Teaching is a supernatural gift of the Holy Spirit. It's listed in at least one of the four lists (1 Cor, Rom, Eph, 1 Peter) of spiritual gifts. When you think about how people learn, it's incredible to think that one can teach someone else anything at all. Ultimately, God has to bring the teaching to root and to fruit. Often, we learn by what seems to be a process of teaching ourselves. It's a kind of self-knowledge. I can tell you something, give you all sorts of facts and figures about it, open up texts to you no one has ever known before...but in the end, if you don't agree in your heart with what I've said, I haven't taught you anything. I've told you a lot of stuff, but teaching has not occurred. When teaching occurs, it's pretty incredible, because (in a situation of true teaching/learning) one person's heart/mind (Jews understood heart and mind to be same) literally changes. When God reveals himself to someone and they repent and turn to them, He changes their heart.....

something to think about

Glimpsing back, at the state of what was,
What is, is staring me down, yelling to live,
I'm holding on tight to the crown, that I'm compelled to give,
Just a kid, with no comprehension of what He did,
Put the past inside a cup and then secure its lid.

more to come

helping friend with some lyrics to his new tune

Lord, please increase my faith,
To trust despite my unbelief in the words you say,
To see you is to see the Father's face,
Hasten the pace toward the end of days,
Instead of wrath, to taste the wine of your sovereign grace,
Lord I need Your wisdom to know what to pray.

Praise to the LORD Who never changes,
Perfect from the beginning in His plan to save us,
Knowing that for His glory He would make His claim thus,
Setting captives free, cleansing sinners from all that stained us.
Because He is the only God Who could sustain us,
Praise the Lamb that was slain, Praise the Name of Jesus.

BurningWords

Flames kiss the soles of my broken-arch feet,
Singing pity to myself as I walk the dust-covered street,
Never asked for the sick, they just flock to where I go,
Shaming the "righteous" because they were first to know.
The first to show faith, believing at least in what they saw,
But raising the dead doesn't help those cold to Mosaic law.
I'm tired myself, this truth consumes me,
I want to move ahead, but this Word will use me.
Emotionally abuse me, spiritually bruise me,
Crushing me into the dust of us ruthlessly.

I dream to cry, but my tear ducts are dry,
Energy-deprived, when I just hope to fly,
I work to die, to vapor I aspire awry,
Hoping against hope that God will pull me aside.

Why do I keep seeking strength elsewhere,
Looking to other dirt-men when You're standing right there?
Knowing what You've shown, why do I dare?

Slumped in the chair, in self-pity's despair,
Angry because we all think that nobody cares.
We're so blind that we underlook His presence sustaining our share,
Crying out for justice, proud enough to tell God we serve Him alone in a prayer.
But then His reply,
That he's got thousands more at his side,
Who desire Him alone, Hidden to those who are blinded by pride.

5-end

Bless-ed be, those devoted to mercy,
giving like the Vine spilling wine for His glory,
Tested thoroughly, recognized never,
Storing treasure for His pleasure, drinking the full measure.
Overlooking injustice by looking to the Son, themselves blinded by the victory that His life has won.

Bless-ed be, the brethren with hearts clean,
Glistening pristine in light of their of own King,
Holding to the truth from which His character's fruit teems
From the Holy Spirit's stream,
With the promise to see God, yes, even He who is unseen

Bless-ed be those seeking to make peace,
Calling out to the world, that the rebellion might cease,
Life is just lease,
For all chosen to unite in Him, Set before time begun,
He'll be the God of His children again through the Death of His son.

Blessed be those rejected standing firm for His Name,
Persecuted and despised, slandered and shamed,
But His standard still reigns,
And His love is their gain,
Knowing that everything they undergo, He underwent more-of-the-same.

Blessed are you, when you are rejected too,
If you're steadfast in the way and word of the Truth.
For though on account of Him, you are held in contempt,
Rejoice and be glad for from Death you're exempt,
In the same way the lives of the prophets were spent.

1-4

Blessed be the poor in spirit, that's what He said,
If you listen close you just might hear it ahead,
Walk forth in the way that he led,
Seek the fount that He bled,
And you'll receives the riches of His glory instead.

Bless-ed... be those who mourn, faces forlorn,
Darkness like a curtain call, but the curtain was torn,
Light broke through to native and foreign,
Upon belief, redemption and the Spirit were sworn,
So with the armor of the Comforter we could adorn.

Bless-ed...be the meek, though their future looks bleak,
From the beginning they were created to seek, humbly,
To serve, demonstrate the King's style, While the world would observe.
But they'll receive the earth as His plan 's fulfilled
They'll gain from the glory for which the Lamb was killed.

Bless-ed...be those...who seek the pure white clothes,
Righteousness over feasting, thirsting more than the desert sand shows,
Read to devour whatever the Word of Truth sows,
Beating his body with blows,
Satisfied with food and drink of which God only knows.

MMM goood

Check this poem out - John Updike