Friday, November 27, 2015

Black Friday Versus Good Friday

Today is the 4th Friday of November, the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, and it's been widely known as Black Friday, the day of lots of retail sales and some even super amazing sales that last only for a few hours and they start off even well before sunrise as known as Doorcrashers sales.

Have you ever went Black Friday shopping and bought something like a large screen flat screen television at Walmart that costed you $199 but you had to line up overnight and into the wee early hours in the morning just to purchase it? Or have you ever ate a very early Thanksgiving supper meal at 3:00 p.m just so you can be one of the first 10 customers waiting in line at Best Buy to buy the newest gaming console released because it was a special edition?

How does it make you feel when you buy these items? Does it make you feel super happy that you were able to be one of the first persons to own something that you thought would "satisfy" and fill "your spirit" with much happiness and you just couldn't wait to get home and to show it off to your friends and/or family members or even neighbors?

I can honestly say, I've never gone Black Friday shopping ever maybe because I don't like crowds and I don't think it's worth it to me that I have to wait in line for so many hours and have a small chance to be able to buy one of the doorcrasher sale items at the discounted price. Don't get me wrong, I love shopping and I love deep discounts and clearance sales but it's not worth it to me to go shopping on the most busiest shopping day of the year in America.

Since getting Saved, the Lord has showed me that I should use each day wisely He has given to me and not to be lazy or be idle. Please read and consider mindfully the 2 verses below. Please note, in the King James Bible, the word slothful refers to the modern day word meaning lazy.

Psalm 90:12     
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Hebrews 6:12 

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
 
 What if I told you my friend that our time on Earth and in this world is very limited and everything we ever owned and even our own life is all but like a water vapour and it vanishes into thin air in a split second and that you could not bring anything with you at the time of your death. I'm telling you the honest truth my friend: the house you own, the car(s) you have, the pet(s) you care for, the child(ren) you might have, the electronics, the books, the money, everything that you ever owned are still going to remain on the physical world but your soul/spirit will leave this earth behind and be judged by the Holy God to where you will spend your eternity.

There is good news to this seemingly "sad" tale my friend, it is the Lord Jesus Christ who came onto this Earth over 2000 years ago on this earth, and He took your place on the cross to die for your and my sins. His Father God in Heaven loved the world so much that He gave us His son Lord Jesus to die for us and our sins, and if you believe in your whole heart that He died on the cross for you, that He is a holy and just God, you may be Saved and can have eternal life in Heaven.
 
As a child you were probably told the Easter Story and thought and believed that Jesus Christ was put to death on Good Friday and He rose up from the dead and went up to Heaven to be with His Father God on Easter Sunday. However, I want to correct you and urge you to look at the Scriptures and find out for yourself that Jesus Christ, the Savior actually died on Thursday.
 
So, in closing this blog, I would like to urge you to consider and challenge yourself to see what you are believing in, is it more important for you to have material things on Earth now that you can't bring with you anywhere when you die or is eternal and everlasting life in Heaven more important to you?
 
In closing, I will share two more Bible verses with you, one is about physical life is all but a vapour and probably the most well known verse in the Bible about eternal life. God Bless You and thank you very much for your time to read this blog. May the Lord bless you richly. <3
 
James 4: 14  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
 
John 3:16    For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him  should not perish, but have everlasting life.


 
 


 
 
 
 






 

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Dating and Preparation for Marriage, by Mike Bickle/Alan Hood

Bobby Conner - "Hold Onto Your Hope" - MorningStar Ministries

Happy Thanksgiving Day Eve

It's the eve of Thanksgiving Day in the United States of America today, and for Canadians it was back in the middle of October, 2nd Monday of the month to be exact. I was told that the Thanksgiving Day (holiday) is a holiday observed only in North America as a way of thanking the Native American Indians for their food they shared with the earliest settlers to (North) America and another story was the way the earliest Christian settlers thanked the Lord (God) who provided them with a plentiful harvest that will keep them well nourished when the colder winterlike weather approached the land of Freedom and Free.

I would like to share some thoughts that the Lord has shared with me. My hope is that this post will be glorifying in His eyes and He will use it for His Goodness.

(1) When we are thankful for the goodness of God in our lives, it touches the very heart of God and encourages Him to shower even more blessings upon us. A thankful heart is truly a floodgate to the blessings and goodness of God in our lives!

Psalms 37:4, "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

(2) One of the vital steps to developing a thankful personality, is to meditate the things that you have in your life to be thankful for. Make a list of the things God has done for you, and keep those things on your mind throughout the day. It may take a little more work at first, especially if your mind is programmed to think negatively. This process is the tearing down of strongholds and the renewing of your mind as God's Word tells us:

Romans 12:2, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

(3) We renew our minds by feeding and meditating on uplifting things (blessings in our lives) and the truth in God's Word. A pastor can help feed us the truth is he or she is preaching the Word of God as the Word was meant to be preached, but it is upto us to take what we hear and allow our minds to feast upon it.

Philippines 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Hope these thoughts have been a blessing to you and that you can apply it to your lives. When you're feeling unhappy and/or unthankful, hope that these thoughts will fill your heart with even a small amount of hope and joy. May the Lord bless you and yours.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and thank you for reading this message today. <3 Love xoxo




Monday, November 23, 2015

Set My Soul Afire Lord


Hymn written by Gene Bartlett (c) 1965

Set my soul afire Lord, for Thy Holy Word, 
Burn it deep within me, let Thy voice be heard
Millions grope in darkness in this day and hour, 

I will be a witness, fill me with Thy pow'r  (c)

Chorus
Set my soul afire Lord, set my soul afire.
Make my life a witness of Thy saving pow'r.
Millions grope in darkness, waiting for Thy Word. 
Set my soul afire, Lord, set my soul afire!

Set my soul afire, Lord, for the lost in sin, 
Give to me a passion as I seek to win; 
Help me not to falter never let me fail, 
Fill me with Thy Spirit, let Thy will prevail. (c)

Set my soul afire, Lord, in my daily life. 
Far too long I've wandered in this day of strife; 
Nothing else will matter but to live for Thee, 
I will be a witness for Christ lives in me. (c)

About the author
Gene Bartlett was born on May 4, 1918 in Greenwood, Arkansas. He was the son of songwriter Eugene Bartlett, Sr. and was educated at John Brown University (BA), & Oklahoma Baptist University (BM, honorary DMus). He served as minister of music at three Baptist churches in Arkansas; at Trinity Baptist Church, Oklahoma City (1947-54); and Director of Church Music for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (1954). He was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2000. He died on July 10, 1988, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.


Personal Notes:
I got Saved 7 years ago on June 29th, this was the 2nd chance the Lord gave to me for this life. My life before that day was very hard and miserable but since giving my life over to the Lord, I have so much peace and feel so loved it is the best feeling of all. It is a prayer of mine that the Lord will set my soul afire for him and to be used by Him to do His Will daily.

Catch The Fire Conference 2015 - John Arnott - Holy Spirit Gives Freely

Walking Through Miscarriage With God

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Have You Decided that You Want to Follow Jesus in your life yet?


The following is the lyrics to a very popular Christian hymn named "I have decided to follow Jesus" It is a simple song but yet it has so much meaning.

Enjoy:

I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, I still will follow;
Though none go with me, I still will follow;
Though none go with me, I still will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

My cross I will carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I will carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I'll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back. 

The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back. 



Hymn History Information quoted and based on Wikipedia:

"I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" is a Christian hymn originating from India.
The lyrics are based on the last words of a man in Assam, north-east India, who along with his family was converted to Christianity in the middle of the 19th century through the efforts of a Welsh missionary. Called to renounce his faith by the village chief, the convert declared, "I have decided to follow Jesus." In response to threats to his family, he continued, "Though no one joins me, still I will follow." His wife was killed, and he was executed while singing, "The cross before me, the world behind me." This display of faith is reported to have led to the conversion of the chief and others in the village
The formation of these words into a hymn is attributed to the Indian missionary Sadhu Sundar Singh. The melody is also Indian, and entitled "Assam" after the region where the text originated. The fierce opposition is possible as various tribes in that area were formerly renowned for head-hunting.
An American hymn editor, William Jensen Reynolds, composed an arrangement which was included in the 1959 Assembly Songbook. His version became a regular feature of Billy Graham's evangelistic meetings in America and elsewhere, spreading its popularity.
Due to the lyrics' explicit focus on the believer's own commitment, the hymn is cited as a prime example of decision theology, emphasising the human response rather than the action of God in giving faith.This has led to its exclusion from some hymnals.A Lutheran writer noted, "It definitely has a different meaning when we sing it than it did for the person who composed it."

The Essential Jesus

Night of Worship - from LIVE EVENT 02-2015

Thirty-One Truths: Who I Am in Christ

What's Next? First Steps Following Jesus

Catch The Fire Conference 2015 - Reinhard Bonnke - 26 September 2015

Give Your Life To Jesus Prayer

"Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."

My Spirit, My Responsibility