Empowered Bible Study Ministries

What is Pulling you away from God?

2012-02-27T23:50:00.002-08:00

Is there something in your life that is pulling you away from God so that you do not grow in your Christian walk? James 1:14 says 'But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.'
Drawn away carries with it the idea of the baiting of a trap; and enticed in the original Greek means 'to bait a hook'. The best illustration for this, when you think of bait and hook, is the analogy of a fisherman luring the fish using a hook with bait. The idea is to hide the trap of the hook with the bait. Temptation always carries with it some bait that appeals to our natural desires; remember Satan is the master deceiver. It is the bait that is the exciting thing but it keeps us from seeing the consequences of sin.

The bait that Satan used with Eve in the Garden of Eden was the fact that the forbidden tree was good and pleasant, and that eating of it would make her wise. She saw the bait and forgot the Lord's warning in Genesis 2:17 'but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.'
Eve disobeyed God's command of not eating from the tree of knowledge, she saw the bait set by Satan to drag her down and it looked good. As we see in Genesis 3:6 'So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.' Notice that not only did she eat of the tree but she gave some to her husband Adam, and he ate. You see, when we are not in God's will we can bring those around us down too. This is why we need to be on our guard at all times. Satan is just waiting to lure us in; he is holding the fishing pole with the hook and bait waiting for us to take it and he will reel us in as fast as he can. We need to be in the Word of God every day communicating with God every day to help combat Satan and his lures. When you know the Bible, you can detect the bait and deal with it decisively.

What is Your Spiritual DNA

2012-02-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

'For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.' Ephesians 2:10

The Christian life is an active life not a passive one. Notice that verse ten says that God prepared beforehand good works for us to do. In 1 Corinthians 3:5 it tells us that the Lord has assigned to each his task. So what is your unique call, assignment, or mission from God to do? I like how Max Lucado put it 'Your Spiritual DNA' A trio of questions might help to understand:

- In what Direction has God taken you?
- What Needs has God revealed to you?
- What Abilities has God given to you?
Direction, Need, Ability: Your Spiritual DNA You at your best!

Life is Short - Sing Praises Daily

2012-02-24T23:59:00.000-08:00

'Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.' Psalm 146:1-2

These verses make you want to shout AMEN don't they!!! Praise be to our Lord and Savior!!! My friend, we will not live here on earth forever, life here is temporary. We don't know how long we have to live here on earth, but let us say with the Psalmist - 'While I live I will Praise the Lord!' Every second of the day, as long as I have breath, I will sing praises to my Lord, I will give Him all the Praise, Honor, and Glory! And the day I take my last breath here, I will sing praises at the feet of Jesus. Our life is the gift of God's mercy, it should be used for His glory.

The Power of Words:

2012-02-23T00:00:00.001-08:00

Words have a lot of power. What comes out of our soul, whether we pen them in writing or say them out loud can have a lasting effect on those around us.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:29 'Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.'

Think about that, your words can impart grace to those around you. God can work through our words to help others and bring his grace to them. You can be a light to person who is struggling, giving an encouraging word to build them up. You can build self-esteem instead of tearing a person down simply by the words we speak. Remember our conduct and our speech can lead those around us to Jesus Christ. Paul also tells us to not let any corrupt word proceed out of our mouth; for example gossip only hurts people - it has no place coming out of our mouths and we should not listen to gossip either. It says in James 3:8 'But no man can tame the tongue' ... My friend it is only with God's help that we can tame our tongue. Ask God each day to show you those who are hurting and need an encouraging word, to make your words edifying to those around you.

God is Our Hope!

2012-02-22T00:15:00.000-08:00

God is the Author of our Hope, the Foundation of our Hope, the Builder of our Hope, and the Finisher of our Hope. God Is Our Hope!!!

Romans 15:13 'Now may the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.'

What an encouraging verse, Without God we have not Hope! No man has peace apart from God. This is a Prayer as Paul expresses his desire that we would experience the joy and peace of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. The believing heart finds here the shelter in the time of storm, a joy and peace that only God can give. This is not of any feelings that we have, but a peace and joy beyond our understanding, it is a peace and joy within our spirit that reassures us that God is in control.

Thirst for God!

2012-02-21T23:46:00.002-08:00

In Philippians 3:10 we see an expression of the deepest heart cry - the desire to know Christ in an ever-increasing intimate, personal way.

Philippians 3:10 'I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.'

Repeatedly in the Bible, we see men and women of God drawn into a deeper relationship with God through adversity. It is no question that adversity is difficult, and it usually hits where we are the most vulnerable. Perhaps the most valuable way we profit from adversity is in the deepening of our relationship with God. Through adversity we learn to bow before His sovereignty, to trust His wisdom, and to experience the consolations of His love. We begin to pass from knowing about God (head knowledge) to knowing God himself in a personal and intimate way (heart knowledge). We need to come to a place in our lives where we hunger and thirst for the word of God and progressively grow in our relationship with God.

Read what this President Wished:

2012-02-20T17:24:00.001-08:00

In honor of President's Day, I would like to share a quote with your from John Adams, the Second United States President and Signer of the Declaration of Independence:

"Suppose a nation in some distant Region should take the Bible for their only law Book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God ... What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be." -- Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, Vol. III p.9.

A Servant's Heart:

2012-02-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

The only one that deserves to be served came to serve us!

Mark 10:45 'For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.'

God's pattern in scripture is that a person must first be a servant before God exalts them. 1 Peter 5:6 'Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time'. This was true of Joseph, Moses, and David. As an example, Moses was under God's hand as a Shepherd for forty years before God sent him to deliver the Jews from Egypt. So instead of trying to climb the ladder of success, we need to have a Servant's heart! Seek the Kingdom of God first as it says in Matthew 6:33 'But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.'

Our Suffering is Only for a Little While:

2012-02-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

The Christian life is not always easy, we will suffer, we will endure attacks from Satan, but we do know that our suffering here on earth is only for a little while and in the end, it all leads to living throughout eternity with Christ, and that is what really counts. 1 Peter 5:10 'But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.'

Peter here tells us that after we have suffered for a little while, God will perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you.
Perfect means 'to equip, to adjust, to fit together.' The predominating idea in the verb is adjustment, the putting of parts into right relationship and connection with one another.
Establish means 'to fix firmly, to set fast'. We should stand firm in our Christian faith. If we are established with our feet firmly planted on the word of God, we will not be moved by persecution or led away by false doctrine.
Strengthen means just that 'God's strength given to us to meet the demands of life'. Just as Philippians 4:13 says 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.'
Settle means 'to secure as in a foundation; to ground with security.' God is able to make us secure through all the sufferings of life, no matter what they are. He is able to settle and secure our nerves, thoughts, and fears.

God uses all the trials and temptations, difficulties and persecutions, all the sufferings of life and uses them to adjust our character. He will perfect us, fit all the parts of life together and lead us to glory. In thinking about all that God does for us, we see in 1 Peter 5:11 that Peter breaks out in praise as he says: 'To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen' Oh my friend, let's join Peter in praising our Lord for all that He has done for us!

Never Underestimate Satan's Power!

2012-02-16T23:32:00.000-08:00

We must never underestimate Satan's power. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us 'Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.'

Peter here is commanding us to be sober and vigilant in our Christian walk. As we walk with Christ, the devil is ready at a moment's notice to devour and destroy our testimony. This is something that we should not take lightly. We cannot let our guard down, Satan is powerful and can use our weaknesses against us to bring us down.

We need to respect the power of Satan and not put ourselves in the position where Satan can use the opportunity to devour us and tear down our testimony. We must stand firm in our Christian walk making sure that we are continually in God's word, cultivating a relationship with God so that we will be able to detect when Satan tries to deceive us.

My friends, the more we are in the Word of God, the more we are communicating with God in prayer and seeking God's will for our lives, trusting Him in every aspect of our lives, the more we will be able to stand firm and not give into Satan's deceit. Be vigilant my friend and make Christ Lord of your life.

Our Savior Cares for us!

2012-02-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

Isn't it wonderful that we have a Savior that cares for us! 1 Peter 5:7 'casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.' As Peter is writing this, the Christians were suffering severe persecution, so these words were of great encouragement. The word 'care' here means 'anxiety' or 'worry'. When difficult times come our way it is so easy to worry or be anxious isn't it. But listen to the words Peter is saying here. “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” We know that “care” means anxiety or worry but notice it says “all” your anxiety or worries. Now the word “all” in the Greek text has the idea, not of every worry that comes along, but the whole of their worries. In other words we are to give the whole of our cares our anxiety our worry to God. Think about a cold; with a cold you may have a cough, a fever, congestion, sore throat, and running nose. When you give the “whole” of the cold you are giving everything – the cough, fever, congestion, sore throat, and running nose. You are not giving just the cough or just the congestion.

Peter is commanding us to give the “whole” worry. The result will be that when those worries come up we will not worry but cast them over to God. The word “cast” means “having deposited with”. It refers here to a direct and once-for-all committal to God of all that would give us concern. It all comes down to knowing that God is in control, He knows what we are going through and promises to see us through them.

Trusting God in the midst of Fear!

2012-02-14T23:24:00.000-08:00

David chose to trust God in his lifeas we see throughout the book of Psalms.

Psalms 56:3-4 "Whenever I amafraid, I will trust in You. ⁴ In God (I will praise Hisword), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? (NKJV)

Just because we are Christians, doesnot mean that we don't get afraid, but the key here in verse three is thatDavid said “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You”.

David did not claim to not befearful but he made a choice to trust God in the midst of his fear. Hedid not allow the fear to paralyze his mind but sought refuge in Christ.

We make choices every day, and inthat day we can either choose to rely on our own abilities or we can choose totrust God and His sovereign plan in our lives. Proverbs 3:5-6 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.'

Love is in the Air!

2012-02-13T22:42:00.000-08:00

Love is in the Air as we Celebrate the Love of our Lives....

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

'Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.'

Christians are "taught of God to love one another" (1 Thessalonians 4:9). God the Father taught us to love by sending His Son (1 John 4:19), and God the Son taught us to love by giving His life and by commanding us to love each other (John 13:34-35). The Holy Spirit teaches us to love one another by pouring out God's love in our hearts (Romans 5:5). The most important lesson in the school of faith is to love one another. Love enriches all that it touches. —Bible Exposition Commentary

*Picture of Roses are courtesy of my Beloved Husband who gave me these roses for Valentine's Day!

Are you a Thermostat or Thermometer?

2012-02-11T23:13:00.000-08:00

Are you a thermostat or a thermometer? A thermostat sets the temperature whereas a thermometer goes up and down depending on what the temperature is. Are you controlled by the circumstances around you? Do your moods go up and down depending on your circumstances? If you answered 'yes' to these two questions then you are a thermometer.

As Christians, we are not to allow our circumstances to control us but to keep our focus on the Lord. Being a thermostat is not always good either. You can be a thermostat where you set the mood of the room, but is that mood good or bad? You can set the mood with either a good or negative tone. What influence do you have over the people around you. My friend, there are some circumstances in life that we simply cannot change; however, we can choose how we respond to those circumstances.

Allow Christ to be the thermostat in your life so you can be a light and encouragement to those around you.

2012-02-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

What comes to our minds when we thinkabout God is the most important thing about us.
~ A. W. Tozer

Trust God in Each New Day!

2012-02-09T23:56:00.000-08:00

We never know what is going to happen from day to day. Each new day brings new opportunities and more challenges which is why it is so important to start each day off with God. One thing that we can be sure of is that God never changes as we see in Hebrews 13:8 'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.' Some days the circumstances in our lives can seem overwhelming, but knowing that God is in control and knows the future of how it will all work out - which is according to His Will is so comforting.

My friend, we need to trust God in all the circumstances of our lives. It is when we focus on our circumstances and take our focus off God that creates hopelessness and defeat. Warren Wiersbe once said:

Look at yourself and you'll be depressed.

Look at circumstances and you'll be distressed.

Look at the Lord and you'll be blessed!

The Lord is My Shepherd!

2012-02-08T22:30:00.000-08:00

Philip Keller was a shepherd and hewrote a wonderful book called “A Shepherd looks at Psalm 23”, it is a classictoday.

He wrote that Sheep do not 'just take care of themselves' as some might suppose. Theyrequire more than any other class of livestock, endless attention andmeticulous care. It is no accident that God has chosen to call ussheep. The behavior of sheep and human beings is similar in manyways.

An interesting fact he brought upwas that it is almost impossible for sheep to line down unless fourrequirements are met: free of all fear, free from friction with other sheep,free of pests, and free of hunger. Only the Shepherd can provide releasefrom these anxieties. It is he who makes it possible for the sheep to liedown, rest, relax and flourish.

A flock that is restless anddiscontented never does well. The same is true of people. In theChristians life there is no substitute for the awareness that the Shepherd isnearby. There is nothing like Christ's presence to dispel the fear, thepanic, and the terror of the unknown. The idea of a sound mind isthat of a mind at ease, at peace not perturbed or harassed or obsessed withfear. Remember Christ's words: I am with you ALWAYS! Matthew 28:20

Are You Facing a Crisis - Go to the Lord!

2012-02-06T00:00:00.000-08:00

Throughout life we all face crisis from time to time in our lives, the question is in those times of crisis what do we do?

Queen Esther shows us a great example of what to do in the book of Esther, chapter four. Queen Esther is devastated after hearing of a decree to annihilate the Jewish people. According to Persian law, she is not allowed to approach the king without first being summoned; and he had not summoned her for a month. If she went against the law and didn't receive acceptance from the king, she could be sentenced to die. Esther made a courageous decision to go to the king to plead for mercy for her people, the Jews; however, she didn't rush into it. As we see in Esther 4:15-17, Esther sought God's guidance first. She asked Mordecai to gather all the Jews who were present in Shushan to fast for three days and that she and her maids would do the same. By calling for a fast, Esther was asking the Jews to pray for God's help on her dangerous mission. In the Old Testament, prayer always accompanies fasting (Exodus 34:28, Deuteronomy 9:9, and Ezra 8:21-23). At the end of those three days she would go to the king and we see in verse sixteen she said 'If I perish, I perish!' Queen Esther did not perish that day and God used her and Mordecai to save the Jewish people from annihilation.

Are you currently in a crisis like Esther where you need to seek God's guidance? Crisis comes in many ways, whether they are a life or death situation like Esther's or financial concerns we face each time the bills come in. Maybe it is a family crisis or simply a time management issue. No matter what it is that you are facing, know that God is in control and is working behind the scene to fulfill His purpose in your life. We need to trust God and make Him number one in our lives, seeking His guidance in every aspect of our lives. We need to do what God wants and trust Him for the outcome. No matter what the crisis is in your life, there is hope in the Lord.

God Watches over His Children!

2012-02-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

In our last post we talked about how Scripture shows us that God's timing is perfect and that He is continually working behind the scene for our good. Now lets look at a day we may go through today and see how God works in our lives every day even when we don't know it.

Conversation between me and God:

Me: (frustrated) God, can I ask you something?
God: Sure
Me: Why did you let so much stuff happen to me today?
God: What do you mean?
Me: Well, I woke up late; my car took forever to start; At lunch, they made my sandwich wrong and I had to wait; On my way home, my phone went dead, just as I picked up a call; and to top it all off (as my voice gets louder), when I got home, I just wanted to soak my feet in my foot massager and relax, but it wouldn't work. Nothing went right today! Why did you do that?

God: Well let me see, the death angel was at your bed this morning and I had to send one of the other angels to battle him for your life - I let you sleep through that
Me: (humbled) Oh...
God: I didn't let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that might have hit you if you were on the road
Me: (ashamed) .......
God: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick and I didn't want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn't afford to miss work
Me: (embarrassed) Oh ...
God: Your phone went dead because the person that was calling was going to give a false witness about what you said on that call, I didn't even let you talk to them so you would be covered
Me: (softly) I see God
God: Oh and the foot massager, it had a short that was going to throw out all the power in your house tonight - I didn't think you wanted to be in the dark.

Me: I'm sorry God.
God: Don't be sorry, just learn to trust me in all things, the good and the bad.
Me: I will trust you God
God: And don't doubt that my plan for your day is always better than your plan
Me: I won't God, and let me just tell you God, Thank you for everything today!
God: You're welcome child, it was just another day being your God and I love looking after my children.

II Samuel 22:31; Proverbs 3:5; Hebrews 2:13

God's Timing is Always Perfect!

2012-02-04T23:56:00.000-08:00

How many times have you done something good and didn't receive any recognition for it? How did that make you feel? We read about such an event in the life of Mordecai, Esther's uncle. In Esther 2:21-23 Mordecai overheard a plan to assassinate King Ahasuerus by two of the king's eunuchs. He in turn told Queen Esther and she then informed the king giving Mordecai the credit. This saved the king's life; however, Mordecai didn't receive any recognition or reward for uncovering this conspiracy at this time. But, as we see in verse twenty-three, the event was written in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king. Everything happens in God's timing. In chapter six of the book of Esther we see God's providential timing. The king could not sleep and asks to be read the records of the chronicles, for which the event of Mordecai saving the king's life was read to him. There were thousands of chronicles that could have been read to the king, but God made sure it was these particular chronicles that were read. After finding out that Mordecai didn't receive a reward we see God saw to it in His timing that Mordecai received his reward.

Our good works are like seeds that are planted by faith, and their fruits don't always appear immediately. Everything happens in God's timing not ours. Remember Joseph in Genesis 40:23 befriended a fellow prisoner, and the man completely forgot his kindness for two years. God was working behind the scenes in Joseph's life also; the fellow prisoner remember him in God's timing which was two years later. God's timing is always perfect. When you see how God works behind the scenes in the lives of these people, you know He also works in our lives too. It is so encouraging to know that God sees our circumstances and even though it may not seem like things are going well, we can be assured that God is working in our lives. Continue to plant the seeds and trust God for the fruit to appear in His timing.

Esther: A Woman of Strong Character

2012-02-03T23:58:00.000-08:00

There is so much we can learn from the life of Esther. She was a young woman of strong character. Notice in Esther 1:15 it states that Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her. Can that be said of us? Do we find favor in the sight of those whom we come in contact with?

Esther had a quality about her that went beyond beauty which showed kindness, graciousness, humility and love. She had a wisdom about her that demonstrated she was trustworthy, dependable, faithful and loyal. Inner beauty speaks so much louder than outer beauty. A person can be the most beautiful looking person in the world, but if their mouth is full of unkindness, lies and deceit then no one wants to be near them. Proverbs 31:30 'Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.' The principles we learn from Esther are not just for women but for both men and women. As Christians our inner beauty should be what separates us from the rest of the world, that Christ's light should be the highlight that people are drawn to.

God is in Total Control!

2012-02-02T23:24:00.000-08:00

God has an ultimate plan for each and every one of us. There is nothing that is out of His control. As we have seen in 1 Peter 4:12 it says that we are not to think it strange when fiery trials come as if some strange thing happened to you. Now the word 'happened' here in this verse is important; it means 'to go or come together'. Persecution and trials do not just 'happened' in the sense of being accidents, they go together as a part of God's ultimate plan in your life and He is in control. Nothing is out of God's sphere. Picture this...If you draw a circle - write God on the circle, now place a dot in the middle of that circle and write 'You' on it. The circle of God is around you. Now place two dots on the outside of the circle and draw a line from each dot to the center dot(You). Write 'temptations' on one line and 'trials/testings on the other line. Notice that the line has to go through the circle of God to get to you. My friend, we see here that nothing can get to you that hasn't gone through God first. He is in total control and is always looking out for your best. So as you go through the trials of life, know that God is with you and is shaping and strengthening you according to His plan in your life. Place your total trust in Him.

Daily committing our lives to God!

2012-02-01T22:42:00.000-08:00

Peter concludes chapter four of his first epistle with a command that we commit our lives to God.
1 Peter 4:19 ‘Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.' NKJV
“Commit their souls” is in the Present Imperative Active mode, meaning that this is a command which involves a continuous or repeated action. So, we are to continuously commit our lives to doing good. Those who are experiencing the "fiery trial" are urged to "commit" the keeping of their souls (life, heart, mind) to God. The Greeks used this word in banking; it means to make a deposit. Peter urged the believers to place their lives in God's safe keeping. Peter tells us that our suffering is "according to the will of God" who has allowed our suffering in order to purify our lives. Therefore we can commit ourselves to Him with confidence, knowing that He created us and is faithful to fulfill His plan for our lives. This picture reminds us that we are valuable to God. He made us, redeemed us, lives in us, guards, and protects us. When you invest your life with God, you have nothing to fear, for He is able to keep you. We have no need to worry! He is the faithful Creator, and His faithfulness will not fail.

Refined and Strengthened through Trials

2012-01-31T22:50:00.000-08:00

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you. 1 Peter 4:12 Peter starts off here with the word 'Beloved'. What a term of endearment, it is from the form of love that is God's divine love - agapētos. You could translate it to be 'divinely loved ones'. Peter uses this word as a descriptive title, reminding the recipients of this letter, who were going through much suffering because of persecution, that they were loved in the heart of God. What a beautiful comforting thought! Peter goes on to say, 'concerning the fiery trial which is to try you'. 'Fiery' literally means burning, the word used here refers to a smelting furnace where gold and silver are purified. What a perfect description of what going through fiery trials does to us; it is a purifying experience. Picture this; refining gold from the ore involves a process in which the ore is tried or melted in order to separate pure gold from the other elements. It is a very complex process where all the impurities are removed. Peter is telling us that the fiery trial is a refining process rather than divine judgment. It is going to strengthen our faith as we lean on Jesus Christ.

Peter said in 1 Peter 1:6-7 'In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ'. God's plan for your life often, but not always, includes pain and hardship. When trials come, we are not to be surprised, he writes, it is normal. As we suffer for Christ's sake, our lives will be refined and our faith strengthened.

Exciting Updates: iPhone/Android Apps

2012-01-30T23:51:00.000-08:00

Exciting News! There has been an update on our iPhone and Android Apps...Not only can you have our Bible Studies at your fingertips, you now can connect directly to both our blogs at Empowered Bible Study Ministries and Changed Lives Today, our Changed Lives Today Website as well as EBSM Facebook and Twitter feeds. All our sites with one simple app!

On the iPhone, you will see the websites under the 'connect' feature.
On the Android, you will see the websites under the 'about' feature.

If you would like to sign up for our Free Apps, Please click on the links below:

iPhone: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/empowered-bible-study-ministries/id470815183?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Android: https://market.android.com/details?id=net.sermon.sn21414&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsIm5ldC5zZXJtb24uc24yMTQxNCJd

Save Pastor Youcef's Life!

2012-01-29T23:51:00.000-08:00

As you know we have been praying for Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani as he faces the death penalty because of his Christian faith. He was ordered to recant his Christian faith or die, he responded 'I cannot' and was sentenced to death. My friends, Pastor Youcef is standing up for his faith and following Jesus Christ no matter what the cost!

American Center for Law and Justice has been fighting for Pastor Youcef and is putting pressure on Iranian Officials. They are asking that everyone be a voice for Pastor Youcef through Social Media. If you have a Twitter Account please donate a Tweet a day; if you have a Facebook account send out a post to bring Pastor Youcef to mind, and if you don't have a twitter or facebook account, please email this post to your friends and family because they may have an account or know someone who does. We need to get the word out to help save Pastor Youcef's life.

Please refer to this link for American Center for Law and Justice: http://aclj.org/nadarkhani
Sample of Tweet: #Iran Pastor Youcef #Nadarkhani pressured to recant #Christian faith Plse keep n prayer aclj.org/nadarkhani ReTweet to save his life

Please keep Pastor Youcef and his family in prayer each day and Thank you so much for joining us in the fight for Pastor Youcef's life. May the Lord bless you.

*This is not Dr. Michael Youssef, Founder and President of Leading the Way.

When God calls, will you be available?

2012-01-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

We read about Deborah in the Book of Judges, chapters four and five. Deborah served the people of Israel as a judge and a prophetess. Her testimony for the Lord and her influence upon the people were so great and pervasive that she was known as the 'Mother of Israel'. She reached out to help the Israelites, welcoming them into her counsel and advice, encouraging them to return to the Lord. Her life shows us that God can accomplish great things through people who are willing to be led by Him. She had a remarkable relationship with God. She was not power hungry, she wanted to serve God. Whenever praise came her way, she gave God the credit. Deborah's life challenges us in several ways, as a woman, a wife, and a leader. She reminds us of the need to be available both to God and to others. She demonstrates what a person can accomplish when God is in control. Deborah waited on God, communed with Him daily, and encouraged others to do the same. God's purpose in using Deborah as a judge was to lead His people into successful battle against the Canaanites and ignite spiritual revival in their hearts. Hearing God's word from and through Deborah awakened God's people to their sagging spiritual condition and stirred up their hearts. As God's witness, Deborah was used by the Lord to bring the Israelites back to Him. May we learn from Deborah as we too commune with God daily through His word and prayer, making ourselves available to the opportunities that He sets before us. Erwin Lutzer said 'Every day we live is either a loss or a gain' We all have choices to make each day, the question is are we living each day in anticipation of what the Lord wants us to do. Giving God honor and glory with each step we take. It is never too late to live a remarkable life as Deborah did - Always be available to the opportunities that God sets before us - Living each day as unto the Lord.

Empowered Through Christ

2012-01-27T23:03:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite verses is
Philippians 4:13 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me'. The Apostle Paul knew this all too well. In his life he suffered for Christ's sake, was beaten with rods, stoned, shipwrecked, placed in prisons, was hungry and cold yet his testimony was 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.' This was not an expression of pride in his own abilities but a declaration of the strength provided by Christ. The Greek word for strengthen in this verse is - ἐνδυναμόω Which means to empower. My friend Christ empowers us and gives us the ability to face whatever circumstance we are faced with.

The Amplified Bible translates it 'I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]. The Living Bible puts it this way 'for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power.' We are not alone, it is through Christ we are made strong. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:10 'Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.'

The power of Christ in Paul's life empowered him to live as unto the Lord. And so it is for the life that lies ahead of you and me. Paul accomplished great things for God even though he suffered much. Fixing his eyes on Christ he said 'I can' and so can you and I.

Love Covers a Multitude of Sins

2012-01-26T23:28:00.000-08:00

'And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.' 1 Peter 4:8

We are to have fervent love for one another. The word 'fervent' is an athletic word. It means to stretch and reach out; to strain and exert to the utmost degree just like an athlete in a race. This means as Christians we are to love others with God-given love, even when they hurt us, persecute us, ridicule us, and speak evil against us.

The verse goes on to say, for love will cover a multitude of sins. Here Peter is quoting Proverbs 10:12 'Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.' The word 'cover' means forgiveness. Where there is hatred, there is malice, and malice causes a person to want to tear down the reputation of his enemy. When someone sins, we are not to go out and announce it; this leads to gossip and slander. Sometimes we try to make our gossip sound 'spiritual' by telling people things so that they might pray more intelligently. My friend we need to watch our motives, are we truly thinking of the person's best interest or just wanting to tell someone else what they did? Instead of spreading gossip about their sin, we need to pray for them and reach out in love to them. You can ask for prayer but don't have to give all the details - God knows and that is what is important.

A Focused Mind in a Busy World!

2012-01-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

1 Peter 4:1 'Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.'

The Greek word translated "arm yourselves" was used of a Greek soldier putting on his armor and taking his weapons. The noun of the same root was used of a heavily-armed foot-soldier who carried a pike and a large shield as opposed to a soldier who was lightly armed. The Christian needs the heaviest armor he can get, to withstand the attacks of the enemy of his soul. My friend, we need to be vigilant to make sure that our minds are focused on heavenly things, that we keep our minds pure. You've heard the phrase: Garbage in Garbage out.

We all have busy lives, but we need to make sure that even though we are busy we need to make sure that God is number one in our lives, that we make time in our day for Him. When you examine your life in a 24hr time span, think about how much time we spend at work or school, with our family, at the grocery store, doing housework, sleeping, watching TV, doing homework, on the computer, studying God's word, in prayer, and anything else you do in that 24hr time span. At the end of the day, if we cannot think of one thing that would count for the glory of God, then that day was wasted. My friend, we need to make sure that our lives glorify God, that something in that 24hr period counts for eternity.

Complacent or Glorified Life?

2012-01-24T23:41:00.000-08:00

How often do we think about the price that was paid for our sin? In 1 Peter 3:18 and 4:1 it talks about Christ suffering for our sins. When you think about that, that Christ suffered on the cross because of our sins, why would we want to take pleasure in that sin that Christ suffered for? Why would we want to continue in a sin that Christ painfully suffered for? The thought of that alone ought to make us want to strive to live godly lives.

Sometimes we get so busy and so wrapped up in what we are doing that we forget God. Sometimes as Christians we get complacent. We tolerate sin around us. For example television programs, the TV moguls are getting their point of view across stronger and stronger, getting us used to seeing things and hearing things that we never would have allowed before. But slowly we start accepting it, saying 'it isn't that bad' and allowing it to penetrate our homes.

Don't accept the things of this world, live every day to glorify God. Make sure you are making time for God each day, in His word and in prayer. If at the end of the day, you cannot think of one thing that counts for the glory of God, then that day is wasted! Don't wast your life - live it to the fullest for Christ!

Our Agenda or God's?

2012-01-23T23:47:00.000-08:00

Jerry Bridges once said, 'to live less stressful lives, we must learn to live with a single agenda: God's agenda!" How many times do we approach life's problems without thinking of God? We need to be reminded that just because life isn't smooth doesn't mean we are out on our own. We need to remember that it is not our will but God's. It is His agenda for our lives that God will guard, protect, and advance. We must learn to live by His agenda if we are to trust Him. It is about our relationship with the Sovereign God. It is about trusting God in the midst of life even when we don't understand. It is about how did I live in spite of all the circumstances and heartaches in my life - did I trust God. It is about being able to hear Christ say, 'good and faithful servant' in the end. We need to put our faith, put our trust in the One True God. We need to know that Yes He is in control of every aspect of my life. When we trust in God it will transform your life as you relinquish control and ultimately make God Lord of your life. It is through His strength that we take each step and as we learn to trust we will find ourselves thanking God for everything in our lives.

Daily Guarding our Minds: Be all you can be

2012-01-21T23:10:00.000-08:00

As believers we will go through various kinds of trials, therefore, as we see in 1 Peter, we are to gird up the loins of our mind. 1 Peter 1:13 "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;" NKJV
Girding up the loins – Peter here uses an oriental expression referring to the act of gathering up around the waist, the long, loose eastern robes which would impede the progress in running or other exertion. But notice Peter says to gird up the loins of your mind. It is not physical exertion that Peter has in mind here, but mental.
If the purpose of girding up the clothing was to put out of the way that which would impede the physical progress of an individual, then girding up of the loins of the mind would be the putting out of the mind all that would impede the progress of the Christian life. For instance, things such as worry, fear, jealousy, hatred, unforgiveness, and impurity; these things harbored in the mind prevent the Holy Spirit from using the mental faculties of the Christian in the most efficient manner impeding the growth in their Christian walk. Peter commands a mental discipline that does not allow our minds to follow ungodly thoughts that are untrue. Christ’s followers are to keep their minds tightly guarded in the truth. We need to be in the Word of God daily!

Trials are the Pearls of Life

2012-01-20T23:22:00.000-08:00

Trials come in many forms; some trials can be like a little pebble in our shoe that pricks us and irritates us each time we walk, others can be gut wrenching, life changing experiences. It is our attitude towards the trials that makes the difference.

One of the many fascinating events in nature that depict the beauty in trials is the formation of a pearl. Inside an oyster's shell is an organ called the "mantle"; which produces a material called nacre; a calcium carbonate substance that lines the inside of the shell. The formation of the Pearl begins when a microscopic intruder such as a parasite or grain of sand becomes lodged between the mantle and the shell irritating it. The oyster's natural reaction is to cover up the irritant to protect itself. The mantel covers the irritant with layers of the nacre. This process is repeated and over a period of several years, this build-up of nacre forms a pearl.

It was because of something that was an irritant that a beautiful pearl was formed. God gave the oyster a way of protecting itself from irritants. Just think, if there was no irritant, there would not be any reason to secrete the nacre and we would not have the pleasure of this beautiful gemstone; the Pearl. But notice that the pearl was not formed immediately, but the process took time.

This is the same with trials in our lives. Trials act as the irritant and over time the Holy Spirit can produce a beautiful Christ-like character in us. So the next time you are faced with a trial, remember that God has a plan and a purpose which is creating a beautiful pearl in your life.

Standing Steadfast in our Faith!

2012-01-19T22:41:00.000-08:00

In this day and age we need to stand steadfast in our faith! 200 million Christians in over 60 Nations are persecuted every day. In many regions Christianity is punishable by imprisonment or death. Over 150,000 believers are martyred every year. Thousands of People a day are arrested, imprisoned, threatened, tortured, brutalized, and martyred solely because they are Christians. We have seen throughout scripture of those who suffered for Christ's sake, some survived and others gave their lives for Christ.

Danielwas thrown into a den of lions because of his beliefs and practices, but Goddelivered him Daniel 6:15-23. His threefriends Shadrach,Meshach, and Abed-Nego were condemned to death in a burning fieryfurnace because they would not bow to an idol, but God miraculously spared theirlives Daniel 3:8-29. David constantly cried out to the Lord for deliverance from his enemies Psalm 7:1-2; 18:17-19. Stephenwas stoned to death because of His beliefs Acts7:51-70.

One thing wecan be sure of is that God is there through every fiery trial, through everypersecution, through every moment of our day to help carry us and support us,to redeem us whether it is in this life time or in Heaven.

Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is brought to remembrance as we have been praying for him. As you recall, Iranian Pastor Youcef was sentenced to death because of his faith in Jesus Christ. Recent reports state that Iranian officials are still pressuring Pastor Youcef to renounce his faith in Christ and accept the prophet Muhammad as his savior. Pastor Youcef, has once again refused, remaining steadfast in his faith and responded - 'I cannot'. Please remember Pastor Youcef and his family as well as all the Christians who are being persecuted for their faith.
*This is not Pastor Michael Youssef of Leading the Way ministry.

From Tragedy and Injustice to Good

2012-01-18T19:02:00.000-08:00

Jesus Christ's death was not only the ultimate sacrifice but it was the ultimate injustice; Hesuffered for sins that were not His and paid the price for oursins. But yet itwas through His death that we are brought to God. Out of tragedy andinjustice, God brought good.

The point iswhen we do right and suffer for it, we can be sure that God intends to use ourexperience for good. Whatever happens to members of God's family, we canbe sure that our loving Father is at work for our good fulfilling His plan and purpose for our lives.

2 Timothy 3:12 'Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.'
Romans 8:28 'And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.'

The Ultimate Sacrifice

2012-01-17T23:14:00.000-08:00

How exciting that we have Victory in Christ! As we see in 1 Peter 3:18 Christ suffered death on the cross for our sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God! How awesome is that, Christ laid down His life so that we can live with God throughout eternity.

1 Peter 3:18 "For Christ alsosuffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God,being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit" NKJV

Note the words "for sins" in 1 Peter 3:18. These words are the very words used in the Old Testament for the sin offering (Leviticus 5:7; Leviticus 6:30). The point is clear: Jesus Christ offered Himself for sin; He was the fulfillment of the sin-offering itself. Remember God is perfect and only perfect beings can live in God's presence; therefore, Christ the perfect sacrifice died to cover our sins so that we can be acceptable to God. We no longer have to stand before God guilty of sin because Jesus Christ paid the price by dying on the cross for our sin. In Christ we stand acceptable to God. But we must always remember why - It is nothing that we have done, but because Christ died for us: the just One died for the unjust. He sacrificed and substituted His life for us. All Praise be to our Lord, Jesus Christ!

It's about TIME

2012-01-16T23:16:00.000-08:00

The time is always right to do what's right - Martin Luther King Jr.

You ever think about time. The Lord has given each of us twenty-four hours in a day, no more no less. How we spend the time in that day is up to us.

Psalms 118:24 says 'This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.' Every day is a gift given to you from God. Notice it says 'This is the day', it isn't talking about yesterday or tomorrow, it says this is the day, and as Christians we are to live our lives for Christ, so how can we maximize our day for the Lord?

First, we should read our Bible every day. You cannot combat the enemies of this world on your own. As you read the Bible, you will be equipped to face each day. Second, pray every day. We need to be in communication with our Lord every day, talking with Him, praising Him, thanking Him, and asking Him to help us through our day. Through God's word and through talking with Him in prayer we can maximize our day according to His will in our lives. I have found in my life that when I make time for Christ in the beginning of my day, continually pray during the day, and end my day with Christ, all other things fall into place.

My friend, we are given twenty-four hours in a day, don't waste it, each second counts. If at the end of the day you cannot see one thing that was done for Christ, it is a wasted day. What is driving your life? Is it the temporal things of this world or eternity? Colossians 3:2 'Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth'.

Face each day asking the Lord to lead you in the way He wants you to go. Today is the most important day of your life, don't waste it - live it for Christ. Rejoice and be thankful for the day Christ has given you. As Martin Luther King Jr. said 'The time is always right to do what's right'.

Walking with our Lord!

2012-01-15T23:49:00.000-08:00

God loves us so much; He wants to be the center of our lives. He wants us to put our full faith and trustin him as we walk in this world so that everything we do brings glory to him. Colossians 3:17 'And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him'.

My friend, we are here for a short time and as we journey through this life weare to walk a godly walk. We should be of one mind livingin unity with compassion, tenderheartedness, and humble-minded as it says in 1 Peter 3:8. Remember, God directs our paths, carries us through the trials of our lives giving us the help and support we need, and has given us the abilities we need to do the tasks He sets before us. We need to make sure we give the honor and glory to Him for what he does for us in our lives. Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' Matthew 22:37

Making Christ Lord of our Lives

2012-01-14T23:51:00.000-08:00

Someone once said 'Jesus often spoke of Christianity as a banquet but never as a picnic.' How true that is! He never said the Christian life was going to be easy. When Christ is Lord of our lives and we fear only God, we need not fear the threats, opinions, or actions of our enemies. Psalm 118:6 'The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?' As Christians, we are faced with crises and we are tempted to give in to our fears, but if we make Christ Lord of our hearts, we never need to fear men or circumstances. We need to trust God to protect us and to meet our every need. We need to trust that He has a plan and purpose for our lives. When we seek first the kingdom of God as it says in Matthew 6:33 and we present our bodies as living sacrifices not conforming to this world as it says in Romans 12:1-2, we will not be satisfied with anything less than the will of God in our lives. Living totally for Christ.

Source of Life: The Lord Himself

2012-01-13T23:52:00.000-08:00

I wanted to expound a bit futher on the last step to enjoy life from our last post which is 'To remember the source of life - the Lord Himself '. 1 Peter 3:12 'For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.' Peter here is quoting Psalm 34

No person has life apart from God! As we see in verse twelve, the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous - God sees all. Then it says His ears are open to their prayers. Not only are the Lord's eyes open and watching, but His ears are open to their prayer. The idea here is that He hears our cries in times of need and He meets our need according to His will. God cares and looks after us day by day never letting us suffer more than we can bear. Nothing happens to God's people that He has not allowed for some purpose. Whatever happens, we know that His promises of blessing, whether in this life or in the life to come are certain. These words are of great comfort, but the verse goes on. Not only is the Lord watching and listening but also goes against those who do evil. Note that the very face of the Lord stands against those who do evil. The picture is that the Lord does not only see the evil person, but that those who do evil against us will stand face to face with the Lord as He deals with them.

A good day for the believer who loves life is not one in which he is pampered and sheltered, but one in which he experiences God's help and blessing because of life's problems and trials. It is a day in which he magnifies the Lord (Psalm 34:1-3) experiences answers to prayer (Psalm 34:4-7) tastes the goodness of God (Psalm 34:8) and senses the nearness of God (Psalm 34:18). The next time you think you are having a 'bad day' and you hate life, read Psalm 34 and you may discover you are really having a 'good day' to the glory of God.

Steps to Enjoy Life:

2012-01-12T23:13:00.000-08:00

Whenwe see persecution increasing and we see all the bad things happening in life,it should not cause us to give up on life. Wecan decide to endure life and make it a burden, escape life as though we wererunning from a battle, or enjoy life because we know God is in control. It is an attitude of faith that sees the best in every situation.

In 1 Peter 3:10-12 Petershows us four steps to loving and enjoying life:

1: refrainyour tongue from evil (v.10)

2:turn away from evil and do good (v.11)

3:seek peace and pursue it (v.11)

4:remember the source of life, the Lord Himself (v.12)

Live Life my Friend to the Glory of God!

Having Compassion towards One Another

2012-01-11T23:41:00.000-08:00

1 Peter 3:8 tells us that we are to have compassion towards one another.

The words "having compassion" are the translation of aGreek word (συμπαθεῖς, sumpatheis) which we get the wordSympathy. Meaning we are to be sympathetic, we should be willing to sharein others' needs and being responsive to their feelings, having sensitivity andcompassion towards others - suffer with those who suffer; weep with those who weep; rejoice with those who rejoice

Unity cannot exist unless we feel compassion and sympathy forone another. You cannot be seeking to get your own way not caring whathappens to others and live in unity. So Unity demands sympathy,feeling for one another.
Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with thosewho rejoice, and weep with those who weep."

Galatians 6:2 "Bear one another'sburdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

1 Corinthians 12:26 "And if one membersuffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all themembers rejoice with it."

We are to be compassionate towards one another.

You are not Alone in Your Trial

2012-01-09T23:18:00.000-08:00

Christ is always with us, even in the midst of our trials. Yes I said 'even in the midst of trials.' Christians are persecuted every day for their faith in many different forms, from as simple as being mocked to as serious as murder.

We see in 2 Timothy 3:12 ', all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.' We also see in James 1:2-3 'My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.'
We see in the book of Acts that Stephen was stoned to death for his faith; however, God was with him and gave him the grace to endure.

Acts 7:59-60 'And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.'

Stephen experienced the pain and suffering of the trial just as believers are also not removed or relieved from the sufferings of trials, but we are given the grace and strength to endure the trials.

Stephen called out to the Lord while he was being stoned asking the Lord Jesus to receive his spirit. He knew that to be absent from the body was to be present with the Lord as it says in 2 Corinthians 5:8.

Stephen was trusting in Jesus and the wonderful love of God to give him strength as he went through the adversity.

And Stephen's last act was of forgiveness, as he pleaded for his persecutors and murderers as he said "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." We are to forgive men no matter what the offense may be.

Then scripture tells us that Stephen fell asleep. There is something peaceful about his death in spite of its violent nature. Stephen went to be with Jesus and became the first martyr of the Early Church, the first of a long line of believers who gave their lives for Jesus and the gospel.

2 Corinthians 5:7 "For we walk by faith, not by sight." Trust in the Lord and rest in Him as He comforts you during the trials of your life. Know that He is with you and will not leave your or abandon you as we see in Hebrews 13:5. God is with us 24/7 every second of the day and He will meet every need according to His plan and purpose for our life.

Let your Light Shine

2012-01-08T23:36:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been in a pitch dark cave, turned a flash light on and saw how it illuminated the whole cave? Simply an amazing sight. That is what a believer is in this dark world.

We all know that Christ is the light of the world, as it shows us in John 8:12 'Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

As believers, we are children of God. Jesus said in Matthew 5:14 'You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.'

Jesus compared believers to light because they have the Holy Spirit living within them and demonstrate what God can do in a transformed life. It is by our example and how we live that people can see Christ through us. In Ephesians 5:8-9 'For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth)'.

As children of God we are to be walking examples so that Christ's light will shine through us to a dark world. Through Christ we can do all things - He is our strength and our source of power. Live for Him each day.

Be a Transformer not a Conformer

2012-01-07T23:43:00.000-08:00

'And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.'
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

The world wants to change your mind to keep you from focusing on God, so it exerts pressure from without. But the Holy Spirit changes your mind by releasing power from within. Warren Wiersbe said 'If the world controls your thinking, you are a conformer; if God controls your thinking, you are a transformer.'

There are two ways we can renew our mind; first is by being in God's word. As we spend time meditating on God's Word and memorizing it, we learn more and more about God and we are more in tune to what God wants us to do. Second, would be our prayer life. As we spend time in prayer seeking God's will for our lives, surrendering our body, mind, and spirit to Him the more we will be able to know the will of God in our lives. Not my will, but thy will be done. To have a right relationship with God, we must start the day by yielding to Him our bodies, minds, and wills. Seek God First and everything else falls in place.

Knowing and Experiencing God's Love

2012-01-06T23:16:00.000-08:00

Knowing and Experiencing God'sLove. What greater way to show God's love than for Him to give His onlybegotten Son so that we could live through Him.
1 John 4:9-10 "In this the love ofGod was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into theworld, that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ In this islove, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to bethe propitiation for our sins." NKJV

Notice verse ten says that it wasnot that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son. This verse parallels with: John 3:16: "For Godso loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes inHim should not perish but have everlasting life." NKJV

God's sacrificial love for us is farbeyond anything we could ever imagine. When the Apostle John saidthat God showed His love by sending His Son, he was saying God showed His loveby meeting our greatest need - which God offered up His Son as a sacrifice forour sins that we would be seen as holy and righteous in His eyes that we maylive with Him throughout eternity. He sees us united to His belovedSon, clothed in His righteousness. He loves us, not because of anythingwe've done, but because we are in Christ.

My friend, there is nothing that we cando to deserve this love. God, before the foundation of the world chose tosend His Son to die for us. This was before the world was ever created,God in His love made a plan to save a wretch like me, to save a wretchlike each and every one of us. Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love towardus, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. NKJV

Calvary is the one objective,absolute, irrefutable proof of God's love for us.

Living to Hear: Well Done

2012-01-05T23:51:00.000-08:00

Our Motivation for living godly lives should be to please the Lord, to be able to stand before Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ and have Him say 'Well Done, thy good and faithful servant'. We are to have an attitude like the Apostle Paul as he said in Philippians 3:14 'I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus' NKJV

Keep our eyes on the goal my friend because one day we will stand before the Lord and be held accountable for what we did in His name. II Corinthians 5:10 says 'For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad'. The first time I heard about the Judgment Seat of Christ, it set a spirit inside of me of accountability. It set in me a drive to strive to keep my motives in check. It was sobering to me to hear that there are rewards that I could have received if only I had not missed the opportunity. It made me want to be a better Christian, to not take my salvation for granted but to bring honor and glory to God in every aspect of my life. Imagine, staring into the face of Christ, one on one, and seeing your entire life before you as He sees it. No hiding, no putting a better spin on what you did because He knows everything and He knows your heart attitude. I don't want to have to say I gave my second best, but rather I gave my best to bring You honor and glory. Live each day for the Lord my friend because we never know when He will return. To learn more about the Judgment Seat of Christ click this link: http://empoweredbiblestudy.sermon.tv/Exploring_End_Times/2237710

What Kind of Witness are You?

2012-01-04T20:07:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite verses is Titus 2:3-5 'the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things -- that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.' NKJV

No matter what age you are, you are a walking example to those around you. I remember when I was single, I would watch other married couples, both saved and unsaved and saw quite a few things that I said I would never do when I go married. You know, Nagging doesn't get us anywhere and who cares who left the cap off the toothpaste, it is not worth arguing over and causing disunity in the relationship. As we see in Titus, we are to show reverence and not be slanderers. I don't know how many times I would here someone tearing their spouse down - just not acceptable according to Scripture! We are to build each other up, not tear down and this can be applied to all age groups not just married couples. When we show reverence and honor to those around us, Christ is glorified. When we show dishonor, we dishonor God. Remember, we are always being watched as to how we handle circumstances and how we act. Be obedient so that the Word of God may not be blasphemed.

Study of 1 Peter 3: 1-7

2012-01-03T23:48:00.000-08:00

For those of you doing the study of First Peter with me, our study on 1 Peter 3:1-7 is ready for viewing. You can watch the innovative video, listen to the audio or read the notes at:
http://empoweredbiblestudy.sermon.tv/First_Peter

Some subject matters don't apply to everyone, but I encourage each of you to listen because we can always learn something from the word of God. In these verses we will see the guidelines for a happy marriage as well as how we are to live godly lives. So no matter what age you are or if you are single or married, we can all apply the principles given in this study to our lives. I pray it is a blessing to you. God Bless

A Loving Devotion to God

2012-01-02T23:05:00.000-08:00

John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. NKJV
My friend, in the Greek language 'Keep' is in the Aorist Imperative, meaning it is a command. So it is so clear that God is commanding us to keep His commandments. Not only is it a command, but look at the richness of this verse. There is something deeper than obedience because of duty. Notice it says 'If you love Me', obedience done out of devotion is so much deeper than obedience because of duty.

I remember before I was saved I had attended church every Sunday and went out of the source of duty; that was what we were supposed to do. One day in Sunday school, my Sunday school teacher showed us the difference between knowing God with a head knowledge and knowing God with a heart knowledge - experientially. I realized I did not know Jesus Christ as my personal savior, I knew of Him but I did not know Him experientially. I asked the Lord into my heart that day, and my heart was changed forever. I no longer went to church out of duty, but now I went out of desire to know more about God and to deepen my relationship with Him. I now wanted to go rather than I had to go. This is the difference here that we should want to obey God's laws out of devotion to Him rather than out of duty. If you want to know more about Jesus Christ, please click this link: http://changedlivestoday.com/_webimages/knowinggod.html

Job learned of having an experiential knowledge - Job 42:5 'I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.'

Facing a New Year with the Lord

2012-01-01T23:55:00.000-08:00

The Christmas decorations are slowly coming down, family and friends have all gone home and we are faced with a brand new year. Many will start to make plans and resolutions for what they will do in the new year. James 4:13-14 'Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.'

My friend our plans are always tentative because we never know what God has in store for us. The Key is to keep God in our plans. We should say 'If it be the Lord's will we will do such and such.' James goes on to say that life is just a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. This is a perspective that all believers should have. This life, as we know it here on Earth, is just a temporary home. We never know when the Lord shall return; therefore, we should always live each day as unto the Lord. The only resolution we need to make is that we grow more and more in our Christian lives and that we are open to the opportunities that God presents to us. Don't leave God out of your plans, live for Him.

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T22:13:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy New Year! We appreciate each and every one of you and look forward to 2012 as we see what the Lord has planned. God bless you all

Psalm 32:8 'I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.' NKJV

Suffering for Christ

2011-12-29T23:33:00.000-08:00

As Christians we may suffer for many reasons. Some suffering comes as the direct result of our own sin; some happens because of our foolishness; and some is the result of living in a fallen world. Peter writes about suffering that comes as a result of doing good.

1 Peter 2:19 “For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully."

Petersaid “this is commendable”. If thesuffering arises from the servant’s faith in the gospel, his patient enduranceis all the more commendable. Jesus never sinned, and yet he suffered so that we could be setfree. Jesusproved that a person could be in the will of God, be greatly loved by God, andstill suffer unjustly. Hishumility and submission were not evidence of weakness, but of power. Wecan deeply learn from this and remember who we are – that we are children of theKing. He is in control and we need toput our faith and trust in Him. Live forHim not for others.

Looking Back and to New beginnings

2011-12-28T22:54:00.000-08:00

As the year comes to an end, we have a tendency to look back on everything that happened during the year and we start to make resolutions as to what we are going to do for the new year coming in.

The most important thing to ask ourselves as we look back would be 'Has our relationship with God grown since the beginning of the year?', 'Have we lived our lives, to the best of our ability with the opportunities God has set before us, for Christ?' Ephesians 2:10 'For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.'

Then as we look forward to the coming of the new year we are reminded of Proverbs 27:1 says 'Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.' We need to live a day at a time as we don't know what the next day will hold. Matthew 24:36 'but of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.' We never know when our last day may be, when the rapture will come and we stand before our Lord and answer to Him as to what we did in His name. Be a faithful servant and hear him say 'Well Done'. Be ready and live each day as unto the Lord.

Motivation to Live Godly Lives

2011-12-27T23:35:00.000-08:00

Have you really thought about how much God loves you? Eight times in Peter's two epistles Peter reminds us of God's love for us: 1 Peter 2:11; 4:12; 2 Peter 1:7, 3:1, 8, 14-15, 17.

In 1 Peter 2:11 the word 'Beloved' is from the Greek word Ἀγαπητοί, Agapetoi, used of God's divine love. Peter is reminding us that we are dearly loved-ones of God! Christ loved us so much that He was willing to suffer death on the Cross so that we could live with Him for all eternity. Think about that and how much God loves you. Our lives should reflect our love for God!
Our love for Jesus Christ, the fact that he died on the Cross so that we could live with Him for eternity ought to be motivation enough for us to live godly lives in this godless world. Live as unto the Lord every second of the day and spread God's love to the world.

Study of 1 Peter 2:11-25 coming soon

2011-12-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

For those of you who are doing the Study of First Peter with me, we will have our next study up soon. If you would like to read ahead, this study covers 1 Peter 2:11-25.

For those who have missed any of our previous studies, please click the link: http://empoweredbiblestudy.sermon.tv/First_Peter/

If you would like to check out any of our other studies - click the link under 'Empowered Bible Studies' on the left side of this blog for the study you would be interested in.

For those of you who have our Android or iPhone app, the app will automatically be updated as soon as this study is available. I pray our studies are a blessing to you. God Bless

What is Real Christmas Joy?

2011-12-24T23:59:00.000-08:00

We have met several people this Christmas season who are really having a rough time and say they just aren't feeling the Christmas joy. My friend, if you are feeling sad this Christmas Season it is ok! Christmas is not about Christmas parties and fellowship with family and friends, it is not about gifts under the Christmas tree or even being happy, it is about remembering why our Lord came to this world to bring us salvation. A lot of people feel forced during the Christmas season to be happy and joyful because that is what the Commercial Corporate world wants you to be. They portray families all getting along spending Christmas all together happily ever-after; but that is simply not the norm! Every family has it's problems. The Christmas Joy is not found in gifts, my friend, it is found in the greatest gift ever given - Jesus Christ! Joy and Happiness are two different things. Joy comes from the inside where we have a peace that only Christ can bring - a peace beyond understanding. So if you are feeling sad, it is okay, I pray you feel the loving arms of your savior Jesus Christ around you this Christmas season.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

2011-12-22T23:03:00.000-08:00

Throughout this month we have seen Christ in the Christmas Season and reminders of what Christmas is all about. Soon, all over the world, we will be celebrating the Birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ who is the reason for the season.

My prayer is that you have a safe and blessed Christmas. As you gather with family and friends, remember the lessons we have learned and share Christ's love to all those around you. You know, you may be the only Bible someone reads, so let them see Christ in you. Feel God's loving arms around you as your comforter, redeemer, protector, and provider. God loves you and wishes to spend time with you. He sent His only Son so that we could live with Him throughout eternity. So, Celebrate His Birth this Christmas and Thank Him for the Blessings in your life. Thank Him for the Greatest Gift of All - Jesus Christ! God Bless you my friends.

Brighten Someone's Day!

2011-12-21T23:06:00.000-08:00

A Christmas Candle is a lovely thing: it makes no noise at all, but softly gives itself away; while quite unselfish, it grows small. - Eva K. Logue

I love this quote - as we count down the days to Christmas it just seems fitting to talk about the Christmas Candle.

As we have seen in our earlier post, Christ is the Light of the World and as Christians we are to live our lives so that Christ's light shines through us. Just like this Christmas Candle, the flame of Christ burns brightly within us and we too can unselfishly give of ourselves to others, quietly without a lot of fanfare, without any expectation of a thank-you in return, simply giving of ourselves unconditionally so that Christ will be glorified. John 3:30 'He must increase, but I must decrease.' My friend, allow Christ's flame to burn within you this Christmas season and throughout the coming year and brighten someone else's day.

Jesus - Light of the World!

2011-12-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

John 8:12

'Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

Be Mindful as Christmas Approaches

2011-12-19T23:54:00.000-08:00

Christmas is fast approaching and Christmas Joy is being shared across the world in anticipation of that glorious day! Ah the smell of baking permeates the house and all the decorations reminds us of what Christmas is truly about - the celebration of the Birth of our Savior which brings joy to my soul.

This will probably be one of the busiest weeks as there will soon be lots of people out on the roads doing their last minute shopping and traveling to visit friends and family.

Take time, my friend, in your busy schedules to reflect on Jesus Christ, our Savior - The Reason for the Season. Praise Him for the blessings that He has given you this year. I find it brings so much joy to my soul when I give to someone else. Remember those who are suffering and be mindful of those who have lost loved ones that won't be there to celebrate this year - Show them Christ's love. May the Lord bless you and keep you safe this Christmas Season.

Surrender All to Jesus!

2011-12-18T17:00:00.000-08:00

You can see Jesus Christ - King of kings and Lord of lords in every Christmas light, in every flickering candle, in every light source for He is the Light of the World!

All to Jesus I surrender; All to Him I freely give. I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live. I surrender all. All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

Have you made Jesus Christ Lord of your Life?

Surrender Everything to Him! God gave His only Son for you - Give to Him a life that is honoring to Him. Allow God's light to shine through you!!!

Psalms 31:14 'But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say 'You are my God'.

The Angel Appears that Glorious night!

2011-12-16T22:49:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful evening! As I stood out gazing in the sky at the twinkling stars it brought to mind the Shepherds in the fields that glorious night that the Angel of the Lord came to announce the Birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Luke 2: 8-11 'Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'

What a glorious night that was! Can you imagine it? Sitting out under the stars and suddenly an angel appears and the glory of the Lord is shone around you. The tidings of great joy is the message of Salvation for everyone! My friend Christ came to pay the penalty for our sins so that we may spend eternity with Him. Accept the message of the Angel and rejoice with the Shepherds over the birth of our Savior.

Give the Gift of Caring!

2011-12-15T22:59:00.000-08:00

At this time of year every loss is magnified, every wound is deepened every past hurt and pain is brought to surface again. We can all identify with the pain that life brings sometimes. But my encouragement to you, my friend, is to hold on to Jesus for He is Always with you and knows your pain. He can restore your soul. Jesus said in Matthew 28:20 '...I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'

Satan loves to bring up the things that bring us sorrow and pain to keep our minds off of Jesus and the blessings that He gives us each day. The loss of a loved one is real, and it is ok to feel sorrow as you miss them dearly. Give the gift of caring this year as you help those who are grieving, those who are hurting and in pain. Lend a shoulder to those who just need to be reassured that someone cares. Pray that the Father will give you His eyes to see the broken people crying out for help this Christmas season. Lord heal the pain in the tears of those around us.

Our Greatest Gift!

2011-12-14T23:35:00.000-08:00

Each year at Christmas time we try to think of the Perfect Gift to give our loved ones. Well my friend God gave us the Perfect Gift!

John 3:16 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.'

Isaiah 9:6 'For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given,'

God gave His only Son as the Perfect Gift so that we may have everlasting life and spend eternity with Him! In order to receive this free gift you must believe in Jesus Christ, in His death, burial, and resurrection. That is it my friend, it is not by works or anything you do. Ephesians 2:8 'For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God'

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior, accept Him today my friend; accept God's free gift to you as we do not know what tomorrow holds. God Bless and may you have a Merry Christmas.

Celebrate Christ Daily!

2011-12-13T23:41:00.000-08:00

Oh Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining. It is the night of the dear Saviors birth....

Christmas - the time we celebrate our Saviors birth! Jesus Christ came in the form of a baby, but he was not just a baby born in a manger nor just a man that was crucified on a cross! Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords; He is our Savior, our Redeemer, He is God! Jesus said in John 10:30 'I and My Father are one' and in John 14:9 He said 'He who has seen Me has seen the Father'.

Philippians 2:9-11 'Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, and at that name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.'

Every Knee my friend shall bow to our Lord; Jesus Christ! Live for Christ every day, not just at Christmas! Make everyday a celebration of our Lord.

Thank You Jesus for Sami

2011-12-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

It has been a rough couple of days, our precious little Siberian kitty has been very sick. Thank you Jesus for watching over our little boy and for helping us get through the weekend - saw our Vet today and got some medicine - now Sami is on the road to recovery.

Thank you Jesus for our Precious Little Boy - Sami

Celebrate Christmas Around the World

2011-12-10T21:08:00.001-08:00

Joy to the World the Lord has Come, let Earth receive her King! This universal joy of Christmas is awesome and cannot be denied.

Whether a Christian or not, Once a year the Whole World stands still to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Christmas season is celebrated in different ways around the world, varying by country and region. For Christians, the Christmas season serves as a reminder both of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting of Christians for Christ's return from Heaven to take us home to be with Him throughout eternity. Only Jesus Christ claims this world-wide, undying remembrance. The song, 'Joy to the World' goes on to say 'He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love'. Celebrate Christ this Christmas!

Come Faithful and Worship Him!

2011-12-09T23:41:00.001-08:00

Christmas Carols are playing and Christmas is in the Air! I am reminded of the Christmas Carol: O Come all ye Faithful joyful and triumphant, o come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem. come and behold Him born the King of Angels; o come, let us adore Him - Christ the Lord!

We need to be reminded of Christ's presence in our lives and that we need to be faithful as Christians to Him! The faithless people of Israel forgot their first love. They lost their passion for service. Though they had once enjoyed a close relationship with their Maker, they turned from him, rejecting truths they had once held dear. And so they struggled just beyond the safe harbor, battered by the seas of uncertainty. My friend it doesn't have to be that way! We need to remember Christ daily, living our lives for Him! If you have wandered away from Christ, it is not too late to run back to the loving arms of Jesus. What people or circumstances cause you to wander away from Christ? Flee from them and find someone who will encourage you in your Christian walk.

Let us all hear when Christ Returns 'Well done, Good and Faithful Servant'!

Looking a lot like CHRISTmas

2011-12-08T23:21:00.001-08:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Decorated Trees in the windows and lights throughout the town are bringing Christmas cheer to everyone as Peppermint mocha and hot cocoa warm our tummies on these chilly evenings. The evergreen trees remind us of the Ever-lasting life we will spend with Christ; the lights, oh how they twinkle as they represent Christ who is the Light of the World; the white lights show Christ's purity, the red lights represent the blood He shed for us so that we may spend eternity with Him, which brings us to the green lights, as with the Christmas Tree, they represent Ever-lasting life with Christ, and the blue remind us of the color worn by the High Priest - the royal color. Then you have purple which reminds us of the Magi who came to see Christ in Bethlehem. The greatest gift you could give this Christmas is to share Christ to all those who you come in contact with. Remember my friend this Christmas as you look around and see all the lights, trees, and Christmas decorations, that there would be no Christmas without Christ! Celebrate Christ!

God is Faithful and meets our needs

2011-12-07T23:40:00.001-08:00

Psalm 40:2 'He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.'

Answer to prayer may not be immediate, but God is Faithful and will answer according to His will. He reaches down and pulls us out of the miry clay and sets our feet on solid rock. To God be the Glory!

Let's Just Praise the Lord!

2011-12-06T18:42:00.001-08:00

On Christmas Day some years ago, a little boy was seen going in and out of his church several times. When asked, "What gift did you ask of the Christ child?" he replied, "I didn't ask for anything. I was just in there loving Him for a little while."

We can all learn from this little boy. We get so wrapped up in always coming to the Lord asking for this and asking for that, but there are times when we just need to praise Him and love Him. Psalm 150:6 'Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!'

Credit: Illustration used from '1000 Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching'

Peace on Earth

2011-12-05T22:02:00.001-08:00

When you think about Christmas, you think about the Angels in Luke 2:14 saying to the Shepherds, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth Peace, Goodwill toward men.

The peace we talk about is a special peace; it is the peace of Christ, and He alone possesses it. Colossians 3:15 'And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts, for as members of one body you are called to live in peace, and always be thankful.'

A person can experience true peace only as he comes to know Christ. Only Christ can bring real peace to the human heart, the kind of peace that brings deliverance and the assurance of deliverance to the human soul. The word 'peace' (eirēnē) means to be bound, joined, and weaved together. It means to be assured, confident, and secure in the love and care of God. It means to know that God will take care of us no matter the problem or circumstance. it means to be absolutely assured that God will allow nothing to swamp or defeat us.

Helen Steiner Rice summed it up in her quote: 'Peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas every day.' Live for Christ each day and allow His love to flow through you to those around you.

O Christmas Tree

2011-12-03T22:42:00.001-08:00

O Christmas Tree

How often has the Christmas tree

Afforded me the greatest glee!

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

Much pleasure thou can'st give me.

The Song continues:

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

How richly God has decked thee!

Thou bidst us true and faithful be,

And trust in God unchangingly.

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

How richly God has decked thee!"

As we adorn our Christmas trees, we think about all the blessings God has given us throughout the years. The old ornaments bring back precious memories and the new ornaments create new ones. It is a time to reflect with Joy as we see Christ's light shine through each bulb. It is a time to praise God as He is always faithful to us as we need to be faithful and trust in Him!

Psalm 97:11 'Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right.' NLT

Candy Cane Represents Christ

2011-12-02T22:37:00.001-08:00

As we count down the days to Christmas, our next focus is on the Candy Cane. What better representation of Christ in Christmas than the Candy Cane. It is a staple in our house.

Hard candy because Christ is the Rock of Ages; shaped so that it would resemble a 'J' for Jesus or turn it the other way and it is the Shepherd's staff. It is white to represent the purity of Christ, the red stripe was added to represent the blood Christ shed for the sins of the world. The flavor of peppermint is similar to hyssop, which was used in the Old Testament for purification and sacrifice. Now of course, this is not fact, the candy cane was not necessarily made with this in mind but what harm is there in seeing Christ in a candy cane.

Hebrews 12:2a 'Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith'.

This Christmas season let us keep our focus on Christ and as you see a Candy Cane, remember the message: Jesus is the Christ!

Emmanuel, God with us

2011-12-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

I am reminded each year of the very heart of Christmas --

Emmanuel, God with us.

Matthew 1:23 "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

We need to be constantly reminded of this, that God is with us! If you are a Christian, then God lives in you, we just need to be aware of His presence in our lives every moment of a day. God wants to be involved in the simple, ordinary happenings of our daily lives; where you go and what you do. His light shines through you as you show kindness to another person, that cup of water or blanket to someone in need, when you show patience in a long line at the grocery store, when you reach out and pray with someone hurting.

This Christmas season allow Christ's light to shine through you, allow the world to see the heart of Christmas - Emanuel, God with us!

The Savior of the World has come!

2011-11-30T20:36:00.001-08:00

The True Meaning of Christmas started at the Birth of our Savior!

Luke 2:11-14 Today in the town of David (Bethlehem) a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Christ our Lord being born in Bethlehem was a fulfillment of prophecy announced in Micah 5:2. Augustus Caesar may have been ruling at the time, but God was in charge, for He used Caesar's edict to move Mary and Joseph eighty miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem to fulfill His Word. Bethlehem means "house of bread," the ideal birthplace for the Bread of Life - John 6:35 'And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.'

My friend, God has a plan for each and every one of us and He sent His Only Son, Jesus Christ to this world so that we may spend eternity with Him. He paid the price, all you have to do is believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ! Let's join the angels this Christmas season as we say 'Glory to God in the highest'!

Jesus is the Light of the World

2011-11-29T23:46:00.001-08:00

Oh how I love the Christmas Season! A time to celebrate our Savior, Jesus Christ's Birth and the reason He came so that we could be saved and live with Him throughout Eternity. Over this Christmas Season I would like to share with you some of my favorite things about Christmas.

First one of my favorite things of Christmas are the Christmas lights that adorn our homes, businesses, and towns. You see, each Christmas light reminds us that Jesus is the Light of the world. It is so beautiful especially at night-time when it is dark they really shine bright. The same in our lives, when we are at our darkest point in life, Christ's light shines through us to encourage and strengthen us.

So this Christmas season, when you see the beautiful Christmas lights, stop and reflect on all the blessings God has given you and know that He is with you twenty-four seven. He never sleeps and is waiting to commune with you.

Jesus is the reason for the Season - Keep Christ in CHRISTmas!

Prayer - Driving force of Life

2011-11-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

I love this quote by Corrie Ten boom:

'Is Prayer your steering wheel or

your spare tire?'

So many times in life we use prayer as our last resort or emergencies only; but the Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 that we are to pray without ceasing. Prayer should be a driving force in our life.

Today I saw the Lord!

2011-11-27T14:15:00.001-08:00

In the hustle and bustle of the world so many times we have blinders on our eyes and don't see the world around us. We are so busy with our own lives that we don't see the hurting, the suffering and the hungry. I love a comment that one of my dear facebook friends posted on my page; Raf said: 'Today I saw the lord, I saw a young boy helping an elderly woman to her feet when she fell over, people walked past but he was the light who helped her up, the lord came through him bless his soul'.

It reminds me of the story in Luke 10:25-37 where a man was attached by robbers and left to die; no one would help him; they saw him but ignored him as they passed him by. Finally a Samaritan came upon him in his journey, saw him but did not ignore him, instead he helped him and took care of him. And Jesus said 'go and do likewise'. In Matthew 25:35 it talks about how when you give food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, cloth the needy, visit the sick and those in prison - that you are doing it as unto the Lord. My friend, reach out and be a light in this dark world - show kindness - show Christ's love. Let people see Christ through you!

Study of First Peter now available

2011-11-26T23:53:00.001-08:00

For those of your who have downloaded our iPhone or Android App we now have a new study on the book of Peter available - just click the refresh button to update. For those of you who would like to follow this study online please click this link: http://studyoffirstpeter.blogspot.com/

The Apostle Peter wrote this letter to encourage believers who are facing trials and persecution. As we face the storms in our lives, Peter offers comfort and hope gives us the encouragement and enablement we need for daily living. I look forward to doing this study with you over the next several weeks and pray it is a blessing to you.

Meeting the Needs of Others

2011-11-25T22:30:00.001-08:00

To illustrate the Christian faith in action, James gives us an example in James 2:15-16 'If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?'

Notice the language here, James is talking about a child of God in need, a brother or sister in Christ. If our physical children or parents were in need, we wouldn't hesitate to help them would we, so how can we hesitate to help our spiritual family?

Paul and the Apostle John are also in agreement with James as they too talk about meeting the needs of our spiritual family in Galatians 6:10 'Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.' and 1 John 3:17-18 'But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.'

We cannot possibly claim that we have the love of God in our hearts if we do not manifest it toward our brothers and sisters in Christ. This holiday season, show Christ's love and look for those opportunities to help one another. Live your life as unto the Lord.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T23:37:00.001-08:00

We are so thankful for each and every one of you who are following Empowered Bible Study Ministries! Our Ministry is designed to Honor our Lord Jesus Christ and to help give you the tools to empower you in your Christian walk. For those who are not Christians, we pray our site would be a light to direct you to Jesus Christ.

We give praise to our Heavenly Father for all the Blessings in our lives and we want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! We are so humbled by all your comments and feel so blessed that God has used our ministry to touched your lives. May the Lord bless you as you have blessed us.

Encourage One Another

2011-11-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

As you near the end of a long race, your legs ache, your throat burns, and your whole body cries out for you to stop. This is when friends are most valuable. Their encouragement helps you push through the pain to the finish line.

In the same way, Christians are to encourage one another. A word of encouragement offered at the right moment can mean the difference between finishing well and collapsing along the way. Look around you. Be sensitive to others' need for encouragement, and offer supportive words or actions.

Thank God for Good and Bad Times

2011-11-20T21:46:00.001-08:00

This is the season for giving thanks to our Heavenly Father for everything in our lives. When asked 'what are you thankful for', what comes to our mind first are all good things in our life that bring us so much joy, isn't it. But what about the times when things aren't going so well. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Paul tells us that we are to Thank God in Everything.

Remember God is with you in the hard times too, He uses those trials to draw us closer to Him, that sickness to bring Him honor and glory, those tough times to show us that He will meet our needs, and those difficult people in our lives to show us patience. We need to thank God for the good times as well as the bad for they are all a part of His master plan for our lives to make us more like Him. Hard times are a Blessing in disguise - Praise the Lord today for the blessings that bring us closer to Him.

Don't be Half-baked!

2011-11-19T21:42:00.001-08:00

Oh, how I love fresh baked bread - can you smell it as it permeates through the whole house. Did you know that the nomadic peoples of the East baked their bread on hot rocks. If the dough wasn't turned, one side of the loaf would be burned and the other side uncooked.

When it comes to our relationship with the Lord, we must be thorough and not 'half-baked'. His gracious work must permeate our whole being so that our heart, mind, and soul are all devoted to Him. Compromise with the world leads to an unbalanced life, you cannot serve two masters. Hosea 7:8 talks about how Ephraim is like a cake unturned, he was not fully committed to the Lord, mixing and compromising with the unbelievers. My friends, live every moment of every day for Christ, don't be half-baked! Don't compromise your faith, stand up and serve the King of kings and Lord of lords!

God's command: Love One Another

2011-11-18T20:03:00.001-08:00

My friend this Thanksgiving Season as you gather with family and friends, remember to put God first in your life and allow God's love to shine through you.

Just because you are family does not mean you all get along and all have a joyous time together, unfortunately we all have family members who are not saved. But if you put God first, look at each person through God's eyes, then God's love will shine through you.

Remember there are some people who are struggling, some hurting, and some just going through tough times. Give a smile and be a light in a dark world.

Love enables us to obey the Word of God and treat people as God commands us to do. John 15:12 'This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.'

Spread God's Word this Thanksgiving Season

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Psalm 79:13 'So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will show forth thy praise to all generations.'

Let us spread God's Love this Thanksgiving Season to those around us.

What are you Thankful for?

2011-11-15T23:27:00.001-08:00

As we approach this Thanksgiving Season, ask yourself

'What am I Thankful for?'

My Friends, I am thankful for each and every one of you who follow Empowered Bible Study Ministries. May the Lord bless you.

I would love to hear from you as to what you are thankful for this Thanksgiving Season - please leave a comment... God Bless

God meets our Needs not our Greeds

2011-11-14T22:20:00.001-08:00

Thank you Jesus for providing for our needs. Matthew 6:25-26 Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? NKJV

When you look to the birds and see how they are dependent upon God's daily provision, because they cannot grow or prepare food for themselves, but God makes sure that the natural order of his creation supplies food for them, how much more will he care and provide for His children who trust in Him. Jesus was teaching total dependence upon God as opposed to humanity's self-sufficiency. All that we have ultimately comes from God's hand. Whether we have much or little, we must remember that God provides for our needs not our greeds. Trust in the Lord for every aspect of your life.

Putting God First in our Busy Lives

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This time of year our lives seem to get busier and busier. Besides our normal routine, we start to plan for family and friends coming together to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas, and the pressure begins as we think of the menu we are going to serve, decorating the house, and finding that perfect gift for each of our loved ones.

But my friend, I encourage you to stop for a second and remember the reason for the holiday season - Jesus Christ.

John 3:17 'For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved' NKJV

In our home, Thanksgiving is not about eating Turkey - it is about Thanking God for sending His only Son; Jesus Christ to the world so that we can spend eternity with Him. It is a time to reflect on all the blessings we have received and Thank the Lord for our lives. It is a time to Thank God for the greatest gift - the Gift of His Son rather than the material gifts that will one day fade away.

Don't allow the busyness of life to rob you of this special moment where you can Stop for a second and recognize that God is the 'I AM'; He is our creator, our savior, our provider, and He deserves all our love and respect. Live each day for the Lord, trusting Him for every aspect of your life!

Lord Bless our Veterans

2011-11-11T17:53:00.001-08:00

This Veterans day we want to honor all of those who have bravely served and continue to serve their country. May the Lord Bless you all!

Words of encouragement from Scripture to our Veterans:

Joshua 1:9 'Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.' NKJV

Visit our Video Presentation and be blessed

2011-11-09T23:17:00.001-08:00

We pray you are blessed and encouraged by our ministry. We want you to be able to take full advantage of everything we offer; therefore, we have compiled a video presentation with hyper-links where you can click on each picture which will take you to the various sites, links, and products to help you grow in your Christian walk.

Please check out our video presentation at our new Blog: http://changedlivestoday.blogspot.com/

We pray you are blessed and inspired.

It is Well with my Soul

2011-11-08T18:29:00.000-08:00

Today is my dad's birthday so as a tribute to him I dedicate this post.

It is Well with my Soul! This song has many memories for me, my dad woke up in the middle of the night singing this song just prior to going home to be with the Lord. He told me that he felt God's presence that night as if he was sitting at the feet of Jesus singing.

Dad was able to say 'It is well with my Soul' because he knew he would spend eternity with Jesus Christ. My friend, can you say it is well with my soul? To learn more about how you can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ like my dad, just click here.

One of my dad's favorite verses was Isaiah 40:31 'But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.'

Please click here to view our tribute to my dad. God Bless

God encourages us individually

2011-11-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

God, like a father, doesn't just give advise, He gives Himself.

He becomes the husband to the grieving widow (Isaiah 54:5), He becomes the comforter to the barren woman (Isaiah 54:1), He becomes the father to the orphaned (Psalm 10:14).

Giving thanks and honor to our Heavenly Father who meets us where we are to comfort and encourage us as we live our lives for Him.

Pray for Pastor Youcef

2011-11-05T18:04:00.000-07:00

As you know we have been praying for Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani as he faces the death penalty because of his Christian faith.
He was ordered to recant his Christian faith or die, he responded 'I cannot' and was sentenced to death.
*This is not Dr. Michael Youssef, Founder and President of Leading the Way.

My friends, Pastor Youcef is standing up for his faith and following Jesus Christ no matter what the cost! International pressure continues to demand that Iran release Pastor Youcef, but his life still hangs in the balance. He and his family need our prayers and support. Please follow updates on http://aclj.org/

Please share this on Facebook, Twitter, email and all your social networks as a reminder to pray for Pastor Youcef and his family during this difficult time. Thank you and God Bless

Live Each Day for Christ!

2011-11-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

Scripture tells us that we do not know the day or hour that the Lord will come, but one thing we do know is that He is Coming - Live each day for Christ so that when He comes He will find us faithful to Him!

Thank you Lord Jesus!

Giving Thanks Always for All Things

2011-11-03T23:49:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 5:20 'Giving Thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ'

Keep in mind that Paul was a prisoner when he wrote those words, and yet he said to be thankful always for all things. In the original Greek language 'Giving thanks' is in the present active participle - meaning it is to be a repeated action. Paul is telling us to continually give thanks for all things.

On our own it is hard to be thankful for all things, but Paul understood the hardships of life. It is not on our own strength that we can continually give thanks, it is only through the help of God living in you that you can give thanks for all things! Remember that God has a plan and a purpose for your life and that He is in control. Giving thanks helps us to experience the fulness of God and deepens our relationship with Him.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says 'in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you'. We all have a choice to make; you can either be bitter of your circumstances or be in the will of God and be thankful in everything. Live every day for Christ!

God's Indescribable Gift!

2011-11-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

The greatest gift ever given was God's gift to the world: the gift of His own Son. No greater gift could ever be given.

To God be the Glory!