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Happy New Year 2019

As we embark on a New Year, let us try to put first things first.

The bible says:

“But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33

That means we should Seek God first in everything. Put God first and all the secondary things will fall in place. I saw this written on a church sign recently. “Pray first, then decide”.This is such good advice because we are frail beings and we don’t know what could happen.

But God knows everything, everyday. He knows about yesterday,  today and tomorrow and the future is in His hands. So it is wise to seek the Lord in all things, in other words. “Pray first, then decide”

When you put God first, He will guide you as you make secondary decisions. There are so many things to take into account as we make decisions in life, but when we put God first we wont have to worry as we put everything in God’s hand.

Seeking God first will help us to overcome problems, and help us through the daily trials of life that everyone faces. When we trust in the Creator of the Universe, He will give us HIS  peace that passeth all understanding.

Here are a few Bible verses for the New Year:

Psalms 46:10-11 ” Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth, the Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge.”            

1 Peter 1:25 “The word of God endures forever.”                        

Psalms 136:1 “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for His mercies endures forever.”

Psalms 63:1  “O God, You are my God, early will I seek You”      

Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near.”                                                                                 

Jeremiah 29:13  “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”                                                             

Psalms 27:8 “When You said, “Seek My face, my heart said to You, Your face, Lord, I will seek.”                                                           

Psalms 18:32 “It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.”                                                                              

Phil 4:6 ” Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”                                                                                    

Phil 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”                                                                                                

Isaiah 41:10 ” Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am Your God, I will strengthen you,  yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” 

James 4:8a “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

Psalms 119:10 “With my whole heart I have sought You, Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments”  

 1 Thess. 5:17  “Pray without ceasing.”

Colossians 4:2 “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.”                                                                                    

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”                                                                            

Jeremiah 29:12  “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.”                                                                     

1 Cor. 1:9 “God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Christ Jesus, our Lord.”                                                  

Lam. 3:23 “The Lord’s lovingkindness never ceases, nor His compassions, they are new every morning.”                                      

1 John 4:7 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”

Song.

I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.

Though no one join me, still I will follow, though no one join me, still I will follow, no turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me, the world behind me, the cross before me, no turning back, no turning back.

Prayer.

Heavenly Father,

I worship and I praise Your Holy name. What an awesome God You are, and I give You all the glory and honour forever. Thank You for bringing me to another New Year. Lord, help me to seek You first in all that I do in 2019.  I pray that You will lead, guide and direct me through every day of this New Year. Help me Lord to have a closer relationship with You this year. Grant it Jesus, is my plea. I re-dedicate my life to You, O Lord. Please help me to be pleasing to You Lord each day. Lord, I ask that You help me to remember to pray about all my plans before deciding what to do, because I am confident that You will direct my path according to Your will. I confess all my sins, and I humbly ask You to forgive me of all my sins, and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Help me, O Lord, to be ready to meet You when You return in all power and glory as King of kings, and Lord of lords. Thank You for Your mercies and Your amazing grace. In Jesus name. Amen.

OUR SAVIOUR, CHRIST THE LORD.

Luke 2:11-14 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men.

Our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ came to earth as a babe, was born in Bethlehem. Born in a manger because there was no room for Him in the inn. He identified with us in every way. He was born as a babe.

What irony, they did not have any room for the Saviour of the world  in the inn, yet He has gone to heaven to make room for us – to prepare a place for us.

John 14:1 says, “Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me.”

John 14:2  “In My father’s house, are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you.

John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also”. 

John 14:4 “And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

The Bible says,

1 Thessalonians 4:16 “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.”

1 Thess. 4:17 “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

1 Thess 4:18 “Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

JESUS’S BIRTH, DEATH, RESURRECTION AND SECONG COMING IN THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN IS THE GOOD NEWS OF SALVATION – THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL – THE MESSAGE OF HOPE FOR THE HUMAN RACE.

As we celebrate the Christmas season, let us remember that  “JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.

Song:

Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing.

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for sending Jesus, Your one and only son to earth to save us. Thank You for Your great love for us. Thank You Lord Jesus for coming to earth, for dying on the cruel cross for us. We rejoice to know that You rose from the dead and ascended to heaven. And You will come again, this time not as a babe, but as the triumphant  King Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of lords. We look forward to that day, and we ask that You help us to be ready to meet You on that glorious day.  In Jesus name, Amen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRUST IN THE LORD.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

God is all powerful and all wise. When we trust in God and His wisdom to lead, guide and direct our lives, it shows that we trust in a God who is the Creator and Sustainer of all life.

Developing Trust in God.

Trust is believing that God will do what He says He will do. And having faith completely in God and His word.

Read God’s word, His promises daily, Read the Psalms, John, Mark, the prophecies Daniel, Revelation. You will learn about God, who is very trustworthy, more worthy of your trust  than human beings are, even those who say they are Christians.

When you realize how much you can trust God and His promises, you will have inner peace.

John 16:33  Jesus says,  “In Me you will peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Romans 5:1  ” Having being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Isaiah 26:3-4a “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever.”

Bible verses on Trust.

Psalms 125:1 “Those who trust in the Lord, are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.”

Psalms 119:42  “So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in Your word.”

Psalms 118:8  “It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man, It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in princes.”

Psalms 4:5  “Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.”

Psalms 5:11  “Let all those rejoice who put their trust in You, let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them, let those also who love Your name, be joyful in You.”

Psalms 7:1  “O Lord my God, in You I put my trust, save me from all those who persecute me, and deliver me.”

Psalms 9:10  “Those who know Your name will put their trust in You: for You Lord have not forsaken those who seek You.”

Psalms 16:1  “Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.”

Psalms 73:28  “It is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all your works.”

Song

I trust in God, I know He cares for me, On mountain bleak, or on the stormy seas, When billows roll, He keeps my soul, My heavenly Father watches over me.

Prayer

Father God, thank You for all that You have done for me. I praise You O Lord God for You are good, merciful, gracious and long-suffering toward the children of men. Not willing that any should perish, but that all should repent and be saved. Thank You, O Lord that You are trustworthy and  I can put my complete trust and confidence in You, and Your promises and Your Holy Word.  Lord, I ask that You will forgive me of all my sins, and I pray Dear Lord that You will help me to have a closer relationship with You and to trust You more and more each day. In Jesus name. Amen

 

 

FAITH PLEASES GOD.

Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God, must believe that He is, and that He is  a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  Hebrews 11:1

What is Faith?

Faith is confidence in, belief in and complete trust in God.

How do you know that you have faith?

The Bible says,  God has dealt to every man a measure of faith.   Romans 12:3

What will you do with the measure of faith that God has given to you?

Grow daily in faith. Grow in confidence, belief and trust in God the Great Creator and Sustainer of all life. How? By reading God’s Holy Word, and praying daily, you build a relationship with God and Jesus Christ our Saviour, and your confidence and faith will increase.

You are sanctified and made holy by your faith in God.

Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1

Justification means getting right with God. It is being made righteous by faith in Christ It also means that our sins are forgiven, we have freedom from guilty and rebellion and we are accepted by God, and in right standing with God, our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Justification is possible only through Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord, who died on the cross to save us, and He paid the penalty for our sins and iniquity. And we are justified by faith in Jesus. We have this hope in Christ Jesus.

The Bible says “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

The Bible clearly states that by hearing the word of God our faith grows. Whether by reading God’s Holy Word on a daily basis, or by  hearing the  preaching of the Word, or by listening to testimonies by Godly Christians, our faith will increase daily.

Hearing about the promises of God and HIs great love and compassion, His mercies and goodness towards  us, will indeed  increase our faith.

The evil one will do everything to prevent us from hearing God’s word because he knows that God word dispels the darkness of sin, iniquity and rebellion  and give us light.

The Bible says:  God’s word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to our path. Psalms 119: 105

Faith pleases God.

Hebrews 11:1 says. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”.

You can help to build your faith by reading God’s Holy Word. Praying daily and having confidence, belief and trust in God that He will answer your prayer.

The Bible says that “we should live by faith and not by sight. Eg. if you have a financial need or you lose your job, starting praying and believe that God will provide for you, start praying and thanking God, even though it has not materialize as yet – you have not seen it yet.

That is  exercising faith and this is the faith that pleases God. Start believing, trusting and have confidence in God knowing that whatever you have asked God for  – the answer is on the way.

The Bible says  “Ask and it will be given to you”  Luke 11:9a

“If You ask anything in My name, I will do it” John 14:14

That’s faith in God – total dependence and confidence in God. Living by faith.

Romans 1:17 says “Therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith as it is written, the just shall live by faith.

Ephesians 2:8 says ” For by grace we have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves , it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

We are saved from sin and destruction through faith in God, and in Jesus Christ our Saviour.

People of Faith in the Bible.

Noah,   Enoch, Abraham,  Isaac, Jacob, Joseph,  Moses, Elijah, David, Samson.

These are just some ( there are many more) of the people in the Bible who exercised their faith in God, and they were pleasing to God. They also set an example for us to follow.  You can read about them in Hebrews 11.

Song:

My faith looks up to thee, O Lamb of Calvary, Saviour Divine. Now hear me while I pray, take all my guilt  away, nor let me ever stray from Thee aside.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for all that You have done for me. Thank You for the free gift of salvation. You sent Jesus to save me, He shed His precious blood to redeem me, reconcile me back to You Lord God. I am so grateful, words cannot express my gratitude to You. Please forgive me of all my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.  Lord, I ask that you help me to have more faith in You  each and every day. Help me to read Your Holy word and pray daily.  Lord, I ask You to  increase my faith, so that I can be pleasing to You O Lord God. Lord I ask  that You  help me to continue to walk the narrow pathway that leads to life eternal.  In Jesus name. Amen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

God is love.

God shows His love for us in many ways.

He created us in His image after His likeness. He sustains us, God sustains all life. God created our first parents Adam and Eve and put them in the Garden of Eden to take care of it. God would come down to the Garden of Eden in the cool of the day and meet with Adam and Eve.

After Adam and Eve disobeyed and sinned, there was a breakdown in the relationship between God and man.

The Bible says, “Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that he will not hear”. Isaiah 59:2  and ” All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”  Romans 3:23

God is complete Holiness and righteousness  so  sin and sinners cannot be in His presence.

God could have left humanity to their own devices, because God created us with a free-will. But God our heavenly Father could not stand-by and see His beloved children (His creation) be destroyed by the devil.

The devil has tried and is still trying to destroy humanity, by tempting and leading us into sin which leads to suffering and eternal death.

God had to do something to save His beloved creation.

A Pastor tells this story.  He said ” One night after settling his daughter to sleep in her room, he settled in his room for the night.  During the night he heard a door slam shut in the house, but somehow he did not seem bothered by it.

But when he heard the alarm go off in his daughter’s room, he jumped out of bed and ran to her room, because he thought someone was in the house and he had to go and save his daughter.

God shows His love by sending Jesus to save us. I imagine God saying to Jesus, You have to go down and save them, because there is no other way. Jesus died on the cross, He  shed His precious blood to save us.

John 3:16 says For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

God does not want us to perish, Jesus came to redeem/restore us back to our Creator God and heal the relationship that sin has broken.  God loves us with an unconditional everlasting love. ” He who does not love does not know God, for GOD IS LOVE.”  1 John 4:8

The Bible says “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance”  2 Peter 3:9

God also shows His love for us by offering us the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. God wants us to live eternally with Him.  The Bible says,  “If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9.

God says,  “I will cleanse  them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned,  and by which they have transgressed against Me.” Jeremiah 33:8

If we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour and Lord , we will be saved. If we continue to sin, we will die ( eternal death.)  The Bible says ” The soul that sins shall die (eternal death) Ezekiel 18:4b,  

” For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 6:23.

“Because of Adam and Eve sin and rebellion, we are all born in sin with sinful tendencies”

Jesus came to earth, died on the cross to save humanity from our sin sickness.  He is coming again to receive those who have accepted Him as their personal Saviour and Lord.

Jesus says,  ” Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so , I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you.

” And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know” John 14:1-4

God  shows His great Love for us by saving us by His grace and  by offering us  the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

A few Bible verses about God’s love.

Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord has appeared of old to me saying; Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you”

1 John 3:1  ” Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God”

Proverbs 8:17  “I will love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently will find Me”

Deut 6:5 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength”

John 15:9  “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you, abide in My love”

JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOUR AND LORD IS COMING AGAIN SOON,  ARE YOU READY TO MEET HIM?

The Bible says; “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  Romans 10: 10

SONG:

For God so love the world that He gave His only Son to die on Calvary’s tree, from sin to set us free, someday He’s coming back, what glory that will be. Wonderful is His love to me.

 

I invite you to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour and Lord. God be with  you as you make this very important decision. Below is a prayer that you can say.

PRAYER:

Jesus, I accept You as my personal Saviour and Lord.  I believe that You died on the cross for my sins, and that You rose again.  Thank You for what You did for me on Calvary’s cross to save me.  Please forgive me of all my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.  Thank You for the  free gift of eternal life.  Lord Jesus, help me to abide in You, and Your Holy  word and  be ready to meet You when You return.  In Jesus name. Amen.                                                                                                                                                           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deut 7:9

“Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, Who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.”

1 John 5:2

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”

1 John 4: 7-8 and 16

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.”