Ask GOD for Wisdom!

 In the verse above, James, the half brother of Jesus, tell us that if we lack wisdom we should ask GOD.

He goes on to say that GOD gives generously to all.  This verse is not to be taken out of context.  It means that GOD will give generously to all who ask for wisdom.

In the Old Testament, we have a good example of people who prayed for wisdom.  King Solomon, the son of King David, only asked GOD for wisdom.  He could have asked for anything.  Instead he chose to ask GOD for wisdom.

It is recorded that King Solomon's wisdom was renowned throughout the known world then.

The Queen of Sheba travelled a long long way to visit King Solomon to hear first hand from him his wisdom.

In our lives, what we often lack is wisdom.  Wisdom gives us discernment.  Wisdom gives us insight.  But most of all, wisdom helps us to understand the character of our FATHER in Heaven.

When we read our Bibles daily, we need to pray before we start and to ask GOD to give us the wisdom, not only to reveal HIS word to us, but to give us discernment to be able to use the word to minister to others and to be able to evangelise in a more knowledgeable way.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, today, I humbly ask that YOU grant me wisdom. Wisdom to discern YOUR will for my life and wisdom to know YOUR word better.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay wisely GOD blessed today!

GOD will never leave us!

 Jesus came to this earth to give us all the opportunity to be in the direct presence of GOD.

In the Old Testament, people took sacrifices and went to the temple where the priests offered up the sacrifices to GOD.

Now, since Jesus came and offered Himself as the blameless, sinless, human sacrifice to GOD to pay for our sins, we have direct access to GOD.

We no longer need to offer sacrifices or to pray through a priest or to pray through any medium, we can pray to GOD.

And the beauty of this is that GOD is always with us.  Whenever we feel like praying GOD is there and HE is listening to us.

All we need to do is to reach out and know that GOD is with us. 

Jesus promised us when He left the earth, that He would never leave us nor forsake us and He has kept His promise.  The Holy Spirit takes up residence in all Christ followers and He is in us and with us.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU that I can pray to YOU FATHER.  I thank YOU that I have YOUR Holy Spirit living in me and guiding me.  I thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay truly GOD blessed today!

Let us run the race!

 Once we become children of GOD, we need to train into the ministry.  This does not just apply to ministers.  It applies to each and every child of GOD.

It is no good going about and saying that we are children of GOD without learning about GOD.  We need to know what GOD wants us to do.  We need to know the word of GOD and most of all, we need to know the Will of GOD.

This requires perseverance.  We need to form good habits and this starts with prayer.

Let us make a concerted effort to start and to end our days in prayer.  The day should open up with a verse from GOD.  There are dozens of good apps which will give you a verse each and every day.  These are easy to subscribe to and will keep our eyes on the prize of eternity with GOD.

Then daily, reading our Bibles.  Praying before each and every meal.  Praying before each and every decision.

Joining prayer groups.  Joining home groups who are studying the Scriptures.  Weekly attending Church. 

Once we start on some of the above good habits, we are training for the race which we need to complete to get into Heaven with our LORD.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, today I thank YOU for my faith in YOU and I thank YOU for YOUR grace and favour.  I thank YOU for Jesus Christ.  I thank YOU for the Holy Spirit.  FATHER help me to grow into being a better child of YOURS.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly GOD blessed today!

Without faith!

 "Without faith, it is impossible to please GOD."

Why is this?

If we have no faith in GOD we deny HIS Dominion over all.  We deny the creation.  We deny Jesus, we deny the Holy Spirit.

All of the above will lead to an eternal life spent in hell, where there shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

This is why it is so important that we, children of GOD, need to spread the Gospel.  We need to tell others to at least give it some thought. Start with a simple question.   

Could the entire universe be made out of nothing?  Because if you do not believe in GOD, that is your belief.

So the evolution theory aside, let us consider all that we know about our GOD.

We, children of GOD, know that GOD is Righteous, Holy, Merciful and Loving.  Or else HE would not have sent Jesus to add humanity to His deity and become flesh and have dwelt amongst us. Jesus would not have died on the Cross of Calvary and been buried.  Jesus would not have risen and ascended to Heaven where He sits at the right hand of our FATHER GOD. 

GOD wants a living, loving relationship with all on earth.  To reject GOD is more than foolish.  It is a sentence for eternity where no one wants to go.

Today, let us make a concerted effort to let at least one person see the light of Jesus shining here on earth and let us share our faith.  It is the right thing to do!

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, today I thank YOU for my faith in YOU.  I thank YOU for my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  I thank YOU for the Holy Spirit living in me.  I thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay wondrously GOD blessed today!

Faith!

 

The above verse is not the definition of faith.  Rather it is the explanation of faith.  

Through our belief in Jesus Christ as our Lord and our Redeemer, we become the co heirs of the eternal Kingdom with Jesus.  We obviously cannot see eternity.  We cannot fathom eternity.  But when we take Jesus as our Saviour, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us.

The Holy Spirit convicts us to move our "goal posts" off achieving on earth and moves our sights towards Heaven.

Once we know that we are going to Heaven, we can start to focus on building our eternal homes in Heaven.

Through this process we are being refined by GOD.  We are becoming more and more like Jesus.  This looks like something.  The things of this earth will grow strangely dim and we will no longer desire to have the things of this world which can be stolen or will rust or will be eaten by moths.  

Less and less will we worry about what we will eat, or what we will wear or where we will live.  

GOD knows what we need and if our faith is strong, GOD will take care of our needs.  

This does not mean we should stop work or stop paying our bills.  Rather it means that we should work as for the LORD.  We should do the good works GOD gives us to do as well. 

Today, let us shift our eyes towards our KING and start to look forward to eternity.  Let us put our future into the Hands of our LORD!

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, thank YOU that I am a child of YOURS.  Thank YOU that through YOUR grace and mercy, I have faith that I will have eternity to spend with YOU.  FATHER make me see my eternal life far clearer than this life on earth.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay faithfully GOD blessed today!

Our Redeemer is Born!

 Our Redeemer, Jesus Christ!  Isaiah, some seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus foretold of the birth of our Saviour.

When GOD promises us, HE delivers.  What we are celebrating, dear Christ Followers, is the fulfilment of the promise GOD made to us.

Christ is born.  And now, following the life, the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have the opportunity to take up the free gift.  It costs us nothing.  It is given through the Grace and Mercy and Holiness and Righteousness of our Loving FATHER in Heaven.  It is offered to us by Jesus Christ.  All we have to do, is to accept it.

Once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, it shows to GOD that we believe, not only in Jesus, but in our FATHER who sent Him.  This faith puts Jesus in our place when it comes to our just judgements.

What a magnificent CREATOR GOD we serve!

Accept the gift.  Ask GOD to forgive our sins.  Forgive those who have sinned against us.  And celebrate the life of Jesus Christ today!

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU for my Saviour, my Redeemer, my Wonderful Counsellor, my Prince of Peace, my Everlasting FATHER.

FATHER, I thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay faithfully Jesus Blessed today!

Waiting for Jesus!

 

Under the laws of Moses in the Old Testament, sacrifices were made to atone for sins.  Dependent upon the severity of the sin, was the size of the offering.

The High Priest entered into the innermost sanctuary and sprinkled with blood, first atoned for his own sin and then the sin of the sinners who were offering the sacrifice.

This occurred once a year.

With the sacrifice of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who took our sins onto that Cross and suffered and was punished for our sins for once and for all, Jesus offered Himself as the living sacrifice, perfect, unblemished.

After Jesus had given up His Spirit, He was dead and was buried.  After three days, He rose from the dead and forty days later ascended into Heaven and sits at the Right Hand of our FATHER GOD.

But Jesus has promised to return to fetch those who believe in Him.  If you are able to read the seasons, as Jesus said, we must now realize that we are living in the end of times and that Jesus may come back at any moment.

Will you be about your FATHER's business?  Will you be ready?  Will you be found worthy to be raptured?

Think on these things today.  And if there is any reason you are not ready, confess your sins to your FATHER in Heaven.  Accept Jesus and if you are not, be born again into the Holy Spirit.  Please do not delay.  We may not have another day!

Prayer:  Heavenly FATHER, I thank YOU that I know that YOU will send Jesus to this earth to fetch His bride.  I pray that I might be found about YOUR business.  ABBA FATHER, if I have forgotten any sins, please forgive me.  Convict me with the Holy Spirit and let me be found worthy to be raptured.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay truly GOD blessed today!

GOD our refuge!

 

GOD is ever present.  GOD never changes.  GOD keeps all HIS promises.  Therefore we know that as children of GOD, as Christ followers, we have a permanent refuge in the loving arms of our FATHER.

When Jesus gave up HIS soul on that Cross of Calvary, the temple veil tore in the middle.  

During the times of the Old Testament, the only person who was allowed behind the veil, was the High Priest and then only once a year was he allowed to enter into the sanctuary of the LORD.

Through the propitiation of our sins by Jesus on the Cross, once we accept Jesus as our Lord and our Saviour, we have direct access to our FATHER.

GOD is reaching out to everyone through Jesus Christ and calling us into an eternity with HIM.  

All we need to do is to accept Jesus as our Redeemer.

From that moment on, we can run to GOD at any time about anything.  GOD is ever present and ever listening to us.  We are never alone.  That is the promise of GOD found in the book of Hebrews for ever believer.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER I thank YOU for grace and mercy you show to me.  As we approach the celebration of the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, FATHER I thank YOU for YOUR great love for me.  I love YOU FATHER with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my strength.  I pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay wondrously GOD blessed today!

Our MASTER CREATOR!

 Again, and continuing on our theme of our GREAT GOD and FATHER in Heaven, our CREATOR, we see how perfect the plans of GOD always are.

Jesus came to earth and added humanity to His deity.  He was born of a virgin and therefore was brought into the world without a "worldly" father.  The Holy Spirit came over Mary and she conceived Jesus.  

Jesus was taken into the desert and tempted for forty days and forty nights.  And he never succumbed to temptation even once. 

During his arrest and his torture, (and He was tortured - to be flayed is an absolute torture which nearly always resulted in very near death).  He was kept awake - sleep deprived and mocked and humiliated.  He was denied by His closest ally - Peter. He was alone, dragged up a hill and then nailed to a cross.  

During this whole ordeal, never once did He sin.  He never retaliated.  He never miscalled anyone.  He never uttered a cross word.

Imagine a Saviour, who endured all of this for our miserable sinning ways.  This was done so that Jesus is fully competent to make propitiation for our sins on that Cross.  Jesus is able to stand before GOD in our place where we should be judged.  Instead we are justified through His sacrifice.  But He also understands our human life.  He is merciful because He has experienced life on earth.

This is our Gracious GOD who makes all things perfect.  This is the Wondrous GOD we serve.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I cry out to YOU today.  FATHER thank YOU for YOUR enormous Grace and Mercy.  I thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay mercifully GOD blessed today!

The WORD of GOD!

Following on from "right sizing" GOD, the blog of yesterday, I thought it prudent to point out this magnificent verse found in Hebrews 4.

Jesus is the "WORD" of GOD.  We know this from John 1:1  "In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD and the WORD was GOD."  

Continuing on the first few verses of John:

"[2]The same was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."

And in Revelation 19 John again writes that Jesus will come back to the earth 15 "Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."

We know that this is Jesus that John talks about.

Back to the blog of yesterday, we need to understand that our GOD is so powerful that not only can HE talk the universe into existence, but with HIS mouth HE can destroy entire nations.

This is a GOD to be praised, to be revered, to be worshipped.  But most of all, this is a GOD to be thanked for HIS great mercy and HIS grace and HIS love towards us.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, today I fall down at YOUR feet and praise YOU my FATHER.  I thank YOU that I am so privileged to be called a co heir with Jesus through YOUR grace and mercy and love.  I thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay truly GOD blessed today!

Right Size our FATHER!

 Do we know or understand the magnitude or the magnificence of our CREATOR FATHER?

That would be impossible.  GOD calls out the stars one by one.  GOD knows the numbers of hairs on our heads.

GOD knows each one of us intimately and HE knows what we are thinking, what we are doing and what we are saying.  HE knows what we have done and what we will do because GOD made time.  

GOD is not constrained by time, or matter and HE can walk up and down the corridors of time in our lives and see what we have done and what we will do.

This is the magnitude of our FATHER.  Think of this and then FEAR GOD.  Not because we need to be afraid of GOD.  But because of the omniscience, the omnipotence, the omnipresence of our FATHER.

With the knowledge of the understanding of who our FATHER is, comes fear out of reverence for who HE IS.

Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.  Let us strive for that today.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER as I think of YOU, I begin to understand YOUR greatness.  FATHER let me never diminish the understanding of who YOU are in my heart.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay wondrously GOD blessed today!

The throne of Jesus forever!

 

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

This verse is from Ephesians 6.

And in these troubled times, where governments are claiming more and more power over our lives, and we have your truth and my truth and not The Truth, we sometimes lose sight of our end goal.  

As Christ followers and co-heirs with Jesus, The Truth is Jesus Christ.  And Jesus Christ will sit on the throne of Heaven forever and ever.

This life is short and fleeting.  Seemingly filled with endless trials and tribulations.  Yet it is still a very short time when compared with eternity.

So are we ready to meet Jesus?  Because if we know how to read the seasons, we need to know that we are in the end of times and Jesus could come at any moment in the clouds with a shout and with a trumpet call. 

Our eternity depends on what we do now.  Have we confessed all our sins?  Have we forgiven all those who have sinned against us?  Are we about our FATHER's work?

These are the questions we need to ask ourselves.  And if we are not ready, then surely it is time to get ready.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I humbly pray that I am ready to meet Jesus at any time that YOU choose.  I pray that my heart is pure and that I am about YOUR work when you send Jesus to fetch me.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay readily GOD blessed today!

Access to the Grace and Mercy of GOD through Jesus!

In this letter to the Hebrews, depending upon whom you believe wrote it, the author says that we can come boldly unto the throne of grace to obtain mercy and help in times of need.

All of this is made possible through the love of Jesus Christ for each one of us.  When we accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour, we can come directly to GOD with our prayers and petitions.  We can find the mercy and find the grace of GOD when we need it most.

This is such a comfort to any Christ follower.  We are able to pray directly to GOD through the sacrifice that Jesus made for you and I.

Accept this mercy and grace and give thanks to Jesus for making it possible.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, today I thank YOU for YOUR grace and mercy.  I thank YOU for Jesus Christ.  I thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay graciously GOD blessed today!

Jesus Crowned!

Jesus was crowned with glory and honour on the Cross of Calvary.

Can you imagine a world where we had to follow all the laws of the Old Testament?  I personally would have been offering so many sacrifices that I, single-handedly would have polluted the entire world with smoke from my offerings.

Despite the burnt offerings, we still could not atone for our sinful nature.  

By the Grace of GOD we were sent a Saviour - Jesus Christ.  Our Lord, our Saviour, our Redeemer.  GOD did this to save you and I from a place in hell. 

Today, let us survey the wondrous Cross and consider all the goodness we have access to through Jesus Christ.  Do not let today pass without giving thanks to GOD for HIS goodness, HIS grace, HIS mercy and HIS loving kindness towards you and I.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU that YOU sent Jesus Christ to this earth.  As we come closer to the time we celebrate the birth of our Saviour, I thank YOU for YOUR enormous grace and mercy. I pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay wondrously GOD blessed today! 

 

Propitiation for our sins!

When we truly reflect on our lives and, if we are honest, we look back and see when and where we sinned against the LORD.  In our sinning ways, we hurt a lot of people.  Things we said and did, things we did not do and things we did unintentionally but which hurt people.  And if we are truly honest, we deserve to be punished for these things.

Coming to the point of my argument, we know that we serve a Righteous, Holy, Just CREATOR GOD.  So if we know GOD to be these things, we have to be punished if GOD is Just.

And that is what sets us apart from other religions and doctrines.  Our GOD is Merciful.  HE made a plan for us.  Justice, Righteousness and Mercy meet at the Cross.

God sent HIS Son to this earth to come and take our punishment. A punishment Christ did not deserve, for He was sinless.

Jesus took all of our punishment for all of our sins and washed them as white as snow on that Cross.  No longer are we under the burden of sin, we are set free.

Jesus came to set each one of us free.  This is a free gift.  But we have to accept it.  

That GOD left up to each one of us.  We can accept it or reject it.  That can only be done this side of the grave.  Christ loves us and He wants us all in Heaven with Him. 

Dear Readers, I know that you have all accepted Christ, but we all know loved ones who have not yet made the choice.  Time is short, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow.  We urgently need to spread the good news and to share the Gospel.  

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU that YOU are Righteous, Just, Holy and Merciful.  I thank YOU that YOU have given me freedom from my sinful past.  FATHER I pray that I may share this free gift and bring others to share in YOUR grace.  FATHER I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay faithfully GOD blessed today!

Jesus is the radiance of GOD's glory.  Today, I just want to ponder that.  

Imagine the glory of GOD if Jesus, sinless and blameless, died to save you and me!

Then imagine what it is going to be like to spend eternity with our FATHER in Heaven who loves us so much that HE sent HIS only Son to pay for our sins.

I think for today, that is the message.  We just dwell on the magnificence of the GOD we serve.

Thank you all for sharing these beautiful thoughts with me. 

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I praise and worship YOU today.  YOU are amazing and wonderful and it is such a privilege to call myself a co heir to YOUR kingdom because of your immense grace.  I thank YOU today in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay truly amazingly GOD blessed today!

Saved by the mercy of GOD!

Only the shedding of blood can be offered to GOD to atone for sins.  In the Old Testament, pigeons, sheep, goat and cattle were sacrificed by the priests for people who had sinned to atone for their sins.

Should we still have to offer up those sacrifices, I alone would have had to offer up many sheep and goats and cattle during my life. 

But GOD knew that we are born sinful and we often give in to our sinful natures.  So Jesus came in place of all those atonement offerings. 

On that Cross of Calvary, Jesus shed His own blood and as He bled and died for you and me, the need to offer up any other atonements was negated.  

Would you do that for anyone?  Jesus did not do this for anyone.  He died for you and me.  He died for every person on earth.  

Before He died, the wrath of GOD was poured out on Him.  This is apart from the torture and torment He endured before he was nailed to the Cross.  Then on that Cross, He suffered cruelly with the wrath of GOD being poured out on Him. 

Be sure dear friends, Jesus suffered hugely for you and me.  He suffered hugely for all the people on this earth.  

In order to be forgiven of our sins, all we have to do is to accept this truth.  We need to accept the Truth -  that Jesus came to this earth, lived a sinless life, was crucified, died and rose from death in order to save you and me from the punishment we deserve for our sins.

There is nothing we can do to earn salvation.  It is a free Gift from GOD.  We just need to accept the grace and mercy of our most Righteous, our most Holy, our most Just GOD. 

Today, be renewed by the washing of the Holy Spirit and be refilled by the Holy Spirit.  Know that Jesus is Lord and GOD loves us.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, today I thank YOU for YOUR mercy and YOUR grace and most of all YOUR love.  I  humbly ask that YOU fill me anew  with YOUR Holy Spirit. I ask this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly GOD blessed today!

We have clear instructions on how to live!

 We have very clear instructions from our inerrant, infallible Word of GOD - the Bible on how we ought to live.

As most of you know, I am of the opinion that we are living in the end of times and that the Rapture will surely come soon.  I am not saying that I know when this will happen, it just appears to me that the world is becoming increasingly dark.

For this reason, I urge you today, live your life as if Jesus was living it through you.  I am taking this advice very personally and I am trying to live my life in a way that is pleasing to GOD.  

Therefore let us put off the things of this world and concentrate on being sober, righteous and GODLY. 

It is urgent to attend to our salvation!

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU for YOUR grace and YOUR love.  FATHER help me to live my life in such a way that it brings light to this world and honour YOU.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay truly GOD blessed today!

All Scripture is GOD given!

  We are so fortunate today to have our Bibles to read.  But we should take enormous care when we read our Bibles not to try to interpret the Bible to suit what we would like to hear.

The Bible is the inerrant and infallible word of GOD.  And we are cautioned in Deuteronomy and Revelation not to add anything to this word.

“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” (Deut. 4:2.)

This is why it is so important to read the Bible in its full context. 

 lot of modern religion is based on verses taken out of context.  

As Christ followers, we need to pray before we read our Bibles.  Ask GOD to open our eyes to what HE is saying to us so that when we read, our hearts are convicted by the Holy Spirit to the truth of HIS Word.

This way what we read will become a part of our learning process to establish who GOD truly is and the amazing love and grace HE has given to us. 

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU that I am able to freely read YOUR Word whenever and wherever I want.  I humbly ask that as I read YOUR Word, the Holy Spirit works in me to learn YOUR will for my life. Make me obedient to YOUR Will through my reading and understanding of YOUR Word.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay obediently GOD blessed today!

Godliness with contentment!

 Dearest friends, let us choose Godliness with contentment.

We need to be contented with what we have.  When we become children of GOD and become true Christ followers, we need to strive to be more Christ-Like.  

If we think on the life of Jesus on earth for a minute.  Jesus did not have a home of his own.  Jesus moved from place to place ministering constantly.

Jesus did not want for anything.  We do not read that Jesus was materialistically inclined at all.

And yet GOD provided all that He needed.

So, too, we need to trust in GOD.  We need to let the things of this earth grow dimmer and dimmer.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, tonight I humbly pray that you make me more  like Jesus and give me contentment with what I have.  I pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay truly GOD blessed today!

The narrow gate!

As followers of Christ, we need to know that the way to heaven is only through Jesus Christ.  This is the message that we need hear, to know and to practise, and that we need to share.

No one, not one, will get to spend eternity with GOD if they do not accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and their Saviour.

And the above verse is given by Jesus to His disciples.  

It is so easy to follow the ways of this world.  But to be a Christ follower, we need to separate ourselves from this world.  

When we start to follow Jesus and to know Him and to trust Him the things that we valued on earth suddenly grow strangely dim.  That is a fact.

Today, if you have not done so, believe in Jesus Christ.  Accept the enormous grace of GOD and become a Christ follower.  

Jesus Christ came to this earth, lived a completely sinless life.  Yes, He was tempted, but He never succumbed.  He was crucified on that Cross and He took your sins and mine and they were poured out on Him.  Then He gave up His spirit and died. He was buried. Three days after that, He rose from the dead, conquering death, which was brought into this world through the sins of Adam and Eve.  

He ascended into Heaven and He sits at the right Hand of GOD our FATHER.  Through the mercy, love and grace of GOD, we have a way to get into Heaven.  All we need to do, is to accept this free gift.  We need to repent of our sins and forgive those who sin against us. 

Become a Christ follower today.  Find the narrow gate!

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU that I have Jesus Christ as my Lord and my Saviour.  I pray that I know more of YOU and less of this world.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly GOD blessed today!

Trust only in GOD!

 Paul is writing to Timothy and advising Timothy to "command" those who were rich not to be haughty and not to trust in uncertain riches.

This is more true today where people strive their entire lives for wealth and yet neglect their eternity.

As Christ followers, we need to be aware that all our needs on earth will be taken care of by GOD if we trust in HIM.  This does not mean that we can stop working and depend entirely on GOD for our livelihood.  GOD wants us to work but we are not to give ourselves over to the pursuit of worldly wealth.  Rather we are to store up for ourselves treasures in Heaven.

This means that we actively have to do the Will of GOD.  

We can find out the Will of GOD for our lives through prayer and through reading the Word of GOD.

Today, let us put aside any worldly thoughts and ask our FATHER to show us what HE wants for our lives rather than what we want.  Then let us pursue HIS will.

Prayer: ABBA FATHER, today I pray that YOU show me YOUR will for my life.  FATHER, I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay obediently GOD blessed today!

Scripture is GOD breathed!

 

Dearest followers of Jesus Christ.  We need to know that 

• ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD BREATHED.  
• THE BIBLE IS THE INERRANT INFALLIBLE WORD OF GOD.
• WE MUST NOT ADD NOR SUBTRACT ANYTHING TO IT.

When we are presented with anything pertaining to our faith, we need to fact check it by reading the Bible.  And if it is not in the Bible it is not from GOD.

There are so many false prophets about and we can so easily become disillusioned.  The devil is roaming about and roaring trying to pull us back from our faith, but we need to keep strong.

The way we keep strong is through reading our Bibles every day.  Knowing what the word of GOD is will protect us. 

Having a relationship with GOD will also keep us in the word of GOD.  The Holy Spirit living in you and I will convict us when we come into the presence of things that are trying to distract us.

Today, I urge each one you, read your Bible.  Pray all day about everything.  Fellowship with other Christ Followers.  And wait for the day of our LORD.  It is coming.  (I know we do not know when, but we need to be ready always!).

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, thank YOU that I can depend upon YOU in all circumstances of my life.  Thank YOU that YOU gave us the Bible to read.  Thank YOU that I can pray to YOU because Jesus presents me to YOU as His co heir.  I thank YOU for the Holy Spirit living in me. Fill me anew with the Holy Spirit each and every day.  

I thank YOU in the Holy Name of my Redeemer, my Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay safely GOD blessed today

Flee!

In this letter to his protege, Paul advises Timothy to flee from all things that are not of the LORD.

He further advises Timothy to pursue the attributes of a man of GOD.

These are righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

This is excellent advice to each one of us.  If we profess to love the LORD our GOD with all our hearts and minds, we need to want to be more righteous, more godly, more faithful, more loving.  We need to be more tolerant and mostly we need to be more loving and gentle particularly in our dealings with our fellow human beings.

This is difficult in this day and age, where aggression and self seeking seems to be the order of the day.  But through prayer and supplication to our FATHER, we can ask HIM to help us grow these attributes on a day by day basis.

Joining prayer groups and fellowshipping with Christ followers also help to remove us from the worldliness and callousness of this earth. It helps us to grow together in a group which is easier than trying to achieve this in our own strength

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU that I can read YOUR word each day and learn how to live my life in a better way.  FATHER today, I humbly pray that you grant me that I grow these attributes and become more and more like Jesus each and every day.  I pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay truly GOD blessed today!

The LORD guards us!

 In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul writes that GOD is faithful and if we put our trust in GOD, HE will guard us from the evil one.

Make no mistake dear Christ followers, the evil one is roaming around and waiting for you and I to stumble so that he can take advantage of our weaknesses.

It is therefore vitally important to our salvation that we put all our hope and trust in GOD through HIS Son Jesus Christ.  It is essential that we have a living relationship with GOD.  This is achieved through a daily reading of the Word of GOD.  Daily prayers and not just one prayer, we need to be praying throughout the day about everything.  We need to consult GOD before we make any decisions.

When we do this, we also need to wait for answers.  We need to ensure that we are praying and asking GOD that HIS will be done and not our will, for HE knows what HE is doing in the grand story of our lives.

To increase our faith, we need to fellowship with like minded Christ followers and we need to share our prayers and increase our knowledge of our FATHER in Heaven.

Finally, dear friends, we need to be aware of Jesus in lives.  Our lives need to shine the light of Jesus on earth.  This means we need to guard our tongues and circumcise our hearts to grow to be more and more like Jesus each and every day.

We need to be compassionate to each other and we need to be spreading the gospel to those who do not believe in Jesus.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU that YOU guard me today.  FATHER I pray that fill me anew with YOUR Holy Spirit and that I may grow more and more like Jesus each and every day.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay truly GOD blessed today!

Peace of the LORD!

 I pray tonight that our LORD give you peace as we enter into this rest before the new week begins.

If you, like me, have experienced trials and tribulations, know this.  Our FATHER in Heaven loves each one of us.  HE wants us to have HIS peace.  HE gives us HIS peace.  All we have to do, is to reach up and take HIS hand and then rest in HIS loving arms.

When we sleep tonight, before you go to sleep, ask our FATHER to guard you as you sleep.  Ask our FATHER to give you HIS rest as we start the new week.  And then rest in HIS peace despite the trials that we may yet endure.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU that YOU are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  I thank YOU that I can depend upon YOUR presence and I can take rest knowing that YOU are with me, no matter what.  I thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay peacefully GOD blessed today!

Increase our love for each other!

 

Paul writing to the Thessalonians all those years ago wrote that he prayed that the LORD would increase their love for one another.

That is so applicable today.  But I also pray tonight that each one reading this is filled with love overflowing for our FATHER in Heaven who, through HIS mercy and HIS grace sent HIS Son to die on a cross for us to be forgiven of our sins.

Then Jesus conquered the grave and death for us to rise and ascend to Heaven, where He sits at the right Hand of our FATHER.  Jesus will judge us.  And if we have accepted Him, we are forgiven of our sins. 

Therefore I would pray that our love for GOD, for Jesus and for the Holy Spirit is overflowing in each one of us.  

Following on from this, we need to love the people around us.  We need to love as Jesus loves.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I adore YOU.  Thank YOU for YOUR grace and favour.  Thank YOU for giving us life and love in abundance.  Thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay truly GOD blessed today!

Please GOD not men!

 

GOD reads our hearts. GOD tests our hearts.  And if our words and our deeds are not matching our hearts, GOD knows.

Therefore we need to please GOD above all else.  

To please GOD is to do HIS will.  To please GOD is try to be more and more like Jesus.  To please GOD is to put all of our hope, all our trust and all of faith in Jesus Christ as the only way to get to GOD.

Today, if you have not done so, put your faith and your hope and your trust in Jesus Christ.  Let your heart be circumcised by the Holy Spirit who will come and dwell in you and make you more and more like Jesus each and every day.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I put all my hope and all my trust and all my faith in Jesus Christ.  I know that what Jesus did for me on that cross is the most important and wonderful thing that has ever been done for me.  I thank YOU FATHER that YOU sent YOUR Son to die for me and to conquer death.  I thank YOU FATHER that I am able to pray to YOU and to thank YOU for YOUR grace and favour.  I pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay graciously GOD blessed today!

Rooted in Christ

 

Sometimes we see really large old trees we can see the root system pushing up around the soil and the trunk of the tree.  These roots hold the tree straight and sure.  Guiding the tree to the full potential of the growth of the tree.

So we should be established in Christ.  Growing in stature along with Christ as we learn to walk more and more like Christ.

This can only be achieved through a living and nutured relationship with our Lord and our Saviour.  When we fellowship with other Christ followers and when we pray and we read our Bibles, then we come into a closer and closer relationship with our tree, Jesus Christ. 

As Jesus said "I am the vine and you are the branches", this is how we must be.  Without Jesus we are not able to commune with our FATHER in Heaven.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU that Jesus is the tree of my life.  Help me to grow strong, rooted in Him.  I pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly GOD blessed today!

Our CREATOR FATHER

 Do we understand the magnitude of our FATHER in Heaven?

Perhaps and perhaps not.  Nothing was created that was not created by HIM.  And yet the Bible tells us that HE numbers the hairs on our heads.  We are that important to HIM.  And each and every one of us is important to HIM.

GOD reached down to earth from Heaven through Jesus to save each one of us and all we have to do is to reach back and take HIS grace.

That is the only way to get to Heaven -through the GRACE OF GOD by faith in HIS Son Jesus Christ as our Lord and our Saviour.

The CREATOR of everything wants a living, loving relationship with YOU and me today.  Reach back, accept Jesus, confess our sins and become a co-heir with Jesus Christ in the eternal life spent in Heaven with our FATHER.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU for YOUR grace and favour.  I thank YOU for Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Saviour.  FATHER fill me anew with YOUR Holy Spirit today.  I pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly GOD blessed today!

Pray without Ceasing

 Do we know the will of GOD in Christ Jesus is for our lives?

This is a profound question and one which most people search for their entire lives long.

It is simple.  In all circumstance, no matter what, we are to give thanks to GOD.  We do not know the plan GOD has for our lives, but whatever our circumstances we are to give thanks.

So today, I am giving thanks to GOD through Jesus Christ, my Lord and I am giving thanks to GOD for all that I am.

I am giving thanks for all that I have.  I am giving thanks for my family, my friends, my home and my garden.  I am giving thanks for my trials and my tribulations.  I am giving thanks for all the things I have learned from my trials and my tribulations.  I am giving thanks for all that I have learned from my family and my friends.  I am giving thanks for each person I have met, good or otherwise, because GOD put them all in my life to refine me.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU in all circumstances.  I thank YOU today for giving me this life to live and all that this entails.  I thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay truly GOD blessed today.  

The LORD is near to those who call on HIM!

 In this Psalm we are told that the LORD is righteous in all HIS ways.  HE is holy in all HIS works.

So when we pray in truth and in faith that HE is near to us, and with no selfish desires, our prayers are answered.

What we need to do is to come before the LORD clothed in the righteousness of Jesus.  

To do that we have to accept Jesus as our Lord and our Saviour.  We have to accept that there is no way to get to our FATHER except through Jesus.  We have to know that we are sinners and acknowledge this to our FATHER.  We have to repent and to show true remorse, not lip service, for GOD reads our hearts and GOD is not mocked.

Then our prayers are answered.  But there is still a ryder attached to this.  We need to pray that if it is the will of our FATHER in Heaven then it should be done.  Because GOD's plans are perfect and ours are not.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, show me how to pray to YOU FATHER.  Teach me YOUR ways and give me the wisdom to pray to YOU.  I know that YOU hear all my prayers FATHER, but teach me to pray in YOUR will and not mine.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay truly GOD blessed today!

Be alert and Pray!

 

In Paul's letter to the Ephesians, he says that they should pray at all times and with all types of prayers.  

Do we pray only when we need GOD?  Or do we pray when we are happy, sad, celebrating, thankful?  

All times should be prayed about.  GOD wants to hear from us.  

The Holy Spirit convicts us more and more to converse with our FATHER in Heaven the closer we get to Jesus.

So today, let us remember to pray about everything.  Not just the times we need GOD's help.  Let us pray to say thank YOU ABBA FATHER.  Let us pray when we are happy, when we are sad, when we are thankful and when we just want to talk to our FATHER in heaven.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER convict me through YOUR Holy Spirit to pray to YOU at all times.  I want to know YOU FATHER and I want to walk closer to YOU each and every day.  I humbly pray this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay graciously GOD blessed today!

Walk in the way of Jesus!

 I do not know if you remember the rubber wrist bands we used to wear.  They had the letters WWJD on them.  This stood for "What would Jesus do?".  And the object of the wrist bands was to remind us to behave in a manner that Jesus would have.

So any situation that you found yourself in, you would ask the question "What would Jesus do?" and hopefully that gave rise to a walk which closer to our Lord.

And here Paul writes this exact objective. 

Paul urges his readers to walk in the way of love and present ourselves as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to GOD.

This is a very good way to conduct our lives.  To be mindful that we are the light of the world in these very darkest of times.  To remind ourselves that our goals are not to achieve greatness on this earth, but to serve others, to spread the gospel and to be an example of what Jesus would do on this earth.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER, how privileged I am to be able to call on YOU as my ABBA FATHER, I thank YOU for this.  FATHER, today I humbly ask in the Holy Name of Jesus, that YOU make me more and more like Jesus each and every day.  Amen.

Stay obediently GOD blessed today!

Blessed be GOD!

 In these verses, Paul says "Blessed be the GOD and FATHER of our Lord Jesus Christ".  And this is what we need to do.  We need to realize that GOD has given us HIS blessings in abundance.

We have been given a universe to live in, an earth to live on, air to breathe, water to drink, food to eat, plants to make materials to clothe ourselves, stones to build houses, wood to make furniture, cattle and sheep to tend and work which needs to be done.

GOD has catered to our every need.  

And then GOD gave us HIS Son so that through the life, death and resurrection of HIS Son, we might have eternity with HIM.

Indeed we are blessed and we need to pray for our Blessed FATHER in Heaven giving HIM thanks and all the glory for HIS mighty grace.  None of which we could have provided for anyone else without our CREATOR GOD.

Prayer:  ABBA FATHER today I thank YOU for YOUR blessings.  Thank YOU in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Stay amazingly GOD blessed today!