Rescue Story – Psalm 136:16 – Our Blessings, His Love

 

 

 

This is Namma for Christ with the one hundred fifty-third inspirational message dated Tuesday, November 12th, 2019. The title of this message is “Rescue Story – Psalm 136:16 – Our Blessings, His Love”.

The first two words of the title are also the name of the above inspirational song/video, “Rescue Story” (with lyrics) as sung by Zach Williams.  The below passage of scripture (that accompanies this message) is from the Old Testament book of Psalms - the sixteenth verse of the one hundred thirty-sixth chapter:

Psalm 136:16

New King James Version (NIV)

¹⁶ To Him who led His people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.
 

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 November 12^th, 2019) and found it to be so inspiring, memorable and “thought-provoking”. 

 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:

  

Our Blessings, His Love

To Him who led His people through the wilderness; His love endures forever.

Psalm 136:16

 

Today's Scripture & Insight:

Psalm 136:1–3, 10–26

In 2015, a woman discarded her deceased husband’s computer at a recycling center—a computer that had been made in 1976. But more important than when it had been made was who made it. It was one of 200 computers hand built by Apple founder Steve Jobs, and was worth an estimated quarter of a million dollars! Sometimes knowing the true worth of something means knowing who made it.
Knowing that it’s God who made us shows us how valuable we are to Him (Genesis 1:27). Psalm 136 catalogs key moments of His people—ancient Israel: how they had been freed from captivity in Egypt (vv. 11–12), journeyed through the wilderness (v. 16), and were given a new home in Canaan (vv. 21–22). But each time a moment of Israel’s history is mentioned, it’s paired with this repeated refrain: “His love endures forever.” This refrain reminded the people of Israel that their experiences weren’t random historical events. Each moment had been orchestrated by God and was a reflection of His enduring love for those He’d made.
Far too often, I allow moments that show God at work and His kind ways to simply pass by, failing to recognize that every perfect gift comes from my heavenly Father (James 1:17) who made me and loves me. May you and I learn to connect every blessing in our lives to God’s enduring love for us.

By: Peter Chin

 
 
Please enjoy the above inspirational song/video “Rescue Story” (with lyrics) as performed by Zach Williams sung with power and anointing.


 

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

BE BLESSED!

I’m Here – Isaiah 6:8

This is Namma for Christ with the one hundred fifty-second inspirational message dated Saturday, October 26th, 2019. The title of this message is “I’m Here – Isaiah 6:8”.

The first two words of the title are also the name of the above powerfully sung song/video, "I'm Here" (with lyrics) by Cynthia Erivo from her award-winning performance of Celie in “The Color Purple” on Broadway. I saw the movie, “The Color Purple” when it first came out in 1985 and the movie made me cry.  I had never seen the play – nor Cynthia Erivo sing her song “I’m Here”…until Saturday, October 26th, 2019 – while watching her (Cynthia) be interviewed by Oprah on Oprah’s OWN Network on TV. After I saw a brief excerpt of Cynthia Erivo singing, I knew I had to go to YouTube – and include this song for my next “Namma for Christ” message.  The below passage of scripture (that accompanies this message) is from the Old Testament book of Isaiah - the eighth verse of the sixth chapter:

Isaiah 6:8

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁸ Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:

“Whom shall I send,
And who will go for Us?”

Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

 

This is the text that describes Isaiah’s response to the Lord’s “calling” Isaiah to his ministry. Isaiah (who in the previous verses) – had just recently been forgiven of his sins and had just been anointed. What does Isaiah say in response to the Triune God’s question of -“Who will go for Us?”

Isaiah responds,

“Here am I! Send me.”

 

Now – Ask your YOURSELF…

WHAT IS “YOUR RESPONSE” TO God’s "CALL" ON YOUR LIFE?

ONLY…“YOU” can answer that question.

The Lord’s “calling” to Isaiah was for him to  be a prophet and to preach.  "Isaiah's calling" was "his ministry"…to “change the world”, to impact someone’s life, and to be used by God to fulfill God’s purpose for his (Isaiah’s) life.

What is YOUR calling or ministry?

 

Pray to God – if you don’t know, yet.  Seek the Lord as the below bible verse states –

Isaiah 55:6

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁶ Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.

 

Our purpose – as the children of God – is to GLORIFY OUR FATHER GOD. God has been so GOOD to us – let us demonstrate our love, thankfulness and gratitude to our Lord by using our lives to GLORIFY HIM! See the below verses:

John 15:8

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁸ By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

 

1 Corinthians 10:31

 New King James Version (NKJV)

³¹ Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

 

Matthew 5:14-16

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

 

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.

 

 

In Cynthia Erivo’s performance (above) – she is singing a song (to the character "Mister" from “The Color Purple”) of "where" she’s at – “now” - despite everything that she’s (Celie’s) been through… She’s HERE!

What has GOD brought “YOU” through – so that He could USE YOU to help and bless others?

ONLY “YOU” can answer that question….

 

Please enjoy the above inspirational song/video (with lyrics) as performed by Cynthia Erivo singing her song “I’m Here” sung with power and anointing.


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


BE BLESSED!

My Tribute (To God Be the Glory)-Luke 23:42-43

This is Namma for Christ with the one hundred fifty-first inspirational message dated Tuesday, October 22nd, 2019. The title of this message is “My Tribute (To God Be the Glory) – Luke 23:42-43”.

The first seven words of the title are also the name of the above renowned inspirational gospel song originally written and sung by the late Andrae Crouch entitled “My Tribute (To God Be the Glory)”.  It is also the song that my very own daughter, Janel Spicer sang at the funeral of her dad, Jimmy Spicer, (my ex-husband and the father of my two daughters: Leticia and Janel). Janel sang this song with power and anointing as her last “tribute” to her dad (see the above video/song). I "also" shared in participating in the service by reading the below passage of scripture - Luke 23:42-43 –

 

Luke 23:42-43

 New International Version (NIV)

⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”

 

The scripture above is part of the text that describes “the thief on the cross” and his last conversation with Jesus. The scripture text of Luke 23:32-43 describes how the thief had an “eleventh hour conversion” experience. Before his last dying breath, the thief believed in Jesus as his Lord and Savior and asked Him to “Remember me” when Jesus “came into His kingdom”.  Jesus redeemed this thief and He told him in the below verse (see Luke 23:43 below) – that he will be with Him in Paradise, today:

Luke 23:43

New International Version (NIV)

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”

 

During his year-long battle against lung and brain cancer, my daughters, Leticia and Janel, continually prayed for their dad, Jimmy Spicer, to accept Jesus, as his Lord and Savior before he died. I kept reminding them of the “thief on the cross”, who believed in Jesus, right before he died - to encourage my daughters that it is possible that their dad could be “saved”. On one of her visits to his hospital, Janel informed Leticia and me that their dad did tell her that he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. The joy of knowing that their dad would spend eternity with Jesus gave them “peace” and comfort beyond compare. No matter how much a person has acquired or gained in “this” life- nothing can be compared to God’s mercy, love and being redeemed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To God - be the Glory! Our Lord desires that all believe and be saved - see the below verses:

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.

 

2 Peter 3:9

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

 

 

Romans 10:8-13

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. ¹³ For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

 

Please enjoy the above inspirational song/video entitled “My Tribute (To God Be the Glory)”– sung with power and anointing by Janel Spicer.

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

 

BE BLESSED!

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!