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If you never read anything else ever on this blog, I urge to at least listen to this message, “Jesus Rose From The Dead .. So What?” by Michael Youssef. It is one of the best teachings I have ever listened to.

Seriously.

Ever.

I urge you to check it out, it is less than 30 minutes, and I can assure you that you will be blessed by the words, the truth of the message that is never changing, and all powerful.

Check out the sermon on LTW's website here.

Corresponding verses are as follows ->

1 Corinthians 15:1-9 (The Resurrection of Christ)
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day pin accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Dear Reader -
May you be blessed with the fulness of the presence of the Holy Spirit as you go through-out your days. May you stand firm in the truth of salvation through Jesus Christ alone, and be fearless in your efforts to make Him know to all. In Jesus name ♥



The following was adapted to modern English by Grace Gems. It was stumbled upon when I was doing a Google search for the terms for another item - however I am blessed to have come across it. What powerful words given over 150 years ago that still ring true today. As it is told and tested, God's love, who He is, and the truth of Salvation, is never-changing!

Loved and Blessed
by James Smith, 1860

To love, and be loved — is real happiness. When we look around and feel that we love all we know, and believe that all who know us have kindly feeling towards us — it is most pleasant.

Much of the happiness of heaven consists in this, that each one loves the whole, and the whole loves each one. Yes, all is love there. The saints love the angels, and the angels love the saints, and God loves them both.

Our highest honor, and our sweetest happiness below, is to be beloved of God. For if God loves us, he will bless us; and however he may try us, he will withhold no truly good thing from us.

He used Israel of old to punish his foes, and to execute the decrees of his justice; to encourage them in which, his servant Moses assured them, "The Lord your God shall keep unto you, the covenant and the mercy which he swore unto your fathers; and he will love you, and bless you." Deuteronomy 7:13. Israel represents true believers; and what was spoken to them — will apply to us. If therefore we are . . .
doing the will of God from the heart,
making his word our rule, and
making his glory our aim —
he will love us and bless us!

"He will love you." WHOM will he love? Israel, as delivered from bondage Egypt, brought into the wilderness, and now a poor helpless people.

That is, he will love US, who are delivered from . . .
the bondage of the law,
the tyranny of Satan, and
the spirit of this world.

He will love us, to whom the world is a wilderness, yielding us neither contentment, satisfaction, nor delight. He will love us, though poor — poor in this world, poor in spirit, and poor in our experience. He will love us, having nothing to present to him, and unable to do anything worthy of him. He will love us, not only poor — but ungrateful, and often complaining — when we ought to be praising; and murmuring — when we ought to be filled with gratitude. Therefore we are utterly unworthy — unworthy of the lowest place in his house, to be the lowest drudge in his service, or to share in his most distant regard. But, as believing in Jesus, as united to Jesus, as acknowledged by Jesus — he will love us, and bless us.

WHAT will God do for His people? He will LOVE them freely!

He will prefer you to all others — setting His eye and His heart upon you.

He will take you into fellowship — the nearest, dearest, sweetest fellowship with Himself.

He will make you happy with the persuasion of the facts . . .
that He has loved you with an everlasting love,
that He delights in His love to you, and
that He will ever love you freely!

O blessed state — that the great, the infinite, the holy Lord God, will love a worm like me . . .
preferring me even to the angels;
indulging me with the freest, sweetest fellowship with Himself;
and sweetly persuading my soul of His eternal love to me!

"I will heal their waywardness and love them freely — for my anger has turned away from them!" Hosea 14:4

WHY will He love me? Just because He will. The cause, the reason — is to be found in His loving heart, and sovereign will alone. Not because I am good, or amiable, or can repay His love — for He loves freely, and fixes His love on the most unlikely and unworthy objects!

Lord, help me to believe the love which You have to me, and to love You in return! O shed abroad Your sweet love in my heart, and fill that heart with glowing love to You! "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you!" Jeremiah 31:3

"He will bless you." Yes — and bless you like a God!

He will bless you with the knowledge of himself — with such an acquaintance with himself, as will . . .
draw out your heart to him,
fix your affections upon him,
divorce you from all beside him.

He will bless you with likeness to himself, stamping his image on the soul, and making your life reflect his moral perfections.

He will bless you with a fitness to dwell with himself, in the world of light, holiness, and love. O what a mercy to know God in Jesus, to be like God, and to be qualified to dwell with God forever!

He will bless your temporal mercies — your bread and your water, your going out and coming in. He will bless you, not only in your person — but in your relationships, and will make you a blessing to others.

What an inestimable privilege to be blessed by God . . .
blessed in body and soul,
blessed in temporals and spirituals,
blessed in time and eternity!

To be blessed as only God can bless, and to be blessed by God with all his heart and soul.

Precious state! My soul, hide it deep in your heart, that God, the Author and giver of every good and perfect gift, will indeed love you and bless you!

God's love is always free and unchangeable. Everything outside of God will change — but his love is immutable!

God's blessing is infinite and eternal. We cannot fully understand, what it is for God to bless — as an expression of his love. There is a vastness, a dazzling glory in it. To be blessed of God — is to be blessed forever.

But HOW may I know that God will love me? Hear his word, "I love them that love me, and they that seek me early shall find me." Do you love God? If not, will you seek him? If you do, you will find him, perceive his glory, and soon love him. Hear the Savior, "The Father loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God." Do you love Jesus? Do you believe that he came from God? If so, you . . .
entrust him with the salvation of your soul,
rely on his precious promises,
and obey his holy precepts.

In so doing, you prove your love to him, and there can be no question but that "he will love you, and bless you."

Would you be truly blessed — blessed of God, blessed now, and blessed forever more? Would you be blessed with all that you need, all that you can enjoy, and all that you can turn to a good account? Just follow the Savior's advice, and you shall be so, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." Seek principally, seek especially, to enter the kingdom, to extend the kingdom, to be an ornament to the kingdom. Seek . . .
to possess the righteousness which Jesus has wrought,
to experience the righteousness, which the Holy Spirit produces,
and to perform the righteousness which Jesus requires
 — and so will you be entitled to appropriate the language of Moses to yourself, "He will love you, and bless you!"


My Savior's ever watchful eye,
Is over me for good;
What will he not on me bestow,
Who has himself bestowed?

Sorrows, and agonies, and death,
You did endure for me,
When all the sins of God's elect,
Were made to meet on thee.

Exult, my soul, your safety stands
Unshaken as his throne,
His people's everlasting life
Is founded on his own!

 ❤❤❤


While doing research for a post that should come within a few days, I stumbled across this one on HuffPost by Sarah Thebarge, who has a resume the brings fireworks to my eyes., and wanted to share it in its entirety. May it bless you, as it did me!  
----
(Written: 03/25/2015 06:37 pm ET Updated May 25, 2015)

Whenever a plane goes down, there is inevitably a news story about the people who were supposed to be on the plane but weren’t — either because their alarm didn’t go off or there was a traffic jam or they switched travel plans at the last minute.
Yesterday was no exception. Amidst the horrifying reports of a plane dropping altitude over the Alps and then crashing into the mountain with 150 people on board, there was the story of a soccer team who changed their travel plans because they decided the layover in Dusseldorf was too long.
When we hear stories like that, us Christians tend to say, “Wow! Isn’t God good!?”
We say that a lot — “Isn’t God good!?” — when we hear reports of people who inexplicably avoided doom.
A woman has car trouble and avoids the fatal 12-car pile-up on the interstate that she would’ve been in if her car had started. Isn’t God good?
A man goes to his doctor for pneumonia and the chest x-ray shows a tumor in his lung that is entirely removed and cured because the doctor accidentally discovered it when it was still in its early stages. Isn’t God good?
I survived an aggressive form of breast cancer when I was 28 years old. Isn’t God good?people say a lot when they hear my story of how I almost died, and how God spared my life.
Yes, I always say. God is absolutely good.
But is this WHY God is good? If God hadn’t spared my life, would God still be good?
Because here’s the thing — for as many stories as there are of people who escaped doom, there are just as many (if not more) stories of people who weren’t so “lucky.”
There were people killed in that fatal interstate pile-up who usually take a different way to work, but for some reason thought the interstate would be faster that day.
Isn’t God good? It sounds obscene to say that.
There were people diagnosed with Stage IV cancer and died weeks later because their cancer was discovered too late. Isn’t Good good?
No, my instincts say. It doesn’t make sense to draw attention to God’s goodness in a situation that seems to be the opposite of good.
Two of my friends have died of breast cancer in their 30’s.
Isn’t God good?
I have to honestly answer that I don’t know, and it makes me think hard about what God’s goodness even means.
The thing I can’t walk away from is that the Bible doesn’t just say that God does good things. It says that God IS good. It’s not just what he does; it’s who he is — and who he is never changes.
In Psalm 46, the psalmist says, “God is our refuge and strength, a present help in times of trouble. Therefore, we will not fear...”
In his commentary on Psalm 46, Charles Spurgeon wrote that God is good — not because he causes things that seem or feel “good” to happen in our lives, but because in the midst of the storm, God comes closer to us than the storm could ever be.
And THIS is why we can say with absolute confidence that God is good.
This is why we can say, no matter how bad the storm is, no matter how much pain we experience, no matter how different the outcome is from what we’ve prayed for, that God is good. In the hardest moments of life, God comes close to us and he doesn’t change, he doesn’t falter, he doesn’t quit, he doesn’t leave and he doesn’t let go.
God is just as good to the 150 people who went down on the Germanwings plane as he is to the soccer team who switched flights at the last minute.
God is just as good to the people who died in the car accident as he is to the people who avoided it.
God is just as good to the parents of obedient children as he is to parents of children who have rebelled.
God is just as good to infertile women as he is to women who have as many biological children as they want.
God is just as good to the family who loses their home in a fire as he is to the family whose house doesn’t burn down.
God is just as good to the single person as he is to the person who gets married.
God is just as good to the people who lose their jobs in corporate downsizing as he is to the people who earn a promotion.
God is just as good to the people who drown in a tsunami as he is to the people who are rescued.
God is just as good to the young women who died of breast cancer as he was to me when I survived it.
Isn’t God good?
YES! The answer is always a resounding YES. GOD IS GOOD!
But we have GOT to stop only talking about his goodness when an unexpectedly pleasant thing happens. Because God’s goodness is not dependent on an outcome or an emotion or a barely-missed-doom story.
God is not good because we avoid danger.
God is good because when the storms of life hit, he comes closer to us than the storm ever could.
He holds us in his loving arms.
He doesn’t change.
He doesn’t falter.
He doesn’t quit.
He doesn’t leave.
And no matter what, he never lets go.

Let me introduce to you Rodney, a co-worker, father, husband, coach and (most importantly) man of God, who I will always remember as saying "I know what I am and I know whose I am" with 100% confidence in his countenance. While having group breakfast at work a few weeks ago the topic came up about right vs wrong and children being taught vs predisposition of certain behaviors. He shared with me what he wrote the below, and I asked if he would be kind enough to let me post it on the blog, he was and welcomes any comments and feedback!

THE NEED FOR CHRIST
BY RODNEY L. SMOKES

If you have ever had the privilege of raising a child, or being close by while one was being raised, then the question of our nature has been answered for you. You don’t have to teach a child to do wrong; you have to train them to do right. We come in the world selfish and desiring to please only ourselves. Try this: instruct a small child not to eat any of the cookies left on the kitchen counter, and then walk out of the room. When you return to see the little child’s teeth marks left in one of the cookies, ask him if he was the one who ate of the cookie. Any parent knows the answer that is going to come forth out of the child’s mouth; “no” (if not this situation, you have one like it).

Why is this? Why do we have to train our children to be honest and to obey instruction? The reason is simple; we are born in sin and shapen in iniquity. After the flood Noah offered burnt offerings unto the Lord. And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in His heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done (Genesis 8 ).

 We have witnessed the truth in this saying, yet we deceive ourselves into thinking we are born innocent, and then made corrupt. We are corrupt from our beginning. What man has entered into the world without sin (save Jesus Christ)? For if our fathers, since Adam, are sinners, how then can their seeds be without sin (which is in their sinful bodies)? Why do we have traits of our fathers? A man can have a child and then desert him, and that child will still be like his father. Why is this? A man’s seed is from him, and of him. A misconception has been passed along among the peoples. God only created two people. All other souls are born of man (save Jesus Christ). This is the predicament of man: God hates sin. How then can man fellowship with God? How can we know Him? For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3).

This is the need for Christ: that we may be forgiven for that which we are guilty of. The question then becomes, how. How might we be saved through this man called Jesus? By what means is Jesus able to cleanse us of our sins? If man is born in sin and Jesus was born a man, where is his saving power? Jesus was born of a virgin for this very reason; that he may be the perfect sacrifice. Before Jesus, the people would give sacrifices to atone for their sins. These sacrifices were not unto salvation but for atonement and a sign of what was to come. Because of sin there was no perfect sacrifice in the earth. This is the need for Christ and him crucified. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many (Romans 5).

So, who is this Jesus? Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Father. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man commeth unto the Father, but by me. There is no salvation apart from Jesus. If we are to be forgiven of our sins, we must believe in Him. 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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: But he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3).

So, for those who believe in Jesus Christ, they are forgiven their sins; for Christ stood in our place and died for us. Does this mean that we, believers, are no longer guilty of our sins? How could that be? We committed the sins. Forgiveness is the covering of sins. You do not cover that which is not there in the first place. Yes, the penalty is paid and our record will be made clean. But the difference between the saved and the damned is belief in Christ, not sin. When Jesus comes back, we shall be made like him, but let us not forget the sacrifice he made on our behalf. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, Holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12). Because Christ died for our sins, it is a reasonable service indeed.

No serious scholar, of any sort, says that Jesus didn’t exist. Christians believe he is the Son of God; he was born of a virgin, died on the cross, rose from the dead in three days and now sits on the right hand of God in heaven. Muslims believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, but that he was not the Son of God, but a prophet. Jews believe he was blasphemous, and are still waiting on Christ to show up for the first time. So, the separation between the world’s three largest religions centers on who Jesus is.


What do you believe?


While pondering recently on potential future permanent something, I came across the phase "coram Deo" which (per Wikipedia) “is a Latin phrase translated "in the presence of God" from Christian theology which summarizes the idea of Christians living in the presence of, under the authority of, and to the honor and glory of God.”



R.C Sproul (admittedly I know nothing much of the person), recently wrote the following blog article on coram Deo.

What Does “coram Deo” Mean?

I remember Mama standing in front of me, her hands poised on her hips, her eyes glaring with hot coals of fire and saying in stentorian tones, “Just what is the big idea, young man?”
Instinctively I knew my mother was not asking me an abstract question about theory. Her question was not a question at all—it was a thinly veiled accusation. Her words were easily translated to mean, “Why are you doing what you are doing?” She was challenging me to justify my behavior with a valid idea. I had none.
Recently a friend asked me in all earnestness the same question. He asked, “What’s the big idea of the Christian life?” He was interested in the overarching, ultimate goal of the Christian life.
To answer his question, I fell back on the theologian’s prerogative and gave him a Latin term. I said, “The big idea of the Christian life is coram Deo. Coram Deo captures the essence of the Christian life.”
This phrase literally refers to something that takes place in the presence of, or before the face of, God. To live coram Deo is to live one’s entire life in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God.

LIVING CORAM DEO IS TO LIVE ONE’S ENTIRE LIFE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD,
UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF GOD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD
To live in the presence of God is to understand that whatever we are doing and wherever we are doing it, we are acting under the gaze of God. God is omnipresent. There is no place so remote that we can escape His penetrating gaze.
To be aware of the presence of God is also to be acutely aware of His sovereignty. The uniform experience of the saints is to recognize that if God is God, then He is indeed sovereign. When Saul was confronted by the refulgent glory of the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, his immediate question was, “Who is it, Lord?” He wasn’t sure who was speaking to him, but he knew that whomever it was, was certainly sovereign over him.
Living under divine sovereignty involves more than a reluctant submission to sheer sovereignty that is motivated out of a fear of punishment. It involves recognizing that there is no higher goal than offering honor to God. Our lives are to be living sacrifices, oblations offered in a spirit of adoration and gratitude.
To live all of life coram Deo is to live a life of integrity. It is a life of wholeness that finds its unity and coherency in the majesty of God. A fragmented life is a life of disintegration. It is marked by inconsistency, disharmony, confusion, conflict, contradiction, and chaos.
The Christian who compartmentalizes his or her life into two sections of the religious and the nonreligious has failed to grasp the big idea. The big idea is that all of life is religious or none of life is religious. To divide life between the religious and the nonreligious is itself a sacrilege.
This means that if a person fulfills his or her vocation as a steelmaker, attorney, or homemaker coram Deo, then that person is acting every bit as religiously as a soul-winning evangelist who fulfills his vocation. It means that David was as religious when he obeyed God’s call to be a shepherd as he was when he was anointed with the special grace of kingship. It means that Jesus was every bit as religious when He worked in His father’s carpenter shop as He was in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Integrity is found where men and women live their lives in a pattern of consistency. It is a pattern that functions the same basic way in church and out of church. It is a life that is open before God. It is a life in which all that is done is done as to the Lord. It is a life lived by principle, not expediency; by humility before God, not defiance. It is a life lived under the tutelage of conscience that is held captive by the Word of God.
Coram Deo … before the face of God. That’s the big idea. Next to this idea our other goals and ambitions become mere trifles.

~~~~


Squee, isn’t it like the bestest phrase you’ve heard as of late? As you ponder upon what this means to your own life, I hope that you feel a sincere sense of peace and comfort, knowing that you are loved beyond measure, and that you are never without hope. I pray that you become willing, bold, and unshakable in your faith. That you will not be bound any longer by past sins or regrets, habits that you think can never be broken, but know that you are a new creation in Christ. His mercies are renewed every day, and that as a believer you have the HOLY SPIRIT INSIDE OF YOU; so victory is really yours for the taking to be claimed in the name of Jesus! 
A dear Sister-in-Christ Aubrey has started delivering devotionals via e-mail, and this one instantly touched my heart when I read it. As it hasn't escaped my mind since it was read earlier in March, I deemed it appropriate to share here. It is taken from Reasons For Hope.

Is SUICIDE an unforgivable sin? 

By Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope

Recently I have received more questions than I wish to count about the eternal destiny of those who commit suicide.  Therefore, this question has been moved to the top of the Got Questions? queue and we’ll look at what the Bible says about suicide.  

In addition to asking if suicide is an unforgivable sin, the reader wrote, “I can’t find anything in the Bible about suicide.  I found Judas’ hanging himself..but nothing else. Am I overlooking it? I have heard two preachers preach very different messages about suicide.”  And another reader asked, “When a person commits suicide, do they go straight to hell like most churches teach?”

Let me begin by saying, I don’t believe that most churches teach a person goes straight to hell if they commit suicide (although there are somechurches that teach or imply that).  In fact, this is not something that is often addressed in most churches, and yet with the increasing rate of suicide it needs to be addressed.  Just last week, CBS News reported these findings:

 “ The suicide rate for girls and young women in the U.S. continues to rise at a pace far faster than for young males….The report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there were 5,178 suicide deaths among young people aged 10 to 24 in the U.S. in 2012. Suicide was the second leading cause of deaths in that age group, after accidents.The suicide rate increased for young people of both genders since 2007. And it remains three times higher for young males than young females.But the female increase has been steadier.

“Suicide rates for younger people have varied over the years, with a recent upward trend starting around 2007. There were 4,320 suicide deaths in 2007; the toll was 5,264 in 2013. Suicide rates for older adults tend to be higher, in the range of 15 or 20 per 100,000. Since 2007, suicide rates have increased for older age groups, too.” [1]

Is Suicide an Unforgivable Sin? What does the Bible say?

There are several accounts in the Bible of people who took their own lives.  Probably the two best known examples are Saul, who took his life to avoid the dishonor of being captured, abused and killed (1 Samuel 31:1-4), and Judas, who betrayed Jesus and then hung himself (Matthew 27:5).  Other people in the Old Testament who committed suicide are:

Abimelech (Judges 9:54) – to avoid the dishonor of being killed by a woman
Samson (Judges 16:28-31) – to defeat the Philistines who had imprisoned him
Saul’s armor-bearer (1 Samuel 31:5) – to follow his king, Saul, into death
Ahitophel (2 Samuel 17:23) – in defeat when he realized his counsel was not followed
Zimri (1 Kings 16:18) – in defeat to avoid capture

 Although the act of suicide is clearly condemned in the Bible, these men in the Old Testament were not condemned for what they did.
It should be understood that suicide is never to be a viable option for escape in times of difficulty and despair.  There is help…..family, friends, churches, online (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) and the best of all help, Jesus.   Scripture teaches us that Jesus’ grace is sufficient in all things (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) and that He is faithful to provide an escape from anything that threatens to overcome us (1 Corinthians 10:13).  Sadly, many Christians experience dark seasons of the soul and fail to find the comfort they need in Jesus.  And tragically, some have taken their own life.  This is why it is important to spend time in prayer and in reading the Bible, so, when a storm threatens to overtake us, we are prepared to find comfort and strength in Jesus and His Word.   The Bible will give us the answers we need to deal with all problems in life, and in prayer our faith will grow stronger and we can find peace and comfort.   These practices will build a foundation to stand upon in our darkest days.

With all that said, we must acknowledge that there have been prepared believers who have lost their “footings” and have fallen and have taken their own lives.  So is suicide a sin?  Yes, it is.  Suicide is the taking of human life.  However, in man’s vertical relationship with God, suicide is no different than any other sin.  And, while God can forgive any sin, He cannot overlook even one sin.  All sin must be paid for in order to receive God’s forgiveness.  

If a believer (one who has been redeemed and regenerated by Jesus) has committed suicide, it must be remembered that every one of the believer’s sins were paid for by Jesus on the cross.  The believer received God’s forgiveness for every sin (past, present and future sins), including the final sin of suicide, in their salvation.   Jesus has promised that He has prepared a place for those who are His and that He will come to receive them unto Himself (John 14:1-4).

For someone who does not belong to Jesus, someone who has not repented and trusted in Jesus’ finished work on the cross to pay for their sins, they have not received the forgiveness of their sins and God will judge them accordingly.  All sin must be paid for and if someone dies in their sin, they are already condemned. 

John 3:18  “He who believes in [Jesus] is not condemned [they have been forgiven and given the righteousness of Christ]; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (bracketed information added)

 This is a great reason for us to be diligent in sharing the gospel of saving grace with family and friends, and even strangers.  People leave this earth every minute of every day and without belonging to Jesus they will not enter Heaven.  We should always share the gospel, hoping that the Holy Spirit will work on the person’s heart.  Some will repent and turn to Jesus, but sadly some are very hard hearted and will stubbornly reject Jesus their entire life.  However, even for those there is always hope that before they take their last breath they will surrender to God and trust in Jesus.  The Lord’s mercy is available to all who will call upon Him and, if a person knows the gospel,  their heart can turn to Jesus even at the last moment of life.  An example of this is the thief on the cross.  He was saved in the last moments of his life when He trusted in Jesus as Lord (Luke 23:42) and given eternal life with Jesus (Luke 23:43).  So also can our friends and family do the same.  If they have a knowledge of who Jesus is and what He has done for them, they can turn to Jesus.  Therein lies our hope.  Continue to share the gospel of the saving grace found only in the Lord Jesus Christ with all who do not know Him.  

In conclusion:  Regarding Christians who commit suicide, we can rest assured that there is no sin which is unforgivable.  Because their sins were paid for on the cross by Jesus, and they have trusted in Him, they are forgiven sinners.  

Colossians 2:13-14  And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Jesus has forgiven our sins and given us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).  He has regenerated us in newness of life (Romans 6:4) and made us worthy to be citizens of Heaven (Philippians 3:20).  Remember always that we can find peace and comfort in Him, and when any Christian dies (under whatever circumstances) they go home to Heaven and be with Jesus (John 14:1-4).

Titus 2:14  who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed [sin] and purify for Himself His own special people…
Philippians 3:20  For our [citizenship/home] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, 
the only wise God, be honour and glory 

for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17)

Meaning and Derivation: Jehovah is translated as "The Existing One" or "Lord." The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havah meaning "to be" or "to exist." It also suggests "to become" or specifically "to become known" - this denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly. Shammah is derived from the Hebrew word sham, which can be translated as "there." Jehovah Shammah is a symbolic name for the earthly Jerusalem. The name indicates that God has not abandoned Jerusalem, leaving it in ruins, but that there will be a restoration. [from BlueLetterBible]

It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, Jehovah Shammah [The LORD is there].
Ezekiel 48:35

As doing study for the this particular Name of God I came across this lovely devotional, and would like to share it with you all in replacement of one that I would write on my own. Leah Adams shared the below on CBN in 2011, and I invite you to visit her blog for more about her, and her ministry.  

Jehovah-shammah
By Leah Adams

Although I love the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem in particular, this name of God speaks to me in a very unique way. First let’s examine the meaning of this name and then seek to apply it to our lives.

Jehovah-shammah is a name for God that is symbolic of Jerusalem. We find this name for God used in Ezekiel 48:35 (NLT): “The distance around the entire city will be 6 miles. And from that day the name of the city will be ‘The Lord is There.’”

At the height of the idolatry of God’s chosen people, God withdrew His presence not only from the temple, but even from the city of Jerusalem. Such was his anger and displeasure over the repeated rebellion of the Israelites that He said, in effect, “I’ve had it. I’m out of here.”

When God’s presence departed the temple, it signaled to the Israelites and all who dwelt around them that God had removed His hand of protection from them. They would ultimately be scattered to the four corners of the earth and taken captive by surrounding nations.

God did not completely wash His hands of the Israelites, however. His love and mercy were always with them, continually drawing them back to Himself. Through the prophet Ezekiel, God promised a restoration of the nation and a return of His presence to Jerusalem. In that day the city would be called Jehovah-shammah. That very prophecy came true when the exiles returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the walls. God’s presence returned to the temple in the form of a tiny baby brought to the temple to be offered back to God by his parents, Joseph and Mary.

Let’s think about how this name, Jehovah-shammah, applies to us. So often you and I live our lives looking ahead to some event, some time in our lives, some potential disaster, some looming date. We may wonder what that date will bring to our lives or how we will survive it. Perhaps it is a doctor’s appointment or a court date or your child leaving home or your mate passing away. It could be a new job, a divorce or moving from a place that you have called home for many years. Whatever this future event is, it causes you to have a knot in the pit of your stomach every time you think about it. Be it real or imagined, this future occurrence causes you huge amounts of stress, angst and worry.

Jehovah-shammah. THE LORD IS THERE!! Our God is already in your tomorrow. He already knows what your future looks like and He has complete control over it. We are told in Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) that Jehovah-shammah says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope”. THE LORD IS THERE!! You cannot be in your future now, but He can. You can’t control the future events of your life, but He can. Jehovah-shammah will walk with you into whatever tomorrow holds because of His great love for you. God is THERE in your tomorrow and in my tomorrow. He simply desires that we trust His heart.

~~~~~
Thanks to Daniel (aka fella with an awesome beard) for allowing me to post this on here! I hope you all are as enlightened, encouraged and blessed by it as myself!

Singleness Isn’t a Curse

It seems like everyone is either getting engaged or married right now! Many of my closest friends are now headed towards marriage, and I am super excited for them!
Now, I’m going to be honest, I have felt kind of lonely and out of place. A lot of my friends are dating and/or getting married, and in my close circle of friends I am one of the only single people. This started provoking thoughts like:
“When will it be my turn?”
“Why can’t I experience what they are experiencing?”
I was worrying so much about whether or not I would ever experience what my friends were experiencing that I lost sight of what was most important: Seeking God. Whether I am single, dating, or married, I should always seek the Lord and worship him daily. This wasn’t my posture. Oh, no. I was not content with just being single. I wanted a relationship. I didn’t want to be single anymore. God then reminded me of a story my dad told me a while back. A story that I will always remember.
My dad had just turned 20 and really desired to find a wife. He looked everywhere for “the one,”  but couldn’t find her. His dad (my grandpa) sat him down and read Matthew 6:33 to him. Which states:
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
My grandpa told my dad to seek God! “You get so caught up in looking for someone to marry that you have lost sight of what really matters. Seek God and then He will add these things.” Now 20 years later, my dad has shared that story with me multiple times, but I have really taken it to heart recently. Singleness isn’t a disease or a curse. It is a gift from God and should be treated as such. My desire to find a girl should not supersede my desire to seek after my Lord. He is all in all, and He is better.
Through this I have learned 3 things:
  1. Singleness is a gift.
  2. Do not let your singleness rob you of the joy that God has given you.
  3. Use your singleness to glorify God.
Lastly, I want to share what the next verse after Matthew 6:33 says,
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34
God is sovereign over our singleness, our dating, and our marriages. He knows what He is doing. Don’t worry. Trust Him.
Feeling the urge to do something more collaborative for a Christmas post this year, I asked a few friends of mine for the help by sharing what Christmas means to them.  Thank you each for your help on this, I appreciate each of you very much!

What Christmas Means To Me
By Aubrey, Destinie, Gina, Spencer & Yvonne

I've been thinking about this a lot: there are so many contemporary songs out there that pine away longing for the joys of Christmases past. From memories of lost love, to wondering why Christmas isn't the way it was when we were children, to longing for loved ones who have passed. I don't mean to be critical, because those feelings are very real. I could and do feel the same way for any number of reasons. Missing my mom. Missing my dad. Even missing friends that I enjoyed celebrating Christmas with last year.

However, I also rejoice over watching my children grow, seeing Wesley for the first time truly excited about Christmas, his understanding growing because he remembers last year. Remembering my beautiful baby girl last year, and now seeing her, a toddler, not understanding and yet enchanted by all the beauty of the glistening lights and the joyful church music which radiates the same spirit of joy which God has placed within her. It was last Christmas that God began to show me that "joy" was going to be the word He would give me for her.

But I have really been thinking about how God never changes. And how often we forget because we get focused on how things have changed, or how we are in the midst of change, or how big changes lie ahead. Even Christmas, that special time that comes around every December, changes with every year that goes by. This beckons to us, to bring the focus of Christmas back to God, not just to Jesus coming as a little baby but everything before and after that moment in time, because Jesus, being God, is eternal and immutable. The great mystery of Christmas is how all that holiness and glory and eternity came clothed in the helpless human form of a little baby.

Another thing about Christmas that is mysterious to me is how everyone, believer and non-believer, seeker, atheist, and skeptic alike, we all feel something special this time of year. People's hearts are open. Differences are, at least for a moment, overlooked or even reconciled. And yet Jesus wasn't even born on December 25th.

I'm striving with my kids to keep the focus on eternal things as much as possible. People probably think we're miserly because of how little money we spend on our kids at Christmas time. They probably also think we're party poopers because we don't want our kids to believe in Santa Claus. Maybe we are those things, but it also helps steer the focus away from the presents and back toward what is really important: the only part of Christmas that will never, ever change, and will even outlive the very need for Christmas itself. Jesus is called the Word because He communicates to us everything that God, the incomprehensible, Holy, Perfect Being that we cannot see, wants to show us about Himself. Jesus came as a baby to communicate that to us on a level that we could understand. He lived among us so we could see firsthand all that God is in a way we could comprehend. And so that He would feel and experience everything we do, yet without sin, making Him the perfect sacrifice to reconcile us to God, and also the perfect High Priest to stand before God and intercede for us, because He experienced firsthand the pain of being clothed in this frail human flesh.

We definitely decorate our house and have big family gatherings and enjoy some of the more secular trappings of Christmas. We play Christmas music, secular and Christian, from Thanksgiving to New Years. We LOVE this time of year as much as any other family. And I think that many of those things can and should be enjoyed in their rightful place. It just breaks my heart when those are the first and only reasons for celebrating this time of year. – Aubrey (Rochester, NY)

Christmas means family: lots and lots of family. I have over 20 first cousins, so whatever house we've chosen to gather in is always full. To me, Christmas has never really been about gifts and lights or physical things, but about coming together to fellowship with each other in memory of Christ and what he did, and still does for us. And of course, no Christmas is complete without coma-inducing, rich foods. – Destinie (Planet City, FL)

There is something very magical about Christmas. The hope of our Savior coming to dwell with us, the opportunity to bless others, the anticipation of a day filled with warmth & love. Many complain that it has become materialistic or that it has become a secular event. I don't feel that way though. I believe many still hold on to the true meaning of it. You see it as you pass people's houses and churches, and the nativity is on full display. You see it as you scroll down social media pages and people are celebrating Advent, stirring themselves up. You see it as people make the effort to volunteer at shelters or rush to an angel tree to pick out a child to bless.

Though the season begins with a Black Friday, the true spirit of Christmas is alive & well in the hearts of men. Let us not become discouraged or doubt motives, but remain focused on the lights in the world that are shining brighter in the dark. – Gina (Plano, TX)

What Christmas means to me is a time for miracles and a time to fall in love. Christmas brings people together and makes the impossible possible in some way shape or form. People say Santa isn't real but I believe he is real still to this day. The only difference from when you were a kid to now is that if you're good he'll bring you a miracle. – Spencer (Lawrenceville, GA)

It's another year gone by and the anniversary of our dear Saviors birth comes around again. Growing up in a large family (there were 8 of us kids), was always fun and innovative. Christmas was no exception. Today, I hold dear those many memories. Both secular and religious. I am so glad I went to Sunday School as a child. My parents did not attend church but they made sure us kids went every Sunday. But they always came to the Easter and Christmas programs our Sunday schools put on. The early foundation of my church years gave me the promise that Christ was born for a reason. I learned that early and know today that many people celebrate for different reasons. But not me. Jesus is the Reason for the Season!. The Christmas Carols in the hymnal, remembered forever on my mind will never fade. Today in the hustle and bustle of Christmas as the commercialization takes a front door. I read the gospel over and over. I sing the hymns over and over.( I can't sing on tune so I sing by myself.) and I keep adding to my nativity collection. I also keep some of the fun stuff, Santa Claus, Frosty, and Jingle Bells. This year, I am keeping Christmas simple. Easy on the gifts, lots of family, and comfort foods. Fellowship with friends and remembering good childhood memories. Midnight Church service on Christmas Eve. How can I forget? Candles lit each window in the church with a calming glow. Silent Night, Holy Night. Sung by the choir in perfect pitch. The Christmas tree all lit aglow under twinkling lights. Christmas to me is all these things. I have taught my children that Christmas is Jesus' birthday, a day to celebrate the wonderful gift from God to us.  That we have a way to come to him for an eternal life and Jesus is the answer for the world. Merry Christmas! – Yvonne (Vancouver, WA)
If you knew me during my teen-age years then you knew one thing about me for sure, I loved Anne Rice. I consumed her vampire novels one after the other, having my parents sometimes pay top dollar for the hardcover version the first day it was released. To my delight today I found that she made a "I Am Second" video. While listening to her, as she speaks about what it was she was going through while she penned down her famous works is quite interesting and amazing. They are both of those (interesting and amazing) as I recollect what I was going through, what I felt and was dealing with in my own life at the times when I read them. Not to mention as I near my 30th birthday, and it was been almost a decade since I have picked up one of those books (albeit I have read her Christ The Lord novels since). It is when we look back, we can see how far we have come ... how far God has lead us into the greatness He has in store. 

 I recommend you to listen to her story, if you have a spare ten minutes or so. 



Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:37-39
I am delighted to call this woman a sister in Christ, uplifter and friend, and additionally that she allowed me to share this here. You can find this lovely lady on Facebook, if you would like to reach out to her directly. SIC!
My love story


I was born and raised in Durban, South Africa into a very strict Islamic household. My mother was and still is the religious leader in our community. She converts people to Islam and runs a Madrasah (Islamic school) out of her home.

 One of my earliest memories is being at Islamic school, covered from head to toe, reading the Quran. I remember distinctly sitting on my mother’s lap reciting the Quran and every time, I got to a particular phrase that I could not remember, and I was beat continuously. That’s when the fear began. I had to be perfect. Because I wanted to please my parents, I became one of her best students. My mother was so proud of me and there was constant chatter that I would continue this family legacy when she passed away.

In 1995 I came to the United States to attend University. In 1998 I had my first supernatural experience with God that completely transformed my life. That is the day that I realized that Jesus maybe more than just a Prophet. (In Islam Jesus is revered as of the Major Prophets.) I remained in a state of confusion and turmoil for 8 years. Could my entire life be a lie? I kept asking myself how this could be. I didn’t know who I was anymore! I had to find out! But, I was afraid to denounce Islam because of my family. Fear and loyalty had been imputed into me. As I child I would always say, “I was born a Muslim and I’ll die a Muslim.” I struggled to wrap my head around the fact that Jesus was God. It was against everything I was ever taught! Deep down inside, I knew that Jesus was way more special than what I was taught. He just felt right! But fear had a stronger hold. This was the beginning of my spiritual journey.

In June of 2006, I had another experience with God and He revealed to me in a vision: Proverbs, 3:5-6 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. [a]. There was no more doubt! I believed with all my heart! I wanted the world to know On June 13th, 2006 I was baptized.

My life has changed drastically since I have been born again! Has it been a smooth transition? Absolutely not! Was my family accepting of my conversion? No, they were not. During the early years, did I ever consider going back to Islam? NO! Never entertained that thought! You see, God became a very close companion. He was so real to me! He delighted in me! I did not know much back then, but I was certain of one thing: He loved me! I had never experienced a love like this! He was always near! We were in constant fellowship. I fell madly and deeply in love!

I began to meditate on the WORD of God and my mindset began to change. I learnt my rights in Christ! I became Christ conscious! I knew my identity! My mind was renewed! The fear that had bound me my entire life; left me! I knew who I was and the more I studied the Word, the stronger I became. The Word had taken root in my Spirit. I began to eat the Word veraciously! My thirst for the Word became unquenchable! I simply CAN NOT get enough!

One of my favorite scriptures is Hebrews 4:12, “that the Word of God is alive and active, sharper than any two edged sword, it penetrates even dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”. This scripture really touches me deeply. You see no matter what walk of life you come from or what your past looks like, you are now a new creation in Christ. This Word of God, builds, breaks, removes, cleans, fixes, empowers, transforms and molds you into who God says you are. When this Word gets into your spirit, remnants of your past will not be visible. Your life becomes a wonder! No longer will you be bound by the opinion of man. The Word of God establishes you! I am unashamedly in love! A woman after Gods own heart, just like David. I would change nothing, irrespective of all the relationships I’ve lost. I’ve gained so much more!