Timothy 1:19 (NLT)

Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. - Timothy 1:19 (NLT)

Hallelujah by Heather Williams

Salvations song of the Week “Hallelujah” by Heather Williams

This is a very powerful song, more so if you watch her personal testimony behind the song that will truly bring tears to your eyes.

Heather Williams is a remarkable woman, full of faith, courage and hope bringing peace to many souls.

Hallelujah



Lyrics

Jesus, please come please come today

Heal me, hear me be near me I pray

I have fallen so far flat on my face

I’m in need of Your grace today

I stumble and fall

but is spite of it all

Your love always stays the same

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Jesus, Please come please come today

Break me, mold me, use me I pray

But don’t give up on me now I’m so close to you now

I’m in need of Your grace today

Wipe the dirt off my face

Hold me in Your embrace

Your love always saves the day

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

On my knees here I fall

In spite of it all

Hallelujah

And thought it seems hard I’m still trusting You Lord

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

I have fallen so far flat on my face

I’m in need of Your grace today

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Sing Hallelujah

Sing Hallelujah

Sing Hallelujah amen

 

Jesus, Please come please come today



Hartlie

"As long as we have JesusTucked safe in our hearts,Love and light flood our souls,Fear and darkness departs." - Hartlie

Occasionally Salvation will highlight a creative Christian, whether writer, artist, singer or other.  For this highlight we are focussing on the talented Yvonne Taylor, the creator of Hartlie.

Hartlie is that main character from a collection of Christian based children books.  There inspirational, education, simply lovely and free.  For more on Hartley check out http://www.hartlie.com

Holding On

You don’t always have to Hold On.
Sometimes it’s better to Let Go
and let Jesus catch you.

Miracle

I wanted to believe in God but I needed to see a miracle. 
I looked down and saw my reflection and saw a miracle.
Me.
From that moment my eyes opened to see a miraculous world created by God.

Thank you for your grace

"Heavenly Father, thank You for Your grace.  Your forgiveness is SO good that I struggle with believing it at times.  Thank You for rescuing me from myself and giving me Your Holy Spirit.  Your love is better than life."  – Francis Chan

Seeing God

I don’t need to see God to know he is real.
I feel God.
He guides me through life.

I am with you always

"Be sure of this, I am with you always" - Jesus Christ, Matthew 28:20 (NLT)

Your laws are wonderful.
No wonder I obey them!
The teaching of your word gives light,
so even the simple can understand.
I pant with expectation,
longing for your commands.
Come and show me your mercy,
as you do for all who love your name.
Guide my steps by your word,
so I will not be overcome by evil.
Ransom me from the oppression of evil people;
then I can obey your commandments.
Look upon me with love;
teach me your decrees.
Rivers of tears gush from my eyes
because people disobey your instructions.

Psalm 89:129-136 (NLT)

How can one ever repay

How can one ever repay what you did for me?
A thank you never seems enough.
I live each day by grace in reflection of your sacrifice.
Your love has changed my life.

Fear and Christianity

An atheist used the argument that Christianity uses fear to manipulate people into belief.  The fear some people feel as a result of Christianity is not about manipulating a person into belief, it’s about discipline.  A good parent will discipline there child by explaining rules on how to behave.  If the child breaks those rules a parent will punish there child in different ways.  Some parents may remove privileges from the child, ground them or stop there pocket money.  All of these invoke the feeling of “fear” in the child; it is that fear that helps them to understand the rules that are put in place. The rules help the child thrive, be healthy and safe.  They also help the child in life to learn the proper way to live ensuring when they grow up they don’t end up on the wrong side of the law and end up in jail.  Once a child grows into an adult the rules of the country they live in provide the discipline and punishments.  It’s the “fear” of getting caught, going to jail or the consequences of the crime that keeps people from breaking the laws.  God disciplines us.  God doesn’t discipline us so we form a belief about whether God is real or not. God disciplines us so we can live an abundant, joyful, safe and healthy life.  If you look at God’s commandments they all lead to a healthy, joyful and fulfilling life that keeps us safe.  Commandments such as don’t commit adultery, don’t steal and don’t murder.  If a person commits those it only creates hurt for themselves and or people around them.  Parents discipline their children out of love, the same as God disciplines us out of love.  A parent that doesn’t discipline their children is considered neglectful and a bad parent.  Pretending the Bible is just made up because it uses “fear” to manipulate people into behaving is like saying the local laws, police and judges are just made up to manipulate people from doing crime.  Some criminals believe they are outside of the law, until they get caught and end up in jail.  Some people believe they live outside of the laws of God and the laws don’t apply to them.  We all live in God’s world; we are all accountable to God and God sees all our sins (crimes).  He offers us forgiveness through Jesus Christ for those sins.  We will all stand judgement in front of God for our sins.  We can stand there forgiven or stand there defiant.

Dry Bones by Gungor

Salvation’s song of the week “Dry Bones” by Gungor

Gungor present a variety of songs which dig deep into spirituality and faith in many different ways.  Dry Bones expresses a deep longing for Jesus.  This video of the performance is particularly special, being an acoustic version and presented well.  The cello player does an amazing job being a beat box and playing the cello at the same time.  The song really takes off around the 1:50 minute mark, and the words even feel as if it reaches down inside you sending a shudder through your soul.

 

Lyrics

My soul cries out

My soul cries out for you

These bones cry out

These dry bones cry for you

to live and move

'Cause only you can raise the dead

can lift my head up

My soul cries out

My soul cries out for you

Jesus, you're the one who saves us

constantly creates us into something new

Jesus, surely you will find us

Surely The Messiah will make all things new

My soul cries out

My soul cries out for you

These bones cry out

These dry bones cry for you

to live and move

'Cause only you can raise the dead

can lift my head up

Jesus, you're the one who saves us

constantly creates us into something new

Jesus, surely you will find us

Surely The Messiah will make all things new

will make all things new

Life is beaking out

It's breaking out

Life is breaking out

It's breaking out

It's breaking out

And life is breaking out

It's breaking out

It's breaking out

It's breaking out

Woah, oh oh oh

Woah, oh oh

Jesus, you're the one who saves us

constantly creates us into something new

Jesus, surely you will find us

Surely Our Messiah will make all things new

will make all things new

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioMRzpmnl7U

Peter Hitchens

Peter Hitchens, the brother of prominent Atheist “Christopher Hitchens” who recently died from cancer, has an incredible story on his journey back to faith.  The catalyst of that story is this photo which is a picture of the paintings “The Last Judgement” by Rogier van der Weyden.    Peter describes seeing the painting as follows.  “I gaped, my mouth actually hanging open, at the naked figures fleeing towards the pit of Hell.  These people did not appear remote or from the ancient past; they were my own generation. Because they were naked, they were not imprisoned in their own age by time-bound fashions.  On the contrary, their hair and the set of their faces were entirely in the style of my own time. They were me, and people I knew.   Peter and Christopher on a family holiday in Scotland in 1954 I had a sudden strong sense of religion being a thing of the present day, not imprisoned under thick layers of time. My large catalogue of misdeeds replayed themselves rapidly in my head. I had absolutely no doubt that I was among the damned.”  Peter has since written a book “The Rage Against God” which describes his journey back to faith. He was asked the question “How do you feel about having to of led others to become atheists ?”.   His reply, “It is my fault, It’s one of those things for which there is, it seems to me, no real path back.”

Rose to a woman

A rose to a woman expresses the love of a Man.
Jesus to mankind expresses the love of God.

Psalm 119:89-96

Your eternal word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven.
Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created.
Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans.
If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery.
I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life.
I am yours; rescue me! For I have worked hard at obeying your commandments.
Though the wicked hide along the way to kill me, I will quietly keep my mind on your laws.
Even perfection has its limits, but your commands have no limit.

Psalm 119:89-96

My heart sings your name

Here I am for you. My heart sings your name Jesus.

You can't find God as God was never lost.  It is God that finds you when you want to be found.

Jesus told them this story: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” - Luke 15:3-7

Looking forward

When a Christian faces death they have something to look forward to.

Permanent Hangover or Permanent Joy? It's a choice.

Have you seen someone with a hangover, after attending a rave party or some other event where Drugs and Alcohol are involved?   There typically vomiting the next day, wishing they were dead, in pain, splitting headache and every part of their body just aches and sometimes they make the promise “Never Again”.    Imagine if what they are experiencing is what life will be like for them when they die.  Are they treating life like a “Rave Party”, will they have a hangover for eternity?  

On the flip side ever see what a person experiences after they have been to a Christian Organised Event, a Concert,  Camp or any event where the Holy Spirit is.  After the event the people are filled with Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control. 

How true does this reflect Galatians 5:19 (NLT) –“ When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,  envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”.   

Permanent Hangover or Permanent Joy? It’s a choice.

Work of God

When I look at the world I don’t see randomness.  I see order.  I see logic. I see a grand design.  I see the work of God.

truth

Armor of God

When you feel the weight of the world or temptations coming from all directions remember God has equipped you with the Armor of God.  In these situations put on your helmet of Salvation, wear your Breastplate of Righteousness, Slip on your Boots of Readiness (Peace), buckle your Belt of Truth, hold your shield of Faith and Wield your Sword of the Spirit.

"Put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

- Ephesians 6:13-17 (NLT)

For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body.

As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. - Ephesians 5:25

I will love you for you

he heard a voice somewhere deep inside
And it said

“I will love you for you
not for what you have done
or what you will become.
I will love you for you.
I will give you the love,
the love that you never knew”

Lyric Extract from  the song "Love me"
by JJ Heller

Love Me by JJ Heller

Salvation’s song of the Week “Love Me” by JJ Heller.

One of the leading comment on this video on YouTube sums up the power of this song.   “Wow.... The power of this song! I was sitting in a prison cell when I turned on The radio and this song was playing. I was sooooo far from god and when I heard this it changed everything about me. Words can't describe what I felt.”. 

Lyrics

He cries in the corner where nobody sees
He’s the kid with the story no one would believe
He prays every night, “Dear God won’t you please
Could you send someone here who will love me?”

Who will love me for me
Not for what I have done or what I will become
Who will love me for me
‘Cause nobody has shown me what love
What love really means

Her office is shrinking a little each day
She’s the woman whose husband has run away
She’ll go to the gym after working today
Maybe if she was thinner
Then he would’ve stayed
And she says…

Who will love me for me?
Not for what I have done or what I will become
Who will love me for me?
‘Cause nobody has shown me what love, what love really means

He’s waiting to die as he sits all alone
He’s a man in a cell who regrets what he’s done
He utters a cry from the depths of his soul
“Oh Lord, forgive me, I want to go home”

Then he heard a voice somewhere deep inside
And it said
"I know you’ve murdered and I know you’ve lied
I have watched you suffer all of your life
And now that you’ll listen, I’ll tell you that I...”

I will love you for you
Not for what you have done or what you will become
I will love you for you
I will give you the love
The love that you never knew

Prayers

When someone prays and their prayer doesn’t happen it doesn’t mean it wasn’t heard.  It means God knows what is best.  As a simple example, imagine someone prays for sunshine as they are going on a trip but someone else is praying for rain to water their crops that would save them from financial ruin.  Both prayers can’t have the desired result.  God hears the prayers but we have to respect him for which ones he answers.  When a prayer isn’t answered in the way you wanted, thank God for the wisdom in his decision.

You'll Find Jesus In There

The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed; the boy's parents sat across from him.

"Tomorrow morning," the surgeon began, "I'll open up your heart ..."

"You'll find Jesus there," the boy interrupted.

The surgeon looked up, annoyed. "I'll cut your heart open," he continued, "to see how much damage has been done ..."

"But when you open up my heart, you'll find Jesus in there."

The surgeon looked to the parents, who sat quietly. "When I see how much damage has been done, I'll sew your heart and chest back up and I'll plan what to do next."

"But you'll find Jesus in my heart.

The surgeon had had enough. "I'll tell you what I'll find in your heart. I'll find damaged muscle, low blood supply, and weakened vessels. And I'll find out if I can make you well."

"You'll find Jesus there, too. He lives there."

The surgeon left.

The surgeon sat in his office, recording his notes from the surgery.

"... damaged aorta, damaged pulmonary vein, widespread muscle degeneration. No hope for transplant, no hope for cure. Therapy: painkillers and bedrest. Prognosis:" here he paused, "death within one year."

He stopped the recorder, but there was more to be said.

"Why?" he asked aloud. "Why did You do this? You've put him here; You've put him in this pain; and You've cursed him to an early death. Why?"

The Lord answered and said, "The boy, My lamb, was not meant for your flock for long, for he is a part of My flock, and will forever be. Here, in My flock, he will feel no pain, and will be comforted as you cannot imagine. His parents will one day join him here, and they will know peace, and My flock will continue to grow."

The surgeon's tears were hot, but his anger was hotter. "You created that boy, and You created that heart. He'll be dead in months. Why?"

The Lord answered, "The boy, My lamb, shall return to My flock, for he has done his duty: I did not put My lamb with your flock to lose him, but to retrieve another lost lamb."

The surgeon wept.

The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed; the boy's parents sat across from him.

The boy awoke and whispered, "Did you cut open my heart?"

Yes," said the surgeon.

"What did you find?" asked the boy.

"I found Jesus there," said the surgeon.

-- Author Uknown

I am the way and the truth and the life

“I am the way and the truth and the life” - Jesus Christ
I was lost.  Jesus showed me the way.  I was surrounded by lies.  Jesus showed me the truth.  I thought I was living, but it wasn’t until after I accepted Jesus I had a life.

A Personal Experience by Pat Morgan

A personal experience and song performance by Pat Morgan.  Pat explains that in the Kingdom of God it doesn’t matter what race or culture you’re from, in God’s Kingdom we live in the Culture of God and we are all the same in his Kingdom.  Her short speech is followed by an inspiring, heartfelt singing of “Lord I Give You My Heart.”

Judgement Day

Standing before God at the end of your life there will be a Judge (God), a Defence Attorney "Jesus Christ" and a Prosecutor "Devil".  The Devil will want to lock you away for your sins while Jesus will want you to set you free.  For Jesus to be your Defence Attorney you need to have him by your side otherwise you'll be defending yourself against the Devil come the trial.  Every SIN will be used as evidence by the "Devil" to condemn you, to imprison you for eternity like any prosecutor would in a court of law.  Only Jesus has the power to throw out your past SIN from the trial so the “Devil” cannot use them as evidence against you.   God by sacrificing his own son has made it free to have “Jesus” as your defence attorney because “Jesus” already paid the price for your defence through the cross.  By accepting Salvation through Jesus Christ you will have Jesus as your defence attorney otherwise you will be standing alone facing a vicious, and ruthless prosecutor that will stop at nothing to condemn and imprison you for eternity come judgement.  The devil doesn’t want a person to believe this will happen and will try to trick them into going it alone. You see this same kind of thing on Detective shows on television. The last thing the prosecutors and detectives want a person to do is call for a lawyer.  The last thing the Devil wants a person to do is call for Jesus.

Jesus Christ Saves People In Life

Jesus Christ has saved more people from Drunkenness, Drug Abuse, Anger, Grief, Hatred, Selfish Ambition, Envy, Jealousy, Anxiety, Depression and Suicide than any other person in history.

Creed by Brandon Heath and Third Day

Salvation's song of the Week "Creed" by Brandon Heath and Third Day.

This recording of "Creed" is a tribute to Rich Mullins who originally recorded the song and later died in vehicle accident.  The chorus of the song is extremely catchy and something you will end up singing way after the song has finished and tempts you into listening to it again.  Rich was famous for using the Hammered Duclimer, and instrument you may of never heard off, which is faithfully used in this re-recording of the song.

Lyrics

I believe in God the Father
Almighty Maker of Heaven and Maker of Earth
And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son our Lord
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit
Born of the virgin Mary
Suffered under Pontius Pilate
He was crucified and dead and buried

And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am
I did not make it no it is making me
It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man

I believe that He who suffered was crucified buried and dead
He descended into hell and on the third day rose again
He ascended into Heaven where He sits at God's mighty right hand
I believe that He's returning
To judge the quick and the dead of the sons of men

And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am
I did not make it no it is making me
It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man

I believe it I believe it
I believe it
I believe it I believe it

I believe in God the Father
Almighty Maker of Heaven and Maker of Earth
And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son our Lord
I believe in the Holy Spirit
One Holy Church
The communion of Saints
The forgiveness of sin
I believe in the resurrection
I believe in a life that never ends

And I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am
I did not make it no it is making me
I did not make it no it is making me
I said I did not make it no it is making me
It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man

I believe it I believe
I believe it I believe
I believe it I believe it
I believe it I believe it
I believe it I believe it
I believe it

A Prayer for Non Believers

Let us pray on this day,
For those who do not believe in God,
that they may find Him
By sincerely following all that is right.

Almighty and eternal God,
You created mankind
So that all might long to find you
And have peace when you are found,
Grant that, in spite of the hurtful things
That stand in their way,
They may all recognize in the lives of Christians
The tokens of your love and mercy,
And gladly acknowledge you.

Let us pray
For those who do not believe in Christ,
That the light of the Holy Spirit
May show them the way to salvation.
Almighty and eternal God,
Enable those who do not acknowledge Christ
To find the truth
As they walk before you in sincerity of heart.
Help us to grow in love for one another,
To grasp more fully the mystery of your godhead,
And to become more perfect witnesses of your love
As the one true God and Father of us all.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Your Life Story

If God was to write a story about your life and relationship with his son, how would it read? Find your place in God’s story. One day it will be told.

Meaning of Easter

One of the ways to understand the meaning of Easter, is to understand why Jesus did what he did. A rendition of John 3:16 is presented in the movie "Most (The Bridge)" an amazing movie worth watching. A sermon was created based on the movie which is shown here. It's worth watching as it will surely move you.

Truth

Science determines if something is true by studying it and then trying the theory.  If it works, it’s determined true.  I studied the Bible and tried a relationship with Christ, it worked. He transformed my life for the better, it’s true.

Galatians 6:7

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to those in the family of faith. - Galatians 6:7 (NLT)

Saving for Retirement

People save and make plans for their retirement, typically starting in the early 20’s, to ensure when they retire they have some control of where they will end up during their twilight years and how they will spend it.  It makes reasonable sense if they plan for their retirement; shouldn’t they also plan for what happens after their twilight years, eternity?  Christianity, the bible, shows a person how to plan for eternity and enables some control over where they will be and how they will spend it.

Dodging a Bullet

If a stranger stepped in front of a bullet headed for you and gave their life for yours, would you want to get to know who he was and why he saved you?
Jesus did just that, for everyone.  How well do you know him?

The Light of a Christian

"Death is not extinguishing the light from the Christian; it is putting out the lamp because the dawn has come."  - Rabindranath Tagore

God Will Never Give You More Than You Can Handle

Last night I saw a new release movie quote it called "Beautiful Boy".  It's about a child that shot several students on campus then committed suicide himself.  The mother quoted the quote that you hear thrown around quite often “God will never give you more than you can handle".  She then went onto say that can’t be true due to the situation that occurred.  The quote itself isn't biblical; it's often taken out of context from the bible passage “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” - 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT).  For this to be effective we need God by our side, we need faith in Jesus so when temptations come in life, we are listening to God who shows us a way to endure.   The quote should really say something like “God will provide a way for you to endure, even amongst the toughest circumstances, if you trust and have faith in him.”

Someone Worth Dying For

Salvations Song of the Week - “Someone Worth Dying For” by  MikesChair. 

Coming up to Easter this song is a good reminder on one of the reasons why Jesus did what he did.  This song expresses that a person who is lost with a deep feeling of hopelessness can feel very alone and worthless.  In the video clip an older gentleman notices these people and has a camera that is able to take photos that show them a picture of where they will be in the future.  It reminds us that Salvation isn’t just about Heaven, but also about the dramatic change for the better it makes in a person’s life when they allow Jesus to take the wheel, trust in him and allow him to show them their life as he sees and wants it. The last verse of the song sums it up with “You are more than flesh and bone, Can't you see your something beautiful, Yeah, you gotta believe, you gotta believe, He wants you to see, He wants you to see that, You're not just some wandering soul, That can't be seen and can't be known, You gotta believe, you gotta believe, That you are someone worth dying for, You're someone worth dying for Someone worth dying for.”.