Quote for the day

There are always uncertainties ahead, but there is always one certainty......
.......God's will is good!

( by Vernon Paterson)

Okay to be great?

Read Genesis 12:1-3

Is it a sin to be great? Over the years, I’ve heard statements that imply it is. Some have said, “It’s not about me. It’s about God.” Or, “People need to see God, not me.” Yes, we should avoid self-promotion, but I wonder if believers in Jesus can take it too far?

To those who think it’s a sin to pursue greatness, have you ever considered that God promised greatness to men like Abraham and David? To Abraham He said, “I will make your name great” (Genesis 12:2 NIV). To David He said, “I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth” (2 Samuel 7:9). Does it get any greater than that?

As I read these passages, it doesn’t seem that God considers achieving greatness in and of itself wrong. He was not concerned that their greatness would take away from His ultimate greatness. In fact, it’s just the opposite. All that we are comes from God. And when we seek to do great things to glorify Him, we are ultimately reflecting the Source of our greatness.

To those who would say, “It’s not about us. It’s about God,” I would ask, “Why isn’t it about us and God?” After all, God created us as His image bearers (Genesis 1:27). As human beings, we are designed to reveal and reflect His greatness and glory to a world that desperately needs to see more of Him.

We shouldn’t look to be honored like the hypocrites who craved to be noticed (Matthew 6:1), but we also don’t need to apologize for greatness when it’s noticed in us. It’s not about stroking our egos and becoming arrogant. It’s about acknowledging a shared partnership and purpose. It’s about celebrating the privilege of having God use our lives to advance His kingdom.

( by Jeff Olson)

Notice why God promised to make Abraham great (Genesis 12:2).

How are you attempting to do great things for God? What’s the balance between pursuing excellence and greatness and leaving the outcome in His hands?

( taken from Our Daily Journey)

Quote for the day

Give not God from the top of your purse…
but from the bottom of your heart!

Things to Forget...

Often when we lose hope and think this is the end,
         GOD smiles from above and says,
 “Relax my dear, it’s not the end, just a bend”!
   
               Read: Luke 21:5-11

               Have a HOPE-filled day!

Things To Forget…

Forget each kindness that you do,
As soon as you have done it.
Forget the praise that falls to you,
The moment you have won it.
Forget the slander that you hear,
Before you can repeat it.
Forget each slight, each spite, each sneer,
Whenever you may meet it.

Remember every promise made,
And keep it to the letter.
Remember those who lend you aid,
And be a grateful debtor.
Remember all the happiness
That comes your way in living.

Forget each worry and distress,
Be hopeful and forgiving.
Remember good, remember truth,
Remember heaven is above you.
And you will find, through age and youth,
That many will come to love you.

Rejoice in God’s message of Love for you:

“I have come to give you life. Life in all it’s abundance.” – John 10:10

( by Irma Raymond)

Quote for the day

Lord, I may not be able to see...but I choose to believe.

I'm glad you're never wrong!

Bible verse for today

In ALL things God WORKS for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ( Romans 8:28)

When God says "ALL", He means "ALL"!
And He "WORKS" for the good of those who love Him. He's not idle - merely watching things happen, but He's actually WORKING for our good.

When God's working for us, in all the areas of our lives, the results gotta be good, worth waiting for!

Quote for the day

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.
He could live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.
What about the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem; not to mention that Friday at Calvary.

( by Joe Gatuslao)

Quote for the day

Faith is to believe what we do not see...
....And the reward of this faith is to see what we believe. - St. Augustine

FAITH - Forsaking All I Trust Him!

The Value of Hard Places

“So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:12

Being forced into hard places gives us a whole new perspective on life. Things we once valued no longer hold the same value. Small things become big things, and what we once thought big no longer holds such importance.

These hard places allow us to identify with the sufferings of others. It keeps us from having a shallow view of the hardships of others and allows us to truly identify with them. Those who speak of such trials from no experience often judge others who have had such hardship. It is a superficiality of Christian experience that often permeates shallow believers.

Those who have walked in hard places immediately have a kinship with others who have walked there also. They do not need to explain; they merely look at one another with mutual respect and admiration for their common experience. They know that death has worked a special thing in them. This death leads to life in others because of the hard places God has taken them through.

It is impossible to appreciate any valley experience while you are in it. However, once you have reached the top of the mountain, you are able to appreciate what terrain you have passed through. You marvel at what you were able to walk through. The valley of the shadow of death has yielded more than you ever thought possible. You are able to appreciate the beauty of the experience and lay aside the sorrow and pain it may have produced.

Death works in you for a greater purpose. If you are there today, be assured that God is producing something of much greater value than you will ever know.

( by Manorama)

Feeling Lost?

Today, more than You seeking God,

Know that He seeks You!

Read: Luke 15:1-10

Let Him Rejoice over You today!

God Is Doing a Work in You…

“...grace wherein we stand, and… tribulation [that] works patience.”

 -- Romans 5:2-3

There are two things you can count on as you walk with God:

tribulation that works for you;

and grace that enables you to stand while you’re going through it.

Have you been praying for patience?

Get ready for tribulation; there’s no other way to get it! Patience grows only in the soil of adversity.

The truth is, some of the people you can’t stand right now are the very ones who’ll mature you spiritually and get you to your destiny.

God said, ‘ Moab is my washbasin...’ (Psalm 60:8).

The Moabites were Israel ’s troublesome next-door neighbours who drove them crazy.

But such people can also drive us closer to God!

So, who’s your washbasin? Who brings out the worst in you?

Who drives you to your knees? Who stretches your faith? Who develops your character?

The problem is, we pray for certain things...

but God has a process; only as we get to know Him better do we begin to recognise it.

Here’s how it works:

You ask God for strength and He allows you to go through struggles that develop you.

You ask Him for wisdom and you get to deal with messy situations that have no easy solutions.

You ask Him for success and He gives you ability to work and wisdom to produce.

You ask Him for favour and you get responsibility. (Then you want to run from it.)

There’s a work going on in you right now! You may not be fully aware of it,

but without it you’ll never be qualified to handle what God has in mind.

Want Muscles??? Carry Weights!!!

Do You Ask God For:

Strength… expect struggles.

Wisdom… expect messy situations

Patience… expect tribulations.

It’s a process… allow it to work.

Put your TRUST in HIM today!

( by Irma Raymond)

Is Alcohol for Christians?

Alcoholic abuse has become a cancer that has been eating into the vitals of the modern society. Today, however, we have transformed alcohol into a symbol of status and nobility. Alcohol makes people brutes and an alcoholic makes the family a hell.

Alcoholics do not consider drinking as a sin. Many people think like this – Everything in this world has been created for the enjoyment of man. But God has never allowed His children to indulge in the lusts of people. India has now turned into a den of toddy shops, bars and outlets selling alcoholic beverages. Against this, God gives us timely warning: “Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. At last it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder” (Pro 23:31).

Inspite of knowing that alcoholism would cause havoc on our home, society, wealth and even on self respect, we plunge ourselves into ruin very much like a butterfly trying to befriend flames. What a deplorable state of affairs!

We spend more money on alcohol than on food. Most of the road accidents are the results of drunken driving. If we look into the cases of divorce in India, we find the main reason for divorce is alcohol abuse. People with liver and heart diseases are also on the increase in India. Assaults on women and sexual perversions are also on the rise here.

Some people justify themselves by asking what is wrong in taking an occasional drink. They will say that they do that just to get some relief after carrying out all their responsibilities. Such pretext of drinking is not good for a good Christian. God wants us to live a life that is appropriate for the day, abandoning our love of luxury and desire for drinks.

Alcoholism destroys our health and sanctity of our body. What is displayed on the bottle labels and on the boards of shops selling alcohol? Isn’t it “Drinking alcohol is injurious to health?” We should realize our mistakes and give up drinking.

God asks us, “Don’t you know that you are the temple of God and the Holy spirit dwells in you? “If anyone destroys God’s temple ,God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy and you are that temple” (1 Cor 3:17).

Our bodies are temples of God. When we spoil our bodies with alcohol, we are actually pouring dirty water into the temple of God. Any act that destroys the nobility and purity of our body is a sin. We should have this knowledge and conviction.

( by Surjith Jacob taken from turnbacktogod.com)

Bible verse for today

Once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:62)

Your love is beyond comprehension!

One day, I woke early in the morning to watch the sunrise. Ah, the beauty of God’s creation is beyond description. As I watched, I praised God for His beautiful work. As I sat there, I felt the Lord’s presence with me.

He asked me, “Do you love me?”  

I answered, “Of course, God! You are my Lord and Saviour!”

Then He asked, “If you were physically handicapped, would you still love me?”

I was perplexed. I looked down upon my arms, legs and the rest of my body and wondered how many things I wouldn’t be able to do — the things that I took for granted? And I answered, “It would be tough Lord, but I would still love You.”

Then the Lord said, “If you were blind, would you still love my creation?”

How could I love something without being able to see it? Then I thought of all the blind people in the world and how many of them still loved God and His creation. So I answered, “Its hard to think of it, but I would still love you.”

The Lord then asked me, “If you were deaf, would you still listen to my word?”

How could I listen to anything being deaf? Then I understood. Listening to God’s Word is not merely using our ears, but our hearts. I answered, “It would be tough, but I would still listen to Your word.”

The Lord then asked, “If you were mute, would you still praise My Name?”

How could I praise without a voice? Then it occurred to me: God wants us to sing from our very heart and soul. It never matters what we sound like. And praising God is not always with a song, but when we are persecuted, we give God praise with our words of thanks. So I answered, “Though I could not physically sing, I would still praise Your Name.”

And the Lord asked, “Do you really love Me?”

With courage and a strong conviction, I answered boldly, “Yes Lord! I love You because You are the one and true God!” I thought I had answered well, but God asked, “THEN WHY DO YOU SIN?”

I answered, “Because I am only human. I am not perfect.”

“THEN WHY IN TIMES OF PEACE DO YOU STRAY THE FURTHEST? WHY ONLY IN TIMES OF TROUBLE DO YOU PRAY IN EARNEST?”

No answers — only tears.

The Lord continued: “Why only sing at fellowships and retreats? Why seek Me only in times of worship? Why ask things so selfishly? Why ask things so unfaithfully?”

The tears continued to roll down my cheeks.

“Why are you ashamed of Me? Why are you not spreading the good news? Why in times of persecution, you cry to others when I offer My shoulder to cry on? Why make excuses when I give you opportunities to serve in My Name?”

I tried to answer, but there was no answer to give.

“You are blessed with life. I made you not to throw this gift away. I have blessed you with talents to serve Me, but you continue to turn away. I have revealed My Word to you, but you do not gain in knowledge. I have spoken to you but your ears were closed. I have shown My blessings to you, but your eyes were turned away. I have sent you servants, but you sat idly by as they were pushed away. I have heard your prayers and I have answered them all.”

DO YOU TRULY LOVE ME ?”

I could not answer. How could I? I was embarrassed beyond belief. I had no excuse. What could I say to this? My heart had cried out and the tears had flowed, I said, Please forgive me Lord. I am unworthy to be Your child.”

The Lord answered,  "That is My Grace, My child.”

I asked, ” Then why do you continue to forgive me? Why do You love me so?”

The Lord answered, “Because you are My creation. You are my child. I will never abandon you. When you cry, I will have compassion and cry with you. When you shout with joy, I will laugh with you. When you are down, I will encourage you. When you fall, I will raise you up. When you are tired, I will carry you. I will be with you till the end of days, and I will love you forever.”

Never had I cried so hard before. How could I have been so cold? How could I have hurt God as I had done?

I asked God, “How much do You love me?”

The Lord stretched out His arms, and I saw His nail-pierced hands. I bowed down at the feet of Christ, my Saviour.

And for the first time, I truly prayed.

( taken from turnbacktogod.com) 

There’s no greater love than this,

There’s no greater love than this,

That a man would give his life for a friend;

There’s no higher sacrifice

Than a man would give his life,

You have paid

A precious price for me

Father of Lies

When [the devil] speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. —John 8:44

Satan’s sway over mankind began when he turned the minds of Adam and Eve against God. In order to pull it off, he had to lie to them about God—and they had to fall for it. In that defining moment, he lied to them about God’s goodness, God’s Word, and God’s intentions (Gen. 3:1-6).

Satan is still up to his old tricks. Jesus said that when the devil “speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar” (John 8:44). It should not be surprising, then, that when trouble interrupts our lives, the father of lies whispers in our ears and suddenly we are questioning God’s goodness. When we are told to follow His commands, we wonder if His Word is really true in the first place. When Jesus tells us things like, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth” (Matt. 6:19), Satan tells us that the good life is about piling up things here, causing us to doubt God’s good intentions.

Our problem is that we, like Adam and Eve, believe Satan’s lies. And when we do, our loyalty to God is compromised. Then our enemy slithers off to his next assignment, leaving us alone to face our regrets and the realization that his lies have seduced us away from our truest and dearest Friend. Who have you been listening to lately?

( by Joe Stowell)

Satan can catch you by surprise

And stop you in your tracks,

So keep on guard and trust God’s Word,

Resist his strong attacks. —Branon

The power of Satan is no match for the power of God’s Word.

Is God far away from you?

Prayer is the place where burdens change shoulders.
Read: Matthew 11:28

Find time to lay your burdens down today!


Do You Feel That God is Far Away From You?

I'm going through a dry time, Lord;
I feel no joy inside.
It seems that You are far away
and not here by my side.
I know I have to trust you, Lord,
but sometimes I feel so weak.
I feel my prayers have floundered...
Lord, I need to hear You speak.
Love,
Your Child

-------------------------------------------------


My Child,
I'm right there by you
when the desert winds are dry;
though the sands of time seem endless,
My child, you need not cry....
Every prayer that you have whispered,
every tear that you have shed,
every heartache, every thought...
reaches Me before it's said.

I will calm the restless spirit,
quell the fears you have within,
send My grace like soft new dewdrops
to refresh you once again.
Like a fountain of clear water
I'm right here to help you grow...
be patient now,
My dear child,
your joy will overflow.

Love,
God

Reflection: Read Hebrews 13:5-6

( by Irma Raymond)

Seeing Backward

It is often difficult to recognize the hand of God when we are in the midst of adversity. We often feel God has hidden His face from us. When the Lord takes us through deep valleys, there will be fruit from the deep valley that we cannot see. You must press into Him with all you have during this time.

God uses the deep valley to frame our lives to create a change in our nature, not just a change in habits. The depth and width of our valley is often an indicator of the level of calling and influence we will have on others in the future. Our adversity is not just for us, but others who will be in our future path of influence. This is not very comforting when you are in the middle of the valley, but know this is a truth in the Kingdom.

It is often years later when we discover the wisdom of God and why He intentionally led us through the dark valley. Life is often lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back at through valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale and the spiritual deposits He has made in our life while we were there.

"He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light" (Job 12:22). 

When you begin to realize this, you sit back and breathe a sigh of relief because you know that God was in control all along. It didn't seem like it at the time, but He was.

Do you find yourself in the valley? Now is the time to fully trust Him to guide you to higher ground.

( by Manorama)

Do I love you because you're beautiful?

Blessings always look small if we hold them in our hands.

But if we learn to share them, we realize how great & precious they are.

Read: Luke 12:13-21

Be a Blessing today & May God Bless You!

Do I love you because you’re beautiful

Or are you beautiful because I love you?

—Oscar Hammerstein

Once, a powerful king agreed to help a small, lost boy find his mother. Since the boy described his mother as the most beautiful woman in the world, the king commanded all the beautiful women in the kingdom to come to the castle.

From miles around, they came – women with complexions of porcelain and hair of spun gold, with cheeks the color of apricots and eyes as dark as the raven’s. But none of them was the boy’s mother. When the last of the women had paraded before them, and the king and the boy had begun to despair, they heard a timid knock on the door.

“Come in,” the king said wearily. In shuffled an old washerwoman, her grey hair tied up in a kerchief, her hands rough and red, her dress coarse and patched.

“Mother!” the boy cried when he saw her, and he leapt from his chair and raced into the woman’s arms. The king stared in amazement.

Will I be able to see the real beauty in others today?

Scripture for reflection: “Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

( by Irma Raymond)

Zero Tolerance

You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people. —Leviticus 19:16

When Shayla McKnight applied for a job for an online printing company, she was surprised to learn that they had a zero-tolerance policy for gossip. The employees are encouraged to confront one another, instead of gossip about their fellow employees. If employees are caught gossiping, they are reprimanded, and if they continue, they are fired.

Long before this kind of policy was ever implemented by a company, God spoke of His own zero-tolerance policy for gossip and slander among His people (Lev. 19:16). Idle talk that foolishly or maliciously spreads rumors or facts about another person was forbidden.

Solomon said that speaking badly of others could have disastrous effects. It betrays confidence (Prov. 11:13), separates close friends (16:28; 17:9), shames and saddles you with a bad reputation (25:9-10), and perpetually fuels the embers of a quarrel (26:20-22). People rarely can undo the damage their untrue words have done to a neighbor.

Let’s ask the Lord to help us not to engage in harmful talk about others. He wants us to set a guard over our mouths so that we’ll instead speak all the good we know about everybody.

( by Marvin Williams)

Many things that others say

Are not for us to tell;

Help us, Lord, to watch our tongue—

We need to guard it well. —Branon

Destroy gossip by ignoring it.