GOD is awesome in 2019 and forever!

Tonight I would like to quote from one of my very favourite pastors.  I received this today and I am sure that he will not mind me taking the liberty of repeating it verbatim.  So Dr. Bruce Woolard, thank you for such a thought provoking devotional. 

Tuesday, 31 December 2019 The Lord Is My Shepherd by Dr Bruce Woolard “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want ... ” Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepherd – that’s relationship! I shall not be in want – that’s supply! He makes me lie down in green pastures – that’s rest! He leads me beside quiet waters – that’s refreshment! He restores my soul – that’s healing! He guides me in the paths of righteousness – that’s providence! For His name’s sake – that’s purpose! Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death – that’s testing! I will fear no evil – that’s protection! For You are with me – that’s faithfulness! Your rod and staff, they comfort me – that’s discipline! You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies – that’s hope! You anoint my head with oil – that’s consecration! My cup overflows – that’s abundance! Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life – that’s blessing! And I will dwell in the house of the Lord – that’s security! Forever – that’s eternity!

Prayer Lord, with such a bountiful provision that meets all our needs, we find comfort and hope for the future. Amen

Stay truthfully GOD blessed today!

Pray Continually!

We are called on to pray continually, giving thanks in all circumstances.  For this the will of GOD for us in Jesus Christ.

So how exactly should we do this.  Well it is a habit and once started, it comes easier and easier.

When we wake up in the morning, let us say "Thank YOU LORD, for a good night".  When we get up let us thank GOD that we can walk and thank GOD for the birds singing and the daylight dawning.

Before we start our day, let us pray and read our Bibles.  Then let us give thanks before eating any food.  Let us give thanks to GOD for safe travels.  Let us ask GOD to bless all the things we do during the day.

Prayer does not have to be long and involved, it can just be short conversations with GOD.

So let us get into this habit and let us do it daily and soon we will be in constant commune with our FATHER in Heaven.

Prayer;  Heavenly FATHER, thank YOU that I can talk to YOU about everything.  I thank YOU through my Redeemer, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay wonderfully GOD blessed today!

A child is born!

And so we have celebrated the birth of our Lord and our Saviour, Jesus Christ.  He who is also known as wonderful Counselor, Mighty GOD and Everlasting FATHER. 

This boy Child, Jesus, came to earth and lived His life as we live our lives.  There was, however, one major difference.  We are sinners.  

Jesus committed absolutely no sins.  Even Pontius Pilate could not find any sin in Him.

And yet, GOD so loved us, that HE sent His Son to this earth.  To live on earth, to die on a cross after having been tortured for hours by flogging and scourging.  The flogging and the scourging alone was enough to kill a person.  The skin was opened to the bone by the whips, which had glass, stones and bone woven into the ends to open flesh.

Indeed Jesus was so weak that He could not carry His own cross up Golgotha.

This Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Saviour, died on the cross.  On the third day, He rose from the dead and after forty days, He ascended into Heaven to fulfil the verse in Isaiah.

So we need to accept Jesus as our Saviour.  Confess with our mouths that indeed, He is our Redeemer.  He took our sins onto the cross and washed them white as snow.

We need to confess our sins to GOD and then we are saved.  It is that simple to accept the enormous Grace of GOD.  

No, we do not need to study our Bibles.  We do not have to learned.  All we need to do is to accept the truth about the grace of GOD.  We will be filled with the Holy Spirit who will be poured out onto us.  

Once we receive the Holy Spirit, we will indeed want to hear from GOD through prayer and through reading our Bibles.  GOD will give us His messages through these mechanisms and through other people.

So let us stop searching for the truth.  Jesus is the Truth.  Jesus is the Light and Jesus is the Way.  No one comes to the FATHER except through Him.

Prayer;  Heavenly FATHER, I know that Jesus is my Redeemer.  I know that he died for my sins.  Forgive my sins as I forgive all those who sin against me.  I ask that YOU fill me with YOUR Holy Spirit.  In the Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay graciously GOD blessed today!

The Messiah predicted!

GOD had a plan to save us from our sins from the very beginning of time when Adam and Eve separated themselves from HIM.

We are told never to sin because sin separates us from GOD.  How does this happen?  As tiny children, we learn right from wrong.  When we accept Jesus as our Lord and our Saviour, we are filled with the Holy Spirit who convicts us of our sin.

Sin leads to shame and when we are ashamed, we cannot face our GOD.  So our Heavenly FATHER devised a plan to have Jesus redeem our sin for us.  And we earn this forgiveness by doing nothing except believing in Jesus.

We cannot earn forgiveness.  We can only be given it freely.  And that is the wonderful grace of GOD.  GOD forgives us if we will only ask.  

When we ask GOD to forgive us, we are acknowledging that we have sinned.  GOD then, through HIS enormous grace gives us absolution.  And only GOD can give us that.

Today let us accept Jesus and accept the enormous grace of GOD.

Prayer:  Heavenly FATHER, I thank believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Saviour.  Forgive my sins FATHER, in Jesus Name.  Amen.

Stay graciously GOD blessed today!

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe!

As we approach  Christmas and prepare to celebrate the coming to earth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we need to know the promises that Jesus made to us whilst He was on earth.

When Jesus appeared to the disciples after His death, not only did He appear in Human form, but in the same body that He left.  He had the scars on His hands and His feet.  Thomas touched the place where the spear from the Roman soldier had pierced His side.

Jesus then said these words to Thomas; "Blessed are those who have not seen and have yet believed."  That message was from Jesus to us.

Many people claim to have had first hand experiences of Jesus and yet most of us will not see Jesus until we die.  But we should remember that if we believe in Jesus, and have not seen Him, we are blessed and are able to call ourselves "heirs of GOD" along with Jesus.

Today let us feel truly blessed to believe in Jesus, our Lord and our Saviour.

Prayer;  FATHER, I thank YOU for Jesus and for my faith in YOU and my Redeemer.  I pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay truly GOD blessed today!

The greatest gift of all - Jesus Christ!

We are the beloved children of GOD.  Every single human being on earth today is a child of GOD.  There are no accidental births.  Every single person is born because GOD loves us and because we are born of the the will of GOD.

We sin, we fall short of the Glory of GOD.  And yet all we need to do is accept Jesus as our Redeemer, and ask GOD in HIS enormous grace to forgive our sins and then our sins are removed from us as far as East is from West.

How can we not accept this enormous gift of GOD?  GOD Himself!  

For Jesus is GOD, GOD is GOD and the Holy Spirit is GOD.  The Holy Trinity.  The GRACE OF GOD is upon us all if we will just accept Jesus.   

Prayer: FATHER, we accept Jesus as our Lord and our Saviour.  FATHER, today, I beg YOU, forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

We pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay truly GOD blessed today!

GOD's perfect plans!

As children of a living CREATOR GOD, we need to learn patience.  GOD's timing is not our own and we cannot push or pull GOD to do our bidding. 

However, when we pray and when we are faithful in our belief of GOD and Jesus and the Holy Spirit, GOD is planning and GOD will deliver to us, in HIS time.  HIS plans are so much better than anything we can ever imagine.  

Therefore, we need to remain faithful.  We need to pray and we need to wait on the perfect timing of GOD.  The end results will be beautiful.

Prayer;  Oh Heavenly FATHER, thank YOU for YOUR perfect plans.  May I always wait on YOU FATHER.  I thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay patiently GOD blessed today!

GOD goes before us!

The problem with always trying to lead is that we have no one to follow.  And as GOD created us, we are trying to jump ahead of GOD's plan for our lives.

Now I am not advocating being a follower of man.  What I am advocating is being a follower of Jesus.  This is the right way to live.  

We need to ask GOD to guide our footsteps.  We need to ask GOD to put us in HIS plan.  And we need to follow Jesus.  We need to follow Jesus by being loving, giving, gentle and most of all obedient to GOD.

Today, let us cast our fears aside and follow Jesus.  

Prayer;  Heavenly FATHER, I thank YOU that YOU are my CREATOR and that when I follow Jesus, He leads me straight to YOU.  I thank YOU FATHER, in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay faithfully GOD blessed today!

GOD my rock!

Sometimes, especially this time of year when we are running around trying to organise things before we shut down and celebrate Christmas, we tend to lose sight of GOD.  It helps tremendously when we sit down alone for a minute and think about GOD.

For GOD is my rock and my shield.  I can tell GOD anything and HE is right here.  HE is listening to me and to my thoughts.  GOD wants an intimate relationship with us.  And we are free to have it.

Prayer:  Heavenly FATHER, I thank YOU for YOUR strength.  I thank YOU for YOUR Holy Spirit and I thank YOU for Jesus in my life.  Amen.

Stay amazingly GOD blessed today!

GOD is not lost!

GOD always keeps HIS promises.  And in the verse we are told by GOD that HE will never leave us or forsake us.

When people talk about finding GOD, we, as children of GOD, should always point out that GOD is never lost.  We may be lost, but GOD is not!

GOD is with us, wherever we go, whatever we do.  GOD is right there next to us.  All we have to do is to reach out and there GOD is.

Prayer;  Heavenly FATHER, I thank YOU that YOU are always with me.  I thank YOU in Jesus Name.  Amen.

Stay safely GOD blessed today!

Faith!

I would highly recommend to anyone who has not seen the movie or read the book "The case for Christ" by Lee Patrick Stroebel to do so.

It starts out with the true story of a cynical reporter trying to prove that the Christian faith is not true and, well I won't spoil the ending if you have not read the book or seen the movie.  suffice to say, if you have not read it, do so.  If you don't like reading, then get the movie.

I assure you that even the hardiest agnostic or atheist will begin to have their doubts about their lack of belief in Jesus Christ.

Personally, I just enjoyed the story.  It is true and I know that GOD is never lost.  So we cannot find a GOD who is not lost.  GOD is always with us and we need to know that for sure.

Prayer:  Heavenly FATHER, I thank YOU that I know that YOU are real and that YOU are my FATHER.  I thank YOU for Jesus Christ, my Redeemer.  Amen.

Stay awesomely GOD blessed today!

The darkness has not overcome the Light!

The darkness has not overcome the "Light".  Jesus is the "light".  And the light shines in the darkness.

What a wonderful way to think of our Redeemer and our Saviour.  Jesus shed His blood on the cross to wash our sins as white as snow.

Therefore when we accept Jesus as our Lord and our Saviour, our sins are separated from us as far as East is from West.

Today let us choose the light and let us turn our back on the darkness and walk towards the light.

Prayer:  Heavenly FATHER, I thank YOU for Jesus Christ.  The Light of my world.  I thank YOU for this enormous Grace.  Amen.

Stay truly GOD blessed today!

Jesus, our LIGHT!

We have started looking at the book of John.  Starting with Jesus being with GOD in the beginning and Jesus being the "Word".   Now we are hearing John say to us that Jesus is the "Light".

We know that Jesus is the ONLY way to get to Heaven.  There is no other way.  We either accept Jesus as our Lord and our Saviour, or we choose to spend eternity in hell.

This is the highlight of this verse.  We have a way out of destiny and we have a way to spend eternity with GOD.

Please let us today accept this grace and let us speak to GOD.  Let us tell our FATHER in Heaven that we want Jesus to be our Lord and Saviour.

Prayer:  Heavenly FATHER, I thank YOU for YOUR saving grace through my Redeemer, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay assuredly GOD blessed today!

Jesus our Saviour!

We always think of Jesus associated with the New Testament only.  However, this is patently not true.  Here we hear from John (The beloved disciple of Jesus, who witnessed the life, the death and the resurrection of Jesus) and John confirms in the first two verses of the Book of John that Jesus was around at the inception of the universe.

Jesus is part of the Holy Creation.

Our Saviour did not need to come down to earth again.  GOD has given the people of the Old Testament so many chances to have a life in line with HIS plans.  Time and time again, the people of Old Testament went back to sin.

So from the very beginning of time, GOD had a plan.  HE gave us a way to get to HIM and the good news is that we can have an eternal life with GOD if we choose.

Free will is still our choice.  We can choose life or death.  We can choose sin or salvation.

This is a critical day.  Today is ours.  Before we lay our heads on our pillows, we can accept the enormous Grace of GOD.  We can take Jesus as our Lord and our Saviour.  We can open our hearts to GOD's will for our lives.  Or we can choose to go our own way.

Today, let us make the right choice.  Let us together with our mouths confess that Jesus is Lord.

Prayer;  Heavenly FATHER I accept YOUR Son Jesus as my Lord, my Saviour, my Redeemer.  Amen.

Stay graciously GOD blessed today!

In the Beginning!

Let us consider the writings of John, which starts in the same way as Genesis using the words, "In the beginning".  And John goes on to say, "was the Word, and the Word was GOD".

Now GOD is talked about in the beginning of Genesis and GOD "spoke" the world into existence.  

Most people really battle with the concept of the Triune GOD.  GOD in three Persons.  So let us consider the fact, that perhaps this reference refers to the Triune GOD of the Creation.  Jesus was with GOD right in the beginning and therefore Jesus is part of the CREATOR GOD.  

The Holy Spirit was also part of this because in Genesis the "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light."

So if we take this all in, it becomes apparent that Jesus was there with GOD right at the beginning of the creation of the earth and indeed the universe.

Jesus came to earth to live amongst us in human form for one purpose only.  To save us from the eternal separation from GOD through the sin of man, that was caused as far back as Adam and Eve.  This sin prevailed throughout the Old testament.  

We had to offer sacrifices, separate ourselves from feasts and sabbaths due to uncleanliness.  Now we do not have to do any of that.  All we have to do is to accept Jesus as our Redeemer.  Then through the Grace of GOD we have hope of an eternity with Jesus.

I urge you today.  If you have not done so.  Please accept this and let us worship GOD together.

Prayer;  Heavenly FATHER, I thank YOU for YOUR grace and YOUR favour.  Please FATHER, accept those who today take Jesus as their Lord and their Saviour.  I pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay graciously GOD blessed today!

The Heavens declare the glory of GOD!

The Heavens declare the glory of GOD!

Just walk outside on a clear night and look up at the stars.  Look around you at the awesome wonder of the creation of our CREATOR.

GOD wants us to be in HIS plan.  And to this end, HE has created the heavens, the earth and everything on it for our benefit.  HE has created us in HIS image.

How blessed are we that we are loved so much by our CREATOR.  Not only that but then GOD sent HIS only Son to live on earth, to die on a cross and to rise from the dead so that our sins may be forgiven.

Today let us wait no longer.  Let us accept the grace of GOD and let us accept all the gifts we have been given by our loving FATHER in Heaven.

Prayer;  Heavenly FATHER, I thank YOU for YOUR enormous grace.  I accept Jesus as my Lord and my Saviour.  Amen.

Stay truly GOD blessed today!

GOD is the beginning and the end!

As true children of the living GOD, we need to know and to understand that our CREATOR is the beginning and the end.  Not just of this world but of the whole universe.  As GOD has created everything, so HE has the ability to end it all.

We can be assured that GOD loves us and that HE wants the very best lives for us all.  HE has given us all free will and we can do as we please.  But when we forge a true relationship with GOD, HE has a perfect plan and through prayer and supplication, GOD will share HIS plan with us.

I am not talking about signs and wonders.  What I am talking about is the whispers that think you hear when you are reading your Bible or when you are talking to GOD in prayer.  When GOD wants to talk to us, HE has millions of ways of doing so.  HE does not have to talk to us in a specific verse.  GOD can use people to talk to us.  GOD can use bible verses to talk to us.  Indeed GOD has at HIS disposal everything in the world to use to get the message to us.

So let us today decide to listen carefully for our FATHER's voice in everything we do.

Prayer;  Heavenly FATHER, I thank YOU that YOU are always listening to me, but most of all I thank YOU that YOU are always talking to me.  Show me how to hear YOU clearly FATHER.  I pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay attentively GOD blessed today!

Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary!

When we try to imagine the virgin conception, we are truly perplexed.  How could a young virgin like Mary fall pregnant and give birth to the Messiah?

Well for GOD nothing is impossible.  After all, GOD created everything from nothing.  There was nothing and HE made the heavens and the earth.  

Therefore we need to right size GOD and not try to fit our thinking and what we know with what we know about our CREATOR.  Our CREATOR is the CREATOR and HE is not created.

Let us never try to imagine that we know more than GOD for that is to make GOD as truly small as we are and as we will always be, no matter how clever we think we may be.

Prayer:  Heavenly FATHER, I thank YOU that with YOU all things are indeed possible.  I thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly GOD blessed today!

Christ is Risen!

When we believe that Jesus is the Lord and Saviour of our lives, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us.

Only those who are not filled with the Holy Spirit can possibly believe that Jesus did not rise from the dead.  And in order to have eternity in Heaven, we need to know that Jesus was crucified.  That He died and was buried and that He rose again from the dead on the third day and that He ascended into Heaven forty days after His crucifixion.  Jesus sits at the right Hand of GOD our FATHER.  And no one gets to the FATHER except through the absolute belief in the fact of the risen Christ.

Without Jesus having conquered death, the whole promise of the Grace of GOD has no meaning and we are not saved.  

To not believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus is to crucify Him all over again.  It is time that we realize that we are running out of time.  We need to accept Jesus as our risen Saviour and we need to accept the wonderful Grace of GOD.

Today let us ask GOD to fill us with HIS Holy Spirit and let us accept Jesus as our Saviour.  Let us beg GOD to forgive our sins and let us forgive those who have sinned against us.

Prayer:  Heavenly FATHER, I pray that YOU fill me with YOUR Holy Spirit.  Pour it out on me.  FATHER I know that Jesus is my risen Saviour.  He conquered death to give me a chance at eternal life with YOU.  I confess this with my mouth today.  I pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay graciously GOD blessed today!

"it is finished"

When we die, we take nothing out of this world.  The only thing that we take is our souls.  Our worldly possession, our good deeds, our families and our friends are left behind.

So GOD wanted to redeem us and give us a way to spend eternity with HIM.  Therefore Jesus had to come to earth, live as a man, born of a Virgin mother.  He had to be sinless and blameless.  And He had to die a really terrible death so that we could put all our sin on His blameless life.

Therefore Jesus said on the cross "It is finished."  He had completed the work that GOD had sent Him to do.  He had redeemed our sins with own blood shed for us on the cross.

Now the only thing remaining was for Him to rise from the dead, which He did.  Three days after His death, confirmed by the Roman soldiers, who were experienced in death through crucifixion.  These soldiers did not even break the legs of our Messiah as He was already dead.  They did however pierce His side and blood and water gushed out.  

Further proof that Jesus was dead.  

Let us today thank GOD that we have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus.  Let us shout to the Lord that we accept Jesus as our Saviour.  Let us confess our sins and accept the Grace of GOD.

Prayer:  Heavenly FATHER, I thank YOU for YOUR grace and I accept Jesus as my Lord and my Saviour.  Amen.

Stay graciously GOD blessed today!