God calls you - Be my Valentine!

 

An Emoji Devotional for Tue 14th Feb, 2023

A Valentine Special 

Topic: God calls you - Be my Valentine!

By Pastor Hans Ulrich Wenger

 From early age men and women around the world dream of becoming the very special person of someone else. Somebody who makes me feel at home, somebody who assures me that we belong to each other, no matter what may happen around us. Such human encounters can euphorically magic wonderful colors before our eyes and wild dancing butterflies into our stomach. 

 We cannot help falling in love with the most precious person who just invited me to be his or her Valentine. It is romantic, exquisite and at least for the moment happiness seizes us, and we experience all our longings satisfied. Dating relationships, and covenants for life often start exactly that way, but our short life-span as human beings makes the “forever” always limited. 

Have you ever entertained the thought that God calls you to be his valentine for eternity? 

This is no joke; he actually does exactly that for you! He says: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.’ (Jeremiah 31:3) Originally he speaks here to his chosen people Israel, but Jesus made clear, that in him every person in the whole world is meant. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’” (Matthew 11:28 – 30)

 God has put Adam and Eve in a perfect world in the Garden of Eden. They lived in the presence of the Holy Trinity and had free access to the creator, but they decided to trust the words of the serpent more than their creator and brought themselves under the dominion of death, of the separation from God. With the curse of having now an individual knowledge of good and evil, they brought strife, hate, war, murder and tyranny among themselves. They were created for life in Paradise and were now forced to live in a world within which with everybody and with everything is something wrong. Eventually Jesus Christ, the son of God, became human and lived a perfect and sin free life among us and sacrificed himself to overcome death, the main enemy of man. Through his victory over evil, death and all the powers of the darkness he can now give life eternal to all who are willing to surrender to him. He is the way, the truth and the life and nobody comes to the Father except through him. (John 14:6)  

Surrender to him means to accept that God is absolutely good and that I am willing to submit my own will under his will. With this attitude I am willing to learn from him and to be changed into his image. ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.’ (John 17:1 – 3) Whoever comes to him becomes a child of God and belongs to the bride of Christ. Together with him God’s children will inherit the kingdom of the Father.

Today God calls you – be my Valentine and I will give you rest for your soul and life eternal. Take the step and you will most certainly never rue it. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, today I come to you confessing that I have sinned against you and against my fellow men and women. I pray for your forgiveness and I surrender to you and I want to learn from you. I invite you into my heart and pray that you will change me from the inside out, so that I am beginning to spread your love and your character. Thank you, that your forgiveness makes me clean from all my sins. Help me to grow into your image.   

Fist of fury

 An Emoji Devotional for The 17th January 2022

Topic: fist of fury

Highlights:

Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. Isaiah 59:1

Hey guys, it's been a while. I want to talk about God's fist of fury. In Exodus 8:19 "This is the finger of God!" (the magicians exclaimed to Pharaoh...) Call it God's hand or arm of the Lord.

It is a mighty and powerful arm. It's so powerful it can frighten a magician a Chief Lector, who served as the pharaoh's head magician and right-hand man in ancient times. 

See, Once God's arm turns into a fist, then be rest assured that God's anger is fuming and He is ready to fight anything that the enemy represent or any stumbling block causing delays to expected provisions.

God's fist is not hard to come by, but like Moses, Samuel, Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, David, Daniel etc we must have an encounter with God first and Our purpose in life must have same direction with God's purpose as No one can stop God from achieving his purpose.

If anything or anyone stands in God's way, they may attract his fist of fury. In Psalms 18:7 the Bible says "The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry."

The best part is to ensure that God's anger is not directed towards you. Be in good relationship with Him. Tell God about what is not allowing you to achieve your divine purpose and ask Him to center his fist of fury against such opposition. (Psalms 139:21)

Prayer: Dear God, I knew that you have created me with daily loads of opportunities of abundance to fulfill your divine purpose for my life on earth. Please Search and find out all oppositions that opposes my divine destiny and blast them with your fist of fury right now in Jesus name. God, If it were my faults that is causing oppositions to your divine purpose for my life, please lead me to the right path right now in Jesus name I pray. Amen

Could haves and have-not

 

An Emoji Devotional for Saturday 31, December 2022

Topic: Could haves and have-not

Highlights:

"Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?

Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?

When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?'

St. Matthew 25:37

As today marks the 365th day of the year. It is not too late to check your journal of you have shown at least some little kindness to someone who is a brother or a sister of Christ. According to the Bible, Jesus told us categorically that His brothers and sisters are those who do the will of God. One of them are the missionaries who have left their all and have followed Jesus.

If you have not done something for the brother or sister of Christ since the beginning of the year, you can do something today which is at least the last day. And one of the most important thing Christ wants us t have done, is to be merciful (compassionate) on your fellow in Christ.

One of the ways to show mercy is to forgive your fellow (in Christ) who owed you something and could not repay either in part or in full. Mercy is one of the should haves you can add to your list.

In St. Matthew 18:33 Jesus says "Shouldn't you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?'. Our God wants mercy and not sacrifice.

The second is way to show Mercy is to show kindness to your fellow in Christ. Kindness is giving a worthwhile gift to someone to make their day memorable. This giving is essential to those who do God's will or to do it for Christ Himself (which is the ministry of Christ)

During supper, a woman came in with a beautiful jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. The disciples were indignant when they saw this. "What a waste of money," they said. "She could have sold it for a fortune and given the money to the poor." But Jesus replied, " Why berate her for doing such a good thing to me?.....I assure you, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman's deed will be talked about in her memory. " Matthew 26:7-10,13

The kindness that touched the heart of Jesus is to do such good things to Him (His ministry). The gospel needs money.

The third way to show mercy is to make prayers of supplication for the body of Christ (ministry) and pray for the saints (brothers and sisters of Christ.)

You can choose one of the three or do all for the sake of Christ to add to your should haves in the last day of the year. Anyone who shows mercy to Brothers and sisters of Christ will be rewarded with blessings prepared for them for each day and lifetime. (Read Matthew 25:34)

"But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.

 On the day when I act, you will tread upon the wicked as if they were dust under your feet," says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 4:2-3

Prayer: Heavenly Father I honour your name and your word. From now on O Lord, Help me to act in mercy to your brothers and sisters. In Jesus name.

Just because you are Special

 An Emoji Devotional for Tue, 13 2022

Topic: Just because you are special

Highlights: For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:10

You are special to heaven because you are important man and woman on earth. So, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Jesus.

Many people here on earthe trying so hard to understand the ways of life. Only God understands life. It's too deep like the ocean and the more you dig the more you realize there's more not learned.

An obedient child is the favourite child of the father, though there are many children, the obedient one is regarded as reliable and dependable child. “If you love me, obey my commandments" John 14:15

God gave us life and we must regard him as His presence is around us to lead us when we need help. However, we look for solutions even in the midst of salvation. Have we ever revolve our lives around God like a father sitting in the sitting room whose children are all playing outside, goes to eat, sleep and repeat same thing without regarding their dad with respect.

You are special if you regard his presence, obey His commands and involve him in your life.

Let us pray:

Father of my life, I regard you as my father, forgive me all my mistakes and misunderstandings about life. From now on help me to heed to your presence, help me to obey your commands and help me to involve you in all my day to day life's activities. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

God wants you in Psalms 91:16

 An Emoji Devotional for Wednesday 30th November 2022

Topic: God wants you in Psalms 91:16

Highlights:

I will satisfy you with a long life. I will show you how I will save you. Psalms 91:16

Understanding God helps us discover our true fortunes. The fortune of longer life is pertinent to obedience to God's plan and purpose for your life on earth. Before you reach Palms 91:16 you would have met with angels, dragon, lions and snakes and many more in the earlier verse. Whenever God makes promises He fulfils them. The promise of Psalms 91:16 is long life and Salvation which everyone who lives on earth craves for.

As the world leaders did manipulate different situations around the world to favour their agenda, we should understand that most of the things known to us right now are not fully proper ways of God plans for humanity and are subject to change in nearest future. The world leaders do uses the media, phone, television, social media, news to influenced and manipulate the world. However so many think and perceived diffently from God's plans because of this as most people grew up knowing only the government agenda and little do we know what God planned for us. It is essential we must study the Holy Bible very well Should our confidence grow as we learn what is in divine plans for us? Yes

Jeremiah 29:11 proved that only God's plans are good and safe for us in life; for God said "I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope." Should the way the world align itself differs from God's plans and it's hard to understand the intense situation we are facing, we should seek God's approval in prayers and remain loyal to our maker as that is the way forward to receive the promise.

The world has changed and people find it uneasy to follow the plans God had for each and every. People are addicted to the updates forgetting that what we see on the media are somehow regulated to favour policies which may not align with heavenly plans for our lives.

What we read and see on the media being portrayed by people is not excellent as what is written in the Bible. But only few people can follow the instructions of God's word to the end. These are those who will enjoy His promises and enter into rest.

St. Matthew 7:14 "But the narrow gate and the road that lead to life are full of trouble. Only a few people find the narrow gate." (God's word Version)

Even those who find the narrow gates may not be able to enter therein as some already lack perseverance because certainly people do change their minds due to lack of perseverance to wait on trusting God's word.

Habakkuk 2:3 The vision will still happen at the appointed time. It hurries toward its goal. It won't be a lie. If it's delayed, wait for it. It will certainly happen. It won't be late.

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths smooth"

Life's opportunity is accomplished with strict discipline and perseverance into following the plans of God who created the heaven and the earth.

Psalms 91:16 promised us long life satisfaction and salvation, and only those who could spiritually discipline themselves with perseverance to remain in the plan of God as instructed in His Holy word will enjoy the fruit of the reward of the promise.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Those who want to come with me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses, and follow me.
Matthew 16:24

Wait with hope for the LORD. Be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Yes, wait with hope for the LORD. Psalms 27:14

We can only reach the promise of long life and generational salvation when we stay in God's plans with all our heart and trusting His will without leaning on our understanding. (cf. Psalms 94:9)

Prayer: Dear Lord, I do agree with your plans as the best for my life. You promised us long life and salvation. Please compel the world and it's policies to align with your plans for my life so I can enjoy my journey into the promised Blessings in Jesus name. Amen

https://emojidevotions.blogspot.com/2022/11/god-wants-you-in-psalms-9116.html

Great reward from dependency on God versus total loss on my own way (Continuation of yesterday’s devotional)

 An Emoji Devotional for Thu 17 November, 2022

Topic: Great reward from dependency on God versus total loss on my own way (Continuation of yesterday’s devotional) 

By Hans Wenger

Highlights:‘Watch out that no-one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, “I am the Messiah,” and will deceive many.’ (Matthew 24:4 – 5) 

‘No-one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy,[generous] your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy,[stingy] your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.’ (Luke 11:33 – 36) 

And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. (Matthew 18:9) 

‘The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)‘He will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” ‘Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.’ Matthew 25:45 – 46) 

When the disciples asked Jesus about the end times, he foremost warned them not to be deceived. They are to cling to the written word of God and to be filled with the Holy Spirit to have the right discernment. Our eyes can easily deceive us. Satan can be camouflaged as an Angel of light and we are in danger to fall for it, if we do not stay with what the scriptures tell us and what the Holy Spirit reveals to us out of the word of God. Even for many people, who call themselves Christians it is more important, how they look at the word of God in their own understanding, than to ask what God meant with it. For example many think that perfect love allows everybody to live according to their own will. True love, however, warns against reckless living without observing God’s rules for fruitful living. The light we mean to have can therefore be darkness before God. If so, we need to repent and to radically turn around. Not my point of view is the measuring stick, but God’s point of view. Often times we would rather follow our opinion, because it may sound much less radical than what the Bible is telling us. “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives for ever.” (1. John 2: 15 – 17) Jesus is therefore very clear in Matthew 18. If you can’t avert your eye from the deception, throw it away. It is much better to be saved with only one eye than losing your reward or even your eternal life. In Matthew 25 Jesus makes it very clear that missing from action leads as well to the loss of eternal live. Jesus acknowledges that the people to his right have fed him, visited him and so on. Only these people do not remember such incidents and so they ask him, when that was. They did it to one of the least of his brothers and sisters and so they did it for him. Those who are sent away, they did not do it at all and so they get condemned. They were concentrated on themselves only. Whoever lives to please Jesus in the present body tent will be richly rewarded. Matthew 10:42 teaches us: “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.’ On the other hand people who do not search to live according to the word of God, will be in for big losses and may even miss life eternal. 

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, lead me to walk in your light and reveal every dark spot to me. Keep me from sinning against your love and help me to let my little light shine under you, as you shine as the light of the world. Thank you, that you even promise reward for what I am only able to do through you. Amen

Expecting The Glorified Body And The Reward

 An Emoji Devotional for Wed, 16 November 2022

Topic: Expecting the glorified body and the reward 

By Pastor Hans Wenger

Highlights: Listen, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ (1. Corinthians 15:51 – 54) 

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due to us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2. Corinthians 5:1–10) 

Paul is very committed to deliver us the hard facts. We are living in a tent that will be destroyed, but in Christ we will have an eternal home which will be imperishable. He reminds us that by living in the tent, we should please God with our deeds, because there will be a day of accountability for what we have done and all our deeds will be rewarded. The word of God makes clear that this appearance before the judgment seat of Christ is not a question of life or death, but a test on how well we have built our lives on the only foundation, which is Christ. To live according to his word in his footsteps means to build with gold, silver and costly stones, to live as Christian with our own ideas on how things should be means to build with wood, hay and straw. Compare 1. Corinthians 3:11–15. Who has built with strong material will receive reward and who has built with material that burns will suffer damage, but will be saved as one escaping through the flames. The Corinthians did not go to the foundation, which is Christ alone, but clung to words of impressive men of their time. We are deceived and build wrongly whenever we trust on what men tell us and not on the inspired word of God. Jesus warns us in Luke 11:35 to watch over the light within us: “See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness”. Our eyes need to be enlightened by the light of the world, which is Jesus alone. If they draw light from another source, we fill our body with darkness and are set up for building with wood, hay and straw. Paul knows that Christ alone is his life and has therefore the freedom to speak in very encouraging terms of death. It is the reward for sin and is the last enemy that will be swallowed up in the resurrection and in the swallowing up from the mortal through the immortal. He knows that the destruction of the tent-body needs to give him more than it can take away from him, so much so that he even longs to leave his body and to be at home with the Lord. Allowing darkness in our life will lead us to great loss whereas orientation on Jesus alone will bring us great reward. The choice is ours.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, please flood me with your light, fill me with your spirit so that I will avoid any false light that can distract me from clear sight. Thank you that death is only a change from the perishable tent to the eternal building you have prepared for me in heaven. I long to be with you and I long to live in your glory. Amen.