Therefore I urge you,brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship.Romans 12:1 Holy Bible Amplified Version
Most western Christians have it backwards. They falsely believe that Jesus is here to serve them. They only call on Him when they want something from Him whether it is to solve a problem or whether it is because they want something from Him. When He blesses them with their request they are rude and ungrateful and do not even thank Him.
That is not the Christian life.
The Christian live is to dedicate ones self to Christ in serving Him. His will is to always supersede theirs. We are to lay our desires upon the alter and to completely surrender to their will in their lives. After all we were created to do specific works He has prepared for us to do.
For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]. Ephesians 2:10 Holy Bible Amplified Version
The Christian motto is to be: Christ first, others second, self last. Joseph a son of Jehovah
When others see our sacrificial works they will become intrigued and ask us why we live such a life. This will be our greatest testimony and evangelism of all. We are to be a living testimony for Him.
Do not tell me of your Christ, show me Him in your life. Joseph a son of Jehovah
“Christianity must mean everything to us before it can mean anything to others.” — Donald Soper
Prayer: Thank you Jesus Christ Helech ‘Olam (The Lord our King Forever) my eternal King for the supreme privilege of being Your humble servant. I praise You in Your magnificent name. Amen
May the gentle assurance of Jesus’ sweet love encompass you today and every day.
The Son of Man must [of necessity] suffer many things and be rejected [as the Messiah] by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and must be put to death, and after three days rise [from death to life]. Mark 8:31 The Holy Bible Amplified Version
This is to all you bigheads. You know, the ones who are so full of themselves they have bigheads ( they are full of pride).
Before you go around participating in your favourite hobby, bragging about all of your wonderful, magnificent amazing accomplishments compare it to what Christ did.
Jesus suffered being unjustly beaten and tortured for all of humanity, what have you done to compare with that?
Jesus suffered the agony of being nailed to a cross and hanging there for six long horrendous hours for all of those willing to accept His gift of His precious blood is the key to Heaven. What have you done to compare with that?
Jesus willingly stayed on the cross and watched His beloved mother watch Him suffer a shameful death. What have you done to compare with that?
Jesus suffered the vile ones laughing at Him, spitting on Him and making fun of Him so that we who accept Him as our Savior can become citizens of Heaven. What have you done to compare with that?
Jesus died so that we who accept Him as our Heavenly Brother are adopted into an amazing Heavenly family. What have you done to compare with that?
“When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of Glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.” Isaac Watts
Kinda brings you down off of your high horse doesn’t it?
I know it does me when I begin to become bigheaded.
Prayer: Thank you Jesus Christ Yasha ( The Lord my Savior) for meditating upon Your awesomeness for what You have so graciously done for me to wipe clean all of my filthy sins upon my repentance. It helps to keep me humble in comparison to what You have done for me compared to what I have done for You and for myself. I adore You in Your awesome name. Amen.
May the gentle assurance of Jesus’ sweet love encompass you today and every day.
The whole congregation of the Israelites [grew discontented and] murmured and rebelled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness,and the Israelites said to them, Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and ate bread until we were full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this entire assembly with hunger.” (To understand Israel’s rebellious behavior, it is important to grasp the contrast between life in Egypt and nomadic life in the wilderness. Despite the hardships of slavery survival was not an issue in Egypt, where they were guaranteed food and other necessities. But the desert wilderness was hostile and unforgiving, and survival was an art. Desert nomads needed to understand the wilderness in order to stay alive; they had to learn, among other things, how to protect themselves from the weather, where to find water and pasture, and how to find and prepare scarce food, or live primarily from what their livestock could provide them. So the Israelites viewed every new problem they faced as life-threatening. Instead of looking back and taking comfort from God’s earlier miracles, they doubted God’s ability and willingness to help them. Their fears and doubts subsequently came to be expressed as irrational anger toward Moses. ) Exodus 16:2-3 Holy Bible Amplified Version
How many of us ask Jehovah for something but are never satisfied?
We ask for a job but when we get one we do not like the work because it is too hard or it is too boring.
We ask for a place to live but it is too far from the bus stop or grocery store or park.
We ask for direction in life but it is not where we want to go.
We desire good Christian friends but can always find fault with them.
I think the real reason we are discontented is because of greed. We want the best and nothing less is good enough for us.
Jehovah blesses with what we need not always with what we want. Joseph son of Jehovah
That is the ultimate insult of ungratefulness and a huge slap in the face to our loving generous Father in Heaven. More so for those of us that have walked with Christ for any length of time and so can reflect back at His previous provisions for us. Peevish discontented minds will find fault with that which has no fault in it but that it is too good for them.
Those that might be very happy often make themselves very miserable by their discontents. Matthew Henry
Prayer: Please Jehovah Heseh (God is love) bless me to always have a grateful heart towards you and those around me for all the wonderful blessings You and those around me share with me every day. I ask this in the name of the greatest blessing of which I am eternally grateful for Jesus Christ. Amen.
May the gentle assurance of Jesus’ sweet love encompass you today and every day.
Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble in dread before them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not fail you or abandon you.”Deuteronomy 31:6Amplified Bible
Today I saw it on the news where some teenage girls slapped and bullied a mentally handicapped child in a wheelchair. It was sickening.
It seems as if there is more and more incidents with gangs (especially teenagers) who gang up on someone and physically and verbally abuse them (this is especially troubling when they are doing it to a mentally challenged individual) while others are standing around filming it and laughing.
Why do others just stand up to the bullies?
When I was a kid that conduct would never have been tolerated.
Yes it is scary standing up to them but better a physical beating for doing what is right than a mental one tormenting you for not taking the stand. I have done it numerous times and never regretted it even decades later.
Now if possible it is preferable to contact the police if you think it is a life threatening situation.
Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened. –Reverend Billy Graham
The same can be said for where are the Christians standing up for our right to observe our faith.
Where are the Christians to take a stand against the continuous onslaught by satanic politically correct when they try to wrongly shove their filth down our throats which is a violation of our rights?
Yes do a write in to your local politician to express your anger and displeasure and demand they take a stand for your rights, yes support Christian business when they are persecuted for taking a stand and choosing their rights not to bow down to the satanic politically correct ( yes I am referring to those who went into Christian stores and demand they bow down to their demand like the homosexuals in that cake store and so called educators teaching that the filth of homosexuality it normal and okay).
Yes take a stand
“If you cannot hate evil, you cannot love good.” Struthers Burt
“What is morally wrong can never be politically right.” Lord Shaftesbury
“Those who will not be governed by God, will be ruled by tyrants.” William Penn
If we do not stand together we will fall apart. Joseph- Anthony: Green
Prayer: Please Jehovah Jehovah Emet (God of truth)” bless your children to always stand up for Your ultimate truth in this wicked world with meekness, humbleness, gracefulness and strength. I beseech You in the name of He who never backed down Jesus Christ. Ammen.
May the sunshine of Jesus’ sweet love bless you today and every day.
And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge. Exodus 31:3 New King James Version
They began doing construction work in the apartment above where I live in with jackhammers and sledge hammers going all day. This of course means it is impossible to do any writing. I researched on the internet where there is a library nearby. The one found is modern and quiet (for China, these are the noisiest people I have ever met) and there outlets to plug in your computer to work in an air conditioned building. Considering that it gets to a hundred and ten in the apartment with no air conditioning during most of the year this was a blessing
On the first day there while taking a break I felt the Lord moving me to go for a walk on the library grounds. During this walk I was led to a walkway from the library to close to the apartment. This was a blessing because it meant that I did not have to suffer the cattle car experience of the subway every morning nor have to spend money on subway fare. As well, as it takes about an hour to walk there from the apartment it is good exercise and being outside.
When Chinese see a foreigner they always want to trick them into giving them free English lessons. While meditating on this problem the Lord reminded me of a sermon I heard some time in the past. It was how the early Christians were known as the people of The Way. The Way of course being that Jesus is the way.
So if the Chinese try their conniving, I merely instruct them that I am a teacher of “The Way” and ask them if they are interested in learning about Christ. If they say no then I ask them why they are bothering me (You have to be blunt otherwise they will not leave you alone until they get what they want). If they say they are (many Chinese will lie and pretend to be interested just to get free English lessons) then they will pay for the class before the class begins (Chinese will say that they will pay and then at the end of the class not pay. I have ten years experience with these creatures and have learned my lessons the hard way. ) to prove their sincerity and yes it does say in the Bible that teachers are to be paid.
Prayer: Please Jehovah KalEl (voice of God) bless me with a heart, mind and body that is always totally obedient to You in every aspect of my life. I sincerely request this in the name of He who showed us by example what true obedience is Jesus Christ. Amen.
May the sunshine of Jesus’ sweet love bless you today and every day.
Editors note- this was written in my final days of living in China.
He made a pit and dug it out, And has fallen into the ditch which he made. His trouble shall return upon his own head, And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown. Psalm 7:15-16 New King James Version
We have all met, I am sure, those who delight in causing trouble. They love to cause fights between families, they love to cause fights between friends, they love to cause fights at work or school and they love to cause fights at public events (just look at soccer matches in Europe). They get their perverted pleasure from watching others fight and the grief it causes.
Give it time. It always comes back on them. And when it happens it always happens when they least expect it and at a very inopportune time (like say door crashers at a wedding reception or at a social event where it will cause them a lot of embarrassment.
The other thing I have noticed about them is that when they are young they believe they are getting away with it but as they age (it usually begins in their forties) they find themselves friendless. When they need companionship or help there is no one there for them.
Another thing I find happens is that they end up with tormentors (say a neighbour that is constantly playing loud music and doing things to anger them and laughing in their faces. Their lives are one of constant torment.
I have seen it too many times to count (that is one advantage of being older; we get to see them receive them fruits of their labours as it were). When confronted with these wicked creatures do not take things into your own hands but leave them in the hands of Jehovah. It may seem as if they are getting away with it and you may not see Jehovahs justice but be sure they will get what they have coming to them.
The seeds you plant today you will harvest in abundance tomorrow. Be careful the type of seeds you are planting. Joseph- Anthony: Green
When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. Proverbs 21:15 New International Version
And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. Luke 18:7-8 New International Version
Prayer: Thank you Jehovah-Hashopet (The Lord is the Supreme Judge) for promising and delivering on Your Divine word that You will ensure true justice is done to the wicked who persecute, harm and cheat Your beloved children. I thank You in the name of the King who will deliver eternal justice on the Day of Judgment Jesus Christ. Amen.
May the sweet sunshine of Jesus’ beautiful love bless you today and every day.
Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright. Proverbs 14:9 New International Version
The proud believe they will not lower themselves to apologize for their sins. God promises revenge upon the unrepentant. The fools do not believe justice is coming their way but a time will come when they get their one upance and it will afflict them seven times worse than it does for the repentant.
The repentant find grace when they fess up to their sins and forgiveness. As well they gain respect.
There have been times when I did wrong to someone (either knowingly or unwittingly) and I repented of them face to face (that is the mature thing to do as a letter is for the weak and is insincere). If the wrong was done in public the repentance was done in public, if it was done in private the repentance was done in private. Many times the one I had done wrong to had authority over me and could have severely punished me. They were so impressed with my humbleness and sincerity that they did not punish me.
Now if it was due I repaid for the sin (for example one time I over estimated the work done and was paid for it. When I realized the mistake and discussed it with the contractor he was so impressed he refused to accept the money I offered in repayment). Everybody on the contract thought I was crazy to do this but my conscience with my Beloved and with my employer was clear.
If you have done someone wrong, go make amends quickly, the longer you wait the more difficult it becomes.
If you are arrogant do not laugh it off and think you are getting away with it, it will catch up to you.
You only think you are getting away with it. God will get you back seven times seven in His time, in His way. Joseph- Anthony: Green
Prayer: Thank you Jehovah-Hashopet (The Lord is the supreme Judge) for convicting me when I did wrong and teaching the proper manner to make what was done wrong done right. I pray You convict others in the same manner so as to avoid Your terrible and just punishment towards the unrepentant. I humble pray this in the name of the true judge of justice Jesus Christ. Amen.
May the sunshine of Jesus’ sweet love bless you today and every day.
