The Will Of God.

What is the will of God,what is Good and acceptable and perfect. The new life in Christ.Rom.12:1 "I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters,by the mercies of God,to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,holy and acceptable to God,which is your worship." The aim of all human life in God's eyes is that Christ would be made to look as valuable as he is.Worship means using our minds and hearts and bodies to express the worth of God and all he is for us in Jesus.There is a way to live-a way to love-that does that.There is a way to do your job that expresses the true value of God.If you can't find it,that mean you should change your job.

Those who believe in Christ Jesus are already blood-bought new creatures in Christ.If any one is in Christ,he is a new creation. 2 Cor.5:17 "So if any one is in Christ,there is a new creation:everything old has passed away see everything has become new!

God's will for our lives has reason and purpose.It is through scripture,where we can find meaning and principles discerning God's will 1Thess.5:18 " Give thanks in all circumstances;for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." What in short,is the will of God?.To answer this question we need to step back and ask ourselves;What are we talking to God about?Of God,as of any person we come in contact with,each of us makes our own image and starting from this image we tend to relate to him.This image of God is internalized from the ideas we have learned about him,the emotions gathered from the various religious experience we have lived through, from habits,and the ways we have acted to express our faith.

However,we can decide to journey to interiorize the true image of God and to live in such a way by only doing His will.That is the way of conversion.Man would have to study and know the rules so as not to make any mistakes that would ruin the proper functioning.In this sense,every event of nature that escapes man's control is interpreted as an expression of a preconceived plan of God which would have been foreseen even as catastrophic and calamitous events.

God continues to intervene in guiding events,and the affairs of humankind as well as nature according to a simple principle:every effect has its direct cause,and this cause is only God.this concept of God is summarized in the adage:"Not a single hair will not falls without His knowledge." Mt.10:29-30"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted." This vision reduces the ambit of man's freedom to its lowest,so the will of God is understood as an unpredictable.God becomes the one who rewards or punishes people according to their behaviour: sin is thus a sure source of condemnation and damnation,and to get to heaven there is instead need to sweat to subdue oneself and this has its own merits.

God is a good and merciful Father who wishes to interact with adult children.One who has established a relationship of trust and confidence with God,perceives him as a loving presence that takes care of him and allows him to make free and responsible choices.He understands slowly that the will of God is not a pre-established programme to which one must conform.

The will of God is his constant and tireless presence in the events of history,even when suffering and fear,sin and death seem to mark the passage of an inevitable separation from him.Use these bible verses to gain a better understanding. Jer.29:11"For surely I know the plans I have for you,says the Lord,plans for your welfare and not for harm,to give you a future with hope." 1 Pet.2:15 "For it is God's will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish."

Whatever happens in our day today life,like birth,death,marriages,friendship,pain in life,stress,man made disasters,natural disasters,personal crises, etc.think that all happening is with His knowledge and will of God.

In other words,God want all of us to be happy and to do this He makes us gradually capable of free and responsible choices illumined by reason,discerning what is good by the thrust of a heart passionate for the kingdom.

Categories: Bible Thoughts Good Thoughts happiness Our God Perfection

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Is Happiness A Momentary Thing Or Is It Everlasting?

Momentary happiness lasting only for a moment.Everything we need to be happy is easy to obtain.Happiness is not entirely related to a feeling of a precise moment.Instead, it's more closely related to the overall life we live,as well as the life we hope to have in the future.If you quit alcohol,you might still want a drink some times.And if you into the craving,you might enjoy it at the time-but will you still feel good afterwards.No,real happiness is much better measured through meaning and fulfillment.It's something to work for.No matter how you define. Success,momentary happiness should have some role in it,happiness has also been thought of as having a larger,almost spiritual quality that goes beyond both momentary feelings and reflective thought.

Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God,but though both happiness and joy can bring us to laughter,there's an important distinction between them-a difference I experienced many years ago when my mother died.Obviously I was not happy about my mom's passing,but I was calmed and encouraged by the joy I had knowing she was experiencing a new closeness to God in eternity.The thought of that glorious reality continues to give me joy. 

The Bible uses the words happy and happiness about 30 times,while joy and rejoice appear more than 300 times.In the Old Testament,is covered a wide range of human experiences: sex,marriage,the birth of children,harvest,victory and drinking wine. Song.1:4 "Draw me after you,let us make haste.The king has brought me into his chambers.We will exult and rejoice in you;we will extol your love more than wine;rightly do they love you." Ps.104:15 " And wine to gladden the human heart,oil to make the face shine,and bread to strengthen the human heart." As we read the New Testament,we see the word joy is more than an emotion;it is a characteristic of a Christian,part of the fruit produced by the inner working of the Holy Spirit. Lk.2:10 "But the angel said to them,"Do not be afraid,for see-I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people." 

The Bible guides us to happiness through God's word. Ps.144:15 " Happy are the people to whom such blessings fall;Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.Real faith leads to Everlasting Happiness.The Bible guides us to happiness through God's word. Ps.144:15 "Happy are the people to whom such blessings fall;Happy are the people whose God is the Lord."

Happiness is the one thing that every one is looking for,irrespective of what we are doing.What relationships we have established, what we are trying to achieve,and so on.Are we looking for happiness in the right places.We do it through different means:it could be through possessions,property,relationships,achievements etc.If you ask someone what they want in life,they often say,success. Why they want success is primarily because it makes them happy.Again,you ask someone what they get out of a relationship.The response is often happiness.So,finally everyone is looking for that one thing:happiness.

Happiness should be permanent.If happiness is something that every one like,if it's something that ones desire,and it comes naturally to him.then it won't be dependent on anything else outside.If it is dependent on something then it can never be constant.

Can one find happiness without desires and dependency? We have this long-held belief that happiness is derived from the outside. So,the dependency is on the act being performed in the right manner.Children is conditioned to believe that if their parents feel happy,then they will feel happy,and if their parents are not happy,then,how can the children be happy. 

Everlasting secret of the happy man's happiness is the following.

1.Repentance-the happy man has repented of his sin. Repentance is a change of mind that leads to change of action. 

2.Faith-The man is now happy because he has turned from sin to God, to Christ,to the will,the word and the way of the Lord.He is     also a man of faith.

3.Obedience-His delight is in the law of God almighty, therefore he is a man of obedience,and faith plus obedience brings true happiness, say its everlasting.

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Holy Spirit On Pentecost

Pentecost is a Greek name for Shavuot,the spring harvest festival of the Israelites,which was going on when the Holy spirit came.The disciples were together in Jerusalem after Jesus Resurrection and return to haven,fearful because he had left them. Pentecost which is celebrated on the seventh sunday (50 days) after Easter,commemorates the descent of the Holy spirit upon the twelve Apostles in the presence of mother Mary and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of weeks,as described in the Acts of Apostles.

The coming of the Holy Spirit,Acts.2:1-4 " When the day of pentecost had come,they were all together in one place.And suddenly from heaven there came a sound  like the rush of a violent wind,and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.Divided tongues,as of fire,appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages,as the Spirit gave them ability."

There are three instances described in the Bible where people received the Holy Spirit. The day of Pentecost " they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.Whereas others wondered what happened Peter knew what happened. He said " this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel where God said "I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh." No one had to tell him that he had received the Holy Spirit.

In Acts.10:44-46 " While peter was still speaking,the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word.The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles,for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God." In 19:6 "When Paul had laid his hands on them,the Holy Spirit came upon them,and they spoke in tongues and prophesied." 

In the liturgical services of the feast of pentecost,the coming of the Holy Spirit is celebrated together with the full revelation of the divine Trinity: Father,Son,and the Holy Spirit. The fulness of the Godhead is manifested with the spirit's coming to man.

Who gets the Holy Spirit?. Anyone can ask for and receive Holy Spirit into their heart as their helper and guide to the truth. God willingly gives to all who obey Him,who seek to be disciples of Jesus and follow him on the way He opened through the flesh by the power of Holy Spirit.Acts.5:32 " And we are witness to these things,and so it is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him." But it is what you do through the spirit once He dwells in you that changes your life.

Rom.6:16 " Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves,you are slaves of the one whom you obey,either of sin,which leads to death,or of obedience,which leads to righteousness?. The role of the Holy Spirit is to show you truth-the sin in your flesh that needs to be eradicated, and give you the power you need to overcome sin." Again Rom.8:12-13 

"So then,brothers and sisters,we are debtors,not to the flesh,to live according to the flesh,you will die;but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,you will live."

The great vespers of pentecost features three long prayers at which the faithful kneel for the first time since Easter.To receive Holy Spirit,Trinity is one and the same. Father is the creator and not the created;Son is the created and not the creator. Holy spirit start from the Father,taken from the Son and at the same time equal to the Father.

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Religion And Spirituality

Religion can be defined as "belief in God or God's to be worshiped usually expressed in conduct and ritual" or "any specific system of belief, worship etc, often involving a code of ethics". Sprituly can be defined as " the quality or fact of being spiritual, non physical or predominantly spiritual character as  shown in thought,life etc.

The Bible teaches a way of life, which involves participation and practice. It means living a life that is compatible with a word of God, which affects everything we do.Right religious practice. Jas.1:27 "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of both Religion and Spirituality. Religion separate people, Spirituality unites them. In literature today, the term spirituality is often used interchangeably with the term 'religion'. But there are fundamental differences. First, religion can be defined as accepting a higher force and relating to it. Since ages, people have done this through prayer, rituals and various ceremonies in cultures across the world.

The true spirituality:

Gal.5:22-23 " The fruit of the spirit is 

love,joy,peace,patience,kindness,generosity,faithfulness,gentleness,and self-control. There is no law against such things." Spiritually goes one step further from mere belief in a higher force. It starts with inquiry into the nature of the divine and also dwells on the question of how one can transform one's life by knowing reality. That means, a spiritual person seeks answers about the truth of the cause of universe and links this inquiry to his own personal development to expand his perspective.

At the same time, religion is a set of beliefs and rituals that claim to get a person in a right relationship with God,and spiritually is a  focus on spiritual things and the spiritual world instead of physical/earthly things.

Second,there is a general expectation that religion helps an individual to live an ethical life and become a good human being. But this not always the case. A spiritual person, on the other hand, makes an active effort towards self-development by looking in to his emotions. When emotions are mastered, living an ethical and responsible life becomes natural.

Finally, the question arises: is a spiritual person also a religious person. A spiritual person may have no firm opinion about the cause of the universe.One's actions, therefore,are not separate from divine order. One's relationship with God becomes far deeper and penetrate every aspect of life.  

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The Power Of Prayer

The power of prayer should not be underestimated.Jas.5:16-18 "The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer for the righteous is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest". It shows God definitely listens to prayers, answers prayers, and moves in response to prayers.

In other words, prayer is an earnest hope or a wish, a request for help or expression of thanks made to God. Among all the means of salvation recommended by Jesus Christ in the Gospel, the first place is given to prayer. It is said that our prayers are so dear to God that he appointed angels to present them to him as soon a we express them.

Mtt.7:7 " Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock,and the door will be opened for you". Jesus taught and said to them. Mtt.17:20 " Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there', and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."

Praying is communicating with God. All you have to do is ask God for His help.There is power in prayer. Ps.107:28-30 " Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out from their distress; he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because, they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven". 

We learn by reading and meditating, but we obtain the grace to do it by prayer.Jesus the way to the father Jn.14:13-14 "I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it." 

Present your request to God. The power of prayer has overcome enemies.Phil.4:6-7 " Do not worry about anything, but in every-thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Prayer for recovery from Grave illness.Ps.6:2 " Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror." Ps.6:9-10 " The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord accepts my prayer. All my enemies shall be ashamed and struck with terror; they shall turn back, and in a moment be put to shame."

Ask God for the wisdom and discernment to teach you how He wants you to pray and for what He wants you to pray for. Concerning Prayer He clearly mention Matt.6:6 " But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you." Jesus taught his disciples how to pray.Matt.6:9-13 " Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one."

Provided, Matt:14-15 "For if you forgive others their trespasses,your heavenly Father will also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." 

The prayer of a humble soul penetrates the heavens and presents itself before the throne of heavenly Father God Almighty and departs not without God's looking on it and hearing it. Families that pray together stay together then one can see the wonderful power of prayers.

Categories: Bible Thoughts Devotional Good Thoughts jesus Our God Perfection

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