Angelica's Fast - Day #3

Day 3 has been both a challenge, and an answer to prayer. I honestly did not expect a call to my heart such as this when the Lord spoke to me. Some challenges have been on my heart. With challenges, we feel troubled, and with those troubles I went to the Lord in prayer asking for guidance. I received an answer to this prayer as quickly as my mind thought the request. I was told not only to keep blogging, but I was told to write the past troubles that I had gone through out.

Being an imperfect person, I have been through many different things. My own self-inflicted trials and tribulations to name a few, and have not always actively sought God in my life. Of course I always believed in God, I always believed that Jesus Christ died for me and my sins. Yet I did not fully know what that meant, and in my ignorance, I lived my life for myself not fully having surrendered my life over to God. I believed in God, and yet I lived as if He did not exist. I only went to Him if I saw there was no other way not fully realizing that He is the way.

Lord, I do not wish to live my life as if you were a sidebar to my question mark. I wish to live my life in complete surrender to you God. I wish to live my life in total trust in your truth and your word. God in giving myself over to you, I have complete faith that you will redeem me in what has been lost and I will be found in the protective Glory of your Grace and your Heavenly Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord God, for your mercy, thank you Lord God for all that you have done for me. That my sins have been forgiven by the sacrifice you made with your son Jesus. Thank you Lord God. In your Heavenly name I pray.

Amen

by Drisana - http://askdrisana.blogspot.com/

How Would You Introduce Christ?

Watch this fabulous, inspiring clip by Steve Harvey, where he practices introducing Jesus Christ to an audience at one of his large comedy events.


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Good Friday - From Confusion to Revelation

“I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.” –Jeremiah 31:13

Today is Good Friday, 2010. It's funny, because when I think about this day being called "Good," I can just imagine it from one of Jesus’ disciples point of view. 2010 years ago, they certainly did not think this was a good Friday at all. This was the day of His crucifixion.

They saw devastating circumstances happening around them. They couldn't stop it – they didn't understand it. To those disciples, all they saw was the death of their Lord, which left them feeling disillusioned and distraught. The words that Jesus uttered as He breathed His last breath on the cross were, “It is finished.” To them, those words probably cut them to the core, not yet realizing the deeper meaning to come on Sunday.

Like these disciples, sometimes what we see is only the beginning or middle of the story. Thankfully God sees the beginning and the end at the same time, and the events of that Friday certainly did not signify the end.

In comparison, there are many in this country now who feel disillusioned and distraught too by government policies and actions. We also see senseless violence, bad behavior being celebrated and precious core values being deteriorated in our country. People are searching for employment, and some may be struggling with health issues or marriage breakdown. Thank God that He is still on the throne! Leaders will come and go, tribulations of various kinds pop up from time-to-time and we may be saddened by circumstances, but God is always in control.

Between Good Friday and resurrection Sunday, I bet God had a burning desire to shout out His fabulous plan to encourage the faithful ones - “Do you not see what I am about to do?! My power will be shown in all the earth, throughout all generations! Trust in Me!” I believe He would say a very similar message to us even now, during these tumultuous times. “Keep praying and trusting in Me. I will complete all the work I have started! I have prepared a place of peace for you!”

Just as the disciples saw Jesus being crucified on the cross, and then rising again on the third day (Easter Sunday), we too can learn a valuable lesson. God can resurrect anything! With God involved, situations can go from death to life, from despair to joy, from scattered to complete, and from empty to full.

There is a song I like to sing that says, “Though the sorrow may last for the night, joy comes in the morning.” Although there may be sadness and sorrow in what we see now, don’t lose heart! God is on the throne. His wisdom confounds the “wise” (or those who see themselves as wise in worldly wisdom). Problems, challenges, struggles, pain, and failure can be given to Him for redemption. Remember, the enemies of God thought they had won and had the final say. After all, Jesus was dead, right? Wrong!

Enjoy this Easter season, knowing God is in control and that He always has the final word.

~Krista Dunk

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This "Letter from Jesus about Christmas" came to me in an email from a friend, but I have no idea who originally wrote it. Whoever it was, I believe they understand the heart of Jesus well, and have a very appropriate perspective to share with us. Let me pre-empt this with one thought. Continue to fight for what is right, but remember to focus on the heart of God which is love.

Letter from Jesus about Christmas --
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. What you call that day, is not top priority for me. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that, let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth, here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about economic or health care plan issues this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up... It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children or grandchildren a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make all the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of Mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember:

I LOVE YOU,
JESUS

May we be unified and obey His command to love one another this season. Blessings to you all!
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Easter Greetings

Happy Easter Blessings to You!

This past week, a friend sent me a great devotional message about the resurrection of Jesus. In a nutshell, this statement stood out to me - "Don't let Satan bind you with the grave clothes of yesterday's sin and defeat. You're not dead anymore. You've been raised with Jesus. Come out from the tombs and start living resurrection life!" - Kenneth Copeland

After reading it, my thoughts were racing. Are we being bound with grave clothes and if so, in what ways? How many times are our thoughts obsessing over 'dead things'? How come people feel defeated by a circumstance or situation and stay that way? How can each of us fully live with resurrection lives?

It starts with each of us coming out of our tombs to start truly living a life worthy of Jesus' sacrifice! He came and died so that we would have abundant LIFE. I choose abundant life!

-Krista Dunk