Most Liked Religion & Spirituality Blogs (1,491)

How can some claim to love God and hate their own brother, sister, neighbor, friend, spouses.

1 john 4:20 says, if a man says, I love God and hateth his own brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his own brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen

A Compilation 9/14

Recently I’ve been studying about some of the great men and women of God of the past. Many of them made huge sacrifices, because that’s what was necessary to get the job done in the time and place where they lived, or because that’s what the Lord called them to do. The Lord does ask difficult and sometimes very costly sacrifices of His followers today, but in many cases, the sacrifices we make today are different from theirs. Sacrifice, when the Lord asks it of us, is part of our life for the Lord.

The same principle applies to the way many missionaries of the past, who were among the first to bring Christianity to foreign lands, labored with broken health and suffered physically. These men and women of God deserve our admiration for their obedience to follow the Lord no matter what it cost them.

Thankfully our lives for the Lord aren’t just about sacrifice. And most of the time, we don’t have it so bad. There’s a lot of work, and there are difficulties and obstacles, but if you have the right attitude, then you are able to see the blessings and benefits.—Peter Amsterdam

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There are many leading characters in the Bible, ordinary people who have done great exploits because they knew their God. God has plans for our lives, and when our hearts and minds are aligned with His, He’ll use us in extraordinary ways. Sensitivity and obedience to His agenda will ensure the outworking of His personal guidance. We may never know the chain of events God orchestrates that eventually puts us in such a place for such a time on a grander scale than we know. Perhaps a life will be saved, a shelter built, a tragedy averted because God was directing our course.

Though we may not be privy to an end result, or only see it in hindsight, God’s plans for our lives are intricately connected to His plans for the world. We need to look beyond the mundane to the magnificent and see God’s divine purpose.—Charles Price

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We will never make this world a perfect place; that will only happen when Christ returns in glory. But we are called to make it a better place, doing all we can to alleviate human suffering and combat social injustice. Of all people, Christians should be burdened about intractable problems that plague the human race, such as poverty, disease, ignorance, famine, environmental damage, racism, violence, and war. God may call you to attack these problems directly either individually or on a much larger scale. At a minimum, support those who are working to alleviate these problems in Christ’s name, both by your prayers and your financial support. By doing so, we demonstrate Christ’s compassion for others and also may open the door for the Gospel. Jesus said, “If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” (1)

… Simply living a good life isn’t enough. People also need to understand what the Gospel is—and they will only understand it if someone tells them. The Gospel has content, and it must be communicated in ways people can understand. Paul asked, “How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (2) Preaching isn’t limited to a formal speech or sermon. The word Paul used here means announcing or communicating a message, and it happens whenever we share Christ with someone—whether in church, across a cup of coffee, in a hospital or dorm room, at summer camp, or even seven miles up in an airplane.—Billy Graham (3)

1 Matthew 10:42 NIV.
2 Romans 10:14 NIV.
3 The Journey - Thomas Nelson, 2006





Anchor TFI

People have been flooded by all types of religions and cultures!Have people realised that most of the world's conflicts are caused by religions and politics?

What if finally on the "judgement day" JESUS CHRIST do not recognise any religion?

If the only question to permit you enter into heaven, which THE LORD JESUS CHRIST will ask is "What was your relationship on earth with ME and "THE ALMIGHTY GOD"? What will be your response?

What is it that you perceive???? I wish to perceive beauty....

There are only two ways we humans can posture ourselves. Either we’re bent over like a question mark or we’re straight as an exclamation point. It depends on our view of God. Our lives only have meaning within the context of a Creator. His life, love, holiness, and ultimate ends—these are the things that give us hope and purpose. Reject God, and the answer to “Who am I?” doesn’t even require a single word. A simple question mark will do. Without Him, we feel we’re nothing but momentary sparks that flicker in meaninglessness and die into nothingness. There are no answers, only question marks.


When our view of God is true and biblical, we’re as upright as an exclamation mark. We’re made in God’s image for His purposes, recipients of His peace and perpetual life through Jesus Christ who loved us and died for us. We stand firm with hope and purpose.

We’re only able to understand who we are when we understand the Creator. Our secularized culture yields despair, but how different when we exclaim with Psalm 8: “O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!”

Some people pray to be cured..ie cancer or some other disease. Some of those prayers are answered..allegedly.

So why is it all of the amputees in the world that pray..theirs has not been answered..not one person has had their limbs grown back. What does God have against amputees.

Answers in a post card please.

by Power Point Paradise • February 3, 2015 •

During the early 16th Century idealistic German monk Martin Luther, disgusted by the materialism in the church, begins the dialogue that will lead to the Protestant Reformation.

Actually Luther was a very good Catholic! He loved to flagellate himself and suffer for Christ, pray long prayers. He was (brace yourself..) a Scorpio, most of whom have an deep religious interest. Good organisers, although a bit of control freaks, but that was good, as he really gave the Reformation form and direction, and took control when run away Reformists like Karlstadt went too far, and became too violent, causing the peasants uprising and iconoclasm.

The thirty year war was really a result of the stubborn Roman Popes, clergy and established order, who did not want to reform, but wanted to keep their cozy situation with lots of money and politics. Inspite of the counter reformation that cleaned the Popish church up a little bit, the Catholic church failed to latch onto the new winds of change that God caused through Luther.

The Reformation wasn’t the first schism either in the Church of Christ, as the Greek Orthodox and Rome split several times until around the year 1000 AD when it became permanent. Luther’s questions in the movie to his professor in Witenberg brings this out well.

It is an inspiring movie, and very timely, as many of us will have to stand up for what we believe “by the grace of God” and not recant. May Luther give us faith and courage to be brave like him in these Last Days. By God’s grace alone!
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EARTH HAS NO SORROW THAT HEAVEN CANNOT HEAL.

His Word is always a comfort and the Voice of His Spirit is always an encouragement in the hour of greatest trial. "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us" (Rom.8:18). When you think about that, it helps you bear some of the things you have to go through now.
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"Sorrow shall endure for a season, but joy cometh in the morning" Psalms 30:5

Keep your eyes on the Lord! Look forward to Heaven, and it will help you bear some of these burdens and trials that you're going through now when you realize these are only just for a moment! Now you see through a glass darkly, but soon it will all be clear and you'll understand. God's tomorrow is a beautiful place! You'll be with Jesus and all your loved ones, and no sorrow will be there, praise God!

"The tears shall be wiped away and the former things shall be no more in the glories of the ecstasies of the Kingdom to come!"

"It will be worth it all when we see Jesus!
Life's trials will seem so small, when we see Christ!
One glimpse of His dear face,
All sorrow will erase!
So bravely run the race,
'till we see Christ!"


PowerPointParadise TFI [Video Posted]

from Jesus Through Prophecy February 2015

Nearly everyone in the world experiences financial pressure at one time or another, but some people deal with it better than others. The difference is often not so much these people’s circumstances, but to whom they turn for help. The secret to overcoming financial problems is actually the secret to overcoming any problem: Do what you can, and then rely on the “God factor.”

I told My disciples long ago, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”1 The God factor can change everything! When you apply the God factor, all things become possible for you, too, because faith in God and His promises overrides all impossibilities.

Here are some promises you can bank on: “God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory.”2 “Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”3 “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”4

All that the Father has is Mine, so I have all the riches of the universe at My disposal, and I am concerned about your happiness and well-being. So start by doing what you can and then apply the God factor, asking Me to step in and do what you can’t.—Jesus

1. Mark 10:27
2. Philippians 4:19
3. Mark 11:24
4. Matthew 6:33
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GOD IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN GIVE REAL MEANING TO LIVING.

So many people today don't know what to believe; they don't know where they're from, who they are or where they're going.--They're in absolute CONFUSION!--Because they've lost touch with the only concrete frame of reference, & that's GOD & His explanation of life, the BIBLE! They've lost faith in God, so therefore they lose faith in Love, & therefore they lose faith in Life, in people, in EVERYTHING!
But WE have found Love that lasts forever & a God that cannot fail!--For we "know Him, Whom to know is Life Eternal"! (Jn.17:3) We're born again & we now have an utterly different outlook on life & a new way of looking at the World, thank God!

And besides the wonderful happiness, life & love that living for Jesus gives us, we've also been given a real PURPOSE in living & Someone to live FOR! We now LIKE to face life, & find a thrill in our newfound tasks & the greatest of pleasure in the fellowship of our newfound family & the greatest of satisfaction in our newfound faith. Thank You Jesus!"

Ah, Sweet mystery of life; At last I've found thee, Now at last I know the MEANING of it all!"--It's JESUS!



Activated TFI

Written by Abi May, 01 October 2012

"Two things fill me with constantly increasing admiration and awe, the longer and more earnestly I reflect on them: the starry heavens without and the moral law within."—Immanuel Kant1

This is an exercise for the evening or nighttime, preferably on a clear night, when the stars and moon are clearly visible. Outside is best, but if that isn’t possible, anywhere with a view outside a window will suffice.

Gaze up at the vastness of the sky. Observe the stars, twinkling in their uncountable millions, at distances incomprehensible to our finite minds. Look at the moon, our nearest neighbor in the great expanse of space. Take your time; the vista before you is immense and worthy of your attention.

The Lord, whose name is excellent, has set His glory in those heavens.—So wrote David, the psalmist.2 You are following his meditation, for he too sat and observed:

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained …”3

When you look up at the stars, the moon, the great spread of the sky, do you feel small and insignificant? David seemed to feel the same, yet it is his next realization that merits our focus. He is speaking to the Lord when he asks, “... what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.”4

As small as you may feel, as insignificant as you may judge yourself to be in the great scope of the world and history, God thinks about you.

He “is mindful” of you. The God who set the great creation into motion, the same God knows the very hairs of your head.5 He knows your thoughts and plans.6 He knows your secret sorrows just as He knows your wishes.7

You are not alone in the universe; God knows and loves you.8

And with this meditation on the all-encompassing, virtually incomprehensible love of God for you—one solitary individual—you can conclude along with David, “O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!”9

1. Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) was a German philosopher and anthropologist at the end of the Enlightenment.
2. Psalm 8:1
3. Psalm 8:3
4. Psalm 8:4–5
5. Luke 12:7
6. Hebrews 4:12
7. Psalm 38:9
8. John 3:16
9. Psalm 8:9

Abi May (also credited as Chris Hunt) is a freelance writer and educator in Great Britain, and also active as a volunteer in healthcare advocacy.



Activated TFI

Written by Abi May 05/13

The Bible contains a lot of guidance for how to spend our time and energy: We’re to love and help others,1 share the good news of God’s love,2 and apply ourselves in our work,3 to name a few. But the Bible also teaches that sometimes it is best to stay put and let God work on our behalf.

“I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter told his fellow disciples.4
“We are going with you also,” they replied.

This was in the weeks following Jesus’ death. The disciples had seen Him twice since His resurrection,5 but it seems they were still at a loss as to what to do next. Some of them had been fishermen before Jesus had called them to follow Him,6 and perhaps going back to their former occupation seemed like the logical choice—plus it was something they could do.

But sometimes doing doesn’t get us very far.

It didn’t get Simon and his fishing partners very far that day. “They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.”

Many of us can relate. We keep ourselves busy, actively doing things, but not always getting very far or accomplishing much.

Picture the disciples the next morning, tired, discouraged, and hungry. They had worked all night and received nothing for their labors. To top things off, an apparent stranger calls from the shore: “Have you any food?” No, they didn’t have any! It took the stranger’s instruction to “cast the net on the right side of the boat” for any of them to begin to guess that the stranger might be Jesus.

They did as the Master told them, and this time they did land some fish—153, to be exact. However, when they arrived at the shore, they saw fish already roasting over an open fire, and fresh bread. They had not needed to fish all night after all. Their Lord was more than able to satisfy their needs.

The next time you feel like your efforts aren’t getting you anywhere, remember that God doesn’t expect or want us to always be doing something; sometimes He wants us to simply be. A few moments of quiet reflection before starting a busy day can make all the difference to the outcome of that day. Be with God at the start, and He will be with you throughout.

1. See John 15:12; Matthew 19:21.
2. See Mark 16:15.
3. See 1 Thessalonians 4:11.
4. Read this story in John 21:3–13.
5. See John 21:14.
6. See Matthew 4:18, 21.



Activated TFI