Above everything the human soul can possible desire and want, LORD I pray that you will give us what we need and the grace to accept it. Though I would be pleased with a life of safety and comfort, I'd rather be conformed to the Image of Your Son, so that this faith, though tested by the fires of disappointment, despair, and discipline, will prove to be "of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire." I suppose it is risky to talk like this, with words that give rise to alarming opposition within, arousing an enemy who is ready at a moments notice to point out my flaws, past sins, and shortcomings, reminding me of all the dangers involved in stepping out of a boat of passiveness into the raging waters of love and true service. Indeed, it isn't safe at all to follow You: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it." So again I pray that you will give us what we need, the grace to accept it, and unfailing love so that we may reflect it.
~Written By Tommie McAfee
Friday, June 19, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Courage
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." John 14:1
Fear doesn't come from God. Instead, God provides a never-fail, Spirit-inspired-three-fold antidote to fear. First, He gives you power-power to overcome feelings of anxiety and timidity that would prevent you from doing what God would have you to do. Second, He gives you love-love that serves others without regard to what disapproving things others may say about you or your motives. Third, He gives you a sound mind-intelligence, self-discipline, and well-grounded in God's will and purpose for your life.
The next time you lack confidence in yourself as God's chosen servant, when fear threatens to defeat you, take courage. Think about God's power: you've got it, so use it. Remember His love: you've got it, so share it. Consider the sound mind, the spiritual intelligence, the self discipline He provides for you: you've got it, so go about your day in Spirit-filled courage!
Fear doesn't come from God. Instead, God provides a never-fail, Spirit-inspired-three-fold antidote to fear. First, He gives you power-power to overcome feelings of anxiety and timidity that would prevent you from doing what God would have you to do. Second, He gives you love-love that serves others without regard to what disapproving things others may say about you or your motives. Third, He gives you a sound mind-intelligence, self-discipline, and well-grounded in God's will and purpose for your life.
The next time you lack confidence in yourself as God's chosen servant, when fear threatens to defeat you, take courage. Think about God's power: you've got it, so use it. Remember His love: you've got it, so share it. Consider the sound mind, the spiritual intelligence, the self discipline He provides for you: you've got it, so go about your day in Spirit-filled courage!
-Written by Sherana Harris
Thursday, June 11, 2009
How much did it cost???
"As the cross of Calvary, with its infinite sacrifice for the sins of men, was revealed, they saw that nothing but the merits of Christ could suffice to atone for their transgressions; this alone could reconcile man to God." -The Great Controversy
The phrase 'infinite sacrifice' used here is probably the most fitting way to describe the value of Christ's death from a human perspective. Who will ever know just how much was weighed upon the very Son of God as He breathed His last breath and uttered, "It is finished."? To be certain, we know that He was "crushed for our iniquities," but I don't think we could ever fathom how many iniquities are being accounted for (past/present/future) at this one moment of atonement. "...this alone could reconcile man to God." Why? Because, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," causing man to be infinitely distant from a perfect and holy God. It's not like a math equation where the distance is correlated to the number of sins. The only choices are (a) close to God, or (b) infinitely far. Thankfully, the death of Christ brings about reconciliation, which is essentially the removal of an infinitely wide barrier between two alienated parties. There aren't enough good works, heroic acts, or vows of piety that can bridge this gap. Only, "the cross of Calvary, with its infinite sacrifice for the sins of men" is sufficient.
solo deo gloria!
-Orignially Posted by Tommie McAfee at PBC Life
The phrase 'infinite sacrifice' used here is probably the most fitting way to describe the value of Christ's death from a human perspective. Who will ever know just how much was weighed upon the very Son of God as He breathed His last breath and uttered, "It is finished."? To be certain, we know that He was "crushed for our iniquities," but I don't think we could ever fathom how many iniquities are being accounted for (past/present/future) at this one moment of atonement. "...this alone could reconcile man to God." Why? Because, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," causing man to be infinitely distant from a perfect and holy God. It's not like a math equation where the distance is correlated to the number of sins. The only choices are (a) close to God, or (b) infinitely far. Thankfully, the death of Christ brings about reconciliation, which is essentially the removal of an infinitely wide barrier between two alienated parties. There aren't enough good works, heroic acts, or vows of piety that can bridge this gap. Only, "the cross of Calvary, with its infinite sacrifice for the sins of men" is sufficient.
solo deo gloria!
-Orignially Posted by Tommie McAfee at PBC Life
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Wisdom goes a long way
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. James 3:13-18
Have you ever known someone who claimed to be wise but who ended up making a fool of themselves? True wisdom can be only be measured by that person character. Just as we identify a tree by the type fruit it produces, you can also evaluate your wisdom by the way you act. Foolishness leads to disorder, but wisdom leads to peace and goodness. Are you u ever temped to escalate conflict, pass on gossip or fan the fire of discord? Careful winsome, speech and wide loving words are the seeds of peace and God loves peacemakers. With bitter jealousy and selfish ambition are inspired by the devil, and it is easy for us to be drawn into wrong desires by the pressures of our society and sometimes even the by our closest acquaintances. Sometime comment like “Assert yourself,” “Do what you wanna do,” or even “Set your goals and/or standers high,” We as Christians can easily be drawn into greed and destructive competitiveness. Seeking God’s wisdom will delivers us from the need to compare ourselves to others and to what they have. So on today I encourage you to seek God’s wisdom and remember there is only one you and God made us all individually special. No one is the same in any way, and try to appreciate everyone that crosses your path in this life and their differences.
-Originally posted by Sarelle Nelson at PBC Life
Have you ever known someone who claimed to be wise but who ended up making a fool of themselves? True wisdom can be only be measured by that person character. Just as we identify a tree by the type fruit it produces, you can also evaluate your wisdom by the way you act. Foolishness leads to disorder, but wisdom leads to peace and goodness. Are you u ever temped to escalate conflict, pass on gossip or fan the fire of discord? Careful winsome, speech and wide loving words are the seeds of peace and God loves peacemakers. With bitter jealousy and selfish ambition are inspired by the devil, and it is easy for us to be drawn into wrong desires by the pressures of our society and sometimes even the by our closest acquaintances. Sometime comment like “Assert yourself,” “Do what you wanna do,” or even “Set your goals and/or standers high,” We as Christians can easily be drawn into greed and destructive competitiveness. Seeking God’s wisdom will delivers us from the need to compare ourselves to others and to what they have. So on today I encourage you to seek God’s wisdom and remember there is only one you and God made us all individually special. No one is the same in any way, and try to appreciate everyone that crosses your path in this life and their differences.
-Originally posted by Sarelle Nelson at PBC Life
Don't give up!!!
"The spirit of God has made me and breath of the Almighty has given me life." (Job 33:4)
He's the reason we move, breathe, feel, taste, touch, smell, and live. But he NEVER quits on us. When we turn our back on Him, when we go another way, God never leaves us or forsakes us. Why? Because He loves us! So the next time you are thinking about giving up, remember, God has never quit on you-don't quit on Him. (SMILE) Have a blessed day!
-Originally Posted By Sherana Harris at PBC Life
He's the reason we move, breathe, feel, taste, touch, smell, and live. But he NEVER quits on us. When we turn our back on Him, when we go another way, God never leaves us or forsakes us. Why? Because He loves us! So the next time you are thinking about giving up, remember, God has never quit on you-don't quit on Him. (SMILE) Have a blessed day!
-Originally Posted By Sherana Harris at PBC Life
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Great is His Fatihfulness
Have you ever sat and thought about the Faithfulness of our God. His faithfulness is only disclosed to those who know Him. What a privilege it is to know that our sins have been completely forgiven and forgotten. His faithfulness is proven over and over again with each trial and tribulation we face. It seems like our Lord designs our lives to understand our unfaithfulness and His faithfulness so that we might worship Him fully. The best thing in the world is to be satisfied in Christ and not in myself. Worship is inevitable. To God be all the glory.
-Originally posted by E'bow Akwei Morgan at PBC Life
-Originally posted by E'bow Akwei Morgan at PBC Life
The Death of a thousand deaths
Something from tha journal....
"Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world's interest in me has also died." [Gal 6:14b]
And on this cross I hang, dead to my sinful desires, but alive to God by grace through faith in Christ alone. Because of what the LORD has done, I have died a single Death, and this one Death - namely the one shared in Christ - has brought about a thousand deaths to the desires of this world. Therefore, I strive to take every idle thought, lustful desire, and selfish pursuit (which belongs to my old self) captive, & to crucify it with Christ. For, "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there." [Gal 5:24]
-Originally posted by Tommie McAfee at PBC Life
"Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world's interest in me has also died." [Gal 6:14b]
And on this cross I hang, dead to my sinful desires, but alive to God by grace through faith in Christ alone. Because of what the LORD has done, I have died a single Death, and this one Death - namely the one shared in Christ - has brought about a thousand deaths to the desires of this world. Therefore, I strive to take every idle thought, lustful desire, and selfish pursuit (which belongs to my old self) captive, & to crucify it with Christ. For, "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there." [Gal 5:24]
-Originally posted by Tommie McAfee at PBC Life
His love endures forever
1 Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Paul wrote that love endures forever. Corinth being morally currupt and the real meaning love had became a mixed up term. Today people are still very confused about love. Love is the greatest of all human qualities and a attribute of God himself (1 john 4:8). Love involves unsefish service to other. Faith is the foundation, confidence and content of God's message; hope is the attitude of optimism and focus; love is the action. When your faith and your hope is in line you become free to love completely because you understand how God loves.
Q: Does your faith fully express itself in loving other?
Q: Do you think this kind of love for others is obtainable?
-Original Post by Sarelle Nelson at PBC Life
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Paul wrote that love endures forever. Corinth being morally currupt and the real meaning love had became a mixed up term. Today people are still very confused about love. Love is the greatest of all human qualities and a attribute of God himself (1 john 4:8). Love involves unsefish service to other. Faith is the foundation, confidence and content of God's message; hope is the attitude of optimism and focus; love is the action. When your faith and your hope is in line you become free to love completely because you understand how God loves.
Q: Does your faith fully express itself in loving other?
Q: Do you think this kind of love for others is obtainable?
-Original Post by Sarelle Nelson at PBC Life
Grace
It has been said there are only two religions in the world: those that require you to earn God's grace and the one that invites you to enjoy God's grace.
The idea of earning our way to heaven appeals to the human mind. We're taught to work for what we want, and after all, nothing in life comes free! The problem, however, is this: how hard do we need to work? How do we know when we've done enough? Life itself becomes a constant source of doubt, fear, and anxiety. That's why God simply says, "Forget trying to earn my love, because you can't. I'm giving it to you, free and clear!"
God's unlimited and unconditional love-His grace-comes to you through your faith in Jesus Christ and His work. Jesus' ministry on earth shows you God's care and compassion for you as you struggle with the everyday realities of life. His death on the cross shows you God's judgment on sin, and His resurrection from the grave shows you God's acceptance of Jesus' life for yours. No, this doesn't make any sense to the human mind, because it doesn't come from the human mind-it comes from God's, a God of unfathomable, undeserved grace.
God invites you to enjoy-yes, to delight in-living in His grace, because you have it. Salvation is yours, heaven is yours, eternal life is yours-yours free and clear.
-Original Post By Sherana Harris at PBC Life
The idea of earning our way to heaven appeals to the human mind. We're taught to work for what we want, and after all, nothing in life comes free! The problem, however, is this: how hard do we need to work? How do we know when we've done enough? Life itself becomes a constant source of doubt, fear, and anxiety. That's why God simply says, "Forget trying to earn my love, because you can't. I'm giving it to you, free and clear!"
God's unlimited and unconditional love-His grace-comes to you through your faith in Jesus Christ and His work. Jesus' ministry on earth shows you God's care and compassion for you as you struggle with the everyday realities of life. His death on the cross shows you God's judgment on sin, and His resurrection from the grave shows you God's acceptance of Jesus' life for yours. No, this doesn't make any sense to the human mind, because it doesn't come from the human mind-it comes from God's, a God of unfathomable, undeserved grace.
God invites you to enjoy-yes, to delight in-living in His grace, because you have it. Salvation is yours, heaven is yours, eternal life is yours-yours free and clear.
-Original Post By Sherana Harris at PBC Life
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