A time to die

Ecclesiastes 3 may be a comfort to those who have mourned or grieved the loss of a loved one. It reminds you that there is a time for everything and 'to everything there is a season'; a 'time for every purpose under heaven. This includes life and death. Sure enough, most people get uncomfortable around the subject of death and some even fear it. It becomes an obsession in their life. But the Bible (GOD's Word) assures us that we are not to worry. If you are "in Christ", then you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Your life belongs to Jesus and you are kept by Him until the very very end. Don't worry about your future if you have surrendered your life to Jesus. You have the full assurance of salvation and the absolute certainty that you will be with Him when you die. If you have lived "in Christ" then you will live again. When you accept Jesus Christ into your life, you enter into a relationship with Him that will never end.

If you have not received Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Saviour in your life, do so now.
Why? you may ask. The answer is because He was GOD in the flesh, and He came down for this very purpose: TO DIE FOR YOUR SINS, TO BRING YOU CLEANSING AND HEALING AND FOR YOU TO ENTER INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THE FATHER THROUGH HIM. ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.

All glory be to GOD the Father in Jesus Christ' name. Our Mediator. Thanks be to GOD I am saved.

In Season and Out of Season

A word spoken out of season can have devastating affects and consequences. Similarly, a word spoken in the context of GOD's Word, at the right time can be absolutely life-changing. When a Christian speaks the Word of GOD into a situation which needs or calls for it, this can mean GOD breaking through into someone's life and changing the course of history for that person and many others alike. This will most certainly set off a never ending chain or rather domino effect which will echo right into eternity.

I challenge you today to start using your words wisely. Remember, the power of life and death is in the tongue. It is a fire and a world of evil among the members of the body and sets the whole course of a man's life on fire. (James 3:6) Jesus said that a time will come when all men will give an account for every careless word they have spoken.

What have you said today?

In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley‏

Hey guys, here's something for today. I got this from my email address. Dr Charles Stanley is a really good preacher.

November 15
Perspective for Challenging Times
Ephesians 3:19-21
There are many ways we can fail to reach the goals that the Lord has for us. Today, I would like to focus on how our perspective can impede fulfilling His best for our lives.
For one thing, our thought process during times of difficulty can be detrimental to our success. In the midst of adversity, it is easy for our trust to flounder and for our eyes to drift from Jesus to the problem. Once our focus shifts away from God, the problem becomes magnified. Negative thinking can overwhelm faith and extinguish courage. Then we may be tempted to quit, which obviously thwarts God’s plan for our good.
What’s more, we tend to see the obstacle in terms of our own strength and resources rather than God’s. The apostle Paul clearly understood this, because he said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). The Lord’s ability and love are unlimited. Everything that we need, He will provide.
Too often, we miss God’s best because we view the obstacle as a problem instead of an opportunity. Realize that roadblocks are a way for the Lord to demonstrate His awesome power and grow our faith.
What happens when our focus shifts to a godly perspective on difficulties? Gloom turns to gladness, and we experience joy.
When God gave Joshua instructions, He revealed that Jericho would be defeated. But He doesn’t always show the whole picture; sometimes He reveals it little by little. Why? So we will learn to rely on Him daily—He desires that we look to Him for guidance today and trust Him with tomorrow.

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.

Sharp Objects

A pencil is an object which when sharpened can pose as an object which presents beautiful  art pieces ( a tool when used in the correct way can be used in the making of something beautiful) or as a dangerous weapon. If it were to puncture the human eye it would blind instantly. Yet in the hand of an extremely talented artist it can be used as a tool which creates masterpieces of creativity. A device or tool used in the process of putting thought and ideas to paper.

In the same way we can either be objects of wrath and destruction of agents of beauty. The Bible says in Romans 12:1-2 to present your bodies as living sacrifices, in view of GOD's mercy, which is our reasonable act of service. We are not to offer the parts of our body to sin to be used by it (Romans 6:11-16). We have an obligation to GOD, not to ourselves and not to the sinful nature (Romans 8:12-13). So offer the parts of your body to the LORD's service. We will either be slaves of sin or servants of righteousness. We can either be objects of wrath and destruction or objects used for goodness. Vessels which carry the LORD's holy presence.

The LORD said to the Israelites thousands of years ago  "..I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life. Deuteronomy 30:19-20.

Today the GOD presents you with the same choice. Will you choose life?

GOD is there

GOD is so great and He has a unique way of communicating with each of His children individually and according to their various needs and also their personalities. A divine way of letting them know that they are loved and ultimately (completed) taken care of by their loving Father in Heaven. He watches over you and makes sure that in times of trouble and dispair, you know that you are well-loved by Him and that everything is going to be alright. GOD is so great. I love Him. Many times in my life when I have been down my GOD has been there to rescue me. Right there by my side to whisper a comforting Word into my heart. He melts your heart and leaves you with a peace indescribable.

Once I was at university studying and doing my coursework in the library. I was really down and somehow GOD showed me this Scripture from Joshua 1:9 "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." I wasn't even looking for it and it came up on the internet page I was looking at. GOD knows how to make His Word reach you at just the right time. HE knows when you are on the edge and when you need a Word of comfort to strengthen you and that is just what it did for me at that time. It lifted my spirit and placed a joy in my heart that wasn't there before I had read the Scripture verse. GOD is so great, His Word is so powerful and it provides strength, encouragement and enlightenment at the right time. (Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  Hebrews 4:12

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Another passage of Scripture similar to Joshua 1:9 is Deuteronomy 31:6. It again speaks of the Presence of GOD being a soul calming comfort in the face of fear, trouble or confrontation (battle).

 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

No matter what you may be faced with, you are always in the Arms of GOD and His Presence is always with. No matter where you go He is always with you. (Psalms 139) There is nowhere you can go to flee from His Spirit. No height or depth can separate you from His love. No circumstance, no failure, no person, no time, in fact nothing in all of creation can separate you from the Father's love. (Romans 8:37-39)

2 Kings 6 to me speaks of 3 things:

• the power of GOD- GOD blinded/confounded the enemy (much like He does for us today)
• the mercy of GOD- excercise in Elisha vs 21-22
• the love of GOD

These men who had invading the territory of Israel were shown extreme mercy. They must have been wondering what was going on. It is a very surprising thing for an enemy to treat you with mercy and even love after you have tried to attack them and infiltrate their fortress. So these men have been given a feast in place of a beheading-so to speak. They were shown kindness by Elisha, who I think had the mindset of Christ. The mercy of GOD was working in His heart when he set before them a feast. Christ Himself held on while wicked people did evil things to Him and yet He still cried out "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." He treats us like this when He gives us-deserving only condemnation- unmerited grace and all the gifts of His love. Elisha demonstrated the basic concept of undeserved mercy (sparing their enemies' lives) and unmerited grace (setting a feast before them in place of punishment).

GOD has given us all we need and more. And we should thank Him for His undeserved amazingly wonderful grace in Christ Jesus. I think I feel a song coming on.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me...

What a wonderful, kind hearted, tender loving GOD we serve. Hallelujah. Praise You Jesus Christ. Glory be to GOD in the highest.

GOD loves you!

Since Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible GOD, we can best know, recognise and experience GOD's love through Jesus Christ and what He said and did in His life on this earth. The Bible says in John 1:14 that"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. Matthew 9:35

We have the truth of GOD in our hearts when we invite Christ Jesus into our lives and He makes His abode with us. He has given us eternal life, love that will never end, His Son who will never die, never fail us and sits at the right hand of (the throne of) GOD interceding for us. He gave Himself for us freely (to death, being completely obedient to GOD on our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of GOD in Him), when He came in the form of sinful man.

The Bible says that Jesus Christ suffered and died a gruesome and agonizing death on our behalf to make us right/straight with GOD the Father. For it is written ^"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

If you ever doubt that GOD loves you, just look to the cross. If He would do that for you, how much more will He give you or do for you in Christ Jesus our Lord. "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:32

Spiritual Amnesia: Do You Forget Me?

Do you forget Me....

• when you're with your friends?
• when life gets hard?
• when you don't have things your way?
• when you're happy

or when you're sad?

• when you're feeling hopeless?

or when you're mad?

what makes you forget Me?

Have a wonderful evening everyone. If this has touched your heart in some way and you want to respond to it, I encourage you just now to take the opportunity to thank GOD for all that you have, all that He's given you, all that He's done for you and all that you've accomplished (this month or last month-whatever applies to you) It also gives me great pleasure to announce that GOD has something very special in store for each of you this month of November. Expect it. Meet this month with eager expectation that something great is going to happen to you and that GOD is responsible for it.

Amen, praise GOD. glory be to GOD in the highest.