Tag Archives: christianity

Girlfriends in God

Girlfriends in God – What To Do When God Says No

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Today’s Truth

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.

John 14:13

Friend to Friend

A few years ago, I was on my way home from running errands. As I approached our neighborhood, my cell phone rang.

“Hi, Mom. It’s Kennedy. Where are you?”

“Hey, baby! I ran some errands and will be home in just a few minutes. What’s up?”

“Well, I wanted to see if you and I could go shopping for a new bathing suit this afternoon, and— don’t say no —I’d like to get a feather in my hair. Can we, Mom?”

Oh. No. She. Didn’t!

Don’t say ‘no’? I thought. Really? C’mon girl. I’m the parent. You’re the child. Get a grip.

What I said to her was, “Honey, we are several weeks away from swim season. I’m not sure that today is a good day for all of this. And by the way, you’re free to share your heart with me and to tell me your desires, but you do not get to tell me what I can and can’t say no to. I’m pulling into the neighborhood now and will see you in a minute.”

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Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – Rejoicing in Suffering

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From your friends at RayStedman.org

Read: Romans 5:3-10

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5 NIV

It is clear from this that Christians are expected to experience suffering. Those who think that becoming a Christian will remove them from suffering have been seriously misled, for the Scriptures themselves teach that we are to expect suffering.

The Greek word for suffering is translated as tribulation, something that causes distress. It can range from minor annoyances that we go through every day, to major disasters that come sweeping down out of the blue and leave us stricken and smitten. These are the sufferings that we might go through, the tribulations.

According to Romans 5, the Christian response to suffering is to rejoice: Not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings. Here is where many people balk. They say, I can’t buy that! Do you mean to say that God is telling me that when I am hurting and in pain, I am expected to be glad and rejoice in that? That is not human, not natural!

How do you get to the place where you can rejoice in suffering? The apostle’s answer is, We rejoice in suffering because we know… We rejoice because we know something. It isn’t just because it’s such a great feeling to be hurt, it is because we know something about it. It is something our faith enables us to know, a kind of inside information that others do not share.

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Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Christ-side-piercing Spear

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Read: John 19:31-37

One of the soldiers pierced his side. (v. 33)

Herbert next takes us back to the gospel story, and to the narrative that is literally the crux of it, the account of the crucifixion of our Lord on the cross at Calvary. He points us to John’s version of it, which is distinctive, and which like so much else in the fourth Gospel adds yet greater depth to truths we may already know from the other three.

Jesus has died on the cross, and today we consider what (in every sense) follows that death. The thrust of the soldier’s spear confirms that this really is a dead body. The fluid oozing from the wound separates out, and Augustus Toplady’s hymn “Rock of Ages” highlights the symbolism: “Let the water and the blood / From thy riven side which flowed / Be of sin the double cure: / Cleanse me from its guilt and power.”

When I pray, this is where I begin. I too am at the cross, before the crucified Christ. I too see the water and the blood. It is actually the blood rather than the water that cleanses me, as Jesus in dying takes all my sin on to himself, and bears its penalty for me. The water revives me, as his Spirit gives me new life. The one deals with the guilt of the past, the other sets me on track for the future. Whatever penitence and praise and petition may fill my times of prayer, I have to begin with the Christ-side-piercing spear.

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Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Memento Mori

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Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. —Colossians 3:2

Back in older times, there was a Latin phrase they would write on the top of a document. It was memento mori. It means, “Think of death.”

You say, “That is so morbid.” It actually is not. It was a reminder to be aware of the fact that life ends. Be aware of the fact that eternity is close. Be aware of the fact that there is an afterlife.

It is not a bad thing to think about these things deeply. In fact, it was C. S. Lewis who said, “A continual looking forward to the eternal world is not . . . a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do.” You should think about death, eternity, and the afterlife.

If you are a Christian, you are going to enter heaven in one of two ways: either through death or through the rapture. Either we will die, or the Lord will catch us up to meet Him in the air.

Imagine being part of the rapture. One day you might be walking on the street, thinking about a loved one who has gone to be with the Lord. Maybe you are thinking about your last conversation with them, or wondering what they are experiencing there in heaven. Suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye, you will be with them.

Mothers and fathers reunited with sons and daughters. Husbands reunited with wives. Siblings with siblings. Friends with friends. Your sorrow vanishes and it is replaced by ecstatic joy. Not only are you with your loved one again, but best of all you are with Jesus.

For the Christian, thinking about the afterlife is not a bad thing. It is actually a good thing. So go ahead and think about it. Go ahead and dream about it. Go ahead and wonder about it. It is called being heavenly minded.

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – The Lord Loves Cheerful Givers

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“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:7-8)

It was Thursday morning, and Tonia and Ruben had gotten up early so they could go with Uncle Dirk to the market. They loved the Thursday markets because there were so many interesting things and all kinds of people to see. Each of them had saved a little money since last Thursday, and they jingled the coins in their hands as they walked with Uncle Dirk from the train station to the marketplace.

But today wasn’t just any Thursday. Today was their mother’s 40th birthday! They knew that even today – even on her own special day – she was at home doing things for them. Right about now, she was probably preparing their lunch – slicing up bread, setting out dishes, washing vegetables for some soup. That was just how their mother was. Always doing, doing, doing – but never doing things for herself. Just yesterday, she had fixed Ruben’s bicycle chain and added a bell to the handlebars. Last week, she had mended Tonia’s favorite scarf.

“Look here, Uncle Dirk!” cried Ruben. “Don’t you think Mother would love these soaps? There are all kinds of scents and colors to choose from! I’m sure I could find one she would love.”

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Like Armies in Battle

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Today’s Scripture: Matthew 26:41

“The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

William Romaine (born 1714) was one of the leaders of the eighteenth-century revival in England, along with George Whitefield and the Wesley brothers. In his classic work on faith he wrote, “no sin can be crucified either in heart or life, unless it be first pardoned in conscience, because there will be want of faith to receive the strength of Jesus, by whom alone it can be crucified. If it be not mortified in its guilt, it cannot be subdued in its power.”

What Romaine was saying is that if you do not believe you are dead to sin’s guilt, you cannot trust Christ for the strength to subdue its power in your life. So the place to begin in dealing with sin in your life is to count on the fact that you died to its guilt through your union with Christ in his death. This is an important truth you need to ponder and pray over until the Holy Spirit convinces you of it in both your head and heart.

Meanwhile, to make progress in the Christian life, we must acknowledge the continuing tension between our sinful nature and the Spirit of God within us.

Observing this “internal conflict,” George Smeaton noted, “and the strange thing is, that in this conflict the power and faculties of the Christian seem to be occupied at one time by the one, and at another time by the other. The same intellect, will, and affections come under different influences, like two conflicting armies occupying the ground, and in turn driven from the field.”

With any two opposing forces, the direction of movement often goes back and forth until one eventually prevails. This is the way it will be with us until the Holy Spirit finally prevails.

 

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – Out of This World

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Today’s Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17

For this world in its present form is passing away. – 1 Corinthians 7:31

Over the years, I’ve traveled through numerous countries in Latin America, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, preaching the good news of Christ and conducting discipleship and leadership seminars. I don’t speak the languages in those countries, and no matter how hard I try to fit in, the fit hasn’t been exact. What I’ve worn and the language I’ve spoken tell everyone I’m a foreigner.

This is much like our life in Christ. We are foreigners in this world, because our citizenship is in heaven. Although we’re instructed by God, “Do not love the world or anything in the world” (1 John 2:15), He also has appointed us ambassadors to carry His message throughout the world. How do we put these two commands together?

The answer is found by studying the life of Jesus Christ. He did not find His identity or purpose in this world. Instead, He carried out His Father’s redemptive plan. His pleasure was in doing the will of God. And so it should be for us, Christ’s ambassadors. We must see ourselves as pilgrims on a mission. We are to model the life of Christ as we seek to communicate to the unbelieving world around us.

I urge you to pray that God will show you the best way to share Christ with the unbelievers you know, and count on the leading of the Spirit as you live a life of daily discipleship in this world but not of it.

Prayer

Lord, keep my eyes focused on the mission You’ve given me–to explain Your saving grace to a world that doesn’t speak Your language. Amen.

To Ponder

What would your life look like if you gave top priority to sharing the message of salvation with unbelievers? What would you loosen your grip on, and what would you take hold of?

 

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BreakPoint

BreakPoint –  Americans Doing Good: Louisiana, Tocqueville, and Volunteer Associations

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I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Lord Jonathan Sacks, a British rabbi who won the 2016 Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion—a prize Chuck Colson also won. Lord Sacks told me that every American ought to read Alexis de Tocqueville’s classic book, “Democracy in America,” at least once a year. Why? To remind ourselves that citizens acting together can do far more good than a far-off government.

Just ask the citizens of Baton Rouge. Following a catastrophic flood recently which killed 13 people and rendered thousands homeless, residents learned yet again—as they did after Hurricane Katrina—how unreliable “the government” can be. U.S. Congressman John Mica called the federal government’s response “pitiful.”

But that didn’t mean Baton Rougers were without help—far from it. Hundreds of volunteers—members of churches, civic groups, and rank and file volunteers—showed up to pitch in. Volunteers in boats rescued some 30,000 people.

Wesley Pruden, a columnist at the Washington Times, marveled at the private citizens who worked to ease the suffering. For example, a Notre Dame student organized food contributions. Citizens in Appalachia loaded up a truck “with diapers, baby food, basic groceries, odd pieces of furniture and tape guns.” And University of South Carolina athletes “organized a truck to Baton Rouge for the benefit of their rivals at Louisiana State University.”

Continue reading BreakPoint –  Americans Doing Good: Louisiana, Tocqueville, and Volunteer Associations →

Moody Global Ministries

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – A TIME TO MOURN

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Read ESTHER 4:1–5

The custom of wearing black garments to a funeral dates to the Roman Empire, when togas made of dark-colored wool were worn during times of mourning. Women would often cover their heads with black caps or veils. The immediate family of the deceased would wear black for an extended period of time— widows for as long as two years.

The effects of Haman’s evil act were immediately felt by the Jewish people. There was “great mourning” in every province of the country (v. 3). Mordecai visibly displayed his grief by putting on sackcloth and ashes.

Sackcloth, similar to today’s burlap, was a material made of coarse, black goat’s hair. It was traditionally worn as either a sign of mourning or of repentance. When Jacob thought his son was dead, he mourned and put on sackcloth (Gen. 37:34). Ashes were applied to the head, or sometimes the mourner would sit amidst them to signify humility or being downcast and afflicted.

While people throughout the empire wept and fasted at the news of their terrible impending fate, Xerxes and his nobility wanted no part of it. They ruled that anyone showing visible signs of mourning would not be allowed within the palace gates. They wanted to create an artificial bubble in which everyone was happy and successful and safe.

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Denison Forum

Denison Forum – NCAA TO MOVE 7 EVENTS FROM NORTH CAROLINA, CITES BATHROOM LAW

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North Carolina adopted legislation in March 2016 which mandates that in government buildings, individuals may use only restrooms and changing facilities that correspond to the sex on their birth certificates. Gov. Pat McCrory defends the law as a way to protect young girls from potential predators.

The National Basketball Association and other groups are already boycotting the state because of this law. According to today’s Wall Street Journal, the NCAA has announced that it is pulling seven tournament games from the state for the same reason. This after attempts were made over the summer in California to remove funding from religious universities that defend biblical sexuality and marriage.

As ethicist David Gushee warns, “On LGBT equality, middle ground is disappearing.” Gushee is himself a convert to the LGBT cause and advocate for same-sex marriage. While I disagree strongly with his reasoning, I agree that discrimination against Christians who “discriminate” against the LGBT community will continue to escalate.

As with all challenges, the time to decide we will act with courage is before courage is required. Case in point: “Sully” Sullenberger and the “Miracle on the Hudson.”

Chesley B. Sullenberger III was a fighter pilot with the US Air Force before serving as a commercial pilot for twenty-nine years. Then came January 15, 2009. His actions after birds knocked out both engines of his jet saved the lives of all 155 people on board US Airways Flight 1549.

Continue reading Denison Forum – NCAA TO MOVE 7 EVENTS FROM NORTH CAROLINA, CITES BATHROOM LAW →

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Unrighteous Anger

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James 1:19-20

Anger can shut down communication and break relationships apart. If suppressed, this emotion can turn into resentment, which poisons our thinking and behavior. Unchecked, it can boil over into an explosive expression of rage that hurts not only the intended recipient but others as well.

While we can think of many reasons to justify our anger, the only viewpoint that matters is the Lord’s. The book of Proverbs offers insight into how God views angry people. He says they act foolishly (Prov. 14:17), stir up strife (Prov. 15:18), and commit transgressions (Prov. 29:22). He also warns us not to associate with such individuals (Prov. 22:24). In contrast, those who are slow to anger have great understanding (Prov. 14:29) and demonstrate wisdom (Prov. 29:8, Prov. 29:11). Keeping one’s distance from strife also shows honor (Prov. 20:3).

In the New Testament, the apostle James compared the tongue to a small spark that can set a whole forest on fire (James 3:5-6). He knew the damage a furious person could do. He also wrote that our anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires for us, nor does it fit who we are in Christ. Jesus paid our sin debt with His life in order to set us free from sinful behavior patterns and their repercussions.

There were a few instances when Jesus became angry, but they were fully in line with the Father’s purposes. In us, however, anger is usually born out of self-defense, hurt feelings, or thwarted desires. If the Lord has convicted you of unrighteous anger, confess that sin and allow the Spirit to reproduce Christ’s character in you.

Bible in One Year: Daniel 1-2

 

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Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — Ready for the Wedding

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Read: Matthew 25:1-13

Bible in a Year: Proverbs 13-15; 2 Corinthians 5

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.—Matthew 25:13

“I’m hungry,” said my eight-year-old daughter. “I’m sorry,” I said, “I don’t have anything for you. Let’s play tic-tac-toe.” We had been waiting over an hour for the bride to arrive at the church for what was supposed to be a noon wedding. As I wondered how much longer it would be, I hoped I could occupy my daughter until the wedding started.

As we waited, I felt like we were enacting a parable. Although the vicarage where we live is a stone’s throw from the church, I knew if I went to fetch some crackers, the bride could come at any moment and I would miss her entrance. As I employed many distraction techniques with my hungry daughter, I also thought about Jesus’s parable about the ten virgins (Matt. 25:1-13). Five came prepared with enough oil for their lamps to stay lit as they waited for the bridegroom, but five did not. Just as it was too late for me to dash back to the vicarage, so it was too late for the young women to go and buy more oil for their lamps.

Jesus told this parable to emphasize that we need to be prepared, for when He comes again we will give an account over the state of our hearts. Are we waiting and ready? —Amy Boucher Pye

What does waiting for Jesus’s return look like in your life? Have you left something undone that you could attend to today?

We need to be ready for Christ to come again.

INSIGHT: David Wenham, in his book The Parables of Jesus, comments on the parable of the ten virgins: “It speaks of waiting for the coming of the master—in this case the bridegroom—and of being prepared or unprepared for one’s appointed task and of being rewarded or punished . . . . This is a particularly suggestive picture of the outcome of final judgment.” We don’t know when we will see the Bridegroom. Perhaps we will be alive and looking for Him when he returns or we will be raised from the dead and meet Him in the air (1 Thess. 4:16-17). What is important is that we are ready when He comes.

 

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Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias Ministry – Overwhelming Rejection

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There are those who say that lukewarm acceptance is more bewildering than outright rejection. I always wonder if they have ever heard the story of the Syrophoenician woman.

Jesus was on his way to a place where no one would recognize him. From the chaos of Jerusalem and the crowds of Galilee he withdrew to the region of Tyre. According to one of his disciples, when he had entered a house, he wanted no one to know of it. Yet, he did not escape notice. A Gentile woman of the Syrophoenician race immediately fell at his feet and began to cry out, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.” But he did not answer her a word.(1)

In the lives of those who believe in God, rejection is always a distinct possibility. Of course, this is not to say that God is rejecting us personally. As Jesus said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:36). And yet, in the barren silence after years of praying for a child, in the slamming of a door that held a real and certain hope, in the wordless dismissal of a mother brought to her knees, the rejection is indeed personal.

But this woman at Jesus’s feet did not turn away at the first sign of his refusal. She was not deterred by the disciples’ request that she be sent away, nor was she convinced to cease her plea after the harsh words that finally did break Jesus’s silence:  “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Being a Gentile, she was not one of them. Lesser rejections have certainly brought me to crumbled mess. Yet even this was not a thought that would dissuade her. Bowing down before him, she pled once more, “Lord, help me!”

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John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – Focusing on Scripture and the Lord

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“Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

We must focus on God and His Word as we begin to walk by the Spirit.

Paul’s directive to the Galatians in today’s verse may sound like an impractical platitude. But to the apostle this command was a foundational truth for how all Christians should live their daily lives. The Greek for “walk” could be translated, “keep on continually walking.” Life transpires one day at a time, and believers should routinely take each day one step at a time.

In walking by the Holy Spirit, our chief opposition is our own flesh (Gal. 5:17). Therefore, it is crucial that we possess the scriptural strategy for our spiritual walk and that we know how to practically and effectively carry it out.

The first part of our strategy has to be a daily intake of God’s Word. Psalm 1:2 says that the man who walks on a godly path will “delight . . . in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” Meditation (patiently and thoroughly reflecting on a passage of Scripture) helps us effectively seal the Word in our hearts so we can obediently apply it and minister it in accordance with God’s Spirit.

Secondly, if we want to walk by the Spirit, we must focus on God and allow Him to renew our minds. The key is found in Paul’s familiar command: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2). The believer who lives that way will undoubtedly walk by the Spirit because he will also be one who worships God “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). As one Bible teacher so aptly phrased it, “Find me a worshiper of God, and I will show you a stable man with his mind in control, ready to meet the present hour with refreshment from above.”

Suggestions for Prayer

Pray today that the Lord would help you to begin removing everything from your life that is preventing you from worshiping Him wholeheartedly.

For Further Study

Joshua 1:8; Psalm 19:7-8; John 8:31-32; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 2:15; and Hebrews 4:12 all refer to God’s Word. Read them and write down all the different things they say about the importance of Scripture.

What should motivate you to have a better intake of the Word?

 

http://www.gty.org

Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – Protected by Angels

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After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Revelation 7:1

Angels are at our Heavenly Father’s beckoning. They are poised at His prompting to support, protect and care for His children. Jesus could have called on a company of heavenly help, but He resisted and remained in the crucible of the Cross. He had an out for His suffering, however His great love led Him to sacrifice His life, so He could save mankind from sin. God’s angel armies are His agents who minister to our needs, but they may or may not deliver us from harm.

The Lord will deploy His angels to delay judgment in order for the 144,000 Jewish believers in Jesus to be sealed as servants of God. The destruction of the earth is stayed until souls are saved—their white robes cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. The elder explained to John (v. 14) how these Jewish Christians were survivors of the great tribulation—but now they gratefully serve God day and night, before His throne in His temple. God’s angels provide personal protection.

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:10).

Your Father in heaven has His angels assigned to your well being. They constantly experience the glory of God, so they can surround you with His glory. Since your angels see the face of the Lord, they are your support to face your difficulties. You have no need to fear, because the God of angel armies stands beside you, in front of you, behind you, above you and below you. You are covered by His host of angels. Thank the Lord of Hosts for His help in your time of need.

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Turning Point

Today’s Turning Point with David Jeremiah – Thorny Problems

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And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

2 Corinthians 12:7

Recommended Reading

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

In his book, My Thorn in the Flesh, Vietnam War veteran Bobby D. Gayton writes about his battle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. In his struggle, he identifies with the apostle Paul, who pleaded with the Lord to remove his “thorn,” but God simply said, “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9). For Gayton, PTSD is his thorn in the flesh.

Paul didn’t identify the “thorn” he was battling, but we can sum it up like this: A “thorn in the flesh” is a point of struggle or suffering we’d rather avoid, which God, in His wisdom, allows to go on. He uses it to produce in us a humility that casts our reliance on His all-sufficient grace.

We may not have all our infirmities removed. Yet through our pain and weakness, God’s power and purpose can be revealed. His grace is sufficient. Don’t be discouraged by the struggle. Keep your focus on God and His grace.

The specific purpose of the thorn in the flesh, as Professor F. F. Bruce put it, is to puncture your pride.

  1. T. Kendall

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Daniel 6 – 8

 

http://www.davidjeremiah.org/

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Happiest When Helping

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And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.— 2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV

A study on the principle of the Golden Rule was conducted by Bernard Rimland, director of the Institute for Child Behavior Research. Each person involved in the study was asked to list 10 people he knew best and to label them as happy or not happy. Then they were to go through the list again and label each one as selfish or unselfish. Rimland found that all the people labeled happy were also labeled unselfish. “The happiest people are those who help others,” he concluded.

God gives us the ability and opportunities to help others all throughout the day. When we take the time to be a blessing, it causes us to focus less on what we don’t have, feel grateful for what we do have, and experience a new level of joy in the process. Don’t let a day go by without helping someone.

Prayer of Thanks: Father, I am thankful that You give me opportunities every day to be a blessing to others. You’ve blessed me with so much. I want to use what You have given me to bless someone else today.

From the book The Power of Being Thankful by Joyce Meyer.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Girlfriends in God

Girlfriends in God – What’s Holding You Back From Moving Forward?

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Today’s Truth

The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

Exodus 4:11-12

Friend to Friend

When I was six years old, I skipped off to first grade with a fresh box of crayons, a crisp green dress with Swiss polka dots sleeves, and a fresh hope that I would be good enough—that someone would at least like me. But first grade only confirmed my fears. I wasn’t good enough after all.

From the time my teacher held up the first spelling flash card, I knew I was in trouble. Back in the day, kindergarten focused on coloring, playing, and napping. But first grade was a whole new ballgame with letters, numbers, and words. First grade had flash cards.

I remember one exercise that makes my palms clammy even today. We lined our miniature wooden chairs up in a row like a choo-choo train. The conductor, Mrs. Morgan, held up a spelling flash card for the lead passenger to identify.

If he or she could not correctly decipher the word on the card, that passenger lost the lead seat and had to go sit in the caboose. I spent most of the first grade in the caboose. I could not spell to save my life.

Continue reading Girlfriends in God – What’s Holding You Back From Moving Forward? →

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – Peace With God

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Read: Romans 5:1-2

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1

The first thing that you learn as a Christian is that you are justified by faith. To help us understand what that means, the apostle brought in the example of Abraham in chapter four. Before the Law was given, Abraham was justified by faith. He was declared to be acceptable to God. He was God’s friend. Abraham didn’t earn that. He was given that right at the beginning of his relationship with God, when he believed God. That is what faith means. When Abraham believed that God could and would do what he had promised, Abraham was declared the friend of God and he entered into that close relationship with God that characterized his life. That is what it means to be justified by faith. You receive this with no merit on your part, but by faith alone, by believing God’s promise, according to the work of his Son. That is justification.

Then, Paul says, there is a way by which you can test whether you really do believe that and have been justified by faith: Since we have been justified by faith, the sure result is that we have peace with God. As you think about your life and your relationship with God, if you really have believed that God justifies the ungodly, you will have peace with God. You are in the family of God. The war is over. All the conflict between you and God is ended; you are at peace with him.

Continue reading Ray Stedman – Peace With God →

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Why the Rapture Is Important

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Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. —1 Thessalonians 4:17

What exactly is the rapture? Mark Hitchcock, an excellent writer on all things prophetic, wrote this outstanding definition: “The rapture of the church is that future event when Jesus Christ will descend from heaven to resurrect the bodies of departed believers and to transform and translate the bodies of living believers immediately into His glorious presence in a moment of time and then escort them to heaven to live with Him forever.” That is very clearly stated, and it’s exactly right.

Some will protest and say, “Wait a second. You can’t find the word rapture anywhere in the Bible.” That all depends what kind of Bible you are reading. If you happen to read a Latin translation, you will find the word rapturo, which is the Latin translation of the original Greek word harpazo.

This word is used thirteen times in the New Testament, including 1 Thessalonians 4:17, which says, “We who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” The word harpazo is translated “to take forcibly, to snatch, or to catch up.”

Why is it important to know about the rapture? As I have said before, Bible prophecy is not given to scare us but to prepare us.

Paul tells the Thessalonians, “We want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.” Paul is reassuring them that there will be a reunion with loved ones who have died in the Lord. Better yet, when the rapture happens, we will also be united with Jesus.

Knowing about the rapture brings us hope. That is why Paul’s teaching on the rapture ends with the exhortation to “encourage each other with these words.”

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie