1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the
easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."
2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes
teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right
direction. Keep them in your prayers.
3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in
business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion.
They need God's guidance.
4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any
piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They
need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.
5. And lastly, our little finger - the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in
relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinkie
should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own
needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effective.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
What Love!
The way has been opened. It is now possible for ALL to be forgiven for ALL their sins: past, present and future. No matter how dark and terrible they may be. Forgiveness of sins is for ALL. No one is beyond God's forgiveness through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. Christ's blood, His sacrifice and resurrection have made it possible for us ALL to come back to God. Jesus Christ has claimed victory over sin and death by His resurrection, satan is defeated. It is finished.
It is now possible to find peace and fullfillment in our lives. To be free from guilt, to start again, to receive a new life. But the most important thing above all this is that through our belief and decision to follow Jesus we will be saved from the wrath of God; the consequences of our sins.
Next is probably the most well known verse in the Bible; but read the following verse also! 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it ' (John 3:16,17 NLT). Jesus also said in John 12: 47; 'I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world' NASB. Just over 2,000 years ago Jesus lived amongst us, to save us; not to condemn us. He was; and still is, the light to guide us to God. He does not judge us, but seeks us, helps us, forgives us and releases us from guilt. He loves us.
So much of the message of Jesus today is told with condemnation, when it should be told with love: the message of how much He loves us. He turns none away who come to Him. Belief and faith professed in Jesus Christ is an eternal relationship with God.
But we must choose, we must make the decision. We must step towards Him. He is holding out His hand. There is no fence to sit on and watch it all happening, waiting. Jesus stands and knocks at our door, waiting for us to open it and invite Him in ( Revelation 3:20).
When Jesus does return it will be too late. The story has already been told, the truth given; there is no more to say. The Lord Jesus will return to judge the world and we will either go into eternity with Him or without Him. It is black and white: choose death or life!
Jesus said, about God, 'Your word is truth' (John 17:17 NASB). God's Word is truth, there is not another truth; no higher authority.
Jesus said: 'I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness' (John 12: 46 NASB).
todo kristo buhay ko ay sa iyo isusuko!!!
pag-ibig ko'y sa iyo lamang
walang ibang pupuntahan
ikaw lang ang aking kailangan
pag nag-iba'ng aking mundo
ako'y sasamba sa ngalan mo
sisigaw sasayaw para sa'yo
todo kristo buhay ko ay sa iyo isusuko
todo kristo buhay ko ay sa iyo isusuko
todo kristo buhay ko ay sa iyo isusuko
todo kristo buhay ko ay sa iyo isusuko
ikaw ang daan katotohanan ilaw sa kadiliman oh diyos ikaw lamang hesus
ikaw ang daan katotohanan ilaw sa kadiliman oh diyos ikaw lamang hesus
ikaw ang daan katotohanan ilaw sa kadiliman oh diyos ikaw lamang hesus
ikaw ang daan katotohanan ilaw sa kadiliman oh diyos ikaw lamang hesus
todo kristo buhay ko ay sa iyo isusuko
todo kristo buhay ko ay sa iyo isusuko
todo kristo buhay ko ay sa iyo isusuko
todo kristo buhay ko ay sa iyo isusuko
walang ibang pupuntahan
ikaw lang ang aking kailangan
pag nag-iba'ng aking mundo
ako'y sasamba sa ngalan mo
sisigaw sasayaw para sa'yo
todo kristo buhay ko ay sa iyo isusuko
todo kristo buhay ko ay sa iyo isusuko
todo kristo buhay ko ay sa iyo isusuko
todo kristo buhay ko ay sa iyo isusuko
ikaw ang daan katotohanan ilaw sa kadiliman oh diyos ikaw lamang hesus
ikaw ang daan katotohanan ilaw sa kadiliman oh diyos ikaw lamang hesus
ikaw ang daan katotohanan ilaw sa kadiliman oh diyos ikaw lamang hesus
ikaw ang daan katotohanan ilaw sa kadiliman oh diyos ikaw lamang hesus
todo kristo buhay ko ay sa iyo isusuko
todo kristo buhay ko ay sa iyo isusuko
todo kristo buhay ko ay sa iyo isusuko
todo kristo buhay ko ay sa iyo isusuko
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Reaching Out
You are loved: how am I loved? You are loved immensely and unconditionally. Nobody could love you more! It is a perfect love. God's very nature is love, which means that He will always express perfect love towards you. He will always seek the very best for you. His commands are the best for you. You can trust Him and believe in Him through His Son, Jesus. No matter what your circumstances, His love for you never changes. His love forgives you for everything.
He does not want you to miss out on the very best for your life - or see your life wrecked. You may not feel that you need or even want Jesus in your life; but He still loves you and will always love you. He knows you. He cares for you. He died for you. Even though you may ignore or reject Him; He will always love you. Whatever you do or have done in your life, He loves you. He died for you because He loves you.
He wants to be with you in all your struggles and help you. He wants to be with you in all your decisions; so that they are the best decisions. He wants to help you in every part of your life and give you His strength. He wants to remove your guilt and help you carry your burdens. He just waits for you to ask Him to come; to heal, restore and help you. Will you ask? Just ask!
Monday, September 29, 2008
God's love for us
The extent of God's immense love for us is that He chose to save us from the just consequences of our sin. Throughout the Old Testament the way to atone ( be forgiven ) for our sin was to sacrifice animals. These had to be perfect animals, usually lambs, without blemish. But it was never enough and the sacrifices had to be repeated year after year. It was only a foretaste of what was to come.
God is holy and cannot change (Malachi 3:6). His very nature demands that sin be punished in the same way that should you go to court for a crime then you would expect to be punished, you could not get away with it. This is the situation that man is in. God's dilemma was that He so loves us so much that He does not want us to suffer; but He can not overlook our sin.
We can do absolutely nothing to clear away our sin and make ourselves acceptable to God. The concept of sin may sit uncomfortable with many people; but it is the truth and we need to accept it. It is true: that we can never be good enough to earn God's forgiveness; but the truth is, that we do not have to be. Christ's love earned our forgiveness for us.
Imagine for a moment a courtroom. The defendant is facing the judge; his crime was severe enough to warrant imprisonment. The judge is just about to pronounce sentence, when someone walks into the courtroom. The defendant watches as this man, who he had never met before, walks up to the judge, speaks with him and takes upon himself the punishment meant for the defendant. Now put yourself in the place of the defendant and instead of receiving your punishment you could walk freely out of the courtroom; forgiven. I expect that you would either be immensely grateful to that person, or you may think Him a fool. Either way, you are free and he has taken your place. You can go home to your family, rebuild your life; and if moved to, repent from the things in your life which you know are wrong and start again; free from all guilt.
This is exactly what our God did. He came to earth as His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to take the punishment for our sin. He willingly took His place on the cross, bled and died, just as the perfect lamb had been sacrificed in the Old Testament; except moreso in this case because this was a one time sacrifice and was complete.
The concept that Almighty God should come to earth; be born of a virgin - so that He had no sin; the perfect lamb without blemish; and then die for us is something that many people find difficult and it becomes a stumbling block for them. It was the only way that God could save us from death and bring us back into the fullness of life with Him - and he did it! Not because He had to but because He wanted to - He chose to die for us, because He loves us.
God is holy and cannot change (Malachi 3:6). His very nature demands that sin be punished in the same way that should you go to court for a crime then you would expect to be punished, you could not get away with it. This is the situation that man is in. God's dilemma was that He so loves us so much that He does not want us to suffer; but He can not overlook our sin.
We can do absolutely nothing to clear away our sin and make ourselves acceptable to God. The concept of sin may sit uncomfortable with many people; but it is the truth and we need to accept it. It is true: that we can never be good enough to earn God's forgiveness; but the truth is, that we do not have to be. Christ's love earned our forgiveness for us.
Imagine for a moment a courtroom. The defendant is facing the judge; his crime was severe enough to warrant imprisonment. The judge is just about to pronounce sentence, when someone walks into the courtroom. The defendant watches as this man, who he had never met before, walks up to the judge, speaks with him and takes upon himself the punishment meant for the defendant. Now put yourself in the place of the defendant and instead of receiving your punishment you could walk freely out of the courtroom; forgiven. I expect that you would either be immensely grateful to that person, or you may think Him a fool. Either way, you are free and he has taken your place. You can go home to your family, rebuild your life; and if moved to, repent from the things in your life which you know are wrong and start again; free from all guilt.
This is exactly what our God did. He came to earth as His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to take the punishment for our sin. He willingly took His place on the cross, bled and died, just as the perfect lamb had been sacrificed in the Old Testament; except moreso in this case because this was a one time sacrifice and was complete.
The concept that Almighty God should come to earth; be born of a virgin - so that He had no sin; the perfect lamb without blemish; and then die for us is something that many people find difficult and it becomes a stumbling block for them. It was the only way that God could save us from death and bring us back into the fullness of life with Him - and he did it! Not because He had to but because He wanted to - He chose to die for us, because He loves us.
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