Set apart for Christ !!!

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV). But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, .......... 
Thoughts on This Verse... 
How do we effectively share our faith, especially in situations hostile to faith? 
First, we consciously submit our hearts to Christ as Lord. 
Second, we prepare a presentation of faith that focuses on the hope we have in Jesus. 
Finally, when we share our reason for hope, we do it with respect, gently sharing our faith with others. 

Of course we would never have an opportunity to share our faith if we don't live a life of faith that makes an impact on those around us. 

"Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all."

Matthew 12:15

What a mass of hideous sickness must have thrust itself under the eye of Jesus! Yet we read not that he was disgusted, but patiently waited on every case. What a singular variety of evils must have met at his feet! What sickening ulcers and putrefying sores! Yet he was ready for every new shape of the monster evil, and was victor over it in every form. 

Let the arrow fly from what quarter it might, he quenched its fiery power. The heat of fever, or the cold of dropsy; the lethargy of palsy, or the rage of madness; the filth of leprosy, or the darkness of ophthalmia--all knew the power of his word, and fled at his command. 

In every corner of the field he was triumphant over evil, and received the homage of delivered captives. He came, he saw, he conquered everywhere. It is even so this morning. 

Whatever my own case may be, the beloved Physician can heal me; and whatever may be the state of others whom I may remember at this moment in prayer, I may have hope in Jesus that he will be able to heal them of their sins. 

My child, my friend, my dearest one, I can have hope for each, for all, when I remember the healing power of my Lord; and on my own account, however severe my struggle with sins and infirmities, I may yet be of good cheer. He who on earth walked the hospitals, still dispenses his grace, and works wonders among the sons of men: let me go to him at once in right earnest.

Let me praise him, this morning, as I remember how he wrought his spiritual cures, which bring him most renown. It was by taking upon himself our sicknesses. "By his stripes we are healed." The Church on earth is full of souls healed by our beloved Physician; and the inhabitants of heaven itself confess that "He healed them all." Come, then, my soul, publish abroad the virtue of his grace, and let it be "to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign which shall not be cut off."

Today's reading taken from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening."

The things God has prepared for those who love him—

Ask the Holy Spirit to inspire you while you see this video,

 I'm sure you will be blessed the same way I was..

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (New International Version, ©2011)

  However, as it is written:

   “What no eye has seen, 

   what no ear has heard, 

and what no human mind has conceived”— 

   the things God has prepared for those who love him—

    these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

   The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

TO ALL MOTHER'S OF THE WORLD !!!

Proverbs 10:6 (NIV). Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked....... 


Thoughts on This Verse...


Righteousness brings us great blessings. 
Violence becomes its own vile reward, bringing to those who use it what they have done to others. 
So what's our choice? 
Blessing or violence? Encouragement or a foul mouth? 
So what's the real choice? 
Letting God define character and not someone else. 

Let us submit our hearts and mind, under the powerful hand of GOD to guide our life's !!!

"We dwell in him."

"We dwell in him."

1 John 4:13

Do you want a house for your soul? Do you ask, 

"What is the purchase?" It is something less than proud human nature will like to give. It is without money and without price. 

Ah! you would like to pay a respectable rent! You would love to do something to win Christ? Then you cannot have the house, for it is "without price." Will you take my Master's house on a lease for all eternity, with nothing to pay for it, nothing but the ground-rent of loving and serving him forever? Will you take Jesus and "dwell in him?" See, this house is furnished with all you want, it is filled with riches more than you will spend as long as you live. 

Here you can have intimate communion with Christ and feast on his love; here are tables well-stored with food for you to live on forever; in it, when weary, you can find rest with Jesus; and from it you can look out and see heaven itself. 

Will you have the house? Ah! if you are houseless, you will say, "I should like to have the house; but may I have it?" Yes; there is the key--the key is, "Come to Jesus." "But," you say, "I am too shabby for such a house." Never mind; there are garments inside. If you feel guilty and condemned, come; and though the house is too good for you, Christ will make you good enough for the house by-and-by. 

He will wash you and cleanse you, and you will yet be able to sing, "We dwell in him." Believer: thrice happy art thou to have such a dwelling-place! Greatly privileged thou art, for thou hast a "strong habitation" in which thou art ever safe. And "dwelling in him," thou hast not only a perfect and secure house, but an everlasting one. 

When this world shall have melted like a dream, our house shall live, and stand more imperishable than marble, more solid than granite, self-existent as God, for it is God himself--"We dwell in him."

Today's reading taken from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening."

Mighty power !!!

Ephesians 6:10 (NIV). 
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power....... 


Thoughts on This Verse... 


Some of our strength to fight evil comes from our experiences in the past, from the encouragement of others, and from our knowledge of the truth in the Scriptures. 


Ultimately, however, our strength comes from God's mighty power. Paul uses his letter to the Ephesians to remind Christians that this power is what raised Jesus from the dead (1:19-20). Through that power in us, God can do much more than we can ask or imagine (3:20-21). 


Most important of all, as we put on our spiritual armor and dedicate ourselves to spiritual discipline, God blesses us with his power and might. 

We can be strong in God's mighty power. 

"I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

"I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

2 Corinthians 6:16

What a sweet title: "My people!" 

What a cheering revelation: "Their God!" How much of meaning is couched in those two words, "My people!" Here is speciality. The whole world is God's; the heaven, even the heaven of heavens is the Lord's, and he reigneth among the children of men; but of those whom he hath chosen, whom he hath purchased to himself, he saith what he saith not of others--"My people." In this word there is the idea of proprietorship. 

In a special manner the "Lord's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance." All the nations upon earth are his; the whole world is in his power; yet are his people, his chosen, more especially his possession; for he has done more for them than others; he has bought them with his blood; he has brought them nigh to himself; he has set his great heart upon them; he has loved them with an everlasting love, a love which many waters cannot quench, and which the revolutions of time shall never suffice in the least degree to diminish. 

Dear friends, can you, by faith, see yourselves in that number? Can you look up to heaven and say, "My Lord and my God: mine by that sweet relationship which entitles me to call thee Father; mine by that hallowed fellowship which I delight to hold with thee when thou art pleased to manifest thyself unto me as thou dost not unto the world?" Canst thou read the Book of Inspiration, and find there the indentures of thy salvation? Canst thou read thy title writ in precious blood? Canst thou, by humble faith, lay hold of Jesus' garments, and say, "My Christ"? If thou canst, then God saith of thee, and of others like thee, "My people;" for, if God be your God, and Christ your Christ, the Lord has a special, peculiar favour to you; you are the object of his choice, accepted in his beloved Son.

Today's reading taken from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening."

In your presence (VIDEO)

2 Chronicles 6:19 (New International Version, ©2011)

Yet, LORD my God, give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence.

Vengeance is awful !!!

Proverbs 20:22 (NIV). Do not say, 
''I'll pay you back for this wrong!'' 
Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you....... 


Thoughts on This Verse... 


Vengeance is an awful and painful way to respond to those who we feel have wronged us. 
The LORD is our assurance of just rewards. 
Leave it to him. 
Escalating vindictiveness only leads to broken people and to broken lives.


Worse yet, it leads to broken character. 

"Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods."

"Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods."

Jeremiah 16:20

THE GOLDEN ---CALF

One great besetting sin of ancient Israel was idolatry, and the spiritual Israel are vexed with a tendency to the same folly. Remphan's star shines no longer, and the women weep no more for Tammuz, but Mammon still intrudes his golden calf, and the shrines of pride are not forsaken. 

Self in various forms struggles to subdue the chosen ones under its dominion, and the flesh sets up its altars wherever it can find space for them. Favourite children are often the cause of much sin in believers; the Lord is grieved when he sees us doting upon them above measure; they will live to be as great a curse to us as Absalom was to David, or they will be taken from us to leave our homes desolate. 

If Christians desire to grow thorns to stuff their sleepless pillows, let them dote on their dear ones.

It is truly said that "they are no gods," for the objects of our foolish love are very doubtful blessings, the solace which they yield us now is dangerous, and the help which they can give us in the hour of trouble is little indeed. Why, then, are we so bewitched with vanities? We pity the poor heathen who adore a god of stone, and yet worship a god of gold. 

Where is the vast superiority between a god of flesh and one of wood? The principle, the sin, the folly is the same in either case, only that in ours the crime is more aggravated because we have more light, and sin in the face of it. The heathen bows to a false deity, but the true God he has never known; we commit two evils, in as much as we forsake the living God and turn unto idols. 

May the Lord purge us all from this grievous iniquity!

"The dearest idol I have known,

Whate'er that idol be;

Help me to tear it from thy throne,

And worship only thee."

Today's reading is from:

Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD !!!

Psalm 23:1 (NIV).

 The LORD is my shepherd, 

I shall not be in want....... 

Thoughts on This Verse... 

A sheep is only as good as its shepherd. We are incredibly blessed! 

"In the world ye shall have tribulation."

"In the world ye shall have tribulation."

John 16:33

Art thou asking the reason of this, believer? Look upward to thy heavenly Father, and behold him pure and holy. Dost thou know that thou art one day to be like him? Wilt thou easily be conformed to his image? Wilt thou not require much refining in the furnace of affliction to purify thee? Will it be an easy thing to get rid of thy corruptions, and make thee perfect even as thy Father which is in heaven is perfect? 

Next, Christian, turn thine eye downward. Dost thou know what foes thou hast beneath thy feet? Thou wast once a servant of Satan, and no king will willingly lose his subjects. Dost thou think that Satan will let thee alone? No, he will be always at thee, for he "goeth about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." 

Expect trouble, therefore, Christian, when thou lookest beneath thee. Then look around thee. Where art thou? Thou art in an enemy's country, a stranger and a sojourner. The world is not thy friend. If it be, then thou art not God's friend, for he who is the friend of the world is the enemy of God. 

Be assured that thou shalt find foe-men everywhere. When thou sleepest, think that thou art resting on the battlefield; when thou walkest, suspect an ambush in every hedge. As mosquitoes are said to bite strangers more than natives, so will the trials of earth be sharpest to you. Lastly, look within thee, into thine own heart and observe what is there. 

Sin and self are still within. Ah! if thou hadst no devil to tempt thee, no enemies to fight thee, and no world to ensnare thee, thou wouldst still find in thyself evil enough to be a sore trouble to thee, for "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." Expect trouble then, but despond not on account of it, for God is with thee to help and to strengthen thee. 

He hath said, "I will be with thee in trouble; I will deliver thee and honour thee."

by Charles Spurgeon

I LOVE THIS VIDEO "LIFE WONDERFUL GIFT FROM GOD"

GOD YOU GIVE ME LIFE !!!

Evil will overtake those who have been partners with evil.

Psalm 34:21 (NIV). Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned....... Thoughts on This Verse... 
God has promised a closing time, a reckoning where human power and influence cannot buy out the truth and where each person will have to face up to what he or she has done. 


Evil will overtake those who have been partners with evil. 

Those that hate good people, righteous people, will be condemned in their own hate. 

God's righteousness, truth, and justice will not be short-circuited! 

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world !!!

John 17:15

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world 

It is a sweet and blessed event which will occur to all believers in God's own time--the going home to be with Jesus. In a few more years the Lord's soldiers, who are now fighting "the good fight of faith" will have done with conflict, and have entered into the joy of their Lord. 


But although Christ prays that his people may eventually be with him where he is, he does not ask that they may be taken at once away from this world to heaven. He wishes them to stay here. Yet how frequently does the wearied pilgrim put up the prayer, "O that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away and be at rest;" but Christ does not pray like that, he leaves us in his Father's hands, until, like shocks of corn fully ripe, we shall each be gathered into our Master's garner. 


Jesus does not plead for our instant removal by death, for to abide in the flesh is needful for others if not profitable for ourselves. He asks that we may be kept from evil, but he never asks for us to be admitted to the inheritance in glory till we are of full age. 


Christians often want to die when they have any trouble. Ask them why, and they tell you, "Because we would be with the Lord." We fear it is not so much because they are longing to be with the Lord, as because they desire to get rid of their troubles; else they would feel the same wish to die at other times when not under the pressure of trial. 


They want to go home, not so much for the Saviour's company, as to be at rest. Now it is quite right to desire to depart if we can do it in the same spirit that Paul did, because to be with Christ is far better, but the wish to escape from trouble is a selfish one. 


Rather let your care and wish be to glorify God by your life here as long as he pleases, even though it be in the midst of toil, and conflict,

 and suffering, and leave him to say when "it is enough."

Today's reading is from "Morning and Evening" by Charles Spurgeon. Find out more: http://click.lists.biblegateway.com/?qs=2a8aee818fb9fa9c8f6ccc6f8b664b15cdd03d06b5000bc2020a51db70b8253c

Trust in the Lord !!!

Let's pray !!!

Matthew 6:9-13 

‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.

Let sing praises to God !!

Psalm 104:33-34 (NIV). I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD....... 
Thoughts on This Verse... 
Do you sing in the shower? What words are on your lips? Singing is such a wonderful gift! First, it is a gift from God to us, to help us express our joy, excitement, sorrow, and victory. Second, it is a gift from us to God, to help us communicate our respect, appreciation, love, and confidence in God. 
So let's sing, praising God for what he has done, proclaiming what he will do, and sharing what he is currently doing in our lives! 

"His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers."

"His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers."

Song of Solomon 5:13

Lo, the flowery month is come! March winds and April showers have done their work, and the earth is all bedecked with beauty. Come my soul, put on thine holiday attire and go forth to gather garlands of heavenly thoughts. Thou knowest whither to betake thyself, for to thee "the beds of spices" are well known, and thou hast so often smelt the perfume of "the sweet flowers," that thou wilt go at once to thy well-beloved and find all loveliness, all joy in him. 


That cheek once so rudely smitten with a rod, oft bedewed with tears of sympathy and then defiled with spittle--that cheek as it smiles with mercy is as fragrant aromatic to my heart. Thou didst not hide thy face from shame and spitting, O Lord Jesus, and therefore I will find my dearest delight in praising thee. 


Those cheeks were furrowed by the plough of grief, and crimsoned with red lines of blood from thy thorn-crowned temples; such marks of love unbounded cannot but charm my soul far more than "pillars of perfume." 
If I may not see the whole of his face I would behold his cheeks, for the least glimpse of him is exceedingly refreshing to my spiritual sense and yields a variety of delights. 


In Jesus I find not only fragrance, but a bed of spices; not one flower, but all manner of sweet flowers. He is to me my rose and my lily, my heartsease and my cluster of camphire. When he is with me it is May all the year round, and my soul goes forth to wash her happy face in the morning-dew of his grace, and to solace herself with the singing of the birds of his promises. 

Precious Lord Jesus, let me in very deed know the blessedness which dwells in abiding, unbroken fellowship with thee. I am a poor worthless one, whose cheek thou hast deigned to kiss! O let me kiss thee in return with the kisses of my lips.

Today's reading is from "Morning and Evening" by Charles Spurgeon. Find out more: http://click.lists.biblegateway.com/?qs=5cc67803d1df01e09a49b3da27dfa1d5d96f4b94f6b5cc5ce861d75353fb97e0
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May the angels of God surround your life at all times !!!