God's kingdom.

2012-03-05T06:17:00.001-08:00

Ryan-lajoie.blogspot.com

SAVOR THE COFFEE, NOT THE CUPS

2012-03-05T06:08:00.001-08:00

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit the conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in their work and lives.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups – porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite, telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the alumni had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: “Notice that all of the nice looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.

What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups…and then you began eyeing each other’s cups.

————————————-

Now consider this: Life is the coffee; your job, money, and position in society are the cups.

They are just tools to hold and contain Life. The type of cup one has does not define, nor change the quality of Life a person lives. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us.”

God makes the coffee, man chooses the cups. The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

Enjoy your coffee!

I WAS ONLY WAITING FOR YOU TO CALL

2012-03-05T06:04:00.000-08:00

The boy walked along the ocean shore . . . trying not to stray.
He looked up to his father saying, “Dad, I want to play.”

His father looked upon him, with love showing in his eyes.
“Do what you want to, my son . . . but do not leave my side.”

“I would never leave you Daddy, I love you way too much.”
But the boy took a step away, out of his father’s range of touch.

He walked through the surf, the waves tickling one toe.
“If I take one more step in . . .” he thought, “Father will never know.”

His father called out to him, “Son, to me remain true!”
The boy thought with glee . . . “At the moment I don’t need you!”

His father felt a sadness, but he held his tongue.
Sometimes lessons need to be learned . . . even when so young.

The boy stepped out a little further . . . the water covering his waist.
His father spoke with urgency . . . his father spoke with haste.

“My son, come back to me,” he said, “The day is almost done!”.
“Not yet, Dad,” the boy yelled, “I’m having too much fun!”

But the boy did not have his father’s insight so he could not yet tell,
The tide was coming in fast . . . there would be no time to yell.

“Father!” he tried to scream, as the water covered his head.

“I need you now, Daddy!” was what the boy had said.

And in a single instant his father was by his side.
“I thought you left me, Daddy . . . I thought you went to hide.”

The father looked upon his son . . . a tear streaming down his cheek.
The boy looked upon his father . . . and cried the sobs of the meek.

“I would never leave you son . . . for I love you just the same.”

“I was only waiting . . . for you to call upon my name.”

MEETING GOD

2012-03-05T05:58:00.000-08:00

There once was a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of root beer, and he started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry so he offered her a Twinkie.

He gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Once again, she smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps; he turned around, ran back to the old woman, and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later; his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, “What did you do today that made you so happy?” He replied, “I had lunch with God.” But before his mother could respond, he added, “You know what? She’s got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen!”

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, “Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?” She replied, “I ate Twinkies in the park with God.” But before her son responded, she added, “You know he’s much younger than I expected.”

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, and honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.

Embrace all equally!

MY CHILD, I FORGIVE YOU

2012-02-28T05:18:00.000-08:00

Lord I am your Child
You put me in the Palm of your hand
And you go before the heart of God the Father
With all my darkest longings and confessions.

The darkness I confess
Is shed in the presence of your light,
And relinquishes my stain!

As I confess, I am cleansed
By your precious blood
Once again.

And I will partake in the Communion meal,
At peace and reconciled with the Father
And His unending Love and Mercy.

WHY DO WE CRUCIFY HIM AGAIN?

2012-02-28T05:04:00.000-08:00

I say something rude
to someone who’s lost,
And I’ve ruinded my witness,
But they will pay the cost.
So I nail in the nails.

Can anyone see the Lord through me,
Or do they simply see my sins?
Am I living the life Christ wants me to,
Am I living the life of man?
So I plunge in the spear.

And when I fail to pray,
and my conversations with Him fade,
Does He patiently wait for my call,
Though it causes Him pain?
And I place the thorns upon His brow.

I lead a life of double standards,
One day good, the next one bad.
Can He quietly stand by
When He sees all I could have had?
And I ridicule my Lord once again.

For you see,
Each time we turn our backs,
and return to the world of sin,
It is then that you and I,
We crucify Him again.

I GIVE YOU

2012-02-28T04:55:00.000-08:00

I give you the sun,
and I give you the rain.
I give you the air to breathe,
and I give you the grain.

I give you the mountains to climb,
and I give you the sea to explore.
I give you words to rhyme,
and I give you lions that roar.

But you never look up once to thank me
for the blessings I have given thee.
And you’re always much too busy to think of me,
yet I love you and will wait for you,
pray you’ll come to see.

I give you the birds that fly,
and I give you the earth and sky.
I give flowers that bloom,
and I give you the stars and moon.

But you never look up once to thank me
for the blessings I have given thee.
And you’re always much too busy think of me,
yet I love you and will wait for you,
pray you’ll come to see.

2012-02-27T09:18:00.001-08:00

sweet is his love, tender his care and deep is his love...
www.ryan-lajoie.blogspot.com is all you need to experience such a fellowship with the Lord.

ANOTHER DAY

2012-02-27T09:15:00.000-08:00

Another day is dawning
Another day’s begun
Another day to turn to God
and pray, “Thy will be done”

A day to slay doubt’s dragon,
To know within your soul
That as you give yourself to Him
He’ll bless and make you whole.

A day to live with purpose
A day to show you care
When others turn to you distraught
Confused or in despair

A day to share God’s blessings
In quiet countless ways
That touch the heart with hope and joy
And brighten cloudy days

A day for sweet rejoicing
For gratitude and praise
Because His love enfolds you
Both now, and all your days.

A WALK WITH GOD

2012-02-27T09:04:00.000-08:00

The gentleness of Bethlehem
And the horror of Calvary
Emanated from God’s love
For all of His creation
But especially humanity.

The gift of His Spirit
Is the flow of Love
Into our hearts
For God is thee Lover.

In return we must
Be open to Jesus,
Trust in Him,
And give Him space
In our hearts
For the gift He bestows.

For that is what life
Is all about: A walk with God
In and as part of Creation
On our way to where
The Word reigns forever.

Thus, we must be centred upon
Jesus, that is, God centred,
And in all things centred
Upon love For God is Love.

LIFE OF JESUS

2012-02-27T08:58:00.000-08:00

From the mystery of a Trinity

A promised coming to save mankind

Becoming man through a Virgin’s purity

An exacting problem for the mind

For thirty years experiencing obscurity

Preparing humbly for an oblation

To free the souls of humanity

From the depths of sin and perdition

Later preaching and working miracles

Sowing virtue like springtime seed

Endorsing the old laws ancient articles

And preaching love as the new laws creed

In those three years building a body

Overseen by a man of the sea

Then finally rejected as a nobody

He accepted death on a Calvary tree

Alongside thieves He slowly died there

Confirming death by an open heart

Releasing streams of saving care

Which set his followers from others apart

In another’s tomb they finally laid Him

But within a few days He arose again

The conqueror of death and destructive sin

Who from within The Trinity now does reign

THE PATH OF HOPE

2012-02-27T08:49:00.000-08:00

The path to Hope, is not far away

Look around, don’t go astray

Life is a journey, Life is short

Life is amazing, Life is comfort

Take my hand and walk with me

Life gives us clues, not the map you see

Don’t wait for better things to come

When Faith is Hope, Hope becomes

Enjoy what life brings your way

Live it now, every single day

Don’t sit and wonder, what might have been

For this alone, is a sinful sin

Take a chance on what tomorrow may be

Open your eyes and you will see

The gift of life is for me and you

Pick it up, this Hope is too

Be good to each other as each other can be

Love one another and you will see

Hope is there leading the way

To greener pastures is what they say

Hope is there, do you hear it call

It is for one, it is for all

Bad times will be a thing of the past

The Hope of salvation is there to last

Love one another as Jesus told us to do

Forgive one another as He forgives you

HAIL REDEEMER

2012-02-27T08:39:00.000-08:00

Hail Redeemer of our race
The Paschal Lamb of Love
Born as man to Mary pure
As Angels sang above

On Calvary You saved our souls
By the shedding of Your blood
Accepting death by Father’s will
As you hung there on the wood

Hail redeemer of our race
The Paschal Lamb of Love
Intensify our love for You
As through life we move

And when our mortal life is o’er
May we to Your Heart wend
Adherents of Your Holy Cross
True lovers to the end!

O!! MAN, TURN BACK TO GOD

2012-02-27T08:37:00.000-08:00

For He is The Creator of what’s good

Who because of sin offered Jesus

His beloved Son to save our kind

Oh throughout world history

Others were placed on pedestals

But only Jesus can bring us joy

Protecting us from cancerous sin

And as The Spirit via His followers

Wrote the New Testament of His word

Our Lord established His Church upon

Peter to ensure His truth would be heard.

IN YOUR ARMS DADDY

2012-02-27T08:30:00.000-08:00

Be still God’s dearest child
You are safe in the arms of Jesus
He is holding you close on His lap

He opens His hand asking you to place
all your cares and worries in His palms
Place all your beloved ones in His palms
He will take care of them

He knows your heart better than yourself baby
He is holding your head close to His chest and
asking you to be happy and confident in the Lord

You are very valuable and precious in His eyes
He is ready to listen to you every second
And unlike others He will understand
your pains and tears the way you feel it

What more do you need than His love
He will give you all you need
All praises to our Sweetest Jesus
All Praises to our most loving Heavenly Father

I SURRENDER MY GIFT

2012-02-27T08:24:00.001-08:00

I surrender My Gift
to Him who set me free.
I will follow His precepts
and light the way for me.

I thought I’d find happiness
in things I could buy,
but soon came to realize
they had left me dry.

I worked long and hard
and reached goals with pride,
but when I arrived,
I felt empty inside.

I then sought fame and fortune
to find peace and joy,
but the cost was My Gift,
it nearly destroyed.

So My Gift I surrender,
to Him who created me;
I will follow His leading,
till His face I see.

NO REGRET

2012-02-26T18:56:00.000-08:00

Isn’t it good at the end of the day,
To look up at God and be able to say,
“Dear Lord, I helped someone today.”
But isn’t it sad if instead we must say,
“Dear Lord, I hurt someone today,
I drove the nails a little bit deeper,
And forgot that I am my brother’s keeper.”
Isn’t it better when the day is done,
To know that you have injured no one?
From the time of your waking, till you lie down to sleep,
Remember the promises that we should keep,
To love one another as He loves us too,
And you’ll never regret any good that you do.

THE PESSIMIST AND THE OPTIMIST

2012-02-25T04:10:00.000-08:00

A family had twin boys whose only resemblance to each other was their looks. If one felt it was too hot, the other thought it was too cold. If one said the TV was too loud, the other claimed the volume needed to be turned up. Opposite in every way, one was an eternal optimist, the other a doom & gloom pessimist.

Just to see what would happen, on the twins’ birthday their father loaded the pessimist’s room with every imaginable toy and game. The optimist’s room he loaded with horse manure.

That night the father passed by the pessimist’s room and found him sitting amid his new gifts crying bitterly.

“Why are you crying?” the father asked.

“Because my friends will be jealous, I’ll have to read all these instructions before I can do anything with this stuff, I’ll constantly need batteries, and my toys will eventually get broken,” answered the pessimist twin.

Passing the optimist twin’s room, the father found him dancing for joy in the pile of manure. “What are you so happy about?” he asked.

To which his optimist twin replied, “There’s got to be a pony in here somewhere!”

THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA

2012-02-25T04:06:00.000-08:00

After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church’s pastor once again slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit, and gave a very brief introduction of his childhood friend. With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit to speak, “A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific Coast,” he began, “when a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright, and the three were swept into the ocean.”

The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story. He continued, “Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life….to which boy he would throw the other end of the line. He only had seconds to make the decision.

The father knew that his son was a Christian, and he also knew that his son’s friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves. As the father yelled out, ‘I love you, son!’ he threw the line to his son’s friend. By the time he pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beyond the raging swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered.”

By this time, the two teenagers were sitting straighter in the pew, waiting for the next words to come out of the old man’s mouth. “The father,” he continued, “knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus, and he could not bear the thought of his son’s friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son. How great is the love of God that He should do the same for us.” With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room.

Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man’s side. “That was a nice story,” politely started one of the boys, “but I don’t think it was very realistic for a father to give up his son’s life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian.”

“Well, you’ve got a point there,” the old man replied, glancing down at his worn Bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face, and he once again looked up at the boys and said, “It sure isn’t very realistic, is it? But I’m standing here today to tell you that THAT story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His Son for me.”

“You see….I was that father, and your pastor was my son’s friend.”

MORE THAN A TOUCH

2012-02-25T04:00:00.000-08:00

“Are you Brother Bo?” asked the nervous fifty year old woman.

I was peacefully seated, waiting for the prayer meeting to start when this frenzied lady appeared before me.

“Uh…gee… ,”I stammered, “I don’t know. What will you do to me if I say yes?”

“Oh my gosh! You are him!” she cried aloud. She started jumping up and down, her hands shaking.

“Ma’am, whatever you’re accusing me of, I didn’t do it!”

“Brother Bo, I’m Liza, and ever since I read KERYGMA, I’ve always dreamt of seeing you face-to-face. ..and here you are! Oh my goodness…” her breath caught in her throat, “I think I’m going to die!”

“No please, don’t! Not here! They’ll think I did it.”

“Brother Bo, can I just touch you?”

“What?!”

“Just one slight tiny touch, “she pleaded, “perhaps your holiness will rub off on me..”

Her trembling forefinger was now poised aloft, ready to touch me on my right shoulder. Believe me, I had never felt so creepy in my entire life. Suddenly, I felt like an ancient relic being venerated.

I stood up abruptly. “I’m afraid that’s not possible, Liza.”

“But…” Her face turned pale and totally devastated.

I opened my arms wide and smiled my best smile. “But can I give you a warm hug instead?”

It felt good giving her the hug.

When Liza left, I sat down and the truth hit me in a fresh way:

God’s Love.

All we needed was a touch. But He decided to give us much more.

On the First Good Friday ever, He opened His arms on the Cross.

And that was the greatest embrace of all time.

JESUS IS WILLING, BE HEALED!!!

2012-02-22T11:07:00.000-08:00

Matthew 8:3

3Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.”…

Do you know that it is God’s will for you to be healed? In fact, Jesus always healed the sick who came to Him. The blind, lame, maimed, mute, deaf and demon-possessed — He healed them all! (Matthew 8:16)

The Bible says that he who has seen Jesus has seen the Father. (John 14:9) You want to see what God is like? Look at Jesus! He never gave sickness to anybody. You never find Jesus looking at a person, a fine specimen of a man, and saying, “Come here. You are too healthy. Receive some leprosy!” In fact, when a leper came to Him for healing, Jesus, full of compassion, told the leper, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

Unfortunately, there are some Christians who say, “It is God’s will for me to be sick. God has some purpose, some mysterious purpose for my situation. It is all part of His divine plan and we shall all know in the sweet by and by, the reason why!” But these same people go to their doctors to get well. They take their medication and rest. Why do they do that if they really believe that God wants them sick? Doesn’t make sense, does it?

Come on, what makes perfect sense is this: God wants you well. He wants you whole. His will is for you to be healed! In fact, He is so willing that He took all your sicknesses and diseases upon His own body, so that you don’t have to suffer them today! He allowed Himself to be beaten and scourged, so that by His scourging — by His stripes — you are healed! (Isaiah 53:5) Since He has already suffered the sickness on your behalf, why should you suffer it today?

So my friend, if you are sick, know that God did not give you the disease. Read every healing miracle that Jesus did in the Gospels and see how Jesus is the Lord who heals you. (Exodus 15:26) Hear His gracious words, “I am willing, be healed,” and know that they are as much for you today as they were for the leper!

WORSHIP AS YOU ARE

2012-02-22T10:56:00.000-08:00

Ephesians 5:27

27that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Have you been to a worship service where you stood with your hands raised, ready to worship God, only to hear the worship leader say, “Before we worship God, let’s all search our hearts”? Then, as you search your heart, before long, you dig up something that you don’t like. The next thing you know, your hands are no longer raised and soon, you find yourself sitting down — you don’t feel good worshiping God any more.

My friend, I have good news for you. Come and worship Him as you are. Come into God’s presence Jesus-conscious, forgiveness-conscious and grace-conscious! Come into God’s presence bringing only Jesus the spotless Lamb of God as your offering.

Your worshiping God is like the times God’s people in the Old Testament brought their offerings to the priest. The priest examined the animal sacrifice to ensure that it was without blemish. The priest did not examine the sinner. If the animal was without blemish, God accepted the animal sacrifice as well as the offerer who brought the animal.

So when you come into God’s presence, don’t do any self-examination and be discouraged when you find faults in your life. God does not examine you. He sees you through the full value, and all the loveliness and acceptance of His Son. (Ephesians 1:6) He sees you holy and without blemish!

Remember the woman who was referred to as a sinner, possibly a prostitute? She went to the house of the Pharisee who was hosting Jesus and wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair. (Luke 7:36–50) That was her act of worship.

She came to Him as she was. Yes, she knew that she had sinned, but she worshiped Jesus first because of who He is. She was Jesus-conscious. Then, she heard Jesus say, “Your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 7:48) She received the forgiveness she needed from Him.

Whatever you need from the Savior, come to Him as you are. Worship Him for who He is and then you will hear Him say, “Go your way. Your restoration has come. Your prosperity is here. You are healed. You have been made whole!”

LIVE ABOVE THE SUN

2012-02-22T10:48:00.000-08:00

John 10:10

10… I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

When you are not enjoying abundant life, you will feel as if life is full of toil. In your heart, life is meaningless and empty. You feel like someone “grasping for the wind”. (Ecclesiastes 2:11)

It seems as if nothing you do adds up to much. The Bible calls this life “under the sun”. (Ecclesiastes 2:11) Someone who lives life under the sun may or may not know God, but God is either forgotten or not the center of things in his life. His thoughts are earthly and he does things to gratify his flesh. In the end, he finds life depressing and unfulfilled. Life under the sun is full of despair.

But this is not so with someone who lives life above the sun with God. For life with Him is filled with joy and pleasures at His right hand. (Psalm 16:11) Life is abundantly full and good just as Jesus promised — “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly”.

When you live life above the sun, your thoughts are heavenward and you become Christ-occupied. You live for Him because you know that all things were created through Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:16) When you live for His glory, your life takes on a new meaning and purpose.

God’s Word says, “And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:17) The Greek word for “consist” means “held together”. In Christ, all things are held together. And that is why when Christ is the central figure in your life, you will have it all together. Your mind will be held together. Your hopes and dreams will be held together. Your family will be held together by the cords of His love.

Your life will not be empty, but full of God’s goodness because “Christ in you, [is] the hope of glory”. (Colossians 1:27) It is a wonderful life — this life lived above the sun. And you will have an even more wonderful life to come in heaven!

YOU ARE PERFECT IN GOD’S EYES

2012-02-22T10:42:00.000-08:00

Hebrews 10:12, 14, KJV

12But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God... 14For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.

God sees you with no flaw, spot or imperfection, so honor His Word and the finished work of His Son by saying, “Amen!” Don’t doubt your perfection in Christ.

To see yourself as being far from perfect is not modesty, but a failure to understand the perfect sacrifice that Jesus has made for you.

The Bible tells us, “For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified”. Did you get that? You have not only been sanctified, that is, made holy, but by the same offering of His body, you have been perfected. You are both holy and perfect in God’s eyes!

Your sins have been purged perfectly. Today, Jesus is seated at His Father’s right hand not because He is the Son of God (although that is true), but because His work of purging your sins is completely finished and perfect!

So instead of being conscious of your sins, which is to have an evil conscience (Hebrews 10:22), you can have a perfect conscience, a conscience that is free from the guilt and condemnation of sins.

When you find yourself conscious of your sins, just say, “Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your wonderful work at the cross. It is a perfect work that has removed all my sins completely.

“Holy Spirit, thank You for convicting me of righteousness, not my own, but God’s righteousness given to me as a gift. Keep on convicting me in the days to come, reminding me especially when I fail that I am still the righteousness of God in Christ.”

My friend, God sees you perfect without any spot of sin. He sees you covered in the beautiful white robes of His own righteousness. He treats you as a righteous man because that is what He has made you. So expect good things to happen to you because blessings are on the head of the righteous! (Proverbs 10:6)

THE OVERCOMER JESUS CHRIST LIVES IN YOU

2012-02-22T10:29:00.000-08:00

“…be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]” - Jesus Christ (John 16:33)

You are not called to be limited – by anyone or anything.

You are destined to be an overcomer because Jesus Christ, the Overcomer lives in you. He overcame all kinds of stuff – sin, humiliation, persecution, resistance, fear, rejection, dishonor, death.

With Christ, you too can!

Failure isn’t for you.

Fear is not your friend.

Anxiety isn’t your brother.

Pity isn’t your sister.

Make Boldness your buddy.

Let Confidence be your companion.

Run with Faith.

Settle near Hope.

Celebrate with Joy.

With Jesus, you can laugh, all the way to eternity.

It’s because you got the Overcomer on your side!