Once, a scholar asked, “Mentor, which is the greatest principle of life?” The Master replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest principle. And the second is like it: 'Love others as yourself.' All life-giving principles are based on these two.” ^{(see Matthew 22:36-40)}

 

Love God, Love self and others, and Obey God.

This metonymy was derived from the Lifebook, the Book of Principles – the Holy Bible. ...

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We all have religion, but we are not all religious. Just because we have a form of religion does not mean we are spiritual - even atheists have a devotion, a denial of deity. ^{(see Psalm 14:1)} 

   A reputable dictionary¹ traces this relic of a word to Latin, having the meaning "obligation" and "reverence." It is like opening a door to a room full of closed doors, an answer that stirs up a hornet's nest of questions: "Obligation to whom? Reverence for whom?"

Help the helpless, and stay clean and ...

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 My choice of candidate is only as good as when I vote. My vote is only as good as when it is counted. But when the tally comes, my choice is irrelevant – God decides who is king.

 

Every person is to be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. ^{(Romans 13: 1 NASB)}

 

Our future does not depend on the person who gets elected, but on the One who sits on the Throne.

If God has already decided, then why do I need to...

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The seeds that we've kept inside of us will grow when the rain of God's blessings comes. Those seeds that grow will show if they're good or bad things planted in our lives.

 

For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned. ^{[Heb 6:7-8 BSB]}

 

The rain of God's blessings can also ...

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A manger is a cattle's feeding box

The cliché: Jesus was born in a manger.

Have you ever stopped to wonder what it is like to give birth in a stable? Have you heard of anyone born in a cattle house, and placed in a feeding box?
As a city boy, I find it cruel to know that someone has to give birth or be born in such gruesome conditions. I thought even homeless folks could go to a public hospital for that.

But as it was, this happened to Joseph and Mary, and the baby boy Jesus.

Background: ...

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I thank the Lord for my salvation. God planned to save me by coming to earth in human form. He knows and understands every iota of my being because He became a man just like me.

On this Christmas season, I celebrate Christ-day, the coming of my Savior and King. I remember how He was birthed in my spirit, and brought about my own rebirth. I am so glad to be born again!

In His first coming as a baby, all the heavens and nature sang. ^{(Luke 2:13-14)} The whole angelic host was one massive cho...

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Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
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#TrainYourConscience see 1Cor4:15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. ESV

I behave and accept discipline as a son of the house.

I pray for the grace to live up to this divine arrangement.

Image by Dawnyell Reese from Pixabay
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Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. So he said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed." [1 Samuel 24:5-6 BSB]

Image by Robert Balog from Pixabay
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“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."  (Acts 5:38-39 NIV)

Bible principle: When you obey God’s plan, you will succeed.

A plan from God that is obeyed is unstoppable. The men and women who choose to do the will of ...
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"Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride." (Eccl 7:8 NLT)

The Lord does not give me a job to quit on, but a work to finish.

He gives me the ability to finish, but I must have the will and determination to finish things.

The Lord does not tease: He does not give a task for me to fail in and be ruined. He assigns me my portion of work to bring Him glory.

*The act of finishing is rejuvenation in itself. (Jn 4:34 NIV)

Resting from work is not the ultima...

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Traditional knowledge: When you vent out anger, you would feel better afterwards.

Psychology says: You need an outlet, so go ahead and vent out.

But the Bible says:  When you vent out, things will get worse.

Examples of destructive and growing emotions are Jealousy and Envy.

In the public trial of Jesus, Pilate knew that it was out of envy and jealousy that the chief priests had handed Him over to be crucified.[Mk 15:10] It took them 3 years to let their envy and jealousy to have Je...

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Practical Steps in Choosing a Church for Life

After praying to the Head of the church - the Lord Jesus, to which church you will go, there are some practical advice and guidelines to consider. Remember, church is for life. So choose very wisely and prayerfully. Don't ever think that you could transfer anytime. Replanting a tree has its consequences, even death. Removing a hollow block form a wall has adverse effects - it creates an ugly hole on the wall. Choosing a church is a one-time thin...

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Water Baptism is the first step of obedience to God. Delaying is blunt disobedience.

"As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" (Acts 8:36 NIV)

An Ethiopian eunuch dressed in style and pride didn’t hesitate to be water baptized after understanding the work of Christ Jesus for him on the cross.

"Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that d...

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Water baptism is immersion under water. The water used is not significant; it’s the obedience that matters to God. There is no such thing as ‘holy water.’ We are the ‘holy’ or impure that makes water or any other material thing as ‘holy’ or impure. Physical water only cleanses our body, and not our souls. However, water baptism cleanses our minds and the inclination of our hearts.

"Baptism, which is symbolized by that water, now saves you also, not by removing dirt from the body...

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Practical Steps for Water Baptism

1. Talk to your pastor. Your home church has a schedule for water baptisms. It could be weekly, monthly, or depending upon their calendar. Some churches rent a swimming pool; others have a baptismal pool inside the church.

2. On the set day of baptism, bring extra clothes and a towel. Choose decent clothing for immersion as you would to a mall shopping activity. Some churches have a baptismal robe to make it uniform to all who would be water baptized. ...

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"Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for the next three and a half years! Then he prayed for rain, and down it poured. The grass turned green, and the crops began to grow again." (James 5:17-18 NLT)


The prophet Elijah was similar to us. He didn't snap his fingers for miracles to happen; he prayed. If he prayed and the supernatural occurred, then we can also do the same.

And now we ask: Just how exactly did he do it? (The story ...

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There is nothing religious about prayer. Just as a healthy relationship is defined by an open communication, so it is with our walk with God. The Lord has placed eternity in our hearts – a longing that only He can fill, and we verbalize that emptiness and fulfillment for the Eternal One through prayer. It is an instinct that God initiated within us; we are designed to pray. We are creatures of habitual prayers, and we just haven’t recognized it yet.

Prayers are but words expressed from...

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(A short sharing outline)

“I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.” (Acts 10:34-35 NIV)

Text: The Truth about Cornelius in Acts 10
Background: An angel appeared to Cornelius so he could send for Peter.

A. Cornelius’ characteristics

 1. Devout

 2. God-fearing

 3. Generous

 4. Prayed to God regularly.

B. The missing ingredient: HE WAS NOT YET SAVED

 1. Angels told him to send for Peter so th...
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Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. [2 Tim 3:16-17 MSG]

The Holy Scriptures is inerrant. God inspired men and women of various characters and background to speak and write down His heart. (2 Pet 1:21)

The Hebrew Language and the Old Testament. Moses wrote down the first five b...

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“Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.” (Acts 8:13 NIV)

False Conversion

Simon was in bondage to the occult. The Bible clearly says that he practiced sorcery. He has a deep relationship with demons. For a time, he amazed important and lowly people with his magical performances.

But then Philip came to his city in Samaria. By presenting the Gospel in its pure form, the people believed in the salva...
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"And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored." (Num 13:26-32)

Information plus Opinion minus God equals Bad Report

The Israelites sent out 12 spies to check out the land. For Joshua and Caleb, they set out out for a strategy to claim the promised land. But for the other 10 leaders, they were looking for an excuse. Both the 2 and the 10 have same facts and evidences:

1. The land DOES flow with milk and honey.

2. It yields bountiful-looking frui...

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