It is easy to think "If I could just get a new car, a bigger house, a better job, or more money, then I'll be happy." We tend to view happiness as a commodity attainable by wealth. However, as the old saying goes, "money cannot buy happiness."
Indeed, no amount of money or things will ever give you lasting joy or contentment; that's because joy and contentment are not based on circumstances. Therefore, if you're not content with what you have, you won't be content with what you want.
Although at first it may seem difficult, it is very possible to be content even during harsh circumstances. Paul said, in Philippians 4:11-12, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
In those two verses, Paul is saying that he could be content—that is, have joy—regardless of his circumstances. Joy should not be dependent on circumstances; it should be present regardless of them.
When Paul said that he could be content "in any and every situation," he truly meant everything—even the tough times of testing. In 2 Corinthians 11:24-27, he lists some of the tough times that he has endured: "Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked."
Even in all these things, Paul had "learned to be content." Clearly, it's not our circumstances that steal our joy. You, too, can learn "to be content whatever the circumstances."
Stop thinking that you will have joy after you buy a new house, after you get married, after you buy a better car, after your in-laws treat you right. Don't put off joy until after everything goes your way; decide to have joy now! For you can have joy whatever the circumstances!
Life transformation is rooted in mind transformation.
Where your mind goes, your actions follow. Whatever you think about will dictate your behavior, your attitude, and (ultimately) your direction in life. Your thoughts are sort of like a rudder—they steer the rest of your body.
Considering the influence of your mind on your life, it's no surprise Paul emphasizes that in order for our lives to be changed by Christ our thoughts must first be changed by Him: Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2). How are we to be transformed? By renewing (changing, refocusing) our minds so that they reflect the mind of Christ.
If our minds are so important, then it's quite understandable that the devil would fight to gain a foothold in our thoughts. Paul writes, in 2 Corinthians 4:4, The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
What better place for the devil to attack people than in their minds? As thunder follows lighting, so actions follow thoughts. And if Satan can turn your thoughts against God, your actions will assuredly follow.
Therefore, it's imperative that you set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2). And when you focus your mind on God, it's only a matter of time before your actions, your passions, your attitudes—your whole life—become focused on God.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Listen to your prayers, because they locate your level of spiritual maturity.
What are you praying for? Are you asking God to give you more stuff--a bigger house, a new car, a bigger salary? What you pray for indicates what is important to you.
It is a great lesson to examine what the people in the Bible prayed for.
King David, in Psalm 27:4, prayed, One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. He asked God for just one thing: that he would dwell in God's presence. David clearly knew that in God's presence he would receive everything he needed (see Matthew 6:33).
Paul also didn't pray for worldly things. Instead, in Philippians 1:9, Paul prayed that the church would walk in love: And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more. Paul knew the importance of love, and so he made it a point to pray that the church would grow more and more in love.
Furthermore, he prayed that believers would be strengthened spiritually: I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being (Ephesians 3:16).
In short, your prayers can tell what you consider to be important. If you are only praying for worldly stuff, then you are neglecting what is of lasting value: knowing God, dwelling in His presence, walking in His love, and being strong spiritually.
Therefore, decide to adjust what you're praying for. Learn to listen to your prayers, because they locate your level of spiritual maturity.
Pain is God's megaphone.
When life is going well, it can be easy to forget God. So, sometimes God will use painful circumstances -- difficulties, trials, and troubles -- to get our attention and remind us of our need for Him.
In James 1:2-4, we are instructed to rejoice in trials: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Why are trials good for us? Because they make us more mature -- that is, closer to God. So, when you feel the pain of life know that God is with you.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
It is a great lesson to examine what the people in the Bible prayed for.
King David, in Psalm 27:4, prayed, One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. He asked God for just one thing: that he would dwell in God's presence. David clearly knew that in God's presence he would receive everything he needed (see Matthew 6:33).
Paul also didn't pray for worldly things. Instead, in Philippians 1:9, Paul prayed that the church would walk in love: And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more. Paul knew the importance of love, and so he made it a point to pray that the church would grow more and more in love.
Furthermore, he prayed that believers would be strengthened spiritually: I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being (Ephesians 3:16).
In short, your prayers can tell what you consider to be important. If you are only praying for worldly stuff, then you are neglecting what is of lasting value: knowing God, dwelling in His presence, walking in His love, and being strong spiritually.
Therefore, decide to adjust what you're praying for. Learn to listen to your prayers, because they locate your level of spiritual maturity.
Pain is God's megaphone.
When life is going well, it can be easy to forget God. So, sometimes God will use painful circumstances -- difficulties, trials, and troubles -- to get our attention and remind us of our need for Him.
In James 1:2-4, we are instructed to rejoice in trials: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Why are trials good for us? Because they make us more mature -- that is, closer to God. So, when you feel the pain of life know that God is with you.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Love unexpressed is not love at all.
In John 13:34-35, Jesus instructed us—His followers—to love others: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." As Christians, learning to walk in love should be a very high priority.
Unfortunately, we often love others only superficially—that is, we talk love, but don't live love. James 2:15-16 addresses this problem: "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?"
If you say that you love someone, but don't express it by what you do, then that "love" is worthless. Indeed, it isn't even real love.
Likewise, 1 John 3:17-18 asks, "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." Here again, we are instructed to love with actions—not just with our mouth.
Follow the instructions of Jesus: love one another. However, remember that real love must be accompanied by actions, because love unexpressed is not love at all.
Everyday things become of little meaning in the face of death.
In Western culture, many people place great value on possessions and on what one owns. This greedy mentality is embodied in the phrase: "He who dies with the most toys wins."
Yet when you die, you can't take anything with you: Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs (Ecclesiastes 5:15). It's no wonder that, when faced with the immediacy of death, one most easily realizes that everyday things are meaningless in the scope of eternity.
In Philippians 3:5-6, Paul lists many reasons why he could boast about himself. Yet, he recognizes that they pale in comparison to eternity, which is why he considers them rubbish in order to gain Christ (Philippians 3:9).
All this "stuff" we chase after will be gone. Therefore, make it your aim to live with eternal purpose and invest in eternal things; to spend all you have on what lasts forever.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Unfortunately, we often love others only superficially—that is, we talk love, but don't live love. James 2:15-16 addresses this problem: "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?"
If you say that you love someone, but don't express it by what you do, then that "love" is worthless. Indeed, it isn't even real love.
Likewise, 1 John 3:17-18 asks, "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." Here again, we are instructed to love with actions—not just with our mouth.
Follow the instructions of Jesus: love one another. However, remember that real love must be accompanied by actions, because love unexpressed is not love at all.
Everyday things become of little meaning in the face of death.
In Western culture, many people place great value on possessions and on what one owns. This greedy mentality is embodied in the phrase: "He who dies with the most toys wins."
Yet when you die, you can't take anything with you: Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs (Ecclesiastes 5:15). It's no wonder that, when faced with the immediacy of death, one most easily realizes that everyday things are meaningless in the scope of eternity.
In Philippians 3:5-6, Paul lists many reasons why he could boast about himself. Yet, he recognizes that they pale in comparison to eternity, which is why he considers them rubbish in order to gain Christ (Philippians 3:9).
All this "stuff" we chase after will be gone. Therefore, make it your aim to live with eternal purpose and invest in eternal things; to spend all you have on what lasts forever.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
If you're too busy to spend time with God, then you're simply too busy.
In the world we live in today, it is very easy to get so incredibly caught up in all of the demands that culture places on us that we don't have any time to spend with God.
However, the fact that so many things compete for every person's time isn't new to the world. Indeed, in Luke 10:38-42, we see the story of how two people responded to this same problem in two very different ways: As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. ...
We see that after Jesus entered the home, He evidently started teaching, and Mary, Martha's sister, stopped what she was doing and listened to Jesus. It's important to realize that Mary didn't know Jesus was coming, and so it certainly wasn't her plan to stop what she was doing and sit at His feet, listening to Him. However, Mary considered hearing from God so important that she altered her schedule to spend time with God.
... But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" Here, we see that Martha responded very differently than her sister: she became really busy and caught up in what she was doing -- probably preparing a meal, cleaning the house, or something similar.
When Martha complained to Jesus about how Mary was using her time, Jesus responded: "Martha, Martha, ... you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
One sister was willing to drop everything in order to hear from God; the other was too busy with everyday life in order to spend time with God. Jesus makes it clear that the way Mary chose to use her time was better.
In your life, you need to be willing to use your time like Mary did. Don't let little things steal your time away from what's really important in life. You must realize that there is no lasting value to the "urgent" things many people often allow to interfere with what's truly important. It would not have mattered if Martha hadn't cleaned the house that day.
You need to be willing to let your schedule be altered if knowing God better requires it. Don't be like Martha and get so caught up in life's distractions that you miss Jesus.
You need both blessings and difficulties, because one without the other is neither.
People who live in affluence for all of life they can easily become so accustomed to wealth, blessings, and prosperity that they can easily forget what blessings they actually have. However, if those possessions are taken away, those people will certainly look at life with a new perspective, realizing how much they really had.
You don't realize how much you have until you don't have it anymore.
God knows the importance of balance; that is, the importance of having both blessings and difficulties. There are several scriptures that speak about this balance. For example in 1 Peter 4:13, we are told: Rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. Notice how we participate both in suffering and in joy.
Similarly, in 2 Corinthians 1:7, Paul wrote this to the church in Corinth: And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. They experienced both suffering and comfort.
Don't become too comfortable with what you have, because when you forget that the things you have are a blessing from God and when you start to assume that they are guaranteed possessions, it is quite possible that God will take them away from you in order to teach you that you need both blessings and difficulties, because one without the other is neither.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
However, the fact that so many things compete for every person's time isn't new to the world. Indeed, in Luke 10:38-42, we see the story of how two people responded to this same problem in two very different ways: As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. ...
We see that after Jesus entered the home, He evidently started teaching, and Mary, Martha's sister, stopped what she was doing and listened to Jesus. It's important to realize that Mary didn't know Jesus was coming, and so it certainly wasn't her plan to stop what she was doing and sit at His feet, listening to Him. However, Mary considered hearing from God so important that she altered her schedule to spend time with God.
... But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" Here, we see that Martha responded very differently than her sister: she became really busy and caught up in what she was doing -- probably preparing a meal, cleaning the house, or something similar.
When Martha complained to Jesus about how Mary was using her time, Jesus responded: "Martha, Martha, ... you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
One sister was willing to drop everything in order to hear from God; the other was too busy with everyday life in order to spend time with God. Jesus makes it clear that the way Mary chose to use her time was better.
In your life, you need to be willing to use your time like Mary did. Don't let little things steal your time away from what's really important in life. You must realize that there is no lasting value to the "urgent" things many people often allow to interfere with what's truly important. It would not have mattered if Martha hadn't cleaned the house that day.
You need to be willing to let your schedule be altered if knowing God better requires it. Don't be like Martha and get so caught up in life's distractions that you miss Jesus.
You need both blessings and difficulties, because one without the other is neither.
People who live in affluence for all of life they can easily become so accustomed to wealth, blessings, and prosperity that they can easily forget what blessings they actually have. However, if those possessions are taken away, those people will certainly look at life with a new perspective, realizing how much they really had.
You don't realize how much you have until you don't have it anymore.
God knows the importance of balance; that is, the importance of having both blessings and difficulties. There are several scriptures that speak about this balance. For example in 1 Peter 4:13, we are told: Rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. Notice how we participate both in suffering and in joy.
Similarly, in 2 Corinthians 1:7, Paul wrote this to the church in Corinth: And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. They experienced both suffering and comfort.
Don't become too comfortable with what you have, because when you forget that the things you have are a blessing from God and when you start to assume that they are guaranteed possessions, it is quite possible that God will take them away from you in order to teach you that you need both blessings and difficulties, because one without the other is neither.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Private obedience leads to public blessings.
The Bible promises that if we obey God, then He will bless us. In Deuteronomy 28:1-2, Moses told the Israelites, "If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God." The next fifteen verses list all sorts of blessings that God will give His people.
It sounds really good to be radically blessed, but notice that there is a condition: you must "fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands."
Obedience can be difficult, but if you consistently obey God in secret, then "your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:4).
You may freely choose between obedience and disobedience, but know that "a man reaps what he sows" (Galatians 6:7).
Obey the Lord in all things—private and public. Then you will see "all these blessings ... come upon you."
If you want true life, you must have the Word of Life.
To many people, physical life is deemed to be the measure of whether or not one has life. However, true life—spiritual life—requires more than a beating heart. That's because we are spiritually hungry and thirsty people constantly looking for answers to life's persistent problems. Often, we look to idols like education, money, and success for those answers. However, real solutions for real life come only from the Author of Life—God, himself.
True life—the type so many people hunger and thirst for—can only be found in Christ. In John 6:35, Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." Obviously, Jesus isn't talking about physical hunger; instead, He is talking about spiritual hunger.
Not only will Jesus satisfy your spiritual hunger, but He will also quench your spiritual thirst: "To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life" (Revelation 21:6).
That verse refers back to Isaiah 55:1-2, where God says, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare."
Therefore, stop trying to seek worldly things for satisfaction, because worldly pleasures are temporary. Instead, heed the advice of Isaiah 55:6: "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near."
God is the source of all life, and if you want true life, you must have God's Word of Life.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
It sounds really good to be radically blessed, but notice that there is a condition: you must "fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands."
Obedience can be difficult, but if you consistently obey God in secret, then "your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:4).
You may freely choose between obedience and disobedience, but know that "a man reaps what he sows" (Galatians 6:7).
Obey the Lord in all things—private and public. Then you will see "all these blessings ... come upon you."
If you want true life, you must have the Word of Life.
To many people, physical life is deemed to be the measure of whether or not one has life. However, true life—spiritual life—requires more than a beating heart. That's because we are spiritually hungry and thirsty people constantly looking for answers to life's persistent problems. Often, we look to idols like education, money, and success for those answers. However, real solutions for real life come only from the Author of Life—God, himself.
True life—the type so many people hunger and thirst for—can only be found in Christ. In John 6:35, Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." Obviously, Jesus isn't talking about physical hunger; instead, He is talking about spiritual hunger.
Not only will Jesus satisfy your spiritual hunger, but He will also quench your spiritual thirst: "To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life" (Revelation 21:6).
That verse refers back to Isaiah 55:1-2, where God says, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare."
Therefore, stop trying to seek worldly things for satisfaction, because worldly pleasures are temporary. Instead, heed the advice of Isaiah 55:6: "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near."
God is the source of all life, and if you want true life, you must have God's Word of Life.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
People listen to people who listen.
Far too often, many Christians view evangelism as a game involving "me," the Christian, vs. "you," the non-Christian. However, reaching unbelievers effectively usually requires working with them in order to develop a relationship based on trust, and any relationship requires listening to the other person in order to find out where they are spiritually and emotionally. When you authentically listen to others, they will genuinely listen to you.
In Romans 12:10, Paul writes, Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. To honor other people means respecting them, which includes listening to them. In fact, simply by listening attentively to someone you show that you care about that person: you place value on them.
Remember, people listen to people who listen. The power of sin's promises is broken by the power of God's promise.
Sin's power is rooted in its promise of satisfaction. You're compelled to a one night stand because it promises quick joy without the hard work of a committed relationship. You're drawn to gossip about your ex-spouse because it promises the instant gratification of revenge. You're tempted to be greedy and not give to the poor because it affords you the comfort of buying more for yourself.
We sin not out of duty but out of hope for happiness. (We wouldn't sin if we didn't think we stood to gain something by sinning.) In other words, sin's power is in its promise of happiness.
Sin, which leads to death (Romans 6:16), will continue to enslave us as long as we believe that sin provides greater joy than righteousness, which leads to life.
The breakthrough over sin comes when we realize who God promises to make us if we trust in him.
In contrast to sin, God promises us much greater joy and satisfaction in him than in sin. When we receive Christ and are born again, our eyes are opened and our desires transformed. God makes immense promises to those who are born again. Specifically, in Christ we are made righteous (Romans 5:19), dead to sin (Romans 6:11), given eternal life (Romans 6:23 and John 3:15), not condemned (Romans 8:1), sanctified (1 Corinthians 1:2), made alive (1 Corinthians 15:22), made a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:19), clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:27), immeasurably blessed (Ephesians 1:3), forgiven (Ephesians 1:7), and made the very righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). What an awesome set of promises given by God! All that God promises to be for us in Jesus stands against what sin promises to be for us without him.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
In Romans 12:10, Paul writes, Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. To honor other people means respecting them, which includes listening to them. In fact, simply by listening attentively to someone you show that you care about that person: you place value on them.
Remember, people listen to people who listen. The power of sin's promises is broken by the power of God's promise.
Sin's power is rooted in its promise of satisfaction. You're compelled to a one night stand because it promises quick joy without the hard work of a committed relationship. You're drawn to gossip about your ex-spouse because it promises the instant gratification of revenge. You're tempted to be greedy and not give to the poor because it affords you the comfort of buying more for yourself.
We sin not out of duty but out of hope for happiness. (We wouldn't sin if we didn't think we stood to gain something by sinning.) In other words, sin's power is in its promise of happiness.
Sin, which leads to death (Romans 6:16), will continue to enslave us as long as we believe that sin provides greater joy than righteousness, which leads to life.
The breakthrough over sin comes when we realize who God promises to make us if we trust in him.
In contrast to sin, God promises us much greater joy and satisfaction in him than in sin. When we receive Christ and are born again, our eyes are opened and our desires transformed. God makes immense promises to those who are born again. Specifically, in Christ we are made righteous (Romans 5:19), dead to sin (Romans 6:11), given eternal life (Romans 6:23 and John 3:15), not condemned (Romans 8:1), sanctified (1 Corinthians 1:2), made alive (1 Corinthians 15:22), made a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:19), clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:27), immeasurably blessed (Ephesians 1:3), forgiven (Ephesians 1:7), and made the very righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). What an awesome set of promises given by God! All that God promises to be for us in Jesus stands against what sin promises to be for us without him.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Do you lack the unity in community?
All Christians share a common bond—a belief in Jesus. But unfortunately that bond is often overlooked or damaged by strife and discord.
However, the Bible instructs Christians to live in harmony with one another and to bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another (Romans 12:16, Colossians 3:13). This need for love, harmony, and forgiveness is important because we, as Christians, cannot be an effective community without unity—and that means helping each other, forgiving each other, and walking in love with one another.
Galatians 6:2 says, Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. This means that if we help each other—in other words, walk in love—then we, as Christians, will fulfill Christ's law, which is to love one another (see John 13:34-35). Any Christian community must have unity.
Watering down God's wrath dilutes God's love.
In an effort to make the Gospel more seeker-friendly, some Christians avoid talking about God's wrath, anger, and hatred toward those who have sinned against him. By watering down the wrath of God such people cheapen and diminish the love of God.
Such a faith void of God's wrath was characterized in the early 1900s by a movement called Protestant Liberalism. In 1937, H. Richard Niebuhr, professor at Yale Divinity School, gave this description of Protestant Liberalism's theology: "A God without wrath brought men without sin into a kingdom without judgment through a Christ without a cross."
As Niebuhr pungently demonstrated, eliminating God's wrath minimizes the cross, which is the ultimate manifestation of God's love (see Romans 5:6-8).
Because God is holy, perfect, and sinless, he deserves all glory, honor, fame, praise, and exaltation. However, when we sin—and every one of us sins—we insult God's holiness. Sin is fundamentally an offense against God, and so he hates sin and punishes all who sin against him (see Psalm 78:19-21, John 3:36, Psalm 5:5, Isaiah 13:11, Psalm 7:11).
The Apostle Paul, in Romans 1:18-19, describes the ubiquity of God's wrath: "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of human beings who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them" (see also Romans 1:18-31).
So, if we all are godless and wicked, deserving of God's wrath, how can he accept us? Does God say, "Well, at least you're making progress"? Does he grade on the curve: "You're better than average, so I guess I'll give you a passing grade"? No. God can't forgive like that because his holiness and justice demand that perfect satisfaction for sin be made.
Instead, what God does is this: He sends his son, Jesus Christ, to bear all our sins so that our sin is paid for by Christ. What an amazing act that the very one who you hated, scorned, reviled, and scoffed at is the same one who took upon himself the death penalty you deserved, and because all your sins are placed on him God declares you righteous. That's good news!
If you don't realize that the bad news is that you, because of your sin, are an enemy of God who deserves the death penalty, then you won't realize the full magnificence of God's love for you expressed through Christ suffering the death you deserved. Because the bad news is worse than you think it is, the good news is better than you think it is.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
However, the Bible instructs Christians to live in harmony with one another and to bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another (Romans 12:16, Colossians 3:13). This need for love, harmony, and forgiveness is important because we, as Christians, cannot be an effective community without unity—and that means helping each other, forgiving each other, and walking in love with one another.
Galatians 6:2 says, Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. This means that if we help each other—in other words, walk in love—then we, as Christians, will fulfill Christ's law, which is to love one another (see John 13:34-35). Any Christian community must have unity.
Watering down God's wrath dilutes God's love.
In an effort to make the Gospel more seeker-friendly, some Christians avoid talking about God's wrath, anger, and hatred toward those who have sinned against him. By watering down the wrath of God such people cheapen and diminish the love of God.
Such a faith void of God's wrath was characterized in the early 1900s by a movement called Protestant Liberalism. In 1937, H. Richard Niebuhr, professor at Yale Divinity School, gave this description of Protestant Liberalism's theology: "A God without wrath brought men without sin into a kingdom without judgment through a Christ without a cross."
As Niebuhr pungently demonstrated, eliminating God's wrath minimizes the cross, which is the ultimate manifestation of God's love (see Romans 5:6-8).
Because God is holy, perfect, and sinless, he deserves all glory, honor, fame, praise, and exaltation. However, when we sin—and every one of us sins—we insult God's holiness. Sin is fundamentally an offense against God, and so he hates sin and punishes all who sin against him (see Psalm 78:19-21, John 3:36, Psalm 5:5, Isaiah 13:11, Psalm 7:11).
The Apostle Paul, in Romans 1:18-19, describes the ubiquity of God's wrath: "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of human beings who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them" (see also Romans 1:18-31).
So, if we all are godless and wicked, deserving of God's wrath, how can he accept us? Does God say, "Well, at least you're making progress"? Does he grade on the curve: "You're better than average, so I guess I'll give you a passing grade"? No. God can't forgive like that because his holiness and justice demand that perfect satisfaction for sin be made.
Instead, what God does is this: He sends his son, Jesus Christ, to bear all our sins so that our sin is paid for by Christ. What an amazing act that the very one who you hated, scorned, reviled, and scoffed at is the same one who took upon himself the death penalty you deserved, and because all your sins are placed on him God declares you righteous. That's good news!
If you don't realize that the bad news is that you, because of your sin, are an enemy of God who deserves the death penalty, then you won't realize the full magnificence of God's love for you expressed through Christ suffering the death you deserved. Because the bad news is worse than you think it is, the good news is better than you think it is.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Anything you have to hide to do is probably something you shouldn't be doing at all.
It can be difficult to find people of integrity, because so many people make mediocre compromises. At work, such people take every shortcut possible in order to finish the task as quickly as possible, even though they do a terrible job in the process. At school, mediocre people copy homework from friends and copy essays from the Internet just in order to avoid work while hoping to get a good grade, even though they're cheating and don't learn the material.
Unfortunately, many of the people who lack integrity are Christians. Yet, this is clearly not how God wants us to live. He desires that we be people of integrity.
Integrity means doing what is right when no one is looking, and it means going the extra mile, knowing that God sees everything and that what he sees in secret he will reward in the open (Matthew 6:4,6,18). Jesus told his disciples, "What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs" (Luke 12:3).
Whatever you do now, even if it is hidden from others, will be brought out into the open and made public. If you are wondering whether or not to do something, consider whether or not you'd be willing to do it in front of your boss, your teacher, your parents, or your pastor. If you have to hide what you're doing to feel comfortable, then there's a good chance you shouldn't be doing it at all.
Wrath and love fuse on the Cross.
God is a just and righteous God -- perfect (see Deuteronomy 32:4). God, therefore, can not let imperfect, sinful humans into his presence. In his justice, God gives every person the fair penalty for his or her sin -- eternal separation from the holy God.
God is also a God of wrath -- holy wrath against sin. As Romans 1:18 says, The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. That wrath is against all who have sinned.
However, God is also a loving God (1 John 4:8). Indeed, God demonstrated his self-giving love for us by sending Jesus Christ to die for us (Romans 5:8).
These two key attributes of God -- holy wrath and love -- fuse on the Cross. For that's where God shows his love by satisfying his holy wrath in order to provide a path for sinful humans to know the holy God.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Unfortunately, many of the people who lack integrity are Christians. Yet, this is clearly not how God wants us to live. He desires that we be people of integrity.
Integrity means doing what is right when no one is looking, and it means going the extra mile, knowing that God sees everything and that what he sees in secret he will reward in the open (Matthew 6:4,6,18). Jesus told his disciples, "What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs" (Luke 12:3).
Whatever you do now, even if it is hidden from others, will be brought out into the open and made public. If you are wondering whether or not to do something, consider whether or not you'd be willing to do it in front of your boss, your teacher, your parents, or your pastor. If you have to hide what you're doing to feel comfortable, then there's a good chance you shouldn't be doing it at all.
Wrath and love fuse on the Cross.
God is a just and righteous God -- perfect (see Deuteronomy 32:4). God, therefore, can not let imperfect, sinful humans into his presence. In his justice, God gives every person the fair penalty for his or her sin -- eternal separation from the holy God.
God is also a God of wrath -- holy wrath against sin. As Romans 1:18 says, The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. That wrath is against all who have sinned.
However, God is also a loving God (1 John 4:8). Indeed, God demonstrated his self-giving love for us by sending Jesus Christ to die for us (Romans 5:8).
These two key attributes of God -- holy wrath and love -- fuse on the Cross. For that's where God shows his love by satisfying his holy wrath in order to provide a path for sinful humans to know the holy God.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Proud people are so proud about their supposed humility that they won't seek any help.
Pride can be blinding. It is possible to become so prideful and haughty that a person doesn't even recognize his or her own pride.
Such pride leads to disgrace: When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom (Proverbs 11:2).
Likewise, someone who is prideful thinks that he or she knows everything; such a person refuses to receive correction or instruction. Proverbs 13:10 says, Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Furthermore, pride leads to and causes destruction: Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). This is because proud people are blinded to reality -- the reality of their sins.
Therefore, admit that you have a problem with pride, because otherwise God will be obligated to show you that you have a pride problem. God may have to humble you by humiliating you.
With all these verses in the Bible warning us not to be prideful, it is no surprise that a man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor (Proverbs 29:23).
The more you doubt, the more you'll have to live without.
Complaining is one of the worst traps that many Christians fall into. A complainer thinks, "I can't stand my boss. If she would only treat me better, I'd be happy. I hate this traffic. Why can the government improve traffic flow with all the tax money I pay?" This is a deceptive trap because it leads one to believe that life would be better if something would be different. However, it is far more productive for to believe that God can change the situation than to doubt him.
This trap of complaining is the same trap that the Israelites fell into. They were not satisfied with what God had given them and they continually wanted more. Psalm 106:12-15 is a great example of what happens to people who are unthankful and always want more: Then they [Israel] believed his promises and sang his praise. But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel. In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wasteland they put God to the test. So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease upon them.
That passage refers the Israelites' persistent request for food, water, and other basic resources. They didn't trust God; they doubted his ability to provide and tested him. So, because of their doubt, God sent a wasting disease upon them. Furthermore, for forty years God withheld the promised land from them. Their doubt caused them to live without.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Such pride leads to disgrace: When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom (Proverbs 11:2).
Likewise, someone who is prideful thinks that he or she knows everything; such a person refuses to receive correction or instruction. Proverbs 13:10 says, Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Furthermore, pride leads to and causes destruction: Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). This is because proud people are blinded to reality -- the reality of their sins.
Therefore, admit that you have a problem with pride, because otherwise God will be obligated to show you that you have a pride problem. God may have to humble you by humiliating you.
With all these verses in the Bible warning us not to be prideful, it is no surprise that a man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor (Proverbs 29:23).
The more you doubt, the more you'll have to live without.
Complaining is one of the worst traps that many Christians fall into. A complainer thinks, "I can't stand my boss. If she would only treat me better, I'd be happy. I hate this traffic. Why can the government improve traffic flow with all the tax money I pay?" This is a deceptive trap because it leads one to believe that life would be better if something would be different. However, it is far more productive for to believe that God can change the situation than to doubt him.
This trap of complaining is the same trap that the Israelites fell into. They were not satisfied with what God had given them and they continually wanted more. Psalm 106:12-15 is a great example of what happens to people who are unthankful and always want more: Then they [Israel] believed his promises and sang his praise. But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel. In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wasteland they put God to the test. So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease upon them.
That passage refers the Israelites' persistent request for food, water, and other basic resources. They didn't trust God; they doubted his ability to provide and tested him. So, because of their doubt, God sent a wasting disease upon them. Furthermore, for forty years God withheld the promised land from them. Their doubt caused them to live without.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Let your life match your lip.
There are far too many Christians who live two different lives: one on the inside, another on the outside; one Sunday morning,or Saturday morning another the rest of the week.
Such people are hypocrites, phonies, Christian liars; they live wrong lives. Why? Because they have a wrong heart. We must be very careful that our heart is clean and pure (see Psalm 51:10).
We are told in Matthew 12:34 why our heart is so important: For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. In other words, your heart affects your mouth.
Since our lives, and especially our words, are being examined by unbelievers, we must be careful to have a clean heart so that we will have clean words; and if we have clean words, then our lives will show good fruit. In other words, a good (spiritual) heart will bear good fruit.
No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks (Luke 6:43-45).
Therefore, be careful that your words are clean and pure and that your actions are equally clean and pure so that the world will see that your life matches your lip.
For the one who stores treasures on Earth, death is loss, but for the one who stores treasures in Heaven, death becomes gain.
In his longest sermon, known as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says this: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal" ( Matthew 6:19-20).
Jesus commands us not to store up earthly treasures. Why? Because they're bad? No. Because they won't last!
Jesus makes absolutely clear that all earthly treasures will not last. Either they will leave you while you live, or you will leave them when you die. There are no exceptions.
Jesus tells us not to store up earthly treasures, but amazingly he instead says that we can—indeed, should—store up for ourselves treasures in heaven. It's an amazing concept that we can use our earthly (temporary) treasures in such a way as to assure ourselves heavenly (eternal) treasures.
How can you store up for yourself treasures in heaven? By investing in eternal causes instead of temporary ones—by giving to the poor instead of hording up money for yourself (see 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Matthew 19:21, Mark 10:21, and Luke 12:33). By putting your treasures into eternal causes you secure for yourself treasures that can never be lost.
Proverbs 23:5 says, Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. Next time you buy something you really care about, imagine it sprouting wings and flying off. That will help you keep an eternal perspective, remembering that every earthly treasure is temporary.
When you die, you will lose every treasure that you have stored up on Earth, but when you die, you will also receive every treasure that you have stored up in heaven. In that way, death is a loss for the one who stores up treasures on Earth, but death is a gain for the one who stores up treasures in Heaven.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Such people are hypocrites, phonies, Christian liars; they live wrong lives. Why? Because they have a wrong heart. We must be very careful that our heart is clean and pure (see Psalm 51:10).
We are told in Matthew 12:34 why our heart is so important: For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. In other words, your heart affects your mouth.
Since our lives, and especially our words, are being examined by unbelievers, we must be careful to have a clean heart so that we will have clean words; and if we have clean words, then our lives will show good fruit. In other words, a good (spiritual) heart will bear good fruit.
No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks (Luke 6:43-45).
Therefore, be careful that your words are clean and pure and that your actions are equally clean and pure so that the world will see that your life matches your lip.
For the one who stores treasures on Earth, death is loss, but for the one who stores treasures in Heaven, death becomes gain.
In his longest sermon, known as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says this: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal" ( Matthew 6:19-20).
Jesus commands us not to store up earthly treasures. Why? Because they're bad? No. Because they won't last!
Jesus makes absolutely clear that all earthly treasures will not last. Either they will leave you while you live, or you will leave them when you die. There are no exceptions.
Jesus tells us not to store up earthly treasures, but amazingly he instead says that we can—indeed, should—store up for ourselves treasures in heaven. It's an amazing concept that we can use our earthly (temporary) treasures in such a way as to assure ourselves heavenly (eternal) treasures.
How can you store up for yourself treasures in heaven? By investing in eternal causes instead of temporary ones—by giving to the poor instead of hording up money for yourself (see 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Matthew 19:21, Mark 10:21, and Luke 12:33). By putting your treasures into eternal causes you secure for yourself treasures that can never be lost.
Proverbs 23:5 says, Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. Next time you buy something you really care about, imagine it sprouting wings and flying off. That will help you keep an eternal perspective, remembering that every earthly treasure is temporary.
When you die, you will lose every treasure that you have stored up on Earth, but when you die, you will also receive every treasure that you have stored up in heaven. In that way, death is a loss for the one who stores up treasures on Earth, but death is a gain for the one who stores up treasures in Heaven.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
The dreams of your future have no room for the devastations of your past.
When Aaron, the brother of Moses, died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days (Numbers 20:29). However, after those thirty days, the time of mourning was over, and the Israelites had to move on with life.
There is a great lesson in this: you must push beyond the past in order to enter the future -- a future filled with great things God has planned for you. The Apostle Paul knew this, which is why he wrote, One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).
You may have great dreams for your future, but if you fill your future with junk from your past, then you'll never fulfill your dreams. Therefore, like the Israelites, after a certain period of time, you must decide to forget what is behind and press on toward the things that are ahead.
The storms of life won't harm you if you have deep roots in God.
In Matthew 13:3-6, Jesus told this parable: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root." One point Jesus makes in this parable is that people without deep roots in God will fall away from faith whenever persecution or trials come on account of the word (see Matthew 13:20-21).
Similarly, Jesus encourages his followers to build their house (i.e. their life) on "the rock" (see Matthew 7:24-27). Even though the wind and storms beat against that house, it did not crumble because it was founded on the rock. If you have deep roots in God, your life will be built on the Rock—Christ. As one hymn says, "On Christ alone I stand, all else is sinking sand."
It is no surprise, then, that Paul encourages believers to be rooted and built up in Christ, strengthened in the faith (Colossians 2:6-7). If you are strengthened in faith, then you won't crack under the pressure of difficult situations because you will be able to dig deeply into the word of God on which you are firmly grounded. Unfortunately, too many Christians have a cracked foundation.
Make it a priority to have deep roots in God so that you will not wither under the heat of life. Invest time into reading and memorizing God's word, praying, and communing with God. Be rooted in God.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
There is a great lesson in this: you must push beyond the past in order to enter the future -- a future filled with great things God has planned for you. The Apostle Paul knew this, which is why he wrote, One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).
You may have great dreams for your future, but if you fill your future with junk from your past, then you'll never fulfill your dreams. Therefore, like the Israelites, after a certain period of time, you must decide to forget what is behind and press on toward the things that are ahead.
The storms of life won't harm you if you have deep roots in God.
In Matthew 13:3-6, Jesus told this parable: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root." One point Jesus makes in this parable is that people without deep roots in God will fall away from faith whenever persecution or trials come on account of the word (see Matthew 13:20-21).
Similarly, Jesus encourages his followers to build their house (i.e. their life) on "the rock" (see Matthew 7:24-27). Even though the wind and storms beat against that house, it did not crumble because it was founded on the rock. If you have deep roots in God, your life will be built on the Rock—Christ. As one hymn says, "On Christ alone I stand, all else is sinking sand."
It is no surprise, then, that Paul encourages believers to be rooted and built up in Christ, strengthened in the faith (Colossians 2:6-7). If you are strengthened in faith, then you won't crack under the pressure of difficult situations because you will be able to dig deeply into the word of God on which you are firmly grounded. Unfortunately, too many Christians have a cracked foundation.
Make it a priority to have deep roots in God so that you will not wither under the heat of life. Invest time into reading and memorizing God's word, praying, and communing with God. Be rooted in God.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Nyimbo Za Kiswahili(NAMTAKA YESU NEW VIDEO JIPANGE SAWA SAWA )
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Nyimbo Za Kiswahili(ROSE MUHANDO NIBEBE NEW VIDEO JIPANGE SAWA SAWA)
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Nyimbo Za Kiswahili(ROSE MUHANDO - MWAMBINIE MUNGU)
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Nyimbo Za Kiswahili(Rose Muhando - Nakaza Mwendo )
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Nyimbo Za Kiswahili(Rose Muhando- Mungu Wangu nitakushukuru )
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Nyimbo Za Kiswahili(Rose Muhando - Yesu Nakupenda )
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
How Does Jesus free us?
As it is written, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved...
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved...
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
The Way Out of the Darkness!
As it is written,For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
So What is the Cost of sin?
As it is written,
Who knowing the judgment of God,
that they which commit such things
are worthy of death,
not only do the same,
but have pleasure in them that do them
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers,
how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Who knowing the judgment of God,
that they which commit such things
are worthy of death,
not only do the same,
but have pleasure in them that do them
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers,
how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
So why do you still say, "I'm basically a good person" ?
Holy Spirit,I ask thee to search my heart on this day, and reveal to me by your power the truth Amen!
When was the last time you said the Lord's name (GOD) in vain?
Have you ever stole anything in your entire life?
Do you desire something that does not belong to you {covet}?
What about Cussing, Lying, Hating, Cheating or just plain simple Lust?If you break any part of the law, you are guilty of breaking it all!!!!!
As it is written, For whosoever shall keep the whole law,and yet offend in any one point, he is guilty of all.
So why do you still say, "I'm basically a good person" ?
As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
When was the last time you said the Lord's name (GOD) in vain?
Have you ever stole anything in your entire life?
Do you desire something that does not belong to you {covet}?
What about Cussing, Lying, Hating, Cheating or just plain simple Lust?If you break any part of the law, you are guilty of breaking it all!!!!!
As it is written, For whosoever shall keep the whole law,and yet offend in any one point, he is guilty of all.
So why do you still say, "I'm basically a good person" ?
As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Why do you want to be a SLAVE to sin?
As it is written,
If the Son Jesus therefore shall make you free,ye shall be free indeed.For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,they are the sons of God. The Holy Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
A Slave when he failed to please his master, there were fearful consequences that had to be faced. Born out of his slavish fear, however, was one security. When the master specified in detail all of his duties and the slave fulfilled them, he could feel some security and acceptance. It was a security through accomplishment and perfectionism, but the sense of security was always overshadowed by his fears of inadequacy. The slave could perform his service with no love, admiration, or oneness of purpose with his master. That is a spirit of bondage.
A Son serves his father out of a sense of belonging, acceptance, love, and unity of purpose with the father. This son knew that his security and acceptance were dependent upon his relationship rather than his ability and diligence to achieve. His confidence was in the unconditional love of his father. His service was in gratitude for the father's love and sustenance rather than to meet demands of specifics and quotas set by the father. This young man was free from the fears of inadequacy in performance and he was free to exercise himself creatively in a loving relationship expressive of love and joy. This is the spirit of freedom that sons may enjoy.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
If the Son Jesus therefore shall make you free,ye shall be free indeed.For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,they are the sons of God. The Holy Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
A Slave when he failed to please his master, there were fearful consequences that had to be faced. Born out of his slavish fear, however, was one security. When the master specified in detail all of his duties and the slave fulfilled them, he could feel some security and acceptance. It was a security through accomplishment and perfectionism, but the sense of security was always overshadowed by his fears of inadequacy. The slave could perform his service with no love, admiration, or oneness of purpose with his master. That is a spirit of bondage.
A Son serves his father out of a sense of belonging, acceptance, love, and unity of purpose with the father. This son knew that his security and acceptance were dependent upon his relationship rather than his ability and diligence to achieve. His confidence was in the unconditional love of his father. His service was in gratitude for the father's love and sustenance rather than to meet demands of specifics and quotas set by the father. This young man was free from the fears of inadequacy in performance and he was free to exercise himself creatively in a loving relationship expressive of love and joy. This is the spirit of freedom that sons may enjoy.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Is there anything too hard for me?
Do you believe in miracles? Things that happen but seem to be too impossible? Well, isn't that what miracles are all about? Aren't they SUPPOSED to be impossible things that are really happening?
Of course, it sometimes seems that we are battling along from day to day, just wishing that a miracle would really happen to us, that our problems would disappear! Well, did you know that the power of miracles resides in all of us? Yes, it's true!
With God at our side we can achieve ANYTHING! Isn't that just the most amazing message? WE CAN DO IT! All we need to have is faith in God, and faith in ourselves. When you are facing something that seems truly impossible for you to resolve, take your problem to God and have faith! Have faith that God can do - and does do - miracles!
Jesus himself also said this:
"Have faith in God. For, assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain 'be removed and be cast into the sea', and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he has said will come to pass, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you. Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them".
Jesus understood God's promise. God's promise that with Him, ALL things are possible with faith and belief. Jesus understood that God had not only empowered him to perform wonderful things, but all of us. Each one, with God, is capable of anything!
Be blessed today, take your problems to God in prayer, and have faith that with Him at your side you can perform miracles.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Of course, it sometimes seems that we are battling along from day to day, just wishing that a miracle would really happen to us, that our problems would disappear! Well, did you know that the power of miracles resides in all of us? Yes, it's true!
With God at our side we can achieve ANYTHING! Isn't that just the most amazing message? WE CAN DO IT! All we need to have is faith in God, and faith in ourselves. When you are facing something that seems truly impossible for you to resolve, take your problem to God and have faith! Have faith that God can do - and does do - miracles!
Jesus himself also said this:
"Have faith in God. For, assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain 'be removed and be cast into the sea', and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he has said will come to pass, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you. Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them".
Jesus understood God's promise. God's promise that with Him, ALL things are possible with faith and belief. Jesus understood that God had not only empowered him to perform wonderful things, but all of us. Each one, with God, is capable of anything!
Be blessed today, take your problems to God in prayer, and have faith that with Him at your side you can perform miracles.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
When God answers our prayers
Have you ever experienced the power of God answering your prayers? So many people despair of ever being answered in their troubled times, when they have kneeled before God and asked for His help. It often seems as though God is ignoring us, doesn't it?
But how do you truly know when God is answering your prayers? The thing is, you may not know - at least, not right away. We have all heard the phrase "God works in mysterious ways", and that is true; this is a saying we use to explain away the fact that God sometimes does things we least expect, and when we least expect it, and sometimes the way God answers our prayers are indeed mysterious and strange. But be assured, God NEVER lets a prayer go unanswered. Ever.
Here's a little story I read which illustrates very well what I am trying to say.
God and the Spider
During World War II, a US marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades.
Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly he crawled inside one of the caves. Although safe for the moment, he realised that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be found and killed.
As he waited, he prayed: "Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will though, I love you and trust you. Amen."
After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy begin to draw close. He thought "Well, I guess the Lord isn't going to help me out of this one."
Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave. As he watched, listening to the enemy searching for him all the while, the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening of the cave.
"Hah", he thought. "What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humour!" As the enemy drew closer he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he got ready to make his last stand. To his amazement, however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. Suddenly, he realised that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no-one had entered it for quite a while.
"Lord, forgive me", prayed the young man. "I had forgotten that in you a spider's web is stronger than a brick wall."Source unknown
We all face times of great trouble. When we do, it is so easy to forget the victories that God would work in our lives, sometimes in the most surprising ways, if we simply had the faith required to believe that it would be done.
Remember this: Whatever is happening in your life, with God, a mere spider's web can become a brick wall of protection. Believe He is with you always and you will see His great power and love for you.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
But how do you truly know when God is answering your prayers? The thing is, you may not know - at least, not right away. We have all heard the phrase "God works in mysterious ways", and that is true; this is a saying we use to explain away the fact that God sometimes does things we least expect, and when we least expect it, and sometimes the way God answers our prayers are indeed mysterious and strange. But be assured, God NEVER lets a prayer go unanswered. Ever.
Here's a little story I read which illustrates very well what I am trying to say.
God and the Spider
During World War II, a US marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades.
Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly he crawled inside one of the caves. Although safe for the moment, he realised that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be found and killed.
As he waited, he prayed: "Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will though, I love you and trust you. Amen."
After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy begin to draw close. He thought "Well, I guess the Lord isn't going to help me out of this one."
Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave. As he watched, listening to the enemy searching for him all the while, the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening of the cave.
"Hah", he thought. "What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humour!" As the enemy drew closer he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he got ready to make his last stand. To his amazement, however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. Suddenly, he realised that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no-one had entered it for quite a while.
"Lord, forgive me", prayed the young man. "I had forgotten that in you a spider's web is stronger than a brick wall."Source unknown
We all face times of great trouble. When we do, it is so easy to forget the victories that God would work in our lives, sometimes in the most surprising ways, if we simply had the faith required to believe that it would be done.
Remember this: Whatever is happening in your life, with God, a mere spider's web can become a brick wall of protection. Believe He is with you always and you will see His great power and love for you.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
A letter from God
Imagine, just for a moment, if God wrote you a letter. What would it say? What would God want to tell you? Do you think that God would want to ask you why you have done things that have disappointed Him? Do you think that He may want to scold you, or chastise you, or warn you that you are failing Him and yourself?
No! God would want to let you know that He loves you, everything about you, that he cares about you and what happens to you. He would want to tell you that you are His precious child, that he is not disappointed in you, and that whatever you have done and whatever you may do in the future, He loves you!
Do you feel at a loss right now? Do you feel that God is not talking to you and that you really need His care and attention right now? Many of us do, and so let us believe for a minute that this is our letter from God:
Dear Child
I just wanted to remind you today of how beautiful you are because there is a father of lies who will try to deceive you.
He will try to tell you that you are not good enough, not attractive enough, not thin enough, not strong enough, not smart enough, not righteous enough, and that you are simply unimportant to me.
He will try to tell you that you have broken one too many promises, that you have fallen one too many times, that you have lived one too many lies, and that you've been going in the wrong direction so long that it is pointless to turn back now.
But guess what?
YOU DO NOT BELONG TO HIM. HE IS NOT YOUR FATHER. I AM.
You see, you are my creation. My workmanship. You have been born of my thought, every part of you placed together by my hands. You have my thumbprint upon you. You are precious, did you know that? You are my child, the child of THE King!
I look at you and see a precious, priceless pearl. There is no ocean I would not swim, no mountain I would not climb, no price I would not pay to have you and to be with you and call you my own.
I already have.
I have done all that I could, given all that there is. I desire to be with you every moment of every day. How I long for you to talk to me every day. My love for you never grows cold. My promises are never broken (contrary to what he might lead you to believe). My character never changes. And you, my child, have been made in my image.
I love you dearly, unconditionally and completely. I understand every emotion that you have. I've been there. I count every tear that you cry. I know every hair on your head. And do you know what?
I even know your weaknesses and your failures and your fears. I know those hidden parts of you that you wish would go away. Those dark corners of your world that you stuff deep down, praying that no one will ever see. I have already seen them and they will not change my love for you.
Nothing will. I love your heart and I desire all of it.
I just wanted to remind you today of how beautiful you are and how precious you are to Me.
With love, God
See Ya Soon, May God bless you today and forever!
No! God would want to let you know that He loves you, everything about you, that he cares about you and what happens to you. He would want to tell you that you are His precious child, that he is not disappointed in you, and that whatever you have done and whatever you may do in the future, He loves you!
Do you feel at a loss right now? Do you feel that God is not talking to you and that you really need His care and attention right now? Many of us do, and so let us believe for a minute that this is our letter from God:
Dear Child
I just wanted to remind you today of how beautiful you are because there is a father of lies who will try to deceive you.
He will try to tell you that you are not good enough, not attractive enough, not thin enough, not strong enough, not smart enough, not righteous enough, and that you are simply unimportant to me.
He will try to tell you that you have broken one too many promises, that you have fallen one too many times, that you have lived one too many lies, and that you've been going in the wrong direction so long that it is pointless to turn back now.
But guess what?
YOU DO NOT BELONG TO HIM. HE IS NOT YOUR FATHER. I AM.
You see, you are my creation. My workmanship. You have been born of my thought, every part of you placed together by my hands. You have my thumbprint upon you. You are precious, did you know that? You are my child, the child of THE King!
I look at you and see a precious, priceless pearl. There is no ocean I would not swim, no mountain I would not climb, no price I would not pay to have you and to be with you and call you my own.
I already have.
I have done all that I could, given all that there is. I desire to be with you every moment of every day. How I long for you to talk to me every day. My love for you never grows cold. My promises are never broken (contrary to what he might lead you to believe). My character never changes. And you, my child, have been made in my image.
I love you dearly, unconditionally and completely. I understand every emotion that you have. I've been there. I count every tear that you cry. I know every hair on your head. And do you know what?
I even know your weaknesses and your failures and your fears. I know those hidden parts of you that you wish would go away. Those dark corners of your world that you stuff deep down, praying that no one will ever see. I have already seen them and they will not change my love for you.
Nothing will. I love your heart and I desire all of it.
I just wanted to remind you today of how beautiful you are and how precious you are to Me.
With love, God
See Ya Soon, May God bless you today and forever!
You have been a helper to others
You have been a helper to others, and you have made feeble hands strong. Recently I personally went through a very hard time in my life. I had lost my job, I was feeling very down, depressed, and even suffered physically as a result of the stress and worry. And yet through it all I heard the voice of God saying "Trust me. I know what is best for you".
I asked God to show me the way I needed to go, to show me what decisions to make, what to do.
And through it all I even felt a little betrayed, a little as if God had let me down. But He never did. Today my problems are largely past. I can now stand before God and say "Thank you. Thank you for giving me the strength to face the trials, and the faith to believe that You knew best."
And do you know the most amazing thing? When I was at my worst period, when all I could think about were my own problems, I was forced time and again to look around me at other people, at those who are suffering, worried, in trouble, in need, and I realised then that my troubles were a mere nothing in the greater scheme of things, that there are people who more than ever before need MY strength and help, MY guidance. It was almost as if God was saying "Yes, you are suffering, but there are others worse off than you, and I need you to help me to hold those others up. Don't get weak on me now!"
You may ask yourself "How can I help others when I myself am so down, in need of help and guidance"? And the simple answer is that you can, by asking God to give you the strength to do it. But holding out your hand to someone else in need, you are strengthening yourself too, through God's love and support.
It's almost like a circle of strength, each one holding another, and so on in turn. The circle of love, God's love for us, is complete and encompassing. Through one-another we can pass on this love, and so lighten the burden for others, as God would want of us. It needn't be a huge thing; do something today for someone else, even the smallest act of kindness will be magnified by God. Stretch out your hand and lift up someone who is old, weak, sick, in trouble, worried, and you will be sure that God Himself will have His own hand around yours helping you along.
God will not let you fall. God will not let you fail. Be strong in your faith today, and let God use you to bless someone else's life, just as I pray to be able to bless yours.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
I asked God to show me the way I needed to go, to show me what decisions to make, what to do.
And through it all I even felt a little betrayed, a little as if God had let me down. But He never did. Today my problems are largely past. I can now stand before God and say "Thank you. Thank you for giving me the strength to face the trials, and the faith to believe that You knew best."
And do you know the most amazing thing? When I was at my worst period, when all I could think about were my own problems, I was forced time and again to look around me at other people, at those who are suffering, worried, in trouble, in need, and I realised then that my troubles were a mere nothing in the greater scheme of things, that there are people who more than ever before need MY strength and help, MY guidance. It was almost as if God was saying "Yes, you are suffering, but there are others worse off than you, and I need you to help me to hold those others up. Don't get weak on me now!"
You may ask yourself "How can I help others when I myself am so down, in need of help and guidance"? And the simple answer is that you can, by asking God to give you the strength to do it. But holding out your hand to someone else in need, you are strengthening yourself too, through God's love and support.
It's almost like a circle of strength, each one holding another, and so on in turn. The circle of love, God's love for us, is complete and encompassing. Through one-another we can pass on this love, and so lighten the burden for others, as God would want of us. It needn't be a huge thing; do something today for someone else, even the smallest act of kindness will be magnified by God. Stretch out your hand and lift up someone who is old, weak, sick, in trouble, worried, and you will be sure that God Himself will have His own hand around yours helping you along.
God will not let you fall. God will not let you fail. Be strong in your faith today, and let God use you to bless someone else's life, just as I pray to be able to bless yours.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Your promise preserves my life!
Psalm 119:50
My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life!
It is true that people suffer, that there are hardships in this world, and that sometimes we feel abandoned by God. Has He left us alone to face all of this? After all, He is the God of love and goodness, so where does all the hate, evil and suffering come from? From our own hearts, simply.
If we were all able to be God-like, as Jesus was, if we weren't simply human, then we WOULD live in a utopia. We would be in heaven. Where God promises we someday will be. Know this - God does not create the hate, the hurt and the anger, we do.
God does not promise that he will banish all hate, fear, hurt, suffering, anguish - all those things that plague our lives on earth. But God does promise that He will help us through it all, that He will forever be with us in our suffering, feeling the pain with us, guiding and supporting us and helping us up when we fall.
And so the writer of the psalm realises this. He knows that in his suffering there is hope, a promise of help, guidance, release, assistance, love. And it is that promise that comforts him, the same promise that can comfort you - God's promise, that He will never leave you, nor forsake you.
Take comfort and strength from the knowledge that God is watching over you now.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life!
It is true that people suffer, that there are hardships in this world, and that sometimes we feel abandoned by God. Has He left us alone to face all of this? After all, He is the God of love and goodness, so where does all the hate, evil and suffering come from? From our own hearts, simply.
If we were all able to be God-like, as Jesus was, if we weren't simply human, then we WOULD live in a utopia. We would be in heaven. Where God promises we someday will be. Know this - God does not create the hate, the hurt and the anger, we do.
God does not promise that he will banish all hate, fear, hurt, suffering, anguish - all those things that plague our lives on earth. But God does promise that He will help us through it all, that He will forever be with us in our suffering, feeling the pain with us, guiding and supporting us and helping us up when we fall.
And so the writer of the psalm realises this. He knows that in his suffering there is hope, a promise of help, guidance, release, assistance, love. And it is that promise that comforts him, the same promise that can comfort you - God's promise, that He will never leave you, nor forsake you.
Take comfort and strength from the knowledge that God is watching over you now.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
The whole earth is indeed full of His glory!
It is that time of the year when we in the Southern Hemisphere celebrate the glory of Spring, and it is especially in the Spring that we can see, feel, hear, smell, and even taste the glory of God's work in our world!
Beauty surrounds us, even in the most unexpected places, and we only have to look out of our window to see it. It is at this time that we need to be reminded to thank God for all that we have, for no matter our circumstances, no matter our worries and troubles, no matter our concerns, we must be mindful that God is at work in the world.
Do it today; go out into the sunshine, smell the smells, see and appreciate the sights, feel the Glory of God's creation, and you will understand God's love for His world.
And help to open other's eyes, too. Take note of those who are blind to God's glory, and help them to see it. We must remind each other at all times of this, it is our duty; God loves us, and God has prepared this earth for all of us to enjoy. Let us do it, then.
And let us remember to thank God for our blessings, both big and small, for no matter what, we are all blessed in some way.
May you feel the warmth of God's love for you today.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Beauty surrounds us, even in the most unexpected places, and we only have to look out of our window to see it. It is at this time that we need to be reminded to thank God for all that we have, for no matter our circumstances, no matter our worries and troubles, no matter our concerns, we must be mindful that God is at work in the world.
Do it today; go out into the sunshine, smell the smells, see and appreciate the sights, feel the Glory of God's creation, and you will understand God's love for His world.
And help to open other's eyes, too. Take note of those who are blind to God's glory, and help them to see it. We must remind each other at all times of this, it is our duty; God loves us, and God has prepared this earth for all of us to enjoy. Let us do it, then.
And let us remember to thank God for our blessings, both big and small, for no matter what, we are all blessed in some way.
May you feel the warmth of God's love for you today.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
We walk by faith, not by sight.
Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indians rite of passage?It is told that the father of the young man takes his son into the woods, where he blindfolds him and leaves him all alone. The initiate is then required to sit alone on a stump the whole night, not removing the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He may not cry out for help to anyone. Once he has survived the night, he is regarded as a man, his rite of passage complete.
He cannot tell the other boys of his experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own, in his own way, with his own inner strength. The boy is naturally terrified, sitting on that stump. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might wish to do him harm. The wind blows the grass and earth and shakes his stump, but he sits stoically, never removing the blindfold. It is the only way he can become a man!
Finally, after an awful night the sun appears and he removes his blindfold.It is only then that he discovers his father sitting on the stump next to him. He has been silently at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.
And so it is with us. We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, God is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him and we can be comforted in our fear and worry, safe in the knowledge that God is protecting and watching out for us.
Remember always, just because you can't see God it doesn't mean He is not there, for we walk by faith, not by sight.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
He cannot tell the other boys of his experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own, in his own way, with his own inner strength. The boy is naturally terrified, sitting on that stump. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might wish to do him harm. The wind blows the grass and earth and shakes his stump, but he sits stoically, never removing the blindfold. It is the only way he can become a man!
Finally, after an awful night the sun appears and he removes his blindfold.It is only then that he discovers his father sitting on the stump next to him. He has been silently at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.
And so it is with us. We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, God is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him and we can be comforted in our fear and worry, safe in the knowledge that God is protecting and watching out for us.
Remember always, just because you can't see God it doesn't mean He is not there, for we walk by faith, not by sight.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
He gathers the lambs in His arms
He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to His heart. This passage from Isaiah is part of a larger paragraph which says that God tends his flock like a shepherd, and looks after those who have young. We understand this to mean that God tends his people like a shepherd tends his sheep, but it also means that God tends his creation in this way, all of it. For all of God's creation is special to Him, and all of it deserves His special care and attention.
We also read the passage as meaning that God physically bears us close to Him in times of trouble or need, and indeed it does mean that, but also we need to understand the line " .. carries them close to His heart ...". We understand this to mean that God carries us close to his Love, we are always within his loving influence, as indeed we are.
I recently received a beautiful true story from one of my subscribers living in Parker, Texas, USA, and I want to relay the story to you here because it indicates very well several lessons. It shows that God indeed answers prayers, it shows that God indeed loves and cares for ALL of his creation, and it shows that God can be trusted to come to our aid in the stormiest times of our lives.
"We just experienced an amazing miracle that I would like to share. We are in the process of rebuilding a new barn after Texas storms flattened ours last week. The storm felled a huge Oak tree across our barn with our 4 horses inside. The destruction was heart and gut wrenching. I didn't believe the horses could survive this accident and prayed that if God intended to take them, please take them fast and not let them suffer a minute longer than they had to. Just when I thought I had lost it all, God performed a miracle.
He must have bubble-wrapped the horses before the tree fell, as two of the horses already had gotten out, and the two that were unable to get out from under the wreckage were rescued without needing one stitch! The Fire Department had to cut them out with chain saws near their heads ..... their wounds were only surface cuts and sore muscles! My vet was TRULY amazed when she examined them. Reflecting on this amazing outcome, I realize there is ALWAYS HOPE in every storm of our lives.
My new barn will be blessed and have a scripture of hope mounted inside.
GOD IS SO GOOD!!"
Sara, Texas.
So, if any of you feel in dispair of something today, if any of you feel worried, concerned about something, in fear of something, or truly need a miracle, then do as Sara did - pray to God, and have FAITH. Have faith that God will hear you, and have faith that God will stand with you, for indeed He will. And when He does, do not hesitate to tell the world about it, shout it to the heavens - GOD IS SO GOOD!
Isaiah 40:11
"He tends his flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those who have young."
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
We also read the passage as meaning that God physically bears us close to Him in times of trouble or need, and indeed it does mean that, but also we need to understand the line " .. carries them close to His heart ...". We understand this to mean that God carries us close to his Love, we are always within his loving influence, as indeed we are.
I recently received a beautiful true story from one of my subscribers living in Parker, Texas, USA, and I want to relay the story to you here because it indicates very well several lessons. It shows that God indeed answers prayers, it shows that God indeed loves and cares for ALL of his creation, and it shows that God can be trusted to come to our aid in the stormiest times of our lives.
"We just experienced an amazing miracle that I would like to share. We are in the process of rebuilding a new barn after Texas storms flattened ours last week. The storm felled a huge Oak tree across our barn with our 4 horses inside. The destruction was heart and gut wrenching. I didn't believe the horses could survive this accident and prayed that if God intended to take them, please take them fast and not let them suffer a minute longer than they had to. Just when I thought I had lost it all, God performed a miracle.
He must have bubble-wrapped the horses before the tree fell, as two of the horses already had gotten out, and the two that were unable to get out from under the wreckage were rescued without needing one stitch! The Fire Department had to cut them out with chain saws near their heads ..... their wounds were only surface cuts and sore muscles! My vet was TRULY amazed when she examined them. Reflecting on this amazing outcome, I realize there is ALWAYS HOPE in every storm of our lives.
My new barn will be blessed and have a scripture of hope mounted inside.
GOD IS SO GOOD!!"
Sara, Texas.
So, if any of you feel in dispair of something today, if any of you feel worried, concerned about something, in fear of something, or truly need a miracle, then do as Sara did - pray to God, and have FAITH. Have faith that God will hear you, and have faith that God will stand with you, for indeed He will. And when He does, do not hesitate to tell the world about it, shout it to the heavens - GOD IS SO GOOD!
Isaiah 40:11
"He tends his flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those who have young."
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
You will be forgiven. You only need to ask
It is certainly true that each and every one of us has sinned, and many of us are probably even now worrying about that sin, brooding over it, allowing it to rule and control our lives.
Let it go! Do not become a slave to it! Ask God for forgiveness, for as truly as you have sinned, God will forgive. There is nothing, no sin, no good deed, NOTHING that God does not know about you. You will not surprise God by confessing what you have done and asking for forgiveness. And you will be released from it!
Consider this story:
The Duck
There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with in the woods. He practiced and practiced but could never hit the target. Becoming somewhat discouraged; he headed back to dinner.
As he was returning, he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let fly, hit the duck square in the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved. In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the woodpile, only to see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but said nothing.
After lunch that day, Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes." But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today, didn't you, Johnny?" And then she whispered to him, "Remember, the duck?" So Johnny did the dishes.
Later Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing, and Grandma said, "I'm sorry, but I need Sally to help make supper." But Sally smiled and said, "Well, that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help." And she whispered again, "Remember, the duck?" So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed.
After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He went to Grandma and confessed that he had killed her pet duck and asked her forgiveness.
She knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window, and I saw the whole thing. And because I love you, I forgive you. But I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you." - Author unknown
I don't know what's in your past. I don't know what one sin the enemy keeps throwing up in your face. But whatever it is, I want you to know something. Jesus Christ was also standing at the window. And He saw the whole thing.
And because He loves you, He will forgive you if you will but ask. Perhaps He's wondering how long you will let the enemy make a slave out of you.
The great thing about Jesus is that He not only forgives, but He forgets.
1 John 1:9
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Let it go! Do not become a slave to it! Ask God for forgiveness, for as truly as you have sinned, God will forgive. There is nothing, no sin, no good deed, NOTHING that God does not know about you. You will not surprise God by confessing what you have done and asking for forgiveness. And you will be released from it!
Consider this story:
The Duck
There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with in the woods. He practiced and practiced but could never hit the target. Becoming somewhat discouraged; he headed back to dinner.
As he was returning, he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let fly, hit the duck square in the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved. In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the woodpile, only to see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but said nothing.
After lunch that day, Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes." But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today, didn't you, Johnny?" And then she whispered to him, "Remember, the duck?" So Johnny did the dishes.
Later Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing, and Grandma said, "I'm sorry, but I need Sally to help make supper." But Sally smiled and said, "Well, that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help." And she whispered again, "Remember, the duck?" So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed.
After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He went to Grandma and confessed that he had killed her pet duck and asked her forgiveness.
She knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window, and I saw the whole thing. And because I love you, I forgive you. But I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you." - Author unknown
I don't know what's in your past. I don't know what one sin the enemy keeps throwing up in your face. But whatever it is, I want you to know something. Jesus Christ was also standing at the window. And He saw the whole thing.
And because He loves you, He will forgive you if you will but ask. Perhaps He's wondering how long you will let the enemy make a slave out of you.
The great thing about Jesus is that He not only forgives, but He forgets.
1 John 1:9
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Nothing is impossible with God
Luke 1:35-37
The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."
It is once again that time of year when Christians the world around will be celebrating that most wondrous of moments, when their saviour Jesus Christ was born of the virgin Mary, as foretold by the prophets of old. Unfortunately, it is also a time of great sadness for many people, those who are poor, who are neglected, who are sick, or who have no hope or joy in their lives. But take heart, and read what happens with Mary:
This was the time that the angel Gabriel appeared to her, before she was married to Joseph, and told her that she was blessed amongst women, and would bear a child that would be the saviour of the human race, and he would be called Jesus. You can well imagine Mary's amazement and consternation; she was betrothed to Joseph, yes, but she was still a virgin!
"How can this be, I am yet a virgin" she asked of Gabriel. The angel reassured her, saying that the Holy Spirit would be with her, and that she would bear the child. Then, he tells her "Nothing is impossible with God". Not through God, or by God, but WITH God. He is telling her that with her help and faith, along with God, it will be as He says. That was an invitation from God to work WITH him, an invitation that is subsequently extended to each one of us.
Have faith, God says, and with you and I NOTHING is impossible! Certainly, it takes great faith to believe that our greatest problems will be overcome, and our failing faith is why so many of us seem to forever be troubled. But bear in mind what trouble Mary had believing that she as a virgin would give birth to a son who would be God's son, the saviour that was promised! So what did she do?
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said."
I urge you today to be the Lord's servant, and have faith that with God your problems will be resolved.
I hope you will have a blessed Christmas!
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."
It is once again that time of year when Christians the world around will be celebrating that most wondrous of moments, when their saviour Jesus Christ was born of the virgin Mary, as foretold by the prophets of old. Unfortunately, it is also a time of great sadness for many people, those who are poor, who are neglected, who are sick, or who have no hope or joy in their lives. But take heart, and read what happens with Mary:
This was the time that the angel Gabriel appeared to her, before she was married to Joseph, and told her that she was blessed amongst women, and would bear a child that would be the saviour of the human race, and he would be called Jesus. You can well imagine Mary's amazement and consternation; she was betrothed to Joseph, yes, but she was still a virgin!
"How can this be, I am yet a virgin" she asked of Gabriel. The angel reassured her, saying that the Holy Spirit would be with her, and that she would bear the child. Then, he tells her "Nothing is impossible with God". Not through God, or by God, but WITH God. He is telling her that with her help and faith, along with God, it will be as He says. That was an invitation from God to work WITH him, an invitation that is subsequently extended to each one of us.
Have faith, God says, and with you and I NOTHING is impossible! Certainly, it takes great faith to believe that our greatest problems will be overcome, and our failing faith is why so many of us seem to forever be troubled. But bear in mind what trouble Mary had believing that she as a virgin would give birth to a son who would be God's son, the saviour that was promised! So what did she do?
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said."
I urge you today to be the Lord's servant, and have faith that with God your problems will be resolved.
I hope you will have a blessed Christmas!
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
God is your rock and refuge
Psalm 18:2
"You are my mighty rock, my fortress, my protector, the rock where I am safe, my shield, my powerful weapon, and my place of shelter"
Even the very strong and fit need a rest from time to time, a break from the battle, a refuge in times of trouble. Sports teams welcome the blast of the half-time whistle, animals on the hunt take refuge in the shade when tired, and even the mighty King David of Israel needed a respite.
It is very likely that he penned this psalm, showing that in his time of stress he looked towards God as his rock of safety, his place of shelter. If the greatest of Israel's kings admitted weakness at times, and accepted God as his refuge, why can't we?
Why can't we kneel in the heat of our battle and ask God to give us shelter and peace? We can. And we should, because no matter what our troubles are, no matter how bad our situation is, God loves us and will care for us.
God follows your every step. He knows where you are at all times, he is ready to help. Remember what Jesus said?
"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father's knowledge. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."
How much more does God care for you then? And why would he refuse you comfort and shelter when He knows your troubles?
Do just as King David did. By all means look to your friends and family for guidance, love, support and strength; after all God has given those gifts to us for that purpose. But always look to find the greatest rock of them all, your God. And allow Him to be your rock of safety and shelter.
I hope and pray that God will give you comfort today.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
"You are my mighty rock, my fortress, my protector, the rock where I am safe, my shield, my powerful weapon, and my place of shelter"
Even the very strong and fit need a rest from time to time, a break from the battle, a refuge in times of trouble. Sports teams welcome the blast of the half-time whistle, animals on the hunt take refuge in the shade when tired, and even the mighty King David of Israel needed a respite.
It is very likely that he penned this psalm, showing that in his time of stress he looked towards God as his rock of safety, his place of shelter. If the greatest of Israel's kings admitted weakness at times, and accepted God as his refuge, why can't we?
Why can't we kneel in the heat of our battle and ask God to give us shelter and peace? We can. And we should, because no matter what our troubles are, no matter how bad our situation is, God loves us and will care for us.
God follows your every step. He knows where you are at all times, he is ready to help. Remember what Jesus said?
"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father's knowledge. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."
How much more does God care for you then? And why would he refuse you comfort and shelter when He knows your troubles?
Do just as King David did. By all means look to your friends and family for guidance, love, support and strength; after all God has given those gifts to us for that purpose. But always look to find the greatest rock of them all, your God. And allow Him to be your rock of safety and shelter.
I hope and pray that God will give you comfort today.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
His angels to guard you
So many times we hear stories of how people are rescued or helped in difficult situations by complete strangers, someone who simply pops up unexpectedly in the midst of chaos to distill calm assistance. And when we hear those stories, we say lightly "Now there's proof that angels do exist!".
Some would say "Well, that's proof that good people exist in this world". Well, that's true - undoubtedly good people DO exist in this world, people who would never hesitate to help a complete stranger in trouble. But who's to say that this was not God's plan all along?
Think about how true that is, though. God did promise us that we would be guarded by his angels, He promised us that his angels would be there to catch us when we fall.
And he didn't mean fall in the literal sense only - he meant 'fall' in every sense; fall in fear, fall in cowardice (which is not the same thing), fall from grace, fall from our faith - fall in EVERY sense. He promised that with faith, his angels would be there to help us.
So when we cry to God in anguish, or fear, or in our trouble, we should never be surprised if God truly does send an angel to help! The hand of God will reach us in the most unexpected ways.
Psalm 91:11-12
"For he will give his angels charge over you, to guard you in all your ways.
They will bear you up in their hands, so that you won't dash your foot against a stone."
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Some would say "Well, that's proof that good people exist in this world". Well, that's true - undoubtedly good people DO exist in this world, people who would never hesitate to help a complete stranger in trouble. But who's to say that this was not God's plan all along?
Think about how true that is, though. God did promise us that we would be guarded by his angels, He promised us that his angels would be there to catch us when we fall.
And he didn't mean fall in the literal sense only - he meant 'fall' in every sense; fall in fear, fall in cowardice (which is not the same thing), fall from grace, fall from our faith - fall in EVERY sense. He promised that with faith, his angels would be there to help us.
So when we cry to God in anguish, or fear, or in our trouble, we should never be surprised if God truly does send an angel to help! The hand of God will reach us in the most unexpected ways.
Psalm 91:11-12
"For he will give his angels charge over you, to guard you in all your ways.
They will bear you up in their hands, so that you won't dash your foot against a stone."
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Monday, September 27, 2010
God will NOT give up on you
How often have you cried out to God in times of need and desperation only to feel that you aren't being answered? Do you get the feeling that God is somehow ignoring you?
That He maybe is not even listening to you? Perhaps you feel that way right now, perhaps you feel that your prayers are all in vain and that you are tiring of waiting for God to answer. Never fear, friend. God has heard you. God has heard, and whatever you feel inside right now, believe that God has an answer to your problem.
There is no doubt about that. God has promised to hear us, and we must have faith in His promise. We must continue to hold our heads high and believe that God will intervene, for surely He will.
Sometimes it will happen that the answer God gives, or seems to give, is not the answer we were looking for, not the answer we were maybe hoping for. But whatever you believe, remember that we cannot second-guess God. We cannot even begin to understand how the omnipotent mind of our God works. All we need to have is faith, faith in God's answer, and a firm belief that God knows better.
So, if you feel that your prayers are not being answered and that your problems are seemingly impossible to resolve, do yourself a favour: Thank God for what He has already done, thank God for your blessings, and ask God to renew and strengthen your faith in His promise. The promise that whatever happens, God will NOT GIVE UP ON YOU!
Try this simple task. FInd a quiet place where you can speak quietly to God. Then say:
God, I want to thank You for what you have already done.
I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards, I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better, I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me, I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears, I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves, I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet, I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job, I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief, I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed, I am thanking you right now.
I am thanking you because I am alive.
I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties.
I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles.
I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.
And I'm thanking you because Father, you haven't given up on me.
I hope that God will bless you today in more ways that you may imagine possible.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
That He maybe is not even listening to you? Perhaps you feel that way right now, perhaps you feel that your prayers are all in vain and that you are tiring of waiting for God to answer. Never fear, friend. God has heard you. God has heard, and whatever you feel inside right now, believe that God has an answer to your problem.
There is no doubt about that. God has promised to hear us, and we must have faith in His promise. We must continue to hold our heads high and believe that God will intervene, for surely He will.
Sometimes it will happen that the answer God gives, or seems to give, is not the answer we were looking for, not the answer we were maybe hoping for. But whatever you believe, remember that we cannot second-guess God. We cannot even begin to understand how the omnipotent mind of our God works. All we need to have is faith, faith in God's answer, and a firm belief that God knows better.
So, if you feel that your prayers are not being answered and that your problems are seemingly impossible to resolve, do yourself a favour: Thank God for what He has already done, thank God for your blessings, and ask God to renew and strengthen your faith in His promise. The promise that whatever happens, God will NOT GIVE UP ON YOU!
Try this simple task. FInd a quiet place where you can speak quietly to God. Then say:
God, I want to thank You for what you have already done.
I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards, I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better, I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me, I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears, I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves, I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet, I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job, I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief, I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed, I am thanking you right now.
I am thanking you because I am alive.
I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties.
I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles.
I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.
And I'm thanking you because Father, you haven't given up on me.
I hope that God will bless you today in more ways that you may imagine possible.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Only God has all the answers
So often in our lives we get the feeling of being constantly under pressure, bombarded with problems and stresses, feeling unable to cope. How often have you been so close to tears when unable to accomplish a task?
How often have you felt desperately alone and unloved? How often have you felt the weight of your problems suffocating you? How often have you been afraid? How often have you felt tired, too weary to carry on?
It happens to everyone at some time or another, but how many of us stop to ask God for the answer? Most of the time we don't realise that God truly has the answers to ALL of our questions, we only need to ask! And what's more, God has already issued us with a user-manual, a guideline that we can use to research answers to our problems. It's called the Bible.
Reflect for a moment on these questions, and answers from the Bible:
.................................................
When you say "I can't solve this"
God says "I will direct your path" ~ Prov 3:5-6
When you say "It's impossible"
God says "Everything is possible" ~ Luke 18:27
When you say "I feel all alone"
God says "Never will I leave you; Never will I forsake you" ~ Hebrews 13:5
When you say "I can't do it"
God says "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" ~ Phil 4:13
When you say "I don't deserve forgiveness"
God says "I have forgiven you" ~ 1 John 1:9, Romans 8:1
When you say "I am afraid"
God says "Do not fear, for I am with you; I will strengthen you and help you" ~ Isaiah 41:10
When you say "I am tired"
God says "Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" ~ Matt 11:28-30
When you say "No-one really loves me"
God says "I love you" ~ John 3:16, John 13:34
When you say "I don't know how to go on"
God says "I will show you the path" ~
When you say "What path does God have for me?"
God says "My beloved son, Jesus Christ" ~ 1 Timothy 2:5, Acts 4:2, John 3:16
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
How often have you felt desperately alone and unloved? How often have you felt the weight of your problems suffocating you? How often have you been afraid? How often have you felt tired, too weary to carry on?
It happens to everyone at some time or another, but how many of us stop to ask God for the answer? Most of the time we don't realise that God truly has the answers to ALL of our questions, we only need to ask! And what's more, God has already issued us with a user-manual, a guideline that we can use to research answers to our problems. It's called the Bible.
Reflect for a moment on these questions, and answers from the Bible:
.................................................
When you say "I can't solve this"
God says "I will direct your path" ~ Prov 3:5-6
When you say "It's impossible"
God says "Everything is possible" ~ Luke 18:27
When you say "I feel all alone"
God says "Never will I leave you; Never will I forsake you" ~ Hebrews 13:5
When you say "I can't do it"
God says "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" ~ Phil 4:13
When you say "I don't deserve forgiveness"
God says "I have forgiven you" ~ 1 John 1:9, Romans 8:1
When you say "I am afraid"
God says "Do not fear, for I am with you; I will strengthen you and help you" ~ Isaiah 41:10
When you say "I am tired"
God says "Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" ~ Matt 11:28-30
When you say "No-one really loves me"
God says "I love you" ~ John 3:16, John 13:34
When you say "I don't know how to go on"
God says "I will show you the path" ~
When you say "What path does God have for me?"
God says "My beloved son, Jesus Christ" ~ 1 Timothy 2:5, Acts 4:2, John 3:16
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Humble yourself before God
Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives we fail to see the significance of God's might and glory. We may remember to pray to God, especially in our times of trouble, and we may remember to thank God for the blessings we daily receive. But do we ever make acknowledgment of how humble we are before the might of God? Do we ever kneel, really kneel, before God and say "God, you humble me in your glory and magnificence"?
Because we should.
Just take a moment to think about how little we actually know about our own world. We understandably have just the vaguest idea about our own solar system, let alone the universe. We have so little understanding about the sub-atomic world, the structure of our own existence. We don't even understand very much about where we came from, and how we exist. And yet God himself is the master of all those things and more, the builder of all we see and understand, and the builder of all that we cannot see or understand. Even our world's most advance intellects fail to understand or conceive of it all. God is truly magnificent, and we are humbled!
We should tell God that we are thankful for the blessings received, for the help and assistance and guidance, for the answers to our prayers, but just as importantly, we should tell God that we know we are humbled before Him.
Allow yourself to feel the glory of God when you kneel before Him next, and remember to say "You humble me, Lord".
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Because we should.
Just take a moment to think about how little we actually know about our own world. We understandably have just the vaguest idea about our own solar system, let alone the universe. We have so little understanding about the sub-atomic world, the structure of our own existence. We don't even understand very much about where we came from, and how we exist. And yet God himself is the master of all those things and more, the builder of all we see and understand, and the builder of all that we cannot see or understand. Even our world's most advance intellects fail to understand or conceive of it all. God is truly magnificent, and we are humbled!
We should tell God that we are thankful for the blessings received, for the help and assistance and guidance, for the answers to our prayers, but just as importantly, we should tell God that we know we are humbled before Him.
Allow yourself to feel the glory of God when you kneel before Him next, and remember to say "You humble me, Lord".
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Be calm, you are not alone
Worry is an old man with a bent head, carrying a load of feathers he thinks is lead.It is a simple fact of our human lives that every one of us will grapple with worry and concern over the trials and tribulations of our daily affairs.
That is being human. And because it happens so often, daily at least, that we worry or concern ourselves about something, it means that daily, at least, we need to hand back these worries and concerns to God. Find a little quiet time in your busy day to tell God about your concerns, to ask God to take them from you - because worry comes from trying to handle things that are the concern of God - or ought to be. Remember that worry does not solve your issues for tomorrow, it removes your strength and resolve today.
And isn't it just so, that often we worry about things that eventually turn out to be of no concern, inconsequential things, a load of feathers that we think are lead?
Someone once said "Nothing in the affairs of man is worthy of great anxiety." And that truly is so. Absolutely nothing is beyond the power of our God to handle, absolutely nothing is worthy of worry.
Billy Graham explained this very well:
"Worrying about what might happen makes even the smallest trouble seem huge. Nervously anticipating troubles that may never happen can crush our spirit. Instead of 'borrowing trouble' by constantly worrying about the future, listen instead to Jesus' promise:
'Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.' John 14:27.
Whatever is worrying you right now, give it to Jesus and trust Him to take care of it. Let His peace replace your worry."
God understands this. God knows that you are human, with human frailties, and so when you are struggling with fear, worry, concern, anxiety, look to these words that He gave us:
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
Psalm 27:1
"The Lord is my light and my salvation - so why should I be afraid? The Lord protects me from danger - so why should I tremble?"
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
That is being human. And because it happens so often, daily at least, that we worry or concern ourselves about something, it means that daily, at least, we need to hand back these worries and concerns to God. Find a little quiet time in your busy day to tell God about your concerns, to ask God to take them from you - because worry comes from trying to handle things that are the concern of God - or ought to be. Remember that worry does not solve your issues for tomorrow, it removes your strength and resolve today.
And isn't it just so, that often we worry about things that eventually turn out to be of no concern, inconsequential things, a load of feathers that we think are lead?
Someone once said "Nothing in the affairs of man is worthy of great anxiety." And that truly is so. Absolutely nothing is beyond the power of our God to handle, absolutely nothing is worthy of worry.
Billy Graham explained this very well:
"Worrying about what might happen makes even the smallest trouble seem huge. Nervously anticipating troubles that may never happen can crush our spirit. Instead of 'borrowing trouble' by constantly worrying about the future, listen instead to Jesus' promise:
'Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.' John 14:27.
Whatever is worrying you right now, give it to Jesus and trust Him to take care of it. Let His peace replace your worry."
God understands this. God knows that you are human, with human frailties, and so when you are struggling with fear, worry, concern, anxiety, look to these words that He gave us:
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
Psalm 27:1
"The Lord is my light and my salvation - so why should I be afraid? The Lord protects me from danger - so why should I tremble?"
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
A time of new beginnings
Easter is a very special time of the year for us, a time when we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Of all the aspects of Christianity, this event is perhaps the hardest for us to understand or explain.
Why did Jesus have to die? Why did God have Him killed in such a way only to raise Him up again? Therein lies the mystery of our faith. This was the story told by a Sunday School teacher to her children one day in an attempt to explain this mystery:
Two soldiers were involved in a very intense battle one day, where many men were killed and wounded. One of the men had been badly wounded and he and his compatriot both knew that he was going to die. The other soldier was distressed, and tried to sooth the injured man's fears as best he could, but the dying soldier turned to him and said:
"My friend, don't concern yourself over my death. I have made peace with God, and I know that it is my turn to die. Worry more about your own future."
He then told the man that he knew of a plan that some officers had to court-martial him for something he had done. If convicted, the soldier could be killed or imprisoned for life. The dying man said "Please, as my last gift to you I want you to take my identity. Take my name, my papers, my whole past and swap it with your own, so that when they find my body they will think it is you. You will then be free, completely free to live your life. All your sins and past crimes will be wiped out, and no-one will know anything more of them."
And that is why Jesus had to die for us, to release us from our past and set us once again on the road to freedom, to give us a new life free from our previous sins and troubles. A new beginning, a rebirth, and a new life. Let us thank God for this most precious gift that He gave to us, and let us grasp it with both hands, turn our faces back to God and say "God, help me to use this new beginning you have given me, help me to remain steadfast in my faith, help me to grow always in your love, help me to stand true in the face of my troubles, but mostly, Lord, help me to do whatever I can to assist others in their own troubles."
In this way we can strengthen each other for the road ahead.
May God bless you today and forever.
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son to be killed, so that whoever believes in Him shall not die but have everlasting life."
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Why did Jesus have to die? Why did God have Him killed in such a way only to raise Him up again? Therein lies the mystery of our faith. This was the story told by a Sunday School teacher to her children one day in an attempt to explain this mystery:
Two soldiers were involved in a very intense battle one day, where many men were killed and wounded. One of the men had been badly wounded and he and his compatriot both knew that he was going to die. The other soldier was distressed, and tried to sooth the injured man's fears as best he could, but the dying soldier turned to him and said:
"My friend, don't concern yourself over my death. I have made peace with God, and I know that it is my turn to die. Worry more about your own future."
He then told the man that he knew of a plan that some officers had to court-martial him for something he had done. If convicted, the soldier could be killed or imprisoned for life. The dying man said "Please, as my last gift to you I want you to take my identity. Take my name, my papers, my whole past and swap it with your own, so that when they find my body they will think it is you. You will then be free, completely free to live your life. All your sins and past crimes will be wiped out, and no-one will know anything more of them."
And that is why Jesus had to die for us, to release us from our past and set us once again on the road to freedom, to give us a new life free from our previous sins and troubles. A new beginning, a rebirth, and a new life. Let us thank God for this most precious gift that He gave to us, and let us grasp it with both hands, turn our faces back to God and say "God, help me to use this new beginning you have given me, help me to remain steadfast in my faith, help me to grow always in your love, help me to stand true in the face of my troubles, but mostly, Lord, help me to do whatever I can to assist others in their own troubles."
In this way we can strengthen each other for the road ahead.
May God bless you today and forever.
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son to be killed, so that whoever believes in Him shall not die but have everlasting life."
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Let God's peace and love wash over you
The love of our creator never fails us. It is constant in our lives, always there, whether we care to accept it or not. For every moment we live, for every breath we breathe, waves of love are constantly flowing out from our Father.
Our problem is that we are always pushing it away, never allowing it to wash over and into us, calming and cleaning us. But why should we? Because this love has enormous power, it has the power to relieve us, to heal us, to calm us. And all we need to do is accept it, allow it into ourselves.
Try this - find a quiet place where you can relax a little. Close your eyes and quietly ask God to pour down his spirit upon you. Allow yourself to feel the waves of love come over you, feel the spirit of calmness and power running into you. Then, thank God. Thank God for all the support, love, joy, privileges and good things you have experienced in your life. Thank God for all the times you have been down and He has helped you up, for even though you may not remember them, God was always there. He has heard your cries and He has come to your side. Acknowledge that fact, and God will reward you. That is His promise.
"May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and Love of Jesus Christ"
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
Our problem is that we are always pushing it away, never allowing it to wash over and into us, calming and cleaning us. But why should we? Because this love has enormous power, it has the power to relieve us, to heal us, to calm us. And all we need to do is accept it, allow it into ourselves.
Try this - find a quiet place where you can relax a little. Close your eyes and quietly ask God to pour down his spirit upon you. Allow yourself to feel the waves of love come over you, feel the spirit of calmness and power running into you. Then, thank God. Thank God for all the support, love, joy, privileges and good things you have experienced in your life. Thank God for all the times you have been down and He has helped you up, for even though you may not remember them, God was always there. He has heard your cries and He has come to your side. Acknowledge that fact, and God will reward you. That is His promise.
"May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and Love of Jesus Christ"
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
When the darkness overcomes
I'm certain we all have childhood memories of being afraid of the dark, of being left alone in the darkness. And when that darkness oppressed us, overcame us, what appeared to save us, to rescue us from our fear? Usually our parents, or an older friend or sibling, or simply a light shining - a light we could focus on and move towards. Always the light appeared to represent safety and refuge.
And although as we grow older our minds become more rational and we are able to ask ourselves "What are we afraid of? The darkness itself? Surely the darkness cannot harm us?", we nevertheless, even as adults, sometimes find ourselves once again plagued by an irrational fear of the dark, or, using darkness as a metaphor, perhaps a fear of the unknown.
This is the time when we need once again to search for the light, for the outstretched hand of our Father. Always God's light will shine through our darkest times, always God's hand is stretched out to comfort and hold us. We only need to look for it. Remember that God's light will never fade, and will always be visible if you seek it. And God's hand will always be outstretched, ready to hold you, no matter how dark your night might seem.
So if you are experiencing a particularly dark period in your life, if you are feeling fear in the blackness of your concerns and worries, look around you for God's light, focus on it and move towards it. Reach out and let God take your hand to guide you through the night.
I pray that you will see God's welcoming light shining through your darkness today.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
And although as we grow older our minds become more rational and we are able to ask ourselves "What are we afraid of? The darkness itself? Surely the darkness cannot harm us?", we nevertheless, even as adults, sometimes find ourselves once again plagued by an irrational fear of the dark, or, using darkness as a metaphor, perhaps a fear of the unknown.
This is the time when we need once again to search for the light, for the outstretched hand of our Father. Always God's light will shine through our darkest times, always God's hand is stretched out to comfort and hold us. We only need to look for it. Remember that God's light will never fade, and will always be visible if you seek it. And God's hand will always be outstretched, ready to hold you, no matter how dark your night might seem.
So if you are experiencing a particularly dark period in your life, if you are feeling fear in the blackness of your concerns and worries, look around you for God's light, focus on it and move towards it. Reach out and let God take your hand to guide you through the night.
I pray that you will see God's welcoming light shining through your darkness today.
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
They struck me when I was down
How often is it that when are at our lowest, when we are down and out, that others seem to want to inflict more and more suffering on us? When we are utterly unable to defend ourselves any further, when we have finally fallen, it sometimes feels as though some people wish to make sure we never rise again. And it may well be that way with you right now - perhaps you feel abandoned by someone you were relying on, perhaps you feel betrayed by someone you trusted.
It doesn't matter though - it is important only to remember that at these times you are never alone - God is with you. When you are in trouble, abandoned and alone, you need someone to stand by you. God will be the one. When you need the love and strength of someone by your side, God will be the one. When you need someone to take your hand and guide you, God will be the one. When you need someone to fight at your side against seemingly overwhelming odds, God will be the one.
Look up and stretch out your hand, hold on to God - for always, God will surely hold on to you.
Psalm 18:18
"They struck me when I was down, but God stayed with me."
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
It doesn't matter though - it is important only to remember that at these times you are never alone - God is with you. When you are in trouble, abandoned and alone, you need someone to stand by you. God will be the one. When you need the love and strength of someone by your side, God will be the one. When you need someone to take your hand and guide you, God will be the one. When you need someone to fight at your side against seemingly overwhelming odds, God will be the one.
Look up and stretch out your hand, hold on to God - for always, God will surely hold on to you.
Psalm 18:18
"They struck me when I was down, but God stayed with me."
See Ya Soon,
May God bless you today and forever!
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