He knows everything about you.

He is the only one who wants and able to understand, help, heal, bless, restore, deliver and save you.

The Lord Jesus Christ will not do any of this without your approval and cooperation.

Let’s reconnect with our God and watch what is going to happen.

He loves YOU!

Saying this Legend is a Harmless Tradition?

        Who is this person whose jovial face greets us everywhere in our Christmas festivities, shops, schools and cards?

                This is Santa Claus, the god of Christmas, the children’s friend, who is so embedded in our hearts that we still thrill to:

                “’Twas the night before Christmas…

                A charming legend, an innocent fantasy? But whose place has he taken in children’s hearts? If we strip him of his disguise we find a masterpiece of Satan’s subtlety, for the harmless, fun-provoking Santa Claus has usurped the throne of children’s heart and the charming legend has replaced “the sweetest story ever told.”

                This is the legend in brief that we recite and sing and picture to our children:

                Away up in the ice and snow lives Santa Claus in a great house of many rooms filled with every delightful thing that children love. Santa Claus is all-seeing and all-knowing. He sees what the children do. He hears all they say. He keeps a “Book of Remembrance” in which he records their words and their actions.

                Santa Claus comes down from the sky in a sleigh drawn by swift reindeer that “fly upon the wings of the wind and ride upon the clouds.” It is filled with wonderful gifts. His coming is secret. When he comes he brings rewards to all good children and the gifts they have asked for.

                What is the children’s reaction to such a legend? “Santa Claus is our friend: he has all the good things we want, and he will give them to us if we are good.”

                Is it any wonder they open their hearts to Santa Claus, strive to please him, talk and dream about him, and wait and watch eagerly for him?

What about Jesus? He said, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me,” but we have put before our children that awful thing which a second commandment speak against; we have put another god before Him!

                We have opened our homes to a thief, and have stood by and offered no resistance while he stole the heart of childhood. We have raised no voice in protest as he corrupted the minds and hearts of our children with a false image and a living imagination.

                Why have we not lifted the standard of Jesus, the true God and tender Friend of children, who is not willing that “one of these little ones should perish?” Why have we not feared lest we should “offend one of these little ones which believe” on Him?

The True Story

                Christian mother, what has happened? You substitute the pagan legend of Santa Claus for the true story of God’s love! How can you let Santa Claus take the place of Jesus in your child’s heart? How can you encourage him to look to another for his joys rather than to Jesus, “the Giver of every good and perfect gift?”

                The clouds of judgment hang heavy. Terrible things are happening. Let us hasten to enthrone Jesus in our homes and tell the matchless story of God’s “Unspeakable Gift” to the world.

                Instead of the vulgar Santa Claus, with his “nose like a cherry, and his little round belly that shakes … like a bowl full of jelly,” let us captivate our children’s imagination with the “altogether lovely” One, the “dear little Stranger, born in a manger.” Let us delight their fancy with the story of the guiding star, with the Wise men,  and their gifts for the new-born King, the shepherds, the singing angels and Herod and the flight to Egypt. Let us inspire our children to give gifts to Him and in His name. Let us make Christmas “holy ground” in our homes this year. -Author Unknown.

JESUS LOVES YOU MUCH!

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Psalm 27:8

When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”

It is wise to please God. It is rewarding to seek Him. It is worth investing into a relationship with the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

He is all knowing, almighty, omnipresent, loving, and just.

There are two fates 

that the Lord hates,

a lost soul and a saint who

doesn’t give Him his all.

Had the eyes no tears. 

John Vance Cheney 1848-1922

Sing to the Lord, you saints of His;

Praise His Holy Name.

For His anger lasts only a moment,

But his favor lasts a lifetime;

weeping may remain for a night,

but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Psalm 30:4, 5

He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

There will be no more death

or mourning or crying or pain…

Revelation 21:4

          When something happens to us or to others, as the spiritual people, we would like to know why, how, what for and who did it. Normally we expect everything from the following three potential sources: God, human being and Satan. Often we are open to a possibility of a combination of all the above. I personally think that, that is the case most of the times. The bible reveilles that there are only two forces out there behind everything you see and feel. God who is a good power and Satan who is an evil power. A human being only chooses which power to submit to. The fact that humanity exists is due to the good power. The fact that humanity is the way it is, is due to both good and evil forces. We are not going to go back as far as to answer where these forces come from because I don’t think anyone can explain that. But it does not take much to know that this is how it is and this is what the word of God teaches us.

          Mistakenly many people including Christians relate realities to mere coincidences, accidents, and meaningless and purposeless occurrences. This kind of approach confuses a consequence for the origin. That’s why we have a hard time forgiving people because we see them to be the source of the offence instead of a channel. It is okay to have a righteous anger and despise lawlessness. The only source it is coming from is the enemy of our souls – the devil. It is okay to feel indignation to that individual and it is not ok to hate a human being. Every time you see a human being used for evil you may know that the person is lost, blind, deceived and need your prayer, compassion and help.

Acts 7:58-60

            Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died.

           One of the advantages of being a devote Christian is this: when a negative thing happens to you God will miraculously turn in into something very good.

Romans 8:28

          We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

          In fact, God will amazingly use the Devil to help us reach sooner a necessary purification, training for the greater calling, education and the ultimate blessing of your lifetime.

          This is where our scriptures come in.

Philemon 1:1

            Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother

Paul did not see himself a prisoner of Rome or betrayed by the Jews. He saw himself a prisoner or Christ Jesus. In other words he is saying that Jesus put me here for a good reason and will let me out according to His perfect timing. What was the reason? I am glad you asked. Paul was a very busy and very experienced apostle.

2 Corinthians 11:24-29

Five times I have received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked; for a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers and sisters; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, hungry and thirsty, often without food, cold and naked. And, besides other things, I am under daily pressure because of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I am not indignant?

God did not want him to leave this world taking his experience away with him. God wanted him to write a number of epistles for the future generations to read. This reason is at least one of many other possible reasons.

Joseph is another example of how we should see our trials.

Genesis 50:14-21

            After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father. Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, ‘What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?’ So they approached Joseph, saying, ‘Your father gave this instruction before he died, “Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.” Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.’ Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, ‘We are here as your slaves.’ But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.’ In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.

Job is an outstanding demonstrator of understanding why things happen.

Job 1:8-21

            The Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil.’ Then Satan answered the Lord, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.’ The Lord said to Satan, ‘Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not stretch out your hand against him!’ So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. One day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the eldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, ‘The oxen were ploughing and the donkeys were feeding beside them, and the Sabeans fell on them and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was still speaking, another came and said, ‘The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was still speaking, another came and said, ‘The Chaldeans formed three columns, made a raid on the camels and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was still speaking, another came and said, ‘Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house, and suddenly a great wind came across the desert, struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; I alone have escaped to tell you.’ Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell on the ground and worshipped. He said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’

            And finally, let us consider Jesus and His attitude in sufferings.

Luke 23:33, 34

            When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.

Mark 15:33, 34

            When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’

            God knows the price of the pain and suffering. We don’t have to feel like He is up there and cannot sympathize to what we go through. One woman asked God: “Where were you Lord when my son died in a car accident.” He said: “I was in the same place where I was when MY only begotten Son was crucified.”

1 Corinthians 10:13

No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Hebrews 4:14, 15

            Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.

          Now I am thinking about people who are not saved or those who lost their love for God. They are left to themselves and Satan has access to hurt them and steal form them without any positive outcome or redemption. As for us who are saved and in love with the Lord, nothing can hurt us and all things work for the good.

Romans 8:31-39

            What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

          So, every time something happens to me that raises a question I know that the answer is always found between the Lord, in my relationship with Him and me. I say God, what are up to with this? What do you want me to do or learn from this? No reason to get mad at people, things or circumstances. There is always a bigger reason behind everything. You can never offend me or hurt me. When you do, I know that you are simply and instrument in somebody’s hand.

Matthew 5:44, 45

          But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

The joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10

Being joyful brings opportunities, solutions, healing, victories and much more good. Jesus is our joy and our strength.

Satan knows that taking away your excitement is a good place to start from his destructive activities. Don’t think twice before rebuking the enemy who comes for your joy.

It is relatively easy to keep your joy when things are going well. But it is more noble, rewarding and praiseworthy when a believer remain to be joyful in the face of all odds which also touches God’s heart and unlocks the supernatural.

Rejoice in the Lord always. Apostle Paul said.

In other words it means that he enjoyed God’s presence by staying in the moment. I think that David was the most successful man of His time. I was not always easy and smooth for him. At times he had to flee for his life, at times he had to attend his sons funerals.

• Marriage is a serious thing, when a debate arises, shut up and pray.

• There is only one thing worse than debating a pharisee, and that is to debate your wife.

By Vance Irwin Parella

I wish my house were next to a desert; I would go into it one-way as far as I could and then turn around and go back home.

By Ivan R Shkinder ]]> http://eternitychurchofalbany.com/?feed=rss2&p=314 0 http://eternitychurchofalbany.com/?p=310 http://eternitychurchofalbany.com/?p=310#comments Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:35:25 +0000 ivan http://eternitychurchofalbany.com/?p=310 Psalm 110.

Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.

We all have a lot of enemies to deal with. I don’t mean the human beings. We should see every human being as our brother and sister and friend. Forgive them, love them and pray for them. Demons are our real enemies. Yes at times they do use other people to attack us through. Regardless of what form or shape the attack comes in, the best way to fight any enemy is by sitting at the right hand of God.

Sitting - is a state of rest, relaxation and enjoyment.

At the right hand - means very close and in the center of God’s attention.

Until - means that there comes a time to get up and act but only after all the enemies are subdued and that is His part not yours or mine.