Our Protection

Not to long ago, my family computer got a virus ( we think it was from facebook ). In fact we later found out that the computer had lots of viruses picked up from everyday sites. The reason why we got all of them is because we didn't have a proper virus protector for our computer.

While we were getting things all straitened out, it came to me how that the situation with our computer is just like the Christian life. Throughout every day life in this fallen world, we are attacked by Satan. He sends us temptations to sin that are like computer viruses and if we don't have the proper guard against them, they will eventually shut us down to where we cannot operate properly for God.

So how do we guard against these "viruses" of Satan. We need to arm ourselves with the proper protection: God's Word. When we pray and read the Bible and let the Lord speak to us through it, our spiritual "senses", so to speak, are sharpened and we can better recognize the devil's attacks and know how to defend against them. It is so important to know the truth of God's Word so we can see through the lies of Satan and, as I said, fight against them. We need to memorize passages of God's Word that go along with our areas of vulnerability so that when we are tempted in those areas, we can recite them.Prayer and recital of Scripture is our best defence against Satan's attacks. However, we cannot forget to ask God for help and strength. We will not be successful if we only rely on ourselves. He is our Rock and Strength; no one else. Every day ( preferably in the morning ) we need to spend time with the Lord in prayer and Bible reading putting on " the whole armor of God "( Ephesians 6:10-18 ).

" That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness...nor give place to the devil." - Ephesians 4:22-24,27

We need to continually have this in mind as we walk in the new holy ways God has called us to live in.

Lessons from Babysitting 2: At the Park

Yesterday my mom, brother, niece, and nephew and I all went to the park. Just before we left, my niece and nephew began to play in the sand pile. When they were done, we cleaned off all the sand from them so we could go in the car and go home. Well, my job was to clean off my nephew, Lucas, and just when I cleaned him off, he sits back down in the sand! Needless to say, I was rather upset and I basically thought, doesn't he realize he shouldn't go back in the sand after being cleaned off? What a rediculous thing to do! Then the Lord show me that many times we are like my nephew. So many times we do rediculous things that we know deep down we shouldn't be doing. God looks at us and thinks," Why did he just do that? He knows better!"

We follow our ways and it only gets us into more trouble. We need to follow God's wisdom and His ways found in His Word. If we do that things will be so much better. His ways and thoughts are higher and better than ours ( Isaiah 55:8-9 ). Let's follow God and His wisdom.

Lessons from Babysitting

For this week my family and I are babysitting my niece and nephew. Well, last night, when we put them to bed, my three year old nephew really started to miss his mommy. In fact, after I left the room, he started to cry saying that he missed mommy. I really felt bad for him since I remember times when I was younger and I felt the same way. So, I tried to calm him down and do the best I could to comfort him.

After I calmed him down, I left the room and suddenly it hit me: the way I felt towards my nephew is the same way Jesus feels toward us when we go through times of trials and temptations. Hebrews 4:14-16 says," Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." I could sympathize with what my nephew felt because I remember times that I went through where I felt the same way. Jesus when through every kind of temptation that we could go through. When we are tempted in any area, the Lord knows how we feel and He has compassion on us. Verse sixteen of Hebrews chapter four says that we should boldly unto the throne of grace to obtain mercy and grace in out times of need. Jesus wants us to come to Him because He is the only one who can give us the strength to go through and overcome the temptations. He has promised his help if we will just come to Him. We forget how great and powerful God really is and as a result, we forget how much He can help us. God is an all-powerful God. He is able to help us in all areas.

Psalm 55:22

Today, I want to share with everyone Psalm chapter fifty five, verse twenty two. Lord willing, every Sunday's post will be one or more passages from the Bible. I hope you enjoy!

Psalm 55 : 22

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved."

This passage is God's promise to us that he will give us everything we need to go through all of life's circumstances. Let's be like Abraham and not be weak in faith but grow strong in it, "giving glory to God". - Romans 4:20

Romans 4: 21- " And being fully convinced that what He had promised He was able also to perform."

Lights: Part 2

"You are the light of the world." - Matthew 5:14a

Yesterday, we saw the importance and the command of shining as lights for Christ. Now I want to look at how to most effectively shine for Jesus.

Let's look at the moon as an example. The moon provides some light for us at night time. But where does it get it's light? Well, it gets it's light from the sun. The moon is just a big ball of rock and dirt, but it is elevated to reflect the light of the true light of the sky, the sun.

We are like the moon and Jesus is like the sun. Jesus is the true Light. John 1:9 says,''That was the true Light, which gives light to every man coming into the world.'' He gives light to us and we are to reflect it. So how do we best reflect Christ, the Light? By letting Him live through us. It's when we submit to Him, draw close to Him and let Him live live His life through us, that we can best be lights for Christ. When we do these things continually, Jesus, the true Light begins to shine through us more and more each day.

Now that we have the answer, we need to put it into practice. Let's let Jesus shine in us.

Lights: Part 1

''You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden...Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:14,16

This is a passage of scripture that sad to say many professing Christians forget about. I myself have sometimes forgotten about it too. However, it is imperative that we don't. This world is in darkness. That is it's nature, darkness, because the unsaved people of the world are the children of Satan who is darkness. Christ is light and since He has returned to heaven, we shine in His place. In Matthew chapter five the Lord commands us to be lights in this dark world. That is why we are here on this earth, to be lights for Christ so that others may come to Him. The devil loves it when we forget about this command because when we do, we cannot properly be the feet and hands of Christ, reaching out to the lost. We have been given a command by our Lord. Let's be examples of Christ where ever we go.

My Dad

On Mother's Day I wrote about my great mom and today, on Father's Day, I want to write about my great dad. I thank the Lord for my dad. He's always there for me whenever I have any sort of questions and he has sacrificed so much for my family and I. With his unconditional love, my dad has been an example of Christ's love to us. Another thing I am so thankful about my dad is that he has sought to raise my brothers and I in the ways of the Lord. He has taught us the doctrines and truths of God's Word and also how to live them out. As a result of his training, we have learned how to properly study and learn about God's Word.

My dad has taught me so many other great things both through his word and through his life, but these are just some of the most important things. I love my dad very much and I thank the Lord for him.

With Us Forever

"For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death." - Psalm48:14

''Great is Thy faithfulness" - Lamentations 2:23b

These verses have encouraged my heart many times when I needed something to lift me up. I hope they are an encouragement to you too as I share them for today's post.

He's Coming!

"He which testifieth these things saith,' Surely I come quickly'. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.'' - Revelation 22:20

Here is a great letter from the Feghaly's, a missionary couple supported by our church, about the recent confrontations between Israel and Turkey and how it relates to Christ's coming for us.

FEGHALY EMAIL UPDATE

Dear Pastors and Prayer Partners,

Recently there has been a confrontation between Israel and Turkey over boats carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Even though the Israeli soldiers were respectful and did what they aught to do it seems that those on the boats coming from Turkey led by an American liberal organization were prepared for the confrontation. What they did not calculate is that everything was filmed. This is the first time those who hate Israel left their fingerprints and showed that they are violent and hateful. The American lady who was attacking Israel on CNN admitted that Israel should defend itself.

The fact is that people can smuggle anything on a ship and no one can see them. Not only Israel, but also any country whose security is threatened should have the right to inspect and search for weapons in order to protect its own people.

The significance of this event does not lie in this incident but in the fact that Turkey, who used to be Israel’s closest ally in the area, is shifting its position and moving away from Israel toward Iran.

In Ezekiel 38 the Bible states that among the nations who will be going against Iraq will be Persia (Iran) and Togarma (Turkey). The puzzle seems to be unfolding. The Bible admonishes us to lift up our eyes and look toward the coming of the Lord. The Battle for Jerusalem is already in progress and the armies who will march against Israel are already aligning themselves and preparing for the final confrontation.

Whew!! This is great ( for believers )!!! It is so amazing to see how so many pieces of the "end times" puzzle are coming together. There have even been talks of world governance, a Biblical prophesy about the tribulation period ( Matt. 24:7 ). So many prophesies are coming true before our very eyes!

This should bring great joy to believers in Christ. To know that our Redeemer and Savior's coming for us is drawing very close is a amazing and exciting thought! The thought of the Lord's coming at any time should not only make us happy but should also make us think the following questions: how is my relationship with God? Am I seeking to live for Him? Have I given myself to Him for His purposes? We need to be ready to face the Lord. Will we be ashamed when we look into His eyes? Our Savior Jesus could come at any moment. Let's be ready.

Please Pray

Today I have a special prayer request to share with you all. Well, yesterday my brother Jesse and I went to the basketball court near our house. We wound up playing with a group of about six guys. However I don't think they are saved so please pray that the Lord will open up a good opportunity to give these guys the gospel. Also pray that their hearts will be open the Lord will give us boldness when ,Lord willing, the opportunity comes.

A Helping Hand

And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day: And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. -Isaiah 58:10-11

As you may have noticed, I haven't been able to do any posts lately. The reason why is because the Lord has laid before me important opportunities to serve others. One thing my mom has taught me and the Lord has been showing me is that sometimes the Lord gives us more time to sit at His feet and learn and other times He asks us to get up and serve others. We may not have all the time we used to have in Bible and prayer times because the Lord has placed before us special opportunities to serve. One thing the Lord has been speaking to me about is how I need to be reaching out to others in their needs. We all need to do this. The important thing is to submit to God and ask Him to live through us. We need to stop thinking of ourselves and get our minds on others.

Philippians 2:4-11 says, '' Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery ( or something to be grasped ) to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man , he humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow...and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.''

The Lord sees and rewards when we willingly give of ourselves to others. Let's chose in our hearts to submit to God and serve others for Christ's honor and glory.