Danielle :: Blog

http://www.nxtgenmag.com/2008/05/25/its-not-too-good-to-be-true/

It’s not too good to be true!  Few things in this world can live up to that.  And the best part is not only is it good but its also free!  I’m talking the salvation that comes from Jesus Christ alone.  Isn’t it funny that the most precious thing we can ever get is free?  Well, its free for us Jesus payed the ultimate price, his life, so that you and I can see God face to face.  Without the death of Jesus we would have no path to reach Heaven.  Nothing our earthly bodies can do is good enough to be accepted into heaven.  Jesus left his throne to come to this crummy earth to live life as the child of a simple carpenter.  God could have sent Jesus to any woman on earth to be born.  Instead of choosing some royal family to raise his only son he sent Jesus to live among the common people, to grow up as a common boy.  And when Jesus had grown he went out to the world and broke all the rules, yet remained sinless.  He showed the hypocrisy in the Jewish faith at that time.  He condemned those who did not practice the teaching of the God given Law’s of Moses.  He ruffled the feathers of the rabbi’s so much that they despised him.  The hated Jesus and wanted him dead.  He was betrayed by one of his closest friends and given up to the king to face punishment.  And yet he remainedsinless.  He was tried under the by Caesar’s governor, Pilate, who tried everything to let Jesus go.  But, the Jewish leaders demanded for his death and Pilate obeyed them.  Jesus was then tortured, beaten, spit on, and stripped of his clothing.  He was forced to carry his own instrument of death, the cross.  When he stumbled a simple Jewish man was forced to carry the cross for him.  And even still he remained sinless.  He was nailed to that cross raised into the air and left to die.  The death would be brutal, painful, and slow.  Even then he would remain sinless.  He shared to the murders and thieves hanging on either side of him and even saved one for his faith.  Jesus died on that cross and the Earth became dark.  He was buried in a grave not even his own, it was borrowed.  He went to hell for our sins and to reclaim the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. After three days with an earthquake the stone was rolled away and Jesus was raised from the dead.  He returned to his apostles to show that he was no long dead.   He now sits on his throne with his Father making intersession for us.  He did all this for you!  All he ask is that we simply believe, ask him into our heart, and repent of the sins we have committed that sent him to hell in our place.  He forgives your sins and he never will use them against you again.  If you have never accepted the gift of His forgiveness it’s not to late.  You can do it right now it as simply as a prayer.  If you honestly in your heart believe that the story above is true and you want to have that gift pray this prayer.

Dear Jesus, 

I Know that I am a sinner and I am sorry for all I have done that is against your law.  Please forgive me of my sins and help me to live a life that is in honor of you.  I belive that you died for MY sins and that your were resurrected, that you hear my prayers and forgive my sins.  Please Jesus just now come and live in my heart and send your Holy Spirit to help me to live the life you have planned for me. In your name I pray, Amen

If you said that pray then congradualation your are a born-again Christian!  Now that you have accepted his free gift its time to begin to walk the path he has set out for you.  Get a Bible, any translation will do get something that speaks to you, start reading the Gospel of John.  Make reading your Bible a priority in your life so that you may grow closer to the Savior who has just forgiven your sins.  Get into a good Church that teaches the Bible, the whole Bible and nothing but the Bible.  Don’t worry if you stumble, we all have and we all will continue to.  Just repent of your sins and strive to walk a holy life.  If you have accepted Jesus as your personal Savior today please email us at prayers@nxtgenmag.com  so that we can pray for you daily.

http://www.nxtgenmag.com/2008/05/24/be-childlike/

“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. 17For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Luke 8:16-17 (NIV)

I’m sure that when you read this scripture today that immediately you started singing “This Little Light of Mine.”  The older I get the more I realize the truth that is in the children’s Bible songs that we have all sung a thousand times.  And how amazing it is that as a child though these songs we understood the awesome power of God, but also our own responsibility in surving Him.  We are not to hide our faith and only let it show on Sunday mornings at Church.  We are to let our light shine for all to see and for all to know though us the grace that we gain from a Risen Savior.  I have a daughter who just turned one month old and the thngs this little child of mine has taught me about the grace of God is simply unimaginable.  If only we could put all of our trust in God as my daughter does to me.  If only we could show with our actions alone how much we love God like my daughter does to me.  At one month she is fully reliant on her mother and I for everything and if it were not for care and love we give her she would perish.  Its like that with God as well.  No matter how much we think we are independent, no matter how much free will he has given us, we are fully reliant on Him.  He provides for us because he loves us and with out his providing and love we would surely parish.  Even before we realized as sinners that we needed to call out to the God above for salvation he was still providing for us. 

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

With all that Jesus has done for us, why is it that we hide our light?  Why are we not out screaming from the highest mountains the love and glory of God?   Why is it that we often deny him and try to do things on our own?  Remember, the God, who rules the universe, knows your thoughts he knows if you have betrayed him or forsaken him today and even after seeing it he still loves you and he is standing with arms open waiting on you to call to him again.

 

http://www.nxtgenmag.com/2008/05/19/just-do-it/

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.   Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”  Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”  His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”  Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece.  Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.  John 2:1-7 (NKJV)

I know you have all heard this story before, it’s commonly referred to as the “First Miracle,” and it takes place in Cana, just 12 miles north of Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown.  We join Jesus as he and his followers enter the wedding.  Mary runs up to Jesus and tells him they are out of wine.  In this culture hospitality was very important and to not provide enough wine for you guest would have been a considered a terrible disrespect.  I always wondered why Jesus so rudely called his mother “Woman.”  I know if i did this to my Mom I would get a quick slap across the face.  But, in the culture and language that Jesus lived and spoke referring to a lady as “Woman” was a show of respect and honor.  What I really wanted to talk about was what Mary did and said next.  After Jesus told her it was not hist time yet, she called to the servants and knowing that Jesus was about to do something wonderful and amazing she told them to “Whatever He says to you, do it.”   And the amazing thing is … they did it.  The filled the water jugs to the brim and it was turned to wine.  Can you even imagine the shock on the faces of the servants when the drew the “water” out of the jug and saw that it was now wine?  I find it funny that something that seems so meaningless was the first miracle that our Lord did.  Of all the sick who needed healed, all the blind who needed sight, and all the lame who needed to walk, his first miricale and making the drinks at a wedding.  I think we miss the most important part of this story and that is the words of Jesus’ mother “Whatever He says to you, do it.“  Isn’t that the foundation of the Christian faith?  We are to do the Will of God.  We aren’t to question if we should fill it all the way to brim or not we are to just “do it.”  Imagine how much more we could accomplish for our Savior if we just did what he told us to do.

 

http://www.nxtgenmag.com/2008/05/18/watering-down-the-gospel/

Today’s post is not really a devotional or a Bible Study, but more a thought on what the Church worldwide has become.  Why is it we water down the truth of the Gospel?   We are afraid to step on toes and let people know that they are doing wrong.  We have turned our back on sin and allowed it to become part of our churches.  Many people blame contemporary churches with their laid back atmosphere and their upbeat music for the down play of God’s Word.  I don’t see it that way at all!  Music and attire are not what makes us Christians.  The words of the old hymns and the words of the new chorus all proclaim the praise of God and the truth of his Word.  I believe in this modren “politically correct” world we have forgotten the harsh reality of the scriptures.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 6:23 (NKJV)

There is not middle ground their is only Sin/Hell or Forgivness/Heaven.  Why is it that in this world we can find grey areas in something so cut and dry? 

All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.  1 John 5:17 (NKJV)

For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.  James 2:10

So why is it that some Churches are now condoning things that the Bible speaks about.  Lets take for one homosexuality.  First off let me say that it is a sin, but it is no bigger a sin than lying, stealing, or heterosexual sex before marriage.  Lets see what the Bible says:

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.  1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NKJV)

Notice that homosexuality is grouped in with a number of other sins, but it is still named by name.  Depending on your translation the wording may be different, but they all get the same basic idea.  So with a verse as black and white as that one and many other verses that support it how is it that some churches can condone the act?  How is it that some church even practice in marriage ceremonies of these couples?  Direct conflict with the Word of God

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?   Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Therefore by their fruits you will know them.  Matthew 7:15-20 (NKJV)

Lets try this week to take an un-watered down look at the Bible.  Lets search our lives and find those things that we do that are contrary to the teachings of the Bible. 

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23

http://www.nxtgenmag.com/2008/05/11/everyday-kindness/

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”- Ephesians 4:32  (NKJV)

Wow!  We are to forgive as Jesus has forgiven us, and remember when Jesus forgives us he forgets the sin you have committed against him.  He took your sin and he nailed it to the cross with him, he died for it, and yet he still forgets that same sin, never to be used against you again.  Jesus wants us to forgive the sins of others against us in this same way.  Remember when Jesus taught hus to pray he included:

“And forgive us our debts,  As we forgive our debtors. ” - Matthew 6:12 (NKJV)

Forgiveness and compassion are such a big message in the ministry of Jesus, but yet in today’s church both are downplayed.  The Church fifty years ago was the center for compassion and outreach.  If you were down on your luck you went to the Church for help and the Church was there with a warm meal and a bed to sleep in.  Today our Churches have gotten lazy, we figure the government will take care of these people so we don’t need to waste our time.  But, this is not the teaching of Jesus.  Compassionate ministries are the biggest and easiest way to reach lost souls with the Gospel of Christ.  When we are down and at the bottom reaching out for what ever help we may need that is when the message of hope found in the Bible is the easiest to grasp.  This week as you go back to work, school, and other activities look for ways that you can show compassion.  And being that it is Mother’s Day when I post this don’t forget to  call your Mom.

http://www.nxtgenmag.com/2008/05/02/just-ask/

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV)

I am a firm believer in the power of prayer and believe whole heartily in this verse.  But, the Bible doesn’t just mention this once, Jesus himself told us the same thing in the Gospel of John.

“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.

John 16:23 (NKJV)

So what does this mean for us?  It means that if you come to the Lord in the name of Jesus and earnestly ask that he will provide, he will provide.  Now does this mean that if I ask for a million bucks he’ll provide that for me tomorrow?  No, of course not becuase the verse goes on to tell us that he will provide what ever is in His WIll.  Can you imagine all of the blessings that God has stored up for you only waiting for you to ask!  How much more fulfilling would our lives be if we stopped trying to be independent and just submitted fully to him and asked him to provide for all of our needs.  Just imagine how our evangelism would spread if only every single Christian simply asked to be used to spread the Word.  How much better would our lives me if we all submitted our lives to Him?

http://www.nxtgenmag.com/2008/04/20/gods-new-creations/

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

Isn’t it great to know that who we were is no longer who we are?  The very second you accept Jesus as your Savior he washes all your sins away.  He takes it from us and nails it to His cross.  And the best part is Jesus will never use those sins against us again.  We are truly “born-again” because we enter this world again sin-free.  Does that mean we won’t sin anymore?  Of course not as long as we are in this world we will always have the carnal nature that causes us to sin.  We are to strive to walk the Christian Life and to follow the commandments that Jesus has given us.  We will all stumble and fail, no matter how long your walk with the Lord you are still human.  All we must do is acknowledge our sins and repent them to Jesus and he will take care of the rest.  Don’t be discouraged by your stumbling, the walk with Christ is not an easy path.  But, the reward is worth the trials we must endure.

Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.

Romans 7:13-15

 

http://www.nxtgenmag.com/2008/04/14/qa-does-the-old-testament-ap

The Old Testament holds a lot of important information for Christians, it shows us the prophesies that point to Jesus being the Messiah, it gives us the history of God’s people, and the creation of the earth.  The question is does the law of the old testament apply to us today?    To understand this we must first understand the covenant of God.  The Old Testament means the Old Covenant and that covenant was God’s promise to his people and their promise back.  Someday we will go over what a covenant is and what it means to us now.  When Jesus came and was crucified for our sins he formed a new covenant between God and us.  See for a covenant to take place a blood sacrifice must be made.  In the Old Testament, the sacrifice was that of an animal.  The New Testament’s sacrifice is the blood of Jesus that covers our sins.  So all though the Old Testament is important for us to know and study for today, we are not governed by its law.  Jesus gave us only two commandment.

Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:37-40

Jesus is telling us that these are the commandments we should follow not those given to Moses, but look closely at what he says.  All ten of the commands can be summed up with these two.  If you love the Lord with all you heart you won’t worship any of gods or use his name in vain.  You will keep his sabbath holy.  All the other commandments can be summed up with loving your neighbor.  If you love you neighbor you won’t steal, covet, murder, or commit adultry.

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