Remembering 9/11 – Celebrating the National Day of Encouragement
Remembering 9/11
Celebrating the National Day of Encouragement (9/12)
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” Psalm 33:12 NIV
The tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks conjures up many memories and emotions in the hearts of every American and those around the world. It was a day where we saw unprecedented attacks on our homeland.
Click on this link to access the official National September 11 Memorial & Museum site.
In the wake of 9/11/2001, many in our nation turned to God for comfort and solace. It was an “awakening” of sorts for many people. And so it is appropriate that after we pause to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in those attacks, that we turn to our family, friends and neighbors and offer encouragement for the future.
“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT
“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25 NLT
As we reflect on the events of 9/11/2001 and everything that has happened as a result of those attacks, we need not tremble in fear or be anxious about the future when our trust is in the Lord God.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 NKJV
“The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.” 2 Samuel 22:3 KJV
Let this Day of Remembrance followed by the National Day of Encouragement be a renewed call to prayer for our nation, our state, our city and our neighbors. Let it also be a call to prayer for our troops serving both at home and around the world.
God’s Word offers us an encouragement for prayer in Colossians 4:2 where it exhorts us to “devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” (NLT)
Let us reflect with a heart of honor, and let us look forward with a heart of hope.
May God bless each one of you, and may God Bless America!
Yet Another Reason to Celebrate
Celebrate Your Faith.
Give Glorious Gifts.
Share God’s Love.
We thank you for your support as we celebrate the fourth anniversary of CelebrateYourFaith.com. Looking back, it is amazing all that the Lord has done through this business. We are looking forward to celebrating all that is coming in the future!
This has been the dream of our hearts; four years of learning, growing, and celebrating making a difference. Doing what we love with amazing customers and fans, beautiful artisans and their creations, and our special team of believers who work together for a great cause.
When we started CelebrateYourFaith.com, we deliberately chose July 7, 2007 (7.7.07) for our grand opening, as a powerful symbolic scriptural reminder of the Great Commission (see the post about “God’s perfection: Number 7“).
All of us at CelebrateYourFaith.com are dedicated to reaching the world with the Good News of the Gospel. It is our heart to support mission work and missionaries with proceeds from every purchase. This has been one of the biggest blessings to us, to see our support for missions directly affect the lives of people in countries all over the globe.
For more about our company story, see this article (PDF) from the Christian Booksellers Association’s November 2008 issue.
Celebrate. Give. Share.
With your purchases, you are helping us continue to touch hearts and change many lives. It is an honor to do what we love. Thank you for your continued support!
Man of God ~ Honored Father
Father’s Day is a time set aside to show special honor to our fathers, or men who are father-figures in our lives. A father is someone who is there to offer love and support to his children – be they biological children, step-children, or “spiritual” children that God has placed in his life for him to nurture.
Being a good father begins with having a solid relationship with Jesus Christ. He must be the center of every communication, affection and discipline that a man gives to his children. A good father must first and foremost be a Man of God.
“But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:11-12 NKJV
A good father demonstrates to his children what it means to have faith in God and trust Him for everything we need. He is a reflection of God to his children. It’s an awesome responsibility, but one that can be carried out with dignity and love and respect when he looks to God for direction and guidance.
All this is not to say that fathers need to be perfect. But a father who is humble and teachable is the best father a child could ask for.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV
If your father needs some encouragement to strengthen his relationship with God, this is a wonderful time to give him some tools to help him do so. Give him the web address for Bible Gateway’s 100 most-read Bible verses.
Give your father a fresh look at the Word of God with this NLT In His Image Devotional Bible.
This Father’s Day, above all, be sure to tell your father how much you love him and appreciate him. Remember those godly men who have influenced you and thank them for everything they have done for you.
Celebrate Your Faith has many wonderful gifts for fathers. Pick out a special treasure to honor him today!
Internet Evangelism Day
May 15, 2011 has been marked as Internet Evangelism Day, which is an annual worldwide focus day for digital evangelism. The entire month of May is also designated as Digital Evangelism Month.
The Internet is a powerful tool for reaching people all over the world. It may seem very obvious how people all over the world have the ability to access the Internet and as such, the Internet can be used to bring people to a personal relationship with Jesus. One site having amazing results all over the globe, including many countries where the Gospel is not easy to preach via traditional avenues, is Global Media Outreach. They minister to people in an important 3-step process.
1. Lead them to the Savior
2. Nurture them in Faith
3. Connect them to Church
More information can be found by clicking the banner below:
Many ways exist to share your faith digitally: Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites; blogs or message board posts; email and text messaging (just to name a few).
The website blog.ourchurch.com has some amazing ideas for how to share your faith online in its article 20 Ways to Share Your Faith Online.
Some other great online evangelism sites include:
Internet Evangelism is such a multi-faceted concept. Sure, there are websites you can either direct people to, or that they find on their own. But, Internet Evangelism is transacted every day through many avenues.
Take Celebrate Your Faith, for example. We are an online retailer of Christian gifts. These gifts are purchased by people for the purpose of encouraging believers or sowing a seed into an unbeliever’s life in hopes of introducing them to Jesus as their Savior. In this gift giving process, the Internet was used as an evangelism tool.
In addition, CYF is steadfastly dedicated to promoting the preaching of the Gospel through direct monetary support of missions and humanitarian efforts. So, all the gifts that are purchased (for the purpose of evangelism) are also funding missionaries that travel all over the world to tell people about Jesus and His saving love. Again, the Internet is being used as an evangelism tool.
Another example could be sending a text message to a friend, confirming with them a time and place to meet up for dinner. That night, they decide to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. That interaction was also facilitated by digital media.
God is so creative with how He reaches people. He created the ideas for all the technology we have at our fingertips today. We as Christians need to harness its power and use it to point people back to Him.
Join us on Sunday, May 15 in using the Internet to reach out to a lost and dying world.
Mother’s Day
The Virtuous Woman ~ Proverbs 31:25-31 NLT
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.
28 Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
On this Mother’s Day, let us first reflect on the characteristics which God deems as important in a woman, and a mother. We can then reflect on some of the mothers of the Bible and see what a significant role they played in the lives of their children. These were women of God who imparted their faith to their children and who were instrumental in their children becoming who God destined them to be.
Naomi (Mother-in-law of Ruth)
Ruth 1:16-18 NLT
16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” 18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.
Through Naomi, Ruth married Boaz, her kinsman-redeemer, a wealthy and influential man. As a result of this marriage, she was even included in the genealogy of Jesus as accounted in the book of Matthew. She honored her mother-in-law, and God heaped blessings upon her. Naomi also became a grandmother in the process!
Mary (Mother of Jesus)
Luke 2:19 AMP
19But Mary was keeping within herself all these things (sayings), weighing and pondering them in her heart.
Luke 2:51b AMP
51…and his mother kept and closely and persistently guarded all these things in her heart.
John 2:1-5; 11a NLT
1 The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. 3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” 5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” …11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory.
Mary knew Jesus was the Son of God, but she watched Him grow up as her child. Prior to the wedding at Cana, Jesus had not performed any miracles, but she had watched and listened and pondered things regarding Him since His birth. So, when his mother was at the wedding and the wine had run out, she knew exactly who to call upon. And that very moment was the appointed time for Jesus to begin to reveal His glory on the earth through miracles, signs and wonders.
John 19:25-27 NLT
25 Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” 27 And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.
Jesus, like any good son, wanted to make sure His mother was cared for after He was physically absent from this earth. He entrusted her to one of His closest companions.
Eunice (Mother of Timothy)
2 Timothy 1:5 NLT
5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.
Not much is said about Timothy’s mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois. But Paul found their faith to be so strong that it was worth mentioning in his letter to Timothy, which became a part of the New Testament. What Paul wrote as an encouraging letter to Timothy has been encouraging and instructional for Christians for almost 2000 years. Timothy was strong in his faith in part because of the impartation he received from his mother and grandmother.
Take time today to thank God for your mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, stepmother, aunt or any other virtuous woman who has contributed to YOUR life of faith.
Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Celebrate Your Faith!
Passover
Passover for 2011 begins at sundown on Monday, April 18 and continues through the evening of Tuesday, April 26.
Passover begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan. Passover, or Pesach (in Hebrew), commemorates the Israelites Exodus from Egypt. Its name refers to the passage in the Book of Exodus (12:11) when God “passed over” the houses of the Israelites during the tenth plague. Passover is one of three pilgrimage festivals, along with Sukkot and Shavuot.
The verb “pasàch” is first mentioned in the Torah account of the Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12:23), and there is some debate about its exact meaning: the commonly held assumption that it means “He passed over”, in reference to God “passing over” the houses of the Hebrews during the final of the Ten Plagues of Egypt, stems from the translation provided in the Septuagint. Judging from other instances of the verb, and instances of parallelism, a more faithful translation may be “he hovered over, guarding.” Indeed, this is the image used by Isaiah by his use of this verb in Isaiah. 31:5: “As birds hovering, so will the lord of hosts protect Jerusalem; He will deliver it as He protecteth it, He will rescue it as He passeth over”.
Passover is also referred to as Chag he-Aviv (the Spring Festival), Chag ha-Matzoth (the Festival of Matzahs), and Zeman Herutenu (the Time of Our Freedom).
One of the most significant observances related to Passover involves the removal of chametz (leaven) from the home. This commemorates the fact that the Jews leaving Egypt were in a hurry, and did not have time to let their bread rise. It is also a symbolic way of removing the “puffiness” (arrogance, pride) from our souls.
The Passover Seder is a very special and sacred meal celebrated with family and friends. Jews who would not otherwise consider themselves “religious” oftentimes still celebrate this important meal. Many families in Israel will arrange to have the Passover Seder at a hotel or other large banquet facility to accommodate the large number of people in their extended families.
As Christians, we believe that Jesus is our Passover Lamb, and passages throughout the New Testament point to Him as such.
“Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” 1 Corinthians 5:7 NIV
“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” 1 Peter 1:19 KJV
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 NIV
The Communion Meal becomes the believers’ celebration of Jesus Christ as our Passover Lamb. We do not wait for a special time of year to celebrate His sacrifice, but rather we can celebrate it any time we partake of the bread and the cup in remembrance of Him (1 Corinthians 11:23-30). His sacrifice was not only for the forgiveness of our sins, but also for the healing of our physical bodies.
“The two parts: sin and disease, were removed from the Children of Israel by the blood and body of the Passover lamb respectively. Since Jesus Christ is our Passover Lamb once and for all the sin and disease are removed by the blood of Christ and the flesh of Christ.” (http://www.picturesofsilver.com/Teachings/our_passover_lamb.htm)
For additional information on the Jewish Passover, consider visiting these websites:
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/hot_topics/ht/passover-2011.shtml
http://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/default_cdo/jewish/Passover.htm
http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/holidaya.html
King James Bible KJV 400th Anniversary Celebration
May 2, 1611 – May 2, 2011
On May 2, 2011 the world will celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible. The history surrounding the publishing of this version of the Bible showed a hunger by the people to have the unadulterated Word of God accessible to them on a daily basis so they could commune with God and know Him through His Word.
The King James Version, or Authorized Version, of the Bible was commissioned at a time of Renaissance of literature and language in England, which led to a translation rich with the rhythms and beauty of Elizabethan poetry and drama. At the same time, the relatively new technology known as the printing press was seen as a means with which to open up accessibility to the Scriptures to ordinary Christians on a massive scale for the first time in history.
“There is no doubt in my mind that the King James Bible not Shakespeare set this language on its path to become a universal language on a scale unprecedented before or since.” – Melvyn Bragg, British Author and Broadcaster
The King James Version (KJV) of 1611, also known as “the people’s Bible”, became an enduring work in an age when religion mattered to almost everyone in a way that is difficult to appreciate today. When people believed in God and what the scriptures taught, Christian beliefs were part and parcel of daily life. It mattered what was taught and understood. It mattered what people really believed. It influenced their lives, their attitudes and their actions – from the highest in the land to the lowliest man or woman. The KJV had an enormous effect on peoples’ lives; its language and terminology may seem archaic today but it was the everyday parlance of ordinary people and its language became entwined into English literature over many generations, not just in England but wherever the Bible was carried into what has become the English-speaking world, and is with us today. (KJV Development)
“The King James Bible is a cornerstone of our culture and our language. Whatever our faith, whatever we believe, we have to recognise that the rhetorical power of this book, and in particular its power to fuse history with poetry, connects at the most fundamental level with our own history and poetry.” – Andrew Motion, Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, 1999-2009
A Timeline of Events leading up to the publishing of the King James Version
- 1601 – 16 May, a meeting of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland took place in the Parish Church of Burntisland, Fife, attended by King James VI of Scotland. It was at this meeting that the proposal to have a new translation of the Bible was first discussed.
- 1603 – James VI of Scotland became James I, King of England
- 1604 – The Hampton Court Conference on the future of the church; at this conference it was decided to commission a new translation of the Bible in an effort to provide a new translation which would be acceptable to everyone. The issue of too many marginal notes in the Geneva Bible became a rallying point for the adoption of the following resolution: “That a translation be made of the whole Bible, as consonant as can be to the original Hebrew and Greek; and this to be set out and printed, without any marginal notes, and only to be used in all churches of England in time of divine service.” King James I and Richard Bancroft, Bishop of London, later to become Archbishop of Canterbury, drew up instructions for the translators which would ensure that the new version would conform to the theology of the Church of England.
- 1610 – Meeting to discuss the translation at the Stationers Hall, City of London. Building on the advances in Hebrew and Greek scholarship, together with the insights of previous translators, the translation teams produced a remarkably rich and resonant version, which was to serve for public readings in churches as well as private devotional reading. The Bishop of Gloucester, Miles Smith, wrote the Preface, which acknowledged the new translation’s debt to its predecessors, but set out the hope that “out of many good ones” there would now be “one principal good one” used by everyone.
- 1611 – The King James Bible was published, despite considerable problems printing it.
- 1620 – The Pilgrim Fathers set sail to America, taking the English Bible with them. This was an immensely important step in the diffusion of the bible world-wide, which was further enhanced by its use during the expansion of British influence across the world with the East India Company, the establishment of colonies in Africa, and the discovery of Australia and New Zealand.
Four hundred years later, the King James Version of the Bible continues to inspire people from all walks of life and faith traditions and is regarded as the most influential book ever published in the English language. H.L. Mencken, a 20th Century American writer, praised it as “probably the most beautiful piece of writing in all the literature of the world.”
Celebrate Your Faith has a number of special 400th anniversary products in our Bible Boutique to celebrate this milestone. Remember, we can personalize any of these Bibles for you, for a gift, or any special occasion!
KJV Family Bible 400th Anniversary Commemorative Edition
This beautifully crafted family Bible will become a treasured heirloom for generations to come! This new edition contains a special full-color celebration of the 400th anniversary of the King James Version. Bonded brown leather.
400th Anniversary KJV 1611 Bible and NKJV Bible 2-Volume Commemorative Set 
This two volume set contains the New King James Version and the original KJV 1611 edition. This version has authentic spellings, capitalization, and punctuation used by the 1611 translators themselves, before centuries of changes began to occur. Set in roman type for easier reading, it includes the original notes, references, and books of the Bible, including the Apocrypha, as in 1611.
The King James Study Bible 400th Anniversary Edition
The most comprehensive King James Version study Bible published in 50 years, The King James Study Bible has 2,000-plus pages packed with thousands of notes and commentaries from respected conservative scholars. Also includes a 24-page full-color historical booklet commemorating the 400th anniversary of the King James Version.
KJV 400th Anniversary Bible – Black Genuine Cowhide Leather
This KJV 400th Anniversary Bible celebrates this passionate rendering of God’s Word, presenting it in a highest quality format for those who love the translation’s rich heritage and reverent language.
This study guide and prayer book celebrate the history of the King James Version of the Bible with topical Scripture text and historical information to bring encouragement, comfort, and joy to the reader. Scripture selections are divided into 45 topics that shed light on the vastness of God’s love for each one of us.
We have much more in our Bible Boutique! To view all of our King James Bibles or other translations follow the links below:
For more information on the 400th Anniversary of the King James Version, visit the following websites:
The King James Version 400th Anniversary
First Communion
The First Holy Communion is traditionally a Catholic Church ceremony, but it may also be celebrated by Anglicans and some Protestant denominations, particularly Lutherans.
During First Communion, a person first receives the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist (the Body and Blood of Christ). The Roman Catholics believe that Jesus Christ is actually present in the elements of the Eucharist, and that once they are blessed and consecrated, they cease to be mere bread and wine and they become Christ. Some other denominations treat Communion as a symbolic meal or a token of remembrance.
Whether it is perceived literally or figuratively, partaking of Holy Communion can bring you closer to Christ and help you focus on His finished work and what His broken Body and shed Blood mean for your life today. His Body was broken so your body could be healthy (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Corinthians 11:24). His Blood was shed for forgiveness of sins and to make you the righteousness of God in Christ (Matthew 26:28; John 6:56; Romans 3:25; Ephesians 1:7). He redeemed you from the curse of the law by His shed Blood (Galatians 3:13), so that you could have a life of blessing and abundance (John 10:10).
Roman Catholics believe this event to be very important, as the Eucharist is one of the central focuses of the Catholic Church. First Communion typically takes place around age seven or eight. This is a wonderful age in a child’s life to place the proper importance on regularly receiving Communion and training them as to how this can be an important way to focus on and honor Christ’s sacrifice.
First Communion should first and foremost holy, which simply means “separated unto God”. It should also be a memorable and special occasion that a child can reflect on as an crucial point in their walk of faith. Truly, First Communion is an initiation into one of the Great Mysteries. Parents and godparents are responsible for preparing the child by firmly grounding him/her in basic catechesis.
Click this link for more in depth information on Holy Communion.
First Communion is a notable and festive occasion for Roman Catholic families. Traditions surrounding First Communion usually include large family gatherings and parties to celebrate the event and special clothing is usually worn. The clothing is often white to symbolize purity.
Gifts of a religious nature are usually given. Rosaries are a very popular First Communion gift. Rosaries can be used to guide a child to prayer and fellowship with God. Beads, in fact, have long been a spiritual tool. The Middle English word “bede” means “prayer.” The expression “to bid (or tell) the beads” meant to say one’s prayers.
Other special gifts of religious jewelry, keepsake Bibles and prayer books, and religious statues and icons are also very traditional. They are a wonderful way to convey your support and excitement for this foundational step in the life of faith of a child.
Shop our incredible selection of First Communion gifts today!
The Ultimate Love Letter; The Ultimate Gift
Have you ever sat down and written a love letter to someone? It could be your husband or wife, your child, your grandparent or your best friend. Love letters come in all shapes and sizes and can express a variety of types of love, from romantic love to friendship to familial love. Or have you looked for the perfect poem on a greeting card to help you convey your feelings? Whether you’ve written it yourself, or searched for it in a large sea of red greeting cards, chances are at some point you’ve desired to express your feelings of love for another person through the written word.
Then maybe you decide to go one step further and get this special someone a gift to illustrate your affections. You want the perfect gift, so you think long and hard about just what would make your Valentine the happiest. You want it to be personal and meaningful so that it is representative of your love and is not just “another gift” to be put on the shelf and forgotten about.
You know, God has written us the Ultimate Love Letter. It is perfectly personal. It is marvelously meaningful. It is timeless yet relevant. It is the Bible.
The Bible is an unfolding of His love for mankind – and not just for mankind as a whole, but for YOU individually. He gave us His Word so that at any given moment, we could open the Book and be reassured of His love for us.
God’s written Word is a revelation of Jesus. All throughout the Old Testament, Jesus is hidden in the stories and the details of the offerings and prophetic passages. Jesus is revealed in the Sin Offering. He is revealed in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel 3:25). He is revealed in the Messianic Psalms of David. He is revealed in Isaiah 53. And then in the New Testament, He is revealed in the flesh.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:1,14 KJV
God’s Ultimate Gift to us was the sending of His Son, Jesus. As we see from John 1, Jesus and the Word are one in the same. He always existed as the Word of God, but at the appointed time, He became God incarnate, in order to dwell among us and redeem us back to God by His death on the Cross. Now, we experience Him through His Word. It’s hard to comprehend sometimes that as we hold the Word of God in our hands, we hold Jesus in our hands. Jesus is God’s greatest expression of love for us. Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection is the only way by which God is able to have unbroken fellowship with us, His people.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 NKJV
He also gave us the Holy Spirit to abide with us forever. Our salvation is sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13 & 4:30). We also experience Jesus through the words that the Holy Spirit speaks to us. He is still revealing Jesus to each of us today in a very personal way. It is also by the Holy Spirit that the love of God is available to us to in turn express to other people.
“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:5 NKJV
Some other translations of Romans 5:5 help us to appreciate and comprehend it’s message even better.
“…God’s love has been poured forth into and continues inundating our hearts…” Blackwelder, Boyce. Letter from Paul, An Exegetical Translation.“
…For God has given us a love transfusion by the Holy Spirit He provided for us.” Jordan, Clarence. The Cotton Patch Version of Paul’s Epistles.
“…we are able to hold our heads high no matter what happens and know that all is well… because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.” TLB
It is through God’s love for us that we have the capacity and ability to love others unconditionally. This Valentine’s Day, seek a greater revelation of God’s love for you by spending time in His Word. Ask Him to help you to see Jesus in the Word. Ask Him to help you to love others in a deeper way. Ask Him to increase your compassion for others.
My Valentine’s prayer for you is that the Lord will cause you to be full and to overflow with a growing and glowing love for each other (1 Thessalonians 3:12 Tomanek, Weymouth).
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Purity
When you hear the word “purity”, what immediately comes to mind? Most likely, sexual purity. But the true nature and subsequent outworking of purity begins on a much deeper level – it begins with our hearts.
Purity conjures up the idea of willpower for many people. It involves gritting our teeth and digging our heels in, and hoping we can hold on JUST long enough to walk down the aisle. It’s as though it is something we must resist because is seems to be against the natural order of things. A large part of why we believe that way is because secular society has desensitized us to what the natural order of things is supposed to be.
Purity is not a concept that goes by the wayside once we are married. It’s just as relevant to remain pure during marriage, although at that point it obviously takes on a slightly different focus.
Our standard is to be the Word of God, so we must look there to see what God says about purity. We are IN this world but not OF this world when we are born again into the family of God. Here are some Scriptures that admonish us to remain pure:
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
“Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.” Romans 6:13-14
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.” 1 Peter 2:11
But, how do we do live a lifestyle of purity? In the book, “Sassy, Single & Satisfied” by Michelle McKinney Hammond, she has a chapter entitled “How to Handle Raging Hormones”. While she is specifically dealing with physical purity in this chapter, the contents can be applied to purity in any arena.
What is the solution? Worship.
Worship is intimacy on a spiritual level. We are a 3-part being: we are a spirit, we have a soul (our mind, will and emotions) and we live in a body. Our spirit-man is the REAL us. Our spirit-man is meant to rule over our soul and our body. So, when our soul and/or body begin to talk to us, we must rise above in the spirit realm. This is the only way we will experience true and lasting victory in the area of purity.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8
Suddenly, this Scripture does not seem so unattainable. We are “pure in heart” when we worship God, when we direct our affections and our time and our minds towards Him. As we fill up our hearts with time in worship towards the Lord, this place of purity will spill over into our souls and our bodies.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23
That is not to say that we will not be tested. The Bible also says in Revelation that we overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. Keep these or other Purity Scriptures handy and speak them out of your mouth when you are tempted or tested in the area of purity. The Word of God you are speaking will bear witness with your spirit, which is born of God, and you will better be able to quiet the thoughts and desires that are trying to rise up in you. God WANTS you to succeed even more than you want yourself to succeed, so lean and rely on Him whenever you need to.
“God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12
Purity jewelry is a great gift for a friend or loved one, as a reminder to them of the importance of keeping a pure body, soul and spirit. It can also be the perfect gift to give to yourself. A visual cue is a very powerful tool. Don’t always wait for someone else to come along and encourage you, you are well able to provide encouragement for yourself! A meaningful piece of jewelry is a reminder of our value and of our ability to live a pure life with God’s help.
Keep a pure heart and purity will flow from that place and permeate every area of your life!
Check out the selection of purity rings we have available:
