February 20, 2013

  • God, the one who created us sees our hearts and its condition. God is the only One who knows. Nothing can be hidden from God and no one can hide from God.

     

February 16, 2013

February 10, 2013

  • I received a tragic news yesterday. It made me feel so sad. Truly sad. Life is fleeting and life is short. It's been in my mind so much because I personally know this beautiful young woman whose life was cut short.  My heart goes out to her family, especially her mom. I love her mother like she is my real sister. We've known each other for a long time; and I've shared with her what I've found in Jesus Christ. How Jesus Christ changed my heart. She is one of the people God placed in my heart to share God's Word and Truth. God placed a big desire in my heart to speak loving words of God to her.

    Last Christmas, she gave me the best and ultimate GIFT I've ever received. She told me she has become a born-again Christian. I was so very happy and my heart was jumping for JOY. I lost touch with her for more than a year, but she was constantly in my mind. I was having dreams about her. Suddenly, on Christmas last year, God placed her again in my heart so strong that led me to send her a Christmas card. We renewed our friendship that I knew was always there, but this time, it is more intense. It was more of God's love binding us together. I knew right there that God has great plans for her. God knows our future. He knows what's ahead.

    '"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18). He knows the loss of a loved one breaks your heart. Even Jesus wept when His friend Lazarus died. God is in heaven and has a panoramic view of centuries of time. The reason behind the timing of events is beyond our understanding, but God knows the why. Peace will come to you when you trust that God knows best. "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped" Psalm 28:7)

    God is a comforter. He comforts you by sending other people to help you. He comforts you by sending touching sentiments that have meaning only to you -- a ray of sunshine, a light bathing a dark hillside, or a bird singing. He comforts you through His Scriptures. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you" (John 14:1-2). The good news, the comforting news, is that life is not over when you die a physical death. Eternity stretches before you, and it is possible to spend forever with Him and be reunited with your loved ones.

    WORTH THINKING ABOUT

    > God is like a daddy who will hold your hand in the dark. "Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning" (Psalm 30:5).

    > God is like a doctor who applies an ointment to your wounds. In the land of Gilead they made a balm from the gum of native trees, which

    was used for physical pain. God's comfort is like the balm of Gilead and heals our broken heart.

    > Jesus is the Shepherd who will lead you from the valley of sorrow. He will guide you to the opening that is called the door of hope.'

    excerpts from 100 Answers to 100 questions about God's promises for you

    Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies." John 11:25

     

     

     

     

February 8, 2013

  • According to the Holy Bible, Jesus is coming back to earth with a promise about what He will do with sin, righteousness and judgment when He gets here.

    "You might have heard people say they were sure God would let them into heaven because they are basically good people. They have not murdered anyone. They live respectable lives and try to do good things and help others whenever they can. Surely, they say, this would be enough to get them through the pearly gates of heaven.

    Indeed, doing good deeds is encouraged in the Bible. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul reminded his readers that God creates all people and it is God's plan that people do good things for one another. Paul said God prepared these good works ahead of time so that if people are paying attention and doing what God wants they will see the opportunities for good deeds all along the path of life.

    But Paul also added a qualification to this message, reminding his readers that salvation-- the work that God performs in a human heart to prepare it for heaven -- is a gift from God. No one can earn salvation and heaven through good works, charitable deeds, or any self-oriented sacrifice. If you could earn salvation and get to heaven through good works, Paul said, you would have huge bragging rights. But this is not God's way. Paul said salvation comes only through faith in God's gracious gift of forgiveness provided through the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus. The Bible says good works are good to do, but they are not enough to save your soul.

    The Old Testament prophet Isaiah said that in God's eyes, all the good deeds and righteous acts of people are like dirty, stinking rags.

    Because God has created you to do good works, you will be happier doing good works than not doing them.

    Salvation comes when a heart is REMADE in God's likeness by God's POWER. Good works are neither needed nor useful for this work of God's grace."

    Excerpts from 100 Answers to 100 Questions about God.

    "We are not saved "by works," by anything we did or can do. It was all God's work of grace in us, so we have no reason to boast, no grounds for feeling a sense of accomplishment." James Montgomery Boice

    With this in mind, according to the Bible we will all face Jesus two ways: upon our death to judge us based on how we accepted God's Salvation through His Gracious Gift or when Jesus comes back to earth and deal with mankind's sinful nature and subsequently judge all of us based on the decision we've made about HIS sacrificial death on the cross.

    It is never too late to turn away from our sinful nature and asking for His forgiveness and making Jesus our Lord and Savior. While we are still here on earth, God allows SECOND CHANCES.

February 5, 2013

  • Jesus is telling us that God is just a knock away; and if we seek God wholeheartedly and ask Him for His wisdom to know Him, we will find and know God's true nature, His plan and His purposes for why He created us. Knowing and understanding who God really is will make us also understand what life is all about. And it's not really about us. It is about our personal relationship with the most powerful Creator of this world.

    God has expectations from His creation. He expects the sun to shine at the right time, expects the moon to shine at a certain time, expects trees, plants and flowers to grow at a certain season, expects each living animal to live and be free to seek for their daily food. He expects us to care for them.

    Above all, God has expectations from the highest form of creation on earth. Us! He puts us on earth to glorify Him.

    "What is the chief end of man?" -- to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Deuteronomy says that God expects His children to glorify Him by being faithful and obedient to Him. Obedience requires God's children to live a certain way. The Book of Leviticus stresses God's expectation that His children will show love for one another as they live in community together. Proverbs says God expects honesty and truth in word and deed. The prophet Amos declared God's expectation for justice and righteousness in all dealings between people. Paul urged Timothy's church to strive for God's expectation of unity and peace. Peter reminded his readers that God expects His children to live by higher moral standards than the rest of the world.

    The Bible says God also expects His children to be thankful, to give Him praise and worship, and to strive for holiness in everything they do, say, or think. Children are expected to honor their parents. Parents are expected to raise their children to know God. Spouses are expected to love each other. And bosses are expected to be just and kind. Ultimately God's expectation of people is for each one to be just like Him.

    God expects His children to follow His will as set out in the Law and the Prophets. To fulfill this expectation God's children need to pray and study the Bible.

    In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus said God expected two things from people: to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself.

    What does God promise to those who follow His will and way? The Bible says God's promises to His followers are never-ending. Luke says God's followers will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit--both now and for eternity. John says those who follow God's will are granted full forgiveness, a promised resurrection, and an eternal life with God in heaven at the end of time. Isaiah proclaims an everlasting sense of God's presence for those who follow His ways. Jeremiah declares a never-ending knowledge of God  for His followers, and the psalmist promises endless joy to all who keep God's will and way.

    The Bible also says God will provide for those who follow His will. God will give guidance, healing, wisdom and material provision. He will ensure forgiveness, salvation, and victory over temptation. The apostle Paul rejoiced that God promised lasting peace to those who follow His will. God also promises protection and a perfect plan for each individual life that is committed to following His way. But best of all, John promised that those who followed God's will and way would become God's children. Their prayers would always find their way to God's throne, and Jesus would be their big brother.

    God's presence and provision. His plan and protection. His forgiveness and promise of family. Weighty promises all; and all are guaranteed to those who follow God's will and way."

    Excerpts from: 100 answers to 100 questions about God

     

February 4, 2013

  • "My people are being destroyed because they don't know me. Since you priests refuse to know me, I refuse to recognize you as my priests. Since you have forgotten the laws of your God, I will forget to bless your children."  Hosea 4:6

    A very strong promise from God. Our modern generation is what it is now because God is not blessing the children as their parents are God's law breakers. And the children of this modern day children will be the same like them in the future. What would we become if God held back in giving us Jesus Christ as our Savior? We are all be separated from God and our destination is with the evil one to torture our souls forever!
    Thank You God and Praise Your Name! We are your enemies, but you still love us to die for us!

    Philippians 2:    5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

    6Who, being in very nature God,

    did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

    7but made himself nothing,

    taking the very nature of a servant,

    being made in human likeness.

    8And being found in appearance as a man,

    he humbled himself

    and became obedient to death—

    even death on a cross!

    9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

    and gave him the name that is above every name,

    10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

    11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

    to the glory of God the Father.

    Jesus Christ is the only way to God and heaven, there's no other way! Our good deeds will not save us. Being good will not give us guaranty that we are heaven bound. Nor our religion and going to church every Sunday have given us a place in heaven. It's only through our Mediator, Jesus Christ!
    Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

February 3, 2013

  • The Message:

     "Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help."

    Jesus Christ went through a lot of sufferings that most of us did not experience. He was willing to go to the cross and die for us. He experienced pain more than we could imagine.

     

    Psalm 22:  16 Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me,

     

    they have pierced my hands and my feet.

     

    17 I can count all my bones;

     

    people stare and gloat over me.

     

    18 They divide my garments among them

     

    and cast lots for my clothing.

     

    So there's nothing in our lives that Jesus did not experience, especially emotional pain and heartaches. Jesus Christ can relate when we have storms, trials and struggles in our life. He is always ready to help us and carry our burdens for us.

    It is in the renewing of our minds and allowing Jesus to make us new that we will be relieved of our earthly sufferings. No one is exempted in regards to the suffering of our hearts. Rich and poor experience the emotional trials of loneliness and depression. Why do people resort to drinking and doing drugs and other choices we make that destroy our bodies? They are going through emotional pain that defeat them. They believe they are strong by keeping their emotional pain to themselves with the help of things that numb their senses. Jesus Christ said that that is not the way to live your precious life.

    Jesus said on Matthew 11:   28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”


February 2, 2013

  • God and I are in agreement; though I get fearful at times, He's always there and rescue me from anxiousness!

February 1, 2013

  • The very heart and method of James’s appeal in chapter 2 is to arouse acts of mercy from those who know they have already received the mercy of God.7 James simply does not question the fact that his readers are true Christians. He appeals to them based on the reality of their new birth. Perhaps the most transparent statement to this effect is 2:1, “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism” (NIV).8 All that James has to say is designed to shake us “as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ” from the comfort of worldliness and challenge us to meet the practical needs of others such as the needs of an orphan or a widow (1:26). He does so without ever finding it necessary to scrutinize our experience of salvation.

    Many other Scriptures contradict the proposition that “all true Christians will produce good works that are pleasing to God.” For example, the teaching of 1 Corinthians 3 must be brought into the discussion. Concerning the future evaluation of a Christian, Paul explains that each believer must stand before the Lord Jesus Christ one day to have his works examined. At that time all of our deeds will go through a “fire” that tests their quality. In some cases a believer’s works may appear to be “good works” to others. But his inner motives may be impure (cf. Matt 6:1-18; Heb 4:12; 1 Cor 4:5), making the quality of his works unacceptable to God and therefore “burned up.” Of this person Paul says, “He shall suffer loss, yet he himself will be saved” (1 Cor 3:15). This is an undeniable case of a Christian who is bound for heaven but does not produce enough good works to ultimately please the Lord and be rewarded.9 Like 1 Corinthians 3 and the Corinthian church, the pages of Scripture contradict the idea that genuine Christians will consistently yield fruit that pleases the Lord. The Bible is filled with commands directed to true believers to be busy in doing good deeds (Col 1:10; 2 Thess 2:17; 1 Tim 2:10; 5:10; 6:18; 2 Tim 2:21; 3:17; Titus 2:7, 14; 3:13, 8, 14; Heb 10:24; Jas 3:13; 1 Pet 2:12). It never presumes that good works will be done just because true faith exists.  Excerpts from: http://bible.org/article/how-energize-our-faith-reconsidering-meaning-james-214-26