Living Stones

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.(4) As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— (5) you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ
1 Peter 2:1-5

The term “living stones” in 1 Peter 2:5 is used as a metaphor to illustrate the secure and intimate relationship believers have with Jesus who, in turn, is described in the previous verse as the “living Stone” (1 Peter 2:4). Together, verse four and five vividly picture how Christ and His followers are a building being built by God Himself:

The foundation of God’s building is His Son, Jesus Christ, the “living Stone.”

The “living stones,” in turn, are believers who come to Jesus and place their lives upon this foundation. One of the striking things we learn in this passage is that God not only chose this Stone who is eternal, but there were men who rejected the Stone because they wanted to build the building of their lives the way they wanted, not God’s way.

The stone the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
Psalm 118:22

As a result, these men cast this living Stone aside, not caring that Jesus is the only true foundation upon which man can build his eternal life.

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:10-11

Elsewhere, Jesus is also described as the chief cornerstone upon which is built the Church, a unified body of believers, both Jew and Gentile (non-Jew)

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-22

Peter referenced Jesus as the cornerstone in Acts 4:11-12, stating that “salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” God accepts no one who refuses to become a part of His building. And God is just like all builders—He has a foundation upon which all workers must lay the stones of their lives

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
Matthew 7:24-27

Believers, then, are the “living stones” of the church. As such, we must remember that God is eternal, which means His building is eternal. The foundation Stone laid by God shall never decay nor waste away. Christ lives forever and ever. In placing our lives upon the living Stone of God, we find that He supports and holds us up eternally. We, in turn, become living stones, stones that will live on forever and ever. A physical house is not permanent; it ages, deteriorates, and wastes away. But being the spiritual house of God, we do not age, deteriorate, or decay. We live on in God’s eternal spiritual house.

Peter goes on to describe the relationship of living stones to the Chief Cornerstone:

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,

”and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:7-9

Peter is saying that, as living stones, we have certain functions. As a “royal priesthood,” we are a “kingdom of priests,” a term that was used of Israel in Exodus 19:6.

You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites
Exodus 19:6

Also, in Revelation 1:6, we are called kings and priests, referring to the exalted rank and dignity which we will have in the future kingdom of heaven. Believers, in common with our Savior, will reign triumphantly over all enemies and, having gained a victory over sin and death and hell, we will be reigning together with our King.

In the meantime, the function of the living stones is to “declare the praises” of Him who called us out of the darkness of sin into the light of life and glory. This is the “job description” of a living stone: a declarer of truth and love and light, both by our words and the life we live before others in the world.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realm with every spiritual blessing in Christ
Ephesians 1:3

Trust JESUS!

†

Special thanks to gotquestions.org

Good Luck, Bad Luck, and the Sovereignty of God

You’ve probably heard the argument before:

“if God is so good, why does He let bad things like crime happen to people?”

A story is told in middle eastern folklore of a man who lost his horse that ran away.

When the horse ran away, his neighbor came to him and said:
“Bad luck isn’t it, your horse is gone”

The man replied
“Good and bad luck, what do I know about these things?”

A few days later, the horse came back with twenty other wild horses and the neighbor came by again and said:
“Amazing, it’s not bad luck it’s good luck! Now you’ve got twenty more!”

The man replied
“Good and bad luck, what do I know about these things?”

While his young son was out one day taming one of the new horses, that wild horse kicked him and breaks his leg. The neighbor comes once again and says to him:
“Terrible isn’t it, your sons leg is broken. Bad luck that these horses came”

The man replied
“Good and bad luck, what do I know about these things?”

A few days go by and a band of thugs are coming from town to town looking for all the able-bodied young men to recruit for their gang and they were about to pick this young man when they find out that his leg is broken. So they decided to leave him and move on the the next house. The neighbor comes over again and says:
“Good luck isn’t it, that your son’s leg was broken”

The man replied
“Good and bad luck, what do I know about these things?”

In one little series of episodes, we don’t know what lies ahead. Why don’t you wait until you stand before God face to face, and you will find out that there were reasons why he didn’t stop that trigger or thwart that thief, so that you might see the heinousness of evil, and see the majesty of love and good, managing to navigate your steps on the pilgrims progress to the celestial city.

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
Ephesians 4:11-15

Trust JESUS!

†

for more on this topic, check out:
The Problem of Evil
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9b0PJDDof4

1789 U.S Book of Common Prayer

Founded on July 4th,1776, just thirteen years after the United States became an independent nation, this prayer was published in the 1789 U.S Book of Common Prayer.

As I read and reflected on what could’ve inspired such a change in the tone of prayer only thirteen years after declaring their very independence, a truth that I’ve observed time and time again, even in my own life, became very clear.

It seems that if history has taught us anything, it is that we begin most endeavors in life – whether relationships/marriages, new ministries or business ventures, or even our spiritual devotion and service to the Lord – with the highest of hopes and the sincerest of intentions, but time and the testing of our faith prove the genuineness of those devotions.

It’s not long before we feel like we’re ‘stuck in a rut’; or as if things have lost their sparkle and appeal and it’s ‘time for change’

And sure enough, as troubles arise, fears and anxieties become habitual, and since things don’t look like the beautiful image we had previously set up in our minds, so the temptation to ‘freedom’ once again, seems ever so pure a motive to abandon our current status and positions to pursue our latest endeavors.

Most would encourage you that at this point that it’s “never too late to start again.“

Almost confirming to you all that you feel tempted to do in so many ways just to gain significance and relevance once again.

I would beg to differ that things are as they may appear.

For history has taught me something far more insightful through the experiences of my own, once, excited zealous pursuits that have fizzled into something seemingly stagnant or irrelevant

It is as the Word of God states in Romans:
“in all things, God, causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purposes for them”
Romans 8:28

I’ve learned that it has been my own worldly measures of “success” that has caused me to not appreciate the great significance behind the so called menial tasks of maturity.

With a eye set constantly looking backward and trying to recapture the “what once was” experiences of life, I’ve failed in so many ways to appreciate the “what is and has become” experiences of true maturity and growth.

A common example is seen in the reason why someone’s death seems so emotionally significant to us, yet during their life, we are usually too busy to do all but ever pick up the phone to say “I love you” with no ulterior motive.

Why do we wait to place great emphasis on our devotion to someone after they’re gone, but rarely show that sort of devotion while they are here and available for us to do so.

It’s because the same excited beginnings while looking back immediately come to mind more often in our memory rather than the exhausting work of maintaining those relationships over the years that has caused our separation and complacency towards them.

I believe that this is the true heart of this prayer:

Almighty and most merciful Father;
We have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.
We have offended against thy holy laws.
We have left undone those things which we ought to have done;
And we have done those things which we ought not to have done;
And there is no health in us.

But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders.
Spare thou those, O God, who confess their faults.
Restore thou those who are penitent;
According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake;
That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life,
To the glory of thy holy Name.
Amen.

1789 U.S Book of Common Prayer

　 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Trust JESUS!

†

G.K Chesterton – Orthodoxy
https://vimeo.com/14494081

 

Biblical Womanhood in the 21st Century

Older women likewise are to be
reverent in their behavior,
not malicious gossips
nor enslaved to much wine,
teaching what is good,

so that they may encourage the young women to
love their husbands,
to love their children,
to be sensible, pure,
workers at home, kind,
being subject to their own husbands,

so that the Word of God will not be dishonored
Titus 2:3-5

　

What does the biblical godly woman look like in the 21st century?

Today I would like to honor my sister in Christ,

　

Joni Eareckson Tada

speaking at the 2013 NRB Convention
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrO5fGSIyM8

　

Trust JESUS!

†

　

　

　

　

 

A Word to the …….

Let the wise hear and increase in learning. Let those with understanding receive guidance
Proverbs 1:5

I cannot think unless I have been thought,
Nor can I speak unless I have been spoken.
I cannot teach except as I am taught,
Or break the bread except as I am broken.
O Mind behind the mind through which I seek,
O Light within the light by which I see,
O Word beneath the words with which I speak,
O founding, unfound Wisdom, finding me,
O sounding Song whose depth is sounding me,
O Memory of time, reminding me,
My Ground of Being, always grounding me,
My Maker’s Bounding Line, defining me,
Come, hidden Wisdom, come with all you bring,
Come to me now, disguised as everything.

by Malcolm Guite

　

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.

If you are wise,
you are wise for yourself;

if you scoff,
you alone will bear it.
Proverbs 9:9-12

　

Trust JESUS!

　

†

　

　

 

The Islamic Dilemma

The Quran affirms the inspiration, preservation and authority of the Christian Scriptures (including the Torah and the Gospel)

Yet the Quran contradicts the Christian Scriptures on fundamental doctrines (e.g. Jesus’s death, resurrection, and deity)

By affirming Christian Scriptures that contradict Islam, the Quran self destructs

　

　

Check out this short video to expand your knowledge and understanding to better equipped yourselves in dialogue with our Muslim brothers and sisters about the truthfulness of the Gospel

　

　

The Quran, the Bible, and the Islamic Dilemma
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNAS0aaViM4

　

Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar? So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the Gospel to get their living from the Gospel. But I have used none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make my boast an empty one. For if I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion.

Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!
1 Corinthians 9:16

　

　

Trust JESUS!

　

†

　

　

Also check out:

What is the Gospel?

　

　

　

　

Special thanks to Acts17Apologetics

 

Herodias – The Woman Responsible for the Murder of a Preacher

Name Meaning—As a member of the Herodian dynasty, perhaps the most despicable dynasty history has known, the name Herodias is but the female form of Herod, the royal name for the political rulers during the time of Christ and the apostles. It was under the vile and cruel orders of the Herods that Jesus and His followers were often persecuted and punished. Herod means “heroic”—not very applicable to the Herodian family, the majority of whom, particularly Herodias, were more hellish than heroic.

Family Connections—Herodias was the daughter of Aristobulus, son of Herod the Great and Mariamne, daughter of Hyrcanus. Her first husband was Philip I, son of Herod the Great and Mariamne, so she married her own uncle, by whom she had a daughter, Salome, whom her mother used to destroy John the Baptist. When Herod Antipas visited Rome, he was entertained by Philip and Herodias. Herod abducted his royal brother’s wife. His own wife, an Arabian princess, was an obstacle to an illicit marriage, so he divorced her, and Herodias became queen in her stead, and with her daughter was installed in the palace. “The corroding immorality of Herod’s race shows itself in his marriage with Herodias his brother’s wife and the wanton offense thereby given to Jewish sensibilities.”

Among the female characters in God’s portrait gallery there are many wicked women as we are discovering, but surely Herodias stands out among them as one of the most vile and vicious. Amid the putrefying influence of the palace, however, there was one man who knew no fear, John the Baptist. Herod “feared” him and regarded him as “a just man” and whom “he heard gladly.” Herod found music in the preacher’s message until he sternly rebuked the king by saying of Herodias, “It is not lawful for thee to have her.” But such a warning bell was to toll the Baptist’s doom. For his faithful rebuke of Herod’s sin, John was cast into prison, and the evil, scheming mind of Herodias began to work. She was stung by the arrow from the preacher’s quiver and hated him for exposing her shame. “For Herodias’ sake,” he was imprisoned and thus the greatest of the prophets was sacrificed for this lewd and vicious woman.

When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel.
Matthew 10:23

Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.
Luke 6:26

Herodias, with her conscience in turmoil because of her accuser, planned to silence him. She did not want Herod to listen too closely and constantly to John’s forceful preaching. She feared her illegal husband—for her first husband was still alive—might repent, and her position as queen, imperiled.

Herodias knew Herod only too well. He easily succumbed to sensual excitement, and as his birthday drew near her foul design was hatched. On the day when drink freely flowed, Herodias used her own daughter to inflame Herod’s passions. She was willing to sacrifice her child’s modesty in order to bend Herod to her will. Herod was overcome by Salome’s form seen through the flowing flimsy garment she wore, and influenced by the act of the dancing girl took a rash and foolish oath to give her whatever she asked, even to half of his kingdom. Approaching her mother, Salome said, “What shall I ask?” Without hesitation Herodias, the female hyena, replied, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist.” Returning to Herod she presented her demand, and Herod was extremely sorry at such a request. Yet, because of his oath’s sake, he sacrificed the preacher whom he regarded as just and holy, and all because of his guilty love for a vile woman. No wonder he was smitten with fear when he heard of the fame of Jesus, thinking it was John the Baptist risen from the dead to torment his conscience further. One wonders how Salome felt when the gory dish of the preacher’s head was handed to her?

Herodias’ Old Testament counterpart was Jezebel. What Herodias was to Herod, Jezebel was to Ahab. Both Ahab and Herod were wicked, and in both cases the woman was more wicked. Both Jezebel and Herodias fostered hate that became deadly against a prophet of God. Jezebel hated Elijah and sought to kill him—Herodias hated John the Baptist, the New Testament Elijah, and succeeded in his murder. What was the end of Herodias? Since she was the source of Herod’s sin, Herodias also became the source of his shame. According to Josephus, Herodias’ ambition was the ruin of Herod. Jealous of the power of Agrippa her brother, she prodded Herod to demand of Caligula, the emperor, the title of king. Agrippa saw to it that this demand was refused, and Herod was banished and ended his days in shame and exile. The pride of Herodias forced her to be faithful to her husband in the disgrace and misfortune she herself had caused.

　

Even at the time of the writing of the book of Revelation (Approx. 81-96 A.D.), we still see this spirit of Jezebel at work in the church in Thyatira. It is named to describe another woman who’s erroneous teachings and self appointed position of authority in the church was used to mislead the servants of the Lord:

　

“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
Revelation 2:20-23

　

Do not put your trust in a friend!

　

Trust JESUS!

　

†

　

　

　

　

　

Special thanks to:
Alphabetical Exposition of Named Women in the Bible

Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? Part 2

Is a Christian free to celebrate Christmas, a holiday that not only has pagan origins but also is used by the unbelieving world as a promotion of commercialism?

In my opinion, it depends on the person and his convictions before God.

First of all, we are to hold our standards of righteousness and devotion to God above everything else. We must seek to please God according to what we believe is consistent with Scripture. But, when we look at Scripture, we don’t find any place that says to celebrate Christ’s birth. But, on the other hand, the Bible says all things are lawful though not all things are profitable (1 Corinthians 6:12). In addition, we should be fully convinced in our own minds about days of worship and eating (Romans 14:1-12). This last reference supports the position that Christians have liberty and freedom to interpret Scripture and to celebrate Christmas.

The Old Testament says that we are to worship God in truth according to the dictates that He has established (Exodus 20:1-4, 24:12-31:18). But, Christmas was not established by God. In addition, there are no records at all of the early church celebrating the birth of Christ. Yet, there is no Biblical prohibition about celebrating the birth of Christ. So, since it doesn’t say that we can’t do it, does it mean it’s okay to go ahead and do it?

This issue deals with the Regulative Principle. One version of it says that we can only do what the Scriptures expressly commands. The other says that we can do everything except with the Scriptures forbid. So, which is the right position? When we turn to Scripture, we find that it says that we are “not to exceed what is written,” (1 Corinthians 4:6). Obviously, the Scriptures are our guide. But when we look to the verses above about all things being lawful (1 Corinthians 6:12) and that Christians are to be convinced in their own minds (Romans 14:5), then celebrating Christmas becomes more of personal preference.

Also, consider this:

In the Bible, in 1 Corinthians 10:23-33, Paul speaks about meat sacrificed to idols that was then later sold in the meat market place. The question arose, “Should a Christian each such meat?” Paul answers the question in verse 25 when he says, “Eat anything that is sold in the meat market, without asking questions for conscience’ sake.” Paul said that it was okay to eat the meat.

Then in verses 28-29 he says,
“But if anyone should say to you, ‘This is meat sacrificed to idols,’ do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake; I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience?”

Paul is saying that if you are with someone who might be negatively affected by your eating meat that was sacrificed to idols then don’t eat it–not because of you but because of the other person. In other words, eating that meat won’t affect you. The false gods are not real (Galatians 4:8-9). They have no power.

1 Corinthians 8:7-9 echoes this idea.  It says,
“However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 8 But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. 9 But take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.”

Though this passage requires a bit more examination, it still carries the sense of freedom. And, Jesus has definitely set us free!

So, celebrating Christmas is up to the conviction of the Christian.

 

He is free to celebrate it.
He is also free not to celebrate it.

 

 

But, do not judge other Christians who celebrate it or don’t celebrate it since they are free to act according to their conscience in this matter.

Sanctification

The Lord, through His sacrifice, has cleansed us of our sins. He sanctifies what He touches. When we came in contact with Him, it is we who were cleansed.
It is not He who is defiled.

The woman with the issue of blood who touched Jesus (Mark 5:25-34) was made clean.
It was not Jesus who was defiled.

Likewise Jesus touched the unclean lepers and cleansed them (Matt. 8:3). Jesus came in contact with many people, and it was never He who was defiled. It was they who were cleansed.

 

I think this principle can be applied to Christmas.
Yes, the advent of Christmas was used to assimilate pagans into Catholicism
Yes, it is a highly commercial time of year.
Yes, many do not have their eyes on Jesus.

But for the Christian, it is a time to reflect upon the importance of the birth of our Lord Jesus, and to celebrate His coming into the world to die for our sins.

 

I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the Antichrist
2 John 1:7

 

Trust Jesus!

†

 

　

　

Special thanks to CARM

　

　

 

Should Christians Celebrate Christmas? Part 1

The debate about whether or not Christians should celebrate Christmas has been raging for centuries. There are equally sincere and committed Christians on both sides of the issue, each with multiple reasons why or why not Christmas should be celebrated in Christian homes. But what does the Bible say? Does the Bible give clear direction as to whether Christmas is a holiday to be celebrated by Christians? 

First, let’s look at the reasons why some Christians do not celebrate Christmas. One argument against Christmas is that the traditions surrounding the holiday have origins in paganism. Searching for reliable information on this topic is difficult because the origins of many of our traditions are so obscure that sources often contradict one another. Bells, candles, holly, and yuletide decorations are mentioned in the history of pagan worship, but the use of such in one’s home certainly does not indicate a return to paganism.

While there are definitely pagan roots to some traditions, there are many more traditions associated with the true meaning of Christmas—the birth of the Savior of the world in Bethlehem. Bells are played to ring out the joyous news, candles are lit to remind us that Christ is the Light of the world (John 1:4-9), a star is placed on the top of a Christmas tree to remember the Star of Bethlehem, and gifts are exchanged to remind us of the gifts of the Magi to Jesus, the greatest gift of God to mankind.

Another argument against Christmas, especially having a Christmas tree, is that the Bible forbids bringing trees into our homes and decorating them. The passage often cited is Jeremiah 10:1-16, but this passage refers to cutting down trees, chiseling the wood to make an idol, and then decorating the idol with silver and gold for the purpose of bowing down before it to worship it (see also Isaiah 44:9-18). The passage in Jeremiah cannot be taken out of its context and used to make a legitimate argument against Christmas trees.

Christians who choose to ignore Christmas point to the fact that the Bible doesn’t give us the date of Christ’s birth, which is certainly true. December 25th may not be even close to the time Jesus was born, and arguments on both sides are legion, some relating to climate in Israel, the practices of shepherds in winter, and the dates of Roman census-taking. None of these points are without a certain amount of conjecture, which brings us back to the fact that the Bible doesn’t tell us when Jesus was born. Some see this as proof positive that God didn’t want us to celebrate the birth, while others see the Bible’s silence on the issue as tacit approval.

Some Christians say that since the world celebrates Christmas, although it is becoming more and more politically correct to refer to it as “the holidays” Christians should avoid it. But that is the same argument made by false religions that deny Christ altogether, as well as cults such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses who deny His deity. Those Christians who do celebrate Christmas often see the occasion as an opportunity to proclaim Christ as “the reason for the season” among the nations and to those trapped in false religions.

As we have seen, there is no legitimate scriptural reason not to celebrate Christmas. At the same time, there is no biblical mandate to celebrate it, either. In the end, of course, whether or not to celebrate Christmas is a personal decision. Whatever Christians decide to do regarding Christmas, their views should not be used as a club with which to beat down or denigrate those with opposing views, nor should either view be used as a badge of honor inducing pride over celebrating or not celebrating. As in all things, we seek wisdom from Him who gives it liberally to all who ask (James 1:5) and accept one another in Christian love and grace, regardless of our views on Christmas.

　

Trust JESUS!

†

　

　

　

Special thanks to gotquestions.org

 

Created in Christ Jesus to do Good Works!

Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me,

“Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
See I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms,

To pluck up and to break down,
To destroy and to overthrow,
To build and to plant”

The Word of the Lord came to me saying,

“What do you see Jeremiah?”

And I said

“I see a rod of an almond tree”

Then the Lord said to me,

“You have seen well, for I am watching over My Word to perform it”
Jeremiah 1:9-12

　

God has been preparing us for what is to come

It may have been painful,

You may have been asking a lot of questions and not finding any answers,

It may have seemed tedious and endless,

and you could be ready to just about give up!

　

But these trials have come to show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – even though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.

And the Lord is watching carefully over your life to perform all that He has purposed for you to do.

　

　

I came across this great documentary on NBA’s unlikely success story, Jeremy Lin

I think it beautifully captures the journey we embark on in preparation to fulfill the Lord’s carefully planned purpose for our lives.

　

　

As you prepare for this New Year and all that the Lord has in store for you, you just might find this inspirational and helpful to keep you pressing in until that victory arrives!

　

I declare this day that every plan and purpose God has ordained for your life shall be accomplished in the Mighty Name of JESUS!

　

　

Trust JESUS!

†

　

　

LINSANITY!

Documentary on the Life of Jeremy Lin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE_j9ynusg4