What Makes the Bible So Special?

One of the ways God speaks to us is through reading the Bible. You may just open the Bible  and begin reading and divinely there is your answer to whatever is troubling you. Or if you are having difficulty with fear, you can look in the back of most bibles and there is a “concordance “ with different passages that Jesus taught on fear. Like 2Tim 1:7,”For the Spirit of God  has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”

The other reason the Bible is so important is that it shows us how we develop a relationship with God. We learn Gods ways. It is how He teaches us how to be more like Him. How to be happy by living a good life. 

The Bible is divided into two books, The Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament has the sacred scripture of the Hebrew Bible written before the time of Christ. And the New Testament books were written after Jesus died by followers of Christ, in other words by Christians. All of our beliefs are found directly in the Bible and in tradition.

Even though it is one book, it contains many different smaller books within both the Old and New Testament. The Bible was written at different times by different authors for different purposes. I have heard it described as a mini library with collections of historical references, poetry, religious themed stories, letters, prophesies, and instructional stories written for our benefit. These books were inspired by God yet written by man.That is why the Bible has lasted over thousands of years. It’s wisdom, it’s power and love have endured for centuries. 

It is important to note that the first four Gospels tell the life of Christ. These “biographies of Jesus  were written within the lifetime of the apostles and based directly on eyewitness testimony.” (p.9 The Case for JESUS by Brant Pitre)Many will say that these books were written by anonymous writers but this is untrue. 

Read the Bible for comfort and wisdom. 

Peace and joy!

Our Destiny- HEAVEN

Something has quietly been missing from sermons and homilies in the last decade.As a regular church goer, I am not sure why but it is not very often I hear anyone talk about heaven. Rarely is it mentioned. Why is something so important not discussed more, shared, talked about, or shouted with joy!

It is in heaven we will find our final resting place with God who is perfect love. Jesus will be there. There will be no more worries or anxieties! In Heaven, Rev 21:3 “they (believers) will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Our destination is heaven! And we will see Jesus ! And all things will be new!

So why don’t we talk about it more.

I don’t know about you but are we just too afraid that if we talk about it we won’t measure up? Are we afraid of not being good enough? “Do we have to have faith to go to heaven?”

To answer the last question I would have to say yes. We need to have faith. We learn in Romans 10:9 “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him out from the dead, you will be saved.” For this you must have FAITH.

Those who believe in Jesus Christ are saved and those who do not are lost.

No one can enter except by the grace of God and through the merits of the shed blood of Jesus.

Heaven is described in Rev 21 in a vision to St. John as a fantastic place almost indescribable. It’s brilliance was that of a precious jewel. A city made of pure gold, as pure as glass. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it for the glory of God gives it light and the Lamb is its lamp. Rev 21:23

Our God is a forgiving God. He calls us to repent of our sins. He wants to be in fellowship with us but sin causes a barrier between God and us. We are a flawed people but if we ask for forgiveness with a sincere heart He will forgive us and remember the sins no more. 

Ps103: 11 As high as heaven rises above earth so His gracious love strengthens those who fear him

12 As distant as the east is from the west that is how far he has removed our sins from us

13. As a Father has compassion for his children So the LORD has compassion for those who fear Him

Please enjoy this video by Father Mike Schmidz

https://youtu.be/TT4JAxfhgcQ

Joy and Peace!

Talking to God

Having a relationship with anyone involves spending time with them. That includes God.

He is always there. He knows everything about you, down to every hair on your head. But just like you want your friends to call you, He wants you to call upon Him. Just like you want to have friends to confide in, He wants you to confide in Him. Yes He wants to hear your fears, your cares, and your concerns. “Cast your cares on him for He (God) cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

Many of us think we don’t want to bother God with our little problems. Would you tell your friend or mom them? Why not your Heavenly Father who loves you?

“God loves us as if we were the only person in the world” St. Augustine

Phil 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God.”

Maybe you don’t feel God’s love for you. Does that mean it doesn’t exist? Have you ever loved someone and they had no clue? They did not feel your love. Yet your love was very real. Well God loves you whether you feel it or not. You need to BELIEVE in His love. He created you. You are good. And all good things come from God. 
Know and believe if God was on Facebook you would be LIKED AND LOVED!!!!