About Love

 - Shaun Thomas

In today's world, the ideology of love, relationships, and loyal connections has been changed to an entirely different way. 

Back in the days when people met each other, when they spent time together they created a trust between them. 

This led to a chain of friendship, relationships and commitment in life which they desired to live with, but nowadays people's focus has been diverted to many materialistic possessions and also to worldly desires. 

Many people nowadays chase money, fame, and unreal love. 

According to the Bible in the book of Romans 12:9-12 it says "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" 

The way people used to connect and have trust between themselves now have all changed, the way people treat others, how relationships break quickly and married couples become strangers within months. 

The reason behind this universal change was cuz of how people normalised things around them. 

Don't the people around us realise, how people fake love and intimacy with their mates.

The person reading this, have you ever loved your mates or your loved ones like how in the Bible book of Romans 12 verse 9 says.

The meaning is simple; be real in love, today's generation people don't know the real meaning of love and affection.

As readers, it's time that we realise how much we have missed our past and have moved in the wrong way ahead in life. 

Love never fails, if it does then it wasn't love.

 

A loving Friend in Jesus

                        - Composed by Anju Elza George

Through the vast sea of life during the journey,

A lovely little boat is sailing in the sea;

With all its calm and glory,

Sails on with just two - yes, Jesus and me!

 

Through waves and tides, so fierce and rise-

Through my heart, so quiet and calm;

In his hands He’ll care and guide,

Through the right path, so sure I am.

When the little stars in the blue black sky,

looks from above with their shining eye;

I felt so small from far so high,

and wish to get two wings and fly.

 

When in my life, I am sad and wan,

When the thunderstorms try to divert my belief;

There’s a friend who does what He can,

To console me with all sorts of relief.

 

When my little heart fills with worries,

When my soul wrinkles like the skins of a crone;

His shining rays of love and peace,

Lighten me whenever I am all alone.

 

Jesus is my friend from dusk to dawn,

In good or bad, He shines like Sol;

He’s with me since the time I was born,

He’s my heart, my soul and all!

For Bible courses, contact 809 8809 609

 

A Call for Spiritual Growth

It is funny and interesting to note that Paul spoke about spiritual maturity to the Jewish believers who were part of the first century church for so long. These believers were spiritually dull and they would not listen to the mature teachings of Paul. They were like babies who needed milk and could not eat solid food. In this passage, Paul goes on to share ways to kill being spiritually dull and indifferent.  

1.    Christians ought to teach others rather than just being taught. (Heb 5:12a)

2.    Christians need to move over from the basic teachings about Christ to deeper understandings. (Heb 6:1)

3.    Christians must self-evaluate. (Heb 6:4)

4.    Christians must strive to bear good fruit. (Heb 6:7,8)

5.    Christians must keep on loving others as long as life lasts in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. (Heb 6:11) 

6.    Christians must follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance (Heb 6:12) 

 

The last two points encourage us to avoid isolating us from our fellow Christians and grow with them instead. Do you feel spiritually dull?

 

For Bible courses, contact 809 8809 609

 

Beware of Narcissists in the church.

        Just sharing a learning that I personally experienced and then later got to learn from many experts in the field. I heard this one from Dr. Mishel and feel it is important to share just to help anyone out there who are going through the same circumstances.  I'm not saying that anyone who is in the leadership role in the church is a narcissist but what we must understand is that narcissists do intentionally seek out roles within the church.  Narcissists love power and control and they are automatically drawn to positions that give them authority.

They do this because people who generally go to church are seeking something from within the church. They are seeking something from an almighty power or a power higher than themselves and there's nothing a narcissist loves more than someone who is vulnerable and seeking guidance. The narc uses this position of authority within the church to get them access to people who are looking for something.  For a narcissist, the church is a playground for them to have this great reputation where they feel like no one will question what they are doing or what they say because the members of the church assume them to be moral and righteous. 

Therefore, pay attention if you are part of a church and you see someone who holds a position of authority, whether it be over a member, or the whole congregation, and if something doesn't seem quite right, as in, they don't appear to be living outside the church as they pretend and preach to be living inside the church. Beware!!

Wearing the helmet of Salvation is confessing what Jesus did on the Cross

 Here's a new learning!! I often wondered how does putting on the full armour of God work out practically. Recently, I got part of the answer. One defence mechanism is to wear the helmet of salvation. I understand that wearing the helmet is believing and confessing what Jesus did on the cross. That's when I started searching what Jesus did on the cross. Got my hands on Derick Prince's book "The Divine Exchange". Learn to confess the following.

Jesus took away my weaknesses

Jesus was pierced for our rebellion/iniquity

Jesus was crushed for our sins

Jesus was beaten so we could be made whole (my lack)

Jesus was whipped so we could be healed. (my sickness)

Isaiah 53: 4,5,6

Jesus personally carried our sins in his body on the cross 1 Pet 2:24

Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. Heb 2:9b

Jesus endured our poverty to share his abundance.

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 2 Corinthians 9:8

Jesus endured the cross, disregarding its shame.

Heb 12:2

Jesus took my rejection. Matt 27:46 - “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

Jesus took my curse.

13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. Galatians 3:13.

[What Jesus exchanged on the cross is mentioned in bold.]