Our God is Greater

Honestly, my music preference of choice is not the popular praise songs that we hear most often, only because I feel that they are too repetitious and should seriously try to give a little more to the listener, but something about the lyrics in the song "Our God is Greater" really sparks a note in my heart and in my mind, especially the chorus. Our God is Greater than anything, anyone, any obstacle, any enemy, any distractions, even our own desires and what we consider right and wrong. God is greater than all. That I just think is so powerful, i feel like leaving  blank there: Our God is Greater than ____(blank)____ and if you could think of some great things to put into that blank that applies to you and you feel like sharing, then leave a comment.  =)  God bless friends..

CAPO 4

.
VERSE 1:
Em                  C                    G
Water you turned into wine
Em                 C                       G
opened the eyes of the blind
Am
there’s no one like you
D
none like you
VERSE 2:
Em              C                         G
Into the darkness you shine
Em                C              G
out of the ashes we rise
Am
there is no one like you
D
none like you
CHORUS:
Em
Our God is greater
C
Our God is stronger
G                                              D
God you are higher than any other
Em
Our God is Healer
C
Awesome in power
G                         D
Our God, Our God


Em
and if our God is for us
C
then who could ever stop us
G
and if our God is with us
D
then what could stand against

Em
Our God is greater
C
Our God is stronger
G                                              D
God you are higher than any other
Em
Our God is Healer
C
Awesome in power
G                         D
Our God, Our God

Ancient Words by Michael W. Smith

 This is one of my all time favorite songs, especially when there's a harmony involved. Awesome song. The words are very powerful. The Lord truly used Mr Michael W. Smith to write such beautiful words to glorify the word of our Father in Heaven.

Link to instrumental: HERE

Ancient Words Lyrics
(1)Holy words,long preserved,
for our work in this world,
they resound with God's own heart,
oh let the ancient words impart.
(2)Words of life, words of hope,
give us strength, help us cope,
in this world where e're we roam,
ancient words will guide us home.
Chorus:
Ancient words, ever true
changing me and changing you,
we have come with open hearts,
oh let the ancient words impart.
(3)Holy words of our faith,
handed down to this age,
came to us through sacrifice,
oh heed the faithful words of Christ.
(4)Holy words long preserved,
for our work in this world,
they resound with God's own heart,
oh let the ancient words impart.
Repeat chorus:x4
(5)we have come with open hearts
oh let the ancient words impart.

A Bible Study on the Godhead

I do believe that the Trinity is one of the most complicated Bible Study subjects to do because we can never fully know about the Godhead. But I've heard a couple of good sermons, and have done Bible studies with myself and others and would like to present my findings with everyone.  =) One of the sermons I listened to was by Peter Gregory and can be found here and it was a blessing to my understanding. This Bible study has been heavily influenced by the verses presented in that sermon. May God bless you, please pray before reading, and Enjoy.

The Godhead

• Some believe that there is one God playing multiple roles
• Metamorphing God/shapeshifter – sounds Pagan
• Some believe that there are three, but God the Father is supreme
• Say that the Holy Spirit is a product of the Father and Son, which isn’t Biblical
• Matthew 28:19  The great commission, Father, Son, Holy Ghost, so if the mission was to show others these three beings, we better get to know them personally right?
• To explain the Trinity perfectly would take around three hours, if that can be done at all, so bear with me

Three Ways to Explain Trinity – Character, Job, Unity

• Genesis 1:26, “us” and “our” Since before our beginning, we see this multiplicity
• Godhead – is referred to in the Bible 3 times, and means Divine Being/ True Deity
• Acts 17:29 ( Romans 1:20, Col 2:9 look at later)
• So there is a body of Gods here right? So is God one, or many? Many
• we see many, so then we must understand them seperately. let's see if the Bible actually does that for us

Character

• Exodus 6:3 -  Almighty /Self Existing
• No beginning or end, isn’t sustained by means related to us
• Isaiah 40:28 Creator
• Note the way that He describes Himself as “everlasting God, creator”
• So He cannot be created because He is the creator, goes with self existing.
• 1 John 4:8        God is love
• Everlasting, all powerful, self-sustaining, creator and is love. This is essential, you either have love or hate, 50/50 is not ok, and be sustaining and creating. Hate destroys, love creates and so HAS to be in order to self exist and create
• If I hated my best friend – I would cut things off with her. End of relationship. 00Take a marriage, when you’re in love you want to get married – creation. God calls himself a creator, by default, He is a God of love, by default, a creator. See the ring. But can love be fulfilled with just one?
• No. Ecc. 4:9,11-12  two is better than one, three is better than two
• So if He was by Himself could He fulfill love? No, because love always gives. And if there was no one to love but self, and you cancel yourself out. And then stop existing. So in order for Him to love, then there has to be another present in order to love.
• Need more than one in order to love
• Daniel 9:14       God is righteous (self existing, almighty, love)
• God is not a sinful person as we are. That would be like serving a human king who has flaws, makes poor judgments (no offense to David and Solomon), but they are not perfect, so God is righteous.
• In order for God to be righteous, there has to be at least three
• Proverbs 12:17 – so what is related to righteousness? Truth
• Jesus says I am the way the truth and the life
• All three can say that about themselves, they all say that they are truth, and so they are all righteous
• So how can someone, by Himself, testify himself to be the truth and to say that whatever they say is truth – you cannot prove yourself, however, God can because He is not only God, but because everything is justified in that He has witnesses. A witness can be one or two, but according to the Bible, one witness is not enough
• Isaiah 43:9  in order to say something is truth, you need witnesses, lets find out how many you need tho
• Deu 17:6  so one witnesses is not enough, you need at least two
• Matthew 18:16 in order to establish truth, righteousness, a word, need at least two/three witnesses
• So you have one, then two witnesses to back you up
• So God can’t go ahead and say, I am the God who wants the best for you, and us believe Him unless He has proof or witnesses of that. Henceforth, the two other members of the Godhead serve as a witness for that .
• So does the Bible say that they work as witnesses for each other?
• 1 John 5:7, Matthew 3:16 (at Jesus’ baptism, all there for baptism)
• So thru the character of God, do you see the importance of the Three – love, witness

WORK Seperately

• They are the same in being and character, consider that they all have slightly different roles…. God the Father is the giver, God the Son the gift, God the Holy Spirit helps you to experience the gift
• God the Father - Giver

§         Ephesians 4:6 – God the Father is above all

§         1 Chronicles 29:12 – God the Father has all power.

• Matthew 7:11, James 1:17, 0now are there any characters in the Bible that represent God? Abraham (Father of every nation) in Hebrews 11:17. John 3:16
• Jesus – the Gift
• John 1:14, 17:5 Is our Creator, OT  Isaiah 48:12-13, Job 38:4-7, Isaiah 48:16
• He is and has been our mediator since the fall/ Reveal to us the character of God
• Colossians 1:12-14, 17
• John 4:10 (he refers to himself as the gift), Rom 5:17, 6:23

§         Luke 24:38-39

• The Holy Spirit – Experience. Giver/ Understand Helper

·         Such an active body of the Godhead – Gen 1 He is moving

·        John 16:13 – Holy Spirit speaks, and hears / Luke 12:12 – Holy Spirit teaches.

·        Acts 8:26, 29 – Spirit speaks. Distinctly speaks.

·        John 14:25  The gift of the Holy Spirit is also a gift, but it is the gift to understand the gift

·        Ephesians 5:18 – a language that you need to experience it by being filed with it, in other words, what is being filled in us? Rom 5:5  So he helps us to be filled with the love of God, and when we’re connected with that then amazing things happen

·        Mark 13:11  His role is to also enable us to speak – Acts 2

·        Rom 8:1 enables us to walk in God’s spirit, not after our own flesh

·        Gal 5:25 helps us to bear fruit

o       He convicts hearts. He intercedes Romans 8- In summary. The Holy Spirit gives us communication with God.

HOW THEY WORK TOGETHER

·        What about One God one Glory?  God is usually referring to “Lord”, so when we obey God, we are not saying one God being, it means we only need to obey one voice because they are in perfect unison – they do not contradict one another – not chaotic

o       Deuteronomy 6:4  they are one in obedience

·        Godhead worked together for our salvation.

o       Jesus, son of God Redeemer, born of the Spirit, Sent by the Father.

·        2 Corinthians 13:13-14

o       Role of Each

·        Philippians 2:1-2

o       God is our example of unity.

Can we choose today to accept that the Trinity is Father Son and Holy Ghost, all of whom love us, want to save us, and have a relationship with us?

The Ministry of Healing Page 1-42

One of the books I am reading, which is quickly becoming my favorite is The Ministry of Healing. If you are a Christian, no matter what denomination, if you believe in Jesus, get this book. I especially recommend this for those going into the health field. You see more how Jesus valued health in all forms while also how we can help each other be healthier with lifestyle. Most of the conditions we see in patients today are due to lifestyle choices, and if as (future) healthcare providers could understand more about keeping the body clean and stable, then we could more accurately and less hypocritically aid a patient in doing the same thing. You can acquire yourself a copy Here for about $2-5 and be blessed by the beauty in that book. I decided to share some of my thoughts to a portion of the book here below. Enjoy and God bless.

Reaction to Ministry of Healing 1-42

            What I truly appreciated about the reading was the sheer and beautiful focus that it had on Jesus. His ministry here on Earth was so pure and powerful and I enjoyed immensely how Ellen White described the way that He interacted with those around Him. His attention to the poor and to those that may not have the most or the brightest attention thrust upon them were to Him as precious as anyone else, and when I read the excerpt, all I could truly see was that Jesus knew how to love other people. That is such an incredible fact. In addition, His manner was one that drew others to Him. White says, in page 23, “His instruction was so direct, His illustrations were so appropriate, His words so sympathetic and cheerful, that His Hearers were charmed.” Is that not how we should be drawing people as well – in being joyful, sympathetic, full of love, and confident in what our Father has promised that we draw all men to Jesus? Since it is in fact His light that should be shining through us, I think that would make perfect sense.

            One other thing that I found so essential that we can learn from Jesus is the communion that He had with His Father. White describes how even though He knew that people needed to be ministered, He did not neglect that necessary and desired time with God the Father. Amidst school and the hustle and bustle of life, it seems extremely important to never lose sight of the fact that we need to keep prayer with God consistent. This is something that I struggle with because I’m always running around, but Jesus was so much more busier and more popular that I am yet He found it prayer important. I enjoyed the reading.

Health Bible Study: Rest

Rest : Being at Peace

These days, everyone is running around? Pressure in work, family, school – Where is there time to rest?

Well, one should ask ”Why is rest so important?”

• The word REST is found 300X in the Bible,  and means to be still or be at peace
• Matthew 11:28-30   If it wasn’t that important, Jesus would have never mentioned it

• Physical and Spiritual Rest
• Psalms 23
• Physical Aspect with a spiritual application
• Exodus 20:8-11, Hebrew 4:2-11
• Spiritual Aspect – Resting with God
• Illustration: Imagine this couple with a great number of friends and they hang out with these friends every time that they are together. Well, eventually that couple is going to need some alone time to get to no one another more and strengthen the relationship right? God only asks us to be with Him always, but only singles out one day where He really wants that one-on-one time with us.

• Wait Priscilla, I can’t just take a day off? I need money, I need to do homework!
• Joshua 21:44    God’s Promise
• Enemies could be anything! Your mind, worries, bills, bosses, our habits…
• Daniel 2:1-19  Element of Trust
• Note: when Daniel went into vision, he fell asleep – the brother knocked out!
• If I was going to die because of a crazy King like Nebuchadnezzar, I would have ran, begged, cried,  gone into fetal position… but Daniel goes to bed…. Why? Because he knew God would keep him safe!
• Your physical and spiritual variables are intertwined. We trust in God to sleep, to rest in Him, and in turn, our bodies show more rest in how we are…. Its very sad when you see exhausted people with black under their eyes, they have worry wrinkles, and they’re like “Yeah, I’m Christian…” Are you sure?
• And it goes deeper: Sabbath is a physical manifestation of spiritual trust! Where we thank God that we don’t have to worries about the cares of this life.
• Studies have even shown that those that take a Sabbath rest, actually do better at work, at school, and better daily living performance.
• During the time that you sleep, the body starts to detox and creates hormones that help you to look/feel younger. Ladies, say goodbye to makeup and hello to sleep. 
• In fact, your heart actually beats slower on Saturday… Really think about it

• This is definitely something to pray over (myself included), because we get so involved in exams, in drama, in work that we forget how fragile we are
• If the Devil doesn’t make you bad, he makes you busy! Too busy to rest, pray, to build relationships....
• As you get older, sleep quantity is not as affected as sleep quality.
• TIPS – Go to bed early, wake early, don’t eat heavy foods at night, don’t eat late, don’t have ambient noise as you’re sleeping, pray, pray, pray…
• So if you start making healthy habits now, that better rest you will get later

• So, can we allow God to help us trust Him and rest – sleep and to give God His Sabbath as well?

Great Resources

Hey everyone! I know that it can get very frustrating sometimes having a Bible question and no one around to give an answer, or even putting a study/speech together but wanting more information. So here is a list of all the many resources that help me get to know more about the Bible and about the world around us. Enjoy!  ;)

Audioverse
https://www.audioverse.org/english/
Free sermons from some of your favorite speakers on dozens of topics. An amazing resource for any learning Christian. Can download for free as well!

Amazing Discoveries
http://amazingdiscoveries.org/media
Led by Wallter Vieth and Victor Gill, Amazing Discoveries is one of the most detailed resource sites on sermons, articles, and videos on today's society, Christianity, and archaeology. AD focuses much of its media on health reform, secret societies, and occult worship that is actually found in much of the church today.

Amazing Facts
http://www.amazingfacts.org/free-stuff.aspx
Amazing Facts. led by Doug Batchelor, has put together a free resource center full of Bible Studies, videos, questions and answers, and even a free Bible School! Its incredible! Check it out.

LightBearers/ARISE - An Evangelism, Discipleship and Training Ministry.
http://www.lightbearers.org/
A site featuring works from David Assherick, Nathan Renner, Ty Gibson, and Jeffrey Rosario to name a few. It is a great school with a ton of detailed materials on how to know and defend one's faith.

ARME Bible Camp
http://www.armebiblecamp.com/resources.html
Come see how an ARME of young adults are striving to spread the Gospel throughout the world! Great resources! Check out their Prayer Room resource as well.

GYC- Generation of Youth for Christ
http://gycweb.org/
Some of the most amazing and honest sermons I have ever heard pertaining to faith, creationism, Ellen G. White, and prophecy.

It Is Written
http://studies.itiswritten.com/
One of my all time favorite sites led by Mark Finley and Shawn Boonstra. It contains a load of answers to so many questions concerning God, Jesus, the Bible, all of it. Enjoy!!!

Experience at 8:55 PM

This experience happened my 2nd year of canvassing, first/second week I believe.

It was nearing 9 oclock and so we were running trying to finish the streets we were at. As I was nearing my last house, I noticed that the garage was open, and it was very dark inside. Suddenly, out of the blackness comes two dogs (a pit and a shepherd) running towards me. I thought they were going to attack, so I prepared to defend myself with my books (I know "don't damage the books"). I then noticed that they were wagging their tails and they actually turned out to be really sweet dogs and they followed me to the front door of the house I was at.When they woman answered, she shooed away the dogs and went on this mini rant about how her neighbors were gone and these were their dogs and she was fed up with everything. 

So I made quick friends talking to her about the dogs and her troubles then quickly handed her our book Peace Above the Storm, and her whole demeanor changed. She looked at the book and began to tell me how she had just finished a phone call where her family had told her that her father has Alzheimer. I then shared with her how Alzheimers runs in my family as well, and how when my grandfather died from Parkinsons, my mother and grandmother really had to pull together and that this book truly helped them. I remember she went inside with the book (always let them take the books with them - assuming their coming back of course), and she came back with the book and her checkbook. She sat down on her small bench and started to cry. I can't remember word for word what she said, but she was saying how God had answered her prayer and knew that she would need peace right now. She was clutching the book to her and kept saying "This is my book. This is for me." I held her hand and started crying with her and was able to pray for her. 

God was and is so good, and many times the circumstances may not seem divine, like those dogs. God's hand, however, moved so mightily and that was a beautiful experience for me that day. Bare in mind, these are not rare occasions, so many people have similar experiences. If you have experience where it didn't seem like God was there but then at the end everything made sense, feel free to share.  =)  GB!