The right Rebuke

“And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?” Heb 12:5-7 

A rebuke like so many other things is also a biblical principle, as well as love, forgiveness, faith, righteousness, integrity, holiness. But what I have seen this principle is that over time has been completely distorted. People have used the rebuke as a weapon of offense, assault, rather than help, the next drop even more. They use this to ignore, deduct their frustrations, anger, unfulfilled ambitions
.
But the rebuke after the heart of God is something far beyond that, is something that is full of love, kindness, that keeps us from feeling the worst person in the world, a failure, that our life is ended by an error, that the hopes is ended. The righteousness of God has its own end, which is to show the right way, our feet take the path of error, the slavery of sin, to give us a life of peace, blessings, victory, prosperity. She has to raise our spiritual level, to make us more holy and filled with the Holy Spirit.

 Every correction in principle is not regarded as something pleasant to our eyes, ears, heart. She stirs in our soul, often generates sadness we are outraged, revolted, however after the "moment of crisis', it is always important to analyze, ponder, why we were reprimanded, repent before God and go on believing that God is the one ever despise a contrite heart, as seen in Psalm 51:17” in My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”
Many times we have rejected, despised, not forgiven for mistakes and sins we commit, but God our Father is always faithful, giving us forgiveness and the chance of resumption, as natural as a father corrects the son he loves, just imagine God created us with a wonderful purpose, He always there to show us what needs to be changed, so we can look even more like Him and all He does is for love, that we may be more accepted, so that we can enjoy more of His presence and His intimacy.
 And finally, let me make this verse for you to record every time it is corrected, "

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. II Co7:10

Church & Sex

Ever sat through the "purity" talk?  I have.
-I wanted to punch myself in the face.

I don't know what's more awkward: having to listen to the talk, or watching the person squirm as they give it?

Who gave you your talk? For me, it was my high school health teacher. He spent about 20 min showing us pictures of STDs, then moved on to the benefits of abstinence, all while trying desperately to not make eye contact.

Needless to say, my experience was lame. Maybe your's was better. But here's what I know: purity "talks" do not work! I stand by that statement too. When did "talking" about anything ever work? I'm almost 30 years old, and to this day, "talking" does very little for me. The church realizes this, or at least it should.

Any given Youth Pastor would tell you that it takes [coming along side] our students, to make a difference. But the irony, is that we spend sooo much time on behavior modification. We tell you week in and week out what NOT to do. Sure we have small groups and adults who connect but when it comes to the "tough stuff," are we really coming along side? I would have to argue... no!

Nationally, 60% of girls in Youth Groups are sexually active. If 60% of girls are sexually active then we know that at least 60% of boys are active too. If you're like me and you remotely care about the next generation... you'd be freaking out right now. 60%!? How??

We're doing everything right.... right? We give our annual purity sermons, hand outs, and retreats. We share the shocking statistics of teen pregnancy and STDs. So what's the problem?

The problem is you cannot modify sexual behavior! You can't scare teenagers out of having sex. You might get a few that way, but more often then not, it wont work.

Here's the solution:

This past year my wife hosted an incredibly effective girls small group. It was called PINC.
It was an opportunity to come along side some girls. With solid curriculum: my wife taught, loved, and showed concern for some young women. She didn't waste time telling them NOT to have sex before marriage. She spent time investing in their success.

If we focused less on modifying behavior and really dug in deep on investing, we could see that 60% drop.
I believe its time we stopped talking about changing the next generation and actually get dirty.

1. Small Groups
2. Love
3. Concern
4. Investment

-This will change the discussion on purity. It will go from being a punch line to a serious part of discipleship.

* Great small group curriculum resource: http://www.pincministries.com/

Prisoners of the Lord

Among the most remarkable and revealing aspects of Holy Scripture is that followers of the Lord are often referred to, or refer to themselves, as "prisoners."  Today this word usually reminds us of someone who is burdened with guilt and shame, confined, despairing, without freedom or hope--a most undesirable way to be.  But speaking through the prophet Zechariah, God tells his people to "[t]urn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope," and that they will then be given victory over their enemies (Zechariah 9:12).  In the New Testament the Apostle Paul repeatedly, and unashamedly, calls himself "a prisoner of Jesus Christ" or "the prisoner of the Lord" (Ephesians 3:1, 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:8; Philemon 1:1). These great servants of God seem to regard "prisonerhood" with the same joy we normally associate with freedom!  How can that be?

To begin with, we are God's "prisoners" in the sense that we are His creation, made in His image, and placed in the midst of His universe to learn of Him and live as His children. We are never out of His sight and cannot escape His presence or His love, even if we want to (Psalm 139:2-10):

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. . . .
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.

Moreover, as Paul pointed out in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "ye are not your own . . . For ye are bought with a price . . ."  Jesus Christ "bought" our souls with His own blood, so we are His possession by the price paid to redeem us from our sins.

Yet, our "prison" is like none we know in this world. With acknowledging and accepting our dependency on God comes everything we need for our safety and happiness: His Word, His Holy Spirit, and the peace and joy of knowing that we have eternal life with Him, come what may in this world. But we are still free to decline these benefits and try to make our way through this world in the darkness, alone. If we thus deprive ourselves of God's guidance and comfort, and choose instead Satan's world of shadows and despair, are we somehow less than "prisoners"?  Are we somehow more "free"?  Sadly, many think so and choose that path. The believer knows better, and is truly liberated, for he knows the truth, and "the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)  And "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36)

It is a joy almost beyond expression to be the Lord's "prisoner of hope"--to be bought out of slavery and led into the light of truth and life! We know who we are, where we are going, and how to get there, and that we having an infinitely loving Creator and Lord to hold our hand and direct our feet every step of the way. If renouncing ourselves and taking His yoke upon us is to be "imprisoned," we are happy and blessed to do it--"for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:30)

Tom Fleming

Songs of Praises

WHO ARE YOU GOING WITH?

There is a saying among my people (the Yorubas of South West Nigeria) that “show me your friend, and I will know who you are”.

Friend in this regard refers to the people you walk, talk, spend time with, put your life in their hands, and who share your hope and aspiration. In short, your friends are the people who go with you in the long haul. The emphasis on your friend by my people stem from their understanding that the person(s) you spend time with determines so many things in your life. It determines how you are perceived, what you would do, how far you would go in life and so on.

A look at the scripture, the lives of three out of the many characters, also confirms the above saying.

Firstly, we look at the life of Ruth, (in Ruth 1:4-18) she got to a critical point in her life and had to make a choice on who she was going to go with, she chose to stick with Naomi, and her life changed. It changed so much so that as a Moabite, she came to have an inheritance among God’s people and much more that she became King David’s great-grand mother and an ancestor to our Lord and Savior, Jesus. (Matt 1:5)

Similar to the above is Rahab (a Harlot). When the Isrealites were in the wilderness and spies were sent to Jericho, she helped the spies. Of note is that, she is not the only one whose house is by the wall of the city, but she is the only one that gave a helping hand when these men were in distress (Joshua 2:4-18), and of course only her and her family escaped from Jericho alive (Joshua 6:22-23). Furthermore, she also made it to the lineage of our savior (Matt 1:5).

One of the most tragic stories in the scripture is that of Jonathan, the son of King Saul. He had an opportunity like the two women above to choose who to go with but took a different route and had his life cut short. (1 Sam. 20) Though, he knew what was going to happen in the future (like Rahab knew), and his father had already attempted killing him, but instead of going off with David, he stayed with his father and they perished together. (1 Sam 31:2)

Daily in our lives, we choose who we walk with the same way the above characters did, and from the above, we see that our lives can progress towards God and His best for our lives (like Rahab and Ruth) or it can go downhill as shown in the life of Jonathan.

The big question again is “WHO ARE YOU GOING WITH?”.

The last Chance

Genesis 21:14-19 Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba. When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she[a] began to sob. God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

Some times in our lives we find like Hagar. We find our self in a situation where we took the last drop of water. This water can be our strength, our last option or attempt. Sometimes we face times like that. Times where we did all that we could do or think. Time where we used our last “AS” and now, nothing more to do or think, no more options all that we can do is sit and see what can happen.

Maybe you are facing this situation. You look to your life and think, now have nothing more to do.

BUT I want you remember, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. God see you. God knows you and He listen to your cry, He listen all prayer you do without a word!

God never let you alone or forsaken. He knows all our steps and will guide us in the right way.

While Hagar was crying and head down, her tears doesn’t allow she see that there was a well near them. Dear reader, what is your situation today? Maybe your cry is blocking you to see that there is a spring near you, a spring of joy, happiness, hope and strength, this spring is Jesus.

My pray today is: God, I cry to you in Jesus name that like You did with Hagar, may You do with us today, lift up our eyes to see the spring of help you have to us, because I know You never will forsake us. Amen.
Be blessed and believe, it is not the end.
Jesus Loves you.
Pati Nanni

Focus on Being Ready

The year 2012 is upon us.

I plan  to celebrate several milestones this year. One of those milestones is this very devotional which happens to be my 100th weekly message since January 2010.

There is another event which will take place this year that has captivated the imaginations of a great many people.

2012 also happens to be the year that the Mayan calendar comes to an end.

Some take this to be a sign of the end of the world.

Some of the television networks I normally count on for "historical" documentaries have begun the new year with a lineup of programming forecasting nothing but gloom and doom for 2012.

Personally, I do not worry about the Mayan calendar running out for a number of reasons which I will not devote any time to in this devotional.

As far as the documentaries I have seen thus far that discuss the end of the world, well I do not put a great deal of stock in them.

They mostly try to capitalize on people’s fear in order to garner bigger ratings and they are largely based on speculation.

Personally, I suspect that there are a great many people that are apprehensive about the end of the world as we know it.

Many of them will even cite scripture, albeit erroneously, in order to lend substance to their fears and the fears of others.

Just last year, a religious leader made the news with his prediction of the day in which the world would end in 2011.

Many of his followers sold all their possessions and awaited the hour.

When the hour came and then went without incident, a supposed miscalculation was to blame.

To be honest, this is not the first time someone has erroneously tried to determine when the end would come and it will certainly not be the last.

The simple truth is that only God knows when this will occur.

Mark 13:32-33 (NET) - But as for the day or hour no one knows it - neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son - except the Father. Watch out! Stay alert! For you do not know when the time will come.

It bothers me when somebody makes a prediction as to the exact date on which the end will come.

I find any such predictions more than a bit presumptuous because the individual making that exact prediction is implying that he has some special insight that even Jesus does not have.

The end could occur this year, or the next or even beyond.

The simple truth is that we as human beings have no way of knowing.

That is why we experience so much fear and apprehension,

After all, it is a natural, human reaction to fear the unknown.

Yet those fears can be put to rest,

The question really should not revolve around when will the end come.

The better question to ask is: If the end were to happen soon, would I be ready?

Exactly how can one be ready?

The very best place to begin is to make absolutely certain that you have put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and then seek to do His will every day.

Jesus was asked what commandment was the most important.

He answered that we were to love God with all our being and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

If we let our days revolve around these things, we will be ready and then the end will take care of itself... whenever it happens to arrive.


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

Garbage bin

II Corinthians 5:17-"So that if anyone is in Christ, new creature is; the old things have passed away; Behold, everything it's new.


           A new year has arrived, and along with it desires peace, happiness, prosperity, love, good employment, protection, new conquests ...Christian or not, all asking for improvements in this period. The famous new year's Party by itself is exciting, the countdown, the Fireworks, the family reunited makes us want to further a better year ... but the fact that we speak HAPPY NEW YEAR, makes it truly a happy year?!


            Many times we persist in thinking that the change of a number in the calendar, will also promote change in our life. We forget that it is not the way in which we live or the year that will change our fruits and Yes who we really are. How to have a different year if inside us remain the same things?!


           There are many questions, that only we have the answers. But I have seen year after year that the month of December serves more to fix than to celebrate, end of year it is time to throw out the "garbage" that accumulate within us; waste as: disbelief, fear, cowardice, selfishness, jealousy, envy, among many other sins. We must open hand of trash that are hidden within us to achieve new life, which is God's promise.

           

            New dreams and projects seem to tranship of our heart, and I'm not telling you to not fight for them, on the contrary, such cleaning is essential for our goals in God will flourish so pure and strong. Place inside the trash everything that is hidden, that only you and God knows, and that has prevented the fullness of life abundant. By doing so, give you my word that the plans that God has for your life will implement in a timely manner and wonderful way.

Blessings,

MaryGondim

www.verdadecongelada.blogspot.com

You're the only person in the world can improve their lives

You're the only person in the world can improve their lives" JM

Often we get stuck in our lives, because we can not take out of us strength, courage, determination, perseverance to grow. This happens because the act requires us to grow discipline, endurance, courage, investment and these factors certainly get us out of our comfort zone (our habits, desires, concepts already formed will now have to be redone).And that's not something nice, because we will "step into the unknown" that will bring a certain insegurança.Entretanto, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, we can walk with confidence, knowing that He is our teacher who leads us into all truth and gives us the revelation of God's will for our lives ... "but the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said" John 14: 26Our Creator gave us gifts and abilities to bless people and use them in His Kingdom. And we also gave the order for us to exercise these gifts so that they do not give lack of prática.Temos two verses that Paul wrote to Timothy that show this clearly: II Timothy 1:6 For which reason I remind you to stir up the gift of God is in thee by the imposition of my hands. ITM 4:14,15 And Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with imposition of hands of presbiterian.Think these things, give thyself to them, that thy profiting may appear to all.It is necessary to bear in mind that the more we become able to perform God's call, but we will be "charged" for it is written: "But to whom much is given, much will be charged, and that to whom much is entrusted, much more will ask you "Luke 12:48 b

Our growth is the result of a constant search of God and His will for our lives, knowing that He will enable us at all times, as we see in I Peter 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you in Christ Jesus to his eternal glory, after ye have suffered a while, will himself perfect, establish, strengthen, settle. And in Philippians 2:13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to work according to His will.

IT IS NOT OVER! DON’T STOP TRUSTING HIM

“And He said, I will certainly return to you according to the time of life … (MKJV) “Genesis 18:10

God knows our timing. He is the author of it and He sustains it. The Psalmist also prayed that He, God, should

            … teach us to number our days…  (MKJV) Psalm 90:12

God knows that this is the end of another year, year 2011 and He knows our expectations and the desires we have towards this year going to an end. Like He said to Sarah, if he has ever said it to any one of us, you can be sure He will come- though it’s just three (3) days to the end of the year. What am saying is that “Friends, it is not over, don’t stop trusting Him”

No matter the situation- financial, health, family, spouse… whatever, don’t stop. Three days might be a short time to you, but with God all things are possible

Why am I so confident? Firstly, I know that He created the heavens and the earth in SIX (6) DAYS (Genesis 1:1-31) - everything we can see and cannot see. Everything, I mean everything including all those things that man since his creation and stages of development are still trying to grasp.

So, if He did all in six days, three days is more than enough time for Him to meet that your need.

Secondly, there was a situation in Samaria in 2Kings 6:24-30, it was so bad that women arranged and ate their children because of Famine. But it did not end like that because the word of the Lord came

            “And Elisha said, hear the Word of Jehovah! So says Jehovah, Tomorrow about this time a measure of fine flour will be sold at a shekel, and two measures of barley at a shekel, in the gate of Samaria”( MKJV) 2Kings 7:1

Solving Famine in 24 hour, does that sound possible to you? Not for a man or a family or a district but a whole capital city… not a 24 hour famine but one that lasted long enough for mothers to resort to eating their children…

And of course in verse 18, it came to pass exactly as the man of God said.

My friends, 24 hours is a very long time for God to meet that need. If He could do it for a whole capital city in 24 hours, how much more your personal, family, community issue.

So I say again, it is not over, don’t stop trusting Him.

For your information, I’m trusting Him too. I am trusting Him for a truck (costing as much as $12,000) as an end of the year gift but I have less than $200 to my name. But, I know that if He did it for Samaria in 24 hours, He will set up chains of events and deliver it to me.

So, let us trust Him together.

Genesis 18:14a

                        “Is anything too hard for Jehovah?”MKJV

God Bless You.

Tunde.

Perfect Peace

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." ~ Isaiah 26:3

Of all things needed and craved by mankind, none is so vital as peace: peace without, and peace within.

Because by nature we are selfish and aggressive creatures, peace among nations and neighbors is tragically elusive and, historically, seemingly impossible but for short periods and in scattered places. All too often rulers use their powers to wage war on other countries and upon their own peoples, and even the best democratic governments are incapable of preventing the mini-wars individuals make upon each other every day. Endless conflict and suffering seem to be the natural lot of human beings almost everywhere.

Peace within ourselves is even more precious than peace in the world, because it transcends the world. One can feel desperate and hopeless even when conditions about us are peaceful.  But thanks to the blessed assurance that we have from our Savior, we can be at peace within even when the world around us is rent with conflict. Through repentance, faith, and embrace of His sacrifice on the Cross, His righteousness is ours. We needn't groan and fall under the weight of our sins, no matter how heavy they are; they are laid at Jesus' feet, and in His infinite love are swept away. Because we know that in Him death is swallowed up in victory, we know that we likewise shall be victorious in the end, and fear not what men can do to us.

The prophet Isaiah warned that "[m]any days and years shall ye be troubled," and that the world would become as a wilderness,

. . .Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places . . . (Isaiah 32:10, 15-18)

This is the promise of Christmas, when Jesus came down from Heaven to dwell among us and proclaim the Good News of salvation, to take the weight of our sin upon Himself, and to establish the never-ending Kingdom of Righteousness that leads all sincere believers to that inner "peace of God, which passeth all understanding . . ." (Philippians 4:7). We pray unceasingly that that peace spread among all men and women, and for the day when this world is finally and fully transformed into the quiet and beautiful Garden that our Lord always meant it to be.

May the Peace of Christ be with you and your loved ones this Christmas and every day of your life!

 Tom Fleming

Songs of Praises

My home...MY FAMILY

              Never spoken so much about the protection of the environment as in our days. A global race to preserve and restore the planet Earth. An immeasurable sum of finance being onslaught by international governments, propagated by the media, which amounts to win millions in favor of care we have at the planet. Without doubt, an effort to this end will be always worthy and honorable, but what makes me wonder is how much it invests in families of this planet Earth, because while we talk of restoration and conservation of this planet which is our home, on the other hand, are through our media who denigrate and promote the destruction of the family bosom.
              Every day, in overwhelming proportions, the family is attacked with programs called entertainment and even classified as educational, with all sorts of information and encouragement to family disintegration. Moreover, the case is so aggravating that the content of almost all the comedies is filled with total disregard to all age groups. Not to mention that innuendo to immorality and disrespect for parents and the authorities are the main focus. Encouraging promiscuity, illicit sex, prostitution and adultery, have become synonymous with "modernity and normality".
-Inequality is alarming, kept Lakes, rivers and seas and destroy-if the sources of life, from our hearts;

-Proclaims the defence laws politically correct, and they promote the disintegration of the Constitution of the family "Man and wife";

-Protects the right of children and adolescents and withdraws the right of parents to discipline them when they rebelled;

            In defense of the planet's nature are prohibiting certain severe laws to those who are chemically polluting and contaminating air, water, or land. And frees himself and institualiza sure laws that support the inject of lethal weapons that destroy morality, justice and the honour of humanity.
-The traitor is regarded as "Hero";
-The corrupt is called "Smart";
-The adulterer is admired as a "real man";
-The illicit riches that accumulates is respected as "Entrepreneur";
-The interest exacerbated unfair collector and is regarded as "Investor";
-The man that opposes the authorities is acclaimed "modern";
-The man of promiscuous life is admired as "Heartthrob and Conqueror Envied";
-The rebel son is protected and called "innovative", the order is:" don't stop him, he's got talent ";
-The undisciplined is seen as "creative".
                Moreover, before the list continue, I want you to say that I don't digression from the main theme of this writing: the family. However, this is exactly what I would like to proclaim you, planet Earth: let us return to the true foundations of love, peace, respect, unity, harmony and character, otherwise, that serves the planet without the family.

Blessings,
MaryGondim
www.verdadecongelada.blogspot.com

              

NOT ABOUT US…

It has never been about us… from the beginning till now and ever after.
We are not our own idea. Let us check it again, did we decide to be born when we were born, how we were born, where we were born and to whom we were born? Better still, who said it was even our parent’s idea?
If it is our parent’s idea, some of us won’t even make it here- contraceptives would have killed us, we would have dried up in used condoms…, and I live the rest to your imagination. Furthermore, if child birth were the works of man, then there won’t be couples desiring a child but without one…
So if it was not our idea to be here when we came, how we came, through whom we came and where we arrived at, who said, then, we can live our lives by our idea?
These questions, if we sincerely ask ourselves and answer them (sincerely too), our lives would have more meaning, our decision making simpler, our objectives clearer and our values stronger.
Can we imagine our car saying it made itself, came to our house by itself and would run in a way that it chooses? Say for example, it now determines that it would move on specific days of the week, the ignition would now become the brake, and would rather drive itself than we driving it (we won’t control it or set parameters for it)? How do we see this scenario and what is our feeling about it?
But is this not how we live?
The Bible said
So God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female,” Genesis 1:27 (GNB)
“Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I consecrated you, and I ordained you a prophet to the nations”. Jeremiah 1:5 (NKJV)
These two scriptures, among many others clearly stated our origin, and simple wisdom requires that if we are not our idea, we should seek and live by the idea of our originator over every details of our short life over here…

We should know that
“…the way of man does not belong to man; it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.” Jeremiah 10:23 (NKJV)
Guys, it is not about us. It is about our maker and owner. Just as our cars, phones, computers, spoons, plates, houses etc must not live independently from us, so we cannot live independently from our maker. So we do not become like a generation spoken of in Romans 1:21-32.
I wish you Peace.
Tunde.

Looking in the Right Place

I once heard a funny story about a woman who came home to find her husband on his hands and knees in the living room.

The woman asked her husband what he was doing.

He replied that he was looking for his contact lens which he lost in the basement.

The woman asked her husband why he was looking for it in the living room.

The husband replied, "Because the light is better."

I thought of that story as the Christmas season continues.

As Christmas Day draws ever nearer, people will be searching for its meaning.

Just like the husband in the story, many will know what they are looking for, but they will simply be looking in the wrong place.

People will scurry about busying themselves with a great many things.

They will plan elaborate celebrations.

They will join the throngs of people shopping for presents.

They will spend hours, perhaps even days decorating their homes.

They will spend time writing Christmas cards.

They will find numerous other ways of occupying what is left of their time.

Please don’t get me wrong. There is nothing inherently wrong with these and other similar activities.

In fact, I will participate in my share of them.

The true meaning of Christmas can be found if only we choose to look in the right place.

Christmas is not about the things we do.

Christmas is about how God, the creator, reached down to us, the created.

It is about how He did this through Jesus Christ.

Luke 2:10-11 (KJV) - And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy , which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

The true meaning of Christmas can be found.

We must make sure we are looking in the right place.

Only then will we be truly able to share its true meaning with others.



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

The true Christian life is to bear fruit

"I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in Me that bears no fruit, He taketh away: and every branch that bears fruit, clean it bear more fruit. "John 15:1,2This beautiful text spoken by Jesus brings us a big boost to our spiritual growth.Just as plants need water and a fertile soil to germinate and we do need food to survive, our spiritual life needs to be fed every day so that it can bear fruit ...."But what was sown on good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, this fruit, and produces a 100.60 and 30" Mt 13:23You get to see our community as Lord, give full attention to what He tells us, obeying all His commandments. He delights to reveal themselves and share His heart with their children, as it is written .. "ask and be unto you, seek and ye shall find, knock, and open up to you all that á.Pois asks receives, he who seeks finds, and he who knocks, the door to him will "and Matthew 7:7-8 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? James 4:5We have to constantly clean our hearts and preserve it unspotted from the world and carnal desires, as we see in the Word in Proverbs 4:23 "Above all else is, guard your heart, because it is the wellspring of lifeProverbs 4:23 and Galatians 5:16,17 I say then, Walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other, so do not do what you want. He to whom more food (meat or spirit), will stand out more.We must at all times, be connected with Jesus, bringing light to our lives and establishing our concepts based on this truth that we may be witnesses in this world as it is written in John 3:21 "But he that doeth truth cometh to the light , so that his deeds may be manifest, that they are wrought in God. John 3:21-22Another verse that shows the paramount importance of our dependence on God is recorded in John 15:5 "I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that is in me, and I in him, bears much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. "I wish that our hearts are flooded this Truth, and child nodes as children of God, we may be influencers in this world.

Acceptable Sacrifices

On my bus ride to work one day recently, I overheard a lady in the seat behind me telling a friend about how large a part of her life is devoted to church work: how much time she spends as the church's music director and as a member of several committees, how much money she spends on church projects and charities--and how much more valuable she is to her church than its lazy, clueless pastor!  I lamented in my heart that one who obviously thought of herself as an exemplary Christian could be so lacking in love and humility, and remembered Christ's parable of the Pharisee and the Publican (Luke 18:9-14). I silently prayed that the Holy Spirit would move her to see how wrong her attitude was (Psalm 15:3; 2 Corinthians 12:20), and what a more abundant life--for her and her church--awaited a true change of heart.

In this Christmas season of special services and boisterous activity in churches and among their members, it may be well to remember that the Lord is not pleased with "vain oblations" (Isaiah 1:13), with the fasts and tithes of one a Pharisee in heart (Luke 18:12), or with the "many prayers" of those whose "hands are full of blood" (Isaiah 1:15).  "For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."  (Hosea 6:6)  Our meetings, prayers, hymns, fasts, feasts, and even almsgiving are acceptable to God only when done in a spirit of genuine humility and of love for Him and for our fellow men. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." (Psalms 51:17)  What the Lord really wants is for us "to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with [Him]." (Micah 6:8)  The acceptable sacrifice is to make ourselves clean; "cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow." Our commemorations and celebrations will have true meaning only when our hearts are like the Publican's, and--like the child Jesus and his earthly parents--we live our daily lives in simple faith, reverence, and love toward others.


Tom Fleming
Songs of Praises

Be STRONG

      Hello again! You may remember me... I am a Christian woman in love with Jesus, and this week was reading the bilble where it says "Young you are strong, and the word of God is within you, and have overcome the wicked". That word touched my heart. 4 years ago, i made the best choice of my life: FOLLOW CHRIST! I decided to turn my weaknesses into the hands of HIM that everything can and trust your great fidelity. And this has been very good!

     But the word sees young people as an easy target for all sorts of influences, because personalities and concepts are still in process of completion. Thus, excessive amounts of information are deposited in our minds and all around us pushing us to take a quick decision. Which way to go? If we are shy or actives? loving ou angry? Believers or secular?


     Our family demands results, our friends require FREEDOM, while  we just want an identity. And in the midst of whirlwind of words and opinions, is that the word of I John caught my attention, it shows that the Lord give us our strenght to overcome all that. Shows that there not need to prove anything to anyone and that if we remain in HIM, we will win every step of our life.

     But at this stage called: ADOLESCENCE, there is a big fight against our own wills and this puts us in a position to war every day, where often our greatest enemies are our eyes, they see things unnecessary and outrageous. On the other hand the can be our greatest allies, as the Word says that is our eyes are good, our whole body also will be.


    King Solomon said in the book os Ecclesiastes that if we walk according to the joy of our heart and the sight of our eyes, we must being aware that we will be charged for all our actions before the Lord. The Word is clear, in not to frighten us, just to warn us! WE ARE HAPPY because we have Jesus in our life, because it works in our favor, and not just because we have the strenght or our arms. 




Blessings, 
MaryGondim


www.verdadecongelada.blogspot.com

Overcoming our enemies

In our lives, every day, rising giants who want us to stop, give up. There are situations, circumstances, pressures of day-to-day that frighten us, we often take "the ground", which indirectly try to say that we will not succeed, we are losers, defeated.
But beside all this, we know we have a faithful and powerful God who is always willing to extend His hand to us and help us. We only need to be alert, vigilant to the tricks that Satan throws at us, standing firm on the Word, praying at all times, in the full armor of God as we see in Ephesians 6:11-18
A good suggestion to overcome our enemies, what it often tries to get away from the presence of God, and follow the guidelines given by King David in Psalm 18:37-38
"I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither I turn again till they were consumed.
I crossed them so that they could not rise; fallen under my feet. "
Psalms 18:37-38
First we must recognize that our enemy is, what is the area that often must contend. The good soldier is one who recognizes his enemy, know how it attacks, you know their strategies, tactics.
Having recognized our enemy will come against him, not by force of your arm, for what we can do but go with the strength of our God is the One who empowers, anoints us. We know that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, then our battle must always be based on the word, and not on feelings, thoughts, the will of our flesh. "It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect."
Psalms 18:32
Do not give up fighting until we know what he's really bruised, totally annihilated, can not rise up against us. It takes courage, resignation and accuracy. We can not play with it, or many pretend that it does not exist.
What often happens in our lives is that we get tired of fighting, because every fight actually takes effort, dedication, willingness and if we do not see immediate victory, gave up. But we must understand that God has His time for all things and that we reap the fruit of our actions but fading "because the time we shall reap if we faint not." Galatians 6:9
And learn to trust and rest in God, for God's acting in discerning, and always knowing that God is the only one who can give us victory over any difficulty, struggle situation. Every time we fight under the hand of God, we are not overwhelmed and conquered, but every time we fight with our own effort, carry a heavy yoke, and do not reach a full victory. TRUST IN GOD!
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD.
He shall be like a tree planted by the waters, that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and does not fear when heat comes, but her leaf shall be green, and in years of drought, he toils not, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8

Thank God

Psalm 9:1 (NET) - I will thank the LORD with all my heart! I will tell about all your amazing deeds!

Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day where I live. It has become a day set aside as a reminder that we are to give thanks.

Although I am happy to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, I find it just a little ironic as its original purpose has diminished from the original intent.

True, we are to be thankful but it goes beyond just being grateful.

Anyone, even someone who does not believe in God can be thankful for what he has.

Days of Thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states for a long time.

Thanksgiving Day was established as a national holiday where I live by President Abraham Lincoln (one of our most beloved leaders) in 1863 when my country was in the middle of the Civil War.

This day was set aside not merely as a day to be thankful but to be thankful to God.

"The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God," ~ Abraham Lincoln

Even though the nation was torn apart by the Civil War, Lincoln established a national holiday in which we were to give thanks to God.

As the years have gone by, other elements have crept into this day and may have even taken it over.

For some, the day is about planning an elaborate meal or parades or sports.

To some, It has even become the official beginning of the Christmas season.

I will admit that I was fortunate enough to share a nice meal with wonderful family members.

I will also admit that we watched some sports on television as well.

Yet we also recognized why the day was established and we gave thanks to God for all He has done and continues to do for us.

We have many reasons to be grateful to God.

Yet one reason far outshines the others.

God loved us so much that He sent his one and only Son to pay the price we could not pay.

John 3:16-17 (NET) - For this is the way God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him.

Now, Thanksgiving Day is over.

But is it ever REALLY over.

Should we not be thankful to God every day of our lives.

The Psalm I opened with says that I should thank the LORD with all my heart.

That means I should be thankful to Him every day including today.

Allow me to begin today by thanking Him for you.


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

Thanks and Giving

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” ~ Psalm 100:4, 5

It's Thanksgiving Day in the United States, so much is being said and written here about thankfulness.  Many people make and share lists of things that they're thankful for--employment, home, health, family, and friends being prominent. But for those more wanting in these and other of life's benefits, feeling of thankfulness may be harder to summon. When times are hard, we can be overcome with disappointment, grief, bitterness, or envy of those whom we think are more abundantly blessed. We think: if there is a loving God, why did He leave me with so little of those good things, or, why did He take them away?

As one who might be counted among those more abundantly blessed, it would be too easy for me to respond with thoughts like: God never promised us a rose garden; it rains alike on the just and the unjust; even, we should be thankful for whatever we have, as little as it might be. These things are true, and we should remember them when our own road in life becomes rocky. But toward others on that rocky road now, we need to offer more than pious platitudes.

I need to do more to help those less fortunate than I--much more, and soon, as we don't know the day or the hour when our Savior will return (or we'll return to Him) to "close the books," as it were, on our well-doing. I need to go looking for my needy brethren, not wait until they knock on my door. I must, if necessary, go down into the gutters of life with them and get my hands "dirty" in their service--not just donate a few dollars now and then to a charity. Can I be that selfless? Do I have that kind of courage?

We should remember that "thanksgiving" actually consists of two words, "thanks" and "giving."  The Lord is pleased whenever we thank Him for the things He has blessed us with. But, whether our means are great or small, the very best expression of our thankfulness is to joyfully share our blessings with all others we encounter in life--to try to do for them, in a great way or small, what God has done for us. If it is truly in giving that we receive, then every person, comfortable or poor, can have the "richest" of lives.

Tom Fleming
Songs of Praises

THE LORD’S DELIGHT

What do you think the Lord delight in?

Difficult question? Maybe or maybe not… But let us really give it a thought.

If we believe that we are God’s image and are in His likeness, then He must have things that melt His heart. After all, we do have such things.

Talking about me, certain things melt my heart. The sight of my two lovely nieces always get me, no matter the mood I am in; A satisfied look on the face of someone I just rendered service to; and so on.

What about you? You probably have a much more interesting list compared to mine, and it is probably longer and more diverse… But the question is not about us but God. What does He delight in?

My devotion took me to Psalms where I saw an interesting verse- Psalm 147:11

          

      “… the Lord’s delight is in those who fear Him, those who put their hope in His unfailing love”.(NLT)

This stopped me for a long time and I had to look again. This is because it would have been more conventional if God’s delight is in those very righteous, very prayerful, strong Christians, exploit-making ministers, those who fast 24/7 and the likes. Not that Christian exhibiting the above are bad but I was surprised the scripture made no mention of these in the Lord’s delight-after all, these are the statistics we use to determine a “Good Christian”.

However, God’s delight is in those who fear Him and those who put their hope in His unfailing love. Put in a simpler English (my English) “God delights in those who live in reverence of Him, those who depend on Him”.

The Contemporary English version (CEV) says “the lord is pleased only with those who worship Him and trust His love”

The Good News Bible (GNB) says” but He takes pleasure in those who honour Him, those who trust in His constant love”.

So, it means that He (God) values greatly any man that considers Him in the actions he takes- to worship Him and Honor Him-a heart that live in perpetual dependence on Him.

Whether, he is strong or weak, rich or poor, in the open or secret… a heart that sees its inadequacies and cling to God perpetually.

A heart that though can live independently of God, but choose to pursue God (His will and desires), A heart that desperately seek God... He, God, cannot resist this… it gives Him great pleasure.

Tunde.