Stalked

WORLD Magazine reports:

Thousands of Iraqi Christians have found threats like this under their front doors or stoops, in stairwells or shoved through their courtyard gates: “Be informed that we will cut your heads and leave your dead bodies with no organs and no heads in your stores and houses. We know your houses and we know your family. We will kill you one after the other. Depart the Muslim areas.”

Others have received text messages in Arabic like this one sent to a Christian family in Mosul earlier this month: “When your head is put over your back [an expression describing how sheep are slaughtered] then there is no chance to feel sorry for you. It will be too late. Allah is the supporter who gives swords to his warriors.”

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Purpose?

Why did you get up this morning? What keeps you going? Why are you doing what you are doing? What is your purpose in life?

Purpose in life gives meaning to life. People usually give up in life because they lack either meaningful relationships or meaningful purpose.

Did you know that the Bible is full of purpose statements for the Christian!  And as counselor Ed Welch says, “Every command in Scripture is a purpose statement.  We are servants of the exalted king. When He speaks to us and tell us what to do, that becomes our purpose.  Our purpose is to live for His purposes.”

Here are some of those commands/purpose statements from God!

“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13, ESV).

“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39, ESV).

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-6, ESV).

“For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:44, ESV).

” Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” (Ephesians 5:1, ESV).

“for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8, ESV).

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 2:5, ESV).

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Cultivating thanksgiving (1)

Are you cultivating a thankful heart?   How easy, even at this time of the year, is it to let discontentment, murmuring, complaining, a critical spirit or bitterness, replace an attitude of gratitude.

Every day this week I will post just a practical suggestion or two for practicing thankfulness.  Do it yourself or include others in fulfilling these practical suggestions.

For today, just take a moment to look up the following references in Colossians and write down what you learn about thankfulness from these verses

Colossians 1:3, 12; 2:7; 3;15, 17 and 4:2.

Practice thanksgiving today by learning to recognize and express appreciation for the benefits which you have received from God and others!

Check back tomorrow and every day this week for another suggestion to cultivate thanksgiving in your life!

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Cleansing!

“Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!” (Psalm 51:2, ESV).

““On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.” (Zechariah 13:1, ESV).

“. . . the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7, ESV).

Do you know all your sins are forgiven? Have you been cleansed from all your sin?  I addressed this issue in my message today at GHBC.  I made this application to our lives:

First, I address those who expect salvation though you still live in sin.  If men could be saved in their sin, then why was this fountain opened?  Why would God have given up His son if it wasn’t absolutely necessary?  If you neglect this fountain of cleansing, do you think you will be saved as those who are washed in it?  Don’t deceive yourself. This is the one thing needful.  To have all your sins forgiven by washing in this fountain.  Cry out like the leper in Jesus day, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”  And you will here him say, “I will, be clean!”

Secondly, let me speak to those who hope to cleanse themselves in some other way.  If there was any other way for your sins to be forgiven, do you think God would have sent His Son to die to open up this fountain? If you think you can wash away your sin by doing penance, you are eternally wrong.  Jesus said, “If I do not wash you, you have no share of me!”

Thirdly, some doubt whether they can really come to this fountain?  They think mistakenly, “My sin is too great! God will refuse me!”  But, listen, God opened this fountain for sin and for impurity!  If you have a need to be wash, then press forward to Jesus and He promises to cleanse you from all unrighteousness!

Fourthly, I speak to those who have come to this fountain and have been cleansed. Let the world see the effect and the power of the blood of Jesus Christ in your life.  We do not present or commend Christ or His gospel to men when we live lives that are cluttered and smudged with earthly and sensual desires.  And let us not forget that we need daily cleansing from sin.  As the Puritans said, “We need our tears of repentance washed and we often need to repent of our repentance.”  Sin defiles us every day, so every day we must seek cleansing!

Click here to read or listen to more.

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