Ubcky4's Weblog

PRACTICAL HELPS IN PRAYER

ubcky4 — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:24:54 +0000

PRACTICAL HELP
Prayer promises
Let’s take some time now to listen to God’s promises for you now as you join him intimately in prayer and meditation on his words. You may want to use these passages as part of your daily quiet times, or meditate on only one of these scriptures per day.
Before they call I will answer, while they are still speaking I will hear. (Isa 65:24)
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark11;24)
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who ask receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matt7:7-8)
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. (Matt21:22)
Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in My name, there am I with them. (Matt18:19-20)
Dearly friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. (I John 3:21-22) But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is unseen. Then your Father who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matt 6.6) the LORD is near to all who call him, to all who call on him in truth. (Ps 145.18) In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. (John 16.23-24) Call to me and I wi8ll answer you and tell you great unsearchable things you do not know. (Jer 33.3)
He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. (Ps 91.15)
The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous. (Prove 15.29) Delight yourself in the lord and he will give you the desires of your hearts. (Ps 37.4) If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. (Jon 15.7) And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14.13-14). I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God. (Ps 38.15) if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (I John 1.9)
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, JESUS got up, and left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he pray. (Mark 1.35)
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. (Matt 4.6-7)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phili 4.6-7)
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is any one happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the lord will raise him up. If he had sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produce its crops. (James 5.13-18)
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (I John 5:14-15)
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. (I Pet 3:12)
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Heb 4:16)
If my people who are called by my name, will humbled themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 chron. 7:14, emphasis mine)
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. (Ps 130: 1-2)

HINDRANCE TO PRAYER
It is also good to be aware of some hindrances to prayer and what could ultimately affect our intimate relationship with God.
Secret sin- “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened (Ps 66:18)
Indifference- “Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look me but will not find me. Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear Lord, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke” (Prove. 1:29-30).

Neglect of mercy – “if a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry and not be answered” (Prove 21:13).

Despising the law (disobedience) – “If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable” (prove. 28.9)

Blood guiltiness – when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourself clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight1 stop doing wrong” ( Isa 59:2)
Iniquity—“but your iniquities have separated you from your God—your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isa 59; 2)
Then they will cry out to the Lord, but he will not answer them. At that time he will hide his face from them because of the evil they have done” (Mic 3:4).

Lying lips—but your iniquities have separated you from your God, your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken lies, and your tongues mutters wicked things” (Isa 59:2-3)

Stubbornness- “they made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his spirit through the earlier prophets. So the LORD Almighty was very angry. When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen, says the LORD Almighty” (Zech 7:12-13).

Instability—“He who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the LORD—he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does” (James 1:6-8).

Self indulgence- “when you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:3)
TO BE CONTINUED:

PRAYING INTIMATELY Pt.2

ubcky4 — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:54:00 +0000

MORE THAN TECHNIQUE:

WE NEED TO REALISE THAT TRUE AND LASTING TRANSFORMATION COMES FROM God, not from ourselves. It is not based on any techniques; rather, it is us conforming to God and allowing His great power and presence to transform us. We just have to join Him.” And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, and are being transformed into His likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the lord, who is the Spirit” {2 Cor.3:18}.
The Biblical Christian can only pray empty-headed…. Our hope depends not on the right technique or the proper phrase or gesture, which borders on magic, but on the promises of God…. True prayer is neither mystical rapture nor ritual observance nor Philosophical reflections: it is the outpouring of our soul before a Living God, the crying to God ‘ out of the depths’…one convicted of sin by the grace of God and moved to confession by the spirit of God can only utter such prayer.”
These amazing quotes show just how loving our God is, that he does not WANT any special, fancied-up communication with Him. He just wants us, each of us to be who we truly are in our ugliness and beauty. Wouldn’t you dress up to eat at the Government House with the President, even if you didn’t like him? In contrast, all God wants is for us to come in the way that we truly are. Nothing pleases Him more then when we can cry with Him, Laugh with Him, and share love.
Prayer is not some mechanical formula we perform to have good luck shine upon us, Like some magical trickery. Prayer even goes beyond our own will and desires. I have not yet achieved a level of perfect union with God and don’t think I ever will on this earth. However, there are times when I am blessed with glimpses of deeper closeness with God and the feeling that I am aligned with His will. This happens at times when I am meditatively praying to god, resting in His presence. I may have my own prayer agenda an desires that I want God to fulfill, but what happens at times is that God’s will and grace envelope my request to where they become less important to me. It is a transforming, supernatural experience that God provided. He says that His peace transcends all understanding as we give all our concerns to Him.

MORE THAN WORDS:

Prayer definitely goes beyond words, just as communication goes beyond words. We are always communicating with one another, through our words, thoughts, actions, behaviors, gestures, and spirit {se Romans.8:26-27}
Prayer is a joining— a united connection with God. We are bonded, united, and fastened to God through Jesus Christ, who is the glue and bridge that makes and keeps this connection and communion with God possible and adhering. Only when we are joined to God by Jesus Christ and have this continual bond can we carry out the command to pray without ceasing {1Thess.5: 17}
“Communion means communication that includes direct, close relationship. It is the wordless communication between a mother and the baby who nurses at her breast—the close bond between the best of friends. The conversation between a man and woman deeply in love.”

TRUE PRAYERIS FOR LOVERS ONLY:

We need to join God and have a love affair with him—to speak freely and intimately to God within the security of that love relationship. This is true prayer and how we become more intimate with God and hence transformed through him.
“But when the kindness and love of God our savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.”{Titus 3:4-6}
Prayer is the language used between two lovers, a language from the heart. Real prayer comes not from gritting our teeth but from falling in love.”

The author C. Welton Gaddy wonderfully describes prayer:

As our love for God intensifies, our desire for contact with God grows. Then, the more contact we experience, the more we know about God, and the more profound our love becomes. Our love for God leads to communication with God. And our communion with God strengthens our love for God. The communion, which transpires within this love affair, is prayer. We find ourselves caught up in praying to God as a result of being in love with God. A life of prayers is a life of love, and the vice versa.

Let’s not take this for granted and become like the Ephesian church who lost their first love {Rev.2:4}. For many of us, our love, zeal, and passion for Christ decrease over the years. Can you remember back to when you were baptized into Christ and the amount of love you had for him at that time? You were probably at the peak of your excitement for God. If you never felt a real loving passion for Christ or if you have lost that loving feeling, you can have that love rekindled. The key is to build a love relationship with God the same way you would with any other love in your life. Spend time together with him: times of speaking, times of listening, and times of silence.
We must be compelled by the love of Christ {2vor.5: 14}.,a and “ we love because he first loved us” {1John.4:19}. God is the initiator, and we are the responders.
Prayer is our way to join with God in deep and abiding intimacy. Prayer allows us to feel God’s presence with us always. This is why we are to pray without season {1thess.5: 17}. Our life is an unending prayer and communion with our Great Lover, God. I pray that God will always keep our eyes open to see Him everywhere and at all times.

Keep A date with these series on Praying Intimately:
MORE THAN TECHNIQUE:

MORE THAN WORDS:

TRUE PRAYERIS FOR LOVERS ONLY:

The author C. Welton Gaddy wonderfully describes prayer:

Keep A date with these series on Praying Intimately:

PRAYING INTIMATELY PT.1

ubcky4 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:16:11 +0000

PRAYING INTIMATELY

Satan is frightened!

This chapter was a struggle for me to write. I experienced mixed feelings for two nights in a row. I felt both a fearful foreboding and a calm peace. I had difficulty falling asleep, which is usually not a problem for me. Even now as am writing, I am not sure how to interpret these feelings. I wonder—has this chapter caught Satan at tension?

Satan always worries when we begin to pray and to draw closer to God. Satan is better pleased when we Christians simply go through the religious motions, having no real, true transforming relationship with our Almighty God. Satan does not want Christians to feel comfortable enough with God to call him Abba, Father, or Daddy.” He much prefer Christians to be so intimidated by the prospect o addressing God himself that they keep silent, not praying at all. There is a spiritual battle going on inside each one of us, and only God can give us peace, strength, and true comfort. Prayer is a key weapon in this welfare and a pathway to intimacy with God. As I write, Satan is trying to distract me. Although I am worried and troubled in my heart and mind at this moment, God is telling me, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to me. And my peace transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus” (Philip 4.6-7, addition mine). Satan is frightened! There is magnificent power in prayer.

IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER

Nothing speaks more powerfully about the importance of prayer than the Bible’s promises. The scripture promises the presence of God (matt 18.19-20), intimacy (PS. 145.18), spiritual growth (Jer 33.3). a quick reading of the prayer verses at the end of the chapter will reactivate your appreciatin for prayer.

The apostles and early Christians were clear on the need for continual prayer. Throughout the book of Acts, it was common practice for early Christians to be engaged in the simple and powerful act of prayer. When church related activities threatened to take the apostles away from their devotional lives, they encourages the young churches to delegate deacons to these activities so the apostles could “give (their) attention to prayer and the ministry of the word (Acts 6.4). The apostle Paul was a prayer warrior and spoke about prayers many times. In his letter to the Thessalonians Paul encouraged its members to pray continually” (Thess. 5.17). To the Romans, he wrote¸’ be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Rom 12.12).

During his life here on earth, Jesus himself took time from his important work of healing, feeding, teaching and saving people in order to be refreshed and empowered by his father through prayer. Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed, (Mark 1.35).

Even though Jesus was God, he still began his day in solitude and prayer with his father and God before sunrise. Perhaps he understood that there is no better way to start the day than by going to God and communing with him. Early morning is such a peaceful time of the day; most people are still sleeping, the world seem so quiet, and it is the beginning of the of a new day. When we start off the day as Jesus did in solitude and prayer, we are drawn closer to God for his strength, love, hope, and faith to help us through our day. God remains us that he is with us no matter what happens and that he wants us to be close with him throughout the whole day. Remember when we come into his all-powerful, awesome presence, we are transformed into his likeness. When we go throughout the day and experience discouragement, disappointment, stress, frustration, tragedies, rejections, loneliness, and hurt, we are reminded to come back to God’s peaceful presence. He reminds us that he is our ultimate love and friend who will never desert us (Matt 28.20).

I find my day is more stressful when I neglect to start the day spending times with God in his word through prayer and meditation. However for many of us, the daily distractions of home interfere with having a peaceful, quiet time with God. Even Jesus himself found it necessary at times to leave the house and go off to a solitary place where he prayed to his father. Like Jesus, do you have a solitary to go to every morning and pray? If not, could you get creative and make a special place for prayer early in your day? Do you have an enclosed porch of a family room or den that would be empty very early in the morning?, What about the kitchen, before all of the activities begin? What about your Finished basement or the children’s play room?

38 SCHOOLS COMPETTION ATTENDED BY HIDDEN TREASURE:

ubcky4 — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:32:42 +0000

HIDDEN TREASURE CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL/HOME IN A SCHOOL COMPETITION:

ADDRESS:

NO.16 GOLDEN STREET

OYIGBO

MBANO CAMP.

RIVERS STATE.

LITERARY FESTIVAL/ SCHOOLS COMPETITION:

It was a splendid day on June 12^th, 2009, when students from various schools converged at Daras Hotel. The program was a show-case for young talents. It comprised cultural dances, calisthenics, drama, debates, quiz, et al.

Schools invited for the competition are from Oyigbo Local Government Area and its environs, which are apparently, in Rivers State. Daras Hotel, located at Location road by Mbano Junction, has more interior beauty than the exterior. The hall, where the grand competition took place is separated from the hotel. Daras Hall has a tree at the center that spread its leaves and branches to shade the audience from natural elements.

The school that participated in the competition are : New Era Secondary School, Brighton International, House of wisdom, the Tomis School, Hidden Treasure Christian High School{ been the only Christian school in attendance, and of the Churches Of Christ}, glory field International School, Destiny College, Winners Academy and Better life International Schools etc.

Most Schools arrived the venue with their school buses, while others, Lie Hidden treasure Christian High School, who hasn’t School bus, came on foot to the venue of the Competition.

The competition commenced lightly with the cultural dancers who came from the Private and denominational School. The participants from various schools thrilled the audience with their glamorous colors and styles. The calisthenics dancers followed with various displays.

Most performers kept the stage busy with the lyrics from “Igwe” by Midnight Crew”. The dramatist pulled the audience with catharsis, especially a grand performance from the Tomis School, whose actors terrified the spectators with their rifles and their tragic-hero, Adof Hitlet.{rifles made of wood}

Afterwards, African Michael Jackson pulled the crowd with his dance steps, coupled with break dancers from Winners’ Academy.

The exhilarating event made the spectators experience a Spiritual atmosphere when Hidden Treasure Christian High School came up with their choral voices. Then came the cat-walking from Winner’ Academy.

The event reached its climax when the debate proceeded with Hidden Treasure Christian High School and House Of wisdom International. the topic of the Debate was, Christian education is better than Unchristian Education” hidden treasure Proposed vehemently on the topic House of Wisdom opposed On the topic too. The second group, Gloryfield International School and the Tomis School spoke on a topic tagged” GSM is better in the society” with Gloryfield opposing and the Tomis School Proposing. The third group, Bettrlife School and New Era International School, made their appearance debating on “Military rile is better than Democratic rule”

The quiz started with elementary School. They based the questions from “Animal sounds and their Habitation”. The participants were from New Era International Schools, House of wisdom, Hidden Treasure Christian High School, Gloryfield International School, Betterlife School and Brighton International School. The Secondary quiz was based on “Fractions” and “Animals and their young ones”. Participants were from, Gloryfield, Hidden Treasure, Destiny College, Betterlife, House of Wisdom and New Era.

The intensive atmosphere came low by break- dances from some of the Private Schools that attended.

Afterwards, results were announced by the Master of the Ceremony. House of wisdom took the lead in cultural dance. Gloryfiled International School was the first in Calisthenics’ dance. The Tomis School made a surprising high Score in drama presentation. Destiny College set the pace in break dance. Other schools that attended were grade according to their performance.

Hidden treasure Christian High School sent the house agog when they took first position in Primary quiz, Second Position in Secondary quiz and first Position in Secondary Debate.

The crowds were astonished to this wonderful performance from the Christian School and could not but join the School in jubilation. It was quite an honorable and praise worthy moment for the School that just began 2007 to register her presence in such an impressing state.

The festival came to a close as Destiny College graced the event with their break-dance as the spectators watched in breath taking ecstasy. The electrified atmosphere ended with a short prayer as everyone moved excitedly to their destinations.

Hidden Treasure in this competition has proved to the entire Local Government that Christian Education is the only way out for a demented society.

The following students and pupils represented the School at the competition;

Maxwell Nwaogwugwu.

Augustine Chukwuezi J.S.S. 3

Joseph Uzoma J.S.S.3

Nwaoha Precious J.S.S.3

Osasenaga Onaho J.S.S. 2

Nwaoha Kindness J.S.S. 2

Ann Ogbonnaya Elementary 4

Paul Onaho Elementary 4

Kingsley Ogbonnaya J.S.S. 2

Jennifer emekuba Elementary 4

Joseph Ugonna School Teacher

Joseph Jasper School Teacher

Written By:

Uchewuba Joseph {Teacher}

HTCHS.

FOOT PRINTS STORY

ubcky4 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:57:17 +0000

This new version of the ‘footprints’ story.

It really caught me off-guard at the end…

What a blessing!!

JUST READ IT!

FOOTPRINTS…A New Version

Imagine you and the Lord are walking down the road together. For much of the way, the Lord’s footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace.

But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns.

For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord’s, soon paralleling, His consistently.

You and HE are walking as true friends!

This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to HIS are now walking precisely in His steps.

Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and HE are becoming one.

This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger.

Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints. They have become one.

This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A variable mess of prints.

You are amazed and shocked.

Your dream ends. Now you pray:

‘Lord, I understand the first scene, with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian;

I was just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with You.’

‘That is correct.’

‘And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning

to walk in Your steps, following You very closely.’

‘Very good… You have understood everything so far.’

When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like You in every way.’

‘Precisely…’

‘So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first.’

There is a pause as the Lord answers, with a smile in His voice

‘You didn’t know? It was then that we danced!’

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to weep, a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

Ecclesiastes 3:1,4.

Spread the Word and give thanks to the Lord for He is good!

It’s not WHAT you have in your life, but Who you have in your life that counts.. Think about that.

I ASKED GOD

I asked for a flower,

He gave me a garden.

I asked for a tree,

He gave me a forest.

I asked for a river,

He gave me an ocean.

I asked for a friend,

He gave me ‘YOU.’

Send this to whomever you think of

as a friend…..I did.

PowerPoint Presentation

ubcky4 — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:45:44 +0000

Dearly beloved in the lord,

PT1.TRAVELLING LIGHT

ubcky4 — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:01:02 +0000

TRAVELING LIGHT IN A HEAVY WORLD:

In his book, Traveling Light, Max Lucado refocuses our thoughts on preparing for the journey of life. He says we have never learned to pack light. We always take more on the trip than we will ever use. And as a result we not enjoy the journey.

We pick up loads that God never intended for us to carry, a suitcase of guilt, a sack of discontentment, a duffel bag of worry…

No wonder we are tired all the time. No wonder we are depressed. No wonder we are short tempered and impatient with one another. No wonder we are not enjoying the journey.

God invitation is for us to get rid of the baggage—stop carrying the burdens we don’t need to bear. This is the invitation of Jesus in Matthew 11.28, come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”

I believe David caught a glimpse of this concept of traveling light. As he wrote psalm 23 he said, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”

Look at that statement! We don’t have to lug a multitude of heavy burdens through life. We can travel our light! We can enjoy the journey! However, we must learn to deal with our humanity. We must learn to pack light. We must understand some changes must be made in the way we think. We must realized, like David, “The LORD is my shepherd.”

Wow! Talk about traveling light—is this something that pricks your interest?

We must learn lessons for this journey, and it is a journey of faith.

THIS JOURNEY OF FAITH IS FOUNDED IN GOD:

The writer of Hebrews says, “… without Faith it is impossible to please Him (God)….” (Hebrews 11.6). Without faith in God we are destined to weariness throughout the whole journey of life. Faith is the victory, which overcomes the burden of this world.

Faith is a heart conditioning and we must heed this admonition: “Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you any evil, unbelieving hearts that falls away from the living God” (Hebrews 3.12).

THIS JOURNEY OF FAITH IS PLEASING TO GOD:

Faith is what saves us. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3.26-27).

Well, if faith is so important to the journey, what is faith? “Now faith is the assurance of the things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11.1). This is how the writer of Hebrews defined Faith. The NIV says, “Now faith is being sure what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Faith is a trust and confidence in God and his ability— and his desire— to fulfill all His promises to us. Faith is obedience.

Jesus taught His followers to listen to His teaching, to believe in His teachings, to obey His teachings. And in doing so, they would demonstrate their faith in Him and be his disciple.

God wants us to have faith in Him. He wants us to acknowledge Him. He wants us to trust Him. He wants us to believe that His omnipotent power is at work in our lives. He wants us to have confidence in all of His promises enough to obey Him. Friends, do we have this kind of faith in GOD, Do we?

Look at a man and what we have accomplished. Our credentials, as impressive as they may be, are of no concern. God is the power, He is the guide. He is the shepherd of life.

So the question becomes, “how knowledgeable, how strong, how powerful is God?”

Travel with me to mount Sinai as we stand beside Moses viewing the burning bush. Listening to God calling Moses, and hear what Moses says. Notice that at no time is the focus on the strength and ability of Moses.

Who would know his way around the political arena of Egypt more than a former prince? Who would be more suited for leading people through the wilderness than a shepherd who had attended sheep there for 40 years? Who would have more rapport with God’s people, Israel, than one of their own?

If we have been there, we would have pointed all of these things out to Moses saying, “come on Moses you can do it. Give it a try. You’re qualified!”

But God doesn’t say anything like that, does He? He simply asks, “what is that in your hand? Who has made man’s mouth?” Moses strength and expertise are never considered. Why? Because the strengths and abilities of Moses are not the issue. God is.

Listen to this sentence and then say it with me: “The strength of Moses is not the issue; the strength of God is.” Now, as we say this sentence again, insert your name in place issue; the strength of God is.”:

Folks, I know we know this in our head, but do we know this in our hearts? You see genuine faith for the journey must come, not from the head, but from the heart.

This journey of faith is strengthened by the power of God’s holy names.

In the old testament, more than 80 names are used for God, and each of these names reveals something about Him. Each of these 80 names speak His relationship with our relationship and us with Him.

Let’s see what we can learn from examining just a few of these names.

Initially, God was known as Elohim (el-o-heem) “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1.1). this the creator God, the supreme judge. This word for God appears 32 times in the first chapter of Genesis alone. He is the God of creation.

The apostle Paul speaks of the creator God in His speech on MARS Hill to the Athenians.

His said, “ The God who made the world and all things in it…. He Himself give to all people life and breath and all things…. For in Him we live and move and exist” (Acts 17.24,25.28a)

If God is capable of creating the universe, if he is our Lord—our shepherd then about what do we have to worry? Trust Him for the journey.

The second name we want to examine is Jehovah-jireh ( Je-ho”-vah-ji’reh) This was Abraham’s name for God. It means “God will provide.”

In his latter years Abraham was told by God, take now your son, your only son, you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer Him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you” (Genesis 22.2).

You remember this event in Abraham’s life. It was when God said, “do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to Him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me” (Genesis 22.11, 12) that Abraham raised his eyes, looked, and sew a ram caught in thicket. He offered the ram to God. “And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh”(Genesis 22.14a, KJV). Because God provided.

This was God as He revealed Himself to Abraham. As Abraham and his family left Ur of the Chaldees, they left not knowing where they were going. But they knew God would provide. In event after event the answer was the same. “God will provide.”

Listen to Jesus! This is His message in the Sermon on the Mount: “look at the birds of the air…Are you not worth much more than they? Observe how the lilies of the field grow… Do not worry then… your heavenly father knows that you need all these things.” (Matthew 6.26-32)

What was Jesus saying? That God will provide! Paul expressed it like this: “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4.19).

indeed he does.

Jacob knew Jehovah God as a shepherd (raah). God leads us, and feed us. He is always our shepherd- even in the valley of death. As Jacob lay sick close to death, he blessed Joseph. In blessing him he speaks of “ The Lord who has been my shepherd all my life to this day” (Genesis 48.15). god was Jacob’s shepherd, even though at times Jacob was a less- than- cooperative sheep. Like most of us, Jacob was never a candidate for the most-well-behave-sheep award, but God never forgot him.

Jesus said “I am the good shepherd” (John 10.11,14).

How grand it is to know that God, through Jesus, is the shepherd of our souls. He will be our shepherd as we travel through this life. He will be our shepherd as he leads us from our failures. He will be our shepherd as we approach life’s final call.

Gideon’s name for God was Jehovah-shalom (Je-ho”-vah-sha’-lom). “God is peace.”

In judges 6 we learn the children of Israel were not being faithful to Jehovah God, and the Mideanites would invade the land, destroy the produce, and seem like a plague of locusts because of their vast number. They harassed the children of Israel until they had nothing—no produce, no sheep, no ox, no donkey. In fact, verse two tells us that the people of Israel were so scared and destitute that they were living in cave and crevasses in the rocks.

When they hit rock bottom and cried out to God, He sent a prophet. And he also called Gideon. Gideon raised all sorts of objections; “why then has all these things happened to us?” “Where are all his miracles which our fathers told us about?” “How shall I deliver Israel?” “ I am the youngest in my father’s house.” Gideon was scared. He had seen the strength and brutality of the Mideanites. But when God showed him a sign, and said to him “ peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die” (Judges 6.23), Gideon realized that God is peace.

“then Gideon built an altar there unto the lord. And called it Jehovah shalom” (Judges 6.24,KJV). God is my peace.

When God calls and we respond, He gives us inner peace. God knows we can’t, but He can. And to prove he can, He brings us a spirit of peace—His peace.

Paul spoke of the magnitude of this peace when he encouraged the Christians at Philippi saying “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guide your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4.7).

Friends, God promises us peace for the journey.

Moses referred to God as Jehovah- nissi. “Jehovah is my banner.” He is my flag, my standard, my emblem.

When Israel was fighting the Amalekites, Moses raised his hands and the Israelites prevailed. But when His arms grew weary and were down, the Amalekites were victorious. So Moses with the help of Aaron and Hur, kept his hands raised. And God’s people were victorious.

Because of this—Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi” (Exodus 17 15 KJV). “The LORD is my banner.” We must lift up the banner of God. It is He who does the work. It is He who deserved the praise. Jesus is our banner. He is our banner of strength for the journey.

The names of Jehovah God—the words which describe Him—describe His eternal nature, His omnipotent power, His unending love, and a multitude of other attributes. Because God is. He is all in all. He is Who we need for whatever we face.

It is no coincidence that we read in the revelation, “ I am the alpha and omega, says the Lord God. ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. ( Revelation 1.8)

“Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrew 13.8). and when we place our faith in Him, we can travel light on life’s journey.