Interesting Links

Here are some links that I thought you guys might be interested in:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZvK4hdIzIU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UEoR8uWiVU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr915N3ThuU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8ZZpRWLgqQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfVNfLljSlI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdQ8D-wXmw4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmoN7ZvwI6Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBjPIH6fApM

All glory and honor to God Forever & Ever!

Amen.

God's Grace

Today is another one of those days in which I feel completely and utterly unworthy, and unfit to face God. I feel completely inadequate to even talk to Him; let alone to serve Him. This feeling of inadequacy and the guilt that comes along as a resulting "perk" of my sinful nature, can be quite overwhelming, and even draining to my soul. Suddenly, this guilt, can be a considerable threat to my spiritual growth. That is the case, because guilt gradually destroys my confidence in God's promises for my life.

Additionally, I often tend to second-guess God's purpose and plan for my life. In other words, when I allow guilt to penetrate my heart, without dealing with it properly, before it takes root, I am also allowing the enemy to invade my mind, and feed me a whole bunch of lies in regards to my character, my motives, my love and commitment to God, and so on.

Now, don't get me wrong; guilt isn't always the "bad guy" in the story. In fact, it can be a warning sign. Letting me, (and you), know when something is wrong, and needs to be fixed. Like say, when I talk a little too much, without thought to the words that I use, and end up hurting people whom I care about. (Deja vu anyone?) But the trick to properly handling sin, and guilt for that matter, is not to deny it; but rather to admit it. Both to those involved in the matter, and to God. By doing so, we (you and me) humble ourselves before God-through prayer-and the individual related with the incident, through effective and time-sensitive communication. In plain English, wait until things cool down before you go talk to the people involved. And apologize when appropriate. Receiving forgiveness from the human party(ies) is not always a guarantee; but the good news is, once we admit before God that we have sinned-and genuinely repent from it-God shows us His mercy and grace. He forgives and restores us.

Remember: God comes near to those who seek Him wholeheartedly. He never turns a deaf ear to those who are willing to humble themselves before Him. He listens to them attentively, and is eager to show them His love, mercy, and grace.
 
God's

Reassurance (of)

Affection (and)

Comfort

Everlasting.

All glory and honor to God forever & Ever!
Amen.

The Wonders of God's Creation: Winter

Disclaimer: All pictures were obtained from Google Images. No Copyright infringement intended.

All Glory and Honor to God Forever and Ever!
Amen.

Genesis = The beginning

So why don't we start at the most obvious place: The beginning. There is a very controversial theory in regards to the beginning of it all, known as, The Big Bang theory. But to avoid getting entangled in its controversy, let's see what the Word of God has to say about it shall we? Here we go...

The bible is very clear on how life, and the world as we know it came to be. There are no guessing games. No missing pieces to the puzzle. All we have to do, is to believe by faith, that its content is genuine and true; written by God's apostles and servants, yes, but inspired by the Holy Spirit of God. Coming directly from His heart; because He created the heavens, the earth, and everything that lives and breathes. The Word of God, documents the steps involved in such creation, with a great amount of detail, precision and accuracy; thus, displaying the glory and power of the One and Only God, who created us. Allow me to demonstrate what I'm talking about, by quoting the book of Genesis-which means, The Beginning.

Genesis: Quotes from chapters 1 & 2
(New Living Translation)

Day One: God creates the heavens and the earth, as well as, night and day.

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." (Gen. 1:1)

"Then God said: Let there be light. And there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day" and the darkness "night." (Gen. 1:3-5)

Day two: God creates the sky.

"Then God said: Let there be a space between the waters to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth. And that is what happened.... God called the space "sky." (Gen. 1:6-7a)

Day three: God creates the land, the seas, and vegetation.

"Then God said: Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so that dry ground may appear. And that is what happened. God called the dry ground "land" and the waters "seas." "And God saw that it was good. Then God said: Let the land sprout with vegetation-every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the same kind of seed-bearing plants and trees from which they came. And that is what happened." (Gen. 1:9-11)

Day four: God creates the sun, the moon, and the stars.

"Then God said: Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them mark off the seasons, days, and years... God made two great lights-the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars." (Gen. 1:14 and 16)

Day five: God creates fish and other sea creatures, in addition to, birds.

"Then God said: Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind. So God created great sea creatures, and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird-each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good." (Gen. 1:20-22)

Day six: God creates every sort of animal, as well as, man and woman (human beings).

"Then God said: Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind-livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals. And that is what happened...Then God said: "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground. So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them." (Gen. 1:24-27)

Day seven: God rested from all of His work, and made the seventh day holy.

"On the seventh day, God finished His work of creation. So He rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all His work of creation." (Gen. 2:2-3)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZvK4hdIzIU

All glory and honor to God Forever and Ever!
Amen.

The Wonders of God's Creation: Autumn

*DISCLAIMER: All images were obtained at google images. No copyright infringement intended.

All glory to God Forever & Ever!
Amen.

Quick Review

The Bible contains God’s take on various topics with which we struggle, and/or are faced with every day. These include, but are not limited to: Anger, discouragement, sadness, depression, hope, faith, comfort, grace, patience, outward appearance, character, moral values, love, marriage, dating, God’s character, Jesus, and so on.

If you find yourself lost, or without direction, in this chaotic day and age in which we live, or are simply tired of trying to make it on your own, I humbly suggest that you start reading the manual to life. You may be pleasantly surprised with what you will find inside. Who knows? You just might begin on a journey full of wonderful discoveries, redemption, new beginnings, and a promising future in Christ Jesus.

Just give it a try, will you? After all, you’ve got nothing to lose; but much to gain.

All glory to God forever & Ever!
Amen.

Christianity = Lifestyle (Part II)

Walking on uncharted territory is always somewhat scary and intimidating for all of us. The fear of the unknown, not knowing what to expect, or what is expected of us, can cause us to feel anxious, and/or uncertain about what do next; right? Well, the same thing happens to new-born Christians. They have this newly found freedom in Christ Jesus, and yet, they may feel unsure of themselves; not knowing exactly how to go about their walk with Christ. But Fortunately, God himself has given us the resources to grow spiritually, and lead a life that is righteous in His eyes, and full of blessings, hope, excitement, and fulfillment. It is not to say that we won't face challenges and obstacles along the way. In fact, Jesus himself warned us about the trials and tribulations that we would face on this earth; but at the same time, He gave us a word of encouragement when He said: "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NLT).

We as believers, have the promise of God's peace within our hearts, and His grace to carry us through times of hardship. That's the key to facing trials without reaching desperation and utter despair. That's the difference between tackling obstacles and challenges the world's way: Without Christ; alone, and going through them with Christ; never alone.

But the purpose of this particular blog post, is not to discuss the trials and tribulations that we may encounter in life; (at least not directly). But it is rather, to talk about the resources available to us, so that we may grow spiritually, and live Christ-like lives. So let's get back to it shall we? (Pardon me for the detour).

Here they are:

• Prayer: Prayer is a very powerful tool. It allows to talk to the Father, and pour out hearts to Him, lay down before Him all of our anxiety, all of our troubles, and plead for His intervention. It also provides with the privilege to fellowship with the Lord; to ask Him for His direction for our lives, and to inquire about his purpose for our individual lives. And last but not least, prayer allows us to plead for the forgiveness of the sins that we commit each and every day. Thus, ensuring that we are made right with the Father, through God's grace, genuine repentance, and the blood of Jesus Christ.

• The Word of God (The Bible): When you purchase a high-tech device, such as, a high quality photo printer or an iphone, it comes with a manual; which contains information regarding the assembling process, (if applicable), its various features and functions, and even troubleshooting tips. The Holy Bible, (a.k.a. The Word of God and/or the Scriptures), also serves a similar purpose. It is a guide, or a manual to life. It has the answers to all of life’s lingering questions; such as, the commonly asked: “Where did we (the human race) come from? And What I’m I doing here, what is my purpose? Many of us have pondered on these very questions for a very long time, without much success. But the word of God provides us with tremendous insight, guidance, and wisdom regarding these-and many other issues- as it pertains to living life according to the intent of Its Creator, and tackling life’s challenges, in, with and through Christ Jesus, in this modern day and age, without feeling overwhelmed, depressed, or defeated. Always confident of God’s love, provision and care for all of those who put their trust in Him, and receive His gift of salvation and redemption through His Son Jesus Christ.

To God be all Glory Forever & Ever!
Amen.

Salvation

Before allowing Jesus in, I came to the end of myself. I had no where left to turn; all my bridges had been burned. I was skeptical, I was reluctant. I was resistant. I didn't want to let Jesus in just because it seemed like the right thing to do. I wanted to be convicted of the truth. And I was. By the grace of God, I am now His child. His Holy Spirit touched my heart, and brought me the conviction I needed to believe. And the same can happen to you.

All you have to do is believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who came to earth to live as a man, go through every trial and tribulation imaginable without sinning, and gave His life in sacrifice on the cross, for the redemption of our sins. But it doesn't end there. Jesus rose again on the third day, and now sits in a place of honor at the right hand of God. He lives!

Remember: He loves you, He knows you better than you know yourself. He cares for you. He knows your troubles and understands your pain. He is not indifferent to it. He's more than willing to forgive you, to comfort you and to give you life anew. Open your heart to Him. Confess that Jesus is the Son of God; who died for me and for you. Confess your sins to Him and genuinely repent of them. I can assure you that He's eager to wrap His arms around you, and to welcome you as His child.

So, what do you say?

Will you be His son/daughter?

It is my most sincere prayer to God the Father, that you may accept the gift of salvation with all your heart, and allow Jesus in to wash away all the guilt of sin with His holy blood. Then you will be truly free, and will have the most precious gift of all: Eternal life; you get to spend eternity with Jesus in His glorious Kingdom!

In Jesus name, I ask that those who read this blog, may receive this message with all of their hearts, and allow it to penetrate it into the inter-most part of their beings; their souls.

Amen!

All glory to God Forever and Ever!

Amen!

Christianity = Lifestyle (Part I)

I have encountered many people throughout the course of my life so far, who acquaint Christianity with religion. I personally believe that Christianity is much more than just a religion; it is a LIFESTYLE!

Religion nowadays has a very negative connotation. Unfortunately, Jesus Christ has been misrepresented. Many have used religion as a label to hide behind, in order to get away with things that God himself, would never approve of. Such as genocides, suicide bombings, and so on. Therefore, those who do not know Christ for who he truly is, are led astray, or remain skeptical; because they associate such acts of cruelty and injustice, performed by "religious" people, with the character of Christ. And NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH!

Christ is loving and kind, merciful and compassionate. He's full of grace. He's always ready to forgive, eager to save, redeem, restore, and heal his creation. He wants nothing more than for us to come to him and receive the gift of salvation with open hearts and open minds. Such a gift, is given to us by God's grace, and received by faith in Christ Jesus.

Still, there are many who are resistant to believe, and to receive such gift of salvation, due to the fact, that they may have witnessed hypocrisy within the church. As a result, they may generalize and assume that all Christians are hypocrites. While I must admit that there are some who claim to be Christians, (and are anything but), there are also those who genuinely love God. They strive to lead a life that pleases Him, and are eager to share the Good News with others. Not because they want to show off or anything of that nature; but because they want to share the freedom that comes from knowing Jesus Christ. Yes, you read right: FREEDOM.

A few years back, before I accepted Christ's sacrifice on the cross for me, (and for you), the last word that would have crossed into my mind when I thought about Jesus or Christianity would have been: freedom. You see, I was raised in a christian home. My parents were Christians, and as a child, I attended a very conservative Christian church. There were many rules to be followed: Men and women sat across from one another; in separate sections of the building. Women could not cut their hair, and had to wear long skirts in service. They could not wear pants. The list goes on, and on. Therefore, in my mind Christianity was full of restrictions, full of religiosity. To me God was a very distant God. Someone way up in heaven, observing me, keeping track of my many sins, and of the many times I had failed. But I was VERY, VERY WRONG about Him.

In time, I learned that God was not, and is not distant at all. He knows me better than I know know myself, He loves me, He cares for me, He forgives me, and He understands me. He knows my pain and understands my suffering. He's not indifferent to it. He gives me grace to get through it. He comforts me, and encourages me. He gives me strength to carry on, and faith to believe. He hears my prayers attentively. My name is written on the palm of His hand. He never forgets about me. His plans for my life go beyond my wildest dreams. He's my best friend. He's the Rock on which I stand.

And He loves you too. He cares for you. He's not distant or far away. He sees all that you do and everything you go through each and every day. But you have a choice to make: You can either choose to go through life alone, trying to make it on your own, or you can allow Jesus into your life. First, by believing in your heart, that Jesus is the Son of God-who came to earth to earth to pay the ransom for our sins on the cross-and then, by repenting of them and asking for forgiveness. Once those steps are taken, you will embark on a new, exciting, and adventurous journey. You'll begin your walk with Christ. This marks the beginning of a gradual transformation from the inside out. As a new-born Christian, your mindset will be gradually transformed by the Holy Spirit of God; who dwells within the hearts of those who have been saved, and adopted as God's children, through Christ Jesus.

All Glory to God Forever & Ever!

Amen

To be Continued...

A moment of Enlightenment

Joy

Encouragement

Salvation

Unity

Security

Caring

Humble

Redeemer

Irreplaceable

Savior

Tender

All glory to God Forever & Ever!
Amen!