Divine Nature

The true meaning of Christmas Written by Janet Perez Eckles on 12/12/2017 Series: Weekly Devotional Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 A few weeks ago, my husband cleaned the garage. I filled plastic bags of items and we gathered all to donate to our local charity. Christmas season soon came and my husband was fulfilling his own mission to help decorate. He pulled the Christmas tree out of the box. It came all equipped with lights. A very cool thing. Grandkids flung open the front door with shouts of excitement, anticipating hanging tree ornaments. I handed them the tin with a huge smile at their giggles as we were about to follow our regular tradition. But to our disappointment, the tin only contained a few broken ornaments from years past. We searched everywhere for the broken pieces, which we had stored

A story of God’s healing and purpose Written by GodLife on 28/11/2017 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Testimony, God, Healing But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. Exodus 9:16 Every day people from all over the world connect with us at GodLife. They are dealing with sickness, unemployment and heartbreak, among other things. The one thing they all have in common? They are all searching for God’s purpose in their life, just like you. Today we want to share Joe’s story -- a story of God’s mighty power in the midst of sickness. Living through fear The words were barely out of the doctor’s mouth before Joe had a flood of dread fall over him. “Cystic fibrosis.” The thoughts raced through his head. “I’m not going to live a full life. How can I live a normal life? What does this all mean?” Most people diagnosed with this disease, including Joe’s mother, die before they reach the 50 years old. Sinc

A story of a young girl coming to the feet of Jesus. Written by GodLife on 13/03/2018 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Church And Community, God, Salvation, Testimony For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. Romans 5:10 Relentless pursuit In Nenet’s heart, the Holy Spirit began to plant seeds of belief before she was even aware of the possibility of His existence. As a young woman, Nenet was actively involved with her Muslim faith, pursuing Allah alongside her family in Cairo, Egypt. When her mother introduced more instructions on how to dress and how to read the Koran more rigidly, it put a different face on the faith she had cherished and known and caused her to be curious about other faiths. Going through the motions of her cultural Muslim faith didn’t give Nenet any increased feeling of closeness to the God she worshipped, so she hungered for something more.

“It may seem that I have everything,” he says. “Due to my wealth and fame, some people ask why or if I still need Jesus. The answer is simple: I need Jesus every day of my life. His Word, the Bible, tells me that without Him, I can’t do anything. I really believe that.” on 10/07/2018 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Calling, Personal Transformation, Power, Testimony, Jesus I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 Written by Jeremy V. Jones / Sports Spectrum Lying in bed for two months with a broken neck, 18-year-old Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite made a list of 10 goals. These were audacious dreams even for a boy raised on the soccer mania of Brazil – especially one who had needed a medical program to spur his stunted growth and who was yet to crack the starting lineup of the junior squad of São Paulo Football Club. The list began with “Return to soccer” and scale

One of Jesus' most famous cross-cultural encounters involved a woman in Samaria. Written by Hope on 06/10/2013 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Evangelism, Faith, Jesus, Testimony “So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece — throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.” (1 Thessalonians 1:6-7). One Person's Story One of Jesus' most famous cross-cultural encounters involved a woman in Samaria. We are not told her name, and so she is known simply as "The Samaritan Woman" or "The Woman at the Well." When Jesus asked her for a drink, she must have been shocked. It was highly improper for men and women to converse in public. Not only that, but all Samaritans were despised by the Jews for their idol-worshiping and mixed blood. Jesus reached across both those divides with His

‘Your testimony may have saved a life,’ wrote Anthony, the man who murdered my dad. Written by Laurie Coombs on 05/11/2019 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Forgive, Testimony, Prison, Murder, Bitterness But I say to you who hear, ‘Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.’ Luke 6:27 “Your testimony may have saved a life!” wrote Anthony — the man who murdered my dad — from his prison cell. Holding the letter, I stood in stunned silence, tears rolling down my face. “Oh Lord,” I thought, as I closed my eyes and dropped my head back, in awe. There were no words. “Thank you, Lord, thank you,” was all that I could say in worship to our mighty God. I was called to forgive. To love my enemy. To allow Jesus unhindered access to the pain, bitterness, and wounds of my past, which took residence in the deepest recesses of my soul. I knew that He wanted to take me to a new, better place — a place of healing, peace, and forgiveness. So, I followed. By the grace of God alone,

The wise men show us what it means to celebrate what is worth celebrating Written by GodLife on 04/12/2018 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Christmas, Jesus, Celebration When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:10-11 It’s so much fun to celebrate something, isn’t it? When people come together and share happiness for something as a group, it brings a special kind of joy. We have such a worthy God to celebrate. That’s one way to describe what worship is: celebrating God. In the Christmas story, we see how important it is to God to celebrate His gift of Jesus. The story of the wise men We find the story of the wise men, or Magi, in the Bible in Matthew 2:1-12. These new characters are introduced without much explanation. But one thing is clear – they heard of the

Do you fear the future? Written by Ruth on 24/07/2018 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Fear, Future, Hope waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Titus 2:13 The greatest message Jesus has for us in the Bible is that we do not need to be afraid. He has made a way of safety for us! Do not be afraid God tells us we never need to be afraid! It does not matter what happens around us – we could lose our job and not find a new one, or a storm could destroy all we have. God said, “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). Jesus told us the reason we don’t need to fear in John 16:33 – He has already conquered all trouble and tribulation. We may not be able to see this victory in our circumstances yet, but we can experience His presence in our lives no matter what happens (see Philippians 4:7). U

Is God forsaking us? Written by Ruth on 29/10/2019 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Future, Hope, Prophecy, News Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. Revelation 1:3 One of the things we need to accept in today’s world of news is that nearly everyone has the opportunity to reach people far beyond their town or country with the news they are writing or telling. Such information is often self-serving rather than providing the truth. The Bible urges us to be careful in what we listen to, not just acting on something before we have verified it is true (Proverbs 14:15). Deuteronomy 11:16 warns us to beware lest our hearts are deceived. What is the news doing to you? Jesus told us many of the things that would happen in these last days. He said He told us so we would recognize the times when we see these things happen, and we will believe Him. (Mark 13:23) God tells

Here is what God really desires from you Written by Ray Stedman on 22/10/2019 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Desires, Sanctification, Rest, Gods Will When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:8-10 Here is what God really wanted. God never cared a snap of his fingers for all the rivers of blood that flowed on Jewish altars. He had no interest in them except as they taught something. What did these sacrifices point to? A human body in which there was a human will which continually chose to depend upon an indwelling God to obey a written word! That was what God wanted. When Christ came, he paused on the threshold of heav

God’s Word the Bible can have tremendous power in your life. Series: New Believers Guide God’s Word the Bible can have tremendous power in your life. In accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior, you have begun a new life in Jesus Christ. There are some key ways that God’s Word the Bible can help transform your life. First, the Bible can teach you about salvation and about new life in Jesus Christ. You can be sure of your salvation. Second, the Bible can help you grow in your faith. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." "Do good to your servant according to your word, O Lord." Psalm 119:65 "Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me." Psalm 119:98 The Bible Teaches How to Live Third, the Bible can give you spiritual power over evil. Even Jesus Christ, when He was tempted, quoted the Bible and displayed power and victory. The Bible is “The sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.” Fourth, the Bi

God teaches His people to avoid sin and to live in His ways. Written by Hope on 18/10/2016 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Life, Power Everything in the Scriptures is God’s Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live. II Timothy 3:16 Do you know that God is calling YOU to live out an extraordinary life by following His commandments and seeking His will for your life? After you have experienced the power of God’s forgiveness, you can allow His power to remake your life in His ways. Here are ways you can learn to listen for His teachings: 1.Obey God’s Word “What God has said isn’t only alive and active! It is sharper than any double-edged sword.” (Hebrews 4:12)! The Bible is full of stories that tell of God’s love and hopes for His people. Reading and studying it regularly will help you come to know Him better. When you have questions about what you should do, use God’s Word as “a lamp that gives light whe

Here is what God really desires from you Written by Ray Stedman on 22/10/2019 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Desires, Sanctification, Rest, Gods Will When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:8-10 Here is what God really wanted. God never cared a snap of his fingers for all the rivers of blood that flowed on Jewish altars. He had no interest in them except as they taught something. What did these sacrifices point to? A human body in which there was a human will which continually chose to depend upon an indwelling God to obey a written word! That was what God wanted. When Christ came, he paused on the threshold of heav

This is a promise for givers. Written by Ray Stedman on 15/10/2019 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Money, Supply, Needs, Wants, Desires I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:18-19 This (Philippians 4:19) is a promise for givers, not for non-givers. It's what God does in return for the expression of your gift. Unfortunately, we often subtract it from its context and take it as a blank check we can cash any time we are in need. It has sometimes been taken to apply to everyone everywhere. It is not that. Half the world goes to bed hungry every night. This is not a promise that God is going to meet all the time every need of every human life. He will not, and permits the world to express its own innate tendencies, hungers and desir

How and When Can I Claim the Promise, “God will supply all your needs?” Written by GodLife on 25/10/2015 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Benevolence, Giving, Money, Poverty, Providence, Provision, Riches, Unemployment, Work “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 It’s shameful when someone says, “You are poor because you do not have enough faith.” The Bible says when they make godliness a way to get rich, they have “corrupt minds” and “have turned their backs on the truth.” (1 Timothy 6:5-6) David did say, “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned or his children begging for bread.” (Psalm 37:25) But there’s a big difference between “wealth” and “begging for bread.” How can you keep from missing out on all your loving Father has for you? Put His Kingdom First “God will supply all your needs” was the Apostle Paul’s promis

This is a promise for givers. Written by Ray Stedman on 15/10/2019 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Money, Supply, Needs, Wants, Desires I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:18-19 This (Philippians 4:19) is a promise for givers, not for non-givers. It's what God does in return for the expression of your gift. Unfortunately, we often subtract it from its context and take it as a blank check we can cash any time we are in need. It has sometimes been taken to apply to everyone everywhere. It is not that. Half the world goes to bed hungry every night. This is not a promise that God is going to meet all the time every need of every human life. He will not, and permits the world to express its own innate tendencies, hungers and desir

You will show me the path of life; In Your Presence is fullness of joy. At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11 Many people are hindered from having a joyful relationship with the Lord because they see that relationship as one of duty rather than delight. But how does the Lord view the bond between us? “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” (Zephaniah 3:17). Can you picture your heavenly Father rejoicing and singing as He looks upon you? The Westminster Catechism asks: “What is the chief end of Man?” The inspired answer: “Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” A.W. Tozer, in a book titled The Pursuit of God, says, “God formed us for His pleasure…that we as well as He can in divine communion enjoy the sweet and mysterious mingling of kindred personalities. He meant us to see Him and live with Him and draw