WatchNight sermon Part II ( completion of sermon by Mr. Spurgeon )

seeking the Saviour. The clock having struck, Mr Spurgeon continued:] You are now where you never were before; and you never will be again where you have been to-night.Now we have had a solemn meeting, and let us have a cheerful ending of it. As we go away let us sing a sweet hymn to encourage our hearts.Now may the Lord bless you, and lift up the light of his countenance upon you, and give you peace! May you, during this year of grace; receive much grace; and may you proceed onwards towards heaven! And may we as a church, as members of churches, as ministers, as deacons, mutually strive together for the faith of Jesus, and be edified therein! And may the Lord save the ungodly! If the last year is clean gone and they are not yet pardoned and forgiven, let not another year roll away without their finding mercy!



The Lord dismiss you all with his sweet blessing, for his blessed Son's sake, Amen. And may the love of Jesus Christ, the grace of his Father, and the fellowship of his blessed Spirit be yours, my beloved, if ye know Christ, world without end. Amen.Now, my friends, in the highest and best sense, I wish you all a happy new year.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "Spurgeon Collection" by:Tony CapocciaBible Bulletin Board Box 119Columbus, New Jersey, USA, 08022Our websites: http://www.biblebb.com/ and www.gospelgems.comEmail: tony@biblebb.comOnline since 1986.







My desire for you is to have a Happy and prosperous New Year! " We win in 2010"

Watch-Night sermon

Watch-Night Service
December 31, 1855byC. H. SPURGEON(1834-1892)


If it be enquired why I held a Watch-night, let the answer be—because I hoped that the Lord would own the service, and thus souls might be saved. I have preached at all hours the gospel of Jesus, and I see no reason why I may not preach at midnight, if I can obtain hearers. I have not done it from imitation, but for the best of reasons—the hope of doing good, and the wish to be the means of gathering in the outcasts of Israel. God is my witness, I would preach every hour of the day, if body and mind were equal to the task. When I consider how souls are being damned and how few there are who mourn and cry over them, I am constrained to cry with Paul, "Woe is me if I preach not the gospel." Oh, that the new year may be far better than the last.



SERMON
"Arise, cry out in the night; in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord"—Lamentations 2:19.
This was originally spoken to Zion, when in her sad and desolate condition, Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, had wept his eyes dry for the slain of the daughter of his people; and when he had done all he could himself to pour out tears for poor Jerusalem, he then begged Jerusalem to weep for herself. Methinks I might become a Jeremy to-night, and weep as he, for surely the church at large is in almost as evil a condition. O Zion, how hast thou been veiled in a cloud, and how is thy honor trodden in the dust! Arise, ye sons of Zion, and weep for your mother, yea weep bitterly, for she hath given herself to other lovers, and forsaken the Lord that bought her. I bear witness this night, in the midst of this solemn assembly, that the church at large is wickedly departing from the living God; she is leaving the truth which was once her glory, and she is mixing herself among the nations. Ah! beloved, it were well if Zion now could sometimes weep; it were well if there were more who would lay to heart the wound of the daughter of his people. How hath the city become a harlot! how hath the much fine gold become dim! and how hath the glory departed! Zion is under a cloud. Her ministers preach not with the energy and fire that anciently dwelt in the lips of God's servants, neither is pure and undefiled doctrine proclaimed in her streets. Where are her evangelists who with earnest hearts traversed the land with the gospel on their lips. Where are her apostolic preachers who everywhere declared the good tidings of salvation. Alas for the idle shepherds! Alas for the slumbering ministers! Weep sore, O Zion! weep thee sore, until another reformation comes to sweep thy floor. Weep thee, Zion: weep until he shall come whose fan is in his hand, who shall thoroughly purge his floor; for the time is coming when judgment must begin at the house of God. Oh, that now the princes of Israel had wisdom, that they might seek the Lord; but alas, our leaders have given themselves to false doctrine; neither do they love the thing which is right. Therefore I charge thee, "Arise," O Zion, "cry out in the night, in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord."


We leave Zion, however, to speak to those who need exhortation more than Zion does; to speak to those who are Zion's enemies, or followers of Zion, and yet not belonging to her ranks. To them we shall have a word or two to say to-night.
1. First, from our text we gather—that it is never too soon to pray. "Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord." You are lying on your bed; the gracious Spirit whispers—"Arise, and pray to God." Well, there is no reason why you should delay till the morning light; "in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord." We are told there that it is never too soon to pray. How many young persons imagine that religion is a thing for age, or at least for maturity; but they conceive that whilst they are in the bloom of their youth, they need not attend to its admonitions. How many have we found who count religion to be a crutch for old age, who reckon it an ornament to their grey hairs, forgetting that to the young man religion is like a chain of gold around his neck, and like an ornament set with precious jewels, that shall array him with honour. How many there be who think it is yet too soon for them to bear for a single moment the cross of Jesus. They do not want to have their young shoulders galled with an early burden; they do not think it is true that "it is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth;" and they forget that that "yoke is easy," and that "burden is light." Therefore, hour after hour, and day after day, the malicious fiend whispers in their ear—"It is too soon, it is too soon! postpone, postpone, postpone! procrastinate!

" Need we tell you once more that oft-repeated axiom, "Procrastination is the thief of time?" Need we remind you that "delays are dangerous?" Need we tell you that those are the workings of Satan? For the Holy Ghost, when he strives with man, says, "To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart." It is never beloved, too soon to pray. Art thou a child to-night? Thy God heareth children. He called Samuel when he was but a child. "Samuel, Samuel;" and he said, "Here am I." We have had our Josiahs; we have heard of our Timothys; we have seen those in early youth who have been brought to the Saviour. Oh! remember it is not too soon to seek the Saviour, ere you arrive at manhood. If God in his mercy calls you to him, I beseech you think not for a moment that he will not hear you. I trust I know his name; yea, more than that, I know I "do. I know whom I have believed."

But he did not call me too early. Though but a child, I descended into the pool of baptism, there to be buried with my Saviour. Oh! I wish I could say that all those fourteen or fifteen years of my life had not been thrown away. Blessed be his name, he never calls us too soon. If he rises early in the morning, and sends some into his vineyard to labour, he does not send them before they should go—before there is work for them to do. Young man, it is not too soon. "Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord."

2. Again; it is not too late to cry to the Lord; for if the sun be set, and the watches of the night have commenced their round, the mercy seat is open. No shop is open so late as the House of Mercy. The devil has two tricks with men. Sometimes he puts their clock a little backward, and he says, "Stop, there is time enough yet;" and when that does not answer, he turns the hands on, and he cries out, "Too late! too late!" Old man, has the devil said "It is too late?" Convinced sinner, has Satan said "It is too late?" Troubled, distressed one, has the thought risen in thy soul—a bitter and a dark one—"It is too late?" It is not. Within another fifteen minutes another year shall have come; but if the Spirit of God calls you this year, he will not call you too late in the year.If to the last second you should live, if God the Holy Ghost calls you then, he will not have called you too late. Ah! ye desponding ones, who think it is all too late—it is not.
While the lamp holds out to burn,The vilest sinner that returns
shall find mercy and peace. There have been some older than you can be; some as sinful and vile, and heinously wicked, who have provoked God as much, who have sinned against him as frequently, and yet they have found pardon. If he call thee, sinner, if he call thee to-night, 12 o'clock is not too late, as 1 o'clock is not too early. If he call thee, whether it be at midnight, or cock-crowing, or noon-day, we would say to thee, as they did to the blind man, "Arise; he calleth thee." And as sure as ever he calls you, he will not send you away without a blessing. It is not too late to call on God. The darkness of night is gathering; it is coming on, and you are near to death. Arise, sleeper, arise! thou who art now taking the last nap of death. "Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord."


3. Next: we cannot pray too vehemently, for the text says, "Arise, cry out in the night." God loves earnest prayers. He loves impetuous prayers—vehement prayers. Let a man preach if he dare coldly and slowly, but never let him pray so. God loveth crying-out prayers. There is a poor fellow who says—"I don't know how to pray." "Why, sir," He says, "I could not put six or seven words together in English grammar." Tush upon English grammar! God does not care for that, so long as you pour out your heart. That is enough. Cry out before him. "Ah!" says one, "I have been supplicating to God. I think I have asked for mercy." But perhaps you have not cried out. Cry out before God. I have often heard men say they have prayed and have not been heard. But I have known the reason. They have asked amiss if they have asked; and those who cry with weak voices, who do not cry aloud, must not expect to get a blessing. When you go to mercy's gate, let me give you a little advice. Do not go and give a gentle tap, like a lady; do not give a single knock, like a beggar; but take the knocker and wrap hard, till the very door seems to shake. Rap with all your might! and recollect that God loveth those who knock hard at mercy's gate. "Knock, and it shall be opened unto you." I picture the scene at midnight, which our Saviour mentioned in the parable, and it will suit the present occasion. A certain man wanted some bread; a friend of his on a journey had come to his house and was very faint, and needed bread to eat. So off he went to his next door neighbour and rapped at his door, but no one came. He stood beneath the window and called out his friend's name. His friend answered from the top of the house, where he had been lying asleep, "My wife and children are with me in bed, and I cannot rise and give thee." But the man did not care about that. His poor friend wanted bread; so he called out aloud—"It is bread I want, and bread I must have!" I fancy I see the man lying and sleeping there. He says, "I shan't get up; it is very cold to-night. How can you expect me to rise and go down stairs to get bread for you? I won't; I can't;' I shan't." So he wraps himself very comfortably again and lays down to sleep once more. What does the man down below do? Oh! I hear him still. "Awake, sir! I must have it! I will have it! my friend is starving." "Go home, you fellow! Don't disturb me this time of night." "I must have bread! why don't you come and let me have it!" says the other; but the friend vexed and angry lies down again on his bed. Still at the door there comes a heavier and a heavier rap, and the man still shouts—"Bread, sir, bread! you will not sleep all night till you come down and give it me!" And verily I say unto you, though he will not rise and give it to him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as much as he needeth. "Arise, cry out in the night," and God will hear you, if you cry out with all your souls, and pour out your hearts before him.


4. And now our last remark is—we cannot pray too simply. Just hear how the Psalmist has it: "pour out your hearts before him." Not "pour out your fine words," not "pour out your beautiful periods," but "pour out your hearts." "I dare not," says one, "there is black stuff in my heart." Out with it them: it is better out than in. "I cannot," says another, "it would not run freely." Pour it out sir; pour it all out—like water! Do you not notice something in this? Some men say—"I cannot pray as I could wish; my crying out is a feeble one." Well, when you pour out water it does not make much noise. So you can pour out your heart prayer uttered in a garret that nobody has heard—but stop! Gabriel heard it; God himself heard it. There is many a cry down in a cellar, or up in a garret, or some lonely place where the cobbler sits mending his shoes beneath a window, which the world does not hear, but the Lord hears it. Pour out your heart like water. How does water run out? The quickest way it can; that's all. It never stops much about how it runs. That is the way the Lord loves to have it. Some of your gentry offer prayers which are poured out drop after drop, and must be brought to a grand, ecclesiastical, prayer-book shape.

Now, take your heart and pour it out like water. "What!" says one, "with all the oaths in it?" Yes. "With all my old sins in it?" Yes. Pour out your heart like water; pour it out by confessing all your sins; pour it out by begging the Lord to have mercy upon you for Christ's sake; pour it out like water. And when it is all poured out, he will come and fill it again with "wines on the lees, well refined." "Arise, cry out in the night; in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord."
Thus do I speak to all who will acknowledge themselves to be sinners in the sight of God, but even these must have the assistance of the Holy Spirit to enable them to cry out, O my Lord, grant it.



And now, dear friends, may grace be given unto you, that ye may be able to pour out your hearts this night! Remember, my hearers, it may seem a light thing for us to assemble to-night at such an hour, but listen for one moment to the ticking of that clock! [Here the preacher paused, and amid solemn silence every one heard the clock with its tick, tick, tick.] It is the beating of the pulse of eternity. You hear the ticking of that clock!—it is the footstep of death pursuing you. Each time the clock ticks, death's footsteps are falling on the ground close behind you. You will soon enter another year. This year will have gone in a few seconds. 1855 is almost gone; where will the next year be spent, my friends? One has been spent on earth; where will you spend the next? "In heaven!" says one, "I trust." Another murmurs, "Perhaps I shall spend mine in hell!" Ah! solemn is the thought, but before that clock strikes 12, some here may be in hell; and blessed be the name of God! some of us may be in heaven! But O, do you know how to estimate your time, my hearers? do you know how to measure your days?

Oh! I have not words to speak to-night. Do you know that every hour you are nearing the tomb? that every hour you are nearing judgment? that the archangel is flapping his wings every second of your life, and, trumpet at his mouth, is approaching you? that you do not live stationary lives, but always going on, on, on, towards the grave? Do you know where the stream of life is hastening some of you? To the rapids—to the rapids of woe and destruction! What shall the end of those be who obey not the gospel of God? Ye will not have so many years to live as ye had last year! See the man who has but a few shillings in his pocket, how he takes them out and spends them one by one! Now he has but a few coppers, and there is so much for that tiny candle, so much for that piece of bread. He counts the articles out one by one; and so the money goes! You think there is no bottom to your pockets; you think you have a boundless store of time—but you have not! As the Lord liveth, there is a young man here that has not more than one year to live; and yet he is spending all that he is worth of time, in sin, in folly, and vice. Some of you have not that to live; and yet how are you spending your time! O take care! take care!


time is precious! and whenever we have little of it, it is more precious; yea, it is most precious. May God help you to escape from hell and fly to heaven! I feel like the angel, to-night, who put his hand upon Lot, and cried—"Escape! look not behind thee! stay not in all the plain; flee to the mountain, lest thou be consumed!"

And now, I appreciate the power of silence. You will please to observe strict and solemn silence until the striking of that clock; and let each one spend the time as he pleases. [It was now two minutes to twelve, and profound silence reigned, save where sobs and groans could be distinctly heard from penitent lips seeking the Saviour. The clock having struck, Mr Spurgeon continued:] You are now where you never were before; and you never will be again

( Part II is in the next posting....this is long,but has great inspirational preaching that will continue to build us a great foundation for 2010)

How will you spent watchnight December 31, 2009?

Although New Year's Eve church services were started in the mid-1700s by John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, the event, known as Watch Night, occupies a special place in black communities across America. In 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln announced that the Emancipation Proclamation would take effect Jan. 1, freeing all slaves in Confederate states, abolitionists and slaves reportedly gathered together on what was called "Freedom's Eve" to await and watch what the new year would bring. This act would eventually become known as Watch Night. Many black churches even continue the tradition of reading the Emancipation Proclamation during the ceremony. St. Helena Island-based churches, First African Baptist, Nazareth Baptist and Scottsville Baptist, have held joint Watch Night services for the past two years and will do so again this New Year's Eve. The Emancipation Proclamation will be read during the service, hosted by Nazareth Baptist this year, and food will be served. "People want to get off to a proper start," said the Rev. Dr. Elijah Washington, of First African Baptist, which hosted joint services last year. "You want to start the New Year off with Jesus on your mind, and prayerfully it will take you on through the entire year, but it's just like getting off on the good foot.


That's basically what it is. At midnight, you should find yourself praying." The Emancipation Proclamation also will be read during Watch Night at the historic Brick Baptist Church on St. Helena Island. Its ceremony will begin around 10:30 p.m. Brick Baptist is the oldest church on St. Helena Island. The church was built by slaves in 1855 for plantation owners, and former slaves assumed control of the building in 1861 after the Battle of Port Royal. "Watch Night is a way of thanking God and just being thankful because we're alive to see the dawn of another year," said the church's the Rev. Abraham Murray. "I think this year will be a little bit more significant. We're grateful that we have an African-American who will be installed as president, but our hope is in the Lord, so we just thank the Lord for what the Lord has brought us.

" Although the Emancipation Proclamation will not be read at Lighthouse Christian Center in Beaufort, Chad Nobles, who pastors the church with his wife Ann, said that they will also bring in the new year in prayer, a common practice at Watch Night services. Breakfast will be served after midnight. "We start off with praise and worship thanking God," said Nobles. "Most African-American churches start around 10 o'clock and have a two-hour service. We also have a period of testimony thanking God for what He has done in 2008. About 10 minutes before 12 o'clock, we go into prayer and go into the New Year on our knees."

While Murray wasn't sure if Watch Night had been observed at Brick Baptist since its founding, the Rev. Kenneth Hodges said that his Tabernacle Baptist Church has performed the ceremony since it was organized in 1863, although he said that they generally do not recite the Emancipation Proclamation. "We reflect on the past year and project toward the future year," said Hodges. "Watch Night is unique because it gives the audience an opportunity to express themselves in meaningful ways -- some in song, some in a testimony -- of something that they've experienced for the year and what they hope for." Hodges said Tabernacle Baptist's service will include a meal, as well as lots of upbeat spirituals and hymns. The service will start at 10 p.m. Although many Americans are facing tremendous obstacles, Hodges said that worshippers still have a lot to be thankful for.

"These are some seriously challenging times, and people are drawing nearer to the church, the fellowship of believers and the family environment that is in the church," Hodges said. "A lot of people are reassessing their priorities and turning to God to help them to endure some of the challenges that will definitely be in store in the new year.". Info is from http://islandpacket.com. NEWSWatch Night services celebrate the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863By MARK ALLWOODmallwood@beaufortgazette.com843-986-5538

Merry Christmas

♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ We Wish You a Merry ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Christmas ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ We Wish You a Merry ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Christmas ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ We Wish You A Merry ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Christmas ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪...And A Happy New Year!♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪..

Merry Merry Christmas

Now it is my prayer that your Christmas be filled with love,
hope and faith, and that; the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, wii guard your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
( Philippians 4:7 )

On behalf of the Samaritiandiva Ministry have a blessed , wonderful, Christ centered and inspired holiday...know that real..its not what you have in your hands , but what you have in your heart, give the gift that keeps on giving! Give the gift of time and love.....Give yourself the gift of Salvation, by giving your heart to Jesus and making him Lord of your life! Just ask Jesus to forgive you for your sins and to come into your life...... have a blessed holiday.....

Merry Christmas

Though it's early - MERRY CHRISTMAS







Twas the month before Christmas*







*When
all through our land,*

*Not a
Christian was praying*

*Nor
taking a stand.*

*See
the PC Police had taken away,*

*The
reason for Christmas - no one could say.*

*The
children were told by their schools not to sing,*

*About
Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*

*It
might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would
say*

*
December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.*

*Yet
the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and
credit*

*Pushing
folks down to the floor just to get it!*

*CDs
from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*

*Something
was changing, something quite odd! *

*Retailers
promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*

*In
hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*

*As
Targets were hanging their trees upside down*

* At
Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be
found.*

*At
K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*

*You
won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your
ears.*

*Inclusive,
sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*

*Are
words that were used to intimidate me.*

*Now
Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*

*On
Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !*

*At
the top of the Senate, there arose such a
clatter*

*To
eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*

*And
we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*

*
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*

*The
true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and
discarded*

*The
reason for the season, stopped before it
started.*

*So as
you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream
Tree'*

*Sipping
your Starbucks, listen to me.*

*Choose
your words carefully, choose what you say*

*Shout
MERRY CHRISTMAS ,

not
Happy Holiday !*

Please,
all Christians join together and

wish
everyone you meet during the

holidays
a

MERRY
CHRISTMAS

Christ
is ¡ The Reason¢ for the Christ-mas Season!

© Continue to be blessed from the Well!

I am a Soldier in the Army of God

I am a soldier in the army of God. The Lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer. The Holy Bible is my Code of Conduct. Faith, prayer, and the Word are my weapons of warfare. I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity and tested by fire.

I am a volunteer in this army and I am enlisted for eternity. I will either retire in this army at the rapture or die in this army; but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out. I am faithful, reliable, capable and dependable. If my God needs me, I am there. If He needs me in the Sunday school, to teach the children, work with the youth, help adults or just sit and learn, He can use me because I am there.

I am a soldier. I am not a baby. I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up or pepped up. I am a soldier. No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me. I am a soldier. I am not a wimp. I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His kingdom! No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy or give me handouts. I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to. I am committed. I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around. I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside. I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.

When Jesus called me into this army, I had nothing. If I end up with nothing, I will still come out ahead. I will win. My God has and will continue to supply all of my need. I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ. The devil cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me. Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me. Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me. Governments cannot silence me and hell cannot handle me. I am a soldier. Even death cannot destroy me. For when my Commander calls me from this battlefield, He will promote me to Captain and then allow me to rule with Him. I am a soldier in the army, and Im marching, claiming victory. I will not give up. I will not run around. I am a soldier, marching heaven bound.

Author unknown

© Continue to be blessed from the Well!

A Christmas Poem

God will wipe away every tear from their eyes;
there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor
crying. There shall be no more pain, for the
former things have passed away."
( Revelation 21:4 *NKJV )

Dearest Reader,

If you are suffering from the loss of a loved one this Christmas,
the following message is for you. Also if you are not suffering
from that loss, but know of someone who is, why not forward
this message to them. For it has ministered to many over the
past few years! It is called:

"My First Christmas In Heaven"

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars, reflecting on the snow
The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas
choir up here. I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices
bring. For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart
But I am not so far away, We really aren't apart.
So be happy for me, dear ones, You know I hold you dear.
And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory of my undying love.
After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do.
For I can't count the blessing or love he has for each of you.
So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear
Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ
this year.
Author Unknown

All My Love & Prayers,
Pastor Allen

© Continue to be blessed from the Well♥

I am a Soldier

I am a Soldier

I am a soldier in the army of God.

The lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer,


the Holy Bible is my code of conduct.

Faith, prayer, and the Word are my weapons of warfare.

I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience,

tried by adversity, tested by fire.

I am a volunteer in this Army,

enlisted for eternity,

I will serve the lord all the days of my life.

if my God needs me I am there.

II Timothy 2:3

Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ .

Verse 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier .


This was written by Annie Johnson, please feel free to email her at ernestjoh@aol.com truly this woman of God has a wonderful gift of setting the captives free by her writings, she is the chaplain of the usher board ministry of True Vine Church of Jesus for the year 2009.....
Sister Johnson has a heart for the prayer warriors, feel free to send her your prayer requests....I am proud to present to some and introduce to others my Sister in Christ Annie Johnson .....receive her with a hardy Amen!

©Continue to be blessed from the Well!

Do for Others What God does for You

Do for Others
What God Does For You

by Max Lucado
You and I have the privilege to do for others what God does for us. How do we show people that we believe in them?
Show up. Nothing takes the place of your presence. Letters are nice. Phone calls are special, but being there in the flesh sends a message.
Do you believe in your kids? Then show up. Show up at their games. Show up at their plays. Show up at their recitals. It may not be possible to make each one, but it's sure worth the effort. Do you believe in your friends? Then show up. Show up at their graduations and weddings. Spend time with them. You want to bring out the best in someone? Then show up.
Listen up. You don't have to speak to encourage. The Bible says, "It is best to listen much, speak little" (James 1:19 TLB). We tend to speak much and listen little. There is a time to speak. But there is also a time to be quiet. That's what my father did. Dropping a fly ball may not be a big deal to most people, but if you are thirteen years old and have aspirations of the big leagues, it is a big deal. Not only was it my second error of the game, it allowed the winning run to score.
I didn't even go back to the dugout. I turned around in the middle of left field and climbed over the fence. I was halfway home when my dad found me. He didn't say a word. Just pulled over to the side of the road, leaned across the seat, and opened the passenger door. We didn't speak. We didn't need to. We both knew the world had come to an end. When we got home, I went straight to my room, and he went straight to the kitchen. Presently he appeared in front of me with cookies and milk. He took a seat on the bed, and we broke bread together. Somewhere in the dunking of the cookies I began to realize that life and my father's love would go on. In the economy of male adolescence, if you love the guy who drops the ball, then you really love him. My skill as a baseball player didn't improve, but my confidence in Dad's love did. Dad never said a word. But he did show up. He did listen up. To bring out the best in others, do the same, and then, when appropriate:
Speak up.
You have the power to change someone's life simply by the words that you speak. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Prov. 18:21 NKJV). That's why Paul urges you and me to be careful. "When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger" (Eph. 4:29).
<http://www.maxlucado.net/_product_30305/A_Love_Worth_Giving_(Paperback)> Before you speak, ask: Will what I'm about to say help others become stronger? You have the ability, with your words, to make a person stronger. Your words are to their soul what a vitamin is to their body. If you had food and saw someone starving, would you not share it? If you had water and saw someone dying of thirst, would you not give it? Of course you would. Then won't you do the same for their hearts? Your words are food and water! Do not withhold encouragement from the discouraged. Do not keep affirmation from the beaten down! Speak words that make people stronger. Believe in them as God has believed in you.


From A Love Worth Giving <http://www.maxlucado.net/_product_30305/A_Love_Worth_Giving_(Paperback)>
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2002) Max Lucado

Happy Birthday Christine

Praising the Lord for another year

I am 49 years old today and I am so blessed to be in the land of the living! I would like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for EVERYTHING..

I would like to thank my parents, Peter E. Bolton and Vivian E.Bolton for allowing their vessels to be used to bring me forth and the Lord breathing life in to me the day I delivered 49 years ago at a military base call Fort Jackson in S.C. for truly he saw my future the day I was born, my parents saw a baby ,

thanking God, He saw so much more, He saw a vessel that would one day become a Evangelist to preach to a dying world, sharing the story of the Love and saving grace of Jesus....but," I had to go through so that others may have breakthrough!" To be honest with you , it wasn't a easy road to travel, but as I look back now it was all worth it....and I am still traveling, the road ends at the feet of Jesus.. (you see the Word says..... to be absent in the body is to be present with the Lord)

Thanking God for having a reasonable portion of good health.....I will be having knee surgery on 12/14/2009 asking all to remember me in your prayers, truly the doctors will do the surgery , but God does the healing.....

Thanking the Lord for all of you and your support of Samaritian Diva Ministries, my desire is solely to lift up the name of Jesus by providing, inspiration, encouragement, prayer, and provide hope to those in a hopeless situation.....

As long as you have Jesus you have more than enough to start over and be a great success ......

I am a witness!

Thank you for celebrating my 49th birthday with me!


" Oh magnify the Lord with me! When I think of the goodness of Jesus and all He has done for me , my soul cries out hallelujah, I thank God for saving me!

© Continue to be Blessed from the Well!

Classy Lady

Dear God:

The lady reading this is beautiful, classy and strong, and I love her.

Help her live her life to the fullest.

Please promote her and cause her to excel above her expectations.

Help her shine in the darkest places where it is impossible to love.

Protect her at all times; lift her up when she needs you the most,

and let her know when she walks with you, She will always be safe.

Love you Girl (s) Diva's!

A Pastor with Guts

Thought you might enjoy this interesting
prayer given in Kansas at
the opening session of their Senate. It seems
prayer still upsets some
people.. When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open
the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is

what they heard:

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask
your forgiveness and to seek your direction and
guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those
who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we
have done.

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed
our values.

We have exploited the poor and called it
the lottery.

We have rewarded laziness and called it
welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called it
choice.

We have shot abortionists and called it
justifiable.

We have neglected to discipline our
children and called it building self esteem..

We have abused power and called it
politics.

We have coveted our neighbor's possessions
and called it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and
pornography and called it freedom of expression.

We have ridiculed the time-honored values
of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts
today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Amen!

The response was immediate. A number of
legislators walked out during the prayer in
protest. In 6 short weeks, Central Christian
Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than
5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls
responding negatively. The church is now receiving
international requests for copies of this prayer
from India , Africa and Korea .

Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on
his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story,'and
received a larger response to this program than any
other he has ever aired.

With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep
over our nation and wholeheartedly become our
desire so that we again can be called 'one nation
under God.'

If possible, please pass this prayer on to
your friends. 'If you don't stand for something,
you will fall for everything.'

© Continued to be blessed from the Well!

Are you a " Hoarder " ?

Are you a hoarder?

Today start clearing out the clutter, deal with your underlying issues, get rid of the cluttter, so the things that are neccessary can speak!

Don't let clutter disrupt or define your life, if you haven't wore it , read it, or used it let it go....its gonna pass away anyway...

be a blessing to someone else that could really use your unneeded, unused items... Take the challenge today!

Alright I am off to start cleaning my closet and drop my items off at a thrift store, or a shelter.... Some items I will give a family member(s) !

What are you going to do?

Start decluttering your Life so the things that are important can speak!

God has not given us the spirit of fear.....but He has given us a sound mind!


©Continue to be Blessed from the Well!