READ | Genesis 41:14-44
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2041:14-44&version=NIV
The Bible is relevant for every situation. Although the details of our circumstances probably differ from those described in scripture, God’s Word still applies.
From the life of Joseph, we get a glimpse of what it means to have God with us in hard times. First of all, the young man’s faith strengthened, helping him place loyalty to the Lord above his personal welfare. For example, when Potiphar’s wife attempted to seduce Joseph, he refused, saying he would not sin against God (Gen. 39:9).
Second, the Lord’s presence meant that Joseph prospered right where he was—as a slave in Potiphar’s house and as a prisoner in a foreign jail. In both situations, those in charge recognized God’s favor was upon Joseph. So they gave him great responsibility and authority (vv. 3-4, 21-22).
Third, during times of suffering, Joseph gained invaluable life lessons that prepared him for the future. As a slave and prisoner, Joseph learned ways to handle responsibility, the details of Egyptian culture, and the importance of keeping God first.
An additional blessing was the opportunity to be a witness to the Lord’s power and sufficiency. When brought before Pharaoh to interpret his dream, Joseph said he could not do it but testified that God could (41:16).
We can see our faith grow by relying on our heavenly Father the way Joseph did. When we give God His rightful place in our lives as Lord, His presence will strengthen us to resist temptation. Then we, too, will be equipped to do kingdom work and ready to proclaim His greatness to those around us..
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Our Lady of Angels
Download the Presentation here:
http://cid-ad9e18f464c36d0f.office.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/Our%20Lady%20of%20Angels.pps
http://cid-ad9e18f464c36d0f.office.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/Our%20Lady%20of%20Angels.pps
Communion With Our Lord
READ | 1 John 1:1-3
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%201&version=NIV
Genesis 1:27 teaches that God created us—male and female—in His image. As a result of Adam’s rebellion, however, sin entered the hearts of his descendants and separated all of us from our Creator. With that act of disobedience, human nature became self-centered instead of focused on the Lord. The desire to spend time with God was replaced by a bent away from Him.
Knowing our dilemma—that we are enslaved by our “flesh” and unable to pay the penalty we owe—the heavenly Father sent His Son Jesus to stand in as our substitute. Because He is perfectly “holy, innocent, and undefiled” (Heb. 7:26), Christ alone qualified to carry our sins to the cross and pay our outstanding debt. When we receive Jesus’ finished work on our behalf, we are acknowledging His Lordship over our lives. Then we are adopted into God’s family and have fellowship with Him (1 Cor. 1:9).
Take a moment to reflect on Christ’s “rescue mission.” Jesus, the One without sin, chose to take on mankind’s sins—past, present, and future—to save us from eternal separation from the Father. He willingly gave His life so we might be reconciled to God and live with Him forever. As we ponder this amazing demonstration of grace and love, our response should be a strong desire to fellowship with Him.
Child of God, you were designed to have sweet communion with your heavenly Father. Jesus died so that you and I might become part of His family. How strong is your need for fellowship with Him? Does it override the clamor of the day’s events or get lost in the demands of daily living?
Message from Dr Charles Stanley
Do look at the post below this one...
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%201&version=NIV
Genesis 1:27 teaches that God created us—male and female—in His image. As a result of Adam’s rebellion, however, sin entered the hearts of his descendants and separated all of us from our Creator. With that act of disobedience, human nature became self-centered instead of focused on the Lord. The desire to spend time with God was replaced by a bent away from Him.
Knowing our dilemma—that we are enslaved by our “flesh” and unable to pay the penalty we owe—the heavenly Father sent His Son Jesus to stand in as our substitute. Because He is perfectly “holy, innocent, and undefiled” (Heb. 7:26), Christ alone qualified to carry our sins to the cross and pay our outstanding debt. When we receive Jesus’ finished work on our behalf, we are acknowledging His Lordship over our lives. Then we are adopted into God’s family and have fellowship with Him (1 Cor. 1:9).
Take a moment to reflect on Christ’s “rescue mission.” Jesus, the One without sin, chose to take on mankind’s sins—past, present, and future—to save us from eternal separation from the Father. He willingly gave His life so we might be reconciled to God and live with Him forever. As we ponder this amazing demonstration of grace and love, our response should be a strong desire to fellowship with Him.
Child of God, you were designed to have sweet communion with your heavenly Father. Jesus died so that you and I might become part of His family. How strong is your need for fellowship with Him? Does it override the clamor of the day’s events or get lost in the demands of daily living?
Message from Dr Charles Stanley
Do look at the post below this one...
Friday, July 9, 2010
Our Lady of Lourdes and St Bernadette
Do check out the following websites:
http://rectaratio.blogspot.com/2008_05_18_archive.html
http://www.marypages.com/NovenaLourdes.htm
http://www.marypages.com/
http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/lourdes.htm
http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayer_saint.htm
http://www.ewtn.com/index.asp
http://rectaratio.blogspot.com/2008_05_18_archive.html
http://www.marypages.com/NovenaLourdes.htm
http://www.marypages.com/
http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/lourdes.htm
http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayer_saint.htm
http://www.ewtn.com/index.asp
Also see the videos that follow...
More to be added soon...
The Sacrificial Lamb
READ | Hebrews 10:1-14
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2010&version=NIV
God’s grace has no limits. His mercy can reach the darkest part of our hearts. What’s more, the forgiveness Jesus offered on the cross stretches back to earth’s first day and forward to its last. Christ not only erased our past, present, and future sin; He also paid for the wrongs of every generation.
When the ancient Israelites brought a goat or a lamb to the temple for a sacrifice, they placed their hands on its head and confessed their sins. The priest then killed the animal and sprinkled some of its blood on the altar of atonement. The ritual symbolized a confessor’s payment for sin. But the lamb could not actually take on the sin and die in place of the Israelite (Heb. 10:4).
If an animal’s blood could actually erase a sin-debt, we’d still be offering those frequent sacrifices, and Jesus’ death would have been unnecessary. Yet we must remember that, though the act itself had no saving power, the ritual of sacrifice was God’s idea (Lev. 4). He established such offerings as a powerful illustration of the seriousness and penalty of sin. The practice also pointed to Christ’s perfect sacrificial death on our behalf and the salvation He offers. To use a modern metaphor, sacrifice can be thought of as a credit card. God accepted the lamb’s blood as temporary payment. When the bill came due, Jesus Christ paid the sin-debt in full.
Modern believers practice certain biblical rituals too. But we are not pardoned through prayer, Bible reading, or even the act of confession. Like the Israelites, we must also look to a lamb—the Lamb of God. When we receive Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins, we are forgiven forever.
- Message from Charles Stanley
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
The Cross: Grace Displayed
READ | Romans 3:21-27
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%203&version=NIV
At Calvary, the Lord displayed His grace for the entire world to see. The cross represents the intersection of His holiness and His love. From there, He poured out mercy on an undeserving population: all of humanity, including you and me.
Our holy God is absolutely without fault. He’s so “perfectly perfect” that no earthly man or woman can look upon Him and live (Ex. 33:20). The problem has to do with our sinful nature—we all have an inborn desire to rebel against His authority (Rom. 3:10). Anyone who thinks otherwise is deceiving himself (1 John 1:8). It’s important to understand that God hates sin. He cannot abide evil in His presence, so He pronounced a death sentence on sinners (Rom. 6:23).
But Scripture also tells us that God is love (1 John 4:8), and He created people with the intention of caring for them. What’s more, the Lord desires that all people spend eternity with Him. Yet there remains the problem of our sin and the death penalty that we owe.
The Lord cannot violate His own nature. Though God loves mankind, His holiness would be compromised if He permitted the filth of sin into His presence. So the Father made a way to cleanse dirty hearts and transform wayward natures: He put the sin of all mankind on Jesus Christ’s shoulders.
The Father sent His holy Son to be a perfect sacrifice on our behalf. Jesus Christ took our sin upon Himself and died on the cross in our place. When we trust Him as our Savior and receive His forgiveness, we are made new—holy, perfect, and welcome in our Father’s presence.
- Message by Charles Stanley
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%203&version=NIV
At Calvary, the Lord displayed His grace for the entire world to see. The cross represents the intersection of His holiness and His love. From there, He poured out mercy on an undeserving population: all of humanity, including you and me.
Our holy God is absolutely without fault. He’s so “perfectly perfect” that no earthly man or woman can look upon Him and live (Ex. 33:20). The problem has to do with our sinful nature—we all have an inborn desire to rebel against His authority (Rom. 3:10). Anyone who thinks otherwise is deceiving himself (1 John 1:8). It’s important to understand that God hates sin. He cannot abide evil in His presence, so He pronounced a death sentence on sinners (Rom. 6:23).
But Scripture also tells us that God is love (1 John 4:8), and He created people with the intention of caring for them. What’s more, the Lord desires that all people spend eternity with Him. Yet there remains the problem of our sin and the death penalty that we owe.
The Lord cannot violate His own nature. Though God loves mankind, His holiness would be compromised if He permitted the filth of sin into His presence. So the Father made a way to cleanse dirty hearts and transform wayward natures: He put the sin of all mankind on Jesus Christ’s shoulders.
The Father sent His holy Son to be a perfect sacrifice on our behalf. Jesus Christ took our sin upon Himself and died on the cross in our place. When we trust Him as our Savior and receive His forgiveness, we are made new—holy, perfect, and welcome in our Father’s presence.
- Message by Charles Stanley
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