"Do not be afraid, you have found favor with God"

The angel said to [Mary], "Do not be afraid, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever."

--Luke 1:30-33

New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE

Jesus is identified by many names stated or implied in the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). Notice how Jesus is identified in just this one passage:  child, son, Jesus, great, Son  of the Most High, King, son of David, and leader of Israel (Jacob).  Jesus exhausts all descriptions, and yet chose to be limited to imperfect descriptions by becoming human.  But this flood of names and descriptions helps us find Jesus a Savior in every trial and blessing of life.  Jesus is Savior for all seasons.

MY PRAYER

Holy and Almighty Father, I thank you for all the ways Jesus is described and all the names he is given. They help me see the breadth of his nature and the depth of his character. Please bless me so I may always find a dimension of Jesus' ministry or a name or description of Jesus to help sustain me, when I walk through the shadows of doubt caused by the evil one.  Help me, O Father, to see Jesus and not my preoccupations and biases so that when he comes again, I will know him, and he me.  Through the glorious name of the Savior I pray.  Amen.

No More Hiding

Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”

Genesis 3:9

           

After Adam and Eve fell into sin, they heard the sound of the Lord walking in the garden. What did they do? They hid themselves from His presence.

There is something God wants us to learn here about sin-consciousness: It makes us hide from Him when He actually wants to hang out with us. It makes us feel like we’ve fallen off His radar. It makes us feel afraid of Him when the safest and most comforting place in the world is in His presence.

Adam was sin-conscious. He said to God, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself” (Genesis 3:10). Now, this nakedness was not just physical. Adam saw himself unworthy of God. He was aware of his sin. He never had this awareness before. Prior to his act of disobedience, when God came into the garden, he would hang out with God without any sense of uncleanness. Then, he became conscious of his sin and ran away from God’s presence.

Beloved, God wants to hang out with you. But you can’t have an intimate relationship with Him when you are sin-conscious and feeling unworthy in His presence. The good news is that Jesus’ blood has removed all your sins and made you righteous. And God is so pleased with His Son’s sacrifice that He will by no means remember your sins (Hebrews 10:17). So come out of your hiding place and hang out boldly with God. It’s in His presence that you are empowered, refreshed and recharged. It’s in His presence that you receive from Him!

By: Joseph Prince

source:

http://www.tenthdotministries.com/tag/christmas/

http://scripture-for-today.blogspot.com/2012/03/luke-157-80-all-who-heard-them-laid-up.html

http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=a150d1f30f96378c872f47725&id=8f7ddc2a27&e=b2763b1d9a

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Jayson Cabrera Gali

Blogs:  http://spiritual12food.blogspot.com/

             http://healthhelpbyjeck.blogspot.com/

Find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jayson.gali 

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeckyL214

P.S.

I sincerely want to improve my blog, so I can serve you better. I would like to hear from you, please leave your comments at the bottom of this page. And if you find this very helpful don’t forget to share it to your friends and loved ones.

"Greetings, you who are highly favored!

God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.  The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

--Luke 1:26-28

New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE

Wow!  Such a familiar sentence packed with emotion.   An angel comes to Nazareth to visit and speak with a young woman engaged to be married. Before the history-shattering news is announced, she is given one key reminder that will be truer than she could imagine, "The Lord is with you."

MY PRAYER

My request, O God, I've sung many times:  "Be with me Lord, I cannot live without Thee.  I cannot bear to take one step alone."  Father, I need your abiding presence to face the challenges of life.  As you have upheld your children through the ages, I am thankful to greet each day knowing that I will not face it alone.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

His Grace Never Ceases

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness…

Lamentations 3:22–23, NLT

           

Placing a handful of tokens onto the arcade game machine that my little Jessica was completely engrossed in, I said to her, “Jessica, once the game is ending, just put in another token, alright?” She was only three years old then, but certainly understood well enough how to keep on inserting new tokens to keep the game going.

It was fun watching her enjoy the game. Her eyes would light up and her dimples would show, especially when she was winning. As her father, seeing her happy made me happy, so I kept watch to ensure that she had sufficient tokens to keep the game going. Once they ran low, I would rush to the counter to get a new stack of tokens. So Jessica’s daddy kept supplying more tokens while she simply kept enjoying the game.

Beloved, if an earthly father can do this for his daughter for a simple arcade game, how much more will our heavenly Father, who loves us and delights in seeing us blessed, do to provide for us!

By: Joseph Prince

source:

http://dialoguewithgod.bigcartel.com/product/christmas-luke-1-26-45-mary-elizabeth

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent/annunciation.html

http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=a150d1f30f96378c872f47725&id=a7b8fa815f&e=b2763b1d9a

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Jayson Cabrera Gali

Blogs:  http://spiritual12food.blogspot.com/

             http://healthhelpbyjeck.blogspot.com/

Find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jayson.gali 

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeckyL214

P.S.

I sincerely want to improve my blog, so I can serve you better. I would like to hear from you, please leave your comments at the bottom of this page. And if you find this very helpful don’t forget to share it to your friends and loved ones.

Where's Your Love

Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes, and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world.

 --1 John 2:15-16

New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE

Love for things, especially temporary ones, can sure get us in trouble. Even worse, we can begin to think they will make us happy or fill the empty places in our hearts. But if we really place our hopes and dreams in our Abba Father, we are attached to eternity, and what we need most is always with us!

MY PRAYER

Give me wisdom, Holy God, to invest in you and things that matter. I confess to you that my eyes and my heart are often distracted by the glitzy stuff that is temporary. By your Spirit, O Father, stir my heart to yearn for you. Through Jesus I pray, Amen.

A Gift from God

Today's Scripture:

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.

Ephesians 2:8, NKJV.

Today's Word:

We serve such a loving, gracious and generous God. He loves you so much that there isn’t anything He wouldn’t do in order to have a relationship with you. The Bible tells us that sin separates man from God. But God doesn’t want to be separated from us. That’s why He sent His Son into the world—to pay the penalty for sin so that you and I could live in eternity with Him.

So many people today think they have to earn their way to heaven. They think they have to be “good enough” or “do the right thing” in order to be accepted by God. They want to “clean up” before they come to Him. But notice what today’s verse says—salvation is a gift from God. You can’t earn a gift. You don’t pay for it. You can only receive it by faith. If you’ve never made Jesus the Lord of your life, I encourage you to receive this free gift. Let Him fill you with His eternal peace and joy so that you can live the abundant life He has for you.

Prayer for Today:

Father in heaven, I come to You today giving You all that I am. Thank You for the gift of salvation through Your Son, Jesus. I believe He died and rose for me, and I invite You to be the Lord of every area of my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.
By: Joel Osteen

source:

http://my.opera.com/thieunienhoamy/albums/showpic.dml?album=398379&picture=5668499

http://pastormikescorner.blogspot.com/2012/05/how-will-they-know-im-christian-part-4.html

http://ww2.joelosteen.com/MessageViewer/Pages/MessageViewer.aspx?date=2012-10-19

"The Prayers Go Up And The Blessings Come Down..."

Rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains.

Joel 2:23

New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE

"The prayers go up and the blessings come down..." The words to this children's song are only half right, because God sends his blessings many times even when we don't pray. But with the special smell that comes with a drought-breaking rain, God loves the aroma of his children's joy, especially when he is the source of its delight!

MY PRAYER

Holy God and Tender Father, you are my great delight. When all others fail, you are still God. You are a rock and fortress, you are a tender shepherd, and you are a solid mountain that cannot be shaken. Your blessings and grace shower upon me and fill me with joy. I can't wait for the day I get to see you face to face and delight in your presence. Until then, I will see you faith to face and rejoice in anticipation. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

LINE UP YOUR HEART

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”

(Psalm 86:11, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD

When the Lord looks at your heart, what does He see?

Everyone has an outer life and an inner life. The outer life is our public life that people can see. The inner life is made up of your thoughts, attitudes and motives. Only you and God know what’s going on inside. Too many people go around today pretending — acting one way, yet on the inside, they’re thinking something totally different. Their heart and their actions don’t line up.

We have to understand that God looks at the inside. We can fool a lot of people, but we can’t fool God. God would rather us be open and honest than for us to go through life pretending or wearing masks. Today, take inventory of what’s going on inside of you. Are you at peace? Are you overlooking offenses? Do you believe the best in people? Are your heart and actions lining up? If not, submit your ways to the Lord today and ask Him to give you an undivided heart. Live a life pleasing to Him and walk in His blessing all the days of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Dear Father, I humbly come before You today and ask that You search the deep places of my heart. Show me if there is any area where I need to line up my heart and actions. Help me to be authentic in You today in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

source:

http://shareaverse.wordpress.com/2012/08/26/rejoice-in-the-lord-your-god-for-he-gives-the-rain/

http://www.queensburychurchofchrist.com/message.html

http://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/Index.aspx

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Jayson Cabrera Gali

Blogs:  http://spiritual12food.blogspot.com/

             http://healthhelpbyjeck.blogspot.com/

Find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jayson.gali 

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeckyL214

P.S. 

I sincerely want to improve my blog, so I can serve you better. I would like to hear from you, please leave your comments at the bottom of this page. And if you find this very helpful don’t forget to share it to your friends and loved ones.

Are you a Foreigner or a Citizen?

"You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household."

Ephesians 2:19

New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE

Those of us who have been Christians a long time sometimes forget that we have no claim or right to the grace we have received. When we feel we deserve it, that it is ours by right, it is no longer grace and we no longer have it. To be a part of God's family is grace. Our lives are a gift from the Holy One who spoke into existence the universe (in which we are) and who knows how to share and love in ways we can't even imagine.

MY PRAYER

For the incredible and boundless love you have given to me, O Almighty God, I can only fall to my knees and thank you. Your power is beyond my comprehension. Your awesome holiness is beyond my understanding. Yet your infinite grace is mine because of your love, which cost you so much. "Thank you. A million times over I say it, "Thank you!" Through Jesus my Lord. Amen.

NO REGRETS

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

(Galatians 1:10, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD

I read a report from a nurse who takes care of people who are close to death. She asked hundreds of patients in the last twelve weeks of their life what their biggest regret was. The number one regret reported was, “I wish I had been true to who I was and not just lived to meet the expectations of others.”

How many people today are not being true to who God created them to be simply because they are afraid they’re going to disappoint somebody? They’re afraid they may fall out of someone else’s good grace. They worry about not being accepted into a certain group. I say this respectfully, but you cannot live trying to be who your parents want you to be, or who your boss wants you to be, or who your friends want you to be. You’ve got to stay true to who God has called you to be.

Today, make the decision to live life with no regrets. Surrender yourself wholeheartedly to who God created you to be. Let Him mold and shape your character. Let Him order your steps. As you submit your ways to Him, He will shine down on you, and you will live the fulfilled, abundant life He has prepared for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank You for loving me and accepting me just the way I am. It is my heart’s desire to know You and to be known by You. Help me to live the life You’ve called me to and be faithful to You always in Jesus’ name. Amen.

By: Joel & Victoria Osteen

source:

http://ymiblogging.org/2012/06/odj-the-cost-of-citizenship/

http://facebooktimelinebanner.com/?p=7628

http://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/Index.aspx

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Jayson Cabrera Gali

Blogs:  http://spiritual12food.blogspot.com/

             http://healthhelpbyjeck.blogspot.com/

Find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jayson.gali 

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeckyL214

P.S.

I sincerely want to improve my blog, so I can serve you better. I would like to hear from you, please leave your comments at the bottom of this page. And if you find this very helpful don’t forget to share it to your friends and loved ones.

The work of God

Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: To believe in the one he has sent."

John 6:29

New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE

Do you believe in Jesus? Do you really believe? Shortly after Max Lucado came back from his mission work in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he shared with a group of his closest friends that his theology was pretty simple. He didn't have a handle on a lot of the big difficult theological problems that divide folks. But Max said he came to the firm and deep conviction that God loves us and he showed that love by sending Jesus to live among us, to die for us, and to be raised from the dead so we could, too. This is the work of God -- amazingly simple and awesomely powerful.

MY PRAYER

Holy God, I do believe that Jesus came to earth, died, and was raised from the dead. Please help me show and share that message with those around me looking to find hope and help. Holy Spirit, open my eyes to those around me who are searching,. Father, I want so much to share in your work, please help me as I rededicate myself to it today. Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray. Amen.

LET GOD BE GOD

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him...”

(Psalm 37:7, NKJV)

TODAY’S WORD

Are you struggling with trying to make a dream come to pass? Are you frustrated in a relationship, trying to make someone else change or live right? You may mean well, you may have good goals, but if you are trying to orchestrate things to happen your way, on your timetable, you are only going to frustrate yourself. At some point, you have to turn those circumstances over to God and trust that He has your best interest at heart.

How do you turn things over to God? Start by making the choice and declaring your resolve. Simply say, “Father, I choose to let You be God of this situation. I take my hands off. I trust You.” Then, choose to worship Him. Worship is one of the best ways to set your heart and mind in the right place. You can’t worry and worship at the same time! Worship is a sign that you are trusting God; worry is a sign that you are trying to control things.

Today, take the pressure off yourself and turn things over to God. Give Him control and let Him take your setbacks and turn them into comebacks. Remember, the God who holds the universe holds you in the palm of His hand. Trust Him and let God be God in every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, today I choose to release every care and concern into Your loving hands. I refuse to worry and choose to trust. Fill me with Your peace. Show me Your ways as I surrender every area of my heart and life to You in Jesus’ name. Amen.

By: Joel & Victoria Osteen

source:

http://hbiblecommentary.wordpress.com/2011/01/17/john-629-jesus-answered-the-work-of-god-is-this-to-believe-in-the-one-he-has-sent/

http://lifegroup413.org/2012/04/believe-john-629-by-erica-reich/

http://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/Index.aspx

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Jayson Cabrera Gali

Blogs:  http://spiritual12food.blogspot.com/

             http://healthhelpbyjeck.blogspot.com/

Find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jayson.gali 

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeckyL214

P.S.

I sincerely want to improve my blog, so I can serve you better. I would like to hear from you, please leave your comments at the bottom of this page. And if you find this very helpful don’t forget to share it to your friends and loved ones.

Greatest Flood Man Ever Experienced

Genesis 9:8-17

People who are true to their word can be trusted. If they aren’t true to their word, they can’t be trusted. It’s as simple as that. God promised that he would never destroy the earth with a flood again, and then he set a rainbow in the sky as a sign of his promise. For thousands of years, God has been true to his word. We sometimes get discouraged during the tough times in life because we tend to focus on our particular circumstances rather than the promises of God. In such times, we need to remember the rainbow. Every time we see one, we are reminded that God is trustworthy. He is always true to what he has said.

MOVING UP HIGHER

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come.”

(Psalm 102:13, NKJV)

TODAY’S WORD

One thing I’ve learned in my life is that God likes to outdo Himself. His dream for your life is so much bigger than your own. His ways are higher, and He has an appointed time of favor for your life. He is going to take you places that you never thought possible. He is going to open up doors that you never have imagined. He’s going to bring talent out of you that you didn’t even know you had. This is the time to get excited about your future! It’s time to get your hopes up because you have been chosen by the Creator of the universe. Your destiny is not determined by the economy, how you were raised, or your education. Your destiny is determined by Almighty God.

Today, I want to encourage you to set your thoughts on things above. It’s time for you to move up higher to a new level. The good news is that God has already laid out victory before you. I declare that in the days ahead you’re going to stumble into it. Get ready because God is going to raise you up into the life of blessing He has prepared for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank You for this day. Thank You for the good plan You have for me. I believe it is my time of set favor; it’s my time to rise higher; it’s my time to experience every breakthrough and every blessing You have in store for me in Jesus’ name! Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

source:

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=4638&cat=field-news

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/01/pictures/110106-australia-flood-drought-water-storms/

http://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/Index.aspx

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Jayson Cabrera Gali

Blogs:  http://spiritual12food.blogspot.com/

             http://healthhelpbyjeck.blogspot.com/

Find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jayson.gali 

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeckyL214

P.S. 

I sincerely want to improve my blog, so I can serve you better. I would like to hear from you, please leave your comments at the bottom of this page. And if you find this very helpful don’t forget to share it to your friends and loved ones.

Share Each Others' Burdens

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Romans 12:15

New International Version

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...

We are not alone. God has given us each other to live our lives for him and get us back home to him. Along the way, we want to share each others' burdens, soar on each others’ joys, and love each others' hurts. There is no such thing as a solo Christian.

MY PRAYER...

Loving Father, lead me to the people today who need their burdens lifted and their joys shared. Let me be your presence in the world of your children today. This I ask in Jesus name. Amen.

JUST CAN’T HELP IT!

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard”

(Acts 4:20, NKJV)

TODAY’S WORD

Have you ever been so in awe by something that you just couldn’t help but talk about it to everyone you know? Maybe you were excited about a new relationship, a job or the birth of a child. But, nothing on earth can compare to what God wants to do in your life. He wants to amaze you with His goodness and overwhelm you with His love. He wants to do exceedingly, abundantly above all you could ever ask, think or imagine. He wants to do things in your life that you’ve never seen before. He wants to impact you in such a way that you can’t help but talk about Him!

The key starts with us. Our faith in God is what opens the door for Him to move and sets the blessing in motion. God has given every person a measure of faith. He has given us all the ability to believe and receive from Him. Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. As you meditate on His Word and receive His promises by faith, He will move mightily on your behalf. It won’t be long before you just can’t help speaking about His goodness everywhere you go!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness in my life. I choose to receive Your promises by faith. I choose to meditate on Your love. Thank You for working in my life. I keep my heart and mind open You in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

sources:

http://scandalousmath.blogspot.com/2010/08/carry-each-others-burdens.html

http://ibibleverses.christianpost.com/rejoice/

http://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/Index.aspx