The Awesomeness of God!!

IN CHEMISTRY... HE
TURNED WATER TO WINE

IN BIOLOGY...HE WAS
BORN WITHOUT THE NORMAL CONCEPTION.

IN PHYSICS...
HE DISPROVED THE LAW OF GRAVITY WHEN HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN

IN ECONOMICS...
HE DISPROVED THE LAW OF DIMINISHING RETURN BY FEEDING 5000 MEN
(not...INCLUDING the WOMEN and CHILDREN)
WITH TWO FISHES & 5 LOAVES OF BREAD;

IN MEDICINE...

HE CURED THE SICK AND THE BLIND WITHOUT ADMINISTERING A SINGLE DOSE OF DRUGS, IN HISTORY...

HE IS THE BEGINNING AND THE END;

IN GOVERNMENT...
HE SAID THAT HE SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, PRINCE OF PEACE;

IN RELIGION...
HE SAID NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH HIM; SO. WHO IS HE? HE IS JESUS! JOIN ME AND LET'S CELEBRATE HIM; HE IS WORTHY.

THE EYES BEHOLDING THIS MESSAGE SHALL NOT BEHOLD EVIL, THE HAND THAT WILL SEND THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYBODY SHALL NOT LABOR IN VAIN, AND THE MOUTH SAYING AMEN TO THIS PRAYER SHALL SMILE FOREVER. REMAIN IN GOD AND SEEK HIS FACE ALWAYS. AMEN IN GOD I'VE FOUND EVERYTHING!

The Greatest Man in History Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.

Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.

Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.

He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.

He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today. I feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us! Have A Blessed Day!!!!!

Credit: Rhonda (my beautiful big sister)!!!

Healing Life's Hurts

Jesus asked, "Do you want to be made whole/well?"1

I have read that if flies are placed in a jar with air holes in the lid, they will fly around frantically, banging into the lid, desperately trying to escape from their prison. If left there long enough, eventually they will stop hitting the lid. Later, if the lid is removed, they won't even try to escape. Somehow they have been conditioned "to feel and believe" that there is no escape. They just keep circling in the cramped jar.

Many people are like this. Somewhere in their past, through a frightening and traumatic experience, such as being raped, sexually, physically, or emotionally abused or rejected as a child, they have been conditioned to believe at an unconscious level that they, too, are trapped and that there is no way out of their dilemma. And they end up going in circles with their life and/or relationships.

To be freed from this endless cycle of defeat, those of us who have been abused need the healing touch of God—and want it with all of our heart. As a general rule God uses other people to bring this healing. It begins with acknowledging our problem (often best detected by the symptoms we experience), genuinely wanting to be healed, being willing to face the agony of confronting these painful memories and damaged emotions, and getting the help we need (qualified counseling is often needed). Most important of all, start with praying the right prayer such as the following:

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that you care about my pain and where I have been hurt in my past. In many ways my life is in chaos and I have failed miserably in my closest relationships. Please give me the courage to face any and all painful memories, connect to them and bring them to the light for your healing. Please lead me to the help I need whatever that may be. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

1. John 5:6.

Credit: Daily Encounter

. Religion versus Relationships

"Instead, we will lovingly follow the truth at all times—speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly—and so become more and more in every way like Christ who is the Head of his body, the Church."1

God isn't into religion. He's into relationships. That is, he not only wants us to have a close, loving, warm and intimate relationship with himself but also with each other.
Intimacy, however, can be scary. It means being open, honest and vulnerable—not just with our thoughts and ideas, but much more so with our feelings, failures, and fears—not only with God but with at least one or a few other trusted friends.

What's scary is that if you see me and know me as I really am on the inside, you may not like me. Worse still, if I know me as I really am on the inside, I may not like me either!

However, only to the degree that I am open and honest can I ever be known for who I truly am. Furthermore, only to the degree that I am known, can I ever feel loved. If I wear a mask, you may like my mask, but I will never feel loved because my mask is not me. Only real people can experience real love. And we're not talking about the body-building TV ads that promise real results for real people. These ads are about as phony as they can get. Being real has to do with the inner self and nothing whatsoever to do with the external self.

May God help each of us to be real and become the loving persons he planned for us to be.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that you are not into rigid religion but into loving relationships and that you want a loving, intimate relationship with me. Please help me to be honest with myself, with a few others and most of all with you. Help me to stop pretending and be real and in so doing become more and more like Jesus in every way. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Ephesians 4:15-16 (TLB).

Credit: Daily Encounter

Where I am supposed to be!!!

I was on an emotional roller-coaster for the last 16mths. How did I get there? Why did I allow

myself to be deceived by the lying tongue?

What was happening with my life? What happened to all that I have stood for? What was happening to my spiritual life, my marriage? Why did my baby have to die? I thought I had everything under control, I thought things were going great.

Was I just blinded that I could not see? Or was I too weak that I could not stand against the whiles of the evil one? Is it that I lacked the knowledge and understanding to see that I was in trouble and to seek out the help I needed?

Looking back now I can see that although I thought I was alone my God was there for me. He shielded me from the fiery darts of the enemy and from walking into the Lion's mouth.

Although I was rebellious, Jesus protected me from things unseen.

BUT his hands were stayed in certain areas of my life because I had to open up and let him in. I had to surrender all to him for him to fight all my battles for me. His arms were out stretched waiting for me to run into his protective embrace like a mother hen's wings covers her brood.

So I did it, I surrendered all to him. I left it at the foot of the cross.

Within one week I started to see. I started to get my senses back. I was able to see why I fell in love with that wonderful man God placed in my life 8yrs ago. I was able to see all my other blessings and thanked God for everything he has blessed me with and not cry over what I did not have.

I started to love my husband again. My attitude towards him and us was changed. I started to understand his actions and not misjudge him and our marriage began to flourish again.

I started to thank God for my son and daughter and stop wondering why my baby had to die. The truth is he knows best and sometimes we too can not see or understand God's mercy.

Each passing day spent with my family means more and more to me. Butterfly kisses and teddy-bear hugs from the greatest loves of my life (except for Jesus) are like no other (priceless).

Oh and my sweet Jesus, my Saviour, Deliverer, Redeemer. I have been so unfaithful, ungrateful and a shame to you. Yet you have been there for me. Yet you protected me. Yet you extended your hand of mercy towards me. Yet you carried me. For this I am forever grateful. For this I love you even more. For this I stand in owe of you. I thank you Lord. I pray by your grace, strength and mercies that I never fall from your grace again BUT be pleasing unto you and stand blame-less before you.

This is where I am supposed to be.

The Tongue

Raised voices lower esteem.

Hot tempers cool friendships.

Loose tongues stretch truth.

Swelled heads shrink influence.

Sharp words dull respect.

By: William A. Ward

The tongue . . . can turn our whole lives into a blazing flame of destruction and disaster.

James 3:6

'My Feet Are Off The Ground'

This morning I awoke and was so frustrated about all of the stuff that I'm dealing with in trying to get this studio open. I was about to open my mouth and start complaining when I remembered something that happened to me about a year ago.

I was walking to my car when this woman who appeared to be homeless started walking towards me. I'm ashamed to say this but I thought, 'I don't feel like being hustled today.' Then I got quickly convicted. I felt guilty so I started digging in my pocket for some money.

As she got closer I noticed that she had the kindest eyes that I had ever seen. As I was reaching into my pocket she started to speak. I thought, 'Here goes the sales pitch'. She said 'Excuse me sir, I need some shoes. Can you help me?' My eyes filled with water because I remember being out on the streets and having only one pair of run over shoes. I was taken aback for a second.

I took her inside the studio and had my wardrobe people find shoes in her size. As she put the shoes on she started crying, praising God and thanking Jesus, and saying, 'My feet are off the ground! My feet are off the ground!' Several of the wardrobe people started crying. I was crying. But I never forgot those words. 'My feet are off the ground!'

I thought, 'Wow! All she wanted was some shoes.' She quickly disappeared and never asked me for a dime. I realized that I still had the money in my hand so I went out looking for her. She was gone just that quick so I looked all around the neighborhood for her. I found her standing on a corner looking down at her shoes, still crying. I was so touched. I asked her how she had gotten homeless. She told me that she had AIDS and that she was waiting to get into a shelter. She said that her family had turned their backs on her and that she had no place to go, but she knew that God would make a way for her.

I said to myself, 'He just did.' Her faith and her praise moved me. I took her to a nearby hotel and put her up until she was able to get on her feet. I had someone that worked for me to check on her from time to time and to make sure that she had food and clothes. After about a month or so we lost touch, but I never forgot her.

This past summer I was shooting 'Daddy's Little Girls' and this woman walks up to me smiling. I didn't recognize her face, but her eyes were familiar. She had on a really nice dress and her hair was done. It was her! She told me that the little help that I had given her had changed her life. She was in a house now and doing very well. I said all of that to say this.

After I met this woman, every time I think about complaining and mumbling I remember, 'My feet are off the ground!' I wanted to share this with you just to let you know that when I say that I am thankful for you, I mean it. And when I say that you are a blessing to me, I mean it. We take so much for granted sometimes that I just wanted all of you to know that I am grateful to God for you everyday. Thank you for being in my life. ~Tyler Perry

Credit: Tyler Perry

Godspell ... Part III

"To all who received him [Christ], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."1

Could you imagine seeing a used car salesman give a compelling presentation regarding a particular car you were interested in, had you convinced that this was the perfect car for you and had you ready to sign the purchasing contract when he turned and walked away—and left you standing there aghast without ever closing the sale! That kind of salesman would be fired on the spot if his manager saw what he did.

Sad to say, I believe some preachers are like this. They give a good presentation of God's message but never give listeners the opportunity to make a commitment to accept Jesus as their Savior. I believe there are many church members who understand the gospel and are ready to accept Jesus but have never been invited to do so. I say this because it is my understanding that so many of the people who have made this commitment to Jesus at a Billy Graham crusade are church members.

It isn't enough just to believe in our head that Jesus is the Son of God and that he died on the cross for our sins. The devil knows and believes that. True, we need to believe this but we also need to accept God's offer of forgiveness and gift of salvation (eternal life) by confessing our sins to him, asking for his forgiveness, and inviting Jesus Christ into our heart and life as Savior and Lord. It also involves making a commitment of our will to follow Jesus. In "salesman terminology" this is closing the sale.

Jesus said, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door [of his/her heart and life], I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."2

If you have never invited Jesus into your heart and life, asked for God's forgiveness, and made a commitment of your life to him, I would like to give you that opportunity today. The following prayer will help you to do this:

"Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner and am sorry for all the wrongs that I have done. I believe that your Son, Jesus Christ, died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins. Please forgive me for all my sins. I invite you, Jesus, to come into my heart and life as Lord and Savior. I commit and trust my life and will to you. Please give me the desire to be what you want me to be and to do what you want me to do. Thank you for dying for my sins, for your free pardon, for your gift of eternal life, and for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus name, Amen."

If you prayed this prayer and truly meant it, please let us know by filling in the form at: http://www.actsweb.org/decision.php. (Be assured that we have a strict privacy policy and will never give any of your information to anyone.)

For further help read "God's Invitation" at: http://tinyurl.com/6k49w and/or "How to Be Sure You're a Real Christian" at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

1. John 1:12 (NIV). 2 Revelation 3:20 (NIV).

Credit: Daily Encounter

Godspell ... Part II

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."1

As noted yesterday, Godspell or God's good news is that the gospel is first of all a message about God and his infinite love for all mankind. Second, it is a message about sin and sin's tragic consequences. Fortunately, the gospel is also about the following:

3. A Message about Jesus Christ. God is not only a God of absolute holiness, but also a God of perfect justice. Because of this, all sin has to be judged, the just sentence of which is spiritual and eternal death. However, the gospel is also about how God is not only a God of absolute holiness and perfect justice but also a God of infinite love. Because of God's infinite love for us, he gave his own Son, Jesus Christ, who came to earth in the form of a man and willingly died in our place on the cross of Calvary to pay the penalty for all our sins. Because Jesus was without sin, he was the only one qualified to die to pay the penalty for our sins. Had there been any other way to save mankind, Jesus wouldn't have had to die for us.

4. A Summons to Faith and Repentance. The really good news is that God's gift of forgiveness and eternal life is available to all who will accept it.

First, we need to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he died in our place to pay the penalty for all our sins. "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved"2 states the Word of God.

Second, we need to confess our sins to God and ask for his forgiveness. God's Word also says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."3

Next, we need to repent. That is, we need to turn from sinful and selfish ways to follow God and his ways. Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news."4 That is, we need to turn from sinful and selfish ways and make a commitment of the will, with God's help, to follow God and his ways.

Fourth, we need to receive Jesus as our Savior. God's Word says, "To all who received him [Christ], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."5
Admitting and confessing our sins, believing that Jesus died for our sins, inviting him into our lives as Lord and Savior, accepting God's forgiveness and turning from our sinful ways to live God's way is what makes us a real Christian. This is what Godspell—God's good news is all about!

If you have never received Jesus as your savior, for help be sure to read "God's Invitation" at: http://tinyurl.com/6k49w

To be concluded ....

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for your wonderful gospel—for giving your Son, Jesus Christ, to die in my place to pay the penalty for all my sins, and to grant me your forgiveness and the gift of eternal life. Please help me to be sure that I have truly accepted Jesus as my Savior and have your forgiveness and gift of eternal life to be with you forever in heaven. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

1. John 3:16 (NIV). 2. Acts 16:31 (NIV). 3. 1 John 1:9 (NIV). 4. Mark 1:15 (NIV). 5. John 1:12 (NIV).

Credit: Daily Encounter

Godspell ... Part I

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile."1

Or to put it another way the gospel "is God's powerful method of bringing all who believe it to heaven."2

This Scripture text was written by the Apostle Paul in the first century AD. But what is the gospel that Paul was not ashamed of?

As Webster's Dictionary explains, the meaning of "gospel" is "Godspell or good news." It is the good news about God's salvation plan for mankind. Specifically, as another has said: "The gospel is a message about God, a message about sin, a message about Jesus Christ, and a summons to faith and repentance."

1. A Message about God. The gospel is not a message about religion. It's about having a right relationship with God. Religion tends to want to fix us from the outside in. God wants to fix us from the inside out. The first can become an impossible burden. The latter is what brings freedom. Neither is the gospel a set of rules and regulations. It is experiencing God's divine love, divine acceptance and divine forgiveness—and learning to communicate this to every life we touch.

It helps to realize that God isn't out to zap us for the wrongs we've done. In fact, no matter what we have ever done or have failed to do, God loves us with an everlasting love and has a wonderful purpose for our lives—for this life as well as the next! As Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."3 And again, "My purpose is to give life in all its fullness."4

2. A Message about Sin. Many people understandably ask, "If there is a God and if he is a God of love, why does he allow so much suffering, sickness and sadness in today's world? Without sounding too simplistic this is because we have all sinned and separated ourselves from an infinitely holy God.5 It's not that God left us, but rather, we left God and separated ourselves from him—and from his protection.

Another misconception about God is that he is out to punish us for our sins when, in fact, we bring sin's punishment on ourselves because sin has its own natural consequences. If we try to break the universal law of gravity, for instance, we can't. It will break us. Neither can we break God's universal moral law. When we do, it breaks us, and besides its painful effects in this life—suffering, sorrow, sickness and spiritual death—its ultimate and tragic consequence is eternal death which is separation from a holy God.6 in the place the Bible calls hell.

To be continued ....

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for your wonderful good news that provides hope for all mankind. Please help me to experience your divine love, divine acceptance and divine forgiveness, and in some way communicate this to every life I touch. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus'name, amen."

1. Romans 1:16 (NIV). 2. Romans 1:16 (TLB). 3. John 3:16 (NIV). 4. John 10:10 (TLB). 5. Romans 3:24. 6. Romans 6:23.

Credit: Daily Encounter