Tag: Jesus

Jesus of Nazareth, also known as Jesus Christ, is considered by Christians to be the Son of God and the Messiah (or savior) prophesied in the Old Testament. He is one of the most important figures in the history of Christianity and his life and teachings form the basis of the religion.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in present-day Israel, during the reign of King Herod the Great. According to the Bible, he was born to Mary, a virgin, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was raised in Nazareth and, at the age of 30, began his public ministry. He traveled throughout the region, preaching and teaching about God’s kingdom and performing healings and other miracles.

Jesus’ message centered on the idea that God’s kingdom was at hand, and that people should repent of their sins and believe in him as the Messiah. He called for a radical reorientation of life, urging people to turn away from their sins and to love God and their neighbors.

Jesus’ teachings and miracles drew large crowds, but also drew the attention of the religious leaders of the day, who saw him as a threat to their authority. He was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death by crucifixion. According to the Bible, Jesus died on the cross and was buried in a tomb, but on the third day, he rose from the dead.

The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of Christian belief and the event that convinced his followers that he was the Son of God and the Messiah. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples and many others before ascending to heaven.

The life and teachings of Jesus have had a profound impact on the world and continue to shape the beliefs of millions of Christians today. His message of love, forgiveness, and redemption has inspired countless works of art, literature, and music, and his example of selfless service has been a model for countless individuals throughout history.

It is worth noting that there are many controversies and debates surrounding the life and teachings of Jesus, and different scholars and religious traditions interpret his story in different ways.

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You Have the Victory, So Why Are You Walking Around Defeated?

You Have the Victory, So Why Are You Walking Around Defeated?

Why are you so downcast? You hang your head down, just ‘getting on with life’, but not truly living. Do you not know that you have victory because of Jesus? Your identity lies with Christ, not with what the world throws at you. You are not your mistakes, you are not your physical appearance, you are not your job, your relationships or your possessions (however grand or meager), you are who GOD says you are.

It is incredibly easy to accept all the negative things of the world. We so readily believe what the world tells us and yet doubt the truths of the Bible. Bit by bit, we are being weighed down by the pressures of society, the pressure to get a well-paying job, the pressure to achieve at school, the pressure of being better than the next person, the pressure of getting married- even when you’re not ready- and even the pressure of accepting beliefs that are not your own. When does it all stop? The truth is, it can only stop with you. You have to decide to trust GOD’S Word above all else and live according to His Word. Perhaps you believe that you have already tried living your life according to GOD’S Word, but it hasn’t worked out for you. I’m going to have to be truthful and say that you probably were not following GOD’S Word, but a watered down version of it. The reality is, we do not want to give up our negative world- we do not want to give up our comfort with the patterns of the world. When you’re not Christain, you do not have much of a choice but to live according to the sway of the world, but when you are, in fact, a Christian, you no longer have that excuse to use for the condition that your life is in. You have no excuse to think negatively, you have no excuse to speak negatively and you have no excuse to accept anything negative.

You do not have to live a life of defeat. I repeat you do not have to live a life of defeat. What did Jesus say in John 10:10: “The thief does not come in except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.” Jesus came so that you would have a more abundant life! Don’t immediately associate abundance with riches and fame, but instead think about what having a more abundant life means. I think of having joy, peace, security, love, grace, mercy and hope in abundance, and I believe that is what Jesus actually meant. Riches and fame do not make one happy- just take a look at the celebrities. Divorce, substance abuse, violence, and unhappiness are rife among them, despite their wealth and the adoration of their fans. You do not need to be rolling in money or popular with people to have an abundant life, but that doesn’t mean that you have to be poor and alone either. You see, our Heavenly Father already knows what we need, be it food, clothing, a job, or a roof over our heads etc. But be honest with yourself, what matters to you more: attaining your hoard of desired materialistic possessions or seeking a relationship with GOD? I’ll let you in on a ‘secret’ so well-known, that it’s universally dismissed for its simplicity: “But seek first the kingdom of GOD and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt 6:33). What are all these things that Jesus is talking about? “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” (Matt 6:25). What Jesus is basically saying is that you need to stop worrying about these things, and instead focus on seeking a relationship with GOD. You focus on GOD and He will make sure that you have all that you need. Simple right? Because it is! The world tells us that it’s not possible, but Jesus commanded us not to worry. You say that you follow Jesus, so are you going to ignore the world and obey Him?

So, what does it mean to walk in victory? First of all, it means that we do not have to be afraid of death! John 11:25 says: “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” We have an eternity of being in GOD’S sweet presence in Heaven! You don’t have to be worried about dying- a thought that plagues most of the world- you will die knowing where you are going. And if your loved ones are also saved, then you will all meet again. Having victory also means that even though we may go through trials and difficulties, that we can have peace- “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace” (John 16:33). We do not have to be stressed, full of anxiety and fear. Look at Philippians 4:6-7: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to GOD; and the peace of GOD, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Don’t remain in your state of anxiety, please! Paul the Apostle tells you what to do- pray! Pray, give your worries to GOD, let Him know of your petitions and be thankful to Him. Even when everything is going wrong, remain thankful- it drives the devil wild with anger. When you present your requests to Him, peace will fill your heart. Don’t try to understand it, just accept it. Be child-like when receiving from our LORD, don’t question His gifts to us, accept them and say thank you. Not only that, say thank you before you’ve even received what you have prayed for. Most importantly, do not limit GOD in your life because of your own doubts and insecurities. Choose to believe Him, even when there is no evidence before you- “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7).

In Acts 10:34, Peter tells us that GOD does not show favoritism towards anyone, what He does for one He will do for the other. Stop saying: I believe that GOD can do it, I just don’t believe that He will do it for me. Of course, He will do it for you! It’s your own disbelief that blocks your blessings in your life. Ephesians 3:20 says: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,…” Did you get that? GOD can do way more than you could ever ask of Him. Our GOD is so mighty and loving, He longs to bless you, but even more than that, He longs to have a relationship with you. The ball is in your court, so what are you going to do about it? Are you going to continue feeling downtrodden and defeated, or are you going to live a victorious life in Christ Jesus?

Ending Thoughts: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which GOD prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:10). You’ve got a purpose, Beloved, time to take your place within the kingdom of GOD and fulfill the plans that He has for you.

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Why Christianity Has Been Pushed Underground in China?

China's Christians Practice Their Faith in Underground Churches

Millions of Chinese identify themselves with Christianity a reality that President Xi’s administration is fighting hard against. The number has increased gradually and this is seen as a threat to the government which is officially atheist and its power is being put to test.

Under the presidency of Xi Jinping, the government launched a number of initiatives to control and at times limit Christian followers. Chinese Communist Party (C.C.P.) is up in arms to control and fight Christianity. The government constraints and controls religious freedom. Why is the government determined to rob people of their free will to worship?

We are blessed that we have the freedom of worship to our Lord anywhere, anytime and anyhow with no one monitoring of our doings unlike In China where Christians have been pushed to worship underground. China ranked 10th as a country where it is most hard and risky to practice Christianity according to Open Doors, a U.S. based Christian non-profit that traces the persecution of Christians worldwide.

The Lie

Psalms 103:2-3 says, Praise be to the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits-who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.

The Chinese government has been persuading Christians to pull down the pictures of our Lord Jesus Christ and replace them with the photographs of president Xi Jinping.They have also gone ahead to tell them about how Jesus won’t drag them out of hardships or cure their ailments which we all know it’s a lie from the devil!

Our God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we have asked for or imagined.

The Christianity crackdown

Over the past 4 decades, there has been a tremendous increase in Christian believers and this has not gone down so well with the government. The Chinese Communist Party is on guard lest Christians invade the country and that’s why they have opted to restrict and put a barrier to free worship. With the crackdown this is what they’ve opted to do against the Christians;

1. The Communist party was very daring in visiting Christians households in Jiangxi Province, removing by force dozens of Christian symbols and images of Jesus from their living rooms and substituting them with the communist president.

2. Bible online sellers like Amazon has been banned so as to suppress Christianity.

3.The government has destroyed churches under president Xi Jinping.The blowing up of the Christian megachurch with dynamite shows how the government has no respect for religious freedom or human rights.

4. Churches across the Zhejiang province were forced to remove their crosses and the government set new limitations that believers must have government approval.

5. Detention of believers, hindering entry to places of worship and interfering with gatherings has forced many Christians to go underground.

6. The Chinese government has actively and openly been popularizing Buddhism and Taoism, as well folk religions while restricting the spread of Christianity.

7. Preachers have also been coerced to show their loyalty to the communist party and have taken to applauding president Xi Jinping and combining party propaganda into their teachings.

8.The new law that took effect on February 2, 2018, says will charge penalties on organizers or unofficial religious happenings and stop them from basic duties like receiving handouts, providing spiritual information online, or teaching children.

9. The Chinese government has lifted up the presidential term limits-you guessed it right on what this means for the church. Lifting up the term limit is a way of allowing the Communist party to suppress the spread of Christianity.

This has forced many Christians to go underground and some members are reluctant to confess their faith. Forcing the removal of crosses from the churches where the preachers could not agree to it, they opted to go underground for the fear of further punishment.

Acts 1:8 says, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witness in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

“By 2030, China will almost certainly have more Christians than any other country and the Communist party is very alarmed.” Says Fenggang Yang.

With this power given unto us, we can change anything and even make things happen. Let us unite as Christians and pray for our brothers and sisters in China and every corner of the world where Christians are being attacked for practicing their faith.

As Christians, we are blessed to have the Holy Spirit to empower and give us power and authority. In countries where we have the freedom of worship, let’s spread the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ even to the unchurched.Share the word of God to everyone who cares to listen and save their souls from death.

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Pray Without Ceasing: What Does it Mean?

Pray Without Ceasing: What Does it Mean?

What does it mean to ‘pray without ceasing’? Is that even possible? Many Believers have asked this question, perplexed at the command- because that is what it is, a command. We know that we are to obey God in all things, so how can we possibly ‘pray without ceasing’?

I think that we can all agree that it is impossible to physically pray without ceasing. By physical I mean lifting your voice to the LORD in prayer, raising your hands to Him, getting down on your knees to pray- you get the picture. There is no way that we can physically do it because then we would never get anything done. You cannot attend a lecture and concentrate on what the lecturer is saying if you’re too busy praying, you would not be able to have a conversation with your spouse if you were deep in prayer, neither would you be able to attend parent meetings if all of your time was devoted to prayer. These are just a few things you wouldn’t be able to do- I’m sure that you could think of a hundred more other things, but you get the picture, right?

However, the words ‘without ceasing’ may not mean what you think. The Greek word for ‘without ceasing’ is adialeiptos. It doesn’t mean non-stop like we may assume, but it actually means ‘constantly recurring’. This changes things, doesn’t it? Instead of trying to pray constantly, all the time and all day, what we can do is interrupt our moments with intervals of recurring prayer. Perhaps this idea of recurring prayer still confuses you, so I’ll break it down even further.

Prayer should be a way of life for every Believer. We understand prayer to be an act of communication with our Father- we are essentially talking to Him and with Him. What is wonderful about praying to our Heavenly Father is that we can talk to Him about anything and we know that He will be listening. I believe that GOD wants us to involve Him in every aspect of our lives, whether you are traveling to work, trying to bake an elaborate birthday cake or hiking up some mountain. Think of Him as a parent (an all-powerful and all-knowing parent!); many of us enjoy telling our parents about what is going on in our lives. Some of you have parents that will call you every day just to find out what you’re up to! They do it because they love you, not to irritate you. Perhaps your parents are not as interested in your life, but GOD sure is. When He created us, He didn’t make one type of person, He didn’t give us the same type of personality, features or talents. He made us all different and unique, and He is interested in what we are doing with what He has given us. I’ll let you in on something: GOD loves spending time with you! So how do we punctuate our moments with intervals of recurring prayer?

We need to be continually in an act of prayer. For example, when we see a beautiful sunset, we should give thanks to the LORD for being able to witness such a thing. When you arrive safely at work, knowing that many others around the world have probably just died in an accident, you thank Him for His protection upon your life. Perhaps you’re writing an exam, so you speak to Him and ask Him to help you remember what you’ve studied. Do you get the picture? In so doing this, all of life’s thoughts, actions and circumstances become an opportunity for you to commune with your Heavenly Father. In this way, you constantly set your mind “on the things above, not on the things that are on earth“ (Col 3:2).

Let me take this one step further. From the Scriptures, we learn that we have a physical body, and we have a spiritual body. Let’s examine some Scripture pertaining to this: I pray GOD your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ (1 Thess 5:23), and, For the Word of GOD is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and the joints and marrow (body), and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb 4:12). To tell the truth, I get incredibly excited when I talk about this! We also know that there is a spiritual realm co-existing with the physical realm (I have firsthand knowledge of this). We know this because of the number of heavens spoken of in the Scriptures. Go and take a look for yourself- I urge everyone to not just take my word for everything stated in any of my articles but to search the Scriptures for yourselves.

This all brings me to this one Scripture: What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also (1 Cor 14:15). What on earth, Paul? Pray with your spirit? Oh yes! I firmly believe, that when you have studied the Word of GOD, memorised scriptures, living by faith and not by sight, depending on the Holy Spirit to guide you in all things, seeking GOD with your whole heart… then you will be more aware of your spirit body, but only under the control of the Holy Spirit. We should never ever seek to have control of our spirit bodies as those in the occult do. It’s what they call the third eye. By this eye, which is really your spiritual eyes, they can willfully see what is going on in the spiritual realm. Only GOD should allow you insight into the spiritual realm for His purposes. Make no mistake: being in control of your spirit body will lead you away from GOD. If you do have control over your spiritual body, I urge you to repent of that right away and to ask GOD for forgiveness, or at least seek Him on this; let Him reveal to you why it is so dangerous, but be careful that the father of lies (Satan) does not fool you either.

You can pray in the spirit- Paul would not have said it if it were not so. You may be walking about, talking to people etc., but your spirit can be praying. Just remember, your spirit can only know what you know, so make sure to study GOD’S Word and memorize Scripture.

Ending Thoughts: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph 6:12). I cannot cover everything about our spirits, the spiritual world, our spiritual weapons etc all in one go- it’s too intensive for that. Let me tell you this though: events take place in the spiritual realm before they manifest in the physical realm. Remember to use the Word of GOD in your speech- the spiritual realm is waiting on your words.

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Using the Enneagram as a Tool for Spiritual Growth

Using the Enneagram as a Tool for Spiritual Growth

If you’ve been around Christian circles lately, chances are you’ve heard about the Enneagram (pronounced any-uh-gram).  You may have been asked, “Hey, what’s your number?” Or maybe you’ve been typed by someone, and they’ve exclaimed, “Ugh, you’re such a 3!”

While dozens are flocking to the Enneagram, others are wondering, isn’t it just like every other personality test? Our culture is obsessed with BuzzFeed articles, personality tests, and Meyers-Brigg letters. Amidst this culture of quizzes and profiles, the Enneagram is often dismissed as “Just another personality test.” While many personality tests provide surface-level results that often aren’t worth our time, the Enneagram has a much deeper value. When used appropriately, the Enneagram can be used as a tool for tremendous spiritual growth.

So, what exactly is the Enneagram? It’s an ancient personality typing system with 9 different core types, designated with the numbers 1-9. Each type has a different set of nuances and variations as well. Here are the 9 types:

Type 1 – The Reformer

Type 2 – The Helper

Type 3 – The Achiever

Type 4 – The Individualist

Type 5 – The Investigator

Type 6 – The Loyalist

Type 7 – The Enthusiast

Type 8 – The Challenger

Type 9 – The Peacemaker

What’s different about the Enneagram is that it doesn’t focus as much on what you do, but rather, what drives you. So, for example, Type 1’s are driven by a desire to be good, and Type 2’s are driven by a desire to feel loved. What the Enneagram does so powerfully is shone a light on the motivations that drive us, that we are oftentimes unaware of.

In his book The Road Back to You, Ian Cron explains how each type is often drawn to particular sin patterns. For example, Type 5’s are drawn to greed, while Type 4’s are drawn to envy. By developing an awareness of our inclinations and motivations, we are able to intentionally take steps towards Jesus and the life He is calling us to. Psalm 119:59 echoes this truth. It says, “I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.” In addition, Lamentations 3:40 says, “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.”

While some can use the Enneagram as a means of self-help and self-absorption, it can be a helpful tool when kept in its rightful place. The Enneagram was made by man, therefore it has flaws. Scripture is the only place we can go for unchanging absolute Truth. We must keep this in mind with every book, podcast, personality test, and sermon that we listen to or read. Everything should be viewed through the lens of Scripture, and if it does not agree with Scripture, then it is incorrect.

While not every book or teaching on the Enneagram is biblically accurate, there are several resources that provide tremendous help in spiritual growth based on your number. My caution is to hold up every resource to Scripture, understand that there is a nuance to the Enneagram and it is simply a guideline, and to use the Enneagram as a tool to grow closer to Jesus. If you are using the Enneagram and instead feel as though you are walking away from the truth of Scripture, I would urge you to stop or find a Biblical counselor to walk through the Enneagram with you.

So if you haven’t explored the Enneagram, I highly encourage you to do so! It’s very eye-opening and can be used as a great tool for spiritual formation. There are Enneagram tests online, but the results can vary based on how you answer different questions, which can be affected by your mood or any number of things. In my opinion, a better way to determine your type is to read through the type descriptions on The Enneagram Institute’s website. After reading through the types, you will most likely have a really good idea of which type you are. After discovering your type, continue to investigate your type. Use what you learn to walk closer to Jesus, falling hard on His grace, and continuing to be renewed in Him.

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When You Think of the Word Home, Does Jesus Come to Mind?

When You Think of the Word Home, Does Jesus Come to Mind

There is this certain sense of belonging, wanting to be known that lives inside each of us. We want the familiar state of being in a place where we feel safe, loved, and adored. For many, our memories are thrown back to the home we grew up. Scents of homemade cooking. Holiday celebrations. Laughter and giggles fill the room.

We long for THIS to stay with us all of the time.

And yet, this feeling eludes us.

Because we are not home yet.

In our text today found in 2 Corinthians 5:1-9, Paul encourages us not to fixate our eyes on the things of this world. Rather, remind ourselves that this place is not our home. Our temporal bodies where we reside are like a flimsy tent. Here today. Gone tomorrow. However, too often, we care too much about the here and now.

We focus on our flimsy tent, rather than our eternal dwelling. We fixate on skinny bodies, and how to look 10 (or more) years younger. We slather on our wrinkle cream and hope the bags under our eyes will dissipate. We long. We wish. Oh, how we desire to look and feel much better.

When we’re having a bad day and this world seems to engulf us, we must remind ourselves…we just ain’t home yet. When thinking of home, it’s much more than just a structure. For me, what’s most important is the people that abide within it. Now that I have two kids in college, I find myself longing for them to be home. The nest feels half-empty everytime that they go. Paul describes heaven not merely as a place. He describes heaven as being with the Lord…you see, it’s about the relationship.

Many of us feel at odds when we consider “What will happen when I die?”  We don’t think longingly about heaven because we’re not intimate with Jesus right now. Instead of our future home bringing us comfort, it seems like a far-off land.  We prefer to find our comfort in the things we can see with our own two eyes.

God has given us the Holy Spirit as a guarantee that we will go to heaven. If you don’t have this assurance, will you please send me a comment. We can be sure of where we’re going. “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).

When you think of the word home, does Jesus come to mind? Because really…when you get right to the point…he is the ultimate security blanket we can find.

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Miscarriages: Do We Really Mourn With Those Who Mourn?

Unless you have lost a child, you can never really sympathize with a woman who has suffered a miscarriage. It is a different kind of pain that a parent carries with them on a daily basis until they are able to reach some sort of acceptance or peace about it. Or perhaps we want to believe that they have either accepted the loss or gained peace because we do not want to ‘deal’ with that person. I do not believe that we do it out of selfishness- the reason is more complicated than that. How do you co-mourn when you did not ever meet the child? How do you offer up empty words of comfort when you know that the parent will not want to hear them? Who wants to hear: “Don’t worry, it’s all in GOD’S hands”, or “You will have another one, just have faith”, or even “Pray and ask GOD for strength”.

It has been nearly 34 years since the death of my brother, and I know that my mother has never truly fully healed from that. Jonathan was her first child and she carried him to term, but when he was taken out of her womb, he was stillborn. He may not have been a miscarriage, but he was still a life that was taken away before he got the chance to live. However many months you have carried that child in your womb, that connection is there. Whether you wanted that baby or not, that connection remains. So when you lose that child, a part of you seems to die with that child. Yes, you continue on with your life- you return to work, you eventually have more children (in some cases) and you raise them with all the love that you can give. However, you are not going to forget about that lost child. Every now and then, you wonder about the child, what they could have become, what their personality would have been like, who they would have resembled more. You dream of what could have been and, in some way, you even blame yourself for their death.

A mother’s womb is meant to be a place of security, but instead of producing life, it became a place of death. Perhaps you feel that you have failed as a woman, a wife, and a mother. The emotions that you go through are deep and painful, far deeper than we can ever imagine. Your thoughts are a place of darkness and woe. What can we, as the outsiders, really say to bring comfort?

As Believers, we are meant to rejoice with those who rejoice and to mourn with those who mourn. The truth is, we have become so wrapped up in our own worlds that we struggle to find the words to say, or just how to be around a parent who has just suffered a miscarriage. Many of us feel uncomfortable and awkward- do we pat your back in an effort to offer some physical comfort without ‘overstepping’? Do we quote scripture in an effort to explain away the tragedy and possibly downplay the pain that you are going through? Should we bring ready-made meals to lessen your worries? The question is, do these actions and words show you that we are really mourning with you? Some people will pretend that it didn’t happen, others will avoid you like the plague, worried that you are going to break down in front of them and embarrass them in public (it’s true). Others simply cannot handle seeing that amount of pain in others and will run, while others are simply insensitive and will offer up the same old useless words.

What can we do? What should we say? Can we hug you and let you lean on us when you’re weak? Can we cry with you, for your baby, the little being that we did not get to meet? Can we sit with you and listen as you tell us of your pain, your anger, and possibly the guilt that you feel? Will you provide us with your child’s name so that we may acknowledge his/her individuality? Can we sit with you in your silence, offering our presence as comfort? When ‘sorry’ will just not do, what can we say? We could never profess to understand your pain, it would be an injustice to pretend as though that life didn’t exist, and it would be insensitive to assume that you can ever replace your lost child with another one.

To every parent that has miscarried: at times we outsiders find it difficult to express our sadness for your loss. I personally mourn for every child lost, whether through miscarriage, abortion or other causes. While I cannot understand your pain because I have not experienced such a tragedy, there are many of us who want to truly mourn with you, to offer the comfort that only a person who is close with our LORD can offer. We would gladly take on some of your burdens to give you a moment’s rest from your deep pain. I speak to both the mothers and fathers- find a brother or sister in Christ and share that burden with them. Let them take on that burden in spirit so that you may find rest and eventually open yourself up to receive the comfort that Jesus wants to give you. Woman of GOD, you have suffered through a miscarriage, but that burden that you carry is not yours alone.

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Is Being a Virgin a Bad Thing?

Is Being a Virgin a Bad Thing?

Before the age of 19, I couldn’t have cared less about what people had to say about sex. That all changed, however, when I left home for college. My 19th year was a tumultuous time for me: it was my first time away from home, I was struggling to appear adult-like while still holding onto the innocence of my previous years, and most importantly, I became a born-again Christian towards the end of that year.

I was not prepared for the culture that surrounded campus life. People around me were talking about sex, having sex, who they had sex with, who wanted to have sex with them… I was horrified. I couldn’t believe that people my age were sexually active (I come from a conservative family and hardly ever went out). During free periods, I used to sit among newly-made friends and listen wide-eyed as they openly spoke about their sexual exploits. I wouldn’t say that I felt left out, but I did feel quite naïve. Oddly enough, up until the last few months of the first year in college, I didn’t hear much about sex. Nevertheless, it didn’t take me long to realize that I was uncomfortable with the topic of sex, but I didn’t want to come across as being judgemental (especially with being born-again), so I stuck it out. My reasoning was that Jesus Himself had sat down to dinner with prostitutes and taxpayers, so who was I to dissociate myself from them just because they were sexually active? Looking back, I can see that my reasoning was flawed, but it took me years to understand that. I essentially became the poster girl for 1 Corinthians 15:33: Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” I was well on my way to being corrupted.

During my early 20s, I sought to convince myself that if I knew enough about sex, and was comfortable with it, then it wouldn’t irritate me and cause me much discomfort when people talked about it. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone, not understanding the peril that I was putting my soul into.

After a few years, I realized that no amount of sex talk would make me any more comfortable with it. I grew tired of speaking about the same things over and over again- how to spice up your love life with different sex positions, how kinky BDSM was, how irresistible Christian Grey was (I didn’t really think that- I just went with the flow), how empowering it was to be in control of your own orgasms with masturbation (something that I have never done) and how sex was totally natural and healthy, especially between two (or three, or more) consenting adults. I twerked along to catchy tunes with suggestive lyrics (all about sex in some form or another), and I danced with the ease of a seductress laying a trap for her prey (okay, I didn’t actually dance in public, but I did do it within the comfort and privacy of my own home). I had become as knowledgeable as an inexperienced person could be, loaded with ammunition to go out and ‘do the nasty’ if I so chose to. But I didn’t choose to. I was at war within myself and felt like a fraud, both as a Christian and a worldly- wannabe- person.

When you sin and do it repeatedly, the Holy Spirit starts to convict you of that sin in order to lead you to repentance. Sure, I was not having sex, but because I thought about it in its various forms, it was just as bad. It is amazing to me as to how I continued to talk and think about something that I truly was not comfortable with!

The Holy Spirit began to counter all of my worldly ways with the Word of GOD. I started to read the Bible more every day and to ask GOD to show me what areas of my life were displeasing to Him. You see, I had a deep yearning within me to get to know GOD, not because someone told me that it was the right thing to do, but because I needed to. I had received a taste of GOD’S presence once before and I wanted more. If you’re Christian, you will know that only the pure-hearted will see GOD. There was no way that I was going to draw near to Him with all the sexual immorality in my life! Needless to say, I repented of my sins and began to purify my mind with GOD’S Word. That meant cutting out secular music, erotic romance novels (not the clean and sweet type), other types of literature pertaining to sex, and refusing to talk about it unnecessarily. It was while removing these factors out of my life that I realized how accustomed I had become to surrounding myself with things of a sexual nature, especially when I still was not comfortable with it.

I will be 29 in about 2 months time. I have never had sex, let alone kissed a guy. Even with all the sex talk, I did not feel the need to date or have sex or even go around kissing guys. In fact, I find the act of kissing rather gross and unsettling. There are people that refuse to believe that I am a virgin and have never been kissed and that’s okay- I don’t expect anyone to believe me, and neither is it my concern. Do I think that I’m better than the non-virgins, especially the Christian ones? Certainly not, and neither do I go around judging people. You do not need me to tell you that sexual immorality is a sin- you already know that the wages of sin is death. I would, however, advise you to consult your Bible to see why you should abstain from sex until marriage. The major reason for me is because I know that I am the Temple of GOD. All other sins happen outside of the body, but when you have sex, you sin against your body. GOD hates any type of sin, whether outside of the body or against the body. What you need to understand is the impact of your sin in the spiritual realm. By sinning, you have basically told Satan: Open gates, come and get me. It is important to examine your own life and your relationship with GOD. Being truthful with yourself is the first step to destroying any strongholds in your mind.

My virginity has nothing to do with being forced. I chose to physically remain a virgin because I want to please GOD and I do not want to open up such doorways for Satan to afflict me. However, it can be said that for a few years, I could not have called myself a virgin due to sexually sinning in my mind. It was only when the Holy Spirit showed me the error of my thinking, that I repented and was forgiven- that sin no longer has any hold over me. Thus not only am I physically a virgin, but I am also a mental virgin (that sounds a bit odd-‘mental’- it’s as if I am calling myself crazy!). If it were up to society, I would have succumbed to peer pressure a long time ago and had physical sex with numerous partners by now. I thank GOD every day that at least some part of me held onto my values and abstained.

Ending Thought: If you are a virgin, then do not let anyone convince you that you are wrong by choosing to remain a one. It’s your choice and it’s your commitment to GOD. You are the only one who will need to give an account for your actions to GOD one day, so stop worrying about the opinions of others. By now you will have no doubt realized that anything contrary to GOD is going to get you into a load of trouble.

Now, if you are not a virgin but you have given your life to Jesus, do not feel condemned for your past choices. Jesus has redeemed you and you are a new creation. All you need to do is repent of your past sexual sins and then believe (key word here is believe) that you have been forgiven. Jesus is not condemning you and neither can anyone else condemn you. He called you for a reason, so get yourself right with Him and start living a life worthy of the calling on your life.

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A Prayer for My Stressed-Out, Hardworking Husband

A Prayer for My Stressed-Out, Hardworking Husband

No one gets a free pass from stressful times. As Christians, prayer and the Scriptures are our greatest weapons against this stress epidemic.

Father,

I praise You for my husband, Your unique creation. Please guard his heart and mind, Jesus. Protect him from temptation and fill him up with the good things he needs. You’ve promised to fill his soul with what he needs and I ask You to do just that.

You are the God of peace, Who heals all our ailments and cares for all those that love and trust You. Lord, You know the many pressures my dear husband has been facing, from both his work and from the family, and Father, I am concerned that it seems to be affecting his health. Lord, this additional stress seems to be making my husband irritable and I know that he is finding it increasingly difficult to sleep at night.

I know that You care about each of Your children and are interested in every area of our lives – and so I pray that You would ease the stress and pressure that seems to be mounting up in our lives and quickly remove it, and please Lord, help my husband to rest in You and to cast all His care upon You, day by day.

Lord, I pray that You would bless my husband’s work. That he would be diligent and prosperous. That You would give him wisdom and discernment. God, I pray You would give him the strength to walk the opportunities you provide.

Thank You, Lord for being there for us and I pray that You would hold us both in Your arms of love,

In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Bible Verses to Combat Anxiety and Stress

“I will lie down in peace and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.” (Psalm 4:8, NLT)”

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NLT)”

“I am leaving you with a gift–peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27, NLT)”

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. (2 Thessalonians 3:16, ESV)”

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:3-4, ESV)”

 

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You Need to Stop Pointing That Finger

You Need to Stop Pointing That Finger

Is God a Republican or a Democrat? We, as Believers, can be the most judgemental people. We tend to hold onto the belief that, because we are Christians, we have a right to judge each other (and Unbelievers). If those who are being judged do not agree with us, then we most likely end up Bible-bashing them: “Well, GOD said in chapter _ verse _ that you can’t do_, so you’re committing a sin! And it’s wrong! You’re probably going to hell for that you know.” Does this sound familiar to you? Perhaps you do not use those exact words, but it all boils down to the same thing, and that’s judging others when you do not have the right to do so.

Let’s delve into GOD’S Word, shall we? If we continue on from Matthew 7:1-5 and read verses 3-5, we see that Jesus did not mince His words when it came to the subject of judging. He even used the word hypocrite to describe the person that was intent on taking the speck out of his brother’s eye when in fact, he had a whole plank in his own eye. Think of it in this way: Jim has been accusing Alex of sexual immorality. Apparently, Alex has been sleeping with his girlfriend, Stacey. As Christians, this will not do- obviously. However, it turns out that Jim (who has been doing the finger pointing with great conviction) has been lustfully looking at a young lady from church. Tsk tsk, Jim. Now, what did Jesus say about that?

“But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matt 5:28).

Paul was an Apostle who knew just what to say about those of us who love to judge: And do you think, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of GOD? (Rom 2:3). No matter how much you try and justify yourself, GOD is still going to judge you. What you need to understand is that if GOD Himself did not send His Son to condemn us (John 3:17), why on earth are we doing it (did you see what I did there- on earth because we live on earth! Ha!)? So the question that you probably have now is: how do we tell/show the person that what they are doing is wrong? That they are disobeying GOD? It’s simple really. If you are not like Jim, meaning that you yourself are not living in sin, then you can proceed to Galatians 6:1: Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” Paul says that you need to be spiritual, and the only way to be spiritual is to immerse yourself in GOD’S Word daily. Study His Word and by faith, apply it to your life. He also says that you are to be gentle with that person- which, by the way, is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. You cannot be gentle if you do not have love, and if you do not understand what love is (which is more of an action and not just a feeling), then study 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Lastly, you had better watch yourself- you wouldn’t want to be helping that person, only to fall into the same temptation. Always pray before you do anything- it will save you a lot of drama.

Okay, so we have covered nearly all aspects of judging within the church (by church, I do not mean a building but the body of Christ- all of us who profess Jesus as the Son of GOD), but there is one last aspect to consider. What did Paul mean in 1 Corinthians 5:11? But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner- not even to eat with such a person. This sounds like Paul is being quite judgemental, doesn’t it? Now we know that the Bible does not contradict Itself (contrary to popular belief- that’s another topic!), so what could Paul mean? Let’s go back a few pages and take a look at Romans 16:17-18: Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.” Remember, bad company can corrupt good character (1 Corinthians 15:33). These people, who profess to be Christian and yet go against the Word of GOD, you must understand that they cannot be who they say they are. According to Luke 6:43-45, a tree is known by its fruit. Therefore as Christians, we are to produce fruits of the Holy Spirit. Those who are of the devil (whether by choice or ‘default’), will produce evil fruit in accordance with the deeds of the devil. My advice to you? Just walk away- do not concern yourself with their way of living- GOD will sort it out. Pray for them yes, but do not, I repeat, do not get involved with them in any way. We need to realize that GOD’S Word is absolute- if we are told not to do something, then we must not do it. If you are happy with taking GOD’S Word as is, great. However, there are some that want to know why. If you want to know why we cannot do a certain thing, then you better start reading and studying the Bible to find out, and if you cannot find it, then just ask GOD- but you better believe that He will do it, or else you’re being rather double-minded (James 1:5-8).

What about judging non-Believers? One piece of scripture will clear that up in a jiff: For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside?

Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside GOD judges” (1 Cor 5:12-13). Pretty straightforward isn’t it? We, as Christians, have no right to judge a non-Believer. We know that GOD is more than capable of doing that so put it out of your minds. Your duties are to obey and love GOD, study His Word, pray without ceasing, live by faith and not by sight, and love one another. Don’t forget about going out to spread the Gospel, whether within your own community or jumping across the sea to reach those who are lost.

Ending Thoughts: Do not speak evil of one another, brethren (James 4:11). If you have nothing good to say, then do not say it at all.

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Why ‘Coming Out’ as a Christian at work is so very hard?

Dealing With The Unexpected

Dave is a competent young professional. He looks worn and defeated. In talking about his workplace, he said  that bickering, criticism, and lack of support for Christians had spread through his organisation – a workplace he used to love. Now, he said, “The tension here is so thick I hate going to work.” he says.

Coming Out of The Christian Closet

Almost everyone has a story to tell about a bad boss, a bizarre colleague or a terrible place to work. However, as a Christian based digital media website, we have heard tons of stories of religious discrimination in the workplace.
We are blessed to have freedom of religion in the UK; (these rights are part The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and applies to freedom from religious discrimination, accommodation, and hostile work environment matters in both public and private workplaces) but recently the attacks upon Christians has increased, and people have lost their jobs and closed their businesses as a result of standing up for their belief.  Practicing Christianity at the office or even sharing beliefs seems to touch on nerves, hurt feelings, and ignite high-levels of anger as well as passion in non believers.  And it seems like the workplace climate may be getting worse: the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) considered 3,721 religious discrimination complaints in 2013, up from 1,709 in 1997.
“Secular ideology is so pervasive in the professional environment that we often have a difficult time fitting into the culture of the office. Many of us simply “go with the flow,” choosing to participate in the promotion of secular thought and values rather than risk being ostracized and ridiculed by defending the absolute truth of Christianity and the moral certitude of the distinctively Christian vision.”  
You know what we’re talking about. Do you pray before lunch with a bunch of clients? Do you invite a new friend to church? Do you quote an appropriate Scripture during a dinner party? Do you hand someone your newsletter (FaithMD)?
However, a  poppy is not just for Christmas, and a Christian is not just for the weekend.
But what does it really look like to unite our jobs and faith?  After all office politics can be cruel and unfair and you’ve got to play the game”¦ haven’t you? We mean it’s easier to just to pretend you’re out and avoid that phone call”¦ isn’t it? When you’re putting in that expenses claim”¦ everyone creams a little off the top, so why lose out? And when there’s no holiday left to take but you need a day off, it’s easier to call in sick, isn’t it”¦?  After all the world didn’t come to an end. So, what’s the big deal?
It’s sin — that’s the big deal.

Staying Godly in a Godless Workplace

The following are a few suggestions as to how to practice your faith at work.

Dont’s

  1. You don’t need to open a beauty salon called “A Cut Above” or a coffee shop called “He Brews”  or have to wear a cross or leave a Bible on your desk for others to know that you’re a Christian.
  2. Don’t Engage in Gossip. Even if your workplace only has five employees, it’s almost a given that at least some of them will engage in gossip from time to time.
  3. Don’t Be a Hypocrite. One of the greatest hindrances to the gospel’s effectiveness is Christians who act one way at church and another way elsewhere. If you make your employer a billion dollars yet disgrace Jesus in the process, you’re a failure.
  4. Don’t Hide Away. Our right relationship isn’t just with God, but it’s a right relationship with the world around us.
  5. Don’t lie in the Workplace – Ever. This seems self-evident for Christians, but that’s where we’re under our greatest temptation.
Do’s
  1. Be Righteous.The best witness of your faith is to live it.  Treat others as you would like to be treated, be kind, and do everything with love. This doesn’t mean that you have to meekly accept any wrongs at work or to avoid. “If the salt loses its saltiness, it’s good for nothing.”
  2. Be Hopeful. People of hope don’t lie about the reality of the world, but they are pressing on toward a new day. They inject positive direction in every dark situation.
  3. Be Faithful.  Christians can explain their faith to others confidently and give attractive examples of the Christian life—even in just doing their jobs well.  There’s no such thing as a private faith.
  4. Be About God’s Business and Know God’s Word. After all  the Bible is more a love letter than it is a rulebook, more a reliable compass than it is a measuring rod, more a liberating gift than a heavy restraint.
  5. Be Merciful. Your ability to walk rightly, is not a prowess gained. It is a gift supplied by a loving, merciful God who is shaping us into the image of his Son.
  6. Be Prayerful. There will be people who do not like you for any number of reasons. Make it a practice to pray for the people that don’t seem to like you, who you don’t really get along with, or who just always seem to have something snarky to say to or about you.
  7. Be Relational.  When you are asked, or ordered, to do something that causes turbulence in your Christian conscience, ask questions.
  8. Be Genuine. People of faith are pure in their motives and dealings with others. They don’t put on airs or sniff the air for hints of sinful behavior.
  9. Be Businesslike, But Not All Business. Have a laugh. Not only does laughing relieve stress, but it improves teamwork. Laughing on the job is not wasting time. It’s keeping work in its proper perspective and treating colleagues like human beings instead of tools.
  10. Be a Risk Taker. I realise this somewhat contradicts some of the last points, but the Christian life rests in that tension between risk and prudence. Here’s a hint, safe will always be boring, risks will always be exciting, and closets will always be dark.
  11. Never Forget Who You’re Really Working For Ultimately. Jesus Christ is our boss, and all our actions on the job should bring glory and honor to Him. God planted us in our current job for a particular reason. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together  for good,  for  those who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
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Are You the Sheep of God’s Pasture?

The Sheep of His Pasture

The beautiful parable that Christ gave of the one lost sheep, of the shepherd that left the ninety and nine to go in search of that which was lost, illustrates the care of the great Shepherd.

He did not look carelessly over the sheep of the fold, and say, “I have ninety and nine, and it will cost me too much trouble to go in search of the straying one; let him come back, and I will open the door of the sheepfold and let him in, but I cannot go after him.” No… He counts and recounts the flock, and when he is certain that one sheep is lost, he leaves the ninety and nine within the fold; however dark the night, however perilous and unpleasant the way, however long and tedious the search, he does not weary, he does not falter, until the lost sheep is found.

But when it is found, does he act indifferently? Does he call the sheep, and command the straying one to follow him? Does he threaten and beat it, or drive it before him, recounting the bitterness and anxiety that he felt on its account? No; he lays the weary, exhausted, wandering sheep on his shoulder, and … returns it to the fold.

The shepherd’s gratitude finds expression in melodious songs of rejoicing, and heavenly choirs respond to the shepherd’s note of joy…

For “joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance.”

Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine” (John 10:14).

Just as a shepherd of the earth knows his sheep, so does the God know His flock that is scattered throughout the whole world…

“And ye, my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God” (Ezekiel 34:31).

However low, however, elevated we may be, whether we are going through adversity or in the sunshine of prosperity, we are God’s sheep, the flock of His pasture, and under the care of the chief Shepherd.

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I’m an Atheist and I Feel Like I’m Smarter Than Religious People

Letter to a Backslider

It used to be that teens and young adults would say, “Yeah I’m an atheist, I’m all about facts and science, my parents hate it, but they’ll just have to get over it. This is who I am.”

Now tell me, how in the world are people not finding any facts within a book that’s sixty-six chapters long? Not to mention study Bibles, have you seen those things? They are humongous and full of extra historical context and Biblical meaning. Young people (myself included) once claimed atheism because we were trying to seem dark or edgy, we really didn’t actually think we were atheists, we just stopped paying attention to God!

Our God is not social media, our God is not whatever is trending on Netflix, our God is, well, God.

Now that we have grown out of that phase, not caring what people think of us, we see more and more people millennial age or younger that are labeled as the new “kings of cool” because they profess Jesus as their savior. Our God is not social media, our God is not whatever is trending on Netflix, our God is, well, God. People on social media platforms have started arguments in which they claim “God is not real,” only to have Christians boldly proclaim the opposite. Despite either getting shunned or ganged up on by trolls, those sticking to their guns are seen as the rebels to those lurking and watching the back and forth action.

Hollywood knows where this is going too; with big films like I Can Only Imagine and Paul Apostle Of Christ making waves in the movie business, it’s only a matter of time before the mainstream media hypes up its popularity. Or, they might just try and ignore how much people like these movies and do their best to cover it up with something worldly, you really never know with them.

It’s trendy right now to be politically incorrect and against the current culture because people are sick of doing what they always have done; it’s not working for them anymore. The vast majority who are sticking to the norm, are seen as “sleeping sheep that just need to be red pilled.” The same goes with following God; people want more out of their lives than just the day to day, they want a life with purpose and meaning. They know God can give them that.

So if you see a bunch of people saying they’re “atheists” just to be cool,  tell them that they need to check out social media more often, the rebels are the Christians.

 

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KEEPING GOD in OUR DAILY LIVES

KEEPING GOD in OUR DAILY LIVES

How many of us can truly say that this is how we feel? Do our souls yearn for GOD in the night? Do our spirits long for Him in the morning? Or have our busy lives taken away the pleasure of being with the Almighty?

Life has a sneaky way of drawing our attention away from GOD and instead focusing it on everything else- our finances, the well-being of our children, getting good grades in school, trying to keep a dying relationship alive… We put so much attention on living a life that we push GOD out of our daily lives and put Him into a closed box   (in our minds) that we only open up on specific occasions such as church on a Sunday, prayers for a sick person or even a financial difficulty. Once we’re done, we neatly put Him back in that box, ready for the next outing. That is not how it is supposed to be for us as Believers!

Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to trust in Him with our whole hearts and to not try and understand things in our own way. If we would just acknowledge Him in all that we do, He will lead us down the right paths of our lives. In order for Him to lead us, we need to give up control over our own lives. That means humbling ourselves before Him and seeking Him in every situation. When we accepted Jesus as the LORD and Saviour of our lives, we ceased to belong to our selves; we were purchased by the Blood of Jesus and have become the Temple of GOD (Romans 8:9 & 1 Corinthians 6:20). This means that the Holy Spirit dwells within us- the minute we were born-again, the Holy Spirit entered us in accordance with the promise that Jesus made in John 14: 15-17.

What does this mean for us? It means that we can no longer go on living as we did before. It means that in order to know what GOD has planned for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11), we need to seek Him- Let us draw near to GOD with a sincere heart and the full assurance that faith brings (Hebrews 10:32).

We all have a part to play within the Body of Christ, but to be an active member, we need to seek GOD daily and keep Him in our lives. You must remember that we have an adversary- the devil- who will do all that he can to keep you from fulfilling your GOD-given purpose. There are people waiting for you to show them the love of Christ, to give them the Truth. When we one day meet GOD, what do you want Him to say? ‘My child, you have done well’ or ‘Why did you not obey Me?’

Make a choice right now to keep GOD in your daily life, to seek Him in the morning, to end your day with Him. Doing so will bring you closer to Him and closer to your purpose.

Ending Thoughts: Romans 12:2 commands us to not be like the rest of the world, that we must let the Word of God direct our thoughts and actions. In Hosea 4:6 GOD says that His people are destroyed for their lack of knowledge. This knowledge comes from His Word, not just reading His Word but studying it and meditating on it. Only then can we know the will of GOD for our lives, and only then can we get to know Him personally.

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25 Extremely Funny Christian Thoughts To Celebrate Every Day

25 Extremely Funny Christian Thoughts To Celebrate Every Day

Christianity is a serious business but everything has its funny side. After all, laughter is the best medicine – which is why we practice it religiously here at Godinterest, especially when it comes to funny quotes.

  1. Some things have to be believed to be seen. ~ Ralph Hodgson
  2. No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says. He is always convinced that it says what he means. ~ George Bernard Shaw
  3. I have wondered at times what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress. ~ Ronald Reagan
  4. When I told the people of Northern Ireland that I was an atheist, a woman in the audience stood up and said, ‘Yes, but is it the God of the Catholics or the God of the Protestants in whom you don’t believe? ~ Quentin Crisp
  5. Most of us spend the first six days of the week sowing wild oats, then we go to church on Sunday and pray for a crop failure. ~ Fred Allen
  6. Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile. ~ Billy Sunday
  7. A real Christian is a person who can give his pet parrot to the town gossip. ~ Billy Graham
  8. The good Lord didn’t create anything without a purpose, but the fly comes close. ~ Mark Twain
  9. The worst moment for the atheist is when he is really thankful and has nobody to thank. ~ Dante Rossetti
  10. On the other hand, the Bible contains much that is relevant today, like Noah taking 40 days to find a place to park. ~ Curtis McDougall
  11. A Christian is a man who feels repentance on Sunday for what he did on Saturday and is going to do on Monday. ~ Thomas Ybarra
  12. Maybe this world is another planet’s hell. ~ Aldous Huxley
  13. Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich. ~ Napoleon
  14. I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older; then it dawned on me… they’re cramming for their final exam. ~ George Carlin
  15. If there were no God, there would be no atheists. ~ G. K. Chesterton
  16. The church is prayer-conditioned. ~ Anonymous
  17. The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people. ~ G. K. Chesterton
  18. If you use the church’s WiFi, are you receiving God’s signal? ~ Anonymous
  19. Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in. ~ Mark Twain
  20. Most people would like to be delivered from temptation but would like it to keep in touch. ~ Robert Orben
  21. I’d rather live my whole life assuming there is a God, only to find out that there isn’t, than to live my whole life assuming there isn’t a God, only to find out there is. ~ Peter Barry
  22. You talk to God, you’re religious. God talks to you, you’re psychotic. ~ Doris Egan
  23. I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. ~ Mahatma Ghandi
  24. The number of followers you have doesn’t make you better than anyone else.  Hitler had millions, Jesus had 12. ~ Anonymous
  25. Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.  ~ Anonymous
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Did You Hear About The New Commandment?

Did You Hear About The New Commandment?

In John 13:34, Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another.” What did He mean by that? Surely even back then, loving others was not something new. People need not learn that they were to love others. To love is natural in us. Nobody needs to command us to love. We grow up loving on our own volition. We begin to love our parents. We begin to love and prefer certain types of food more than others. We begin to love and give our attention to other people, more with some than others.

People grow up “picking up” on how to love from other people. We see how our parents love and soon after we may love just like them. We see how our friends love and how our favorite celebrity idols love. We see love depicted in movies we like. Love is modeled all around us and from this exposure, we develop our own mindset and process of loving.

So what did Christ meant when He said He was giving us a new command, which is, to love others? The verse gives clarity in the end. It says, “”¦As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” From John 13, Christ’s desire was for us to love not the way we want to, not the way we prefer to, not the way the world loves, but the way He does. Christ was specific in the kind of love He wanted. He identified it as “Agape”. This Greek word points to “divine love”. It is divine because it is God’s kind of love. And God does not love the way we prefer to love.

God’s love is a choice love.

It is not a consequential love. It is not an impulsive love. It is committed. It is loyal. It is steady. It’s not common to see young lovers turning into old lovers of each other, holding the same intensity and vibrancy of affection and commitment. And when we chance upon old couples in their 70’s to 90’s, we feel good and uplifted inside for in that moment, we get a glimpse of God’s love.

God’s love is a proactive love.

It is not a reactionary love wherein He loves us only when we are this way or that. He loves first and He loves us whether we are and whether we are not. It is not a conditional love. He loves us when we perform to expectations and He loves us in the midst of our failings. God loves whatever the situation, whatever the season.

God’s love is an action love.

Agape love is an action love. It acts and it acts independently. It doesn’t grow tired of loving because love powers its very self. God loves us when we are bearing fruit and God loves us when we are barren. God needs no reason to start loving and needs no reason to keep loving. God loves and He loves continually because God is love. God can never be without love.

God’s love is all-inclusive.

God loves all. He has enough love for all and He is able to show the same intensity on all. And that is how He loves. He doesn’t exclude others and He doesn’t prefer one over the other. For parents to love this way is a divine enabling. It is common for parents and grandparents to have favorites among the children and grandchildren. If a child is secure and can understand, it is not detrimental to growth. However, a delicate child will suffer harm from growing up in a partial environment. The home is to be a place of absolute acceptance. The home is to be a place of utmost security. And if a child can’t feel accepted and secure at home, he may think he can never find acceptance and security elsewhere.

There are so many more we can notice about God’s love. But with what we know now, may we be encouraged and inspired to begin obeying the New Commandment to start Agape loving the people around us today.

 

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Sharing Jesus With the World

Sharing Jesus With the World

As I glance down at my bathroom vanity this morning, various perfume bottles catch my eye. Appearing in all different shapes and sizes, each one individually uniquely designed. And although the bottles are quite captivating, the real treasure remains inside. The bottles were created to hold something, much like you and I.

Throughout Scripture, we as believers are often symbolized as clay jars, perfume bearers, or empty vessels. God Himself has poured His presence, the Holy Spirit, into our lives. We are His dwelling place. However, we often misunderstand God’s intention as we idly let the time tick by. We were not created to be a decoration, sitting as a display up on a shelf. His intent was to be poured out, spilling lavishly on those around.

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 2 Cor. 2:14

Read 2 Cor. 2:12-17. In the days of Paul, the Romans had grand parades to celebrate a militant victory. The general of the army would be perched high and lifted up on the first chariot. However, preceding him would be the spoils from the war.

Trials always precede triumph.

We often forget that our pain and suffering has a purpose. There is a victory awaiting us as we continue to allow the Lord to lead our way. Reflecting on the life of Paul, we see a man whose life was like a roller coaster. Twists and turns. Ups and downs. Often appearing to be travelling nowhere. But through it all, Paul continued to patiently endure with his eyes fixed on the final prize. He lived knowing heaven was awaitin’. He lived with certainty and spent his time well.

In the parade procession were incense bearers, spreading the fragrance of victory after the war. Y’all…we have a victory that is to be celebrated! It is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). The person who recognizes they are nothing without God will empty themselves of everything they once trusted. The things we once placed our identity on no longer matter. We will become destitute in spirit, trusting God to do a work on our inside.

And here is a great paradox”¦the more you let go of “you” to God, the more “you” you do become. You find yourself in laying your life down. You find your greatest treasure is living for Him!

When we start living for Jesus, our aroma spreads out. Life to some. Death to others. This is where it gets hard. Not everyone we encounter will like the way we smell. It is not up to us to decide.

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Cor. 1:18 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 2 Cor. 2:15

What if we poured out Jesus from our lives, regardless of the response? What if we eeked out love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? What if we laid down our pride?

Ponder for a moment: How can we live differently? How can we pour the aroma of Jesus out to this world?

 

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