The thoughts, experiences and views of the unique person God knows as me
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These days there's not the same stigma associate with children being born outside of marraige than there was in Jesus' day. So imagine how Mary felt when she was told she would conveive a baby by the Holy Spirit - fear, apprehension and well as the joy of kowing she would give birth to the Son of God. She need not have feared because Joseph, by God's instruction, married Mary.
Years later when Jesus was in his thirties, he still was the recipient of hateful and stigmatic comments about his origin. At one point Jesus was talking to some people about being God's true children, when they said to him, "We were not born out of wedlock! Our true Father is God himself" (John 8:41).
Through this we realise that Jesus can identify with, and understand social stigmas as he has been the subject of such himself. If you are suffering from social stigma, whether as a single parent or for some other reason, come to Jesus today. Do not hesitate in asking Him to help you, as He alone has promised to love everyone. He has had the experience of being stagmatized, and will be there for you.
Isaiah 9:2 (New Living Translation) The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.
What is "a great light"? It is of course the Saviour, Jesus Christ. The light of Christ brought the promise of deliverance for Israel, just as it can for us.
Are you in the depth of darkness and despair and need a glimmer of light and hope at the end of the tunnel? Maybe you are living in the darkness of divorce or in the shadow of death, or perhaps you have given up seeing any light in a dark family or church situation. Even those who seem to be iving "in the light", may be living in the deepest darkness of all - they may just be able to put on a "public" persona when needed.
Don't despair, there is light at the end of the tunnel - just look up and see Jesus! Here's what Jesus said in John 8:12 (The Message): I am the world's Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in.
When it's dark things always seem worse, just switch off your electricity for a wee while and you'll soon see how difficult it is! But the word of God penetrates the darkness of our soul - God can turn the lights back on and lift you from your darkest times. Take the opportunity today to ask God to let the light shine on you again.
The Light Has Come by The New York Staff Band of the Salvation Army contains several of my favourite songs "The Candle of the Lord" and "The Light Has Come" - to me the most powerful words in these songs is the last line of The Light Has Come which states:
Have you ever done something so bad that you felt you could never be forgiven? Have you ever committed a private sin that have been made horribly public? Have you ever felt like you've been "caught in the act" by someone?
No matter the level of your sin, or who knows about it, Jesus, our Saviour offer us forgiveness and a new start to any who will repent. We need to look inside ourselves, into our own heart, and recognise all aspects of our lives where we must seeks Christs forgiveness. If we do that, we will be forgiven and urged to, "Go and sin no more" (John 8:11).
No matter how privately or publicly we have failed God, if we "Go and sin no more", our new life will begin.
This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
(John 3:16-18 - The Message)
Please never forget that God loves you. Sometimes life may throw things our way which make us doubt God, but He is still there - He is always there, because He love each and every one of us.
I read somewhere yesterday about someone who had bought a new bumper sticker for their car. It read... Short and concise, but it really hits the mark doesn't it? We must truly know God, and believe in Him, to have the assurance that when our life on earth is over, we will go to heaven.
How do get to know God, to really know Him enough that we can call Him our friend? Here are just a few ways:
Read and study the bible
Pray to God
Believe in the resurrection of Jesus
Read the Ten Commandments - they describe how God's expects us to behave
Our conscience - God has given us the ability to understand the difference between what is right and what is wrong
Look around you - God made this earth, He made you and me, made the flower, the trees, the sky, the oceans, He made everything
By knowing God we can have true peace and eternal life. Come to God today and begin your adventure of finding out more and more about Him every day. You can know and enjoy your friendship with God forever.
John 14:27 (NIV) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
The New York Staff Band of the Salvation ArmysingKnowing You
When humanity's relationship floundered and failed, God sent Jesus. Why did He do that? Because He loves us - John 3:16 "God so loved the world that He gave His only son".
Not only did God give Jesus, He gives us hope. Hope because He continues to seek those who haven't found Him yet. Luke 19:10 And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost.
There are a couple of stories which Jesus told to illustrate how God seeks people and wants to save them:
The first story was about a shepherd who lost one of his precious sheep, so went looking for it until he found the lost sheep. When he found the lost sheep, the shepherd was so happy that he had a party to celebrate.
The other story was about a woman who lost a valuable coin. She searched diligently until the lost coin was found, and just like the shepherd she rejoiced.
How many of us get lost in the things of this world, in sin, and find ourselves helpless without any help from God? How many of us don't even realise we are lost, or indeed, how far we have wandered from God?
These people all need God. If you recognise yourself from one of the above descriptions, you need God, and God wants to save you today! God wants you to come to Him today.
Luke 15:10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents.
There's going to be a party in heaven, and God wants you to be His guest of honour!Respond to God today, because He is seeking you. There will be joy for you, and for all in heaven, when God finds you!
Love Will Find A Way by Delirious? Look around at what you see There's an s.o.s. ringing out for me I thought I believed but I just turn away From these souls living in this hell today
Tears are falling, on my face From my face
Love, love will find a way to break through This love finds a way to shine through Your love, finds a way to break through, This love finds a way to kiss you.
I stare in the eyes of this flesh and bone I'm a tourist here so tomorrow I go home I try to make sense of the things I've seen Between the poverty and the five star dream.
Love will lead me to your feet Love wont pass me on the street Love will look me in the eye Love wont leave me here to die To your arms I'm gonna run And escape what I've become Love will find a better way, so they say
Love it will break you Love it will take you Love it will break you down
I believe love is more than just a feeling. Jesus said: I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you - John 15:12. So love is obviously more than just a feeling.
God requires us to love him and other people is the highest form of love, agape love - love like His. It is a love of the head rather than a love from the heart. A love that is determined to be be concerned first and foremost for the loved ones' well-being in every part of their lives, no matter what the cost is to ourselves or indeed whether that love is returned.
God needs us to love Him and His son. God commands us to love whether we feel like it or not, because we need to demonstrate our love of God. When we serve God our love of God grows.
It is challenging to follow God's command to love one another, but at the end of the day, it's our decision whether we obey God's command or not.
So how do we know that we love God? We know it by being obedient to His will and His commandments. Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me - John 14:21 This verse is very reassuring as it's sometime difficult to know whether we truly do love God or not, but these words offer the reassurance that as long as we do God will, we are demonstrating our love for Him.
God love me. God love you. Love God and others in the same way He loves you.
Have you ever been in love? It's a wonderful feeling isn't it. If you have never been in love, you have missed out as it really is something wonderful.
What do you want/expect from someone in return when you both love each another? Love, affection, care, support, understanding - these are just a few qualities you might expect from a loving relationship.
John 16:27 (NIV) No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God
There is only one person who can offer all these qualities and so much more and who will never ever let you down. Who is that person? Your husband, wife, Mother, Father, brother, sister, friend? No, they may all do there best for you but they will never be all you ever need. God is that person!
Are you deep in love with God?It's never too late to fall in love with God for the first time, so I'd urge you start your relationship with God today as He will love you unconditionally, forever!
Deep In Love with You (lyrics by Michael W. Smith, Debbie Smith, Christa Black) Sitting at Your feet is where I want to be I'm home when I am here with You Ruined by Your grace, enamored by Your gaze I can't resist the tenderness in You
I'm deep in love with You, Abba Father I'm deep in love with You, Lord My heart, it beats for You, precious Jesus I'm deep in love with You Lord
Humbled and amazed that You would call my name I never have to search again There's a deep desire that's burning like a fire To know You as my closest friend
Lord, my redeemer, Your blood runs through my veins My love for You is deeper than it was yesterday I enter through the curtain, parted by Your grace Oh, Your the lover of my soul
What do you think of when you hear the word "prayer"?
Someone kneeling in prayer?
God?
Now consider what you think the word prayer means...
Time to talk to God? Time to ask God for all you need/want?
What about time to listen to God?
John 10:27 (New Living Translation) My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
Not only is prayer our time for reverent petition to God, it's also our time to listen to God talking to us. Prayer should not be a one way monologue with God, it should be two way dialogue between us and God.
How would you feel if one of your friends talked to you all the time, and you never got a chance to speak to them in return? It wouldn't be very nice would it. Well God is no different, He wants a two way conversation with you so give Him the chance to talk to you...but most importantly be willing and ready to listen to what he wants to say to you!
Remember to be willing and ready to hear what God wants to say to you. Don't make prayer a one way conversation from you to God.
We all do things which we later regret and go on to say "we'll never to that again!". Have you then found yourself doing that same thing again another time, despite having promised not to do it? I know I have.
We often make promises which we don't keep, however God has made many promises but keeps them all. When God says "Never again", he really does mean never again.
When we experience God's faithfulness, it helps us to trust him more. Life's experiences help us to look back and see that God's promises and judgements have come true.
After a cataclysmic event in your life, it helps to reestablish your devotional life. I certainly found during the last few years when health issues seemed to take over my life that is is more important than ever to listen for God's "never again" and start looking for His rainbows. Spend time reading the promises of God in the bible - I found highlighting them was helpful to me, as it made it easier to refer back to them later for reassurance. But what exactly can we be sure about?
God promises that sin need never again control us (Romans 8:9-11).
He promises that we need not be afraid ever again (John 14:27). Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
He promises that his peace will guard our hearts and minds (Phil 4:7). And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
He promises that we need never be ignorant of his will for his word will be a "lamp" and a "light" to our path (Ps 119:105).
He promises that we need never again be defeated Christians (Rom 8:37).
As we read our bibles, God's rainbows colour our perspectives. Be encouraged! God's promises never fail.
During our lifetime, we make many promises. Here are just a few examples:
some we make when we're very young just to appease our parents like "I promise I'll tidy my room tomorrow";
some to close friends when they confide in us and ask us not to divuldge the information to anyone else;
for those of us who are married we made promises when we said our wedding vows;
those of us who wear Salvation Army uniform, have made promises to God to serve Him all our days.
So, how many promises have people made to you that they have actually kept? The chances are, many promises might have been made, but many will have been broken.
Following on from that, how many promises have you made in your life, and how many of them have you kept? I'm guessing there will be many promised made but not so many kept...am I right?
What about God's promise of eternal life - "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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." (John 3:16-18)
Do you believe God's promise of eternal life? Are you doing all you can to live a holy life, directly by God?
If not, make today the day when you make a new commitment to God to give your life to Him and serve Him the rest of your days.
I came across the song "Promise of a Lifetime" by Kutless a while ago, but the words and music seems to fit perfectly with the message I've tried to pass on to you today. Please read the words below before watching the video - I hope you find blessing and encouragement from them.
Promise of a Lifetime by Kutless I have fallen to my knees As I sing a lullaby of pain I'm feeling broken in my melody As I sing to help the tears go away
Then I remember the pledge you made to me
I know you're always there To hear my every prayer inside I'm clinging to the promise of a lifetime I hear the words you say To never walk away from me and leave behind The promise of a lifetime
Will you help me, I'm falling apart Pick me up, take me in your arms Find my way back from the storm And you show me how to grow Through the change
I still remember the pledge you made to me
I am holding on to the hope I have inside With you I will stay through every day Putting my understanding aside
And I am comforted
Enjoy listening to this song by Kutless, and enjoy the pictures that have been used to enhance the words of the song...
John 15:12 Jesus said "I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you".
God loves everyone, whether they know Him or better in Him or not. In the same way, God wants us to love everyone. But more specifically, He wants us to love everyone to the same extent as He wants us to love Him.
...but how do we do that?
We must demonstrate our love for God in everything we do - after all God demonstrates His love for us every day!
The challenge for each of us is that if love is a commandment from God, that means we have a choice - we can choose whether to love God or not!
So it's down to us:
Do what God wants us to do, follow His commandments and we show our love for Him and for others?
or Ignore God's commands and we tell Him we don't love Him?
...the choice is ours! After all Jesus said, "Anyone who doesn't love me will not do what I say" (John 14:24).
We show our love for God by obeying His commands.
It's not about how we feel, it's about what we actually do! It's not about just a few of our actions, it's about all of them!
So we must show our love for everyone in all situations, not just in the situations where we feel comfortable.
John 14:21 Jesus said, "Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me". Keep on loving!
I'm married to Sandy, we have no children but we do have a cat called Tigger who we've had since he was 6 weeks old (he was a wedding present - we got him on our 1st anniversary).
I'm a christian and have attended the Salvation Army all my life. I play trombone in the Bellshill Salvation Army Band. I'm also the webmaster of the band's website.
