Not Enough Faith?

Do you feel like you just don't have enough faith? You know that God "can" do something, but you're not sure if He "will" do something.

The good news, is that we are not alone in feeling this way!

In Daniel 3:17-18, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said the following to King Nebuchadnezzar - "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. BUT EVEN IF HE DOES NOT, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (NIV Version)

This is interesting because it's obvious they weren't so sure that they would be delivered! But they had the faith the size of a mustard seed. Which is a reminder of the following verse:

Matthew 17:20 says, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move, Nothing will be impossible for you."

Most people use this as a literal phrase (which is probably how it was meant to be taken), but consider this also as a figurative phrase? Referring to a huge problem we can't get past, and having faith in God to just move it out of the way! Similar to the verses in Daniel chapter 3.

All we must do is TRUST is God to come through in our situation. AND HE WILL. God loves us like a parent loves their child. He wants the best for us, and He guides us through life. In fact, there are probably times that God has intervened on your behalf and you don't even know it. He has given you the opportunity to live a more fulfilling life. Are you going to take that opportunity?

Translations of The Holy Bible

Which translation is correct?

The question shouldn't be whether it is "correct" or not, if a word is translated, it should be an equal representation - only in a different language.

We must not confuse the words "Translation" and "Interpretation".

Here is an example of a translation:

King James Version
John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

 New International Version
John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

In this verse, "only begotten" literally means "one and only." And "everlasting" and "eternal" also mean the same thing. This shows the difference in translation. The whole reason for translations are for readers to more easily understand the Bible.

The Holy Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. If you ever read a translation that seems as though it is more of an interpretation (which may be incorrect), compare it with other translations to fully understand the specific verse you're reading.

Judging Others

We often judge others on how they look, who they married, what they did, etc.

What did Jesus do?

John 8:7 tells about a woman who committed adultery and was about to be stoned to death. Jesus could have looked on her and judged her, but He didn't. He says, "one who has never sinned throw the first stone!"

This is significant because Jesus did not judge her, in fact, He did the opposite. Jesus had forgiveness and compassion for the woman.

When you catch others in sin, are you quick to judge? Or are you quick to forgive? God's role is to judge, ours is to show compassion and forgiveness.

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Do You Desire to Know God

There's something tragically wrong with a believer who doesn't desire to know God.

In fact, you may not even be saved at all...

Being a Christian and accepting Jesus into your life is not just a verbal statement you say. In fact, that is only the beginning. That is when a relationship with Jesus begins!

When you're in a relationship, you want to learn as much as you can about the other person. This is the same with your relationship with Jesus! Therefore, if you do not desire to know Jesus, you may not be in a relationship with Him...

Mother's Day - 2012

Ephesians 6:1-3 says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother' - Which is the first commandment with a promise - 'That it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.'"

What is your relationship with your mother? Is it how you want it to be?
-If not, than waste no time and make your relationship better! This cannot wait, no one lives forever on this earth.


What is the best gift you can give your mother?
-Telling her about Jesus Christ! Without Jesus, we all would spend eternity in hell. With Jesus as our Lord, we live life abundantly forever in heaven.

If you're not sure how to tell her, or if you aren't even saved yourself - Click Here and let us show you how to be saved!

Do You Feel Worthless?

Do you ever feel like your worthless? Like no one cares?

The fact is, our TRUE value is God's estimate of our worth, not our family or peers.

God values you so much He gave His own Son for you so that you don't have to go to Hell! THAT is how valuable you are in the eyes of the Creator of the Universe!

What is the Unforgivable Sin?

Blasphemy is the only unforgivable sin.

Definition of Blasphemy:  (Merriam-Webster)
     1. the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God.
     2. irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable.

       
However, the scripture below tells us that blasphemy against God or Jesus Christ can still be forgiven, it's only blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. 

Matthew 12:31-32  "And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man (Jesus) will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come."

If You Commit Suicide, Do You Go to Hell?

The Bible can be very confusing at times and many people get frustrated trying to understand this topic. All we can do look at examples of scripture.

Both Samson and King Saul committed suicide, but we believe both of them will be in heaven.

1 Samuel 31:4-5 "...But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him."

We expect to see Saul in heaven from the following verse:

1 Samuel 10:10  "...the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying."

The fact is, ALL sins are serious enough to send us to HELL. God commanded us not to murder, but His only son, Jesus Christ, died for our sins (past, present, and future sins) so that we can inherit eternal life in Heaven.  Committing suicide is essentially murdering yourself, which is a sin just like lying, stealing, fornicating, etc.  All of which, Christ's death paid for.

Without a Father?

There are so many of us without fathers, it almost feels like there is a missing piece of our lives...

Here is what the Bible teaches:

Psalm 68:5-6 "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, He leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land."

All we must do is trust in God, and He will be our Father; He will guide and direct us.

Don't Worry About Tomorrow

The more important something is to you, the more you will worry about it. This may be relationships, jobs, money, cars, etc. Now, ask yourself the question, will this matter in five years? Probably not.

What does the Bible say about worrying and anxiety?

Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."  NIV

Luke 12:25 "And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?"

Psalm 55:22 "Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved."

1 Peter 5:7 "...casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you."

Hebrews 13:6 "So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."


WORRY CHALLENGE


For the next 7 days, every time you worry or have anxiety, PRAY. Talk to God continuously and "cast all your anxieties on Him".

Why worry when you can pray?

The Biblical KEY to Get Rich: Generosity

Is it a sin to be wealthy? No. 

David was a wealthy King, and was called "a man after God's own heart". His son, Solomon, asked for wisdom from God. He became the wealthiest man to ever live. Would you read a book by the wealthiest man in the world and how they were successful? Most agree that Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs.

How did they do it? 

1.  They trusted God. They knew that He would take care of them in every circumstance.



Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take."

Proverbs 11:24-25 "One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered." -ESV

Proverbs 15:16
"Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil."

Proverbs 21:5
"Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty."

Proverbs 13:11
"Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time."

Proverbs 22:2
"The rich and poor have this in common: The Lord made them both."


2.  They were generous.


Proverbs 3:27
"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it's in your power to help them.

Proverbs 11:24
"Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything."

Proverbs 11:25
"The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed."

Proverbs 19:17
"If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord - and He will repay you!"




Jesus also speaks of giving in Luke:

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." -ESV


The Corinthians also mention generosity:

2 Corinthians 9:6
"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." - ESV


Generosity is not only a blessing for the receiver, but also the giver.

Does God Answer Prayers of the Unsaved?

Let's define "unsaved"

Unsaved - "In danger of the eternal punishment of Hell"  (thefreedictionary.com)
Someone who is unsaved, has not asked God for forgiveness of their sins and believed Jesus died for them.

Does God answer prayers of the unsaved?


John 9:31 "Now we know that God hears not sinners: but if any man be a worshiper of God, and does His will, him He hears." (King James)


Proverbs 1:27-29 "When calamity overtakes you like storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me. Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord," (NIV '84)


Our job as believers is to pray on behalf of the unbelievers (unsaved). 


Do you want to be saved?

You can go to www.theprayerpeople.org and learn how, OR you can pray this:

Jesus, I know that I have sinned against You and this separates me from You. I am sorry and I want to turn away from my sinful ways and turn to You. Please forgive me. I believe that You died for me and my sins, that You rose from the dead, and are alive and hear my prayers. I'm asking You to become my Savior and the Lord of my life from this day forward. Amen.


Let us know if you became a Christ-follower today! CLICK HERE!

Gifts From God

Are you viewing your possessions in the right prospective?

They are all gifts from God! You must realize, they aren't the source of your joy, but they are a reason to rejoice! Every good thing comes from God!

Have you ever heard of "focusing more on the giver than the gift? Well God is the Giver! We can be content when we realize that with Him, we are well cared for and have what we need.

Ecclesiastes 5:19-20 "And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life - this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past."

Do You Need Healing?

Are you sick? Is a family member ill? 

We (as Christians) have a lot of power at our fingertips, but we don't know how to use it!

Matthew 17:20 "...I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Healing is directly associated with faith. 

Matthew 15:28 "'Dear woman,' Jesus said to her, 'your faith is great. Your request is granted' And her daughter was instantly healed."

Matthew 8:5 "When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 'Lord,' he said, 'my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.'  

Jesus said to him, 'I will go and heal him.'    

The centurion replied, 'Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, "Go," and he goes; and that one, "Come," and he comes. I say to my servant, "Do this," and he does it.'

When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, 'I tell you the trust, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Then Jesus said to the centurion, 'Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.' And his servant was healed at that very hour.'

Think Before Speaking!

Proverbs 15:28 "The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words."


Do you carefully plan what words you say and weigh the impacts? Or do you just spill out your words with no regard to the impact they may bring?

Do You Believe In Prayer?

Mark 11:22-25  "In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, 'Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!' 
'Have faith in God,' Jesus answered. 'I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.'"  (NIV)


God has given us a remarkable amount of power. The only thing we have to do is truly believe it will happen! That is easier said than done, but as we continue our walk with Christ and allow Him to prove himself over and over, our faith will grow and we will then realize that through prayer and believing, WE CAN DO ANYTHING.

Can God Make My Wrongs Right?

Short answer: YES

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." (NIV)

Time Is In God's Hands

Are you worried about a relationship and longing for someone to contact you?
Have you been looking for a job for months and are still unemployed?
Is the business you are starting taking a long time to get established?
Did your spouse in the military just get reassigned for another 6 months?

This list could go on and on...

The fact is, time is in God's hands. For things we desire, our human nature is impatient. We say, "Why God? Why hasn't he called me? Why can't I find a job? What's wrong with my business? Why did my spouse just get reassigned?"

As a Chist-follower, we can know that God is in control. And He is our heavenly "FATHER" who wants the BEST for us. We think we know what is best for us, but we don't know the whole picture! God sees our life from beginning to the end! He helps lead us to our full potential!

Rather than worrying, PRAY! And stay passionate about your life! Jesus died so you can live! LIVE TO THE FULLEST!

God, Our Father?

God is our heavenly father.

Ever feel like no one is on our side? Just remember, if He is our heavenly father, than we are his son or daughter!

It feels good to know that through Jesus, we can  be saved! And if we really think about the phrase, "I am God's son or daughter", it gives us confidence that God will take care of us just as a parent cares for their children.

Prayers for the New Year 2012

What are your resolutions for the new year? Are they God-centered?

This year, try giving God a portion of your day in prayer. Whether it be two minutes or two hours, prayer changes lives!

We all have our own specific needs for ourselves and loved ones, but lets not forget about everyone else who is also going through difficult times!

Here are some examples of situations people are facing AS YOU READ THIS:
-Marital problems
-Infidelity
-Cancer
-Broken heart
-Health
-Legal battles
-Finances
-Jobs
-Temptation
-Chronic pain
-Addictions
-etc.

Please remember to pray daily for all those facing these struggles.