This is Namma for Christ with the fifteenth inspirational blog dated Friday, November 30th, 2012. The title of the message is "THE LOVE OF GOD REMAINS - Rom. 8:27-30" The scripture that I included with this message is taken from Romans 8:27-30. Please read the below scripture from Romans 8:27-30. Romans 8:27-30
New International Version (NIV)
27 And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.29 For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.30 And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
God loves you! The creator of "heaven and earth" made you "uniquely" and loves "you" for "YOU".
Romans 31 & 32 states: 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?32 He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?
God loved us so much that He gave us Jesus (John 3:16) :
John 3:16
King James Version (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
JESUS LOVES YOU AND CARES VERY MUCH ABOUT YOU!
John 15: 4 & 5 reads:
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.
WHATEVER YOU ARE GOING THROUGH...PLEASE FOCUS ON JESUS AND HIS LOVE FOR YOU. JESUS SAID IN JOHN 15: 4 TO ABIDE IN "HIM" AND HE WILL ABIDE IN YOU...YOU ARE NOT ALONE...LEAN, DEPEND AND TRUST IN JESUS. "WISE MEN (AND WOMEN) STILL SEEK HIM" - AS THEY DID WHEN JESUS WAS FIRST BORN IN BETHLEHEM.
IN OUR "EVER-CHANGING" WORLD - GOD'S LOVE FOR US REMAINS!
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is thesameyesterday, today, and forever.
AS THE TITLE OF THIS MESSAGE AND THE TITLE OF THE BELOW SONG AND VIDEO (BY KRISTIAN STANFILL SO POWERFULLY SINGS)...."ONE THING REMAINS" - GOD'S LOVE FOR US!
This is Namma for Christ with the fourteenth inspirational blog dated Saturday, November 17, 2012 entitled, "IN THE MIDST OF IT ALL - Deut. 31:6 - BE ENCOURAGED - HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU."
The scripture comes from Deuteronomy 31:6 -
Deuteronomy 31:6
New International Version (NIV)
6 Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God
goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.
The inspirational song ( included in the video below) is SUNG with power, heart and feeling from Yolanda Adams entitled, "In The Midst Of It All". She reminds us that the Lord is with us "in the midst of trouble, pain,
problems, failures....."whatever" we are going through - GOD IS WITH US!" As Psalm 138:7 states : (the psalmist and Old Testament King David said) "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me..."
David, though a great and good man, "expects" to "walk in the midst of trouble", but encourages himself with hope. David believes that even in "in the midst of trouble....GOD WILL REVIVE (ENCOURAGE) ME".
We, as believers, also should look to the Lord to revive or encourage us in the midst of our troubles.
Deuteronomy 31:6 states that we should be strong and courageous - (we should not depend on our own strength), but upon God's strength and mercy towards us.
Philippians 4:13 states: 'I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENS ME."
Deuteronomy 31:6 further states that we should, "not be afraid or terrified...for the Lord your God
goes with you; HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU!"
Hebrews 13:5 also reminds us of the same "blessed assurance" - Jesus said,
"... I will neverleave thee, norforsake thee." Be comforted that God is with us - NO MATTER WHAT! GOD LOVES US as found in 1st John 4: 10 - "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." WE ARE LOVED! God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for our sins - John 3:16 reads: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. BE ENCOURAGED AND BE BLESSED!
This is Namma for Christ with the thirteenth inspirational blog dated Friday, November 9th, 2012 entitled, "No Matter What... - TRUST IN THE LORD - Prov. 3:5-6".
The scripture comes from Proverbs 3: 5 & 6 which reads as follows:
Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.
God changed my life...
When God touches your heart....you are not the same...
I used to think that "I" had made so many wrong decisions in my life.
I was so hard on myself...
I thought I had to be "so strong" (early in my Christian life) in how I had handled difficult situations...until...I ran into "stumbling blocks" and began questioning myself, doubting my life....thinking that I had made one wrong decision after another... I had started focusing too much on what I couldn't understand ... instead of fully relying on the sufficiency of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ....I was trying "too" hard to be "strong"....I was trying "too" hard to "understand" what was going on...
Wasn't I suppose to be "strong" during the tough times?
My self-esteem suffered...I questioned God ..."why".... "what was going on?" I began questioning everything in my life...this created self doubt in my belief system....this led to negative thinking and a depressed state of mind...at one point - I didn't even "think" I should be in my church - I felt so sad...the devil thought he had me...but he didn't...
I found out...later...this was a time of my testing....
I was reminded that the devil is already a defeated foe, because of what Jesus did at Calvary.
Instead of my "questioning" of how strong I was "presently" handling my difficult situations or focusing on my past.....I needed to "totally and completely" DEPEND on the Lord. Even though, I prayed to the Lord...I "used to" think that "some" of my strength or "good effort" was required....I was so wrong...I had to come to the end of myself - like the "prodigal son" did as found in Luke 15:11-32.
During my lowest times.. is when I discovered God's great, never ending, unconditional love and mercy for me....I also realized that I needed to trust and depend in HIM completely! This trust included...knowing that HE knows what is best for me...and I didn't have to understand or "agree with" HIS path for my life...HE WAS IN CONTROL...
JESUS NEVER LEFT ME, NOR FORSAKED ME...(Hebrews 13:5)
It was not meant for me to "understand"...I needed to "TRUST GOD COMPLETELY"...I had to walk by "faith, not by sight" (2nd Corinthians 5:7) ...
I needed to do just what Proverbs 3: 5 - 6 stated: "I needed to trust in the Lord with ALL of my heart, and I did "not" need to "understand" what was going on.... I needed to "acknowledge God" in everything (HE WAS and "IS" ALWAYS IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING) . I had to yield my way (and my will) to HIM. As a believer in Jesus Christ - His Word says: "IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS". I cried out to the Lord to forgive me and to help me...I yielded it all to Him....
Whenever I leaned on my own understanding, effort or strength ....it eventually led me down a wrong path. When I leaned fully on the Lord...I experienced peace, joy and guidance. Reading His Word (the BIBLE) and listening to Christian Radio stations reminded (and reminds) me :
Romans 8:1-2 - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
1st John 4:19 - We love him, because He first loved us.
Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Isaiah 55: 8 & 9 - 8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith theLord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Titus 3: 5-7 - 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior;
7 That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
The Lord brought me back to my church to hear my minister's inspirational messages of the Lord's love, grace, mercy and forgiveness.
I had to get myself out of the way....I had to keep my focus on Jesus ...I had to keep praying and trusting in the Lord...FOR HE KNOWS WHAT IS BEST FOR HIS CHILDREN (Jeremiah 29:11).
I continue to be on the battlefield for my Lord - I've asked the Lord to use me for HIS KINGDOM building (in this blog and however He sees fit). He has a purpose for all of us - so that we may glorify HIM. God extends His love, mercy and grace to ALL His children. God is omniscient (all knowing), omnipresent, and omnipotent....
Below is an inspirational song (video) and lyrics by Kerrie Roberts entitled, "No Matter What".
This song's lyrics are a testimony to His believers who must TRUST IN THE LORD..."NO MATTER WHAT"!
This is Namma for Christ with the 12th inspirational blog dated November 3rd, 2012. This message is entitled, "My Help Cometh From The Lord". The title is also contained in one of the verses in Psalm 121 - (as taken from one of my favorite Psalms). Verses 1 & 2 in Psalm 121 states: "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help "cometh" from the Lord, which made heaven and earth."
In a world where everyone is searching for something....
Psalm 121 has the answer - to what can truly HELP us in our lives...the LORD...HE IS OUR "ALL IN ALL"!
Whenever problems, pressures, pain or troubles in life come...we must remember ...we are never alone...
REMEMBER ....Hebrews 13:5 states (what Jesus said:) "...I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE."
Whatever gets us down....please remember : WE MUST "LIFT UP" OUR EYES UNTO THE HILLS, FROM WHERE OUR HELP COMES...OUR HELP COMES FROM THE LORD, WHICH MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH!
NO PROBLEM, SITUATION OR CIRCUMSTANCE IS TOO BIG FOR GOD TO HANDLE!
Genesis 18:14 reads - "IS ANY THING "TOO HARD" FOR THE LORD?..."
Also, Jeremiah 32:17 states - "Ah Lord God! Behold, "thou hast MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH BY THY GREAT POWER AND STRETCHED OUT ARM, AND THERE IS "NOTHING TOO HARD" FOR THEE:"
WE ARE "NEVER" SO FAR GONE....OR NEVER TOO LOW...OR TOO BAD...OR TOO MESSED UP ....THAT GOD CANNOT "HELP" US!
Furthermore, Hebrews 13:6 states, "So that we may boldly say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER, AND I WILL NOT FEAR WHAT MAN SHALL DO UNTO ME."
Please never forget that Jesus LOVES YOU...He wants what is BEST for YOU! Believe that Jesus died for your sins, confess to HIM and ask Jesus into your heart to be your LORD and SAVIOR - if you haven't already.
ALWAYS REMEMBER: ROMANS 8:31 - "IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?"
LOOK TO JESUS - HE IS YOUR HELP- FOR WHATEVER YOU NEED!
Below are the lyrics to Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir's song, "MY HELP" - ENJOY (the song/video below) AND BE BLESSED!
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir "My Help" lyrics Verse: I will lift up mine eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help, my help cometh from the Lord, the Lord which made Heaven and Earth.
He said He would not suffer thy foot, thy foot to be moved; the Lord which keepeth thee, He will not slumber nor sleep.
Bridge Oh the Lord is thy keeper, the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand, upon thy right hand.
No, the sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night, He shall preserve thy soul even forever more.
Chorus: My help, my help, my help, all of my help cometh from the Lord.
This is Namma for Christ with the 11th inspirational blog dated October 23rd, 2012.
The scripture for this message entitled, "I Still Believe - Matt. 5:4" comes from Matthew 5:4. Matthew 5:4 states "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted."
I've included a music video by Jeremy Camp entitled, "I Still Believe". I also included an interview with Jeremy Camp as done by "The 700 Club - of CBN.COM" (to assist in understanding the background behind the song, "I Still Believe"). Jeremy Camp states in the below interview that "his success was born out of a life filled with personal suffering. It began with his marriage to Melissa, a marriage Jeremy entered into knowing that the woman he loved was dying."
This song, "I Still Believe", (as sung by Jeremy Camp) ministered to me at one of the hardest and saddest times of my life....
It was January 11th, 2003, and my dear father had been hospitalized and diagnosed with lung cancer. The doctors had determined it was already at stage 4 and terminal.
A few days before my father passed away... my brother, sister and I had expressed our love to him (while at the hospital), as he expressed his love to us. I tried to be brave...I tried to be strong. I knew I had to accept whatever was going to happen...on January 26, 2003...my father went home to be with the Lord.
I proceeded in making the funeral arrangements (still trying to be strong) but..in my quiet time...I cried...I was going to miss my "Daddy"...I was going to miss his smile...his laughter...his voice...I was just going to miss...him...my DAD. I prayed to Jesus for strength and courage.
He heard my cry...
I was in my car, alone (the evening after my Dad had died and I was thinking of how much I was going to miss him)...and then I heard Jeremy Camp come on the radio, singing "I Still Believe" on 99.1 FM. This song helped me so much..it spoke to me...I felt God comforting me through this song...It reminded me that during difficult times.. I must STILL BELIEVE! (I WILL STILL BELIEVE in JESUS and HIS WILL)...Now..whenever..I hear this song, I fondly think of good memories of my Dad...even though I miss him. I am also REMINDED OF GOD'S FAITHFULNESS.
I know my Dad is with Jesus and I will see him again... one day. I pray this song, or these words may be a blessing to someone else, as well.
INTERVIEW (originally done 2/8/2008)
Jeremy Camp: Melissa's Dying Wish
By Audra Smith
The 700 Club
CBN.com – Award-winning musician, Jeremy Camp leads worship all over the world every year. Jeremy says his success was born out of a life filled with personal suffering. It began with his marriage to Melissa, a marriage Jeremy entered into knowing that the woman he loved was dying.
Jeremy remembers the day he met Melissa. He was leading worship for a church group in San Diego.
"I was singing and I looked up, and there was Melissa with her hands raised up so high. You could tell she was really worshipping Jesus," remembers Jeremy. "I kind of joke around [now] and say, 'I hit the wrong chords and sang a little flat.' "
After only a few months of dating, Jeremy was in love.
"I said, Melissa, I need to tell you something, ‘I love you.’ But she said, 'I don’t feel the same way.' "
However, a few months later, Jeremy received a call from Melissa, who gave him some devastating news. She had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer."
"I remember walking into the hospital, and she had just found out she had cancer, and she was smiling. I was like, 'Why is she smiling?'”
"She [Melissa] said, ‘I am doing okay, because I have been thinking, if I were to die from this cancer, if one person were to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, it would all be worth it.' "
"I was driving home that night, and I was crying, and all these emotions were coming up again. I said, 'Lord, if she tells me she loves me, I will marry her.' I don’t even know why I said it. It was just God preparing my heart."
Jeremy remembers, "So, about two weeks later, I got a phone call. She [Melissa] said, 'I need to talk to you.' She said, 'I know now why God wanted it to be just me and Him because He wanted to prepare me for this. But I have been praying for you for a long time, and I wanted to let you know, 'I love you.' "
"It was like, we both just knew. We just knew," says Jeremy.
Five months later, Jeremy and Melissa wed. However, during their honeymoon, Melissa started having serious stomach pains.
"So, we got back to the doctor when the honeymoon was over and the doctors pulled me aside. They had done some tests on her. They said, 'The cancer is back.' So I was like, 'What can we do?' There is nothing else we can do. It is all over her body. The doctor told Melissa she had months, maybe weeks, to live."
"I remember her [Melissa] saying, 'Jeremy I just want to worship the Lord right now.' So, of course, I would pull the guitar out. It’s those moments, and we had more of those moments, where it's not about our circumstances when we worship the Lord. He is worthy to be praised no matter what we are going through."
On February 5, 2001, at 21-years-old, Melissa died.
"I was on my knees and I remember her sister saying, 'She is with Jesus now.' A grief fell over me that I can’t describe. The weight of her suffering is over, but the grief is she’s gone. We always had worship music playing in the background. I remember the Lord speaking into my heart and saying, 'Jeremy, I want you to stand up and worship me.' I remember standing up and raising my hands."
"That was such a good act of obedience for me, just saying, 'Lord, I don’t want to do this, but I know this is why I am here.' "
"I remember not wanting to ask God, 'Why,' but I finally did, and God always spoke to me. He said, 'Jeremy, I don’t always want you to know why, because I want you to have a testimony of walking by faith.' And I had written that song previously on our honeymoon, "Walk By Faith."
"And I look at these songs that came from it, "Walk by Faith" and "I Still Believe". I wrote ("I Still Believe") two weeks after she went to be with the Lord," says Jeremy. "I have seen story after story of God using this whole thing to show His faithfulness to encourage people. That blows my mind realizing that Melissa made that statement, that if even one person accepts Christ. I hear thousands and thousands of stories. I remember being on my face after that realization and God said, 'Jeremy, 'Remember.' "
"When I get distracted, when I lose sight of what is going on, God will say, 'Look at how many thousands!' "
Today, Jeremy is re-married and his thriving ministry is shared with his new wife, recording artist Adrienne Camp.
"From that, you have the ministry of God bringing us together -- Adrienne and I, and what we have together to minister to people. And from that, two beautiful girls, (and a son- since this was first written) who have changed my life radically. My encouragement... .do not lose heart, because our affliction is just momentary and what He is preparing for us, what He has in store for us, it will blow us away."
"Imagine no more tears, no more sorrow, no more pain… and one day we will forever be with Jesus," he
says.
Please enjoy Jeremy Camp's song below, "I Still Believe".
This is Namma for Christ with the 10th inspirational blog dated Wednesday, October 17th, 2012. The scripture for this message comes from John 1:12 - "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name."
Jesus is God's only begotten Son (John 3:16). The included song,"How Many Kings" by "Downhere" has questions in its lyrics that ask:
"How many kings step down from their thrones?
How many greats have become the least for me?
How many fathers gave up their sons for Me?
Only One - Only JESUS has done that ALL for you and me...ONLY JESUS!"
Please read John 1: 1-14 - it's all about JESUS! JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!
SEEK JESUS...BELIEVE IN HIM AND RECEIVE KING JESUS IN YOUR HEART - if you haven't yet. He loves you ...He wants you to SEEK HIM! Whatever you need - Jesus is the answer! HE IS THE ANSWER FOR THE WORLD TODAY!
Jesus loves us and wants what is best for us. John 10:10 states -
"...I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
The included song and video (with lyrics), entitled "How Many Kings" are from a group called, "Downhere". This song's lyrics are so TRUE and it is performed beautifully by "Downhere". This song can be enjoyed ANYTIME.....CELEBRATE JESUS - THIS IS WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT! You can always depend on Jesus - He knows what is best.
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." -- Hebrews 13:8
This is Namma for Christ with the 9th inspirational blog dated Friday, October 12th, 2012. My prayer is that all who don't know Jesus as their Lord and Savior take the time to pray, seek and find Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. The scripture for "this" message and is at the center of God's Love for us is John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. This is God's Love for us ...that He gave His only Son, Jesus, for us - that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. The title of this message "contains" the title of the included song and video by JJ Heller, : "What Love Really Means". The full title of this message includes the scripture: John 3:16 - what LOVE REALLY MEANS. Below is additional scripture on GOD's LOVE FOR US:
1st John 4: 10 - 16 reads as follows :
King James Version (KJV) :
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
Included - is a beautiful, touching video - the song (with lyrics) is entitled, "What Love Really Means" by JJ Heller...
This song brings me to tears...as you'll hear and read in the below song's lyrics...(Thanks be to God that) He "loves us for us"...and... "not" for what we've done or what we'll become ....HE'LL GIVE US THE LOVE THAT WE'VE NEVER KNOWN....
