Jesus is the Master of Breakthroughs! Read 2 Samuel 5:20 for yourself:
"And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, "The LORD has burst through my enemies before me like a bursting flood." Therefore the name of that place was called Baal-perazim."
2 Samuel 5:20 ESV
This is when David went out to war against one of Israel's worst oppressors, the Philistines. David prayed to God for directions, and God told him to go out against them. So he did, and this verse shows the result. Total victory. The name of the place means literally, "Master of Breakthroughs".
Perhaps, like me, you would like total victory over your challenges and problems. Well Jesus is the LORD and He wants you to press into your calling and destiny in Him. Water, by its very nature, breaks a barrier or container if there is enough pressure and force and the container is too weak. Well, like water, we need to press. Don't run away. Don't give up. Don't hide from your fellow brothers and sisters in the church! Press! If you don't know what you are pushing for, read your Bible:
Hosea 6:3 "Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth."
Phillipians 3:14 "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
God is calling us to make a breakthrough! God is the Master of it. But you are the water. God used David, and God will use you. That's the pattern... and that's why you must participate in God's breakthrough. You can't do it alone, but God won't do it alone. In most cases He chooses to use His people, the Church. If you believe in Jesus as Lord and Saviour, then that's you! So then, how do we know this is true?
Jesus promised us:
John 7:38 "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"
So I think it's time for you and I to press in, and press on! Remember four P's if you want a breakthrough with JESUS the LORD.
1) Pray to Jesus for the wise response
2) You need Jesus' Power
3) You need to Participate in that power!
4) You need to participate with the People in your church. The more water droplets, the more the flood of victory and healing and refreshment!
Let the breakthroughs begin!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Curtis' Totally Controversial Post
Lately, I've been reading some nonsense in the newspaper about certain celebrities (last name "John") trying to make Jesus of the Christian faith into the man they want Him to be. In this case, they saw him as nothing more than a super-intelligent gay man.
Well, stop the presses.
Guess what? That person has not been reading their bible lately. Some people in Western society are confused as to who God is, and what His name is. They are also confused about who Jesus is. I hold to the Bible which quotes Jesus saying:
"But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife..." Mark 10:6-7 ESV
This is Jesus quoting Genesis on God's plan for mankind.... man and woman... husband and wife. Jesus never advocated anything other than God's one and only plan for family and reproduction.
As for Jesus Himself, he took no earthly bride because He now has a spiritual bride, a corporate woman, the New Jerusalem. Read for yourself:
"Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;" Revelation 19:7 ESV
If you want more teaching on who Jesus the Lamb is, or who his Wife is, I'll gladly talk about it in a separate post... but I think it's clear He's not gay. He does not change based on what times or people say. He is what the Bible says He is, at all times... and that's a good thing. He is Prince of peace, the true vine, the door, the Good Shepherd, the Sacrifice for sins. There is plenty of scripture to support the fact that He has a Holy Wife made up of his Heavenly City, New Jerusalem.
Well, stop the presses.
Guess what? That person has not been reading their bible lately. Some people in Western society are confused as to who God is, and what His name is. They are also confused about who Jesus is. I hold to the Bible which quotes Jesus saying:
"But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife..." Mark 10:6-7 ESV
This is Jesus quoting Genesis on God's plan for mankind.... man and woman... husband and wife. Jesus never advocated anything other than God's one and only plan for family and reproduction.
As for Jesus Himself, he took no earthly bride because He now has a spiritual bride, a corporate woman, the New Jerusalem. Read for yourself:
"Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;" Revelation 19:7 ESV
If you want more teaching on who Jesus the Lamb is, or who his Wife is, I'll gladly talk about it in a separate post... but I think it's clear He's not gay. He does not change based on what times or people say. He is what the Bible says He is, at all times... and that's a good thing. He is Prince of peace, the true vine, the door, the Good Shepherd, the Sacrifice for sins. There is plenty of scripture to support the fact that He has a Holy Wife made up of his Heavenly City, New Jerusalem.
The heavenly city, not the church, is His Bride according to Scripture:
Revelation 21:2
New King James Version
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Revelation 21:9-11
New King James Version
The New Jerusalem
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
New Jerusalem is the woman that Jesus the Husband is married to. It is a heterosexual example.
She, the City, is the "Mother of us all". Scripture says:
Galatians 4:26
New King James Version
26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Jesus is not a God for man's convenience. He is the Lord God and He will do things His way. He is who He says He is. Like it or not. But I urge you to like it, because He wants to show you the way back to God, and forgive you! There is hope!
"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6, ESV
He shows me the Way by being the Way. He defines truth for me because He is truth. He breathes life into me because He is life. Only by faith toward Jesus.
"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6, ESV
He shows me the Way by being the Way. He defines truth for me because He is truth. He breathes life into me because He is life. Only by faith toward Jesus.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Peace At The Watercooler
This afternoon, I was feeding my guinea pigs, and I witnessed some wonderful behaviour. Now, just to fill you non-guinea pig owners in, guinea pigs are large rodents that tend thrive better if they live in groups. They always establish a social order for their herd and they always establish a leader. I have 2 males Ashton and Gobi, and 3 females, Bungee, Aggie, and Sahara. The males live in a large 6 foot by 2 foot pen, and the females live in their own pen, of the same size.
I just stood and watched, as they took turns at the water bottle. Ash is the dominant one in the male pen. Ash was getting a drink at the water bottle, when Gobi cut in to get a looooong drink. But Ash just watched and waited patiently. He could have used his authority to shoo him away, but he just waited instead. When Gobi was done, Ash calmly went up to finish his own drink of water.
I then looked to the female pen, in the same room, and saw the exact same thing happening there. Bungee is the leader there and she was getting a drink. I have 3 girls, so I use two water bottles in their cage. But Aggie wanted to use the one Bungee was at (for some funny reason... guinea pigs can be like that). So Bungee let Aggie in, and watched over her as she got her drink. Then, when Aggie was finished, Bungee finished her own drink. It was deja-vu. I think when something like this happens twice in a row, the Lord wants me to take note.
I find it remarkable how civilized these little guinea pigs are, and that the same example would happen twice in a single moment, first with the males and then with the females! If they don't fight at the "water cooler", why can't we honour each other as well at home, work and church?
I asked myself, why can't we be like these little creatures? There is a little passage in the Bible that says:
"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;"
Romans 12:10-11 King James Version
In verse 13 it says we should be "given to hospitality". I feel that respect for each other is important and that we should honour others by preferring them. This does not mean favourtism, but it means letting people in at the traffic light, sharing your snack in the lunch room, or holding a door for a stranger. That word "prefer", in the original ancient Greek, means "to lead the way for others, show deference."
Well, that means that if we are in charge of something or if we lead someone, we lead by example. I saw that Ash and Bungee, as simple as it was, were leading by showing deference. Not bad for a 2 pound rodent.
How do I get this from guinea pigs you ask? Well, by living with them , watching them, and letting the Lord speak to me when He wants to say something. Most people who do not own guinea pigs may not fully understand what I am sharing here, but it is a simple example that we should learn from. Share and be patient with each other.
Let's stop all the fuss around the watercooler at work and live at peace, with Jesus in our hearts!
I just stood and watched, as they took turns at the water bottle. Ash is the dominant one in the male pen. Ash was getting a drink at the water bottle, when Gobi cut in to get a looooong drink. But Ash just watched and waited patiently. He could have used his authority to shoo him away, but he just waited instead. When Gobi was done, Ash calmly went up to finish his own drink of water.
I then looked to the female pen, in the same room, and saw the exact same thing happening there. Bungee is the leader there and she was getting a drink. I have 3 girls, so I use two water bottles in their cage. But Aggie wanted to use the one Bungee was at (for some funny reason... guinea pigs can be like that). So Bungee let Aggie in, and watched over her as she got her drink. Then, when Aggie was finished, Bungee finished her own drink. It was deja-vu. I think when something like this happens twice in a row, the Lord wants me to take note.
I find it remarkable how civilized these little guinea pigs are, and that the same example would happen twice in a single moment, first with the males and then with the females! If they don't fight at the "water cooler", why can't we honour each other as well at home, work and church?
I asked myself, why can't we be like these little creatures? There is a little passage in the Bible that says:
"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;"
Romans 12:10-11 King James Version
In verse 13 it says we should be "given to hospitality". I feel that respect for each other is important and that we should honour others by preferring them. This does not mean favourtism, but it means letting people in at the traffic light, sharing your snack in the lunch room, or holding a door for a stranger. That word "prefer", in the original ancient Greek, means "to lead the way for others, show deference."
Well, that means that if we are in charge of something or if we lead someone, we lead by example. I saw that Ash and Bungee, as simple as it was, were leading by showing deference. Not bad for a 2 pound rodent.
How do I get this from guinea pigs you ask? Well, by living with them , watching them, and letting the Lord speak to me when He wants to say something. Most people who do not own guinea pigs may not fully understand what I am sharing here, but it is a simple example that we should learn from. Share and be patient with each other.
Let's stop all the fuss around the watercooler at work and live at peace, with Jesus in our hearts!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Thank God for Mirrors!
I wake up in the morning, head towards the bathroom, get ready for my job in retail... and as I am getting ready to head out I look in the mirror and- Woah.... is that my HAIR? Immediately I break out the gel and the comb and try to tame it. Or, I could just walk away and forget about it. But then, for the rest of my day, my coworkers will mercilessly call me "Beaker" from the Muppet Show.
Falling to an even worse fate, are those who look into God's word, but forget what it says about Him or themselves. James in the New Testament describes the Scriptures as a mirror.
He wrote:
It says that you are deceiving yourself, if you think that Christianity is all about hearing. You are saved only by believing and confessing Jesus (simple faith). This confessed faith in Jesus is the only way to be a child of God. But fathers expect their children to be obedient. They love their children. The Heavenly Father loves His children so much, that He develops and grows us using discipline, reassurance, and devotion. All these things are part of Father's love for us. So we as God's children in Christ need to listen to Him, and do what He asks of us.
You can hear the preacher and read the word and talk all you want - but until you act, your words and hearing are fruitless. Jesus desires a people that are just like Him. Did you notice what it says in verse 24 above? It says that the man forgets "what he was like". Well, I don't ever want to forget about being like Jesus! The word helps us learn what Jesus is like and the Spirit helps us become more like Him!
"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers" Romans 8:29 ESV
This verse tells us that God knows the ones who will respond to His grace and call. Those who do respond are the ones he plans to be made into the image of Jesus His Son! God wants His son Jesus to have lots of siblings! Us!
So if we read the word - and say "yes that's who Jesus is, and I'm to be like Him"- great. But, will you remember it- and do it? He wants you to trust His Holy Spirit to make the changes in you, as you cooperate with Him, so that when we look into the mirror of God's word, we no longer see ourselves, sinful and wicked. No, we will look at ourselves and only see the indwelling Spiritual presence of the pure and spotless lamb, Jesus Christ! For example Jesus tells us to bless those that curse us, so we should remember to do it the next time some guy cuts us off on the road. I am speaking to myself too. It's little things like this that the Spirit will remind us to do.
I may have survived as Beaker, but unless I remember to do what God says, things will truly get hairy.
Let's hope for this:
"...When he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."
1 John 3:2b,3 KJV
This "hope" John refers to is that "we shall be like him", like Jesus. I hope to be like Jesus, in character and quality. Do you? Then let's follow Him, and respond with cooperation to His directions!
~Curtis J. Alexander
Falling to an even worse fate, are those who look into God's word, but forget what it says about Him or themselves. James in the New Testament describes the Scriptures as a mirror.
He wrote:
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.
24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."
-James 1:22-25, English Standard Version
It says that you are deceiving yourself, if you think that Christianity is all about hearing. You are saved only by believing and confessing Jesus (simple faith). This confessed faith in Jesus is the only way to be a child of God. But fathers expect their children to be obedient. They love their children. The Heavenly Father loves His children so much, that He develops and grows us using discipline, reassurance, and devotion. All these things are part of Father's love for us. So we as God's children in Christ need to listen to Him, and do what He asks of us.
You can hear the preacher and read the word and talk all you want - but until you act, your words and hearing are fruitless. Jesus desires a people that are just like Him. Did you notice what it says in verse 24 above? It says that the man forgets "what he was like". Well, I don't ever want to forget about being like Jesus! The word helps us learn what Jesus is like and the Spirit helps us become more like Him!
"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers" Romans 8:29 ESV
This verse tells us that God knows the ones who will respond to His grace and call. Those who do respond are the ones he plans to be made into the image of Jesus His Son! God wants His son Jesus to have lots of siblings! Us!
So if we read the word - and say "yes that's who Jesus is, and I'm to be like Him"- great. But, will you remember it- and do it? He wants you to trust His Holy Spirit to make the changes in you, as you cooperate with Him, so that when we look into the mirror of God's word, we no longer see ourselves, sinful and wicked. No, we will look at ourselves and only see the indwelling Spiritual presence of the pure and spotless lamb, Jesus Christ! For example Jesus tells us to bless those that curse us, so we should remember to do it the next time some guy cuts us off on the road. I am speaking to myself too. It's little things like this that the Spirit will remind us to do.
I may have survived as Beaker, but unless I remember to do what God says, things will truly get hairy.
Let's hope for this:
"...When he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."
1 John 3:2b,3 KJV
This "hope" John refers to is that "we shall be like him", like Jesus. I hope to be like Jesus, in character and quality. Do you? Then let's follow Him, and respond with cooperation to His directions!
~Curtis J. Alexander
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Welcome to my Blog!
Welcome!
Thanks for clicking on my blog, Viewfinder and welcome! Here you will likely get to hear all kinds of thoughts I have on life, everything from Jesus and Scripture, to coffee and guinea pigs. If we were together in person, I might invite you to the nearest Tim Hortons for a cup of coffee (if you're not Canadian, that's a popular coffee shop for us Canucks.)
I used to have a website years ago called "Through the viewfinder" about my photographs. It was just a hobby site that no longer runs, but I decided to bring that title back again. This time, it has more meaning to me. Yes, as a photographer I look through viewfinders to take pictures.
The Prophet Got it Right
But, spiritually, I think the prophet Habakkuk got it right. He needed to find a new and higher point of view, when his world around him was crumbling. He got it right when he said:
" I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved." (Hab.2:1 KJV)
The Lord God was the One he was waiting on, and God did answer him. In verse 2 God tells Habakkuk to write the vision and make it plain (obvious) for others to read. What God shows me, I believe I am to write it also.
Canada's Tower Of Vision
And speaking of towers: Here in Canada, in the 1920's John Pearson designed the Peace Tower that now stands as a part of Ottawa's Center Block on Parliament Hill. This monument is a Canadian Icon, and is featured on the backs of our fifty and twenty dollar bills. It reaches a height of 92.2 m (302 feet and 6 inches). On three sides of the outside of this tower, are three verses right out of the Holy Bible. They are visible from the ground in raised stone lettering as you walk up to the tower. I was there to take pictures and research it in August of last year.
Two verses are from Psalm 72:1 and Psalm 72:8. The third face has a Bible verse from Proverbs 29:18:
"WHERE THERE IS NO VISION, THE PEOPLE PERISH"
This verse, plus the other two are held high above the ground. These verses exalt the Lord God, of the Christian Bible. The Prime Minister and all his cabinet, the opposition and their cabinet, and all the other parties form under this scripture.
Ours is a tower that declares vision, just like Habakkuk's verse! Let's pray that Jesus can be the Lord of this nation once again. Jesus has helped me find His view of things, by showing me His word. I hope to share some of it with you!
More to come...
~Curtis J. Alexander
Thanks for clicking on my blog, Viewfinder and welcome! Here you will likely get to hear all kinds of thoughts I have on life, everything from Jesus and Scripture, to coffee and guinea pigs. If we were together in person, I might invite you to the nearest Tim Hortons for a cup of coffee (if you're not Canadian, that's a popular coffee shop for us Canucks.)
I used to have a website years ago called "Through the viewfinder" about my photographs. It was just a hobby site that no longer runs, but I decided to bring that title back again. This time, it has more meaning to me. Yes, as a photographer I look through viewfinders to take pictures.
The Prophet Got it Right
But, spiritually, I think the prophet Habakkuk got it right. He needed to find a new and higher point of view, when his world around him was crumbling. He got it right when he said:
" I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved." (Hab.2:1 KJV)
The Lord God was the One he was waiting on, and God did answer him. In verse 2 God tells Habakkuk to write the vision and make it plain (obvious) for others to read. What God shows me, I believe I am to write it also.
Canada's Tower Of Vision
And speaking of towers: Here in Canada, in the 1920's John Pearson designed the Peace Tower that now stands as a part of Ottawa's Center Block on Parliament Hill. This monument is a Canadian Icon, and is featured on the backs of our fifty and twenty dollar bills. It reaches a height of 92.2 m (302 feet and 6 inches). On three sides of the outside of this tower, are three verses right out of the Holy Bible. They are visible from the ground in raised stone lettering as you walk up to the tower. I was there to take pictures and research it in August of last year.
Two verses are from Psalm 72:1 and Psalm 72:8. The third face has a Bible verse from Proverbs 29:18:
"WHERE THERE IS NO VISION, THE PEOPLE PERISH"
This verse, plus the other two are held high above the ground. These verses exalt the Lord God, of the Christian Bible. The Prime Minister and all his cabinet, the opposition and their cabinet, and all the other parties form under this scripture.
Ours is a tower that declares vision, just like Habakkuk's verse! Let's pray that Jesus can be the Lord of this nation once again. Jesus has helped me find His view of things, by showing me His word. I hope to share some of it with you!
More to come...
~Curtis J. Alexander
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