Monthly Archives: April 2018

BAY OF ISLANDS: HOLE IN THE ROCK

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BAY OF ISLANDS: Hole in the Rock.

“LIFE IS NOT MEASURED BY THE NUMBER OF BREATHS WE TAKE BUT BY THE PLACES AND MOMENTS THAT TAKE OUR BREATH AWAY.”  – Anonymous

Going through the hole in the rock in the Bay of Islands is not only a place that takes your breath away, but also a moment that takes your breath away.

Sermon Outline – OT – NIV

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“‘I have been your leader from my youth until this day. Here I stand.

1 Samuel 12:2,3

Intr.:

Testify against me in the presence of the LORD and his anointed.

  1. Whose ox have I taken?
  2. Whose donkey have I taken?
  3. Whom have I cheated?
  4. Whom have I oppressed?
  5. From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes?

End:

If I have done any of these, I will make it right.'”

SAMUEL ASKED: Whose donkey have I taken?

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“YOU CAN MAKE A PROFESSION OF CHRISTIANITY, YOU CAN BE IN THE VISIBLE CHURCH, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN  THAT YOU ARE OF NECESSITY  AMONG GOD’S OWN PEOPLE.” – D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

BEING CONTENT

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At the beach.

“Enjoy the simple pleasure of being exactly where you are,” is the message I am taking home from reading the Grapevine magazine, (Issue 1 2018) I picked up at the local library here in Kaitaia.

It is also a reminder of the message in the Bible where the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 4:11:

“…, FOR I HAVE LEARNED TO BE CONTENT, WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.”

In one of his many sermons D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains the precise meaning of the word “content”. It means being independent of circumstances, independent of surroundings, independent of  conditions.

I am especially interested in the meaning “independent of surroundings”.

I really love the story in the Bible in Acts chapter 16, which tells us about what Paul and Silas did in prison.

D. Martyn Loyd-Jones mentions also the story as an example that Paul and Silas were independent of surroundings.

I love especially  verse 25 in the 16th chapter: There it says that Paul and Silas were not only praying, but that they were also singing hymns to God.

And what happened? The other prisoners were listening to them. There are so many prisoners round about us, spiritually speaking. Let us also praise the Lord, that they will listen to us.

Read also Second Chronicles chapter 20. There we find the story of Jehoshaphat. I love that story. Please read chapter 20.

Eckhard Tolle says, “STRESS IS CAUSED BY BEING ‘HERE’ BUT WANTING TO BE ‘THERE.'”