Saturday, January 8, 2011 Declaring by How We Live and Love by Robert Ricciardelli Jesus did not come to start a religion but to introduce us to a loving God. We commit our lives to God through faith, and remain in Him as He empowers us to do good. In the movement of God, His people emerge and converge to establish a Kingdom on earth with the power of heaven. Our future is bright but our mission expands and is... Read more

For the vision… will surely come… Habakkuk 2:3  Fulfilling your God-given vision depends on having a vision; which calls for waiting on God until He reveals His plan for you. Dedicating time and energy to it; which calls for patience and discipline. Knowing how to overcome obstacles; which calls for good management. The Bible says: ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish… ‘ (Proverbs 29:18 NIV). Remember South Pacific’s lyrics, ‘If you don’t have a dream, how you gonna... Read more

“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).  How does one describe that which is indescribable? Though my tongue may be the pen of a ready writer (or not), the challenge I undertake is quite daunting. For, according to the Apostle Paul, we will be speaking about something that is “unspeakable.” Reaching for the words to express his feelings about the abundant grace of God, Paul said, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!”  The word... Read more

Jesus clearly described the heart attitudes that please Him. Make the Beatitudes your goal in 2011. I’m not a big fan of religious greeting cards, especially the schmaltzy, pastel-colored variety that feature flowers and rainbows along with an obligatory Bible verse. The verse often comes from Jesus’ opening words in the Sermon on the Mount. We call this passage in Matthew 5 the Beatitudes. These are weighty, gutsy, penetrating words—but they are neutered when we treat them like sappy poetry.... Read more

En un muy profundo versículo el apóstol Pablo revela el plan supremo de Dios para la iglesia. El nos dice que estamos llamados  nada menos que “a la medida de la estatura de la plenitud de Cristo” (Efe 4:13). La gloriosa intención del Padre es exhibir  a través de nosotros todos los atributos y poder de Jesucristo. El se ha propuesto, que no solamente en la eternidad sino aquí en medio de nuestras batallas y tentaciones, vamos a crecer “en... Read more

In a most profound verse the apostle Paul unveils God’s supreme plan for the church. He tells us we are called to nothing less than “the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). The Father’s glorious intention is to exhibit through us all the attributes and power of Jesus Christ. He has purposed that, not only in eternity but here in the midst of our battles and temptations, we are to grow “in all... Read more

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.          Philippians 3:12-14  We all seem to... Read more

Jesus did not come to start a religion but to introduce us to a loving God. We commit our lives to God through faith, and remain in Him as He empowers us to do good. In the movement of God, His people emerge and converge to establish a Kingdom on earth with the power of heaven. Our future is bright but our mission expands and is declared daily by how we live and how we love. There is religion and... Read more

Contentment is the fundamental pursuit in each area of life. We want to get the house painted or our certification completed or the kids grown or something that we are convinced will enable us to finally be content. However, it is really a condition of our inner person. Sort of an at-peace-with-me feeling. It is also a foundation to enjoying life and being intentional in the moment. Can it be done? If so, how? 1 – Practice delaying gratification. Yes,... Read more

If there were to be resurrection, everything we live on earth would come to nothing. Because of God’s unconditional love from eternity to eternity, He made a way for us to live for eternity now and forever, beyond this earthly dimension. This wonderful revelation of knowing that nothing we live in our bodies is lived in vain, compels us to live every moment as a seed of eternity. Cherish each and every moment. God empowers us to do good, and... Read more