The floods in Australia continue

With ¾ of the state of Queensland Wrecked by floods, the Capital City Brisbane and its surrounds are now flooding. In the next 2 days 7500+ homes and businesses are expected to go under water in the city. Yesterday an 8m (26 foot)wall of water hit the heart of the city of Toowoomba. 10 people have been confirmed dead, at least 78 are still missing. They only had 10 minutes notice. A super-storm released an enormous amount of rain close to the city. Toowoomba is a city of 90 000 people and serves a rural population of 250 000. Most of the area is under water. One third of Ipswich, a city of 162000 people, 40km (25miles) from Brisbane will soon be submerged. The river is running through this city at a height of 22m (72 feet). Some country towns have been totally submerged on 3 occasions since Christmas. The whole situation is totally unreal. Since Christmas 70 towns have been devastated. Many others have been damaged. The rain is still pouring down.

Please pray for us. What to pray?
In hours of TV coverage not one political leader has called for prayer or has prayed. God has not even been mentioned. This is Australia, “we will work it out for ourselves,” is our motto. Please pray that we will come to know the love of our Father, God. We need to soak in His love. We need to know Him. We are truly a lost and Fatherless nation. How much God wants to gather this nation in His arms and love them.
Lord call us into your arms.

Rick Renner, a missionary to Russia and Greek Scholar, translates John 1:5 as “Darkness does not have the ability to suppress or hold the light under its domain.” He adds “ Even in what seems to be the darkest or bleakest situation the efforts of evil will always be thwarted by the prevailing power of God’s light.” As Australian Christians lets pray for a revelation of the goodness, the light and the love of God over our suffering communities. God is not limited by the darkness of our circumstances. He shines out in the darkness…

Bob Lipsys, Australia

Praying like Paul....How it "sounds" in New Testament Greek

Have you ever wanted someone to pray for you? Or, ever felt you should pray for someone? Read the quote at the end of this blog entry. It may change your view on prayer.
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Rick Renner, a Missionary (Apostle) to Russia has a great grasp of New Testament Greek. His daily devotion book, “Sparkling Gems from the Greek”, is a valuable resource for anyone who would like a deeper grasp of the words used in the New Testament. In it, 1000 New Testament Words are studied, most in depth.

Today I read Rick’s devotion on 2 Timothy 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, (NKJV)

After examining the passage from the NT Greek perspective, Rick comes up with his summary, or amplified version of the passage:
"Timothy, my intention is to pray, pray, pray, and pray for you until I have set the record straight about your activities and until I have stacked the throne room of God with your name! Anywhere God looks, I want Him to see a living memorial of you! I don't want God to ever forget you; therefore, I am loading Heaven with statues, monuments, and memorials of you. My prayers for you will stand as an everlasting memorial before God!" (by Rick Renner- Sparkling Gems)

See Rick’s Web site: http://www.renner.org/

Bob Lipsys, Australia

Drenched and dripping with the power of God.

We ought to live every day as though we've come out of another world into this world - but with the power of that world still upon us. We should live and speak and move in that power, and have our whole being in Jesus Christ!
John Wesley

Last week someone was very surprised that I go to Church each week. They said, "You are not Catholic, you don't have to go. Why would you go?"

(I did not tell them I also go to "Church" each day - via the net, worship CDs, teaching CDs etc - I did not want to completely blow their minds. They were surprised enough.)

I don't go to Church for Church. I go to meet God with a group of friends who are committed to me. Via worship we enter another world, another dimension. Being together with God empowers our lives and our spirits. On Sunday I got prayed for out the front. That prayer is still bubbling through me, doing its powerful work. There is power in prayer that is inspired by God. It releases one for the destiny God has for them.

John Wesley was so right. Each day we do come from another world. We come drenched and dripping with the power of God.
Bob Lipsys

Keep praying. Never give up

Jesus said that we should keep praying and never give up. He said that God would hear and positively answer the prayers that He has put on our hearts. That is what praying “according to God’s will” means. It is not an “opt out clause” or excuse for unanswered prayer. It is there to give the person of faith certainty in that their Holy Spirit inspired prayers will be answered.

What has God put on your heart to pray?
Blessings,
Bob Lipsys.

Here is a true story about persisting in prayer (The Book's reference is given below.)

Roger Simms, hitchhiking his way home, would never forget the date--May 7. His heavy suitcase made Roger tired. He was anxious to take off his army uniform once and for all. Flashing the hitchhiking sign to the oncoming car, he lost hope when he saw it was a black, sleek, new Cadillac. To his surprise the car stopped. The passenger door opened. He ran toward the car, tossed his suitcase in the back, and thanked the handsome, well-dressed man as he slid into the front seat. "Going home for keeps?" "Sure am," Roger responded. "Well, you’re in luck if you’re going to Chicago." "Not quite that far. Do you live in Chicago?" "I have a business there. My name is Hanover."

After talking about many things, Roger, a Christian, felt a compulsion to witness to this fifty-ish, apparently successful businessman about Christ. But he kept putting it off, till he realized he was just thirty minutes from his home. It was now or never. So, Roger cleared his throat, "Mr. Hanover, I would like to talk to you about something very important." He then proceeded to explain the way of salvation, ultimately asking Mr. Hanover if he would like to receive Christ as his Saviour. To Roger’s astonishment the Cadillac pulled over to the side of the road. Roger thought he was going to be ejected from the car. But the businessman bowed his head and received Christ, then thanked Roger. "This is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me."

Five years went by, Roger married, had a two-year-old boy, and a business of his own. Packing his suitcase for a business trip to Chicago, he found the small, white business card Hanover had given him five years before. In Chicago he looked up Hanover Enterprises. A receptionist told him it was impossible to see Mr. Hanover, but he could see Mrs. Hanover. A little confused as to what was going on, he was ushered into a lovely office and found himself facing a keen-eyed woman in her fifties. She extended her hand. "You knew my husband?" Roger told how her husband had given him a ride when hitchhiking home after the war. "Can you tell me when that was?" "It was May 7, five years ago, the day I was discharged from the army." "Anything special about that day?" Roger hesitated. Should he mention giving his witness? Since he had come so far, he might as well take the plunge. "Mrs. Hanover, I explained the gospel. He pulled over to the side of the road and wept against the steering wheel. He gave his life to Christ that day."

Explosive sobs shook Mrs Hanover’s body. Getting a grip on herself, she sobbed, "I had prayed for my husband’s salvation for years. I believed God would save him." "And," said Roger, "Where is your husband, Mrs. Hanover?" "He’s dead," she wept, struggling with words. "He was in a car crash after he let you out of the car. He never got home. You see--I thought God had not kept His promise." Sobbing uncontrollably, she added, "I stopped living for God five years ago because I thought He had not kept His word!" [J. Kirk Johnston, Why Christians Sin, Discovery House, 1992, pp. 39-41. www.christianglobe.com/illustrations/prayer])

Never give up praying
And never ever give up your hope in the Good God you are talking with,
Bob Lipsys.

Tiny Glimpses into the Future

Occasionally God gives us a tiny glimpse into the future – a dream or vision or a word, He places deep in our hearts. But for the most part it is one step at a time. He does this so that we will come to Him every day and get to know Him better each day. As we go along the path of life He will light up our very next step.
John Scotland explains this well below
Do you know God as the best Father? "Son, Daughter, lets go for a walk together."
Blessings are yours in Jesus, Bob Lipsys
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It is Daily Bread
by John Scotland

http://web.mac.com/jsm2/JOHNSCOTLAND2/Welcome.html

The Psalmist wrote, “thy word is a lamp unto my feet!” the operative word being feet. He did not write thy word is a floodlight to my horizon! It was to his feet. God directs our feet, one step at a time. Yes its good to make long term plans, but we do not own tomorrow, and one of the secrets of a contented life is to learn to follow Jesus, one step at a time.

Jesus taught us in what is known as the “Lord’s Prayer” to ask for our bread on a daily basis. The writer in the book of proverbs wisely instructs us, that we can make our plans but it is the Lord who determines the outcome.

Help us Lord as we seek to follow you, not to run ahead of you, we commit tomorrows to you, but ask that you will give us our daily sustenance, whatever we need to guide, direct, encourage us through life’s ups and downs.

by John Scotland

http://web.mac.com/jsm2/JOHNSCOTLAND2/Welcome.html

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