Don't Panic?

An opportunity to Reflect!

This is not a great or good situation to be in at this time, with many dying around us but it is a time when we can reflect on what God is doing for us?

Not all is lost and much can be gained, being with family may rebuild lost bonds or show us the worth of our relationships that may have been hidden by the busyness of our hectic lives?

In our reflection we get to be parents of our children helping them to faith through games and others from the Bible, if not ourselves improving our prayer time and study and praising God with the music that we have gathered over the time of our conversion!

1 Chronicles 16:10,   Psalm 5:11,   31:7,   63:11,   89:16,   149:5,   Proverbs 24:17,   Isaiah 12:3,  Luke 15:10,   Romans 5:11,  Philippians 3:3,  1 Peter 1:8,   Revelation 19:7.

4 Weeks to Christmas!

Preparations?

Are we once more ready for the season and all that comes with it?

In some countries its a one day event, midnight service, followed by a meal and for others its last over a week, rather than a few days.

Today the holidays are getting more and more commercial, with more emphasis on gifts the latest wear and the must have tech?

But Christmas is much more than presents, its about Jesus coming to save a lost world! Jesus was born of a Virgin, this is very important to show us the power of God at work in humanity!

One hopes this year to take a new look at the old story and to see it from differing angles, but retain the essential truths that are important to us believers and to the lost world that many of us will have to face head on with unbelieving relatives and friends?

Numbers 7:12,   Matthew/Levi 2:11.

Aspects of Christmas! One.

Loneliness?

This is perhaps the greatest downside of the Christmas holidays, loneliness! The festival only lasts a few days, but regret may lead to self-harm or suicide?

We may start well in life, doing our own thing but age brings its own problems? Friends and family pass-away and we may find ourselves alone not wanting to face truths and pains from mistakes in the past?

Christmas is full of fun, decorations, music, lights and kids who can have really enjoy it!

Believers need to look out for those older folks, a hot drink, meal, card and chat helps, feeling wanted also helps it really can go a long way!

God so loved this world He made that is why He gave us Jesus His one and only Son, for whoever believes in Him will have Eternal Life?

Luke 2:7,  12,  16,  John 3:3,  15-18,  Romans 3:23,  5:16-18,  6:23,  1 Peter 4:10. 

Fatty Issues. One.

Later in life Illnesses?

Weight is a serious problem in the western world today, but it nothing new accept now it is more widespread than before and more children are obese?

Everyone is talking or reporting, but no one is dealing with all the social issues that cause these problems! Work hours, depression, addictions, social disruption, greed, and laziness are some of the problems that are causing the further breakdown of the family unity?

The other factor is that we are bombarded with media advertising on both TV and radio, if not the mobile phone and the Internet?

The bible talks about fat people too and it also encourages one to exercise both physically and mentally!

Psalm 36:8,  Judges 3:22, Proverbs 13:4, 1 Timothy 4:8.

Leaving and Returning!

Some (believers) Forget?

Even people of faith can allow themselves to get caught up in tradition of holidays like Christmas and Easter and forget that their faith in God has much more to offer?

Jesus Ascended back to Heaven and Angels said, 'He would return again in the same way!'

Jesus is coming back to collect the Ekklesia, Bride of Christ or family of God at the end of the Age!

We must be ready for that great and terrible day, when the sky as we understand it will be opened to reveal the mighty armies of Heaven descend to Earth?

Acts 1:2-11, John 14:3, 2 Thessalonians 1:10, Revelation 1:7.

Saints and Sinners. Part-One.

Mission.

They say that the believers walk starts at the door out of our fellowships!

This is the truth that many people today avoid, because it is hard to talk to hostile neighbours, fellow workers, family, friends?

People just do not want to hear the truth, they don't want to give up their trash lives of filth and sin!

Jesus told all His followers to go out and share their faith and preach the Gospel, that is why you have a Church to go to today.

Mark 16,  Acts 1-2.

Nothing Like Love. ONE.

Human Nature.

There are many aspects to love, parent to child, baby to mother, brotherly, friendship. 

Then we have the love of things, houses, models, money, business, cars, jewellery, pets, animals, nature, interests, work,

Then we have the love between and man and woman, of romance, of marriage, of sex, of intimacy,

Love is cheap in the world, because it is full of selfishness and expects a return always! 

God's love is not like that it is unconditional.

Psalm 1:3, Isaiah 57;1, Galatians 5:22-23.

Love. Part-Two.

Care and Concern.

Do you care about your family, mum, dad, grandparents, brothers, sisters, relatives? 

It is so easy to love your own and it is so easy to say, 'I love you!

What God really wants us to do is to show real care and concern for others, do the washing up, sweep the yard, take some old person to the store and if they over run on the cost you pay that extra. 

Now that is showing real love, just like Jesus showed us His love by going to the cross.

Genesis 4:9,  Psalm 27:10,  Proverbs 1:32,   Matthew 25:36,   Acts 20:32.

Love. Part-One.

Loving those who hate Us.

Now that is a hard thing to put into practice, when the natural wants to strike back. 

Many people only love others close to them, mum, dad brother, sister, wife, husband, girl-boy friend and 'that is easy says Jesus.

God wants us to love those who hate us, that have done us wrong and who don't say Thank you.

This is the real love you can put into practice this Saint Valentines Day, because your Eternal reward will be in Heaven waiting for you.

Matthew 5:44-48, Luke 6:27, 35, 1 Peter 3:9.

Crib n Cross. Part-Three.

Born of the Virgin.

It is a miracle the birth of Jesus, He God incarnate came from Heaven and was chosen to be conceived into human flesh by the Holy Spirit to a young virgin girl named Mary. The Angel Gabri'el was sent by God to tell her that she was the chosen one to bear the Messiah. Luke 1:26-35.

After Jesus was born Mary married Joseph and they went on to have normal relations and a big family. We see later on 30 years later His earthly mother coming with His brothers and sisters to get Him.  Matthew 12:46-49.

Roman Catholicism and many branches of the Christian Church venerate Mary, before Jesus and this is a false teaching. Jesus must be and is the only focus for our need to change our mental attitudes and be saved from Eternal Damnation. 1 John 5:20.

'Do You Want to be...Part-One.

in My Gang.

These are the words of a 'Rock song, but the reality today in our cities is that many are joining up as earlyas they can to be in the Gangs.

Being in a Gang, Posse, Crowd has always given the sense of protection, this does stem from the past when most people belonged to the Tribe or Clan.

But there is a great difference between the Tribe and the Gang. The tribe gives identity to a race and culture or family. The Gang has a sinister element, it has loyalty to a leader for bad and not for good.

Jesus had His Disciples or/and followers, an intial 12 plus about 100 others. Today believers in Jesus belong to a Spiritual building and we move in the power of God, not weapons and guns.

Psalm 68:27,  Matthew 5:1,  10:25,  Mark 14:48,  2 Corinthians 12:20,  1 Peter 2:4-5.

'New Year.'

Hope, for the Future?

Another New Year is approaching, where are you now?

What are you planning for in 2014, a better life, getting out of prison, getting home to your family?

These are all things that we may be setting out to Hope for.

But for many they are nothing more but dreams of what we want.

There is a real Hope, it can be found today. This hope will set you free, you might look back from time to time. But you will always look forward again, no matter what happens.

Job 8:13,  Psalm 119:114,  Proverbs 10:28,   Acts 24:15,   Titus 1:12.

'Happy New Year.'

Wrapped. Part-Three.

Wisemen.

We all like to give and recieve presents at this time of the year, that is if belong to the Christian tradition in one form or another. We see that the Magi came from the east to give gifts to the Jesus, but they really came to worship Him.

They had waited a long time for this day, thousands of years for the star of promise to appear in the sky's. So they all got wrapped up and set off to see the Messiah and the savior of the world. Matthew 2:1-18,  Numbers 24:17.

What will you be doing with yourself this 'Christmas, home with family, parents, someone close or are you all alone, out of choice or feel rejected?

Don't be mean try to see what's it all about for yourself!
John 6:29.

Wrapped. Part-Two.

Part of the Royal family.

The shephers, who looked after the sheep, got a real scare, shock when the angels appeared to them. But they obeyed the message that they heard and went see for themselves.

One thousand years earlier the boy shepherd david must of been suprised to be anointed the king of Israel by the prophet Samuel. But he to obeyed and joined the court of evil king saul.

David was like us, he was not perfect and yet the baby Jesus is decended from that Royal line.

The good news don't end yet, we to can be part of the eternal royal family, by placing our faith and trust in jesus, and his works to set us free?

Luke 2:8-20,  1 Samuel 16:11,  Acts 2:44-47,  1 Peter 2:9.

Fatherhood. Part-One.

Gods Way.

You the daddy, or you like to make but then take no responsibility?

God is straight, He wants us to be responsible fathers.

It is  the right thing to get married and have a family.

God does not like two men or two woman to get married and have a family, because that is not His order of Nature.

Genesis 2:24,  Matthew 19:5-6,   Mark 10:8.