A word from the Editor
Blessings, honor and glory
belong to our Lord!
Welcome
to our 3rd edition dear precious friends and readers. We are
thankful to the Lord for you in making ‘The Good News Magazine’ reach many . The number of our reading membership seems to be growing
quickly. It is people like you who have made this Magazine find
wings to fly internationally to countries like South Africa, Australia, USA,
Canada and UK. We therefore, humbly
continue to request you to share this Magazine to your friends. You never know
whose life you will touch by just sharing this. And thank you all for your contributions. Praise
the Lord!
In
this month’s edition, we have plenty to share and we pray that somehow we can
become a blessing to your life. God loves you and so do we! Feel free to share
with us what the Lord is doing in your life, testimonies and your contributions
to the Magazine are most welcomed. We put this on emphasis as we realize there
are many out there who need to hear what the Lord is able to do in people’s
lives hence motivating and transforming their lives through this, for faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the
word of God (Romans 10:17). Won’t it be
good to see many souls come to the Lord by just doing a simple thing like
sharing this beautiful news? God is looking for people like you and I, people
who can go out there and bring a harvest to the Kingdom, you might not be in a
position to go out but you can do so by passing this message to your online
friends, and by doing that you’ll be amazed how many lives you have touched. Do you have specific prayer
requests? Feel free to email us in our contacts below at the end of this
Magazine and we will be able to respond to you and pray with you.
May
you enjoy the heaven’s treasures as you read ‘The Good News Magazine.’ I
encourage you to dig deeper in your Bible and behold therein lies all the
treasures you have ever wanted in life! May the Lord smile upon you today and
find favor in His sight. May peace which surpasses all human understanding be
upon you!
With prayers and love,
Justus
Ondieki,
The
Good News Magazine editor.
Your Emails
Thank you, Thank you for the
wonderful Good News Magazine. Congratulations. It is so well done with great
TRUTH content. The quotes, too, are wonderful. It is ALL sooooooo encouraging
and up-lifting.
May it ever increase as God’s Miracle
Whirlpool. God Bless you all as you serve Him in this way. The written Word has
such great lasting power.
All my Love, Prayers, Blessings & HUGZZZZ - Rosemary from Australia.
Thank you so much for this magazine.
It is such a blessing. I have shared it with an online prayer group that I am a
member of. God bless your ministry and work of spreading the gospel of Jesus
Christ! - Valerie from USA.
Nice reading magazine. – Thuo
from kenya
Thank you. I enjoyed the last
edition. It is sooo powerful and uplifting thank you. Keep up the good work. - ItuNape from
South Africa
Wow, this is a great work, reaching people across the globe. This
magazine is so great, the message portrayed in this magazine is so simple and
direct. Plus the language can be understood by both the literate and the
illiterate at the streets. May God bless you as you continue to spread the good
Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. If anyone has not read this, please get a copy
of yours and go through it and afterwards I know your testimonies will be on
the lips of everyone around you. You are preaching a true gospel bro. – Zedekiah from Kenya
PRAYER REQUESTS
Good
morning, I went to job interviews a few days ago. I am praying to God to get
it. It is a permanent job am on contract now. Please help me in prayer.
~South Afrika~
Ukraine Prayer Alert
Friday, February 21, 2014
Friday, February 21, 2014
|
“Our hearts are broken. We didn’t expect this to happen.”
These are the words of two long-time ministry friends of
Christian Aid Mission whose work is based in Ukraine. They are urging
Christians around the world to join Ukrainian believers in praying for peace
and an end to the bloodshed in Kiev.
Three months of anti-government protests turned deadly this
week when violent clashes erupted between demonstrators and police. At least
100 people are dead and hundreds more have been injured, according to media
reports.
Smaller-scale protests are taking place in cities across
Ukraine. One ministry leader described how desperate the situation has become
for residents as medical and food supplies run low.
“Buildings are burning in many parts of Ukraine. Grocery
stores have been emptied of food. There is no gasoline. The airports in Kiev
are shut down. Computers and cell phones are not working well. The hospitals
are full. There aren’t enough ambulances or medicine to help all of the
injured,” he said.
Christian Aid assists six ministries in Ukraine, including a
children’s home located three miles from Kiev’s Independence Square and the
center of the riots. Soldiers are posted everywhere, even on the street in
front of the orphanage, said a ministry representative.
In Western Ukraine, the director of a church-planting ministry
reported Thursday that demonstrations were occurring in his community also.
Rising fears have brought many people to church—and to their knees. If there
is a silver lining in the midst of the chaos and uncertainty, it is the unity
of followers of all Christian faiths who are crying out to God on behalf of
their countrymen.
“Christians in Ukraine have made the decision that for the
next three days they will fast and pray for their country,” the director
said. “The churches are packed with people praying. Some are coming and
repenting and confessing their sins and giving their hearts to God for the
first time.”
“They say, ‘If we die tomorrow, we want to be with God,’” he
said.
The ministry has sent out over 500 missionaries since its
founding over 20 years ago. These Christian leaders have established churches
in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and small house fellowships among the mostly
Muslim population in Crimea.
The director said his organization will continue their work in
the region. He is especially encouraged by the response of students at his
Bible Institute who are eager to go out into the mission field and lead lost
souls to Jesus Christ.
“The young people we are training for ministry are watching
the news and seeing other young people die on the streets of Kiev,” he said.
“It is motivating them to go and preach the gospel. They are ready to go
now.”
This year Christian Aid is supporting a major
initiative spearheaded by a ministry representative and churches throughout
Ukraine to distribute New Testaments in thousands of villages and small towns
where there are no churches. Called the “Summertime for Jesus” project,
hundreds of Christian youth and college students plan to hand out the New
Testaments from May through September. They will receive training in how to
share their faith and serve as effective witnesses for Christ.
“Just pray for Ukraine, pray for peace,” implored one
Christian leader. “What is happening in Ukraine is like a sign from God of
the urgency to share the gospel. We will keep preaching.”
© 2014 Christian
Aid Mission. All rights reserved.
P.O. Box 9037 Charlottesville, VA 22906 ChristianAid.org · 434-977-5650 |
Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will
of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. - 1 Thes.
5:17-18
TESTIMONIES
How I came to know the
Lord(Justus)
Did
you know that our mothers have played a big role in our lives in getting to
know about our Lord JESUS?
I so love my mom, she has invested a lot in me and what she deposited in my heart will always remain as a seal in me. I so cherish her and love her so much.
My mum was the first one in our family to give her life to the Lord. She got saved back then in 1991 when she received an invitation to go to church by a friend. 'I felt such a great move and very peaceful in my heart that day...' I recall her telling me her story. She had no future, all she used to do was to sell illegal brew, she was the devil's captive but when she received Jesus, life was never the same again.
I so love my mom, she has invested a lot in me and what she deposited in my heart will always remain as a seal in me. I so cherish her and love her so much.
My mum was the first one in our family to give her life to the Lord. She got saved back then in 1991 when she received an invitation to go to church by a friend. 'I felt such a great move and very peaceful in my heart that day...' I recall her telling me her story. She had no future, all she used to do was to sell illegal brew, she was the devil's captive but when she received Jesus, life was never the same again.
Well she had made her decision. She started taking us to the church, by then I was only 8 years. We went to church every Sunday, my brother Dennis and I would be happy at Sunday school but then we only heard of the Lord's great deeds but never received Him in our lives.
One day, in the year 1998 mum called us at the table, my brother Dennis and I. 'My sons, you know you have to receive Jesus as Lord and savior in your hearts', she said. Then I responded, 'Mum, we do go to church every Sunday, and we have heard the pastor preach to us about Jesus.'
It was then that mum lovingly expounded the scriptures to us, and I listened carefully as she taught us God's word in plain truth. That we were all sinners, and that unless you confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and He rose from the death, and that He is the son of God, and call upon His name, you can never be saved. This startled me, and compelled me and my brother to receive Jesus in our hearts. She prayed for us and led us in a confession prayer. From that day, my faith started growing... and my life was never the same again.
My
heart was filled up with joy and going to church was not something normal but I
saw it as a place where I found my peace, joy, love and getting to fellowship
with brothers and sisters in one accord.
My mother was a humble woman and so she is up to now. She also taught my dad the word, dad too came to church after mum told him that the Lord wanted him for His service. Dad came to church and the pastor prayed for him and received Jesus as Lord and savior in his heart! What a big role my mum played!
I am so thankful to the Lord for my mother. She is the reason for us knowing the Lord.
She spent most of her time in prayer and her prayer was, 'Lord, save my whole family, let them know you Lord Jesus' and this prayer has already been answered as my whole family are now born again. With God all things are possible. All that seems to be impossible with men, it is possible with God.
Don't go by the opinions of men, just like my mother received many critics from the people, she stood her ground and the Lord has been faithful to her and to us all. Trust in the Lord and have faith in Him. Accept Him today and start your life afresh in Him.
"It
takes the deep water and the hot fire and the dark valley to teach us the walk
of faith."
Elisabeth
Elliot
NO
TURNING BACK
In our daily lives we encounter so many challenges and setbacks. All over the world we hear of wrangles, wars, family breakups, hunger, poverty, diseases and many more. People are dying in sin without knowing our Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot stand and assume that nothing is happening as disciples of Jesus Christ.
In our daily lives we encounter so many challenges and setbacks. All over the world we hear of wrangles, wars, family breakups, hunger, poverty, diseases and many more. People are dying in sin without knowing our Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot stand and assume that nothing is happening as disciples of Jesus Christ.
As a believer you have the Holy Spirit of God inside you. The Holy Spirit will propel you into sharing this wonderful news of our Lord to the people around you. You have got to fight the good fight of faith. The die has been cast. Step over the line and make up your mind.
You are a disciple of Jesus Christ. You are
called to witness. No looking back, letting up, slowing down, backing away, or
being silent. Our past is
redeemed, our present makes sense, and our future is secured in God’s
hands.
The battle is fierce, opposition is at it’s
peak, but where does your help come from? Your help comes from the Lord, the
maker of heavens and earth, hold on tightly to the word of life, share it,
don’t compromise the truths in it and let the Holy Spirit convict the hearts of
many.
May this be our declarations:
May this be our declarations:
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position,
promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops,
recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by
faith, love by patience, live by prayer, and labor by power.
My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, and my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, back up, let up, slow up or shut up until I've preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus.
My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, and my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, back up, let up, slow up or shut up until I've preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus.
I must go until He returns, give till I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.
For I am not
ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the
Greek. (Romans 1:16)
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
James 1:23-25
THE STANDARD WE LIVE & DIE BY: The Bible!
Our
purpose here at The Good News Magazine is to do just that, spread the GOOD
NEWS! And the good news is this, that
Jesus Christ voluntarily paid the sin debt that needed to be paid in order for
us to not only have a relationship with God, but that we may have a way of
escaping eternal torment, and living eternally with our Creator, and the Lover
of our souls.
This
is definitely good news, but how do we know about this good news? From what source do we achieve our
information? Is it accurate? How do we
know? In this article today, we here at
The Good News magazine hope to answer such questions and more. The answer, the ONLY answer, is the Bible;
God's spoken word put into written form.
Let's
examine some of these attributes of this book that seems to be so widely
debated, shredded apart by people of all walks of life including theologians,
and hated by so many. Yet this is the
book that so many have died for, and that we use as our daily standard for living. Psalm 12:6-7 tells us, “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of
earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O
LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” We believe God not only gave us His Word, but His pure
and perfect Word. Not only is the Bible pure and perfect, but God Himself
promises that He will preserve the words in this book from this generation and
forever! That being said, if Almighty
God is doing the preserving, how can He give us a corrupted book filled with
errors? This book is a supernatural book
in every respect, and we'll see just a small amount of evidence to support this
today.
Hebrews
4:12 tells us, “For the word
of God is quick, and
powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner
of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” We know the Bible is able to convict even the
hardest heart. We know the book can
bring a person to his knees before Almighty God like none other. We know this book has the ability to provide
all the information we need for salvation.
But how can a “book” be a discerner?
Isn't that a human trait? Yes it
is! And the Bible alone has that ability because the Bible is ALIVE! How can I make such a statement? Let's cross-reference this verse to
another: 1 Peter 1:23 informs us just a
bit more about this miraculous book, “Being born
again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which
liveth and abideth for ever.” First of all, we're told the word of God,
'which liveth” and abideth forever!
You
would think that believing the Bible as THE standard for living for Followers
of Jesus Christ would be the only normal, rational thing to adhere to. But even amongst professing Christians,
proclamations are made that this is a good book to live by, but is really only
written by men, therefore, because humans are flawed, this book must be as
well. How can this be? Out of 200 Christians questioned, most
Christians said that not only was it written by men, but because it was written
by men, it contains errors! CHRISTIANS
said this! This astounded me. Perhaps it shouldn't have, but it did. Over 80% of these same Christians said they
had not even read the Bible with 199 of the 200 owning one.
Does
the Bible contain errors as both professing Christians and non-Christians alike
state? Was it really written by men or was it written by God? If so, how do we
know God wrote it? While faith plays a
large roll in answering some of these questions, here are some remarkable
things about this book that makes it not only divine, but God-inspired and
written.
BASICS- Written By Men
& Unreliable?
This
book that we gather our history from, find peace and comfort from, is the
source of eternal salvation that can be found nowhere else was written and
compiled over many years. God used about
40 different men to write this extraordinary book. These men were from all different walks of
life, lived scattered all over the world, yet were able to compile 66 different
“parts” of 1 book that has zero errors in it, backs each other up, never
contradicts, and has never been proven wrong even historically even though many
attempts have been made. Instead, it
builds upon itself, compliments itself, and all lines up with perfect unity
from Old Testament to New Testament.
What are the chances of man being able to accomplish this by
himself? What are the chances of a
baby's birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection being predicted hundreds
of years before the baby was even born...and every fact 100% correct? GOD is the author! Men were His tools, His
vessels, the ones to take His words and put them into writing so that we could
have them today. 2 Peter 1:21 assures
us, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of
God spake as they
were moved by the Holy Ghost.” We are also told that ALL scripture
is given by inspiration of God in 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
GOD WRITTEN- The Bible Did Not Come
About By The Will Of Man.
From
the very beginning of creation, we are told of God the Father's desire to
fellowship with us, to have communion with us, to reach out to us. We had no desire for Him, yet He made all the
effort in not only making His love, desire and will for us known to us. While He verbally communicated with some in
the Old Testament, He made provision for us by instructing some of these men to
write down the things He told them to so that we would have it today.
A good number of these men had absolutely no
idea what they were even writing about – such as in the case of prophesying
Christ's birth, and many Old Testament writers who wrote so much about the
coming of Jesus Christ to take us Home, the Tribulation period and then His 2nd
return with those of us who've accepted Him to rule and reign for a thousand
years. Not even John understood all that
he saw when the Lord took him up into the heavens to see the future the Lord
wanted him to write about! 1 Peter 1:20
tells us that these men were moved by the Holy Ghost to write what the Lord
wanted written.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 assures us that we can
trust that God is the ONLY author of this Holy Book; “For this cause also thank we God without
ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye
received it
not as
the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually
worketh also in you that believe.” Even
Jesus Christ, God's own Son backed up what the prophets of the Old Testament
had written and not only did He never correct them, or set them straight, He
quoted them! Luke 24:25-27 gives us a
perfect example of this; “Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that
the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered
these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the
prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning
himself.”
It was Jesus Christ's desire that the disciples, and we, believe what
was written...would He do this were it not of God?
PERFECT ABILITY TO
PREDICT THE FUTURE.
Look
at all the prophecies already fulfilled that were predicted thousands of years
before they happened. This is
astounding, and the probability of man to be able to do this is impossible...at
least to be 100% right 100% of the time.
Now, if we've been given proof of the former prophecies of old that have
already been fulfilled years after they were predicted, what should that tell
us about the prophecies yet to be fulfilled concerning our salvation, our eternal salvation when our life on this
earth is over, the return of Jesus Christ in the clouds to take His Bride Home
to be with Him, the testing of the Believers works before His throne for what
we did or did not do for Him while here on earth, the Tribulation that will
last 7 years here on earth for all those who have not repented & accepted
Christ as Savior, The Second Coming of Jesus Christ with His Bride to rule and
reign for a thousand years after the Battle of Armageddon which the Bible
already tells us He will win? Should we
be putting more time into this special Book and learning of such things?
...trusting it completely as the one and only Word of God? ...using it to guide
us daily as we work, watch & pray for His return? Or are you going to take a chance that this
precious book, The Holy Bible, is just “another book”?
You've
been given the facts, the choice is yours.
A choice for Christ, is eternal salvation. No choice at all is still a
choice, its a choice against Christ.
Give this some thought as you read through the words of this precious
hymn, “The Bible Stands”, by Haldor Lillenas.
“The Bible stands like a
rock undaunted ’Mid the raging storms of time; Its pages burn with the truth
eternal, And they glow with a light sublime.
The Bible stands like a
mountain tow’ring far above the works of men; Its truth by none ever was
refuted, And destroy it they never can.
The Bible
stands and it will forever, When the world has passed away; By inspiration it
has been given, All its precepts I will obey.
The Bible
stands every test we give it, For its Author is divine; By grace alone I expect
to live it, And to prove and to make it mine.
The Bible stands though
the hills may tumble, It will firmly stand when the earth shall crumble; I will
plant my feet on its firm foundation, For the Bible stands.”
BE PART OF GOD’S WORK
Jesus has finally arrived, but it was too late; Lazarus was dead! If only He had arrived earlier. Jesus made His way to the tomb with the grieving crowd following. He stood in front of Lazarus’ tomb weeping, revealing His heart to the crowd (John 11).
Jesus has finally arrived, but it was too late; Lazarus was dead! If only He had arrived earlier. Jesus made His way to the tomb with the grieving crowd following. He stood in front of Lazarus’ tomb weeping, revealing His heart to the crowd (John 11).
Then suddenly He
instructed the people to remove the stone from the cave’s entrance. They
couldn’t believe their ears. Martha blurted out in her surprise, " Lord,
by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.”
The people obeyed. Jesus
calls out to Lazarus and behold the creator of life (John 1:1-3) gave new life
to Lazarus. Lazarus came out of the tomb still wrapped in his grave clothes
alive! Jesus directed the people to remove the grave clothes.
There are many obstacles that hinder
people from coming out of their sin – their graves. There is the sin itself binding
them. We cannot remove the sin. Only Jesus can do that. But we can work to
remove stones. They cannot even hear the voice of God calling because these
"stones" are so thick that they muffle His voice.
Though it is impossible for the
church, for you and me, to remove all these stones, Jesus is instructing us,
His people, to "remove the stone." Stones of ignorance; stones of
apathy; stones of physical need; stones of misunderstanding; these are just a
few of the stones we can address and help remove. And the grave clothes; when
people find new life in Christ Jesus they bring with them old habits,
experiences, hurts – grave clothes. They need to be discipled – to have their
grave-clothes removed. It is our responsibility in partnership with the Holy
Spirit to help them remove the excess baggage that they carried with them from
their life in sin. This takes time, effort, patience, persistence, diligence
and an extra amount of God's love, which He provides. But Jesus is looking
at us and telling us – "remove the grave clothes."
POETRY
"A
TATTERED BIBLE" by A. Lauer
And old Bible used for many years it's tattered pages torn with a
faded gold inscription on it's cover stained and worn.
It included many markings inscriptions from a pen. Favorite verses
were encircled and comments scribbled in.
My Mother's Holy Bible at her bedside night and day clutched in her
hands so tightly as she closed her eyes to pray.
She inserted her instructions knowing death was at her door. Her
Bible remains with us. She's with the Savior she adored."
And old Bible used for many years it's tattered pages torn with a
faded gold inscription on it's cover stained and worn.
It included many markings inscriptions from a pen. Favorite verses
were encircled and comments scribbled in.
My Mother's Holy Bible at her bedside night and day clutched in her
hands so tightly as she closed her eyes to pray.
She inserted her instructions knowing death was at her door. Her
Bible remains with us. She's with the Savior she adored."
"A BURIED
TREASURE" by A. Lauer from his book "A Treasury of Dedications".
"On a day quite dark and dreary causing mind and soul to weary, I sat
beside the fire quite contented with myself. I entertained the thought
of dozing and my eyes wee ever closing focused vaguely, on a a
bookcase and the books upon the shelf.
Yes, books of many volumes forming multicolored columns, awed my
imagination in the secrets they must hold.
"On a day quite dark and dreary causing mind and soul to weary, I sat
beside the fire quite contented with myself. I entertained the thought
of dozing and my eyes wee ever closing focused vaguely, on a a
bookcase and the books upon the shelf.
Yes, books of many volumes forming multicolored columns, awed my
imagination in the secrets they must hold.
My aimless fingers wandered
as through the books I pondered then, by chance, I found one volume that was ragged, torn and old.
I thought, best it be discarded, for the price of time had marred it
and it bore a musty odor caused by ever-growing mold.
I thought, best it be discarded, for the price of time had marred it
and it bore a musty odor caused by ever-growing mold.
But, I happened to discover 'neath the dust upon its
cover the inscription 'Holy
Bible' letters etched in faded gold.
Bible' letters etched in faded gold.
So, I probed amongst it's pages with it's history of the ages, at first, with passing interest, then transformed to utter awe. The story of creation with it's wealth of information to the sheer appreciation of God's wondrous, perfect law.
It told how shepherds trembled when angelic forms assembled to bring
forth the joyous message of a wondrous virgin birth.
Within sin-infested nations, there was need of God's
salvation so, Our Lord,
with love and mercy placed His Son upon the Earth.
with love and mercy placed His Son upon the Earth.
It told how Peter thrice denied Him; In result, they crucified Him.
Jesus murmured "It is finished" with His last and dying breath. His
body was imprisoned;
Three days later, He is risen and His mission, thus
completed, even victory over death.
I then laid the book beside me; Analyzed the thoughts inside me and
I marveled at the message that this great book had to tell. Within
it's beaten cover was a 'Treasure' to discover, rich in paradise
eternal and escape from Satan's hell.
I then laid the book beside me; Analyzed the thoughts inside me and
I marveled at the message that this great book had to tell. Within
it's beaten cover was a 'Treasure' to discover, rich in paradise
eternal and escape from Satan's hell.
Now, I cannot help but wonder of this world so torn asunder in which
greed will form a ladder by which man can raise himself.
Man will go about his labor, cheating brother, friend and
neighbor, while
unopened, lies a Bible gathering dust upon a shelf.
I can draw but one conclusion why we're plagued with such confusion;
My philosophy is simple, although some might think it odd;
unopened, lies a Bible gathering dust upon a shelf.
I can draw but one conclusion why we're plagued with such confusion;
My philosophy is simple, although some might think it odd;
In man's constant search for pleasure, he's misplaced a
priceless treasure—
A guide for 'Life'' For 'Love' and 'Happiness', by the
greatest author--GOD!"
"The Christian walk is
a journey. As we continue on our path, we come to know a deepening of our
faith. We can eventually see God in everything and take great comfort in
knowing He is there, even when we don’t understand all that is happening." Bettie Youngs and Debbie Thurman
TRUST( Unknown
Author)
A new school Principal was checking over his school on the first day. Passing the stockroom, he was startled to see the door wide open and teachers bustling in and out, carrying off books and supplies in preparation for the arrival of students the next day. The school where he had been a Principal the previous year had used a check-out system only slightly less elaborate than that at Fort Knox.
Cautiously, he asked the school's long time Custodian, "Do you think it's wise to keep the stockroom unlocked and to let the teachers take things without requisitions?"
The Custodian looked at him gravely and said, "We trust them with the children, don't we?"
Trust. A simple and short word, but one that implies so much. If I trust someone in one area, but not in another, have I really trusted them? Can trust be area specific? I know confidence can be, but trust implies the whole package.
How do you trust God? Do you, as many people do, trust Him for your salvation, but you don't trust Him to take care of your daily needs? Do you trust Him to forgive you of your sins, but not to help you in personal areas that you lift to Him in prayer? In other words, do you trust the Lord for the big things, but doubt Him (distrust) for the relatively little things?
We need to make a decision right now! Do you trust God for EVERYTHING or do you pick and choose where you trust Him? How does God want you to trust Him? I'm so glad that God forgave me of ALL my sins, not just the ones He thought about, rationalized, and made a decision based on my life experience or my worthiness.
God can be trusted in ALL things; we need to show Him that we trust Him in ALL areas by giving Him our WHOLE life, not just certain areas.
"Sometimes He quiets
the storms in our lives, and sometimes He allows them to rage. But regardless
of the weather, He always calms and comforts His children."
Lisa Harper
STORIES
UNWANTED HOUSE GUESTS (By: Joseph J. Mazzella)
Have you ever had unwanted house guests? I am
talking about the
ones who wear out their welcome in the first two minutes yet plan to stay forever. I am talking about the ones who trash the place, eat all the food, sit in your favorite chair, and take over your bed. I am talking about the ones that even your dogs avoid. I am talking about the ones that take everything and give back nothing. I am talking about the ones that only brighten up a room
when they leave it.
ones who wear out their welcome in the first two minutes yet plan to stay forever. I am talking about the ones who trash the place, eat all the food, sit in your favorite chair, and take over your bed. I am talking about the ones that even your dogs avoid. I am talking about the ones that take everything and give back nothing. I am talking about the ones that only brighten up a room
when they leave it.
Finally
one day I could take it no longer. I cried out to God to help me get rid of
these unwanted guests once and for all.
It was then that I heard a gentle
knock on the door of my soul. When I opened it I found Love there smiling at me. I invited Love in and watched as my unwanted house guests fled out the door and through the windows. They couldn't leave quick enough. Then Love asked his friends Peace and Joy over to help straighten up the place. I soon realized too that Love was a guest I never wanted to leave. Every now and then Fear and Hate will try to sneak back in, but when they see Love sitting on the couch they run.
knock on the door of my soul. When I opened it I found Love there smiling at me. I invited Love in and watched as my unwanted house guests fled out the door and through the windows. They couldn't leave quick enough. Then Love asked his friends Peace and Joy over to help straighten up the place. I soon realized too that Love was a guest I never wanted to leave. Every now and then Fear and Hate will try to sneak back in, but when they see Love sitting on the couch they run.
God loves
us so much and He wants us to love as well. He wants us to choose love, share
love, and fill our lives with love. He wants us
to love each other as
He loves us. He wants us to make Love our permanent house guest and best friend. Open your door then. Invite Love in. Let Fear and Hate hit the highway. Make your home a happy one now and forever.
He loves us. He wants us to make Love our permanent house guest and best friend. Open your door then. Invite Love in. Let Fear and Hate hit the highway. Make your home a happy one now and forever.
You may wish to contact this writer
through:
Joe Mazzella
P.O. Box 164
Upper Glade, WV 26266
joemazzella@frontier.com
P.O. Box 164
Upper Glade, WV 26266
joemazzella@frontier.com
WE ARE WHAT WE PRODUCE (By Rolf)
An illustration of what’s really inside of us:
Those who
follow Christ have His spirit which produces this type of fruits inside of us:
Love: An
ability to show God’s love to others, even those who do not love you.
Joy: Having the joy of God inside that is
above all things of this world.
Peace: A peace that the world cannot give or take away from you.
Longsuffering: An ability to “tolerate” the intolerable things that life brings our way.
Kindness: Forever and for always.
Goodness: From a pure heart, and without self righteous pride.
Faithfulness: Always true, and forever standing firm.
Gentleness: Strong enough to show gentleness despite our urge to be harsh.
Self-Control: Having a disciplined strength over ourselves.
Peace: A peace that the world cannot give or take away from you.
Longsuffering: An ability to “tolerate” the intolerable things that life brings our way.
Kindness: Forever and for always.
Goodness: From a pure heart, and without self righteous pride.
Faithfulness: Always true, and forever standing firm.
Gentleness: Strong enough to show gentleness despite our urge to be harsh.
Self-Control: Having a disciplined strength over ourselves.
These
“fruits” are 9 different aspects of God’s Spirit inside of those who know
Christ and follow Him. We are known by our fruits, only God can produce these type of fruits in you. The point of this
story today is to show you the difference between what the character traits of
the fruit of God’s Spirit look like vs what our
own best efforts look like in the two pictures above of a good bowel of
fruit and a bad rotten bowel of fruit from God’s perspective.
Our acts of
Love are not perfect like God’s, our joy is dependent upon things of this
world, our peace is temporary, our longsuffering is with irritability and
complaint, our kindness is not without limit, our goodness will never measure
up with God’s, our faithfulness is not perfect, our gentleness is still far too
harsh and selective at best, and our self-control is weak in the face of trials
and temptations against us.
Mankind’s
fruits are full of disappointments at best, not lasting like the kind Jesus
Christ offers us. You do not have the ability to produce that kind of fruits
inside of you; they must come from the Lord, by His Spirit.
Did you know
that God offers you His Spirit to live inside of you so that you have the
ability to show those around you the fruit
of His Spirit in how you live? Ask the author of this newsletter to pray
for you for that to happen. Why continue to show others your rotten side when
God can show you a better way.
Peace be
with you this day.
"If God be our God, He
will give us peace in trouble. When there is a storm without, He will make
peace within. The world can create trouble in the midst of peace, but God can
create peace in midst of trouble."
Thomas Watson
Final Word
**If
you would love us to pray with you, please do not hesitate to contact
us by clicking HERE.
If you have taken this step and made that
all important decision to accept
Jesus Christ as the Blessed Controller of your life, please contact us via email with name and physical address.
And if you need to talk to us by phone, please let’s know so we may PM you our
phone numbers. Would you like us to send you some material concerning the next
steps in your walk with the Lord? If so,
please let us know.
If you have a testimony of how you came to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior or would like to share what the Lord has done in your life, please share with us and we will be able to share it on Face Book in our Good news Magazine each month.
God bless you all and know that you are all in our prayers. Thank you.
Our 4th Edition will be out on 1st
May 2014.
Justus, Debbie & the Team, Kenya, USA**
Justus, Debbie & the Team, Kenya, USA**
‘Holding forth the word of life; that
I may rejoice in the day of Christ,
that I have not run in vain, neither
laboured in vain.’ - Phil. 2:16
No comments:
Post a Comment