The Paradox Of Forgiving Love

God's concept of love is radically different from ours. We tend to love what we like. He loves what is in our best interest. We are inclined to forgive when we think it's in the best interest of someone else. We are inclined to embrace what is comfortable and to avoid what brings pain. He tells us, "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good." (Romans 12:9).

Loving others requires a willingness to forgive. Forgiving others requires a willingness to love. Both require a deepening relationship with God to make us a reflection of His heart. Only then is love "made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like Him" (1 John 4:17 NIV).

The ability to love and forgive can begin only after we have been forgiven by God. Have you experienced the joy of a restored relationship with God through the forgiveness of your sins that He offers through faith in His Son? If not, acknowledge your inability to pay the debt of your sin, ask Him to forgive you, and accept His forgiveness. Begin to experience the freedom to forgive others as God has forgiven you.

-RBC MINISTRIES

love love love

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY ONE AND ONLY BEBS, JASON JULIAN! I LOVE YOU!

Going Home

somehow related to my previous post...

I've been wanting to post this short video about a person with DIMENTIA since forever, but I keep on forgetting. So now... finally... I'll be able to share it with you guys na... I really hope you all will take time to see this! Be inspired. Props to whoever made or thought of making and sharing this video to cyberspace! It really touched my heart... let's pray for everyone who are suffering from this illness.

-Glenda

Handling Change With Grace

Mental and spiritual adjustments must be made as we go down life's road. As adults, we move rapidly through the changes from singleness to marriage, from parenthood to becoming grandparents. Our relationships change. Parents, uncles and aunts, and others of their generation grow old and die. Our children grow up and move out. One of the changes to which an aging person must adjust is the reality of physical decline. Here are three biblical suggestions that can help you deal with the physical side of aging:

Acknowledge physical decline gratefully.
Growing older is not a disgrace. Looking older need not be humiliating. Having limitations must not be seen as something shameful. The Bible says that reaching old age is a blessing. It says of Abraham at age 175, "Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered tot his people" (Genesis 25:8). Rehoboam, king of Israel, erred seriously when he ignored the counsel of his elderly advisors (1 Kings 12). The aged were called "elders" in Israel (Joshua 24:31). They were to be respected (Leviticus 19:32) and looked at as wise (Job 12:12). Gray hair is an old person's "splendor" (Proverbs 20:29). So we should count every year of life as a gift of God and as a reason for gratitude. We want to get old without being grumpy, set in our ways, and disagreeable. As believers, we should want to continue to experience spiritual growth so that we can meet the challenges to older people mentioned by Paul in Titus 2:1-4.

Live one day at a time.
Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow, then said, "Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:34). Instead of dwelling on all the unpleasant possibilities that lie ahead, we should thank God for today and enjoy what we can now, trusting the future to Him. The Bible says that whatever God permits, He will provide what we need. He won't let us be tested without giving us all the grace we need (1 Corinthians 10:13). Jesus promised to be with us all the way (Matthew 28:20). We honor the Lord, give a good testimony, and add joy to our later years when we obey Christ's instructions to live life one day at a time, and to let tomorrow take care of itself.

Keep reasonably active.
The older we get, the easier it is to take the path of least resistance. This is a serious mistake. But so is the opposite extreme. Some poeple are so determined to fight off the effects of old age that they become obsessed with exercise and spend a lot of money to look young. They seem to think they can stop the aging process. Paul told Timothy that physical exercise "profits a little" (1 Timothy 4:8). However, he went on to make it clear that our emphasis should be on the spiritual area of life, which has benefits that last forever. Exercise and disciplined eating are commendable. We should keep as active as we are reasonably able to. But we must always place more emphasis on our spiritual growth. This is one aspect of our lives that age cannot diminish.

-RBC Ministries

When Tragedy Strikes

Where do we find unshakable confidence to go on when tragedy strikes? King David, a man familiar with tragedy throughout his life, wrote:

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.----Psalm 62: 5-8

David's exhortation 1,000 years before Jesus Christ was born is still true today. The only refuge for the battered and brokenhearted is a relationship with God, who has shown how deeply He loves and cares for us (romans 5:8).

Jesus invites us to a life of confidence and hope, even when faced with loss. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me" (John 14:1).

Trusting in Jesus means depending on Him for what can never be lost (John 1:12; 10:10). His life, death, and resurrection assure those who trust Him taht they will receive His grace, mercy, peace, forgiveness, eternal life, and unfailing love ( Romans 8:31-39).

No matter what we lose in this life, Jesus' assurance of His abiding presence now and His promise of an eternal home with Him in heaven can be our unshakable fortress of hope and peace in times of trouble.

-RBC Ministries

Cheesecake with Strawberry Topping

Guess what?! This is what I'm doing right now... making this very delicious Cheesecake. Just want to share it with you guys... Wish me luck! It's my first time... =) Thanks to our neighboor for sharing the recipe! Happy Thursday everyone! Oh and hope you all had a great BLACK FRIDAY and THANKSGIVING!


Ingredients
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 tbsp sugar
3 tbsp margarine or butter; melted
19 oz cream cheese; softened
1 cup sugar 2 tsp lemon peel; grated
1/4 tsp vanila gs
1 cup strawberries; mashed
1 cup sugar
3 tbsp cornstarch
1/3 cup water

Directions
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together graham cracker crumbs and sugar. Add butter and mix thoroughly. Press into a 9" spring form pan. Bake 10 minutes and cool. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees.

Filling: Beat cream cheese in a large mixing bowl. Gradually add sugar, beating until fluffy. Add lemon peel and vanilla, mix. Beat in eggs one at a time until thoroughly incorporated. Pour mixture into shell. bake 1 hour or until center is firm. Cool to room temperature and then spread with the strawberry glaze. Chill 3 hours.

Glaze: Blend sugar and cornstarch together in a small saucepan. Stir in water and strawberries. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir for 1 minute. Cool thoroughlybefore spreading over cheesecake.

Number of Servings: 12

-Glenda

A Place To Begin

The Holy Spirit of God draws near to comfort, strengthten, and reassure those who follow Jesus Christ. This comfort does not begin with minds focused on the Spirit of God Himself.

Rather, this inner strength comes as we focus our attention on Jesus. Our comfort comes as we listen to the One who sent the Holy Spirit---the One who says:

Let not your heart be troubled;
you believed in God, believe in Me.
In My Father's house are many mansions;
if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and receive you to Myself;
thjat where I am, there you may be also.
And where I go you know, and the way you know....
I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No once comes to the Father except through Me.
--John 14:1-4,6

The first step is to say yes to Jesus. Have you done that? Do you recognize your own sin and unworthiness to approach God the Father in your own merits? If you're not sure, read Romans 3:1-23.

Then, in the awareness of your own spiritual bankcruptcy, put yourself at the mercy of Christ. Trustt Him to be your Savior from sin. Trust Him to be the only One who will lead you to the Father and to the kind of comfort, in this life and the next, that only He can give.

-RBC Ministries