Wednesday, June 1, 2011
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:20-21
I once heard an older man who’d lived for many years talk about how he was approaching his death and getting ready for his entrance into heaven. He said, “You know, when I was a little boy, I was afraid of heaven. To me, heaven was a million miles away with a bunch of spires and steeples and streets of gold and thousands and thousands of people I didn’t know!
He continued, “But then, I had a little brother die. When that happened, heaven became a place with one little boy that I knew.” Then he said, “Through the years, my family and friends, including my wife, have gone on to glory. So when I think of heaven now, I don’t even think of the spires and the steeples and the streets of gold. I just think of the many loved ones and friends and my Savior who waits for me there.”
One of these days, you and I will be face to face with the Lord Jesus. And what a wonderful day that will be! We’ll be in perfect fellowship with him forever with all the saints who’ve gone before us.
Heaven isn’t just white clouds and gold streets. So as you look forward to your eternal destiny, look forward to the perfect fellowship you’re going to have with God and with others in your eternal home!
AS YOU THINK ABOUT HEAVEN, LOOK FORWARD TO PERFECT FELLOWSHIP YOU’LL HAVE WITH GOD AND WITH OTHERS IN YOUR ETERNAL HOME!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. -- 1 Peter 3:9
The key to success in your life—with your family, your friends, and your future—is your ability to communicate. That’s because the words you use hold incredible power.
Used as God intended, our words have the potential to bless, encourage, and to elevate others. Or, if used negatively, our words can divide, destroy, and dishearten.
Moment by moment, we are faced with the crucial choice of how we will use our words. And this is precisely why Peter directed us to make the conscious choice to bless others. Because everyone has an innate need to receive a blessing.
Think about it this way. When we bless people, we are expressing our approval and preparing a person’s heart to step out and fulfill God’s purpose for their life. So can you see how important it is to use your words to bless… especially your children?
But you may say, “I didn’t grow up in a family like that. I didn’t get words of kindness and blessing.” Perhaps you didn’t. Many have never known this blessing. But while you can’t change the past, you can change the future.
Start blessing your children and your family today. Bless the people in your life and you can begin a chain of blessing throughout the generations. And when you do, God promises that you, too, will obtain a blessing!
WHAT IS ONE WAY YOU CAN BLESS YOUR CHILDREN AND FAMILY TODAY?
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| Rejoice Ministry of Pakistan [www.rejoiceministry.webs.com] |
The key to success in your life—with your family, your friends, and your future—is your ability to communicate. That’s because the words you use hold incredible power.
Used as God intended, our words have the potential to bless, encourage, and to elevate others. Or, if used negatively, our words can divide, destroy, and dishearten.
Moment by moment, we are faced with the crucial choice of how we will use our words. And this is precisely why Peter directed us to make the conscious choice to bless others. Because everyone has an innate need to receive a blessing.
Think about it this way. When we bless people, we are expressing our approval and preparing a person’s heart to step out and fulfill God’s purpose for their life. So can you see how important it is to use your words to bless… especially your children?
But you may say, “I didn’t grow up in a family like that. I didn’t get words of kindness and blessing.” Perhaps you didn’t. Many have never known this blessing. But while you can’t change the past, you can change the future.
Start blessing your children and your family today. Bless the people in your life and you can begin a chain of blessing throughout the generations. And when you do, God promises that you, too, will obtain a blessing!
WHAT IS ONE WAY YOU CAN BLESS YOUR CHILDREN AND FAMILY TODAY?
Friday, February 25, 2011
“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” -- John 10:9-10
A rich Texas oilman died and one of his last wishes was to be buried in his beautiful gold Cadillac. So they dug a big hole in the ground and laid him out in that classic Cadillac. While they were lowering the car into the ground one of those West Texans said, “Man that’s livin’, ain’t it?”
You know, there are really two classes of Christians today: There are some Christians who really know what living is and are experiencing life to the fullest. And there are others who know very little about the joy and the fulfillment and the satisfaction of living for Jesus Christ.
Now, I’m definitely not saying that one of these types of Christians is more saved than the other. But as a pastor, I see firsthand every day that there are some people who are living an abundant life in Christ and are being used by God to do some amazing things. Yet, others are just getting by and making it to church, but are missing out on Christ’s abundant life.
So here’s my question for you: Are you experiencing life abundantly? Or, are you just getting by? If you want to live fully for Christ, surrender every area of your life to him. Then, you’ll learn what ‘abundant life’ truly is!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Distributing The Christmas Gifts Slideshow: Rejoice’s trip to Lahore, Pakistan was created by TripAdvisor. See another Lahore slideshow. Take your travel photos and make a slideshow for free.
“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine… Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
-- Luke 10:30-37
If I’m having a conversation with someone and I want to better understand their spiritual state, I’ll often ask, “If you died and God asked, ‘Why should I let you into heaven?’, what would you say?”
And almost always, I get one of three answers: “Because of grace,” “Because of my good works,” or “I don’t know.” Now, I love the first answer and appreciate the honesty of the third, but when someone tells me they believe they’re good enough to make it to heaven, I know they’re a long way from God.
There are so many people in the world today who think that the Gospel is only for the thief, the murderer, or the prostitute. They think they’ve outgrown their need for the Gospel.
On one occasion when Jesus taught the about the greatest commandment, to love God and love your neighbor, an expert in the Jewish Law asked, “Who is my neighbor?” So Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan in which a man was beaten and robbed. He was passed, ignored by a priest and a Levite, both of whom were highly involved in Jewish worship. But then a Samaritan, from one of the most despised races of people in Israel, stopped and helped.
This is a clear picture of the Gospel. It doesn’t matter how many times you go to church or how many email devotionals are in your inbox. What matters is whether or not you love others.
So don’t ever feel like you’ve outgrown your need for the Gospel because all ground is level at the foot of the cross!
EVERYONE IS IN NEED OF THE GOSPEL, SO LIVE IT OUT EACH DAY WITH HUMILITY AND GRACE.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
-- 1 Peter 5:8
Back in the 18th century, Jonathan Edwards, the brilliant theologian, sat down and made a list of things he was resolved to do for Jesus and the kingdom of God. Just read a few of them that I’ve listed here. “I resolve:
• That I will do whatsoever I think to be the most to the glory of God.
• To live with all my might while I do live.
• Never to do anything which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.
• Never to speak evil of anyone.
• To study the Scripture steadily, constantly, and frequently so that I may find and plainly proceed myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.”
I love how clear and resolute Edwards was in his commitment to Christ.
So let me ask you something. What are you resolved to do for Christ? Have you thought about it? You can be certain of this: the enemy of your soul is resolved in his mission. The Scripture tells us that our enemy is like a lion roaming around seeking his next victim.
It’s time to know what you stand for and to have some steel in your soul! Let your resolve for Christ be fierce and let nothing cause you to turn back.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
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When Moses stood before Pharaoh and spoke those famous words, "Let my people go," he was revealing the heart of God toward you and me. Did you know that?
God's plan is for us to be truly free. He wants us to be liberated by his Spirit to serve him. But here’s the challenge. As soon as we determine for ourselves to go with God and to live in the freedom made possible by Jesus Christ, the enemy goes to work. Satan’s primary goal is to keep you enslaved. That’s it.
Now, in Scripture, Pharaoh is an illustration of the devil. Pharaoh was a murderer and a liar. He never intended to let the children of Israel go free. Instead, he offered Moses compromises and negotiations. He told Moses, "Go ahead and sacrifice to your God.”
And in this same way, the devil will say to you, "Go ahead and be religious... go to church, that's fine. But just stay in Egypt." Right now there are countless church members who think they’re free, but spiritually, they’re still living in Egypt.
Listen. Satan’s plan is to keep you enslaved, but God offers you victory and freedom. Come out of the world and get under the liberating blood of Jesus Christ today!
GOD’S PLAN IS FOR US TO BE TRULY FREE.
Monday, June 14, 2010
-- Lamentations 3:22-23
We often fear failure, don’t we? I’m sure that’s true across many cultures. We fear failure to an amazing degree. But, in reality, failure teaches us some of life’s most important lessons.
Let me explain. You and I wouldn’t have learned to walk if we hadn’t failed a little in the process. And the principle of getting back up and trying again is critical in every aspect of our lives, especially in our spiritual lives. No one lives a perfect life.
But do you know the key difference between an average person and an achieving person? It’s how they perceive and respond to failure. Achievers let failure work in their lives. They learn from their mistakes and move forward.
Are you learning from your failures? Or do your failures overwhelm you and keep you from moving forward in your life? Listen. If you’ll let it, failure can be a friend that leads you back to God. His mercies are new each day—they are eternal. He desires to restore you and is ready to do so right now.
Recognize your failures, your defeats, and your sins for what they are… repent and move forward with the help of God.
IF YOU’LL LET IT, FAILURE CAN BE A FRIEND THAT LEADS YOU BACK TO GOD.
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