Rescue – Gen. 9:15-17 – The Rain Before the Rainbow

This is Namma for Christ with the one hundred fiftieth inspirational message dated Monday, September 30th, 2019. The title of this message is “Rescue – Gen. 9:15-17 – The Rain Before the Rainbow”.

The first word of the title is also the name of the above inspirational song/video entitled “Rescue” (with lyrics) – sung with power and anointing by Lauren Daigle.

The scripture comes from the fifteenth through the seventeenth verses of the ninth chapter of the book of Genesis:


Genesis 9:15-17
New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁵ and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. ¹⁶ The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” ¹⁷ And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”  

 

On Saturday, September 28^th, 2019, I attended my mother’s church (with my family) for an evening service – entitled their “Annual Rainbow Service”. During the service my very own oldest daughter, Leticia gave an excellent and inspirational message. The title of the message was, “The Rain Before the Rainbow”. This message touched me so much – I knew I wanted to share it with others.

 

Genesis 9:15-17 states “and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.” Then God said to Noah, “Yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures on earth.

 

When we meditate on the Word recorded about the first rainbow, many things come to mind. We think of a town in destruction, Noah - a man “anointed and called by God for a purpose”, obedience in the building of the ark, obedience in the animals called two by two, mockers that judged Noah…but then came the rain, 40 days and 40 nights - almost a month and a half of nonstop rain. The most destructive storm ever created in the world – (which wiped out the complete population of the world) with the exception of Noah’s family and two of every animal. Then of course - we think of the dove and the olive branch to show the storm was over and finally the “rainbow”, to show the promise of God.

 

But in order to get to that rainbow, the promise of God, a lot had to happen first! Even in the word rainbow, rain must come first. And if you study the Bible long enough you’ll notice this trend, more and more. There is always rain “before” the promise. Moses had the rain of the wilderness to get to his promise of the Promised Land. Joseph had the rain of his brothers’ betrayal, slavery and imprisonment to get to the promise of being in the seat of power. Abraham’s rain came in the form of “waiting”, being delayed of God’s promise, to get to become the father of many nations. Paul had the rain of his Damascus road experience to get to the promise of being an amazing apostle for Christ. Ruth had her rain experience in the passing of her husband to get to the promise of her “Boaz.” And we know Christ’s “rain” of death “on the cross” to get to the promise of “resurrection from the grave”. And there are many more stories that I can talk about, but one thing that is in common as we look at the way God moves from “rain to rainbow promises” is the “faith” that each person had. 

 

Hebrews 11:1-2 NKJV
 

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

 

Hebrews 11:7 NKJV

 

By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”

So whatever the situation and “rain” we may be going through right now, if we have the faith to endure like Noah, Ruth and Jesus and sooo many others… no matter how long it takes, it could be 3 days, 40 days or sometimes even 40 years but when we trust God we will always see a rainbow at the end.

 

Please enjoy the above inspirational song/video entitled “Rescue” (with lyrics) – sung with power and anointing by Lauren Daigle


 (I do not own the rights to this song.)



BE BLESSED!

The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power - 1st Pet. 1:18-19

 

 

 

This is Namma for Christ with the one hundred forty-ninth inspirational message dated Sunday, September 29th, 2019. The title of this message is “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power” – 1^st Peter 1:18-19.

The first seven words of the title are also the title of the above inspirational song/video “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power” as sung by Crystal Tate (The First Lady) of Mount Moriah Baptist Church of Los Angeles. The scripture comes from the eighteenth and nineteenth verses of the first chapter of the first book of Peter:

 

1st Peter 1:18-19

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁸ knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

 

On Saturday, September 28^th, 2019, I attended my mother’s church for an evening service. During the service a childhood friend of mine sang the famous Andrae Crouch song, “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power”. This inspirational song and its anointed lyrics touched me so much – I knew I would have to share its impact on me with others. I had heard this song many times before, especially during First Sunday Communion Sunday Services, but this night – “I heard it like never before”…

The lyrics begin as follows –

“The blood that Jesus shed for me – way back on Calvary

The blood that gives me strength from day to day,

It will never lose its power.

It reaches to the highest mountains,

It flows to the lowest valleys…

The blood that gives me strength from day to day…

It will never lose its power…”

 

Perhaps, the song affected me so much – because just the previous day – on Friday, September 27^th, I had found out that my ex-husband and father of my children had passed away. I knew that my ex-husband had recently accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior while he was in the hospital battling lung cancer. I listened to this song with a new appreciation of its lyrics…just thinking about Jesus’ LOVE for ALL OF US who believe in Him – is so absolutely awesome. The lyrics of this song are so meaningful and powerful:

“The blood that was shed for me – way back on Calvary,

The blood that gives me strength, from day to day,

It will never lose its power.

It reaches to the highest mountains,

It flows to the lowest valleys…

The blood that gives me strength from day to day…

It will never lose its power…”

 

Jesus, our KING of Kings, the Savior of the World, God’s Only Begotten Son shed His precious blood for EVERYONE who Believes in HIM…WHAT GREAT LOVE! Our daily strength to live – comes from HIM – Jesus Christ! His blood reaches to the highest mountains…and it flows to the lowest valley – Jesus’ blood (His Mercy and Grace) will meet you WHERE YOU ARE! The Bible says in 1^st Timothy 2:3-4 that God desires that all may be saved –

1st Timothy 2:3-4

New King James Version (NKJV)

³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 The below Bible verse says that Jesus came to seek and save that which is lost –

 

Luke 19:10

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁰ for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

 

Jesus loves you! “He will never leave you nor forsake you” as Hebrews 13:5 states.

Always remember John 3:16 –

John 3:16

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

 

Please enjoy the above inspirational song/video – “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power”– sung with power and anointing by Crystal Tate (The First Lady) of Mount Moriah Baptist Church of Los Angeles.

(If you can't see the above video: Please scroll down to the end - Under the rectangular box labeled "Home" - please click "View web version". You will automatically be taken to the top of the message -

 Please press play to enjoy the song/video.)
 

 

(I do not own the rights to this song.)

 

BE BLESSED!

Scars - Who We Are - Acts 9:15

This is Namma for Christ with the one hundred forty-eighth inspirational message dated Thursday, August 1st, 2019. The title of this message is "Scars – Who We Are - Acts 9:15".

The first word of the title is also the title of the above inspirational song/video “Scars” (with lyrics) by the Christian group “I Am They”. The scripture comes from the fifteenth verse of the ninth chapter of the book of Acts:

 

 

Acts 9:15

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

 

For many years, I have enjoyed reading the daily inspirational messages as provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries in their publications of "OUR DAILY BREAD".  

 I recently read the message for the day (for July 31^st, 2019) and found it to be so inspiring, memorable and “thought-provoking”.  This message made me reflect on what is really important: in how GOD sees us as “new creations in Christ”! God views us - in not who we “were” but who we are becoming through the power of the Holy Spirit

I wanted to share this message with you (see the below message). Our Daily Bread Ministries has the website of:  www.odb.org so that you can read and enjoy life-changing wisdom of daily inspirational messages based on scripture from the Bible. Please read and enjoy:

Who We Are

This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name.

Acts 9:15

Today's Scripture & Insight:

Acts 9:13-16

I’ll never forget the time I took my future wife to meet my family. With a twinkle in their eyes, my two elder siblings asked her, “What exactly do you see in this guy?” She smiled and assured them that by God’s grace I had grown to be the man she loved.
I loved that clever reply because it also reflects how, in Christ, the Lord sees more than our past. In Acts 9, He directed Ananias to heal Saul, a known persecutor of the church whom God had blinded. Ananias was incredulous at receiving this mission, stating that Saul had been rounding up believers in Jesus for persecution and even execution. God told Ananias not to focus on who Saul had been but on who he had become: an evangelist who would bring the good news to all the known world, including to the Gentiles (those who weren’t Jews) and to kings (v. 15). Ananias saw Saul the Pharisee and persecutor, but God saw Paul the apostle and evangelist.
We can sometimes view ourselves only as we have been—with all of our failures and shortcomings. But God sees us as new creations, not who we were but who we are in Jesus and who we’re becoming through the power of the Holy Spirit. O God, teach us to view ourselves and others in this way!

By: Peter Chin

How can you begin to better view yourself and others in light of who you are in Christ today? How does it encourage you to know God isn’t through growing and refining you?

Heavenly Father, help me to find my full identity in You. Allow me to humbly see others through Your eyes of grace!

 

Please enjoy the above inspirational song/video “Scars” (with lyrics) by the Christian group “I Am They”

 (I do not own the rights to this song.)

BE BLESSED!

Till I Found You - Eccl. 7:2 - Your Eulogy

 

This is Namma for Christ with the one hundred forty-seventh inspirational message dated Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019. The title of this message is “Till I Found You – Eccl. 7:2 – Your Eulogy”.

 

The first four words of the title are also the title of the above inspirational song/video “Till I Found You” (with lyrics) by the Christian artist “Phil Wickham”. The scripture comes from the 2^nd verse of the seventh chapter of the book of Ecclesiastes:

 

Ecclesiastes 7:2

New International Version (NIV)

² It is better to go to a house of mourning
    than to go to a house of feasting,
for death is the destiny of everyone;
    the living should take this to heart.

For many years, I have enjoyed reading the daily inspirational messages as provided by RBC Ministries in their publications of "OUR DAILY BREAD".  

 I recently read the message for the day (for June 26^th, 2019) and found it to be so inspiring, memorable and “thought-provoking”.  The main character of the "OUR DAILY BREAD” message (for June 26^th, 2019) lived a life - “like my 99 year old, bed-ridden grandmother”. (My grandmother transitioned peacefully from this life to be with the Lord on July 19, 2019). This message made me reflect on what is really important in life…

I wanted to share this message with you (see the below message). RBC Ministries has the website of:  www.rbc.org so that you can read and enjoy life-changing wisdom of daily inspirational messages based on scripture from the Bible. Please read and enjoy:

 

Your Eulogy

Bible in a Year :

Job 5–7; Acts 8:1–25

Death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.

Ecclesiastes 7:2

 

Today's Scripture & Insight:

Ecclesiastes 7:1–6

My heart is full from attending the funeral of a faithful woman. Her life wasn’t spectacular. She wasn’t known widely outside her church, neighbors, and friends. But she loved Jesus, her seven children, and her twenty-five grandchildren. She laughed easily, served generously, and could hit a softball a long way.
Ecclesiastes says, “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting” (7:2). “The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning” because there we learn what matters most (7:4). New York Times columnist David Brooks says there are two kinds of virtues: those that look good on a résumé and those you want said at your funeral. Sometimes these overlap, though often they seem to compete. When in doubt, always choose the eulogy virtues.
The woman in the casket didn’t have a résumé, but her children testified that “she rocked Proverbs 31” and its description of a godly woman. She inspired them to love Jesus and care for others. As Paul said, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1), so they challenged us to imitate their mother’s life as she imitated Jesus.
What will be said at your funeral? What do you want said? It’s not too late to develop eulogy virtues. Rest in Jesus. His salvation frees us to live for what matters most.

By Mike Wittmer

 

Reflect & Pray

Are you living out things that will affect your résumé or your eulogy? How would your life change if you lived each day with your eulogy in mind?

Father, give me the courage to live for what matters most.

 

Please enjoy the above inspirational song/video “Till I Found You” (with lyrics) by the Christian artist Phil Wickham.

  (I do not own the rights to this song.)

BE BLESSED!

Reason The Lord Rejoices - Zeph. 3:17

 

 

 

This is Namma for Christ with the one hundred forty-sixth inspirational message dated Sunday, June 23rd, 2019. The title of this message is “Reason - The Lord Rejoices - Zeph. 3:17”.

 

The first word of the title is also the title of the above inspirational song/video “Reason” (with lyrics) by the Christian group “Unspoken”. The scripture comes from the 17^th verse of the third chapter of the book of Zephaniah:

 

Zephaniah 3:17

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁷ The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”

 

For many years, I have enjoyed reading the daily inspirational messages as provided by RBC Ministries in their publications of "OUR DAILY BREAD".  

 I recently read the message for the day and found it to be so beautiful and inspiring,
I wanted to share it with you (see the below message). RBC Ministries has the website of:  www.rbc.org so that you can read and enjoy life-changing wisdom of daily inspirational messages based on scripture from the Bible. Please read and enjoy:

 

The Lord Rejoices

6/23/2019

Bible in a Year :

Esther 9–10; Acts 7:1–21

[God] will rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

 

Today's Scripture & Insight:

Zephaniah 3:14–20

My grandmother recently sent me a folder full of old photographs, and as I thumbed through them, one caught my eye. In it, I’m two years old, and I’m sitting on one end of a hearth (floor) in front of a fireplace. On the other end, my dad has his arm around my mom’s shoulders. Both are gazing at me with expressions of love and delight.

I pinned this photo to my dresser, where I see it every morning. It’s a wonderful reminder of their love for me. The truth is, though, that even the love of good parents is imperfect. I saved this photo because it reminds me that although human love may fail sometimes, God’s love never fails—and according to Scripture, God looks at me the way my parents are looking at me in this picture.

The prophet Zephaniah described this love in a way that astounds me. He describes God as rejoicing over His people with singing. God’s people had not earned this love. They had failed to obey Him or to treat each other with compassion. But Zephaniah promised that in the end, God’s love would prevail over their failures. God would take away their punishment (Zephaniah 3:15), and He would rejoice over them (v. 17). He would gather His people into His arms, bring them home, and restore them (v. 20).

That’s a love worth reflecting on every morning.

By Amy Peterson 

Reflect & Pray

How does it make you feel that God rejoices over you with singing? How have you experienced His love?

God, thank You for Your forgiveness and faithful love for us.

 

Please enjoy the above inspirational song/video “Reason” (with lyrics) by the Christian group “Unspoken”.

 (I do not own the rights to this song.) 
 

BE BLESSED!

 

 

“God Never Fails” - 1 Corinthians 1:9

 

 

 

This is Namma for Christ with the 145th inspirational message dated Friday, June 14^th, 2019. The title of this message is “God Never Fails” - 1 Corinthians 1:9. The first three words of the title of this message are also the first three words of the above song/video by “Mt. Zion Fellowship of Highland Hills, Ohio with Dr. C. Ronald S. Williams II, Senior Pastor, entitled – “God Never Fails”.  The scripture for this message is found in the ninth verse of the first chapter of 1^st Corinthians – as found in the New Testament book as written by Apostle Paul.

1 Corinthians 1:9

Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

⁹ God never fails anyone. It is He who called you to belong to His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

This message is a personal testimony of a recent experience of mine where God “showed up and showed out!” I truly believe in the power of prayer and how God will answer in His time and in His Way! This mediation’s song lyrics (of the chorus) are provided below because I truly believe that “GOD NEVER FAILS”:

God Never Fails

God never fails, God never fails
He abides with me, He Gives me victory
For God never fails
Oh, just keep the faith and never cease to pray
Just walk upright, call Him morning, noon, day, or night
He'll be there, He'll be there
There's no need to worry for God never fails.

 

My testimony is of a recent incident where the bills were high, but the money was low. I had just got paid and I had budgeted my money out to all that was due that month: my tithes, my car insurance, my rent, my food and gas money for the week.

Unfortunately and unexpectedly, the very same day that I got paid - my car started making a strange noise (that I had never heard of before). I drove my car to the mechanic – praying that the amount to “fix” the car would be within my budget of “what I could afford” – from what was “left-over” (from what I had previously budgeted out). I prayed that God would help me in this financial situation. I left my car with the mechanic overnight and called him the next day to see how much he would charge me to fix my car. I “honestly” did not have any extra money to fix my car! God performed a miracle for me! My mechanic informed me that he had driven my car, inspected it and found no problem! He told me that he didn’t even hear the noise (that I had heard the day before)! He simply told me to come pick up my car – he said there was nothing mechanically wrong with my car!  I didn’t have to pay him ANYTHING! I IMMEDIATELY just PRAISED and THANKED GOD! GOD KNEW MY SITUATION – and HE WORKED IT OUT – TOGETHER FOR MY GOOD! I picked up my car and drove it home with no noise and no problems! This is a personal testimony of how I gave GOD my problem and HE SHOWED ME – HOW “GOD NEVER FAILS”! TRY GOD for yourself – if you haven’t yet…GOD NEVER FAILS!

Psalm 34:8 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁸ Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

 

Please enjoy the above inspirational song/video by “Mt. Zion Fellowship of Highland Hills with Dr. C. Ronald S. Williams II, Senior  Pastor, entitled – “God Never Fails”. 

  (I do not own the rights to this song.)

BE BLESSED!



Build My Life - Rom. 8:1 - Living the Free Life

This is Namma for Christ with the 144th inspirational message dated Monday, May 20^th, 2019. The title of this message is “Build My Life – Rom. 8:1 – Living the Free Life”. The first three words of the title of this message are also the first three words of the above song/video by Christian artist “Pat Barrett” (featuring Chris Tomlin) entitled – “Build My Life”.  The scripture for this message is found in the first verse of the eighth chapter of Romans – as found in the New Testament book as written by Apostle Paul.

Romans 8:1

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹ Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Recently, I read my church school lesson (for May 12th, 2019)  as found in the lesson book from the “Echoes Church School Publications” and the lesson was about "Romans 8:1 - Living the Free Life".  Immediately, this caught my attention, because this verse has always been one of my favorite verses.  When I was about 22 years old, I was going through a really difficult time - during my last year of college.  Not only was I trying to finish my last remaining courses to graduate “on-time”, I had also recently broke up with my “then” boyfriend (at that time) and my college internship had suddenly ended.  It seemed like “everything” that I touched was “failing” – and during that period of my life, I felt like a “complete failure”. “Nothing” – I attempted was “working” as "I thought" it should have been "working" – and I “lost all confidence in myself”. I really had thought that this world would be better  off without me. I felt as if I had let “everybody down” – my family, my friends and my church family. I spoke to the counselors at my school, but they couldn't help me. I was having trouble sleeping, I was exhausted and I stressed myself out “worrying”! Little did I know “then” – that the “worrying” led to the “lack of sleep” – and the “lack of sleep” led to the exhaustion.  Looking back - no wonder.... I had no confidence, suffered with low self-esteem, couldn’t concentrate, or do anything right – I was physically and mentally "drained"!  I had put all this pressure on myself – forgetting what I had learned in church school and from reading my Bible.  I had forgotten to “Cast ALL my care on HIM (JESUS), for HE cared for me” as 1^st Peter 5: 7 said.

 

During this stressful time, I also needed to STOP BLAMING MYSELF! God's Holy Spirit led me to read Romans 8:1 (below) and it "WOKE ME UP"!

Romans 8:1

8 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

 
This verse reminded me that I didn’t have to CONDEMN myself for my failures! God was “THEN” and “ALWAYS IS” IN CONTROL! I realized... I was FREE to LIVE!  If Jesus, my Lord and Savior, didn’t condemn me, “WHY” was I CONDEMNING MYSELF!

 

After I read Romans 8:1 – I REMEMBERED THAT “JESUS STILL LOVED ME”…I had been so hard on "myself" – but, that NEVER changed how JESUS felt about me…He LOVED ME and He “NEVER” left me as Hebrews 13:5b (below)  reminded me  of what
Jesus said:

“I will never leave you, nor forsake you…” 

I remembered God’s promises and my WHOLE PERSPECTIVE CHANGED…I looked to JESUS! I stopped blaming myself…

All Praises to the Lord – I finished my credits, graduated from college, and I got a job (within a month after graduating)! "This "same" job, with GOD's help, I was able to keep for the next 22 years - To God be the GLORY! ONLY GOD!

 

 God knew the plans He had for me – all along – I had to STOP BLAMING myself and I had to KEEP remembering the promises in His Word.

 

I pray that this “personal testimony” may encourage someone else reading this. We ALL may go through difficult times (during our lives), but don’t get discouraged – GOD is not done with us yet!

Always, REMEMBER Romans 8:1 - 

Romans 8:1

New King James Version (NKJV)

Free from Indwelling Sin

8 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

 

and REMEMBER Jeremiah 29:11 (concerning God’s plans for you):

 

Jeremiah 29:11

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 

Please enjoy the above inspirational song/video (with lyrics) by Pat Barrett (featuring Chris Tomlin) entitled, “Build My Life”.

  (I do not own the rights to this song.)

(If you can’t see the above video: Please scroll down to the end – Under the rectangular box labeled “Home” – please click “View web version”. You will automatically be taken to the top of the message. Please press play to enjoy the song/video).

 

BE BLESSED!