In God's Light (".): February 2012

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

#204 Be Saved & Come to the Knowledge of Truth

A blessed and reflective reading to all :)

1 Timothy 2 (NIV)
Instructions on Worship

1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people.

This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.

8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. 9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

Praise the Lord!

I want to share the devotional I had today with Dr. Charles regarding the spiritual warfare we are all in. If we are not aware of it or do not want to accept that the reality is there is demonic forces all around us, then we are deceived and we are falling in the hands of the evil one. If we do not believe in Jesus Christ, being the only way to our Father in Heaven, for He said- "He is the way, the truth and the life" and we don't want to embrace such truth, then we are part of the fallen world, but if we have embraced Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Redeemer, if we have fully surrendered ourselves to Him, and if we have turned away from all sins, then we can truly claim, we are in the beautiful hands of our Father in Heaven, and we are now written in the Book of Life, we have been adopted as God's children, and surely, in His beautiful time, we will be experiencing the most immeasurable, wonderful, amazing life of heaven-- no one have ever conceived but we claim with hopeful expectation.

Open you Bibles and reflect on His words;
He will reveal the truth to you :)

Have a blessed day :)

Bible in a Year:

Read the Bible in One Year- Here's a reading plan where you and I can focus on God's Words everyday....to make it a habit, make it a practice, Amen :)

Read with me; God speaks to us through His words :)
February 29, 2012-
1 Kings 3-4; 2 Chronicles 1; Psalm 72

Today is the day :)

If you have not received Jesus Christ yet in your heart, today is the day. May you embrace His love and His gift :)

"Lord Jesus, I believe You are truly the Son of God. I confess that I have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. Please forgive all my wrongdoing, and let me live in relationship with You from now on. I receive You as my personal Savior, accepting the work You accomplished once and for all on the cross. Thank You for saving me. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You. Amen." (ref prayer by: Dr. Charles Stanley, InTouch Ministry)

Why am I doing this?
Simple...."I am driven by the eternal destiny of others."

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

#203 Grace, Faith and Love

A blessed and reflective reading to all :)

1 Timothy 1 (NIV)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
2 To Timothy my true son in the faith:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Timothy Charged to Oppose False Teachers

3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 5The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

The Lord’s Grace to Paul

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The Charge to Timothy Renewed

18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, 19holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

Praise the Lord!
When we are spirit-filled and spirit-led, our Loving Lord opens in us avenues that will brighten even the gloomiest moment of our lives.

How would you react if at this very instance, your life is in a mess-- no work, no house, your son's education is on-hold, you are all suspended in animation (still in waiting), no assurance of the future?

That is my life and my family's situation right now.
The beautiful part, my family and I are clinging tightly in the Lord's loving arms. We are not seeing this as something to wear us down, or to make us not move, but rather, we pray and continues to pray that our Loving Lord will continue to show His will for our lives-- mine and my whole family as well.

That is how God moves-- in the most difficult times, He will give you the wisdom to carry on, He will give you the strength and empowerment to move on, He will comfort you, He will shield you from all the blazing arrows of the enemies, and what I am most grateful of, He always let you feel you are so loved, love beyond measure.

Ponder this:
My family's stand--we have God in us, I am not making up stories, I am just sharing how our life is when we made God to be the center of our lives, and what I claim-- an immeasurable life is a life spent with God.

How about you?

Have a blessed day :)

Bible in a Year:

Read the Bible in One Year- Here's a reading plan where you and I can focus on God's Words everyday....to make it a habit, make it a practice, Amen :)

Read with me; God speaks to us through His words :)
February 28, 2012-
1 Kings 3-4; 2 Chronicles 1; Psalm 72

Today is the day :)

Why am I doing this?
Simple...."I am driven by the eternal destiny of others."

Monday, February 27, 2012

#202 Not Everyone Has Faith

A blessed and reflective reading to all :)

2 Thessalonians 3 (NIV)
Request for Prayer

1 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people,

for not everyone has faith.

3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

Warning Against Idleness

6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule:

“The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.

14 Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. 15 Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.

Final Greetings

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

17 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Praise the Lord!

Whom do you believe?

What do you stand for?

I had my first taste of subtle persecution. A friend of mine requested me to stop posting/ sharing the words of God (my daily blog postings) in our facebook group. I was so hurt and so sad. I am not doing anything bad, I am just sharing God and yet from a friend requesting me not to share God is something I am having a hard time understanding.

What is so wrong sharing God's words-- God's words are our life.

Though hurt, decided to respect his request. And I prayed. I told our Loving Lord that He make a supernatural intercession so that the heart of these friends be touched in such a way that they may softened and be opened to the "knocking" truth of God's words.

It is my request and prayer that my co-believers in Christ pray with me so that we continue to stand boldly for Christ, to share Him even in times of discouragement, be empowered and be strengthened, because what I truly believe is that God's words are like double-edged sword that can penetrate even the hardest hearts.

God bless to all :)

Have a blessed day :)

Bible in a Year:

Read the Bible in One Year- Here's a reading plan where you and I can focus on God's Words everyday....to make it a habit, make it a practice, Amen :)

Read with me; God speaks to us through His words :)
February 27, 2012-
Psalm 119:1-88

Today is the day :)

Why am I doing this?
Simple...."I am driven by the eternal destiny of others."

Sunday, February 26, 2012

#201 Stand Firm!

A blessed and reflective reading to all :)

2 Thessalonians 2 (NIV)
The Man of Lawlessness

1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

Stand Firm

13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

Praise the Lord!
We (Believers/ followers of Christ) are reminded that everyday should be a day of anticipating the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ for our redemption, because if we do, we will never be caught off-guard, but rather, always excited and enthusiastic on the day we will be united with Him (Jesus Christ).

Yes, that is how ready we should be. We don't know when..........but we have to cling to the confident hope every moment we breathe our lives for Him that He will be here soon.

Life in the light of Christ gives us a perspective beyond what can be seen and what can be felt; we become less and less attached to the world but rather more and more adhered to a godly kingdom only our Lord Jesus can truly provide. And as we wait with joyful expectation on His coming back for us who believe and who will be believe in Him, it is our utmost duty to share the good news-- that is the gospel of Jesus Christ, our God personified in the flesh, that by faith, and not by works, if we believe in Jesus as the lamb of God who sacrificed Himself for the sins of the whole world, repent ourselves and surrender our lives to Him and make Him the Lord and Savior of our lives, then we are assured of eternity and not of eternal damnation.

That is Jesus' unconditional gift to all of us who believes and who will believe, amen!

We just need to remember everyday:
we need to stand firm!

Have a blessed day :)

Bible in a Year:

Read the Bible in One Year- Here's a reading plan where you and I can focus on God's Words everyday....to make it a habit, make it a practice, Amen :)

Read with me; God speaks to us through His words :)
February 26, 2012-

1 Kings 1-2; Psalm 37; Psalm 71; Psalm 94

Today is the day :)

Why am I doing this?
Simple...."I am driven by the eternal destiny of others."

Saturday, February 25, 2012

#200 Our God is the God of Justice

A blessed and reflective reading to all :)

2 Thessalonians 1 (NIV)
1 Paul, Silas and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

5 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.

6 God is just:

He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Praise the Lord!
Our Loving Lord is the God of love and compassion, but don't forget He is too the God of Justice. If you are to read and contemplate the Book of Revelation, God will reveal to you how it will be at the end of times. Life is short, and yet it has too many choices, sometimes there are choices that will tend to distort our walk with God, or sometimes it may lead us astray from God. But if we are to anchor our lives on God and on His words, surely we will always be on His light. There is heaven and there is hell, and I believe, if we are to search our hearts, our only choice is heaven, and heaven is to follow Jesus Christ, but we cannot live a double life-- a sinful life and a godly life. There is only one (1) choice, choose the godly life, led by Jesus Christ, if we do, we will be spirit-led, amen :)

Have a blessed day :)

Bible in a Year:

Today is the day :)
If you have not received Jesus Christ yet in your heart, today is the day. May you embrace His love and His gift :)

"Lord Jesus, I believe You are truly the Son of God. I confess that I have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. Please forgive all my wrongdoing, and let me live in relationship with You from now on. I receive You as my personal Savior, accepting the work You accomplished once and for all on the cross. Thank You for saving me. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You. Amen." (ref prayer by: Dr. Charles Stanley, InTouch Ministry)

Why am I doing this?
Simple...."I am driven by the eternal destiny of others."

#199 Continue Living in the Grace of God

A blessed and reflective reading to all :)

1 Thessalonians 5 (NIV)
The Day of the Lord
1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Final Instructions
12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.
23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Praise the Lord!

As Dr. Charles Stanley always reminds-- "obey God and leave all consequences to Him"

We are now children of light if we claim we believe and we live for Christ; just continue clinging, holding, seeking Him, it is all worth it :)

Have a blessed day :)

Bible in a Year:

Why am I doing this?
Simple...."I am driven by the eternal destiny of others."

Thursday, February 23, 2012

#198 Be Encouraged! HE is Coming Soon!

A blessed and reflective reading to all :)

1 Thessalonians 4 (NIV)
Living to Please God

1 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified:

that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before.

7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Believers Who Have Died

13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Praise the Lord!

My day is not always a day of sunshine and joy, but when I reflect on my day's devotional, I am just lifted up, and I thank our Loving Lord for the constant renewal of my Spirit.

Yes, when you feel that the world is crumbling down and you feel low, reach out for His words and renewal is instantaneous.

How can you still feel down if you have received God's loving embrace and has reminded you that in His beautiful time, we will be united with Him in His Kingdom with no end, with only love, joy, peace, prosperity and immeasurable life.

Just look up! HE is coming soon!

Have a blessed day :)

Bible in a Year:

Why am I doing this?
Simple...."I am driven by the eternal destiny of others."

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

#197 Growing in Faith

A blessed and reflective reading to all :)

1 Thessalonians 3 (NIV)
1 So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. 5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. 7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

Praise the Lord!

An inspirational prayer:
Dearest Father in Heaven, we praise you and thank you today. We honor you with our lips, we glorify your name, we thank you for your abounding blessings. Amidst the trials we are in, thank you for the everyday renewal, thank you for letting us know that we are in your good hands. May your love abounds in us all, may it overflow so that others may see and feel too how much you loves us so and please continue to let us be holy and blameless as we dedicate ourselves to you everyday, continue to reveal your will to us everyday, may we be good servants and soldiers of your mighty kingdom and may we stand for you with boldness as you continue to empower and strengthen us everyday. In Jesus name, Amen.

Have a blessed day :)

Bible in a Year:

Why am I doing this?
Simple...."I am driven by the eternal destiny of others."

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

#196 Are You Pleasing God?

A blessed and reflective reading to all :)

1 Thessalonians 2 (NIV)
Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

1 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 3For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.

We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone 16in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.

Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

17 But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. 18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. 19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

Praise the Lord!

We can claim that we are the crowning glory of our Lord if we are truly following Jesus Christ everyday we live our lives for Him.

The litmus test:
Are we pleasing God or are we pleasing others?

If we are able to admit without contradiction and with full conviction that we are living in God's will and we are truly seeking Him everyday and we are letting Him be our first and the one who leads our life, then I truly believe, we are all in God's light :)

Have a blessed day :)

Bible in a Year:

Why am I doing this?
Simple...."I am driven by the eternal destiny of others."