King of Glory Fellowship

You’re Closer Than You Think

abrandon — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 01:36:53 +0000

It’s easy to be tempted to give up on a goal, prayer or desire when it seems as if the answer isn’t coming as quickly as you would like. Yet, at these times, dare to learn how to hope even more in God. Usually, our battles seem the darkest just before the dawn. Just like a woman experiences birth pains right before the birth of her child, we too experience intense moments before breakthrough. Yet, we must not give up prematurely during these heated times. In Hebrews 10:35 it says, “Do not cast away your confidence for it will be richly rewarded.”

As faith-filled believers, we must keep hoping, keep believing and stay faithful. Many times, we are closer than we think to victory. God is faithful to His promises. When God says we will be richly rewarded for keeping our confidence in Him, that should give us a second wind, giving us fuel to keep up the faith. Don’t give up today on your dreams and your hope in God. By developing the attitude, “I’ve come too far to stop now” and learning how to be full of hope, expecting God’s favor daily, you’ll see God begin to do amazing things even in the midst of trying times! You are closer than you think to victory. Dare to hope in God and His promises. You will not be disappointed!

By Joel Osteen

See him at http://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/Index.aspx

Grace and Peace

abrandon — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:33:21 +0000

If Paul in the New Testament letters started all his letters to his kingdom family with the words “Grace and peace to you,” why is it all we can manage is a “hi”? Do our friends and family (in the sense of both our blood and Christ’s blood) mean so much less than Paul’s family did to him? I think not.

Perhaps we have less understanding of the meaning of these words. Grace is a free gift of God that comes in conjunction with mercy. If mercy forgives our sins, grace gives us the power to enact that change of heart in our very lives. Do you want some change in you life? Does this gift of God sound like a good deal to you? Then take it with joy. Then take it one more step further up and further in:

Try sharing it with others. Tell someone “Grace and peace to you” when you meet them. See what happens. Go on. Take the challenge. If grace and peace is in you, then it’s time to share. If you are still working on grace and peace (and who frankly isn’t?), then giving it away, like love, makes it more real for you.

To all of you who share a love of and in Christ who join our community here at KOGF:

GRACE AND PEACE TO YOU NOW AND ALWAYS

Defining Your Self Worth

abrandon — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:49:15 +0000

“I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Psalm 139:14).

How do you define your self-worth? Do you define it based on your money? Is it based on what you have achieved professionally? Do you define your value based on the number of children you have, or who likes you, or what you look like? Is It based on your past? Your future? Your present?

Many of us have sought to determine our self-worth based on the amount of money we have. This is a dangerous trap. Paul warns us against seeking to build wealth in order to gain greater value. Paul understood that the greatest riches could not compare with knowing Christ. In fact, he considered all other things to be rubbish: “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:7-8).

Basing our self-worth on how much money we have or our achievements is an easy trap. We are constantly given messages that say we are defined by what we have done, where we live, how many toys we own, and the size of our houses.

Paul said the purpose for his existence was……”to know Christ, and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10).

There are many things we can use to define our self-worth. However, the Scriptures tell us there is only one true measure for our self-worth. Each of us has self-worth because we are made in the image of God. And because we are made in the image of God, we are valuable.

Whenever you think of your value is based on some worldly criteria, you have rejected God’s view of your worth. Whose opinion do you have more faith in: yours or God’s?

Neighbors

abrandon — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:40:07 +0000

Who is your neighbor? The people who live next door? The guys who have lockers next to you? The people who you work with? Think about it. Check out what Jesus said: Luke 10:25-37

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

The man who asked the question was Jewish. The one who got beaten on the road. was also Jewish. Jewish people passionately hated the Samaritans and the Samaritans hated the Jews. In the story, one Jewish person after another walked past the hurting man. Only the despised Samaritan treated his “enemy” as a person who needed help. He saw beyond the labels and the colors, beyond the appearance, to someone worth loving and caring about.

Jesus’ story gives us three truths to keep in mind when it comes to loving our neighbors:

1.Our neighbor is anyone - no matter what race, color, creed or social background -who needs help.

2. We can always justify or rationalize not helping someone., but doing so is never right

3. Loving our neighbor means acting in order to meet that person’s need.

So look around, right where you are: Who is your neighbor?

Freedom

abrandon — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 03:35:09 +0000

With our country’s celebration of freedom, we look deeper to our freedom in Christ.

As Christians, we can look to the song by Jon Egan from New Life Church to say all that needs to be said about freedom in and through Christ:

Through You the blind will see/ Through You the mute will sing

Through You the dead will rise/ Through You all hearts will praise

Through You the darkness flees/ Through You my heart screams “I am free!”

I am free to run/ I am free to dance/ I am free to live for You/ I am free.

Pondering God

abrandon — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:22:12 +0000

Abraham Heschel once wrote:

“Living is not a private affair of the individual.

Living is what man does with God’s time,

what man does in God’s world.”

What have you done in God’s creation today? In what ways have you brought God’s Kingdom into this world? What more could you do today? Give thanks to God for all that He has led you to today! Praise Him for His wonderful love and mercy!