Joy in His Presence TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”……Psalm 16:11, NIV TODAY’S WORD: God promises that joy is found in His presence, and if you’ve accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then His presence lives inside of you. That means you are full of joy! Joy manifests when you focus your mind and heart on the Father and begin to praise Him. It doesn’t matter where you are or what’s going on around you, you can access the joy that’s inside of you at anytime, day or night. Know this: God wants you to experience His supernatural joy and peace at all times. That’s why He chose to live inside of you and give you an endless supply. Don’t waste another minute feeling overburdened and discouraged. Let… read more
joy
Christmas Graphics Templates for churches – here are a few you should check out! These Christmas Graphics Templates are Premium, High Quality, Contemporary and designed by Godserv. Great for any Christmas church events, they are ready for any production print environment, just download the files and customize, then send to print. That easy! The templates are offered at a cost that is unbelievably affordable! Check them out below! Christmas Cantata Flyer and Poster Template Christmas Concert Postcard Template Christmas His Story Flyer and CD Template Christmas Party Flyer Template Christmas Story Church Flyer Template Silent Night Christmas Flyer Silent Night Christmas Ticket Christmas Party Flyer and Poster Template Bethlehem Christmas Play Church Flyer Template A Love to Save Christmas Flyer Template Bethlehem’s Light Cantata Flyer Template Bethlehem’s Light Cantata Program Template He Is Born Kids Christmas Flyer Template Messiah Christmas Cantata Flyer Template Messiah Christmas Cantata Program Template A Song Was… read more
This evening I was driving home from work and listening to the Joy 1250 radio station. There was a Christian program hosting Joni Eareckson Tada, a Christian lady who in 1967–at the age of 17 years old–became quadriplegic due to a diving accident. She said something that encouraged me to share with you my experience of God’s faithfulness in answering prayers. She said that prior to the accident she prayed that God would deepen her relationship with Him, but that she did not expect it to happen this way—she wasn’t thinking ‘paralysis’! But God used her paralysis to answer her prayer and she is so much closer to Him today than she ever could. Ten years ago I prayed a simple sincere prayer. I asked God, “Lord, I want to experience the love You have for mankind. I don’t want to only experience Your love for me but I also… read more
Education is just knowledge you acquire to be able to practice a certain profession–it is nothing more and nothing less. It does not make you godlier, it does not make you love the Lord or others more, it does not make you more understanding or forgiving—it simply does not change your character to be more like Christ. The Holy Spirit is the only person who can change your character to the likeness of Christ’s character. He may use your education experience as a tool to change you, but education itself had not changed you—the Holy Spirit did. Education does not even have an eternal value unless you use it to glorify God. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.†Of course, you cannot choose a career that is by definition dishonouring the… read more
At the Jesus in the City parade I decided to take a shortcut: instead of going with the parade around the many downtown city blocks, I decided to take a shortcut and meet the floats on the way back. As I walked through the shortcut I got a bit tired and thirsty so I bought a cool drink. It was a sunny and hot afternoon so soon I was thirsty again and the sweat on my forehead started to bother me. As I reached the end of this shortcut street and met up with the floats of the parade I saw this man who was playing the role of our Lord, Jesus Christ: he was barefoot and wearing minimum clothes under the hot sun. Being tired and annoyed by the heat I immediately thought, “Is he crazy? I would never do that!†Then almost immediately I thought, “Thank God Jesus… read more
It is actually a blasphemy to tell people who are not born-again about the commandments of God and expect them to live by them. Because when we do that we are implying that a lost person, with a sinful nature can live the Christian life without the Holy Spirit. On the contrary, when a lost person fails to live up to the standards of God then we should not be surprised, because that is exactly the purpose of the commandments: to show a lost person how far off from God’s goal of holiness he is, and how impossible it is for him to attain that goal of holiness by his own efforts. Living by the commandments was never a way to attain forgiveness, and that is why they had to sacrifice blemishless animals in the Old Testament—it has always been by the blood. Let me tell you a little story:… read more
I learn by examples best, so I think the best way to explain what being born-again means is through an example: Let us say you are a cat, and you want to live as a human. So you start your day by trying to wash your face but the sink is too big for you and the faucet was not designed to be turned on by paws. Then you try to make the bed but the bed is so big–because it is a human bed–that there is no way you can do it. Then you try to put on a shirt but shirts were designed for humans so they will not fit you and you cannot button up the shirt with your paws anyway. Even if you succeeded in doing those tasks the fact of the matter is that you are still a cat. You can try to pretend to… read more
Eight years ago I took a sexual purity online course, and it was the best Christian teaching I got. It was a daily online course for two months and I loved every day of it. One thing though I disagree with them is that they said many members who do not follow the precautionary rules (such as: move your computer to an open space in the house, or install Internet filtering software, or acquire an accountability partner, etc) fall back into sin even though they were free from it for a period of time. The problem I have with that statement is that I believe a person is only truly free if he is free on the inside through being set free by the power of the Holy Spirit. I think the best way to explain this topic is by talking about what it means to be born-again and what… read more
This photo to me, encompasses the beautiful basics of photographing the ocean, the water rushing over your feet as it makes it’s way back to sea while a fresh wave brings a cleansing flood. Experimenting with different shutter speeds to get different motion in an ever-changing environment, all while breathing in the refreshing air that only comes from the sea, It’s just pure bliss! Right now life is simply amazing! I am just constantly filled with joy and I’ve finally found my true purpose. I can’t even find the words to describe it; perhaps comparing it to a mountain top experience is the best way. Last night a bunch of us went over to a friend’s house and we just talked about God and how He has been working in us lately. I wish you could have been there, I wish you could have seen the passion, felt the joy,… read more
You’re not just another man. You’re not just another teacher. You’re not just another priest. You’re not just another god. You are the great I AM, the one and only. Beside you there stands no other, you are the infinite one, by your word kingdoms arise and fall, and by your sovereign whim men live and die. You never sleep for you never tire and you are in need of no thing from anyone or anything. You sustain yourself by the might of your own mighty right arm. No man of the earth or angel of the heavens can bring any word against you, nor can we offer anything to you to increase your worth. You dwell in inapproachable light which emits from your own holy righteousness. You are and by you all other things exist and have their being. You sit enthroned, in total control of all… read more
This is a continuation of the testimony of Emma Nation. We learned in the first part of her story, the struggles leading up to abuse and attempted suicide. God showed Emma that He loved her, by sending help just at the right time to pull her from the clutches of the devil, God had better plans for her. The image depicts the surgery that the Lord performed in bringing her out of bondage. Testimony Jesus saved my life in more ways than one. But the pain in my heart was very real and very alive. By that point it had already taken over me and cut deep holes in my spirit. I had already learned to use food in so many ways other than what it was intended for. Food was my connection to my mother as many happy memories with her from early childhood centered around food. Food was… read more
I have been thinking lately, isn’t it weird that so many celebrities and people who win the lottery end up in such a mess? They have everything that life can offer, the best of everything we are chasing, yet they end up in rehab or simply just losing it. Mel Gibson, Lindsay Lohan, Elvis, Tiger Woods, the list goes on and on. All of these celebrities have been at the top of the world at some point but all of them have ended up worse off in the end. I almost think it’s a blessing that us “normal†people can’t ever end up rich enough to acquire all of our desires. It’s weird that this is what happens to our role models yet we keep striving to be like them. How can I show you that there is something far better out there? How can I explain the true… read more
I have spent a lot of time thinking mostly about the future. For a long time I have had a plan in my mind about how my future was going to work out. As you who are older and/or wiser than me know, “the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray.†This has been a hard experience but it has also been a very healthy one. It was good to step back and take a look at life after the future I thought was so certain, vanished. I realized that God was simply a part of my plan and that ultimately I was still living life for myself. I wanted to live out my life how I had planned it and I essentially told God that He could come along for the ride, because I wanted some of Him in my life. I realized though that it’s… read more
I have been given a gift in photography, design and illustration but not for me to get rich and famous, yet here I am, a few weeks away from launching my photography website where which I will charge customers to download and use my images, not only that, but I am in the process of building a business around my t-shirt designs. Is it right to gain a profit for my work through large companies or from my close friends and fellow believers? There are several answers to that question and I would like to share one with a story. There once were two men who were both equally gifted in healing, they could heal those who were sick or injured within three days of their prayers. As time passed, they both got married, they needed work, so they both set up hospitals where they would go around the… read more
These Cell Phone wallpapers are from the INSPIKS Christian Cell Phone Wallpaper group on Flickr. Here you will find some of the best Christian wallpapers from the group members and some from our own graphic design team. We also have  a Cell Phone Wallpaper Gallery here on our blog, which features one hundred plus wallpapers. [sam id=3 codes=’false’] [sam id=3 codes=’false’]
Welcome to this weeks edition of the Christian Blog Carnival. The carnival highlights christian thought in the blogosphere by offering readers a broad range of christian thought, it is open to Christians of Protestant, Orthodox, and Roman Catholic convictions. If you’ve never participated before, it’s a great way to make your writings known amongst the community. Check out all the entries below, you should find something of interest, Enjoy! Biblical Greek Adventures – Part 1 Why study biblical Greek? We discussed this a little bit last week, but I want to hit on it more fully here. The great reformer Martin Luther in his “To the Councilmen of All Cities in Germany, that They Establish and Maintain Christian Schools” put it this way… Read Article Author: Philip Blog: Science and Theology in Apposition Atheism and Agnosticism (really, apisticism)Â as Belief A common claim of many atheists is that atheism is not… read more
Last year was tough and this year is shaping up to be about the same, while I can’t speak to your specific need or heart ache, I know that there is a higher place to tread than this hard world we live in. Much like the deer in this image, our spirits are gaunt, barely able to survive on the scarce grass and leaves left over from the long, dry, and hot summer. Only the strongest have survived and they are weakening. What hope is there under such an aggressive hand as that of our God? So often it seems pressed upon us, it seems to crush us, even to death. Where is hope, where is strength, where is the green grass for our souls to feast upon? Truly the feast does not lie in the valley, but upon the mountain, on the heights, but alas, for how shall we… read more
In this world you will have tribulation, take it seriously. For just one second take only that. Jesus just promised all of His followers tribulation. That means we are going to get hurt, in our heart and in our life, that hurts. So back to the point, what is it that will bring peace? Why would Jesus promise tribulation? He says first that He has said these things.. what things? He has said that he will leave, die, and they will lament. Yet, he will return in a little while and they will rejoice and no one will be able to take away their joy. Even though they have trial and tribulation, their joy will be indestructible. Wow, is my joy like that? “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome… read more
If I could tell you one last thing before I died…, I would tell you about how I live life to the fullest. I would tell you about the great joy I have in my heart. I would tell you about a man who came from Heaven to earth, named Jesus. He came to give us life to the fullest. He told of two paths, one path is wide and there are many people on it. The other is narrow and few travel on it, yet it leads to life in the fullest. The wide path is easy to travel on; it is the path we are on from birth, our default path. The narrow path is a path that you have to choose to walk, it is not always easy, but it is the most rewarding. There is no middle path and each path leads to different places. The… read more
As we come to the close of our 100 Days Praise Challenge, we want to thank w2wsoul.com and those who participated, gave praise shout outs, and shared their artwork. We continue to give God thanks and praise for the things he has done in our lives, because we really and truly cannot stop giving praise to God. Praise should be a part of our daily lives and should encompass all that we do. Living a life that is surrendered totally to Christ is our ultimate offering of praise. Our Praise Challenge took us through many books in the Bible and we learnt that praise can take many forms for the believer. Singing songs and hymns, clapping our hands, even jumping for joy…the list is endless. We can give glory and praise to our God with the use of our physical bodies, with our hearts and minds, and with our talents… read more
It’s that time of the year again when we celebrate our fathers. The first observance of Father’s Day is believed to have been held on July 5, 1908 in a church located in Fairmont, West Virginia, by Dr. Robert Webb. Our fathers are given the special responsibility of leadership in the home. What a joy it is to interact and learn from our fathers! The most important role of our father is to lead us to the truths of God; his love is a representation of God’s love for us. As you look at these amazing photos, be reminded of God’s everlasting love for you and be inspired to do something special for your dad today, let him know how much you love him! Happy Father,s Day! Want photos you can use in your personal or commercial work? Download our “40 Free Photos of Fathers Bundle”. “As a father has compassion… read more
Drunkard Inspirational Art: This artwork should be self explanatory – at least, if you’re not drunk. If you are drunk, you will not be able to read it anyways. So, what’s my point? A drunkard must come to some clearness of mind, so that right choices can be made to quit the habit. Some folks can do it through family/friend interventions, others by just, one day coming to their senses and others, they need a supernatural intervention. Either way, the drunkard needs our prayer and patience, and at other times, even our forgiveness. Drunkards also need the Word of God which is like a two edged sword. Why would someone destroy their insides with a poison that brings pain, disaster, false joy and false hope? God need us to always be clear headed so that He can do his work through us. The next side of this equation is that… read more
Are we living our lives according to God’s standards? Are we owning up to our mistakes? Are we being children of the Most High? Everyday we are given another chance to demonstrate the love of God through our lives. We are here only for a short time, do with it as God pleases. Jesus is looking for some good ambassadors to pass on His love and Good News. Ask him for power through His holy Spirit and study His Word. Then, you shall see the fruit of the Spirit raising up in your life and other people’s lives will be affected by yours in the way Jesus intended. “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you… read more
One day I was speeding, I was driving 90 mph in a 60 mph zone! Yes, I was going pretty fast!! Well the State Trooper saw me, pulled me over and slapped me with a ticket! The incident spoiled my whole evening. I had to go home and explain to my wife what had happened and just thinking about it made me feel sick to my stomach, I could have killed someone or myself. I paid the ticket but a couple weeks after later I was driving on the I-95, this was going the speed limit, my car spun out in a light rain, that made the road slippery. My car was totaled!. This was a miracle in itself, because I was not hurt, not even a scratch. About two months later after a long search for a new car, with a few dollars to spare, the Lord blessed me… read more