Our Father

(It is very moving to have "God" in another room and "Me" kneeling in in front of the students. "God's" voice comes from Heaven.)

Me: Our Father who art in Heaven.

God: Yes?

Me: Don't interrupt me I'm praying.

God: But you called me.

Me: Called you? I didn't call you I'm praying "Our Father, who art in Heaven......

God: There you did it again.

Me: Did what?

God: Called me. You said "Our Father who art in Heaven" here I am. What's on your mind?

Me: But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my daily prayers. I always say the Lord's prayer It makes me feel good, king of like getting a duty done.

God: All right. Go on.

Me: Hallowed be thy Name-----

God: Hold it. What do you mean by that?

Me: By what?

God: "Hallowed be thy Name."

Me: It means--it means--it means--I don't know what it means. How should I know? It's just part of the prayer. By the way, what does it mean?

God: It means honored, holy, wonderful.

Me: Hey, that makes sense, I never thought what "hallowed" meant before. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.

God: What are you doing about it?

Me: Doing? Nothing. I guess I just think it would be kinda neat if You got control of everything down here, like You do up there.

God: Have I got control of You?

Me: Well, I go to church.

God: That isn't what I asked you. What about that habit of lust you have? And that bad temper? You've really got a problem there, you know. And then there's the way you spend your money--all on yourself. And what about the kind of books you read.

Me: Stop picking on me. I'm as good as some of the rest of those phonies who go to church.

God: Excuse me. I thought you were praying for My will to be done. If that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones who are praying for it.

Me: Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups. Now that You mention it, I could probably name some others.

God: So could I.

Me: I haven't thought about it very much until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things. I would like to, You know, be really free.

God: Good. Now we're getting somewhere. We'll work together, you and I.

Me: Look Lord, I need to finish up here this taking a lot longer than it usually does. "Give us this day our daily bread"----

God: You need to cut out the bread. You're over weight as it is.

Me: Hey, wait a minute! What is this? "Criticize, me day?"

God: Praying is a dangerous thing. You could wind up changed, you know. That's what I'm trying to get across to you. You called Me, and here I am. Keep on praying. I'm interested in the next part of your prayer---well go on---

Me: I'm scared to.

God: Scared of what?

Me: I know what You will say.

God: Try Me and see.

Me: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

God: What about Bill?

Me: See. I knew it I knew You would bring him up, Lord. He's told lies about me. He never paid back that money he owed me, I have reason to get even with him.

God: But your prayer. What about your prayer?

Me: I didn't mean it.

God: Well at least you're honest. But it's not fun carrying that load of bitterness around inside, is it?

Me: No but I'll feel better as soon as I get even.

God: You won't feel any better. You'll feel worse. Revenge isn't sweet. Think of how unhappy you already are. But I can change all that.

Me: You can. How?

God: Forgive Bill. Then I'll forgive you. Then the hate and sin will be Bill's problem and not yours. You may lose the money but you will have settled your heart.

Me: But, Lord, I can't forgive Bill.

God: Then I can't forgive you.

Me: Oh, all right. You always are (sigh) right. All right, I'll forgive him. Help him to find the right path in life, Lord. He's bound to be awfully miserable. Anybody who goes around doing the things he does to others has to be out of it. Someway, somehow, show him the right path.

God: There,now. Wonderful. How do you feel.

Me: Hmmm. Well, not bad. Not bad at all. In fact, I don't think Ill have to go to bed tonight uptight for the first time since I can remember.

God: You're not through with your prayer. Go on.

Me: Oh,alright. "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

God: Good, good. I'll do just that. Just don't put yourself in a place where you can be tempted.

Me: What do You mean by that?

God: Quit hanging around the magazine stands where Playboy is sold. Change some of your friendships. Some of your so-called friends are beginning to get to you. They'll have you completely involved in the wrong things. Don't be fooled. They say they're having fun, but for you, it would be ruin. Don't use Me as an escape hatch.

Me: I don't understand.

God: Sure you do. You've done it a lot of times. You get caught in a bad situation. You get in trouble and then you come running to Me. "Lord help me out of this mess and I'll promise you I'll never do it again." You remember some of those bargains you tried to make with me?

Me: Yes, and I'm ashamed, Lord, really I am.

God: Which bargain are you remembering?

Me: When the woman next door saw me backing away from the neighborhood bar. I'd told my mother I was going to the store. I remember telling You, "Oh, God, don't let her tell my mother where I've been. I promise I'll be in church every Sunday."

God: She didn't tell your mother, but you didn't keep your promise, did you?

Me: I'm sorry, Lord, I really am. Up until now I thought if I just prayed the Our Father every day, then I could do what I liked. I didn’t expect anything to happen the way it did.

God: Go ahead and finish your prayer.

Me: "For the kingdom and the power and the glory are Yours, now and forever. Amen"

God: Do you know what would bring Me glory? What would really make Me happy?

Me: No, but I'd like to know. I want to please You. I can see how great it would be to really be one of your followers.

God: You just answered the question.

Me: I did?

God: Yes. To have people like you, people who truly love Me, would bring Me the greatest glory. And I see that happening between us. Now that some of these old sins are exposed and out of the way, well, there's no telling what we can do together.

Me: Lord, let's see what we can make of me, okay?

God: Yes, let’s see.

Used with permission from the audio tape “The Lord’s Prayer / Confession” by Don Kimball/Anna Scally,www.cornerstonemedia.org. Please visit this site as they have many other resources to in youth ministry.

REPOST.. from CHRISTIANSTER

Keilah Maria Tablante Bias

My After Work Escape

NOTE: PASTIME at SM MEGAMALL Worlds of FUN.. hehe.. di ko talaga ito mamaster.. :)
Sige lang sayaw lang hanggang maging perfect na!.. ^-^

A CLEANSED PAST

I wanna share what  read about the book I KISSED DATING GOODBYE written by Joshua Harris. I just wanted to tell you guys that the book change my point of view as well, Here are some chapters that I read.. 

A Cleansed Past:
The Room
(Joshua Harris)How Jesus Can Redeem Your Past

I Don’t usually share my dreams with people, but I’d like to tell you about a particularly stirring one I once had.

As Christians, we “know” certain things such as “Jesus Loves me” and “Christ died for the sinners”. We’ve heard this statements countless times, but the dust of familiarity can dim the glory of this simple truths. We have to brush them off and remind ourselves of their life transforming power.

A dream I had one humid night while visiting a pastor in Puerto Rico was once such reminder. It summed up what Jesus Christ did for me and for you.

I share it here after a chapter of striving for purity; we need a reminder of God’s grace. For some, myself included, a discussion of purity is an exercise in regret—it reminds us of my impurity and the times we’ve failed.

Maybe you’ve blown it. Maybe you reflect on past actions and wince with remorse. Purity seems like a lost cause. This dream called”The Room” is
dedicated to you.

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I have found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with a small index-card files.

They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endlessly in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall on the files, the first to catch my attention was one that read “Girls I Have Liked,” I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one.
And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here is written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn’t match.

A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their contents. Some brought joy and sweet memories, others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. A file named”Friends” was next to one marked “Friends I have Betrayed”

The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird: “Books I Have Read,” “Lies I Have Told,” “Comfort I Have Given,” “Jokes I Have Laughed At.” Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: “Things I’ve Yelled at My Brothers.” Others couldn’t laugh at: “Things I Have Done in Anger,” “Things I Have Muttered under My Breath at my Parents.” I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes there were fewer than I hoped.

I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my twenty years to write each of these thousands, possible millions, of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.
When I pulled up the file marked “Songs I Have Listened To,” I realized the file grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn’t find the end of the file, I shut it shamed, not so much by the quality of music, but more by the vast amount of time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file named “Lustful Thoughts,” I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not wiling test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed contents. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded.

Suddenly I felt an almost animal rage. One thought dominated my mind: “No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!” In an insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn’t matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took the file at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it.
Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot.

Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it. The title bore”People I Have Shared the Gospel with.” The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands, I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that the hurt started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key.

But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please, not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus.

I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the card. I couldn’t bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one?

Finally He turned and looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was pity that didn’t anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands, and began to sign His name over mine on each card.

“No!” I shouted, rushing to Him. All I could find to say was “No, no,” As I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn’t be on these cards. But there it was, written on red, so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood.

He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and continued to sign the cars. I didn’t think I’ll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walked back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, “It is finished.”
I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There
were still cards to be written.

More than a Nice Story

This is more than a heart-warming story. It’s not imaginary. The dream is a picture of what Christ truly accomplished when He died on the cross. He literally took our guilt on Himself. And this meant more than just having His name o a card. It meant receiving the punishment from God that all those sinful words and actions deserved.

Here is what important to understand: It is only by repenting of our sins and putting our faith in Christ that this substitution can take place. We each have a “room” containing our sinful deeds and thoughts. But just because we admit this or feel bad about it doesn’t mean were forgiven. Remorse can’t save anyone. Only faith in Christ can. Only trust in His death and resurrection for us.

Whose Name Is on Your Cards

The Bible teaches us that one day we’ll each stand before God to be judged. “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). All the “cards” from our life will be dumped out before Him for review.
The hope I have for that day isn’t that I’ve written enough good cards to make up for the bad. My hope for that day is the fact that I’ve put my faith in God’s perfect Son. He has already paid the penalty for my sin. Even though I deserve to be punished, even though I’m guilty, the name of Jesus will be on those cards.
For sinners like you and me, there’s no better news. We can be forgiven. Every man and woman who believes on Jesus can be cleansed—no matter how dark the stain of sin.

“So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12). Admittedly, some will have more to lay aside than others—more memories, more pain, more regrets. But the past needn’t determine our future. We have choices right now about how we’ll live. Will we set our hearts on God and walk in His paths?

“Let us behave decently,” the passage in Romans continues, “ …not in sexual immorality and debauchery…. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (vv. 13-14).

Not one of us can stand completely pure before God. We are all sinners. But no matter how filthy the rags of our defilement may be in a moment of repentance and faith the heart turned toward God loses its impurity. God clothes us in Christ’s righteousness. He no longer sees our sin. He transfers Jesus’ purity to us. So see yourself as God sees you—clothed in radiant white, pure, justified.
Maybe you have a particular memory that continues to hound you, a memory that makes you feel unworthy of God’s love and forgiveness.

turn away from it. Don’t replay that moment or any others like it. If you’ve rejected all those behaviors, God has promised to remember them no more.
(Hebrews 8:12). Move on. A lifetime of purity awaits you.

GOD said "NO"

I asked God to take away my habit

     God said, No.

It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.

        God said,No.

His spirit is whole, His body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience.

         God said,No.

Patience is a byproduct of tribulation, it isn’t granted, It is learned.

I asked God to give me happiness.

       God said, No.

I give you blessing; happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me pain.

        God said, No.

Sufferings draws you apart from 

worldly cares and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow.

        God said, No.

You must grow on your own!’

but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.

       God said, No.

I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.

I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me


repost: from my old blog http://marinel-angelstar.blog.friendster.com/2008/09/god-said-no/#comments