Encouraging Verses and Quotes on Hope

This is a very inspiring post from Christian in Action blog.  Please be sure to check out their posts and subscribe to their weekly newsletter.  

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” ~ Romans 12:12

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” ~ Romans 15:13

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” ~ Hebrews 11:1

“ Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” ~ 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

“I’ve read the last page of the Bible. It’s all going to turn out all right.”  ~ Billy Graham

“We should not let our fears hold us back from pursuing our hopes.” John Fitzgerald Kennedy

“Let this one great, gracious, glorious fact lie in your spirit until it permeates all your thoughts and makes you rejoice even though you are without strength. Rejoice that the Lord Jesus has become your strength and your song – He has become your salvation. “ ~ Charles H. Spurgeon

“Hope keeps you alive. Faith gives your life meaning, blessings, and a good end.” ~ Rex Rouis

“In all things it is better to hope than to despair.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something tomorrow.” ~ O. S. Marden

Source: Article reposted from Christian In Action Blog

Salvation Prayer

As Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

Jesus said in John 8:31, “If you abide in my Word, you are my disciples indeed. 32 – “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free“

The road to salvation is simply this – accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. All of us have sinned in this life. No one is perfect except God. So it doesn’t matter what you did in the past or how bad you are in this world, Jesus died for you on the cross. All you have to do is acknowledge what He did for you and how He can change you into a better person, a new creation. Let us not limit God with our own limitations. With God all things are possible. If you want to fill that void or emptiness in your life, then simply say this prayer with sincerity.

“Lord Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God and You died for me. Please come into my heart, be my Lord and Savior and forgive me of all my sins and take control of every area of my life from this moment on. Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and use me for Your glory. I want to serve You and love You all the days of my life. Thank You Father, that I am now Your child, in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.”

If you sincerely said those words, then you are now a new creation in Christ. Expect the power of Jesus Christ to manifest in your life today. You are now free from the bondage of sin.

• Please read the Bible or get a New Testament. The New Testament contains 27 books that are easy to read especially with today’s modern translations. I ask you to read the real story of Jesus and His teachings, and the truth shall be revealed to you. Read the bible everyday.
• Go find a Christian church near you.
• Be baptized. Baptism is not your ticket to heaven, only Jesus can save you. However, it is a declaration to satan that you are for Jesus. It also signifies the death/burial of your past sinful life.

I AM A FOLLOWER OF JESUS on Facebook

I speak Life and Blessings to those who are reading this right now. May the Lord Bless You and your loved ones.

The Inspiring story of Nick Vujicic

Imagine being born without arms. No arms to wrap around a friend ; no hands to hold the ones you love; no fingers to experience touch ; no way to lift or carry things. How much more difficult would life be if you were living without arms and hands? Or what about legs? Imagine if instead of no arms, you had no legs. No ability to dance, walk, run, or even stand. Now put both of those scenarios together… no arms and no legs. What would you do? How would that affect your everyday life?

Meet Nick Vujicic, pronounced ‘Vooy-cheech’. Born in 1982 in Brisbane, Australia, without any medical explanation or warning, Nicholas Vujicic came into the world with neither arms nor legs. Imagine the shock his parents felt when they saw their first-born brand new baby boy for the first time, only to find he was what the world would consider imperfect and abnormal. A limbless son was not what nurse Dushka Vujicic, and her husband Pastor Boris Vujicic had been expecting. How would their son live a normal happy life? What could he ever do or become when living with such a massive disability? Little did they or anyone else know that this beautiful limbless baby would one day be someone who would inspire and motivate people from all walks of life. God uses Nick to touch lives and bring the hope of Jesus Christ to people across the globe.

Throughout his childhood, Nick dealt not only with the typical challenges of school and adolescence such as bullying and self-esteem issues; but also struggled with depression and loneliness.  He constantly questioned why he was different than all the other kids surrounding him; why he was the one born without arms and legs. He wondered what the purpose behind his life was, or if he even had a purpose. According to Nick, the victory over his struggles throughout his journey, as well as the strength and passion he has for life can be credited to his faith in God. His family, friends and the many people he has encountered along the way have also encouraged him.

After school, Nick went on with further study and obtained a double Bachelor’s degree, majoring in Accounting and Financial Planning from Griffith University in Logan, Australia. By the age of 19, Nick started to fulfill his dream of being able to encourage other people and bring them the gospel of Jesus through motivational speaking and sharing his testimony about how God changed his life and gave him a future and a hope. “I found the purpose of my existence, and also the purpose of my circumstance. There’s a purpose for why you’re in the fire.” Nick wholeheartedly believes that there is a purpose in each of the struggles we each encounter in our lives, and that our attitude towards those struggles, along with our faith and trust in the Lord can be the keys to overcoming the challenges we face.

Now at 27 years old, this limbless young man has accomplished more than most people accomplish in a lifetime. Nick recently made the massive move from Brisbane, Australia to California, USA, where he is the President of an international non-profit organization; Life Without Limbs, and also has his own motivational speaking company; Attitude Is Altitude. Since his first speaking engagement back when he was 19, Nick has traveled around the world, sharing his story with millions of people, speaking to a range of different groups such as students, teachers, youth, businessmen and women, entrepreneurs, and church congregations of all sizes. He has also told his story and been interviewed on various televised programs worldwide. “If God can use a man without arms and legs to be His hands and feet, then He will certainly use any willing heart!”

Covetousness. What is it really?

Covet. A word that has been mentioned in the Holy Bible for 25 times, repeatedly, from the Old Testament to the New Testament. It is also listed in the Ten Commandments that the Lord God gave to Moses on Mt. Sinai after 40 days. For thousands of years, and for a number of biblical translations, the word “covet” remains  unchanged. But for some reason, the true meaning of the word has become lost in modern times.

How does the Dictionary define the word Covet:

• Yearn to possess or have (something)
• wish, long, or crave for (something, especially the property of another person); “She covets her sister’s house”
• To wish for with eagerness; to desire possession of, notably enviously; — also used in a good sense; To long for inordinately or unlawfully; to hanker after (something forbidden); To yearn, have or indulge inordinate desire, notably for another’s possession
• an inordinate desire to acquire or possess more than one needs or deserves, especially with respect to material wealth.

So the word Covet simply means to desire, to want possession of, to long for a material object or anything of this world.  So if modern languages and synonyms  were used in modern translations of the Holy Bible, then the verse in Exodus 20:17 will have clear meaning:

“You shall not want your neighbor’s house; you shall not want your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Now, if we put it that way, then it becomes much clear.  Of course, during those times, those were the ONLY material possessions men had.  But if we put in our era, then that should sound like this:

You shall not want or desire to have your friend’s condo, house, his wife, his car, his cellphone, his computer, his iPad, his job, his degree, his lifestyle, his money or anything that is your friends.

Even King David knew that covetousness leads to sin. His desire for a woman cost the Lord God to lose favor in him.

Incline my heart to Your testimonies,And not to covetousness. Psalm 119:36

King Solomon, in his wisdom also wrote about Covetousness in Proverbs:

The wicked covet the catch of evil men,But the root of the righteous yields fruit. Proverbs 12:12

He covets greedily all day long, But the righteous gives and does not spare. Proverbs 21:26

A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor, But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days. Proverbs 28:16

The Lord Jesus said it clearly in Luke 12:15

And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Luke 12:15

The only way to prevent this, is by being contented and thankful for the life that God gave to us. Let us all be thankful for everything that we have in our lives. And since the Lord is a Lord of Abundance and Prosperity, you do not need to look to your neighbor nor to others, simply desire to abide in His commandments and teachings and blessings will enter your life.

 

 

 

 

The Good-O-Meter

How good do you have to be to get into heaven?

A Believer in Christ and a Disciple of Christ. What’s the Difference?

A Believer in Christ and a Disciple of Christ…What’s the difference?

A true Christian is a a follower/disciple that has fully surrendered his or her life to Christ, a fully abides in His teachings.

It is not enough to simply believe in Him, for even the enemy believes in Christ as well. They are just opposed to Him and His followers.

Be more than just a believer, Be His Disciple!

As Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” John 8:31

WHY JESUS IS GREATER THAN SANTA CLAUS?

WHY JESUS IS GREATER THAN SANTA CLAUS?

Santa lives at the North Pole.

JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh.

JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year.

JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies.

JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited.

JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa.

JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap.

JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn’t know your name, all he can say is “Hi little boy or girl, what’s your name?”

JESUS knew your name before you did.

Not only does He know your name,

He knows your address too.

He knows your history and future and

He even knows how many hairs are on your head.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly.

JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO.

JESUS offers Health, Help and Hope.

Santa says “You better not cry.”

JESUS says “Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.”

Santa’s little helpers make toys.

JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but.

JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree.

JESUS became our gift and died on a tree.

Yes, from sin He sets us free!

THE PATH TO HEAVEN IS A NARROW PATH

TEN REASONS WHY A CHRISTIAN SHOULD NOT CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN

HERE ARE TEN REASONS WHY A CHRISTIAN SHOULD NOT CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN

“Oh it’s Halloween! I want my kids to wear cute costumes and let them go trick-or-treating in the neighborhood.” Many believe that Halloween is just a harmless event that allows kids to wear their fairy-tale or superhero costumes and collect candies. Do you know that it is connected with occult practices?

Here are the 10 reasons why…

TEN REASONS CHRISTIANS SHOULD NOT CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN

by J. Kerby Anderson

1. October 31st has long been known as “The Festival of the Dead.” The Celtic tribes and their priests the Druids celebrated this day as a marker for the change from life to death.

2. Halloween today is performed usually by adherents of witchcraft who use the night for their rituals. Witches celebrate Halloween as the “Feast of Samhain,” the first feast of the witchcraft year. Being a festival of the dead, Halloween is a time when witches attempt to communicate with the dead through various forms of divination.

3. Christians should not be involved with occultic practice or divination. Note God’s command against divination in Deuteronomy 18.

4. Occultists believe Halloween is a time of transition between life and death. Some occult practitioners practiced divination and believed you could learn the secrets of life and wisdom by Iying on a grave and listening to the messages from the long-departed.

5. Occultists also taught that spirits and ghosts left the grave during this night and would seek out warmth in their previous homes. Villagers, fearful of the possibility of being visited by the ghosts of past occupants, would dress up in costumes to scare the spirits on their way. They would also leave food and other treats at their door to appease the spirits so they would not destroy their homes or crops but instead move on down the road. That is the real reason why kids dress up in costumes today and go door-to-door seeking treats.

6. Occultists also would try to scare away the spirits by carving a scary face into a pumpkin. This horrible visage would hopefully move the spirit on to another home or village and spare that home from destruction. Sometimes the villagers would light a candle and place it within the pumpkin and use it as a lantern (hence the name, Jack-o-Lantern). This is the origin of carving pumpkins at Halloween.

7. In some witchcraft covens, the closing ritual includes eating an apple or engaging in fertility rites. In the Bible (Genesis 3), eating a piece of fruit brought sin and death into the world. In witchcraft, eating an apple is symbolic of bringing life. The practice of bobbing for apples brings together two pagan traditions: divination and the fertility ritual.

8. Schools are removing any religious significance from Christmas (often called winter break) and Easter (spring break). Isn’t it ironic that most public schools still celebrate Halloween even though it has occultic origins?

9. Participating in Halloween gives sanction to a holiday that promotes witches, divination, haunted houses, and other occultic practices.

10. Christians should avoid Halloween and develop creative alternatives. Churches can hold a Fall Fun Festival and/or celebrate Reformation Day (also October 31). They should not endorse or promote Halloween.

ARE YOU A “GOOD” PERSON?