As I have prayed about the coming year, I’ve sensed three clear directives. Some people are terrified of 2012. They worry because the Mayans of ancient Mexico mysteriously ended their 5,126-year-old calendar on Dec. 21, 2012—as if they expected the world to end that day. This silly hypothesis became the basis for several New Age books and a goofy disaster movie, 2012, in which actor John Cusack avoids meteors and earthquakes just in time to get his family aboard the... Read more
As the year draws to a close, and Christians in America begin to nudge heaven for a word concerning their future, it’s important to note the persistent doom and gloom that exists. It seems that we are divided into two major camps, those expecting life in a tribulation-like setting (prophetic) and those who don’t care about anything (carnal Christians) except maybe the economy and how it affects how many dollars are in their pockets. I would like to offer a... Read more
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:11-14... Read more
(En Español) There are unfathomable mysteries concerning the Messiah’s entrance into our world, realities that are beyond our powers of comprehension: His divine conception, the manifestation of the angelic hosts, the miraculous star that led the wise men, etc. Yet, one reality strikes me as most profound: of all places where the Son of God might have been born, His birth came in the uncleanness of a stable. With myriads of angels at the Almighty’s command, we might assume the... Read more
Luke 2:8-12: Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 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. For there is born to you this day in... Read more
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17). When jewelers want to show the exquisite beauty of a diamond, they always set it upon black velvet under bright lights. That way, the only thing that can capture and refract the light will be the jewel, making it appear in its fullest luster. I will attempt to do a similar thing right now as it pertains to the... Read more
Spiritual self reflection is disruptive because it comes against our natural inclination for independence and self-centeredness. We gravitate toward ego, even more so with age, if something doesn’t expose it for the lie that it is. Ego is a negative force when it is all there is or all that matters. People really do not change too much themselves. God changes you, when you expose yourself to Spirit and Truth. Transformation remains difficult because too many people do not want... Read more
If we are to see as God sees, our own sight must be cleansed from our own opinions, preferences, and experiences. We must empty ourselves in order to refill ourselves with absolute truth. We must be liberated from ourselves as the reference point for reality, and that it really does not matter whether we like it or not, because it just is. We need to be rescued from our own judgments, opinions and feelings about everything. Ego objectifies everything, including... Read more
You cannot be healed from the things you do not acknowledge, and what you do not consciously acknowledge will remain in control of you from within, festering and destroying you and those around you. When we are able to admit our pain or wrongdoings to ourselves and others it can enrich and change our lives, and healing can come to all those involved. When we encounter God’s love, freedom, peace, and joy come upon us. God does not love us... Read more
God knew you before you were even born! He saw you and said, “I have a tremendous purpose for your life, and I have good plans for you!” Then He breathed His life into you and sent you through your mother and father. No matter how you were birthed or raised, it doesn’t have to stop you from becoming all that God intended for you to be. You have been handpicked by God to be here at this time in... Read more
Robert Ricciardelli
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