Do you have life? Do you have an abundant life in Christ? Do you have Godliness? What is Godliness, have you ever considered what that means? The Greek word for godliness was used by ancient pagans to describe those who kept in close contact with their gods. When Peter uses this word here he is talking about the need for Christians to be constantly aware of God’s manifest presence.
Much is spoken of and written about the presence of God. How do we come into the presence of God? Can we presume upon the presence of God? Can we live a life in any fashion we choose and still have ” Godliness?” In the above Scripture we see that we have been called to ” glory and to virtue.” What is glory? Do you have it? Have you experienced it? What about virtue, what does that word mean? If we have been called to it, surely we should understand what it means?
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Tagged: patience godliness, virtue knowledge, what is godliness | Leave a Comment »
In Numbers chapter 13 we see the story of the spies sent in to spy out the land by Moses. In verse 23 we see that they come to the Valley of Eshcol , near Hebron. Now Eshcol means cluster. It was from that valley that they took a branch with one cluster of grapes. Now, the Bible says it took two men to carry one cluster of grapes, they had to put a pole through it and carry it on their shoulders. This was an extraordinary fruitful place. Can you imagine the contrast between the desert and this valley? It must have seemed like heaven itself.
A Call To The Remnant 