Posts Tagged ‘God’
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Big Christian Word
I was just reading today’s devotion Kids4Truth and noticed today’s “Big Christian Word” is one that is used often in Christian circles, but not outside of them.
Sanctification – (sank-ta-fa-kay-shun)
Sanctification is a term used to show a continual growth to become more and more like Christ. Once we are “born again” we begin a process of growth that continues until the day we are face to face with Christ. (John 17:17) “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
On a side note being “born again” is something that is the key to becoming a Christian. I was reading another devotion the last night (Our Daily Bread) which listed three scriptures which may help you to understand more. I found it interesting to read them together, following one another.
Romans 3:23, Romans 5:8, and Romans 10:13.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”Once you call on the name of the Lord (pray to Jesus to save you), you become a Christian and your life begins again, so you are born-again. You don’t stay as a new born baby, you grow and gradually become sanctified (see above “big word”!). This process is gradual and continues throughout your life on earth, this generally why people read the bible and go to church, to learn how to become more Christ-like. Then comes the really good bit – because you CHOSE to enter into a relationship with God, you get to live with Him, forever.
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God is the best friend we can have!
Today’s excerpt is from Kids4Truth devotional. I’ve been reading their devotional for a few weeks and this section spoke to me because this was the thing that instantly changed for me when I became a Christian. I always ALWAYS felt lonely before – even when I was with people. But since 9th January 1994 I have never NEVER felt lonely – even when I’m alone.
God is the best friend we can have. Do you have a best friend? As a kid, I always wanted a best friend and wanted to be someone’s best friend. Proverbs 18:24 says, “There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” God proved that He is that friend when He said, “I am with you always” and “I will never leave you or forsake you.” No matter what is happening in your life, God will always be there for you. You cannot travel to a place on this earth where God will not be. You can’t hide from God. He is always there and will never leave you. He is the best friend you can have. Kids4Truth
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Why do we move?
Why do we move out of the loving embrace of our heavenly Father? Why do we get dazzled by the sights and experiences of the empty world? Why don’t we stay where we can be eternally fulfilled? Today I was listening to the Todd Agnew CD – Grace Like Rain. One part of the song Still Here Waiting struck me. Perhaps it will you too.
I don’t know where I turned around
From chasing what I always found completed me
More than I could dream
I don’t know why I can’t remain
Safe here where I always came to meet with you
And You always met with me
And you’re still here waiting
He never moves. He never leaves. He never forsakes. He waits. He listens. He forgives. He loves.
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Peace
Everyone is looking for peace or to live in peace. What is peace? Does peace mean the same thing to you as it does to me, or to God for that matter? How can we live in peace? Does having peace mean that everything will go right for you all the time?
I looked up peace in the dictionary and it has many meanings – so it’s a complex thing.
peace [pees] -
1 the normal, nonwarring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world.
2 (often initial capital letter
) an agreement or treaty between warring or antagonistic nations, groups, etc., to end hostilities and abstain from further fighting or antagonism: the Peace of Ryswick. 3 a state of mutual harmony between people or groups, esp. in personal relations: Try to live in peace with your neighbors.
4 the normal freedom from civil commotion and violence of a community; public order and security: He was arrested for being drunk and disturbing the peace.
5 cessation of or freedom from any strife or dissension.
6 freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.; tranquillity; serenity.
7 a state of tranquillity or serenity: May he rest in peace.
8 a state or condition conducive to, proceeding from, or characterized by tranquillity: the peace of a mountain resort.
9 silence; stillness: The cawing of a crow broke the afternoon’s peace.
In John14:26,27 peace is the central theme. Jesus is speaking these words to his disciples.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Which peace is he talking about? The third sentence points us to the peace that is described as freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety or an obsession. Tranquillity or serenity (no 6). I have experienced this peace, most recently last night.
My neighbour is quite deaf and seems to think that his loud music is okay for over an hour at a time blaring so loud it hurts my ears while I’m inside my bedroom with all the windows closed. I am not one to listen to the radio because of the talking inbetween, I find it irritating, so I stick to CD’s or tapes. Last I was trying to get to sleep early last night as I wasn’t feeling well. He turned on his music. The radio. It was not late as I’ve been going to bed early, but it was just so loud. I prayed for something that would make it to stop. Somehow. It kept on going. In the end I just had to thank God for the ability to hear, for the amazing technology we have at our fingetips, that I could choose to go to bed early in a comfy bed. I then prayed for my all my family and friends and whatever else the Holy Spirit led me to pray. In the end I was most focussed on God, not the music or my annoyance. Guess what, I had a peace in my spirit and soul that let me be able to fall asleep.
Another example is when I’m very angry with something or I might be anxious or confused. If I set my mind on God, His Word or things about His Kingdom, not the situation, God comes in and calms me. He truly gives me His peace, not the world’s.
There is another aspect to God’s peace – it’s the second definition from above – treaty. When we become aware of and accept the fact that we have wronged God with our sins and turn to Him, asking for forgiveness, we are ceasing our warring with Him. We are entering into a treaty or a peaceful pact with God. When we enter into His pact we also seem to receive many more of the different definitions of peace. I’m not saying life will be perfect, pain free with no trouble, but that He helps us to be able to handle life better.
In John 14:15-31 Jesus is speaking about the Holy Spirit whom the Father was going to send (which He did). He referred to Him as the Comforter or Counsellor. Someone who brings peace.
My prayer for you today is that you will know God’s peace and have that tranquillity in your mind and spirit, even in the midst of a busy, chaotic, stressful world. Peace that only He can give.
If you don’t know God or want the peace I’m talking about please look at Steps to Peace with God.
Steps to Peace with God was a small pamphlet written by Bill Bright many years ago, it has been put into digital form now and can be accessed by clicking on this link. -
Morning Devotions
I was reading Our Daily Bread this morning as a part of my morning devotions. The writer was highlighting the ancient city of Sodom whose people suffered God’s judgement, in part because they embraced a self-indulgent lifestyle. “This was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit” Ezekiel 16:49-50. Basically they were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned.
If we are honest with ourselves, we can see many similarities with today’s western lifestyle.
Most people are proud of their cars, houses and other things. (Pride)
Most people don’t have to struggle and toil to put food on the table. (Overfed)
Most people, while not at a paid job, don’t generally do anything to overtaxing. (Idleness)
Most people don’t think of the severe injustice and lack of choice and freedom that the poorest of poor people all over the world and in our country have to face every day. (not strengthening the poor/needy)This makes me think that perhaps God isn’t too happy with the way we choose to spend our time. Perhaps he has a better way that would profit us as well as Him. In Philippians 2:4 Paul tells us to serve others and desire to please God, this is the antidote to the poison of self-indulgence.
At the bottom of each page in Our Daily Bread is a verse and a summary line. Here are today’s.
Some are discouraged and weary in heart,
Help somebody today!
Someone the journey to heaven should start,
Help somebody today! –BreckThe more we serve Christ, the less we serve self.
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Slapton Sands
This is the devotion for Our Daily Bread for yesterday – a timely reminder that there is an enemy that wants to bring us down.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. — 1 Peter 5:8
On the southern shores of England is Slapton Sands. This beautiful beach area carries a tragic memory from its past.
On April 28, 1944, during World War II, Allied soldiers were engaged in Operation Tiger, a training exercise in amphibious beach landings in preparation for the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Suddenly, enemy gunboats appeared and killed over 700 American servicemen in a surprise attack. Today, a monument stands on Slapton Sands to commemorate the sacrifice of those young men who died while training for battle but were never able to enter the conflict.
This tragedy is a metaphor that warns the believer in Christ. We too are involved in combat with an enemy who is powerful and deceptive. That is why the apostle Peter warned: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
Like the soldiers on Slapton Sands, we face an enemy who desires our undoing. In the service of our King, we must be on the alert. The call to be effective in battle (2 Tim. 2:3-4) challenges us to be ready for the surprise attacks of our spiritual enemy—so that we can endure to serve another day. — Bill Crowder
The devil’s tactic is surprise
To stop you in your tracks,
So keep on guard and trust God’s Word;
Resist his strong attacks. —BranonSatan’s ploys are no match for the Savior’s power.
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Good Friday and Hot Cross Buns
Hot Cross Buns are only supposed to be eaten on Good Friday!
Do you know why?
The bun is made from dough (representing the Body of Christ),
it has raisins (the wine, or Blood of Christ)
and is spiced (for burial).
The Cross on top signifies the crucifixion.
And they are heated in the oven (as Christ’s body was placed in the tomb)
and smothered in butter – the oil of anointing.
They are more than a tea time snack – they are a devotion to the Christ who died for us.
Originally found at http://upperumgeni.wordpress.com by David de Kock
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‘Backwards’ comet perplexes scientist”
‘This is the first time in the outer solar system that something’s going backwards.’—Dr John Kavelaars,
Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics, CanadaThe origin of comets presents a challenge to evolutionary cosmologists. Being ‘dirty balls of ice’, with every pass by the sun they lose mass at such a rate that they cannot be more than thousands of years old (otherwise they would long ago have disappeared). That fits perfectly with the Bible’s timeframe but leaves evolutionary ‘big bang’ billions-of-years proponents scratching for ideas.
And the recent discovery of a comet dubbed ‘Dracula’ (officially named 2008 KV42), observed to be orbiting backwards around the sun on a 104-degree tilt, is reported to be ‘perplexing’ evolutionary scientists as to its origins.‘This is the first time in the outer solar system that something’s going backwards,’ said Dr John Kavelaars, one member of the international team of astrophysicists who first spotted the comet. It was so odd that they originally thought it was an error, he added. However, after confirmation via other telescopes around the world, the new discovery has changed astronomers’ assessment of 2002 XU93, a similar-type outer solar system comet tilted at 77 degrees—‘a virtual mirror orbit to Dracula’.
‘Before, they thought it (2002 XU93) was a weird oddball,’ said Kavelaars. ‘Now there’s two, and this one (Dracula) is so unusual you can’t ignore it.
’The reason for the bafflement is that evolutionary astronomers accept the ‘nebular hypothesis’. This 18th-century naturalistic idea proposes that the sun, the earth and the rest of the solar system formed from a nebula, or cloud of dust and gas. And such a collapsing cloud would result in objects orbiting in the same direction. Hence the puzzlement about a counter-orbiting planet. There are many other problems with the nebular hypothesis—see for example Revelations in the solar system.
Thousands-of-years-old comets and ‘mirror orbits’ are no accident. As the Psalmist (19:1) wrote, ‘The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands.’
First published on www.creation.com 27 Jan 09 and more recently in Challenge News Paper
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How clean is your mirror?
The other day as I was cleaning the house I saw that a mirror had become quite unclean. I could see into it, but the image was distorted and blurred because of the collection of specks and dust. Gradually over time it had built up. At first I didn’t notice, it still was easy to see. Then, this day, I looked at it and saw just how hard it was to use. So I cleaned it. In a matter of minutes it was sparkling, shiny and fresh. The reflection was sharp and clear.
We are like that mirror. We go through life, daily making choices that may put a speck here or there. Perhaps we have talents left unused to grow dusty. Because of this we aren’t reflecting what we need to be as well as we might. The bible says in 1 Corinthians that man is made in God’s image and reflects His glory. In a matter of minutes you can be sparkling, shiny and fresh. You can take your bad choices and dusty talents to the one who washes them white as snow. Jesus. No matter how dirty we are He accepts us back.
…man is made in God’s image and reflects God’s glory. 1 Cor 11:7b NLT
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as whitesnow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:18 NIV
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
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No one is Invisible…
I don’t know where this originates, but I received it recently in an email. It laments the perceived invisibility of the modern American Mum. It also reminds me that we ALL – not just mothers – at times, are in places and situations when we wonder why we are putting in all the effort because “no one will ever notice” but there is someone who notices and watches and celebrates and loves you all the time.
Please enjoy and remember that God watches over the righteous and the wicked. (Proverbs)
Invisible Mother……
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I’m on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I’m thinking, ‘Can’t you see I’m on the phone?’
Obviously not; no one can see if I’m on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I’m invisible. The invisible Mom.
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?? Some days I’m not a pair of hands; I’m not even a clock to ask, ‘What time is it?’ I’m a satellite guide to answer, ‘What number is the Disney Channel?’ I’m a car to order, ‘Right around 5:30, please.’
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude – but now, they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen
again. She’s going, she’s going, she’s gone!?One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting
there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, ‘I brought you this.’ It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn’t exactly sure why she’d given it
to me until I read her inscription: ‘To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.’ In the days ahead I would read – no, devour – the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:No one can say who built the great cathedrals – we have no record of their names.
These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.
They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, ‘Why are
you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof; No one will ever see it. And the workman replied, ‘Because God sees.’I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, ‘I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you’ve done, no sequin you’ve sewn on, no cupcake you’ve baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can’t see right now what it will become.
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don’t want my son to tell the friend he’s bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, ‘My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a
turkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.’ That would mean I’d built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, ‘You’re gonna love it there.’As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we’re doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
The Will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31NIV
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