Salvation Sunday: Are you ready?

Are you ready for Jesus? Are you ready for any time that He comes? Today's reading talks about how no man knows the hour or the day that Jesus is going to come back. I know that there are tons of people say they know that when the world is going to end. Let's take a look at different times. Apparently, the world was supposed to end December 24, 2011 and then the date was changed to December 21, 2012. But, look at us now. We're still here and the world is still in order. Therefore, their predictions were wrong.

Therefore, humans obviously do not know when the world is going to end.  This is because no one knows when the world is going to end or when Jesus is going to come back for His people.  Now, we need to make sure we are prepared all the time for the return of Jesus. We need to make sure we stay prayed up and are continually ready for the return of Christ. We have to make sure that we pray continually and make sure to not be deceived by anything that is false. Stay strong!!! Are you going to be ready?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stay blessed!!!

Salvation Sundays: Steven Gable

Saturday Sacrifice: Beautiful as Tirzah

“Thou are beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah…” Song of Solomon 6:4

Tirzah, is not only mentioned in the Song of Solomon, but also in the reading for today in Numbers.

Tirzah, was one of the five daughters of Zelophehad. A man who died in the wilderness while the children of Israel sojourned to the land God promised them.

So, I did some research to find out more information about the name Tirzah.

This is what I found:

Tirzah-  described as a capital of the northern kingdom of Israel during the reigns of Baasha, Elah, Zimri and Omri (1 Kings 15:33, 1 Kings 16:8, 1 Kings 16:23). The archaeological site is a 180 dunam (0.18 km²) tell in the hills of Samaria, northeast of Shechem, in what is currently known as the West Bank; it has been identified with the Biblical Tirzah.

 

 

 

 

Tirzah (Hebrew: תרצה‎) is a Hebrew word meaning "she is my delight." In the Bible it is the name of a woman as I stated above.

In the Song of Solomon I’m not sure if he is comparing his love’s beauty to that of the capital Tirzah, or to the woman Tirzah. You can decide…

The reason I decided to write about Tirzah is because she and her sisters kind of reminded me of the story of the five foolish and five wise virgins. If you don’t know the story you can read it in Matthew 25. (^_^)

In Numbers, the five sisters Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah came before God, Moses, and the rest of Israel asking for their inheritance. “Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.”

 

 

These daughters knew who they were and what their inheritance was. They were prepared to receive it, and they did. “So Moses brought their case before the Lord, and the Lord said to him, What Zelophehad's daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their faither's relatives and give their father's inheritance to them." 

These sisters were like the five wise virgins in the sense that they knew they were heirs and that they were prepared and ready to receive their inheritance. When you receive God’s spirit you automatically become heirs of Jesus Christ, and have rights to the inheritance. In the bible it says, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Romans 8:17

What is the great inheritance?...HEAVEN!! (^_^)

However, we have to be prepared and ready to receive the inheritance. We need to be like Tirzah. beautiful and pleasing to GOD’S delight.

“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the

earth^[c] will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with

 power and great glory.^{[d] 31} And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they

 will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other”. Matthew 24:30

Stay in God’s peace, not in pieces =)

Saturday Sacrifice: Hannah

Friday Fellowship: Common Believed Lie

(Based on Matthew 28 and 30)

Has anyone ever said, if I were alive during that time in bible I’d be a relentless believer? Or if I saw someone raised from the dead or seen Jesus walk on water, or seen Jesus speak to the storm then I’d be the best believer. It sometimes may be confusing on why people don’t trust God during that time after witnessing with their eyes the power of God.

                If you have said these questions or conjured these thoughts this is the answer, FROM BIBLE.

2 Corinthians 5:7

“For we walk by faith not by sight”.

How is that an answer to those questions? It is because the bible says this in Hebrews

By faith we see the elder obtained the promise

It is our faith that allows us to see not our eyes. I have seen Daniel escape the lion’s den, not on television, but by faith. I have seen Jesus die on the cross for my sins that I may live righteously with his holy spirit within me, ONLY by faith.

The reason we can’t comprehend why people who’ve witnessed miracles don’t trust God is because the fact is our world’s theme and proven fact SEEING IS BELIEVING IS A LIE.

It IS A LIE believed by ALL demonstrated by phrases such as:

1.       Show me first

2.        When I see first

3.        When it arrives

4.        After I see

5.       But first show me

This theme guides our lives as trust must be visibly established before verbal establishment. There is nothing wrong with that except when we bring this theme to God.

Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen”.

God honors, is pleased with and responds to faith. Someone might think one occurrence of spiritual activity would propel them to become a devout believer. That is a false statement, as God simply knows best. Your eyes will not control or decide whether you trust in God. There are plenty of notable miracles, stories, testimonies and accounts of spiritual encounters attached to God. Yet our world is full of non-believers demonstrating the theme SEEING IS BELIEVING

IS A LIE.

John 6:49

“Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died.”

They saw the power of God which was the manna and, yet still did not believe in God. That is because it’s not about your eyes; it is about your heart.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

- Jeremiah 29:13

Seek God with from your heart today. Godliness is profitable unto all things, he will give you promises in this life and life after.

Friday Fellowship: Christian

Thirsty Thursdays: Be Humble & Whom God Bless No Man Can Curse

Humble: not arrogant, a feeling of subservient; having a modest opinion of ones importance or rank. A word the Scribes and Pharisees “sitting in the seat of Moses” should have learned. “5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feast, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.” Matthew 23:5-7

The Scribes and Pharisees would make a scene in attempt to bring attention to themselves so everyone can see and say how holy they are, hold them in such high regard and call them “Rabbi”. When reality of the situation was that they weren’t quite what they seemed, they did not practice what they preached. They were doing this all to be recognized and revered, but it is God who is supposed to gain the glory and praise. It is God who we should exemplify exalt and bring the attention to, for he is worthy, not ourselves. “12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matthew 23:12 

“If God is For us who can be against us” 

In Numbers chapter 23 we see how Balak the king of the Moabites attempted to get Balaam to curse the children of Israel. Little did he know that God had blessed them, so Balaam told him “8 how shall I curse whom God hath not cursed? Or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?” Balak did not like that response; the whole purpose of having Balaam out there was to curse the Israelites. Even after being turned down once, Balak again tried to get Balaam to curse the children of Israel and failed yet again, he just didn’t quite understand. “Whom God bless, no man can curse”. “19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken and shall he not make it good? 20. Behold I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.” 

God is perfect, he tells no lies, when he says something he does it. When he makes a promise he keeps it. Has God promised you anything? Continue to be patient and hold steadfast. Remain faithful and joyful knowing that God cannot lie, he will not go back on his promise, it is impossible. What he said he will do, he will do. He is able

Stay Thirsty My Friends

Thirsty Thursdays: Ron

 

Warrior Wednesdays: How Well Do You Know the Scriptures and the Power of God?

"...Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God." Matthew 22:29

When I was young I participated in a ministry called Bible Quizzing. Bible quizzing allows young people to learn hundreds of scriptures. I could quote scriptures by the mention of the verse and could cross reference scriptures that had similar phrases or words. One of my teammates was nick-named the Michael Jordan of bible quizzing because of his knowledge, speed , and memorization of the word. Although,  I had memorized so much of the bible I did not quite understand the power of God until later in life.

Today's reading demonstrates examples of people who memorized the word but did not know or truly understand the power of God. In Matthew, the Sadducees and Pharisees asked Jesus numerous questions in an attempt to stump him or have him misspeak . In their continued efforts to prove that he was not the Messiah they were blinded to his power. They over looked his miraculous healings and missed the fact that he was God. These were the spiritual leaders of the time who knew all of the scriptures, but did not understand them or the power of God.

Likewise, Balaam a sorcerer who heard from God did not understand his full power. God had given him an assignment, but Balaam was focused on the financial benefit and motivated by greed rather than the assignment God had given him.  In order to remind  Balaam of his assignment, God demonstrated his power to Balaam by allowing his donkey to speak and opening his eyes to see the angel of the Lord. 

It is not enough for us to read the bible we need to KNOW the scriptures.
If you desire to know the bible take the following challenge:

There are 168 hours in a week. How are you investing time in getting to know the Bible? The following chart is to help you consider any needed changes as you analyze your current patterns. As you fill it in, pray about setting new goals

Method Of Intake	My Present Weekly Program	New Goals & Plans
Hearing the Word
Reading the Word
Studying the Word
Memorizing the Word
Meditation on the Word

http://www.godandscience.org/discovery/chapter2.html

Stay Blessed and Continue Warring for Christ!

Warrior Wednesday: Brittney

Transforming Tuesdays: RSVP To Your Invite In Heaven

Have you ever had to celebrate a special event that has caused you to go ALL out? Think of a wedding where there was possibly a banquet hall and lots of people or even a gala. Most of these things, you have to RSVP for so that the person hosting the event knows how many people will be coming so that they can prepare accordingly. Personally, the closest I've come to my own wedding day has been my Sweet Sixteen LOL! In any event, I am the most amazing Bridesmaid or Maid of Honor any wedding could have (I'm just saying!! lol). But anyway, when we celebrate commitments of love to one another as in a wedding or when we celebrate birthdays and accomplishments, it is natural to go ALL out because we absolutely deserve the best. Well wouldn't it be fair to say that God deserves the best??? Even outside of the millions of blessings that he bestows upon us, just the mere fact of waking us up every morning he alone deserves the best especially since we are not always deserving.

Today's reading in Matthew compares the Kingdom of God to a wedding banquet. Now we have already agreed to the fact that weddings are amazing and grand, so it should be no surprise as to how grand and amazing heaven will be when we get there. Revelations 21:12 reads, "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass." The streets are made of pure gold!!! I am almost sure that every girl, if she could, would want gold at her wedding and yes pearls! The only difference between how Revelations depicts Heaven and the reality of the weddings that I've been to is that you don't have a huge bill to pay when you enter Heaven as you would after a wedding. With Heaven, we pay through repenting for our sins, being baptized, filled with the Holy Ghost, forgiving, witnessing, turning away from our wicked ways, knowing that Jesus is the truth and the light, and the list goes on. Everything that is required of us is attainable we just have to be willing to submit to God's will in order to do so.

As the parable continues in Matthew we see a King trying to host a wedding banquet for his son. Initially we see the servants being ordered to go out and extend invitations to all of the people who were invited. I found this interesting because when I think of weddings I automatically think about my closest friends and family and I know for a fact that not just anybody would be invited to my special day. In the story, the servants extended the invitation to the people on the guest list first, but unfortunately they were ignored and then eventually killed.  After none of the selected individuals agreed to come, the King opened up the invitation to anyone meaning he had to be desperate. This parable states that both good and bad people were pulled off of the street and brought into the wedding celebration. One man in particular was escorted out of the banquet when the King found him not dressed in wedding clothes. Reading this I found this a bit drastic, until I thought about it. What does this say about our daily walk with Christ?

Yes, Heaven is like a wedding in the sense that we celebrate the union of love --this would be the love between God and us. However, we have to be sensitive to the signs and invitations that we are given in preparation for that time. Granted no one of knows the time when the Son of Man cometh, however because of that uncertainty we should live everyday like it is our last. As all of the bloggers have stated throughout the weeks that we are all servants of Christ meaning we are to do his work.  This requires us to witness. Just as the servant in the parable was sent out to invite people to the wedding, we have a RESPONSIBILITY to invite people to church, introduce them to God, and show them the truth and the light. God honors us in doing so and yes we will be criticized and ostracized at times but none of that matters. At the end of the day, God will fight those battles for us and just as the King avenged the deaths of his servants in the parable, God will do the same for us.

Everyone is able to follow God and most importantly everyone is welcomed to do so here on Earth. The selectivity comes when we reach Heaven because that is the ultimate reward --eternal life. You don't want to be the wedding guest who came but was not dressed and then was thrown out. This also speaks to our garments. What are you clothed with? Do you wear the whole armor of God or do you wear the armor of the world? These are just things that we should continue to think about when strengthening our relationship with God. When we come before him we need to be dressed the part and that is metaphorically speaking. No one wants to be that guest who came and then was abruptly thrown out...the sad truth is that many people will be denied access to Heaven.

I pray that everyone receives the deeper meaning of the parable of the wedding banquet. Although everyone is welcomed and invited into Heaven, not all of us will get there. Life is so unpredictable so it is up to you to choose WHO or WHAT you are living for. No one can make that decision but you. Matthew 22:14, "For many are called, but few are chosen." LIVE THAT CHOSEN LIFE & TAKE STEPS TODAY TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT IN HEAVEN. 

BE BLESSED!!!

It's never too late to TRANSFORM YOUR TUESDAYS!!!

TRANSFORMING TUESDAYS: JAMERA

Merciful Monday: Stepping out in Faith and Keeping God First

“Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant.
    If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.” Ecclesiastes 11:4

Have you ever had a desire to do something, but been too worried to initiate it? You may have said “it’s too soon” or “I’m not ready yet” or “but I don’t have the money.” Today’s reading shows us that sometimes you just have to stop making excuses and STEP OUT IN FAITH!

Moses knew all about taking a step without seeing the whole staircase. He brought his entire family (the tribe of Israel) out of Egypt and into the wilderness although he had no idea where God was taking them. I believe that he trusted God enough to know that at the end of the day, he was blessed, and that as long as he stepped out in faith God would honor that.

In today’s reading, Moses was being ridiculed by the people because they were basically starving and dehydrated out in the desert. They blamed everything on him saying, “Why have you brought the congregation of the Lord’s people into this wilderness to die, along with all our livestock? Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us here to this terrible place? This land has no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water to drink!” Numbers 2-:4-5.

 I’m sure that Moses was frustrated by this. He may have even doubted himself and God, and believed that they would be better off dead. But in the midst of a really bad situation, he did something right. He kept God first! Verse 6 says, “Moses and Aaron turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where they fell face down on the ground. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to them.” God commanded him to take his staff and “speak to a rock.” And in the very next verse, it says “So Moses did as he was told.” The Bible doesn't mention him complaining or making any excuses as to why he shouldn't hit a rock with his staff (I’m sure we all can think of a whole lot though!). Moses stepped out on faith and did exactly as God commanded him to do. Because he stepped out and heeded the word of God, the Israelites survived.

Remember: God will always bless SOMETHING above NOTHING. Take a step out in faith to do what God told you to do. Go after your dreams even if you aren’t exactly sure how you will complete them. But most importantly, remember to keep God first because he will see you through.  Ecclesiastes 12:2-3 says, “Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly.”

Merciful Mondays: Jael

^“For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the solemn covenant he made with your ancestors.” Deuteronomy 4:31

Salvation Sunday: Give praises to God

Today is Palm Sunday!! On this day and in this reading, we see that people praised God with their palm leaves an worshipped Him!!! I want to encourage you to praise God through everything. Just like Ron said on Thursday, that through everything you gotta praise God. Through your struggles and hardships, praise God. Praise God through every single moment of your life because He is worthy an he is deserving of all the praise.  In Everythong, give thanks unto god. I know I give God praise all the time because he is deserving of it all. The fact that I'm awake everyday and that God keeps His protecting arms and angels over me is a complete blessing. The fact that when I should be dead or when I don't deserve His grace and he still loves me is another reason to praise God!!

Stay blessed!!! Have a blessed palm Sunday and a blessed week before Easter!!'
Salvation Sunday: Steven Gable

GUEST BLOGGER MARCH: Good Ground...A Heart That Bears Fruit

Greetings, friends and family in Christ.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank God for assembling the team of writers for this blog.  They are undertaking a great feat by reading the entire bible in a year.  I admire the obedience and persistence of the bloggers.  God planted a seed in their hearts and the fruit bloomed and is feeding a plenitude of people.  Their hearts can be defined as good ground.  There are four different kinds of sowing ground enumerated in Mathew 13.

As Jesus told the parable of the sower to the crowd of people who gathered by the sea shore, he spoke about four different kinds of sowing ground.  The first kind of ground was the way side.  Seed that is sown on this type of ground did not get a chance to flourish as “The fowls came and devoured them up” Mathew 13:4. This is comparable to someone who hears the word of the Lord or the instructions of the Lord and “understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart.” 

The second type of ground is the stony place.  The stony place is synonymous to a heart which lacks joy.  The word sticks for a while and then when trials and tribulations arise they lose their joy.  This is a heart that lacks the joy of Christ.  The third type of ground is among the thorns.  This type of the ground is the heart which hears the word but is unable to bear fruit because the “care of this world, and the deceitfulness of richness, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.” 

The last type of ground is what can be described as good ground.  This is what I like in the hearts of the writers of this blog too.  As it states in Mathew 13:23, “he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty.”  My prayer for everybody that reads this is that we can get to the point that our hearts are consistently “good ground.”  That every word we hear from the Lord will seep through our hearts and not only disseminate through our beings but bear fruit. 

Stay richly blessed, 

Guest Blogger: Sam

Saturday Sacrifice:Life Worthwhile

Jesus Christ is the greatest man to ever walk the face of earth. His Life on this earth was Worthwhile!!

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” ~ Matthew 20:28

Jesus Christ lived his life on this earth as a SERVANT…he lived his life WORTHWHILE!!

Occasionally, people believe that their life would have more meaning if they achieve the ultimate success. Basically, the AMERICAN DREAM if you will.

But, none of that matters. Nothing in this life is permanent; everything in this life is temporary.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ~ Matthew 6:19-21

FYI, I’m not saying having dreams for your life is wrong. Believe me, I am all for having goals and aspirations. Personally, I have a lot of dreams for myself as well.

However, having a meaningful life is more important than achieving my dreams. I like the way Albert Einstein said it. Einstein said “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile…Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value.”

But, Jesus said it best, “Whoever want to become great among you must be your servant”.

Want to live a LIFE WORTHWHILE??

SERVE GOD, SERVE OTHERS…

If Jesus, the greatest man to ever walk the face of the earth can humble himself and SERVE…

Then WE CAN DO IT TOO!!

When you SERVE, you are not only adding VALUE to OTHERS LIVES, you are also adding VALUE to YOUR LIFE!!=)

 

Stay in God’s peace, not in pieces

Saturday Sacrifice: Hannah