1 John 4:19 (NIV). We love because he first loved us....... 


Thoughts on This Verse... 

We love others because God has first loved us. Our Heavenly Father taught us how to love in Jesus. Our Abba Father has given us security and confidence so we can love more fully. Our Holy and Almighty God loved us boldly and sacrificially so we could properly understand and define love. We are not the source of love; God is. We are not the great example of love; God is. We tend to be careful and share our love with only those with whom we want to share it: God's love is expansive and open to all. We love because he first loved us.

God want us

Word for Today
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV). For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline....... 


Thoughts on This Verse...

When we became Christians, Jesus gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; Titus 3:3-7). The Spirit lives in us, making our bodies a Temple (1 Cor. 6:19-20) and blessing us in many ways (Romans 8). We can be courageous people even in the face of attack, criticism, and ridicule because of the Spirit's presence. The fruit that the Spirit produces (Gal. 5:22-23) and the love that the Spirit pours into our heart (Rom. 5:5) do not make us weak. Instead, the Spirit's presence is a powerful force to help us overcome sin (Rom. 8:13) and live self-disciplined lives.

Psalm 23:1
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I FEAR NO EVIL; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou anointment my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of The Lord for ever.


Inspiring Video






GLORY BE THE GOD

Children of God

Word for today

Romans 8:14 (NIV). ... those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.......


Thoughts on This Verse... The Holy Spirit is God's seal on us. The Spirit lives in us and his presence in us means we are God's temple. The Spirit works to transform us to be more like Christ. The Spirit helps us produce the virtues of Christ -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, and faithfulness. The Spirit intercedes for us when we pray, communicates the groanings of our hearts when we don't have words, and fills us with power when we worship. In addition, the Spirit is our assurance that we are God's children. We are his. His future, his blessings, and his grace are ours.


House Arrest: The Story of a Child

I have been reflecting on little stories that have affected my life and I am reminded daily that I am a child of God. That Jesus loves me and died for my sins, in order that I may know that love and experience it. Unfortunately, not every child knows of this love…

From a chance meeting in 2008, I wrote the below entry about a child that I witnessed with an ankle bracelet while working and serving on mission in Tondo.

“One of the Camp Freedom boys had an ankle bracelet on because he was busted for selling drugs. This boy was basically on house arrest or city arrest for selling drugs in Tondo.

Think about that…

This child of God had no way out that he saw and he began dealing drugs. How sad is that? A mere child between the age of 10-13 years old.

This is reason alone for programs and relationships built by Urban Promise, to capture these kids hears and fill them with God’s love and give them hope of a fighting chance to survive the “beautiful struggle” they live and are born into.”

I hope to continue to love those around me and love children and show them the love of Christ, to show them that Jesus loves them and that they are children of God. I also cannot wait to have my own children and show them the same love that has been instilled in me and that I have found only in Christ.


 Inspiring Video

Forgiveness of Sins

 

Word Today

Acts 13:38-39 (NIV). Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.......


Thoughts on This Verse...
Law couldn't do it. Animal sacrifices couldn't do it. Piety couldn't do it. Religious practices couldn't do it. Only Jesus can bring full forgiveness of sins. Only Jesus can make us fully righteous and holy. Forgiveness and righteousness come through him.

What is stopping people from committing more crimes (and sins), because they know they can receive “forgiveness”?

There is nothing to stop any of us from sinning and committing crimes once we have been forgiven. You see we have all been given the gift (perhaps at times it seems like a curse) of free will.  We are always free to choose to go back to our hurtful activities.
When Jesus forgives someone in the gospel stories, like he did the woman at the Pharisees house or the woman caught in adultery, he always says to them your sins are forgiven- go and sin no more or go and live in peace. We never hear how these people did after they left Jesus.
I believe this is the case because forgiveness is an opportunity to move forward. Some who believe they are truly forgiven for the past hurts they have caused will move on with their lives and be productive and caring members of society.
Others given the same opportunity will fail. There is no guarantee. This is where faith plays a big role as does the gift of friendship. Often times when we have sinned, we can really use a friend to help us recover and move forward. There are times we will be called upon to be that friend to another who just can’t seem to get their life together.
As a teenager you will already be experiencing the pain of sin-i.e. hurtful actions that take us away from what God wants for us, which is to live in peace. Many will chase the false promise of drugs and alcohol or look for love in all the wrong places. Some will hurt you and you may hurt others.
The whole point of this series on forgiveness is to let you know that no matter what you may have done you can always come home to Christ. He will hug you and then tell you- “your sins are forgiven-,go now and sin no more and live your life in peace.”
It will be up to you if you do this- don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it and offer it to another when you are able.


Inspiring Video




Word for today to Remeber

Proverbs15: 1-2
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. 

LORD is my light and my salvation

Verse for today

Psalm 27:1 (NIV). The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?......


Thoughts on This Verse...
I love the western coast of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines .One of Puerto Princesa’s main tour attraction and a source of pride for the locals is the Subterranean River National Park. The site features a very spectacular limestone landscape display in its navigable underground river, which flows directly to the sea. The underground river represents a habitat for conservation biodiversity.A World Heritage Site, this natural wonder features 8.2 kilometers of navigable Underground River, reputed to be the longest, that winds through the spectacular cave before emptying out to the South China Sea. Cathedral Chambers, wide hallways and interesting geological formations greet the wide- eyed visitor to the grotto hidden beneath the St. Paul Mountain. The craggy shorelines, the crashing surf, and the lighthouses perched at strategic and well-fortified points along the coastline.

I cannot help but think of our heavenly Father when I watch the gloom gather as an impending storm noisily makes its way on shore. There in the storm -- with lightning ripping through the sky, winds howling, and the surf crashing -- stands the light that guides the way, strong against the elements and a beacon of direction and hope. Yes, the LORD, Yahweh the God of Israel, the Almighty Creator of all things, is my light and my salvation. My life, the eternal part of me, is entrusted to him. I choose not to fear. I place my trust in him. Save PALAWAN "No Mining".

 Inspiring Video





"Wait on the Lord"
 by DeVern Fromke

I want at this time, not so much to say anything new, but just to underline some of the things that have been said.

I think we have been realizing through the years that God is wanting to enlarge and stretch our inner man, by which I mean the stretching of the inner spirit and the renewing of the soul, and we are going to see what David says about this in Psalm 27. First we will read verse 14:

"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the Lord."

The word 'wait' in the Hebrew is an interesting one, for, as you know, the Hebrew is a picture language. When they write this word they are making a picture of a man making rope. Can you see him taking one strand, taking another strand, and another, and twisting them, and finally getting a strong rope? When God first makes a connection to our life, the strand is rather thin and flimsy, but through the years He is strengthening this connection and enlarging us so that there might be a greater flow of His life to us.

Now, beginning with verse 1 of this Psalm, let us see the secrets of which David speaks and by which this enlargement takes place:

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" 

Grace of God Brings Salvation

Verse for today
Titus 2:11-12 (NIV). For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say''No'' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.........


Thoughts on This Verse... Grace is not about excuses for our sins, but about a deep-seated thanksgiving for pardon and a life-changing commitment to say''No!'' to all that is evil, corrupt, and wicked no matter how alluring or how pervasive they may be in our culture today.


Inspiring Video







Word for today:


Proverbs 12:56
The plans of the righteous are just,
   but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
   but the speech of the upright rescues them.


Grace teaches us to live “soberly, righteously, and godly in the present time.”
Grace changes our behavior in the present age. Grace doesn’t simply impute Christ’s righteousness to our otherwise wicked lives; grace teaches US to live righteously now. Can it be any clearer? It is not like an employer-employee relationship (where salary or wage is paid for work done). It is not like a seller-buyer relationship (where the buyer receives what he paid for). Grace is better represented by the giver-receiver relationship. The grace of God is best understood in terms of a giver-receiver relationship. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself [now!], just as He is pure. (I John 3:2-3)
Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. (I John 3:7-8)
John implies here that there are deceivers who would tell you that you can be righteous even though your life is characterized by sin. John says, “Let no one deceive you”! Paul wrote, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Cor. 5:10)
Grace is best represented in terms of giver-receiver. God is the giver. What we needed - Salvation. "For the grace of God... brings salvation." That word "salvation" can be considered as a term that conveys the basic idea of rescue; being saved. If you are in danger, and someone comes to your rescue - we call that "salvation."

There is nothing more dangerous than sin! It alienates us from God. It brings destruction and ruin. It causes national instability and cultural confusion. Sin kills marriages, families and churches. It turns relationships into ugly enmity. It provokes the wrath of God and sets the sinner in the direction of eternal punishment. There is nothing more dangerous than sin.

God has made it possible for us to be rescued from sin. Because we have sinned, we cannot do sufficient work to merit or earn salvation. Because we have sinned, we cannot purchase salvation as one would buy a product (this is the point, in Titus 3:4,5).

See the world arround you!

John 17:23 (NIV).
''... I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.''...... 

Thoughts on This Verse... How will the world come to know that God sent his Son? Through our unity. How will the world know that God truly loves us as his children? When we live together in unity. What is that unity? That's harder to define. The basis of unity comes from our love for Jesus, our love for each other, and our devotion to his will. These things lead to a life of character so consistent with the will of God that he can be seen living in us! Yet for this kind of unity to be seen by the world, it has to be visible in the way we work with each other in the cause of the Gospel, the way we handle our differences, the way as a group that we consistently treat people of the world, and the way we come together in areas that clearly matter to God. May it only be so!

Memorable Verse:
Proverbs 11:1-2
The LORD detests dishonest scales,
   but accurate weights find favor with him.
When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
   but with humility comes wisdom. 


Inspiring Video today

Try and Tested

Word for today
Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV). Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.......


Thoughts on This Verse... Most of us don't like being scrutinized and tested. But God knows us through and through. He has been with us from our conception and will work with us through the grave and beyond. So let's invite him into our interior world to search us, test us, and even scrutinize our anxious thoughts. He is not there to condemn or punish, but to cleanse and redeem so that we can be led to his eternal grace.

Memorable Verse for today

Proverbs 29:26
Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe

Chill Out

Psalm 37:6-7 (NIV). Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.......


Thoughts on This Verse... ''Chill out!'' we hear heaven say to us. Come into God's presence with dependent, yet confident, patience. But how can we? We know God will do what is right for us over the passage of time. The Bible is God's story (HIS-story); it is the great testimony that he is always faithful to his promises, gracious in his power to redeem, and generous with his love shared with his children. So come into his presence and be willing to be still ... and patient ... and trusting ... and hopeful!
Memorable Verse

About Eternal Life

One of the major speakers of eternal life was Jesus. In His final prayer before His arrest and trial, Jesus prayed for His disciples: "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3).

Again, the Apostle John wrote in his first epistle: "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son" (1 John 5:11).

Eternal life in heaven is received through knowledge of God, the Father, and is contained in His Son, Jesus Christ. We obtain this gift of life through salvation which God offers to all by the death and resurrection of His Son. When Jesus was massacred, beaten, humiliated, and crucified, the penalty for our sins was fully paid and we were given the opportunity to be reconciled to God. We receive this privilege by simply believing; God extends life to us when we have faith in what His Son, Jesus accomplished on the cross.

This life begins at the moment we believe. We are immediately transformed into new creations and a new existence, now lived in fellowship with God, begins. This is the origin of the Christian's eternal life; we now have the presence of God with us at all times to guide us and direct us and help us to live according to the new standards and principles found in His Word.

But what will eternal life be like? Although this life begins in the present and is blessed by God, we are still living on the earth and subject to earthly hardships, sorrows and disappointments. We take refuge in the presence of God while the promises in His Word comfort and sustain us. But this life that we have obtained is everlasting. It will extend beyond the boundaries of this earthly existence, indeed beyond time and the grave. So while we may suffer adversity here and now as foreigners in a strange country, we have hope of a better day.

Yes, Christians suffer as foreigners in a strange land because our new existence is lived in contrast to those around us who continue to live in darkness without the life of Christ. The apostle Paul fully understood this, for he writes in his letter to the Corinthians, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable" (1 Corinthians 15:19).

But our hope is not only in this life; we look forward to the time when we will live unencumbered by our mortal bodies and life's untoward circumstances. Eternal life in its ultimate fulfillment will be lived in the joyous presence of the living God, forever. We will be transformed into beings that are immortal and incorruptible; no longer need we fear sickness, pain or death. Even greater than this is the expectation of being like the Son, an unimaginable concept, but yet the truth offered to us in God's Word. "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2).

Eternal life for the believer is the glorious, endless experience of our inheritance that we share with Jesus Christ, for we are "joint heirs" with Christ. We shall live for all eternity to reign as kings and priests, finally worthy to behold the face of the God. And, as the Apostle John concluded, "Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure" (1 John 3:3).

Eternal Life Begins

John 17:3 (NIV). [Jesus said]''Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.''......



Thoughts on This Verse... Eternal life begins, now! That is one of Jesus' messages in the Gospel of John. For sure, we don't get to enjoy all of the blessings that await us when we go home to the Father. But, Jesus wants us to know, to experience, his love and the Father's presence in our lives, now! He even prayed it for us! So let's seek the Father; not to just know about him, but to know him! He longs to draw near to us and will do so as we draw near to him! He is at work in us, so the real issue isn't his nearness, but our awareness of his presence and work. Let's open our eyes and our hearts to our Father, and ask him to reveal his presence to us!

My Memorable Verse

The armor of GOD

Verse of the Day
Ephesians 6:11 (NIV). Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.......

Thoughts on This Verse... So often we are focused only on the things that we like, that we are good at doing, or that we are interested in accomplishing. God wants us to use every piece of his spiritual armor. He wants us to be disciplined and grow in the areas of our spiritual weakness and the areas we don't necessarily find exciting or interesting. Our evil opponent is crafty and will try to attack us in the areas of our weakness and vulnerability. So let's not just commit to be diligent in the areas of our interest and strength, but also in those areas where we are not.

Verse for today
Proverb 24 :14
So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul;

If you have found it, there is a prospect,
And your hope will not be cut off.

Behind the scene

Word for today

2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV). For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.......

Thoughts on This Verse... Life can be very tough. Eventually, our bodies are going to die. In the process of living, we're going to face some very difficult circumstances and going to experience some awful pain. But, as bad as life's hard realities can be, we are headed for an eternal glory beyond our imagining. Life's difficulties simply can't compare to this glory that awaits us. Our pain is temporary. The things that cause our pain are temporary. The treatments, the prescriptions, the therapies, the surgeries, the setbacks are all temporary. All these things that we have seen and experienced are passing. But our eternal glory, our indescribable bliss, that wonderful future that we cannot yet see, is eternal ... forever ... incorruptible ... and reserved for us, God's precious children!

God Loves Me!

Verse for today
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV). However, as it is written:''No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.''......


Thoughts on This Verse... Kids look forward to Christmas, Disneyland, and summer vacation. They imagine how great those things could be. Christians look forward to heaven and dream of seeing the Lord face to face, of being reunited with those we love who have gone home to the Lord before us, and of sharing in the glory of Jesus and his angels. But we can't even begin to imagine the great things that God has prepared for us. They are far more glorious than anything we can dream or imagine. So let's anticipate being surprised and live with passion for the cause of the Kingdom knowing that any loss, any wound, any trouble, will''not be worth comparing to the glory to be revealed in us'' (Rom. 8:18).

Memorable Verse
Proverbs 22:4
Humility is the fear of the LORD;
its wages are riches and honor and life.

Close and Unlock........

Verse for today

1 Corinthians 15:24 (NIV). Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.......


Thoughts on This Verse... Closing time! That's when everything is counted, the doors are locked, and the final tally is made. Jesus is Lord of closing time. Even though he won the victory over death and sin while he was here, we're still waiting to get swept up into his victory march. But, that day is coming. Every knee will bow! Every evil power will face destruction. The hearts that are yielded to God, however, will be placed into his loving and mighty hands forever. Our Lord reigns!

Memorable Verse
Proverbs 21:12
The Righteous One[b] takes note of the house of the wicked
and brings the wicked to ruin.

Savior

Verse for today
Psalm 80:19 (NIV). Restore us, O LORD God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.......

Thoughts on This Verse... In the days of Jesus' birth, there was a group of devout and lowly people who still looked for God's redemption. They knew that salvation could not, and would not, come without great cost -- not just to themselves, but also to God. Isaiah had hinted about this in his Servant Songs (see Isaiah 53). They had experienced it in their own history. So with honest hearts, they confessed that they didn't have the power to bring salvation and deliverance. This power had to come from God and had to be released to people who were seeking God's transformation in their lives. They needed to ask God for it! They needed to seek his face, his presence, in their daily lives. So must we!

Memorable Verse
Proverb20:5
The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,
but one who has insight draws them out

Father's Day

Just like Mother's Day is celebrated to honor motherhood, Father's Day marks fatherhood to honor and commemorate our fathers and forefathers. It is a great time to let your father know you haven't forgotten him and also show him how much you value and respect him. It gives all kids an opportunity to thank and express gratitude to their fathers for all their support, love, affection and guidance throughout. The day is observed on different days in different countries but most countries celebrate it on the second Sunday in the month of June. Father's Day 2011 will be celebrated on Sunday, June 19th in most of the countries worldwide. Read through the following lines to find when is Father’s Day in different countries round the world.

For this Verse
Jude 24-25 (NIV). To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy -- to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.......

Thoughts on This Verse... Two things I trust implicitly: 1) God's power and might, and 2) my joy at getting to share in his presence. My best efforts will always fall short, but God's grace is greater and more glorious than my best efforts! The faultlessness that I have when I stand before him is based on his grace and mercy. How can I not praise him from a thankful heart and anticipate seeing him face to face in glory? God is our Father on earth and all living creatures.At this moment let share the celebration of Father's Day with Him together with our family especially with our father's.And don't ever forget to say "I love you" a special gift for our loving and lovable father on earth.

Fear!!!!!!

Verse for today
1 John 4:18 (NIV). There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.......

Thoughts on This Verse...
There are many kinds of fear. Some of these are legitimate. Others are imagined. Still others are irrational. Thankfully, as Christians, we don't have to be afraid of the one crucial event in our lives -- judgment. God's love saves us, empowers us, blesses us, works in us, and touches others through us. Most of all, having experienced this love, we can cast fear out of our hearts because we know where we stand with God. He is our loving Father who longs to bring us home!

Memorable Verse:
Proverbs 19:10 "Chasten your son while there is hope,
And do not set your heart on his destruction."

A weakened sinful nature

Verse for today
Romans 8:3-4 (NIV). For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.......


Thoughts on This Verse... Jesus did what we could not do; he lived perfectly before God. He showed that sin isn't a necessity in our lives and that it does not have to hold us captive. He poured out his Spirit on us so that we could not only share in his forgiveness and cleansing grace, but also so that we could have power to live in a way that pleases God. Jesus is our sin offering and our Savior.

Memorable Verse
Proverbs 18:10
The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Time's up!

Verse for today

Psalm 127:1 (NIV). Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.......


Thoughts on This Verse... ''It's all up to you!'' That's the prevailing mindset for high achievers in our world. But it is wrong. Our efforts to build and be a part of something great are ultimately in vain if the Lord doesn't bless them. They may flourish for a time under our intense efforts, but if the plans and the construction of great things are not from the Lord, they will not stand the test of time.

Memorable Verse
Proverb 17:7-8
Children’s children are the crown of old men,
And the glory of children is their father.
Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool,
Much less lying lips to a prince.