Christianity

Press on

Twenty-sixteen was a challenging year for many, including myself. But I will not dwell on the past. Instead, my mindset will be like that of the beloved apostle Paul, when he declared. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

Like Paul, I compare the Christian life to a race; a marathon. You never know what’s coming up next. Some days it’s like a piece of cake, other days the obstacles are more than you can handle. And as long as you continue to press on you will never be comfortable. The enemy is your competitor, and he is much smarter and trickier than you are.

Some Christians will tell you that their troubles ended when they accepted Christ. But that’s so contrary to what Jesus and the apostles taught us. As Christians, we are vulnerable to the schemes of the enemy, and we will fail sometimes, but we must not quit. If anything, we must continue to press on toward the goal to win the prize.

So, my friends, as we usher in the new year, let’s not become complacent, conceited or self-righteous. Rather, let us be humble at heart as the beloved apostle was when he wrote. “Brothers and sisters, I don’t consider that I have taken hold of it yet, (the prize). But here is the one thing I do. I forget what is behind me. I push hard toward what is ahead of me. So, I push myself forward toward the goal to win the prize. God has appointed me to win it. The heavenly prize is Christ Jesus himself.” (Philippians 3:13-14).

Happy New Year!

 

Go tell on the mountain

 

The Wise Men were religious people who tend to sheep for a living. They studied Scripture and were more than familiar with Isaiah’s prophecy about the Messiah. So, when a bright rear star appears in the Eastern skies, joy filled their hearts. Because they knew that was a sign that our Saviour had been born.

The men gathered gifts and embarked on a journey that would end in a stable in Bethlehem in Judea. There they saw the child lying in a manger with his mother, Mary and father Joseph. They bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their gifts. They gave him gold, frankincense and myrrh. Merry Christmas!

Why Do We Celebrate Christmas on December 25?

Christian history reveals quite a bit of controversy over the actual date of Jesus’ birth, raising the question, why do we celebrate Christmas at all?

Source: Why Do We Celebrate Christmas on December 25?

How to minimise worldly distractions

Distraction from God is dangerous. As believers, we appoint Him captain of our ship. He does not steer, but He tells us where to go. Often we pushed Him aside and pretended to be in charge. And that is when things start to go wrong. Even if you know a shorter and better route, you should allow the captain to do His job. He knows best. The Bible says: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not on your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct thy paths,” (Proverb 3:5-6).

In the game of baseball, Good Hand-Eye Coordination is one of the keys to success for any hitter. When he is at the plate, his focus must be on point. There is little room for distraction. One mistake and his career could be over.

Just as a baseball hitter avoids distraction at the plate. Christians must do likewise avoiding anything that is likely to distract them from God. Yes, we have weaknesses, and some people will argue that it ‘s hard to avoid distractions. But, even though we cannot always avoid them we are not obligated to succumb. Jesus showed us what to do when faced with tempting circumstances.

Matthew 4:1-11 states the following. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness where the devil tempted.

And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterwards hungry.

And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones turn to bread.

But Jesus answered and said, It is in the law, Man must not live by bread alone. But by every word that preceded out of the mouth of God.

Not satisfied, the devil took him up into the holy city, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple,

And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down. For it was written, He will give his angels charge over thee. And in their hands, they will bear thee up, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

But Jesus said to him, It is in the law, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Determined to distract Jesus, the devil took him up into an exceeding high mountain. And shew him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them. And the devil said to him, I will let you have all these things if you bows down and worship me.

Then Jesus said unto him, Get thee hence, Satan. For it is in the law, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Then the devil left him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Why I am super Thankful

Why I am Thankful

There are many more reasons I am Thankful than that which we celebrate and much more than I have time to itemise. Like everybody else, I take too much for granted. But on this day when the focus is on Thanksgiving, the mood is perfect to reflect on one’s virtues and attempt counting one’s blessing.

Father in Heaven, I thank you for your saving Grace. You sent your only son to die so that a wretched soul like me could live. I know I do not deserve it. I am Thankful that you ignore my faults and focus on my needs. That I am alive and in good health is much more than I could ask. But your mercies extend far beyond the tangible and the obvious.

Lord, I thank you for the many things I often take for granted. Things like mother nature in all her glory. And the air I breathe, which of course is free. And is an essential thing that keeps me alive.

Aba Papa, thanks for giving me hope. There are millions of people in the world who have lost faith. They do not know whether they come or whether they go. But it’s not too late for those people to restore hope. They can have the same hope I have in Jesus Christ.

Thanks for my parents, Lord, especially my mother who taught me to love you at an early age. Proverbs 22:6 instruct parents to do the following. “Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not stray from it”. I did stray for a while but like the prodigal son I soon realise there is no place like home.

Thank you, Lord, for family, friends and neighbours. Thank you for my employer and thank you for giving me some of the best coworkers anywhere. Thank you for the USA. We do not always see eye to eye, but we are a unique people who never fails to extend a helping hand.

Father, thank you. Thank you. Thank you.