Jesus finishes what He started

As parents we try to teach our children good values. We teach our seven year old daughter Christian values like honesty, integrity and respect. 

Another value we try to teach her is that if you start something you need to finish it 

The other night she was watching some TV and when it was time to for her bath I called her, but I got an abrupt “no, not now!” I was quite upset by her response and wanted to know why she was so disobedient. Her response: “Mommy, this story is not finished yet, and you always tell me to finish what I started!” Well, at least I know that she listens when we teach her! 

I know Somebody else that also finishes what He started: 

Philippians 1:6(NLT)

⁶ And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.  

The day you decide to make Jesus part of your life, He starts a good work in your life. This is however a life-long process.  

The promise that He gives us is that this process will be continued until it is finished! He will not stop working in your life until the good He wants to see in your life is accomplished.  

Thank God I am not where I have been, but thank Him even more that He is not yet finished with me! 

Shalom!

Anina

The Real Meaning Of Peace

	There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The king looked at all the pictures. But there were only two he really liked, and he had to choose between them. One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace. The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all. But when the king looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest - in perfect peace. Which picture do you think won the prize? The king chose the second picture. Do you know why? "Because," explained the king, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace."

We must still bring sacrifices today

Some people that will only read the heading of today’s blog will crucify me and say that I am preaching deception. 

But according to the Bible we must still bring certain sacrifices! Praise God it is no longer sacrifices of bulls, goats and doves! 

The Bible is however quite clear about the sacrifices we need to bring: 

Heb. 13:15(AMP) 

Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.  

A sacrifice of praise is to praise God even when it is going difficult. When in spite of losing something, you still glorify His Name, because you trust that He still is in control! 

Another sacrifice we need to bring: 

Ps. 50:14 – 15(AMP)

Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High,

And call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall honor and glorify Me.

Sometimes it seems that there is nothing you can be thankful for. But if you can still find something to be thankful for, you can call on Him and He will deliver you! 

And then maybe the most difficult of all sacrifices: 

Rom. 12:1(AMP) 

I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.  

We need to give ourselves as living sacrifice… this means you give yourself over to God. He can do as He pleases with you, because you no longer belong to yourself, but to Him. 

It is only when you’ve learned to give yourself over to God in this manner, that you will experience Godly peace, no matter what your circumstances! You trust Him enough to know that no matter what happens, He will cause everything to work together for the good!

 Shalom!

Anina

The King of peace

Three years ago when we prayed about the name of our new congregation, there were a few options. One of the options was off course “Salem”. We asked God for conformation and without searching the Lord confirmed it with the following Scripture: 

Hebrews 7:1(MSG)

^1-3Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of the Highest God. He met Abraham, who was returning from "the royal massacre," and gave him his blessing. Abraham in turn gave him a tenth of the spoils. "Melchizedek" means "King of Righteousness." "Salem" means "Peace." So, he is also "King of Peace." Melchizedek towers out of the past—without record of family ties, no account of beginning or end. In this way he is like the Son of God, one huge priestly presence dominating the landscape always. 

Through this Word of confirmation God also showed us the mandate of our congregation - the reason He is placing us in the community of Danville: to bring His Peace to the people of Danville. His Shalom Peace that means nothing missing and nothing broken. His Peace that no matter how bad your circumstances might be, you still experience stillness inside of you! This can only happen when the King of Salem… Jesus Christ is your King!  

The Amplified states it so nicely: 

Philippians 4:7(AMP)

⁷And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 

God’s peace is something that our human mind cannot comprehend. It is when our world falls into pieces, but we still stand tall in Him! When the world says: “How can he still praise God?” 

This is a peace that even exceeds anything we can understand. This peace guards our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus, the King of Peace!

 Shalom!

Anina

Worship displaces worry!

This Sunday we were privileged to have one of our local Gospel artists – Julius Magan – minister at our morning service.

 From the start of the service there was a tangible experience of the Spirit of God. God kept on ministering through prophetic singing that He is our Shalom, our Salem and our Peace! It was as if God’s peace just displayed all worries, uncertainties and fears.

This made me think of the following verse in the Message:

Phil. 4:6-7(MSG) 
Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.
Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

 We had this exact experience on Sunday! Christ - through worship - displaced every concern and He became the center of our lives.

When He is in the center of your life, it is as if everything else becomes less important. Even if there is raging a storm on the outside, there is peace on the inside. You just know that no matter how bad the situation – God is on control and everything will work together for the good!

 His wholeness enters onto your life, in spite of a broken world! Even the broken pieces of your own life are seen through His eyes and it forms into an understandable picture, almost like a collage or puzzle that comes together.

If you are worried, concerned or broken, start worshipping Him – He will display the worry with Himself and you will experience inner peace!

Shalom!

Anina

 (Thanks Julius, for ministering His peace and love to us!)

God's Plan

Some things are beyond planning.

And life doesn't always turn out as planned.

You don't plan for a broken heart.

You don't plan for a failed business venture.

You don't plan for an adulterous husband

or a wife who wants you out of her life.

You don't plan for an autistic child.

You don't plan for spinsterhood.

You don't plan for a lump in your breast.

You plan to be young forever.

You plan to climb the corporate ladder.

You plan to be rich and powerful.

You plan to be acclaimed and successful.

You plan to conquer the universe.

You plan to fall in love - and be loved forever.

You don't plan to be sad.

You don't plan to be hurt.

You don't plan to be broke.

You don't plan to be betrayed.

You don't plan to be alone in this world.

You plan to be happy. You don't plan to be shattered.

Sometimes if you work hard enough, you can get what you want.

But MOST times, what you want and what you get are two different things.

We, mortals, plan. But so does God in the heavens.

Sometimes, it is difficult to understand God's plans especially when His plans are not in consonance with ours.

Often, when God sends us crisis, we turn to Him in anger. True, we cannot choose the cross that God wishes us to carry, but we can carry that cross with courage knowing that God will never abandon us nor send something we cannot cope with.

Sometimes, God breaks our spirit to save our soul.

Sometimes, He breaks our heart to make us whole.

Sometimes, God allows pain so we can be stronger.

Sometimes, God sends us failure so we can be humble.

Sometimes, God allows illness so we can take better care of ourselves. Sometimes, God takes everything away from us so we can learn the value of everything He gave us.

Make plans, but understand that we live by God's grace.

God’s presence brings success

What is your picture of success?  

The dictionary says that success is the accomplishment of an aim or purpose or the attainment of popularity or profit. This is exactly the way the world view success - what you have accumulated in this life and the way it brings you popularity with your peers. 

God’s picture of success looks a little bit different: 

Gen 39:1-2(NLT)

When Joseph was taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders, he was purchased by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Potiphar was captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.

The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.  

Joseph was a slave, he didn’t own anything and had no aim or purpose at that stage of his life. According the world’d definition of success he was a definite failure. But according to God’s definition, Joseph was a success. 

He was successfull just because of one reason... God’s presence! 

It isn’t the right adress of fancy car that makes you successful. Success isn’t what you have, but rather Who you have! 

If you accepted Jesus, you are the temple of God and He lives inside of you.  

His precense inside of you, makes you a success!  

Shalom!

Anina