Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY THURSDAY!

Today’s scriptures are about the one and only way to salvation. A life full of peace, joy, and happiness, for the rest of our life, and throughout all eternity lies in one Name. There’s nothing more precious than the Name of Jesus Christ! Moreover, there shouldn’t be anyone more important than God-it’s because of His love that we have the option of Salvation, through Jesus Christ. Christianity, and the key to freedom, really boils down to the love of God, it’s just as simple as that. For me, this makes it sometimes difficult to write about the same subject in many different ways. However, God is so deep, so multifaceted, that there aren’t enough words to describe His love for us [and I have the Holy Spirit to help me along the way].

God gives us things that we can’t get from anywhere else. We can’t wish or work for it, nor sacrifice any amount of animals for it. Salvation, healing, and other miracles are only made possible by His grace. I love the way the Apostle Paul writes about The Blood of Christ. It’s written: The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Heb. 9:13-14 NIV) This is a reason to rejoice! Jesus cleanses us so that we can directly serve God. We’ve been afforded everything we need to serve Him in all righteousness. We’re blessed with His Holy Spirit, Who helps us fight against evil, grow in wisdom and spirit, as well as gives us the ability heal the mind and body.

I love the way Paul ends this chapter, it’s written: For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Heb. 9:24:28 NIV) The one thing that we must be reminded of is that Christ is real. His sacrifice was real, and the fact that He lives today, sitting at the right hand of God, making intercession for us if very real. Jesus went through the fire, and was tormented and killed, so that we won’t have to be tormented because of our sin. The hard part is over, and no one could take His precious gifts from us. Once we ask for salvation, and have faith that it’s done, we’re His forever. The most real thing we’ll ever face in life is the decision to trust Him as Lord and Savior.

It’s easy to pick a career, choose a major in college, pick a mate, or have children; all of the “surface” things we do, that constitutes “living life”. However, to choose God, by trusting Christ as Lord and Savior isn’t the easiest thing to do. He understands that, and that’s why our rewards are so great in Heaven, which spills over while we’re on earth. We must trust Jesus just because we read some stories about Him in a book considered Holy, or was taught about Him, and told stories about His life, by our parents. We must be open to the fact that He is real, and there’s something way deeper than us. We must allow His Spirit to penetrate our heart, and seek the truth for ourselves. Most importantly we must love Him with all our heart and soul, based on events and spiritual connections in our life. These things are easier said than done. If you don’t believe me, take a look around at the turmoil going on. You don’t have to look far, most of the time it’s happening in your household, and sometimes it’s happening on the inside of you. Satan is just as real as Jesus Christ, and he’s fighting to win you over as well. We each have choices, so we must seek wisdom to make the right choice.

The very first choice needs to be Jesus Christ, because He’s the one and only way to life. He’s the only way to be cleansed from the inside out, freed from the penalties of sin, and inherit the Kingdom of God. He’s our lifeline; the only direct connect we have to God. There’s no one like Him, past, present, or to come, so you must take some time to get to know Him. If you haven’t chosen Him, but feel in your heart that you need to, take a few minutes to pray and ask Him to be Lord of your life. Confess to God that you’re a sinner, and that you want to be whole again, and made righteous through the blood of the living Christ. Mark my word, He’ll do just that. He loves you! My favorite verse today is: Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. (2 Cor. 8:9)

ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455498&dtype=Scripture

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http://www.intouch.org/magazine/daily-devotional

I love you!

Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY TUESDAY!

Today's scriptures are about the frailty of the flesh and earthly life. Paul often wrote about life and death, but most importantly, he wrote about the importance of preparing for death. He refers to the flesh as our "earthly house". It's written: Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. (2 Cor. 5:1 NIV) In Paul’s second letter to the people of Corinth, he wrote about the despairs or life, the inevitability of death, but the joy of salvation. He encourages them to stay faithful to Christ, and the church, because through Him they’re offered eternal life. It’s written: Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Cor. 4:16-18) As of today, I'm going to vow to stop taking life for granted, because lately I've noticed that I've been doing way too much complaining. I have no reason to complain, because even through my trials, pain, and heartache, I'm still blessed. I know Who God is, and most importantly, I know how much He loves me, so there’s no need to worry and complain. Life is way too short, it's a like a race to the finish, and if we don't stop long enough to listen to God, then we're not only missing out on our earthly blessings, but our eternal treasures. I can still remember being in high school like it was yesterday, and here I am, fifteen years later, and it seems like nothing has changed. I can, however, remember how much God has done for me over the years, and the tremendous growth He's given me. I can also recall the rough spots, but the in all actuality, the good always outweighs the bad. I write all of this to point out the fact that life is precious. The way to avoid wasting any more time, being down and out, lost and confused, or beaten and battered, is to commit your entire life to God. In everything you do, use the eyes of Christ, because you have His Holy Spirit in your heart. Consult Him any time you question about your actions. Ask Him for the strength to endure through the hard times. Thank Him for each day He walks with you, and you'll notice your attitude change tremendously. Look at the life of the Apostle Paul, who was once a man who persecuted and killed followers of Christ. When it came close to his death, in Paul's final letters to Timothy, he accepted his fate. He knew that he had to suffer much, and Jesus even said, when questioned about His choice of Paul, "For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake" (Acts 9:16). Once Paul surrendered to Christ, he never avoided suffering for Jesus' sake, because He knew were His rewards laid. Like Paul, we too have sinned against God, and we must be willing to "suffer for His name's sake". If Jesus suffered, and He never sinned, how much more will we endure? At the same time, He has redeemed us through His death, so we won't have to experience eternity in hell. The next time you're going through something, shake it off, because none of that really matters. As long as you continue praise God, and look for His blessing throughout, then your rewards will be great now and forever more. Be sure to share your testimony and knowledge of Him, to all who's willing to listen. Always feel “Heaven”, live as though you're already there, and trust God to supply your every need. This will ensure your peace within. Go through some of Paul’s Epistles, and notice how he never complained about all of his hardships, he simply encouraged us to keep loving, praising, and fighting for the Lord. That's the same message I want to ensure I'm relying to you every day. Start by surrendering your life to God, and allow Him to take you to that place Paul was. This "tent" is temporary, and will soon be destroyed by this earth, but when you’re absent from the body, you'll be present with the Lord. That's a reason to rejoice all the days of your life, no matter what's going on around you. This reward only comes through Salvation through Christ Jesus. If you don't know Him as Savior, get to know Him today. He's a simple prayer away. My favorite verse today is: What is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (James 4:14)

ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455272&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter.asp?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943547

I love you!