Hope By Emily M.

Hope

By Emily M.

I want to talk about hope and God's blessing. Recently we gave a young girl hope. Her name is Ann. She passed her courses quite well and received her letter to get into secondary school. You see, Ann comes from a family that is facing hard circumstances. They are not rich and the mother cares nothing of education. She would rather see her married off at the age of 15. However, we came together as friends and raised some money. That morning we had only managed to raise about 3/4 of the fees and then, God happened. A guy I had just known on Facebook sent in some money which managed to clear her first term fees.

You have no idea what that means until you are hopeless beyond words - and then God comes. In the same line, a miracle happened in my life. I know I am a bit old to be saying this, but I love school. Unfortunately, I had never had a chance to finish college or my degree because of lack of finances - but then a miracle happened. The same man who paid for Ann offered to pay for my university fees. Imagine i had shelved the idea of ever going to school especially since my kids are already growing up. In Africa, education for a woman is a gift, especially if it is higher education. We still need fees for the other terms but there is one thing I want to say - Jesus died so that I may live. At His own time He has made things beautiful. Not how I had expected or envisioned it. A person who is a non-Christian does not come out of the blue and offer to help. It must be God-sent. It has not only built up my faith, but the faith of those around me.

Jesus is real. I know that from first hand experience. I work with disadvantaged kids and when something good happens in their lives it's akin to a miracle. My prayer is that we may all open our eyes so that we see just how blessed we are. He came and He set me free, and He can do the same for you. Amen.

What Has Christ Done? By Alma R.

What Has Christ Done?

By Alma R.

I hear a lot of people saying, "I've been a Christian all my life" and "I was born in a Christian family and go to church every Sunday." You know, I'm sure those people are deceiving themselves. The Bible is clear:

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. " Romans 3:23

"There is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks for God." Romans 3:11

We are born in sin, we are not born with Christ in our hearts, we don't want to find God. That's what the Bible says.

But lots of people fall into the deceitful snare of the devil that claims that we can be Christians without even understanding what it really means what Christ did. You can say, well my parents have taught me about God since I was a little girl, but I'll tell you something: "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder." James 2:19

What's the difference between you and the demons? Is Satan a Christian? For sure he knows a lot about Jesus, but as the verse above illustrates, there is more to being a Christian than just knowledge.

Jesus came to the sick, not to the healthy. Jesus came to save what was lost, not the ones who has always been "good Christians" just as the Pharisees. They didn't admit they were sinners and that they needed a Savior, they couldn't tell about the time they accepted Jesus because, well they had Christian parents and they knew what the Bible said from beginning to end.

All those people are way to hell. John the Baptist, being the greatest man on earth after Jesus understood the point and preached about it over and over:

"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." John 3:36

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 3:2

We repent, we accept we're sinners, and believe that Christ is the Only one able to save us. When we believe, we are sealed with His Spirit, and in consequence we can live a new life, a life that pleases God.

But, if we have always been Christians, we don't really need what Christ did, do we? There MUST be a point in our lives, and every strong and mature Christian can tell you that, when you realize you NEED Christ, you NEED to be forgiven, you NEED a Savior. That's what happened with Paul, he lived for God, but then God called Him and he realized he was wrong!

If you have never came to that point where your sin seems so big that you can bear it anymore, you will never be able to understand what Christ has done.

He died to pay for our sins. He died the death we all deserved just for being humans that inherited sin from Adam and Eve. In that cross he shed his blood to wash the evil, foolish, and dirty and make the new creatures. He has "canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." Colossians 2:14

Don't deceive yourself. I encourage you, it's time to repent and believe.

Praise Jesus, By Sarah P.

Praise Jesus

By Sarah P.

Savior, Redeemer, Counselor, Emmanuel, Son of God, Light of the world, Lamb of God, Messiah, King of Kings, Comforter, Lord of Lords, Keeper, The Good Shepard, The Great I am, Friend, Star of David, King of the Jews. Jesus is all of these, and even more! How awesome it is to have a God who loves us, cares about us, and helps us! He is the highest, most exalted King of everything, yet He loves us! We are hopeless, sinful, and hateful without Him, yet He loves us so much that He died for us! That's the best thing that could ever happen to anyone. Aren't you glad Jesus died for us? It is truly, "Love unspeakable and full of Glory!" Amazing love of Jesus! That is enough of a reason for anyone to be glad! "Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing!" -Psalm 100:2. So this Sabbath, whatever your life is like, praise Jesus! Worship Him who has redeemed us all!