Can Halloween be Hallow?

I was thinking about this celebration called Halloween today. Most people do not see it as religious or sacrilegious they simply see it as “Costumes and Candy”. I know many churches that have a fall festival to gather everyone into the church however once there it is still “Costumes and Candy”. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but what if……

What if we thought about a deeper meaning, like a parable? Isn’t that what Jesus would do on Halloween? He would be right in the middle of our streets walking around looking for who was ready to receive a timely word. He would be planting seeds. I can hear him now walking up to a house watching all the beautiful children. He might even ask one of them something like did you and your family carves a pumpkin tonight? Did you notice all the seeds inside? Did you know if you plant a seed it grows? First comes the sprout, then the vine then a flower which turns into fruit. Did you put a candle in yours? Did you know that God created light? He created it to shine into darkness just like your candle did. I hope you have a wonderful night run and knock on that door I bet they will answer; you will receive a delightful gift that will bring you joy. Be sure you receive it with thanksgiving.

Christ might see another child who is scared or lost from their parent. He would surely take the time to comfort them and help them find their parent. Shouldn’t we be among the people that are lost and help them find their Father? Shouldn’t we be telling them of our hope and showing our light on such a dark night. Shouldn’t we be giving them at least a piece of what we have abundantly received?

When children want to dress up, they can dress up as a holy ghost and when they knock on a door they could exemplify bringing the gift of peace and a blessing. After all the candy would be fulfilling the scripture when it says to receive whatever those receiving you offer as your wage.

Hallowed be God’s name on Halloween. There is no fear in love, perfect love casts out all fear.

We are to be salt and light – He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world.

I praise God for that.

I am listing some verses below to think over.

I love each of you, be sure to speak of this with your children after all Proverbs says:

8My son, listen to your father’s discipline, and do not neglect your mother’s teachings,

9because discipline and teachings are a graceful garland on your head

and a golden chain around your neck.

God our father says not to despise His discipline because he disciplines those he loves.

Kisses,

Candace

Isaiah 9:2/ John 15: 5 , 17:15-19 / Isaiah 9:2 / Mathew 10 / Matthew 5:32-48, 7:1-5, chapter 10 / 1 Corinthians 15: 10 thru end of chapter

Would love to know your thoughts on this one =D

Fear Not, by Os Hillman

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

God calls each of us to engage in spiritual warfare at times. Whenever satan wants to come against one of God's children, he does so by trying to intimidate through fear. Goliath's formidable size and arrogant boasting intimidated Saul and Israel's army. And because God's anointing had fallen from Saul, he was unable to respond with courage to Goliath's charge. Fear paralyzes and torments. That is why Saul could not respond.

The anointing had fallen on David, who was just a young boy, but mighty in spirit. David did not cower at the size or shouts of the giant Goliath. He saw Goliath through the eyes of God, who saw him as a mere speck. David had righteous indignation for an affront to the armies of the living God.

David did not weigh the risk of failure because his faith was resting totally in God. That is another important factor in overcoming fear-complete trust in God. When the Lord began training me to confront fear, the training grounds were a groundless lawsuit, intimidation's, and calamity that confronted my very existence. Learning that these were merely tactics of the enemy, designed to instill fear, allowed me to stand firm in God's power to overcome.

Do not fear sudden calamity if you are walking uprightly before God. It may be setting the stage for a great victory that will bring praise and honor to your heavenly Father. These battles are training grounds for greater victories to come

Yesterday we were speaking in group about fear verses faith.  I thought this would be a great support for thinking a bit more on those topics.  If you still have our study on "The Wind and a Stone"  it would be helpful to read it again over the next couple of days.  If you do not have it e-mail me and I will send you a copy.  Also go into the search or archives on the site and type in fear we have covered different points to help us lean on God's views instead of our sight many times.  (God's view is another key word search you can use)

I pray that we all live by our faith and trust in God's sovereignty and not by our limited eye sight; always and in all ways,

In Christ,
Candace

Ministry in Word

The Essence and Benefits of Repentance

悔改的本质和好处

1 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall! 2 Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: "Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips. 3 Assyria cannot save us; we will not mount war-horses. We will never again say 'Our gods' to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion." 4 "I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them. 5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots; 6 his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon. 7 Men will dwell again in his shade. He will flourish like the grain. He will blossom like a vine, and his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon. 8 O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? I will answer him and care for him. I am like a green pine tree; your fruitfulness comes from me." 9 Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.

1 以色列啊，你要归向耶和华─你的 神；你是因自己的罪孽跌倒了。2 当归向耶和华，用言语祷告他说：求你除净罪孽，悦纳善行；这样，我们就把嘴唇的祭代替牛犊献上。3 我们不向亚述求救，不骑埃及的马，也不再对我们手所造的说：你是我们的 神。因为孤儿在你─耶和华那里得蒙怜悯。4 我必医治他们背道的病，甘心爱他们；因为我的怒气向他们转消。5 我必向以色列如甘露；他必如百合花开放，如利巴嫩的树木扎根。6 他的枝条必延长；他的荣华如橄榄树；他的香气如利巴嫩的香柏树。7 曾住在他荫下的必归回，发旺如五谷，开花如葡萄树。他的香气如利巴嫩的酒。8 以法莲必说：我与偶像还有甚麽关涉呢？我─耶和华回答他，也必顾念他。我如青翠的松树；你的果子从我而得。9 谁是智慧人，可以明白这些事；谁是通达人，可以知道这一切。因为，耶和华的道是正直的；义人必在其中行走，罪人却在其上跌倒。

Hosea 14:1-9
何西阿書14:1-9

Introduction
引言

As the prophet Hosea earnestly called the people of Israel to return to Yahweh their God, he is also calling the peoples of the world to return to Yahweh, who is also our God. God is the Creator of everything and He gives rise to every nation. All peoples share a common origin and all nations are blessed by God through Abraham (Gen 12:2-3). We must let God deal with our sins so that we may return to Him. Hosea explains what this process of returning to the LORD is all about in chapter 14 of the Old Testament biblical book bearing his name.

当日先知何西阿热烈地呼唤以色列人归向耶和华他们的神，今天他也在呼唤世上的民族归向耶和华，他也是我们的神。神是万物的创造者，他又使每个国家兴起。所有民族都有一个共同的起源，所有国家都是神藉着亚伯拉罕赐福〔创12:2-3〕。我们必须让神处理我们的罪好让我们可以归向他。何西阿在以他为名的旧约圣经书卷第14章中解释归向耶和华这过程是怎麽一回事。

I. Repentance involves confession, returning to the Lord, asking for forgiveness, and having faith in God alone (14:1-3)

一、 悔改牵涉到认罪、归向耶和华、请求饶恕和单单信靠神〔14:1-3〕

Hosea says that the first step of repentance is to “take words with you and return to the LORD” (14:2). The repentance process starts with the conviction of our sins by the Holy Spirit. When we are made aware of our sins by such conviction, we must go to the LORD with words of confession, for that shows how our understaning of and agreement with His conviction.

何西阿说悔改的第一步就是「归向耶和华，用言语祷告他」〔14:2〕。圣灵指出我们的罪就开始了悔改的过程。当我们这样被提醒知罪的时候，我们必须到耶和华面前承认我们的罪，因为这样做显出我们了解并同意他所定我们的罪。

The next step of repentance is to ask the LORD for forgiveness of “all our sins”, that is the list of transgressions included in our words of confession in the last step. This is to prepare us for our petition for God “to receive us graciously”. Graciously is the only way God will receive us because our salvation is all of grace bestowed on us through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus and our faith in Him. It is “not from ourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph 2:8-9). Instead of boasting we will “offer the fruit of our lips”, our praises and thanksgiving to God for His mercy (14:2).

悔改的下一步就是求耶和华「除净罪孽」，就是包含在上一步我们所承认全部的过犯。这是为了准备我们求神「悦纳善行」。喜悦地接纳我们是神接纳我们的唯一方法，因为我们得救是本于他儿子耶稣的牺牲所赐给我们的恩典及我们对他的信心。这并「不是出於自己，乃是神所赐的；也不是出於行为，免得有人自夸。」〔弗2:8-9〕我们要献上「嘴唇的祭」来代替自夸，就是赞美和感谢他的怜悯〔14:2〕。

The final step of repentance is to trust in the LORD alone from now on. We declare our dependency and allegiance to our Lord, confessing that worldly power cannot save us, just like Assyria could not save Israel, and our own strength (represented by war horses) will not save us either. We also declare that we will no longer idolize man-made things, knowing that only in God will we find compassion for our needs (the orphans.) (14:3)

悔改的最後一步就是从今以後单单信靠耶和华。我们声明我们对主的依靠和效忠，承认世上的强权不能拯救我们就如亚述国不能救以色列一样，而我们凭己力〔以战马代表〕也不能自救。我们也声称我们不再以人造之物作偶像，知道我们只有在神那里才能获得对我们的需要〔孤儿〕的同情〔14:3〕。

Is your understanding of repentance including these elements from Hosea 14:1-3, that is,detailed confession to God, unmerited forgiveness from God, faith in God alone?

你对悔改的了解是否包括何西阿书14:1-3内的这些要素呢，就是对神详细的认罪、不配得的神的赦免和对神单一的信心？

II. Repentance brings God’s blessings as a result of a right relationship with God (14:4-7)

二、 悔改带来因着与神正确关系的祝福〔14:4-7〕

Having repented and justified by Christ’s blood, we are saved from God’s wrath (Ro 5:9). God has turned away His anger from us upon our repentance and has brought us two great blessings: healing of our waywardness and loving us freely (14:4).

悔改并因基督的血称义後我们藉着他免去神的忿怒〔罗5:9〕。在我们悔改时神的怒气向我们转消了并为我们带来两大福气：医治我们背道的病，甘心爱我们〔14:4〕。

Our sinful nature includes a tendency to backslide from our faith. We cannot resist the worldly temptation in our own strength. But God says that He will heal this spiritual sickness of ours so that we can fight the spiritual battle and win. How does God heal us? He does so by giving us “a new heart and put a new spirit” in us and He will remove  from us our heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh. And He will put His Spirit in us and move us to follow His decrees and be careful to keep His laws (Eze 36:26-27).

我们的罪性带有背道的倾向，我们靠自己的力量不能抵抗世间的试探。但是神说他要医治我们这个属灵的病让我们可以打属灵的仗而得胜。神如何医治我们呢？他医治的方法就是要赐给我们「一个新心，将新灵放在」我们里面，又从我们的肉体中除掉石心，赐给我们肉心。他必将他的灵放在我们里面，使我们顺从他的律例，谨守遵行他的典章〔结36:26-27〕。

The healing should cure our backsliding, and if it does not, God says He will love us freely. His love is given to all because God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but has eternal life (Jn 3:16). This love requires no personal merit because He loves us freely. It does not matter how we feel, the fact is God loves us freely. He loves us so much that He gave us his one and only Son, therefore He loves us enough to receive us as we are but also conforms us into his Son’s image by disciplining us. It is said that God disciplines those He loves (Heb 12:6).

这治疗应该会医好我们背道的病，如果仍未好神说他甘心爱我们。神赐他的爱给所有的人因为他爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生〔约3:16〕。这份爱不要求个人的功绩因为他甘心爱我们。不论我们感觉如何，事实上神甘心爱我们。他爱我们，甚至将他的独生子赐给我们，所以他也因为爱我们所以他照我们本相接纳我们，但同时以管教我们来使我们成为他儿子的形象。圣经有说神所爱的人他必管教〔来12:6〕。

Having the right relationship with God also leads to an abundant spiritual life because God’s love and righteousness nourish us as dew to the lily and as the mighty cedar of Lebanon sending down its roots we ground ourselves on His teaching. We spread God’s fragrance to the world while we stand firm on His Word.

与神的正确关系也引至一个丰富的属灵生命，因为神的爱与义养育我们如甘露滋润百合花，又如壮大的利巴嫩香柏树扎根我们扎根在他的教导上。我们站稳在他的话语上向世界播放神的香气。

What kinds of blessings are resulted from your right relationship with God? How has He healed your waywardness, and how has He loved you freely? How has your “sending down roots” helped your spiritual life?

你与神的正确关系给你带来什麽样的福气呢？他如何医治你背道之病和他如何甘心地爱你呢？你的「扎根」如何帮助你的属灵生命呢？

III. Repentance leads to a fruitful life with wisdom and discernment (14:8-9)
三、 悔改引至一个有智慧又通达的结果子的生命〔14:8-9〕

In our sins we may fear man or demon. After our repentance we regard the LORD Almighty as holy and He is the one that we fear (Isa 8:13). “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Pr 9:10). Then through such reverence of God we gain wisdom and discernment, because we delight in the law of the LORD and meditate on His law day and night. As a result we are like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields it fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever we do prospers. (Ps 1:2-3) Remember that our fruitfulness comes from the LORD (14:8). This describes the sanctified life of a believer who lives in awe and love of God, full of wisdom and understanding, with continual spiritual growth.

我们在罪中可能会惧怕人或邪灵。我们悔改後就尊万军之耶和华为圣，以他为我们所当怕的，所当畏惧的〔赛8:13〕。「敬畏耶和华是智慧的开端；认识至圣者便是聪明。」〔箴9:10〕藉着对神这般的敬畏我们得着智慧和通达的心，因为我们喜爱耶和华的律法，昼夜思想。如此我们就像一棵树栽在溪水旁，按时候结果子，叶子也不枯乾。凡我们所做的尽都顺利。〔诗1:2-3〕这形容一个活在神的敬畏和爱中，满有智慧和聪明，有不断的属灵成长的成圣生活。

How has your repentance led to a life of wisdom and discernment?
你的悔改如何引至一个有智慧又通达的生命呢？

Conclusion
结语


A sincere repentance includes our confession of sins convicted by the Holy Spirit, asking for God’s forgiveness of our offenses against Him, returning to Him with a single-minded faith in Him.

真挚的悔改包括我们承认圣灵所定的罪，求神宽恕我们对他的冒犯，以专一对他的信心归向他。

After repentance we may backslide but we can take hold of God’s promise that He has healed us of our waywardness so we can depend on Him to live victoriously. We can come to the LORD for forgiveness just as we are for He will love us freely. With our continual cleansing by His forgiving mercy, we can live a fruitful spiritual life empowered by the LORD.

在悔改後我们可能背道，但是我们可以凭着神已经医治我们背道的病的应许来靠他过得胜的生活。我们可以以本相来求耶和华饶恕因为他甘心爱我们。凭着他宽恕的怜悯不断洁净我们，我们可以过一个以耶和华为动力的满有果子的属灵生活。

Repentance brings reverence of God into our heart. This sprouts a life of godly wisdom and understanding. With us in Christ and Christ in us, the LORD prospers the work of our hands.

悔改带对神的敬畏进我们心中，这样就萌生一个敬虔智慧和聪明的生命。我们在基督里和基督在我们里，耶和华使我们所做的尽都顺利。

Tom and Tehwan Tso
仲谋与德菀

“The outcome of your faith is the salvation of your souls.” 1Peter 1:9

“信心的果效， 就是灵魂的救恩” 彼得前书1：9

Going Without Jesus - By Os Hillman

"...they were unaware of it." Luke 2:43

Mary and Joseph traveled to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. Jesus was 12 years old. They were evidently very distracted by the excitement and business of the Feast. In fact, Mary and Joseph began their return trip to Nazareth only to realize well into the trip that Jesus was not with them. It would be three days before they would be reunited with their 12-year-old son. It caused quite a scare in Mary and Joseph, and they reprimanded Jesus for "wandering" off.


As a parent, I find this story truly amazing. How can parents of the Son of God not know their son is not in their presence? Yet this story illustrates how each of us can become so busy that we continue to operate not realizing that Jesus is no longer with us. Obviously, there was very little fellowship taking place between Jesus and His parents during the trip.

Are you experiencing daily, even moment-by-moment, fellowship with Jesus? If not, you will wake up one day and realize Jesus is not with you in your endeavors. It may, like Mary and Joseph, create a certain fear in you that you may have lost a very important relationship. Doing business without Jesus' presence leaves us powerless and prone to live in fear. Jesus said He would never leave or forsake His children. However, we can walk away from His fellowship by refusing to be with Him. Do not let this happen to you. He longs to have daily fellowship with you because He loves you

I pray for us all today, that we seek Him with all that we are, strive to lay down our selfish ambitions so that He may have fellowship with us and others around us, live out this day energized by the power of His love which casts out all fear and woos others into His embrace.
 
With the Love of our Christ,
Candace

What Do You See?

Genesis 3:4-6 (NAS)The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die! "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

Looking over this encounter between Satan, Adam, Eve several points to ponder presented themselves. 
Was God there watching?  He says He is always with us.
Satan spoke to Eve in the presence of Adam, telling her new information about God's character.  Why would he do this except to distort His character in their eyes.  He was basically stating, "I know something about your God that you do not know, therefore I know Him better so you need to trust me."
Both Adam and Eve allowed Satan to have the last word.  Why did they not speak again?  They took his deception, believed what he was saying, pictured the perversion as better and devoured it.

God tells us we have all power over our choices.  If we do not know we will choose a lesser life; a life of destruction leading to death...not only for us, but also for those we are entwined with in life.  Who are you the head of?  Are you following Christ? Is He your head above all else?  What your mind pictures, it seeks and takes hold of.  Change the ways you think....see your life differently and rise a transformed creature.  It happens in the blink of an eye.  God says His words are trustworthy...

I pray that we are trustworthy because of Him whom we believe in to make us healed, restored, whole and leading the way.

In Christ,
Candace

Matthew West - Save A Place For Me (Official Music Video)

Ministry in Word

I’d Rather Have

我宁愿有

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from you forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

知道你们得赎，脱去你们祖宗所传流虚妄的行为，不是凭着能坏的金银等物，乃是凭着基督的宝血，如同无瑕疵、无玷污的羔羊之血。

1 Pe 1:18-19
彼前1:18-19

These verses bring to my mind Beverly Shea’s hymn, “I’d rather have Jesus.”
这些经文让我想起谢比华的圣诗「我宁愿有耶稣」。

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold,
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands,
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand
Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

我宁愿有耶稣胜於金钱，
我宁愿有耶稣胜过财富无边；
我宁愿有耶稣胜於地土，
愿主钉痕手，引导我前途
胜过做君王，虽统治万方
却仍受罪恶捆绑；
我宁愿有耶稣胜於世上荣华富贵声望。

This hymn refreshes my memory of the day in my youth that I came to experience and know that I was redeemed from the empty way of life by Jesus’ blood which is more precious than silver or gold. That day I’d rather have Jesus than have all the riches of this world. I let go of myself, willingly be led by His nail-pierced hand. I told my Lord that wherever He led me I would follow.

这圣诗使我回忆到我少年时那一天，当我经历和知道我得救赎，脱去我祖宗所传流虚妄的行为，乃是凭着比金银贵重的基督的宝血。那一天我宁愿有耶稣胜过世上的财富。我放开自己，自愿被主钉痕手来引导我。我告诉我主无论他带我往那里去我都要跟随。

That was my “mountain top” experience in my church summer camp many, many years ago. I could not believe how free it was to be close to Jesus. But not long after I descended from the mountain top into the challenges of worldly college life, the knowledge of my redemption was reduced from heart knowledge to head knowledge; worldly logic became my guide instead of Jesus. After I began my career, silver or gold became my goal in the place of Jesus. I gradually took more and more control of my life away from God; at least I thought I did. I forgot that I was redeemed by more precious things than silver or gold. I lost the freedom and lightness in life. Work was no longer exciting, and relationships were heavy. There was no more joy in life.

那是我许多年前在我教会夏令会中的「山顶」经厉，我不能相信亲近耶稣是多自由的。但我从山顶下来进入属世的大学生活的不久，我的救赎认知从心中消失只留印象在脑海中，属世的逻辑取代了耶稣的导师地位。在我事业开始後，金钱取代了耶稣作为我的目标。我逐渐从神那里拿了更多对我生命的控制，至少我自以为如此。我忘记了我是凭着比金银贵重的东西得救赎的。我失去了生命中的自由轻快。工作不再是兴奋的事，而人际关系变得沈重。生命中缺乏了喜乐。

But God is sovereign. Though I became a prodigal son to God, He remained the loving Father waiting for me to return home. He said, “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed.” (Is 54:10) Like the prodigal son I was awakened by the adversity God allowed in my life. “Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them” (Is 30:20) Every adversity or affliction was my teacher, but sometimes I was a reluctant student due to my pride, not willing to learn the lessons. It was always a lesson of choice and value. I had to constantly go back to the understanding that I was redeemed by something more precious than silver or gold and to choose wisely according to that understanding. I made my choice wisely when my value judgment was made with this understanding in my heart. When my value judgment was made with this understanding in my head alone most of the time I made wrong choices, like the foolish man who built his house on sand which, without a foundation, was toppled by the wind and flood (Mt 7:24-27).

但神仍掌王权。我虽然成了神的浪子，他仍是等待我回家的慈父。他说，「大山可以挪开，小山可以迁移；但我的慈爱必不离开你；我平安的约也不迁移。」〔赛54:10〕正如那位浪子，我是被神所允许进入我生命中的艰苦所唤醒的。「主虽以艰难给你当饼，以困苦给你当水，你的教师却不再隐藏；你眼必看见你的教师。」〔赛30:20〕每一个艰难或困苦都是我的教师，但有时因为我的骄傲，我变成一个不甘心的学生，不肯学习那些功课。那经常是一个选择和价值的功课。我须要固定地回到我的了解，就是我是凭着比金银贵重的东西得救赎的，而须要按照我心中这个了解来作明智的选择。当我按照我心中这个了解来作价值审定时，我的选择就是明智的。当我只是按照我头脑中这个了解来作价值审定时，我的选择大都是错误的，就如那建房子在沙土上的愚昧人一般，因为房子没有根基，风吹水淹使它倒塌了〔太7:24-27〕。

Now by God’s grace I am stripped of my pride, relieved of my control, I am reestablishing once again the understanding of Jesus’ redemption of me through His blood. Today Beverly Shea’s hymn brings back a glimpse of the passion for Jesus and the freedom to pursue Him who is more precious than silver or gold!

现在我蒙恩脱离我的骄傲，不再有我的控制，我重新建立耶稣藉他的血救赎我的了解。今天谢比华的圣诗使我重新瞥见对耶稣的热忱和去追求那胜过金银的他之自由！

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause,
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame,
I’d rather be true to His holy name
Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

我宁愿有耶稣胜於称扬，
我宁忠於主，满足主的心肠；
我宁愿有耶稣胜於美名，
愿对主忠诚，宣扬主圣名
胜过做君王，虽统治万方
却仍受罪恶捆绑；
我宁愿有耶稣胜於世上
荣华富贵声望。

Have you lost the vibrant joy of days past? You can regain it by embracing Jesus today.
你是否失去了往日活泼的喜乐呢？今天你若拥抱耶稣你就可以重新得到。

Tom and Tehwan Tso
仲谋与德菀

“The outcome of your faith is the salvation of your souls.” 1Peter 1:9

“信心的果效， 就是灵魂的救恩” 彼得前书1：9

"You Certainly Won't Die"

Genesis 3: 4,5 (GWT)“You certainly won’t die!” the snake told the woman. “God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened. You’ll be like God, knowing good and evil.”

It is easy for me to sit here reading the sequence of events, as if reading a novel, and suggest what I am about to type.  However know in advance that I understand I didn't have to go through the experience as Eve did.  Because her life and many others God has afforded us wisdom.  Peter said it this way in 2 Peter chapter 3:

You therefore,beloved, knowing this beforehand,be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Satan in his cunning way was putting doubt in Eves mind.  That's why we cannot veer to the left of to the right of what God says.  What He says is truth.  What God tells us is the end result.  He gives us many warnings along the way.   He is simply trying to say.....this is your destination.  You might not get there today, or tomorrow however I am a God.  I have set before you life and death, you choose your final outcome. 

I pray that we open the gift of strength, wisdom, discernment and courage and that we ask Him to show us how His Love employs those characteristics to walk among those He puts in our path, in our life, to live with for eternity. Let's start or forever today.....His way; which is The Way of Life.  Selah....

With the Love of our Christ,
Candace