Découvrez ci-dessous le texte complet de la lettre d'amour du père! Les paroles que vous allez lire sont vraies, parce qu'elle viennent directement du Père. Il t'aime. Lis donc maintenant cette lettre d'amour qu'il a écrite pour toi...
Mon Enfant,
Je regarde jusqu'au fond de ton coeur et je sais tout de toi. (Psaume 139:1)
Je sais quand tu t'assieds et quand tu te lèves. (Psaume 139:2)
Je te vois quand tu marches et quand tu te couches, je connais parfaitement toutes tes voies. (Psaume 139:3)
Même les cheveux de ta tête sont comptés. (Matthieu 10:29-31)
Tu as été créé à mon image. (Genèse 1:27)
Je suis le mouvement, la vie et l'être. (Actes 17:28)
Je te connaissais même avant que tu sois conçu. (Jérémie 1:4-5)
Je t'ai choisi au moment de la création. (Ephésiens 1:11-12)
Tu n'étais pas une erreur. (Psaume 139:15)
Tous tes jours sont écrits dans mon livre. (Psaume 139:16)
Je détermine la durée des temps et les bornes de tes demeures. (Actes 17:26)
J'ai fait de toi une créature merveilleuse. (Psaume 139:14)
Je t'ai tissé dans le ventre de ta mère. (Psaume 139:13)
C'est moi qui t'ai fait sortir du sein de ta mère. (Psaume 71:6)
J'ai été déformé par ceux qui ne me connaissent pas. (Jean 8:41-44)
Je ne me suis pas éloigné, ni fâché, car je suis l'expression parfaite de l'amour. (I Jean 4:16)
C'est mon amour de Père que je répands sur toi. (I Jean 3:1)
Parce que tu es mon enfant et que je suis ton Père. (1 Jean 3:1)
Je t'offre plus que ton père terrestre pourrait jamais te donner. (Matthieu 7:11)
Car je suis le Père parfait. (Matthieu 5:48)
Toute grâce que tu reçois vient de ma main. (Jacques 1:17)
Car je suis celui qui subvient à tous tes besoins. (Matthieu 6:31-33)
Mon plan pour ton avenir est toujours rempli d'espérance. (Jérémie 29:11)
Parce que je t'aime d'un amour éternel. (Jérémie 31:3)
Mes pensées vers toi sont innombrables comme le sable sur le bord de la mer. (Psaume 139:17-18)
Et je me réjouis de tes louanges et de ton adoration. (Sophonie 3:17)
Je n'arrêterai jamais de te faire du bien (Jérémie 32:40)
Tu es le peuple que j'ai choisi. (Exode 19:5)
Je désire t'établir avec tout mon coeur et toute mon âme. (Jérémie 32:41)
Il est en mon pouvoir de te montrer de grandes et merveilleuses choses. (Jérémie 33:3)
Si tu me cherches avec tout ton coeur tu me trouveras. (Deutéronome 4:29)
Fais de moi tes délices et je te donnerai ce que ton cœur désire. (Psaume 37:4)
Car c'est moi qui t'ai donné ces désirs. (Philippiens 2:13)
Je suis capable de faire plus pour toi que tu pourrais probablement imaginer. (Ephésiens 3:20)
Car je suis ton encouragement le plus grand. (2 Thessaloniciens 2:16-17)
Je suis aussi le père qui te console dans tous tes ennuis.(2 Corinthiens 1:3-4)
Quand tu cries à moi, je suis près de toi et je te délivre de toutes tes détresses. (Psaume 34:18)
Comme un berger porte un agneau, je te porte près de mon coeur.
(Esaïe 40:11)
J'effacerai toutes larmes de tes yeux. (Apocalypse 21:3-4)
Et j'emporterai toute la douleur que tu as subie sur cette terre.
(Apocalypse 21:4)
Je suis ton père et je t'aime de la même façon que j'aime mon fils Jésus. (Jean 17:23)
Car dans Jésus mon amour pour toi est révélé. (Jean 17:26)
Il est la représentation exacte de mon être (Hebreux 1:3)
Et Il est venu pour démontrer que je suis pour toi, pas contre toi. (Romains 8:31)
Et te dire que je ne compte pas tes péchés. (2 Corinthiens 5:18-19)
Jésus est mort pour que toi et moi puissions être réconciliés.
(2 Corinthiens 5:18-19)
Sa mort est l'expression suprême de mon amour pour toi. (1 Jean 4:10)
J'ai renoncé à tout ce que j'aime pour gagner ton amour. (Romains 8:32)
Si tu acceptes mon fils Jésus, tu me reçois. (1 Jean 2:23)
Et rien ne te séparera de mon amour. (Romains 8:38-39)
Dans ma maison, il y a tant de joie dans le ciel devant la repentance d'un pécheur. (Luc 15:7)
J'ai toujours été le Père et serai toujours ton Père. (Ephésiens 3:14-15)
Ma question est ... veux-tu être mon enfant ? (Jean 1:12-13)
Je t'attends. (Luc 15:11-32)
Ton Père qui t'aime
Dieu tout puissant
Monday, December 24, 2007
Christmas Eve Gift
My family on my father's side had an unusual tradition.
Many years at Christmas we would travel to my grandparents' house in Alabama on December 23. We would be there for Christmas eve day and then head back home that night. My father was the oldest of seven children, so I had a LOT of uncles, aunts and cousins on that side of the family, most of whom lived nearby. On December 24, whenever one of the family would arrive at my grandparent's house, they would come through the door saying, "Christmas Eve gift!"
I remember wondering why they said that. Sometimes they were carrying gifts to put under the tree but at least half of the time they had nothing in their hands as they walked through the door and said, "Christmas Eve gift!"
As an adult, I asked one of my uncles about the family custom. He smiled and said that the family had been doing that since my father was a little boy. The meaning behind it was simple, yet profound. The "gift" they referred to was themselves. The gift of being together as a family was, after all, the best gift we could give each other.
Some Christmases when my father was growing up, especially during the Great Depression, that was about the only gift that they had to give each other. But even in the years when there were presents under the tree for all of us, the best gift they gave each other was being together at Christmas. So they recognized that with the tradition of saying "Christmas Eve gift!" as they arrived to share the special day together.
For the life of me, I can't recall a single material gift that I was ever given at my grandparent's house - even though there was always something under the tree for me. Whatever those gifts were - perhaps toys, clothing, or books - they have long since faded from my memory. Yet I can close my eyes and see the faces of my cousins as we talked, laughed and sang together on Christmas Eve. I can vividly remember what it smelled like in my grandmother's kitchen, and the love and patience showered on me by all of my uncles and aunts.
So they were right. The gift that we announced as we came through the door and shouted "Christmas Eve gift!" was the best gift, the most valuable gift, and the gift that has stood the test of time: the gift of time spent with those you love.
As you give presents to those you love this Christmas, keep in mind that the best gift you can give is the gift of yourself. The material things you get and give this year will soon be used up, broken and forgotten. But the gift of love and time invested in your loved ones will be kept and cherished in their hearts - and in yours - for the rest of our lives.
Some say we give gifts at Christmas to carry on the tradition of the Magi who brought gifts to Jesus. But when we give the gift of ourselves, we are truly being like the One whose birth we celebrate. The one who loves us and gave Himself for us so that we could spend eternity together with Him.
Christmas Eve gift!
Rev. Alan Riley is the Director of Web Operations for Streaming Faith and serves as the Managing Editor of StreamingFaith.com. He is an ordained Baptist Minister and a frequent contributor to the Streaming Faith Daily Devotional
Many years at Christmas we would travel to my grandparents' house in Alabama on December 23. We would be there for Christmas eve day and then head back home that night. My father was the oldest of seven children, so I had a LOT of uncles, aunts and cousins on that side of the family, most of whom lived nearby. On December 24, whenever one of the family would arrive at my grandparent's house, they would come through the door saying, "Christmas Eve gift!"
I remember wondering why they said that. Sometimes they were carrying gifts to put under the tree but at least half of the time they had nothing in their hands as they walked through the door and said, "Christmas Eve gift!"
As an adult, I asked one of my uncles about the family custom. He smiled and said that the family had been doing that since my father was a little boy. The meaning behind it was simple, yet profound. The "gift" they referred to was themselves. The gift of being together as a family was, after all, the best gift we could give each other.
Some Christmases when my father was growing up, especially during the Great Depression, that was about the only gift that they had to give each other. But even in the years when there were presents under the tree for all of us, the best gift they gave each other was being together at Christmas. So they recognized that with the tradition of saying "Christmas Eve gift!" as they arrived to share the special day together.
For the life of me, I can't recall a single material gift that I was ever given at my grandparent's house - even though there was always something under the tree for me. Whatever those gifts were - perhaps toys, clothing, or books - they have long since faded from my memory. Yet I can close my eyes and see the faces of my cousins as we talked, laughed and sang together on Christmas Eve. I can vividly remember what it smelled like in my grandmother's kitchen, and the love and patience showered on me by all of my uncles and aunts.
So they were right. The gift that we announced as we came through the door and shouted "Christmas Eve gift!" was the best gift, the most valuable gift, and the gift that has stood the test of time: the gift of time spent with those you love.
As you give presents to those you love this Christmas, keep in mind that the best gift you can give is the gift of yourself. The material things you get and give this year will soon be used up, broken and forgotten. But the gift of love and time invested in your loved ones will be kept and cherished in their hearts - and in yours - for the rest of our lives.
Some say we give gifts at Christmas to carry on the tradition of the Magi who brought gifts to Jesus. But when we give the gift of ourselves, we are truly being like the One whose birth we celebrate. The one who loves us and gave Himself for us so that we could spend eternity together with Him.
Christmas Eve gift!
Rev. Alan Riley is the Director of Web Operations for Streaming Faith and serves as the Managing Editor of StreamingFaith.com. He is an ordained Baptist Minister and a frequent contributor to the Streaming Faith Daily Devotional
The True Meaning of Christmas
Christmas is one of the most important days among Christians. This day commemorates and celebrates the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christmas is more than just a holiday. It is the remembrance of the fact that God so loved the world that He have His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Jesus' birthday - Christmas is about God's love. It is about God's love for you and me. It is God expressing His great love for mankind, through the giving of the greatest gift, the Lord Jesus Christ. He loves us not because of what we are, but He loves us because of what He knows we can become, if we'll allow Him to get involved in our lives.
John 1:1-3, 14: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
This passage from the Book of John tells us what Christmas is all about. It is about Jesus coming into the world. It is about the Word of God, the Living Word; Jesus is called the Logos, or the Word of God, and it says, "In the beginning was the Word."
Notice that verse 1 says "the Word was with God". This verse shows Jesus' separate and distinct personality. Then it says "the Word was God." Now, I can't explain this to you. I can't explain it in a rational way so that you can understand it intellectually, but that's what the Bible says, it says that the Word was with God and then it says that the Word was God. Praise God that He doesn't require us to understand it mentally in order to gain the benefits from it; all we have to do is simply believe it.
Romans 8:1-3: There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,
This is the purpose of Jesus' coming. His purpose was to come and take away our sin. To come and pay the penalty that all of us should have rightfully paid as a result of Adam's sin in the garden of Eden. Jesus came to do it for us; that's what this season is all about. That's the true meaning of Christmas, that Jesus came to do what the flesh could not do and that is to bring us back into fellowship and communion with the Heavenly Father.
Hebrews 2:10-15: For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You." And again: "I will put My trust in Him." And again: "Here am I and the children whom God has given Me." Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Jesus came to set us free from the ravages of death. Praise the Lord! The real meaning of Christmas is Jesus Christ: crucified, dead, risen, ascended, and coming again!
Jesus' birthday - Christmas is about God's love. It is about God's love for you and me. It is God expressing His great love for mankind, through the giving of the greatest gift, the Lord Jesus Christ. He loves us not because of what we are, but He loves us because of what He knows we can become, if we'll allow Him to get involved in our lives.
John 1:1-3, 14: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
This passage from the Book of John tells us what Christmas is all about. It is about Jesus coming into the world. It is about the Word of God, the Living Word; Jesus is called the Logos, or the Word of God, and it says, "In the beginning was the Word."
Notice that verse 1 says "the Word was with God". This verse shows Jesus' separate and distinct personality. Then it says "the Word was God." Now, I can't explain this to you. I can't explain it in a rational way so that you can understand it intellectually, but that's what the Bible says, it says that the Word was with God and then it says that the Word was God. Praise God that He doesn't require us to understand it mentally in order to gain the benefits from it; all we have to do is simply believe it.
Romans 8:1-3: There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,
This is the purpose of Jesus' coming. His purpose was to come and take away our sin. To come and pay the penalty that all of us should have rightfully paid as a result of Adam's sin in the garden of Eden. Jesus came to do it for us; that's what this season is all about. That's the true meaning of Christmas, that Jesus came to do what the flesh could not do and that is to bring us back into fellowship and communion with the Heavenly Father.
Hebrews 2:10-15: For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You." And again: "I will put My trust in Him." And again: "Here am I and the children whom God has given Me." Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Jesus came to set us free from the ravages of death. Praise the Lord! The real meaning of Christmas is Jesus Christ: crucified, dead, risen, ascended, and coming again!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Forgotten At Christmas
Forgotten At Christmas
My father was born on this day- December 22. For his entire life, he was always getting "combination" presents - birthday and Christmas. Every year on his birthday, there weren't balloons and birthday streamers. His birthday decorations were Christmas trees, Christmas lights and Santa Claus stuff. When he did get a separate present for Christmas, chances are it would be wrapped with... you guessed it- Christmas paper.
I remember him telling me how as a child he couldn't help but feel a little cheated. People were so busy celebrating Christmas that his birthday got overlooked.
A couple of years ago, I saw a cartoon in the Atlanta paper that really touched my heart and made me think. It was drawn by Mike Luckovich, the Pulitzer Prize winning political cartoonist for the Atlanta Journal and Constitution. It showed a little girl with a birthday hat on standing in the middle of a sea of gaudy Christmas decorations. The dejected looking little girl says, "You know, when your birthday comes at Christmas time, people just forget all about it."
Standing behind the little girl, looking equally sad, is Jesus.
"Tell me about it," he says.
Just like the little girl in the cartoon - and my dad in real life - Jesus' birthday is all too often forgotten about because of Christmas. How ironic! What started out as an observance of His birth has somehow morphed into gaudy decorations, parties, shopping, songs about decking halls and jingling bells, and some vague acknowledgment of peace on earth and good will among men.
The real Christmas is remembering the greatest and most costly gift we will ever be given. It is when we stop to take in the awe of the only child Who ever chose to be born. It is when we stop to remember this child would soon also choose to give His life up. For you. For me.
Let's purpose in our hearts that this year we won't get so caught up in Christmas that we forget Jesus' birthday.
Rev. Alan Riley is the Director of Web Operations for Streaming Faith and serves as the Managing Editor of StreamingFaith.com. He is an ordained Baptist Minister and a frequent contributor to the Streaming Faith Daily Devotional.
My father was born on this day- December 22. For his entire life, he was always getting "combination" presents - birthday and Christmas. Every year on his birthday, there weren't balloons and birthday streamers. His birthday decorations were Christmas trees, Christmas lights and Santa Claus stuff. When he did get a separate present for Christmas, chances are it would be wrapped with... you guessed it- Christmas paper.
I remember him telling me how as a child he couldn't help but feel a little cheated. People were so busy celebrating Christmas that his birthday got overlooked.
A couple of years ago, I saw a cartoon in the Atlanta paper that really touched my heart and made me think. It was drawn by Mike Luckovich, the Pulitzer Prize winning political cartoonist for the Atlanta Journal and Constitution. It showed a little girl with a birthday hat on standing in the middle of a sea of gaudy Christmas decorations. The dejected looking little girl says, "You know, when your birthday comes at Christmas time, people just forget all about it."
Standing behind the little girl, looking equally sad, is Jesus.
"Tell me about it," he says.
Just like the little girl in the cartoon - and my dad in real life - Jesus' birthday is all too often forgotten about because of Christmas. How ironic! What started out as an observance of His birth has somehow morphed into gaudy decorations, parties, shopping, songs about decking halls and jingling bells, and some vague acknowledgment of peace on earth and good will among men.
The real Christmas is remembering the greatest and most costly gift we will ever be given. It is when we stop to take in the awe of the only child Who ever chose to be born. It is when we stop to remember this child would soon also choose to give His life up. For you. For me.
Let's purpose in our hearts that this year we won't get so caught up in Christmas that we forget Jesus' birthday.
Rev. Alan Riley is the Director of Web Operations for Streaming Faith and serves as the Managing Editor of StreamingFaith.com. He is an ordained Baptist Minister and a frequent contributor to the Streaming Faith Daily Devotional.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Reach Out to Others this coming Christmas
Among the Christmas Eve congregation at 5th Avenue Presbyterian Church was a recovering alcoholic named Jim. It was his first Christmas alone, and when a young family sat down beside him he couldn’t handle it. Leaving the church he met Pastor Thomas Tewell who asked where he was going. “Out for a drink,” he replied.
Knowing Jim’s history, Tewell said, “You can’t. Where’s your sponsor?” “On vacation,” he replied. “I came tonight needing a word of hope and ended up sitting beside this family. If I had my life together, I’d be here with mine.”
As the pastor walked to the pulpit he prayed, “God, give me a word of hope for Jim.” Then after welcoming the congregation he said, “I have a request. If anyone here is a friend of Bill W.’s, and if you are you’ll know it, please meet me in the vestry. (Bill Wilson, better known as Bill W., co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous)
Immediately people from all over the congregation began to respond. Dr. Tewell says, “While I was busy preaching about the Incarnation, the Word was becoming flesh before my eyes!”
As you celebrate Jesus’ birth, remember that many around you are hurting; they’ve lost hope. Don’t forget, “The Word became flesh” only because Jesus went out of His way to redeem sinners, lift the fallen, encourage the despairing, and minister to the sick, the lonely and the forgotten.
He said, “In as much as you’ve done it unto the least…of these…you’ve done it unto me” (See Mt 25:40). So instead of keeping to yourself this year, reach out to others – go ahead, make it your best Christmas ever!
Source : The Word Became Flesh and Moved Into the Neighborhood
Bishop Donald Hilliard
Knowing Jim’s history, Tewell said, “You can’t. Where’s your sponsor?” “On vacation,” he replied. “I came tonight needing a word of hope and ended up sitting beside this family. If I had my life together, I’d be here with mine.”
As the pastor walked to the pulpit he prayed, “God, give me a word of hope for Jim.” Then after welcoming the congregation he said, “I have a request. If anyone here is a friend of Bill W.’s, and if you are you’ll know it, please meet me in the vestry. (Bill Wilson, better known as Bill W., co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous)
Immediately people from all over the congregation began to respond. Dr. Tewell says, “While I was busy preaching about the Incarnation, the Word was becoming flesh before my eyes!”
As you celebrate Jesus’ birth, remember that many around you are hurting; they’ve lost hope. Don’t forget, “The Word became flesh” only because Jesus went out of His way to redeem sinners, lift the fallen, encourage the despairing, and minister to the sick, the lonely and the forgotten.
He said, “In as much as you’ve done it unto the least…of these…you’ve done it unto me” (See Mt 25:40). So instead of keeping to yourself this year, reach out to others – go ahead, make it your best Christmas ever!
Source : The Word Became Flesh and Moved Into the Neighborhood
Bishop Donald Hilliard
O God, You are my God
O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your loving kindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
Psalm 63:1-3 (NKJV)
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your loving kindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
Psalm 63:1-3 (NKJV)
Monday, December 17, 2007
Thank God for Everything?
Ephesians 5:20: giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (KJV)
As a Christian, am I supposed to thank God for everything that comes my way? There is a lot of discussion about this verse in churches today. However, we need to be scripturally discriminating about this and analyze what we are giving thanks for.
Are you supposed to give God thanks for your little child getting hit by a car and dying? When your husband dies of cancer and leaves you with five children to raise. Do you thank God? There are many churches that preach that we are to give thanks in these and other evil situations. They say, "Well, the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord." No!
I can't thank God when someone dies and goes to hell. I can't thank God when someone is crippled with some paralysis and he can't even feed himself. Is this what the scripture is asking me to do? Am I to thank God for everything that happens - good or bad?
The Spirit of God gave me a revelation regarding this scripture which I want to share with you today. Look at the twentieth verse again, "giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Notice that the things we are to give thanks for are those that are "unto God."
In Matthew 22:16-21 we read, And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. "Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? "Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. (NKJV)
We are supposed to give thanks to God always for the things that He has done, not for what the devil has done. Do you understand? We give God thanks, credit, praise and glory for what He has done! You don't thank God for what the devil has done. You don't thank God that somebody died and went to hell. You don't thank God that somebody is sick and helpless or because somebody was killed or murdered. Don't blame God for what the devil does.
I know that the idea of a devil is far fetched for some intellectuals. However, whether you believe it or not, the devil still exists. The Word of God says it and I believe God's Word. Some of you are in denial and that is why the devil has been whipping your heads. He has tricked you into believing that he doesn't exist and you have been calling the things that the devil has been doing in your life, "the works of God."
Even as a society we have been blaming God for all manner of destruction. The insurance companies write into their insurance contracts, "Acts of God." There are certain things they won't insure because they say that the flood, hurricane, tornado and earthquakes are "Acts of God."
First John 3:8 says: He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
If Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, then the devil must have some works. Is this right? Jesus described the devil and his works in John 10:10, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
The devil has some works and when the devil does his works you are not to give God thanks for what the devil has done. You give thanks unto God for what He has done. Render unto God the things that are God's and render unto Satan the things that he has done. Stop blaming God for the things that the devil is doing!
This devotional was excerpted from Dr. Price's book, "Thank God For Everything?"
As a Christian, am I supposed to thank God for everything that comes my way? There is a lot of discussion about this verse in churches today. However, we need to be scripturally discriminating about this and analyze what we are giving thanks for.
Are you supposed to give God thanks for your little child getting hit by a car and dying? When your husband dies of cancer and leaves you with five children to raise. Do you thank God? There are many churches that preach that we are to give thanks in these and other evil situations. They say, "Well, the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord." No!
I can't thank God when someone dies and goes to hell. I can't thank God when someone is crippled with some paralysis and he can't even feed himself. Is this what the scripture is asking me to do? Am I to thank God for everything that happens - good or bad?
The Spirit of God gave me a revelation regarding this scripture which I want to share with you today. Look at the twentieth verse again, "giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Notice that the things we are to give thanks for are those that are "unto God."
In Matthew 22:16-21 we read, And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. "Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? "Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. (NKJV)
We are supposed to give thanks to God always for the things that He has done, not for what the devil has done. Do you understand? We give God thanks, credit, praise and glory for what He has done! You don't thank God for what the devil has done. You don't thank God that somebody died and went to hell. You don't thank God that somebody is sick and helpless or because somebody was killed or murdered. Don't blame God for what the devil does.
I know that the idea of a devil is far fetched for some intellectuals. However, whether you believe it or not, the devil still exists. The Word of God says it and I believe God's Word. Some of you are in denial and that is why the devil has been whipping your heads. He has tricked you into believing that he doesn't exist and you have been calling the things that the devil has been doing in your life, "the works of God."
Even as a society we have been blaming God for all manner of destruction. The insurance companies write into their insurance contracts, "Acts of God." There are certain things they won't insure because they say that the flood, hurricane, tornado and earthquakes are "Acts of God."
First John 3:8 says: He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
If Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, then the devil must have some works. Is this right? Jesus described the devil and his works in John 10:10, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
The devil has some works and when the devil does his works you are not to give God thanks for what the devil has done. You give thanks unto God for what He has done. Render unto God the things that are God's and render unto Satan the things that he has done. Stop blaming God for the things that the devil is doing!
This devotional was excerpted from Dr. Price's book, "Thank God For Everything?"
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Recapture Your First Love !
Revelation 2:5
(5) Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Revelation 2:5 instructs us to remember from where we have fallen, to repent, and to do the works we did when we had our first love. We have three commands here: remember, repent, and do. If we fail to follow through on these, God says very bluntly, "I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place." This is serious!
Individually, then, we must compare our present attitudes, efforts, zeal, and love to what they were when we were first converted. We should have no trouble doing this because, for most of us, our first months or years in the church are still vivid in our minds. We probably all had similar experiences.
We expressed our first love by diligently obeying all we learned. We took great pains to study, fast, pray, and meditate regularly, giving up valuable time we had once used for our recreation or entertainment. We stood up for the Sabbath and argued with the school system and our employers over Christmas, Easter, and Halloween. We tithed carefully, and the holy days, especially the Feast of Tabernacles, were such a thrill!
We hungered for God's Word and could never get enough of the Bible and the church's literature. We had faith in the ministers God sent to us, seeing them as helpers of our joy. We really worked to overcome every little sin we found, not wanting to disappoint God in the least matter. We had supreme faith in God's purpose, both for mankind as a whole and for us as individuals. We were very serious about our calling.
We would have done none of these things before being called. Our first love was a wonderful thing to behold—true devotion and dedication to God, manifested by zealously bending every effort to conform to His will. We outwardly loved God and trusted Him. He was always in our thoughts.
Some people in this world get a kind of first love for a political party, a team, or a cause. But our first love came upon us because God opened our minds and revealed Himself to us, and what we saw we recognized as truly awesome and wondrous. When we learned that such a magnificent Being wanted us to be members of His Family forever, we caught the vision! This opened our minds to new thoughts, new ideas, new horizons—and so we were filled with first love.
Years may have passed. The "newness" of God's way has worn off. Friends, family, and ministers have let us down. So much has changed in our lives and in the church that those heady days seem impossible to recapture. But God commands us that we must remember what it was like and return to them in spirit, in attitude, and in works because God has not let us down nor has His purpose changed.
Paul tells Timothy to "stir up the gift of God which is in you" (II Timothy 1:6), and in a sense, this is what Christ reminds us to do in His brief message to the Ephesian church. We have to stir ourselves to rekindle our love for God and the brethren and serve them in humility and kindness.
Once we regain this godly love, we will probably notice that it is somewhat different from what we had just after conversion. Most of us have had many years of experience and growth in the meantime. This will tend to produce a more seasoned, mature "first love," which is exactly what God wants. We will be able to pursue godliness with the zeal of youth and the wisdom of maturity.
John O. Reid
From Recapture Your First Love!
(5) Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Revelation 2:5 instructs us to remember from where we have fallen, to repent, and to do the works we did when we had our first love. We have three commands here: remember, repent, and do. If we fail to follow through on these, God says very bluntly, "I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place." This is serious!
Individually, then, we must compare our present attitudes, efforts, zeal, and love to what they were when we were first converted. We should have no trouble doing this because, for most of us, our first months or years in the church are still vivid in our minds. We probably all had similar experiences.
We expressed our first love by diligently obeying all we learned. We took great pains to study, fast, pray, and meditate regularly, giving up valuable time we had once used for our recreation or entertainment. We stood up for the Sabbath and argued with the school system and our employers over Christmas, Easter, and Halloween. We tithed carefully, and the holy days, especially the Feast of Tabernacles, were such a thrill!
We hungered for God's Word and could never get enough of the Bible and the church's literature. We had faith in the ministers God sent to us, seeing them as helpers of our joy. We really worked to overcome every little sin we found, not wanting to disappoint God in the least matter. We had supreme faith in God's purpose, both for mankind as a whole and for us as individuals. We were very serious about our calling.
We would have done none of these things before being called. Our first love was a wonderful thing to behold—true devotion and dedication to God, manifested by zealously bending every effort to conform to His will. We outwardly loved God and trusted Him. He was always in our thoughts.
Some people in this world get a kind of first love for a political party, a team, or a cause. But our first love came upon us because God opened our minds and revealed Himself to us, and what we saw we recognized as truly awesome and wondrous. When we learned that such a magnificent Being wanted us to be members of His Family forever, we caught the vision! This opened our minds to new thoughts, new ideas, new horizons—and so we were filled with first love.
Years may have passed. The "newness" of God's way has worn off. Friends, family, and ministers have let us down. So much has changed in our lives and in the church that those heady days seem impossible to recapture. But God commands us that we must remember what it was like and return to them in spirit, in attitude, and in works because God has not let us down nor has His purpose changed.
Paul tells Timothy to "stir up the gift of God which is in you" (II Timothy 1:6), and in a sense, this is what Christ reminds us to do in His brief message to the Ephesian church. We have to stir ourselves to rekindle our love for God and the brethren and serve them in humility and kindness.
Once we regain this godly love, we will probably notice that it is somewhat different from what we had just after conversion. Most of us have had many years of experience and growth in the meantime. This will tend to produce a more seasoned, mature "first love," which is exactly what God wants. We will be able to pursue godliness with the zeal of youth and the wisdom of maturity.
John O. Reid
From Recapture Your First Love!
An OX & a DONKEY !!!
What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
2 Corinthians 6:16
Commentary
An ox and a donkey put in a double yoke were unequally yoked (see Deut. 22:10). They could not pull the load evenly and might want to go different directions. So Christians are not to form close or permanent, marital, social, or business ties with unbelievers. These relationships might pull them into sin. God does not ask that we cease contacts with the world, but that we not make any contracts that would compromise the integrity of our faith. righteousness with lawlessness: This and the other mismatches named here make impossible the most effective building of God's kingdom. Belial: Satan. you are the temple (v. 16): The community of believers who are open to God is the place where God chooses to dwell and walk on this earth.
The Open Bible : New King James Version. 1998, c1997. Includes indexes. (electronic ed.) (2 Co 6:14). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Did you know?
In the Old Testament God's dwelling place with His people was the tabernacle and later the temple built by Solomon. When Christ came, He was Himself the true temple or dwelling place of God (Matt. 1:23; John 2:21; Col. 2:9). Now God the Holy Spirit lives in us, and for this reason we are the new temple of God (1 Cor. 6:19; 1 Pet. 2:5).
2 Corinthians 6:16
Commentary
An ox and a donkey put in a double yoke were unequally yoked (see Deut. 22:10). They could not pull the load evenly and might want to go different directions. So Christians are not to form close or permanent, marital, social, or business ties with unbelievers. These relationships might pull them into sin. God does not ask that we cease contacts with the world, but that we not make any contracts that would compromise the integrity of our faith. righteousness with lawlessness: This and the other mismatches named here make impossible the most effective building of God's kingdom. Belial: Satan. you are the temple (v. 16): The community of believers who are open to God is the place where God chooses to dwell and walk on this earth.
The Open Bible : New King James Version. 1998, c1997. Includes indexes. (electronic ed.) (2 Co 6:14). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Did you know?
In the Old Testament God's dwelling place with His people was the tabernacle and later the temple built by Solomon. When Christ came, He was Himself the true temple or dwelling place of God (Matt. 1:23; John 2:21; Col. 2:9). Now God the Holy Spirit lives in us, and for this reason we are the new temple of God (1 Cor. 6:19; 1 Pet. 2:5).
Friday, December 14, 2007
Receive the LORD Today
He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. Proverbs 29:1 (KJV)
The Lord is merciful. He is reaching out His hand for all to receive Jesus today, not tomorrow. Don't think simply because you are young that means you then have a visa card of life to do whatever you want without consequences. Not true. God is against sin because sin will kill you.
Often reproved means that he's been warned and warned and warned. The Holy Ghost will warn you not to do this, not to go this way, not to be with these people, not to be in this place. He'll keep warning you. As he keeps warning people, there are people who will listen and then there are people who will not. They keep going their own way. Yet God keeps trying to get to them. You may have been rejecting God. God keeps calling for you, and you keep on rejecting him b ecause you want to do what you want to do, the way you want to do it, and still think you're going to get into heaven. Well, the scripture says that he that is often reproved shall be destroyed suddenly without remedy.
Suddenly he will be destroyed, and without remedy. I heard R. W. Schambach talked about how a 15 or 16 year old boy came to a church that he was pastoring. He drove a motorcycle. And the spirit of God moved on him to minister to that young boy and told him, "Son, you need to get saved today; Get saved today." The boy was being drawn by the Holy Ghost and shrugged it off. He said, "I'm not ready yet. I'll do it when I'm ready." He walked on out of that church. He got on his bike heading home. The pavement was wet and he therefore lost control of that bike and wound up in the grill of an 18 wheeler truck. He met eternity suddenly. He wasn't prepared. He thought he had all day.
I submit to you that you don't have all day to decide to follow God. Who are you to tell God to wait? Who are you to tell God, when you're ready? When God calls you, you'd better answer and come. He loves you, and His mercy is out there. So come to Him now while it is called today.
Scripture References: Hebrews 4:1-16; Matthew 11:28-30; John 6:37
The Lord is merciful. He is reaching out His hand for all to receive Jesus today, not tomorrow. Don't think simply because you are young that means you then have a visa card of life to do whatever you want without consequences. Not true. God is against sin because sin will kill you.
Often reproved means that he's been warned and warned and warned. The Holy Ghost will warn you not to do this, not to go this way, not to be with these people, not to be in this place. He'll keep warning you. As he keeps warning people, there are people who will listen and then there are people who will not. They keep going their own way. Yet God keeps trying to get to them. You may have been rejecting God. God keeps calling for you, and you keep on rejecting him b ecause you want to do what you want to do, the way you want to do it, and still think you're going to get into heaven. Well, the scripture says that he that is often reproved shall be destroyed suddenly without remedy.
Suddenly he will be destroyed, and without remedy. I heard R. W. Schambach talked about how a 15 or 16 year old boy came to a church that he was pastoring. He drove a motorcycle. And the spirit of God moved on him to minister to that young boy and told him, "Son, you need to get saved today; Get saved today." The boy was being drawn by the Holy Ghost and shrugged it off. He said, "I'm not ready yet. I'll do it when I'm ready." He walked on out of that church. He got on his bike heading home. The pavement was wet and he therefore lost control of that bike and wound up in the grill of an 18 wheeler truck. He met eternity suddenly. He wasn't prepared. He thought he had all day.
I submit to you that you don't have all day to decide to follow God. Who are you to tell God to wait? Who are you to tell God, when you're ready? When God calls you, you'd better answer and come. He loves you, and His mercy is out there. So come to Him now while it is called today.
Scripture References: Hebrews 4:1-16; Matthew 11:28-30; John 6:37
Monday, December 10, 2007
How Can I Maintain Faith When Everything is Going Wrong? Billy Graham
Question: I've had a lot of problems pile up over the last few months, but my cousin keeps telling me just to have faith that everything will work out, and it will. I suppose she's right, but how can I have that kind of faith when everything is going wrong? - M.S.
Answer: Your cousin sounds like an optimistic person, and I'm sure she wants to encourage you and cheer you up. The Bible says that "A cheerful heart is good medicine" - and that's true not only for the person who is cheerful, but for those around them (Proverbs 17:22).
The problem, however, is that simply having faith "that everything will work out" isn't enough. You and I know that things don't always work out the way we wish they would; sometimes they do - but sometimes they don't. Life isn't easy, and sometimes it brings us disappointment and heartache. In the midst of his suffering, Job rightly said that "man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward" (Job 5:7).
The key, you see, isn't just to have a vague "faith" - but to have faith in God! When our faith is in Him, we know that He knows all about our problems and burdens, and we know also that He loves us and wants what is best for us. We know too that we can bring every concern we have to Him in prayer, and He will hear us.
How do I know this is true? I know it because His only Son came into the world to show us God's love. He died on the cross to save us, and He rose again from the dead to give us hope. Turn to Christ today and give your life to Him. Then commit your problems to Him, and trust Him to help you deal with them.
Answer: Your cousin sounds like an optimistic person, and I'm sure she wants to encourage you and cheer you up. The Bible says that "A cheerful heart is good medicine" - and that's true not only for the person who is cheerful, but for those around them (Proverbs 17:22).
The problem, however, is that simply having faith "that everything will work out" isn't enough. You and I know that things don't always work out the way we wish they would; sometimes they do - but sometimes they don't. Life isn't easy, and sometimes it brings us disappointment and heartache. In the midst of his suffering, Job rightly said that "man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward" (Job 5:7).
The key, you see, isn't just to have a vague "faith" - but to have faith in God! When our faith is in Him, we know that He knows all about our problems and burdens, and we know also that He loves us and wants what is best for us. We know too that we can bring every concern we have to Him in prayer, and He will hear us.
How do I know this is true? I know it because His only Son came into the world to show us God's love. He died on the cross to save us, and He rose again from the dead to give us hope. Turn to Christ today and give your life to Him. Then commit your problems to Him, and trust Him to help you deal with them.
A Divine Revelation of Hell. Time is Running Out
Please Read and Listen to this Important Revelation, then Share and Distribute to everyone you know.
A Divine Revelation of Hell by Mary BAXTER
http://spiritlessons.com/Mary_K_Baxter_A_Divine_Revelation_of_Hell.htm ( available in English, French, Chinese, Spanish and other languages )
http://spiritlessons.com/Documents/burn_your_own_cds/burn_your_own_cds.htm ( available in English, Chinese, Spanish version )
Have a blessed week.
A Divine Revelation of Hell by Mary BAXTER
http://spiritlessons.com/Mary_K_Baxter_A_Divine_Revelation_of_Hell.htm ( available in English, French, Chinese, Spanish and other languages )
http://spiritlessons.com/Documents/burn_your_own_cds/burn_your_own_cds.htm ( available in English, Chinese, Spanish version )
Have a blessed week.
Daily Bible Verse
Dear Friends ,
Subscribe to theDailyBibleVerse.org and get your verse every morning.
God Bless you.
10th Dec
Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
Proverbs 27:1
Commentary
The uncertainty of health, circumstances, and life itself point to the truthfulness of this maxim. Nowhere is the urgency of immediate action more crucial than in the matter of one's eternal destiny (Is. 1:18; 2 Cor. 6:2; Heb. 3:7, 8). Of the future even the wisest of men are ignorant, for all time beyond this very moment is known only to God (James 4:13, 14).
Believer's Study Bible. 1997, c1995. C1991 Criswell Center for Biblical Studies. (electronic ed.) (Pr 27:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Related Parable
[Jesus speaking]
16 And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'
18 "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '
20 "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
21 "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
Luke 12:16-21 (NIV)
Subscribe to theDailyBibleVerse.org
God Bless you.
10th Dec
Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
Proverbs 27:1
Commentary
The uncertainty of health, circumstances, and life itself point to the truthfulness of this maxim. Nowhere is the urgency of immediate action more crucial than in the matter of one's eternal destiny (Is. 1:18; 2 Cor. 6:2; Heb. 3:7, 8). Of the future even the wisest of men are ignorant, for all time beyond this very moment is known only to God (James 4:13, 14).
Believer's Study Bible. 1997, c1995. C1991 Criswell Center for Biblical Studies. (electronic ed.) (Pr 27:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Related Parable
[Jesus speaking]
16 And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'
18 "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '
20 "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
21 "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
Luke 12:16-21 (NIV)
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Examine your ways!
"Let us examine our ways." Lamentations 3:40 NIV
A guy rushed into a service station one day and asked the manager if he'd a pay phone. The manager nodded, "Sure, over there." The guy inserted a couple of coins, dialed and waited for an answer. Finally someone came on the line. "Uh, sir," he said in a deep voice, "could you use an honest, hard-working young man?" The station manager couldn't help overhearing the question. After a moment or two the guy said, "Oh, you already have an honest, hard-working young man? Well, okay. Thanks all the same." A broad smile stretched across his face. He hung up the phone and started back to his car, obviously elated. "Hey, just a minute," the station manager said, "I couldn't help but hear your conversation. Why are you so happy? I thought the man said he already had someone and didn't need you?" The guy smiled. "Well, you see, I am that honest, hard-working young man. I was just checking up on myself!"
If you're serious about walking with God, examine yourself regularly. Are you praying, reading God's Word and renewing your mind daily? How about your attitudes? Are they slipping? Your attitudes send a signal before you've said a word. They're like traffic lights. Sometimes they flash red, which means 'stop, don't get in my way, I'm too busy to love, help, or care.' Sometimes they flash yellow, which means 'I'm touchy and out-of-sorts, I could go either way.' Sometimes they flash green, which means, 'Let's go, I'm with you, you can count on me.' The Bible says, "Let us examine our ways...and...return to the Lord."
What needs to be examined regularly? "Our ways!"
A guy rushed into a service station one day and asked the manager if he'd a pay phone. The manager nodded, "Sure, over there." The guy inserted a couple of coins, dialed and waited for an answer. Finally someone came on the line. "Uh, sir," he said in a deep voice, "could you use an honest, hard-working young man?" The station manager couldn't help overhearing the question. After a moment or two the guy said, "Oh, you already have an honest, hard-working young man? Well, okay. Thanks all the same." A broad smile stretched across his face. He hung up the phone and started back to his car, obviously elated. "Hey, just a minute," the station manager said, "I couldn't help but hear your conversation. Why are you so happy? I thought the man said he already had someone and didn't need you?" The guy smiled. "Well, you see, I am that honest, hard-working young man. I was just checking up on myself!"
If you're serious about walking with God, examine yourself regularly. Are you praying, reading God's Word and renewing your mind daily? How about your attitudes? Are they slipping? Your attitudes send a signal before you've said a word. They're like traffic lights. Sometimes they flash red, which means 'stop, don't get in my way, I'm too busy to love, help, or care.' Sometimes they flash yellow, which means 'I'm touchy and out-of-sorts, I could go either way.' Sometimes they flash green, which means, 'Let's go, I'm with you, you can count on me.' The Bible says, "Let us examine our ways...and...return to the Lord."
What needs to be examined regularly? "Our ways!"
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