Hello Everyone,
This week we are going to start a new series that I think will not only change our lives but the way we see our world around us.
The most important things today are the people and relationships we have with them. In our jobs, in our churches today we have become content with seeing filled seats and knowing that a job is getting done.
Pastors do you know who sits in row 4 seat 7. Bosses do you know who stocks the shelves in store 25? Because of the world we have literally dis-connected ourselves from the important things in life, people.
Do you know that one of your employees may have cancer, do you know that one of the people in your congregation even though they are in a loving church environment is still too humble to let you know he recently lost his job.
This week take the time to find out who stocks the shelves in store 25, introduce yourself and get to know the person in row 4 seat 7.
The pharisees had heard of Jesus teachings and the following that was growing. They sent someone to test him. The pharisee asked him what is the greatest commandment of all. Jesus' answer is below to LOVE one another. If we ALL lived our lives by this commandment we would live fuller lives, our businesses would thrive and our relationships would be full of peace.
Matthew 22: 33-40
The Greatest Commandment
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Please take the time to read and pass it on to anyone you think would get something out of it.
Have a blessed week!
Billy
Monday, January 24, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
One question!
Hello Everyone,
This week I am going to pose a question for everyone to think about.
If you knew beyond any doubt that Christ is the Son of God sent to give you everlasting abundant life, how would you live you life?
I had this question come to me and nothing else would come to me to write along with it. This is a very busy week with work, church and my family life so the stress was starting to show itself. When I feel the stress coming like that I always ask God to speak to me and take away the stressful situations. I know he does because he told us he does in the book of John.
John:14 13-17
13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. 15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
So on the way into work I stopped at the local Walmart to get some things that I needed. I know early mornings in Walmart you run into some fun characters as there is nothing else open. As I was looking for something in the aisle an older gentleman that reminded me of my Uncle Kenneth, you would have to know him to know how he interacted with people always having fun but very unpredictable, so I was ready for anything. The gentleman immediately said " I know you" I said "you do from where". He said " I know where you are from, your mother". As you would guess I was caught off guard and tried to laugh with him, when he said" I just like to see people smile as it is better to have a good attitude than a bad one and to treat people right."
The next part didn't even seem like me talking as I am a devout Christian but don't always discuss God in the world like I should. I said" You're right God meant for us to love one another not treat each other bad." That is when the door was opened and he began to tell me what was bothering him. It turns out his wife is ill and his stepson doesn't believe in Christ and that is bothering his wife. When we started to part he asked me to pray for his wife I asked her name so I could later as that is what I normally do. He told me her name Pearly Cooper but that is when I did something I can say I hadn't done before. I aksed if he would like to pray for her together right where we were. We prayed for her and I walked away from him with a completely different feeling. I still had all the things that I had to do but they weren't weighing on me as they were before.
So as you can see a question was put for me to ask and I had no idea why or what I was going to write to go with the question. After yesterday morning I know he speaks to us in many ways and has a way he wants us to live. All I can say is I am ready to listen!
Have a blessed week,
Billy
This week I am going to pose a question for everyone to think about.
If you knew beyond any doubt that Christ is the Son of God sent to give you everlasting abundant life, how would you live you life?
I had this question come to me and nothing else would come to me to write along with it. This is a very busy week with work, church and my family life so the stress was starting to show itself. When I feel the stress coming like that I always ask God to speak to me and take away the stressful situations. I know he does because he told us he does in the book of John.
John:14 13-17
13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. 15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
So on the way into work I stopped at the local Walmart to get some things that I needed. I know early mornings in Walmart you run into some fun characters as there is nothing else open. As I was looking for something in the aisle an older gentleman that reminded me of my Uncle Kenneth, you would have to know him to know how he interacted with people always having fun but very unpredictable, so I was ready for anything. The gentleman immediately said " I know you" I said "you do from where". He said " I know where you are from, your mother". As you would guess I was caught off guard and tried to laugh with him, when he said" I just like to see people smile as it is better to have a good attitude than a bad one and to treat people right."
The next part didn't even seem like me talking as I am a devout Christian but don't always discuss God in the world like I should. I said" You're right God meant for us to love one another not treat each other bad." That is when the door was opened and he began to tell me what was bothering him. It turns out his wife is ill and his stepson doesn't believe in Christ and that is bothering his wife. When we started to part he asked me to pray for his wife I asked her name so I could later as that is what I normally do. He told me her name Pearly Cooper but that is when I did something I can say I hadn't done before. I aksed if he would like to pray for her together right where we were. We prayed for her and I walked away from him with a completely different feeling. I still had all the things that I had to do but they weren't weighing on me as they were before.
So as you can see a question was put for me to ask and I had no idea why or what I was going to write to go with the question. After yesterday morning I know he speaks to us in many ways and has a way he wants us to live. All I can say is I am ready to listen!
Have a blessed week,
Billy
Monday, January 10, 2011
Broken Resolutions
Hello Everyone,
It is the second week of the New Year and many of us have already broken those resolutions that we set for ourselves on January 1st. Why is it we set these what seem attainable goals only to make it a week or maybe a month before we find ourselves right back to our old habits, kicking ourselves for not being able to keep our resolutions.
If it makes you feel any better God knew we wouldn't be able to hold to our resolutions before we made them. See God knows that alone we can not accomplish the goals that we set. But he never intended for us to go it alone. His intention was for us to share our lives in fellowship with him. He wants us to include him in our lives. Any resolution that you spent time praying on and asking God's guidance and assistance on is an attaniable resolution. That doesn't mean that you won't stumble or have some hiccups as " all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God".
Even though Adam brought sin into the world, God reconciled our relationship when he came to our world and lived as we live and was crucified for the ultimate attonement for ous sins. In doing so he opened the door for an everlasting life a life of abundance. We need to seek God in our all that we do. If we do this we can have the life that is promised. Any time we take on the world without God in our corner we will fail. But God is there every time we fail. His love is ever enduring. No matter how many times we stumble he is there eager to forgive with open arms to bring us back like the prodigal son.
This week as you are thinking about those things you decided to change in 2011 seek God's help with them and you will be amazed at the great things that will happen.
Have a blessed week!
Billy
Phillipians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Luke 15: 11-32
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
It is the second week of the New Year and many of us have already broken those resolutions that we set for ourselves on January 1st. Why is it we set these what seem attainable goals only to make it a week or maybe a month before we find ourselves right back to our old habits, kicking ourselves for not being able to keep our resolutions.
If it makes you feel any better God knew we wouldn't be able to hold to our resolutions before we made them. See God knows that alone we can not accomplish the goals that we set. But he never intended for us to go it alone. His intention was for us to share our lives in fellowship with him. He wants us to include him in our lives. Any resolution that you spent time praying on and asking God's guidance and assistance on is an attaniable resolution. That doesn't mean that you won't stumble or have some hiccups as " all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God".
Even though Adam brought sin into the world, God reconciled our relationship when he came to our world and lived as we live and was crucified for the ultimate attonement for ous sins. In doing so he opened the door for an everlasting life a life of abundance. We need to seek God in our all that we do. If we do this we can have the life that is promised. Any time we take on the world without God in our corner we will fail. But God is there every time we fail. His love is ever enduring. No matter how many times we stumble he is there eager to forgive with open arms to bring us back like the prodigal son.
This week as you are thinking about those things you decided to change in 2011 seek God's help with them and you will be amazed at the great things that will happen.
Have a blessed week!
Billy
Phillipians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Luke 15: 11-32
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Saturday, January 1, 2011
A year devoted to serving God
Hello Everyone,
I hope you all had a blessed 2010. My family and I have truly been blessed this past year and wish everyone a blessed year ahead.
I have been a believer since I was a child but this past year I actually became a follower of Christ. Let me explain, I have always believed in God and the Bible and that if you were a good person you would go to heaven. I had been saved in 91 after my Mom passed away but didn't truly understand what being saved meant , but this past year I actually started putting what Christ teaches to work in my life and made him my Lord and Saviour.
I can't say that I am a perfect follower but now I know that I do not have to be perfect and that I am saved by my Faith and His Grace. I continue to seek God and to find ways to serve him and ask him into my life.
We all can serve in whatever it is we do in our lives at work with the people we meet, with our families in how we teach our kids, and with our friends.
In 2011 I feel as a group of believers and as a country we need to get our focus on the importance of serving God. We need to show our praise and worship in everything we do. If we want to have God bless us as a nation we need to not be ashamed to declare Christ as our Lord and Saviour. In Deuteronomy 28: 1-6 God tells us how he will bless us if we follow his commands.
1"And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God to observe and to do all His commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth;
2and all these blessings shall come on thee and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God:
3"Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
4Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy herds, the increase of thy cattle, and the flocks of thy sheep.
5Blessed shall be thy basket and thy stores.
6Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
Later in that same book he tells us what will happen if we fall away from God.
Deuteronomy 28:45-50
45Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee and overtake thee till thou be destroyed, because thou hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded thee.
46And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.
47"Because thou served not the LORD thy God with joyfulness and with gladness of heart for the abundance of all things,
48therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies whom the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger and in thirst and in nakedness and in want of all things; and He shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck until He have destroyed thee.
49The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth, a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand,
50a nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old nor show favor to the young.
I think no one can argue that as a country we have fallen away from God. In order for us to ask blessings from God we must remember him in our lives. I would urge everyone to devote their hearts to truly putting God first in your life. I know that if we do we will become the people and country our forefathers and Creator intended us to be.
Have a blessed week!
Billy
I hope you all had a blessed 2010. My family and I have truly been blessed this past year and wish everyone a blessed year ahead.
I have been a believer since I was a child but this past year I actually became a follower of Christ. Let me explain, I have always believed in God and the Bible and that if you were a good person you would go to heaven. I had been saved in 91 after my Mom passed away but didn't truly understand what being saved meant , but this past year I actually started putting what Christ teaches to work in my life and made him my Lord and Saviour.
I can't say that I am a perfect follower but now I know that I do not have to be perfect and that I am saved by my Faith and His Grace. I continue to seek God and to find ways to serve him and ask him into my life.
We all can serve in whatever it is we do in our lives at work with the people we meet, with our families in how we teach our kids, and with our friends.
In 2011 I feel as a group of believers and as a country we need to get our focus on the importance of serving God. We need to show our praise and worship in everything we do. If we want to have God bless us as a nation we need to not be ashamed to declare Christ as our Lord and Saviour. In Deuteronomy 28: 1-6 God tells us how he will bless us if we follow his commands.
1"And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God to observe and to do all His commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth;
2and all these blessings shall come on thee and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God:
3"Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
4Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy herds, the increase of thy cattle, and the flocks of thy sheep.
5Blessed shall be thy basket and thy stores.
6Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
Later in that same book he tells us what will happen if we fall away from God.
Deuteronomy 28:45-50
45Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee and overtake thee till thou be destroyed, because thou hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded thee.
46And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.
47"Because thou served not the LORD thy God with joyfulness and with gladness of heart for the abundance of all things,
48therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies whom the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger and in thirst and in nakedness and in want of all things; and He shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck until He have destroyed thee.
49The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth, a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand,
50a nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old nor show favor to the young.
I think no one can argue that as a country we have fallen away from God. In order for us to ask blessings from God we must remember him in our lives. I would urge everyone to devote their hearts to truly putting God first in your life. I know that if we do we will become the people and country our forefathers and Creator intended us to be.
Have a blessed week!
Billy
Sunday, December 19, 2010
The Promises of God
Hello Everyone,
This week we are concluding our series on the Promises of God with the ultimate promise that was fulfilled. The birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Every year at Christmas we think of the gifts that were brought to Jesus from the wisemen and shepherds that were in the field. We even started the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas to celebrate the glorious events of Jesus birth. While celebrating Christ birth we forget what his birth represents for mankind. Jesus' birth was the fulfillment of God's most important promise to man, the promise of a Messiah to redeem us to him for the sins of mankind.
When Christ was born hope was restored to a broken world and with his death on the cross we were given full atonement for our sins and a restored relationship with him. I can't think of a better gift anyone could give or receive. One life changed the lives of millions for eternity. This week before Christmas I want to thank God for the gift and all the fulfilled promises he has given me personally and the ultimate gift he has given us all.
God bless and Merry Christmas,
Billy
Luke 2: 8-20
8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.
10And the angel said unto them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!"
15And it came to pass, when the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us."
16And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child.
18And all those who heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
This week we are concluding our series on the Promises of God with the ultimate promise that was fulfilled. The birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Every year at Christmas we think of the gifts that were brought to Jesus from the wisemen and shepherds that were in the field. We even started the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas to celebrate the glorious events of Jesus birth. While celebrating Christ birth we forget what his birth represents for mankind. Jesus' birth was the fulfillment of God's most important promise to man, the promise of a Messiah to redeem us to him for the sins of mankind.
When Christ was born hope was restored to a broken world and with his death on the cross we were given full atonement for our sins and a restored relationship with him. I can't think of a better gift anyone could give or receive. One life changed the lives of millions for eternity. This week before Christmas I want to thank God for the gift and all the fulfilled promises he has given me personally and the ultimate gift he has given us all.
God bless and Merry Christmas,
Billy
Luke 2: 8-20
8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.
10And the angel said unto them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!"
15And it came to pass, when the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us."
16And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child.
18And all those who heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Monday, December 13, 2010
The Promises of God
Hello Everyone,
Around the holidays I always wish that I were wealthy and could give my family and friends lavish gifts, you know Lexus commercial type gifts, the ones they would never expect to receive. With it being the holiday season we can think of the Promise of Salvation God made to us when he promised to send us a Messiah for full atonement for our sins as that kind of gift. The kind none of us are worthy of receiving but as a father God gave it to us anyway.
I know over the years I have received many gifts that I didn't expect and some I know I didn't deserve to get, but my parents got them for me just the same. The things I think of the most are how much enjoyment it brought my Dad when he took the time to wrap a shotgun in five separate packages just to see my face when I finally got all five pieces to the puzzle. I think God does the same thing. He gets enjoyment when he sees us finally accept his gift of salvation when we get the whole package open. When we realize we can't do it by ourselves.
I didn't fully grasp how important it is for a father to be needed until I had children of my own. When they do things on their own its tough to admit but we don't feel as needed as we did when they were dependant on us. Yes we can learn to be SELF-sufficient, we can be SELF-made but we lose the whole point of why we were made. If we were made to be by ourselves God would have made Adam and been done.
God made promises to Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars, as the grains of sand in the sea. He wouldn't have made that promise if he wanted us to be SELF-sufficient or SELF-made. He wouldn't have given us the ultimate gift in Jesus Christ for us to be by ourselves. He fulfilled his promise two thousand years ago in a manger in Bethlehem, our part is to accept Christ and love like Jesus loved.
Have a blessed week!
Billy
Genesis 17:6-9
6And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
7And I will establish My covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee.
8And I will give unto thee and to thy seed after thee the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."
9And God said unto Abraham, "Thou shalt keep My covenant, therefore, thou and thy seed after thee in their generations
Luke 2:25-32
25And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
26And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him after the custom of the law,
28then he took Him up in his arms, and blessed God and said,
29"Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word;
30for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,
31which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people,
32a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel."
Around the holidays I always wish that I were wealthy and could give my family and friends lavish gifts, you know Lexus commercial type gifts, the ones they would never expect to receive. With it being the holiday season we can think of the Promise of Salvation God made to us when he promised to send us a Messiah for full atonement for our sins as that kind of gift. The kind none of us are worthy of receiving but as a father God gave it to us anyway.
I know over the years I have received many gifts that I didn't expect and some I know I didn't deserve to get, but my parents got them for me just the same. The things I think of the most are how much enjoyment it brought my Dad when he took the time to wrap a shotgun in five separate packages just to see my face when I finally got all five pieces to the puzzle. I think God does the same thing. He gets enjoyment when he sees us finally accept his gift of salvation when we get the whole package open. When we realize we can't do it by ourselves.
I didn't fully grasp how important it is for a father to be needed until I had children of my own. When they do things on their own its tough to admit but we don't feel as needed as we did when they were dependant on us. Yes we can learn to be SELF-sufficient, we can be SELF-made but we lose the whole point of why we were made. If we were made to be by ourselves God would have made Adam and been done.
God made promises to Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars, as the grains of sand in the sea. He wouldn't have made that promise if he wanted us to be SELF-sufficient or SELF-made. He wouldn't have given us the ultimate gift in Jesus Christ for us to be by ourselves. He fulfilled his promise two thousand years ago in a manger in Bethlehem, our part is to accept Christ and love like Jesus loved.
Have a blessed week!
Billy
Genesis 17:6-9
6And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
7And I will establish My covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee.
8And I will give unto thee and to thy seed after thee the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."
9And God said unto Abraham, "Thou shalt keep My covenant, therefore, thou and thy seed after thee in their generations
Luke 2:25-32
25And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
26And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him after the custom of the law,
28then he took Him up in his arms, and blessed God and said,
29"Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word;
30for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,
31which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people,
32a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel."
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
The promises of God
Hello Everyone,
This week I am starting a series titled Promises of God. Over the next few weeks we are going to cover many passages that show God fulfilling the promises he has made.
While reading different bible passages this week I was in Deuteronomy when I read chapter 9 verse 5 and 6 which reads "It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go into possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God drives them out from before you, and that He may fulfill the word which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Therefore understand the Lord your God is not giving you this land because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people.
When I first read this passage I was just thinking ok he is letting the people of Israel know that they have sinned and are not getting the land because they are good, which they were not. He is giving the land because of a promise he made long ago many generations before. When we think about this in context and with a few New Testament passages the picture becomes clearer.
Romans 11:26 and 27
And so all Israel will be saved as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins."
2 Corinthians 1:19,20
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not "yea" and "nay," but in Him was "yea."
For all the promises of God in Him are "yea"; and in Him "amen" unto the glory of God by us.
As you can see from these passages God is fulfilling the promises he had made to Abraham and his descendants. Not only did he promise them land flowing with milk and honey he promised salvation to all who would believe and call on His name. One thing you will find in reading through the bible when God makes a promise he keeps it. He promised Abraham the "promised land" and although Abraham did not follow God's word and stopped before reaching the Promised Land his descendants still received the land.
Next week we will look into the passages about the promise of salvation.
This week as you read through scripture ask God to lead you to a better understanding so you can find more ways he has fulfilled His Word.
Have a blessed week!
Billy
This week I am starting a series titled Promises of God. Over the next few weeks we are going to cover many passages that show God fulfilling the promises he has made.
While reading different bible passages this week I was in Deuteronomy when I read chapter 9 verse 5 and 6 which reads "It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go into possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God drives them out from before you, and that He may fulfill the word which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Therefore understand the Lord your God is not giving you this land because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people.
When I first read this passage I was just thinking ok he is letting the people of Israel know that they have sinned and are not getting the land because they are good, which they were not. He is giving the land because of a promise he made long ago many generations before. When we think about this in context and with a few New Testament passages the picture becomes clearer.
Romans 11:26 and 27
And so all Israel will be saved as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins."
2 Corinthians 1:19,20
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not "yea" and "nay," but in Him was "yea."
For all the promises of God in Him are "yea"; and in Him "amen" unto the glory of God by us.
As you can see from these passages God is fulfilling the promises he had made to Abraham and his descendants. Not only did he promise them land flowing with milk and honey he promised salvation to all who would believe and call on His name. One thing you will find in reading through the bible when God makes a promise he keeps it. He promised Abraham the "promised land" and although Abraham did not follow God's word and stopped before reaching the Promised Land his descendants still received the land.
Next week we will look into the passages about the promise of salvation.
This week as you read through scripture ask God to lead you to a better understanding so you can find more ways he has fulfilled His Word.
Have a blessed week!
Billy
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