Tag: temple

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Do Not Sin When You’re Angry  

This has been a frustrating week for me, as I had to contend with health issues. Lots of ‘why’ questions led to angry thoughts. We all get angry. But there’s a right way and a wrong way to handle our anger. The wrong way will lead to more wrong and destructive things. Moses handled his anger the wrong way and it cost him the Promised Land. After Moses let the Israelites’ quarrelling and complaining get to him, he didn’t remind them of the glory of the Lord. So, God told Moses that he wouldn’t see the Promised Land, instead, the task of leading the Israelites into it was given to Joshua. 

Jesus handled His anger the right way, and those who took advantage of the poor were exposed and thrown out of the temple. ‘Jesus went straight to the temple and threw out everyone who had set up shop, buying and selling… now there was room for the blind and crippled to get in. They came to Jesus, and he healed them (Matthew 21:12-14 MSG). The Bible says: ‘Be angry and do not sin’ which means instead of just complaining about the problem, we’re supposed to do something about it.  

When we let our anger build up without dealing with it, we can end up letting all our anger out in the wrong way. Instead of letting it build up, we need to deal with it. When we begin to feel angry, we need to assess why we’re feeling like that, and talk to the people involved calmly. The Bible tells us that we not only shouldn’t sin when we’re angry, but we also shouldn’t ‘let the sun go down on our anger’. And that means we shouldn’t leave any anger unresolved. 

Today, we need to sort out issues with other people, and with ourselves, by inviting God into the situation and dealing with conflict in a mature and Christ-like way. Do you have any built-up anger? Take it to God and ask Him to help you deal with it calmly and maturely. 

‘Be angry, and do not sin.’ (Ephesians 4:26) 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, thank You for being my God. Thank You for caring for me and teaching me valuable lessons for life. Father, I seek to do things Your way. To solve conflicts and treat others the way You would. God, help me control my anger so I’m not offensive or destructive. Lord, teach me how not to sin, so I will be pleasing to You, in Christ’s name! Amen. 

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Separated No More

Christ on the cross symbolised redemption. The word ‘redemption’ means saving or being saved from. Jesus’ death and His resurrection mean we’ve been saved from our sins. Hallelujah! The Bible says: ‘there is salvation in no one else, but Jesus! And there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.

Without Jesus’ death, our sins would continue to separate us from God forever. Jesus fulfilled the law for us; therefore, we have been declared righteous. Peter says, ‘He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross, so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.’

Jesus is our substitute. He took our punishment, freeing us and giving us the opportunity of eternal life. (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV). On the cross Jesus became what we were – sin – so we could become what He is – righteous. When He died, the curtain in the Temple was torn. At that moment, the Bible says that ‘the curtain of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom.’ This symbolised that the sinful barrier between God and us had been removed.

Today, let’s remember, that Jesus’ death freed us from a life of sin and shame, and opened up a life where we can personally come to God and enter His presence. Before the curtain in the temple was torn, only priests were allowed into the holiest place of the sanctuary, where they could meet with God on the people’s behalf (Exodus 40). Thanks to Jesus’ sacrifice, we’ve been redeemed. We’re no longer condemned, now we can go directly into God’s presence, where He will accept us and forgive us.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.’ (Matthew 27:51 NIV)

Let’s PrayYahweh, how can I say thank You for taking my place, my sin, and my shame? Yahshua, thanks for removing the division my sin had caused, so now I can be close to You, and that You can always be close to me. God, after the reflection of this weekend, my love for You has become deeper, and I vow to commit my life to You, in Christ’s Name! Amen

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Christian Decor For Prayer Rooms

Sweet fellowship

Prayer rooms offer a time for reflection, a place to reflect on our faith and a place to pray. The decor can be a simple reminder of our faith, or it can be a beautiful room that offers a place for our prayers. If you want to create an inviting and comforting environment that enhances your spirituality and prayer time, it is important to create a space that feels like home. This is the reason why prayer room decor should always reflect individual taste. Whether you are a fan of modern or traditional decor, the companies such as Christian walls have a great selection of inspiring and inspirational Christian prayer room decor, to help you create the space you need to enjoy your daily prayer habit.

The prayer room is a special place of worship for Christians, a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and to spend time with Him. A good prayer room should be quiet, serene, and peaceful. It should be comfortable, not cold, and not too hot. It should be decorated in a manner that is pleasing to the eye, and should contain all the right elements, so that your soul can be at peace, for example footprints in the sand wall art & decor can really put your focus back on God. The prayer room will become a place that is special to you. You will look forward to entering it, and you will enter it with joy, and you will leave it with a feeling of peace and contentment.

The goal of Christian wall art or decor is to give you an atmosphere that you feel is safe and inviting, while still holding a sense of church.

A prayer room is one of the most important parts of a church building. It is the room used by Christians to pray in, and it is where they want to focus on God. This is a room that is filled with religious symbols. The symbol that is used the most is the Cross, next to the Bible. This is because Christianity is about following God’s word and keeping his word, and the Cross is the symbol of His word.

Snowflakes to decorate the Prayer Room

In Winter, we can use snowflakes to decorate the Prayer Room. Winter is a time of year that offers many opportunities to decorate your Prayer Room. Since snowflakes are not only beautiful, but also special and meaningful, you can use them in a variety of ways to decorate your Prayer Room.

Snowflakes just look amazing when we hang them on the ceiling. You can decorate your prayer room for Christmas or during any other holiday season. Snowflakes can be used to decorate the walls with posters and pictures that you want to share with your friends and family.

There are some great options that you can choose from to decorate your prayer room. It is very easy to make a snowflake with paper. If you have the courage to learn, you’re gonna make it!

Religious symbols on the wall

Crosses are used in prayer rooms because of their association with Jesus Christ. There is a common misconception that Jesus only performed miracles, but in reality Jesus fulfilled all the requirements to be considered a true Messiah, including being a great moral teacher and having a unique relationship with God.

Crosses are commonly used in Christian religious buildings for our inspirational meaning. Crosses have been made to be a variety of shapes and sizes, but the most common is the Latin cross. Historically, the cross has been used as a symbol of the Christian faith, symbolising both the crucifixion of Jesus, and his resurrection.

A cross in a Christian prayer room is a symbol of the Christian faith. It can be found in churches, homes, or on the walls of a Christian prayer room. It is a strong Christian symbol that has also become a popular item for other interior design items for homes and businesses. It is a beautiful design that can be found in many homes, as it is a well-loved symbol of Christianity. In the prayer room, a cross is used to create a connection with God.

Bible Verses hangings on the wall

There are many different ways to decorate your Prayer Room, but most of them are much the same. There are, of course, inspirational quotes, like those from the Bible, in the room. The Christian tradition has always been about sharing the Bible’s love and authority with others. Throughout Sacred Scripture, the Bible is represented by art, music, and other works of the imagination. This is because the Bible is the Word of God, an invitation to higher consciousness, a lifelong journey with how grace is the center of all.

We can use Candles for decor

Candles have been used to decorate for centuries, but did you know that they can also be quite useful for prayer, particularly in the Christian faith? Christian candle decor can help you express your faith in Christ, and also help you to live out your faith by using the symbolism of light and symbolically burning a candle to commemorate or celebrate a rite or special occasion.

You may be aware that when the temple was being built, there were many special candles that were used as part of the ceremony. In fact, many of the special candles used were made from pure frankincense and myrrh, which can still be used today in the Church. However, you may not know how these candles were used for worship and prayer.

There are many reasons to get a candle as a way to decorate your Prayer room. The candles are excellent for lighting up the room and helping you to focus on your intentions. They can also help in setting a mood for the room.

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Living With Liars? ?

“I Was Calling God a Liar": Can You Love Jesus & Be Angry?

Today’s Psalm is about living amid relentless trouble and lies. It begins with distress and ends with war, anxiety, and pain. This psalm is a psalm used by ancient Israelites travelling to Jerusalem for a temple festival. These pilgrims’ journeys were long and difficult, and yet they undertook them gladly. They wanted to take this trip to escape the violence and lies that often surrounded them. This psalm draws them toward Jerusalem, to celebrate God’s truth. which brings peace. 

Often, we are surrounded and distressed by trouble on every hand. When that happens, there is only one way to turn, and that’s to God. The only way to escape the lies that often surround us is to turn to and meditate on the truth found in God’s Word. The psalmist says: “I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.”  Hallelujah!  

Today, God’s faithfulness is clear to the believer who calls on God and seeks to live by God’s truth. That’s why so many Christians celebrate and worship the Lord. Because in God’s presence, there are blessings and restoration. Every time we approach God, we are stepping into the presence of the one who is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). It’s time to leave lying, deceit, and distress behind and cling to God.  

Save me, LORD, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues. — Psalm 120:2 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, thank you for being my truth and my way. Father, I’m often surrounded by liars and trouble. Please Lord breathe your words of life into me, that I may be protected from my enemies and restored in your presence. In Christ’s name. Amen. 

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Freedom Through Christ

What Would Jesus Pin

All my life I have wanted to be free from bondage and oppression just like Anna. The temple must have been busy the day Mary and Joseph brought Jesus there. They kept bumping into people who were waiting. One of these was a woman named Anna. Anna was devoted to God. She worshipped day and night, fasting and praying. She was one of a group of people who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. 

Redemption can mean paying a price to set someone free. Anna and the people looked forward to redemption because Jerusalem was under siege by the Roman and they wanted freedom. In the New Testament, we learn that others were longing to be free. They were yearning for freedom from religious oppression that burdened them, from sicknesses that plagued them, from spirits that posed them, and from the sin that condemned them. 

Today, although we value our freedom, we often find ourselves trapped, in prison, by debt, in relationships, by scorn, or by circumstances. Sometimes this is because of something we have done. Sometimes it’s a result of what others have done to us. Either way, we long for redemption to be set free. In Christ, Anna the oppressed lady at the temple saw what she was waiting for: the One who could pay the price and set her free. That’s what Christ has done for you receive Him today. 

[Anna] gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. — Luke 2:38 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, thank you for the death of Jesus which gives me freedom from my physical and spiritual oppressors. Father, open my eyes, so I can consistently grasp and appreciate your redemption which gives me total freedom in Christ’ name. Amen. 

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The Lamb

As a boy I remember my mother reading bible stories to us, one that made an impression on me was the story of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham was pictured raising a knife over the altar to kill his son, and Isaac’s words have stuck with me “Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Our focus this Christmas is on Isaac’s question. 

Even though God graciously provided a ram in place of Isaac, it was not “The Lamb.” Hundreds of lambs were sacrificed on the night of the Passover to deliver God’s people. Thousands more were sacrificed in the temple in obedience to God’s commands for offerings. Yet Isaac’s question remained: “Where is the Lamb?” Isaiah prophesied that the people’s true salvation and deliverance would come through a Lamb who would pour out His blood and bear the sins of many. 700 years after Isaiah prophesied, an angel proclaimed that Mary would have a Son and He will save the mankind from their sins. The Lamb had finally come.  

Today, we are in the Advent season, Christmas Day is coming. We know our Saviour was not born on that day, but let us joyfully celebrate on the 25th and every day the birth of God’s only Son, Jesus Christ, the Lamb, who died and rose again to take away our sins and give us new life forever! Hallelujah! 

“The fire and wood are here,” said Isaac, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” — Genesis 22:7 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, we sing this Advent with the angels of 2000 years ago, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive us and deliver us, honour and glory and praise!” God, we eagerly look for that day when Christ will return and there shall be no more pain, no more suffering, no more death, and praise God no more satan or sin, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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Remove Yourself

If the pressure keeps coming and coming and you’re getting weaker and weaker—quit standing in front of the bakery window. Remove yourself. It’s as simple as that.

We sit and struggle, asking, ‘What should I do?’ Get up and walk away. Get out of the car. Go home. Don’t go out with that person anymore. If all your friends are pressuring you, get new friends. Now, of course, this involves severing relationships. But move on and let God replace what you’ve let go of.

Many people fall into a sinful relationship because they are “people pleasers.” They don’t want to cause tension or stir up a conflict in a relationship by constantly being the one who says “no.” As a result, they do something they seriously regret, harming everyone around them. Sticking to your boundaries and upholding your beliefs may cause others to look down on you, to say hurtful words, or to try to make you feel guilty or wrong. You need to get to a place inside yourself where what people say doesn’t matter.

Today, if you have been living as a slave to sin, you can throw off the chains of slavery and live in freedom to please God. This is done by reckoning yourself dead to sin and alive to God, and taking your rightful place as a co-heir to the dominion that Christ won back. Instead of practicing sin, practice being free from sin and living for God.

“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20).

Let’s Pray
Yahweh, You know that I’ve prayed this prayer before. Father, give me the courage to say “no” and to flee from any situation in which I feel pressured or uncomfortable that will lead to sin. God, I accept I am free today because of Your blood. In Christ’s Name! Amen.

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BE A CHANGE-MAKER

Matthew 11:11-12 I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist, yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. (NIV)

When I was young, I could never understand that passage of Scripture. To me, it was so unlike the Spirit of the Lord. How could a God of love and peace allow this to happen? Forcefulness sounded so like the kingdom of darkness. But praise the Lord, for He is always faithful to show you the truth if you ask Him. So, why then is it, that this Scripture is there?

It all boils down to passion! You see if you are passionate about something there is nothing on this earth that will stop you from getting the thing you think about. The desire and the drive are so strong that oftentimes you will go without food and water in order to get it. It’s time to get hungry for the Lord and get your fight back and make a change.

Why do you not have the things you’re believing God for? Why is it that your life is not at the place you want it to be? Are you passionate about a change? Are you passionate to see your circumstances change? Or are you listening to the lie of Satan telling you, you need to sit and wait for your turn and accept everything that is given to you? Your turn is now! You don’t have to accept defeat because you are an overcomer. You were ordained to do great things. So, get up and make a change!

Joh 2:13-17 And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

Jesus was very passionate about the temple, and that passion drove Him to drive out the unclean things in His Father’s house. The Lord may have passed by that temple before; but today, the Lord had enough of their foolishness. He was the Change Maker, and He caused things to change.

Well, isn’t time you allow your passion to rise and cause a change to happen in your life? I want you to get passionate today and let that passion drive you. Allow the Lord to work in you and for you so that you can become a new creation in Him and let all these things standing in your way be blown away by the power of the Holy Spirit. By faith take back everything the enemy has stolen from you. It’s time to be a change-maker for the Lord.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

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THE PRAYER THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

The freedom to build. The freedom to change. The freedom to share.

There are two kinds of prayer – the prayer of form and the prayer of faith. The repetition of set and the customary phrases when the heart feels no need of God, is formal prayer.

We should be extremely careful in all our prayers to speak the wants of the heart and to say only what we actually mean. All the flowery words at our command are not equivalent to one holy desire. The most eloquent prayers are but vain repetitions if they do not express the true sentiments of the heart. But the prayer that comes from an earnest heart, when the simple wants of the soul are expressed just as we would ask an earthly friend for help, expecting that it would be granted – this is the prayer of faith.

The publican who went up to the temple to pray is a good example of a sincere, devoted worshiper. He felt that he was a sinner, and his great need led to an outburst of passionate desire,

“God be merciful to me a sinner.”

Luke 18:13

After we have offered our petitions, we are to answer them ourselves as far as possible, and not wait for God to do for us what we can do for ourselves. The help of God is held in reserve for all who demand it. Divine help is to be combined with human effort, aspiration, and energy. But we cannot reach the battlements of heaven without climbing for ourselves. We cannot be borne up by the prayers of others when we ourselves neglect to pray; for God has made no such provision for us.

The unlovely traits in our characters are not removed, and replaced by traits that are pure and lovely, without some effort on our part!

In our efforts to follow the copy set us by our Lord Jesus Christ, we shall make crooked lines. Yet let us not cease our efforts. Temporary failure should make us lean more heavily on Christ.

The more you pray, the more you will find to pray about, and the more you’ll be led to pray for others. 

Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:12, 13

Pray With Me
Heavenly Father, I look up to you in this time of change. Allow me to have the courage to change my life for the better. Allow all my burdens to be risen up to you as I know that You will see me through. Forgive those who have done evil and allow me to do the same. Teach me to love with an open heart and open spirit. Take time for me today to help with all the trials you have set out for me and allow me the strength and energy to follow you. Give me the blessings to find a new home, keep my family together, and bless those who are away, may they be strong and know how much love is out there. Let them know you and I are thinking of them and missing them dearly. Bless me with love, strength, wisdom, health, courage, forgiveness, and a willingness to learn.

Did you know?

Here are five facts about prayer, including survey data on Americans’ prayer habits and historical instances of prayer intersecting with the government:

  1. A Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2014 found that 45% of Americans — and a majority of Christians (55%) — say they rely a lot on prayer and personal religious reflection when making major life decisions. The same survey found that 63% of Christians in the U.S. say praying regularly is an essential part of their Christian identity.
    In 2014 — in the case Town of Greece v. Galloway — the Supreme Court ruled that U.S. legislative and administrative bodies may begin their sessions with a prayer. On some occasions, however, the high court has rejected other types of state-sponsored prayer. For instance, in 1962’s Engel v. Vitale, the court famously struck down a policy requiring public school students to begin their day with a nonsectarian prayer.
  2. The National Day of Prayer was enacted in 1952 by the Congress and President Harry S. Truman. As with the addition of “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954, the move came during the Cold War and was seen as a way of contrasting the more religious United States with the officially atheistic Soviet Union.
  3. The Freedom From Religion Foundation unsuccessfully challenged the National Day of Prayer in court. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2011 that the group, which aims to promote the separation of church and state, did not have legal standing to challenge the law.
  4. For many Americans, every day is a day of prayer. More than half (55%) of Americans say they pray every day, according to a 2014 Pew Research Center survey, while 21% say they pray weekly or monthly and 23% say they seldom or never pray. Even among those who are religiously unaffiliated, 20% say they pray daily. Women (64%) are more likely than men (46%) to pray every day. And Americans ages 65 and older are far more likely than adults under 30 to say they pray daily (65% vs. 41%).
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No More Curtain

THE POWER OF THE TORN CURTAIN

Christ on the cross symbolised redemption. The word ‘redemption’ means saving, or being saved from. Jesus’ death and His resurrection means we’ve been saved from our sin. Hallelujah! The Bible says: ‘there is salvation in no one else, but Jesus! And there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved’.

Without Jesus’ death, our sins would continue to separate us from God forever. Jesus fulfilled the law for us, therefore we have been declared righteous. Peter says, ‘He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross, so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.’

Jesus is our substitute. He took our punishment, freeing us and giving us the opportunity of eternal life. (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV). On the cross Jesus became what we were — sin — so we could become what He is — righteous. When He died, the curtain in the Temple was torn. At that moment the Bible says that ‘the curtain of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom.’ This symbolised that the sinful barrier between God and us had been removed.

Today, let’s remember, Jesus’ death freed us from a life of sin and shame, and opened up a life where we can personally come to God and enter His presence. Before the curtain  in the temple was torn, only priests were allowed into the holiest place of the sanctuary, where they could meet with God on the people’s behalf (Exodus 40). Thanks to Jesus’ sacrifice, we’ve been redeemed. We’re no longer condemned, now we can go directly into God’s presence, where He will accept us and forgive us.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.’ (Matthew 27:51 NIV)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, how can I say thank You for taking my place, my sin and my shame? Yahshua, thanks for removing the division my sin had caused, so now I can be close to You, and that You can always be close to me. God, after the reflection of this weekend, my love for You has become deeper, and I vow to commit my life to You, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

A special word from the Lord, from Pastor Ray Patrick.

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Dwell In Him

Dwell In Him

God has promised to be your Protector, your Defender, your Strength, your Shelter and so much more. Even when the storms of life come against you, as long as you are dwelling in Him, you dwell in safety and trust–nothing can take away your peace and joy. What does it mean to dwell in Him?

One of the definitions of the word “dwell” means to keep your attention directed toward something. The more you keep your attention directed toward God, the more you will know Him, and the more confidence you will have in Him.

When you focus your heart and mind on the Word of God, and declare His promises over your life, you are dwelling in Him. When you lift your voice in worship and give Him glory and honour, you are dwelling in Him. When you spend time meditating on Him and connecting with Him through prayer, you are dwelling in Him.

Today, are you facing a difficult situation? Give your attention to the Father. Do you need His peace and protection? Focus your heart and mind on Him. As you dwell on Him, you will see His goodness, and you’ll live in peace and victory all the days of your life!

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust.”

(Psalm 4:8, AMPC)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for Your promise of peace and safety in my life. Father, I will give You my attention and focus. God, help me to dwell on You. Have Your way in me, and let everything I do bring glory to You, in Jesus’ Name! Amen.

 

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