God gives and He also takes away. In the Bible, Job lost EVERYTHING! yet in the midst of his suffering, Job said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” - Job 1:21
Incredible. This is the power of faith.
One day you can have all the riches and fame, talent, etc, but He can take all that away from you. Don’t let those be an IDOL, but serve the LORD with all you do and all you have. In triumphs and in failures.
God has given us the BEST gift of all, and that is Jesus. He is worth more than this fleeting life because HE is ETERNAL.
You give and take away. You give and take away. My heart will choose to say Lord blessed be Your Name!
I’ve just reminded again that following Christ is not a guarantee to have a comfortable life. Check out Luke 18:18-30. Jesus’ replies were very UNcomfortable to hear. Yet, THAT is His call for His followers.
Francis Chan has put it this way, the older we get, the higher the stakes are for losing everything that we have. And we DONT WANT TO LET GO of these things, like our comfortable houses, nice cars, wife, kids, because we are COMFORTABLE with how things are at the moment. So, if we are said to be following Christ, are we willing to give up everything to follow Him, for the sake of His Kingdom? And put Him as your main priority in life?
God knows how sincere we are in following Him. He knows what we are lacking, just as He knows the weakness in that rich man in Luke 18. So, be THANKFUL that He is so gracious and loving and patient with His people, that He is still willing to rebuke, to break your callous hearts… to SAVE you!
How deep the Father’s love for us, How vast beyond all measure That He should give His only Son To make a wretch His treasure . How great the pain of searing loss, The Father turns His face away As wounds which mar the chosen One, Bring many sons to glory . Behold the Man upon a cross, My sin upon His shoulders Ashamed I hear my mocking voice, Call out among the scoffers . It was my sin that held Him there Until it was accomplished His dying breath has brought me life I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything No gifts, no power, no wisdom But I will boast in Jesus Christ His death and resurrection . Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer But this I know with all my heart His wounds have paid my ransom
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice… call out among the scoffers..
My sin has held Him there. I will not boast in anything but Christ.
Some epic verses from an old hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”, composed in the 18th Century by Robert Robinson. It spoke right to my heart. May He seal this wandering heart of mine and may His Spirit live in me from day to day for His Glory!
Praise God for my brothers and sisters that are united by His blood
Praise God that “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will i be confident” - Psalm 27:3
Praise God for Hope
Praise God for Faith
Praise God for His everlasting Love
Praise God for His Kingdom
Praise God that I no longer the person I am, before I understood more about what it meant to be His follower.
Praise God that He has forgiven me and count my sins no more.
Praise God for 2 Corinthians 5:21- God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Praise God for Godly grief and suffering
Praise God for Romans 5:3-5 = “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Praise God Uni
Praise God for friendships
Praise God for relationships
Praise God for He is patient
Praise God for He is just
Praise God for He is in control
Praise God - Our Lord, no other gods compare with you, majestic and holy! Fearsome and glorious! Miracle worker! - Exodus 15:11
‘And it’s not as though pornographic images are easily forgotten. When anyone asks Jensen when he last consumed porn (not as a researcher), he says “yesterday” because “I still have in my head vivid recollections of specific scenes in pornographic films I saw 25 years ago.”’
“…brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honour…” - 1 Thessalonians 4
“I will listen to what God the Lord will say; he promises peace to his people…” (Psalm 85:8, NIV)
No matter what is going on in your life right now, the Lord promises that you can have peace. It doesn’t matter what’s happening in the economy, in your relationships or at the office; nothing in this world can take His peace from you. But notice the first part of this verse - we have to do our part. We have to listen to what He tells us to do.
You may be thinking to yourself, “God doesn’t speak to me.” But once you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you become His. The Bible says that you are His sheep, and you can hear His voice, and the voice of a stranger you will not follow.
The Lord speaks in many ways. First of all, He speaks through the Word of God. But sometimes He speaks through the encouragement of a friend, or through a song, or in the beauty of nature. Sometimes it’s a simple “knowing” deep down on the inside of you in your spirit. If you aren’t sure how God speaks to you, ask Him to teach you. Open your heart and be willing to hear His voice. As you take time to be still and listen to Him, He will speak. He will reveal Himself to you and give you peace all the days of your life.
As Christians, we are called to be “fishers of men”- Mark 1:17. Let us commit ourselves to proclaim the Gospel, that is Jesus. Because He did not come as a famous healer and expeller of demons with ‘healing campaigns’ or ‘miracle rallies’, but He comes as a SAVIOUR. Let us encourage one another in love, through our speech and action to share the Good News, so more and more people may know about this saving truth and in God’s grace, accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour.
Not by our own strengths, but through His Spirit that makes all things in Christ possible.
Let Jesus be glorified!
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. - Mark 1:17-18
My heart’s touched every time i see this. I watched it at church again today ♥ Such love and sacrifice, strength and perseverance shown by the dad for his son. It very much reminds me of the love that my Father in Heaven shows. We are weak and cannot do anything to save ourselves from our own guilt, hence why He did all the work, He sacrificed His Son, Jesus, the most High, He humbled Himself because of love… He was mocked, spat at and crucified. But i rejoice in Him, for He raised again and through His blood, a sinner like me, may gain salvation, a New Life. Praise Him, My Redeemer Lives! ♥
So, before you say “I cant do this..” “I can’t do that…”, remember this video. Persevere and PRAY. Christ gives you strength! Lean on Him.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
