A Love Journal
What about keeping a 'Love' journal. to record how much God loves you, to begin or deepen your love relationship with God?......This thought came to me today as I began thinking of God's unfailing love. We usually ache and yearn for human love, which many times leaves us broken, empty and or disappointed; while neglecting the unfailing love of the One who loves us just as we are. For even though God is sinless, he loves the sinner but hates the sin. He does not wait for me to change first but he loves me first and freely gives me the chance to enter this love relationship.
Can I honestly answer the question which God continues to pose to each person: ? ....Aku, do you love me? ... do you love me as I have love you?........do you love me more than these others? depending on how much you have been forgiven......... We cannot love what we don't know, and God has revealed his unconditional love to us through Our Lord Jesus Christ who came to show us how much God loves us. The Holy Bible contains all the love stories of God through which we can discover this love of God., we have also the writings of the Saints and especially the Love letters in the Messages of True Life in God (tlig.org) given to Vassula Ryden is worth reading for God has not ceased speaking to us. We can come to know and love Him as He loves us through His many graces He continues to lavish on us. ... He is both the Lover and the Beloved and we have all become His beloved sons and daughters through the Precious Blood of Jesus shed for humanity on the Cross. See how great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!... ( 1Jn 3: 1-2)....Waao!....... I'm a child of God......and loved by God.......not that I have done anything to earn it........ but He just loves me....... even me!........people may not love me for whatever reasons ...... but God loves me.........Discovering the unfailing love of God will help us love Him, more and more. So my answer to the question now is: Yes Lord I love you, but my love is weak, come to my aid and strengthen me that I may love you more and more.......What will be your response?
Friday 14 February 2014
Thursday 13 February 2014
Scattered Seeds
How many seeds have the Lord scattered and or continue generously to scatter in your life? and do you also scatter seeds in the lives of others? The Lord Jesus continue to pour graces/seeds in my life and many of these are growing without my knowledge as it is the good Lord that nourishes and nurtures them.
God adds years to our life that we many learn wisdom to bear fruits, ...fruits.that will last,... fruits for His Kingdom. The Grace of Jesus is working in the world in various ways but most of the time silently. We need to continue to scatter seeds in the lives of others trusting that some of these seeds will reach harvest time.
The Church community should be a home where seeds of love, healing and forgiveness are sown. Just as a seed has no power to change itself until it is planted in the ground, so we cannot change our lives to be like God unless by the power of the Holy Spirit. When we yield to Jesus Christ, our lives are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. We hold this treasure in earthen vessels to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us (2 Cor. 4:7). The mystery of God's Kingdom has been granted to the innocent, mere babes....The Holy Spirit is able to transform us into Christ-like holiness,.... increase our zeal for His kingdom....and instill in us a holy desire to live for His greater glory. We are where we are right now on our spiritual journey because of the numerous unknown people, who have and continue to scatter seeds in our lives. We likewise must continue the trend so that in the end most of the seeds scattered will reach the harvest yielding 30, 40, 60 80...... ? scatter today, a seed of hope, love, healing, forgiveness, joy and peace in the hearts all around you.... keep them in your prayers and believe that God is working in their lives just as He continues to work in yours for you have not reached the full harvest yet. Only the willingness required is to serve like the one who came to serve and not be served...... to love and not count the cost......to understand and not to be understood...... to love and not be loved.......keep scattering therefore God's seeds and don't be overcome by fear, and disappointments in your own life.
How many seeds have the Lord scattered and or continue generously to scatter in your life? and do you also scatter seeds in the lives of others? The Lord Jesus continue to pour graces/seeds in my life and many of these are growing without my knowledge as it is the good Lord that nourishes and nurtures them.
God adds years to our life that we many learn wisdom to bear fruits, ...fruits.that will last,... fruits for His Kingdom. The Grace of Jesus is working in the world in various ways but most of the time silently. We need to continue to scatter seeds in the lives of others trusting that some of these seeds will reach harvest time.
The Church community should be a home where seeds of love, healing and forgiveness are sown. Just as a seed has no power to change itself until it is planted in the ground, so we cannot change our lives to be like God unless by the power of the Holy Spirit. When we yield to Jesus Christ, our lives are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. We hold this treasure in earthen vessels to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us (2 Cor. 4:7). The mystery of God's Kingdom has been granted to the innocent, mere babes....The Holy Spirit is able to transform us into Christ-like holiness,.... increase our zeal for His kingdom....and instill in us a holy desire to live for His greater glory. We are where we are right now on our spiritual journey because of the numerous unknown people, who have and continue to scatter seeds in our lives. We likewise must continue the trend so that in the end most of the seeds scattered will reach the harvest yielding 30, 40, 60 80...... ? scatter today, a seed of hope, love, healing, forgiveness, joy and peace in the hearts all around you.... keep them in your prayers and believe that God is working in their lives just as He continues to work in yours for you have not reached the full harvest yet. Only the willingness required is to serve like the one who came to serve and not be served...... to love and not count the cost......to understand and not to be understood...... to love and not be loved.......keep scattering therefore God's seeds and don't be overcome by fear, and disappointments in your own life.
Tuesday 11 February 2014
Where is your light?
No one lights a light and puts it under a bushell but on the lampstand..... let your light shine for others to see.....Just as we need light to see in the dark, we need spiritual light for discernment. Light is very important to life, without light there is no life both sphysically and spiritually. Jesus is the light of the world for it was through him and for him and with him everything was created, the Word that became the light (John 1: 1-5) At Baptism, the baptized is given a light to keep burning till the Lord returns........and as we go through life, this light of faith should be kept burning, enlightening our path (Ps 119:105) and drawing others also. We have been given light to be light for others.
God is light as in him there is no darkness, nothing is hidden from Him, and even the darkness is not dark for Him... Light is an expression of the inner beauty and truth of God for in His light, we see light {Ps. 36:10) .therefore when we remain in Him, we remain in light. God's grace not only illumines the darkness in our lives but it also fills us with spiritual light, joy, and peace. Just as natural light illumines the darkness and enables us to see, so the light of Christ shines in the hearts of believers and enables us to see the heavenly beauty of God's love. In fact our mission in life is to be the light of the world in word and deed so that others may see the truth of the Gospel and be freed from the blindness of sin and deception.
What has happened to the light given to each Baptized Christian? Godparents, you have been entrusted with this light for your Godchildren, what has happened since their Baptism? as a lamp needs oil to keep burning, so do we need the oil of the Holy Spirit to help us understand the Word to enlighten our path; to help us see and perceive. How do you make this little light of yours keep shining? Remain connected to Jesus - the true light. Be not overcome by the darkness but become transformed into His image......May the fire of His love consume the chaff within us as we become like twinkle twinkle little stars lightening up the world.in which you live!.... ......
No one lights a light and puts it under a bushell but on the lampstand..... let your light shine for others to see.....Just as we need light to see in the dark, we need spiritual light for discernment. Light is very important to life, without light there is no life both sphysically and spiritually. Jesus is the light of the world for it was through him and for him and with him everything was created, the Word that became the light (John 1: 1-5) At Baptism, the baptized is given a light to keep burning till the Lord returns........and as we go through life, this light of faith should be kept burning, enlightening our path (Ps 119:105) and drawing others also. We have been given light to be light for others.
God is light as in him there is no darkness, nothing is hidden from Him, and even the darkness is not dark for Him... Light is an expression of the inner beauty and truth of God for in His light, we see light {Ps. 36:10) .therefore when we remain in Him, we remain in light. God's grace not only illumines the darkness in our lives but it also fills us with spiritual light, joy, and peace. Just as natural light illumines the darkness and enables us to see, so the light of Christ shines in the hearts of believers and enables us to see the heavenly beauty of God's love. In fact our mission in life is to be the light of the world in word and deed so that others may see the truth of the Gospel and be freed from the blindness of sin and deception.
What has happened to the light given to each Baptized Christian? Godparents, you have been entrusted with this light for your Godchildren, what has happened since their Baptism? as a lamp needs oil to keep burning, so do we need the oil of the Holy Spirit to help us understand the Word to enlighten our path; to help us see and perceive. How do you make this little light of yours keep shining? Remain connected to Jesus - the true light. Be not overcome by the darkness but become transformed into His image......May the fire of His love consume the chaff within us as we become like twinkle twinkle little stars lightening up the world.in which you live!.... ......
Tuesday 4 February 2014
The Saving Truth
What is the truth and how do you live out the truth? Pilate asked Jesus: 'what is the truth?'...and in that confrontation Jesus said He came to the world to testify to the truth and 'Everyone on the side of truth listens to me'.(Jn. 18:17/18) Listening to Jesus and believing in what he teaches will lead us to discover what the truth is. Jesus is therefore the key to discovering what the truth is. He is the only person who calls himself, 'I AM'....He...... the Truth, ....the Life...... the Way ... the Light...... the Vine..... the True Bread that came from Heaven..... the Resurrection... . the Living Water...... the Door,.........the Good Shepherd'....... God was the first to call himself I AM to Moses from the 'Burning Bush'...... so Jesus by saying he is I AM, we are able to testify that He is the Truth from the things He said and taught. He came to testify to the truth that God is love but that is too wide, let's narrow it to the individual level, because unless I accept it and believe in it, this truth of God's unconditional love will not benefit me in any way. Just briefly recall few of the many facets of Jesus' revelation of himself being the Christ, the Son of the Living God, who came into the world.....
- He was annointed to proclaim the Good News
- He took your/my/our disease upon himself and by His stripes, we have been healed...
- He came to set captives free..... so you./I have been set free from captivity of ........
- He came to proclaim a year of liberation .....
- He came to restore sight to the blind ........
- He came to seek, to save, restore, heal and make whole....and many more that can be found in the Holy Scriptures.
I can continue with the Litany, but that will not make any difference without believing in the one about whom these things are attributed, ... what matters is what do these mean to me as a believer and follower of Jesus? Scripture is the store house of all that Jesus said and taught. .. if we claim we have not sinned, we made him to be a liar and his words have no place in our lives... ( 1 Jn 1: 8-10) We deceive ourselves when we claim that we are without sin.....that would mean that we did not need a Saviour........ then Jesus sacrificial death would have been meaningless......
But who then is the liar? Satan is the liar..... the father of lies..... it's satan who seeks/desires to destroy ....... kill ... and condemn. ....It's satan, like a roaring lion, who prowls through the world seeking the ruin of souls to drag them to hell which has been prepared for him and his rebellious angels.
Remember: 'For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him'......Humanity was lost and was in need of restoration. It was God's mercy and love that brought Jesus to come among us taking on human flesh.... as we just celebrated at Christmas. All the prophecies, thousands of years earlier were fulfilled in his birth, death and resurrection. The question is: How has these sayings of Jesus resonated in my life?....Do I live them out in my life?...The truth is that, I have been bought at a price, by the Precious Blood of Jesus, .....God loves me so much that Jesus was willing to come and rescue me from bondage; ......He is the Branch and I am the vine as I cannot survive outside Him;..... believing in Him leads to eternal life with Him in heaven, as He is gone to prepare a place for me so that where He is, I may also be when the time comes and that means heaven is our final home and not hell.... Find out for yourself all the promises that the Scriptures have in store for all who will believe. The burning question is after all that the Lord has done for me/you/us, If I am to be arraigned before a law court, will there be enough evidence against me for being a Christian? Can people testify in my actions and words as a Christian? 'Love one another as I have loved you... for by this others will know that you are my followers how true is this in my life?....................
What is the truth and how do you live out the truth? Pilate asked Jesus: 'what is the truth?'...and in that confrontation Jesus said He came to the world to testify to the truth and 'Everyone on the side of truth listens to me'.(Jn. 18:17/18) Listening to Jesus and believing in what he teaches will lead us to discover what the truth is. Jesus is therefore the key to discovering what the truth is. He is the only person who calls himself, 'I AM'....He...... the Truth, ....the Life...... the Way ... the Light...... the Vine..... the True Bread that came from Heaven..... the Resurrection... . the Living Water...... the Door,.........the Good Shepherd'....... God was the first to call himself I AM to Moses from the 'Burning Bush'...... so Jesus by saying he is I AM, we are able to testify that He is the Truth from the things He said and taught. He came to testify to the truth that God is love but that is too wide, let's narrow it to the individual level, because unless I accept it and believe in it, this truth of God's unconditional love will not benefit me in any way. Just briefly recall few of the many facets of Jesus' revelation of himself being the Christ, the Son of the Living God, who came into the world.....
- He was annointed to proclaim the Good News
- He took your/my/our disease upon himself and by His stripes, we have been healed...
- He came to set captives free..... so you./I have been set free from captivity of ........
- He came to proclaim a year of liberation .....
- He came to restore sight to the blind ........
- He came to seek, to save, restore, heal and make whole....and many more that can be found in the Holy Scriptures.
I can continue with the Litany, but that will not make any difference without believing in the one about whom these things are attributed, ... what matters is what do these mean to me as a believer and follower of Jesus? Scripture is the store house of all that Jesus said and taught. .. if we claim we have not sinned, we made him to be a liar and his words have no place in our lives... ( 1 Jn 1: 8-10) We deceive ourselves when we claim that we are without sin.....that would mean that we did not need a Saviour........ then Jesus sacrificial death would have been meaningless......
But who then is the liar? Satan is the liar..... the father of lies..... it's satan who seeks/desires to destroy ....... kill ... and condemn. ....It's satan, like a roaring lion, who prowls through the world seeking the ruin of souls to drag them to hell which has been prepared for him and his rebellious angels.
Remember: 'For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him'......Humanity was lost and was in need of restoration. It was God's mercy and love that brought Jesus to come among us taking on human flesh.... as we just celebrated at Christmas. All the prophecies, thousands of years earlier were fulfilled in his birth, death and resurrection. The question is: How has these sayings of Jesus resonated in my life?....Do I live them out in my life?...The truth is that, I have been bought at a price, by the Precious Blood of Jesus, .....God loves me so much that Jesus was willing to come and rescue me from bondage; ......He is the Branch and I am the vine as I cannot survive outside Him;..... believing in Him leads to eternal life with Him in heaven, as He is gone to prepare a place for me so that where He is, I may also be when the time comes and that means heaven is our final home and not hell.... Find out for yourself all the promises that the Scriptures have in store for all who will believe. The burning question is after all that the Lord has done for me/you/us, If I am to be arraigned before a law court, will there be enough evidence against me for being a Christian? Can people testify in my actions and words as a Christian? 'Love one another as I have loved you... for by this others will know that you are my followers how true is this in my life?....................
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