Tuesday, August 30, 2005

God Will Go With You

God Will Go With You

Do you sometimes feel so all alone,
And wish someone would call you on the phone?
Are there days when you wonder why you are here
And why your heart's so full of fear?

Do you think no one else has felt that way
And that all the others are having a great day?
What you're thinking may be true,
But chances are, others are feeling just like you.

Ask God to undertake for you,
To show you what He'd have you do.
There may be someone you should touch,
Someone who needs you very much.

God has a reason for you being here
And He can overcome your fear.
Go to Him, boldly, in Christ's name.
He'll take away your guilt and shame.

He'll lead you into the bright sunshine
And show to you His will divine.
Just follow Him with what you know.
He'll teach you more and with you go.

You can know He's with you every day,
Leading and guiding you along life's way;
Giving you peace and joy within,
Forgiving and cleansing you from your sin.

So, don't give up and don't despair.
God will go with you everywhere.
Christ understands the way you feel.
His fellowship and love are real.

Written by Bob Hefner

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Make two good decisions today!

Two short articles about developing a praying habit to access God's good influences, and living by God's Word and Spirit to stop society's bad influences from getting to us. We live each day at a time. That's the way God has instituted. Each day we make our decisions that will impact not just us today, but also impact others that we come in contact with and what will become of our future, here in this life and more so, in our life to come. So, make good decisions today. God is watching, even if you think others may not. Be careful. Be watchful. Be alert. Be good. God bless.

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Make Prayer A Habit

ROMANS 12:12 NRSV

12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.

Prayer is a habit that, like every other good habit, must be developed. You know you need to pray. You need God's help, His wisdom and His guidance. But you must persevere in prayer. The activities of life try to keep you from praying. So persevere!

LUKE 21:36 BBE

36 But keep watch at all times with prayer, that you may be strong enough to come through all these things and take your place before the Son of man.

In communing with God, you gain strength that comes in no other way. You find the wisdom and courage to face life and overcome.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:17-18 ICB

17 Never stop praying.
18 Give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus.

Learn to always include God in your thoughts. Ask Him about everything. Cultivate your relationship by continual communication. And one of the most important things for you to communicate to God is your gratitude. Thank God for everything.

Don't relegate prayer to just when you're on your knees. As you go about your activities, include God by constant communion with Him. Talk to God about everything!

SAY THIS: Lord, help me to develop the habit of continual communication with you.
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Don't Let It Get To You

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
(Romans 12:2)

First, the bad news. Our society can have a terrible influence on us and our children. The entertainment media, for example, offer various forms of sinful behavior for our listening and viewing "pleasure." One music TV channel, for instance, was characterized in World magazine by film critic Michael Medved like this: "There is absolutely no excuse for MTV to be present in the home. It is 100-percent negative."

And now for the good news. None of society's negative influences have to bother you. They will affect you and your family only if you let them. They can infiltrate the minds of you and your children only if you refuse to use the discernment, power, and instruction God has provided to everyone who is redeemed by faith in His Son Jesus Christ (Eph. 4:20-24).

In other words, our problem is not so much the evil in society as it is our lack of discernment and self-control.
We should find great comfort in knowing that the Lord has given us the resources to live above society's level of degradation. We can be in the world but not of it (Jn. 17:14-17). If we're living in the power of the Holy Spirit under the guidance of the Word of God, society's bad influences can't get to us.

To live in the world but not of it
Is the path that we should take;
For to be in the world and live like it
Brings nothing but sad heartache.
--JDB

Let's yield to the spirit, and we won't be conformed to the world.
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Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Better To FORGIVE; it's BEST for us.

Good day and thank you for visiting my blog. Last sunday, I was teaching my equipping class in church about the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:21-35), and now I came across this (see article below) about forgiveness. I decided to blog this and also share with you what I shared with my equipping class about FORGIVENESS.

Practising forgiveness in real life situations is very different from justing talking about it. We all know how much it cost God to forgive our sins, at least we all say we do know. We all also know how Jesus taught us to pray (Matt 6:12): Forgive us our sins/trepasses as we forgive those who sins/trepass against us. Jesus wanted us to know that while everything had been done to secure our forgiveness before God, yet there is someone that can neutralise all that; that someone is YOU! Jesus taught that if we would not forgive someone their sin against us, neither will our Father in heaven forgive us our sins (Matt 6:14,15). Our forgiveness before God is conditional on whether and how we forgive others. So, stop now and search your heart. How ever hard it is to forgive that someone that has wronged you so badly and wounded you so deeply, look at Jesus and look again at yourself, would you forgive that someone? It's not a question of "can you" but a question of "would you". Are you willing? Will you obey?

You see, our Father in heaven, is always merciful and forgiving. We are His children, so we ought to be like him, practicing being merciful and forgiving. For sure, the person whom you need to forgive don't deserve your forgiveness, at least from your perspective. But God has forgiven him in Christ; would you not forgive?
To learn forgiveness is to learn victory over the devil's schemes. The apostle Paul wrote about this in 2 Cor 2:11. So, don't let the devil have a foothold in you ( Eph 4:26,27,32). Be angry but don't sin; don't let the sun go down with you still angry. Forgive just as you have been forgiven.

In fact, it is really for our own good that we forgive. For not to forgive, the Bible says in Hebrews 12:14,15, we would allow a root of bitterness to grow inside us, and that bitterness will ruin our life, robbing us of all peace and happiness, denying us of God's blessings and favour. That unforgiveness will be like poison, taking away our life; it will be like cancer, quietly eating away what we need to live on. So, best to get rid of all bitterness, all unforgiveness. Be forgiving, just like your Father in heaven.

In Psalms 86:5, it says God is good, ready to forgive, and rich in mercy to all who call on Him. As God's beloved children, we must stand ready to forgive, just as God is. When we meet God face to face to receive his commendation on what we do in this life, will He say to us "You are my good and faithful servant"? God is good. Will you be good like Him? Please do. God bless.

NOTE: Peter asked Jesus how often should one forgive; is 7 times enough? Just before this, Jesus was teaching his disciples how they ought to handle a person who was sinning/offending, giving Peter perhaps the impression that 3 times was what Jesus had in mind. So, his offer to forgive 7 times since quite generous already. But Jesus told him not 7, but 70 times 7. Did Jesus meant literally 70X7=490 ? Most likely not, as Jesus went on to tell the parable of the unmerciful servant, and then ending with this: that we must forgive our offending brother from the heart. In this parable, the chinese text had the debt owed by the unmerciful servant as "yi qian wan" meaning a thousand times ten thousands; which is 10 million. While the other person who owed that unmerciful servant only 10. Out of interest, if we were to just compare that indeed our sins before God is like 10 million, and the sins others may offend us with is like 10, then actually we need to forgive a million times before our forgiveness of others can equal that of what God has forgiven us. Assuming a person live for about 80 years, 80x365=29200. A million divide by 29200 days would mean more than 34. I think you get the point, right?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Kathaleen Swank

To: Its_all_about_JESUS@yahoogroups.com

Subject: bible study............FORGIVENESS

ACTION STEPS I CAN TAKE TODAY

In this chapter we have examined two key truths: (1) Jesus instructs us
to forgive those who have offended us; (2) He also instructs us to seek
others' forgiveness when we sin against them. Completing the action steps
that i will put below will help us make these truths a part of our lives and
moves us closer to our Lord and one another.
According to Matthew 5:23,24, forgiveness is the first step in
restoring a relationship.
You are encouraged to prayerfully follow the prodigal son's example.
In his case, forgiveness was granted immediately, but this is not always so.
Sometimes feelings are too raw or the other person may be defensive or
unresponsive. The important thing, however, is to follow Christ's command.
No matter how difficult or what the immediate result will be, to do anything
less than obey will result in a hardening heart.
On the contrary, Samuel, the prophet, tells us that "to obey is better
than sacrafice" (1 Samuel 15:22), and David wrote, "a broken heart, O God,
you will not despise" (Psalm 51:17). Obedience and humility are great heart
softeners.
Two words from 1Peter 3:8 (NKJV) whisper through my mind: "Be tender
hearted".
WHY FORGIVENESS IS HARD
"Forgiveness is......" I wrote those words on a peice of paper and i
am a inviting you to do the same and i am asking them to complete the
sentence.
I hesitated before i wrote anything and stated "It has to do with
others,". but that doesn't really say anything does it?
Steve ( a friend) scowled. He picked up a pen, then, without writing
anything, put it back down. Have you ever felt like this? Forgiveness is
hard.
Do i have your attention now? I know you people know about hurting,
bitterness and anger that comes from being mistreated by others. You know
how hard it is to forgive when peers, teachers, and parents say and do
things that gnaw wounds in your hearts.
You also know that you don't always do what is right either. You make
mistakes and say the wrong things, struggle with rebellion, self-pity and
resentment.

Sunday, August 14, 2005

Daily Scripture Promise=EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

Hi...Thanks for visiting my blog again! I came across the below construction, which I thought may be helpful to you sometime, so I blog it for your use and consideration. God bless.

Daily Scripture Promise
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS


When in sorrow, ......................................... call John 14
When people fail you, ..................................... call Psalm 27
If you want to be fruitful, ............................. call John 15
When you have sinned, .................................. call Psalm 51
When you worry, ................................. call Matthew 6:19-34
When you are in danger, ................................ call Psalm 91
When God seems far away, .............................. call Psalm 139
When your faith needs stirring, ...................... call Hebrews 11
When you are lonely and fearful, ....................... call Psalm 23
When you grow bitter and critical, ............. call I Corinthians 13
For Paul's secret t o happiness, .............. call Colossians 3:12-17
For understanding of Christianity, ....... call II Corinthians 5:15-19
When you feel down and out, ......................... call Romans 8:31
When you want peace and rest, .................. call Matthew 11:25-30
When the world seems bigger than God, .................. call Psalm 90
When you want Christian assurance, ................ call Romans 8:1-30
When you leave home for labor or travel, .............. call Psalm 121
When your prayers grow narrow or selfish, .............. call Psalm 67
For a great invention/opportunity, .................... call Isaiah 55
When you want courage for a task, ...................... call Joshua 1
For how to get along with fellow men, ................. call Romans 12
When you think of investments and returns, .............. call Mark 10
If you are depressed, .................................. call Psalm 27
If your pocketbook is empty, ................... ........ call Psalm 37
If you are losing confidence i! n people , ........ call I Corinthians 13
If people seem unkind, .................................. call John 15
If discouraged about your work, ....................... call Psalm 126
If you find the world growing small and yourself great,..call Psalm 19


Alternate numbers:
For dealing with fear, ............................... call Psalm 34:7
For security, ....................................... call Psalm 121:3
For assurance, ........................................ call Mark 8:35
For reassurance, ................................... call Psalm 145:18


Emergency numbers may be dialed direct. No operator assistance is necessary.
All lines are open to Heaven 24 hours a day!


-- Author Unknown

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR?

WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR?

A lawyer wanted to know how to secure eternal life. Jesus referred him tothe Scriptures and asked the lawyer what the Scriptures said and what he understood from the Scriptures. The lawyer answered correctly, by identifying that the way to secure eternal life is to love God your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as oneself. Then the lawyer wanted to justify himself and so asked Jesus who was his neighbour. The lawyer knew there is only one God, coming from a Jewish background. So, no question about who God is. But who was his neighbour? There are so many people out there - whom among them would be considered our neighbour? If we can just limit it in some way, it would be more practical, won't it? Our resources are finite and the needs out there are practically limitless. Jesus' reply in the parable of the Good Samaritan is most instructive. I would like to share some perspective.

First, I think Jesus did not answer the lawyer's question. And I think this is probably deliberate. By telling this parable, Jesus is teaching us this: Who is our neighbour is not as important as who needs a neighbour out there. Our focus should not be on justifying ourselves ( as the record said the lawyer was attempting to do), but on meeting the needs of people out there. At the ending of the parable, Jesus told the lawyer to GO and do likewise. I understand from this that Jesus' key point to the lawyer was don't wait and sit around waiting for people to come to us, or worse still, waiting and debating the finer points of scriptures while hurting people are out there needing our help, needing us to be a neighbour to them.

Then, I recalled what Jesus revealed in Matthew 25 about a future judgement, the separation between the good and the evil, the sheep from the goats. Jesus revealed that on that day, the separation/the judgement will be based on the deeds we do now while we have the opportunity. We all have such opportunities everyday. It depends on what we choose to see and what we choose to do. Jesus revealed in Matthew 25 about doing good to even the least among us is what counts on that judgement day. Do you see the needy in your midst? Those who hunger, those who thirst, those who are lacking in this and the other? Do you remember those who are put away , out of sight, before of their faith and service to God? In those days, it meant in prison; in some places today, that is still the case. But, we don't need to look so far; how about those who labour in our midst for the Lord? In some ways, they too are in "prison", needing someone to come alongside, to encourage them to press on and not to lose faith.

Have we really understood the parable of the Good Samaritan? Are we doing what Jesus told the lawyer to do? To GO and be a neighbour to someone today. Everyday, you and I have this same opportunity to GO and be a good neighbour. Don't ask who is my neighbour. Rather, GO and BE the neighbour that someone needs.

May God bless you as you GO.