That Alternate Angle (Special Edition)

 An Emoji Devotions for Thu 18 February, 2021

Topic: That Alternate Angle

Highlights: ...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, Hebrews 12:1b

Fixing our eyes on Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of faith. There is a theory in James 1:6 "But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." As a matter of truth, The race of faith is so marked out that a double minded person should not expect to receive anything from God. James 1:7-8. Those who have double mind are positioned in an alternate angle to the degree of looking unto both Jesus and alternative solutions.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. The last part of the above Bible verse is telling us to face one direction and that direction is to believe that we have received what we prayed for, and it will be ours. Sitting in the alternate angle means you are sitting in opposite positions relative to a transversal intersecting two lines. You are not standing straight but tilted towards two directions. Such people cannot please God because anyone who comes to him must throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. Hebrews 11:6,12:1.

Most of these things happen in the high degree of thinking. As a Christian, You must beware of alternate angles in your thoughts as a matter of fact, No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God facing alternate angles. Matthew 6:24, 1John 2:15

Prayer: Help me Lord, give me power and grace to throw off everything that hinders and sins that easily entangles my heart and to stay focused on the road mapped out in faith. Amen.

God will never forget you.

 An Emoji for Wed, 17 February 2021

Topic: God will never forget you.

Highlights: But God will never forget the needy;
    the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

Walking on the journey of life for long and have seen many beautiful bad and ugly things. We only remember the  remarkable days. Something like the day you lost something important to you like your keys and you have to start looking for it. Things of the past so not die easily but may somehow be forgotten. Did you know why the night turns into morning and the sun rises everyday? Do you know it's because of you? The Bible says though "each day has enough trouble of its own" Matt 6:34b But "Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Lamentations 3:37

If you think you were forgotten, then consider these things? Who feeds the animals in the bush? Who feeds the fish in the sea, and who is taking care of the trees in the forest? Who guides the birds to their home in the sky?

For no one is cast off by the Lord forever.
Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. Lamentations 3:31-32

Prayer: I thought I have seen it all before. Now I remember your compassion has me. Your love never fail. Great is thy faithfulness O Lord unto me. In Jesus name. Amen and Amen.

Heaven on Earth

 An Emoji devotion for Tue, 16 February, 2021

Topic: Heaven on Earth

Highlights:

..."You are not far from the kingdom of God." ...Mark 12:34

To some; unless they are converted and become like a child, they will not enter the kingdom of heaven. To others it is hard for them to enter into the kingdom of heaven because they are rich. Some have received the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatever they bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever they loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. To others, the kingdom of God is like casting seed upon the soil; and after going to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows—how it happens they do not know. To some; the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed smaller than all other seeds which was sown in the field, but when it is full grown, it became larger than the garden plants and turned into a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.

Two questions:

What is the Kingdom of heaven like to you and have you yet reached your heaven on earth?

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. Romans 14:17-18

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me attain your heaven on earth through your grace and mercy. Amen.

Bible references: Matthew 18:3, Matt 19:23, Matt 16:19, Mark 4:26-29, Matt 13:44-46, Matt 13:31-43

Cities on Hilltops

An Emoji for Mon 15 February, 2021

Topic: Cities on Hilltops

Highlights: You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14

A City  is a human settlement but an abandoned city would turned into ghost town that will be forgotten. Jesus said "You are the light of the world" - Like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. The light of the sun that make things visible  for the day shinning on a hilltop city has the best views and ratings in the sight of men. Residents from suburban areas would melt looking from afar the beauty of hilltop cities in all its splendor  and give glory wishing they had been the one living in such magnificent edifice. "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16

In Matthew 11:20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.

People around you were supposed to wish they were in your shoes and admire you more and more with amazing things about you.  But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. Luke 12: 48


"...For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day."

To be a good city on hilltop, you should maintain your ratings before God and men and if your case is like Chorazin, you must repent. Matthew 11:21-22

Prayer: Lord as time passes by and by in the difficulty of representation as the light of the world and a city on the hilltop. I ask for grace and mercy to win in your name Jesus. Amen.

No one has ever gone into Heaven

 An Emoji for Sun 14 February

Topic: No one has ever gone into Heaven

Highlights:

No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. John 3:13

Heaven is an organized territorial unit having a monarchial form of government which is God. ...“What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? The above sentence was found in Mark 4:30 when Jesus was looking for a good description of how to describe heaven. He said heaven is like a mustard seed which is the smallest of all seed on earth. Yet when planted it becomes the largest of all garden plants with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade. (Verse 31-32). Since  No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven; then JESUS is HEAVEN. Jesus is the Kingdom where all the angels dwell and on the other hand Devil is the Kingdom where all demons lives. Jesus is heaven while the Devil is hell.

Which means As God is the father of Truth (Jesus), The Devil is the father of Lies see John 8:44

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:16,18.

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." Act 16:31

Prayer: Heavenly Lord of all. You are the hope I have in this world of mine. I believe in you and in your name. Jesus! . Save me and be wonderful to me. Amen.

Who is wise? How can wisdom grow within me?

An Emoji Devotions for Fri, 12 February 2021

Who is wise? How can wisdom grow within me?

By H.U. Wenger

As I woke this morning, I took my little devotional with a verse from the Bible for the day. It read: “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.” (Proverbs 3, 7) It is my habit to always grab the Bible and read the verse in the context, to not take conclusions in a wrong direction. The verses before read: “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” The following verse stated:  “This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” I understood that the short portion of scripture is an advice for my wellbeing. Am I wise in my own eyes, I questioned myself? At first glance it did not feel like it, but as I kept thinking about it, I realized that there are moments in my life where I am secretly harboring a sense of superiority. Not that I would speak about it. I keep it for myself. Nevertheless I internally distance myself from others and I violate love and faithfulness. I lean on my own understanding. I forget that all I have is a gift from the Lord and with that my fear of the Lord has diminished and evil, pride and haughtiness can grow. In those moments, although they may even feel good, I am working against my wellbeing.

The fear of the Lord has nothing to do with anxiety. Fear of the Lord is the awareness that I am responsible before him for all my thinking and doing and that all I am and all I have is his gracious gift to me.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9, 10) He, and He only can give me life eternal. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17, 3) Fear of the Lord ultimately grows out of perfect love, out of the knowledge that no matter what I do, no matter what happens to me, I am surrounded by his love which he has revealed trough the suffering and the death of Christ. Death could not hold him and with him I am resurrected to a new life.

Time and again life tells me that I need more wisdom and I have to take refuge to James 1, 5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
The apostle James gives us the highlight for today in his teaching about the wisdom from above: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” (James 3, 13 – 18) “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord’.” (1. Corinthians 1, 30 – 31)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to wholeheartedly and fully surrender to you. Make me wise in your eyes and keep me from pride, envy and selfish ambitions. Amen

Do you believe that God has mercy?

An Emoji Devotions for Thu 11 February, 2021

Topic: Do you believe that God has mercy?

By H.U.Wenger

In “The Book of Mysteries”, written by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, this is the question the teacher asks his student. He replies: “Of course – you have told me that!” But “no” said the teacher. “God does not have mercy. The student was confused and for the first time contradicted the teacher. “With all due respect – that is not right.” “So then,” replied the teacher, “prove your point.” The student then responds that he has read in the book of Daniel, in which Daniel prays for Gods mercy on the people of Israel and he says: “To the Lord our God belongs mercy and forgiveness …” “No, says the teacher, at least in the original language it does not say that. It says, to the Lord our God belongs rachamim. And what is rachamim, the student asks. The teacher responds that although some would translate it as mercy, it is not a singular, but a plural word. “It does not mean mercy. It means mercies. It means that Gods mercy is more than mercy. God’s mercy is so great, so strong and so deep that it cannot be contained in a single word. Rachamim means that his mercy has no end.”
The student wants then to know whether the word for “sin” is a singular or a plural word and the teacher assures him that “sin” is a singular word. What does that tell us?
Cahn lets the student say: That no matter what my sin is, no matter how great, the mercy of God is always greater. An no matter how much I have sinned, no matter how many sins I have, the mercies of God are more than my sins.”
“Yes,” said the teacher. “So do not ever make the mistake of thinking that you have exhausted God’s mercy. You never have. You never could. And you never will. He will always have more mercies than you have sins, more than enough to cover every sin and to still have enough compassion left over to love you forever. For what the Lord has for you is not mercy … but rachamim.” So far Jonathan Cahn
Highlights: Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. (Isajah 55, 6 – 7) So I say, “My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the Lord.” I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.  I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3, 18 – 23) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2. Corinthians 1, 3 – 4)
You may be down because of sin, because of disappointment or because of betrayal. Do not despair, but turn to God. He has enough rachamim for you. Jeremiah was rightfully disappointed and David had many bloody sins. Both turned to the Lord and both became men after God’s own heart. Take courage!
Prayer: God, thank you that I cannot fall outside of your mercy. I am turning to you. Help me to get up again and rejoice in your rachamim for me.

Reference
 Jonathan Cahn, The Book of Mysteries, FrontLine Charisma Media, Lake Mary, Florida 2016, ISBN 978-1-62998-941-9, Day 56