House of Virtue

The Day of Reckoning...

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 07:39:00 +0000

"Bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me." (Luke 19:27, NKJV).

There is a finality to unbelief. Those who reject Jesus Christ and refuse God's only provision for salvation will most surely die in their sins. The Bible leaves nothing vague on this matter, for the stakes are high and eternal.

The writer of the Book of Hebrews presents the clearest case regarding this weighty issue: "Anyone who disobeys the Law of Moses is put to death without any mercy when judged guilty from the evidence of two or more witnesses. What, then, of those who despise the Son of God? who treat as a cheap thing the blood of God's covenant which purified them from sin? who insult the Spirit of grace? Just think how much worse is the punishment they will deserve! It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!" (Hebrews 10:28—31, Good News Bible).

Moreover, Jesus said, "Whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder" (Matthew 21:44). Christ is the Rock. You and I must fall upon Him and be broken – redeemed from all self-righteousness and sinful independence. Otherwise, the Rock will fall on us and we will be crushed—separated forever from God, and from all things good and holy.

C.S. Lewis wrote, "In the end there will be two categories of people. Those who say to God, "Thy will be done,' and thus enter Heaven; and those to whom God says, 'Thy will be done,' as they enter Hell.”

A Day of Reckoning is coming for believers and unbelievers alike. For those who reject Christ it will be a day of terror—and finality. For those who love the Lord, and served Him faithfully in life, it will be a day of reward and great joy.

What are you doing to be best prepared for that coming Day?

Reference:
Daily Devotion by James Ryle

Those Who Answered the Call...

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 07:22:00 +0000

"Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power" (2 Thessalonians 1:11).

Abraham traveling into the unknown, Joseph remaining faithful in Egypt, Moses crossing the Red Sea, Joshua conquering the Promised Land, Deborah lifting her sword in battle against the Midianites, Ruth returning with Naomi to the land of Canaan, David slaying a Giant and becoming a King, Isaiah telling his visions, Zechariah telling his dreams, Daniel in the Lion's den, Nehemiah rebuilding the Walls, Zerubbabel rebuilding the Temple, Simon Peter leaving his fishing nets, Paul preaching the Gospel, John writing the Revelation—each one of these ordinary men and women heard and answered the call of God, and as a result lived extraordinary lives.

Vision, passion, discipline and risk—these are the marks of a noble fellowship assembled by the Son of God down through the ages; men and women called out of mediocrity into magnificence; followers of Jesus from each generation who have left their world better than they found it. They each heard God's voice and followed Him with trusting hearts—marked by vision, passion, discipline and risk. And now it's your turn.

The Lord longs for you to answer the call on your life and be a part of this timeless Team. And in your heart you know it's what you want to do more than anything else in the world!

I pray, in the words of Paul, that God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness in your life, and bring to pass with His power each and every work of faith you perform for His honor!

Culled from Daily Devotion by James Ryle

THE OPERATION ORDER OF JESUS CHRIST TO HIS DISCIPLES

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:20:00 +0000

Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands [Disciples] out with this charge:

"Don't begin by travelling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don't try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighbourhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously. "Don't think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don't need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel light.

"When you enter a town or village, don't insist on staying in a luxury inn. Get a modest place with some modest people, and be content there until you leave. "When you knock on a door, be courteous in your greeting. If they welcome you, be gentle in your conversation. If they don't welcome you, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way. You can be sure that on Judgment Day they'll be mighty sorry--but it's no concern of yours now.

"Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove. "Don't be naive. Some people will impugn your motives, others will smear your reputation--just because you believe in me. Don't be upset when they haul you before the civil authorities. Without knowing it, they've done you--and me--a favor, given you a platform for preaching the kingdom news!

"And don't worry about what you'll say or how you'll say it. The right words will be there; the Spirit of your Father will supply the words. "When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don't quit. Don't cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you've run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived. "A student doesn't get a better desk than her teacher. A laborer doesn't make more money than his boss. Be content--pleased, even--when you, my students, my harvest hands, get the same treatment I get. If they call me, the Master, 'Dungface,' what can the workers expect? "

“Don't be intimidated. Eventually everything is going to be out in the open, and everyone will know how things really are. So don't hesitate to go public now. "Don't be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There's nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life--body and soul--in his hands. "What's the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right? And God cares what happens to it even more than you do. He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail--even numbering the hairs on your head! So don't be intimidated by all this bully talk. You're worth more than a million canaries. "Stand up for me against world opinion and I'll stand up for you before my Father in heaven. If you turn tail and run, do you think I'll cover for you?

"Don't think I've come to make life cozy. I've come to cut-- make a sharp knife-cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law--cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God. Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies. If you prefer father or mother over me, you don't deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don't deserve me. "If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me. "We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Anyone who accepts what you do, accepts me, the One who sent you. Anyone who accepts what I do accepts my Father, who sent me. Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God's messenger. Accepting someone's help is as good as giving someone help. This is a large work I've called you into, but don't be overwhelmed by it. It's best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won't lose out on a thing."

(Matthew Chapter 10 Verses 5-42 ~The Message Translation of the Bible)

The Higher Life....

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:43:00 +0000

Imagine for a moment that I could offer you a life that is guaranteed to give you: joy that is greater than any human feeling on earth, a blessing that is happiness in its fullest measure with access to all the resources of the earth, a peace that surpasses all human understanding, and an assurance of entering the eternal rest in the arms of the Almighty God at the end of it all..... Would you be interested?

I know I cannot, but Jesus can. In fact, not only can He - He is also willing, and has even been longing to give you all that has been stated above and even more. In the Bible Book of John 10 verse 10, Jesus Christ declares His aim for visiting mankind 2,000 years ago: “I have come so that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” He also promises everyone who believes in Him this same life of abundance, no matter what situation or circumstances they have faced or are still facing. Jesus gives the assurance that if you “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew chapter 6 verse 33). He promises to meet all our needs and to give us more than enough if we will let Him direct the affairs of our lives.

There are several kinds of abundance that we are promised as believers in Christ. First and foremost, there is spiritual abundance as indicated in Ephesians chapter 1 verse 3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ.” Then there is the promise of abundance of good health as found in Jeremiah chapter 33 verse 6, “I will heal this city and its people and restore them to health. I will show them abundant peace and security.”

Then there is also an abundance of material resources and means to earthly livelihood, as found in 2 Peter chapter 1 verse 3, “Jesus has the power of God, by which he has given us everything we need to live and to serve God. We have these things because we know him. Jesus called us by his glory and goodness” (New Century Version). We also enjoy a life of righteousness when Jesus (who is the righteousness of God) is made the one and only Lord over our lives (1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 30; Philippians chapter 3 verse 9).

Its true that in life, times may come when we face difficulties of diverse forms. In James chapter 1 verses 1 to 12, the Bible advices us believers to consider trials and temptations to have an end result of joy because endurance is being produced in our lives. We are directed to ask God for wisdom so that we can see and understand the benefits of the trials we face. Jesus however promises in John 16 verse 33, “I have spoken these things to you so that you might have peace in Me. In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.” Jesus paid the highest price of death on the cross so that you and I can enjoy every blessing in Him. This is worth holding on to in times when life isn’t quite exactly the way we desire it to be and ultimately gives us a hope of the promised abundant life in Christ.

Now picture this: A life filled with prosperity in wealth and health, plus a righteousness that lasts forever (Psalm chapter 112 verse 3), all granted to you by God Himself! What is more? That’s the kind of life I want, how about you? That’s the life Jesus promises us! That’s the higher life in God!

Whose Builder and Maker is God...

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:23:00 +0000

"Abraham looked for that City, whose builder and maker is God" (Hebrews 11:10).

God designed the Church to function as a unified community of spiritually gifted, ethnically diverse, men and women loving and serving one another in humility, availability, and submission; thereby presenting to the world a compelling case for trusting Christ alone for salvation.

If we are faithful in following the teachings of the Bible, and are being filled with and led by the Holy Spirit (who authored the Bible), then this is the Church we will become. To the measure that we are not becoming this Church, then we are following the teachings and traditions of men, and are being filled with and led by the spirit of another instead of Christ.

Satan, who is called the Accuser of the Brethren, takes great delight is soliciting our unwitting participation in his campaign to divide and discredit the Church. The Greek word for accuser is kategoros, from which we get the English word category. It means to be against another in a criticizing way; to put another down by elevating oneself as a judge. The moment you find your heart categorizing other believers who differ from your traditions of faith, you are at risk of being complicit in Satan's destructive schemes against the City, whose builder and Maker is God.

While you may enjoy God's presence, and experience His power in the context of your local assembly, with its particular history and practices, never lose sight of the fact that you are nevertheless part of a vastly larger Kingdom — in which diversity plays a major role. Rather than sitting in judgment over those who may do it different from you, or who emphasize things other that what you personally deem most important, rejoice in knowing that Christ is being preached far beyond your own borders and abilities.

It is His Church, not yours. He is the Head; not you. Take your place with humility, and give thanks to God that many others are also taking their place as the Lord directs.

Remember, the Church is both local and global. On a global scale it appeals to all who hunger and thirst after righteousness, and therefore is filled with such variety of people that there is no other organization on the earth that rivals it. Yet, on a local scale it may be more tempered to a particular people group than the broader audience of the world, and thus might seem somewhat narrow and exclusive.

Both are legitimate expressions of the Body of Christ and, as such, should be held in highest esteem. Neither holding the other in contempt, nor seeking to defame in any way those who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Be a part of a local church, but also be a citizen in that City whose builder and maker is God. That is what the Lord is doing in today's world.

What are you doing?

Adapted from Daily Devotions by James Ryle

Happy Easter to y'all!

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 18:59:00 +0000

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live, I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand
Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand

In Christ Alone lyrics
Songwriters: Getty, Julian Keith; Townend, Stuart Richard

Connecting the Dots....

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 15:20:00 +0000

Have you ever found yourself suddenly with so many challenges and puzzling situations that seem to be overwhelming you? Or perhaps if you are the type who prays, and when you begin to pray to God about these situations there seems to be so many of them to be prayed for that you even begin to tire in the place of prayer, because you don’t even know which ones of the many challenges you should begin with. If you have ever found yourself in any of these situations, then you are not alone.

Lately, I have had series of giant-sized challenges fly at me at very high speeds, and with each challenge before me, I pray and ask God to help me connect the dots between the challenge and His ultimate plan for my life. I ask Him to give me the wisdom to see the relationships between various pieces of information I have, and to enable me take intuitive steps that lead me to His truth and wisdom.

I have realized that the solving of puzzles or many problems in life is often a matter of connecting the dots. Many times all the clues are there for us, but we have not made the necessary connections. It then becomes important to learn to look for the bigger picture, and then see patterns emerge from there.

Sometimes, however, we may even have to go beyond the dots in order to connect them, as the infamous exercise of “connect these dots without lifting your pen” teaches us.

According to Laurie Beth Jones, in her book Jesus in Blue Jeans, “people hire consultants to see the patterns that they themselves may be too close to see. Diagnosticians connect the dots between different tests and medical data. The act of neurons leaping from one synapse to another constitutes the act of thought itself. If the dots are not connected, a thought does not occur.”

When Jesus Christ took all the laws and the prophecies and explained them in simple stories, he was connecting the dots for us. As He speaks, through the Bible we begin to see the pattern emerging of God’s love.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33).”

Jesus taught us to connect the dots, and so I must.

Happy Valentine's Day!

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:29:00 +0000

¹ If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. ²If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. ^3-7If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Love doesn't strut,

Doesn't have a swelled head,

Doesn't force itself on others,

Isn't always "me first,"

Doesn't fly off the handle,

Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn't revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

^8-10Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.

¹¹When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.

¹²We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

¹³But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

Courtesy of Biblegateway.com

God's Blessing of Integrity.

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:06:00 +0000

Integrity is a word that interests me a lot. I believe that it’s closely akin to honesty or having a sense of truthfulness. The word integrity “comprises of perceived consistency of actions, values, methods, measures and principles,” this is the way Wikipedia (the free internet encyclopedia) defines it. The ninth edition of the Concise Oxford Dictionary has it as, “moral uprightness, honesty, wholeness or soundness.”

There is an old saying that, “if having a good reputation is like gold, then having integrity is like owing a goldmine.” At the same time, I believe that integrity is the result of having our lives well integrated around the truths of God’s Word. It is written in the Bible that, “The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them (Proverbs 11:3 -NKJV).”

Now here’s how the Almighty God cautions us with His most Fatherly advice, He says that, “He's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbour, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously - take God seriously (Micah 6:8 The Message).

This is probably what King David must have discovered when he said in Psalm 26:1-3, “vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the LORD; I shall not slip. Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my mind and my heart. For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth.” David was expressing himself here before God - his maker, in all sincerity and without arrogance. This is a great a challenge for me indeed, and may be for you too. Can I frankly express myself before the Almighty God – who sees and knows everything – in such a manner as King David in the above passage of scripture? If not, then I must aspire do so by the help of God.

I believe that from the foregoing one can easily say that integrity is a matter of truth, faith and courage – such virtues that lead to strength and stability in the life of a person. I believe that this is part of God’s plan for you and me today; in the face of changing times He wants us to remain stable, guided by our integrity and unswerving in our adherence to His Word. A life of integrity is a blessed life.

Uche

http://houseofvirtue.blogspot.com

An Eye for an Eye? ~ By Pastor Tony Rapu

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:33:00 +0000

Recent events have provided quite a harrowing experience for Nigerians. Following bomb blasts in Abuja and other places in the North, and the reprisal attack in Delta State, there has been much uncertainty and apprehension. For the families of those who lost their lives, it was a difficult Christmas.

For many, religious beliefs until now had not been matters of life and death; we may have experienced trials and tribulations in the course of practicing our faith, but nothing as dramatic or final as martyrdom. Few of us until recently have been at risk of any physical harm. But even churches in the South are waking up to the possibility of bodily harm in the course of worship. Many avoided watch night services on December 31, ostensibly heeding warnings, coming mainly through text messages, about the "mother of all bombings" that might occur that night.

In many parts of Northern Nigeria, this is not new. Christians have long endured repression, violence and even martyrdom. Terrorism and fanaticism have unleashed much suffering upon them for no crime other than their faith. The Christmas day bombing of St Theresa Church near Abuja, that killed scores of worshippers, is a reminder of the insecurity that haunts Christians. How should Christians live in a climate of intense hate and strife? What should be the nature of our testimony and witness in this matter?

First, we must acknowledge that persecution is part of the Christian heritage. Jesus exhorted his disciples to expect persecution. Of the twelve apostles who led the First Century Church, only John, author of the Book of Revelation, was not martyred. Indeed, the history of the early Church was basically cycles of persecution followed by brief respite and spurts of growth. Jesus specifically asked his disciples to expect persecution from zealots, who would believe that by oppressing Christians they were serving God. So the mobs of misguided fanatics, who today burn churches and kill Christians, are a stark fulfillment of a two thousand year old prophecy.

Regardless of how such conflicts are shaped by poverty and collateral factors - social, economic and political - the fact remains that Christians as a group have often been targeted because they are Christians. Sadly, governments at the state and local level have failed to protect Christians and their property from terrorism and have failed to bring the perpetrators of such violence to justice. This has led to a mounting loss of faith in the ability of the State to protect its citizens from harm by criminal fanatics.

In the context of such a history, there is a danger that a Christian extremism and militant aggression, as demonstrated in the Delta State reprisal bomb attack, will be fabricated to counter Islamic extremism. We face the spectre of a generation which has been raised in an atmosphere of rabid sectarian hatred fashioning a reciprocal Christian terrorism to prove that no religion has a monopoly of violence. Already, it is evident in some of the pastoral rhetoric in the wake of recent bouts of violence, that a theology of vengeance is taking root. Such is the self -help solution of a wounded people striking back against their serial assailants.

But this response of "an eye for an eye" and "a tooth for a tooth" is inconsistent with authentic biblical faith, and ultimately leads to war and devastation on a horrific scale. Christianity was forged in the furnace of persecution by despotic Roman and envious religious elites, but nowhere in the Christian doctrine, as espoused by the apostolic generation who lived under the shadow of brutal oppression, do we find any recourse to reciprocal violence. The early Church saw beyond their human assailants and glimpsed the dark spiritual forces - the principalities and powers at work. Today, we too must look past the violent mobs and discern in their outrage, the spiritual forces of hate and strife.

Without prejudice to the right of a people to self-defence, reciprocal Christian extremism is no remedy for Islamic terrorism. "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal"; therefore, we must reach into the treasury of our faith for the appropriate weapons with which to engage the enemy.

Reverend Martin Luther King, who carried out his ministry in an atmosphere of racist hatred at a time when African-American were routinely lynched and their churches fire-bombed by terrorists, offers insights on how to respond to persecution. He urged Christians to actualize Jesus' invocation that we love our enemies. "Hate for hate", King wrote, "only intensifies the existence of hate and evil in the universe". The idea of loving our enemies ranks among the more understated aspects of our faith and practice today. It is not only virtually ignored in Nigerian Christianity, but there exists a pattern of prayer that advocates the death of such enemies; commanding them to "roast and be burned up" in some nebulous Holy Ghost fire. But loving our enemies is a concept that we must actualize today. It is a quality that makes our faith redemptive.

The moment we succumb to the temptation to invent our own brand of terrorism, we have lost the spiritual battle. Martin Luther King argued that "someone must have religion enough and morality enough" to "cut off the chain of hate" and "inject within the very structure of the universe that strong and powerful element of love". Christianity is proactive and creative, not reactive. This is a time for the love of Christ to pierce the darkness of hate. This is a time to offer a drink of water to Ishmael who cries out with thirst and rejection in the wilderness.

The time in which we live places an even greater demand on the Christian witness; it is a time crying out for activation of the ministry of reconciliation and realization of our calling as peacemakers. We need prophetic voices that can articulate the means of entrenching justice without demonizing people of other faiths. Acts of forgiveness, healing and repentance are required to heal communities cursed by strife and hate. This is the way we will begin to answer the age old question for all seasons: What would Jesus do?

Happy New Year!!!

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:29:00 +0000

The Hopes and Fears of All the Years...

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 19:20:00 +0000

"And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds."~(Luke 2:16-18)

Phillips Brooks, Rector of Philadelphia, wrote the words to O Little Town of Bethlehem in 1868, following a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He was inspired by the view of Bethlehem from the hills of Palestine especially at night time; hence the lyrics.

His church organist, Lewis Redner, wrote the melody for the Sunday school children's choir.

There is a line from in the first verse that almost gets lost in the bigger picture of the song. "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight."

Hopes and Fears represent the polar ends of a wide range of feelings.

As we gaze back into that historic moment laid out before us in the Gospels, there we see a most remarkable assortment of figures gathering round about this infant boy. And unknowingly they unite to send a singular message down through the Ages.

We can come together in the presence of Christ.

This is the message of Christmas — kings and shepherds, angels and men, rich and poor, foreigner and citizen, influential and powerless — all ALIKE in one unforgettable moment of Community in the presence of the infant Christ.

Now consider — if the Babe in the Manger or bed was with such compelling influence that He could bring together those who otherwise would have nothing to do with one another, how much more so is this possible now that He is crowned King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

The hopes and fears of all the years were once gathered and resolved in a sacred evening long ago. O Lord, do it again in our world today — for night has fallen upon us, and we need Your light to show us the way.

May the full blessings of that first Christmas be yours on this blessed day, and everyday hereafter through the remaining days of your journey!

Merry Christmas!

Culled from Daily Devotions by James Ryle

Away in a Manger?

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:28:00 +0000

"Away in a Manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head; the stars in the sky looked down where He lay, the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing the baby awakes, the little Lord Jesus no crying He makes....oh, well, you know how it goes.

There is something here that is soft, safe and sweet – the Baby Jesus. Something serene, composed, and peaceful. It's enough to make us say, "Oh, isn't that precious.”

But He is more than this. The angels said to the shepherds, "Unto you is born this day in the house of David, a Savior — who is Christ the Lord." The Baby became a Man; the Man is both Lord and Christ.

Is it possible some may prefer to keep Him away, rather than near; in a manger, rather than on a throne?

Some people say Christmas is for children, and there is a lot of truth in that. But Christ is for all ages. And while we may delight in the innocence with which our kids sing the sweet chorus, "Away in a Manger" — let's make sure that that is not where we leave Him.

~James Ryle

Merry Christmas!

Is Marriage Getting Obsolete?

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:24:00 +0000

By JESSICA HOPPER (@jesshop23)

Nov. 18, 2010

Not only are more marriages on the rocks these days, so is marriage itself, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center.

A survey of 2,691 Americans done in association with Time magazine found that nearly four in 10 Americans think marriage is becoming obsolete. That's an 11 percent spike since 1978, when Time asked the same question.

"Marriage is still very important in this country, but it doesn't dominate family life like it used to," Andrew Cherlin, a professor of sociology and public policy at John Hopkins University, told the Associated Press.

Younger people are leading the way in redefining what marriage means. Forty-four percent of those between the ages of 18 and 29 saw marriage as obsolete, compared to 32 percent of those 65 and older.

Other groups more likely to see marriage as a fading institution included blacks, at 44 percent, those with a high school diploma or less, at 44 percent, and people who made $30,000 or less a year, at 48 percent.

Young People Marrying Less and Less

Census data have shown that younger people are marrying less and less, and when they marry, they're generally older.

The median age of when one first gets married is at its highest point ever. For women, it's 26.1 years of age, and for men, it's 28.2.

On top of that, for the first time in half a century, the number of unmarried people between the ages of 25 and 34 outnumbers the number of married people in the same age range.

Experts say that young adults between 18 and 29 are more likely to have an unmarried or divorced parent, and that's made a difference in how they view marriage.

Young people are marrying less often, in part, because they're taking marriage more seriously after watching their own parents divorce or separate from one another.

Families Redefined

The Pew survey also showed the quiet revolution of the American family over the last 30 years. Americans increasingly think marriage, once a central way of defining what constitutes a family, is no longer as important in that regard.

One reason is the increasing number of people living together and having children without getting married.

About 29 percent of children under 18 now live with a parent or parents who either are divorced or never married. Broken down further, six percent of those kids have parents who are live-in couples who never got married.

Of the respondents, 86 percent said a single parent and child constitute a family; 80 percent said an unmarried couple living together with a child is a family; and 63 percent said same-sex couples raising a child is a family.

The presence of children continues to have a strong impact on determining what makes a family. The majority of those surveyed said that an unmarried couple living together is not a family.

"People are rethinking what family means," Cherlin said. "Given the growth, I think we need to accept cohabitation relationships as a basis for some of the fringe benefits offered to families, such as health insurance."

The Census Bureau plans to redefine what it considers a family when measuring poverty because of the growing number of unmarried couples raising children.

Marrying for Love, Not Stability

When people do get married, historians say that Americans no longer are getting married for the same reason Ozzie and Harriet did.........Read more, click here >>>

Courtesy of Abcnews.com

The Lord is My Shepherd ...

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 05:37:00 +0000

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." (Psalm 23:1).

Jesus is Lord and King, Conqueror, Savior, the Mighty God, Prince of Peace, the Christ, Emmanuel, Teacher, Prophet and Master. Of the many titles given to the Lord, Shepherd must undoubtedly be one of His favorite. It links Him in the most personal way to those He loves.

Say it out loud and let the truth settle deep in your heart: "The Lord is my Shepherd!"

Isaiah prophesied, "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." (Isaiah 40:11). Peter preached, "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." (1 Pet 2:25).

David, himself a shepherd, penned the Twenty-third Psalm as a comprehensive tribute to the Lord. He encompasses in this short poem at least fifteen provisions that are made for us when we follow the Lord as our Shepherd.

1. Rest - He maketh me to lie down in green pastures

2. Peace - He leadeth me beside the still waters

3. Restoration - He restoreth my soul

4. Guidance - He leadeth me in paths of righteousness

5. Honor - for His name's sake

6. Hope - I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

7. Courage - I will fear no evil

8. Companionship - Thou art with me

9. Comfort - Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me

10. Sustenance - Thou preparest a table before me

11. Vindication - in the presence of my enemies

12. Blessing - Thou anointest my head with oil

13. Fulness - My cup runneth over

14. Abundant Life- goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life

15. Eternal Security - I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever

As you can see, there is nothing left out. No wonder David said, "I shall not want!" The Lord gives us everything we need when we follow Him as our Shepherd.

"And now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he who became the great Shepherd of the sheep by an everlasting agreement between God and you, signed with his blood, produce in you through the power of Christ all that is pleasing to him. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20,21).

Culled from Daily Devotions by James Ryle.

Ashamed of Jesus?

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 06:22:00 +0000

Jesus said, "Whoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38).

Sometimes following Jesus is not the popular thing to do. Thus, these words strike at the coward that lingers within our hearts during those times when social trends are decidedly anti-christian.
God knows we must be motivated outside ourselves in order to rise above that within us which holds us down — namely, the fear of failure, embarrassment, and rejection. This fear can be defeated by openly embracing Jesus Christ.

Paul said, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16).
He wrote his young disciple, Timothy, and encouraged him to take a stand for Jesus. He said, "God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God."(2 Tim 1:7,8).
Our response to Christ's presence and purpose makes Him proud to stand up for us as our God! The writer of Hebrews tells us, "He is not ashamed to call them brethren" (Heb.2:11), and, "God is not ashamed to be called their God" (Heb.11:16).

Turning the pages in an old book, I came upon this wonderful poem by Joseph Grigg entitled Ashamed of Jesus?

Jesus, and shall it ever be, a mortal man ashamed of Thee?
Ashamed of Thee, whom angels praise, Whose glories shine through endless days?
Ashamed of Jesus! Sooner far let evening blush to own a star!
He sheds the beams of light divine O'er this benighted soul of mine.
Ashamed of Jesus! That dear Friend On whom my hopes of heaven depend!
No! When I blush, be this my shame, that I no more revere His name.
Ashamed of Jesus! Yes, I may, when I've no guilt to wash away;
no tear to wipe, no good to crave, no fears to quell, no soul to save.
Till then, nor is my boasting vain, Till then I boast a Savior slain.
And, O, may this my glory be, That Christ is not ashamed of me!

My friends — when darkness increases our lights shines brightest. Do not be ashamed of Jesus under any circumstance. And He will not be ashamed of you!

Culled from Daily Devotions by James Ryle

Delivered into Delight!

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 15:40:00 +0000

"He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me." (Psalm 18:19, KJV).

The Psalmist is overwhelmed with wonder at not only how the Lord acted on his behalf — but why.
When we read about how the Lord dramatically delivered him from his enemies we are stirred more deeply than any action movie could ever do. For he portrays the Lord as a Mighty Warrior unleashing His dreadful wrath against His enemies —
"Then the earth quaked and trembled. The foundations of the mountains shook; they quaked because of His anger. Smoke poured from His nostrils; fierce flames leaped from His mouth. Glowing coals blazed forth from Him. He opened the heavens and came down; dark storm clouds were beneath His feet. Mounted on a mighty angelic being, He flew, soaring on the wings of the wind. He shrouded Himself in darkness, veiling His approach with dark rain clouds. Thick clouds shielded the brightness around Him and rained down hail and burning coals. The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded amid the hail and burning coals. He shot His arrows and scattered His enemies; His lightning flashed, and they were greatly confused." (Psalm 18:7-14, The Living Translation).
This is HOW the Lord delivered the Psalmist — but here is WHY. "He delivered me because He delighted in me."

Did you know that God loves you so much that when the enemy messes with you to the point that in your distress you cry out to God — He goes on the warpath just for you! He brings you out of the distress into the delight of His presence and shows you the pleasure He has over your life.

Wow. How great is that?

Culled from Daily Devotions by James Ryle.

Enlarged in Distress

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:25:00 +0000

"Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress." ~Psalm 4:1(KJV)

The poetry of this verse is too beautiful to overlook. David is deliberately placing two extremes side by side to demonstrate the profound difference that God's power makes in our lives when we call out to Him for mercy.

Distress means "a tight spot." Enlarged means "a spacious place."
From the very moment of our birth we have known that in order to get to a spacious place, we must first pass through a tight spot. Our mother's labor pains pushed us through the distress of delivery and ushered us into the largeness of Life itself.
Is it not the same when we are born again? Wasn't it some pressing weight of sorrow, some overbearing load of guilt and shame, some driving fear, or suffocating loneliness that distressed your soul sufficient enough for you to call upon the Name of the Lord? And didn't He answer in the day of your trouble and deliver you into a large place?
It is a law in the Kingdom of Heaven — God always enlarges us when we are in distress.
Therefore, when God wants to make us larger than we have settled for being, what do you suppose He does? He introduces distress into our comfortable lives, and thereby invites us to ascend to a larger place.

Charles Spurgeon wrote, "I must confess that all the grace I have got out of my comfortable and easy times and happy hours might almost lie on a penny. But the good that I have received from my sorrows and pains and griefs is altogether incalculable. What do I not owe to the hammer and the anvil, the fire and the file!"

If you are in a tight spot — God is enlarging you my friend, and the best you can do right now is to thank Him for it.

Culled from Daily Devotions by James Ryle.

Your New Job Description — BLESS!

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 05:14:00 +0000

"This goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing." (1 Peter 3:9, The Message).

We have been called to live exemplary lives — the kind that inspire others to do the same. This is our assignment from Jesus. The challenge is that we have been placed in a world filled with un-exemplary conduct.

From Main Street to the Back Streets; from Broadway to the Belt-Way; from Wall Street to the Waysides — name calling, finger pointing, blame-fixing, sass and sarcasm are the standard fare. We are living in a grown up school yard — but no one seems to have grown up.
So the Lord has given us a job.

"BLESS," He says to each one of us, "That's your job — to bless." And then He adds this wonderful promise: "You will BE and blessing, and will also GET a blessing."

Culled from James Ryle’s Daily Devotions.

It’s All Still in There...

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 07:10:00 +0000

“For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn”~(Romans 11:29, NLT)

Today, I want to remind you that you are full of incredible potential. When God created you, He deposited seeds of greatness inside of you. He’s given you your own dreams and desires. You have something to offer that no one else has. But too often, we allow adversities, disappointments and setbacks to push these things down, until one day, we find that we’re not pressing forward anymore. We’re not stretching; we’re not believing to rise any higher.

When adversity comes, it’s easy to think, “Why is this happening to me?” The answer is because the enemy knows what’s on the inside of you. He’s going to do everything he can to keep that seed from taking root. But, he will only be successful if you let him. He can’t stop you unless you quit.

During the difficult times, remember that the gifts and callings God has placed within you are still there. Don’t become stagnate in pursuing your dreams. It’s time to get your fire back! It’s time to press forward. It’s time to dig deep inside and take hold of the marvelous destiny God has prepared for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, thank You for the gifts and dreams You’ve placed within me. Today, I release my cares and concerns to You. Give me the strength, wisdom and clarity to keep moving forward so I can boldly embrace the good things You have in store for my future in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

...And who is my neighbor?

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 07:04:00 +0000

“....Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.” Also, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”~Luke 10:27 (NCV)

A religion scholar once asked Jesus this question: “......who is my neighbor?”~Luke 10:29b (NCV)

Jesus answered by telling a story.

"There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man. "A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man's condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill--I'll pay you on my way back.' "What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?" "The one who treated him kindly," the religion scholar responded. Jesus said, "Go and do the same."~ (Luke 10:30-37 -The Message)

Its not what it looks like...

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 11:17:00 +0000

“...for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength)”(2 Corinthians 12:10, AMP)

No matter what weakness you think you may have, no matter what inadequacies or setbacks you’ve encountered, God wants to give you His divine strength. He wants to make up the difference and put you further ahead than you ever thought possible.

One time in the Old Testament, God simply multiplied the sound of four men’s footsteps and caused them to sound like a mighty army. When their enemies heard them, they took off running. There were thousands of enemy troops running for their lives, scared to death, thinking they were being attacked by a massive army when in fact, it was just four people! What happened? God made up the difference.

Friend, God can make you seem bigger than you really are. He can make you look more powerful. He knows how to multiply your influence, your strength, your talent and your income. Don’t just look at what you have in your hand; look at what Almighty God can do with it! You don’t have to figure it all out. All you have to do is put your trust in Him and let Him work because when you do, He will lead you and guide you into victory all the days of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, today I commit every area of my life to You. I trust that You are working behind the scenes on my behalf. Use me for Your glory as I put my faith and hope in You in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

Psalm 91 Remixed: Word up!

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:50:00 +0000

God's glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon. Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening. Their words aren't heard, their voices aren't recorded, But their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere. God makes a huge dome for the sun--a superdome!

The morning sun's a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed, The daybreaking sun an athlete racing to the tape. That's how God's Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith.

The revelation of GOD is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of GOD are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of GOD are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of GOD are plain and easy on the eyes. GOD's reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of GOD are accurate down to the nth degree.

God's Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You'll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries. There's more: God's Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool?

Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

~(Psalms 19:1-14 MSG)

When you are mine....

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:24:00 +0000

This is what God says to His people:

“Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you. I've called your name. You're mine. When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you. When you're in rough waters, you will not go down. When you're between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end - Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you: all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in! That's how much you mean to me! That's how much I love you! I'd sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you.

"So don't be afraid: I'm with you. I'll round up all your scattered children, pull them in from east and west. I'll send orders north and south: 'Send them back. Return my sons from distant lands, my daughters from faraway places. I want them back, every last one who bears my name, every man, woman, and child Whom I created for my glory, yes, personally formed and made each one.'" ~Isaiah 43:1-7 (The Message)

Be full of it...

noreply@blogger.com (House of Virtue) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:20:00 +0000

“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full”~(John 15:11, KJV)

Jesus came to give you joy and joy to the full! When your joy is full, it can be seen by others. Joy is supposed to be displayed. As believers, we should have a smile on our face and a spring in our step. We should be kind and friendly. We should be fun to be around. We should be full of His supernatural joy!

Have you allowed the pressures of life to push you down? Have you been more focused on your circumstances than on your God? If you’re not enjoying your life or relationships, it’s time to refocus and tap into the full joy within. It’s time to draw the line in the sand and say, “That’s it. I’m not going to live another day negative, discouraged, sour or grumpy. I’m going to put a smile on my face. I’m going to let my joy be seen so I can brighten somebody else’s day. I’m going to live my life happy and full of joy!”

Friend, when you take that step of faith and choose to trust God with your future, something changes on the inside. Your feelings will soon line up. Your faith will tap into His supernatural joy. And when you tap into joy, you tap into His strength and victory so you can live the full, abundant life He has prepared for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, thank You for the gift of joy. Thank You for lavishing Your love and grace on me. Fill me with Your power, strength and virtue so that my joy will overflow and be a blessing everywhere I go in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen