CONTRACT FAITH: “All things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28). Sometimes, people who serve God live with an “unstated contract faith.” Because they give time and energy to work for God, they think they deserve special treatment in return. But not a neighbor Douglas. He has lived a Job-like existence in many ways, experiencing the failure of a business and ministry, his mother’s death from cancer, and injuries from a drunk driver to himself and a child. Yet, Douglas advises, “Don’t confuse God with life.” When troubles come and doubts arise, I often turn to Romans 8, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?,” asked Paul “Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (v.35). In that one sentence Paul summarized his ministry autobiography. He entered trials for the sake of the gospel, yet somehow he had the faith to believe that those things – surely not good themselves -could be used by God to accomplish good. He had learned to see past the hardships to a loving God who will one day prevail. He wrote, “I am persuaded that [nothing] shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ (vv. 38-39). Confidence like that can go a long way in helping overcome discouragement about how life hasn’t worked out the way we thought it would. HE WHO HAS BEGUN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL COMPLETE IT UNTIL THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST. – Philip Yancey/The Night Stalker FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD IS BUILT BY SHARING ALL OUR LIFE’S EXPERIENCES WITH HIM: “Since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life” (Romans 5:10). - Becoming a Best Friend of God: Through Constant Conversation. .- We will never grow a close relationship with God by just attending church once a week or even having a daily quiet time. Friendship with God is built by sharing all our life’s experiences with him. Of course, it is important to establish a daily devotional time with God, but He wants more than an appointment in our schedule. He wants to be included in every activity, every conversation, every problem, and even every thought. We can carry on a continuous open-ended conversation with him throughout your day, talking with him whatever you are doing or thinking at that moment. “Praying without ceasing,” means conversing with God while shopping, driving, working or performing any other everyday tasks - The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren/The Night Stalker BIBLIARASAL –“BETHEL” (13 January 2015 Tuesday) “GOD CHOOSES TO PERSEVERE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH US” PRAY for guidance from the Holy Spirit. Prayer: Father, speak to me. I wish to receive your Word into my heart. Send forth your spirit to me. Reveal your face to me today. Amen. Alleluia, alleluia! The Word of God is living and effective; discerning reflections and thoughts of the heart. Alleluia, alleluia! BIBLIARASAL –“BETHEL” (13 January 2015 Tuesday) “. . .WHAT IS MAN THAT YOU ARE MINDFUL OF HIM, OR THE SON OF MAN THAT YOU CARE FOR HIM?” 1ST READING: HEBREWS 2:5-12 “It was not to angels that he subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. Instead, someone has testified somewhere” What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you care for him? You made for a little while lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor, subjecting all things under his feet. ” In “subjecting” all things to him, he left nothing “not subject to him” Yet at present, we do not see “all things subject to him,” but we do not see Jesus “crowned with glory and honor” because he suffered death, he who “for a little while” was made “lower than angels” that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist in bringing many children to glory should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering. He who consecrates and who are being consecrated all have one origin. Therefore, he is not afraid to call them “brothers.” Saying: I will proclaim your name to my brothers, in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.” REFLECTIONS- Yes, it is a wonder that God bothers with humanity. From one point of view, we have done little but disappoint Him. Yet, even in the midst of our sin and rebellion against His will, God chooses to persevere in relationship with us. We may not think we will ever understand the depth of His love to us until we met Him face-to-face in heaven. The least we can do now is attempt to gain some sort of understanding of His love so we can respond to it as best we can.” BIBLIARASAL –“BETHEL” (13 January 2015 Tuesday) “YOU HAVE MADE HIM LITTLE LESS THAN THE ANGELS, AND CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR.” PSALM 8:2-9 You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands. “O LORD, our Lord, how glorious is your name over all the earth! What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him? You have made him little less than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him rule over the works of your hands, putting all things under his feet. All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field. The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea, and whatever swims the paths of the seas.” BIBLIARASAL –“BETHEL” (13 January 2015 Tuesday) “. . .WHAT IS THIS? A NEW TEACHING WITH AUTHORITY.” GOSPEL: MARK1:21-28 Jesus came to Capernaum, and on the Sabbath entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as scribes. In their synagogue was a man with unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another. What is this? A new teaching with authority. “He commands even the unclean spirits. And they obey him. His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.” REFLECTIONS- “In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus did not allow demons to reveal His true identity. Perhaps He desires that all of us came to the knowledge or revelation as to His true nature and identity in our time at our own speed. Sometimes, the best way to learn something new is to learn it bit by bit than just be told the answer. One of the challenges we’ll face in proclaiming the Gospel is allowing them the freedom to respond in their own time and in their own way.” READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: God’s special verse/thought for me today- MARK 13-16 REFLECTIONS- THINK: “Even in the midst of our sin and rebellion against His will, God chooses to persevere in relationship with us.” PRAY AGAIN-Thank the Lord for His message to you and pray that you may be able to live it out in your daily life. PRAYER: Father, I thank you. Your word is manna to my spirit. May your Word that I received today transform my soul. Make me more like you. Amen. COMPANION – A Catholic Scripture Diary/Bro. Bo Sanchez/ Fr. Steve Tynan/BIBRIARASAL PINOY (“BETHEL”)“ “IT IS IN CHRIST THAT WE FIND OUT WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE ARE LIVING FOR. LONG BEFORE WE FIRST HEARD OF CHRIST. . . HE HAD HIS EYE ON US, HAD DESIGNS ON US FOR GLORIOUS LIVING, PART OF THE OVERALL PURPOSE HE IS WORKING OUT FOR EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE: (Ephesians 1:11). ”ALL FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD! FOR EVERYTHING COMES FROM HIM, HAS BEEN MADE BY HIM, AND HAS TO RETURN TO HIM.”(Romans 12:36)” – RBC Miinistries/odb.org/BIBLIARASAL PINOY (“BETHEL”) – Mission: To worship and accept the invitation to us of friendship and fellowship with the Holy Trinity. “I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you. – St. Paul) Motto: Less than the least of God’s mercies.” (Gen. 32:10); Slogan:Deus Meus et Omnia (My God My All Deus Meus et Omnia (My God My All – St. Francis of Assisi); BIBLIARASAL PINOY (“BETHEL”), THE NIGHT STALKER: In servitude and worship of and thanksgiving to God , friendship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and fellowship with the Holy Spirit. A WORD OF PRAYER FROM THE HEART OF GODS SERVANT. COME LORD JESUS CHRIST, TAKE YOUR RIGHTFUL PLACE ON THE THRONE OF MY LIFE, I GIVE IT TO YOU, FOR ETERNITY. BIBLIARASAL PINOY (“BETHEL”), THE NIGHT STALKER
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 04:50:44 +0000
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