|
Viewing 19 - 27 out of 35 Blogs.
I believe that Easter was pagan before the resurrection of Jesus and that it still is to those who don't believe in Jesus. We had sunrise service yesterday at church, while it was yet dark, like when the women came to the tomb, we went to church to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I felt God's pleasure during our service, we were giving him honor and glory, we were demonstrating our faith in that we believe Jesus rose from the dead, although we have not yet seen Him like the disciples did. Do you think they didn't have a celebration when they realized Jesus was back from the dead???? I'm absolutely certain of it!!!! In answer to your question, "Is it biblical?" No, it may not be described in the Bible as a celebration of Jesus' resurrection, I know it's not called Easter but the joy of His people when they were in His presence again, after burying him three days prior was indeed a celebration, I'm sure!!!! You're right, we should remember Christ's death every day, but it wasn't His death that brought us victory over death, everybody dies. It is, instead, the resurrection, that gives us hope of life everlasting! 1 Corinthians 15:14 "And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain." Hallelujah, He is risen!!!! Our faith is NOT in vain!!!! 
I’ve heard this song many, many times and sang the verses myself many, many times. But, never has it touched me like it did this time. We’re in revival at our church. The altar call song was “God on the Mountain.” The message that was delivered already had me reflecting on myself, how sometimes I seem to forget how low I was before Christ lifted me up, how low I would still be without God. “The God of the good times is still God in the bad times” is the verse that got me. I know that He’s still God in the bad times, I just don’t act like it. I act like He needs me to get in there and do something, even if it’s just wring my hands and worry, to try and fix whatever’s wrong. That’s not right! God doesn’t need me for anything. I need Him for EVERYTHING!!!! Forgive me, Lord, for not trusting in you to make things right when they go wrong. Forgive me for not placing my faith in you when I know that you hold my very breath in the palm of your hand. And I know that you know the plans you have for me, thoughts of peace and not of evil. I know that you are the God of the bad times, I know that you can make things right. I give it all to you, Lord. I can’t do anything but make a bigger mess of things. I need you to take my broken spirit, my foolish pride, my heavy heart, my finances, and my marriage. I need you to take them and make them right, Lord. Father, I cry out to you with a sorrowful heart, confessing to you the error of my ways. I need you to come to me, minister to me, love me. I need you to put me back together where the world has torn me apart. I need you to comfort my heart that has been shred to bits by the people in my life. I can’t hide behind the pride anymore. I can’t mask my pain from you, Lord. Mold me and make after Thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still! Thank you, Lord, for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus’ sweet and holy name, Amen
Please pass this on! I believe that people will be able to relate to this and it could be a very powerful witnessing tool! "Imagine the following: It's a Wednesday night and you are at a church prayer meeting when somebody runs in from the parking lot and says, "Turn on a radio, turn on a radio." And while the church listens to a little transistor radio with a microphone stuck up to it, the announcement is made: "Two women are lying in a Long Island hospital dying from the mystery flu." Within hours ir seems, this thing just sweeps across the country. People are working around the clock trying to fing an antidote. Nothing is working. California, Oregon, Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts. It's as though it's just sweeping in from the borders. And then, all of a sudden, the news comes out. The code has been broken. A cure can be found. A vaccine can be made. It's going to take the blood of somebody who hasn't been infected, and so, sure enough, all through the Midwest, through all those channels of emergency broadcasting, everyone is asked to do one simple thing: Go to your downtown hospital and have your blood type taken. That's all we ask of you. When you hear the sirens go off in your neighborhood, please make your way quickly, quietly, and safely to the hospitals. When you and your family get down there late on that Friday night, there is a long line, and they've got nurses and doctors coming out and pricking fingers and taking blood and putting labels on it. Your wife and your kids are out there, and they take your blood type and they say, "Wait here in the parking lot and if we call your name, you can be dismissed and go home." You stand around, scared, with your neighbors, wondering what in the world is going on and if this is the end of the world. Suddenly a young man comes running out of the hospital screaming. He's yelling a name and waving a clipboard. What? He yells it again! And your son tugs on your jacket and says, "Daddy, that's me." Before youknow it, they have grabbed your boy. wit a minute. Hold on! And they say, "It's okay, his blood is clean. His blood is pure. We want to make sure he's got the right type." Five tense minutes later, out come the doctors and nurses, crying and hugging one another, some are even laughing. It's the first time you have seen anybody laugh all week, and an old doctor walks up to you and says, "Thank you, sir. Your son's blood type is pure, and we can make the vaccine." The word begins to spread all across that parking lot full of folks, people are screaming and praying and laughing and crying. But then the gray-haired doctor pulls you and your wife aside and says, "May we see you for a moment? We didn't realize that the donor would be a minor and we need...we need you to sign a consent form." You begin to sign and then you see that the number of pints of blood to be taken is empty. "H-how many pints?" And that is when the old doctor's smile fades and he says, "We had no idea it would be a little child. We weren't prepared. We need it all." "But-but...You don't understand." "We are talking about the world here. Please sign. We-we need it all!" "But can't you give him a transfusion?" "If we had clean blood, we would. Can you sign?" Would you sign? In numb silence, you do. Then they say, "Would you like to have a moment with him before we begin?" Can you walk back? Can you walk back to that room where he sits on a table saying, "Daddy? Mommy? What's going on?" Can you take his hands and say, "Son, your mommy and I love you, and we would never ever let anything happen to you that didn't just have to be. Do you understand that?" Just then that old doctor comes back in and says, "I'm sorry, we've got to get started. People all over the world are dying." Can you leave? Can you walk out while he is saying, "Dad? Mom? Dad? Why-why have you forsaken me?" The following week, when they have the ceremony to honor your son, some folks sleep through it, and some folks don't even come because they go to the lake, and some folks come with a pretentious smile and just pretend to care. Would you want to jump up and say, "MY SON DIED FOR YOU! DON'T YOU CARE?" Is that what GOD wants to say? "MY SON DIED FOR YOU. DON'T YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I CARE?" "Father, seeing it from your eyes breaks our hearts. Maybe now we can begin to comprehend the great Love you have for us." I don't know who wrote this. I got it online and printed it out. I can't remember where it was so I had to type it here. Please do NOT take the blood of Christ lightly. His blood was not shed so that we could claim to be Christians and still continue to live our selfish lives of sin. Jesus died upon the cross so that we could be cleansed in His blood and put away our selfish desires and learn to be more like Him and so that we could use our time upon this earth telling others about His tremendous love for them so that they might be saved and do the same. Whoever reads this, I hope that you have a personal relationship with Christ. If you don't and you need help praying for the forgiveness of your sins, please let someone know before you go to bed tonight so that you might become saved and know the true meaning of "Amazing Grace". If you don't have anyone to turn to, visit my profile, I have words on there that may help you. Feel free to email me or any of the friends I have on my page. Someone would be glad to help you.
Called by His name Current mood: loved Category: Religion and Philosophy Lessons on Living by Woodrow Kroll is a daily email devotion I get from www.backtothebible.org. I really like this website and I am subscribed to several daily devotions. They are always very good. I really enjoyed this one and wanted to share with everyone. Agape, Annie Author: Woodrow Kroll Source: Lessons on Living From Jeremiah Scripture: Jeremiah 15:16 Called By His Name Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts. Called by His Name It is a tremendous responsibility to bear someone's name. From the pages of history we learn of a cowardly young soldier in the army of Alexander the Great. Whenever the battle grew fierce, the young soldier would withdraw to safety. The general called him to account and asked, "What's your name, soldier?" When the timid soldier replied, "Alexander, sir," Alexander the Great sternly warned him, "Either change your name or change your ways." Jeremiah proudly declared, "I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts." By this he meant, "I bear your name." Jeremiah's life reflected how seriously he took that privilege. In spite of opposition and, at times, physical persecution, he stood firm for God. The realization that he belonged to God was a constant reminder to Jeremiah that he needed to reflect His character. Unflinchingly he served his name's sake, even though, according to tradition, it ultimately resulted in him being placed in a hollow log and sawed in half. Every Christian needs to remember that he or she bears the name of Christ. God's Word will be a joy to us when we seek to live in a way that does not bring shame to the name of our Lord. As we study His Word and make it a part of our daily lives, we will find our heart rejoicing in our relationship with Him. We will find it ever more precious that we are called by His name. Never forget the name you bearâ€"you are a "Christ"ian. If you want to find joy in that relationship, take time regularly to read God's Word. Prayerfully consider how you might live out that Word so you will show those around you what it means to be called by His name. Every Christian bears Christ's name; live as an honor to His name.
God is trying to give me something here. I don't know if I'm not listening or if I'm just not ready yet. I'm going to go ahead and post my thoughts so far and later, I'll come back and put it all together. Anna Nicole was a very outgoing, excessive personality. Her mother said that when "Vickie Lynn" was a child, she loved to go to church. We have plenty of evidence that she rejected the things of God when she was grown. Money, fame, and worldly beauty was what was important to her. She died at a very young age. The United States could also be described as outgoing and excessive. Our nation was founded on the principles of Christianity, however, we all know that's not what the USA stands for today, far from it. I don't think anyone will disagree when I say that money, fame, and worldly appearance is also very important to our nation. The majority of our population is very much in debt due to the mindset that stuff equals happiness. Considering the age of the rest of the world, the US is a very young nation. I think the fact that we are so infatuated with the life and unfortunate death of Anna Nicole shows how much emphasis we put on money, fame, and beauty and the people who represent these ideals. I feel that God gave us Anna Nicole as a warning to America to wake up and realize that turning from God and idolizing the things of the world don't bring happiness, but ugliness and despair in the end, and also that the end may be closer than we think. I know that Anna Nicole didn't realize she would die so young, but it happened. We also don't want to think that the world, as we know it, could end at any time, but it could! 1 Thess 5 1Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Well, maybe this is what God was trying to give me. The more I typed, the more comfortable I felt with it and the better my thoughts flowed. If I receive any more inspiration, I will edit but, as of right now, this is what I give to you. If you have any thoughts or comments, feel free to post. I love you all in the name of Jesus, our Savior! Agape, Annie
1 Chron 4: 9-10 9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. Jabez asked for great, immense blessings and protection from God. "And God granted him that which he requested." Notice it doesn't say that Jabez kept all the laws or made every sacrifice he should have made. It says he lived an honorable life and he "called on the God of Israel." He humbled himself before God by essentially saying, "I can't do this without you. I need you to come into my life and help me." God honored his request because Jabez had faith. He knew that God would not let him down. Praise the Lord that we can know that God will grant that which we request, when we ask in humility and faith. Matt 6:31-33 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Father, I pray that you would bless each one reading this today. Pour out your abundant blessings upon their lives. Meet all their needs, Lord, whatever they may be. Give us wisdom and understanding, that we might know your will and give us submissive hearts that we might be willing to do that which would bring you the most honor and glory. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus' sweet and holy name, Amen
THE POEM I knelt to pray but not for long, I had too much to do. I had to hurry and get to work For bills would soon be due. So I knelt and said a hurried prayer, And jumped up off my knees. My Christian duty was now done My soul could rest at ease..... All day long I had no time To spread a word of cheer No time to speak of Christ to friends, They'd laugh at me I'd fear. No time, no time, too much to do, That was my constant cry, No time to give to souls in need But at last the time, the time to die. I went before the Lord, I came, I stood with downcast eyes. For in his hands God! held a book; It was the book of life. God looked into his book and said "Your name I cannot find I once was going to write it down... But never Found the time"
The Scars of Love ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- Some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His mother in the house was looking out the window saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved. The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, But look at my arms I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Mom wouldn't let go." You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too! No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you. The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms be very, very grateful. He did not and will not ever let you go. Right now, someone needs to know that God loves them, and you love them too ~~enough to not let them go.
|
