Saturday, 28 February 2015

THE GOOD NEWS MAGAZINE 14TH EDITION

A welcome Note
The Lord bless you and keep you dear readers. We welcome you back to our 14th Edition of the Good News Magazine. We are thankful to God for His sustenance, His mercies which are new every morning, His love to us and care. More so, we thank Him for the hope He Has given us. We are glad to have another moment to share with you what the Lord has bestowed unto us. In this edition we are going to share more about life’s storms and whom to always run to when enraged with boisterous winds of life.
We live in a world full of troubles and trials. Everywhere we hear of wars, catastrophes, hunger, sickness and diseases. It is a world where we dwell. As Christians there is a place where we will one day go and live eternally, heaven. Jesus went to prepare that place for us. Though many times we face so much tribulation, and some trials which we can never understand, the Lord wants us to completely trust Him. Faith and trust in God is all we need. When faced with such diversity, let’s learn to turn our storms over to God who has control of everything.

We cannot see down the roads we travel.  There will be encounters we cannot envision, cannot see for they lie around the bend in the roads of our life. Sometimes it takes only the ringing of the telephone to change an entire well-made plan, bringing us to truths we hope we never hear such as the death of a beloved relative or the news that someone we care deeply for has an incurable illness.  There might be a knock on the door that brings life-changing news that will break our hearts. But it is in the midst of uncertainty and trials, as we move unsteadily on the brim of a chasm wondering what to do, imploring God with hope to come forth for us. Through faith, we are able to pull ourselves up from the edge of unspeakable hardship to keep moving forward on our heaven bound journey.  It is a time when we can understand and measure our capacity to endure, to assess our strength and continue through life’s fiercest turbulence.
The Bible does not remain silent in regard to storms. As a matter of fact, Jesus took His disciples right into the midst of one. As they continued with their journey and the storms raging, Jesus had already taken a nap. Do you ever feel as though the Lord was sleeping while you faced your storms alone?

Jesus' disciples experienced the exact same thing. After a long day of ministering to the crowds, Jesus told the disciples they were going over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. They were obeying Jesus' command when they boarded their ships just as evening was falling. Jesus led His disciples into a storm just as the light was failing. Mark 4:35-38 tells us what really happened.
And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

Before they knew it, a terrible storm hit and their boat was full of water. We all know what happens to a boat when it gets full of water: it sinks. If you had Jesus in your boat, wouldn't you feel pretty safe even if you were in the middle of a terrible storm, even if it looked as though your boat was going to sink?

Obviously the disciples didn't feel very safe; they became very alarmed and were afraid for their lives. What was Jesus doing through all this? He was asleep in the back of the boat. How could anyone sleep through a storm that was so bad the waves were crashing across the boat, filling it with water, and threatening imminent destruction for all?

Is it possible that Jesus was not concerned because He knew (being the Son of God) that it was not in God's plan for the disciples to all sink in this storm? Is it possible that Jesus (being the Son of God) knew something about the destiny of His chosen ones?
...and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
How many times have we reacted to circumstances in our lives, asking the Lord, "Don't you care that I am suffering so much? Why don't you DO something?" This was exactly how the disciples reacted to their troubles.

Remember: Jesus is right there in the boat with them and they are terrified. How does Jesus react to their fear? Does He comfort them and tell them everything will be okay?
Mark 4:39-41 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Jesus was incredulous. He couldn't believe they were afraid after seeing so many miracles, deliverance, and had walked with Him for so long. He couldn't believe their lack of faith.
We need not fear the terrible storm that comes upon us, because the Lord is in control of all circumstances in our lives. Nothing can happen to you that is not "allowed" by the Lord. Remember that Satan had to ask God's permission before he could strike Job and harm him?
The Lord knows what plans He has for us; He will not be thwarted by any storms. Every child of God has a destiny to fulfill. You will not be easily dismayed or discouraged when you encounter the storms of life. Isaiah 46:10 says this: Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Do you despair even of life? Take heart! Be strong! Rely on God, who raises the dead! Jesus is in the boat! Apostle Paul makes this clearer as he too had storms come his way. 2Cor. 1:8-9 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

Finally, I would like us to ask ourselves this question: Is Jesus in the boat with you? Are we going where He told us, or following our own path? This is so important.  If we have gone our own way, we must ask the Lord to forgive us, turn away from our sin (going our own way is sin), then make a declaration that Jesus is Lord of our lives, and follow Him with your whole heart. Just saying the sinner's prayer is not enough. We must follow Him. We must read the Word of God and know our Lord and Master's voice when He speaks.

Maybe you are going exactly where the Lord directed; you are obeying His voice. If so, you will still encounter the storm in the middle of your journey. You must have faith that Jesus is in the boat with you. You must be strong and continue until you have fully obeyed, crossing to the other side.

Maybe you are going where Jesus led you, but you derive no comfort from knowing Jesus is in your boat. Is it possible that you don't really know your God. Do you know of His character, love, holiness, majesty, power, wisdom, justice, mercy, that He is slow to anger, quick to forgive, all-knowing, the wonderful counselor, mighty God. Do you know your God? Do you know the Great Shepherd's voice, and do you obey? You can know the Lord through immersing yourself in the Word of God. You must renew your mind, washing away all worldliness, all human reasoning, putting on the mind of Christ. Know your God!

Once you are sure that you are going where the Lord directed you and that you know your God, as you face the many storms in your life, be confident that Jesus is in the boat with you; there is no reason to fear the storm. If you do not lose heart you will reach the other side.
I encourage you with this verse, Joshua 1:9, Have not I commanded thee?  Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Remember, Jesus never sleeps. He is always attentive to our cries. He often tests our faith. Let’s learn to keep our eyes focused on Him at all times for the storms in life are actually our very catalysts into a more triumphant life, we usually walk through trouble in order to be triumphant!
Therefore, have faith in God. Hebrews 11:6, But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
OH, HOW THE WIND DOTH BLOW!

March is known as “the windy month”.  It’s the month where supposedly, the cold winds are blown out to allow the gentle warming breezes of spring enter in.  We all know the damage that wind can bring, and because of this, the fears that can come with it.  Wind can be looked at as literal or metaphorically.  Either way, I'm here to tell you that the One who created the wind is the very same One who can calm that wind.  Let's take a look at what God's word has to say about this topic. 

Matthew 8:26-27 gives us an excellent example of this. Jesus had been preaching and teaching...and He needed a period of rest to refresh Himself.  Remember, while here on Earth, He was both God and Man...fully each.  So the human aspect of Christ required food and rest just as we do.  If He did not have the same human attributes, His dying on the cross would have had no effect...for any human could die and say he's doing it for a cause...but only a man who is also GOD has the power and ability to either say “no, I don't want to do this” or out of love, lay His life down willingly for a group of people who hated Him in the end.  Sure. They loved Him while He was feeding them, and healing the sick, and casting out devils....but look how quickly they turned from saying, “Hosanna Hosanna!” to “Crucify Him!”   We are a fickle people.

So, as Jesus had no permanent earthly dwelling place to go to at the end of the day, He and His disciples climbed into a boat to sail across to the other side. During this time, in His weary state, Jesus fell asleep to rest.  In the midst of this, a great storm arose, the wind was such that the disciples were fearful...full of fear.  The first thing I draw from the example given in Matthew 8 is that when the disciples were fearful, who did they turn to?  It was to Jesus...because they knew that He had the ability to help them! That's something we can all tuck back in the recesses of our minds;  that we can trust Jesus with our fears and  problems...that all we need do is have faith that He is able. 

Let's read what comes next in Matthew 8:24-27 ~ “And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves;  but he was asleep.  And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us; we perish.  And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?  Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.  But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!”

I can only imagine how awestruck the disciples were to see this man stand up, tell the wind to stop, and the winds obey Him!  Trust me, there have been many times when I've looked out the window and begged the snow to stop, but it is deaf to my voice! But Jesus Christ just speaks to a force of nature, the wind, and it obeys Him; the perfect example of creation obeying its Creator. How magnificent!

But immediately before Christ does this, He asks and then answers His own question in one statement, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?”  These men were fearful, which is a human response, however, remember that these men had been living, following, eating, sleeping and witnessing Jesus' care for them daily...and yet, having seen all that they've seen and experiencing all they've experienced, they still had not grasped the concept to “trust Him”.

Do we not fall into the same category at times?  Aren't there times where circumstances arise where we throw our hands up and just don't know what we're going to do?  Fearful of what's going to happen next, or how we're going to get out of a situation?  Are we too fearful because we have such little faith?  I dare say, I have some self examining to do.

The final point I found so very interesting in this encounter is how the disciples approached Him.  First of all, they called upon Jesus;  And when they did, the very words they cried out to Him with were, “Lord, save us!”.   Are these not the very same words we need to cry out to Jesus Christ with in order to be saved eternally?  He urges us to come to Him, to call upon His Name, and because He promised He would, salvation is obtained...just as with the disciples.

The account we read about in Matthew is true; historically and Biblically, because God has said it is so in His inerrant Word.  However, this account can also be applied metaphorically.  How many times in our own lives, through troubles, trials, burdens, the cares of this world, relationships, or disabilities have we felt wind-tossed as if we were just being blown all over the place and our entire universe is out of control?  I know, there have been times in my life where circumstances beyond my control left me temporarily reeling.  However, those storms are calmed by first of all having faith in Jesus Christ;  The One who was able to calm the literal storm and also calm your personal storm. That was the first thing Christ pointed out to His disciples was that they were of little faith.  That tells us, that if we have accepted Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior, the Blessed Controller of our life and we continue to have faith and trust that He knows what is best for us, He will indeed save us as He did the disciples.  He will take us through anything and everything life brings our way. 

No matter how strong the storms of life are or the winds of trials and troubles, only Jesus Christ can calm those storms and our hearts.  Brothers and Sisters, hold fast in the faith and the promises of Christ and His word, also comfort, encourage and edify each other as His desire is for us to love each other as He loves us.

If you have not yet taken that step to cry out to Jesus Christ alone, “Lord, save us”, please do so today.  Don't wait another moment.  We have no idea how long our life on this earth will be.  We just don't have that luxury.  But we can have the luxury of assurance of eternal salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.  1 John 1:9 tells us, “But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”   How do we know that a broken and contrite heart that calls upon the Name of the Lord has assurance of salvation?  Because Acts 16:31 tells us, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”  There are no if's, and's, or but's in that verse. Believe that He died on the cross for YOUR sin (and mine!) confess that you know you are a sinner bound for hell as we are all born with a sin nature and none of us are worthy, repent and turn to Him, and you are a new born babe in Christ Jesus!  John 14:6 has Christ telling us, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man commeth unto the Father but by Me.” There is NO other way to have assurance of salvation, and it cannot be Jesus “plus” anything...not Jesus plus works, or Jesus plus anything else.  It's through Christ ALONE!

 

LOST HOPE!

In this life, Jesus never promised us that life would be easy, but He did pray for us. In John17:14 He prayed, I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Jesus knew that if the world hated Him, it would hate us as well. He knew that we would face every type of storm as long as we live in this world. It is clear that we can only experience true peace when we wholly rely on God. We receive intimidation from every corner, sometimes it looks like a big whirl wind which can destroy us, but if we focus on Jesus and call upon His Name, He will surely save us.
May be somewhere in our lives we might have been impatient: it could be impatient to get married, impatient to get a new job, or impatient to move to the other side of town. While in this situation we never took time to check things out with God, and we sailed right off into the awaiting storms. This reminds me of Apostle Paul who after warning the centurion and pleading with him, he opted to listen to the captain and the owner of the ship rather than Paul. This got them all into trouble. Acts 27:10-11 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
It is important that we take heed of Godly advice and learn to hear God’s voice and obey His instructions lest we fall right into the seas of trouble...
When we are caught in a crisis, we typically react in different ways. Because the sailors couldn’t head into the wind, “And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.” (Acts 27:15).
The first thing that storms tend to do is to cause us to drift. We let go of our goals. We forget where we are headed. We forget our mission. We forget whom we belong to and who has called us. We forget our values and start drifting.
Because they were not equipped with compasses and the stars were completely obscured by the storm, the sailors were in total darkness. When you are in a dark situation, you drift. The waves beat you back and forth, and you are led wherever they take you. Your problems batter you back and forth. It is a time like this that one feels you have reached the end of ourselves.
Things didn’t get any better on the Apostle Paul’s voyage to Rome. And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away— Acts 27:18-20
When a crisis emerges for us, first we start drifting, then we start discarding things from our lives. With the sailors it was first the cargo, then the ship’s tackle, eventually their food (Acts 27:38), and finally themselves (Acts 27:43–44)! They all jumped overboard and started swimming to shore. Often, when we find ourselves in a crisis of life, we are tempted to throw out the very things that are important to us because we are under pressure and want to get rid of it all. We become impulsive. We give up on our dreams. We run out on relationships. We throw away values that we learned as children. In an extreme crisis we eventually get to the point of despair and the last thing we throw out is hope.
The sailors gave up hope because they had forgotten that God was in control. They forgot that God had a plan. They forgot that God can inject hope into an absolutely hopeless situation. Storms are simply temporary setbacks toward fulfilling that purpose.
When trouble strikes, we sometimes forget our knowledge of God too. We struggle to recall past answers to prayer, specific guidance provided by the Holy Spirit, and lessons learned in previous crises. Only the present seems real. Our minds spin with future implications, and our troubled emotions inhibit clear thinking. In our own strength, we lack sufficient resources and abilities to meet life's challenges. So God provides what we need. Our suffering is never a surprise to the Lord. He knows everything we are going through. More than that, He’s orchestrating our circumstances for His glory and our benefit, according to His good will. John11:40,  Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Absolutely nothing can change God’s ultimate purpose for our lives unless we choose to disobey Him. If we choose to reject His plan, He will allow us to do that, but the Scriptures teach that no outside person can change God’s plan for your life. God leaves that up to us. No matter what happens on the outside, external forces cannot alter God’s purpose for our lives as long as you say, “God, I want to do your will.” God’s purpose is greater than any situation you will ever experience. God has a plan beyond the problems you might be facing right now.
Let God’s truth stabilize your life and give you the confidence you need in every crisis you face. Storms cannot hide God from you or you from God. God has a purpose for your life. There is a reason for it all, and you are going to make it safely to land! Just hold on, trust Him, never lose hope!


CREATIVE WRITINGS

FROM EVERY STORMY WIND THAT BLOWS - -By Hugh Stowell

From every stormy wind that blows,
From every swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sure retreat--
'Tis found beneath the mercy seat.

There is a place where Jesus sheds
The oil of gladness on our heads,
A place than all besides more sweet--
It is the blood-bought mercy seat.

There is a scene where spirits blend,
Where friend holds fellowship with friend;
Though sundered far, by faith they meet
Around one common mercy seat.

There, there on eagle's wings we soar,
And time and sense seem all no more,
And heaven comes down our souls to greet,
And glory crowns the mercy seat.


The storms of Life - Royston Allen
Sometimes sad things happen in our life
they flare up suddenly and cause us strife.
The barriers that we put up against the flow
break down in floods of tears and sorrow.

Troubles fall like raindrops pelting down
welling into a flood in which we might drown. 
We do our utmost to cope with the strain
but so many hurts cause our soul much pain.

Like in storms the raindrops seem really huge
and they gather into an irresistible deluge.
They test the fortitude of our minds defence
and when they burst through the pain's intense.

As we lay in bed in the early hours of the day
we cannot withstand them to our dismay.
They come crashing in like a forceful torrent
causing tears to flow out of us as we lament.

We cry out in anguish great sobs of sorrow
at the pain that comes as we work them through. 
Our hearts despair at the turmoil that they bring
overwhelmed, we feel unable to do anything. 

We become less resistant as the years go by
unable to withstand them and we wonder why
our human frailty is being tested to this extent
straining under the weight of our predicament.

We feel the deep hurt and the pain they bring
and would rather live in a world of no suffering.
They add to the burden of each passing day
and we would that they were banished away.

Sorrows well up from deep within our soul
as the anguish and suffering takes it toll.
It reminds us of the great 'Man of Sorrows'
who feels all our heartache, pains and woes.

'Come to me Oh weary one' Jesus said
'lay down your burdens at my feet instead.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light
you'll find rest for your soul, it will be alright.'

We rise up from our bed of pain and gloom
and find our way to that blessed upper room.
There we sit at the feet of the Lord and cry out
wondering what these sufferings are all about.

We lay our burdens down at His feet there
knowing He understands, we rest in His care.
Then we pour out our soul and to Him reveal
the deep sorrow and the sadness that we feel.

The storm subsides and the sorrows cease
as He brings to our soul that heavenly peace
and the healing balm that only He can bring
permeates into the depths of our inner being.

We feel Him lifting us out of our despair
as we rest in the sanctity of His presence there.
We look up and gaze into His wonderful face
and feel deep healing of our soul taking place.

His arms enfold us in His love and we can sense
the preciousness of His wonderful presence.
We rest awhile held in His loving embrace
as peace returns and deep healing takes place. 

The sorrows of the world will always be here
they dog our steps and will not just disappear.
But with the Lord these troubles do not defeat
because we can lay them there at His blessed feet.

But this earthly life we live will not always be
and a time will come when our soul is set free.
And in that heavenly kingdom where Christ reigns
God Himself will remove our tears and pains.

No death, no sorrow and no pain shall endure
and these earthly sorrows will plaque us no more.
They will be replaced by heavenly joy and love 
as we stand in the presence of our Lord above. 

 

TESTIMONY

MY TESTIMONY – By Omari Amadi
I was born 36 years ago in a Christian family of 6 children, being the fourth born. My father was so strict, given that he was an evangelist. He used to preach to patients in Hospitals and Prisons, and he was also a member of National Hospital Christian Fellowship.
Despite all this, we were living in dire poverty, we could not afford two proper meals a day, Dad could not afford to pay our school fees, forcing my elder siblings to drop out of school. I was so bitter with God, for I could not understand how He could allow all this bad things to happen to us, when my father was busy serving Him. I was so confused to an extent of refusing an altar call made by one of invited preachers who had come to preach in our municipality and he was residing at our place. All of my siblings heed to the call and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and their personal savior, I knew there will be a repercussion from my dad, but still I refused, I was 11 years old and in class 5.
I finished my Education in 1997, and decided to visit my elder brother who was working at the capital city, vowing, not to return home.
When I landed to Nairobi, at my brother’s house, I thought life would be easy. But to my surprise, life was so hard, that I was forced to look for a manual job. I landed in a video hall job showing all manner of movies and secular music at Kibra slums, which is one of the largest informal settlements in Africa. 
Life continued to be hard, it reached a time my brother decided enough is enough and chased me away from his house due to my bad behavior and funny habits (All manner of Immorality). One day my uncle called  and advised me accordingly, regarding life. He spoke to his boss and I was given a chance to work as a casual worker in their company. I had worked for two years, and I was still struggling in life,  I was struggling in all aspects of life, financially and  health wise. I used to take medicine on daily basis. Since I was Asthmatic, and was working in a very dusty environment, a company that deals in manufacturing of furniture. I used to walk to and from work cause I couldn’t afford bus fare.
One day in May 2009, as I was walking back home  from work, I reached a place called Soweto, in Kibra Slums, and found a crusade going on. The message preached was from the book of John 15:7 which said, If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. While the preaching was going on, I remembered how my Dad used to pray and preach back then, but because of ignorant, instead of listening to him, we could question his salvation, simply because we were living in poverty.
 Before the crusade came to end, the preacher called for an altar call, which I responded hastily. On Sunday I attended the service at Church, as a new convert in Christ, and thereafter professed Christian faith to date.
After a lot of teachings and understanding from the word of God, in mid 2003, together with my wife, we stood with the word of God in the book of Isaiah 65: 23 that says: They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
Our second born child “Esther Hadassah” was born normal, through divine intervention. Brethren, please note that, Earlier before knowing Christ my wife delivered our first born through caesarean. In mid 2006, again, God visited us and healed me divinely from asthma which had imprisoned me for many years. In December the same year God blessed and promoted me from casual work to permanent job.

Today, I can testify confidently without any reasonable doubt that my redeemer liveth, He picked me out from ashes where the enemy had put me, cleansed me with His precious blood, and lifted me up to dine with the rulers and kings. Today I am a manager at “Simple Media Solutions”. He has revealed Himself to me as Jehovah Jire, my provider Jehovah Rapha, my healer.

THE GOOD NEWS MAGAZINE 13 EDITION

Hello precious friends and readers,
We hope and pray that you are all well kept by our Dear Lord. We are glad to share with you our 13th Good News Magazine.  Jeremiah 17:9-10 says, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
How true God’s Word is! We are all much more inclined to sin than to righteousness. However, the problem doesn’t lie in our genes, our blood, or our physical makeup. Our physical body is not the problem – the HEART is the problem! We cannot blame our tendency to sin on a bad gene we inherited from our parents because that simply isn’t true! Look at what Jesus said in Matthew. 15:18-19:
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Your body is not really you. Your body is the temporary house you live in while on this earth. It is made of dust and it will return to the dust when you are finished with it. The body is simply the means God gave us to function in and experience this physical world. The body has no will of its own. The body does not make decisions and choices. However, the body does need some things. It needs food and water. It needs to be cleaned and comforted. It needs rest. God created a mechanism for the body to let us know when it needs something. It is called natural desire or “lust.”
These are natural desires that God gave us so that we can respond and take care of the needs of the body. These desires work through the five senses – sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. The soul that lives in the body is the one who makes the decisions and choices about what the body gets to look at, to consume, to listen to, or to experience. Your soul finds pleasure in fulfilling these natural desires. Everyone likes to eat. Everyone likes to be comfortable. Everyone likes anything that “feels good.” God made us that way and then He designed all of creation so we could take care of those physical needs, and enjoy it while we did it. But for our own good, God put boundaries around all of these desires and their fulfillment. The problem arises when the desire for these things becomes so consuming that we disregard God’s boundaries and directions.
James 1:15 clearly indicates that when lust hath conceived, or has taken control, it brings forth sin. When our lusts run out of control sin will be the result.
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Lust is a matter of the heart. The body is the vehicle through which we experience it. It isn’t that our body is demanding it, it is the fact that the affections of our heart are set on it. People eat when they aren’t even hungry. They buy things they do not need. They seek for that in which they can take pleasure because they are lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. It isn’t sinful to meet your needs, but when lust goes beyond that and becomes the driving force of your life you are in trouble. Scripture bears witness to the fact that lust is an issue of the heart:
Psalms. 81:12, So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels. And Romans 1:24 puts it this way, Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Sin is a matter of the heart and it is a moral issue, not a physical issue. It is not a physical trait passed from parent to child.
Ezekiel 18:20, The soul that sinneth, it shall die.  The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

The Bible tells us that every man will give account of HIMSELF to God. A just God will not charge anyone with someone else’s sin. He will never transfer someone else’s guilt to you. All of us have made some choices in life or are yet to make. To live right with God or to reject Him. It’s a free will.
When we are sinners, sin controls our lives. We are in bondage and must be delivered if we are ever going to be free from it. That is why God sent a Saviour! Jesus came to “take away the sins of His people.” He came to “set the captives free!” He came to deliver us from ourselves and the mess we've made of the clean vessel God gave us to start with. Titus 2:11-12, For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

I am not denying that man is prone to sin. I am saying that the tendency to sin is of our own making and sometimes we might not realize that we sinned. It is a matter of the heart and not a matter of the physical body.
But the Good News is that, God has not turned away from us. His truth is stronger than what we are feeling. His grace is going to keep us standing.
In the past we made some great choices and some really bad ones. We can also see the sin in this broken world is truly a stumbling block. Praise God for taking all of it and making something beautiful of our lives! When we mentally recount all the really difficult times in our past, we can also see how God intentionally grew you most as a disciple during those same times. You realized when the going got tough; you got going—to the arms of God. And why is it so? Because we are only strongest when we are weakest as the apostle Paul so aptly said.

SPIRITUAL HEARTBEAT
Okay, Bottom Line...What's Your Spiritual Heartbeat Like?

Marvin J. Rosenthal wrote, “You say you are a true believer- you have trusted the Lord Jesus as your Savior from sin.  You rightly understand that salvation is a free gift of God.  You are a citizen of Heaven, and heir of glory.  You attend a good church.  You have a measure of spiritual discernment.  You lament the wickedness of our day.  You long for Christ's return in power and glory to judge this sinful world and bring in a golden age of righteousness.  You want desperately to see the wolf lie down with the lamb, and the weapons of warfare made into weapons for farming.  And, having set your hands to the plow in your commitment to Christ, you do not look back.  All of the above is great, highly commendable, right on target – praise the Lord!  But might something still be lacking?”

That's something each one of us need to look inward and evaluate for ourselves...like a spiritual self-evaluation.  It has been my experience that my walk with the Lord is different today at the age of 51 than it was when I was 21.  I still have the same love for the Lord that I always had, if not more.  I still have a zeal for telling others about Christ, sharing what His finished work on the cross has done in my life and can do in the lives of others.  I still have the willing heart to do what the Lord requires of me.  And yet, in some ways, this has changed.  Some parts have intensified, while others have diminished slightly.  But this is me I'm talking about.  Now, I want to challenge you; So, when it comes to your spiritual heartbeat, where is the bottom line?

We as humans have the ability to be whatever someone needs us to be.  On Sunday, we can be a God fearing Christian and mean it most sincerely!  On Monday, on the inside, we are still that Christian, at heart, however, our actions don't really have to reflect it as much because this group of people we're with don't expect it from us...until Wednesday night, because that's prayer meeting night, and they DO expect it from us.  But that's okay, because we can go right back to being who we were on Thursday until Sunday comes around again.  That, my friend, is a diseased heart.

Yes, we all sin.  But the bottom line is, how can our spiritual heart expect to keep thumping if we're constantly stopping it then starting it. Stopping it again, starting it again.  A human heart wouldn't exist very long if we kept doing that.  It would become damaged...as does our spiritual heart.  By “heart” I mean our character.  I mean our reputation. I mean what we do when no one but the Lord is watching. Are we the same person? Do we do the same things? Or do we stop our heart, then start it back up again because it’s time for church, or we meet up with other Christians?  This is something serious we all need to consider.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and have truly yielded your life completely over to Him, I'd like you to answer some questions...some very hard questions that I have to ask myself. No one need know how you answer them except for you and the Lord.
Do you read God's word daily?  Not just to get through it, but devouring it like a wet sponge...thirsting for the truths contained therein as you did when you were first saved?

How is your prayer life?  Do you passionately converse with the Lord as though He were sitting right next to you sharing with Him, loving Him, thanking Him for all He's done in your life, pleading with Him for the souls that don't know Him yet?  Or is it more like a shopping list you run down to hurry and get out of the way...like giving thanks before a meal when you are really hungry as opposed to when you're not so hungry and can take the time to include a couple of more items on your list?
Do you have a passion, a burning in your breast burden for those who don’t know the Lord?  Are you seeking opportunities to share with others?  Are you sharing what the Lord has done in your life and how He can do the same for them?  Are you making available situations to confront, out of love, those who need Him so very much?  Or do you just whisper a prayer every now and then for those “in general” who don't know the Lord to come to the Lord?

Now is the time for real honesty.  Not a report that you have to fill out and send back to me, but a deep down look inside your heart, and with all the honesty you can muster, look at where you were when you were first saved, and where you are now. Was there a time when sharing your faith, your love for the Lord was the one and only first priority passion in your life?  When you were so very thrilled with every single thing you learned was just pounding and bursting in your breast until you had the chance to share it with others convinced in your heart that it would affect them the same way...that your love and desire, your passion, what drove you would shine through so brightly that people couldn't help but want the same thing.  I ask you, where is it now?  Do you listen to a sermon and come away with such a feeling of filling, life-giving fulfillment as fresh and new as the morning dew?  Or is it more of a, “Praise the Lord...good sermon, pastor.” ...and the very next thought is where do we go for dinner?   Let me ask you this...was there a time when the very thought of Heaven caused your soul  to soar and the reality of Hell was, for you, a genuine fearful realization that people you love are going there unless YOU do something about it?  Or are we content to put money in the plate for missionaries to do it and still feel we're doing our part?


What has happened to our heart for the Lord?


Any number of things could have happened.  We could have become weary in well doing.  We could have just burned out because of years of repetition of doing things out of tradition, whereas we started with a heart full of fervor and  zeal for the Lord, but it became a habit.  Perhaps circumstances in life became either a distraction or became painful for us. So to turn our hearts away from where it once was is much easier than dealing with the realization that we've turned our hearts so far away and would be too painful to reconcile and return. Or maybe it’s just as simple as, along with the general “Christian” populace, we've become contented with being lukewarm.  No matter what reason, we need not be content with status quo.

Now is the time to get a good physical from God's word.  Taking a look, not from opinion, but from the Bible alone, let's find out all we can about our heart.

Proverbs 4:20-21 - “My son, attend to my words;  incline thine ear unto my sayings.  Let them not depart from thine eyes;  keep them in the midst of thine heart.”     We need to keep our eyes in God's word constantly. We also need to keep His words before our eyes...write out special verses on 3x5 cards or post-it notes and place them in places where we know we will see them often.  When our eyes are focused on Him, they will be in our heart!

Proverbs 4:23 - “Keep thy heart with all diligence;  for out of it are the issues of life.”  Remembering that our heart is the very core of who we are, we need to keep it protected. For if we don't, it’s going to affect EVERY aspect of our life. That is why it is so very essential to keep our hearts with all diligence, all the time, every waking moment.

Proverbs 23:7 - “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”  What we are inwardly is what we are...period! It is the core of who we are.  And according to Jesus Christ, God became flesh, who we are and what we are capable of is NOT a nice picture.

Matthew 15:18-20 - “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies; These are the things which defile a man...”.  These evil activities don't just appear out of no where...they come deep-seeded from the heart...they rise from the very bottom of an evil heart...our heart if it is not kept with all diligence and protected by the word of God kept ever before our eyes!  We are capable of anything; the Lord tells us...it is the Holy Spirit and the word of God that restrains this heart of ours.

All this being said, we see just how diseased our heart truly is.  So what is the cure?  The Lord gives us that in His word as well.  We're told one step at a time what needs to be done in our hearts to make sure it’s the kind of heart the Lord wants us to have;  A healthy, protected, guarded, cleaned and purified heart.

Psalm 51:1-12 - “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness; according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.  For I acknowledge my transgressions;  and my sin is ever before me.  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight:  that thou mightest be justified when though speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity;  and in sin did my mother conceive me.  Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts;  and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;  wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.  Make me to hear joy and gladness...Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquites.  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take no thy holy spirit from me, Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation...”.  I don't believe this requires any explanation as the Lord made it simple and plain and clear so that anyone and everyone can know what needs to be done!

Psalm 73:26 - “My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.”  We can't trust our hearts.  Left to our own strength, we will fail.  But if we give our hearts over to the Lord and trust Him and His strength over our hearts, we have nothing to fear.

All this being said, how can we be sure that we have a spiritually healthy heart?  The Lord assures us in Proverbs 23:26 - “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.”  It doesn't get any clearer than that!

So, what have you done to protect your heart?  I'm sure you may well have done much to exercise and protect your body, but what about your heart? Not your physical heart, but your spiritual heart?  What are the things you have allowed to influence your mind which affects your heart?  Proper heart protection does NOT just happen.  We must “exercise ourselves rather unto godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7), and determine that by the means of the grace God has bestowed upon us, the words that God has divinely given us, prayer, studying and meditating on the things of Christ, praising Him through song, testimony or evangelizing, and Christian fellowship, by these things,  we will keep our hearts spiritually healthy and only for Him.
Amen & Amen.

SAME OLD HABIT
I have heard many times people who try to put an ungodly habit behind them, only to fall again soon after. Feelings of guilt can lead to a renewed commitment to never do something again. But the very next day, the cycle repeats itself as we give in to the same temptations. Our defeat leaves us wondering, what’s wrong with me? Our despair at repeated failure produces a sense of hopeless resignation and confusion. We want to know, Lord, why can’t I change?

All of us have experienced the problem of wanting to honor God and yet reverting back to old, sinful ways almost immediately. Isn’t the Christian life supposed to be more liberating and victorious than this? After all, 2 Cor. 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”  Why, then, does habitual sin take hold of us? Wasn’t Christ supposed to change all this? If we are new creations, why do we still act like old ones? So how do we shake free from our sinful behaviors?

First, we need to examine the way change occurs in the Christian life. Salvation is an instantaneous work of God, which happens the moment we receive Jesus as Savior. But from that point on, we enter a continual process of transformation called sanctification. The Lord’s goal is to mold us into the image of Christ, but this process requires our cooperation. That’s what the Bible means when it says in Phil. 2:12, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. If we neglect this responsibility, we’ll find ourselves struggling with the same issues over and over again. But if we submit to the Holy Spirit, He’ll exert His influence in every area of our lives. Old sinful habits will pass away and be replaced with new godly behavior.

If we ever need to live for Jesus, then we must accept change and transformation. Becoming the people God created us to be is an inside-out process. Because our thoughts govern each area of our lives—emotions, decisions, actions, attitudes, and words, any lasting transformation must begin with the mind. If all we want is to modify our conduct, we’ll never experience long term success in our walk with Christ. What we need is a new way of thinking.
This can be accomplished only by what the Bible calls renewing the mind. Romans 12:2, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. It’s not a sudden transformation but a lifelong process.

We are what we think. We are all a reflection of whatever we’ve been thinking throughout the years. From early on, we are taught to respond to situations in a certain way, with a particular response pattern, and this impacts every area of our lives. In some cases, we can see how people’s expressions reveal the way their minds have developed throughout their lifetime—etching continuous worry, pain, and guilt on their faces.
Take a look in the mirror. Do you see the joy of Christ in your eyes? Or are the destructive effects of sin betrayed by your appearance? The good news is that whatever your thoughts have been in the past, God can teach you to think differently. He gives His Holy Spirit to lead you through a process that produces real healing and lasting change.
God calls us to be watchful and guard our minds at all times. If we don’t, worldly values and purposes will subtly creep in and influence our lives. Whenever we allow ourselves to be conformed to the world, the Enemy gains a foothold in our thinking. And the more we yield to those thoughts, the stronger his hold becomes.
We must wisely choose which thoughts we will accept and which ones we’ll reject. It’s not enough just to resist the Enemy’s lies; we must also deliberately fill our mind with truth from God’s Word. Jesus used this technique when Satan tempted Him in the wilderness.  He countered each challenge with Scripture, saying “It is written . . .” When we are ready with a verse that refutes one of satan’s falsehoods, we have the most powerful spiritual ammunition possible.

So consider: How diligent have you been about guarding your mind? Have you permitted the world to influence your thoughts? Or are you allowing God’s Word to shape your reasoning and values? An unengaged mind is an open invitation for sin. If you’re distracted, having trouble praying or reading the Bible, your thoughts are not where they should be.
Perhaps you feel as if you’re the rope in a tug of war between God and sin, constantly being pulled in two opposing directions. Don’t beat yourself up when you fail. Rather, confess and repent as quickly as possible 1John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. During those times, remember that you are engaged in a long process, and that you cannot renew your own mind. Trying harder and making promises to God will only discourage you, because in your own strength, you will never be able to change. True transformation is the work of the Holy Spirit and it takes time. Therefore, submit to His leading, heed His warnings, and obey God’s voice.
May the Lord help us all fill our mind with Scripture, focusing on the Lord’s character, ways, and commands. May He help us resist temptation and flee from it by understanding the thoughts and feelings that trigger a sinful response in us!
Let’s check the source of our thoughts, are they from God, our flesh, the world, or Satan? But one more thing is certain, relying on the Holy Spirit will empower us to resist sin and break free from its bondage.

As believers, we can expect this process of transformation to continue until we reach heaven; however, the important issue is that we begin today.
Just as your area of struggle began with one act of yielding to temptation, so your path to victory can begin with one act of submission to God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, start saying no to thoughts that don’t belong in a believer’s life. At the same time, say yes to appropriate thoughts. When you fill your mind with truth from God’s Word, you’ll gain discernment and be able to more readily identify the thoughts and feelings that cause you to sin.
As you persevere in choosing which thoughts to allow, the bondage of sin will diminish and your mind will be renewed. This transformation, which began internally, will now be worked out externally as behavior changes. When you think right, you’ll act right. Areas of your life that you were powerless to adjust on your own will be refashioned. And Christ’s victorious life will be beautifully demonstrated through you so that others will see and be drawn to Him.
Therefore, let’s all put to death the selfish, sinful nature by repentance to purity. Jesus leads us out of the world, one step at a time, showing us what to give up, and teaching us how to live. The end result is purity and then the return of Christ in His glory with His Kingdom of everlasting peace and joy.


CREATIVE WRITINGS
Heartbeat- By  Cindy Wyatt

Sometimes hearts beat slow
and then sometimes fast
People get so scared
they end up at the ER at last
Doctors do EKGs
and look at the monitor sheet
But no one knows but God
when your heart will stop to beat
You are only just a heartbeat
away from eternity
Do you know Jesus Christ
for your eternal security
One day your heart will stop beating
and you know not when
If you want to go to Heaven
trust Jesus while you can
Don't wait until another day
because that is not the safe way
Today is the day of salvation
is what the bible does say
Tomorrow could be too late
if your heart stops to beat at any rate
You must prepare for your eternity now
before it is too late
Once your heart beats the last time
you will go to Heaven or Hell
Jesus bled and died to pay for our sins
is what the bible does tell
The people who are saved will go to Heaven
when their heart stops beating
So accept Jesus as your savior
since this earthly life is quick and fleeting
Please come to the Dear Savior now
before it is too late
You don't know what will be
on tomorrow's calendar date

EENIE MEENIE MINIE MO - By Marion Webster

Eenie meenie minie mo
When you die, where will you go ?
It’s not a gamble and it’s not by chance
It depends on where you make your stance
In your hand, you hold two keys
You’re free to pick the one you please
With one to Heaven you will go
The other leads to .. well you know
The Bible says there’s just ONE way
No matter what we think, or say
Heaven is Holy and God keeps it pure
Our sins can not get through the door
A penalty  for sin must be paid
From the beginning that law was laid
But God provided a way for us
And it’s that way, I’d like to discuss
He sent His Son  for our sins to die
He loves us that much, but I don’t know why
He suffered and died on the cross that day
The price for our sins He’d willingly  pay
Jesus is one of the keys you hold
Accept Him as Savior before you grow old
Invite Him into your heart today
The Bible says that’s the only way
Eenie Meenie Minie Mo
When you die where will you go ?

       COLD - By Marion Webster
 It’s  eight degrees outside my home
 The fire is burning, but it still feels cold
                  Terribly Cold
   My daughter lies with fever raging .Her
  teeth chatter, her body shivers, she’s cold
                     So cold
    Relationships once sweet and warm
have turned around and become sour and cold
                    Bitterly Cold
   A baby whose flesh and blood are my own
suffers a birth defect.. My heart’s growing cold
                    Sadly Cold
 I cry out to the Lord with my frigid requests
 He understands but my prayers are still cold
                     Icy Cold
 Lord I’m hurting so deeply, I need to warm up
Let the warmth return…never more to grow cold
                      Dreaded  Cold
I know Spring will come in my life once again
and I'll bask in the warmth and not think about cold
                       Forgotten Cold
The warmth of God’s Son can cover the cold of the cruel hard world if we trust Him to.

TESTIMONY
SAVED AS A CHILD, CONVINCED AS AN ADULT - By Jerry Senese

Growing up in a home where my mother was a born again Christian, however my father was not. Needless to say, this was conflicting.  My dad really didn't have any interest at all in spiritual things, so he had no problem with my mother's choice of spiritual influence on my life.  I can never remember a time when I didn't attend some Sunday School or church as a child.

Most were non-denominational or Baptist in doctrine.  Like most children raised under the influence of a Christian parent, the need of my salvation was made known to me.  My mother shared scripture with me such as John 3:16, Acts 16:31 and 1 John 1:9.  Not a lot of emphasis was placed on Hell, more emphasis was placed on pleasing the Lord. I knew at this age, this is what I wanted and needed to do.  That I was a sinner that needed my sins forgiven,
but I had no way of doing this on my own except by trusting that Jesus paid my sin debt on the cross.  Nothing I could do other than to trust Jesus alone for salvation would accomplish this.

As many people who were saved at a young age often find themselves
without the specifics of an exact day or time, I also found myself in this place.  This was further complicated by well meaningful, good intentioned people doing their best to ensure that young children hear and understand at their level, the Gospel message.  As I began to grow a little older, I then became a bit uncertain as I began to hear teachings such as "if you can't remember a time or a date that you accepted the Lord, you're not saved."

With this concern, I then began to question if I truly was saved.  It was at this time, that I met my future wife at the age of 16, that we discussed this quite often.  I shared these concerns with her, and she shared with me how she too had accepted the Lord as her Savior at a very young age, meant it sincerely with her whole heart, but also had the same questions and concerns as she matured spiritually.  She also shared that 2 women at her church explained in a more mature way, the true Gospel of salvation and all that it entailed, and it was at this time, in April of 1972 that she decided to rededicate her life to Christ and was baptized in June.  The more I thought about this, I too wanted that 100% assurance and understanding fully what this entailed, in my senior year of high school, I re-committed my life to Christ and was baptized shortly after.  I have no doubts in my mind whatsoever, that I was not saved as a young child.  I knew that if I were to die, because of what Jesus did for me, I would be in Heaven with Him.

Since that point, I've come to realize that with each set of Biblical truths that you learn, and accept as truth, the Lord then provides you with more truth.  There are some who believe that once you accept Christ as your Savior, commit your life completely to Him, and live for Him to the best of your ability, the Lord will bless you beyond all measure.  And to an extent, this is true...but on a spiritual level, not a physical level as were this to be true, my life would exhibit the complete opposite to be true.  I don't have health, I don't have prosperity, I don't have "things", my life is not an easy one by any stretch of the imagination.  However, spiritually speaking, I have been blessed beyond all measure as the Lord is faithful to His word.

 I have joy...even in the midst of all this.  I have contentment...no matter what I go through.  The life we live here on earth is not promised anywhere in scripture to be a "happy or prosperous" one, in fact, it’s the opposite.  However, the Lord does promise us joy...and in Him...we have joy overflowing! Without having the Lord to go to, to depend upon, His faithfulness to rely upon, there is no way my wife or I could make it in this life. Praise God, this world is NOT my Home!