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By Mag Rayne 8/14

My first encounter with Nadia was seven years ago, when a friend brought her to our home at 10 o’clock one night. Her skin was sallow; her eyes sunken and empty; her hair, obviously cared for meticulously at one time, was now dry and stringy; and her clothes, facial expressions, and body language told us, even before she said a word, that she had lost hope.

I learned that only a year earlier, Nadia had been the envy of many women in her neighborhood: beautiful, of good social standing, a wife of 30 years and the “perfect” mother of two daughters, living in a large attractive house, and hosting parties galore for her friends. But this was all far behind as Nadia sat in our living room holding tightly to her friend’s hand. Life had taken a U-turn; her husband had divorced her, and their joint business was facing bankruptcy. The mortgage payments on the family house pending, and it was about to be repossessed.

Nadia’s husband even tried to have her declared mentally ill, so that he would have sole control of the property and business. The breakdown of her marriage caused her to feel like her world was falling apart, and even her physical health took a nosedive, culminating in a recent heart attack. To make matters worse, most of her friends were suddenly busy and hard to reach.

Nadia had only gained a casual faith from her traditional upbringing, leaving her with the vague idea of a God “somewhere far away,” as she put it. However, she now realized that she wouldn’t be able to overcome the current crises without making Him a much more real part of her life. Our first prayer together lifted her spirits a little, and by the end of our conversation, she’d committed to attending regular Bible studies.

In the months to come, she gained a foundation in prayer and faith, to where she could find answers on her own to her doubts, sad thoughts, and desperate longings. Progress was slow, and some days were better than others. There were a couple of years of ups and downs, but Nadia never lost hope and kept forging steadily ahead toward inner healing and a better future.

Over time, Nadia regained the will to live, to work, to take care of her family, to be a good example to her daughters. While others in her circle thought that what had happened to her was a tragedy, she now considered it another example of how God can turn all things to good in our lives,1 knowing that without that deep crisis of the soul and destruction of her former world, she would not have come to truly understand God’s love for her or found the real meaning of her life. She reorganized her priorities in a new way: Now Jesus came first.

Nadia’s financial and housing problems are still unresolved. Seven years later, the legal battle to keep her home is still ongoing, and she survives on a small pension, complemented by occasional part-time work. Though her own finances are tight, she often volunteers in our association’s projects and even takes part in our clown therapy program.

Most importantly, Nadia is herself better equipped to face whatever troubles life may deliver. She’s lost her fear of loss, because she knows that the One who took her through the greatest crisis of her life will never abandon her. Like a bird nestled firmly in God’s hands, she looks down on the problems of life, and they don’t seem as earthshaking as they once did. Like King David, she says with a smile, “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!”2

* *

Clown therapy gave me beautiful inner strength, a special feeling of love I’d never felt before—the fulfillment of giving of myself. It was the unique feeling of bringing happiness to someone sad and needy.—Nadia

1 Romans 8:28.
2 Psalm 42:5–6 NLT

Mag Rayne runs a volunteer association in Croatia.




Activated TFI

Seems like the culture today is more interested in painting God as a cosmic bully than a merciful God. Most media, elite schools, and staunch atheists claim that the God of the Bible is cruel and ruthless deity who caused mass genocide in the Old Testament. Here are some debated passages in the Old Testament that supposedly back up this view of God.


Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven (Gen. 19:24).


You must devote them to complete destruction (Deut. 7:2).


Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword (Jos. 6:21).

Now go and strike Amalek and devoted to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and women, child, and infant, ox, and sheep, camel and donkey (1 Sam. 15:3).


By simply isolating these Old Testament passages, it's no wonder people think God as a brutal monster. Bearing in mind that these incidents did occur, we need proper precautions and examination of the context before drawing any conclusions. Each of these passages needs to be interpreted in it's proper context, and not taken out of context to try to prove a point.


As to God commanding Israel to destroy the Canaanites and six other nations, it is noteworthy to mention that, these passages reveals something in regards, to the holiness of God. It shows that God's character is absolutely holy, and as such, He must punish sin and rebellion (Hab. 1:13). He's a righteous judge (Ps.7:11), and that's undeniably part of who He is. His character is also merciful (Deu.4:31).


As for the Amalekites, they were far from innocent. Far from it. These were not nice people. In fact, they were utterly and totally depraved. Their mission was to destroy Israel. In other words, to commit genocide. They were relentless in their attempts to murder the people of Israel, and yet you don't hear people complaining about that!


As if that were not evil enough, think about what was hanging in the balance. The Israelites were the chosen people through whom God would bring salvation to the entire world through Jesus Christ. The destruction of their nation was necessitated by the gravity of their sin. Had some hardcore remnant survived, they might have resumed their aggression against the Israelites and God's plan. These were a persistent and vicious and warring people. They wanted to wipe out every last one of the Israelites off the face of the earth. God could have dealt with them through a natural disaster like a flood, but instead He used Israel as His instrument of judgement. He took action not only for the sake of the Israelites, but ultimately for the sake of everyone through history whose salvation would be provided by the Messiah (Jesus Christ) who was to be born among them.


As for the children, socially and physically the fate of children throughout history has always been with their parents, whether that's for good or for ill. You need to understand the situation among the Amalekites. In a thoroughly evil and violent and depraved culture, there was no hope for those children. This nation was so polluted that it was like gangrene that was taking over a person's leg, and God had to amputate the leg or the gangrene would spread and there wouldn't be anything left. In this sense, God's action was an act of mercy. According to the Bible, every child who dies before before the age of accountability goes to heaven to spend eternity in the presence of God.


Isaiah 7:16 talks about an age before a child is morally accountable, before the child knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. King David spoke of going to be with his son who died at birth (2 Sam. 12:23). Jesus said, ' Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these (Matt.19:14), which indicates they will go to heaven...

By Dr. David Jeremiah

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
Romans 12:15


The Hebrew culture had a unique way of referring to “everything”: identify two opposite poles and let them represent everything in between (Psalm 139:8-12). There are traces of that figure of speech in Romans 12:15 where Paul writes about our need to identify with and encourage each other. The two opposite extremes are when someone weeps and when he rejoices. The implication is, “those two and all the times in between.”


If we are honest, we might say it is easier to “weep with those who weep” than to “rejoice with those who rejoice.” Another person’s pain or hardship evokes empathy and compassion in us. We ourselves have suffered and we know what the other person is going through. Rejoicing in another’s success is more challenging. Perhaps we have experienced no equal successes or joys and find ourselves envious, even jealous, of another’s good fortune. Paul doesn’t place one need above the other; they are equally our responsibility.

You will meet someone today who is at either end of the emotional spectrum or somewhere in between. Ask God for grace to identify with them—especially to applaud them in their success.

The church should be a community of encouragement.
Fred Catherwood

Written by Jay Phillips 4/13

Today I went for a walk with the kids in the countryside surrounding the village in which we live, an area consisting of farmland, dirt paths, and small woods. The weather was great, so it was a good opportunity for the kids to get some fresh air and exercise as they ran around looking for the little creatures that are abundant in spring and summer.

It was an enjoyable break for me as well. Out on those country trails there are no computers, no pressing work, no chores, no meetings, no messes to clean up, and none of the myriad of other things that keep us busy most of the day.

Time can seem to stand still while out in nature—at least until the kids excitedly holler, “Ladybug!” or “Spider!” But even such sudden alerts are okay, because just a few minutes of peace is usually all I need to clear my head. When Jesus said that unless you become as little children you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven,1 maybe He wasn’t just talking about heaven to come, but also about the peace and little bit of heaven we experience in our hearts here and now when we put our cares aside, quiet our minds and spirits, and tune in to His voice speaking to us through creation.

Children seem to do that naturally. They’re not worried about work that needs to get done, or the bills that need to be paid; they’re simply full of energy and excited about life, and happy to have a big guy along to watch out for them and take snapshots of their activities. How much more should we have peace, knowing that we have the ultimate Big Guy looking out for us and, I’m sure, taking snapshots of our lives too.

1. See Matthew 18:3.

* * *
"YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD!" (1COR.3:16).

We're the very temple of God ourselves!--You and me!--His children, living with Him day by day and having our own hearts as His place of worship!

His Church has always been the body of believers, the fellowship of the Saints, the assembly of the Saints. The word church comes from the Greek word Ecclesia, meaning the called-out ones, or the separated ones! The church is not the building! It's the people!

Christian worship in the early days needed no buildings, no great temples built with hands of men--which could not contain God anyway! They worshipped Him in homes, in upper rooms, in basements, in the market place, beside the river and in the forest under the trees--wherever they happened to be!--And Christianity came to cover the Earth--because the Apostles obeyed and went out! Instead of building buildings, they went out and built the True Church of Jesus Christ in the hearts of men!--"The living stones," as Peter calls us! (1Pe.2:5).

He dwells within the human heart! Buildings cannot contain Him, but your heart contains the Lord Jesus Christ if you love Him!



Activated TFI

If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. Job 36:11

A compilation FEBRUARY 12, 2013

If you get so focused on reaching the destination, you may neglect to enjoy the ride. There are many “destinations” that you’re focused on right now: completing certain tasks, getting to items on your to-do list, and much more. But in your journey to work on these things, don’t forget to enjoy the steps along the way.

Stop and think of one thing that you love about this moment. Is it the quietness of the day? Or perhaps the fact that you have a chance to sit still and alone to read these words? Is it that you feel healthy and strong? Or is it that beautiful plant that you just admired? Think about some of the joys of this moment—joys that you wouldn’t naturally notice or consider joys. Choose abstract joys, the ones that take real thought and consideration.

Next, think about your job, or how a regular day goes for you. Consider all that you do in the day, and all that you’re focused on accomplishing. Now, pull away from that scene and think of all the joys that you get to experience in a regular day, but which you never noticed before. Think about some of the humorous talk you’re privileged to hear by being around your children. Or the cold fruit juice you can enjoy while preparing a meal. Think about the chance to see different faces and to get a peek into different lifestyles through your witnessing or interactions with others.

Think on these joys and determine to discover more of them. Ask Me and I will help you to discover the joy in every moment of every day.—Jesus, speaking in prophecy1

*

Draw the chin in, carry the crown of the head high, and fill the lungs to the utmost; drink in the sunshine; greet your friends with a smile, and put soul into every handclasp.

Do not fear being misunderstood, and do not waste a minute thinking about your enemies. Try to fix firmly in your mind what you would like to do, and then, without veering off direction … move straight to the goal.

Keep your mind on the great and splendid things you would like to do, and then, as the days go gliding by, you will find yourself unconsciously seizing upon the opportunities that are required for the fulfillment of your desire.

Picture in your mind the able, earnest, useful person you desire to be, and the thought you hold is hourly transforming you into that particular individual.

Preserve a right mental attitude—the attitude of courage, frankness, and good cheer. To think rightly is to create. … Every sincere prayer is answered. We become like that on which our thoughts are fixed.

Never think of yourself as old, weary, sick, or discouraged. Never think of yourself as defeated. Get hope into your mind, and change all negative thoughts into positive thoughts. Remember, there is a tendency to become what you image or visualize.

Pull yourself up, physically, mentally, spiritually, by filling your mind with hope. “Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance.”2 As you hope in God, you will have health in your countenance, because you will have health of body, mind, and spirit.—Elbert Hubbard

1 Originally published 2008.
2 Psalm 42:11 KJV.
**
CONSCIENCE IS GOD'S PRESENCE IN MAN

God created man as a free moral agent. He gives each of us the majesty of personal choice to choose between good and evil, between obeying the guiding voice of God or obeying the voice of the Enemy. He gives the very best to them who leave the choices up to Him!


Anchor TFI Online

Hi everybody,
God bless us all Catholics or not


During Lent, pope offers handy tips for preparing for confession
Carol Glatz Catholic News Service | Feb. 27, 2015 The Francis Chronicles
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VATICAN CITY
As Catholics are encouraged to make going to confession a significant part of their lives during Lent, Pope Francis offered some quick tips to help people prepare for the sacrament of penance.
After a brief explanation of why people should go to confession -- "because we are all sinners" -- the pope listed 30 key questions to reflect on as part of making an examination of conscience and being able to "confess well."

The guide is part of a 28-page booklet in Italian released by the Vatican publishing house. Pope Francis had 50,000 free copies distributed to people attending his Angelus address Feb. 22, the first Sunday of Lent.

Titled "Safeguard your heart," the booklet is meant to help the faithful become "courageous" and prepared to battle against evil and choose the good.

The booklet contains quick introductions to Catholic basics: it has the text of the Creed, a list of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes. It explains the seven sacraments and includes Pope Francis' explanation of lectio divina, a prayerful way of reading Scripture in order to better hear "what the Lord wants to tell us in his word and to let us be transformed by his Spirit."

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The booklet's title is based on a line from one of the pope's morning Mass homilies in which he said Christians need to guard and protect their hearts, "just as you protect your home -- with a lock."

"How often do bad thoughts, bad intentions, jealousy, envy enter?" he asked. "Who opened the door? How did those things get in?"

The Oct. 10, 2014, homily, which is excerpted in the booklet, said the best way to guard one's heart is with the daily practice of an "examination of conscience," in which one quietly reviews what bad things one has done and what good things one has failed to do for God, one's neighbor and oneself.

The questions include:

- Do I only turn to God when I'm in need?
- Do I take attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation?
- Do I begin and end the day with prayer?
- Am I embarrassed to show that I am a Christian?
- Do I rebel against God's plan?
- Am I envious, hot-tempered, biased?
- Am I honest and fair with everyone or do I fuel the "throwaway culture?"
- In my marital and family relations, do I uphold morality as taught in the Gospels?
-Do I honor and respect my parents?
-Have I refused newly conceived life? Have I snuffed out the gift of life? Have I helped do so?
-Do I respect the environment?
- Am I part worldly and part believer?
- Do I overdo it with eating, drinking, smoking and amusements?
- Am I overly concerned about my physical well-being, my possessions?
- How do I use my time? Am I lazy?
- Do I want to be served?
- Do I dream of revenge, hold grudges?
- Am I meek, humble and a builder of peace?

Catholics should go to confession, the pope said, because everyone needs forgiveness for their sins, for the ways "we think and act contrary to the Gospel."

"Whoever says he is without sin is a liar or is blind," he wrote.

Confession is meant to be a sincere moment of conversion, an occasion to demonstrate trust in God's willingness to forgive his children and to help them back on the path of following Jesus, Pope Francis wrote.

Sacrament of Penance
Francis

Written by Maria Fontaine 5/12

Jesus said that we are to love God “with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind.”1 Notice that He didn’t just refer to our heart and soul, but also to our mind. God gave human beings mental faculties. He created us to be intellectual beings, capable of rational thought, intellectual growth, critical thinking, and reasoning. He also gave us a conscience to guide us in making choices that are morally right.

The apostle Paul said, “One person considers some days to be more sacred than others, while another person considers all days to be the same. Each person must have their own convictions.”2 Paul also said in that same discourse, “If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.”3 The point he was making is that it’s important we each explore our beliefs to determine where our faith lies on various issues. Analyzing, discussing, and debating points of doctrine can be healthy for your faith, as those all require you to research, dig deep, and find the scriptural foundation for your beliefs.

Using our mental faculties and critical, rational thinking is not meant to undermine our faith, of course, but it can. Some people do reason themselves out of their faith. But for others, critical, rational thinking serves to strengthen their faith. It depends on how the person goes about the questioning process. Paul, Saint Augustine, Martin Luther, C. S. Lewis, and many other great Christian thinkers used reasoning and logic to strengthen their and others’ faith and understanding of doctrine, as well as to help shape the faith and intellectual viewpoints of Christianity.

We can use our intellectual abilities to glorify God and to affirm our faith, just as we can use any of the other skills and talents He has given us. We can use our minds to better love God, as Jesus told us to do. We can also use our intellectual abilities to find the place He has for us in this world, to further our education and understanding of the world, and more. As is the case with all gifts from His hand, He expects us to use the mental abilities He has given us, to invest them wisely, and to allow them to benefit ourselves and others.

1. Matthew 22:37
2. Romans 14:5 CEB
3. Romans 14:23 NLT
**
YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE IF YOU HAVE JESUS IN YOUR HEART AND YOUR HAND IN HIS!

If you have Jesus you always have company and love. No matter where you are you are in His hands and He'll take care of you. Jesus is the one possession you'll never have to give up, never have to leave behind, never lose. You can give Him away as much as you like but you'll always have Him. He'll always be near.

He's always there. It's not the Lord that's not always there, it's we who are not always there. We're sometimes running off somewhere else and leaving Him way behind. But He never leaves us behind unless we don't follow, it's just that simple!

"If Jesus goes with me I'll go anywhere,
'Tis Heaven to me wher'er I may be, if He is there!
I count it a privilege here my cross to bear,
If Jesus goes with me I'll go anywhere!"




Activated TFI [Video Posted - The Most Important Thing Is Faith - Akiane, child prodigy]

Hello Friends.

We all r lucky in this world. because of we all r having skill to understand what's good and bad for us or for the world..and we all are using this skill to give something positive to the society where we r living. bcz its all about for our life.. and it's true tht u will get wht u have given t the world in past.

Today we r celebrating our spiritual festival call"Holi"
its festival of color' s.in this day we r meeting to friends & relatives & paint each others with different types of paint(removable) colors. and enjoy the with joy ..

our elder says this festival is not coming in year for two days .but its all abt our thinking & view to see about our life..the festival learn us to darkside of our life & try to find out the brighter side of life. the festival learn us happiness & sorrow is for while.


so tht love each othe. &_if u want to win something then try to win heart of some one to whom u love lots...it may be your friend,mother father, ur love and all..


thanks...

Romans chapter 7...
Jesus Christ is the only one who can helps us handle the battle of the two natures within us and our battle with the carnal mind which brings sin alive in our flesh. And know this, that the sinful nature that is not in Christ, will submit to the new nature that is born again in Christ, if you submit to the Holy Spirit your old sin nature, by God's principle of serving, the old sinful nature will be put to death and will serve the new spiritual nature that is alive in Christ, and you will find yourself no longer desiring to fulfill the flesh in sin.
We can overcome the battle of sin, and many other life struggles and circumstances, and battles from within and without that we encounter on this earthly journey, by encouraging ourselves in the Lord. Keep your minds focused on Jesus. So, what does it mean to encourage yourself in the Lord? Firstly, the word “encourage” means: To give courage to; or to give hope or confidence to; to help by giving support to; or to be favorable, or to be favorable toward someone or something, or yourself.

Therefore, to encourage yourself in the Lord is to give yourself personal support, or courage, or confidence in prayer and the reading of God's Word. Knowing that God is there for you, and with you in all things, if you place all your faith, trust, and hope in Him, and believe that God will be with you through whatever situation or circumstances you may encounter in your life.

One thing we know for sure is, that God is not ignorance of your problems or your tests or trials, because most of what we experience in life, He is the one who has allowed these things to happen in order that our faith and trust in Him might grow stronger, so that we, as Christian believers might grow-up to spiritually mature believers. Our responsibility is to encourage ourselves in all things in prayer, or praise, in worshiping to God. If you’re in the right of things, and you are doing your very best to please God, God will take you through and bring you out. And if you’re not in the right of things, and continue to flirt with sin in your life, while confessing and professing Christ as your Savior, expect God to discipline you and allow you to go through more than you should.

Hebrews chapter 12, let's us know that God will chasten His children for their sins. And yes, God will allow you to suffering the consequences of your wrongs and sins, but He is still there with, and for you, once you repent of your wrong doings and sinful ways. No matter what, you can resolve problems from within yourself, you can win the battle over sin by totally surrendering your life to the Lord, and allowing the Holy Spirit to order your step, because you are no longer your own, you were brought with a price, that you can't repay. For now you are a new creature in Christ, born again with a new nature. Even when no one encourages you, and you have separated yourself from those who say its alright to do such and such. It is for you to take responsibility for your own behavior and actions as a Christian believer, by keep yourself encouraged in the Lord through prayer and God's Word, keep yourself connected and in unity with the Holy Spirit.

The devil is slick and has many ticks up his selves, and he knows just the right time to attack your mind and emotions during your moments and periods of worry and feeling in despair and need. DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST! For greater is the Holy Spirit who lives on the inside of you, than the devil who is in the world.

By Chris Mizrany 3/15

This morning I dragged myself out of bed. The sun isn’t even fully up, so why should I be?

As I mulled over that pithy logic, I dressed, grabbed my bag, and trudged out the front door.

Now I hope some of you will empathize with my feelings when you hear my purpose. I was on my way to the gym.

But hold on!” you might say. “Gyming is such a wonderful, refreshing, exciting, thrilling, special thing!” Well, I wasn’t feeling quite that way this morning. It had been quite a week, and getting up that bit earlier was eroding my “happy ration” for the day.

Anyway, I got through my workout, and made it to the showers with just enough time to finish before heading home. I was mentally distant, thinking of the day ahead, when I heard someone singing.

Now I don’t know about your gym, but generally, no one sings at my gym. If they do, it’s usually between a hum and a breathless squeak. This was real singing, confident and clear. Someone was singing a song that I didn’t recognize, and I heard the word “Jesus.” I came out of the showers into the main area and saw this young guy—fit, good looking, and an obvious gymer. He was singing the song! Then he started singing a variation of “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet.”

I was, well, shocked. In a couple of minutes, this guy had both inspired me and put me to shame. He was witnessing in a simple, powerful way. As Dwight L. Moody put it, preaching from his Bible bound in shoe leather.

When he finished singing the song, he smiled and said, “I hope you have a great day!” Then he picked up his bag and walked out. Humble, simple, and powerful! You’d better believe my day turned upside-down and inside-out in a great way. I told my fiancée about it when I got home. I told my friends, family and now I’m telling you.

What I took away from this experience is the following:

1) There is always someone near you that you can influence in a positive way. There in the gym, this guy changed my outlook and blessed me through his willingness to be a sample of God. He had no idea what I was going through or that I too am called to witness, and he didn’t have to know. He just did what he knew to be his calling, and it did indeed affect me.1 Likewise, we’re each continually meeting, interacting with, and influencing many people. If we can exhibit joy in a weary world and kindness in a “social” yet socially inept society, I do believe lives will be changed.

2) The Lord knows how to encourage us when we need it most. He timed it so that I would hear that singing just in time. I am so thankful for that guy being willing to heed that inner voice and be “Jesus” through his hymn. Timing is everything, and God is perfectly on time, every time.

3) Never judge by outward appearance. I would probably never have picked out that guy as a follower of Jesus, but he was, and he witnessed to me.I’m sure you have experienced this phenomenon too, that an individual turns out to be so much more than they appear.2 I think many times in my life I’ve missed out on something great because I was too quick to judge.

However, we also need to be ready to look further and be “soul doctors.” I think that’s what this guy did when he saw me. God bless him!

4) Think of the big picture. One song, one kind word, one smile, one good deed, one note, one email, one tip, one pat on the back, one hug, one (fill in the blank) can have a constructive impact far beyond the effort it takes to do it. Those eternal dividends cannot be measured by earthly standards. Let’s be willing to invest more in the long-term results, even, and especially, when we cannot see them yet.3

Let’s be examples of Jesus, and let’s do what we can to show Him at every chance ... even early in the morning.

1 2 Timothy 4:2.
2 1 Samuel 16:7.
3 Matthew 6:19–20.




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