The Deity and Supremacy of Jesus Christ

"The Son is the Image of the invisible God, the Firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in Heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him." Colossians 1:15-16

- Jesus is God; He is the physical, visible image of God (Who is invisible). He reveals God in human form. He's fully God and fully man. "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth...No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, Who is Himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made Him known." (John 1:14, 18)
- Jesus is the firstborn over all creation. It doesn't mean that He was created. It means that He is Heir to the created universe. He has all the priority and authority of the Firstborn in God's kingdom. It shows the supremacy/preeminence and sovereignty of God's Son. Jesus Christ is Lord of all and Lord over all creation. "All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to Me." ~Jesus (Matthew 28:18)
- All things (in Heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, all powers, authorities, thrones, and rulers in the unseen spiritual world) have been created by Him, through Him, and for Him. "Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made." (John 1:3) Although Jesus took upon Himself full humanity and lived as a man on earth, He never ceased to be the eternal God Who has always existed, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, and the Source of eternal life.

"In these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, Whom He appointed Heir of all things, and through Whom also He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful Word." (Hebrews 1:2-3a)

That You May Know...

- This is one of Paul's most beautiful prayers for the churches. It's one of my favorite prayers I pray for my children.
- "I keep asking"--shows persistence in prayer. It reminds me of Luke 18:1-8, the parable of the persistent widow. "Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." (Luke 18:1)
- Paul prays that God will give believers wisdom and revelation through His Holy Spirit so that they may know God better. Biblically speaking, Who you know is more important than what you know. To know God more must be our top priority. Christianity is about relationship, not rules. It is God's desire for us to know Him and it's also my desire to know Him more intimately. "Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ--yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death." (Philippians 3:7-10) Know Christ. Imitate Christ.

- "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10) "For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding." (Proverbs 2:6) The greatest wisdom of all is knowing God...knowing His heart and His will...knowing Christ. "It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, Who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption." (1 Corinthians 1:30) "My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:2-3)
- Revelation--God reveals Himself to us through Jesus, the Holy Spirit, His Word, His creation, His people, and circumstances. "'I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from Me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed--I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,' declared the Lord, 'that I am God.'" (Isaiah 43:11-12)
- Paul also prays that the eyes of our heart may be enlightened. In the Bible, the heart is the very core of life and the eyes of heart refers to true understanding. One can have a head knowledge of the Bible yet his/her heart remains dark and dead. There is such thing as empty intellectual knowledge of Scripture. Satan knows the Scriptures. Most atheists know the Scriptures. Pharisees and false teachers know the Scriptures. What do they all have in common? The lack of the renewed mind and transformed heart! We need the Holy Spirit to shine the light on the truth of Scripture in our heart and mind. Only then we can actually understand what God wants us to understand. It's like a light bulb being turned on inside of us so that we're able to fully see/know the benefits of the Gospel and grasp & appreciate the spiritual treasures/blessings that God gives us.
- "In order that you may know the hope to which He has called you,
the riches of His glorious inheritance in His Holy people, and
His incomparably great power for us who believe."
When the eyes of our heart are enlightened, we know/understand the hope of eternal life with Christ, the riches of His glorious inheritance that is now ours (we're His heirs in Christ), and the exceeding greatness of God's power which is available to us. "My hope is in You!" (Psalm 39:7b) "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. This inheritance is 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) "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him Who called us by His own glory and goodness." (2 Peter 1:3) May we live in that reality...like God's heirs with confident hope (blessed assurance) by God's power!

Friday's Fave Five #97

It's time for another Friday's Fave Five (hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story)

My Fave Five this week:
1. Starting on June 2nd, I have been participating in 2 Bible studies (offered by Good Morning Girls) with 2 different Facebook groups. One is Colossians and the other one is based on a book, You Are Loved by Sally Clarkson and Angela Perritt. I have enjoyed both and I have posted my thoughts and what I've learned on this blog daily (except weekend). One of my passions is: studying God's Word. The more I know God, the more I love God! The more I love God, the more I want to know God!

2.  Below are some of my favorite quotes I've discovered this week:-
"Holiness is the visible side of salvation." (~Charles Spurgeon)
"The omnipresence of God--gracious antidote to every earthly sorrow!" (~John MacDuff)
"To be loved by Jesus--is to be preferred before the possession of a world!" (~James Smith)
"Trials are not enemies of faith, but are opportunities to prove God's faithfulness." (~Unknown)

3. A nice break in the middle of the week. My husband took this past Wednesday off work. We took our youngest son to have his eye exam and pick out his eyeglasses, we all had our teeth cleaned at the dentist's office, we signed up for summer reading at our local library, and we enjoyed yummy treats at Dairy Queen.

4. Today marks the 70th anniversary Of D-Day! Check out some fascinating "then-and-now" photographs here! Very cool.

5. I'm currently having 2 giveaways: 1. You can enter to win 1 official "The American Bible Challenge" t-shirt and 1 11x17 official Season 3 poster on this blog at http://bornagainandblessed.blogspot.com/2014/05/giveaway-american-bible-challenge-t.html . Ends 6/7 (tomorrow at midnight Pacific time)! and 2. You can enter to win a copy of When Calls the Heart "A Telling Silence" DVD on my other blog at http://fivesavedbygrace.blogspot.com/2014/05/dvd-review-when-calls-heart-telling.html . Ends 6/14. Very low entries on both.

Rescued to Reflect Redeemer

- Paul gives us the reason why we should be giving joyful thanks to God. Our Heavenly Father has qualified us (on the basis of Christ's finished work on the cross) to share in the inheritance of His holy people (the saints) in the kingdom of light. He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Praise God for our inheritance, deliverance, and transference!
- Through Christ's atoning sacrifice, God rescued us from Satan's dominion (power/control) of darkness into Christ's kingdom of light...from death to life; He redeemed us (delivering us from sin & its punishment, and forgiving all our sins). He brought/transferred us into His eternal kingdom where Christ rules. "In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will--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." (Ephesians 1:5-7) "Thanks be to God, Who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:25a) "I am sending you (Paul) to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me." ~Jesus (Acts 26:17b-18)
- We, the redeemed, are no longer under the dominion of evil but under the rule of Jesus Christ. We are now children of light living in the kingdom of light. "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." (Ephesians 5:8-11) We are to walk in the light. "God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin." (1 John 1:5b-7) In the Bible, light represents truth, holiness (purity), love, and life. We've been rescued to reflect our Redeemer, the Light of the World!

Abounding in Compassion, Grace, Patience, Love, and Faithfulness

- In distress, David chooses to praise God not only for what He has done but also for Who He is. Even when we cannot trace God's hand (when we don't understand what He is doing or why), we can always trust His heart/His character.
- This verse lists a few of God's attributes. The Lord is gracious and compassionate; slow to anger and rich in love & faithfulness. O how grateful I am for God’s grace & graciousness (kindness), compassion (mercy), patience, love, and faithfulness!
- We may fail but God never fails us! I hope these verses will encourage your heart and mind as they have mine! "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23) "The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." (James 5:11b) "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!" (Isaiah 30:18) "Yet He was merciful; He forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them (unfaithful Israelites). Time after time He restrained His anger and did not stir up His full wrath." (Psalm 78:38) "Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies." (Psalm 36:5) "Not to us, Lord, not to us but to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness." (Psalm 115:1) "Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples. For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord." (Psalm 117:1-2)
- "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Ephesians 5:1-2) God wants us to imitate Him in being kind, compassionate, forgiving, and loving. We can live a life of love because we know we are His dearly loved children, whom Christ loved and gave Himself up for. When others see us, I hope they say, "Like Father, like daughters." :)
- Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, how can we ever thank You enough for Your unending love, grace, and mercy?! Thank You for being so patient with us while we keep stumbling! Please help us to be gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. In Jesus’s Name, I pray. Amen!

Do You Realize How Much You Have in Christ?

- Paul's beautiful prayer continues in these 2 verses. What does a life worthy of the Lord pleasing to Him look like? Besides bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, it includes being strengthened with God's unlimited power so that we may be joyfully patient and enduring/ persevering under all circumstances, and giving thanks to the Father Who has qualified us to share in His inheritance because we now belong to Christ's kingdom (the kingdom of light). God wants us to find strength in Him/to be filled with His strength/to be empowered by Him, realizing that the same glorious power that raised Christ from the dead is presently at work in our lives. God also wants us to be have a thankful heart, realizing how much we have in Christ.
- This passage made me think of the following 2 verses. "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9)
"The Lord is my Strength and my Shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him. The Lord is the Strength of His people, a Fortress of salvation for His anointed one. Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; be their Shepherd and carry them forever." (Psalm 28:7-9)

Fear Not!

- Children of God, fear not! Here are 7 reasons God gives:
1. I have redeemed you
2. I have summoned you by name
3. You are Mine
4. I will be with you
5. I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior
6. You are precious and honored in My sight
7. I love you

- Christ has redeemed us from sin and death. We have been set free to live for Him, not in fear but in Spirit and in love. Fear not!

- God knows and calls each one of us by name. Each one is the special object of God's intimate affection. He knows what's best for you. Fear not!

- We are His by creation, redemption, purchase, and choice. We are Christ's in all circumstances and for eternity. We belong to Him, Who is sovereign over all. Fear not!

- God's presence makes all the difference in the world. He will never leave us nor forsake us. No matter what trial and storm you're going through, God is bigger than your storm and He is right there with you to bring you through it. Fear not!

- He is the Lord our God, the Holy One of Israel, our Savior. "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) God is our Provider and our Protector. Fear not!

- We are precious to God and honored in His sight! We are precious to God the Father--as His children. We are precious to God the Son--as His bride. We are precious to God the Holy Spirit--as His temple. He deeply cares about us. Fear not!

- God loves you and me with His infinite, unchanging, unconditional, everlasting love! If only we could permanently ingrain our minds and hearts with this truth, it would sustain us through every situation. God is always loving, always good, and always faithful. Fear not!

This post is linked up with Fellowship Fridays @Christian Mommy Blogger, Faith-filled Friday @Missional Women, Still Saturday @sandraheskaking,  Spiritual Sundays, Essential Thing Devotions, Sharing His Beauty @The Beauty in His Grip, Playdates with God at The Wellspring, The Weekend Brew @My Freshly Brewed Life, Give Me Grace, and Inspire Me Monday @Create With Joy.

Live a Life Worthy of the Lord

- This (verses 9 to12) is one of the most beautiful of Paul's prayers for the churches. It's one of my favorite prayers I pray for my children.
- What should we desire to be filled with? The knowledge of God's will, all spiritual wisdom and understanding. "For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding." (Proverbs 2:6) As a result of being filled with these, we may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way. What does that kind of life look like? Bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, and more (in verses 11, 12).
- Want to know God's will? "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing, and perfect will." (Romans 12:2) Mind transformation (by God's Word and the Holy Spirit) is a prerequisite to being fruitful in every good work and growing spiritually. To know God more & more and to understand His heart/will, we must spend much time with Him in prayer and in His Word. There are no shortcuts!

God Rejoices over Me!

- God's presence is the best Present! It sounds like a cliche but it's true. His presence makes all the difference in the world! Emmanuel = God with us! God's Word often mentions about God's presence (For the Lord your God is with you) when commanding us not to fear or be afraid. God's got our back. His presence gives us courage and comfort and gives us the reason to press on.
- The Lord is the Mighty Warrior Who saves. He is mighty to save. Rest in His power! Nothing is impossible with God. What a mighty God we serve!
- God takes great delight in us! He creates us for His pleasure; He desires to have an intimate relationship with us. He is glad when we come to Him and spend time with Him. He loves loving us! Imagine that. "Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings." (Psalm 17:8)
- In His love, God will no longer rebuke us, but He will rejoice over us with singing. His love will calm all our fears and will quiet our soul. "There is no fear in love! But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment." (1 John 4:18a) God loves us so much that He sings over us with joy. How incredible it is! What heights and depths of love! We are so dear to Christ! Jesus is singing over us His bride. Isn't that sweet? When my husband composed a special song for me and played the piano & sang to me, it melted my heart :). When you get discouraged, please remember that God is cheering for you; God is always for you and with you. Rest secure in His love! You've never been unloved!

Do You Truly Understand the Gospel of God's Grace?

"The faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in Heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world--just as it is has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God's grace. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit." Colossians 1:5-8

- When our hope is eternal life in Heaven, our faith and love blossom and bring forth fruit. We see faith, love, and hope go together in 1 Corinthians 13:13, "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." Because we know that our future destination and salvation are firmly secure, our faith and confidence are strengthened and our love is nourished.
- "Truly understood God's grace"--If you truly understand God's grace, your life will never be the same. You can know what grace is yet do not truly understand it. 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. When we face trials in life, God’s grace is there to sustain us and strengthen 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. May we always rest in His unconditional & inexhaustible love, grace, and mercy!
- Christian love (Christlike love) comes from the Holy Spirit. It is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, Whom He has given us." (Romans 5:5)
- The Gospel of God's grace transforms lives and those transformed lives bear fruit for God. It is very interesting to see that within the first generation (about 32 years after the death of Christ), the gospel had reached the whole known world. Wish it was true today! There are currently over 6,900 unreached people groups. What are we, Christ's followers, doing about it? We must take the Great Commission seriously and be active in spreading the gospel. "Go, send, or disobey!" (~John Piper) "It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known."(Romans 15:20a) That's my ambition, too. "I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." (Acts 20:24)

Grace and Peace, Faith and Love

"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To God's holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God's people." Colossians 1:1-4

- Paul wrote this letter from prison in Rome. His purpose in writing this letter was to refute heretical teachings about Christ that has been causing confusion among Christ's followers in Colossae.
- Paul called himself an apostle of Christ Jesus (by the will of God). It indicates that he's directly commissioned as an apostle by the risen Lord and it conveys the ideas of mission, authorization, and responsibility.
- All Christ's followers are saints/holy. We are declared holy (our position) in the sight of God because of Christ's death for us. And because of the Holy Spirit's work in us, we are continuing to be made holy (sanctified) in our lives.
- "Grace and peace" was Paul's standard salutation. Peace or Shalom was the common greeting of the day. Paul combined peace with grace (undeserved/unmerited favor of God) which is the main underlying principle of the New Testament. Grace and peace come from God. Because of God's grace, we have peace with God and peace within. "Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2)
- Every letter written by Paul (except Galatians) begins with thanks or praise. Here Paul gave thanks to God for the Colossians' faith in Christ and their love for all the saints. God is the Source of these virtues.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your amazing grace and for the peace that surpasses all understanding! I thank You for the Body of Christ, for all my brothers and sisters in Christ. Please protect the persecuted church around the world and help them to stand firm in the faith no matter what. Please help us all to keep growing in faith and love. Please remind us to take our job as ambassadors of Christ seriously since it is Your will for us. Please empower us to faithfully and boldly spread the Gospel and be effective in our ministry of reconciliation. In Jesus's Name, I pray. Amen.

Never Alone!

- O how sweet the omnipresence of God is to my soul! God's presence makes all the difference in the world! We are never alone. God is always present even when we don't feel His presence. No matter what we do or where we go, we can never be far from God's comforting presence. God is with us through every situation and every trial--loving, sustaining, and guiding us. "The omnipresence of God--gracious antidote to every earthly sorrow!" (John MacDuff) He is above us, around us, with us, and within us. My life is in God's hand; there's nowhere else I'd rather be! In God's presence, I find joy and strength, comfort and courage, help and hope. "Surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age!" ~Jesus (Matthew 28:20b)

- This passage made me think of the movie and song, "Alone Yet Not Alone". The song is beautifully sung by Joni Eareckson Tada and was nominated for Oscar but got rescinded.
The movie is based on the book with the same title, Alone Yet Not Alone by Tracy Leininger Craven. The book was based on a true story that took place in the author's own family. It's about steadfast faith in God that sustained 2 sisters who were captured and separated by the Indians during the French and Indian War. I have never read the book but I really like the following poem (which someone quoted from the book).

"Alone, yet not alone am I
Though in this solitude so drear
I feel my Saviour always nigh;
He comes the weary hours to cheer
I am with Him and He with me
It therefore cannot lonely be."

- "Remind yourself every day you get up and everywhere you go, 'I am in the presence of God.'" (Alistair Begg) How much less people would sin if they are constantly aware of God's presence...I wonder.

- God knows us more profoundly than we know ourselves and He shows us that we are worth loving and dying for and having relationship with. Truly amazing and mind-boggling! If you ever doubt your worth, please read this Psalm again :).
 

VBS in Asia

Did you know that in South Asia, Vacation Bible School (VBS) programs are taking place right now? Action songs, Bible lessons, puppet shows are used to display Christ's love to the children. Most of them get to hear the Gospel for the very first time. Many have come to Christ through VBS. Check out this wonderful story of God's miraculous healing, "Doctors Fail, VBS Teacher Prays".

Would you please pray for the VBS in Asia and for the children and their families? Would you also please consider sending children to VBS through scholarships (only $5 per child)? Let's make an eternal impact for God's glory and for God's kingdom!

Giveaway: The American Bible Challenge T-Shirt and Poster

The American Bible Challenge Season 3 premiered on May 22nd on Game Show Network. Our family enjoys watching it. Have you ever watched it? The American Bible Challenge is a fun game show that promotes the Bible, its teachings and relevance in American culture. If you want to encourage your family and friends to learn more of God's Word in a fun & exciting way, invite them to watch The American Bible Challenge on GSN.

5 Things You Didn’t Know about The American Bible Challenge:

1. All the money won in every single episode is donated to charities
2. All of the questions come from the Old and New Testament
3. Your Bible knowledge will be tested in physical challenges as well
4. The American Bible Challenge is the highest rated TV program in Game Show Network history
5. It is nominated for two daytime emmy awards: Outstanding Game Show, and Outstanding Game Show Host Jeff Foxworthy

Did you know the 5 facts above? Do you think you would win big if you (your team) were a contestant on the show?
https://twitter.com/BibleChallenge
https://www.facebook.com/theamericanbiblechallenge

GIVEAWAY: One of my blog readers can win 1 official "The American Bible Challenge" t-shirt and 1 11x17 official Season 3 poster. Open to the U.S. residents only.
Deadline: 6/7 at midnight (Pacific time)
To Enter: Leave a comment here with your email address. Please share what your favorite Bible verse is.

~ This post is sponsored by Game Show Network & The American Bible Challenge.

How Can You Pray for Them?

"Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17

"Let us pray! Our life is praying;
Prayer with time alone may cease:
Then in heaven, God's will obeying,
Life is praise and perfect peace."
~Charles Spurgeon

It is so important for us to live a life of prayer, enjoying a constant intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father. We should always remember to pray not only for our own needs or our loved ones but also for others, especially the lost, the unreached, and the needy. I really appreciate these 2 following links (provided by Gospel for Asia) where you can find prayer needs/requests so you'll know how to pray for different ministries and countries.

http://www.gfa.org/pray/people-ministries/

http://www.gfa.org/pray/vbs/
Please pray for the Vacation Bible School ministry in South Asia. Please pray that many (children, their parents, people in their villages) will be touched by Christ's love and the Good News of salvation.

 

Friday's Fave Five #96

It's time for another Friday's Fave Five (hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story)

My Fave Five this week:
1. We had a wonderful time walking 2 miles for Steps for Life (an annual fund-raising event for Pregnancy Resource Centers) on Saturday. Isaiah has raised a total of $1,815 this year. Soli Deo Gloria!

2. Even though the forecast said it was going to rain throughout last Saturday, we're thankful that the rain was held off until nighttime when we got home. After the walk, we were able to help my mom move into her new home.

3. I thoroughly enjoyed my brother's delicious Raspberry Coffee Cake :).

4. I've recently finished reading aloud about David Brainerd to my sons (I love reading aloud stories of faith heroes and missionaries). Here are a couple of my favorite David Brainerd's quotes: "We should always look upon ourselves as God's servants, placed in God's world, to do His work; and accordingly labour faithfully for Him; not with a design to grow rich and great, but to glorify God, and do all the good we possibly can."

“Farewell, vain world; my soul bids you adieu.
My Savior taught me to abandon you.
Your charms may gratify a sensual mind,
but cannot please a soul for God designed.”

By the way, I just want to encourage those who have struggled or are struggling with depression. Charles Spurgeon, David Brainerd, and William Cowper struggled with depression throughout most of their lives yet God used them mightily for His glory and for His kingdom! Surrender all to Jesus; He will use you in a mighty way. May the Holy Spirit refresh your soul and encourage your heart! I'm praying for you and I'm always here for you (whenever you need listening ears or anything). Cling to Christ, our Hope of Glory!

5. You can enter to win The American Bible Challenge hat, t-shirt, and poster on my blog at http://fivesavedbygrace.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-american-bible-challenge-and.html. Ends 5/30

 

Honor Mom and Rescue a Child in Asia

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 11^th (tomorrow). I love being a mom and I am truly a blessed mom. I'm very thankful for my three delightful blessings from God! I am also thankful for my mom whom I still pray that she will totally surrender her life to Christ. As you celebrate this Mother's Day, so many mothers and children are suffering in Asia. They struggle to survive and they are desperate for hope. Because of poverty, more than 20 million children are trapped in child labor and prostitution in order to support their family. Gospel for Asia's Bridge of Hope is making a difference in Asia by providing food, education, medical care, Christ's love, and the Gospel to the children. Often their families have put their faith in Jesus as a result.

It only takes $35 a month to give a child everything he/she needs--school supplies, a daily meal, medical checkups and more--to attend a Bridge of Hope Center. 100% of your sponsorship is sent to the field to support your child. Nothing is taken out for administrative expenses. Gospel for Asia hopes to see 2,000 Bridge of Hope children sponsored by Mother's Day. Would you please consider sponsoring a child today in honor of your mom? You can make an eternal impact that lasts! You get to be an artisan of hope to these children and mothers in need. What a unique and beautiful gift given in honor of Mom! You'll be making your mom smile and another mom in Asia smile :). Please visit www.gfa.org/mom/ or www.gfa.org/sponsorachild/mothers-day/.

When you sponsor a child, you'll receive a packet including your child’s photo and letter-writing materials. You can correspond directly with your child. I'd like to introduce you to our sponsored child, Rohan. He is 10 years old and lives in India. Below are his picture, his latest letter, and coloring page that we received. We're always excited to hear from him and we keep him & his family in our prayers. Let's rescue these children in need, show them that their Heavenly Father deeply loves & cares for them, and help them find eternal hope in Christ!

“As we celebrate Mother’s Day and thank God for the influence of our mothers and wives, please remember the millions of children and mothers who have never heard of Jesus, [the One] who will provide for them.” ~K.P. Yohannan

This post is linked up with Fellowship Fridays @Christian Mommy Blogger, Faith-filled Friday @Missional Women, Spiritual Sundays, Essential Thing Devotions, Sharing His Beauty @The Beauty in His Grip, Playdates with God at The Wellspring, The Weekend Brew @My Freshly Brewed Life, @Chronicles of Grace, and Inspire Me Monday @Create With Joy.

Book Review: It's a God Thing

God is not dead! That's for sure. He is very active in His children's lives! This book confirms that fact. Don Jacobson and K-Love Radio Network together compiled 46 amazing true stories of everyday miracles.God is constantly working (mostly behind the scene where we never see). Once in a while, He allows us to witness His glorious works in our lives and in the lives of others. I really enjoyed reading all the astonishing testimonies in this book. From a miraculous healing to a stunning life-saving, from a love story to an attempted suicide story, from a drug addiction to a hostage situation, from a car accident to a boat accident, from miscarriages to adoption, It's a God Thing demonstrates over and over again that God never leaves us nor forsakes us. What a loving & caring God we serve!

From these stories, readers can clearly see God's presence, power, provision, protection, love, grace, and mercy. The book made me smile at God's never-ceasing goodness and faithfulness. God's redemption and transformation are also beautifully displayed. It's truly mind-boggling that God of the universe is so attentive to even the tiny details of our lives. Some of my favorite stories from the book are not major miracles but rather little things that show how wonderfully sweet and super cool (aka awesome) our Heavenly Father is :). If you pay attention, you will be able to see His fingerprints here and there everywhere. I personally can attest to that. It's a God Thing is an encouraging and inspiring read! It will help refresh your soul, renew your hope, remind you of God's incredible love & inexhaustible grace, and strengthen your faith.

~ I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Christian Book Store

A to Z Challenge Reflection

 

I am one of the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge survivors! Congratulations to all who completed the challenge! And thanks to the A to Z April Challenge Team! You can find the links to my posts from A to Z here. The challenge was lots of fun for me. It helped stretch my thoughts and vocabulary. "X" was probably my most challenging letter :). I like the fact that there was no theme requirement so there's more flexibility. However, I focused my posts mainly on my Bible study which I was doing daily anyway. I look forward to participating in this challenge again.

reflect on your experience and let us know what you enjoyed, what you could’ve done better, and where we can improve. - See more at: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2014/04/z-end-atozchallenge.html#sthash.qjePfXc7.dpuf

the A to Z Challenge Reflections post.

We ask that you reflect on your experience and let us know what you enjoyed, what you could’ve done better, and where we can improve. - See more at: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2014/04/z-end-atozchallenge.html#sthash.qjePfXc7.dpuf

the A to Z Challenge Reflections post.

We ask that you reflect on your experience and let us know what you enjoyed, what you could’ve done better, and where we can improve. - See more at: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2014/04/z-end-atozchallenge.html#sthash.qjePfXc7.dpuf

Friday's Fave Five #95

It's time for another Friday's Fave Five (hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story)

My Fave Five this week:
1. My daughter (who is away at college) called me on Monday to thank me. She said that a survey about mother-daughter relationship in her psychology class made her realize how blessed she is to have me as her mom :). She thanked me for always being loving, caring, and supportive. I cried. I thank God for blessing our family relationship to be Christ-centered and filled with love, grace, and laughter.

2. I finished the Ultimate Blog Challenge (blogging at least once a day everyday in April) and the A to Z April Challenge (26 posts in an alphabetical order). You can find the links to all the posts from A to Z here. 

3. I like these quotes.

And do it all for God's glory!



 







4. Yesterday, I made Strawberry Cream Cheese Cobbler. It was yummy! I used this recipe I found on Facebook.

5. Only 15 days left to give to Steps for Life 2014, an annual fund-raising event for Pregnancy Resource Centers! Please consider giving through my 12 year old son's page. Any amount is greatly appreciated. Life is a gift from God! Let's choose life and save lives!  

Bonus:  You can read my review and enter to win a copy of Impact by Tim Irwin here. You can make an impact with your life whether you're a leader in your family, class, office, organization, community, church, ministry, or small group. If you desire to be an effective leader, check this book out. It's an easy-to-read leadership manual filled with practical ideas and insightful advice. What kind of legacy do you wish to leave? Live and lead accordingly.

The giveaway will end on May 9th at midnight Pacific time.

A to Z April Challenge 2014

This month, I've been participating in the Ultimate Blog Challenge (blogging at least once a day everyday) and the A to Z April Challenge (26 posts in an alphabetical order). It's challenging but fun :). I thought it would be neat to look back at all the posts from A to Z so I'm listing them in this post.

Amazing Example: Follow the Foot WasherBetter to Have Not Been Born

Cup of New Covenant

Drink Decisively

Everyday Confetti

For Us

God's Love Demonstrated

Heaven's Throne Made Accessible

Incredible Contrast

JESUS, the Eternal Priest-King

Keys to a Highly, Happy Marriage

Living Lord

Motivated by Christ's Victory

No Longer

Outstanding Offer!

Proof

Quote Collector

Response to Resurrection

Scriptures Testify about Jesus Christ

The True Bread from Heaven
Unfailing Love and Grace of God

Vocation of Reconciliation: Christ's Ambassadors

Worry Not!

X = Ten
Yes to Faith in God, No to Word of Faith Movement

Zealous for the Lord

 

Zealous for the Lord

 

 "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." (Romans 12:11)
"Do not let your heart envy sinners but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off." (Proverbs 23:17-18)
"It is fine to be zealous, provide the purpose is good." (Galatians 4:18a)

zeal = enthusiastic and diligent devotion in pursuit of a cause or goal; ardor, fervor

zealous = filled with or motivated by zeal, ardent, fervent

Today, I've officially finished the Ultimate Blog Challenge (blogging at least once a day everyday) and the A to Z April Challenge (26 posts in an alphabetical order). If you have visited my blog once or twice or more, I hope you'll be able to tell what I am zealous about :). It's all about God and about honoring Him. I hope and pray that He will use my writing/blogging to draw unbelievers to Jesus and to encourage believers in their faith journey with Him. I am very passionate about living purposefully for God with no compromise, loving God and loving others, serving God and serving others, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and raising kids to be world changers for Christ! Soli Deo Gloria!

What are you zealous about?

Yes to Faith in God, No to Word of Faith Movement

What is faith? According to the Bible, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1) Faith in God (of the Bible) is complete confidence/total trust in Who God is and what God does and that God will do what He will do when He wants to do and how He wants to do.  We are sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see because of God alone Who is always faithful and unchangeable, all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving. We can rest in His love, grace, mercy, wisdom, power, goodness, faithfulness, and sovereignty. We trust God, His Word and His promises without terms. Faith is the assurance that the thing God has said in His Word is true and that God will act according to His character/attributes and what He has said in His Word. God is both the Object and the Origin of our faith.
"Faith is believing what God says simply because it is God Who says it." ~Unknown
"Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One Who is leading." (~Oswald Chambers)
"Faith is expressed in obedience to Biblical truth because we have confidence in our trustworthy God." (~Alistair Begg)
"Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of faith is to see what we believe." (~St. Augustine)
"Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. It is the belief that God will do what is right." (~Max Lucado)
"Faith endures as seeing Him Who is invisible; endures the disappointments, the hardships, and the heart-aches of life, by recognizing that all comes from the hand of Him Who is too wise to err and too loving to be unkind." (~A.W. Pink)
"Faith is a Fantastic Adventure In Trusting Him." (~Corrie ten Boom)

Whom or what you have your faith in is of utmost importance. Say yes to faith in God but you must say no to the Word of Faith Movement! This movement (aka the Prosperity Gospel) teaches wrong theology/false doctrines and it is very dangerous; it has destroyed many lives and led so many astray. It is not Christianity but it continues to creep into some Christians and churches. What they teach is unBiblical & atrocious and has devastating consequences on those who believe in them/follow their teachings. Some of their teachings include Christians are little gods, Christians have the power to speak things into existence, words are powerful and can change God's plan, God wants us to be healthy and wealthy always and if we're not healthy or wealthy, then it's because we don't have enough faith, and God needs our permission to do things; He is merely a puppet moved by "the force of faith". These false teachers also claim that they can control weather. Where were they then when the tornado just hit the South and killed 17 people on Sunday night? Please do not believe these false teachers. They are liars and deceivers. They elevate themselves yet have no concept of God's sovereignty whatsoever. I encourage you all to be like the Bereans/to compare everything you hear and read to the Scriptures. "Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." (Acts 17:11) Guard yourselves against lies and false teaching by familiarizing yourselves with the truth, God's Word!

To learn more about the Word of Faith Movement, I recommend you read Christianity in Crisis 21st Century by Hank Hanegraaff and check out Christian Research Institute for more resources. Please take time to listen to Justin Peters in the video below! And please pray for these false teachers to repent and turn to God and pray for those who have been deceived by them that they will see God's truths from God's Word themselves. "For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

"The Bible lists in Hebrews 11 the heroes of the faith...who were tortured, imprisoned, stoned, torn apart, and killed by the sword. They didn't wear designer jeans but went about in animal skins, destitute and tormented." ~Billy Graham

"Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. 'We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,' they said." (Acts 14:22)

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil." (Proverbs 3:5-7)

X = Ten

Since X is the Roman numeral for ten and X marks the spot for a hidden treasure on a treasure map, I'm eXcited to share with you 10 of my favorite Bible verses (my treasures). You don't know how eXtremely difficult for me to only pick X (10) :)!

I. "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

II. "I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." (Acts 20:24)

III. "Whom have I in Heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the Strength of my heart and my portion forever...As for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my Refuge; I will tell of all Your deeds." (Psalm 73:25-26, 28)

IV. "I am the Vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing...If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed My Father's commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that My joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name. This is My command: Love each other." (John 15:5, 7-17)

V.  "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him (Christ) Who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:12b-13)

VI. "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:7-11)

VII. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:3-5)

VIII. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:8-10)

IX. "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son." (Romans 8:28-29a)

X. "If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord." (Romans 14:8)

Oh...I cannot only share eXactly 10 :). Please eXcuse me for I must share some eXtra verses which are also very eXcellent. They eXhibit and eXplain God's eXpressive, eXquisite, eXtraordinary, eXtravagant, & eXuberant love, grace, and mercy for us.
"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)

"Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your Name I will lift up my hands." (Psalm 63:3-4)

"God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

"Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23:6)

"This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us." (1 John 4:9-12)

"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 weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1a)

I can just keep going but I'd better stop before I eXhaust you eXceedingly :).