All Things Work Together For Good...

Romans 8:28 (King James Version)

 ^"And we know that all things work together 

for good to them that love God, 

to them who are the called according to his purpose."

= = = 0 0 0 = = =

All Things Work Together For Good...

After John 3:16, Romans 8:28 is probably the most-quoted Bible verse among Christians. Paul’s words bring comfort and peace to many of us in our difficulties and hardships. They give us hope that no matter what hurts and disappointments come in our lives, everything will eventually work out for our good.

The two verses preceding Romans 8:28 talk about prayer. They say that when we don’t know how to pray as we ought to, the Holy Spirit comes to our aid and prays through us. It is through these Holy Spirit-filled prayers that all things work together for good, no matter what they are. Not all things that happen to us are good in and of themselves, but God is good and He can cause them to work toward our good if we trust Him. Also, you have to understand that NOT all things comes from God or His desire, but no matter what the devil plans against you, God in His mighty power works those things toward our own good.

Continuing to trust God is the key to victory in painful and seemingly unjust situations. Faith and prayer move the hand of God. If we continue believing, He promises to continue moving in our behalf to work everything out for good.

God makes this promise to those who love Him (by this you have to understand that is those who obey His commands, see John 14:15), and are called according to His purpose. We must love God with all of our hearts, and we must want His will. We must be willing to submit to His plan at all times.

The plan that God has for us eventually changes us into His image. We are destined to be molded into His image. That may sound spiritual, but in reality, it usually hurts. I often think of clay being pressed into a mold, and wonder how the clay would feel if it had feelings. Being changed into and entirely different shape would probably be painful. If we take a lump of clay and press it into a mold, there is always too much clay to fit, and some pieces must be discarded. I found that there was more of me than would fit into the mold of Jesus Christ, so many of my thoughts, words, actions and even friendships had to be discarded.

We must go through things that are difficult and learn how to respond to them the way Jesus would. We must not give way to the fearful thoughts and feelings that attack us. We must learn to remain steadfast, knowing that no matter how things appear now, God will work them out for our good – and in the process, He will use them to make us better people.

God’s purpose in everything that happens is to make us more like Jesus Christ. Jesus was the totally obedient one. The Bible says: “Although He was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8).

We also learn through what we suffer. We learn from God’s Word and life’s experiences. Because of our sinful nature, we tend to fight God at every point, but this only makes the process longer and more painful. Learn to surrender quickly, and save yourself a lot of agony. I’ve learned that God gets His way in the end, so why prolong the process?

Where the mind goes the man follows. Keep your mind going in the right direction, and your life will catch up with it. A person who has their faith firmly planted in God cannot de defeated. The Bible says that Joseph’s brothers hated him, but God was with him. God gave him favor and promoted him, so we see that his faith in God lifted him above his circumstances.

Some terrible things happened to Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob. His brothers sold him to slave traders and told his father Jacob that a wild animal had killed him. He was betrayed by those whom he served and tried to help, but God was watching him all the time. God had a good plan for Joseph, and it came to pass. He ultimately said that although the things that happened to him were originally meant for harm, God intended it for good.

This same thing is true for all of us. Satan cannot defeat us if we keep believing that God is working for our good, and that we are being continually transformed into His image.

Let’s pray:

All-wise and loving God, make me more like Jesus. I don’t like to suffer, and I hate to fail, but through Jesus Christ, I ask You to teach me and enable me to understand that, because of You, everything truly works together for my good. Amen

(By J. Meyer)

When Things Goes Wrong...

1 Samuel 30:1-6 (New International Version)

¹ David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it,  

² and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.

³ When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.  

⁴ So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep.  

⁵ David's two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel.  

⁶ David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.

= = = 0 0 0 = = =

When Things Goes Wrong

We all know about David, the second king of Israel, a man that wrote most of the Psalms. And if you read David’s history, you will see how he managed all the situations  in his life, specially in tough time.

In one occasion, David was a fugitive in his own Country, running away from King Saul that wants to kill him because of envy. David fled to another Country, actually an Israel’s enemy which by chance was in war against Israel. – David said to King Achish the Philistine’s King that he would go with him and fight Israel. The King agreed, but as they approach the battle field, the commanders of the Philistines’ Army didn’t agreed with the idea, so King Achish sent David and his men back home. 

Everything looked bleak to David and his men when they arrived at Ziclag their City, as you read on the text above. The Amalekites (cruel people that lived as nomads at David’s time) had attacked the city and taken their wives and children captive. The men were so discouraged that they wept until they had no more energy. And David, their leader, was “greatly distressed” because the people (angry men now) were contemplating stoning him (v.6).

But the story takes a great turn even in the midst of this great lost, when “David strengthened himself in the LORD his God” (1 Sam. 30:6).  Some other Bible’s translations use the word encouraged or refreshed.

The text doesn’t say exactly how David did this. But it makes me wonder, “In what ways we can strengthen, encourage, or refresh ourselves in the Lord when we’re feeling discouraged? When we’re heartbroken because of what someone did to us? Or maybe when we lose something very important, such as a good job, or a deal in a car, or our house is in foreclosure? Or maybe we lost a member in the family to a battle with some disease?"  - And the list goes one and on…

Let’s see two things we can do in any of this situation, as David did:

FIRST => we can remember what God has done.

We can go back in our lives and list the ways our Great Lord has cared for us in the past, how he had protected us, and how He had provided for us or answered our prayers in many situations. Let’s not forgot all His goodness and care for us along the way of our journey in life.

SECOND => we can remember what God has promised.

The Lord had promised “Be strong and of good courage; . . . for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9) – When we believe in this truth, every fear goes away, because we start feeling the presence of our lovely God. In another text, the Bible says: God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5). What a great God we serve!

In the end, David’s army rescued their families, defeated the Amalekites and recovered everything they had taken away. So, if someone had taken away anything from you, maybe is you job, your house, your car, etc. etc. like David, let’s learn to strengthen ourselves in the LORD, and then let’s leave the rest with Him. Don’t try to fix anything with your hands or with your “mouth”; if you do open your mouth, it’s get be just to praise the Lord in prayer, not to curse or to speak about anything or anybody.

Remember: Our greatest strength is often shown in our ability to stand still and trust God.

If you can, and if you are going through any hardship time, please memorize and recite this verse out loud as much as you can:

“6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

Lost Prayers . . .

Psalm 86:1-13 (New International Version)

(A prayer of David.)

 ¹ Hear, O LORD, and answer me,
       for I am poor and needy.

 ² Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.
       You are my God; save your servant
       who trusts in you.

 ³ Have mercy on me, O Lord,
       for I call to you all day long.

 ⁴ Bring joy to your servant,
       for to you, O Lord,
       I lift up my soul.

 ⁵ You are forgiving and good, O Lord,
       abounding in love to all who call to you.

 ⁶ Hear my prayer, O LORD;
       listen to my cry for mercy.

 ⁷ In the day of my trouble I will call to you,
       for you will answer me.

 ⁸ Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;
       no deeds can compare with yours.

 ⁹ All the nations you have made
       will come and worship before you, O Lord;
       they will bring glory to your name.

 ¹⁰ For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
       you alone are God.

 ¹¹ Teach me your way, O LORD,
       and I will walk in your truth;
       give me an undivided heart,
       that I may fear your name.

 ¹² I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
       I will glorify your name forever.

 ¹³ For great is your love toward me;
       you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.

= = = 0 0 0 = = =

Lost Prayers

The headline read: “Unanswered Prayers: Letters to God Found Dumped in Ocean.”

The letters, 300 in all and sent to a New Jersey minister, had been tossed in the ocean, most of them unopened. The minister was long dead. How the letters came to be floating in the surf off the New Jersey shore is a mystery.

The letters were addressed to the minister because he had promised to pray for each one of those prayers. Some of the letters asked for frivolous things; others were written by anguished spouses, children, or widows. They poured out their hearts to God, asking for help with relatives or spouses who were cheating on them. One asked God for a husband and a father to love her child. The reporter concluded that all were “unanswered prayers.”

Not so! If those letter-writers cried out to God, He heard each one of them. Not one honest prayer is lost to His ears. “All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you” (Psalm 38:9), David wrote in the midst of a deep personal crisis.  David understood that we can cast all our cares on the Lord, even if no one else prays for us. He confidently concluded, “In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me” (Psalm 86:7).

________________________________________________________________

God has given you His promise

That He hears and answers prayer;

He will heed your supplication

If you cast on Him your care.

________________________________________________________________

Jesus Hears our Faintest Cry.

Learn to Make Better Decisions

Proverbs 14:15 (New International Version)

¹⁵ A simple man believes anything,
       but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.

James 1:5-8 (New International Version)

⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  

⁶But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  

⁷That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

= = = 0 0 0 = = =

If you’re still making the same mistakes at the age of forties, fifties or sixties years of age as you did when you were twenties, you REALLY need to ask God for wisdom. The Word of the Lord says: “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out” (Proverbs 18:15 NIV). What are you in the present, was determined by the decisions you made in the past. If you want to change your future, learn to make better decisions now, in this moment called today! – Be wise; let these ten principles guide you:
01) – Never make permanent decisions based on temporary circumstances. If you do, you’ll regret if greatly.
02) – Don’t let your emotions blind you to reason. Pray, weigh thing carefully and base your decisions on mature judgment.
03) – Surround yourself with sharp people and draw on their gifts, without being intimidated by their expertise.
04) – Take the time to consider all options. What looks good to you today, may not look so good tomorrow, or in a few time ahead.
05) – You can’t fight successfully on every front, so choose your battles carefully. Simply stated: some things are not worth fighting for.
06) – Take time to get all the facts; conjecture lead to crises.
07) – Consider the consequences of each of your actions. Ask yourself, “Am I ready to handle this right now? What this is going to bring into?”
08) – Make sure your expectations don’t exceed your potential and your resources. Be realistic. If you can’t count don’t apply for a job in the finance office. If you can’t sing, don’t cut an album. If you make less income, why to buy something that is above it? Focus on what God gifted you to do. That’s where you’ll succeed.
09) – Time is your most limited and valuable resource. Don’t waste it. Spend more time in prayer and seeking for God’s wisdom in all you do.
10) – Allow yourself a 10% of being wrong, a 50% of likelihood of betrayal, and a 100% commitment to trust God, go forward and survive it all.

Remember: Always bring to the Lord anything that you need to do, any decision, and all your worries. He is more eager to listen to you, than you are eager to tell Him. So, open up your heart to Him and the Lord will bless you.

Three Reasons Why You Need Jesus Christ!

Jesus loves you! He desires to have a relationship with you, and to give you a life full of joy and purpose. Why do you need Him in your life? - Here it is three main reasons:

01. Because You Have a Past...

You can't go back in your past, but Jesus can. The Bible says  "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8). He can walk into those places of sin and failure, wipe the slate clean, and give you a new beginning.

02. Because You Need a Friend...

Jesus knows the worst about you, yet He believes the best. Why? Because He sees you not as you are, but as you will be when He gets through with you. What a wonderful friend Jesus is!!

03. Because He Holds the Future...

Who else are you going to trust? In His hands you are safe and secure - today, tomorrow, and for all eternity. His Word says, "For I know the plans I have for you... plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen" (Jeremiah 29:11,12).

= = = 0 0 0 = = =

Jesus is talking to you right now, and if you'd like to begin a personal relationship with Him today, please just pray this prayer out loud to Him:

"Lord Jesus, I invite You into my life. I believe You died for me and that Your blood pays for my sins and provides me with the gift of eternal life. By faith I receive that gift, and I acknowledge You as my Lord and Savior. And from now on I'll follow you all the days of my life and serve you in integrity and holiness. Come into my heart and transform my life, give me your peace and cleanse me with your blood. Amen."

God’s Vision for You

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (New International Version)

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.  

¹² Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  

¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

- - - 0 0 0 - - -

God’s Vision for You

God’s plan for the people of the nation of Israel was only for their good. Yet they wandered around in the wilderness for forty years on what was actually an eleven-day journey. Why? Was it their enemies, their circumstances, the trials along the way, or something entirely different that prevented them from arriving at their destination in a timely manner?

God called the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt to go to the land He had promised to give them as a perpetual inheritance – a land that flowed with milk and honey and would be no shortage of anything they needed – a land of prosperity in every realm of their existence.

But the Israelites had no positive vision for their lives – no dreams. They knew where they came from, but they did not know where they were going. Everything was based on what they had seen in the past or what they could presently see. They did not know what to see with “the eye of faith.”
We really shouldn’t view the Israelites with astonishment, because most of us do the same thing over and over again. The disappointing result is that it takes us years to experience victory over something that could have and should have been dealt with quickly.

I come from a background of abuse. My childhood was filled with fear and torment, and my personality was a mess! I built up walls of protection to keep people from hurting me, not realizing that while I was locking others out, I was also locking myself in. I was filled with fear, and believed that the only way I could face life was to be in control so no one could hurt me.

As a young adult trying to live for Christ and follow the Christian lifestyle, I knew where I had come from, but I did not know where I was going. I felt that my future would always be marred by my past, I thought, ‘How could anyone with a past like mine ever be all right? It’s impossible!’

But Jesus had a different plan. He said,

“18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
      because he has anointed me
      to preach good news to the poor.
   He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
      and recovery of sight for the blind,
   to release the oppressed,” (Luke 4:18).

Jesus came to open the prison doors and set the captives free – and that included me. However, I did not make any progress until I started to believe that I really could be set free. I had to get rid of my negative thinking and replace it with a positive vision for my life. I had to believe that neither my past nor my present could determine my future. Only then could Jesus free me from the bondage of my past – and free me, He did. What a marvelous miracle! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

You may have had a miserable past as well; you may even be in current circumstances that are very negative and depressing. You may be facing situations that are so bad that it seems you have no real reason to hope. But I say to you boldly: Your future is not determined by your past or your present!

Most of the generation the Lord called out of Egypt never entered into the Promised Land. Instead, they died in the wilderness. To me, this is one of the saddest things that can happen to a child of God – to have so much available and yet never be able to enjoy any of it.

Start believing that God’s Word is true. Mark 9:23 assures you that with God all things are possible. Because you serve a God who created everything you see out of the unseen realm (see Hebrews 11:3), you can give Him your nothingness and watch Him go to work on your behalf. All you have to do if have faith in Him and believe His Word – He will do the rest! Just believe in Him!

Let’s pray:
“Dear Father in heaven, I thank You for loving me so much and for having a vision and a good plan for my life. I pray that You will help me overcome any negative thoughts of problems, past or present, that come against my mind, and make my life what You want it to be. I believe in you and I had received Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. Today I ask you that you take away all the fears that Satan had used against me. In Jesus’ Holy name I pray. Amen!”

(By J. Meyer)

You’ve Gotta Be a Winner!!

Philippians 3:13-16 (New Living Translation)

¹³ No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,  

¹⁴ I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

 ¹⁵ Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. 

¹⁶ But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.

- - - o o o - - -

You’ve Gotta to Be a Winner

Coach Bear Bryant is known as a football legend. But more than anything else, he is remembered as a winner. At the end of his 38-season career, he held six national championships and more victories than any other coach in college football history.

In a tribute to Coach Bryant in the February 19, 1983, issue of National Review, Victor Gold wrote, “Like all authentic Southern legends, he was of the soil.”

Bryant once said, “If I hadn’t found football, I would have ended up behind a mule just like my daddy. But I will tell you one thing, I would have plowed the straightest furrow in Arkansas.”

Somebody asked Bryant if he considered himself an innovator or trendsetter.  – “No,”
Bryant replied, “I’m nothing but a winner.”

This winning attitude and winning career says something very important to you as a believer. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He declared Satan’s power to be no longer invincible. As a victor in a battle takes away the spoils of victory from his enemy, Jesus took away the privileges of Satan. “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:15).

Because of the cross, the barrier of sin that once separated you from God has been removed. The gulf of sin has been bridged. The death that characterizes your fate has been taken away and through Christ you have been made alive.

Wherever you are spiritually today, you can be a winner. Satan has no power over you. When Christ died on the cross and rose again, He was saying to you, “Be a winner!!” – So, you don’t have to keep believing on Satan’s lies, because if you had received Jesus as your personal Savior, the victory is yours through Christ Jesus.

(By Michael Youssef)

The Circle of Fear

1 John 2:1-11 (New International Version)

 ¹My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ²He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

 ³We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. ⁴The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: ⁶Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

 ⁷Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. ⁸Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.

 ⁹Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. ¹⁰Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. ¹¹But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

- - - o o o - - -

The Circle of Fear

When the popular band “The Eagles” prepares a new song for concert, they sit in a circle with an acoustic guitar and unamplified voices and rehearse their intricate vocals. They call this exercise “The Circle of Fear” because there is no place to hide and no way to conceal any errors they might make in the harmonies. That sense of absolute exposure for their mistakes is what makes this drill so frightening to them.

Apart from Christ, we would suffer a far worse kind of exposure before the God of all justice. If we had no advocate and no escape, we would also have no hope. But in Christ, the believer has a Defender who stands before the Father on our behalf. First John 2:1 says, “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.” – With our failing exposed, He takes our defense. Our Defender carries our relationship with God beyond a “circle of fear” to a fellowship of grace and truth.

Our challenge is to live lives of purity and integrity that honor our heavenly Father. Yet, when we do fail, we do not need to fear abandonment or ridicule from our Father. We have an Advocate who will carry us through.

The “Circle of Fear” in which you are in right now, God the Father wants to help you and be there with you, taking away all the accusation that the enemy has against you. But in order for Him to help you, you’ve get to receive His Son Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord. And today is the day for salvation; the Bible says, “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.” (Hebrews 4:7)

__________________________________________________________

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail.
Thy mercies how tender! How firm to the end!
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.

__________________________________________________________

Jesus Christ, 

the One who died as our Substitute
Now lives as our Advocate.

Making the Right Choices

Philippians 4:6 (The Message)

 ^6-7Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

- - - o o o - - -

Making the Right Choices

Life is a series of choices. It’s difficult to make wise decisions when you’re hurting, angry, confused, unforgiving, or bitter. But you can. How you respond to disappointments can destroy your life or strengthen you spiritually.

Too many people leave God out of their tragedy. Maybe they don’t believe in Him or understand His ways. Instead of turning to Him in their need, they look for a human solution.

They might ask, Why would God do such a thing? Is He really in control? There’s nothing wrong with these questions, but if your answer is that He has turn away and left you to fend for yourself, then you are looking in the wrong direction. This kind of thinking leads only to anger and guilt. In some cases, people are searching for a way to blame God or someone else for their misfortune. But this never brings healing.

What right choices should you make in tragedy? You can choose to believe that God is sovereign over all. Job was selected to become am example pf righteousness, through whom the Lord would display His faithfulness (Job 1:6-22). Doesn’t He have the right to do that in your life? Choose to believe that because God is in control, He will comfort and assure you (Job 42:2). Trust Him in your hardship, though you may not understand it (Isaiah 55:8-9), and believe that He will bring something valuable out of the heartache.

God can produce good from even the worst circumstances. Instead of dwelling on what you have lost, focus on blessings for which you are grateful. Don’t waste your pain and sorrow. Rather, learn something to better yourself and also help others. Meditate on Scripture rather than feed on the pity others have for you. The best person to turn to in tragedy is not your neighbor or even a close friend – it’s only the Lord.

God doesn’t deny our pain; He wants us to turn to Him for healing (Romans 8:31, 35, 38). When we trust the Lord and walk in the center of His will, we will be blessed (Job 42:10, 17). If you make the right choices in the midst of painful situation, your heavenly Father will see you through.

(By Dr  Charles Stanley)

Two Hindrances to Answered Prayer

Psalm 91:15 (New International Version)

 ¹⁵ He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
       I will be with him in trouble,
       I will deliver him and honor him.

Hebrews 4:14-16 (New International Version)

 ¹⁴Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, 

¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. ¹⁶Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

- - - o o o - - -

Two Hindrances to Answered Prayer

When a nightclub opened on the Main Street, a church which was only a few blocks away organized a 24-hours prayer vigil. They asked God to burn the club down. Within a week, lightning struck and the nightclub burned to the ground. The owner sued the church, which denied responsibility. After hearing arguments from both sides the judge said, “It seems that wherever the guilt may lie, the nightclub owner believes in prayer, while the church doesn’t.”

The first hindrance to answered prayer is – prayerlessness. Sound simple, but our prayers are not answered when we don’t pray. Saying we “believe” in prayer is not the same as “praying”. James writes: “You do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:3). We must take the time to ask God for what we want and need. Sometimes we process situations in our minds, or talk about them with our friends, or wish, or hope, but we don’t pray. Thinking, wishing, hoping, and talking with others is not prayer; only “prayer” is prayer! When we have a need or a situation that concerns us, we’re only praying when we talk to God about it.

God is waiting for us to make request to Him in prayer. He never gets tired of us coming to Him! He is able, willing, and ready to act on our behalf, but only if we pray. Jesus said: “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matt. 7:7-8 New Living Translation).

The second hindrance to answered prayer is – lack of confidence! When we understand that as God’s redeemed children we have the right to approach Him at any time, we are able to overcome the enemy’s attempts to make us feel condemned. As a result we become confident in approaching Him. We no longer say to ourselves, “I know God can do it, BUT I find it hard to believe He will do it for me.”  We think such thoughts because we don’t think we’re worthy.  Jesus has made us worthy! When we come to God, we can count on Him to be merciful to us. “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Grace means God will gave us what we don’t deserve – if we’re confident enough to ask for it. We ask in Jesus’ Name, not in our own name. We’re presenting to the Father all that Jesus is, not all that we are. We’re nothing without Jesus! God is willing to do more than we could ask or think, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, …” (Ephesians 3:20). So we need to exercise faith, and avail ourselves of all He can do by asking confidently.

Helen Poole writes: “My four years old daughter would always pray before she went to sleep. One night she prayed and prayed – her voice getting softer, until only her lips were moving. Then she said, ‘Amen.’ I said, ‘Honey, I didn’t hear a word you said.’ – She replied, ‘Momma, I wasn’t talking to you.” – When you understand that you have the right to talk to God, and that He listens to every word, you pray with confidence.

(By Pr. Jentezen Franklin)

Do you have a Son or Daughter in school, college or university? Please, find a way for Him/Her to read this message. He/She will be very blessed reading words of faith and encouragement.   
 

What a Name! Yes, the Name of Jesus!

Hebrews 1:1-14 (New International Version)

¹In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ²but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. ³The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. ⁴So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

 ⁵For to which of the angels did God ever say,
   "You are my Son;
      today I have become your Father"? Or again,
   "I will be his Father,
      and he will be my Son"? ⁶And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
   "Let all God's angels worship him." ⁷In speaking of the angels he says,
   "He makes his angels winds,
      his servants flames of fire^{. 8}But about the Son he says,
   "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever,
      and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
 ⁹You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
      therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
      by anointing you with the oil of joy." ¹⁰He also says,
   "In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
      and the heavens are the work of your hands.
 ¹¹They will perish, but you remain;
      they will all wear out like a garment.
 ¹²You will roll them up like a robe;
      like a garment they will be changed.
   But you remain the same,
      and your years will never end."^{] 13}To which of the angels did God ever say,
      "Sit at my right hand
   until I make your enemies
      a footstool for your feet"? ¹⁴Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

- - - o o o - - -

The name Jesus conveys different things to different people. Depending on the individual, it can mean an historical figure, a good teacher, a prophet, or a curse word. Yet to many throughout the world, that name is synonymous with "Lord and Savior."

What is it about that name? Why do some respond in praise and worship while others react in profanity and anger? The answer is that Jesus isn't simply a person; He's an issue. And our response to who He is determines not only our way of life, but also our eternal destiny.

The name of Jesus Christ represents all He is and all He does. Scripture identifies Him as the Son of God, equal to the Father in character and attributes: He is eternal, all-powerful, sovereign, and ever-present. The Bible also says He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him." (Col. 1:16).

Jesus came to earth as the God-man for the purpose of saving mankind. Because He lived a perfect life, Christ is the only person in history who is qualified to pay the penalty for someone else's sin. He secured our forgiveness and offers us the gift of salvation on the basis of faith.

One day Christ will sit as mankind's ultimate, final judge. Those who have accepted His payment for their sins will live with Him forever.

Have you chosen to receive Christ's offer of salvation? A transformed life now and an eternal kingdom in heaven await all who call Him Savior and King. If you've never made the wise decision to accept His free gift, why not do so now? Then rejoice in the fact that Jesus will return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

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

On The Winning Side

Colossians 2:6-15 (New Living Translation)

Freedom from Rules and New Life in Christ

 ⁶ And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. ⁷ Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. ⁸ Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. ⁹ For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. ¹⁰ So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

 ¹¹ When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. ¹² For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

 ¹³ You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. ¹⁴ He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

- - - o o o - - -

You've get to be On the Winning Side

Few today believe the pagan idea that the world is under the control of warring gods like Artemis, Pan, and Appolo. Yet even sophisticated skeptics readily acknowledge the reality of "forces" over which we have no control. For example, they attribute our inability to prevent violence in various places around the world to what they vaguely call "international forces". And they speak of "economic forces" beyond our control. For example, millions of people are starving despite the fact that there is more than enough food in the world to provide for every person on the earth.

The Bible clearly acknowledges the presence of invisible but very real spiritual beings, or powers. In Ephesians 6:11-12 the Apostle Paul declared that our primary warfare is against an army of rebellious angels headed by Satan, let's read it: "Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.  For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." (New Living Translation)

The bad news is that this battalion of demons are more intelligent and powerful than we are. The good news is that Jesus Christ defeated them by His death on the cross: "In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross" (Colossians 2:15).

There are many thing beyond our control, but we need not fear. We who have place our trust in Jesus, and received Him in our heart as our personal Savior and LORD, we are on the winning side. If you realized that you are not on this winning side, today is the day to receive this free gift of salvation given by God to all mankind.

_________________________________________________________________

Lamb of God! You now are seated

High upon Your Father's throne,

All Your gracious work completed,

All Your mighty victory known.

_________________________________________________________________

Remember:

Satan may win some battles,

but he cannot win the war.

Taking Jesus at His Word

John 4:46-54 (New International Version)

 ⁴⁶Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. ⁴⁷When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

 ⁴⁸"Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."

 ⁴⁹The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies."

 ⁵⁰Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live."
      The man took Jesus at his word and departed. ⁵¹While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. ⁵²When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour."

 ⁵³Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his household believed.

 ⁵⁴This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.

- - - o o o - - -

Taking Jesus at His Word

The man took Jesus at His word and departed. He was not used to taking people at their word like this. Usually he needed more proof. But this was his moment of greatest need. His son was deathly ill, and the doctors could not help him. His last resort was to turn to Jesus and plead for His help.

"Lord", he pleaded, "please come now before my little boy dies."

The way Jesus said "Your son will live" changed this man's life on the spot. There was such conviction in Jesus' voice, such authority and confidence that the man immediately believed him and went on his way.

He didn't need to see the results to believe, because the Son of God has spoken them. He didn't need the opinions of others, because the author of creation had spoken. The simple word of God calmed his heart in the most dire situation he had ever faced.

This is what happens when you encounter the Word of God. It rings in your soul and inspires your faith. It supersedes all other opinions and banishes all doubts. It addresses your heart's fears and sets you back on course for the adventure of your life.

In what areas of your life do you need to hear the simple and clear Word of God? What situations in your life need God's insight? Ask God to provide His wisdom in these areas, and then read the Bible expecting to hear from Him, and He will answer you.

Let's pray:

"God, I need to hear from you. Give me the faith to believe what you tell me to do, just as the man whose son was deathly sick believed. I believe that Jesus is my Savior and I confess Him as the Lord of everything in my life. I can't do this on my own, so help me my Lord God."

There Is Hope After Death

John 11:25-26 (New International Version)

²⁵Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; ²⁶and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

--- ooo ---

Even though you are still alive in the body, you MUST repent from your sins, and your sinful way of living and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and LORD in order to not die the eternal death. This decision has to be made while you are still in this earth life. After death, there is no other chance, but a judgment day waiting for you. So, this decision has to be made while you are still in this earth life. Think about it!! - Let's read what the Bible has to say for us:

Acts 3:19 (New International Version)

¹⁹Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

Romans 10:9-10 (New Living Translation)

⁹ If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

Hebrews 9:27 (New International Version)

²⁷Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.

--- ooo ---

But there is hope right now, receive Jesus Christ in your heart, confess publicly with your mouth that He is your LORD, and you will be saved. And if Jesus Christ comes to rapture His people before your death, then you will be taken unto heaven with Him and all the saints together:

John 14:1-3 (New Living Translation)

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. ² There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? ³ When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 (New Living Translation)

¹⁵ We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. ¹⁷ Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ So encourage each other with these words.

Turn On The Lights !!

Matthew 5:13-20 (New International Version)

Salt and Light

 ¹³"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

 ¹⁴"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

 ¹⁷"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. ¹⁹Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus Wants You  to Represent Him!

People often ask me what I miss most about serving as president of Moody Bible Institute. Without question it’s the students. I love their passion for Jesus and the way they demonstrate it to the world around them. Non-Christian employers often told me of the student’s exemplary work ethic. Chicago’s police superintendent once said, “When the Moody students return to campus, it’s like somebody turned on the lights on the near North side.”

This is exactly what Jesus had in mind when He said, “You are the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14). It’s a powerful word picture of the impact of contrast. There should be a recognizable difference between the integrity of Christians and the prevailing darkness of our world.

It’s not about making speeches for Jesus; it’s about people observing us as Jesus’ followers. Even though they may not want to hear about Jesus, you can be sure they’re watching to see if He makes a difference in our lives. When Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works” (Matt. 5:16), He was saying that before we can speak up we have to show up. Our capacity to shine Jesus is measured by our good works, which reveal His compelling reality in our lives.

Let’s turn on the lights in our lives. (By Dr. Joseph Stowell)

- - -o o o - - -

Jesus is calling you, with a holy calling for the light of the world to be, to lift up the lamp of the Savior, that others His light may see. No matter what you are, no matter the place you live, Jesus is calling you to be His ambassador and represent Him.

Insight:
In the Biblical passage we read today, Jesus used two common objects: salt and light, to show the impact a Christian ought to have on the society he lives in. Salt has been used as a preservative, a flavor enhancer, and a thirst stimulant. A lamp is intended to shine and give direction; to illuminate and give light to others. The light also serves as a sign. The light must necessarily be placed in a conspicuous position to attract and to be effective.

To lead others out of the darkness of sin, let them see the light of Christ in your life.

A New Career - Jesus Has a Calling for You...

Matthew 4:18-22  

(New International Version)

The Calling of the First Disciples

 ¹⁸As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." ²⁰At once they left their nets and followed him.

 ²¹Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, ²²and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Jesus Has a New Career for You

For some guys, the annual fishing trip is the highlight of their calendar. They stay in cozy cabins and spend long days fishing just for the fun of it. You can be sure it wasn't that way for the disciples at Jesus' time. They weren't on vacation when they met Jesus. Fishing was their career and they were very busy into it.

Our careers often demand much of our time and attention. But Jesus has an interesting way of interrupting our business-as-usual agenda. In fact, He invites us to join His business even today, right now no matter where you are or no matter what it your career.

Notice the sequence of His statement to the fishermen: "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men" (Matt. 4:19). We are tempted to think that we should make something of our lives and at the same time follow Jesus. WRONG!! He calls us first to follow Him, and then He makes something of our lives. He leads us to prioritize so that we see the needs of people and their eternity as the goal of all our endeavors. 

And while God may not require you to give up your career, following Him will guarantee that you will never see your career in the same way again. Where  you "fish"  is not important. But if you follow, you must fish.

What are you waiting for? Drop your nets, accept Jesus as your Savior, follow Him, and let Him make something of your life. He can use you in a mighty way that you had never thought about it.

International Women's Day - A Prayer For You Brave Woman!

By Dr. John Piper 

 

My earnest challenge and prayer for you is . . .

 

. . . That all of your life—in whatever calling—be devoted to the glory of God.

. . . That the promises of Christ be trusted so fully that peace and joy and strength fill your soul to overflowing. 

. . . That this fullness of God overflow in daily acts of love so that people might see your good deeds and give glory to your Father in Heaven.

. . . That you be women of the Book, who love and study and obey the Bible in every area of its teaching; that meditation on biblical truth be the source of hope and faith; that you continue to grow in understanding through all the chapters of your life, never thinking that study and growth are only for others.

. . . That you be women of prayer, so that the Word of God will be opened to you, and so the power of faith and holiness will descend upon you; that your spiritual influence may increase at home and at church and in the world.

. . . That you be women who have a deep grasp of the sovereign grace of God which undergirds all these spiritual processes; and that you be deep thinkers about the doctrines of grace, and even deeper lovers of these things.

. . . That you be totally committed to ministry, whatever your specific calling; that you not fritter away your time on soaps or women’s magazines or unimportant hobbies or shopping; that you redeem the time for Christ and His Kingdom.

. . . That, if you are single, you exploit your singleness to the full in devotion to God (the way Jesus and Paul and Mary Slessor and Amy Carmichael did) and not be paralyzed by the desire to be married.

. . . That, if you are married, you creatively and intelligently and sincerely support the leadership of your husband as deeply as obedience to Christ will allow; that you encourage him in his God-appointed role as head; that you influence him spiritually primarily through your fearless tranquility and holiness and prayer.

. . . That, if you have children, you accept responsibility with your husband (or alone if necessary) to raise up children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord—children who hope in the triumph of God—sharing with your husband the teaching and discipline they need, and giving them the special attention they crave from you, as well as that special nurturing touch and care that you alone are fitted to give.

. . . That you not assume that secular employment is a greater challenge or a better use of your life than the countless opportunities of service and witness in the home, the neighborhood, the community, the church, and the world; that you not only pose the question: career or full-time homemaker? but that you ask just as seriously: full-time career or freedom for ministry? That you ask: Which would be greater for the Kingdom—to work for someone who tells you what to do to make his or her business prosper, or to be God’s free agent dreaming your own dream about how your time and your home and your creativity could make God’s business prosper?

And that in all this you make your choices not on the basis of secular trends or upward lifestyle expectations, but on the basis of what will strengthen the faith of the family and advance the cause of Christ.

. . . That you step back and (with your husband, if you are married) plan the various forms of your life’s ministry in chapters. Chapters are divided by various things—age, strength, singleness, marriage, employment, children at home, children in college, grandchildren, retirement, etc. No chapter has all the joys. Finite life is a series of tradeoffs. Finding God’s will, and living for the glory of Christ to the full in every chapter is what makes it a success, not whether it reads like somebody else’s chapter or whether it has in it what only another chapter will bring.

. . . That you develop a wartime mentality and lifestyle; that you never forget that life is short, that billions of people hang in the balance of heaven and hell every day, that the love of money is spiritual suicide, that the goals of upward mobility (nicer clothes, cars, houses, vacations, food, hobbies) are a poor and dangerous substitute for the goals of living for Christ with all your might and maximizing your joy in ministry to people’s needs.

. . . That in all your relationships with men (not just in marriage) you seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in applying the biblical vision of manhood and womanhood; that you develop a style and demeanor that does justice to the unique role God has given to man to feel responsible for gracious leadership in relation to women—a leadership which involves elements of protection and provision and a pattern of initiative; that you think creatively and with cultural sensitivity (just as he must do) in shaping the style and setting the tone of your interaction with men.

. . . That you see the biblical guidelines for what is appropriate and inappropriate for men and women not as arbitrary constraints on freedom, but as wise and gracious prescriptions for how to discover the true freedom of God’s ideal of complementarity; that you not measure your potential by the few roles withheld, but by the countless roles offered; that you look to the loving God of Scripture and dream about the possibilities of your service to him.