To those of you who call yourselves Christians, take your time to read this article and reflect on it.... because I know of some "Christians" who actually will react the way these Churchgoers reacted in the article.

If Jesus / God can forgive.... who are WE as sinners to condemn?

Original Article : The Pastor´s Son (Clickable Link)

The Pastor’s Son

Author Unknown

Like many inspiring movies and books, this short story may be fictional. However, the impact that this work will have on its readers is very real. Enjoy!

One night in a church service a young woman felt the tug of God at her heart. She responded to God's call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. But, the change in her was evident. As time went on she became a faithful member of the church.

She eventually became involved in the ministry, teaching young children.

It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the pastor's son. The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans.

This is when the problem began. You see, about one half of the church did not think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a pastor's son.

The church began to argue and fight about the matter. So they decided to have a meeting.

As the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the meeting was getting completely out of hand.

The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up about her past.

As she began to cry the pastor's son stood to speak. He could not bear the pain it was causing his wife to be. He began to speak and his statement was this:

My fiancee's past is not what is on trial here. What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin. Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?

The whole church began to weep as they realized that they had been slandering the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Too often, even as Christians, we bring up the past and use it as a weapon against our brothers and sisters.

Forgiveness is a very foundational part of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If the blood of Jesus does not cleanse the other person completely, then it cannot cleanse us completely.

If that is the case, then we are all in a lot of trouble.

What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Psalms 55:231 John 1:9

Ironic but true <3

Using Your Gift

Tuesday December 9, 2014

The 2013 film Frozen tells the story of a troubled princess named Elsa who possessed a special gift - the power to create ice and snow. We´re not talking about making iced tea. No - with a flick of the wrist, this princess could unleash a blizzard that would instantly turn a warm summer day into a cold winter wonderland.

But as a young girl, Elsa´s gift nearly resulted in the death of her sister Anna. Scared that she couldn´t control her special ability, the princess chose to hide it and live alone in fear. By the end of the film, however, Elsa discovered that genuine love was not only the key to controlling her powers for the god of others, but it also opened the door to restoring relationships that years of fear and misunderstanding had stolen.

The apostle Paul longed for the young, upstart church in Corinth to make the same discovery about the power of love when it came to their "special abilities" (1 Corinthians 12:1). Apparently questions and misunderstandings over the meaning of "spiritual gifts" had arisen that threatened to drive the young local church apart. Paul reminded them that all spiritual gifts were important and were "given to each of us so we can help each other" (v. 7). He wanted them to understand that the highest virtue of all - love  - holds the key to the exercising of their gifts and the resolution of the tensions that threatened their unity.

None of us comes close to living up to Paul´s famous description of genuine love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7), but with God´s help we can grow into "a way of life" that is "best of all" (1 Corinthians 12:31).

Rather than allow fear and misunderstanding to pull us apart, let´s show love; it has the power to knit us together. - Jeff Olson

Read
1 Corinthians 12:31 - 13:7
But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
And now I will show you the most excellent way.
If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self- seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:3
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Question to Ponder
How have you struggled with thinking your spiritual gift is less important or more important than others?
What fears might be holding you back from exercising your gifts for God´s glory?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Dec 2014 - Feb 2015 issue

Love, Life and Religion

Saturday December 6, 2014

In the book Bono : A Self-Potrait in Conversation, the legendary U2 vocalist shared these thoughts on God´s love with author Michka Assayas. "My understanding of the Scriptures," Bono says, "has been made simple by the person of Christ. Christ teaches that God is love. What does that mean?`What ie means for me : a study of the life of Christ. Love here describes itself as a child born in straw poverty, the most vulnerable situation of all, without honour. I don´t let me religious world get too complicated... God is love, and as much as I respond in allowing myself to be transformed by that love and acting in that love, that´s my religion."

The apostle Paul wrote often about God´s remarkable love, striving to capture its fullness as found in His Son (Ephesians 3:17). Though undeserved, God´s love is given to us freely through Jesus and - astonishingly - unlike any other love, it can´t be taken from us.

"I am convinced," wrote Paul, "that nothing can ever separate us from God´s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from God´s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below - indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

As we more fully understand "how wide, how long, how high and how deep his love is," Paul explains "then [we] will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God" (Ephesians 3:18-20).

It´s in the context of such love that we experience transformation that compels us to make our life and religion, as Bono says, one of love. - Roxanne Robbins

Read
Ephesians 3:14-21
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

1 John 3:16
This is how we know what love is : Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

Question to Ponder
How can you live so your reputation is one of faith in Jesus and love for Him and others? 
What has God´s love helped you learn about Him and about yourself?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Dec 2014 - Feb 2015 issue