#62 Are You Afraid?

A blessed reading to all (".)

Luke 21 (excerpts)
8 He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.

25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

32 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
note: please read complete text on this link--
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+21&version=NIV


Praise God!


Are you afraid, or are you ready to stand before Jesus Christ when He returns?


The most dreaded part of being in the darkness is the fear of the "unknown." When you don't know the truth, when everything is questionable to you, then you are being dragged down into the bottomless pit and the escape is impossible- and that is truly fear.....


But the truth is- "Jesus is the way, the truth and the life." (John 14:6) And as we continue to hold on to Him, our light, to His way, and to His truth, we will have life and we will never fear :)


Yesterday, as my hubby and I were conversing, I told him that I am having a hard time adjusting to the "new me." The "old me" is the achiever type, the goal-setter, the long-range planner, the one who always wants to make the best of her future. But when I surrendered to our Loving Lord, I tried my very best to live my life "one-day at a time", that "His will is my will" and my life will revolve around giving Him the first priority, for His honor and His glory.


It is not easy, but it is rewarding :) To  be justified (saved) by our Loving Lord is more than awesome, but to be sanctified....that is the long process, and it will take my whole lifetime to be blameless, to be pure, to be spotless, but assuredly, perfection will come its way :)


Why sanctification?
Because as Believers, if we all aim to be sanctified to the highest level by our Loving Lord, nothing can hinder us to stand up to our Lord Almighty.


The signs of times are everywhere. And I truly believe "He is coming!" I don't know when, but I hold on to His words. 


I have been freed.....


... He let me see that this life will have have troubles, lots and lots of it but the beautiful thing is "I can hold on to Him; He will never forsake me nor leave me."


... He let me have peace and contentment in my heart :)


... chaos is everywhere but I am in His protective shield :)


... I am not afraid to die because I know that death is just for my earthly body :)


... I am not worried for everyday's sake because He knows my needs :)


... He is letting me live my life for Him :)


... and the most beautiful part, I am looking forward to being united with Him :)


At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”


Fear is to those who don't know Jesus Christ; I hope everyone will stop being afraid and start strengthening their relationship with our God Almighty :) 


Inspirational Prayer:
Loving Lord, give us the strength to stand strong in You everyday. Life is short but we know we will be able to make the most of it if we dedicate every moment of it to You. Give us the endurance to have "feet that are firmly grounded because of your Gospel of Truth". We know that life is not easy, it is full of challenges but we know too that we will be able to bear it from the power and strength You will give us. Let us continue to have the enthusiasm in our hearts as we wait with anticipation for your coming. Glory to You everyday, In Jesus name, Amen.


Glory to GOD!

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 :)
October 7, 2011- Job 14-16 


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: Mr. Charles Stanley)

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

#61 The Anticipation of Heaven

A blessed reading to everyone (".)
Luke 20 (excerpts)
...35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. 

note: please read complete text on this link--

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+20&version=NIV

Praise GOD!

anticipation:
1. pleasurable expectation
2. something expected (as on the basis of a norm)
3. the act of predicting (as by reasoning about the future)
4. wishing with confidence of fulfillment

Life is never a bed of roses everyday; there are more valleys than mountains and most of the time, when I am in the valley, I feel down, weary, depress.....

But the good news is we have to learn to cheer up, 

read the Bible and 

look up! 

He is coming back!

Last 01.11.11, I have shared in my facebook note 

"Why are we not in heaven yet?"

John 13:36 NIV
Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”

Our loving and wonderful God has a wise and loving purpose in leaving us behind. There is work to be done in us that can only be accomplished here on earth. There is work to be done for others—if only to love and to pray. Our presence may also be for the purpose of giving others an opportunity to learn love and compassion.

So, though we may want to be with Him now, there is comfort in waiting: Heaven may be delayed because God has His reasons. No doubt :)

I have anticipated heaven to a level I can't explain. I know it will be the momentous event of my life-- alive or even in death. 

Why? 

Because I know in my heart, that the most rewarding part of having a relationship with my saviour Jesus Christ is to see Him face to face :)

The Wonder of Heaven
Heaven is a real place described in the Bible. The word “heaven” is found 276 times in the New Testament alone. Scripture refers to three heavens. The apostle Paul was “caught up to the third heaven,” but he was prohibited from revealing what he experienced there (2 Corinthians 12:1-9).

If a third heaven exists, there must also be two other heavens. The first is most frequently referred to in the Old Testament as the “sky” or the “firmament.” This is the heaven that contains clouds, the area that birds fly through. The second heaven is interstellar/outer space, which is the abode of the stars, planets, and other celestial objects (Genesis 1:14-18).

The third heaven, the location of which is not revealed, is the dwelling place of God. Jesus promised to prepare a place for true Christians in heaven (John 14:2). Heaven is also the destination of Old Testament saints who died trusting God's promise of the Redeemer (Ephesians 4:8). Whoever believes in Christ shall never perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

The apostle John was privileged to see and report on the heavenly city (Revelation 21:10-27). John witnessed that heaven (the new earth) possesses the “glory of God” (Revelation 21:11), the very presence of God. Because heaven has no night and the Lord Himself is the light, the sun and moon are no longer needed (Revelation 22:5).

The city is filled with the brilliance of costly stones and crystal clear jasper. Heaven has twelve gates (Revelation 21:12) and twelve foundations (Revelation 21:14). The paradise of the Garden of Eden is restored: the river of the water of life flows freely and the tree of life is available once again, yielding fruit monthly with leaves that “heal the nations” (Revelation 22:1-2). However eloquent John was in his description of heaven, the reality of heaven is beyond the ability of finite man to describe (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Heaven is a place of “no mores.” There will be no more tears, no more pain, and no more sorrow (Revelation 21:4). There will be no more separation, because death will be conquered (Revelation 20:6). 

The best thing about heaven :)

> the presence of our Lord and Savior (1 John 3:2). 

We will be face to face with the Lamb of God who loved us and sacrificed Himself so that we can enjoy His presence in heaven for eternity.

.....so cheer up :)
John 14:1-4
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”



Glory to GOD!

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 :)
October 6, 2011- Job 10-13 


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: Mr. Charles Stanley)

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

#60 Living Everyday For Jesus

A blessed and reflective reading to all (".)

Luke 19 (excerpts)
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector 

1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him,“Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

note: please read the complete text on this link--

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2019&version=NIV

Praise GOD!

Thank you to our Loving God that we have been saved: "I am lost but now I am found."

As a sinner saved by grace, I can't help but be humbled and be grateful everyday as I breathe and live for Christ. I know I am bought for a price, a price I will never be able to repay, and I know too that I am loved to an extent I will never be able to explain, but what I know is that as Jesus loves me, I will love Him too, as He saved me, I have surrendered my life to Him and as I continue my life, I will live it for Him. My life now has a worth because of Him, I hope and pray that I will be able to live by His name, and I know I will through the strength, guidance, but most of all, the love He showers me :)

"God sightings"
Each day we have a chance to give someone a God sighting as the attitudes and character of Jesus are seen through us. And, in fact, providing God sightings is God’s intended purpose for our lives, so that all can finally believe that Jesus really lives.

“For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:20 NASB- we are told that Jesus paid a great price so that we might live to glorify Him. God’s glory is the manifest expression of all that He is in His all-surpassing, praiseworthy, stunning perfection! And glorifying Him is quite simply showing off the reality of His glorious character in all of our actions, encounters, and attitudes. It’s making the invisible God visible. And He has chosen to make His love, mercy, grace, justice, righteousness, holiness, and every other aspect of His stunning character visible through you and me! God’s glory is His “wow factor,” because when it is experienced and visibly seen, it’s an awesome reality!

What a privilege—we have been saved to provide a few “God sightings” in our world. Thank God, our King lives!

Living for Jesus
Knowing our location spiritually is critical if we are to succeed in navigating through the greatly devalued territory of our world. Paul reminds us that we have a new location in Christ, having been delivered “from the power of darkness and conveyed . . . into the kingdom of the Son” (Colossians 1:13). Knowing that we have been relocated by His amazing grace into the kingdom of Jesus makes a difference. Jesus now reigns as King in our hearts and minds, and we are His grateful subjects. His will is our will and His ways become patterns for all of life and behavior. And when we are forced to make a choice, our allegiance is to Him.

So, when the temptations and the seductions of the darkness from which we have been removed threaten His reign in our hearts, remember our new postal code: Colossians 1:13

Inspirational Prayer:

Loving Lord, continue to fill us with the knowledge of Your will through all the wisdom and understanding of the Holy Spirit; help us to live our lives worthy of You and pleasing in every way; may we bear fruit in every good work, and grow in the knowledge of You; may we be strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might so that we may have great endurance and patience, and may we always remember to give You joyful thanks for letting us share in the inheritance of your holy people in the kingdom of light. Thank you for rescuing us from the dominion of darkness and bringing us into the kingdom of Jesus, your son. May we live our lives for your glory everyday, every moment, every breath. In Jesus Mighty name, Amen. 

Glory to GOD!

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 :)
October 5, 2011- Job 6-9 


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: Mr. Charles Stanley)

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

#59 "Always Pray and Never Give Up"

A blessed reading to all (".)
Luke 18 (excerpts)
The Parable of the Persistent Widow 

1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

note: please read complete text on this link--

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2018&version=NIV

Praise GOD!

Some friends were telling me I am becoming too "religious;" I don't know what they mean but what I know is that if sharing God means I am religious, then I am embracing it wholeheartedly. I never thought I will be able to share God everyday; it is through the Holy Spirit's prompting that I am able to do so. I know He is changing me for the better, and if sharing God and His words is my ministry, I am humbled and deeply grateful to Him because now I know, I am making use of my life for our Loving Lord.

"always pray and not give up"

My sister gave me an update of their situation in the Philippines; "Typhoon Pedring" wrecked havoc as it crossed the Philippine islands. Another uncontrollable "force of nature" and naturally, we are all downhearted :(

I am thankful to God that they were all safe, but when she related to me "how hard life is" again, I can't help but be teary-eyed and feel helpless. But then again, thank you to the Holy Spirit for letting me share to my sister comforting words from our Loving Lord.

"I am strong, when I am weak;" thanks be to God that He is letting me see through all these things- help comes from Him; our all-knowing, all-powerful and ever-present God loves us and will never forsake us; and through it all, as we begged Him on our knees, strength overflows :)

Please help me pray for my family and all the affected people in the Philippines, especially in their situation today and let the power of God manifest as they continue to face life......Thank you from the bottom of my heart :)

The importance of daily prayer:

> For the followers of Jesus Christ, prayer is the best way to communicate with God. Prayer is the vehicle for daily dialog with the One who created us. 

> The importance of daily communication through prayer cannot be overestimated. It is so important that it is mentioned over 250 times in Scripture. 

> So why is daily prayer so important? First, daily prayer gives us an opportunity to share all aspects of our lives with God. 

Life’s circumstances change on a daily basis. In fact, things can go from good to bad to worse in a very short time. God calls us to bring our concerns to Him for disposition and potential blessing. He also calls us to share our joys and triumphs with Him. In fact, Jeremiah 33:3 states, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” God wants us to call on Him so that He can answer our prayers. He also wants to share with us incredible blessings that we might otherwise have missed had we not reached out to Him through prayer. And finally, James 4:8 tells us to “draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” God wants us to be close to Him at all times.

> Second, daily prayer gives us the chance to express our gratitude for the things He provides. 

It is no secret that we must give thanks to the Lord for all the things that He provides and all of the things He does on our behalf. His goodness and lovingkindness to us should be recognized on a daily basis. In 1 Chronicles 16:34, we are commanded to “give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” The psalmist tells us in Psalm 9:1, “I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.” We pray on a daily basis to acknowledge His faithfulness and His abundant provision in our daily lives. 

> Third, daily prayer provides the platform for confessing our sin and asking for help in overcoming that sin. 

Let’s face it, we all sin daily whether we know it or not. So as followers of Jesus Christ, what must we do? Scripture makes it very clear: “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’— and you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32:5). Tell God what He already knows and do it on a daily basis. Daily prayer time is a great place to unburden one’s self from the debilitating effects of sin. So often Christians walk around with unconfessed sin that hinders our personal relationship with Jesus Christ, when we should humbly submit ourselves and ask for forgiveness in prayer. Another important element of daily prayer is asking God for the strength to repent of our sins. Only God can help us turn from our sins, and, for this to be so, He needs to hear our plea to repent. 

> Fourth, daily prayer is an act of worship and obedience. 

Perhaps no other verse better summarizes why we should pray on a daily basis than 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” It’s God’s will for His children to rejoice in Him, to pray to Him and give thanks to Him. To pray without ceasing simply means that we should make prayer a regular habit and never stop doing so. Prayer also is an act of worship because by praying to Him we are showing Him how much we adore Him. Daily prayer is also an act of obedience that brings joy to the Lord to see His children following His commands. 

> And finally, daily prayer is a way to acknowledge who is really in control of our lives. 

As believers of Jesus Christ, we know who is really in control. 

God is sovereign. Nothing happens without God knowing about it (Isaiah 46:9-10; Daniel 4:17). Because He is sovereign over all, He deserves our worship and praise. “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all” (1 Chronicles 29:11). God is our great King and as such He controls every aspect of our lives. Each day we should acknowledge His proper place in our lives humbly and with a reverence reserved for such a great and awesome King. 

Remember, whether one is a new believer or an established one, prayer should always be considered as the best way to speak to God. It is truly amazing that God would want to have fellowship with us at all. In fact, the psalmist asks, “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:4). Daily prayer is a good way to understand this incredible truth and the marvelous privilege God has given us.

Glory to GOD!

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 :)
October 4, 2011- Job 1-5 


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: Mr. Charles Stanley)

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

#58 Bubble-up with Gratefulness

A blessed and contemplative reading to everyone (".)

Luke 17 (excerpts)
Jesus Heals Ten Men With Leprosy 

11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

note: please read the complete text on this link--
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+17&version=NIV

Praise GOD!

I will never forget this account of the (10) men with leprosy whom Jesus healed but only (1) went back to praise and thank Him. It has been ingrained in me because this was when my Ram and I attended for the first time a Vacation Bible School in our church- First Christian Church. Ms. Amy, one of the mentors, instilled on the kids how to "bubble-up with gratefulness/ thankfulness" by showing a simple science experiment of bubble bath shampoo being blown through a straw in a cup covered with tissue. That VBS was truly a great way of leading the children to Jesus :)


Thankfulness.....gratefulness.....appreciation.....overflowing gratitude.....however you call it, has been my foundation since I was a child with my walk with our Loving Lord. I never stopped thanking Him for everything, and much more today, I will never stop thanking Him for letting me be in His light. Such thankfulness will be forever in me until the time I will be united with Him in heaven :)


May we never grow tired of thanking our Loving Lord all the days of our lives, everyday, every moment, every breath.....

On thanksgiving:
Thanksgiving is the attitude and mindset in which we live, especially when we pray to God. As children of God, thanksgiving will fill our hearts and pour forth from our lips because we know, among other things, our sins are forgiven and we have eternal life through Jesus Christ. The more we contemplate what God has done for us, the more thankfulness just becomes a way of thinking in our relationship with God at all time, under all conditions and in all circumstances. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

May we all sing this beautiful song of thanksgiving to the Lord of Lords and King of Kings- Jesus Christ :)
Thank you Lord by Don Moen

Glory to GOD!

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 :)
October 3, 2011- Genesis 8-11 


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: Mr. Charles Stanley)

#57 The Love of Money

A blessed Sunday to all (".)
Luke 16 (excerpts)
...“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. ...So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? ...And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

...“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

note: please read complete text on this link--

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+16&version=NIV

Praise God!

Matthew 6:20
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Thank you to our Loving Lord for letting us be reminded that to pursue Him means "building up treasures in heaven," and the "love of money" will keep us away from Him.


The view of wealth for Christians:
> Ephesians 1:3 tells us, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” 

> Christ spoke in Matthew 13:22 concerning the seed of God's Word falling among thorns and “the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful” (NKJV).

> In Mark 10:23, " Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, ‘How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!’” It was not impossible—for all things are possible with God—but it would be “hard.” 

> In Luke 16:13, Jesus spoke about “mammon” (the Aramaic word for “riches”): “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” 

> God speaks of the true riches He brings to us today in Romans 2:4: “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?” These are the riches which bring eternal life. 

> God actually wants to show off His riches in us in heaven: “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6-7).

> The riches that God wants for us: “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being” (Ephesians 3:16). 

> The greatest verse for New Testament believers concerning riches is Philippians 4:19: “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” 

> Remember: God does not condemn anyone for having riches. Riches come to people from many sources, but He gives grave warnings to those who seek after them more than they seek after God and trust in them more than in God. His greatest desire is for us to set our hearts on things above and not on things on this earth. 

The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil:
> Wealth is morally neutral; there is nothing wrong with money, in and of itself, or the possession of money. However, when money begins to control us, that’s when trouble starts.

> ...godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6). Contentment, in a biblical sense, is the recognition that we come into the world with nothing and that everything we have is a gift from God’s hands; 

> yet those who desire to be rich are the ones who are led into temptation and fall into a snare;

> Greed causes people to do all sorts of things they wouldn’t normally do. The love of money is what motivates people to lie, steal, cheat, gamble, embezzle, and even murder. People who have a love for money lack the godliness and contentment that is true gain in God’s eyes.

> Anything that takes first place in our lives other than our Creator God is an idol and makes us guilty of breaking the first commandment.

Point to Ponder:

Are we rich in Jesus Christ?

Glory to GOD!

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 :)
October 2, 2011- Genesis 4-7

#56 Repentance, the Saving Grace of our Soul

A blessed and reflective reading to all (".)
Luke 15 (excerpts)

...‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

...‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

...“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

...“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ...Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ...For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

...“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ...But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

note: please read the complete text on this link--

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2015&version=NIV

Praise GOD!

Aren't we glad we have a Father in Heaven who loves us with all His heart, ready to forgive us anytime as long as we repent and turn away from our sins?...Much more than that, He will rejoice and celebrate for we have come to our senses and returned back to Him :)

Thank you to Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son who gave His life for all of us for our salvation :)

Point to Ponder:

Have we repented wholeheartedly and accepted our Saving Grace?

If not, today is the day :)

Repentance
> In the Bible, the word repent means “to change one’s mind.” The Bible tells us that true repentance will result in a change of actions (Luke 3:8-14; Acts 3:19). Acts 26:20 declares, “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.” 

> The full biblical definition of repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of action.

What then is the connection between repentance and salvation? 

> The Book of Acts seems to especially focus on repentance in regards to salvation (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; 17:30; 20:21;26:20). 

> To repent, in relation to salvation, is to change your mind in regard to Jesus Christ. In Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts chapter 2), he concludes with a call for the people to repent (Acts 2:38). Repent from what? Peter is calling the people who rejected Jesus (Acts 2:36) to change their minds about Him, to recognize that He is indeed “Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). 

> Peter is calling the people to change their minds from rejection of Christ as the Messiah to faith in Him as both Messiah and Savior.

> Repentance and faith can be understood as “two sides of the same coin.” It is impossible to place your faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior without first changing your mind about who He is and what He has done. Whether it is repentance from willful rejection or repentance from ignorance or disinterest, it is a change of mind. Biblical repentance, in relation to salvation, is changing your mind from rejection of Christ to faith in Christ.

> It is crucially important that we understand repentance is not a work we do to earn salvation. 

> No one can repent and come to God unless God pulls that person to Himself (John 6:44). Acts 5:31 and 11:18 indicate that repentance is something God gives—it is only possible because of His grace. 

> No one can repent unless God grants repentance. All of salvation, including repentance and faith, is a result of God drawing us, opening our eyes, and changing our hearts. God's longsuffering leads us to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), as does His kindness (Romans 2:4).

> While repentance is not a work that earns salvation, repentance unto salvation does result in works. It is impossible to truly and fully change your mind without that causing a change in action. 

> In the Bible, repentance results in a change in behavior. That is why John the Baptist called people to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8). 

> A person who has truly repented from rejection of Christ to faith in Christ will give evidence of a changed life (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:19-23; James 2:14-26). 

> Repentance, properly defined, is necessary for salvation. Biblical repentance is changing your mind about Jesus Christ and turning to God in faith for salvation (Acts 3:19). 

> Turning from sin is not the definition of repentance, but it is one of the results of genuine, faith-based repentance towards the Lord Jesus Christ.

Glory to GOD!

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 :)
October 1, 2011- Genesis 1-3