THERE SHALL BE LIFE!
As some of you know, I am a fan of cowboy movies. Renegade Josey Wales (Clint Eastwood) faces Ten Bears to discuss how they can live together. After some discussion about life and death, Ten Bears looks at Josey Wales and says, ” IT SHALL BE LIFE.”
We are living a time in which half of the world is telling us Americans, “It shall be life.” Some of us are hearing the voices of death, but, the majority of the world is hearing life!!
What are you hearing? Jesus said, “I came to give life and life in abundance.” Life is what Jesus gives to you!! I have chosen life for myself. Today I want to ask you, what you have chosen for your life?
God is moving again on this Brasil trip. There are many people here in Brasil who are choosing life with God. Our first service was in Pilares, a dangerous area of Rio de Janeiro. We were told that by 9 pm we should be out of this area. But the Lord had other plans and it was after 10 pm when the service was over. The Lord gave us life one more time.
The sanctuary was relatively filled, and we saw much pain. Pain in Brasil comes in the struggles with finances, family, drugs and marriage. So, the whole evening I sang a song with them that goes like this, ” I will serve You, because I love You, You have been so good to me. I was nothing until You found me, You have been so good to me. Heartaches, broken pieces, ruined lives is why You died on Calvary. Your touch is what I long for, You have been so good to me.”
It did not take 30 minutes and all were at the altar seeking the goodness of God. They chose life over death, life over defeat , life over pain, life over lack of discipline, life over overeating, life over ego, life over discord, life over sadness, life over depression, life over sadness, life over anxiety, life over morbidity, life over pride.
What are you choosing today? It’s 6 am in Brasil and all I can hear is the voice of God. The dogs barking in the background are disturbing me a little, but I choose life. Life with God!
Be happy today and listen to His voice!! He will lift you up and heal your wounded heart!!!
Halleluia!
Rick Bonfim
Thank you for sharing this message. We Americans can also struggle with the question of life and death, even though we have every real need met, by His grace.
Recently, I presume I am being taken to a new or deeper level of faith as it feels like sandpaper on my emotions.
God bless you and your commitment to souls.
toni
Comment by Toni Cordell — July 25, 2008 @ 8:17 am
Brother Rick,
Oh to hear the dogs, roosters and the bread man hoking his horn. They all proclaim the new day and life! Today I feel Ezekiel 37:9 rising up once again.
Speak to the breath and let the Holy Spirit come in power and resurrect these dry bones. I join with you and proclaim LIFE for those on the mission trip and to all they encounter.
Blessings from Arkansas,
Brown
Comment by Brown Pendleton — July 25, 2008 @ 11:33 am
Rick so much has come to pass since that glorious night service in Brazil. Those folks chose life over living death as many here in the USA do everyday walking around in death yet breathing pretending they are alive. God has brought to completion the healing he had for me. The Islet Cell tumor discovered on my pancreas the Thursday before we left on Saturday to Brazil is now out of my body. God did not chose to heal it supernaturally but to use the surgereons at Piedmont Hospital Bryant Wilson and Scott Davison. There tumor has no cancer and the spleen was removed also. ON Thursday when I was leaving for the hospital to check in for surgery on Friday 25th I looked at the open Bible to Psalms 119:17 You shall not die, You shall live to DECLARE THE WORKS OF THE LORD. Halleleluiah Anyhow. I chose life. I shall live to Declare the Works of the Lord which is my hearts desire. To God be the glory.
Comment by Larry Price — July 30, 2008 @ 11:17 pm
pastor rick,
what a blessing it was to be a part of the mission team that was there until this past thursday.God did a work in me that i am so blessed to have. he took away the hurt that i had been carring and the stuff that i had put on the shelf for later is gone as well. i paraise God for the healing. it was sad to leave but a thought is you can not have a new beginning until you have an ending.God bless you in all that you do.we came home new people then when we left.the services were such a blessing as were your teaching of epesians. when you talked about heave in one of your messages to us it was so real that i could visualize what it was like and cried tears of joy.pastor rick thanks for leting me be a part of the mission team.i can not tell you how much better that i feel and peace with in.GOD BLESS.A BROTHER IN CHRIST
p.s. God healed me from all medications while i was there as well and i give Him all the glory.
Comment by don purvis — August 1, 2008 @ 11:43 pm