11/24/2010
11/02/2010
10/07/2010
TODAY'S VERSE
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Addiction has been defined as "God-hunger directed to the wrong source of soul satisfaction." Psalm 63 reminds us this is true. Deep in us is a desire to seek after God because he is not far from us and longs to be known by us (see Acts 17). But often when our soul craving need for God is greatest, he is the last place we turn for satisfaction. Let's earnestly seek after him and slake our soul thirstiness in him.My Prayer...
Holy Father, fill my heart with longing for you and my head with understanding that it is your presence I crave. I confess that I have often sought relief for my hunger in things that do not satisfy. I pledge today to recognize all other sources of satisfaction to be temporary and false. I promise to pursue you and your will through your word and your Spirit till I rest in your presence and grace. In the powerful name of Jesus my Lord, I pray. Amen.
9/29/2010
TODAY'S VERSE
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Truth is seen in what it does and whom it seeks. Let's live as children of light and seek after the Father who dwells in indescribably glorious light so we might be the light of the world.My Prayer...
Father of every heavenly light, I ask you to correct me gently as I place myself, my imperfections, failures and sins in your presence. Forgive and cleanse me by the blood of Jesus so that I might be spotless and holy and blameless in your sight. O Lord, I don't just want to be forgiven; I want to be useful to you and your church. Please help me find my way to usefulness. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
9/27/2010
Today's Verse
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Seek -- pursue relentlessly -- God's Lordship over your life and the righteousness that he demands in your daily life. The other stuff you pursue is all temporary. Only God and his Kingdom remain. In the process of pursuing God's kingdom and his righteousness, you will find that the God who gives you his Kingdom and righteousness, also will bless you with the things in this life that you need.My Prayer...
Holy Lord, only in you do I find what satisfies my soul's desires. The things that have captured my eye are boring after only a short while. The artificial things I have pursued, all of my addictive pursuits, have left me empty and enslaved. I find hope and help only in you. Please be near to love, correct, discipline, lead, and mold me to your glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
9/26/2010
VERSE OF THE DAY..
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
God hates injustice, unfairness, brutality and abuse. In a world where the greedy, the murdering, the thieving, the raping, the mugging ... get away with their shameless and despicable behavior, God is the ultimate assurance that justice will be done and the wicked will not triumph. While those who love and serve Jesus anticipate his return with joyous expectation, those who are evil and vile will find out what a dreadful thing it is to fall into God's hands.My Prayer...
Holy and Righteous God, my Heavenly Father, I am both uncomfortable and comforted to know that you will bring justice to those who have violently abused the innocent, weak, helpless, underprivileged, and infirmed. I hate to see anyone lost. However, I also hate when evil people harm those who are good and kind and godly. Give me the courage to stand between the evil of my world and those on whom it preys. Because of his grace and victory over sin and death, I pray in the holy name of Jesus. Amen.
8/28/2010
8/15/2010
8/14/2010
7/14/2010
GIVE...
Give something of yourself. Don't be afraid to give. The secret of receiving is in giving. WHY? Yung open lang ang nakakapagbigay, yung open lang ang nakakatanggap. Pag yung kamay nyo nakasara dahil may konting blessing kayong hawak at ayaw nyong buksan dahil ayaw nyong lumabas yung blessing na yon, wala na makakapasok na extra blessings diyan dahil saradong-sarado. Hindi nga lumalabas pero wala din makapasok dahil nakasara. Ang cycle ng blessing ay may lalabas at papasok. That is what life is all about. Marami ang nasasayang kung hindi ka nagbibigay. What happen is you also deny yourself the opportunity to receive. At ganyan ang nangyayari sa mga taong madamot...sad di ba?...
7/10/2010
SURVIVE =)
I will survive because GOD made me, i am fearfully & wonderfully made. WHY? Because GOD created me in HIs own image...I will survive because GOD strengthens me, GOD guides me, GOD protects me, GOD goes with me, we will survive because GOD goes with us.Wala naman tayong pwedeng puntahan na wala dun ang dyos diba?, there is no height, depth, width, or breadth we can travel to that GOD cannot go as well. I will survive because GoD loves me, GOD loves us, I will survive because GOD prepared a future for me on earth, He has a plan for me, at dadalhin nya ako sa future na yon!!!!
JEREMIAH 29:11 "for I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
6/29/2010
How to Find Happiness in Life
Everyone has their own journey for finding happiness in life. The following steps will be helpful for anyone who wants to increase their happiness. Of course, the path will be different for each person.
Step 1. Recognize your choices. Everything you do in life is a choice. It may not always seem that way, but it's true. Some choices have consequences so severe that it doesn't seem like a choice at all, but there's always (with very few exceptions) a choice. Through the choices you make, you are in control of your life. You can continually make choices that lead to your happiness.
Step 2. Happy people self-validate instead of relying on other people to validate them. You can validate yourself by setting standards for yourself. Then regularly ask yourself, as honestly as you can, if you met the standards you set. Relying on other people to validate you is a barrier to happiness in life.
Step 3. Invest yourself in doing what makes you happy. Don't let any mental barriers get in your way. If you don't know what makes you happy, do what you are good at. People are more likely to be happy if they are doing what they are naturally good at doing.
..hayyyyzzzzz..
bakit nga kaya ganun.?.bakit may mga taong ayaw kang mawala sa kanila pero di ka naman kayang alagaan ng taMA..?..nakakalungkot..sayang yung chances na maging happy ending kayo..sayang yung panahon na magkasama kayo at sa huli hindi rin pala kayo ang magkakatuluyan...:(..pero ganun talaga ata ang buhay kailangan mo muna dumaan sa mga ibat-ibang klase ng problema bago mo makuha kung ano ang gusto mo...sabagay wala naman ibinibigay na problema ang diyos na hindi kayang lampasan ng tao eh....ano nga ba ang makakapag pasaya sa tao.?..ang hirap sagutin noH..ang tao kasi minsan hindi rin marunong makontento...ano ba ang masarap gawin sa buhay.?. para sa akin ang mag mahal ang pinakamasarap gawin sa buhay, ang mahirap lang eh yung pumili ng taong mamahalin...hindi mo kc kaagad malalaman kung karapt-dapat xang mahalin eh..madaya kasi aminsan ang puso..lalo na pag kumalaban sa kanya ay ang utak!..whoaaaa..sakit sa uLo....geh hanggang dito na lang muna..wla na ako maisip eh..bka maiyak pa ako..salamat sa lahat ng mkakabasa nito & godbless us!..ilove u all.!
6/27/2010
6/22/2010
WHAT IS JEJEMON?
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF JEJE PEOPLE?
A sign that you are dealing with a JEJE person is that he or she uses low brow terms, cuss words, make senseless posts that you can barely read.
This is because
1. They can not express themselves in the English language like any normal person.
2. They insist on making themselves look dumber.
3. Their names also often begun with "El" then followed with a random spanish or portuguese sounding word.
4. They put too many letters and symbols in every word they say even in their NAMES or ALIASES.
source : http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=jeje
Levels of JEJEMONISM:
Mild - eow pU..MxTa pu? jejeje
Moderate- eOw pfOw,, Na M1Sz pfOu qTah! mWahXz!
Severe - 3Ow pfU!,..aN3U pfOW gW4 n3O? tX tX nUa lHarN sZa mEna GziNg pFa!
TERMINAL JEJENISM - ``3Ow pf0U m3N4 p!p0L! nUa M1Xz k0 pF0u K30 nU4n z0bR4! wUaCk k30nG M3k A4Ng4Sz sXa b0SzX nu4 tuLad kW0 ``
an active and malignant disease that cannot be cured or adequately treated and that is reasonably expected to result in the death of the jejemon." - By Dummysaurus Rex
♥♥♥-------------♥♥♥---------------♥♥♥
♥ SURIIN ANG SARILI: baka nahawa na kayo ng mga sintomas ng JEJENISM ♥
1. imbis na simpleng "hello" ang itype nagiging "e0w, eOwz" at maraming pang kakaibang spelling
2. mahilig mag sticky caps at pag tabihin ang mga VOWELS tulad ng "peO, nUa, pfOe, qOu,mea,dean"
totoong meaning ng ating ehemplo "pero, na, po, ako, maya, dyan"
3. mahilig mag baby talk sa txt at internet. bakit baby talk? kasi iniiba nila ang spelling ng mga simpleng salita at nagmimistulang baby talk ang mga sinasabi dahil tabi tabi na rin ang mga VOWELS.
"eow laham cuu, miss nua poe qkta, k8 nua mei ibva cua nuang laham tza buhaii moe. ica0 pfua r!n laman nuan puszo qou."
T_T SHEEEP NAMAN OH!
4. mahilig mag banta sa shout outs at mag yabang kung ano at meron kayo kahit wala
5. ginagawang letters ang mga numbers at ibang symbols
``~ m4h1r4pf t4ng4pf1n nUa m3i m4'AL qc4 nuAng 1bVa ~ ``
6. tinatanggal ang letter "H" sa ibang words tulad ng
" Ma'al na ma'al qta dahil bN1gay q0u la'at la'at se0!"
6/08/2010
5/31/2010
5/21/2010
♥♥♥
Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep... wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you' re just as pretty without makeup on. One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky he is to have YOU... The one who turns to his friends and says, thats her... "
5/19/2010
5/18/2010
5/12/2010
Romans 8:1-2 (NIV)
"There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life in Christ has set me free from the law of sin and death."
4/17/2010
3/16/2010
3/14/2010
verse of the day / march 14, 2010
"Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."— 2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV)
3/08/2010
verse of the day / march 8, 2010
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all of our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."
2/13/2010
2/11/2010
— 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NIV)
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."
2/06/2010
Indian Proverb
Everyone is a house with four rooms, a physical, a mental, an emotional and a spiritual.
Most of us tend to live in one room most of the time, but unless we go into every room, every day, even if only to keep it aired, we are not a complete person.
1/20/2010
1/19/2010
READ: Genesis 39:1-10
The Lord was with Joseph. —Genesis 39:2At the age of 16, pianist Leon Fleisher made his formal debut at Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic. He went on to win prestigious international competitions and played in the world’s finest concert halls. But at the age of 37, Fleisher was struck with dystonia, a neurological condition that crippled his right hand. After a period of despondency and withdrawal, he turned to teaching and conducting, because, as he said, he loved music more than he loved the piano.
When our dreams are shattered, how do we react? After Joseph, the favored son of Jacob, was sold as a slave by his brothers (Gen. 37:12-36), he could have given in to self-pity and self-indulgence. Instead, Joseph remained true to the Lord. Four times in Genesis 39, we read that “the Lord was with” Joseph (vv.2-3,21,23), and his actions revealed his own faithfulness to God. By his exemplary life, those he served in Egypt recognized God’s presence with him.
Do we love God more than our own dreams? Although Joseph must have grieved the loss of his past and what his life could have been, the Lord led him to a calling he had never imagined. Today, the Lord longs to lead us. Are we willing to be redirected by Him? — David C. McCasland
My cherished plans may go astray,
My hopes may fade away;
But still I’ll trust my Lord to lead,
For He doth know the way. —Overton
A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. —Proverbs 16:9
IMPOSSIBLE?
READ;Matthew 5:38-42
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You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth." But I tell you not to resist an evil person. -Matthew 5:38-39
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When Nobel Chairman Gunnar John delivered his presentation speech for Martin Luther King's 1964 Peace Prize, he quoted Jesus: "who soever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matt. 5:39). As mr. John noted: "It was not because he led a racial minority in their struggle for equality that Martin Luther King achieved fame...[His] name will endure for the way in which he was waged his struggle."
In 1955, King had led a year-long, peaceful boycott to protest segregation on buses. he paid a high price. His home has bombed, and he was assaulted and arrested. He never retaliated. Eventually he was murdered.
How contrary dr. King's peaceful example stands to my fleshly nature! I want justice now. I want retribution. I want others to pay their wrongdoings, specially when it's directed at me. What I do not want is to turn the other cheek and invite them to take another swing.
Haddon Robinson comments on the lofty standards Jesus set forth in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7), calling them "goals...not impossible ideals. [Jesus] wants His diciples to strive towards these goals to master a new kind of life."
Amid the injustices of life, may we have the courage, faith, and strenght to turn the other cheek.-Tim Gustafson
1/18/2010
WONDERFULLY MADE
READ; Psalm 139:7-16
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I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. -Psalm 139:14
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A quote in George Mac Donald's book David Elginbrod speaks to those who wonder, at times, why God has made them the way they are-and who wish they were someone else.
Lady Wmily muses: "I wish I were you, Margaret."
Margaret answers: "If I were you, my lady, I would rather be what God chosen to make me than the most glorious creature that i could think of. For to have been thought about-born in God's thought-and then made by God, is the dearest, grandest, most precious thing in all thinking."
MacDonald may have had Psalm 139:17 in mind: "How precious...are Your thoughts to me, O God!" In this psalm, David is thinking about his conception, and vividly describes God's thoughts as He wove Him together in his mother's womb, creating a unique and special individual to be the object of His love.
It's a comforting thought to know what we're not a terrible mistake, but a very special creation, "born in God's thoughts." David could stand before a mirror and say in all honestly and humility: "I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works" (v.14).
You are a designer original! As such, you are dear, grand and precious to God. -David Roper
1/17/2010
BROTHERHOOD OF THE SEA
READ; Ephisians 2:14-22
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Now, therefore, you are...fellow citizens with the saints. - Ephisians 2:19
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On August 8, 2005, the world learned of the dramatic rescue of seven Russian sailors trapped in a small sub entangled in a fishing net. The men had survived 3 cold, dark days on the bottom of the ocean and had lessthan 6hours of oxygen left. Meanwhile, up above, a frantic, unified rescue effort by Russian, Japanese, British and American personnel was underway. finally, the sub was freed. The Russian Defense Minister praise the operation, saying, "We have seen in deeds, not in words, what the brotherhood of the sea means."
The book of Ephisians talk about the unity of believers in Jesus by referring to the oneness of "the house hold of God"(2:19). The Gentiles, who were once "aliens" and "strangers" (v.12), had now been "brought near by the blood of Christ"(v.13), uniting them with their Jewish brothers & sisters. This unity is to permeate the efforts of the Christian community today.
Believers in Jesus are commissioned to undertake the most important rescue effort. People are dying without Christ. Praise God that United Mission effortd are bringing hope, salvation, education, and relief to desperate people around the world. That's what the brotherhood of Christ is all about. -Dave Egner
1/16/2010
A SIN BY ANY OTHER NAME
READ; Genesis 39:1-9
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How then can i do this great wickedness, and sin against God? -Genesis 39:9
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Joseph found himself in a difficult position one day when his master's wife attempted to seduce him. How tantalizing this woman must have been to a healthy young man! And it must have accured to joseph how fearsome her wrath would be when he spurned her advances.
Yet joseph flatly resisted her. His moral convictions stemmed from his clear view of sin and his reverence for God. He said to her, "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God.?" (Gen. 39:9)
Today, it is popular to call sinby more acceptable names. But using euphemisms for offenses against God wil only weaken our resistance and trivialize sin's harmfulness to us.
To Joseph, sin was not just "an error of judgement." Nor was it mere "slip of the tongue" or an "indiscretion" in a "moment of weakness." Joseph saw sin for what it was - a serious offense against the Lord and He did not play down the gravity of the offense.
God's moral standards are absolute. It is only when we see sin as something abhorrent to the Lord that we will be motivated to make right moral judgement.
Calling sin by a softer name will change neither its offensiveness to God nor its cost to us. -C.P. Hia
1/14/2010
ON THE WINGS
READ; Matthew 10:27-31
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Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. -Matthew 10:31
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In his book On the Wings, Alan Tennant chronicles his efforts to track the migration of the peregine falcon. Valued for their beauty, swiftness, and power, these amazing birds of prey were favorite hunting companions of emperors and nobility. Sadly, the wide use of the pesticide DDT in the 1950's interfered with their reproductive cycle and placed them on the endangered species list.
Interested in the recovery of this species, Tennant attached transmitters to a select number of falcon to track their migration patterns. But when he and his pilot flew their Cessna behind the birds, they repeatedly lost signal from the transmitters. Despite their advanced technology, they were not always able to track the birds they wanted to help.
It's good to know that the God who cares for us never loses track for us. In fact, Jesus said that not even one sparrow "falls to the ground apart from (God's) will....Do not fear therefore; you are more value than many sparrows"(Matt. 10:29-31).
When we face difficult circumstances, fear may cause us to wonder if God is aware of our situation. Jesus' teaching ussures us that God cares deeply and is in control. His tracking of our lives will never fail. -Dennis Fisher
1/13/2010
THE BIBLE'S SCHOOL OF PRAYER
READ; Habakkuk 1:1-4
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I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. -Job 7:11
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To call God and us unequal partners is a laughable understatement. And yet by inviting us to do kingdom work on earth, God has indeed set up a kind of odd-couple alliance. God delegates work to human beings so that we do history together, so to speak. Clearly, the partnership has one dominant partner-something like an alliance between Microsoft and high school progarmmer.
We know well what happens when human beings form unequal alliances: the dominant partner tends to throw his weight around the subordinate mostly keeps quiet. But God, who has no reason to be threatened by us, invites a steady and honest flow of communication.
I sometimes wonder why God places such a high value on honestly in our prayers, even to the extent of enduring unjust outbursts. I am startled to see how many biblical prayers seem ill-tempered. Jeremiah griped about unfairness (20:7-10); Habakkuk accused God of deafness (1:2); Job conceded, "What profit do we have if we pray to Him?" (21:15). The bible teaches us to pray with blistering honesty.
God want's us to come to Him with our complaints. If we march through life pretending to smile while inside we bleed, we dishonor the relationship. -Philip Yancey
1/12/2010
BEYOND HELP?
READ; Luke 23:33-43
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Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." -Luke 23:43
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A 110 year-old Israeli Bendouin shepherd was admitted to a Beersheba hospital while experiencing a heart attack. In spite of his age, doctors worked hard to save him. The man wa thought to be the oldest heart patient ever to be treated successfully with anticlotting drugs. A hospital spokeperson reported that the Bendouin returned to his tent in the Negev Desert to tend his goats.
The care given to this 110-year-old man faintly echoes the way Jesus responded to those people we consider beyond help. His ability and willingness to go beyong social barriers to help lepers and social outcasts went far beyond the normal expectations of what a good person would do.
Even in the agony of His own suffering, Jesus reached out to a dying man everyone else regarded as beyond help. The man was a criminal, condemned to die, and only hours from entering a lost eternity. In the moment, Jesus responded to the man's cry for help and said, "Today you will be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43)
Do you know someone who seems beyond help today? Perhaps you think you are without hope. The God of the bible specializes in giving help to those regarded as so old, so guilty, or so weak as to be beyond help. -Mart De Haan
1/11/2010
THAT'S AWESOME!
READ; Psalm 66
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Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men. -Psalm 55:5
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The word awesome is tossed around a lot these days. Talk about cars, movies, songs, or food-and somebody will say. "That's awesome!"
But if we call earth-side stuff awesome and then call God awesome, we deminish how truly awesome He is. A friend of mine has a rule in her house-the word awesome is reserved only for God.
Trivializing God is no trivial matter. He is far more than a companion who will fit into our "buddy system" or a divine ATM responding to our impulses. Until we are stunned by the awesomeness of God, we will be way to impressed with ourselves and lose the joy of the privilege of belonging to an awesome God.
A look athe Psalms puts it all in perspective. One psalmist declares, "For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a Great King over all the earth" (Ps. 47:2). And another psalms commands: "Say to God, 'How awesome are Your works!' ...Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in his doing towards the sons of men" (Ps. 66:3,5).
What could be more awesome than the love that compelled Jesus to go to the cross for us? Put Him in His proper place as the only One who is truly awesome, and praise God for His awesome work in your life! - Joe stowell
1/10/2010
THE OLD AND THE NEW
READ; Galatians 5:16-23
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If anyone is in christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become a new. -2 Corinthians 5:17
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Typical resolutions in January are to lose weight, excercise more, spend less time at work and more time with family - maybe stop chatting on the cell phone while driving.
It's not surprising that we want to change the things in our lives that we're unhappy about-even though most New Year's resolutions are kept for no more than 3 weeks.
Whant if wre ask to God what He wants you to change, improve, or begin this year? He might tell you to:
- Demonstrate more of the fruit of the Spirit in your life, which is "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Gal. 5:22-23)
- "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate, and pray for those who...presecute you" (Matt. 5:44)
- "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15)
- "Be content with such things as you have" (Heb. 13:5)
- "Walk according to His commandments" (2 John 1:6)
1/09/2010
THE OLD AND THE NEW
READ; Galatians 5:16-23
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If anyone is in christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become a new. -2 Corinthians 5:17
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Typical resolutions in January are to lose weight, excercise more, spend less time at work and more time with family - maybe stop chatting on the cell phone while driving.
It's not surprising that we want to change the things in our lives that we're unhappy about-even though most New Year's resolutions are kept for no more than 3 weeks.
Whant if wre ask to God what He wants you to change, improve, or begin this year? He might tell you to:
- Demonstrate more of the fruit of the Spirit in your life, which is "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Gal. 5:22-23)
- "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate, and pray for those who...presecute you" (Matt. 5:44)
- "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15)
- "Be content with such things as you have" (Heb. 13:5)
- "Walk according to His commandments" (2 John 1:6)
TO JUDGE OR NOT TO JUDGE
READ; Matthew 7:1-21
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Judge not, that you be not judged. -Matthew 7:1
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What better way to tell people to mind their own business than to quote Jesus? People who seldom read the Bible are quick to quote matthew 7:1 when they want to silence someone whose opinion they don't like. "Judge not, that you be not judged" seems like the perfect response.
In context, however, the passage indicates that we are indeed to judge; we're just supposed to avoid faulty judgements. Furthermore, our judgement are to begin with self: "First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye," Jesus said (v.5). He then said, "Beware of false prophets" (v.15). This too requires judging-we need to be able to discern truth from falsehood.
Jesus used the metaphor of fruit to give us the proper criteria for judging. "By their fruits you will know them" (v.20). We are to judge people (including ourselves) by the quality of the fruit they produce. This fruit cannot be judged by earthly values such as how good we look (v.15). It must be judged by heavenly values-the fruit of the Spirit produced within us-Love, Joy, Peace (Gal. 5:22).
Our tendency is to judge by appearance. But God judges by what we produce, and so should we. -Julie Ackerman Link
1/08/2010
THE KING
READ; Revelation 17:9-14
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These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. - Revelation 17:14
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It might be surprising how many people around the world know that today is Elvis Presley's birthday. The enduring popularity of the singer from Mississippi spans generations and cultures. More than 30 years after his death, sales of Presley's music, memorabilia, and licensing agreements generate millions of dollars in annual income. Once dubbed "The King of Rock & Roll," Elvis is often called, "The King."
Whether the "kings" of this world are celebrirties, athletes, crowned heads, or tycoons, they come and go. Their influence maybe immense and their followers fanatically loyal, but it doesn't last forever.
The Bible, however, refers to Jesus Christ as the eternal King. Revelation 17 speaks prophetically of earthly kings who will fight to establish their authority at the end of the ages. Biblical scholars have debated the identities of these kings, but there is no mistake about the One they cannot overpower: "these will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful" (Rev. 17:14).
Jesus Christ the Lord is King, and He will reign forever. -David McCasland
1/07/2010
THE INNOCENT MAN...
READ; Genesis 18:22-33
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Shall not the judge of all the earth do right? -Genesis 18:25
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John Grisham is well known for his courtroom novels - fast-paced tales of lawyers & victims, authorities and wrongdoers. However, his book The Innocent Man is not fiction. It is a real life story of injustice. It tells of the brutal murder of a young woman & the two men who, though innocent, were convicted and sentenced to death for the crime. Only with the advent of DNA testing were they proven innocent and spared from execution after 17 years of suffering wrongly. At long last, justice prevailed.
Everyone desires justice. But we must recognize that our human frailty makes it challenging to mete out true justice. And we can be bent toward revenge, making a casualty out of the pursuit of it.
It's helpful to remember that perfect justice can be found only in God. Abrahan described Him with the rhetorical question, "Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?"(Gen. 18:25). The necessary answer is yes. But even more, His courtroom is the one and only place where we can be certain that justice will prevail.
In a world filled with justice, we can take the wrongs done to us, submit them to the judge of all the earth, and trust Him for ultimate justice. -Bill Crowder
1/06/2010
FAITH OF A CHILD
READ; Matthew 18:1-5
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Unless you are converted the become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven
-Matthew 18:3
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One sunday I heard Mike talk about his relationship with his two fathers- the one who raised him as a child, and his Father in heaven.
First he described his childhood trust toward his earthly father as "simple & uncomplicated." He expected his dad to fix broken things and to give advice. He dreaded displeasing him, however, because he often forgot that his father's love ang forgiveness always followed.
Mike continued, "Some years ago I made a mess of things and hurt a lot of people. Because of my guilt. I ended a happy, simple relationship with my heavenly Father. I forgot that I could as Him to fix what I had broken and seek His advice."
Years passed. Eventually Mike became desperate for God, yet he wondered what todo. His pastor said simply, "Say you're sorry to God, and mean it!
Instead, Mike asked complicated question, like; "How does this work?" and "What if...?"
Finally his pastor prayed, "Please, God, give Mike the faith of a child!" Mike later testified joyfully, "The Lord did!"
Mike found closeness with his heavenly Father. The key for him and for us is to practice the simple and uncomplicated faith of a child. -Joanie Yoder
1/05/2010
A LOT TO REMEMBER..
READ; Proverbs 10:11 - 21
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He who restrains his lips is wise.- Proverbs 10:19
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Thanks a lot," the man behind the postal counter said to the person in front of me. The clerk, Jon, had seen me in line and was hoping I would overhear him. When it was my turn, I said hello to Jon, who had been a student of mine when i taught high school in the 1980s.
"Did you notice what I said to her?" Jon asked. "I told her, 'Thanks a lot.'" Sensing that I was missing his point, he explained, "Remember what you told us about the term a lot ? You said a lot was a piece of land, not a phrase to use instead of much."
Astounding! An english lesson from a quarter-century before had stuck with Jon through all those years. That speaks clearly to us of the importance of what we say to others. It also backs up one of my favorite lines by poet Emily Dickinson:"A word is dead when it is said, some say. I say it just begins to live that day."
The words we say may have long term consequences. Our coments, our compliments, and even our harsh critisms may stick with the hearer for decades.
No wonder scripture says, "He who restrains his lips is wise" (Prov.10:19). The words we speak today live on. Let's make sure they com from "the tongue of the righteous"(v.20).- Dave Branon
1/04/2010
LIVING DECEPTIVELY...
READ: 2 tIMOTHY 3:10-17
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You have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. - 2 timothy 3:15
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The year 2007 was labeled the "Year of Living Deceptively" for South Korea, b'coz of the country's numerous scandals involving fake academics and corrupt politicians. A survey of 340 professors selected the Chinese phrase "JA-GI-GI-IN" (deceiving yourself and others) to sum up the year.
It should not surprise us to hear of deception like that. The apostle Paul wrote in 2Timothy 3:13, "Evil men and impostors will grow worse, deceiving and being deceived." To deceived is to make others beleive falsehood as truth and accept wrong as right.
Our defense against deception is to know God's Word, for "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (v.16). Correction is to set right what is wrong, and Instruction is to make known what is right. God's Word not only makes us aware of wrongs, it also prompts and teaches us to what is right.
Is your New Year's resolution to walk rightly before God and others and to be "throughly equipped for every good work"? (v.17). Then read and apply God's Word, asking the Lord to make you a person of integrity. -Albert Lee
1/02/2010
EATING AS WORSHIP
When we walk into the bookstore and see a table filled with books on dieting, u know it must be January. After several wiks of overeating all kinds of holiday foods, people in many cultures turn their attention to not eating.
Food plays an important role in Scripture. God uses it not only to bless us but also to teach us. Our misuse of food keeps us from knowing God in ways He wants to be known.
In the old testament, God gave instruction to Adam as to what to eat (Gen. 2:16-17). Later He gave the israelites manna to convince them that he was God and to test them to find out if they believed Him (Ex. 16:12; Deut. 8:16). In the New Testament, the apostle Paul stated the proper attitude for everything we do, including eating: "whatever you Eat or Drink,...do all to glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31).
When we think of food as a friend comforts us or enemy that makes us fat, we miss the wonder of receiving with gratitude a splendid gift from God. Obsessive eating or not eating indicates that we are focused on the gift rather than on the Giver, wgich is a form of Idolatry.
When Eating becomes a true acts of worship, we will no longer worship food.- Julie Ackerman Link
1/01/2010
DON'T WASTE YOUR BREATH!
if i were to scoop up a handful of dirt and blow into it, all i would get is a dirty face. When God did it, he got a living, breathing human being capable of thinking, feeling, dreaming, loving, reproducing, and living forever.
As one of this human beings, I speak of "catching" my breath "holding" my breath, or "saving" my breath, but these are idioms of language. I cannot save my breath for use at a later time. If i don't use the one now, I'll lose it, and may even lose consciousness.
When God breath into adam, He gave more than life; He gave a reason to live; Worship! As the plsamist said, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord" (Ps. 150:6)
This means that we waste our breath when we use if for something that doesn't honor the One in whom "we live and move and have our being" (acts 17:28)
Although we cannot blow life into a handful of dirt, we can our breath to speak words of comfort, to sing songs of [raise, and to run to hel the sick and oppressed> When we use our breath to honor our Creator with our unique combination of talents, abilities, and opportunities, we will be wasting it. -Julie Ackerman Link
Breath on me, Breath of God
Fill me with life anew
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do - Natch
