Love

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Jeff Noblit: God Helps Those Who CANNOT Help Themselves

November 23, 2008 in Christian Living by Isaiah | 5 comments

Excellent, excellent sermon that’s a must-hear. I heard this when it was first posted up a couple of days ago and knew I just had to share it!

From Lane Chaplin:

“God helps those who help themselves.”

It’s not in the Bible. It’s even anti-Biblical, but, as Ken Jones of the White Horse Inn has pointed out, many “evangelicals” think that it’s in the Bible and, when they find out that it isn’t, they think it should be. Jeff Noblit lays that myth to rest in this sermon.

May it edify you as it did me.

To watch this sermon at your leisure, bookmark this page.

The True Christian Is an Enigma

November 15, 2008 in Christian Living by Isaiah | 2 comments

A.W. TozerWe must admit that the true Christian is a rather strange person in the eye of the unbeliever.

I use the adjective true in regard to the Christian not only to point out the necessity for the new birth but to indicate, also, the Christian who is living according to his new birth. I speak here of a transformed life pleasing to God, for if you want to be a Christian, you must agree to a very much different life. The life of obedience to Jesus Christ means living moment by moment in the Spirit of God and it will be so different from your former life that you will often be considered strange. In fact, the life in the Spirit is such a different life that some of your former associates will probably discuss the question of whether or not you are mentally disturbed. The true Christian may seem a strange person indeed to those who make their observations only from the point of view of this present world, which is alienated from God and His gracious plan of salvation.

Consider now these glorious contradictions and you will no longer wonder why the true believer in Jesus Christ is such an amazement to this world.

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Blessings for a Wretch

November 10, 2008 in Christian Living by Isaiah | 12 comments

God's providenceThere’s a good reason I posted the video sermon by Mark Kielar titled Do not Worry! previously. Following my post, a good brother Lee asked what the situation I alluded to was (thank you for your concern, brother), so I thought I’d answer publicly in this post while recounting the blessings I’ve been given just last week.

I’ve not been an active part of the workforce for a good time now, and with the economic situation getting worse globally it might take a real miracle and much blessings for me to land a job. Meanwhile, coping with monthly expenses hasn’t been easy — I’m very, very grateful to my wife for being the provider during this period, but I don’t feel at all good seeing that she has to go teach tuition classes while replies and phone calls never come along for me even after sending out numerous applications daily. I’ve applied to teach tuition as well, but ultimately I’ll still need a job that gives me a monthly paycheck to qualify for some loans like the one for the new house (we’re selling the current).

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God Hates the Sin But Loves the Sinner? No.

September 22, 2008 in Christianity by Isaiah | 58 comments

One of the most oft-quoted phrases that we Christians use to evangelize or talk to non-believers is that “God loves you, but hates your sin”. That is a blatant lie, coined by Mahatma Gandhi, and is not found in the Bible, ever.

In fact, you’ll find that God hates both the sin and the sinner, and His wrath is kindled against the sinner; that’s why Paul wrote that those with a hard and impenitent heart are storing up wrath for themselves (Romans 2:5).

We should stop sugar-coating our words and speak plain Biblical truth — that unless one repents and puts his faith and trust in Christ Jesus, God’s wrath is against that person and come the day of wrath, the full extent of His wrath shall be poured out against the unrepentant sinner.

Dr. John H. Gerstner gives us a Biblical understanding view of the popular, but false, mantra:

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The True Christian’s Love For the Unseen Christ

September 18, 2008 in Christian Living by Isaiah | 7 comments

Presented by Mark Kieler, this is a good two-parter that should give those who profess themselves to be Christians much food for thought.

Is Christ your one true love? Is He the center of your life? Is He truly Lord or are you just paying lip service?

The Magnificence of Christ’s Love

September 6, 2008 in Christianity, Puritans, Worship by Isaiah | No comments

I just got reminded of this passage while listening to a radio podcast… have you ever thought of and understood our Lord and Savior’s love thus? Nary an earthly love story even comes close to this!

Thomas BrooksLet us stand still, and admire and wonder at the love of Jesus Christ to poor sinners; that Christ should rather die for us, than for the angels. They were creatures of a more noble extract, and in all probability might have brought greater revenues of glory to God: yet that Christ should pass by those golden vessels, and make us vessels of glory,-oh, what amazing and astonishing love is this! This is the envy of devils. and the admiration of angels and saints.

The angels were more honourable and excellent creatures than we. They were celestial spirits; we earthly bodies, dust and ashes: they were immediate attendants upon God, they were, as I may say, of his privy chamber; we servants of his in the lower house of this world, farther remote from his glorious presence: their office was to sing hallelujahs, songs of praise to God in the heavenly paradise; ours to dress the garden of Eden, which was but an earthly paradise: they sinned but once, and but in thought, as is commonly thought; but Adam sinned in thought by lusting, in deed by tasting, and in word by excusing. Why did not Christ suffer for their sins, as well as for ours? or if for any, why not for theirs rather than ours? ‘Even so, O Father, for so it pleased thee,’ Mat. xi. 26. We move this question, not as being curious to search thy secret counsels, O Lord, but that we may be the more swallowed up in the admiration of the ‘breadth, and length, and depth, and height of the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.’

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Biblical Womanhood

August 23, 2008 in Christian Living, Marriage by Isaiah | 4 comments

Karen was “complaining” that while I featured a sermon by Paul Washer on Biblical Manhood, I didn’t post one on Biblical Womanhood.

So here’s one, sisters, where Pastor Voddie Baucham exposits Titus 2:3-5 to teach about Biblical Womanhood, and which I pray will edify you.

If you wish to view this later, you can access it at the playlist I made at YouTube.

Jesus Wept

August 14, 2008 in Worship by Isaiah | 6 comments

Caravaggio: The Raising of Lazarus, Museo Regionale, Messina, 1609The shortest verse in the Bible — John 11:35 — has always intrigued me. To me, it is this verse that fully captures and reflects His humanity (for Christ was fully man too during His ministry on earth), more than what the temptations in the desert, the hunger our Lord experienced (Matthew 4:2, Matthew 21:18, Mark 11:12), and the thirst and weariness (John 4:6-7) did.

It also speaks volumes of the compassionate nature of the Lord our God whom we serve.

With regards to understanding this particular verse in the context of the account of Lazarus’ death and subsequent raising by our Lord as recorded in John 11:1-44, I love what Matthew Henry wrote in his commentary [Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible (mhcc.xxxv.xi)]:

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Contentment

July 29, 2008 in Christian Living by Isaiah | 16 comments

Ice-Cream: What Makes Me Happy. Photo by OpenThreadsThe world tells us that contentment is an unattainable ideal, that there will always be things that we need to improve — our financial status, the positions we hold at our jobs, the houses we live in, and the list goes on. In other words, no human being can be content with what he has or what state he is in at any one time.

This is especially so in materialistic societies like ours where the constant pursuit of goods and services to “better” our status in life and standards of living is what gives many impetus to work their way up the “ladder” by any means possible.

A few days ago, the network card on my computer went on the blink and I had to make a trip to the mall to pick up a new one. Don’t laugh, but I am one who seldom visits malls nowadays, much less do any shopping so I was like the proverbial frog out of the well — I was looking at all the advertisement signs that seem to jump out at me with their screaming slogans, pictures of happy people using the products and/or services.

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Loving the Lord Jesus Christ

July 20, 2008 in Christianity by Isaiah | 1 comment

John Charles Ryle“Man,” said a thoughtless, ungodly English traveller, to a North American Indian convert, “Man, what is the reason that you make so much of Christ, and talk so much about Him? What has this Christ done for you that you should make so much ado about Him?”

The converted Indian did not answer him in words. He gathered together some dry leaves and moss and made a ring with them on the ground. He picked up a live worm and put it in the middle of the ring. He struck a light and set the moss and leaves on fire. The flame soon rose, and the heat scorched the worm. It writhed in agony, and after trying in vain to escape on every side, curled itself up in the middle, as if about to die in despair. At that moment the Indian reached forth his hand, took up the worm gently and placed it on his bosom. “Stranger,” he said to the Englishman, “do you see that worm? I was that perishing creature. I was dying in my sins, hopeless, helpless and on the brink of eternal fire. It was Jesus Christ who put forth the arm of His power. It was Jesus Christ who delivered me with the hand of His grace, and plucked me from everlasting burnings. It was Jesus Christ who placed me, a poor sinful worm, near the heart of His love. Stranger, that is the reason why I talk of Jesus Christ, and make much of Him. I am not ashamed of it, because I love Him.”

If we know anything of love to Christ, may we have the mind of this North American Indian! May we never think that we can love Christ too well, live to Him too thoroughly, confess Him too boldly, lay ourselves out for Him too heartily! Of all the things that will surprise us in the resurrection morning, this I believe will surprise us most, that we did not love Christ more before we died.

Ryle, J.C. Holiness. Evangelical P, 1979. 245.

HT: Tony Miano.

Are You Willing to Tell the Truth?

July 3, 2008 in Christian Worldview by Isaiah | No comments

It is not unloving to tell the truth. You can get in a lot of trouble for doing it, but it is not unloving.

Dr. Walter Martin

I have said this on a number of occasions lately, but it remains just as true, the Christian had better know what time he currently lives in. We are witnessing a blending of the pragmatic Purpose Driven Church, the postmodern Emerging Church and the worldly Word Faith Church now forming the major pillars of the Devil’s Ecumenical Church of Deceit (ECoD)—duplicitous daughter of apostate Roman Catholicism. Even just a couple years ago one would never imagine common bonds developing between them.

And at their corrupt core what each of them share is the warped psycho-babble version of “love” largely foisted upon the Body of Christ through Robert Schuller a la his man-pleasing mantra, “God loves you and so do I.” But you need to come to see that this postevangelical “Love Train” has some seriously misguided misunderstandings about God’s view of sin and how He wants His Body of Christ to react to it. Yes the Lord tells us to love our enemies; however, the Scripture also teaches we must surely also abhor what these people are doing in His Name.

Read the rest of the post at Apprising Ministries.

That Which Makes Me the Christian That I Am

July 3, 2008 in Christian Living by Isaiah | 10 comments

Some say I am harsh, unloving, and even having a “profound self-righteousness in my own denomination” as one comment puts it on another blog. I am not concerned with these brickbats though on many occasions I do re-examine to see if I was indeed being self-righteous, so please accept my thanks for those reminders.

Initially, I did get riled by the comments, but since reminding myself constantly that I don’t labor for the applause of man but of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and that I must never seek gratification for my flesh, but the honor and glory of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I strive on leaning on His strength.

So, to those who wonder why I am such a Christian, seemingly harsh and unloving, please take some time to watch this sermon (104 minutes) that turned my Christian life 180 degrees away from carnality. I’ve never, prior to hearing this sermon by brother Paul, understood the holiness, love and mercy of God thus. It broke me and had me in tears the first time I heard it, and hearing it again and again never fails to break me and spur me on to seek the face of my Lord.

I pray that you, too, shall be broken, and come to live a life acceptable to God, and that even if you have to appear harsh and even be ostracized, you seek that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be honored and praised and glorified above all for He alone, and only He, is worthy.

The Greatest Words in All of Scripture

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

Romans 3:23-25

99 Balloons

June 22, 2008 in Christian Living by Isaiah | 8 comments

An amazing story of a couple’s love for their son, and a testimony of their joy and hope in Christ Jesus.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

Romans 8:35

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

Oops, I know… I’d have warned you with a tissue alert, but that’d have taken away some of the impact the video was intended to have. I personally cried buckets.

This We Haven’t Done for Some Time…

June 16, 2008 in Christian Living by Isaiah | 10 comments

And we’d like to take the opportunity to thank a good brother, Daniel, for inviting Karen and I to to join him at his church — Convenant Evangelical Reformed Church — for worship and fellowship.

The sermon on Ezekiel 37 was quite good and I was very impressed with the welcome and the family atmosphere at the church, with special thanks going out to CC (sorry, Sir, I can’t fathom how to spell your name) and Elder John for the welcome, sister Kim for insisting that I get a book by Jonathan Edwards instead of her just because I remarked that it was good (believe me, I was chided afterwards for opening my big mouth, ha ha!), and of course, Daniel for the fellowship.

There are others whom I didn’t manage to get the names of, but who were so welcoming and made us feel so much at home, even insisting that we partake of lunch with them by serving us.

Thank you, brethren and sisters, for the welcome, your kindness and love.

Now, This Is What I Call a Marriage Vow!

June 12, 2008 in Marriage by Isaiah | 6 comments

I am not going to pretend to be all macho and manly — my wife and some of my closest friends know that I am a softie and some things do make me buckets, but I suppress and hold it back rather well most times, especially in public. And, perhaps like most men, I’d (try to) crack a lame joke to cover the tracks.

Oops, I am digressing…

When I read what my good brother, S.J. Walker, wrote for his marriage vow, it blew me away. It’s beautiful, Biblical and yes, it made my eyes moist. That’s the essence of a Christian marriage as God intends it to be — being a mirror of Jesus’ love for His Bride, the Church!

Thank you for sharing it, brother, and giving me the permission to share it with others as well. Much love and blessings to you and Beth!

My Vows

Given to My Bride at Our Wedding
Copyright 2006: S.J. Walker; All Rights Reserved

As God is my witness,
I promise, that I will love you my whole life,
you and no other.
I promise, that only God will come before you.
As we become one flesh, I promise
that I will love you as my own body,
“For no man ever hated his own flesh
but nourishes and carefully protects
and cherishes it, as Christ does the Church”.
I promise, that I will protect you–
even give my very life for you.

Read the rest of the vow at S.J’s blog.

Did the Apostles Use “God Loves You” Evangelism?

June 9, 2008 in Evangelism by Isaiah | 7 comments

This article at Apprising Ministries really got me thinking. Much of today’s evangelism methods involve what I call the “John 3:16 Approach”, telling sinners that “God loves you, Jesus loves you, accept Him into the ‘hole in your heart’ and you shall be saved!”.

Ugh!

Yet, if we look closer at how the Apostles went about preaching the Gospel, we find that (while we acknowledge that God is love and concur with what John wrote in John 3:16 not a single mention of the “feel-good” message of “God loves you, Jesus loves you” is found, but what they preached was how lost people were, bound as slaves to sin, emphasizing on forgiveness of sin by Jesus Christ the Messiah.

Reading the article also reminds me of a great quote by A.W. Pink on present-day evangelism which I very much agree with:

The nature of Christ’s salvation is woefully misrepresented by the present-day “evangelist”.

He announces a Savior from hell rather than a Savior from sin.

And that is why so many are fatally deceived, for there are multitudes who wish to escape the Lake of fire, who have no desire to be delivered from their carnality and worldliness!

The very first thing said of Christ in the New Testament is — “You shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” (not from the wrath to come)

Christ is a Savior for those realizing something of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, who feel the awful burden of it on their conscience, who loathe themselves for it, who long to be freed from its terrible dominion. And He is a Savior for no others.

Were He to “save from hell” those still in love with sin, He would be a minister of sin, condoning their wickedness and siding with them against God.

What an unspeakably horrible and blasphemous thing with which to charge the Holy One!

A.W. Pink

To read the full article, visit Apprising Ministries.

Dearie Me, Another Message of “Love”

May 21, 2008 in Christianity by Isaiah | 25 comments

A brother calling himself “Lee” left a comment in response to my testimony on the blog, urging me to “focus on love” and not to “bring division” with my previous posts on teachings at City Harvest Church.

Now, I am going to reproduce the comment here with my response, because I will be deleting it. Not because it’s any form of censorship or whatever, but that comment is inappropriate as a response to my testimony. I don’t blame Lee, though, as I gathered he couldn’t figure where it would be best to leave such a comment as there aren’t such posts on this new blog (yet).

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Protestant-Roman Catholic Romance Unequally Yoked? A Brother Needs Advice

May 9, 2008 in Christian Living, Roman Catholicism by Isaiah | 23 comments

MarriageKaren’s testimony on my old blog has been soliciting some interesting comments even though I’ve closed down the blog. One particular response caught my attention because the brother who wrote me faced the same situation as I did years ago when my wife was still a Roman Catholic and I a Protestant.

The brother, Mike, has given permission for his comment to be reproduced here, and I’ll also be sharing our email exchanges here in the hope that perhaps some of you who are better counselors than I am will be able to help. If you’d like to contact Mike directly, please write me and I’ll send you his email address.

He first wrote me with this comment:

Isaiah,

I think I am in the same situation you were in. I am in deep love with a girl who is a Catholic. (I am a Christian). She is an incredible person with high morals and a love for Christ as well. I decided to break off the five year relationship because of the differences between Catholicism and Christianity. Since the breakup, which has been almost a year I cannot seem to get over her. I have depression now and she is all I ever think about. She has inspired me in so many ways over the years, helped me achieve so many many goals, and has been an inspiration to me. She is that kind of person everyone loves who brings a smile into the room, one who is sweet and one who can be trusted. I have learned a lot from this, but my heart feels completely torn and broken since i am not with her. She still said’s to this day, “I am waiting for you” but I cannot wait forever. Hear she is able to accept me, but I am not accepting her. I learned it’s not about religion anymore, but if you believe in Christ as your savior. I am in between the rocks and would love to be able to speak with you about this situation. Hopefully by the grace of God you will read this posting or someone will pass this along to you.

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When Trials Weigh You Down, Lift Up Your Voice to the Lord In Praise

April 25, 2008 in Christian Living by Isaiah | 4 comments

For the Lord is good and His love endures forever
He’s a faithful God to all generations
For the Lord is good and His mercies will not fail us
They are new each day
O lift your voice and say the Lord is good

Great is Your faithfulness O Lord
Your loving kindness fills our hearts to overflowing
Songs of rejoicing and sweet praise
They fill our hearts
They fill our days

Luke 6:29 In Action

April 13, 2008 in Christian Living by Isaiah | 7 comments

Julio DiazMay this be an encouragement to us all to reflect and examine ourselves how we obey Christ Jesus’ teachings as recorded in Luke 6:29.

This might offend some, but if we are perfectly honest with ourselves, it won’t be too far from the truth that some of us would be more busy making sure that we remember the characteristics of the perpetrator so as to make a detailed police report after the ordeal, rather than make this overture of love.

To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.

Luke 6:29

Julio Diaz has a daily routine. Every night, the 31-year-old social worker ends his hour-long subway commute to the Bronx one stop early, just so he can eat at his favorite diner.

But one night last month, as Diaz stepped off the No. 6 train and onto a nearly empty platform, his evening took an unexpected turn.

He was walking toward the stairs when a teenage boy approached and pulled out a knife.

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Does God Love Everyone?

April 2, 2008 in Christianity by Isaiah | 55 comments

Dr. Robert A. Morey addresses the question if God does indeed love everyone. He also gives an exposition on how it is not Biblical to say that God “loves the sinner but hates the sin”, which to my knowledge is a saying coined by Mahatma Gandhi and is not found in the Bible at all.

Is there anywhere in the Bible where God specifically said that He loves someone but hates another? Is the concept of election or pre-destination Biblical?

What’s your opinion?

The Intensity of Christ’s Love and the Intentionality of His Death

March 21, 2008 in Christianity by Isaiah | 2 comments

John PiperThis article was written by John Piper March 19, 2008.
© Desiring God.

The love of Christ for us in his dying was as conscious as his suffering was intentional. “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16). If he was intentional in laying down his life, it was for us. It was love. “When Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (John 13:1). Every step on the Calvary road meant, “I love you.”

Therefore, to feel the love of Christ in the laying down of his life, it helps to see how utterly intentional it was. Consider these five ways of seeing Christ’s intentionality in dying for us.

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There’s Your Self-Esteem!

February 7, 2008 in Christianity by Isaiah | 11 comments

Self-esteem, what's it worth?We always read and hear about this or that prosperity gospel preacher doing their infamous rounds of teaching their congregations about self-esteem and being successful enough to have a good level of that.

Sadly, what most people do not realize is that there is no such concept as self-esteem as a Christian, because we are to die to the self. So if there’s no self, where’s the esteem?

However, if they insist on talking about some form of self-esteem, I’ll tell them straight where it’s really coming from.

It is not from whatever success you have in your business, in your marriage, in your relationships, in your career, your physique, your eloquence, your flair for this or that, or whatever else the world uses as yardsticks to measure success.

It is in the fact that despite being downright rotten sinners and the most unworthy people in the world, and probably the scum of the scum at the bottom of the cess pool if totally left to our own devices, that God, our Creator, loves us and we are His beloved when we are in Christ Jesus!

If that doesn’t lift you up, you don’t understand God’s love.

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Today’s Our 10th Wedding Anniversary (It’s Been a Decade?!)

December 19, 2007 in Christianity by Isaiah | 16 comments

Happy 10th Anniversary, dear!It’s quite an amazing thing to wake up one day, look at your spouse, and realize that both of you have been married for 10 years.

Because when you think about it, 10 years is a long time, isn’t it?

There we were, young ‘kids’ fresh out of school for no more than three years or so (I was 27, and she 24), committing to each other for life on 19 December 1997 not knowing much about the journey we’d undertake together.

Looking back on the past decade, we’ve had our share of fights, difficulties, disappointments, joys, and triumphs. Along the way, we bought our own abode, tried to have a child (without success, fortunately in some ways but that’s another story), and most importantly, learned what marriage really means and entails.

And after all these years, it’s still amazing that we still possess those little qualities that spice up our daily lives, like how we still have that spark, that ‘psychic’ connection with each other, and all those little weird and idiosyncratic things we do that identifies us as a married couple indeed.

Above all, we thank God that we still love each other deeply and are able to do so because of His mercy and grace.

With lots and loads and oodles and tons of love…

Happy 10th Anniversary, babe!

Photo by WTLphoto.

What In the World Are They Doing?!

November 2, 2007 in Christianity by Isaiah | 15 comments

Has the pastor and his congregation lost their minds?

Listen up, Mr. Fred Phelps, our Lord Jesus Christ came to save the lost, not condemn them! And you are there with your daughters and the congregation that you lead doing exactly the opposite — condemning those who actually needs His forgiveness, comfort, and love most.

Did you think that by doing this that you are the light and salt of the earth?

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Learning to Fear God

October 9, 2007 in Christianity by Isaiah | 9 comments

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdomDoes the term “fearing God” equate respect for, and reverence of God?

This particular thought has been occupying most of my conscious thoughts on the train to and from work the past couple of days so I thought I would share what I’ve learned.

Today, many sermons focus on love, forgiveness, the goodness of our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, grace, the end-times, etc, but I have read or heard very few on the fear of God.

Don’t get me wrong — it’s all good that we are learning about love, grace, forgiveness and even about the persecution that is to come, but there are very few teachings on the fear of God, and I wanted to learn more.

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Come, Let Us Pray

October 6, 2007 in Christianity by Isaiah | 10 comments

This Shabbat, I have learned of two prayer requests that I hope you will help bring to God our Father in your prayers.

Two of my dear sisters and a brother are facing trials in their lives right now, and they need all our help to bring their cares unto the Father in prayer.

I hope, that even if you don’t know them, that you include them in your prayers, for we are one body in Christ Jesus, and our prayers are like unto God a sweet incense when we pray together.

Michelle’s daughter Jacqui is terribly sick, and I know how much Jacqui is precious to Michelle and a blessing unto her. Shalene and Bobby are facing a difficult pregnancy; they have been so happy about this pregnancy but now there have been some uncertainties.

Lord God our Father,

We give praise unto you for you are God who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, the stars to shine, the sun to shine, and by your word everything came into being. You are Lord of all that is in the heavens, and on the earth, and in the sea.

You are Lord of our lives and your blessings and mercies are upon us each and every day even when we don’t deserve them. You are love, and righteousness, and mercy, and all that is good.

We thank you, Lord, for promising that all things work for good to those who love you. We thank you, Lord, for being our God, and though we never are always faithful unto you, that you are faithful, and just. For even the hairs of our heads are counted, because you are God that formed us and know our hearts.

Father, we bring unto you our prayers for Jacqui, Michelle’s precious daughter. Lord, you are the mighty God that formed her, and you are the loving God who gave Jacqui unto Michelle for a blessing and a joy.

Lord, you know how sick Jacqui is, and how worried Michelle is. Lord we lift our voices and pray that your comfort and peace, the peace that comes beyond understanding, come upon both daughter and mother. Lord, we pray earnestly that you heal Jacqui and restore the little girl her health.

Oh, Lord, we know how you love little children, and Lord you know how much Michelle loves her. Lord you know what our hearts desire even before we speak of them unto you, and we know you desire the best for us as our Loving Father.

Father, you are the God who heals, the God who comforts and the God who provides. We pray today for your healing upon Jacqui, and your comfort and provision unto Michelle and her household.

Father, we also bring unto you our prayers for Bobby and Shalene. Lord, you see how much they love each other and their family. For truly, through them we see your love for them and for us.

Lord, let your comfort and peace come upon them as they worry about this pregnancy. Lord, you know their hearts, and how happy and blessed they are that they have this pregnancy. Lord, you remember how Shalene was thanking you for gifting this unto her.

Therefore, Lord God our Father, we beseech you that you bless them with a successful pregnancy.

Your will be done, Oh Lord our God.

In Christ Jesus we pray,

Amen.

How Often Do You Cast the First Stone?

September 30, 2007 in Christianity by Isaiah | 12 comments

Jesus and the Woman Caught in AdulterySome of my non-Christian friends have remarked that they don’t ever want to be Christians because they will turn into the most judgmental people on earth.

If someone does wrong according to the Word of God, many of us including myself can be, in the eyes of others, such nasty people who are quick to condemn and chastise, without thinking that we aren’t being good examples at all of God’s love and mercy, even unto us.

Just to sidetrack a little: Most times, when I am led to examine something in the Bible, I write them down and these then quite often become posts to remind myself of what I have learned.

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Blessed Fellowship

September 28, 2007 in Christianity by Isaiah | 10 comments

FellowshipDear Brother, Dear Sister,

I cannot even begin to describe how blessed I feel every time you leave me a comment with words of encouragement, or point me in the direction of truth, or join me in prayer.

Because since I started my blog in June, I have grown much in my faith in God and understanding of God’s Word, thanks to all your encouragement, support and most importantly, your friendship.

And it is amazing that though some of us are thousands of miles apart, there is so much common ground!

There are some people that I have never really thanked for all the encouragement and support that they have given me since day one, and I’d like to mention them here.

With a big, big hug, here’s my thanks to you all:

  • Casey at Casey’s Critical Thinking for all the encouragement and help. Thank you, brother, for even taking the time to help me troubleshoot problems with the blog crashing on some browsers.
  • ChannelofHealing at Channel of Healing for all the encouragement and kind words even when I thought some of my posts were rather drab.
  • Brian Gill at Apathetic Lemming of the North for his critique of my writing style, and the great tips he gave me on writing better.
  • TruthofmyKing at Wesley’s Blog for the encouragement and leading me to your blog where I learned much more about faith and God.
  • Harmony at At the Study for all the comments and discussions that spurred me to examine and learn more.

And here’s a big, big hug going out to you as well, for reading this blog, for commenting on my posts, for your prayers, for your blessings, for sharing your life with me, for teaching me, for encouraging me, and most of all, for your friendship.

Most of all, I thank God for blessing me with brothers, sisters and friends like you!

The Lord bless and guide you. The Lord bless and keep you in His love. The Lord give you His peace, which passes all understanding. Amen!

Shalom Aleichem.

Loving Those Who Hate You

September 14, 2007 in Christianity by Isaiah | 10 comments

Reflections...Someone once remarked that it’s harder to hate a person than to love someone.

Because hate requires you to constantly expend energy directing anger and disgust at the subject. When you hate a person, you find ways to make the person’s life miserable, and this can sap your energy that might have been better spent on doing more constructive things for yourself and others around you.

In other words, hate is a destructive form of energy.

Today we find it easy to hate someone or an ideology or a group of people without giving it any second thought, but find it difficult to bring ourselves to lay down that burden that hate is and show them love.

Our human nature tells us to hit back at whoever is hitting us, and to hate with equal force those that have made themselves our enemies.

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It’s Easy to Become a Christian, but Hard to Remain One

August 28, 2007 in Christianity by Isaiah | 8 comments

Anchored against the stormsOne of the most asked questions when I used to be a road-side witness with my youth group eons ago was “Huh? You mean it’s so simple!?”.

They were responding to, of course, the fact that it was easy to become a Christian — say a simple prayer admitting that one is a sinner, invite Jesus Christ as your personal savior, and end off with “amen”.

Some people were flabbergasted that it was that easy to become a Christian, and sometimes I feel that it is this ease that cause many to stray or leave the faith just a short while later.

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The Christian Perspective on Marriage — The Final Part: Sex, Children and a Happy Marriage

August 11, 2007 in Marriage by Isaiah | 7 comments

More often than not, people find talking about sex with Christians inappropriate, or are just plain uncomfortable doing so because they have this image in their heads that the Christian will turn judgmental and think them ‘dirty-minded’.

Little wonder, then, that even within Christian circles, sex is a subject that is seldom broached, much less between married couples and their pastors or church elders.

The fact of the matter is that sex is not dirty, and especially not within the context of marriage! As a certain singer once sang, and I’ll apply it loosely here to marital sex, “sex is natural, sex is fun, sex is best one on one”.

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