The Savior of the World has come!

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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!

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!

Rejoicing in a New Day!

Psalms 118:24 'This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.' 

Isn't it a beautiful day as we welcome in the Month of November!  Oh how I love this time of year, the beginning of the Holiday Season where we take a Special time to celebrate and remember what Christ has done for us so that we can live with Him throughout Eternity.  Oh my friends, This is the day that the Lord has made, Let us rejoice in it! Each new day should be a celebration of the life that Christ has given us to live for Him and to bring Praise and Honor to His name.  To God be the Glory!