Because Jesus rose again….

We don’t have to fear tomorrow or face it alone

We have peace that surpasses all understanding

We are sons and daughters of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords

We can sing praises of your matchless love, grace and mercy

We can sleep knowing that should we never wake, the splendors of Heaven await us

We have hope that never ends, regardless of the darkness chasing us

We can take our greatest treasures with us to Heaven…our family and friends

We enjoy the majesty of this gift of life and the beauty you’ve filled it with

We can live an abundant life experiencing joy as only you can give

We can smile through tears, knowing that all things work together for good

We can stand strong in His strength and work though His power, not our own

We are refreshed by the daily renewing of His mercies

We are encouraged by His faithfulness

We know that every tear will be wiped away

We know that His love reaches us…..regardless

We know true, honest and pure love

We know that our God is greater

AND because a single promise was kept….

We are looking for the promised return, knowing it could be any moment… a twinkling of an eye

Marie Wikle

@spreadingJOY

This article was first published in Tell It on the Mountain eMagazine by DeAnne McBurnie. Thank you DeAnne for how you are spreading JOY!

Marie is the founder/President of Spreading Joy Corporation, a Non Profit that is dedicated to reminding others of the simple joy of giving. To find out more about making a difference for others without breaking the bank, more encouraging articles and more about her book Spreading Joy Daily please visit her site at http://www.spreading-joy.org

The post A Promise Kept first appeared on CHRISTIAN REP.

I love the fact that HE looks for us! He wants to spend time with us. Not just hear our prayers, but he longs to just spend time together.

Isn’t that an amazing thought?

The King of Kings and LORD of Lords wants to spend time with us?

We wake in the morning and God sees us in our sleepy slumber and thinks, “THERE she/he is…. I HOPE they spend some time with me today!” or maybe it is something like “I hope we can sit and remember the wonderful things that made him/her smile yesterday! What a smile it will bring again today!”

OR maybe it will be, “I can’t wait until she/he sings today! I know it’s never on key, but it’s pure joy to my heart!”

But I wonder how often God may think “ Well, at least they talk to me in prayer, they think they need so many things…I wish they would just trust me more.”

Are we guilty of that?

Are we guilty of using and abusing the grace that God so freely gives us? We know His grace will reach farther than our minds can even imagine.

Do we use HIS grace as a get out of jail free card? Saying “well, I know that isn’t right but God will forgive me.”

It’s true, HE will – but intentionally trampling all over the gift of God’s grace is not a way of keeping the sweet fellowship that we all need, not to mention the horrible image of God that we are reflecting.

Imagine how your heart would sink if your children did that day in and day out. Imagine how your heart would feel if your child was known as the child that took advantage of your good graces. It’s not a feeling I want to endure.

God thinks we are so amazing and so precious that He sent His only Son to die for us. His grace is a blood bought gift that I treasure from the King of Glory.

I HOPE that you treasure it as well.

Majesty gives us grace.

Royalty paid our debt

The King of Kings loves us more than we can ever know.

Yes, we can come as we are, but think about bringing your best after we are part of HIS family.

Yes, HE calls us friend, but gladly show the respect that Royalty deserves.

Yes, we are his child and He will always adore us, but let’s love and ADORE our Father!

God’s Grace….don’t take it for granted.

1 Timothy 1:14
And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 2:1
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:9
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men

Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

1 Corinthians 1:3
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

httpv://youtu.be/gQzrqmcwg8o

httpv://youtu.be/Oj06mYUj5Wk

Spreading Joy is as simple as posting on Twitter, Facebook, Linked In or Google + as well as pinning on Pinterest.

Do you have an article on this topic? I invite you to leave it below in the comment sections so others can easily find MORE encouragement and thank you for doing so!

Thank you for your efforts in Spreading JOY

Marie is the founder/President of Spreading Joy Corporation, a Non Profit that is dedicated to reminding others of the simple joy of giving. To find out more about making a difference for others without breaking the bank, more encouraging articles and more about her book Spreading Joy Daily please visit her site at http://www.spreading-joy.org

The post Gifts Of God’s Grace first appeared on CHRISTIAN REP.

“Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

One day, and it’s coming soon, every knee will bow at the name of Jesus and confess he is Lord. That is the claim of the the Bible as it speaks of what Jesus did and who he is.

Every knee will bow.  This is a claim of exclusive nature.  It’s a claim that Jesus, and Jesus alone will be worshipped one day as Lord of heaven and earth. That’s why Jesus is the lightning rod of so much conflict and discussion.

If he is who he claimed we all must worship him.  If he isn’t then any other religion will work just fine. But this claim from Philippians demands attention.  It forces us to make a decision- either he is Lord or he isn’t.  He doesn’t get a “nice guy” pat on the back and “glad you were a good man” claim.  That is not an option.

If he was and is who he claimed and this passage will one day be reality (as I believe it will) then every knee will bow and worship Jesus as God.

No matter your religious faith this claim is profound!  It’s a claim that one day Stalin will bow his knees to Jesus, one day the Pope will bow, Muhammad will bow, Buddha will bow, Charles Darwin will bow, Richard Dawkins will bow, Gandhi will bow, every man, woman, boy and girl of all history will bow and worship him as Lord.

One day we will see all the “greats” of time and history  on their knees before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  If the bible is true it would be the wisest choice of your life to bow your knees now and worship the one who claimed to be God because one day we all will bow our knees and worship him.  Why not start now?

Visit Mike at Finishing Well.

The post One Day…. first appeared on CHRISTIAN REP.

Because Jesus rose again….

We don’t have to fear tomorrow or face it alone

We have peace that surpasses all understanding

We are sons and daughters of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords

We can sing praises of your matchless love, grace and mercy

We can sleep knowing that should we never wake, the splendors of Heaven await us

We have hope that never ends, regardless of the darkness chasing us

We can take our greatest treasures with us to Heaven…our family and friends

We enjoy the majesty of this gift of life and the beauty you’ve filled it with

We can live an abundant life experiencing joy as only you can give

We can smile through tears, knowing that all things work together for good

We can stand strong in His strength and work though His power, not our own

We are refreshed by the daily renewing of His mercies

We are encouraged by His faithfulness

We know that every tear will be wiped away

We know that His love reaches us…..regardless

We know true, honest and pure love

We know that our God is greater

AND because a single promise was kept….

We are looking for the promised return, knowing it could be any moment… a twinkling of an eye

Marie Wikle

@spreadingJOY

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfgf-R7bPsw

John 2:19-22 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQge-HcanSM&feature=related

1 Corinthians 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnHy1VC5EQo

Acts 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

The post A Promise Kept first appeared on CHRISTIAN REP.

When Jesus said to ‘Follow Me‘, he was looking for completely committed followers, not just fans. He wants us to be all in, not just with our toes in the water at the edge of the pool. Meditate on these awesome verses and join in following the King of Kings!

• “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”  Matthew 4:19
• But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”  Matthew 8:22
• As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.  Matthew 9:9
• Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.   Matthew 10:38
• Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24
• Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”  Matthew 19:21
• Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.   Matthew 19:28
• “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”  Matthew 1:17
• As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.  Mark 2:14
• Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”  Mark 10:21
• After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him,  Luke 5:27
• Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”  Luke 9:23
• He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”  Luke 9:59
• Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”  Luke 9:61
• And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.  Luke 14:27
• When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”  Luke 18:22
• The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”  John 1:43
• When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12
• My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  John 10:27
• Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.  John 12:26
• Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”  John 21:19
• Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”  John 21:22

Watch this interview with Kyle Idleman, Teaching Pastor at Southeast Christian Church, talk about what it means to go from being an enthusiastic admirer of Jesus to a completely and utterly, committed follower.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVXs0vkQNvc

Visit their website for more testimonies at not a fan.

Interested in reading more what this means? Check out the book on Amazon…

The post Are You A Fan Or A Follower? first appeared on CHRISTIAN REP.

The Bible says He’s the King of the Jews.

He’s the King of Israel.

He’s the King of righteousness.

He’s the King of the ages.

He’s the King of Heaven.

He’s the King of glory.

He’s the King of Kings and He is the Lord of Lords.

Now that’s my King.

David said the heavens declare the glory of God,

and the firmament shows His handiwork.

No means of measure can define His limitless love.

No far-seeing telescope can bring into visibility

the coastline of His shoreless supply.

No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.

Well, well, He’s enduringly strong.

He’s entirely sincere.

He’s eternally steadfast.

He’s immortally graceful.

He’s imperially powerful.

He’s impartially merciful.

That’s my King.

He’s God’s Son.

He’s the sinner’s savior.

He’s the centerpiece of civilization.

He stands alone in Himself.

He’s august.

He’s unique.

He’s unparalleled.

He’s unprecedented.

He’s supreme.

He’s preeminent.

He’s the loftiest idea in literature.

He’s the highest personality in philosophy.

He’s the supreme problem in high criticism.

He’s the fundamental doctrine of proved theology.

He’s the carnal necessity of spiritual religion.

That’s my King.

He’s the miracle of the age.

He’s the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him.

He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously.

He supplies strength for the weak.

He’s available for the tempted and the tried.

He sympathizes and He saves.

He’s a strong God and He guides.

He heals the sick.

He cleanses the lepers.

He forgives sinners.

He discharges debtors.

He delivers the captives.

He defends the feeble.

He blesses the young.

He serves the unfortunate.

He regards the aged.

He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek.

Do you know Him?

Well, my King is the key of knowledge.

He’s the wellspring of wisdom.

He’s the doorway of deliverance.

He’s the pathway of peace.

He’s the roadway of righteousness.

He’s the highway of holiness.

He’s the gateway of glory.

He’s the master of the mighty.

He’s the captain of the conquerors.

He’s the head of the heroes.

He’s the leader of the legislatures.

He’s the overseer of the overcomers.

He’s the governor of governors.

He’s the prince of princes.

He’s the King of kings and He’s the Lord of lords.

That’s my King! Yeah. Yeah. That’s my King. My King, Yeah!

His office is manifold.

His promise is sure.

His light is matchless.

His goodness is limitless.

His mercy is everlasting.

His love never changes.

His Word is enough.

His grace is sufficient.

His reign is righteous.

His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

Well, I wish I could describe Him to you,

but He’s indescribable. He’s indescribable.

He’s incomprehensible.

He’s invincible.

He’s irresistible.

I’m coming to tell you,

the heavens of heavens cannot contain Him,

let alone a man explain Him.

You can’t get Him out of your mind.

You can’t get Him off of your hands.

You can’t outlive Him

and you can’t live without Him.

Well, Pharisees couldn’t stand Him,

but they found out they couldn’t stop Him.

Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him.

The witnesses couldn’t get their testimonies to agree.

Herod couldn’t kill Him.

Death couldn’t handle Him and the grave couldn’t hold Him.

That’s my King! Yeah!

He always has been and He always will be.

I’m talking about He had no predecessor

and He’ll have no successor.

There was nobody before Him and there’ll be nobody after Him.

You can’t impeach Him and He’s not going to resign.

That’s my King! That’s my King!

Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory.

The glory is all His.

Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory,

forever and ever and ever

and when you get through with all of the forevers, then . . .
AMEN!

The post That’s My King by Dr. S. M. Lockridge first appeared on CHRISTIAN REP.