God is Faithful

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.

If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself. Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

Philippians 1:6, 1 Corinthians 1:8, 2 Timothy 2:13, Deuteronomy 7:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Bit by bit matters.

Bit by bit matters.

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities. Luke 16:10

God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body. Eccs 12:14, 2 Cor 5:10

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' Matthew 25:21


The Day and Hour Unknown (Matthew 24:36-51)
36“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,f but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

42“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

45“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

5 Evils of a Bad Attitude

By Jen Thorn

Over the course of our lifetime we will struggle and fight against many sins. Some we will overcome easily, while others will follow and haunt us for most of our lives. I believe for some of us, the struggle to maintain a good and godly attitude in all circumstances is a problem we don’t give much attention to. Is a bad attitude really that bad? I was convicted about this myself as I read a section from the book “The Rare Jewel Of Christian Contentment” by Jeremiah Burroughs. He explains that a bad attitude is not a small problem, but a dangerous sin that does far more damage than we imagine.

A bad attitude is evil in five ways:

1. It’s unworthy of a Christian.

We have been adopted into the household of God (Romans 8:15). We have been made royal priests. We are the bride of Christ, and God paid a dear price to make us his special possessions (1 Peter 2:9). We are a people who have been guaranteed a future so glorious that we can’t even begin to imagine it. Therefore it is below our station to have a bad attitude when plans don’t go our way or when seasons of life are hard. If anything we end up imitating Satan instead of Christ.

“The Devil is the most discontented creature in the world, he is the proudest creature that is, and the most discontented creature, and the most dejected creature. Now, therefore, so much discontent as you have, so much of the spirit of Satan you have.” - Jeremiah Burroughs

2. It has evil companions

A bad attitude is always accompanied by a number of ungodly friends. Melancholy, ingratitude, complaining, envy, jealousy, and anger just to name a few. It is a popular sin that gathers many others in its fellowship. The longer our bad attitude goes unchecked the more our sins will multiply.

3. It stems from pride

Bad attitudes flow from a prideful heart. A heart that says that we deserve for our day to go the way we had planed or for people to act in a way that we approve of and for life’s circumstances to be free of hardships, annoyances and frustrations. It is foolish living and will rob us of our comfort both mentally and physically.

When we have a bad attitude we lessen all the blessings and mercies God has shown us in our lives. In the moment we live as though God has dealt unfairly with us. We momentarily forget how awesome and good He is to us.

4. It drags out your troubles longer.


The person who can accept the providence of God in their lives will be able to go about their day without worry. Joy and peace will be the character of our lives when we do not pit our desires against what God has for us.

There will be hard days, messed up plans, and difficult people but the more we fight and rail against them the harder and longer our troubles will seem.

5. It spreads to others like an infection.

Think back to a time when you were hanging out with a group of people who were complaining, badmouthing, or otherwise expressing a bad attitude towards someone or something. How easy is it to join in? This is because attitudes are contagious. They influence and rub off on people causing others to act in the same way. (1 Cor. 15:33)

A bad attitude mars Christ’s likeness in us and robs us of our calling to encourage others.

Sometimes I have bad attitude. And what a bad attitude reveals is my ongoing need for Jesus. We all continuously need his forgiveness, his help, his wisdom, and his Spirit working in us to conform us more to his own image. It is impossible to do this on our own. When we find ourselves with a bad attitude we need to repent and look again to Jesus and all we have in him. There we will find joy and peace to overcome our circumstances and strengthen us as we follow Jesus.

Article from:

http://www.christianity.com/christian-life/spiritual-growth/5-evils-of-a-bad-attitude.html?utm_source=Christianity.com%20Foundations%20Weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=06/25/2014

Giving thanks to The Lord

If the will of God in Christ Jesus is to give thanks to God in everything, every believer should know why we should give thanks and be grateful all the time. Gratitude is a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation of everything the Almighty God is doing in our daily life. It is an act that allows what we desire to flow into our experience. Let us now search the scriptures and learn the will of God concerning all of us. The Old Testament and the New Testament provide many Scriptures to justify why should we give thanks to God.

One primary reason for why we should give thanks to God is God’s character: We should give God thanks just because of who He is, not just for what He does. His many attributes describe God’s character. He is the Creator of the Universe; He is God of gods; the Lord of lords; His goodness, faithfulness and His unconditional Love endure forever. Psalm 136:2-3: “Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His faithful love endures forever”. We give thanks to God for His greatness and His miracles: 1 Chronicles 16:8-9 : “Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his miracles”. Psalm 138:2: “I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I will give thanks to your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness, because your promises are backed by all the honor of your name”. 

The Secondary reason for why we should give thanks to God is for what He has done:Psalm 136:4-9: “Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who placed the earth on the water. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who made the sun to rule the day and the moon and stars to rule the night. His faithful love endures forever. 

The Third reason we should give thanks to God is because He is our daily Provider and He answers our prayer. Romans 14:6 : “Those who have a special day for worshiping the Lord are trying to honor him. Those who eat all kinds of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who won’t eat everything also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God”. 2 Corinthians 1:11: “He will rescue us because you are helping by praying for us. As a result, many will give thanks to God because so many people’s prayers for our safety have been answered”. Colossians 1:3: “We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Ps 75:1: “…We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near. People everywhere tell of your mighty miracles”. 

We give thanks to God because “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life”, wrote Melody Beattie. “It turns what we have into enough, and more. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
We give thanks to God for many blessings: God Increases His Blessings on those who are grateful, those who recognize His Power. People who know that God is the Owner and Possessor of everything express their inner gratefulness for good health, knowledge, wisdom, love and for God’s Guidance. Knowing their weaknesses and being humble before God, they give thanks to Him for every blessing granted. The more we give thanks to God, the more we experience his kindness and His Goodness, His mercy and compassion. God grants even more health and power to those who give thanks to Him for the good health and strength they have. God bestows even more knowledge and property to those who are grateful for their knowledge or wealth. True believers remain grateful to God even under harshest conditions.

Article from :
http://bishoplouis.wordpress.com/2008/11/12/why-should-we-give-thanks-to-god/

In God I have everything

I have nothing, but Jesus. Therefore in God, I have everything I need.

I shall not want, I am content with what God has given me.

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ. Phil 3:8

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. Phil 4:11-12

So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. 1 Tim 6:8

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Tim 6:17

20 Spurgeon Quotes

Known as the “Prince of Preachers,” the British Baptist pastor is estimated to have preached 3,500 sermons to about 10 million people, a staggering number in pre-Internet days. He published 49 volumes of commentaries, anecdotes and devotionals during his lifetime, and the complete collection of his sermons fills 63 volumes, making it the largest set of books by a single author in the history of Christianity.

A pastor in London for almost 40 years, Spurgeon was one of the most well-known pastors of his day. And even now, more than 120 years after his death, he continues to be an important and influential voice across denominations in the Church.

Perhaps one reason for Spurgeon’s continuing legacy is his ability to speak plainly and clearly. He is immensely quotable. So, in honor of Spurgeon’s 180th Birthday, here is a collection of some of his most profound quotes.

“God’s mercy is so great that you may sooner drain the sea of its water, or deprive the sun of its light, or make space too narrow, than diminish the great mercy of God"

“A JESUS WHO NEVER WEPT COULD NEVER WIPE AWAY MY TEARS.”

“If I had never joined a church till I had found one that was perfect, I should never have joined one at all; and the moment I did join it, if I had found one, I should have spoiled it, for it would not have been a perfect church after I had become a member of it. Still, imperfect as it is, it is the dearest place on earth to us.”

“The way to do a great deal is to keep on doing a little. The way to do nothing at all is to be continually resolving that you will do everything.”

“Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strengths.”

“All the flowers of the field, and many of the beasts of the plain, and now the very orbs of heaven, are turned into metaphors and symbols by which the glory of Jesus may be manifested to us. Where God takes such pains to teach, we ought to be at pains to learn.”

“A Jesus who never wept could never wipe away my tears.”

“None are more unjust in their judgments of others than those who have a high opinion of themselves.”

“Your emptiness is but the preparation for your being filled, and your casting down is but the making ready for your lifting up.”

"Nothing puts life into men like a dying Savior."

“All places are places of worship to a Christian. Wherever he is, he ought to be in a worshiping frame of mind.”

"The more we pray, the more we shall want to pray. The more we pray, the more we can pray. The more we pray, the more we shall pray. He who prays little will pray less, but he who prays much will pray more. And he who prays more, will desire to pray more abundantly."

“I have a great need for Christ: I have a great Christ for my need.”

“A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.”

“Pride is the devil’s dragnet in which he takes more fish than in any other, except procrastination.”

“If you are renewed by grace, and were to meet your old self, I am sure you would be very anxious to get out of his company.”

“Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens with our years.”

“NOBODY EVER OUTGROWS SCRIPTURE; THE BOOK WIDENS AND DEEPENS WITH OUR YEARS.”

“If you are to go to Christ, do not put on your good doings and feelings, or you will get nothing; go in your sins, they are your livery. Your ruin is your argument for mercy; your poverty is your plea for heavenly alms; and your need is the motive for heavenly goodness. Go as you are, and let your miseries plead for you.”

“Nothing teaches us about the preciousness of the Creator as much as when we learn the emptiness of everything else.”

“If Christ is not all to you He is nothing to you. He will never go into partnership as a part Savior of men. If He be something He must be everything, and if He be not everything He is nothing to you.”

“There is hardship in everything except eating pancakes.”

Read more at http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/20-spurgeon-quotes-show-why-he-still-matters#eVlmgwEGdkLJoM0C.99

Mysterious Growth

J. Vaughan, M. A.

Mark 4:26-29

And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;…

We little think how much is always going on in what we may call the underground of life; and how much more we have to do with those secret processes which underlie everything, than might, at first sight, appear. We are all casting live seeds. Every word, act, look, goes down into somebody's mind, and lives there. You said something — it was false. You said it lightly. But someone heard it, and it lodged in his mind; it was a seed to him. It found something in that man's mind that was congenial to it; and so it struck a root; it ramified; it fructified. It led on to other thoughts; then it became a word or an action in that man's life; and his word and act did to another heart just what yours did to him. This is the dark side of a grand truth. Now read the bright side. "So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed," etc. The sower of this seed is properly the Lord Jesus Christ; but He uses men. The truth in a man's heart propagates — but secretly. We are to believe in the independent power that there is in God's Word to do its own work in a man's heart. There is something kindred between a particular word and some affection or thought in a man's mind before it can take effect. Perhaps the word will incline a man to give up some sin he has previously indulged; may awaken a sense of dissatisfaction with the world; may beget a painful sense of sin. However it be, there will be a great deal passing in the mind which does not meet the eye. Fathers and mothers, who have cast the early seed, you have slept for very sorrow. You see nothing. Wait on. The springing and the growing will be you know not where, and you know not how.

(J. Vaughan, M. A.)

Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. Romans 9:18

“In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” Isa 30:15

You won't spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. 1 Peter 4:2

A Caution Against Fanaticism

1 John 4:1-3

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God…

There is in the human mind a strong propensity: to believe in supernatural communications; and where fancy is ardent, and the power of reflection little cultivated, this propensity renders men either so credulous as to believe in the arrogant pretensions of others, or so vain as to set up their own. Here then we must inquire into the state of our own convictions. Have we the least reason to suppose that God will act upon our minds or those of others either in revealing new truths, or in explaining old, or in making us acquainted with future events, by any influence out of the ordinary course of His providence? We know but one way of accrediting a messenger from God; and that is by the power of working miracles. But amongst the pretenders to a Divine commission, not one has been found since the first age of Christianity who has established his claim upon this ground. "It is finished." All the truths are promulgated which it concerns us to know; and all the miracles have been performed which were necessary to convince us that they are truths from God. To look after this for new revelations, new prophets, new miracles, is to despise the gospel of Christ, and to turn His grace into wantonness. But though we ought upon this ground to lend a deaf ear to anyone who in these times assumes a preternatural knowledge of the designs of God, this of itself will not guard us against the indulgence of a fanatical spirit. There are many who, though they believe in the sufficiency of Scripture, and in consequence reject such claims as we have just been exposing, yet entertain a notion not much less absurd, that the true sense of Scripture is revealed to them by the Spirit of God; whilst all those who do not admit their interpretation are actuated by the spirit of delusion. This is, in effect, to arrogate the gift of inspiration. By what evidence then is this claim supported? They tell you that they possess a certain consciousness of being born again; of having been guided to the truth by the immediate influence of the Holy Ghost. The same consciousness has been alleged, and with the same reason, for the most absurd and the most dangerous notions, political and religious, that ever were broached by the wildest or the weakest heads. But is not another man's consciousness as good as yours? And may not he who holds doctrines directly the reverse of yours persuade himself that he too has the guidance of a Divine spirit? Who then is to judge between you? It should never be forgotten on this subject that the Almighty, in acting upon our minds, acts by stated laws adapted to the nature and circumstances of moral agents. He submits the revelation of His will to the test of our inquiries, and in all essential points it is so plain, that he who runs may read. The natural province of religious feeling lies not in points of faith, but in the exercises of devotion. Here, however, we must still try the spirit in which these feelings are indulged. For here too there is ample scope for delusion. We would not encourage the cold and heartless religion which never rises with delight to the contemplation and worship of that Being who has given us affections, that they may centre in Himself. But to produce this salutary effect our piety must be under the control of rational and sober views; though animated, not extravagant; though earnest, not familiar. Above all, we must not confound those temporary feelings, which are the offspring of accidental circumstances, with that devout habit of the mind which, though less ardent, is more salutary because it acts by a steady and permanent influence. As to what regards our own practice, let us be equally careful to avoid loud pretensions on the one hand, and never to shrink from the open but modest avowal of what we deem important truth on the other. Let us examine our opinions by the standard of the gospel, and try their practical efficacy by their habitual influence upon our temper and conduct. Let us never rest in emotions, however strong, however pious, till they are cherished into good habits. But let us also beware, lest in avoiding the extreme of fanaticism, we run into that of apathy and indifference.
(J. Lindsay, D. D.)

Be Perfect, obtaining full maturity in Christ

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:48

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
Ephesians 5:1

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
1 Peter 1:16

So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don't need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. Hebrews 6:1-2

Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ (Eph 4:1-16)

1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8This is why ita says:

“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”b
9(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regionsc ? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Farmart @ Choa Chu Kang