I'VE LEARNED...that when you harbour bitterness happiness docks elsewhere !
Do You Love Me ?
One day, I woke early in the morning to
watch the sunrise. Ah the beauty of God's creation is beyond description.
As I watched,
I praised God for His beautiful work.
As I sat there, I felt the Lord's presence with me.

He asked me, "Do you love me?"'

I answered, "Of course, God!
You are my Lord and Savior!"

Then He asked, "If you were physically handicapped, would you still love me?"

I was perplexed, "It would be tough Lord,
but I would still love you."

Then the Lord said, " If you were blind,
would you still love my creation?"

How could I love something without
being able to see it? Then I thought of all
the blind people in the world and how many
of them still loved God and his creation.
So I answered," It's hard to think of it,
but I would still love you."

The Lord then asked me, "If you were deaf, would you still listen to my word?"

How could I listen to anything being deaf? Then I understood. Listening to God's Word
is not merely using our ears, but our hearts.
I answered, "It would be tough, but I
would still listen to Your Word."

The Lord then asked, "If you were mute, would you still praise My Name?"

How could I praise without a voice?
Then it occurred to me: God wants us to
sing from our very heart and soul. It never matters what we sound like.
And praising God is not always with a song, but when
we are persecuted, we give God praise with
our words of thanks.  So I answered,
"Though I could not physically sing,
I would still praise Your Name."

And the Lord asked,
"Do you really love Me?"

With courage and a strong conviction, I answered boldly. "Yes Lord! I love You because You are the One and true God!"

I thought I had answered well,
but God asked,
"Then tell me, why do you sin?"

I answered, " Because I am only human.
I am not perfect."

"Then why in times of peace do you stray
the furthest?  Why only in times of trouble
do you pray in earnest?"

No answers. Only tears continued to
roll down my cheeks.

"Why are you ashamed of Me?
Why are you not spreading the good news?
Why in times of persecution, you cry to
others when I offer My shoulder to cry on?
Why make excuses when I give you opportunities to serve in My Name?"

I tried to answer, but there was
no answer to give.

"You are blessed with life.
I made you not to throw this gift away.
I have blessed you with talents to serve Me, but you
continue to turn away.
I have revealed My Word to you, but you do not gain in knowledge.
I have spoken to you but your ears were closed.
I have shown My blessings to you, but your eyes were turned away.
I have sent you servants, but you sat idly by as they were pushed away.
I have heard your prayers and I have answered them all."

"Do you truly love me?"

I could not answer. How could I?
I was embarrassed beyond belief. I had no excuse.
What could I say to this?
When my heart had cried out and the tears had flowed.
I said, "Please forgive me Lord. I am unworthy to be Your child."

The Lord answered,
"That is My Grace, My child."

I asked, "Then why do you continue to
forgive me? Why do you love me so?"

The Lord answered, "Because you are
My creation. You are My child.
I will never abandon you. When you cry,
I will have compassion and cry with you.
When you shout with joy, I will laugh with you.
When you are down, I will encourage you.
When you fall, I will raise you up.
When you are tired, I will carry you.
I will be with you till the end of days,
and I will love you forever."

Never had I cried so hard before.
How could I have been so cold?
How could I have hurt God as I had done?
I asked God,

"How much do you love me?"

The Lord stretched out His arms, and I saw His nail-pierced hands.
I bowed down at the feet of Christ, my Savior.
And for the first time, I truly prayed.

Author unknown
   

* GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION *

Becoming a Christian is the most important decision you can make.
This decision does not only determine where you will spend eternity,
but it will determine every aspect of your life.
All People Have Sinned Against God:
The Bible says,
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
{ Romans 3:23 }
The word sin means to miss a target by falling short of that target.
Sin is the failure of a person to live the life which
God has planned for him to live. Everyone has sinned, it is universal.
The Price of Sin Is High:
The Bible says,
"The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
{ Romans 6:23 }
The person who lives without God in this life will pay the awful price of an eternity separated from God. The Bible calls this place of separation hell. Hell was never meant to be the eternal home of mankind, but God could not allow rebellious people to enter into heaven.
Heaven is the eternal dwelling of God's people,
and it is a place where God lives in perfect harmony with His people.
God Loves us in Spite of Our Sin:
The Bible says,
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
{ Romans 5:8 }
Because of the righteousness of God, man must pay the penalty for sin, or someone who is acceptable to God must pay the penalty. The death of Jesus is the greatest demonstration of the love of God for sinners. It is a great love for someone to die in place of a loved one.
But Jesus died for those in rebellion.
Repent, Turn Toward God, and Have
Your Sins Completely Taken Away:
The Bible says,
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing
shall come from the presence of the Lord;"
{ Acts 3:19 }
The word repent means to turn around and go in a different direction. It means a change of mind and life toward God. If you are willing to turn to God, then God will restore you to childhood purity.
Jesus described this experience as the "new birth."
Your part is to confess your sin, and God's part is to forgive and restore.

By Grace You Receive His Free Gift (Eternal Life)
Through Faith Which is Also from God:
The Bible says,
"For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."
{ Ephesians 2:8 }.
The word grace refers to the kindness and love of God in His willingness to forgive and save. Faith means to trust to a point of commitment. You cannot just believe in God. You must be willing to give your life to God's teachings and God's will. Salvation is God's gift if you will receive it with a commitment to turn and follow Jesus.
Confess Jesus and Believe That He Was
Raised from the Dead by God:
The Bible says,
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
{ Romans 10:9 }
The word confess means to acknowledge to God that Jesus is Savior and Lord, to believe with all your heart that Jesus died on the cross for you and came out of the grave, believe that He is alive and will change your life as you follow and obey His teachings.
Pray to the Lord and Be Saved:
The Bible says,
"For whosoever shall call upon the name
of the Lord shall be saved."
{ Romans 10:13 }
Whoever means anyone can ask God for forgiveness
of sin and turn from sin and follow Jesus.
Please pray this prayer and mean it in
your heart and you will be saved:
"God be merciful to me a sinner."
Lord, I need to be saved. Save me. I call upon Your name. Lord, I am guilty. I deserve Your wrath. I cannot save myself. Lord, I need a new heart and a right spirit, but what can I do? I can do nothing.
Come and give me both the desire and the ability to do what You want.
Now, from my very soul, I call upon Your name. Trembling, yet believing, I cast myself entirely upon You, O Lord. I trust the blood and righteousness of Your dear Son. I trust Your mercy, Your love, and Your power, as they are revealed in Jesus. I dare to claim this promise of Yours, that "whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Lord, save me now, for Jesus' sake.
Amen.

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The Light In The Darkness





John 8
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.


John 3

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.



As Jesus was the Light,
we are to be lights in the world also.



Matthew 4:16
The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
Matthew 5:14
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Matthew 5:15
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 6:22
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
Matthew 6:23
But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
Matthew 10
26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Luke 1:79
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.





Luke 12
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;





John 1:4
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 1:5
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not
.John 1:7
The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
John 5
34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
Acts 26:18
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Acts 26:23
That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
Romans 2:19
And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,





Romans 13:12
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:8
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:





1 Peter 2:9 1
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
Revelation 22:5
And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.



there are 100 references to light in the New testament

BW
The Revelator

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