• 1.     Initiation
• 2.     Elongation
• 3.     Termination
• 4.     Post-transcriptional changes

"You Are"


Jesus You are my joy within
You are the shelter from the wind
You are the forgiver of my sins
Jesus You are yes
Where can I go
Who can I call
Who's there to catch me when I fall
Your hands they hold me through it all
Everything I need You are

Jesus You are my cornerstone
You are my friend when I'm alone
You're the convictor when I'm wrong
Jesus You are yes
You're the peace within my storm
You are the shelter from all harm
I love it when You hold me in Your arms
Everything I need You are

Jesus You are my joy within
You are the shelter from the wind
You're the forgiver of my sins
Jesus You are yes
Where can I go
Who can I call
Who's there to catch me when I fall
Your hands they hold me through it all
Everything I need You are

(when I was sick) You are my healer
Thank You Jesus
(when I didn't had a place to stay) You are my shelter
Thank You Jesus
(when I found my self in trouble) You are my laywer
Thank You Jesus
(when my money ran out) You are my provider
Thank You Jesus Thank You Jesus Thank You Jesus

Song

(Brooklyn Park, Minnesota)—Wednesday, August 1st, seemed to be a day like any other in the St. Paul, Minneapolis area. But at 6:05 pm—in the midst of rush hour traffic—the busy Interstate Bridge that joined I-35 with the city of Minneapolis suddenly broke apart and fell into the Mississippi River.


There have been many accounts already, which have pointed to the grace and protection of God in the midst of such tragedy.... Due to the construction on the bridge, the traffic was not at the normally full flow, or speed. There was a train riding underneath the bridge at the time, which may have stopped some of the collapse. And then the school bus, filled with 50 children that rode the concrete on the way down during the collapse, and didn't tip over—all the children were saved. (Photo: AP)

And then there is Matthew's testimony of God's protection. What happened to Matthew (last name withheld) on the day of the bridge collapse is nothing short of miraculous and amazing!

After being contacted by one of Matthew's family members, to inform me of his story, I later spoke with Matthew directly. First I asked him go back to that moment, before the bridge collapsed, and explain everything that happened next.

"I was coming home to take a shower, and then pick up my friend across the I 35 W. bridge," Matthew recalled. "I was headed into the city [of Minneapolis], it was bumper-to-bumper."

"I was praying and talking to the Lord, and the next minute the Lord gave me this vision. In the vision [the bridge was] shaking—it started to snap and broke through. I saw two cars go off the edge into the Mississippi. Then, [after the vision] I said, 'What is that all about Lord? You need to talk to me.'"

"God told me to 'STOP!'" (I was 100 feet away from the bridge)

"He said, 'You need to stop right there.' I said, 'Lord, there are cars behind me,' (There were about 100 people in the line of traffic behind him, and many had begun honking their horns at him). But God said, 'That's okay, you need to stop.' So I stopped. And then the Lord said, 'Look.'"

"People were going around me—about 20 feet away from the bridge. That's when it snapped—[the bridge] broke down and crashed. I saw 2 cars go off the bridge, and I was like...'wow!'" (Photo: MyFOX9.com–KMSP)

"At first I was sitting in the car waiting, thanking the Lord, because it could've been me on that bridge. Then people came up to me and said, 'Thank you.'"

"I got out and looked from the side [at the collapse]...it was traumatic seeing what happened. And then the police told me to go back in my car and turn around."

I asked Matthew what he was thinking at the moment he saw the bridge begin to break...

"I was realizing that the Lord is awakening [His people] and saying, 'Listen to Me, you need to listen to Me.' I realized that if I [hadn't] listened to Him, I would've gotten on that bridge and took a ride."

"After that I called my friend and told him I couldn't pick him up because the bridge broke through. Then I went to the Holy Spirit conference [that was happening nearby] and worshipped the Lord!"

I then asked Matthew, "As you look back at what God spared you from that day, and at what happened with the bridge, what immediately comes to mind?"

"When I look back," said Matthew, "I realize the Lord has a calling [for me], and He's preparing me to be obedient and ready, and to know it is 'time to roll'...and to know who Jesus is."

Source

Lately I have been struggling with understanding how God can send his Son as a substitute for my sins. Even though I know I have been born again. I sometimes slip out a curse word, I am often impatient with my family, and I still have fears and pride in my heart. I promise not to do something and I do that exact same thing within days sometimes within hours. "I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good." (Romans 7:21) Therefore I was very confused as to how Jesus had saved someone like me. The first thing I received from God as a direct answer to this was to read the book of Galatians. The second thing happened this morning. I was driving past a hospital and the last speed limit I had seen said "50 mph". The next thing I saw was blue lights. The officer told me I was going almost 60 in a 35 mph zone. I gave him my license and he came back and said "I am going to let you go this time". My mind immediately went towards the concept of grace and mercy. In short I have been stopped by police officers in traffic about 4 times and each time I have received mercy. I began to put two and two together. I realized that 1.) The wages of sin is death. (speeding, running a red light, etc=a ticket!) 2.) I have earned death (I have clearly earned a speeding ticket, I was speeding!) 3.) Grace and Mercy took my place- I have received an indescribable gift ( I didn't ask for the officer to let me go, I didn't cry, I couldn't come up with a reason for him to let me off. I just accepted that I didn't get a ticket). WOW!! All I have to do is accept it. "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15) I found this quote on a blog today.

What is the difference between grace and mercy?

Driving to work today, I heard a sermonette on what is the difference between grace and mercy. Grace is what God gives that we don't deserve. Mercy is what God doesn't give that we do deserve.

For example. Suppose I was speeding on the highway and a policeman pulls me over. If he doesn't give me a ticket, then he gave me mercy. If he gives me a $100 bill, then he gave me grace.

As sinners, we deserve punishment. But, by God's mercy, He withholds judgment.

Luke 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

We don't deserve God's goodness, but instead He has lavished grace upon us.

Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Source

Grace is often distinguished from mercy in that mercy is seen as not receiving punishment that one deserves to receive, whereas grace is the receipt of a positive benefit that one does not deserve to receive.
Source

Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto HIM that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.- Revelation 5:13

Hallelujah we have a Saviour that LOVES us :)