This Is Love

 

It's not our love for God but it's God's love for us that sent Jesus to die the death we deserve to give us what we don't deserve (forgiveness, salvation, eternal life with Him in Heaven). Sin separated us from God. God loves us and wants to have a relationship with us. Because God is holy, righteous, and just, sin has to be dealt with. Out of love, God gave His one and only Son to be the atoning sacrifice (propitiation/the mercy seat) for our sin (to pay the penalty for our sin once and for all/to satisfy God's justice and wrath towards our sin), in order to restore our relationship with Him.

God is the Source of true love (agape). Agape love is unconditional, sacrificial, and selfless. It seeks the highest good for another no matter what the cost may be, as shown by Christ's sacrificial death on our behalf. God offered His Son to rescue us regardless of our decision to accept or reject Jesus, His gracious Gift. "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Christ died for our sins even when we're still enemies of God. God loves us first before we turn to Him...before we seek Him...before we love Him. He did not wait for us to love Him first before showing His love to us. God's love for us does not depend on who we are or what we do. God loves the guilty, the rebellious, the wicked, the unworthy, the ungrateful, and the unloving. God's amazing love for us never changes. God loved us to death (literally) before we did anything deserving of love. Christ's death on the cross was the ultimate expression of God's love for mankind. The most glorious display of His lovingkindness! We must follow God's example. Take the initiative in loving others, loving everyone, including the unlovable. Love like Jesus!

"When you love the unloving, you get a glimpse of what God does for you." (Max Lucado)

"We cannot choose whom we will love if we claim to be Christians." (Unknown)

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me before I even knew You! Thank You for Christ's sacrifice for my sins! My heart is overwhelmed with Your unfailing & unconditional love for me. Please love through me...help me love others with Your agape love. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.

Assurance

"This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything." (1 John 3:19-20)

Obedience to God's Word and agape love (the fruit of the Spirit) towards people not only prove (to others) that we belong to the truth but also give our own hearts confident assurance of being in the truth. Our hearts are at rest (at peace) in God's presence because we know we are in His will; we are doing what He wants us to do.

Well, nobody (not even pastors or theologians) can obey God's Word and practice agape love perfectly all the time. Yes, we all fail at times. Our failures may make us question whether we belong to the truth. Our hearts may condemn us and make us doubt our salvation. This could be the work of the enemy (the accuser of our brothers and sisters, mentioned in Revelation 12:10) or the work of our oversensitive conscience. When this happens, we must trust what God's Word says about our standing in Christ, not how we feel. We know that God is greater than our hearts and He knows everything. God is greater than our lack of assurance. He says in His Word: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:23-24) If you have trusted in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and relied on His finished work of redemption on the cross to pay for the penalty of your sins, you have been justified (declared not guilty) and all your sins have been forgiven as if you had never sinned. In addition, Christ's righteousness has been imputed to us. God knows all the good, the bad, and the ugly in us and He still loves us, cares for us, and forgives us. We are still His children. "The believer's ultimate foundation of assurance is the character of God." (Criswell) Even when we fail Him, He will never fail us. We can always depend on Him. God's love will never let us go. We are His forever.

John's intention for these verses is to encourage us with blessed assurance of salvation. "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:13) Notice that John used the word "know" many times in this letter. He really wanted us to know all these truths so that all doubts can be removed. Be confident in your salvation; know that you're saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, not by your performance.  

Don't let doubt discourage you, make you spiritually lethargic, and render you useless for the kingdom of God. Never give up pressing into God and pressing on trusting God and living for God. Authentic faith perseveres. Persistence and perseverance will eventually lead to confidence and assurance. 

1. Keep going to God in prayer. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) "Prayer crowns God with the honor and glory due to His name, and God crowns prayer with assurance and comfort. The most praying souls are the most assured souls." (Thomas Brooks)  Keep praying and asking Holy Spirit to increase your faith, to give you confident assurance, and to empower you to walk in obedience and to love like Jesus.

2. Keep going to God's Word. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1) The assurance of salvation is simply a matter of taking God at His Word.

No condemnation now I dread, 
I am my Lord’s and He is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine.
(Wesley)

3. Keep loving God and loving people. Focus on these two greatest commandments and rely on God's strength and power to do this. 

4. Keep throwing yourselves on God's mercy and grace. Again and again. Our sins are many but His mercy is more and His grace is inexhaustible!

5. Keep clinging to Christ no matter what and remembering what Christ accomplished on the cross ("It is finished!"). "For every look at self--take ten looks at Christ!" (Robert Murray McCheyne) The antidote to self-condemnation is to gaze and camp on Christ's redemption and justification. "When I cannot enjoy the faith of assurance, I live by the faith of adherence." (Matthew Henry)

"Assurance grows by repeated conflict, by our repeated experimental proof of the Lord's power and goodness to save; when we have been brought very low and helped, sorely wounded and healed, cast down and raised again, have given up all hope, and been suddenly snatched from danger, and placed in safety; and when these things have been repeated to us and in us a thousand times over, we begin to learn to trust simply to the word and power of God, beyond and against appearances: and this trust, when habitual and strong, bears the name of assurance; for even assurance has degrees." (John Newton, a former slave trader, who wrote Amazing Grace)

Once Upon a Christmas by Selah

THIS IS WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT (by Helen Steiner Rice)

CHRISTmas  to me is a Gift from above--
   a Gift of Salvation born of God's Love,
For far beyond what my mind comprehends
   my eternal future completely depends
On that first CHRISTmas night centuries ago
   when God sent His Son to the earth below...
For if the CHRIST Child had not been born
    there would be no rejoicing on Easter morn,
For only because CHRIST was born and died
   and hung on a cross to be crucified
Can worldly sinners like you and me
   be fit to live in eternity...
So CHRISTmas is more than "getting and giving"--
   it's the why and the wherefore of infinite living,
It's the positive proof for doubting God never
   for in His Kingdom life is forever...
And that is the reason that on CHRISTmas Day
   I can only kneel down and prayerfully say,
"Thank You, God, for sending Your Son
   so when my work on earth is done
I can look at last on Your Holy Face
   knowing You saved me alone by Your Grace!"

May you and your family have a blessed and joyous CHRISTmas! Celebrate the Gift!

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:15

Let's Make Everyday Thanksgiving Day!

         Thanksgiving

Oh precious Father, as we bow
Before Thy throne today,
We count the many blessings
Thou hast showered upon our way.

The comfort of our humble homes
Our health and happiness,
The strength provided for each day
To meet the strain and stress.

We thank Thee for Thy precious Son
Who brought salvation free,
And for this mighty land of ours,
A land of liberty!

So, Lord, help us to give Thee thanks
For all that we hold dear,
Not only on Thanksgiving Day
But each day of the year.
                                                ~Unknown

"We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks, for Your Name is near; men tell of Your wonderful deeds." Psalm 75:1
"Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song." Psalm 95:2
"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100:4-5 

This month, I have been posting on my Facebook page each day what I'm thankful for. I think it's so good for me to be intentional about thankfulness everyday. When we focus on having a thankful heart, we are less likely to complain, get upset, be discontent, or have a bad attitude. Try it :)!

How Can We Not...

"If we can trust God for our eternal salvation, how can we not trust Him to provide for the "little" things of life?" ~M.E.Howard

Isn't that a great question :)? Compared to our eternal salvation, everything else seems so insignificant. All trials, problems, disappointments, struggles, and sufferings would be considered "little" bumps in life's journey when we look at them from an eternal perspective. Why then is it difficult for us sometimes to trust God to provide...to take care of our "little" problems? I believe it's often a matter of our perspective and focus. If our perspective is self-centered, we still want to be in control, not willing to acknowledge that God is in total control and we still only think of what we want, not what God wants. If our focus is on our situations, then we fret and get anxious and/or depressed. But when we focus on God and His attributes, we can rest in Him and leave our burdens at His feet. Personally, I don't have problem trusting in God's power and ability to provide and to solve my problems. What I usually struggle with is wondering if and when He will choose to do so. Then I need to shift my focus. I need to remind myself that God knows and wants what's best for me and I want His will, not my will to be done, including His timing, not mine. I find this quote to be a good reminder for me to let go of my "little" concerns and just trust God. Five points that might help us have the right perspective and focus when we have trouble trusting Him:

- God is in control even when things are out of control. His sovereignty rules.
- God is faithful even when we have little faith. He always keeps His promises.
- God is good all the time even when nothing good seems to be happening right now. His goodness never changes.
- God loves us no matter what we do or don't do...succeed or fail. His love never fails.
- God is omnipotent. Nothing is impossible for Him.

Two hymns that help me regain the right focus are I Surrender All and Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." Psalm 37:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Lord, please give us a childlike faith that simply and completely trusts in You 100% in any situation!

You're invited to share your thoughts about this quote on your blog and then link up your post here.To learn more about "In Other Words"(what it's about, how it works, and how it originated), visit here. 

This post is also linked up at Brag on God Fridays and Spiritual Sundays.

You're Invited to Join In Other Words This Coming Tuesday!

I was so honored to be asked by Loni at Writing Canvas to join the In Other Words' hostess team. This coming Tuesday will be my first time hosting it on my blog here.

I'd like to invite y'all to join us by taking the time to think and ponder on the quote below and then share your thoughts about it on your blog on Tuesday (June 7th). Then, please come back here on June 7th to link up your post and visit others who have also written about this quote. Even if you don't want to write about it, you're welcome to visit those who do.

"If we can trust God for our eternal salvation, how can we not trust Him to provide for the "little" things of life?" ~M.E.Howard

To learn more about "In Other Words"(what it's about, how it works, and how it originated), visit here. 

What's New?

"A NEW command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35

"We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a NEW life." Romans 6:4

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creation; the old has gone, the NEW has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made NEW in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the NEW self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24

"For this reason Christ is the Mediator of a NEW covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant." Hebrews 9:15

"Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a NEW covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." 2 Corinthians 3:5-6

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us NEW birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 1:3-5

"But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a NEW heaven and a NEW earth, the home of righteousness." 2 Peter 3:13

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a NEW name written on it, known only to him who receives it." Revelation 2:17


Christ can make anything new. Have a blessed & Christ-centered new year!

Who Owes Who?

I Am Debtor
by Robert M. McCheyne (1813-1843)

When this passing world is done,
When has sunk yon glaring sun,
When we stand with Christ in glory,
Looking o'er life's finished story,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know —
Not till then — how much I owe.

When I hear the wicked call
On the rocks and hills to fall,
When I see them start and shrink
On the fiery deluge brink, —
Then, Lord, shall I fully know —
Not till then — how much I owe.

When I stand before the throne,
Dressed in beauty not my own,
When I see Thee as Thou art,
Love Thee with unsinning heart,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know —
Not till then — how much I owe.

When the praise of heav'n I hear,
Loud as thunder to the ear,
Loud as many water's noise,
Sweet as harp's melodious voice,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know —
Not till then — how much I owe.

Even on earth, as through a glass
Darkly, let Thy glory pass,
Make forgiveness feel so sweet,
Make Thy Spirit's help so meet,
Even on earth, Lord, make me know
Something of how much I owe.

Chosen not for good in me,
Wakened up from wrath to flee,
Hidden in the Saviour's side,
By the Spirit sanctified,
Teach me, Lord, on earth to show,
By my love, how much I owe.

Oft I walk beneath the cloud,
Dark, as midnight's gloomy shroud;
But, when fear is at the height,
Jesus comes, and all is light;
Blessed Jesus! bid me show
Doubting saints how much I owe.

When in flowery paths I tread,
Oft by sin I'm captive led;
Oft I fall — but still arise —
The Spirit comes — the tempter flies;
Blessed Spirit! bid me show
Weary sinners all I owe.

Oft the nights of sorrow reign —
Weeping, sickness, sighing, pain;
But a night Thine anger burns —
Morning comes and joy returns;
God of comforts! Bid me show
To Thy poor, how much I owe.

After I read this poem, the question, “Who Owes Who?” popped into my head. Let’s imagine that you owe somebody money. Would you keep asking and expecting that person to give you food, clothes, shelter, and other things you need & want? No, you would be grateful that this person is not demanding you to pay all your debt right now. And you certainly would become speechless when he canceled your debt because his son paid it all for you. Now imagine that you owe someone your life. Would you be expecting this person to keep protecting you, being there to meet your every need, comforting you, and taking away your pain? No, you would be forever grateful and would do anything for this person. But...what are we doing to God who gives us life on earth and eternal life in heaven? How many times have Christians felt that God should answer their prayers according to their will/desire (not His will)? They think that they have been really faithful Christians by obeying His Word (most of the time), consistently giving tithes/firstfruits, sharing the Gospel with others, serving in various ministries, helping the homeless, etc. They then expect God to bless them/reward them or at least answer their prayers. We, Christians, pray for healing, comfort, strength, wisdom, help, solutions, etc. and we totally trust God to answer our prayers. There is nothing wrong with praying and believing. That’s what faith is and that’s what the Bible teaches. However, is our attitude right? Do we act like God owes us something? Are we tapping our fingers and waiting impatiently and wondering what takes God so long to do something for us?

Seriously, God owes us nothing; we owe God everything!

God does not have to love us but He does. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

God does not have to forgive us but He does. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

God does not have to show grace and mercy to us but He does. “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

God does not have to save us from eternal damnation and give us eternal life but He does. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

God does not have to answer our prayers but He does. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us–whatever we ask–we know that we have what we asked of Him.” 1 John 5:14-15

God does not have to care about us or bear our burdens but He does. “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” Psalm 68:19 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

He does what He does because it’s His character. It’s all about Him, not us. The fact that He loves us so much and gave His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to be the sacrifice once and for all so that by His grace we are saved through faith in Jesus...is beyond comprehension. By His grace alone, folks! We can do nothing to earn salvation. Jesus paid the debt that we cannot pay. Even if God does nothing else for our lives, we should be eternally grateful for our salvation. We have nothing to complain about whatsoever. We live each day under His grace. When you pray, remember to pray for His will (not your will) to be done because His will is the best and because He is God who owes you nothing.

“In Jesus' name we voice our prayers—
The Bible tells us to;
But may we never use that name
To tell God what to do.”
~D. De Haan

~Please visit here for the links to other Spiritual Sundays posts. Thanks so much to Charlotte and Ginger for hosting Spiritual Sundays every week. Have a blessed day in the Lord, everyone!

Sola Gratia (Grace Alone)

In our society, some people feel that they are entitled to this and that. They seem to think that they deserve happiness, success, comfortable living, fair treatment, etc. for whatever reasons. What do we all really deserve? The Bible says that we deserve death, punishment, and God’s wrath. However, because of God’s grace and mercy, we get what we do not deserve while we do not get what we deserve.

By His grace, God offers us the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins. God’s sinless, sovereign Son scorned by several, sacrificed self (solely suitable, satisfactory scapegoat) to save sinners’ souls securely from sin, suppressing sly satan’s scheme. That’s amazing grace, indeed!

“For it is by grace your have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

“To the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us.” Ephesians 1:6-8

“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17

Are you in pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness? Jesus Christ is the only One who can give you an eternal life/an abundant life, true liberty (from sins and from spiritual death), and true joy (not fleeting happiness).

What Does “Grace” Mean to You?
“The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.” 1 Timothy 1:14-15

“The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the  more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:20-21

No words can adequately describe the depth and magnitude of God’s grace. Nothing can compare to God’s grace. Without God’s grace, there would be no salvation, forgiveness, redemption, righteousness, and reconciliation. The more we realize how wretched we are, the more we understand, appreciate, and embrace God’s grace.

Excuse to Sin?…Not!
God’s grace is greater than all our sin, guilt, and shame. However, it is not an excuse for us to do whatever we want.

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10)

By God’s grace, we are set free from being slaves to sin so that we may do “every good work” that God calls us to do.

“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2: 10)

Grow in Grace
“But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever! Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18)

How do you grow in grace? By imitating Jesus Christ! He is the ultimate picture of “grace”...the Embodiment of God's grace! Is grace evident in your speech, attitude, and actions? Do you extend grace that the Lord bestowed upon you to others?

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and Godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:11-14)

“Growing in grace” means learning to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions while living self-controlled, upright, and Godly lives, being more like Christ each day.

His Grace is Sufficient
Not only are we saved by grace alone, but also we live/survive each day by His grace.

“But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) “Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence,  so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

When we face trials in life, God’s grace always sustains us and strengthens us. His grace is sufficient for you and me in any situation. When we fail, God's grace is there to forgive us and remind us that He loves us no matter what. Rest in His unending & unconditional love, grace, and mercy!

John Newton who wrote the famous hymn, “Amazing Grace” said shortly before his death, “My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: That I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Savior!” May we never stop being amazed by God’s grace!

God’s grace saved and redeemed us
Restored our relationship with our Heavenly Father
Amazing love demonstrated thus
Christ died for all sinners
Eternal life offered to all who believe in Jesus

~Please visit here for the links to other Spiritual Sundays posts. Thanks so much to Charlotte and Ginger for hosting Spiritual Sundays every week. Have a blessed day in the Lord, everyone!

Book Review: Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris

Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the video.

Book: Dug Down Deep

Author: Joshua Harris

Summary:
What will you build your life on?

With startling transparency, Joshua Harris shares how we can rediscover the relevance and power of Christian truth. This book shows a young man who rose quickly to success in the Christian evangelical world before he realized his spirituality lacked a foundation—it rested more on tradition and morality than on an informed knowledge of God.

For the indifferent or spiritually numb, Harris's humorous and engaging reflections on Christian beliefs show that orthodoxy isn't just for scholars—it is for anyone who longs to know the living Jesus Christ. As Harris writes, "I've come to learn that theology matters. It matters not because we want to impress people, but because what we know about God shapes the way we think and live. Theology matters because if we get it wrong then our whole life will be wrong."

Whether you are just exploring Christianity or you are a veteran believer finding yourself overly familiar and cold-hearted, Dug Down Deep will help you rediscover the timeless truths of Scripture. As Harris challenges you to root your faith and feelings about God in the person, work, and words of Jesus, he answers questions such as:

What is God like and how does he speak to me?What difference does it make that Jesus was both human and divine?How does Jesus's death on the cross pay for my sins?Who is the Holy Spirit and how does he work in my life?

With grace and wisdom, Harris will inspire you to revel in the truth that has captured his own mind and heart. He will ask you to dig deep into a faith so solid you can build your life on it. He will point you to something to believe in again.

Author Bio:
Joshua Harris is senior pastor of Covenant Life in Gaithersburg , Maryland , which belongs to the Sovereign Grace network of local churches. A passionate speaker with a gift for making theological truth easy to understand, Joshua is perhaps best known for his runaway bestseller, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, which he wrote at the age of twenty-one. His later books include Boy Meets Girl, Sex Is Not the Problem (Lust Is), and Stop Dating the Church. The founder of the NEXT conferences for young adults, Joshua is committed to seeing the gospel transferred to a new generation of Christians. He and his wife, Shannon, have three children.

My Review:
This is the first book by Joshua Harris that I have read.  I enjoyed the book , appreciated his honesty and humility, and loved his drawing.  He shares about his experiences along his faith journey...the good, the bad, and the ugly.  He comes to the conclusion that what we know about God is truly essential in our Christian walk.  The author tries to help readers understand and realize the importance and practicality of theology, doctrine, and orthodoxy.  He proceeds to dig into various Christian doctrines such as the doctrine of God (theology proper), the doctrine of Scripture, the doctrine of the person and work of Christ, the doctrine of atonement and propitiation, the doctrine of salvation, the doctine of sanctification, the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, and the doctrine of the church.  In the last chapter, he reminds us to boldly (not arrogantly or pridefully) stand up for God's truth and at the same time, to remain humble, gentle, and gracious.  This is a down-to-earth book that digs deep into what we believe and why we believe it.   


~This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Eternal Perspective

As this year comes to a close and you may be making plans for the new year, please keep an eternal perspective with you.  Don't waste your life/your time/your resources.  "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:15-16

Note: Please turn off my playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the video.

Tears of the Saints from HistoryMaker on Vimeo.

IN THE PAST HOUR:
1625 children were forced to live on the streets
1667 children died from malnutrition or disease
115 children became prostitutes
257 children were orphaned because of HIV/Aids.
It gets worse...
2 billion people in the world today have never ever heard of Jesus. 1% of missions financial support, goes to reaching those unreached people. 30000 people starve to death every day.
  ~ Info. taken from historymakers.info/

While you are enjoying your new gifts, feasts with your family, and the comfort of your home, billions of people are suffering and many of them are on their way to hell. 

Lord, please move our hearts to have Your compassion and love and move us into action to save the lost, to reach the unreached, to feed the hungry, and to help the needy.

If you "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind," you will want to obey Him/His Word, including the Great Commission.

If you "love your neighbor as yourself," you will want to share the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ with the lost and not want to see any of them spend eternity in hell.

Let's put aside our denominations and our differences on the secondary issues. Instead, let's unite together in prayer and in our resources to move toward fulfilling the Great Commission...to reach those who have never heard of the Gospel...to give them hope in Christ. One Body of Christ under one God working toward one common goal!

"There is enough evangelism taking place today to reach the world dozens of times. Unfortunately, most of it is happening among people who have already heard the Gospel." (~K.P. Yohannan)  Please take a look at this table (taken from Come, Let's Reach the World by K.P. Yohannan) below and let me know what you think.

     To Those Who Have Already Heard  To The Unreached
Tract Distribution 5 billion (99.8%) 10 million (0.2%)
Scripture Distribution 4.6 billion (99.6%) 20 million (0.4%)
Full-time Workers 5.5 million (99.6%) 20,500 (0.4%)
Christian Books 3.5 billion (99.9%) 4 million (0.1%)
Christian Broadcasting $5.8 billion (99.9%) $6 million (0.1%)

"It is unjust to share the Gospel of Jesus repeatedly to people who have already heard when there are those who have not heard the Gospel of Jesus even once." ~Eric (my husband) I agree.  Please check out http://www.gfa.org/ , a wonderful ministry that focuses on sharing the Gospel with the unreached. I recommend you read Revolution in World Missions and Come, Let's Reach the World. You can request a free copy of Revolution in World Missions here .

Let's live in the light of eternity!

~Please visit here for the links to other Spiritual Sundays posts. Thanks so much to Charlotte and Ginger for hosting Spiritual Sundays every week.  Have a blessed New Year, everyone!

His Name Is Jesus

"For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders.  And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Isaiah 9:6

A few Christmases ago, my kids and I had a great time studying the names of Jesus.  It helped us know Him more intimately and gain more insight into His character.

"She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins." Matthew 1:21

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

May the miracle of His birth, the teachings of His life, the purpose of His death, the triumph of His resurrection, and the hope of His return fill your heart with unending love, peace, and joy that only Christ can bring!!!  Merry CHRISTmas to you and your family!

P.S. I'm having a book giveaway on my HSB blog.  You can win a copy of 40 Loaves: Breaking Bread with Our Father Each Day by C.D. Baker.  I'm also hosting the 12 Pearls of Christmas on this blog.  Please scroll down and take a look.  If you leave a comment, you will be entered to win a pearl necklace.  Come back each day to read different inspiring & touching stories written by well-known Christian female authors.

Previous WFW:

- The Light of the World

- It Is Good

- Worship

- Whatever You Do

- More Blessed

- My Soul Pants for You

- Without Excuse

- Plentiful Harvest

- Brotherly Love

- Fruit Bearer

- More Than Conquerors

- Where Does My Help Come From?

- Jubilant, Joy, and Judge

- Rooted in Love

- Who Daily Bears Our Burdens?

- Reflecting the Lord's Glory

- The Rock Eternal

- His Eye Is On The Sparrow

What Really Matters

Have you noticed some division among Christians regarding Christmas? Some strongly oppose celebrating Christmas because of its pagan roots. Others try hard to keep Christ in Christmas. And then there are those who incorporate more and more worldly stuff in their Christmas celebration. In my opinion, just because something has pagan roots...this does not automatically make it pagan. I think the early Church succeeded at replacing Roman pagan traditions with the celebration of Christ's birth at Christmas. Why do I say that? Well, how many people really remember or even know that Christmas started out as a pagan festival? Billions of people in the world know (even if they don't really have the right focus) that Christmas is about Christ. Four names of our days of the week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday) are named for Viking gods. We don't stop using these names just because they have pagan roots. To me, each day is a gift from God. "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24) It's how we spend our day that matters...honoring/ pleasing God or dishonoring/sinning against God. That goes the same for what we do with Christmas (another day that the Lord has made).  I personally believe in celebrating/honoring Christ daily by the way we live.

In Thailand, Christmas provides a great opportunity for Christians to share with non-Christians about Christ. (In fact, I myself came to know Christ and received the free gift of salvation during Christmastime of 1985 in Thailand.) I believe that's what many churches in America are also trying to do. If people are saved because of the Gospel being boldly shared during Christmastime, then we should rejoice. God can certainly use any events, including holidays that have pagan roots, for His glory. Christ's birth is the beginning of the ultimate love story that never ends (John 3:16). If at Christmastime, people tend to share Christ's love more and talk more openly about why Christ came, then we should be glad and encourage them so...and hopefully, they will carry on sharing Christ's love and the Gospel throughout the year (you can see some ideas from my post titled, "Christmas According to Scrooge").

All these thoughts led me to write the following poem last year.

It doesn't matter if you do or don't celebrate Christmas
What really matters is that you believe in Jesus
It doesn't matter if Dec. 25th is not Christ's actual birthday
What really matters is that He was born to save us from a debt we cannot pay
It doesn't matter if you don't trim a tree
What really matters is that you know & worship the Son who sets you free
It doesn't matter if you don't give gifts to one another
What really matters is that you give your heart and your life to our Savior...our Redeemer
It doesn't matter if you don't hang up any lights
What really matters is that you follow the Light of the World day and night
It doesn't matter if you don't get to go caroling
What really matters is that unto the Lord you joyfully sing
It doesn't matter what eloquent words on Christmas cards you write
What really matters is that you spread the Good News of Jesus Christ
It doesn't matter if you bake the best or the most cookies
What really matters is that you help the needy and feed the hungry

I recommend two insightful articles:
- "Is Christmas Christian?" by Hank Hanegraaff, the President of the Christian Research Institute
- "The Origin of Christmas" by Bodie Hodge, Answers in Genesis.

~Please visit here for the links to other Spiritual Sundays posts. Thanks so much to Charlotte and Ginger for hosting Spiritual Sundays every week. Have a blessed day in the Lord, everyone!

Thankful Thursday #13

 
This week...
1. I am thankful that I can pray to God anytime, anywhere, and about anything.  I'm so glad that He never gets tired of listening to our prayers.  I love the fact that our line of communication with Him is always open/available...24/7!  "Pray continually." 1 Thessalonians 5:17  "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16

2. I am thankful for rest...for sleep.  I am thankful that I hardly ever have trouble falling asleep.  I am very grateful that I can lay all my burdens at the feet of Jesus and rest in Him.  "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28  "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens." Psalm 68:19

3. I am thankful that all my children enjoy reading.  I think once children learn how to read and acquire a love of reading, they can pretty much learn about anything they are interested in. 

4. I am thankful for soldiers and police officers who work tirelessly and sacrifice courageously to protect us.  Let's remember to pray for their safety and for their families.

5. I am thankful for God's protection (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual).  Whenever I look back at my past, I am so grateful to still be alive today :).  I fell into a manhole when I was little.  I desperately begged my mom to stop choking my neck/suffocating me (she was distraught about her failed marriage and temporarily was not in her right mind).  I almost drowned once.  I was close to getting run over by a vehicle several times (if you ever try to cross the streets in Bangkok, Thailand, you will understand why).  In Thailand, I traveled to school by bus and it's always crowded on buses; therefore, I usually ended up standing on the bus' steps (sometimes with one of my feet and/or part of my body hanging out into the traffic).  I had a high fever of 107 degrees F; my husband took me to the emergency room and the doctor there misdiagnosed me...(thinking that the fever was caused by heat exhaustion but I actually had a kidney infection).  I am sure there have been many more incidents that the Lord has protected me (even without my knowledge).  Regarding spiritual warfare, I am thankful that the battle belongs to the Lord, that He is on our side, and that He has given us the full armor for our protection.

"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:11-17

P.S. I'm hosting a giveaway (4 free movie tickets) on my HSB blog. The deadline is this Saturday. Hope you will stop by and enter :)!

What the Lord Has Done in Me

Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the video.
        What the Lord Has Done in Me by Hillsong

"Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God." (2 Corinthians 3:5)  Whatever good you see in me is what the Lord has done in me.  It's not about me; it's all about Him.

Hosanna to the Lamb that was slain in our place and rose again!  "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"" (John 1:29)  "In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"" (Revelation 5:12)

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:1-2)  "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36)  Amen!  I am free and I can truly live because the Spirit of Christ lives in me.


Previous Songs:
- I Surrender All
- Mighty To Save
- Could I Be Called a Christian?
- Cry Out to Jesus
- Jesus, Be the Center
- God of Justice
- Love That Will Not Let Me Go
- I Will Offer Up My Life
- When It's All Been Said and Done
- Knowing You, Jesus
- In Christ Alone
- Be Thou My Vision

Mighty To Save

Today in the afternoon, we will have a party celebrating our sons' birthdays (Josiah turning 11 today and Isaiah turning 8 tomorrow). I asked them what song they would like me to put it on my blog for TSMSS. They picked "Mighty To Save."  They love this song; I do, too :)!

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given for men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the video.



"If we can trust God for our eternal salvation, how can we not trust Him to provide for the "little" things of life?" ~M.E.Howard


Previous Songs:
- Could I Be Called a Christian?
- Cry Out to Jesus
- Jesus, Be the Center
- God of Justice
- Love That Will Not Let Me Go
- I Will Offer Up My Life
- When It's All Been Said and Done
- Knowing You, Jesus
- In Christ Alone
- Be Thou My Vision

Thankful Thursday #1

 
This is my first time participating in the Thankful Thursday meme hosted by Sonya and the Thankful Thursday meme hosted by Laurie. 
I know most (if not all :)) of the things on my list are obvious but I still would like to mention them because they are very important in my life.

1. I am thankful for who God is...for all His attributes.
2. I am thankful for God's unconditional love, amazing grace, never-ending mercy, forgiveness, peace, joy, and strength. 
3. I am thankful for my salvation through Jesus Christ, my Lord & Savior, my Shepherd & Best Friend.
4. I am thankful for my family.  The Lord has blessed me with the most wonderful husband (a man after God's own heart) and three precious children who delight in God and His Word.
5. I am thankful for God's Word which is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.  I am thankful for the Bibles in print and the ones on CDs.  My boys listen to them at night in their bedroom.

"It is impossible for that man to despair who remembers that His Helper is omnipotent." ~Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667)
"If we can trust God for our eternal salvation, how can we not trust Him to provide for the "little" things of life?" ~M.E.Howard

Who Will Join Me and the Millions of Christians Around the World?

Each year, millions of Christians around the world unite together to pray for the Muslim world for 30 days during Ramadan (the holy month for Muslims). This year, Ramadan will take place from August 22nd to September 20th. These Muslims desparately need Jesus, the Savior of the world. They live without hope. They are our neighbors, too. If you truly love your neighbors as yourselves, wouldn't you want them to be saved from spending eternity in hell? Would you and your family please spare some time during each of the 30 days to pray for them? For more details, please visit http://www.30-days.net/ (tons of facts, figures, resources (including free downloadable materials), testimonies, and much more).

Printed booklets (prayer guides focusing on different people groups each day) are available in over 30 languages.
To receive free daily email prayer guides, please sign up at http://www.30-days.net/resources/email/
Español: 30 días de oración por el Mundo Musulmán: http://30-days.net/muslims/the-booklet/30-dias/

I hope you will join me and other brothers and sisters in Christ around the world in praying for the lost and the unreached in the Muslim world. Please help spread the word, too. Thanks!

The figures below are taken from this article.

Muslim Populations
■Africa – 400 million
■Middle East – 250 million
■Asia – 800 million
■Europe – 25+ million
■Americas – 5+ million
■TOTAL = 1.48 billion

Unreached
Here are some Muslim peoples of over 100,000 without any known Gospel witness. Call out in prayer for them.

Saho of Eritrea – 211,000
Maraikayar of India – 127,000
Mawalud of India – 1,161,000
Nikari of India – 151,000
Pashtun of India – 13,282,000
Thulukkan of India – 269,000
Asahan of Indonesia – 541,000
Bangka of Indonesia – 340,000
Belitung of Indonesia – 100,000
Gayo of Indonesia – 300,000
Kangean of Indonesia – 1,100,000
Takistani of Iran – 330,000
Afshari of Iran – 1,230,000
Khorasani Turk of Iran – 832,000
Seraiki of Pakistan – 17,854,000
W.Baluch of Pakistan – 1,261,000
Burig of Pakistan – 474,000
Kho of Pakistan – 314,000
Kolai of Pakistan – 410,000
Awan of India – 618,000
Chhimba of India – 1,047,000
Kamboh of India – 1,525,000
Kunjra of India – 1,601,000
Makhmi of India – 499,000
Mappila of India – 9,635,000
Kerinci of Indonesia – 260,000
Lembak of Indonesia – 120,000

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Tips on how to pray for your Muslim neighbor!

We can pray with the knowledge that:

- Every Muslim is unique and wonderful in God's eyes.

- Every Muslim is someone God loves. We can pray with a heart of love and compassion. (John 14: 12-14)

- According to Islam, Allah holds himself apart from mankind. When praying for Muslims, pray that they will have a full revelation of the true God and His loving character. (Hebrews 8:8-9)

- The Muslim worldview is strongly influenced by an awareness of the supernatural and the presence of good and evil spirits known as jinn. Superstitions control many aspects of a Muslim's everyday life and often result in them living in constant fear. (1 John 4:18)

- Islam teaches that a person must do enough good deeds to outweigh the bad deeds in order to make it to paradise. Even then, there is no guarantee for a Muslim of salvation. As a result of this belief, it is difficult for many Muslims to understand forgiveness of sins, repentance and assurance of salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-9.) (1 Peter 5:6) (Matthew 6:14-15)

- Vast numbers of Muslims have come to Christ as a result of supernatural encounters. Many have dreams and visions of Jesus.

- The Christian church globally is united to pray for the Muslim World each Ramadan. Let us join that prayer movement. Let us pray and fast during Ramadan. All the details are on the Internet. And as we start to pray during Ramadan together, let us remember the very real battle for the lost. Let us pray that blind eyes will be opened and that many will experience a true and lasting salvation. (Romans 8:26) (John 16:8)

(Taken with permission from http://www.30-days.net/resources/download/ )
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