There is a door, which no man can open or close. six billion humans can't open or close it! Wow! What kind of door is it? God's door of GRACE!

For 120 years Noe preached and warned the world of the coming destruction. In His love, God told Noe to build a giant ship, big enough to accommodate all living creatures and Humans. Only Noah and his family entered along with the animals. Animals trust God more than we do.. Hmmm...

When they had entered the ark, God shut the door. (Gen 7:16)

God wants to save us all!! Period. It's your choice whether you accept to enter the ship of His grace or not! The time is now, soon the door will be closed! By His amazing grace, we can enter today!

Ruled by their surroundings James and John desired a high position. Like most of us spoiled brats, they turned to mommy. "What is it you want?" Jesus asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." (Matthew 20:21 NIV)
"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" "We can," they answered. (Matthew 20:22 NIV)

Why do we think that we deserve to be in a certain position? I love the question " Can you drink the cup?" Can you do it better than Me? amazingly they said, YES! WOW! We humans think we can do a better job then Jesus or even be at the same level. SMH ( Shaking my Head). It is dangerous to think that you deserve a certain place or be in the same level as Christ. Ezekiel tells us of an angel who thought, he deserved a better place. Christ is the only position we should aim to acquire! He will reward you with a nice raise called SALVATION!

I was walking to my apartment when I noticed a flier inside a car that read " How do you see Jesus, A) new born baby b) dying man c) enthroned king." I started to think and wonder how do I see Jesus and what do I do with what I see?
Pilate had a similar question " Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Let him be crucified!" (Matthew 27:22 ESV)
Wow! Really let him be crucified? The Christ, the promised seed and redeemer. You see to them Jesus was just an imposter who did not fulfill their selfish wants, they failed to see that His riches and kingdom are eternal and not temporal. Wait!? Do I see him the same? When He doesn't give me what I want, do I yell crucify him? And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34 ESV)

Borrowed from lesson. Liked it do much I had to share!

The great hope of the Second Coming rests upon what Christ accomplished for us at the First Coming. After all, what good is the First Coming without the Second? In a sense, one could say that the First Coming, and all that Jesus accomplished for us there, is incomplete without the Second. At times the Bible uses the metaphor of ransom to refer to the Cross. Jesus Himself said that “ ‘the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many’ ” (Matt. 20:28, NKJV). At the cross, Jesus, by His death, paid the ransom for our souls, a ransom that was full, complete, and once and for all. At the same time, what good is paying a ransom if you don’t come and get what was ransomed? The paying of the ran- som isn’t the end of the story. Just as a human parent would come to get the child he or she ransomed back, so, too, Jesus will come back to get what He paid such a great price for. Hence, Christ’s first coming gives us the greatest assurance possible for the second.

In one occasion the disciples asked Jesus, show us how to pray. The disciples had heard Jesus praying and were touched by His words. I find myself asking the same question, Jesus, teach me to pray! I have tried different types, ways and forms of prayer, yet I find myself still wondering, do I pray correctly? In prayer I present God with my inmost desires, burdens, needs and affliction. I know he listens to my prayers and answers them but why do I feel that it is not enough? I came across this quote from a great author " The capacity for receiving is preserved only by imparting. We cannot continue to receive heavenly treasure without communicating to those around us."(COL) ah, my prayers should not be about me but about others. When God gives me to give to others then I am able to receive what I need. Now who can argue with that? After all, everyone receives a Blessing! Amazing Grace!

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." - 1 Peter 3:15

Sometimes as a Christian, you will have an opportunity to share your faith, but you may only have only thirty or sixty seconds to do so. Can you do that? Sixty seconds goes by quickly, so you need to be precise. Your story should contain three parts:

1. Tell about your life before you met Christ;

2. How you met Christ;

3. And then explain the difference Christ has made in your life.

Thirty seconds may seem a-little time but it can save a life. We all have a "His..Story" a history of being rescued by Christ. Let's use this opportunity to become better witnesses for Christ!

Forgive and forget-- two words-- hard to practice. The words should say "Forgive and never-Forget". Is it possible to forgive and forget? I know, I've mentinoned "Forgive and Forget" four times already, but I want to meditate on Forgive and Forget. In the bible we find a verse, that is puzzling at times, talking about David, God says: "I ripped the kingdom away from the family of David and gave it to you. But you have not been like my servant David, who obeyed my commands and followed me with all his heart and always did whatever I wanted. (1 Kings 14:8).

How can this be God? We clearly know that David broke your commandments and did whatever he wanted. How can God utter these words? Psalms 51 David prayed, Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. ³ For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.  ⁴ Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. ¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. ¹¹ Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. ¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.

David a sinner, confessed and repented from his sins. God, all loving, mercyful and gracious, forgave David and did not remember his sins. therefore; true forgiveness requires true forgetfulness. In Christ, we can experience and practice "Forgive and Forget". forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. (Matthew 6:12)  

While Jesus hung on my cross, His blood dripping, His agonizing pain, badly bruised ,thick rusty nails piercing his hands and ankles; He did not defend Himself! Scriptures says, as people walked by they launched insults after insults-which brings me to this verse: "Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe him!" Even the men who were crucified with Jesus ridiculed him. (Mark 15:32 NLT)
They wanted Jesus to perform a miracle just to "PROVE" to them, that He is the Messiah-- not realizing the danger of their request! Wanting a miracle so they could believe but they were blinded by their own desires--not seeing the miracle at hand. The day grew darker--Nature-testifying-screaming-this man is the Messiah! Insults, that's all He heard while miraculously saving humanity. How many times have I wanted Jesus to come down and show me His grace and love towards me, kicking and screaming at Him, yet, I fail to see the miracle of salvation! He wouldn't come down because---He Loves Me!!!! Coming down would of separated us from God for ever. Jesus closed his ears forgives our insults: He rather die than to live without me! Wow! Amazing Grace!

When I think about God and his power, I imagine Him standing over the world and holding it with His hands. Yes, just like in this picture. Have you ever held a new-born-baby? I held one yesterday, I looked at him and thought, "you are safe because you are in my big strong hands". A new born needs to be cared for and needs hands to provide for it's needs. Now, imagine holding God in your hands. That would be weird, wouldn't it? Well, that's exactly what happened; It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take man's nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden. (DOA) Although it would have been humiliating scriptures tells us that God sent His Son. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 ESV)
I don't know about you, but to me, this is exciting. To know, that Gods love for me, God became a-little baby who needed to be held by human hands-- in order for Him to hold my hands-- for eternity! WOW, Amazing Grace!

Growing up I thought no one understood me. I would cry myself to sleep asking the question " why doesn't my mom understand me"! Since my mom could not understand me; less a God who I cannot see! But read this quote!
Since Jesus came to dwell with us, we know that God is acquainted with our trials, and sympathizes with our griefs. Every son and daughter of Adam may understand that our Creator is the friend of sinners. For in every doctrine of grace, every promise of joy, every deed of love, every divine attraction presented in the Saviour's life on earth, we see "God with us." DOA chp 1