God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NCV)

*** *** *** ***

God wants you to develop a self-discipline that pushes you to do things, even as others are giving up.

Over the years, I’ve observed six key expressions of self-discipline:

People with self-discipline master their moods. They live by their commitments, not their emotions. People who do the right thing even when they don’t feel like it accomplish most of what gets done in the world! “A man without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls” (Proverbs 25:28 LB).

People with self-discipline watch their words. They put their minds in gear before opening their mouths. “He who guards his lips guards his life” (Proverbs 13:3 NIV).

People with self-discipline restrain their reactions. How much can you take before you lose your cool? “If you are sensible, you will control your temper. When someone wrongs you, it is a great virtue to ignore it” (Proverbs 19:11 GNT).

People with self-discipline stick to their schedule. If you don’t determine how you will spend your time you can be sure that others will decide for you! “Live life, then, with a due sense of responsibility … Make the best use of your time” (Ephesians 5:15–16 PH).

People with self-discipline manage their money. They learn to live on less than what they make and they invest the difference. The value of a budget is that it tells your money where you want it to go rather than wondering where it went! “The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets” (Proverbs 21:20 LB).

People with self-discipline maintain their health. That way they can accomplish more and enjoy their achievements. “Every one of you should learn to control his body, keeping it pure and treating it with respect” (1 Thessalonians 4:4 PH).

The disciplines you establish today will determine your success tomorrow. But it takes more than just willpower for lasting self-discipline. It takes a power greater than yourself: “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT/NCV).

The more I accept God’s control over my life, the more self-control he gives me!

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved.

So rest assured that you will have updates in this blog.

Thanks and God bless to All.

Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight ( Mk 26 : 46 -52 )

46 – 52 : Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" .Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!“. Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.“. Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Many of us is like this beggar who have been blind for a very long time, We do not know where to go, We do not know what to do and other things which we think is very dark. Well actually we can see goodness in our life if we only asked God about anything what we want, What is important is to believed that we can received it, Bartimeus has full faith that Jesus can give his sight that is why even there are lot of destruction while calling Jesus He did not stop calling the Rabi. And then he succeed, We should have this charateristic, We should not surrender but rather give our full trust to our Lord and Savior. God Bless You All.

Learn to know how big your God is and how big He can do in your life. Give Your best and Trust in the Lord and He will do the rest.

God Bless and Good day. Just a reminder to all of us.

When you want to be loved make sure you know how to give it also. Love can be shown in different ways so what ever is your way just make sure that you are happy on doing it.

Source : www.ccf.org.ph

Vol. 7 No. 22, 03 June 2007

WORSHIP:

Suggested Songs: Celebrate the Lord of Love

God is Good All the Time

Ancient of Days

You Are So Faithful

WELCOME:

What has changed in and about you? And what has not changed?

WORD:

What does God’s immutable attribute mean?

· God does not change, He is always the same. He cannot improve because He is already perfect. Being perfect, He cannot change for the worse.

· (Hebrews 13:8) He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

· (Psalm 90:2) He is from everlasting to everlasting

· (Psalm 102:25-27) Nothing is permanent, everything will decay, except God.

· (Revelation 22:13) He is the First and the Last, the beginning and the end.

In what ways is God immutable?

1. In His character

If God is immutable, what does that say about God’s character?

· He is absolutely dependable and trustworthy.

· (Malachi 3:6-12) God does not change in the sense that He is righteous though we are unrighteous, He remains faithful even when we are unfaithful, He loves us though we are sinners (He hates sin but because He loves us, Jesus paid for our sins. When we still sin, He disciplines us so we will return to Him and learn to turn away from sin, that we may be blessed, which is what God wants to do for us). He blesses those who obey His Word, and curses those who are in disobedience.

In your own personal experience, how has God revealed His immutable character?

2. In His Word

What does God’s immutability in His Word mean?

Since God is dependable and trustworthy in His character:

· (Matthew 24:35) His Word shall not pass away.

· (Matthew 5:17-18) Every Word He says is true; and His Word will be accomplished accordingly. When He says something, He does it without fail.

What are just a few examples showing God’s unchanging Word?

· (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) We are all sinners unworthy of God’s Kingdom, but we have been justified and sanctified through Jesus Christ.

· (Joshua 6:26; 1 Kings 16:34) God told the people not to rebuild Jericho’s walls during that time, but they disobeyed, with a warning that a curse would be upon them if they did. The curse did indeed come. In fact, Jericho remains desolate and uninhabited until now.

· (Deuteronomy 28:64; Ezekiel 36:22-24, 34-37) He said the Jews would be scattered as strangers in foreign lands because of their disobedience, and they were, the Holocaust serving as a reminder. But He also said that they will be gathered again to become a nation, which happened when Israel became a nation in 1948 after the Holocaust. He also said the land, from desolation, would be cultivated again and the nation will again be prosperous, and that is what’s happening now, with Israel as the fruit capital of Europe; even the banana seedlings are exported to the Philippines. The Jews from around the world, to this day, continue to return to Israel because of the prosperity it is now experiencing.

How should we respond to God’s immutability in His Word?

· When He makes a promise, we need to claim it by faith and count on it.

· When He warns us, we must take heed and avoid what He warns us about.

· (Malachi 3:10-11) We can test God and prove His faithfulness to His promise to bless us when we obey His command to give our tithes and offerings.

In what manner have you proven God’s unchanging Word?

What promise has God given you that you need to claim by faith? And what warning do you need to take heed of?

3. In His purpose

What is God’s unchanging plan for us?

· Salvation, sanctification, and service to God (especially in sharing God’s message of salvation to others)

· (Hebrews 6:17-19) Possession of His Kingdom

· (Jude 1:24) To make us stand before God’s presence, blameless and with great joy. Though we may stumble in sin, He will help us stand up, provided we confess and repent.

What plan of God for your life are you not being cooperative about?

WORKS:

1. Write down what step(s) you need to take towards change in accordance with God’s immutable character, Word, and purpose/plan. Make it your prayer and action point.

2. Who in your family, social circle, or office needs to hear God’s unchanging Word in the Gospel? Write down what you need to do to share God’s message of love and salvation to them. Make a commitment to God and seize the first opportunity.

3. If you have made a faith pledge for the CCF Building Fund, have you been committed in fulfilling your pledge? If you have not made any pledge yet, make one by faith.

4. Memory and meditation verses: Hebrews 13:8 and Matthew 24:35. Write down your

thoughts/insights based on the verses.

5. Read the Bible at least one chapter a day.

6. Spend quiet time daily. Journal these times.

By Pastor Larry Stockstill

Truly, each of your commandments is right. That is why I hate every false way. -Psalm 119:128

The psalmist declares a holy revulsion that must dwell in your heart against anything that challenges the law of God. If you consistently struggle to conquer an area of sin in your life, it may be that you do not hate that sin.

One sin God hates is divorce (Malachi 2:16), not because He wants to be legalistic but because He knows the terrible consequences you will suffer from it. Satan’s deception concerning this sin and all sin is so devious and the consequences of disobedience so eternal that you must develop a passion against all sin, for it destroys people¢s souls.

Double-minded or undecided people (Psalm 119:113) are those who mix God’s law with their own reasoning, listening to the voice of personal opinion rather than the voice of truth. Such compromisers lead the godly astray and are unstable in all their ways (James 1:8). If you are double-minded, rid yourself of lukewarmness, and purify your heart.

If you don’t hate sin, you will fall into it. Love God and hate sin, and you will always walk in the path of righteousness.

A New York enthusiast had a good collection of paintings, one of them being the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which hung over his writing desk.

For a long time he noticed that it persisted in hanging crooked despite the fact that he straightened it every morning. At last he asked the housekeeper if she was responsible for its lopsided position each morning that he came to his office.

"Why, yes," she said, "I have to hang it crooked to make the tower hang straight."

Does that sound strange? That is exactly how a lot of people read the Bible. Many people twist the Word of God in order to justify their own opinions or actions, or doctrine to make them all appear right. Let us not twist the Scriptures to suit our own fancy. Let us be sure to hang the picture right!

A physician went to hear D. L. Moody. Although he had not thought of such a result, he was converted. When asked the reason for his change of heart, he said, "I went to hear Mr. Moody with no other idea than to have something to laugh at. I knew he was no scholar, and I felt sure I could find many flaws in his argument. But I found I could not get at the man. He stood there hiding behind the Bible and just fired one Bible text after another at me till they went home to my heart straight as bullets from a rifle. I tell you, Moody’s power is in the way he has his Bible at the tip of his tongue."

Site Search Tags: Bible

]]> http://techathand.net/life/stories/power/feed/ http://techathand.net/life/quotes/who-is-on-trial http://techathand.net/life/quotes/who-is-on-trial#comments Wed, 14 May 2008 16:06:45 +0000 Dexter http://techathand.net/life/quotes/who-is-on-trial

There is no city in the world, perhaps, where the treasures of art are more appreciated than Florence, Italy. It is told that an American visitor to the Pitti Palace, after viewing some of the paintings there, said to his guide: "Are these the great masterpieces that everyone tells me about? I don’t see much in them to arouse such enthusiasm."

"It is not these paintings that are on trial sir," the guide answered, "but it is you who view them."

So it is with the Word of God. Sometimes we run across scoffers, men who sneer at divine revelation, who say that they cannot feel much enthusiasm about the Bible. But the Bible is not on trial. Whether men believe it or not, it is the Word of God, "which liveth and abideth forever" (1Pe_1:23).