MY FAVORITE PSALMS - PART THIRTY SEVEN
The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their waves.
The Lord on high is mightier than noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.
Thy testimonies are very sure; holiness becomes Thine house, O Lord, forever.
O come, let us sing a new song unto the Lord, let us make a joyful noise unto the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving and make a joyful noise to Him with psalms; for the Lord is a great God and as great King above all gods.
In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the strength of the hills are His also.
The sea is His and He made it; and His hands formed the dry land.
O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.
Today, if ye will hear His voice; harden not your hearts as in the day of provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness; when your fathers tempted Me, proved Me and saw My work.
Forty years long was I grieved with this generation; and said
"it is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known My ways."
unto whom, I swore in My wrath, that they should not enter into My rest.
O sing unto the Lord a new song, sing unto the Lord all the earth.
next post 8th December
DID JESUS RISE FROM THE DEAD -
(1)
{copied from
Y-Jesus.com}
We all wonder what will happen to us when we die. When a loved one dies, we long to see him/her again after our turn comes. Will we have a glorious reunion with those we love or is death the end of all consciousness?
Jesus taught that life does not end after our bodies die. He made this startling claim:
"I am the resurrection and life. Those who believe in Me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again."
According to eyewitnesses closest to Him, Jesus then demonstrated His power over death by rising from the dead after being crucified and buried for three days. It is this belief that has given hope to Christians for nearly 2000 years.
But some people have no hope of life after death. The atheistic philosopher Bertrand Russell wrote, "I believe that when I die I shall rot, and nothing of my own ego will survive." Russell obviously didn't believe Jesus' words.
Jesus' followers wrote that He appeared alive to them after His crucifixion and burial. They claim not only to have seen Him, but also to have eaten with Him, touched Him and spent forty days with Him.
So could this have been simply a story that grew over time, or is it based on solid evidence? The answer to this question is foundational to Christianity. For if Jesus did rise from the dead it would validate everything He said about Himself, about the meaning of life, and about our destiny after death.
If Jesus did rise from the dead then He alone would have the answers to what life is about and what is facing us after we die. On the other hand, if the resurrection account of Jesus is not true, then Christianity would be founded upon a lie.
Theologian R.C. Sproule put it this way:
"The claim resurrection is vital to Christianity. If Christ has been raised from the dead by God, then He has the credentials and certification that no other religious leader possesses."
All other religious leaders are dead, but according to Christianity, Christ is alive.
Many skeptics have attempted to disprove the resurrection. Josh McDowell was one such skeptic who spent more than seven hundred hours researching the evidence for the resurrection. McDowell stated this regarding the importance of the resurrection.
"I have come to the conclusion that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted upon the minds of men, OR it is the most fantastic fact of history."
McDowell later wrote his classic work; The New evidence that Demands a Verdict, documenting what he discovered.
So, is Jesus' resurrection a fantastic fact or a vicious myth? To find out we need to look at the evidence of history and draw our own conclusion. Let's see what skeptics who investigated the resurrection discovered for themselves.
next post 7th December
RECIPE TIME -
LEMONADE
Ingredients:
Juice of 8 lemons
Rind of 8 lemons
8 cups sugar
8 cups boiling water
1 x 1 oz pkt Citric acid
1 x 1 oz pkt Tartaric acid
1 x 1 oz pkt Epsom salts
METHOD;
Add the boiling water to all of the above ingredients and stir well. Allow to cool, strain and bottle. Make about 5 pints concentrated juice.
next post 20th February
TWENTY SIXTEEN PART - THIRTY FOUR
Hello folks,
we are now in the danger zone. The place that I probably dreaded the most.
We moved onto this property on the 8th September and our rent was paid up front for one year. I don't know what the contract says whether the rent is due on 1st or 8th September. But whatever the case we do not have it and do not know how to get it.
We have both tried our utmost over the past six to seven months to earn some money, but all the doors have closed in our faces. If you have been reading this blog from the beginning you will understand what I am saying.
God has been very good to us and has provided us with all our other needs. We have had to make many sacrifices but that is between God and us. But it hasn't been an easy road to travel. We know that the reason for this is that our Almighty Father is molding us and shaping us into the people He wishes us to be and so we thank Him and are forever grateful.
All along the way, God has been showing us that we need to wait on Him - this particular Bible verse has come up a few times :
"This plan of Mine is not what you would work out, for just as the heavens are higher than the earth , so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."
Isaiah 55: 8- 9
So we wait upon the Lord our God.
It is now Saturday the 10th September, We have been invited to a "spoil day" by Amanda, (our landlady) we are in a group of invited guests, which is held on the property.
We are treated to facials, manicures, including gel fingernails, Haircuts and tints, washing of our feet,
free books including a New Testament Bible, jewelry, perfume, new handbag and lunch.
Tuesday, 20th, Ruth sends inventory to Rand coin - gets an immediate reply - Jason Brady cannot open email - need to redo on "word excel"
22nd September - wonderful uplifting news - Amanda tells Ruth that they will not be charging us rent as I am a widow and Ruth is an orphan. (Don't understand the orphan part.)
Also yesterday were given R1000 by a very good friend, just when we needed it most.
Ruth has been working very hard on our coin collection inventory - resent by email to coin dealer on 23rd or 24th. Ruth also does some urgent shopping.
28th given another R1000 - just in time as Ruth had to renew her yearly car licence of R840. -
Also we sent Steve an sms for monthly script, comes to R561, including new eyedrops, my eyes are now much improved but not yet 100%. Ruth bakes muffins for us and Amanda.
29th September , my back has deteriorated some more. It is now affecting my shoulder and my ribs, which it has never done before. Very painful, living on "stilpane" only way to ease the pain.
30th - woke up at 11.am - I must treat my eyes, then try to sort out this blog - pages somehow got all mixed up. It is really in a mess. Two days to go to next post.
Trust in the Lord. He will get you through.
next post 4th December
JOKES
Two priests decide to wear casual clothes so that they won't be identified as clergy.
They buy Hawaiian shirts and sandals and soon hit the beach. They notice a gorgeous blonde in a tiny bikini.
"Good afternoon Fathers" she says as she strolls by.
The men are stunned - How does she know that we are clergy? Later they buy even wilder attire and return to the beach - the same blonde, now wearing a string bikini passes by and nods "Good morning Fathers."
"Young lady," says one of the priests, "we are priests and proud of it but how did you know?"
"Oh no! Didn't you recognize me. I am sister Veronica, from your same convent."
next post 3rd December
MY FAVORITE PSALMS - PART THIRTY SIX
Sing aloud unto God our strength. Make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. Take a Psalm and bring hither
the timbrel, the pleasant harp and the psaltery.
Blow up the trumpet in the new moon. In the time appointed. In our solemn feast day. How amiable are Thy tabernacles O Lord of hosts. My soul longeth, yea even fainteth for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Yea, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even Thy altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house, they will still be praising Thee. Selah
Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee, in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valleys of Baca make it a well. The rain also filleth the pools.
They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer
Thou callest in trouble and I delivered thee. I answered thee in the secret place of thunder. I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah
Hear O My people and I will testify unto thee; O Israel. If thou wilt hearken unto Me.
There shall no strange god be in thee. Neither shalt thou worship any strange god. I am the Lord your God which brought you out of the land of Egypt: open your mouth wide and I will fill it.
But My people would not hearken to My voice: and Israel would have none of Me. So I gave them up to their heart's lust and they walked in their own councils.
O, that My people had hearkened unto Me. And Israel had walked in My ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned My hand against their adversaries.
next post 2nd December
IS JESUS CHRIST ALIVE?
part two (by Val Grieve)
(1) JESUS WAS DIFFERENT
I must admit that it is extremely difficult to believe that an ordinary person could rise from the dead, but Jesus Christ is no ordinary person. Amazingly enough, even unbelievers have fallen over themselves to pay tribute to Jesus and His teaching.
Bertrand Russell, the well-know atheist and philosopher once said "There are a good many points upon which I agree with Christ a great deal more than professing Christians do!"
Mick Jagger of the "Rolling Stones" said, "Jesus Christ is fantastic and something to base life on."
As a lawyer, I know that evidence like this, from witnesses from the other side, carries great weight. By common consent, Jesus Christ was unique, the greatest man that ever lived. This being so it is not so difficult to believe that He rose from the dead. His life and teaching demand the miracle of the resurrection.
(2) WITNESSES SAW CHRIST
A famous QC once said, "when I have a poor case in court, I make a long speech, but when I have a very strong case I simply call the witnesses."
He was right, in any court of law, the best evidence is that of a witness who speaks from first hand experience. That is exactly what we have here.
On at least eleven occasions altogether, more than 550 people saw Christ after He rose from the dead. Let me as a lawyer call two of these witnesses; John the disciple and Saul of Tarsus.
Now how do we test the evidence of a witness? In law there are three well-established rules for this.
first - evidence must be first-hand and not hear-say. Hear-say is what Tom Jones told Mary Smith who told me! Such evidence is obviously unsatisfactory. First hand evidence is what a witness speaks what he himself has seen and heard.
secondly - The value of any evidence is greatly increased if it is corroborated. One person might be mistaken, but if I as a lawyer, can bring more than one witness into court, who will testify in favor of my client, their evidence will be just about conclusive.
thirdly - The value of any evidence depends upon the witnesses' standing. What about this test? You have read what sort of man Paul was. The witness of someone of his intelligence and social background would certainly be accepted in any court of law.
LIVES ARE CHANGED
Christianity is not ancient history but current events. Ever since the first Easter Sunday there has been an unbroken succession of millions of people who can witness that their lives have been revolutionized by contact with the Living Christ.
LET A PRESENT DAY WITNESS SPEAK FOR HIMSELF;
Professor Tony Holland, of Salford university says: "As a grammar schoolboy, I was told that the Bible was unscientific and that Jesus Christ never claimed to be the Son of God. I am ashamed to say that I adopted these views uncritically, and held them until my late twenties. Then for the first time in my life I began to think seriously about the subjects of life and death, good and evil, the failure of human beings to live harmoniously together, and the reasons for human existence.
The first question I asked was 'is there a God?' On consideration, it was inconceivable to me that the complex system of which we are part could have occurred without a Creator. Two other things occurred to me at this time:
First; that there was evil in human beings, including myself and that this evil was naturally occurring and did not have to be learned.
Secondly; that it was likely that a human being could have some sort of personal contact with the Creator of life.
When I started to read the Bible again (this time with an open mind) it fitted together like a jigsaw puzzle. Jesus claims to be the Son of God, the Truth, the Way and the Life. In the Bible we learn that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and then rose again to a different dimension of divine life.
I discovered this vital life in Jesus and became a Christian, when at the age of almost thirty, I sought forgiveness, through Christ, for my sins.
The change was radical and complete. The Living Christ becomes more real to me as the days go by. I find in Him a source of peace and security which a mere scientific knowledge can never bring.
YOUR VERDICT
The case for the Resurrection rests, but this is not the end of the matter.
Above all the Resurrection demands a verdict. We cannot be neutral about it. It is either the greatest fact in the history of the world or the greatest deception of all time. There is no middle ground.
The most important question in the world is:
"DID JESUS CHRIST RISE FROM THE DEAD?"
As a lawyer I would like to demand a verdict from you, by asking you two questions;
(1) Do you believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead? our original question "what happened to Jesus?" still stands. We must find an answer; was this fraud, fantasy or fact?
A former Lord Chief Justice of England, Lord Darling once said: "No intelligent jury in the world could fail to bring a verdict that the resurrection is true. I submit that the only reasonable answer is that the miracle of the Resurrection took place.
(2) Do you know Jesus Christ as a Living Savior? Many people believe that Christ rose from the dead, but this is not enough. If He rose from the dead then He is alive today. We can meet Him and know Him for ourselves. This is what it means to be a Christian.
We know Christ as a Living Savior Who has changed our lives!
WHAT IS YOUR VERDICT?
This is the end of the document I copied so many years ago.
next post 29th November
CHICKEN CASSEROLE
Ingredients;
1 large chicken
1 can chicken soup
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 can pineapple chunks
1 red pepper, seeded and chopped
1 cup cream
1 cup sherry
oil to saute mushrooms
salt and pepper
Method:
Cook the chicken until nice and tender. I do mine in the slow cooker overnight. Now debone the chicken and put the pieces into an ovenproof dish.
Heat the soup, sherry and cream in a saucepan. stirring occasionally. Set aside. Saute the mushrooms in the oil - and add to the soup mixture. Add the red pepper and pineapple chunks.
Pour the sauce over the spiced chicken pieces and bake at 5000
for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with rice and vegetables or salads.
next post 7th February
JOKES
You spend the first two years of your child's life teaching him how to walk and talk, then you spend the next sixteen telling him to sit down and shut up.
Evening news where they start with "Good evening" and then go on to tell you why it isn't.
If you think that no one thinks you are alive - try missing a few payments.
Why does someone believe you when you say there are 4 billion stars but check when you tell them the paint is wet?
next post 26 November
MY FAVORITE PSALMS - PART THIRTY FIVE
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Thy Name O, Most High.
To shew forth Thy lovingkindness in the morning and Thy faithfulness every night.
Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound. For Thou Lord hast made me glad through Thy work. I will triumph through the works of Thy hands.
O Lord, how great are Thy works! and Thy thoughts are very deep.
A brutish man does not understand neither does a fool understand this.
When the wicked spring as the grass, and when
all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they will be destroyed forever.
But Thou Lord, art Most High forevermore. For Lo, Thine enemies, for lo, Thine enemies shall perish, all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
But my horn shalt Thou exalt like the horn of a unicorn. I shall be anointed with fresh oil.
Mine eyes also shall see my desire on my enemies, and my ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.
The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree; he shall grow like the cedar in Lebanon. Those that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.
To shew that the Lord is upright; He is my Rock and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
The Lord reigneth; He is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength; wherewith He has girded Himself. The world also is stablished that it cannot be moved.
Thy throne is established of old; it is from everlasting.
next post 25th November
MY FAVORITE PSALMS - PART THIRTY FOUR
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and fortress, my God, in Him will I trust.
Surely He will deliver me from the snare of the fowler and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust. His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror by night nor the arrow that flies by day.
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall by thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation, there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
For He shall give His angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Thou shall tread upon the lion and the adder, the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Because he has set his love upon Me I will answer him and be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him.
With long life will I satisfy him and shew him my salvation.
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises to Thy Name, O, Most High.
To show forth Thy lovingkindness in the morning and Thy faithfulness every night.
next post 18th November
IS JESUS CHRIST ALIVE?
part one
Recently while sorting through some of my old books and documents, I came across an article which I had hand copied from a book many moons ago. It was so long ago that I have no memory of the name of the book or the name of the author. There were only a few ragged pages and they had yellowed with age.
After re-reading the article, I thought it would be a shame to destroy it, which had been my original intention. So I decided to text it to my notebook. I also have no idea whether there is a copyright restriction or whether the book is now in the public domain. However I have a strong conviction that this message should be shared and as I am not doing so for any financial gain but rather to further the gospel I feel sure that no one will object.
IS JESUS CHRIST ALIVE?
Val Grieve, a Manchester lawyer, produces the evidence and calls the witnesses for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Any court case must begin with the facts. Once we know these the case can proceed and a verdict be given.
WHAT ARE THE FACTS ABOUT CHRIST?
History tells us three things:
He lived more than 1900 years ago.
He was crucified on a cross
Three days later His body had disappeared.
These facts are what lawyers call "common ground" they are admitted by friend and foe of Christianity alike. What we have to do is to find some explanation for them. The vital question is what happened to Jesus?
Let us look at three answers: Right from the beginning Christians have claimed that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. A miracle took place. In fact this is what Christianity is all about.
"That Christ died for our sins and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures."
What evidence is there for this?
Did it really happen ?
I certainly believe that it did and I want to tell you why. However, before I do this I must ask you to try to be unbiased - don't be like the man who once said "I have made up my mind - don't confuse me with the facts."
What then are the facts? Is Jesus Christ Alive?
Was the resurrection story a deliberate fraud? A wishful fantasy? or an inescapable fact?
Professor Joad of London university was once asked , "If you could meet any person of the past and ask just one question , who would you ask to meet and what question would you ask him?"
He answered "I would like to meet Jesus Christ and ask Him the most important question in the world - did You really rise from the dead?"
The professor was right - the most important question in the world is whether Jesus Christ rose from the dead and is alive today.
As a lawyer I have carefully studied the evidence for the resurrection of Christ and am convinced that this really happened. Let us look at the evidence.
In Matthew's gospel we find the Jewish guard saying that whilst they were asleep outside the tomb, the disciples came by night and stole the body. The disciples then invented the story that Jesus had risen from the dead. Christianity is one big fraud.
IS THIS REALLY SO? I certainly don't think so. First of all, if I could get the guard commander in court, I would ask him one question: "If you were asleep, how do you know what happened? "
What a ridiculous story this is!
Then too behind nearly every crime, there is a motive - what was the motive here? Most of the early disciples died for their faith. Is it likely that they would die for something that they knew was a deliberate lie?
Above all, this explanation is contrary to what we know about the disciples. Fraud means that they were not just deceived but deliberate deceivers who carried out the greatest confidence trick of all time.
Some people have tried to say that the disciples expected Jesus to rise from the dead and they then went on to imagine that this had really happened. The whole thing was wishful thinking.
At first sight this explanation seems likely, but further consideration rules it out. Its basic assumption is that the disciples expected Jesus to rise from the dead, but the reverse is the case. The resurrection caught them by surprise. They were unbelieving and incredulous. The truth is the disciples did not convince themselves that Christ was alive, it was Christ Who had to convince them.
Then too, it is exceedingly unlikely that over 500 people would suffer the same fantasy. Yet the Bible clearly tells us that Jesus once appeared to as many as that at the same time.
Above all, any explanation must cover all the facts, this one does not. If the disciples were deluded then all their enemies had to do was produce the body of Jesus, but they did not do this for there was no body to produce. THE TOMB WAS EMPTY.
Our original question - "what happened to Jesus?" still stands.
To be concluded in next post
on 16th November
RECIPE TIME - SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN
Ingredients:
1 chicken or 8 chicken portions
casserole with lid
SAUCE
Mix together 2 Tblsp tomato sauce
8 Tblsp brown sugar
2.1/2 cups red wine
2 Tblsp worcester sauce
1 cup plain mixed pickles
cut into small pieces.
Place in a bowl and mix well - especially to dissolve the sugar as much as possible. Set aside.
Method:
Sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt and pepper, roll in flour and fry in cooking oil on top of the stove until golden brown.
Place chicken pieces in casserole and pour sauce over. Fit lid and bake for approximately 1 hour in medium oven. Do not lift the lid during this time.
Serve with rice and salads.
next post 14th November
TWENTY SIXTEEN - PART THIRTY THREE
Hello folks,
I have been following doctor's instructions on eye treatment, but today Saturday 20th August am feeling completely off-balance and it has nothing to do with my eyes.
When I got up this morning I was light-headed, bumping into walls and furniture like an intoxicated person and really battling not to take a fall.
When I told Ruth she immediately took my blood pressure, discovering that the diastolic measure was way too low. Because of my age it is normally 90 which is not a bad read (80 is normal) but now it was in the very low sixties. Not a good sign.
After doing some research, she tries her utmost to get me to go to hospital. I refuse, not that on top of everything else. Ruth takes my blood pressure fifty times a day - seems like.
August 21st - blood pressure still down in the 60's sometimes as low as 61. Siastolic too high but more worried about diastolic.
Monday 22nd - Sue's birthday
Monday diastolic now back to high 180/95 but going up and down - not constant.
My eyes are also starting to feel a lot better, Ruth will now make an appointment for lazer treatment next week .
Tuesday 23rd - Eyes not so good again. Ruth is very angry with me because she has used up all her airtime plus R20 of mine in order to sort out my lazer appointment. It entailed calls to the clinic and Steve and she could only get an appointment for 5th September. Once again it is all my fault. If I had had the lazer treatment the previous Wednesday this would not have happened.
Took first ciplovasc tablet for my high blood pressure after missing 4 days. Didn't take it while blood pressure was going up and down.
5th September - today is my appointment for lazer treatment. 4.30pm. Eyes still not too good. Very red and swollen.
Dogs upset as usual when they see I am going out and they hate it. This applies to Harry, Benji and Vicky the other two don't mind too much.
Not feeling too well again. Think it is the blood pressure but no time to check it.
Hang in there! Never, ever forget that God is in control. He will never leave you nor forsake you!
next post 27th November
next post 13th November
JOKES - BLONDE
Blonde: "What does IDK stand for?"
Brunette; "I don't know!"
Blonde: "Oh my goodness, nobody knows!"
Two blondes fell into a dark well:
1st Blonde: "It's dark down here, isn't it?"
2nd Blonde: " I don't know, I can't see a thing,"
next post 12th November
MY FAVORITE PSALMS - PART THIRTY THREE
Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee;
our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance. For all our days are passed away in the light of Thy wrath; we spend our years as a tale that is told.
The days of our years are threescore and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow, for it is soon cut off and we fly away.
Who knoweth the power of Thine anger? Even according toThy fear, so is Thy wrath.
So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
Return, O Lord, how long,? and let it repent Thee concerning Thy servants.
O satisfy us early with Thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad according to the days wherein Thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.
Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants and Thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord, our God be upon us, and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us, yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it.
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and fortress in him will I trust. Surely He will deliver me from the fowler and noiseome pestilence.
next post 11th November
AWESOME GOD
PLAN OF SALVATION
PART SIX
copied from ESV Bible
Growing in Christ
Once you have received the gift of eternal life and have been made a new creation
(2 Corinthians 5:17) you will want to grow in your knowledge of Jesus and your obedience to Him. Jesus' teaching about how to live for God can be summed up in three simple instructions:
Read the Bible
Jesus said:
"Whosoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me.
(John 14:21)
One way to show your love for God is to read the Bible and to live out your new life on the basis of its teaching. Read the Bible daily to find out how to live a life that honors God and gives testimony to others that Jesus has made a difference in your life.
Pray:
Communication with God through prayer keeps your focus on eternal things. If you are truly following Jesus your desires will be for God's glory and for His kingdom, the church. Jesus promised :
"if you abide in Me and My Words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." (John 15:7)
Seek Christian fellowship
Meeting regularly with Christian brothers and sisters allows you to follow Jesus' example of love and to fulfill His command to "love one another, just as I have loved you." (John 13:34).
Just as Jesus surrounded Himself daily with His disciples and followers, find a Bible believing church where you can meet with other Christians . There you will find joy and encouragement in the fellowship of God's people.
Assurance
If you have accepted Christ as Your Savior
you may be wondering
"What happens if I sin after I'm saved?"
All Christians sin from time to time, But the good news is Jesus' death paid for all your sin, both past and future. If you humbly admit your sin to God, the Bible promises that God will forgive you and cleanse you from all your sin. Pray for God's help to keep you from falling into sin again.
Jesus assures us that "whosoever comes to Me I will never cast out." (John 6:37) Your salvation is sure because Christ's sacrifice of Himself on the cross is greater than any sin.
You may also wonder " what happens when I don't feel close to God? Am I still saved? "
When a person has accepted the gift of salvation, Jesus describes His relationship with them as being like the relationship between a shepherd and his sheep: "My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. " (John 10:27-28)
Salvation is not based on your feelings but on the fact that God has welcomed you into His family through faith in Jesus. Nothing on earth or in heaven can break that bond - Nothing.
If you feel far away from God , examine your life to see if there is unconfessed sin standing between you and God. Continue to read the Bible and pray regularly, filling your mind with God's truth and goodness. Talk with other Christians and learn from their experiences. You will grow closer to God as your knowledge and experience of Him grows. Rest assured of the fact that nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8:35-39).
This post completes Plan of Salvation.
next post 13th November
Today, if ye will hear His voice; harden not your hearts as in the day of provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness; when your fathers tempted Me, proved Me and saw My work.
