The Value of Relationships

Regarding life together and getting along with each other,

you don’t need me to tell you what to do.

You’re God-taught in these matters. Just love one another!

- 1 Thessalonians 4:9

Oh... how we forget to take... one day at a time...

One Day At a Time, Sweet Jesus

I'm only human, I'm just a woman.

Help me believe in what I could be

And all that I am.

Show me the stairway, I have to climb.

Lord for my sake, teach me to take One day at a time.

Chorus:

One day at a time sweet Jesus

That's all I'm asking from you.

Just give me the strength

To do everyday what I have to do.

Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus

And tomorrow may never be mine.

Lord help me today, show me the way

One day at a time.

Do you remember, when you walked among men?

Well Jesus you know if you're looking below

It's worse now, than then.

Cheating and stealing, violence and crime

So for my sake, teach me to take

One day at a time.

(Chorus)

Do not judge...

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.

-Colossians 2:16 (NIV)

My question is How?

How would you go about stopping someone from judging you? Do you follow a strict set of rules... are there creeds of right belief and codes of right conduct that we are obliged to follow??

I believe that our devotion to Christ through certain expressions bears witness to Christianity, and this happens because the gospel has transformed us... our character ... we become a changed people and hopefully know what is right and live accordingly.

Faith should expect moral results.

But what is Paul trying to actually say here?

The apostle Paul says this is a problem with the law: We keep excluding people based on jot-and-tittle questions, such as what they eat or drink, how they celebrate a holiday, or if they wear a tie on Sunday (Colossians 2:16).

Aren't we wallowing in our own slf-righteousness? Is our devotion measured by how drab and dreary our Christian life is?

NO!

God comes in grace, saying, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Galatians 5:6 NIV).

A Golden Deed

Each day I do,

A golden deed.

By helping those,

Who are in need.

My life on earth,

Is but a span.

And so I'll do,

The best I can.

Life's evening sun,

Is sinking low.

A few more days,

and I must go.

To meet the deeds,

That I have done.

Where there will be,

No setting sun.

Resist Discouragement

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God,

you will receive what he has promised.

For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay.”

Hebrews 10:36-37

When God does not answer our prayers we are immediately discouraged and lash out at Him thinking and believing that He does not care.... When God does not answer immediately it does not automatically mean NO.... it most probably means Not Yet!!!!

God just wants us to know that He is faithful and just ... even if the answers we seek are delayed. So don't be discouraged... have faith and patience...

Worthy, O Lamb of God

Thou art the everlasting Word,
The Father's only Son;
God manifest, God seen and heard,
The heaven's beloved One;
Worthy, O Lamb of God, art Thou
That every knee to Thee should bow.

In Thee most perfectly expressed,
The Father self doth shine;
Fulness of Godhead, too: the Blest,
Eternally divine.
Worthy, O Lamb of God, art Thou
That every knee to Thee should bow.

Image of th'infinite Unseen,
Whose being none can know;
Brightness of light no eye hath seen,
God's love revealed below.
Worthy, O Lamb of God, art Thou
That every knee to Thee should bow.

The higher mysteries of Thy fame
The creature's grasp transcend;
The Father only Thy blest name
Of Son can comprehend.
Worthy, O Lamb of God, art Thou
That every knee to Thee should bow.

Yet loving Thee, on whom His love
Ineffable doth rest,
The worshippers, O Lord, above,
As one with Thee, are blest:
Worthy, O Lamb of God, art Thou
That every knee to Thee should bow.

Of the vast universe of bliss,
The centre Thou, and Sun;
Th'eternal theme of praise is this,
To heaven's beloved One:
Worthy, O Lamb of God, art Thou
That every knee to Thee should bow.

Rapture - Going Up!!!!!!!

Gone!!

Vanished!!!!!!

The young techie yawned slightly as he entered the familiar lobby of his office building at the start of another business day. He scarcely acknowledged the presence of the elevator dispatcher, who gestured at an open elevator and said, "Going up."

He certainly didn't expect that the dispatcher's familiar call... "Going up", was prophetic and would be answered at once !!!!

Somewhere around the 6Th floor, he heard an earsplitting SHOUT and the unmistakable sound of a TRUMPET blast overhead, and then ... he really began to go up!

Before he could blink his eyes, or wonder if the others in the elevator had heard the strange sounds, the techie was shooting up the elevator shaft. He seemed to be taking off like a rocket! Going right through the top of the building! Careening upward through the bright morning sun and enjoying a completely euphoric feeling of well-being.

All around him he saw people shooting up through the air... they were glowing! They shined like silver against the blue sky. He suddenly realised that he too was shining in this peculiar way, and that his body had somehow changed.

Before his mind could process all this, he looked up and saw what was drawing all of them like a huge gigantic magnet..... The Lord Jesus Christ Himself!!!!

He stood resplendent in the air as the people rose to meet Him. He was more glorious, more beautiful, more brilliant than the man had ever imagined he would be... yet there He stood in plain view.

The man suddenly understood that he was in the Rapture. He and the other believers had suddenly become "like Jesus", seeing Him face-to-face and possessing their new resurrection bodies.

It was true! The promise was real.... it was being fulfilled!

He knew well enough what the Rapture was ever since he had believed in Jesus. He had believed in this remarkable event implicitly... as he believed all of what the Scriptures taught. But he had been puzzled. Was it going to happen the way the Bible said it would? Would he really rise into the air and meet Jesus on the clouds? Would he be alive and conscious of what was happening?

Now he had his answers. Today was the day, and he was alive and well. And there was the Lord, just as He said He would be. he promised to return and receive His own and there He was, keeping His promise.

The joyful company of believers assembled around the Lord... high above the earth. The Master greeted them and they were overwhelmed by the warmth of the enveloping love. Then Jesus turned away from planet earth and led His church away to the place that He had prepared for them.

Back in the elevator, a few people were rather surprised. Not everyone had noticed the strange turn of events, they were mostly looking down at their shoes... like most people in elevators do! But some had clearly seen the young man get into the elevator, but not get out... Yet he was gone!

Oh well, another day, another dollar. They all got off at their floors and went about the days work. Those who thought they were seeing things called their therapists or took some tablets...

They failed to appreciate that the time of Gods wrath upon the earth was about to begin...

If any of them survived the next 7 years... it would truly be a miracle.

I've always been fascinated with the Rapture... This was originally from one of my grandfathers books and I've elaborated on it and made it story-like.