Beatings, Pain, Death… – Why is Today Called “Good” Friday??

April 3, 2015April 5, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

GOOD FRIDAY – The Crucifixion of Jesus.

My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot,
    like a root in dry ground.
There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance,
    nothing to attract us to him.
He was despised and rejected—
    a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
    He was despised, and we did not care.
Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
    it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
    a punishment for his own sins!
But he was pierced for our rebellion,
    crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
    He was whipped so we could be healed.                                                                                                  Isaiah 53:2-5
—————————————————-

Why is today known as “Good” Friday?

Although Jesus died a terrible, excruciating death, on Good Friday, this day is remembered as “Good” because it was through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross that ALL PEOPLE, (not some, not just “special” people, not just rich people, not just poor people, not just law-abiding people, etc.), ALL PEOPLE, have the opportunity to restore their relationship with God.

And when the time comes for our earthly lives to be over, we will not simply be reduced to nothing, nor will we be alone. No, we will live forever with God in heaven. When God promises He will, wipe every tear from our eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things will be gone forever. – Revelation 21:4

See my tab, The Cornerstone…,http://wp.me/P5nZpi-bJ, if you’d like to know how you can have a personal relationship with God, the creator of everything.

If you would like to receive notifications when new posts are published, click on the FOLLOW button in the sidebar. Or if you are viewing from your mobile device, scroll down the page and you’ll see the FOLLOW blog via email button 🙂
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I Pray, Does God Hear Me, Does He Answer Me?? – (Part 3 of 3)

March 18, 2015March 25, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

In my last two posts, I Pray, Does God Hear Me, Does He Answer Me?? – (Part 1), http://wp.me/p5nZpi-hK, and I Pray, Does God Hear Me, Does He Answer Me?? – (Part 2), http://wp.me/p5nZpi-i5, we’ve been talking about seeking God’s guidance through prayer.

Part 1 touched on our human tendency to put God into “our box”, how to know what God’s will is for us, and whether or not God answers our prayers. To illustrate this, I used an example of choosing between two colleges. Part 2 touched on whether or not God is answering our prayers because we still have so many unanswered questions. In Part 3 we’ll be answering the question we left off with from Part 2 –

HOW SHOULD I PROCEED THEN?

When you feel a prompting to further investigate, or clarify a question, go for it! When you’re just doing “your thing”, and suddenly a thought comes to mind, this could be God prompting you. Investigate 🙂

God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. – Job 33:14

Keep this in mind, questioning doesn’t mean your ideas, or desires are bad choices. Instead, seeking and receiving answers to your questions will give you clarity and a sense of peace, enabling you to take steps forward.

So proceed in the direction you feel most led towards. And trust that God will “shut the door” if it’s the wrong choice, and “open the door” to the right choice …the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me. – 2 Corinthians 2:12

WARNING: Do Not attempt to force open a closed-door. Trust that God will “open the ‘right’ door” for you. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full – John 10:10

The more you actively seek God’s guidance, and follow His promptings, the more confidence you’ll have in God. Know in your mind and your heart that He will show up to guide and direct you in all your decisions. No decision or circumstance is too big, or too small for God.

EXPECT AND LOOK FOR GOD’S ANSWER TO YOUR PRAYERS:

I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. – Psalm 17:6

FOR PARTS 1 & 2 SEE: I Pray, Does God Hear Me, Does He Answer Me?? – (Part 1) – http://wp.me/p5nZpi-h, and I Pray, Does God Hear Me, Does He Answer Me?? – (Part 2) – http://wp.me/p5nZpi-i5

If you would like to receive notifications when new posts are published, click on the FOLLOW button in the sidebar. Or if you are viewing from your mobile device, scroll down the page and you’ll see the FOLLOW blog via email button 🙂
It you are viewing with the mobile version, scroll down to the bottom of this page for additional info and pics 🙂
Take a look at the other tabs in the menu for encouragement and inspiration as you continue to BUILD A FOUNDATION!!

Outward Show or From the Heart?? – ZEPHANIAH – 3i [17 OUT OF 17]

December 19, 2014December 19, 2014buildafoundation Leave a comment

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. – 2 Timothy 4:7

Then God, through the prophet Zephaniah, ends the Book of Zephaniah with strength and authority —

20)) On that day I will gather you together
    and bring you home again.
I will give you a good name, a name of distinction,
    among all the nations of the earth,
as I restore your fortunes before their very eyes.
    I, the Lord, have spoken!

This short, three chapter, Book of Zephaniah started out as a message of terror in chapter 1, but concludes in chapter 3 with a message of hope.

We read in this book that one man, King Josiah, attempted to reform the people of Judah/Jerusalem encouraging them, more like ordering them, to follow God. Although the people appeared to follow God, this was just facade (a way of behaving or appearing that gives other people a false idea of your true feelings or situation), because in their hearts they were far from God.

Hopefully reading Zephaniah has got you thinking about your own relationship with God. Is your relationship just an outward show? Do you go to church on Sunday, and don’t think about God again until the next Sunday? Or, when you leave church you get road rage when cars seemingly take forever to get out of the church’s parking lot? Or do you praise God in church, but with that same voice use God’s name in vain, or speak negatively about another?

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. – James 3:9

Because we are fallen people, everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard – Romans 3:23, we all need reminders, found in the Bible, of how to live life God’s Way. It is so easy to get caught up in the world’s expectations of us. Have this kind of house, this kind of job, send your kids to this kind of school, and on and on and on. But what God tells us is that what we need most is a Savior (Jesus). One who can free us from the bondage of our sins – anger, envy, greed, etc.

If you are currently living your life apart from God, or appearing outwardly to be a God-follower, but your heart is far from Him, honoring God with your lips, but your heart is far from Him – Matthew 15:8 you can choose today, right now, to exercise your free will and begin to experience restoration and healing in your life.

The message is close at hand, And that message is the very message about faith that we preach:

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” – Romans 10:8-13