CHRISTIAN CONVERGENCE

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Comment by ALCEDES JONES on September 24, 2010 at 8:55am

SOMETHING I CAME ACROSS AND WANT TO SHARE
If you’re like me, daily Bible reading is one of those important things that you know you need to be doing. How else can we get to know our heavenly Father? Here are some reasons we need to be “in the Word” every day:

To live: “People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God.” (Matt. 4:4).
For understanding: “As your words are taught, they give light; even the simple can understand them.” (Psa. 119:130).
To know the truth: Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31-32)
To be prepared/equipped: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
To grow: “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2).
To increase your faith: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)
For salvation: “The Holy Scriptures … are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15).
For comfort and hope: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4).
For enjoyment: “Thy Words were found, and I did eat Them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy Name, O Lord God of hosts.” (Jer. 15:16).
Because He said to: “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.” (Col. 3:16). PLEASE CHEW ON THIS AND PASS IT ON IN LOVE, LOVE YOU ALCEDES

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on September 24, 2010 at 5:46am

Secrets to the Good Life

He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 1 Peter 3:10,11

Do you want to enjoy life and experience God’s goodness? This verse tells you how:

• Curb your tongue from speaking evil about anyone. Simply never say anything to hurt anyone.

• Refrain from double talk, from shrewd remarks that are designed to advance your interests at someone else’s disadvantage.

• Turn your back upon evil and, in every way possible, do good. Help people and bring blessings into their lives.

• Seek peace on earth and in your own heart; live so that peacefulness may flow from you to others.

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on September 2, 2010 at 1:57pm

Today's Word with Joel and Victoria

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And God Said…

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light"
(Genesis 1:3, NIV)

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

When God commanded light to come forth, it came—at 186,000 miles per second! Friend, when God commands something, you can be sure that it's going to happen.

Just like He commanded the worlds to be formed, God has commanded that you be blessed. He has commanded that you prosper and increase. He has commanded that you be above only and not beneath. As a believer and follower of Jesus, you are called to be the head and not the tail. If you will get into agreement with God and not let other people or your own thoughts talk you out of it, then you will see this commanded blessing take you further than you ever thought possible.

Today, set your heart and mind on His goodness. Believe that He is ready to take you places that you've never dreamed. Receive His promises because He is faithful. If God said it, He will do it! Get ready because He is pouring out His blessing on every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness. Thank You for the power in Your Word to change my world. I choose to get into agreement with You and declare that Your will be done in my life. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on September 2, 2010 at 1:01pm

Today's Word with Joel and Victoria

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By His Grace

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out His special favor on me--and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by His grace"
(1 Corinthians 15:10, NLT)

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

In this day and age, many people are filled with worry about their future. They live stressed out, wondering "What's going to happen if I get laid off?" "How am I going to handle it if my loved one doesn't make it?" Or, "My parents are getting older. How can I take care of them and my own family as well?" Here is the answer: God's grace is going to be there at every stage of your life to help you do whatever you need to do. God's grace is what saves us, but that's not all. His grace is His enabling power. His grace will give you the strength, wisdom and favor to accomplish what you could not normally accomplish on your own. His grace is sufficient for whatever you need in your future.

If you're in a difficult marriage, if you're raising a child that's hard, if you're facing a sickness, one thing you can count on is that the grace of God will be there. Receive His grace today, by faith, and let Him empower you to walk through that difficulty into a place of supernatural victory in Jesus' name!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, thank You for Your grace and mercy upon my life. Thank You for empowering me to rise above every obstacle I may face. Thank You for restoring my future and equipping me to move forward into the victory You have for me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on August 30, 2010 at 1:15pm

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Established in Love

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love"
(Ephesians 3:17, AMP)

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Did you know there is tremendous power in love? In the same way that a tree will grow taller and stronger when its roots grow deep, you will be stronger and rise higher when you are rooted and established in love.

How do you establish yourself in love? It starts with a choice. When you say "yes" to love, you are saying "yes" to everything God is because God is love! Then, choose to operate in love according to 1 Corinthians 13. That means being patient and kind. It means not seeking your own way, not being jealous or boastful. When you choose love instead of choosing your own way, you are showing the world that God is first place in your life. You are establishing yourself in love. The more you choose to walk in love, the deeper and stronger your roots will grow.

Remember, love is the greatest thing, and it is all that will last in eternity. Choose to establish yourself in love and let it be firm within you. Let His love build security in you and empower you to live the life of blessing He has in store for you.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I choose to be established in Your love. Show me how to love others the way You love me. Thank You for setting me free and empowering me to live the good life You have prepared for me. In Jesus' Name. Amen

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on August 30, 2010 at 9:52am

Live a Life of Faith
Inspiration > Live a Life of Faith

How to Live a Life of Faith

Some people think faith means a skill of belief you must acquire before you can start calling upon God. That is not what faith means. Faith is simply the decision, each day, to act as if God’s promises are true and present in your life.

It is important to understand this quality of faith because faith is not a state of mind. It is a practice, a daily practice of calling upon God and trusting that he will respond—even when, sometimes, it seems he is far away.

How do you acquire this practice? By doing it. An easy way to start is simply to affirm your faith verbally. Say, “I believe. God is with me right now.” Even if you haven’t completely taken the words to heart, saying them will cause your mind gradually to follow along.

Then pray this prayer: “Dear Jesus, I place my life and the lives of my loved ones in the shelter of your loving arms. I’m going to trust you to care for us in every way today. You only want good for your children, so whatever happens, you’ll work today for our benefit.”

Once you have done this, approach each of the day’s tasks with the assumption that God is working beside you. The key is to hold on to this conviction even when events seem to be going against you. Remember St. Paul’s great promise: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

And don’t be surprised if living by faith brings you victory more quickly than you had expected. When you arm yourself with faith, you tap a wellspring of intellectual and emotional strength. Before you know it, you’ll be overcoming any calamities you face.

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on August 30, 2010 at 6:10am

Activate God’s Promises
Inspiration > Bible > Activate God’s Promises

Activate God’s Promises

The Bible is filled with verses that promise you God’s help in times of trouble. But it’s up to you to activate these promises. Here’s how:

1. Don’t be afraid to ask. It’s what God wants you to do! “Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you” (Psalm 50:15). “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you” (John 15:7). Like Jesus himself, pray (always!) for God’s will: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 John 5:14).


2. Do what God leads you to do. Prayer and faith must never be substitutes for action. The Savior who spent so much time praying also devoted himself to teaching and ministering to people’s needs. James 2:17 reminds us: “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”


3. Remember: You cannot harvest unless you first plant seeds. The Message translates Galatians 6:7-8 to read: “Don’t be mislead. No one makes a fool of God. The person who plants foolishness, ignoring the needs of other—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds…But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.” What seeds of goodness can you plant today?


4. Speak God’s promises and blessings into life. Human words have immense power. “The tongue has the power of life and death” (Proverbs 18:21). Our words can bless or destroy. Claim God’s promises as your own (even inserting your name!) and speak them aloud. Here are a few to get you started:
• “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
• “God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
• It is God who “forgives all your sin and heals all your diseases” (Psalm 103:3).

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on August 18, 2010 at 5:12pm

Make Happiness a Habit
Inspiration > Bible > Make Happiness a Habit

Make Happiness a Habit

Abraham Lincoln said, “Most people are just about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” How much happiness do you want in your life? And how badly do you want it?

If you want to make happiness a habit, remember:

Real happiness is not smiling 24/7 and feeling elated about everything that comes your way. Ecclesiastes 3:4 tells us there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh.” We are commanded to rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15). But God gives us the assurance that, regardless of what happens, we are surrounded by his love. It is that knowledge which produces in us a deep happiness and serenity.

Happiness does not depend on the things around you. Most people believe that if they had more money, or a new car, or house, or job, or something else, their joy would be complete. You have only to look at the “stars” of our society to see how untrue that assumption is. Many famous people, who own practically everything one could wish for, often seem the most unhappy. Proverbs wisely observes, “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble” (15:16).

Worry wastes energy and diminishes happiness. Nothing cuts through joy as quickly as negative thinking. Expect good things to happen. Look for ways to use your God-given talents. Speak positive words, and you will draw happiness to you! The Message translates Matthew 6:34 to read: “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on August 18, 2010 at 9:15am

Grace for Today

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"Give us this day our daily bread…"
(Matthew 6:11, NKJ).

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

God has grace in store for you every single day. Grace is His supernatural empowerment, His unmerited favor on your life. All throughout scripture, we see God giving daily grace, empowerment and provision to His people. For example, when the people of Israel were in the wilderness headed toward the Promised Land, God gave them manna each morning to eat. It would just appear on the ground. But, He specifically instructed them to gather up only enough for one day's supply. In fact, if they got more than that, it wouldn't last. It would spoil. They were learning to trust God's grace every single day.

In the same way, God doesn't give us grace for a year at a time or even a month at a time. No, every 24 hours God has a fresh, new supply of grace, favor, wisdom and forgiveness. How are you going to make it through the seasons of your life? One day at a time. Look for His grace today. Look for His provision today. Look for His hand of favor and blessing today because He promises to supply everything you need for today.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank You for Your grace and favor on my life today. I know that You have a fresh supply of everything that I need—physically, spiritually and emotionally—today. Help me to trust You more as I seek Your face. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Comment by ALCEDES JONES on August 18, 2010 at 8:30am

Today's Word with Joel and Victoria


One Blessing after Another

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another"
(John 1:16, NIV).

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

God wants to pour out His blessing and favor upon you each and every day. It says in the Psalms that He daily loads us with benefits! So many people miss out on all that God has for them because they are weighted down by guilt and condemnation. But notice what today's verse tells us about where His blessings come from—the fullness of His grace.

God's grace is His unmerited favor. That means we can't earn it. We can't work for it, and we can't change His mind about it. He pours out His blessing on us not because of what we do, but because of who He is. His blessings are based on His goodness, not ours.

Today, receive His grace. Receive His forgiveness. Let go of guilt and condemnation. Open your heart and mind to what God wants to do in your life and get ready because He is pouring out His goodness upon you with one blessing after another!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I choose to receive Your grace today which is Your supernatural empowerment. I release guilt and condemnation and receive Your love and forgiveness. Search my heart, O God. Renew me and cleanse me by Your Word. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

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