Happy Valentine's Day

A Love Abandon At the Cross

When I think about the deeds of Adam and Eve, this causes me to think about the pain and hurt that our loving father must have felt.

This hurt caused God to act quickly to reunite us back to Him.  His love for us is the greatest thing in this universe.  The very essence of who God is, His personality and His nature is love "GOD IS LOVE".  The motivation for God sending Jesus into this world was "LOVE" John 3:16 (For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life"' NIV

We have to understand that God's love for us is unconditional, it’s eternal, it's perfect and personal.  With this in mind try to put yourself in His shoes.  How would you feel if you loved someone as much as God loves you and they turn their back on you?  You would probable do everything in your power to fix it, but that other person doesn't want it to be fixed, tell me how would you feel?

Then if that person does come back but keep doing things to hurt you, you would probably throw the towel in and wash your hand of the whole situation.  Well think about God, because that's what we do to Him on a daily basis. These are some of the things he has had to endure from us and still He chooses to love us unconditionally, with grace, mercy and forgiveness. 

John 3:16 tells us that God loves us so much that he gave us his only Son.  Yes, He gave His son, His only son, and this Son died on the cross for us, so that we may redeemed back to our Father.  The Bible lets us know in Matthew 27:46 that while Jesus was on the cross "about the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabchthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Reading the about verse lets me know that there was a separation at the cross on our behalf.  At that very moment when Jesus cried out, the sins of the world was placed on His shoulders, Isaiah 53:5 say "that he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him and by his wounds we are healed". 

At the ninth hour when the sins of the world were upon His shoulders and He cried out, I believe at that time God had turned away from Jesus.  The full impact of this abandonment was realized in astounding disbelief by Jesus because He was man and so in turn cried out in distress.  Because Jesus was man the impact was heart breaking.  As God is heart was broken and as man he must have been devastated. Not only was the sins of the world placed on Jesus, but Jesus with our sins was separated from God His father (abandon at the cross).  God the father cannot be in the presence of sin and so had to separate himself from sin at the cross.  But there was also immediate victory at the cross when Jesus again submitted His will to the father, by saying "it was finished".

John 15:13 "Greater love has no one that this, that he lay down his life for his friends".

I ask you today, as you celebrate V Day with your friends and families today think about that wonderful love, a love that was given by a man over 2000 years ago on a old wooden cross so that we might be saved!

As the song "I love you, I love you, that's what Calvary says, I love you, I love you, I love you written in Red....."

Christian or Discipleship (part 2)

I apologize but in my eagerness to get my point accross yesterday, I presented some information that was wrong. I stated that the Bible does not have the word Christian in it, but it was brought to my attention by a pastor friend and i would like to clear it up right now. The word Christian is in the Bible; please see the following The first recorded use of the term is in the New Testament, in Acts 11:26, which states "...in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians." The second mention of the term follows in Acts 26:28, where Herod Agrippa II replies to Paul the Apostle, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" The third and final New Testament reference to the term is in 1 Peter 4:16, which exhorts believers, "...if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name." The term "Christian" is also adjectivally to describe anything associated with Christianity, or in a proverbial sense "all that is noble, and good, and Christ-like." It is also used as a label to identify people who associate with the cultural aspects of Christianity, irrespective of personal religious beliefs or practices. So there it is! Tomorrow I will do a post on discipleship, so you have both sides of the coin and you can make and informed decision "Christianity or disciplehip"???

Are you a disciple or a christian

Im declaring this moring that I am no longer a christian! Most christians today are very secular and have no power, they can not even pray for themselves. We are not of this world “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people"; The word christian is not found in the bible but the word disciple is. We are not called to be christians but disciples and to make disciples not christians! Matthew 28:19 " Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." To do such great work you need to have power not mere christanity!!!!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

What is the true meaning of Christmas?

Is it the gifts we buy, the Christmas tree in our homes, the snow on the ground, or is it the man in the red suit??

We in our hustle and bustle often seem to forget the very popular phrase "the reason for the season".

Over 2000 years ago a child was born; this child was born to a virgin mother and a divine father.  This child came in to this word in a lowly state; He was born in a stable and laid in manger.  Can you imagine being born in a stable?  A place where animal dwells. Imagine going into a farm of live stock particularly sheep, goat and donkeys (these were normal live stock of those days) consider the smell. The stench of animal urine and waste, most of us can't even walk in to a public rest room with out gagging.  But yet our Lord was born in these conditions.  

And if being born in a stable was not bad enough he was laid in a manger. (A manger is a trough or box of carved stone or wood construction used to hold food for animals (as in a stable). Mangers are mostly used in livestock raising. They are also used to feed wild animals. The word comes from the French manger (meaning "to eat"), from Latin manducare (meaning "to chew"). He laid in a manger a place where animals feed from. In order for it to a bit comfortable Joseph probably had to layer it with hay.

Our children are born into a civil world, mother is made to comfortable, and babies are born to be wrapped in warm clothing, heating lamps if needed and much more.  Their nurseries are built before their birth, everything has been well put away and organized for their arrival.

When we think of Christmas do we think about the sacrifices Jesus came into this world to make for us? He loves us so much that He humbled Himself to be born in a stable and lay in a manger and then to died a lowly death as well. He as persecuted, spat upon, beaten, bruised all for our sake.

So, is Christmas about Santa?  No, God said that He is a jealous God and will share is glory with no man. Is it about gifts? No because we should give the give of love to our brother and sisters all through the year not only on Christmas, plus we are not saved by what we do, so it not about giving gifts either. What is it truly about then? Christmas literally means the Mass (celebration) of Christ. "Christ" is a Greek word and title, meaning "anointed" or one set apart by God for a special purpose. "Christ" is equivalent to the Hebrew word "Messiah." CHRIST-mas is the celebration of  the arrival of the Messiah promised by God as a great deliver of the people from sin, and to redeem us back to Himself through is love.

Merry Christmas!!!!!!
Celebrate the CHRIST in christmas
Elisa

Ladies, Something To Chew On!!!

Women were made from a man's rib, not from his head to be superior, not from his feet to be walked on, but from his side to be equal, from under the arm to be protected, and from next to the heart to be loved. You're true love will realize how much they want to be with you and he will call you. Be patient.
Sincere forgiveness isn't colored with expectations that the other person apologize or change. Don't worry whether or not they finally understand you. Love them and release them. Life feeds back truth to people in its own way and time.”by Sara Paddison

Press Release From My Publisher

                                                                                                  For Immediate Release

                                                            Contact:   

Shawn Street

– Public Relations

                                                                                         pr@publishamerica.com

                                                                                                     www.publishamerica.com

PublishAmerica Presents Living a Balanced Life by Elisa A. Wood

Frederick, MD October 20, 2011 -- PublishAmerica is proud to present Living a Balanced Life: The Way God Intended by Elisa A. Wood from Southport, North Carolina.

How can a woman find balance in life?  Women are always ripping and running, whether it’s working two jobs trying to make ends meet.  Going to both school and work while maintaining a family, or even if you are a stay at home mom juggling a family with daily chores.  Wood’s hope is to help you find the balance of life God intended for us to have!

Elisa Wood was born in Port of Spain Trinidad on January 1st, 1974. For several years, Elisa work in the Legal field in NYC and then relocated to Rochester, NY where she had encounter with the Lord and her life was forever changed. She struggled to make ends meet as a single mother of 3 wonderful boys for many years.  In 2004 her future was prophesied by her pastor in full details.  In September of 2005 that prophecy started coming to past.  She met her husband in September of 2005 and was married to him by February 2007. She moved with her new husband and her family to Southport where she still resides.  Elisa was called into ministry and became a licensed minister in June of 2007. She has a great passion for woman (abused, trouble etc.) and vowed to the Lord that she will do all that she can do to help them, hence the book Living a Balanced Life: The Way God Intended.

“It has been an extreme pleasure to work with this talented and dedicated author,” said PublishAmerica Public Relations Director Shawn Street.  “For ordering information, please visit http://www.publishamerica.com/.”

PublishAmerica is the home of more than 50,000 talented authors.  PublishAmerica is a traditional publishing company whose primary goal is to encourage and promote the works of new, previously undiscovered writers.  Like more mainstream publishers, PublishAmerica pays its authors advances and royalties and makes its books available through all bookstores.  PublishAmerica offers a distinctly personal, supportive alternative to vanity presses and less accessible publishers.

Follow us on Twitter at @PubAmericaNews!

Visit us online at http://www.facebook.com/publishamerica.publisher and www.publishamerica.com.

END

Our Daily Bread Devotional

Hello everyone!

I am excited today, we now have a new feed for The Daily Bread devotional that will keep us up to day with our daily devotions. If you look to the right of the screen you will see each day listed, so if you miss a day you can now go back a get caught up.

Also, you can now follow this blog by email as well!  Get up to the minute updates via your email. Right under The Daily Bread devotional is a spot for you to sign up to follow by email.

I hope you will put these exciting update to work for you, with today technologies there is no need to go without the Word of God on a daily basis!

Elisa

DAILY DEVOTION

My Fingernails Or His Hand?

Read: Psalm 37:23-26

The Lord upholds him with His hand. —Psalm 37:24

Bible in a year:
Isaiah 59-61; 2 Thessalonians 3

Tough times can cause us to get our perspective turned around. I was reminded of this recently as I talked to a fellow-griever—another parent who, like Sue and me, lost a teenage daughter to death suddenly and without warning.
She told me she had been missing her daughter terribly, and she told God she felt as if she were hanging on by her fingernails. Then she felt as if God reminded her that His hand of protection was there to hold her up—that she could let go, and He would catch her.
That’s a better perspective, isn’t it? This picture reminds us that when troubles come and we feel least able to hold on to our faith, it’s not up to us. It’s up to God to support us with His mighty hand.
Psalm 37:23-24 says: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord . . . . Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.” And Psalm 63:8 tells us: “My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.”
In tough times, we can become so preoccupied with our role in “clinging to God” that we forget about His promised protection. It’s not our fingernails that sustain us—it’s His loving, upholding hand.

God’s hand that holds the ocean’s depths
Can hold my small affairs;
His hand that guides the universe,
Can carry all my cares. —Anon.

No one is more secure than the one who is held in God’s hand.

DAILY DEVOTION

Investing In The Future

Read: Matthew 6:19-24

Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. —Matthew 6:20

Bible in a year:
Isaiah 56-58; 2 Thessalonians 2

Jason Bohn was a college student when he made a hole-in-one golf shot that won him a million dollars. While others may have squandered that money, Bohn had a plan. Wanting to be a pro golfer, he used the money as a living-and-training fund to improve his golf skills. The cash became an investment in his future—an investment that paid off when Bohn won the PGA Tour’s 2005 B.C. Open. Bohn’s decision to invest in the future instead of living for the moment was a wise one indeed.
In a sense, that is what Jesus calls us to do. We have been entrusted with resources—time, ability, opportunity— and we decide how to use them. Our challenge is to see those resources as an opportunity to invest long-term. “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,” is how Jesus put it in Matthew 6:20. Those protected treasures cannot be destroyed nor taken away, Jesus assures us.
Think of your resources: talent, time, knowledge. These are temporal and limited. But if you invest them with an eye toward eternity, these temporary things can have enduring impact. What is your focus? Now or forever? Invest in the future. It will not only have an eternal impact, but it will also change the way you view life each day.

Whatever is done in love for Christ
Will one day have heaven’s reward;
Today let’s do what we can for Him,
Our loving Savior and Lord. —Hess

The richest people on earth
are those who invest their lives in heaven

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Papa Didn’t Say “Oh!”

Read: Ephesians 5:1-10

The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. —Psalm 145:8

Bible in a year:
Isaiah 53-55; 2 Thessalonians 1

I have a friend who was working in his home office one evening, trying to get some necessary paperwork done. His little girl, who was about 4 years old at the time, was playing around his desk, puttering about, moving objects here and there, pulling out drawers, and making a good deal of noise.
My friend endured the distraction with stoic patience until the child slammed a drawer on one of her fingers and screamed in pain. Reacting in exasperation he shouted, “That’s it!” as he escorted her out of the room and shut the door.
Later, her mother found her weeping in her bedroom and tried to comfort her. “Does your finger still hurt?” she asked. “No,” the little girl sniffled. “Then why are you crying?” her mother asked. “’Cause,” she whimpered, “when I pinched my finger, Papa didn’t say, ‘Oh!’”
Sometimes that’s all we need, isn’t it? Someone who cares and who will respond with kindness and compassion, someone who will say, “Oh!” We have One named Jesus who does that for us.
Jesus loves us, understands our sorrows, and gave Himself for us (Eph. 5:2). Now we are to “walk in love” and imitate Him.

Knowing God—what comfort there,
Drawn by His eternal care;
Love from God—what joy we share,
Drawn into His mercies rare. —Branon

God’s whisper of comfort quiets the noise of our trials.