Read | John 15:4-6
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2015&version=NIV
Today’s passage encourages us to stay connected to Jesus. The image of Him as the vine and believers as the branches helps us understand that apart from Him, we can do nothing. It is possible to accept His salvation yet still act out of the “flesh,” distracted or separated from His direction and power. All believers find their focus wandering at times, but some have strayed so far that it’s hard to see their way back.
If you find your heart loyal to something besides Christ, it is vital to acknowledge that this has happened. Identify which attitudes or activities are drawing you away from Jesus. Then repent and get whatever help is necessary to set aside diversions, insecurity, worldly desires, or anything else that draws your attention away from the Lord.
Once the distraction is gone, refocus on Jesus by reading the Word, praying, learning from biblical messages, and spending time with godly friends who will encourage you. After living outside of God’s best for a while, it can be hard to discipline yourself to function as the Lord desires. But He promises to walk by your side to strengthen you and supply all your needs (Phil. 4:19).
As Hebrews 12:1 urges, let us “lay aside every encumbrance . . . and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
Don’t delay. Acknowledge any area, sin, or stronghold that is keeping you from living passionately and fully for Christ. Following His plan—with His strength—is the way to peace, joy, and contentment in life. Ask for His help and commit to action. There is nothing like living “at full throttle” for God.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Saturday, October 9, 2010
1. Love Your Enemies
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? (Matthew 5:43-47 )
2. Don't Worry About The Future
Sometimes insightful sayings seem obvious once you hear them - I think that is the case here. Live in the moment you're in!
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:34)
3. How To Treat Others
“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. (Matthew 7:12)
4. The Most Important Commandment
“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40)
5. Spiritual Greatness
“You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45)
6. Gaining The World, Losing Your Soul
Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:34-38)
7. The Kingdom Of God Is Not Physical
“My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36)
8. God Loves Everyone
This very well known passage is actually a quote from Jesus.
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)
9. Ask, Seek, Knock
“And so I tell you, 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. (Luke 11:9-10)
10. His Claim To Be God
Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:63-64)
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? (Matthew 5:43-47 )
2. Don't Worry About The Future
Sometimes insightful sayings seem obvious once you hear them - I think that is the case here. Live in the moment you're in!
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:34)
3. How To Treat Others
“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. (Matthew 7:12)
4. The Most Important Commandment
“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40)
5. Spiritual Greatness
“You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45)
6. Gaining The World, Losing Your Soul
Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:34-38)
7. The Kingdom Of God Is Not Physical
“My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36)
8. God Loves Everyone
This very well known passage is actually a quote from Jesus.
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)
9. Ask, Seek, Knock
“And so I tell you, 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. (Luke 11:9-10)
10. His Claim To Be God
Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:63-64)
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Wen I Askd God 4 Strength,He Gave Me Difficult Situations to Face
Wen I Askd God 4 Brain & Brawn,He Gave Me Puzzles in Life to Solve
Wen I Askd God 4 Happiness, He Showd Me Some Unhappy People
Wen I Askd God 4 Wealth,He Showd me How to Work Hard
Wen I Askd God 4 Favors,He Showd me Opportunities to Work Hard
Wen I Askd God 4 Peace,He Showd me hw2 Help Others
God Gave Me Nothin I Wanted,He Gave Me Everythin I Needed.
Wen I Askd God 4 Brain & Brawn,He Gave Me Puzzles in Life to Solve
Wen I Askd God 4 Happiness, He Showd Me Some Unhappy People
Wen I Askd God 4 Wealth,He Showd me How to Work Hard
Wen I Askd God 4 Favors,He Showd me Opportunities to Work Hard
Wen I Askd God 4 Peace,He Showd me hw2 Help Others
God Gave Me Nothin I Wanted,He Gave Me Everythin I Needed.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Family.....
In this spiritual walk there are times we find ourselves off the narrow road we were walking in.
Satan is deceptive and sometimes easily distracts us off track and we don't even realize it at first as we slowly move off track!
Compromise comes in inches and then suddenly one day we realize we are far out off the track.
Satan finds it easy to distract us.....
We are physically weak and in pain,
In times like these Satan tempts one to watch the wrong stuff, drink, smoke, go to the wrong place and says "Hey it's OK...it's just this once, you'll feel better if you do this, watch this ...you can read your Bible and pray tomorrow when things get better."
But that tomorrow never comes..what started off as fun ends up in addiction and that person realises he's strayed away from God and the path he was to walk...
But there's good news...
When we stray away Jesus comes looking for us, calls out our name, like the shepherd who went searching for that 1 lost sheep, leaving the 99 behind. Then we need to cry out to God, repent & get back to the place where we last felt HIS Presence.
There are just 2 paths,
Matthew 7:13
[ The Narrow and Wide Gates ] "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
Matthew 7:14
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
[ The Narrow and Wide Gates ] "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
Matthew 7:14
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
To keep ourselves from wandering away from the right path...
Nebrews 10:25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Take care...
Be blessed,
YSIC,
Julia
Love and Time
Love and Time
Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others, including Love. One day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink, so all constructed boats and left.Except for Love.
Love was the only one who stayed. Love wanted to hold out until the last possible moment.
When the island had almost sunk, Love decided to ask for help.
Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat. Love said, "Richness, can you take me with you?"
Richness answered, "No, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you."
Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel. "Vanity, please help me!"
Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel. "Vanity, please help me!"
"I can't help you, Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat," Vanity answered.
Sadness was close by so Love asked, "Sadness, let me go with you."
Sadness was close by so Love asked, "Sadness, let me go with you."
"Oh . . . Love, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!"
Happiness passed by Love, too, but she was so happy that she did not even hear when Love called her.
Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come, Love, I will take you." It was an elder. So blessed and overjoyed, Love even forgot to ask the elder where they were going. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went her own way. Realizing how much was owed the elder,
Love asked Knowledge, another elder, "Who Helped me?"
Happiness passed by Love, too, but she was so happy that she did not even hear when Love called her.
Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come, Love, I will take you." It was an elder. So blessed and overjoyed, Love even forgot to ask the elder where they were going. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went her own way. Realizing how much was owed the elder,
Love asked Knowledge, another elder, "Who Helped me?"
"It was Time," Knowledge answered.
"Time?" asked Love. "But why did Time help me?"
Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how valuable Love is."
The Love of God is verily indescribable beyond time and volume for you and me. He loves us beyond everything.
He even gave His only Son on the Cross for redeeming us back to Him.
No matter who loses hold of you…The Lord God Almighty will take complete control over you.
Love covers a multitude of sins….
A Prayer for Courage
Almighty God, who gives strength to the weak and upholds those who might fall, give me courage to do what is right, for those that trust in you have no need to fear.
Make be brave to face any danger which may now threaten me.
Give me the help that you have promised to those who ask it, that I may overcome my fears and go bravely forward.
Fill me with courage, that nothing which is my duty to do, may be too hard for me. Let me put my trust in your power and goodness.
Thank you my Lord.
Make be brave to face any danger which may now threaten me.
Give me the help that you have promised to those who ask it, that I may overcome my fears and go bravely forward.
Fill me with courage, that nothing which is my duty to do, may be too hard for me. Let me put my trust in your power and goodness.
Thank you my Lord.
Where Change Really Begins
A Message by Billy Graham
People today sense that we are rushing madly toward a climactic point in history. Conferences are held, investigations conducted and junkets authorized in a frantic effort to discover the basic cause of the world’s ills. Millions of dollars are spent to find an answer to international problems. The stockpile of problems mounts higher and higher as the solution to the world’s troubles is hidden from us.
Our spiritual problems can only be solved by the God who created us.Observant people are unanimous in the opinion that the moral disintegration of this generation is a result of a materialistic philosophy. The Word of God says, “They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind” (Hosea 8:7).
The immutable law of “sowing and reaping” has held sway. We are now the unhappy possessors of a harvest of moral depravity, and we seek in vain for a cure. The weeds of indulgence have overgrown the wheat of moral restraint. All humanity is guilty.But as a minister of the Gospel, I am an optimist. The world’s problems are big, but God is bigger! If we will dare to take God into account, confess our sin and rely unreservedly upon Him for wisdom, guidance and strength, our problems can be solved.
David, king of ancient Israel, found himself in the midst of a confused national situation. His kingdom was torn by internal strife. Slave hated master; master hated slave. People blamed the government; government blamed the people. David’s nation stood on the brink of a perilous civil war.
David knew that if the tide of sin continued to rise, his nation would collapse spiritually. He knew that economic depression, moral disintegration or military defeat inevitably follow spiritual decline.So David did what all intelligent people should do when they reach the end of their rope—he turned to God. The Spirit of God revealed to him that the spiritual tide of his nation could rise no higher than the spiritual level of his own heart. So he fell on his knees in utter humility and prayed:
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
People today sense that we are rushing madly toward a climactic point in history. Conferences are held, investigations conducted and junkets authorized in a frantic effort to discover the basic cause of the world’s ills. Millions of dollars are spent to find an answer to international problems. The stockpile of problems mounts higher and higher as the solution to the world’s troubles is hidden from us.
Our spiritual problems can only be solved by the God who created us.Observant people are unanimous in the opinion that the moral disintegration of this generation is a result of a materialistic philosophy. The Word of God says, “They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind” (Hosea 8:7).
The immutable law of “sowing and reaping” has held sway. We are now the unhappy possessors of a harvest of moral depravity, and we seek in vain for a cure. The weeds of indulgence have overgrown the wheat of moral restraint. All humanity is guilty.But as a minister of the Gospel, I am an optimist. The world’s problems are big, but God is bigger! If we will dare to take God into account, confess our sin and rely unreservedly upon Him for wisdom, guidance and strength, our problems can be solved.
David, king of ancient Israel, found himself in the midst of a confused national situation. His kingdom was torn by internal strife. Slave hated master; master hated slave. People blamed the government; government blamed the people. David’s nation stood on the brink of a perilous civil war.
David knew that if the tide of sin continued to rise, his nation would collapse spiritually. He knew that economic depression, moral disintegration or military defeat inevitably follow spiritual decline.So David did what all intelligent people should do when they reach the end of their rope—he turned to God. The Spirit of God revealed to him that the spiritual tide of his nation could rise no higher than the spiritual level of his own heart. So he fell on his knees in utter humility and prayed:
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)
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