Real Christian discussion

February 1st, 2016 - After Life: What's your destination?

You don't have to search for very long to find an online topic about the afterlife -- people with near-death experiences, people who speak to the dead. Even a recent movie about a little boy who came back with some incredible stories.

Don't believe them.

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, - 1 Tim 4:1

Demons can perform miracles, too. They can know almost everything about a person, living or dead. They can appear in any kind of form. It doesn't take a lot of thought to realize who these mediums are talking to, how a person gains information from a near-death experience.

Don't believe it.

One movie had a little boy returning with knowledge that he otherwise should not have known. Just because he was told something doesn't mean it's true. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except by me."

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. - John 8:44

So who are you going to believe -- the Bible? Pick and choose which medium/afterlife expert espouses the doctrine that you like?

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. - John 6:47

Thank you so much Matt for making this topic!! I'm so sorry I forgot!! Thank you again!! *handclaps*

Yes!! That was right on!! I agree completely!! This is a devotion many people need to read!! Great job!!

February 2, 2016: "After Life: What is Your Destination??"

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

We all know this beautiful verse that tells us the promise of a life destined to be lived with our heavenly Father in heaven. Unfortunately, it’s not the whole story…

Revelation 21:8 - But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Now this can be hard to swallow, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore it. Life is not all rainbows and butterflies, there is death, and after death there are two destinations, heaven and hell. The real question here is where are you going? I can’t answer this for you, that is between you and God. But I know where I’m going because I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and His grace to save His elect.

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

I urge you today to ask yourself this question. Am I living for the will of God alone? This is also between you and God, you will know if you’re faking your faith. But remember this, if you’re a true believer then there is nothing to fear; God does not abandon those who give their lives to Him! How many times have you doubted your salvation? I’ve doubted numberless times, but every time God puts me back on my feet and all I can do is stand in awe of his graciousness. Just because you doubt doesn’t mean you’re unsaved!

Here’s a verse that really encourages me when I think about the afterlife and my ultimate destination…

Romans 10:9 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

There’s nothing to fear concerning the afterlife when you know that you are the Lord’s! Live your life to the fullest for Him and look forward to the joy of being with God for eternity in His kingdom! Amen!!

Amen Tamara! Absolutely splendid work my friend *handclaps* :D xD

The new devotion schedule:

*Monday: Matt
*Tuesday: Tamara
*Wednesday: Ravanna
*Thursday: Mary Kate (Who's that?! :P)
*Friday: Zeke
*Saturday: Urs
*Sunday: Kirkregard (I am so sorry if I spelt that wrong xO)
*Sunday Prayer: James

Volunteers:

*CWho
*Hope
*Sara
*Favour

Hey everyone! So I’m new at this whole “writing a devotional” thing, and I’m not completely sure I’m doing it right; but bare with me! :D I’m putting something down that I feel God has put on my heart to share. But before we move to that, I ask that you do your own research on the matter, and as God say’s “question everything” so please don’t take my word for it; for I am only human and can’t know everything. :)

February 3, 2016: "After Life: What is Your Destination??"

John 5:28-29
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Acts 2:29
29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

Isaiah 26:19
19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

Daniel 12:2
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame [and] everlasting contempt.

Many times I’ve heard people discuss death as if their souls will rise up and enter heaven, or will be pulled down into the pits of hell; but according to scripture, I’ve found that to be untrue.
These previous verses all have something in common. They all give some reference to us resting/sleeping in the dirt, before judgement.
The first verse (John 5:28-29) states “for the hour is coming” which leads me to believe it’s discussing the second coming; in which Jesus Christ (Yeshua) is coming down and renewing the earth.

Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

The verse (John 5:28-29) then goes on to talk about “all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth”; clearly stating that they are in the ground (graves) still. So if that is true and we are still in the ground, then how could we be in heaven or hell like so many assume?
The verse also says, "they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." right after it finished saying that we are to come forth from the graves. Meaning that we are going to be judged after Yeshua calls for us from the dirt.

Acts 7:49 "'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be?

Isaiah 66:22 "As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me," declares the LORD, "so will your name and descendants endure.

Why would God create a new heaven and a new earth if we are to stay in heaven with him? What do you make out of these verses?

When we think about death we often think about heaven and hell, about streets of gold or burning fires of damnation. And yes, I've read scriptures that says both of those; but where does it say we will be meeting those places right away?
If this scripture is true then we won’t be meeting either one of these places until after Yeshua comes to renew the earth. And even then, those that have truly taken the Son of God into their hearts won’t be meeting the latter, and the former will be for God himself. So with that said....where does that leave the true followers of Christ?
Scripture says it means they will live on the new earth God said he would create.

Isaiah 65:17 "See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

Revelation 21:5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

Those that have taken Jesus Christ as their savior will have a new earth to live on. An earth that will hold no more sin or destruction. A place where we will live without the knowledge of our former time.

Revelation 21:4 - And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

For those who don't take Yeshua into their heart, they will be cast into the lake of fire. Where they will die their second death.

Revelation 21:8 - But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Death isn't something followers of Christ should fear. After all...it's just another step closer to Him.
But first...those that are dead will rest in the graves, waiting for the Son of man to come.

John 5:28-29
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

To end this devotional on the up side, if resting in the graves is anything like sleeping, then for those that have truly taken Yeshua as their savior won’t feel like they have to wait that long anyway!

(Translation: Yeshua is the Hebrew name for Jesus)

Thanks Ravanna. I'm reminded by your devo that we can all agree that to die without Christ is to end up in a bad place!

There's a song by Tommy Manay and Elizabeth Loebs called "Fly Me Away". It includes the lyric:

"Take me up to heaven, so I could behold
The Who sits on the Great White Throne"

Frankly, I do NOT want to see the Who that sits on the Great White Throne -- because the Great White Throne judgement is for those who died without Christ!

Thank you Matt. :D
And no, that would not be good!

I really liked your devotion Ravanna! It's funny, I was looking at this subject a few days ago. Have you heard of Akiane Kramarik? God gave her visions and dreams of heaven, and she painted them! Here are two of her paintings.

http://www.chatinmanhattan.com/wp-con...

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...

That was a great one, Ravanna!!? Such a deep, thoughtful view of this topic!!! I am amazed!!! And you said you were worried about doing a devotion *winks* That's so amazing!! Thank you my friend :D *handclaps*

Thursday, February 4th, 2016
"After Life: What Is Your Destination?"

So, we live; we die. We know how fast life passes away. We all will die, some very soon, some a little later. But what we all face, death, is something that we each will meet. So, what is life after death? What is your destination?
After all, you can't choose which path after you've already laid down for the last time...

Death. It comes suddenly, mercilessly, carelessly. It doesn't care who we are, what we do, or even how old we are. It comes, uncaring.
Is there a meaning for life? Is there a purpose for the struggles? What comes after the darkness falls, and our bodies are silent? What awaits us after the lights go off, and the dirt is shuffled on top of that sturdy box?

After life?

* Matthew 10:28 - And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Life is not merely the end. Do you really believe that every moment, every heart beat, every breathe you take is for no reason? There is a purpose! There is a reason!

* Acts 22:16 - And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

* Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

There is a purpose to life, but many miss it. Some ignore it; some turn away; some just fight against it. Maybe it's because they are scared to give up the things of the world; maybe because they blame God for something, maybe its something different altogether. I cannot know, for only God does.
But one fact the whole human race shares, no matter the skin color, beliefs, age, or etc., is death. We all will die. Some people worship this sad, evil creature that lurks to take us into the ground. And still, some run and hide, trying to ignore it. No matter where you go, or what you do, you will die at some point.

So, what now?

* Mark 16:16 - He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

I'm here to tell you there IS an afterlife. I do not have a portfolio of info to give you, nor do I carry elegant words to entrance you. I simply speak what I feel the Lord leads me to!

* Revelation 21:8 - But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

* Matthew 25:46 - And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

There is a place called Hell. It is not merely imagination, nor is it simply a mind game. Hell is a place where the souls of humans burn forevermore. Jesus once described this place as a place outside the walls of Jerusalem; the worst thing they could imagine. There the animals would feed upon the dead bodies of criminals, and the stench traveled greedily over the steep walls. There the howling animals would mercilessly tear at the flesh, and the air was putrid with inhuman sounds of growling and pain. This was the worst thing that Jesus could of compared Hell to, and still, He reminded us we could never know the full horror, and terror, that resides in Hell.
There our bodies will be burned, our souls ached and writhed, and our mind tormented day and night. There will be no end. There will be no mercy. No God will reside there. No light will be seen there. No joy or peace will be there, for the place is of death; it is of sin.

But, be of good cheer! God, the God who holds the whole world carefully in the palm of His hands, knew our terrible fate! He knew it all, and He very well knew our faults, sins, evils, and greedy pleasures that did reside in our heart! He knew.
And, then, He reached down to give us a meaning. Our end was sealed! We were evil, and deserved to go into that pit! But, His love reached out to touch us!! His care reached down to pour upon us! He gave us a way out!
He came down to know us, and give us a second chance!

* John 14:2 - In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

* 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 - For we know that if our earthly house of [this] tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

God created a place called Heaven, to accommodate those who served Him! We are told it has streets of pure gold, large gates and glorious entrances, and there, all pain and misery will be vanquished, and Jesus will be the light!! Happiness, peace, love, and joy is there!
Heaven is real; heaven is a real place!

The Lord Jesus told us how we could get there and step away from Hell.

We are not good enough on our own. We are sinful, sad, and in need of a Saviour! The only Saviour is Jesus Christ! He is God, our Lord and King!
The Bible tells us that if we confess our sins to the Lord, ask for forgiveness, believe on Jesus, and ask Him, we shall be saved from this evil world and the hell awaiting us! We shall be the children of God an inherent Heaven!!


John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

* Luke 23:43 - And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

And what shall we do to be saved:

* Acts 16:31 - And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

* Romans 10:9 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

* Romans 10:9-10 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Read More...)

* Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I know, this is a hard topic, one that burns on the way down. But, believe me, this topic is necessary!
I've heard many times we Christians shouldn't tell someone of Hell, that we are being too scary or heart aching. Because of that, many preachers do not speak of Hell, but, let me remind you that without speak of Hell, how shall we know the joy of heaven! Without troubles, how will we know what is peace?
Listening to a sermon about Hell brought me to search for God, and led to my salvation! If God tells you to say something, you do it, for His words are always right! Do not listen to the world, listen for God's leading!

Hell is real. We may not live to see the sun rise! We may not make it to the next ball game. We have one life; we have one chance to get this right! Don't push this off! Don't ignore it till another day! God is telling you to act! God is telling you to come unto Him, for He is the one to give you rest! Don't trust in yourself, after all, you cannot remind your heart to beat!

Today is the day- know Jesus!!

* Acts 22:16 - And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

*********

Guys, I know this was a hard topic, but a very well needed one. We all make mistakes, yes, but if we serve the Lord we will strive to please Him and make less mistakes each day! I love you guys, and I am praying for you, as I hope you will pray for me! Life is hard, and sometimes we can't find peace, but know- we are never alone!!

If you read this much, then it'd just make my day if you told me what you thought below *points below*

If you have any questions, need any help, or just need to talk or ask for prayer, then message me, or comment below, I'm always here and you mean the world to me!

With God's love,

What is your destination?

Always remember Jesus loves you!!

For He first loved me <3

~M.K.

†

http://wp.me/p727FD-3M

*cough*

:-) Thanks for the devo Mary Kate.

>> We are not good enough on our own.

Oh wretched man, that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of sin?

Haha, thanks Matt :D
Amen!! That is right on! So deep!

Hey, Volunteers:
If anyone wants to write today's devotion then you are able! Write it any time before tomorrow morning. Earlier is best. I'd really appreciate it <3

 
Saturday, February 6, 2016
After Life: What's your destination?

Your destination is totally up to you! The Bible is so absolutely clear that God offers all of us the choice: inviting you to come to Him, or choosing to go to hell. Through our wonderful Jesus Christ, hell is avoidable. If you accept Jesus as your Savior, as it is written in the Bible, heaven will be your eternal destination. If you choose ANY other way, you will be choosing eternal separation from God and you will be damned to hell.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.  John 14:6

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.  Acts 4:12


Jesus is the “Expert” on afterlife. The resurrection makes Him the sole authority and actual witness to the afterlife.

”But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken.”   Mark 12:26–27 

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”  John 14:1-4


For those of us that repent and receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our afterlife will be an eternity with God, very much alive. For those of us that reject and deny that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior, your afterlife will be eternally away from God’s presence, dead to Him.

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13–14   This is what Jesus said when He was contrasting these two destinies at the end of His Sermon On The Mount.


I have decided to follow Jesus! No turning back! No turning back!  :D

So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”   I Corinthians 15:54–55
 

Sunday February 7, 2016
After Life: What's your destination?

I've been feeling kind of restless
I've been feeling out of place
I can hear a distant singing
A song that I can't write
And it echoes of what I'm always trying to say
(Sara Groves-Going Home https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T4E2... )

As we wrap up a week of meditations on the after life, the above lines sum up how many of us feel about our time here on earth, a bit restless for eternity to come and a bit out of place in a world that isn't our home. Far from the idea of an eternity singing hymns, heaven will be, as C. S. Lewis put it "further up and further in" forever. Heaven will be, our finite minds discovering our infinite Father, with no end.

John Piper, paints a picture of heaven, with the redeemed as hikers and the glory of God as the largest peak we have ever seen. Reaching the top, we will discover we have only climbed a foot hill, even larger peaks of God's glory to climb, as far as the eye can see. Just thinking about what is ahead of us is humbling and makes us thankful for God's love and Christ's sacrifice.

Aside from the warm comfort of knowing our destiny, meditation on heaven (and for that matter hell) does us good, for it makes much of Christ. When we make much of the eternal we make less of this fallen world. The larger heaven is in our eyes the smaller our earthly comforts, our pride and grasping need to please the flesh. With heaven on our minds, we can't help but thank God for what we are "saved to" and what we have been "saved from".

While here on earth, we can not think of heaven without the knowledge of hell. For us, Jesus Christ stands between the two and yet many of our families, neighbors and leaders do not believe. 1 Peter 4:18 asks "And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the ungodly and sinners?". We the redeemed know that hell is real, but we stand in a world all to willing to pooh pooh us as sadists believing in eternal punishment.

In the face of such opposition, time spent thinking about heaven and hell can only sharpen our witness and remind us of what is at stake.

Meditating on heaven reminds us that, "Your faith and love have arisen from the hope laid up for you in heaven, ... " (1 Col. 1:5).

In turn, thinking about the destination of the lost, we must follow Jude's exhortation " save others by snatching them out of the fire; ... " (Jude 1:23).

In our everyday lives, when the anxieties of the world cast a shadow across our faith, it will do us good to push back at the darkness with a thought of heaven and our everlasting inheritance waiting for us (1 Peter 1:4).

@Urs- Ohhh!!!!! That was perfect!!!! I LOVED that!!! The use of Scripture was superb!! So excellent insight!! I loved the ending, made me want to cheer!! I really enjoyed that :D
*confetti and bear hugs*

@Blair- Wow, I know I done told you already but really, this deserves a second handclaps!!! *cheers* I really marveled at this one :D xD

Y'all newbies are really something here!!! Y'all are so good at this, and you haven't done this before?? Mhm, *winks* I'm so thankful for all the volunteers!! Thank y'all so much *sends prayer and love*

@Blair- And, *whispers* You added the date (; Haha

Mary Kate wrote: "@Urs- Ohhh!!!!! That was perfect!!!! I LOVED that!!! The use of Scripture was superb!! So excellent insight!! I loved the ending, made me want to cheer!! I really enjoyed that :D
*confetti and bear..."
 
I am very glad you are so happy with it! *g* Yes, I love that song, "I Have Decided To Follow Jesus."  Loved singing it growing up and enjoy it just as much today! I thought that was a great way to round out the devotion. ♥

Thank you for your wonderful encouragement! *lovehugs*
 

Matt wrote: "February 1st, 2016 - After Life: What's your destination?

You don't have to search for very long to find an online topic about the afterlife -- people with near-death experiences, people who speak..."
 
This is good, Matt. :)
 

Thanks MK :)

@Blair- Very welcome ((:

@Urs- Aw, very welcome :D Oh yes, it was a marvelous idea, no doubt ;))
Always!!

February 8th, 2016 - Angelic Thoughts

I like the old movie It's a Wonderful Life where Clarence helps George Bailey realize his worth, and earns his wings in return at the tinkle of a bell.

We know that a Seraphim is apparently a type of angel that has wings, as they "cover the face and feet of God", and they fly using their wings.

We don't know if this applies to all angels, but one thing seems certain - they are frightening - "And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid." - Luke 2:9.

Some angelic attributes:
- Messengers of God
- Scary
- Can kill (Angel of death in Egypt)
- Appear as human (angels who came to Lot before the destruction of Sodom and Gamorrah)
- Can be aligned with the devil
- Can sing
- Will be judged by Christians (yeah, I don't know how that will work, either)

Another thing is clear - they don't allow people to worship them. So if you see an Old Testament "Angel" accepting worship, realize that's actually Jesus before He became human.

Prayer for today: Lord protect me the wiles of the devil and place Your angels as a hedge of protection around me and my family.

January 9, 2016: "Among Us: Angelic Thoughts."

To start of this devotion I want to ask you all a question. What are angels? This question can be tricky and I’ll tell you at the end, but for now I’ll give you one hint, their “definition” is mentioned in Hebrews. Some people think that angels are good spirits that live among us, other think that they’re human beings that became angels when they died, like in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”. There are many other ways people categorize angels, but what do you think angels are?

Another thing that ties in with the first question is the question “what do angels do?” or “what are they for?” This may sound silly, but think about it, what is the purpose of angels in the first place? After all, didn’t they only cause trouble? Satan was the highest angel before he rebelled and started fighting against God. That’s how demons came to be, they were all angels before. Why would God create angels when he knew what would happen? This question I can’t answer, all I can say for certainty is that God knows what He’s doing and He knew what He was doing when he created angels.

Hebrews 2:6-7 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

This may seem random, but it’s important. Angels are at a higher rank than us, but they are not on the level of God. They are between man and God. But even though we are lower God still loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for our sins, angels can’t understand this and in a way they long to know what salvation is like. Now, I don’t have evidence that angels are actually curious about salvation, but think about it practically. If God gave His Son to die for an animal’s salvation, wouldn’t you be curious as to why? Okay, I admit, that’s probably a bad analogy, but you get my point.

If you haven’t figure out the point of this devotion yet than I’ll give you a couple verses to show you where I’m coming from with the questions “what are angels?” and “what do they do?”.

Psalms 91:11 - For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

Hebrews 1:13-14 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Have you figured it out yet? I believe you have! As Hebrews so clearly says, angels are ministering spirits, and their purpose is to minister to those who will be heirs of salvation. So yes, angels can be called spirits, but they are more than just good spirits. God sends them to aid his chosen people. This could be where the idea of guardian angels, (also mentioned in the Bible), became so popular. “Angels among us” what a comforting thought, and yet another piece in the puzzle of God’s ultimate plan! Amen!

January 10, 2016: "Among Us: Angelic Thoughts."

Throughout the bible there are many references to angels. The word of God talks about fallen angels, holy angels, and even mentions evil angels...


Psalm 78:49-50 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.
50 He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;

But what are they really?
Well: they’re all of those things and more. One of them being this; they’re warriors. Warriors for God. Warriors for good.Warriors who will fight against Satan and his army in the end of days, as Revelation proclaims. And this is true. But as Satan proved; even angels can fall. They can be corrupted just like any of us. They may be angels but that doesn’t mean they are God. That they are perfect. They have free will also, and they are allowed to choose their own paths too.

Matthew 25:41
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

So because of that free will, Satan and his angels could chose to take the path away from that of the one of God, be cursed, and thrown into the everlasting fire. Or they could chose to keep following and fighting the war on God’s side.
And that goes for more than just the angels.
In a way we are warriors too. The question is: which path are we going to choose?

I know this devotional is a shorter one, but I feel like it’s important to remember that angels aren’t perfect. And to remember that there is a war going on, and to not be oblivious to it. We are standing right now on a battlefield we can not see. Everyday another person makes a choice. Whether that choice is to follow God or to follow Satan.
Every.Single. Day. Another life is either being saved or destroyed. So therefore those that do know, and see the battlefield, they need to start fighting and sharing the word of God. Let us try to help save as many lives as we can! Before it’s too late!

Matthew 28:19 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

@Matt- Amazing!!!! Love how you covered an Angel receiving praise!! Amen my friend!!

@Tamara- Wow girl *handclaps* That was as a storybook, with a definite message in line!!! So beautiful!!

@Ravanna- There are no words to clearly explain how amazing that was! You almost had me cheering!! That was obviously inspired by the Lord, amazing job :D xD

Devotional Thursdays - "Angels: Angelic Thoughts"

February 11th, Thursday, 2016
"Among Us: Angelic Thought"

When I was a little girl, I remember a most wonderful lady, by the name of Linda, handing me a small, white, crocheted cloth. I was quite excited to see what she made, after all, it was specially for me! I opened it up, and looked delightedly at the cloth that was to hang upon my wall, above my bed, for years and years! It was perfectly crocheted, and said, "Mary Kate - Guardian Angels," and, under these words two gracious angels stood holding my heart! This meant so much to me, and why, you ask? Why don't I explain?


Psalms 103:20 - Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

What do we imagine when we think of angels? Do we see glowing creatures, bright eyes, or long flowing hair? Perhaps yes, yet perhaps still, no!
Angels were created, just as we, from the Almighty God!

* Luke 16:22 - And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

Angels are at the beck and call of God! God loves us, therefore the angels love us!

I remember hearing a preacher tell a story about the fall of man. This is purely imaginative, so keep that in mind.
When man ate the fruit, and sin corrupted us, did the angels crowd around, with hushed tones, and wonder what would happen next? God had all the reasons to destroy us with one word. We turned from Him, and He had no reason to save us.
But, He did! He loved us still!!

The angels are God's, for the sole purpose of serving and praising Him!

* Psalms 91:11 - For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

* Matthew 4:11 - Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

The angels are creatures that serve the Lord, and love Him! They are sent out from God! Let us never forget that God is who we serve, not His creations!


So, why did this cloth mean so much to me? The answer lies in the fact it holds! The God of the heavens, cared enough for me to send His angels to keep me!

Let us always remember that God will never neglect us, but, in fact, always stay with us and send us the help we need!!

Our God is good!! Let us praise Him!!

* Daniel 6:22 - My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

Jesus loves you!!

For He first loved me <3

~M.K.

†


The image of the cloth is found on the blog ((:
http://wp.me/p727FD-7l

Sunday February 14, 2016
Among Us: Angelic Thought

“Don’t be afraid, Daniel, for from the very first day you applied your mind to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I have come in response to your words.13 However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia was opposing me for twenty-one days. But Michael, one of the leading princes, came to help me, because I was left there with the kings of Persia. (Daniel 10:11-12)

Though the speaker is probably not an angel, the experience he is referring to, involves angels and demons of specific names and titles. As significant as that maybe, what should be more impressive is that Daniel occupies the center of this passage.

“from the very first day … you were heard … I have come in response to your words …”

Daniel prayed and humbled himself before God and a heavenly messenger was sent to him. The added details of demonic opposition and angelic aid, give us a look behind the scenes of the everyday, into the realm of spiritual warfare and the battle that rages.

This is the kind of passage that can transform our prayer lives, especially when we are laboring in prayer with no answer. Could it be, that “from the very first day … your words were heard” but there is a war going on and the enemy is at work? Daniel reminds us that our words to God are not empty and our waiting is not in vain. Quite the opposite, the prayers of the faithful are a factor in the ongoing war between God and the enemy, between angels and demons.

We can grow weary of our daily routines, with our devotions and prayers becoming dulled by the world’s influence. We can reverse this with the knowledge that our time in the word and our prayers have real spiritual meaning and real eternal consequences.

Daniel knew the importance of humble devotion and prayer, so did Peter. “Acts” makes it clear, Peter’s angelic deliverance was a consequence of prayer.

Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. … And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.” (Acts 12:5,11)

So, when our spiritual lives become plodding and tiresome remember Daniel and Peter. Assuredly, we are part of something our eyes can not see but our faith and prayers can affect.

One more thing on angels before I get to today's devo -- my pastor, George, relates a story where he believes he was protected by an angel.

He'd been working as a valet at a restaurant, before he became a pastor but after he was saved, when he saw an altercation across the street. He's not very tall but he was strong, so he went over to stop the fight. I don't recall the exact details, but one of the fighters was a huge guy and started pounding on George, who was on the ground and taking a severe beating.

Suddenly, the guy was bodily lifted from him -- literally picked up off of him -- and thrown into a wall. George saw an even bigger guy knock him out with a single punch, then his rescuer walked away.

George suspects this was an angel that was protecting him, possibly from being beaten to death. He still had a ministry to start!

February 15th, 2016 - Miracles

We have a lot of stories at our church that could be miracles, but I'm always cautious when it comes to claiming or believing a miracle. Our church has a bunch of radio stations -- the RenewFM network. There have been times when we needed money and it came in unexpectedly -- even large amounts like $25k. Wind ceased after praying so that we could get an antenna installed on a tower just hours before the construction license expired.

My own personal "miracle" was probably when I spoke in tongues once, even though I didn't even believe in speaking in tongues at the time. I'd been listening to a Christian radio station as I drove, singing along with a song, but it faded out before the song ended since I drove out of the coverage area. I continued singing anyway and finished it. It was like I could hear the music. I praised God afterwards, but I heard myself speaking something other than English! It startled me so much that I stopped. And although I was taught that speaking in tongues was a first-church thing, I understood the doctrine of the bible and I knew that it didn't say anything about that gift "disappearing" as the church grew and spread.

So that was my miracle!

I'm also amazed at the order and beauty of the world around us. The miracle of creation is evident. I tend to be an apologist when it comes to evolution. I've certainly studied that theory, and it's just so far-fetched as to be utterly impossible -- it's even less probable than taking all the disparate parts of a watch, putting them into a cardboard box, and shaking it. You just aren't going to get a working watch at some point -- no matter how many billions of years you shake that box!

The delicate machinery of our lives and this world are miraculous!

Prayer for today: Thank you Lord for the beauty and majesty of this world!

@Kirk- Aw wow!! That was so deep and touching!! How absolutely amazing!! I had never thought of that passage before, so cool!! I needed that most definitely ((:

@Matt- That story- nothing short of mesmerizing!!!! How absolutely grand!! God has a plan, and nothing will stop it!! :D Amen.

@Matt- That's devotion was sure miraculous!! I loved that so!! So absolutely touching!! Thank you so much for that! It was really so enjoyable!! *handclaps*

February 16, 2016: "Miracles, Bright and Gleaming!"

Mark 16:15-18 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Today I wanted to focus specifically on this passage in Mark. We all know that first section very well, but we don’t often hear the rest of it. When Jesus spoke to His disciples about preaching the Gospel, He didn’t only say to preach the Word and baptize believers, He also said that signs would follow them and through the power of God they would perform many miracles.

Many people think that miracles only happened during the time of Jesus or for a short time after his resurrection, they don’t think that God still performs miracles to this day. Think on this though, the Bible never says that miracles would happen and then fade away, it never says that one day God would stop performing miracles, so why do we think this? I think the answer to that is we think this because most of us don’t see any miracles happen, we’re like doubting Thomas and won’t believe until we see evidence.

I believe that miracles do happen! They may be different from the miracles of the Bible and not as shocking as someone being raised from the dead, but that doesn’t mean they’re not their. I think we sometimes forget the meaning of miracles, miracles in themselves are not just the dead being raised and the sick being healed, salvation in itself is a miracle from God! Everything around you is a miracle, every life, every breath, every blessing, they should all be miracles in our eyes.

Look around you today, count your blessings, watch a baby sleep, listen to nature, and remember that miracles CAN happen and they are happening all the time. God can do whatever he wants! He can heal a dying person, or rescue an orphan from poverty, or save a baby from being aborted, these are all miracles and we should never forget that!! Thank God for His miracles and stop doubting!! Amen!

Matthew 9:4-6 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, then saith he to the sick of the palsy, Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

Very true!

February 17th 2016 :Miracles; Bright and Gleaming!

What is a miracle?

The dictionary describes a miracle as this:

Miracle: a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency.

Whenever I think about a miracle, I always come to remember the story in Daniel (chapter 3) when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace. The heat of the furnace was so hot, the guards sent to throw the three men in, were burned by its excruciating heat just by standing near it. Yet, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walked into it and survived.
They, then, walked out with only the ropes that bound them burned. Three men, sent to their deaths in a fiery furnace, and all of them came out without a single burn. There was no scientific explanation for that.
Now, is that not a miracle from God?

John 19:11- And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

Through Paul, God made miracles. He used Paul; or rather shaped him, into someone that could be used to carry out miracles. Do you not think he could do the same for us; if we let him?

Matthew 19:26- But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

The bible is filled with miracles. As is the world. Often though, man does not see them. Sometimes we get so caught up in life that we forget, or do not realize, that there are miracles everywhere!

Luke 13;10-13
And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

This scripture shows a miracle, that is obvious to see. But what I’m trying to explain here in this devotion is: miracles don’t have to be big things. Just the ability to speak is a miracle. To breath. To hear. To wake up everyday. To feel. All of these can be miracles too. We take so much for granted. So many of these small miracles go unnoticed. But just as the women glorified God for healing her; we should glorify God for life. For his forgiveness. After all, Jesus sacrificing himself for us is the biggest miracle.

1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

Devotional Thursdays - "Miracles, Bright & Gleaming!"

Thursday, February 18th, 2016
"Miracles, Bright & Gleaming!"

A miracle: When a car loses control on a wet, busy interstate, goes careening across four lanes of oncoming traffic, one wheel catches on a rock, the car flips, and lands back on its wheels, down in am embankment - the passenger, fine except for a seatbelt mark.

A miracle: something unexplainable by physical matters, but possible with God!


Acts 4:30 - By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our minds are finite, and things prove hard to understand, many times! But, sometimes we just have to understand, that some things are not meant to be understood! Sometimes, we are just left to believe!

The passenger, in the story above, was my Dad, and that story occurred a couple years ago.

While miracles can be bold, and wide, sometimes, we may overlook the small miracles filling our every day!

How about the miracle that your heart, over all these years has beat an average of 115,200 times, a day!

How about the miracle that the sun rises every morning, and never fails!
How about your intricate body, - "In summary, for a typical human of 70 kg, there are almost 7*1027atoms (that's a 7 followed by 27 zeros!) Another way of saying this is "seven billion billion billion." (Just atoms!)

Yes. That miracle! Often we look at life, and get dismayed for we cannot see God. Yet, God is written upon every aspect of our day!! God is there, are you seeing?

When you woke up this morning, God was there! As you go through your day, God will be there! And when you close your eyelids to sleep tonight, God will be there! Have you saw Him today? He has saw you.

The miracle of life, is that the God who created us out of the dust, cares enough to know you, and know your every thought!

* John 14:12 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

When the sun goes down tonight, look to the Heavens, from whence comes our strength, and find the miracle God wants you to see! Life is a gift, a journey, as to say; don't miss the miraculous appearances of Christ!


A miracle to live today for: Jesus loves you!!

For Jesus first loved me <3

~M.K.

†

http://wp.me/p727FD-7N

Sorry guys I've been vanished. I've gotta run but can't wait to get back and read yours :D

 
Miracle.

Right off the bat, I think of trying to feed 5000 people, and then I think of walking through a parted body of water!  :O Ohmygoodness!  Can you even imagine?  When Jesus fed the 5000 in the dessert with two fish and five barley loaves, it was a sight to behold, I am so very sure.  The people had all that they needed and wanted and some to spare.  God uses us through miracles, just like he did Philip and Andrew and the other disciples.  Jesus could have just asked God to “pop” the food down in a meal for everyone.  God decided that using the disciples was a more effective way to put them in a position of totally depending upon Him for the supply of the people (Mark 6:41).  They had to trust Him.  Our God still uses people in that very same way today.  Just to mention, at one point, if you will remember, Philip was running around trying to figure out the “means” of this project.  Calculating the cost and the man hours, and not being able to make it work.  "'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6).  Now remember, in those days, the numbers usually only applied to the able-bodied men.  The children, women, and older people were rarely counted.  Bible scholars(they explain the meanings of Scripture passages) and theologians(they work from the Bible to explain things about God) believe that the actual number of people that were fed that day could have been very near 20,000 people!  And it was many days.  Not just one.  :O Ohmygoodness!  How can you not BELIEVE?!!

When they had to flee from Pharaoh and his men, God provided a way out through the Red Sea.  The parted Red Sea (Exodus 2:23–25). Can you imagine the feeling you might have had?  The wind and the power that was all around you as you walked across DRY land to get to where you needed to be?  How awesome is our God (Psalm 66:6; 78:13; 106:9; 136:13)?!

Saving for the end, what I think is the most awesome, most important, most amazing miracle, is the resurrection of Jesus Christ! There are not enough words to explain the feelings and the wonder that this undeniable miracle brings about in our humanism. The resurrection witnesses to the immense power of God Himself. The resurrection of Jesus is the testimony to the resurrection of human beings, which is the basic doctrine of the Christian faith. If you go to 15th chapter of I Corinthians, Paul will explain in detail the importance of this amazing miracle.

*starts singing* → “How aaaawesoommme is the Loooorrrd mooost hiiiiiigh??!!”
 

Sunday February 21, 2016
"Miracles, Bright & Gleaming!"

We use the word "miracle" as a loose turn of phrase, so loosely that we maybe referring to a sporting event or a sunrise. The world can call a far flung football, miraculous and by doing so show how little meaning and belief goes into the notion of a miracle. We, the redeemed, know that it is God who gives miracles meaning and by doing so miracles occupy a place in our theology.

We know that miracles are much more then the act of observing in awe, they are tied to the nature and being of our faith. This is seen as Jesus ministers to the masses but becomes even more clear when "he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith." (Matt. 13:58). It seems miracles are like parables, events that have meaning if you are open to believe.

The relationship between faith and miracles is illustrated dramatically in the story of "The Rich Man And Lazarus". The rich man is in hell and begging Abraham to send Lazarus back to the living so he may warn the "rich man's" brothers. Abraham answers the "rich man", ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’” (Luke 16:31)". What greater miracle is there then being raised from the dead, and yet, if we can't believe in Moses and the prophets, then it seems our hearts are hard.

There is a sadness to a parable which states as fact, that being raised from the dead is not enough for some to believe. Jesus must have thought of himself as he told this parable, He too would rise from the dead to prove that He is God and yet that miracle would not be enough for some.

Knowing this, we are thankful that, the miracles of Christ prove who he is to us. We are thankful our hearts are tender enough before God, that we can put our faith in His son who was raised from the dead. We are thankful God opened our eyes to His miracles, those miracles that begin and strengthen our faith.

Where do I post Sunday prayer?

Oh, right here Cwho ((:

I just wanted to do a short prayer for our week, if that's alright.
Let us pray.
Dear God, thank you for our past week, and thank you for keeping us all safe. I know it might not have been easy, but you've still blessed us and for that we are very grateful. We ask that you watch over us this week, as we do school, or go to work, or even if we aren't doing anything. Please help us to remember we can tell you anything and lay down our burdens to you. Please help us to have a good week, and shine your light to others.

We also ask that you be with the families of the ones killed last night in the shooting, and that you heal the ones injured.

In your name we pray,
Amen.

February 22, 2016 Fear

I've witnessed (and witnessed to) quite a few people lately who have a lot of anxiety over the upcoming presidential election. I was handed a letter from one guy about how churches are having their free speech rights trampled upon, and how soon we could lose our right to free speech. Threats of socialism or intolerance or high taxes or terrorism and how the next president might deal with it.

But I take a great deal of comfort in John 18:36 says, in part, "My kingdom is not of this world." Col 3:2 says, "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."

I am not of this world. You aren't either, so don't get caught up in the things of this world, including anxiety and fear over the coming election. And take every proclamation of doom, whether it comes from a Christian or not, with a grain of salt. For instance, the letter which spoke of the coming crackdown on free speech in churches is basically a chance that churches will lose their tax exempt status if they preach certain things.

Well, render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's. If the government wants to tax churches, then they have that right and authority, and I don't find anything in the Bible that says a church should not be taxed!

So rest easy, He's got the whole world in His hands!

Prayer for today: Lord grant me the peace that comes from knowing that You are ultimately in control, that You work all things to good in me, and that I am not of this world, but of Yours.

Matt wrote: "February 22, 2016 Fear
Prayer for today: Lord grant me the peace that comes from knowing that You are ultimately in control, that You work all things to good in me, and that I am not of this world, but of Yours.

Not being in America, I don't experience much of the incountry fear - but there is a special bond between Americans and the UK which I have worried about in the hands of certain politicians.

This prayer was beautiful. Thank you so much for it :)

February 23, 2016: “Fear? The Darker Thoughts…”

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

This comforting verse from Isaiah reminds us that God is always there to help me and strengthen us in trying times, there is no need to fear when he is by our side. Our human tendencies make us prone to fearful thoughts and feelings, it’s hard to push those away and without God it’s impossible to live a life without fear. But that is what is so comforting to me; with God we don’t have to live that way, we can put our hope in the Lord and He will always be there to uphold us.

There are so many great Bible verses on fear, and all of them are positively showing the strength of God to overcome our fear and doubt and give us minds of courage and trust. The only good fear is the fear of the Lord, which is a holy and right fear, I like to think of it as respect and awe of God’s power. God can take away a fearful heart and give you a mind for Christ, one that only thinks of God and spreading His love across the world.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Psalms 34:4 - I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Proverbs 29:25 - The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

Psalms 111:10 - The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do [his commandments]: his praise endureth for ever.

All these verses and more show us that a spirit of fear is not what God intends for us, His love will cast out the fear within us and replace it with power, love, and a sound mind. Who wants to live in fearful anticipation of the future? Nobody! Everyone wants to have confidence and peace in what the future holds for them. When you trust in the Lord you can have full confidence that God will grant you what is best for you, there is no fear in the heart of a man who puts his trust completely in God!! Amen!!

It's not my devotion day, but I feel like somebody needs this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGRz2...

Sunday February 28, 2016
Fear "the darker thoughts"

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Rom. 8:15)

Fear, anxiety, worry, dread, the list is long describing the ominous clouds of darkness that turn our faith into desperation and depression. In those moments, it is cold comfort to be told, "fear not", "let it go" or the unbiblical but oft used "this too shall pass". In the depths of fear, we easily see that this is possibly the greatest weapon the enemy wields against the redeemed.

With fear comes one of the greatest lies the redeemed can be told. The lie, is that, "God is silent". Without doubt, the redeemed will be tested with seasons of God's silence and though these seasons maybe interminably long, God is never completely silent, for we always have His word. Yet, in the grip of fear and hearing the lie that God is silent, we become forgetful. We forget who we are and how we came to salvation in the first place.

The only way I've found to combat fear and all the evils that come with it, is to remember who I am. To remember, the one instance we know God acted on our behalf. Remember the day of our salvation. The evil one can condemn us, our hearts can feel that God is silent, but nothing can take away God's saving grace and His faithfulness. As John Piper says, in these moments we need to preach the word to ourselves.

Soul, why are you afraid, doesn't God know how to rescue you? (2 Peter 2:9)
Soul, do not fear the one that can destroy the body (Matt. 10:28)
Soul, don't you know God leans close to hear the afflicted? (Psalm 10:17)

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;
THEREFORE I REMEMBER YOU
(Psalm 42:5-6)