blank'/> SHARING THE REAL TRUTH: February 2009

Saturday, February 21, 2009

You Are Alive - Efesin - Ephesians 2:1 --- Ephesians 2 whole chapter



“And you He made alive, when you were dead in your trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1)

Aren’t you glad that Jesus came to give us life? Think about that for a minute right now. You used to be dead in your sins and trespasses; you used to have no hope. You used to live in fear. But once you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you weren’t dead in your sin anymore. You now have hope for the future. You are alive in Christ! God wants you to live life to the fullest today. It doesn’t matter how you may feel or what you are facing, start thanking God for giving you life. Even if He didn’t do another thing for us, giving us eternal life is more than enough reason to praise and thank Him every day. Thank Him for eyes to see and ears to hear. Thank Him for the air that you breathe. Thank Him for loving you and giving you life today. Praise opens the door to blessing. As you thank Him for the little things, you’ll begin to see God moving in your life in a big way. He’ll pour out more of His favour and blessing on you, and you’ll move forward into the abundant life He has for you!


Pray This: Father, thank You for making me alive in Christ today. Thank You that I am new. Show me how to live every day to the fullest so that I can enjoy life the way You intended. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.


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Ephesians 2

Made Alive in Christ

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Footnotes:
Ephesians 2:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.







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Thursday, February 12, 2009

GREATNESS WITHIN


"However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves" (II Corinthians 4:7, AMP).

Did you know that you have greatness inside of you? As a believer, the Holy Spirit actually dwells within you. You have all the power and authority in heaven and earth living on the inside of you!All throughout life, God gives us opportunities to discover that greatness on the inside of us. When we overcome obstacles, we are tapping into that strength and greatness within. One thing I've learned is that God doesn't allow big challenges to face small people.You may be facing something big today. It may seem like it's over your head, but that is a sure sign you’re a big person with a big destiny. You may feel small, you may not see how it's going to work out, but you've got to remember who you are; a child of The Most High God. You have been created in His image. You're wearing your crown of favour, and you are carrying His greatness on the inside of you. Have the attitude that says, "This may be extraordinary, but I know I'm an extraordinary person serving an extraordinary God." Stand in faith knowing that you have the victory because you have His greatness living on the inside of you!

A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your greatness on the inside of me. I choose to stand in faith today knowing that with You, I will overcome every challenge and every obstacle. I bless Your holy Name. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Monday, February 02, 2009

EFFICACIOUS NOVENA OF THE THREE HAIL MARYS TO OUR LADY


Statue of Our Lady of Lourdes
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In Honour of the Power, Wisdom and Loving Mercy of the Blessed Virgin Mary

I - Oh Immaculate Mary, Virgin most Powerful, I beseech you, through that immense Power which you have received from the Eternal Father, obtain for me
purity of heart,
strength to overcome all the enemies of my soul, and
the special favour I implore in my present necessity. {name special need}
Mother most Pure! Forsake me not, despise not my prayer, graciously hear me for God's glory, your honour, and the welfare of my soul. To obtain this favour I honour your Power by reciting one Hail Mary.
II - Oh Virgin Mary, my Mother, through that ineffable Wisdom bestowed upon you by the Incarnate Word of God, I humbly beseech you, obtain for me
meekness and humility of heart,
a perfect knowledge of the Divine Will, and
strength to accomplish it always.
Oh Mary, Seat of Wisdom, as a tender Mother, lead me in the path of Christian Virtue and perfection, enlighten and enable me to do what is most pleasing to your beloved Son, and obtain my petition. To obtain this grace I honour your Wisdom by reciting one Hail Mary.
III - Oh, Mother of Mercy, Mother of penitent sinners, I stand before you sinful and sorrowful, beseeching you through the immense Love given to you by the Holy Spirit for us poor sinners, obtain for me true and perfect contrition for my sins, which I hate and detest with all my heart, because I love God.
Mother most Merciful, help me in my present necessity. Turn then, those eyes of Mercy toward us, Oh Clement, Oh Loving, Oh Sweet Virgin Mary! To obtain this precious gift, I honour your Loving Mercy by reciting one Hail Mary.