A "Godless" Generation - Jon Jorgenson | Spoken Word

Grace is God’s unmerited gift that cannot be earned or deserved.

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What Did You Expect?

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.”
Luke 17:1–2
Most of us have had the experience of putting money in a vending machine, only to have it fail to deliver the product we were expecting. Sometimes insult is added to injury when the machine not only fails to dispense, but also does not return the money we put into it in the first place. When we do not receive what we expect, it is a disappointing experience. But I’ve never seen anyone shaking or pounding on a vending machine after he got the candy bar he wanted. His expectations were fulfilled, and he was not surprised, so there was no reaction.
Jesus tells us that there are going to be difficulties and offenses that we must deal with in life. While it would be nice if people did what they promised and treated us with kindness and respect, that is not the normal course of human interaction. Day after day we can expect to be offended—and when we are, God still expects us to respond properly rather than retaliating. The actions or failures of others do not excuse carnal behavior on our part.
But there is another lesson for us in what Jesus said. Rather than being hyper-vigilant to respond every time someone offends us, our focus needs to be on being diligent about ensuring that we are not giving offense to others. Paul placed a very high value on this, and in his testimony before Felix, he was able to say, “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men” (Acts 24:16).

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Take great care not to be an unnecessary source of offense in the lives of others.

CURRENT RADIO SERIES Living in Hope   CURRENT TV SERIES Unchained

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.   --Ephesians 2:8-9 One of the great truths of scripture is the unmerited favor of God.  What the Bible calls, “grace.” Today’s verse reminds us that grace cannot be earned or deserved. It is an unmerited gift of God to those on whom He showers His love and mercy. If you have ever shopped for a diamond, you know that the jeweler places it on a dark cloth so that the beauty and clarity of the diamond might be seen more easily. That’s what God wants us to be, His diamonds shining and showing His grace in a dark and evil world. As Christians, you and I aren’t better than everyone else. We simply have accepted a gift that was given freely to us from God. So my friend, as a person who has experienced the magnificent grace of God, take time today to thank God for showering you with that grace…His unmerited favor.  And determine to let your life shine like the jewel on a dark cloth! Grace is God’s unmerited gift that cannot be earned or deserved.

Granny quoted =)

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CURRENT RADIO SERIES Living in Hope   CURRENT TV SERIES Unchained

For all the promises of God find their Yes in [Christ]. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.    --2 Corinthians 1:20 There was once a man named George Matheson, who lived in Scotland in the 19th century. He was a gifted man, but he had an eye disease that left him blind.  Because of this disease his fiancée broke off their engagement and his life was thrown into disarray. On the day of his sister’s wedding, he felt an urge from within to write a verse. One refrain he wrote that day was, “I trace the rainbow thru the rain, and feel the promise is not vain.” But history tells us that Matheson’s original wording was, “I climb the rainbow thru the rain.” What a wonderful picture for us as Christians! When we climb the rainbow that God gives us and take hold of His promise, we can make it through the rain. In the course of our lives, we struggle with many things and we hope for many things. But whether in rain or sunshine, God’s promise is right there for us.  We just have to climb up and seize it. The problem is not that God has forgotten His promise to us; it’s that we have forgotten our promises to Him. When we commit our lives to Him, we promise to obey and seek Him, but often we forget the significance of this promise. It’s time to remember the one who remembers you! Of course, the ultimate sign of God’s promise is not a rainbow like the one He gave to Noah. It’s the cross that Christ died upon. Because of Christ, all of God’s promises are ours. There is no storm you cannot survive if you will cling to Him and His Word.  Remember your promises to the One who remembers you The Bible Brings Conviction by Dr. Paul Chappell “Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” Luke 16:29–31 Given the rapidly changing society in which we live, there are many people suggesting new ways to reach people for the Lord. And while not everything that is new is wrong—I’m thankful for the enlarged opportunities to reach people with the gospel through new tools—there is a danger that we will become so enamored with techniques and programs that we forget the true source of the power of our message. What we most need in our day is not a new method of reaching people, but faithfulness to the method God has given us to reach the world—the proclamation of the Word of God. “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21). It is not through our clever techniques or manipulation that people are reached. It is not through amazing demonstrations of power that conviction comes. Even miracles would not be enough to persuade those who will not believe what the Bible says is true. The responsibility for results does not rest on us. It is not our job to bring conviction of sin. That is the work of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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” (Hebrews 4:12). Today’s Growth Principle:  We can trust the Word of God to have its effect on others if we are faithful to proclaim it.

Yes I am =)

I always look at the brighter side of life. True. Some of my friends may say I’m quite different among their circle of friends because I view things in a more idealistic approach. Why? The experience I had mould be to be the person I am right now. The things I share comes from my heart’s personal encounters express through my mind. I don’t dwell much in pain, misfortunes, mistakes or any negativities. The world has much of it, and worrying can’t help either. Life is beautiful. It is only a matter of perspective.

I believe in happy endings, too =)

Hell is Real

 

Yesterday message-series of Ten Perfect Law Perfect Love connects the message of today's devotion about Hell.

 

The Bible warns and gives us a glimpse of life after death if people are not in Christ.

 

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Exodus 20:16

 

 

Go With the Flow

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A Plea for Soul Winning from an Unexpected Source

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.”
Luke 16:27–28
The notion that Hell is not a place to be feared has been with us for a long time. In a biography published in 1886 of the lawyer and noted public speaker Emery A. Storrs, we find this anecdote. “A young man once approached him with, ‘Mr. Storrs, pardon me, but you are a man who has thought much upon all topics. I wish to ask you for your opinion of Heaven and Hell.’ Fixing his keen eyes on the enquirer, Mr. Storrs answered ‘When I think of the beauteous descriptions of the abode of the saints, and when I recollect that many noble witty, genial souls have died unregenerate, I must answer you, sir, that, while, doubtless, Heaven has the best climate, Hell has the best society.’”
Yet those who are actually in Hell have no pleasure in the company they are keeping. In the story Jesus told of Lazarus and the rich man, we see that though he had been an unrepentant sinner during his life, this man greatly desired that someone would go and warn his five brothers not to follow him to that place of torment. If we could hear the citizens of Hell today, they would be crying out for us to warn their friends and loved ones of the eternal death facing those without Christ. Hell is real, and it can only be avoided by those who trust Christ before it is too late.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

We should be just as concerned about keeping people out of Hell as those who are already there are.

Go With the Flow

by Joyce Meyer - posted July 17, 2016

Brethren, for this reason, in [spite of all] our stress and crushing difficulties we have been filled with comfort and cheer about you [because of] your faith (the leaning of your whole personality on God in complete trust and confidence).
—1 Thessalonians 3:7
Go with the flow, and stop being anxious about things that may never happen. If you really trust God, you don’t need a backup plan. Faith means that you have peace even when you  don’t have all the answers.
Life will always be stressful if you constantly try to rearrange it. For example, getting upset in a traffic jam doesn’t get you out of it any sooner. But planning for obstacles will inspire you to leave a little earlier for your appointments and keep you from hurrying. Grow in wisdom, and place high priority on keeping your peace in spite of any jams you get into today.