GRACE (So Irresistible)

There is a story of a woman who desperately seek a breakthrough for her daughter, and her only place of help is a place where she is ineligible to get help. Her case is liken to an illegal immigrant into the United State of America walking up to the welfare office to ask for unemployment benefit


You can imagine the scenario. In the first instance, will he even have access to the building? Even if he does, what ground does he have to ask for such? I believe if anyone try such, he/she would be on the next available flight to his/her country.


But this is exactly what the woman did! She didn’t hold back, even when it was obvious that she is ineligible and was initially ignored but later turned down that she doesn’t have a "passport/or even a green card" so ineligible to enjoy the citizens' rights, she didn’t go home to sulk or whine neither did she run to the United Nations office to cry and report racial discrimination… No she didn't do any of this, rather she stayed back , held on and got the citizen's right.


We all know the story, it is in Matthew 15:21-28. Here Jesus commended her faith but looking closer, I saw she enjoyed what nobody or situations and circumstances have been able to resist from the beginning of time… GRACE.


Grace is so irresistible that even our sin cannot and will not resist it. No situation and circumstances to any individual or group can resist it. From the time of Noah, when he found grace in the sight of God and was spared (with his family)from the flood(only eight (8) people in the whole world were spared) to this time when grace is available to us all… we can enjoy a life different from what we are eligible for. Like the woman in the story, we get far more than we deserve.


We can be healed when we should be sick, rich when we should be poor, strong when we should be weak, laugh when we should cry, hopeful when we should give up and so on because this grace is available to us all and we can now enjoy much more than we deserve… Noting that

Titus 2:11== For God has revealed his grace for the salvation of all people.(GNB)

and

2Cor 8:9====For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah. Although he was rich, for your sakes he became poor, so that you, through his poverty, might become rich. (ISV)


Grace is so irresistible and it is enough for us to live a life far beyond our imagination on this side of eternity(heaven on earth).

Don Moen summarized it when he sang "Grace is Enough"


Shalom.

One Way

John 14:6 (NET) - Jesus replied, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Believers understand that these words of Jesus are essential to Christianity.

Those that do not believe have an assortment of problems with these words.

One group says that it does not matter what you believe as long as you are sincere.

Another group says that this point of view is too narrow.

Another says that they cannot believe in God because He provided only one way for salvation.

Let’s examine each of these in turn.

First - Sincerity...

We live in an age where a doctrine of sincerity has become acceptable.

Some will argue that it does not matter what you believe as long as you are sincere in your beliefs.

On the surface, this appears harmless enough.

It is far from harmless.

One can be sincere.

One can also be sincerely wrong at the same time.

At one time, people sincerely believed that the world was flat.

They were sincere in their belief.

They were also sincerely wrong.

Second - Narrowness of view...

There are some who claim that believing that Jesus is the only way is too narrow a view.

Yet Jesus makes Himself available to everyone.

For those who claim this view is too narrow, I have a question.

How can a way available to everyone possibly be considered narrow?

Third - God’s provision of a single path to salvation..

Take a good look at human history...

When I look at the evils and atrocities mankind has committed...

When I think of the cruelties of which man is capable...

...I am extremely thankful that he loved us enough to provide us with one way at all.

Furthermore,  He provided for that single way from the very beginning.

Ephesians 1:4 (NET) - For He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished  in His sight and love.

God knew we would not be able to save ourselves.

He planned for our salvation from the beginning.

He did so in the only way possible, namely, Jesus.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

THE SOLUTION

Among my people (the Yoruba of South West Nigeria) there is a drug called "GBOGBONISE" (try not to bite your tongue…lol). Gbogbonise means "a drug that can cure all ailment". Whatever it is you are suffering from, ranging from STDs, to diabetes to infertility, high blood pressure, rheumatism, headache, even menstrual cramps, just name it. The drug, is able to cure it-so they say. (But please don't ask me).

Is this drug effective in curing all these ailments (and many more not mentioned in this post)? I don't know because I have never used it but I think if it does, other nations would have come to copy the "technology" and the sellers would have become so wealthy and become multinationals... Am glad to let you know that these people are not wealthy and the users have not been 'giving testimony about its efficacy'.

But I know that whoever believes that Jesus is the son of God overcomes the world (1John 5:4-5). Call it the real gbogbonise- you won't be wrong. Knowing that the word of God is true and we have witnesses and testimonies to that effect. I make bold to say it again that " whoever believes that Jesus is the son of God overcomes the world".

Romans 8:37 put it very clear that " In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us".(CEV)

While it is to be noted that we are not fighting against the people and our environment, after all God instructs us to be at peace with all men (Heb. 12:14) and that we should replenish the earth (Gen 1:28) but there is a system of the world that stand in opposition against God and His will, it is against this that we overcame.

This system, bring strife when we seek peace, pain when we need pleasure, lack for abundance, weakness for strength, bareness for fruitfulness, hopelessness for hope, fear for faith, sickness for health etc

However, the good news is that we have our victory. All that we need to do is praise God for it and walk in it. The day His death atoned for our sins, the same day He got our victory for us. He didn't just died so we might be forgiven, His death did that and brought us ABUNDANT LIFE.

Turning our sickness to health, our pain to pleasure, weakness to strength, sadness to joy, lack to abundance, strive to peace and name it. Whatever is not making your life better, He overcame it for you. Just believe…

The same way we believe and we are saved, is the same way we believe and walk in the victory Christ won for us.

Remember, WHOEVER BELIEVES THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD OVERCOMES THE WORLD. 

Andrea Crouch sang that " Jesus is the answer for the world today…" nothing is "TRUER".

Shallom.

An Unexpected Shock

Not long ago, I decided to stop at a local restaurant.

As I pulled my car into its parking space, I noticed two young individuals seated against the side of the building.

It was a sunny and hot summer afternoon and the temperature was near 100 degrees F (38 degrees C).

From the state of their clothing, it was obvious that the owners of this establishment would not permit them to wait inside where it was cooler.

The other thing that was painfully obvious was the crude sign that one had created that had but one word on it.

"HUNGRY"

My heart immediately went out to these individuals and scripture immediately materialized in my mind.

In Matthew 25 Jesus talks about the separation of the sheep and the goats.

Two verses in particular occupied my thoughts

Matthew 25:37 (NIV) - "Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

The other should come as no surprise.

Matthew 25:40 (NIV) -  "The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

I knew what I needed to do.

I knew what He wanted me to do.

I pulled enough money out of my wallet to pay for two meals for two people.

This way their immediate needs could be met and they would also be able to take along some food for their journey.

I walked up to the man with the sign and held out the money and said, "I hope this helps you."

He told me, "Thank you, sir."

What happened next took me completely by shock.

He turned to the individual next to him  and said, "Honey, look what the nice man gave us."

I could not believe my eyes.

The individual next to him was a woman.

In her current state, I had not even realized this.

She looked at the money as he asked her, "What would you like to eat, Dear?"

I wish my written word could convey the emotion in her voice.

"Oh, I would just love a chicken sandwich!"

I reminded myself just how good my situation is.

I asked myself if I had ever felt that way about a chicken sandwich before.

She thanked me.

I found myself unable to speak, but tried my best to offer a friendly smile.

In my heart, I prayed for God to bless them both.

As I walked inside, I was reminded of something else that happened not long ago.

I have a Christian friend and author who was asked a series of difficult questions by an admitted atheist.

He shared these questions with several of his friends and asked for our input in order to prepare a good response.

One of the questions will stay with me always.

"If God exists, how do you account for the fact that he has never appeared before you?"

For me, the answer to this question is another question that causes me far more distress.

What if he had and I chose to do nothing?


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

Being There

I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)

One of the most consoling and strengthening aspects of faith in God is the knowledge that He lives and reigns all the time and everywhere--that He is always there for us, no matter where we are or what may happen to us, and no matter how confused, lonely, or despairing we may feel. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, and is aware of our every thought, word, and deed, good or bad. He wants to share and magnify our happiness, and He most certainly feels and seeks to assuage our pain, consistently with His divine will.

Nowhere is this precious truth more fully and beautifully expressed than in Psalm 139:

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. (Psalm 139:1-12)

But oh, how we flee from Him!  Instead of giving thanks and praise to our generous Lord when times are good, we too often grow smugly self-confident, feeling that we need no God, and indulge in worshiping the idols of wealth, ease, and entertainment. Habits of prayer, repentance, and study of the Word are forgotten. Having taken our eyes off the Heavenly Light, we become blind to the grave moral dangers all around us on earth. Of course, that's just what Satan wants--to separate us ever further from our loving Father, until we are entirely in the Devil's clutches. Then, when times are bad, we'll despair of any help or forgiveness from above, and resign ourselves to destruction.

Don't let that happen to you!  Get in the habit of experiencing and acknowledging God's presence every day, all day. Begin and end each day connecting with Him in prayer, seeking forgiveness and guidance, and giving joyful thanks and praise. Do it at mid-day, too!  Set aside some time during the day, even if it's only for 15 minutes, to read and ponder His Word in whatever translation best speaks to you. Get outdoors and take a walk amidst God's creation and His people, and reflect how they manifest His goodness. When something good happens, give thanks right away and give God the glory. Make sure you reach out and do something good for someone else every day, and feel His love flow through you to others. And when things around you get very dark, pray for courage and deeper faith--grasp His hand all the tighter, and NEVER let go!  Hold fast to your faith in His always Being There.

Tom Fleming

Songs of Praises

A LITTLE OF HEAVEN PLEASE

If ten people hold 10 flashlights in a dark room composing of about 100 people, what do you have? Illumination for everybody… The flashlight may not be bright individually but when their numbers increase and they work in unison, it might just be as good as one big bright light…



We live in a dark world filled with all manners of evil and wickedness, and man continually grope around in it… sometimes falling, sometimes walking uprightly and straight; sometimes he give up and sometime he hopes…but one thing that is constant all through these phases and experiences is an hunger for "A little of heaven".



He wants, from his innermost part of his being, an experience different from that daily confronts him, he desires an answer to the questions of life, of purpose both for the world and for his life, an answer for the questions science can never give with all its innovation and inventions…



No wonder man seeks extraordinary power from evil sources because sciences, wisdom of men, our ways and machination can never answer the questions in his life or show him anything different what this dark world has to offer.



But God in His infinite mercy gave us a solution in His son and graciously set us to give answer to man's questions. Not through the things man made or makes, but through the gifts of His spirit…



The gifts of the spirit are the medium through which heaven directly manifests in our world today… from word of wisdom to prophecy, to gift of healing, gift of faith and to others (1Cor. 13:7-10), man can be made to see a little of heaven.



No wonder the scripture says All of creation waits with eager longing for God to reveal his children. Rom 8:19(Good News). The creations wants a little more of heaven- the word from heaven, the light for their path, healing for the diseases science cannot heal, they want to understand what they cannot fathom…



Only us can give them their earnest desire and our Lord and Saviour has done His part, He gave us His Spirit and the Spirit releases His gifts has we yield. The challenge is



Will we yield so the we can show " A LITTLE OF HEAVEN". Let us pick up our flashlights and illuminate man's path to heaven.



Thank you,

Hunger and Thirst

          To soar in our minds the words of this fragment of the sermon on the mount, are taken immediately, the following questions: 1) where is the emphasis:) in the person of whom have appetite (insatiable desire) for Justice, as a compliment, a word of encouragement? b) on its own "justice" as something essential to be sought? c) or promise of plenty, that redound in happiness (bliss) that suffering for Justice? 2) When the promise will be fulfilled: in eternity or at the present time? 3) what is the purpose of such a statement?

           We cannot neglect that such blessedness is proclaimed by the Lord Jesus, in the context of the sermon on the mount, where incisive manner, visceral, shall reveal that his mission would involve the replacement of the law by the grace, that is, that the letter of the law would be replaced by cold your command, by fulfilling its spirit; the religiosity of the solemnities vain would be replaced by the word experience.

            Well understood, therefore, hunger and thirst for Justice have much more to do with the desire to be in full communion with God, free domain of sin-not just of external acts, but also of those who render in the depths. From then on, reflexively, as a consequence, is that these earthly issues - which are not small, is right-shall be considered.

             It is undeniable that the immanent function to any Christian to be "salt of the Earth" and "light of the world" inevitably leads to the practice of Justice already in our days. However, the power of words in the comment has a larger coverage, higher; its true scope addresses the eternity man, rescued from eternal judgment through faith in the replacement power of the cross of Christ.

            On the other hand, the hunger and thirst for justice must be such that in the drive to the intense longing for our identification with the person of Christ. See that the prodigal son while only had hunger, searched the acorns plays to the pigs, but only when he was in starvation was returned to his father.

            Is this: the desire for Justice of God must be a priority, along with the pursuit of his Kingdom [1], so intense and lasting. Man without God, without the applicant's application of the Scriptures, by itself, will never taste of bliss.


Blessings,
MaryGondim,
www.verdadecongelada.blogspot.com.br