Peace on earth?

Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

As Christmas is coming nearer and the birth of my Savior is once again being celebrated, I have a heavy heart for the world. The lost world that knows not what they celebrate. The world that is hurting and looking everywhere to find contentment and satisfaction for the hole in their heart.

and yet, I'm grateful....

I've got the love of Jesus in my heart.

You see, as a Christian ("Christ-follower"), I celebrate the day that God sent His only Son down to earth to be a human... Jesus Christ humbled Himself into the form of a human, even though He was God. (Phil. 2:8)

We are sinners. (Romans 3:23) Each of us... we want to please ourselves and do whatever we want, not realizing that it will cost us everything... not realizing the price for our sins is death. We deserve to die. (Romans 6:23) Without Christ, we will spend our eternity in Hell... Where is darkness and fire. (Relevation 20:14)

The reason why Christ's birth is so important.... is that He was born to die... to die for you and for me. (John 3:16) He lived on earth and serve the people, but He knew that He was meant to die on a cross for your sins and mine. Jesus Christ, blameless and sinless, was the only one who could take our sins and pay the debt that we owed. He saved us from our sins so that we wouldn't have to suffer eternity in Hell.

Problem is..... you have to believe. (Acts 16:31) You have to ask Jesus into your heart. It's a choice that each of us must make. Realize that today is the day. You don't know when your life might be taken from you or when you might breathe your last breath.

I did that! I prayed unto God and accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior when I was seven. I believe that He died for me and saved me from sins. I am freed from eternal death and am going to have a home in Heaven for all eternity. A place where Jesus is, where their are no tears, no pain.. where happiness and joy will be forever more.

I rejoice that GOD loved me so much to send His son to save me! (Romans 5:8) I love my Lord and my Savior! 

On Christmas day, I will give gifts.... because God first gave His son as a gift for me.

Merry Christmas to each and everyone one of you! :D

God's Faithfulness to His Promises

2 Kings 8:19 "Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant's sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children." 

I have been enjoying my daily Bible reading.   :) Right now, I'm learning about the Kings of Israel and the Kings of Judah. WHAT A MESS! The Kings of Israel ruled over ten tribes of Jacob, whereas the Kings of Judah ruled over two tribes of Jacob. The Kings of Israel began with the reign of Jeroboam. I learned that he was NOT a descendant of David, something I always assumed before. Another fact is that the Kings of Israel went through Four Dynasties up to where I'm reading. Because of the great evil of the king of each dynasties, God proclaims that their entire families would be destroy, and they were! BUT.....

Because God said that David's seed would always have a seat on the thrown, God was faithful to His promise and even when a descendant of David who ruled was evil, God wouldn't destroy the line of David. How wonderful to know that we can depend on God's promises in our own lives!

What makes You so Special?

Deuteronomy 4:5-8 "Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?"

Psalm 119:97 "O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day."

People ask me all the time what makes you so special. Why does it seem that God favors you? Why do you seem to understand people and have wisdom about situations and circumstances? Why are you so different from me? 

Reading my Bible. I learn what His Commandments are when I study God's Word. I draw near to Him and He draws near to me. In the Bible, I learn what wisdom is. I am able to foresee troubles and make the right judgement. I gain discernment for evaluating situations and doing the right thing. The Bible, the Word whose author is the Creator of the universe.... Is where I get my wisdom, discernment, and understanding.

Obeying God's Commandments. Ever since I was really little, I wanted (more than anything) to become a godly woman. I strive to live daily as God wants me to. I strive to read my Bible, pray for others, honor my parents, and serve my God. Commandments that I read in God's Word... I strive to follow. It is a passion of my heart to follow after my Savior. He is the reason I am different.

Receiving the Same Blessing. Read and memorize your Bible. Follow His commandments as best as you can. These two important points are the reason why God has shown me favor and allowed me to be wise and discerning.

Shine as Lights in the World

Philippians 2:14-15 "Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world"

Murmurings. So far, within the first 4 books, the Bible indicates how the Israelites have murmured (used specifically) FIVE times! This is greatly surprising for several reasons. First, they witnessed God's great power (miracles) in Egypt and God's protection as they crossed through the Red Sea, and yet here they are murmuring against God.  

Food and Water. Secondly, they murmured for the simple needs. They wanted water then food then water again. (Exodus 15:24, 16:2, 17:3) When God supplied their food and water, it wasn't for a small group of people; instead, it was for over a million people. When he provided food, it was a daily provision.

Fear. The fourth time that they murmured, it was because they were afraid. They were to go into the land promised them by God and conquer it. The Israelites felt that the enemy was greater and mightier. They didn't believe that God could help them and fight for them, so they lost their opportunity and would die in the wilderness. Their children would enter the land flowing with milk and honey. (Numbers 14:2)

Authority and Position. The last time that they murmured, it was against authority and positions that God had placed over them. Some wanted to be rulers like Moses; others wanted to be High Priests like Aaron. They disagreed with God's decision and felt like they knew better then Him. God destroyed those that opposed and reminded them that He was the one who called Moses and Aaron to those positions of Leadership. (Numbers 16:11, 41)

As Christians, we ought to live our lives depending on God for our basic necessities. We know God has provided for us in the past and He will provide again. Even in the wilderness, where food and water are scarce, God can do miracles and provide. If we trust Him and share with others our faith, we allow God's glory and power to shine through us.

Do everything without murmurings..............
Shine brightly so that the world can see the Father's hand upon us.

Need More Time in a Day?

Leviticus 26:3-4 "If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit."

I have been reading through the laws that Moses gave unto the children of Israel. At the end of the Book of Leviticus, God gives Israel and even us two choices. If we choice to follow God and obey his commandments, he will provided and take care of us. But if we choice to disobey and disregard his commandments, then we will suffer hardships and destruction. It is our choice.

Now, that I am a new mom, I find it more difficult to have time to spend reading God's Word, but because I seek God and ask Him to grant me time, HE has been faithful. Even today, not only was I able to read my Bible, pray for others, maintain the house, but I was also given the additional time to write this new post. My God is faithful, when I follow His commandments and place Him first in my life.

A New Beginning

Psalm 40:5 "Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered."

First looking back, God has given me so much! God is so good. I accepted Christ as my Saviour when I was seven years old. I love being a child of GOD and having a relationship with the Creator of the world, with the one who took my sins away, and who has given me a wonderful, loving husband and beautiful daughter. I am excited about Heaven: to walk the streets of gold and be in the presence of Jesus and God.

Now looking ahead, I will share with you what God is doing in my life, as I try to read through my Bible in one year. I will share lessons learn, prayers answered, and lives changed. I want to be the difference I want to see in this world. I want to see revival again. Revival starts with me... Change within me first.

Your sister in Christ,

Yuliya