Date: Saturday, November 08, 2014
Today's Chapters: John 17-18
Message Title: Nothing Less Than His Best
Hello My Friend,
God has blessed me to be on here on earth now for forty-four years, over the years I have loved Him, disobeyed Him, ignored Him, doubted Him, and even believed lies told about Him. While I had my share of ups and downs in my relationship with God, one thing never changed, His love for me. As I reflect on the years gone by, I know I have made some stupid decisions over the years, but one thing was for sure, He never stopped loving me, even when I did not love Him, and He has been with me through it all. God's gift of free will really does allow us to be who we want to be, but it never stops Him from loving us so much that He will settle for anything less than what He wants us to be. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” - Philippians 2:13-15.
The word intercession means the act of interceding or pleading for another, it is someone going before God even before we pray and interceding on our behalf. Every born again, child of God has the same intercessor, He is the Lord, Jesus Christ Himself. Before a person even asks Christ to save them, amazingly, He has already seen their hearts opening toward Him, and He ispraying for them, literally pleading that they would receive Him. Even more amazing is that the second a person says, “I believe Christ died for me.” they are saved before they even sayAmen, and He is with them forever. Nothing, and I mean nothing, can separate us from Christ, even though we cannot escape trials and tribulations, Christ is right there with us, not only praying for us, but making a way for them to come to pass even stronger in our faith. Just before Jesus would be captured and crucified He was praying to God.
“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.” - John 17:1-6,9-11.
Jesus knew the time had come to finish the mission that God sent Him to do, to fulfill the promise of being the one and final sacrifice needed to be redeemed for their sins, and give eternal life to all who believe in Him. All of God's people are on a mission, we just have to learn what that is and how we are to accomplish it. Amazingly enough, God uses us to show those who are in the world just how powerful He is. Why? To give Him the glory. Jesus gave Him the glory, we too are to give Him the glory to finish the work He gave us to do. Jesus continues asking God to watch over His people, and protect them.
“And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.” - John 17:13-19,25,26.
Today, Jesus is still praying for all of His believers, while He wants everyone to be saved, He ismore concerned about those who do believe in Him than those who do. He knows that they may even have to face the same persecution that He faced and wants to assure us that He is theirsalso. We are not of this world, we are of God's world. Praise God! “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” - 2 Corinthians 1:3,4.
Trials and tribulations are going to come our way because we believe in Christ and follow Him, but Jesus is always with us. He is ours and we are His, and since we are His and He is ours, God is ours too, He is Father to all who believe in His Son. “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away...He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” - Revelation 21:3,4,17.
Today's Prayer: God, I want to thank You for sending Your Son to save me, I am trusting fully in Him for eternal life with You. While I humble myself to You, help me to submit solely to You, with all the joy, peace, and comfort that only comes from Christ who is mine. Lord, just as You are the example that I need to follow let me be the example for someone else to follow in hopes that they too can find peace in the Savior. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Saturday, November 8, 2014
Friday, November 7, 2014
Let Me Carry You
Date: Friday, November 07, 2014
Today's Chapters: John 14-16
Message Title: Let Me Carry You
Hello My Friend,
One of my favorite poems is Footprints In The Sand, part of the poem says, “You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?” The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.” We may not always see Jesus, especially during the trials in life, but that does not mean that He is not with us, He is always with those whom have believed in Him and accepted Him as their Saviour. “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” - Deuteronomy 31:6.
One would think that if Jesus is around you all day that there would be no doubts, fears, or questions about any thing that's going on. Unfortunately, Jesus can be right in front of us, and we would still have the same doubts, fears, and questions. While the disciples have been preaching about Jesus dying and resurrecting three days later to save those who believe in Him, they became confused when He said He must return to His Father. Jesus tries to comfort them, but they still had some questions. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?” - John 14:1-9.
Jesus is saying, “I and the Father are one,” meaning, “I am God. First of all, in order to believe in the Son, we must believe in the Father. Believing in Jesus is believing that He and the Father are one, but the only way to know that is to first know believe in Jesus.” The only way to knowGod, the Father is to know Christ, the Son. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” - 1 John 5:10-12.
While our salvation has nothing to do with following His commands, it has everything to do with the blessings we will receive by giving thanks to Jesus for what He has done for us. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” - John 14:12-17,21.
What does Jesus command us to do? Love one another. “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. ” - John 15:12-16.
Christ proved His love for us by laying down His life for us, but He didn't just come here to be the sacrifice we all need for redemption from hell, He came here to show us just how blessed we will be after we get saved and follow His commands. What a blessed life we have when we love one another as Jesus loved us. God does not want us to die for Him, but He does want us to live for Him. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” - Romans 12:1,2.
Sometimes in order to see Christ, we must let Him go, meaning let Him go to the cross. To fully understand what Jesus does for us we need to see Him on the cross, and not only that, but that He was in the tomb, and arose three days later also. Once we let Him go we will receive Him gladly because we will understand that He really is always with us. Jesus tells the disciples why He must leave. “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” - John 16:7-13.
Today, God has blessed me with life here on earth for forty-four years. It's not always been easy, some have been down right unbearable, but I wouldn't trade them for the world because when I was at my worst that is when Jesus was doing His greatest work in me. Thanks to Jesus my life does not end when my flesh does, it begins a new chapter in the presence of my King. “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” - 2 Corinthians 5:8-10.
Today's Prayer: Jesus, Your grace is sufficient to meet all my needs in the midst of trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, and danger. I truly have the victory because of Your love for me! I choose to walk with You, and reject the devil's lies that seek to convince me that I am an exception to Your redemptive power or that my troubles will never come to pass. Your power is unbiased, all-reaching, and ever merciful to those who call upon You in times of trouble. I’m so grateful that I have You in my life. I love You, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Today's Chapters: John 14-16
Message Title: Let Me Carry You
Hello My Friend,
One of my favorite poems is Footprints In The Sand, part of the poem says, “You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?” The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.” We may not always see Jesus, especially during the trials in life, but that does not mean that He is not with us, He is always with those whom have believed in Him and accepted Him as their Saviour. “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” - Deuteronomy 31:6.
One would think that if Jesus is around you all day that there would be no doubts, fears, or questions about any thing that's going on. Unfortunately, Jesus can be right in front of us, and we would still have the same doubts, fears, and questions. While the disciples have been preaching about Jesus dying and resurrecting three days later to save those who believe in Him, they became confused when He said He must return to His Father. Jesus tries to comfort them, but they still had some questions. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?” - John 14:1-9.
Jesus is saying, “I and the Father are one,” meaning, “I am God. First of all, in order to believe in the Son, we must believe in the Father. Believing in Jesus is believing that He and the Father are one, but the only way to know that is to first know believe in Jesus.” The only way to knowGod, the Father is to know Christ, the Son. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” - 1 John 5:10-12.
While our salvation has nothing to do with following His commands, it has everything to do with the blessings we will receive by giving thanks to Jesus for what He has done for us. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” - John 14:12-17,21.
What does Jesus command us to do? Love one another. “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. ” - John 15:12-16.
Christ proved His love for us by laying down His life for us, but He didn't just come here to be the sacrifice we all need for redemption from hell, He came here to show us just how blessed we will be after we get saved and follow His commands. What a blessed life we have when we love one another as Jesus loved us. God does not want us to die for Him, but He does want us to live for Him. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” - Romans 12:1,2.
Sometimes in order to see Christ, we must let Him go, meaning let Him go to the cross. To fully understand what Jesus does for us we need to see Him on the cross, and not only that, but that He was in the tomb, and arose three days later also. Once we let Him go we will receive Him gladly because we will understand that He really is always with us. Jesus tells the disciples why He must leave. “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” - John 16:7-13.
Today, God has blessed me with life here on earth for forty-four years. It's not always been easy, some have been down right unbearable, but I wouldn't trade them for the world because when I was at my worst that is when Jesus was doing His greatest work in me. Thanks to Jesus my life does not end when my flesh does, it begins a new chapter in the presence of my King. “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” - 2 Corinthians 5:8-10.
Today's Prayer: Jesus, Your grace is sufficient to meet all my needs in the midst of trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, and danger. I truly have the victory because of Your love for me! I choose to walk with You, and reject the devil's lies that seek to convince me that I am an exception to Your redemptive power or that my troubles will never come to pass. Your power is unbiased, all-reaching, and ever merciful to those who call upon You in times of trouble. I’m so grateful that I have You in my life. I love You, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Live Life More Abundantly
Date: Wednesday, November 05, 2014
Today's Chapters: John 10-11
Message Title: Live Life More Abundantly
Hello My Friend,
When I was a teen, my family and I used to love going to the park, we would pack up a wagon full of drinks and sandwiches, and begin our journey, which actually took about an hour and a half just to get there, but we did not mind because we knew what we had to look forward to. One day we came home to find our house had been robbed, I will never forget the fear we had, my mom nailed all the windows so they could only open just enough for some air, we did not even want to go to the park anymore for fear that it would happen again. The robbers robbed us of more than possessions, they robbed us of our joy. When we accept the Lord, Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we find joy like we have never known, sometimes it is a journey to get there, but something to look forward to. There are thieves larking, about eager to take our joy away from us, and they will use everything from false religion to plain old bullying to do it, but Jesus is our Shepherd, and as long as we remain close to Him, we will find joy, even when we are tried.“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” - John 10:10.
Jesus is in Jerusalem, by now, many of the Jews were believing in Him, but many also rejected Him, not because they really did not believe who He is, but that they knew He really is the Christ. He is confronted by a group of them, asking the same questions as they always have been. “Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.” - John 10:24-31.
Jesus has never been one to give glory to Himself, in fact, everything He did He gave glory to God for. However, Jesus was about to do something to prove that He and God were one in the same, something that would give He would be glorified through God. “Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.” - John 11:1-6.
Jesus arrives four days after Lazarus had died. “Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him?They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone.Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” - John 11:32-40.
Jesus groaned and was troubled, it pains Him to see that no matter how many miracles He does, many still will not believe in Him. Disbelief does not stop Jesus from doing what He always does, but it does rob us from seeing Him doing it. Jesus is the resurrection, the one who gives life to a dead soul, there are three parts to a body; flesh, soul, and spirit (life), while we may have life in us, it's not God's Spirit, it's what keeps us alive physically. The only chance we have to having a living soul is Jesus Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection gives life to every soul who believes in Him. We must believe in Christ if we want life to our soul, and those who refuse to accept Him will die and end up in hell, no ifs, ands or buts about it. “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” - 1Thessalonians 4:13,14.
Jesus brought Lazarus from the dead, proving that He does have the power to give life to every living soul, no one else has that power. Instead of all believing and accepting Him, some were, in fact, threatened by the miracle they saw, so threatened that they gathered together to see how they could stop Him. “Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.” - John 11:47-53.
Many who reject, and down right want to destroy Jesus do not do so because they do not believe in who He is, they do it for the same reason they reject God all together. People want control, not over their own lives, but of desperate people who follow and worship them because they seek joy in their lives. As long as everyone sides with them and does not oppose them they are happy, but the second someone speaks up and challenges them on what they are doing, they want to destroy them. Still today, the devil does everything he possibly can to destroy Jesus, including those who are faithful to Him, and he is the one who steals our joy. It's time to put the devil in his place, and take his joy away from him, the only way we can do that is by not giving up, and fighting for what we believe in. Jesus is with is, and wants us to live a more abundant life, it's time we put the devil in his place, and take our joy back. “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” - Ephesians 6:11-13.
Today's Chapters: John 10-11
Message Title: Live Life More Abundantly
Hello My Friend,
When I was a teen, my family and I used to love going to the park, we would pack up a wagon full of drinks and sandwiches, and begin our journey, which actually took about an hour and a half just to get there, but we did not mind because we knew what we had to look forward to. One day we came home to find our house had been robbed, I will never forget the fear we had, my mom nailed all the windows so they could only open just enough for some air, we did not even want to go to the park anymore for fear that it would happen again. The robbers robbed us of more than possessions, they robbed us of our joy. When we accept the Lord, Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we find joy like we have never known, sometimes it is a journey to get there, but something to look forward to. There are thieves larking, about eager to take our joy away from us, and they will use everything from false religion to plain old bullying to do it, but Jesus is our Shepherd, and as long as we remain close to Him, we will find joy, even when we are tried.“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” - John 10:10.
Jesus is in Jerusalem, by now, many of the Jews were believing in Him, but many also rejected Him, not because they really did not believe who He is, but that they knew He really is the Christ. He is confronted by a group of them, asking the same questions as they always have been. “Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.” - John 10:24-31.
Jesus has never been one to give glory to Himself, in fact, everything He did He gave glory to God for. However, Jesus was about to do something to prove that He and God were one in the same, something that would give He would be glorified through God. “Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.” - John 11:1-6.
Jesus arrives four days after Lazarus had died. “Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him?They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone.Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” - John 11:32-40.
Jesus groaned and was troubled, it pains Him to see that no matter how many miracles He does, many still will not believe in Him. Disbelief does not stop Jesus from doing what He always does, but it does rob us from seeing Him doing it. Jesus is the resurrection, the one who gives life to a dead soul, there are three parts to a body; flesh, soul, and spirit (life), while we may have life in us, it's not God's Spirit, it's what keeps us alive physically. The only chance we have to having a living soul is Jesus Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection gives life to every soul who believes in Him. We must believe in Christ if we want life to our soul, and those who refuse to accept Him will die and end up in hell, no ifs, ands or buts about it. “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” - 1Thessalonians 4:13,14.
Jesus brought Lazarus from the dead, proving that He does have the power to give life to every living soul, no one else has that power. Instead of all believing and accepting Him, some were, in fact, threatened by the miracle they saw, so threatened that they gathered together to see how they could stop Him. “Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.” - John 11:47-53.
Many who reject, and down right want to destroy Jesus do not do so because they do not believe in who He is, they do it for the same reason they reject God all together. People want control, not over their own lives, but of desperate people who follow and worship them because they seek joy in their lives. As long as everyone sides with them and does not oppose them they are happy, but the second someone speaks up and challenges them on what they are doing, they want to destroy them. Still today, the devil does everything he possibly can to destroy Jesus, including those who are faithful to Him, and he is the one who steals our joy. It's time to put the devil in his place, and take his joy away from him, the only way we can do that is by not giving up, and fighting for what we believe in. Jesus is with is, and wants us to live a more abundant life, it's time we put the devil in his place, and take our joy back. “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” - Ephesians 6:11-13.
Today's Prayer: Jesus, No matter how I feel on the outside I know You are with me, not because of any good that I do, but because I believe in and trust in what You have done for me. Lord, sometimes it's hard to see You when I have so many people and things trying to rob me og my joy, but as long as I abide with You I know I can see You. Lord, lead me and guide me, give me Your power to withstand every obstacle and to trust You with all of my life, let me not let anyone rob me of the joy that You bring to me as I walk with You. In Your name Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Living To Our Full Potential
Date: Monday, November 03, 2014
Today's Chapters: John 6-7
Message Title: Living To Our Full Potential
Hello My Friend,
God finds no better joy than seeing a person bow their head and trust His Son as their Saviour, but that does not mean that He will be content to see them living their lives the same way they did before they came to know Him. God loves us too much to see us not living our lives to it's full potential, and let me tell you, what He wants to do in our lives is something far amazing andmore rewarding than we can ever imagine, but before He will do that, He must also find our trust in Him. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.” - 2 Corinthians 13:5-7.
A reprobate is one that completely rejects God, and will never believe in Him no matter how many miracles and testimonies they have seen of Him. Jesus had twelve disciples that followed Him pretty much wherever He went, but that did not mean that He thought they were more righteous or had better faith in Him, in fact, He knew that one of them was a reprobate. He was always doing something to prove their faith in Him, which is why He often showed them things that were completely impossible for any person to do without the power of God. “And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.” - John 6:4-10.
We do not have to have a lot of faith in Him for Him to do something amazing in our lives, in fact, quite often, but we do need some faith, and by the way, our lack of faith does not stop Him from producing those miracles, He will just give those extra blessings to someone who will believe. How big of a cup of God's blessings do you want beyond your salvation? Do you want a miniature cup that barely fills the rim, or do you want the biggest cup you can find that overflows? What we get is determined by our faith increasing in Him. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” - Hebrews 11:6.
God is merciful and graceful to give every person, saved or not, the same opportunities to accpt His Son, He is no respecter of persons, what He will not do is accept those who grab everything they can get, knowing fully well that they are reprobates, and have no intention on believing in His Son. Eventually, He will confront all who take advantage of His good grace. Jesus left, a group of people from which He fed sought Him out and found Him, this time He was going to prove their faith. “When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” - John 6:24-29,40.
I admit that I was saved as a teenager, but like many, had no idea what that meant, it wasn't until 2004 (almost ten years later) that I stepped foot in a church other than going to a midnight mass or Easter service once in a while. In 2007, I professed my faith in Christ by getting baptized, and joined my first church. Since then, I have noticed one thing, that still annoys me, people will flock to a church to get free things, but scatter the second you start talking about Jesus. Imagine how Jesus must have felt to see these people coming to Him, just to get handouts from Him? Now, God's grace will never run out, but there does come a time when we must believe in the Son to go beyond that. “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” - Matthew 7:11,21.
Jesus was in the temple preaching, many believed, but out of fear of the Pharisees, hid that belief, and continued following their law. They were amazed by His teaching of the Word of God, the Book of John is the first and only Book that separates Him from the Jews, who questioned His teaching. “Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee? Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.” - John 7:14-21.
During Sunday school, we were discussing Moses and the ten plagues that God sent to Egypt in order for them to be freed from Pharaoh when a question was brought up. How did the Egyptians feel when they saw all their things being destroyed while no harm came to the Israelites? Sometimes, acts of God do not bring belief, but anger toward God, and His people.They can become envious and down right hateful toward those who are being blessed. We cannot change a hard heart, no one can, not even God, but we can be who God wants us to be. Hopefully, by our faithfulness to living in obedience to the Word of God, it will soften a hardened heart, but no matter what, we should never be ashamed of our faith in Christ. “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” - 1 Peter 4:16-19.
Today's Prayer: Jesus, Thank You again for the sacrifice You made for me, I know I do not have eternal life based on any thing that I have done, but by my faith and trust in what You have done for me. Lord, I do not want to leave this earth without having any missed opportunities,lead me and guide me, help me to live not by man's word, but by Your Word, I know it's the only way I can truly live in Your will and be satisfied. While people may come and go in my life, You will never leave nor forsake me no matter how many times I mess up. Thank You for Your grace, mercy and never ending love. In Your name Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Copyright © 2014 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
Today's Chapters: John 6-7
Message Title: Living To Our Full Potential
Hello My Friend,
God finds no better joy than seeing a person bow their head and trust His Son as their Saviour, but that does not mean that He will be content to see them living their lives the same way they did before they came to know Him. God loves us too much to see us not living our lives to it's full potential, and let me tell you, what He wants to do in our lives is something far amazing andmore rewarding than we can ever imagine, but before He will do that, He must also find our trust in Him. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.” - 2 Corinthians 13:5-7.
A reprobate is one that completely rejects God, and will never believe in Him no matter how many miracles and testimonies they have seen of Him. Jesus had twelve disciples that followed Him pretty much wherever He went, but that did not mean that He thought they were more righteous or had better faith in Him, in fact, He knew that one of them was a reprobate. He was always doing something to prove their faith in Him, which is why He often showed them things that were completely impossible for any person to do without the power of God. “And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.” - John 6:4-10.
We do not have to have a lot of faith in Him for Him to do something amazing in our lives, in fact, quite often, but we do need some faith, and by the way, our lack of faith does not stop Him from producing those miracles, He will just give those extra blessings to someone who will believe. How big of a cup of God's blessings do you want beyond your salvation? Do you want a miniature cup that barely fills the rim, or do you want the biggest cup you can find that overflows? What we get is determined by our faith increasing in Him. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” - Hebrews 11:6.
God is merciful and graceful to give every person, saved or not, the same opportunities to accpt His Son, He is no respecter of persons, what He will not do is accept those who grab everything they can get, knowing fully well that they are reprobates, and have no intention on believing in His Son. Eventually, He will confront all who take advantage of His good grace. Jesus left, a group of people from which He fed sought Him out and found Him, this time He was going to prove their faith. “When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” - John 6:24-29,40.
I admit that I was saved as a teenager, but like many, had no idea what that meant, it wasn't until 2004 (almost ten years later) that I stepped foot in a church other than going to a midnight mass or Easter service once in a while. In 2007, I professed my faith in Christ by getting baptized, and joined my first church. Since then, I have noticed one thing, that still annoys me, people will flock to a church to get free things, but scatter the second you start talking about Jesus. Imagine how Jesus must have felt to see these people coming to Him, just to get handouts from Him? Now, God's grace will never run out, but there does come a time when we must believe in the Son to go beyond that. “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” - Matthew 7:11,21.
Jesus was in the temple preaching, many believed, but out of fear of the Pharisees, hid that belief, and continued following their law. They were amazed by His teaching of the Word of God, the Book of John is the first and only Book that separates Him from the Jews, who questioned His teaching. “Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee? Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.” - John 7:14-21.
During Sunday school, we were discussing Moses and the ten plagues that God sent to Egypt in order for them to be freed from Pharaoh when a question was brought up. How did the Egyptians feel when they saw all their things being destroyed while no harm came to the Israelites? Sometimes, acts of God do not bring belief, but anger toward God, and His people.They can become envious and down right hateful toward those who are being blessed. We cannot change a hard heart, no one can, not even God, but we can be who God wants us to be. Hopefully, by our faithfulness to living in obedience to the Word of God, it will soften a hardened heart, but no matter what, we should never be ashamed of our faith in Christ. “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” - 1 Peter 4:16-19.
Today's Prayer: Jesus, Thank You again for the sacrifice You made for me, I know I do not have eternal life based on any thing that I have done, but by my faith and trust in what You have done for me. Lord, I do not want to leave this earth without having any missed opportunities,lead me and guide me, help me to live not by man's word, but by Your Word, I know it's the only way I can truly live in Your will and be satisfied. While people may come and go in my life, You will never leave nor forsake me no matter how many times I mess up. Thank You for Your grace, mercy and never ending love. In Your name Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going To Heaven? Visit: God's Price
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Copyright © 2014 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
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