ينبوع الحياة الابدية

Waiting for God's perfect timing...

2012-02-15T12:06:00.000+01:00

Waiting for God – He Acts on our Behalf

Are you waiting for God? He acts on our behalf as we wait for Him. “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him” (Isaiah 64:4).

Waiting for God – He Strengthens Us

As you are waiting for God, He strengthens you. “But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings as eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

I once heard an illustration about how God strengthens us during trials. It went like this: “Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks? The eagle will fly to high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it. The eagle does not escape the storm; it simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm. When the storms of life come upon us, we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God. The storms do not have to overcome us; we can allow God's power to lift us above them. God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure, and disappointment into our lives. We can soar above the storm. Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.”

Waiting for God – He Blesses Us

When waiting for God, He blesses you. “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him” (Isaiah 30:18).

What does it mean to be blessed by God while we wait on Him? As we wait on God and His timing, He can accomplish so much in our hearts. Often we find new purpose in life, receive answers to prayer, see God work, increase our faith, and most often we see God’s perfect plan fulfilled in our situation.

Remember, waiting is not wasted time!

Experiencing Manifestations of the Love of Christ - Tim Conway

2012-02-13T11:06:00.000+01:00

God Knows You And He Has A Plan For Your Life

2012-02-06T12:46:00.000+01:00

إن دخل المسيح لقلبك حتمـًا ستقوم الثورة

2012-02-03T12:26:00.000+01:00

God's Promise For Today...

2012-01-30T10:34:00.000+01:00

God of the possible!!

2012-01-20T12:53:00.000+01:00

The things that may be impossible for men pose no problem for God because, as Jesus said, "With God all things are possible.

As you try to break free from things that have held you captive, remember — “With God all things are possible.”

• Are you dragged down by declining hopes, diminished faith, even the death of apersonal vision for your life?

•• Remember, Jesus literally raised the dead!

• All things are possible with God.

• Are you facing some fiery trial or persecution?

•• Remember how God delivered the three young friends of Daniel from Babylon’s fiery furnace.

• “With God all things are possible.”

• No matter how great an obstacle you are facing, remember: Nothing is too difficult for God.

“With man this is impossible, but with God
all things are possible.”

Sailing Into New Year...

2011-12-30T14:21:00.001+01:00

God built and launched this year for you;

Upon the bridge you stand;

It’s your ship, aye, your own ship,

And you are in command.

Just what the twelve months? trip will do

Rests wholly, solely, friend, with you.

Your logbook kept from day to day

My friend, what will it show?

Have you on your appointed way

Made progress, yes or no?

The log will tell, like guiding star,

The sort of captain that you are.

For weal or woe this year is yours;

Your ship is on life’s sea

Your acts, as captain, must decide

Whichever it shall be;

So now in starting on your trip,

Ask God to help you sail your ship.

If this is to be a Happy New Year, a year of usefulness, a year in which we shall live to make this earth better, it is because God will direct our pathway. How important then, to feel our dependence upon Him!

Merry Christmas To All Of You!

2011-12-24T11:24:00.001+01:00

For to us a child is born,
   to us a son is given,
   and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
   Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

No Room In The Inn.

2011-12-17T14:13:00.001+01:00

She brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

— Luke 2:7

In these days of modern technology, we never miss a thing with TiVo, voice mail, DVD recorders, and camera phones. But even though our toys keep us from missing a phone call, they can also cause us to miss the real reason for the holiday season.

You can watch Christmas disappear in front of your eyes, in a heap of shredded wrapping paper, and find yourself saying, "I was so busy shopping, so busy attending this, going to that, that I think I actually missed the point of Christmas."

It might be surprising to know that the majority of people missed the very first Christmas as well. People just carried on with business as usual, paying no attention to what was happening just a few feet away.

In Luke chapter 2, we are introduced to an innkeeper who had no time for Christmas. In this familiar story, Mary and Joseph came to the innkeeper for a room, but because his inn was full, he turned them away.

The only place he had for this young pregnant woman and her husband was a stable, a cold, dark, and damp stable—which was more than likely a cave. He was too preoccupied with other things to make the time for Christmas.

There are people like this in the world today. They don't necessarily oppose or hate God outright. They are simply preoccupied. God and spiritual things do not concern them. Their interests lie more in what can immediately satisfy their own physical needs. The innkeeper was too busy to make room in the inn for the soon coming Messiah.

Let me ask you this: have you made room for Jesus this Christmas? If not, there is still time to refocus and make room for Christ this Christmas, today!

Greg Laurie

What Child Is This.... Christmas hymn

2011-12-16T22:29:00.000+01:00

The most Beautiful Christmas song with lyrics

2011-12-11T12:22:00.000+01:00

Mary, did you know

that your baby boy will one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know

that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?

Did you know,

that your baby boy has come to make you new?

This child that you've delivered,

will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know

that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know

your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?

Did you know,

that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?

When you kiss your little baby,

you've kissed the face of God.

The blind will see

The deaf will hear

The dead will live again.

The lame will leap

The dumb will speak

The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know

that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know

that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?

Did you know,

that your baby boy is heaven's perfect lamb?

This sleeping child you're holding, is the great I AM.

God's Promise to you for 2012

2011-11-30T10:02:00.000+01:00

The reason why we celebrate Christmas.

2011-11-28T15:37:00.000+01:00

Many believe that there are only two tellings of the Christmas story in Scripture: Luke 3, and Matthew 1-2. But there is a third telling: John chapter one.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him as life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. -John 1:1-17

I do not want to take away from the greatness of the other Christmas stories in Scripture, but this is my favorite out of the three, and it saddens me that it is often forgotten. It may not give historical details of his birth, but it says most clearly the heart of why we celebrate on Christmas.

The focus of Christmas isn't that Jesus was once born. I have often asked people why Christmas is important and they answer is that it needed to have happened for Jesus to get to Calvary. Well, that is true, but there were a great number of things that needed to happen for that, and we don't celebrate them all.

The reason we celebrate Christmas is the reason that John gives: The Word of God became flesh. That the light of God came to men. That the Holy God thought it good to come down to Earth and get His hands dirty with our mess. That is something worthy to celebrate.

We do not celebrate "Peace on Earth and good will towards men", though the coming of Christ does bring that. What we are celebrating is the graciousness of God in sending His Son to the Earth.

The Christmas season lasts a couple of weeks after Christmas day, so don't set Christmas thoughts aside yet, and take time this weekend to contemplate the sending of the Son, and pain, suffering, and humiliation that endured for you and me.

Martin Glynn

O Come All Ye Faithful - Casting Crowns

2011-11-25T18:39:00.001+01:00

The Man Who Tried to Stop Christmas

2011-11-18T16:28:00.000+01:00

A real war has been raging over Christmas. Many retailers have instructed their employees to no longer say, “Merry Christmas,” but to say, “Seasons Greetings” or “Happy Holidays” instead. We see this trend being carried through to the public schools and other places. Some school districts in Florida and New Jersey have prohibited the singing of Christmas carols altogether. And in Texas of all places, a school confiscated one child’s gifts for classmates, which were pencils with the inscription, “Jesus is the reason for the season.”

A Wisconsin elementary school actually changed the lyrics for “Silent Night” to a secularized version, “Cold in the Night.”

“God Rest You Merry Persons?”

Attempts to create a politically correct version of Christmas are not only happening in the U.S., but abroad as well. Cardiff Cathedral, an Anglican Church in Wales, has made the hymn, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” more gender-friendly by renaming it, “God Rest You Merry Persons.” (That just doesn’t have the same sound.) Some are even suggesting they take it a step further by substituting the words “higher power” for God in the lyrics. Now we are losing the whole point of the song.

Worse than the Grinch

Efforts to stop Christmas have been going on for a very long time. In fact, someone tried to stop the first Christmas, and he wasn’t a fictional character like the Grinch or Ebenezer Scrooge. He is known as Herod the Great. Herod was born into a politically well-connected family, and at the age of 25, he was named the governor of Galilee – a very high-ranking position for such a young man. The Romans were hoping that Herod would somehow be able to control the Jews who lived in that area. And in 40 B.C., the Roman Senate gave Herod the title of “king of the Jews.” This was a title the Jews especially hated, because Herod was not a religious man. He was not a devout man. He had no regard for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, or for the Jewish people. But he loved that title because it spoke of power.

Herod the Great?

And that was Herod’s problem. He was addicted to power. Power has been described as the ultimate human obsession, and that certainly was the case with King Herod. His craftiness knew no barriers, because he had a morbid distrust of anyone who would try to take his reign. He had his spies fan out and constantly look for any potential threats to his throne. Over the years, he killed many people whom he perceived as a threat, including his brother-in-law, mother-in-law, two of his own sons and even his wife. The ancient historian Josephus described Herod as barbaric. Another writer described him as the malevolent maniac.

The real “King of the Jews.”

By the time Jesus was born, Herod’s life was coming to an end. The so-called king of the Jews was slowly dying of a disease, and he was rapidly losing his mind. He had successfully fought off all attempts to take his power away when mysterious visitors from the east suddenly came blowing into town. They were strange men with strange questions. And right off the bat, they pushed Herod’s button when they said they were looking for the one who was born the king of the Jews. That was Herod’s title, but he certainly wasn’t born the king of the Jews. Yet that is who the wise men were looking for.

So Herod called in the members of the local clergy to assist him, scribes who had spent their lives in the study of Scripture. Immediately they pointed to the prophecy of Micah that predicted the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. But Herod wasn’t thinking about prophetic significance; he was thinking about the threat to his throne. He secretly called in the wise men and asked them to tell him exactly when the star appeared. Then he told them to search for the child and when they had found him, to report back so that he could go and worship also. But the Bible tells us that after the wise men found Jesus and worshipped him, God warned them in a dream not to return to Herod. So the wise men took a different way home.

Herod was so angry these wise men had not reported back to him that he freaked out. All the worst instincts of a lifetime of cruelty came to the surface, and he ordered the cold-blooded murder of all males in Bethlehem and its districts under the age of 2.

Contrast of Kings

We find an interesting contrast of kings in this story. Both possessed immense power, but how they chose to use it revealed the hearts of two radically different men. Herod was a tyrant; Jesus was a servant. One was consumed with self-interest; the other was focused on pleasing God and serving others. One manipulated, slandered, deceived and coerced, while the other healed, touched, taught and loved.

Herod tried to stop Christmas, and more to the point, he tried to stop Christ. But even with all of his wealth and power and influence, he came to ruin.

‘Happy Holidays’

Like Herod, there are people today who oppose Christmas. They don’t want us to say, “Merry Christmas.” They don’t want us to say that Jesus is the reason for the season. They don’t want us to sing our Christmas carols. They don’t want us to post the Ten Commandments in our classrooms or have prayers in public places. They don’t want any freedom of expression in our culture. They want to impose their values – or lack of values – on us. There are people today who oppose everything about God or about Jesus Christ. And that is what Herod did. He was a man who fought against God and ended up destroying himself.

Don’t forget Jesus at Christmas.

Of course, we can complain about people who are leaving Christ out of Christmas, but let’s not do that ourselves. We can forget to keep Christ in Christmas with all of our busyness at this time of year. The wise men had it right. They wanted to worship Jesus. And that is quite dramatic when you consider these men were like royalty themselves, yet willing to bow before the baby king. Their gifts were an expression of worship from the overflow of adoring and grateful hearts. And right worship is always – and must be – the only basis for right giving and right service. Christmas is all about Christ. It is not about Christmas presents; it is about His Christmas presence in our lives.

Greg Laurie

احسبها صح 2011 :::: اختبار ريمون

2011-11-12T19:48:00.000+01:00

احسبها صح 2011 :::: عمر ماكان الفداء حدوته

2011-11-11T15:52:00.000+01:00

Preparing the way

2011-11-08T15:55:00.002+01:00

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

2011-11-02T22:55:00.000+01:00

Jeremiah 29:11

2011-10-24T10:33:00.000+02:00

How To deal with Jealous People As A Godly Woman?

2011-10-20T11:05:00.000+02:00

Jealousy is one of the hardest things to deal with in relationships. And, it especially hurts if it's a close friend who appears jealous of where God is taking you in a relationship. Have you experienced this before? Has someone who you hoped would be happy for you exhibited signs of jealousy? Did they seem to despise you because of your blissful relationship? I'm sure many of us have been through this. This is exactly what a Facebook friend of mine experienced and was led to share her question with me. With her permission, I am address it in this column.

Her question was, "I seem to be around a lot of jealous folks, "relationship killers", that try to destroy everything I get- even relationships. It seems, some people get mad, especially if they are miserable. So what should I do?"

Unfortunately, people who are battling, struggling and fighting with deep issues often have a hard time celebrating someone else who is happy. It's an unfortunate truth that I have personally faced on many occasions. There are individuals who say they love you, support you and are there for you. But the truth is, they have ulterior motives and inwardly, they are battling ugly vices like deep-rooted jealousy and envy.

Years ago, I experienced a similar situation. I was dating a guy who happened to be good friends with members of a family that appeared to be very sweet. So naturally, he introduced me to these individuals he highly regarded. In this family was a mother who was married with three beautiful daughters- one was my age at the time. Well, my relationship with this gentleman was going perfectly fine until his "friends" began treating me completely differently in his absence. I ended up alone with them a couple of times while he was busy with other matters. He had no idea how uncomfortable I was. This not-so-friendly family was so mean-spirited, they nearly discouraged me from continuing on in my relationship with a guy who was so blind to the truth. Whenever we were together as a couple in this family's company, everyone was all smiles. But deep down, they bristled when they saw how well he treated me.

Finally, once I came to grips with what this scheme they had going on, I addressed it and nipped it in the bud. Later, I discovered that the married mother secretly had a crush on my beau; she treated me so poorly because she was in an unhappy marriage and wanted to be romantically involved with the very man I was dating. Somehow, seeing how well he treated me stirred up jealousy and envy in her. She resented me simply because she wanted what she could not have. After that experience, the popular quote that says, "Hurting people hurt other people," took on a whole new meaning for me. Individuals who fall into this category take their issues out on others rather than dealing with their internal struggles. In my case, that's exactly what it was. This may be true in your case as well.

So then, the question is, how do you deal with people like this? Here are a few simple tips that might help you if you find yourself in this situation.

1. Know the signs.

When someone is emotionally healthy and truly loves you, they don't mind celebrating with you and building you up with their words. Beware of individuals who are consistently cynical, critical, and moody in response to your happiness. If your friend or family member cannot rejoice when you rejoice as Romans 12:15 instructs, take notice of that. And if you feel unsure of what to make of any negative signs, always pray for discernment from God. According to Jeremiah 17:9,10 He is the only one who knows the true intent of a person's heart.

2. Keep it to yourself.

One of the best things you can do is keep your personal life personal and only with God's permission, share what he's doing for you in your relationship. Remember in Genesis 37 when Joseph revealed his dreams to his brothers and ended up in big trouble? You can't confide in everyone! You see,allowing everyone into your close, intimate space is probably not such a good idea. It would be great if everyone's motives were pure, but they are not. We live in world where evil always has an agenda which is, on occasion, carried out through other people. So practice using discretion. If you must share your great news of how God has blessed you with that God-sent man, confide in those you know and trust as true, and loyal confidants. This can help prevent heartache.

3. Pray for those who are envious.

The word enemy is a strong one, but it's a very real one too. We have friends and we have enemies. The Bible talks about this in Matthew 5:44 where Jesus says, "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" Sure betrayal hurts and it's a natural reaction to seek retaliation. But, you have to be the better person and love those who are jealous, envious, and conniving anyway. Pray for them. Pray for their happiness. Pray that God would bless them.

I'd like to encourage you to not allow other people to be a stumbling block in your life. You keep moving forward even in the face of jealousy and envy; be confident that God is on your side. And that's what matters most.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6212501

The signs of Jesus' second coming.

2011-10-18T10:55:00.000+02:00

The New Jerusalem

2011-10-04T13:45:00.000+02:00

Revelation 21

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ² I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’^[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

⁵ He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
⁶ He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. ⁷ Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. ⁸ But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb

⁹ One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” ¹⁰ And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. ¹¹ It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear ascrystal. ¹² It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. ¹³ There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. ¹⁴ The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. ¹⁵ The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. ¹⁶ The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia^[c] in length, and as wide and high as it is long. ¹⁷ The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits^[d]thick.^[e] ¹⁸ The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. ¹⁹ The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, ²⁰ the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.^[f] ²¹The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.
²² I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. ²³ The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. ²⁴ The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. ²⁵ On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. ²⁶ The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. ²⁷ Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

What will our relationships be like in heaven? Will we recognize each other?

2011-10-02T09:18:00.000+02:00

For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.

— Matthew 22:30

What will our relationships be like in heaven? Will we recognize each other?

Here is the operative truth: We will know more in heaven than we know on earth—not less. Our minds will be working in full capacity. There is a supernatural knowledge that God will give to us, and the encumbrances of sin will be removed. In heaven, things are different and similar, but certainly better.

So of course we will recognize one another.

The Scripture gives no indication of a memory wipe that leaves us unable to recognize family and friends. Do you recognize people now? If you haven't seen someone for a long time and then happen to run into them, you may not even know it is the same person. But generally, we recognize one another. And this is great news for those of us who have been temporarily separated from loved ones. We will be reunited. This means that our absence from our loved ones is a comma, not a period.

But will we still be related? Will husbands and wives still be married? That is a question the Sadducees posed to Jesus. He told them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven" (Matthew 22:29–30).

God designed us with a desire for companionship. We are social people, although some are more so than others. Our desire for companionship has been given to us by God. So when we get to heaven, the Lord is the One we will worship, but we will interact with one another.

God is the focus of heaven. We will worship the Lord in heaven, and He is sufficient to meet all of our needs.

Greg Laurie

Pray for this young Iranian Pastor.

2011-09-30T09:15:00.000+02:00

Please pray for this young Iranian pastor. He is going to be executed shortly for refusing to recant his Christianity.

Matthew 7:6

2011-09-29T10:17:00.004+02:00

Songs of Solomon 2:16

2011-09-28T17:27:00.000+02:00

Isaiah 9:2

2011-09-26T09:46:00.000+02:00

Isaiah 40:28-31

2011-09-22T10:58:00.002+02:00

Psalm1:6

2011-09-20T17:37:00.003+02:00

Isaiah 41:12

2011-09-15T10:42:00.001+02:00

God's Promise For Today...

2011-09-11T11:33:00.001+02:00

10 Prayers God Always Says Yes To

2011-09-08T15:47:00.000+02:00

What We Will Do in Heaven.

2011-09-06T22:03:00.001+02:00

Only Jesus

2011-06-28T09:32:00.000+02:00

Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them.

— Mark 9:8

Peter, James, and John had watched as Jesus was transfigured before their eyes. Not only that, but Moses and Elijah appeared, and Jesus had a conversation with them. But Moses and Elijah were gone now. And when it was all over, there stood Jesus, reminding us that is who we need.

We don't need Jesus and the Law, because Jesus fulfilled all of it. We don't need Jesus and the sacraments. We don't even need Jesus and good works. If you really know Jesus, however, good works will follow. Works don't save a person, but they are a good evidence that a person is saved. If you really are a follower of Christ, there will be results that are evident in your life.

We need Jesus. This is not only true of salvation, but of life in general. When you go through a crisis, here is what you need to know: you need Jesus. Friends will help you. Family will help you. And Jesus can work through family and friends. But sometimes friends will disappoint. And family will let you down. Sometimes the advice that friends will give to try and help will actually cause pain.

People have come to me and said, "I have lost a loved one. Is there a book I should read? Is there someone I should talk to?" There are books that I can recommend and things that I can say. But what I ultimately will say is, "You know what you need right now? You need Jesus. You need to lean into Him. You need to trust in Him. You need to cling to Him. That is what you need."

Only Jesus will get you through this. Only Jesus can heal a broken heart. Only Jesus can give you the strength to go on.

Greg Laurie

Praise Him...

2011-06-26T09:58:00.000+02:00

The Secret to Spiritual Growth

2011-06-19T13:03:00.000+02:00

We all want to experience spiritual growth and success. Sadly, we all know people who have been spiritual failures in life. Perhaps we regard ourselves that way.

Some have grown in leaps and bounds spiritually, while others have not grown at all. Some have done great things for God and His Kingdom, while others have done nothing.

You might say, "Well, Christianity just didn't work for me!" Listen, Christianity is not a product that works for some and not for others. Plain and simple: Christianity is Christ. He can and will work in any life that is truly dedicated to Him. G. K. Chesterton said, "Christianity has not been tried and found wanting. It's been found difficult and not tried."

Why do some succeed spiritually, while others fail? The short answer: Because they choose to. They want it, so they go for it. Others don't really want it, so they don't go for it.

You might protest, "That sounds like you think living the Christian life is human effort." I am not saying that. Scripture clearly says that it is not by works of righteousness that we have done, but by His mercy He has saved us (see Titus 3:5).But clearly there are some things that only God can do, and some things that only you can do.

Paul reminds us that we are to work out our own salvation "with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12). That does not say that you should work for your own salvation but work out your salvation. Another translation says to "carry to the goal and fully complete with self distrust."

The following verse explains it: "For it is God who works in you both to will and do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). As the Beatles famously sang, "We can work it out." We need to work out what God has worked in. God enables us to do this, but we must also apply ourselves.

Let me say it again, there are some things only God can do, and some things only I can do. Only God can save a person. Only God can forgive and forget our sins. Only God can change the human heart. But at the same time, only I can believe. Only I can repent. Only I can follow. God will not do those things for me, as He has given me a free will to choose.

Greg Laurie

When we pray,

2011-06-18T15:51:00.001+02:00

When we pray,

GOD hears more than we say

He answers more than we ask

He Gives more than we imagine

But....

In his own time,

in his own way

So KEEP FAITH.

من هو الروح القدس؟

2011-06-11T22:40:00.001+02:00

هناك العديد من المفاهيم الخاطئه عن شخصية الروح

القدس. أن البعض يرون الروح القدس كقوة خفيه. والبعض الآخر يفهمون الروح القدس كقوة يتيحها الله لأتباعه. ماذا يقول الكتاب المقدس عن شخصيه الروح القدس؟ ببساطه - يقول الكتاب المقدس أن الروح القدس هو الله. الكتاب المقدس يقول لنا أيضا أن للروح القدس عقل وارادة.

أن كون الروح القدس هو الله موجود فى العديد من الاصحاحات - منها (أعمال الرسل 3:5-4) فى هذا العدد يواجه بطرس عنانيا بكذبه على الروح القدس ويقول له أنه "لم يكذب على أنسان بل الى الله" . هذا يوضح لنا أن الكذب على الروح القدس هو كذب على الله. يمكننا أيضا معرفة أن الروح القدس هو اله لأن لديه العديد من صفات الله على سبيل المثال وجوده اللامحدود نراه فى (مزمور 7:139-8) " أين أذهب من روحك ومن

وجهك أين أهرب. أن صعدت الى السموات فأنت هناك. وأن فرشت فى الهاويه فها أنت". وأيضا فى (كورونثوس الاولى 10:2) نحن نرى صفه اللامحدوديه فى الروح القدس " فأعلنه الله لنا بروحه . لأن الروح يفحص كل شىء حتى أعماق الله . لأن من من الناس يعرف أمور الانسان ألا روح الانسان الذى فيه . هكذا أيضا أمور الله لا يعرفها أحد ألا روح الله".

يمكننا معرفه صفات شخصية الروح القدس حيث أن لديه عقل ، مشاعر ، وأرادة. ان الكتاب المقدس يذكر أن الروح القدس يفكر ويشعر ( كورونثوس الاولى 10:2) . الروح القدس يحزن ( أفسس 30:4) . الروح القدس يعضدنا (روميه 26:8-27). الروح القدس يتخذ قرارات بحسب مشيئته ( كورونثوس الاولى 7:12-11). الروح القدس هو الله (المفرد). الثالث فى الثالوث المقدس. و كما الله ، فأن الروح القدس أيضا هو المعزى الذى وعدنا به يسوع المسيح في (يوحنا 16:14 و 26 و 26:15 ).

A woman asked a co-worker ??

2011-06-09T12:21:00.000+02:00

A woman asked a co-worker,

"What is it like to be a Christian?"

The co-worker replied,

"It is like being a pumpkin.

God picks you from the patch,

brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you.

Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.

He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc.,

and then He carves you a new smiling face

and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."

Thought for today

2011-06-07T12:32:00.000+02:00

Permanent Ink

2011-06-01T11:54:00.000+02:00

Permanent Ink

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Revelation 3:5

When my son was in the first grade, he came home from school very concerned. He said to me, “Mom, I got in trouble at the lunch tables today. My teacher wrote my name down and put it in her desk.” Sensing his anxiety, I told him not to worry. I knew that the teacher would call me if she had any real concerns. He then said, “But mom, you don’t understand, she wrote my name in permanent ink.”

So often in life, having our name written in ink signifies a remembrance of something we have done wrong, ranging from teachers’ notes to public court records. But there is one place that we all should desire to have our names written in permanent ink. That place is called the Book of Life and the ink is nothing less than the blood of Jesus. Our names are not written down to remind Him of our sins or wrongdoings but to secure our place in His heavenly home for eternity. The only way to gain entry into this Book is by accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and by believing that without His redeeming blood, our sins require a penalty of death. It is the blood of Jesus that keeps our names in His Book of Life permanently. He promises that, by His blood, He will never leave us nor forsake us, and He is permanently with us.

Are you assured today that your name is written in the Book of Life?

The only way in is to accept Jesus as your Savior and to mean it with all your heart. Confess your sins and ask Jesus to forgive you. Thank Him for the work on the cross and know in your heart that without His redeeming blood, all are lost. This is one Book that you want to be sure your name is written in permanence.

The Joy of Evangelism

2011-05-28T20:54:00.001+02:00

It is my firm belief that God can use you to bring others into His kingdom. Why would God tell us to engage in this thing we call evangelism if it were not so?

Know this: the calling of God is the enabling of God.

I believe that God wants to use all of us to bring people to Himself. The book of Proverbs says, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise" (Proverbs 11:30). Scripture also tells us, "Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who turn many to righteousness will shine like stars forever" (Daniel 12:3 NLT).

Let's start with the question of who is called to "go into all the world and preach the gospel?" Answer: You are! We are! Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19–20).

In the original language, these words are addressed to everyone. Not just pastors, evangelists, and missionaries, but everyone: businessmen, housewives, students . . . everyone. No one is exempted.

Also, in the original language, this is a command. Jesus is not saying, "If you can find time in your busy schedule, as a personal favor to me, would you mind going into all the world and preaching the gospel?" No, as our Savior, Lord, and Commander-in-Chief. He says "Go!" This is not "The Great Suggestion," but rather "The Great Commission."

If I am His disciple, I am commanded to go and make disciples of others. If I am not making disciples of others, then I'm not really being the disciple He wants me to be! For many of us, however, it is "The Great Omission," instead of "The Great Commission." We are simply not doing it.

Let me say something provocative to you: to not do it is a sin! The Bible tells us, "Any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).

But God doesn't want you to share the gospel out of mere duty, but with joy and passion. One of the most exciting and fulfilling things you can do is tell others about Jesus. This message God has given us was meant to be shared, not hoarded. You were blessed to be a blessing. When you do not share, you begin to stagnate; when you do, you revive. Scripture tells us that those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed (see Proverbs 11:25).

Greg Laurie

what it means to pray and how we should pray?

2011-05-22T11:04:00.000+02:00

Here are some guidelines for prayer from the Bible:

Praise – Psalm 103:1 (By David): With all my heart I praise the Lord, and with all that I am I praise His holy name! Psalm 103:2: With all my heart I praise the Lord! I will never forget how kind He has been.
Reverence & Respect – Hebrews 12:28: Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.
Adoration, Worship, Honor – Deuteronomy 30:10: But you must decide once and for all to worship Him with all your heart and soul and to obey everything in the Book of God’s Law. Psalm 105:3: Celebrate and worship His holy name with all your heart.
Yield (submit to Him and let Him work in your life) – Psalm 37:7: Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.
Enjoy your time spent with Him – Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 35:27: Let those who delight in My righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, “Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of His servant!”

Rejoice in the Lord – Psalm 40:16: But may all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who love Your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!” Psa 31:7: I will be glad and rejoice because of Your constant love. You see my suffering; you know my trouble.
I hope this will help us all in our special time with God.

Today's Wisdom

2011-05-18T19:35:00.000+02:00

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Proverb 14:27

معجزة الرؤية مع حسام و بولا شحاتة

2011-05-16T09:43:00.000+02:00

http://mfadela.org/Video-files/MaraaFadela/mf%20192%20Hosam%20Paula.wmv

Bible Prophecies

2011-05-13T19:37:00.000+02:00

The Bible is the only book that accurately predicts the future. It is worth noting that two-thirds of the Bible is prophecy. One-half of these prophecies have already come to pass. No other world religion has a book that does this.

The basic test of the true God, the true faith, the true prophet and the true belief is this: can they predict the future?

If one-half of all Bible prophecies have happened just as God said, should I have any reason to doubt that the remaining ones will happen exactly as He said? God can speak of the future with absolute certainty because He knows it as well as one would know the past. In other words, we can count on His Word to be true and accurate.

Freedom Reigns

2011-05-10T12:55:00.000+02:00

Psalm 1

2011-05-09T17:27:00.000+02:00

¹ Blessed is the one
   who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
   or sit in the company of mockers,
² but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
   and who meditates on his law day and night.
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
   which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
   whatever they do prospers. ⁴ Not so the wicked!
   They are like chaff
   that the wind blows away.
⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
   nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
⁶ For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
   but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

10 Ways to Build a Healthy and Happy Family

2011-05-07T10:07:00.000+02:00

Since every family and each person in it is unique, there's no magic, one-size-fits-all parenting plan that's guaranteed to give you a healthy and happy family. And since nobody is perfect in this fallen world, there's no such thing as a perfect family. But there are some basic principles that will help you create a family which each member can grow spiritually, emotionally, and relationally - which will help you build the healthy, happy family God wants you to enjoy.

Here's how you can healthy and happy family:

Be there. Your kids regard your very presence as a sign of caring and connectedness. It's crucial for you to spend as much time as possible with them. Keep in mind that your job as a parent is a calling from God - more important than any other work you do, including the job you get paid to do - and your influence on your kids will be your greatest legacy. Ask God to help you make whatever sacrifices you need to make to free up your time and energy to be there for your kids often. Be available to talk with them, help them, attend their events, and cheer them on in their various pursuits. Your kids crave your presence, and nothing can make up for your absence. Be creative about how you can spend time with each of your kids one-on-one regularly, from going of a hike to playing a board game together.

Express affirmation, warmth, and encouragement. Parents who practice loving parenting, as opposed to shame-based parenting, will create a home where children and spouses feel more secure. So avoid shame-based parenting, which is performance-oriented and approval-focused, using words and actions that cause kids to think that they aren't loved or valuable. Instead, aim to make your kids feel accepted, appreciated, listened to, and loved. Give your kids confidence by letting them know that you believe in them, value them, and enjoy them. Say "I love you" to them often, and give them plenty of physical affection like hugs, kisses, and back rubs. Rather than just jumping into their to-do lists with them, share some relaxed conversations with them after they get home from school and before they go to bed. Let go of unrealistic expectations for them. Encourage them to pursue their areas of interest and become the people God wants them to become.

Build healthy morals and values. The decisions that kids make today will often affect them for the rest of their lives. Study the culture so you can understand what cultural influences currently pose a danger to your kids spiritually. Pray for God's help to teach biblical values and morals to your kids in ways they can best learn. Talk openly and honestly with your kids about sex, alcohol, and other drugs from when they're young, all the way through their teen years, answering their questions and discussing issues in age-appropriate ways. Encourage them to commit to living a lifestyle of purity, including honoring God with their bodies, renewing their minds for good, turning their eyes and ears away from what's worthless, and guarding their hearts above all else. Get to know what your kids watch on TV and in the movies, what websites they visit, what music they listen to, and what video games they play. Watch and listen together with them as often as possible, and talk with them about the content to help them learn to think critically about it. Restrict their access to vulgar media content.

Discipline with consistency. When you clearly express expectations and consistently follow through, you'll produce responsible kids. Keep in mind that consistent discipline takes lots of time and energy. Ask God to give you the strength you need to devote the necessary time and energy rather than taking the easy way out when you're tired and having your kids fail to learn important lessons. Remember the Bible's promise that if you train your kids in the way they should go, when they're old they won't depart from it. Set and clearly communicate healthy boundaries about doing homework and chores, telling the truth, talking to you respectfully, and a myriad of other issues - and follow through with consequences when your kids make poor choices. Help your kids decide what consequences they should get for various infractions. Stay calm - not angry - when you're disciplining them, refrain from nagging, choose your battles wisely, and show empathy. Your willingness to be the parent they need - not merely a friend - will give them security and confidence.

Ruthlessly eliminate stress. The unbalanced life will not be kind to the areas you neglect. Ask God to help you decide which activities to eliminate from your family's schedule if you're too busy to get enough rest and free time every day and evening. Don't neglect spending lots of time with your family for anything, including your career. Make whatever sacrifices you need to make so you can enjoy plenty of relaxed family time together. Spend time reflecting and praying in solitude regularly to keep your life in the proper perspective. Get enough sleep and exercise regularly, and make sure that your spouse and kids do, too.

Communicate well. Positive communication is the language of love for your kids. Make a habit of listening carefully to your kids whenever they share their thoughts and feelings with you. Also figure out what other ways you can best express your love for your kids in ways that each of them will receive well. Apologize them to them when you've made a parenting mistake. Allow the conflicts you experience with your spouse and kids to be a path to deeper communication by helping you all understand each other better and work as a team to solve problems.

Play together. There is nothing like play to bring about family togetherness. Make time for vacations together, have fun at home, go on frequent outings (from getting ice cream out to taking music or sports lessons together), share holiday traditions, enjoy humor together, and work on service projects together. Sharing playful experiences will build family memories that will bond you all in powerful ways.

Love your spouse. If you're married, work on your marriage regularly and invest in it through activities like frequent dates, since a loving marriage brings hope and security to your kids. If you're a single parent, build relationships with others at your church who care about your kids and are willing to invest in their lives.

Remember that the best things in life aren't things. Healthy stewardship and sound financial decisions produce positive family priorities. Follow a budget to live below your means, avoid debt, tithe and give in other generous ways, and save regularly. Modeling these healthy financial practices will teach your kids valuable practical and spiritual lessons.

Energize your family's spiritual growth. Your greatest calling in life is to leave a spiritual legacy for your kids. So make your relationship with God through Christ your top priority. Grow closer to Christ individually and as a couple with your spouse. Pray for and with your kids in a regular family devotional time, write a family constitution that describes your family's values, and talk about God often as you go through your everyday activities together.

Promises for: Joy in the LORD

2011-05-04T09:38:00.000+02:00

Ps. 43:4 "Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my Exceeding Joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise Thee, O God my God."
Neh. 8:10 "The joy of the LORD is your strength."
Ps. 36:8 "They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy House; and Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thypleasures."
Neh. 12:43 "Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off."
Job 33:26 "He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto Him: and he shall see His face with joy: for He will render unto man His righteousness."
Ps. 21:1 "The king shall joy in Thy strength, O LORD; and in Thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!"
Ps. 27:6 "And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in His Tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD."
Ps. 30:5 "For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."
Ps. 32:11 "Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart." [Command to be joyful]
Ps. 51:12 "Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free Spirit."
Is. 35:10 "And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and Everlasting Joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."
Ps. 35:27 "Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour My righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."
Ps. 42:4 "I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday."
Ps. 105:43 "And He brought forth His people with joy, and His chosen with gladness."
Ps. 126:5 "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy."
Job 41:22 "In His neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before Him."
Ps. 5:11 "But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them: let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee."
Ps. 16:11 "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

You Have A Part To Play

2011-04-30T10:41:00.000+02:00

Each one of God’s children
Has a special part to play
Whether it be great or small
We are needed every day

If your part seems very small
Don’t feel you’re insignificant
Don’t feel that you can’t offer much
And you wouldn’t make a difference

Though you’re tempted to give up
And let another take your place
Remember God gave you your gifts
And you cannot be replaced

And these gifts that God has given
He longs for you to share
You’re just as important as anyone
So don’t be in despair

The only one who matters most
Is watching for your part
With much anticipation
And excitement in His heart

So do not disappoint Him
By not taking your cue
Though you think it unimportant
This part is made for you

Don’t let God walk away
With a disappointed heart
Because you felt so unworthy
Of your very special part

The parts that we’ve been given
Isn’t based on size at all
But rather on the abilities
And the gifting of the Lord

For each part is important
To make the whole thing work
So do your part with enthusiasm
And know that you have worth

By M.S.Lowndes

That's My King ... do you know him?

2011-04-28T09:29:00.000+02:00

احدث ظهور....يسوع يظهر للطفل السوري ورد

2011-04-26T13:35:00.000+02:00

يسوع يظهر للطفل السوري ورد

On the road to Emmaus

2011-04-25T11:15:00.000+02:00

Let us consider first the lessons learned from the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. This beloved Gospel story from St. Luke; (24:13-35) is a very human story, full of pathos; stylized in pattern, suggesting a Eucharistic celebration (vv. 30-32). The disciples come with their questions and doubts (vv. 13-24); the Scriptures are recited (v. 27); words of clarification and instruction are exchanged on the road (vv. 25-27); and finally, the moment of recognition comes in the context of a meal (v. 31). The narrative concludes with the disciples' return to the community in Jerusalem, only to find that the good news of the Resurrection has already been made known to those who patiently waited for Jesus in the Holy City.

Jesus approached the disciples in their blindness on the road and led them to sight. As soon as they recognize him after the bread is broken, he disappears from their midst. They are both able to look back over the past few hours and see how Jesus slowly brought them back to faith (v. 32) and helped them discover the meaning of the Messiah's suffering, death and Resurrection.

Cleopas and his companion slowly journeyed through the darkness and desperation of faith. They had to discover a new God's Word and God's Envoy: the Risen Lord. Their initial sadness, non-understanding and disbelief are transformed into joy as they eagerly listened to the explanation of the Scriptures on the road, and as their eyes were opened at table in Emmaus. The "Good News" descended from their head to their heart, and they experienced that strange and wonderful feeling of their hearts gradually being on fire.

The journey motif of this passage is not only a matter of the distance between Jerusalem and Emmaus, but also of the painful and gradual journey of words that must descend from the head to the heart; of a coming to faith, of a return to a proper relationship with the stranger who is none other than Jesus the Lord. The Evangelist Luke's picture of the dejected disciples can help us to recognize how difficult the struggle is for the world, and for each of us to yield to God's purposes. Jesus' disciples are unable to understand that he must suffer, and this failure is connected with a series of other personal: failings evidenced in the Scripture stories.

The Lord always listens to us and is always there. It is part of the Lords' pedagogy with regard to his disciples to always listen to them, especially when times are hard, when one has fallen, experiences doubt, disillusionment and frustration. His words make the hearts of the disciples "burn", they remove them from the darkness of sadness and desperation, provoking in them the desire to remain with him: Stay with us, Lord.

The dejected disciples begin to change only when they are enlightened by the risen Christ, who explains from the Sacred Scriptures how God works in a resistant world and among resistant, sinful people like us. It is indeed an ironic victory because the forces of rejection and experiences of suffering and sinfulness, themselves, become the means by which God's purpose is accomplished in the world! For Cleopas and his unnamed companion on that first Easter, their journey was a gradual, painstaking process requiring a careful remembering and re-articulation of the events of salvation history found in the Scriptures, along with an experience of the Risen Lord. It is no less the same for 21st century Christians who continue to interpret the Scriptures in this day and age, and move from faith-filled insights to a proclamation and lived experience of the One who is truly risen from the dead.

Thomas Rosica

Easter Sunday: Resurrection

2011-04-24T09:25:00.000+02:00

Within three days Jesus’ followers went from heartbroken sadness to triumphant jubilation. The cross screamed, “The End,” making them feel hopeless and helpless. But the resurrection trumpeted, “The Beginning,” bringing confidence and courage. The cloud of doubt and despair that had shrouded them melted away and was replaced with unshakeable faith.

Can you imagine how they felt when they realized Jesus had risen from the dead? Suddenly hope came alive; now everything He had said was validated as truth. They had not believed a lie. His victory over death was the acid test that forever sealed their sure conviction that He was the Messiah.

We commemorate Jesus’ death on the cross with solemnity, but the resurrection calls for thunderous applause, praise, and song. All the blessings that come our way through the Savior’s cross are confirmed by the resurrection. It proved that the Father was satisfied with the Son’s payment for our sins. Now we can know that our transgressions are forgiven and we’re eternally secure.

What’s more, Jesus promises that we, too, will be resurrected and given new bodies. Physical death could not hold Him, nor will it overpower us. Because He overcame the grave, His followers have the same kind of life He has—eternal and indestructible.

As Christians, we have the right to celebrate Easter with great rejoicing. Because of this event, our lives have been forever changed. We’ve been transformed and given new life. With unwavering faith, we trust the Bible because Christ’s power over the grave proves He can and will fulfill every word.

Dr. Charles Stanely

Why did jesus choose women as witnesses of his resurrection?

2011-04-23T08:07:00.001+02:00

Schreiner writes, "Even though the testimony of women was not received by courts…Jesus appeared to women first, showing again their significance and value as human beings.

Borland, another conservative, comments on the significance:

Why were the women chosen as witnesses of the resurrection? Was God bestowing a special honor on these women? Was God trying to indicate larger roles for women in His new community of believers? I believe both were intended. All four Gospel writers bestow a great honor on the women who lovingly and with servant hearts came early to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body, thus paying their last respects…. These women led the way in proclaiming the gospel…. The duty and high privilege of witnessing for Christ is still open to every believer, without distinction as to gender.

Good Friday: The Lamb of God

2011-04-22T08:26:00.000+02:00

Jesus is called by a variety of names—Messiah, Lord, Christ, Rabbi, Teacher—but the one that is probably the most unfamiliar to the modern world is the Lamb of God. Since most of us do not have a Jewish background, we have a limited understanding of this title. But the Israelites of that day understood the significance of this name. Lambs were for sacrifice.

God has always dealt with sin through the blood of sacrifices. When Adam and Eve sinned, an animal was slain to cover the nakedness and shame of two individuals (Gen. 3:21). On the first Passover, eachhousehold covered their doorway with sacrificial blood (Ex. 12:1-7). Later, a goat was slaughtered for the atonement of the entire nation (Lev. 16:15). Now in John 1:29, we see the ultimate sacrifice—the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.

Usually a person’s most impressive achievements are completed while he or she is alive, but think about what Jesus accomplished through His death. Just as innocent animals had died in place of the guilty, so Christ gave His perfect life for sinful mankind. He assumed full responsibility for all our sins and took the punishment that we deserved. As He hung on the cross, the judgment and wrath of God was poured out on Him instead of on us.

Since we are limited by our human minds and senses, we cannot fully understand all that the Lamb of God endured to bring us salvation. But we know enough to realize that we owe Him our lives. He took our place on the cross; let’s give Him first place in our hearts.

If I do not wash you, you have no share with me...

2011-04-20T10:25:00.000+02:00

John 13:8

Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”

Let’s see the lesson or picture Jesus taught His disciples in John 13:1-20. During the Feast of the Passover Jesus rises from the supper pours water in to a basin and starts washing the disciples’ feet and wipe them. He comes to Peter, but Peter refuses the Master not understanding what Jesus is doing, says,” You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answers him,” If I do not wash you, you have no share with Me.” Then Peter thinks if it must be, then I’ll get all of me washed, since all of me is dirty.

In verse 10 Jesus responds, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” In John 15:3 Jesus says, “Already you are clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”

Firstly, all who believed and believe in Jesus to be their Redeemer are those who are COMPLETELY CLEAN. Those who have heard the Gospel of Jesus and believed in Him are justified.

Secondly, those who are thus made completely clean in God’s sight still do get their feet dirty because of dirt from within and dirt from without – THE FLESH and THE WORLD.

Thirdly, our pride like Peter’s keeps us from coming to Jesus to have our feet washed from daily use and dirt. Our pride/self-righteousness says, ‘by now I should have been less dirty, less sinful within.’ (I admit there is also great ignorance in us of how God makes us holy, namely less of self and more of Christ seen in my life, though not less of sin in our flesh, that’s why it says,” put off the old man" (not, change the old man); and "put on the new man" (not, put on the act of Christ, but let HIM live)).

Fourthly, if we don’t let Jesus wash us daily from our defilements He says, “you have no share with Me.” Precisely, it’s the benefits of His death and life that we could not share in with Him, if we don’t let Him wash us from our daily sins and shortcomings by coming, confessing and believing in the Blood of Christ to forgive and wash us.

Fifthly, don’t some of us say? ‘Lord wash all of me, I’m lost I never knew You, save me.’ That’s despair speaking, because of the unconfessed and unwashed sins from daily life accumulate and weigh us down. That in turn makes us despondent and despairing. Could it be why we feel so much darkness in our hearts at times? Look what John says in 1.John 1:6,7 that if we walk in the light we have fellowship with Him and we are cleansed continually from all sin, but if we walk in darkness we cannot have any fellowship with Him (nor with any brothers and sisters) – NO SHARE WITH HIM. No joy, no peace, no strength, no fullness of Christ to live through us in our experience can be the only result of such refusal to be washed daily by Jesus.

Sixthly, do we see that this is OUR GREAT LORD AND TEACHER that stoops down to do this humiliating washing FOR US SINNERS, that He loves to the end?

When we look at this mirror what do you and I see in our hearts? Do we come to Jesus to wash us from our daily defilement, our sinning and shortcoming of what we ought to be?

But here are other lessons to ponder in this portion of Scripture - like humbling ourselves in serving one another, and forgiving each other.

The word, “but not every one of you”, not all of you are clean", is obviously not clean, unwashed, unsaved Judas.

Dear brother/sister, let not our pride that says,’ I want to be like Jesus first and then I’ll go to Him’ stop us from coming to Him, as the hymn says,’ JUST AS I AM’. May our eyes be always on Him, not on ourselves, not on what I am, but on what He does in us and through us.

"For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen" (Romans 11:36).

Easter Brings Hope

2011-04-18T10:11:00.000+02:00

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live."

— John 11:25

Easter is not about brightly colored eggs, wearing pastels, or enjoying a big meal, although it could include these. Easter is about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

For some, Easter will be a great day, spent surrounded by family and friends. But for others, it will be a sad day, because Easter is a reminder of a loved one who has died and is now desperately missed.

Death seems so cruel, so harsh, and so final. That is what the disciples were feeling when they saw their Lord, whom they had left everything to follow, hanging on the cross. They were devastated. Death had crushed them. But if they would have gone back in their memories, they would have recalled an important event and statement Jesus had made.

They would have remembered Jesus standing at the tomb of his close friend Lazarus. They would have remembered that Jesus did something completely unexpected: He wept (see John 11:35). Jesus wept, because He knew that death was not part of God's original plan. Humanity was not meant to grow old, to suffer with disease, or to die. But because of the sin of Adam and Eve, sin entered the human race, and death followed with it. And death spread to all of us. Jesus wept, because it broke His heart.

But standing there at Lazarus' tomb, Jesus also delivered these hope-filled words: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live" (John 11:25). Death is not the end. And the resurrection of Jesus Christ proves it.

If you have put your faith in Christ, then Easter means that you will live forever in the presence of God. Easter brings hope to the person who has been devastated by death.

Greg Laurie

Follow ...

2011-04-14T10:38:00.000+02:00

When God Has Another Plan

2011-04-12T10:04:00.000+02:00

Easter Is for Second Chances

2011-04-10T08:59:00.000+02:00

But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you."

— Mark 16:6–7

Do you need a second chance today? On the first Easter morning, Peter needed one. There in the Upper Room, he had insisted that he would never deny Christ. But just as Jesus had predicted, Peter not only denied the Lord, but he denied Him three times. The last glimpse Peter had of Jesus before His crucifixion was in the glow of the fire in the high priest's courtyard, where he actually made eye contact with Jesus. And then he went out and wept bitterly.

What kind of look do you think Jesus gave Peter when their eyes met? Do you think it was one of those I-told-you-so looks? Do you think it was one of scorn, as if to say, "How could you betray Me?" I don't think it was either one. I think it was a look of love, a look of compassion that said, "I still love you, Peter." And I believe that is why Peter went out and wept bitterly. He had failed the Lord so miserably. He probably thought there was no hope for him.

But then a message went out from the empty tomb that Jesus had risen, followed by these instructions, "Go, tell His disciples—and Peter. . . ." It was not, "Go tell the disciples, including Peter, James, and John. . . ." It was just Peter, because Peter needed a special word of encouragement.

Do you need encouragement today? Maybe you have fallen short. You didn't plan on it, but it happened. And like Peter, maybe you ended up with the wrong people in the wrong place at the wrong time, ultimately doing the wrong thing.
God gave Peter a second chance. And He will give you one, too—because Easter is for the person who needs a second chance.

Greg Laurie

فيديو رائع ...خواطر عابر الى المسيحية- من هو المسيح؟

2011-04-08T10:19:00.000+02:00

مستحقو الملكوت ... متى 20

2011-04-06T12:34:00.002+02:00

متى 20

فان ملكوت السماوات يشبه رجلا رب بيت خرج مع الصبح

ليستأجر فعلة لكرمه. فاتفق مع الفعلة على دينار في اليوم وأرسلهم إلى كرمه. ثم خرج نحو الساعة الثالثة ورأى آخرين قياما في السوق بطالين. فقال لهم اذهبوا انتم أيضا إلى الكرم فأعطيكم ما يحق لكم فمضوا. وخرج أيضا نحو الساعة السادسة والتاسعة وفعل كذلك. ثم نحو الساعة الحادية عشرة خرج ووجد آخرين قياما بطالين فقال لهم لماذا وقفتم ههنا كل النهار بطالين. قالوا له لأنه لم يستأجرنا أحد قال لهم اذهبوا انتم أيضا إلى الكرم فتأخذوا ما يحق لكم. فلما كان المساء قال صاحب الكرم لوكيله ادع الفعلة وأعطهم الأجرة مبتدئا من الآخرين إلى الأولين. فجاء أصحاب الساعة الحادية عشرة واخذوا دينارا دينارا. فلما جاء الأولون ظنوا انهم يأخذون اكثر فاخذوا هم أيضا دينارا دينارا. وفيما هم يأخذون تذمروا على رب البيت. قائلين هؤلاء الآخرون عملوا ساعة واحدة وقد ساويتهم بنا نحن الذين احتملنا ثقل النهار والحر. فأجاب وقال لواحد منهم يا صاحب ما ظلمتك أما اتفقت معي على دينار. فخذ الذي لك واذهب فأني أريد أن أعطى هذا الأخير مثلك. أو ما يحل لي أن افعل ما أريد بما لي أم عينك شريرة لأني أنا صالح. هكذا يكون الآخرون أولين والأولون آخرين لان كثيرين يدعون وقليلين ينتخبون

هذا المثل ضربه السيد المسيح ليشرح الآية السابقة (30:19) ويتضح هذا من (مت 16:20). أن آخِرين يكونون أولين.

والمثل مأخوذ من بلاد الشرق حيث تعود الفعلة الأجراء أن يتجمعوا في مكان معين من القرية، وياتى أصحاب المزارع إلى هذا المكان ليؤجروا بعض العمال للعمل في حقولهم نظير اجر متفق عليه. وهذا المثل قاله السيد في بيرية (عبر الأردن ). أثناء ذهابه للمرة الأخيرة إلى أورشليم. ومعنى المثل هو الخلاص لجميع الناس، فالأمم وهم أصحاب الساعة الحادية عشر لهم نصيب في الملكوت تماماً مثل اليهود أصحاب الساعة الأولى، اى الذين عرفوا الله منذ أيام إبراهيم وإسحق ويعقوب. وبنفس المفهوم فالخلاص هو لجميع التائبين الآن مهما تأخرت توبتهم. فالدينار إذاً هو دخول ملكوت السموات، هو الخلاص، وهو الخير الذي سيقدمه الله لكل مؤمن تائب. ولنلاحظ أن المساواة هي في دخول الملكوت للكل. ولكن داخل الملكوت فإن نجماً يمتاز عن نجم في المجد (1كو 41:15). الفعلة = هم كل البشر الذين يدعوهم الله للحياة معه وخدمته.

آية(1):- رجلاً رب بيت= هو المسيح كلمة الله الحى، رب السماء والأرض. الخليقة السماوية والأرضية هي بيته الذي يدبر أموره ويهتم به. كرمه= هى الكنيسة التى بخمرها يفرح الله. والله يدعو الكل لكنيسته. وما أجمل أن نرى السيد يدعو الكل لكنيسته، طوال ساعات النهار، فهو يدعو الجميع ليخلصون وإلى معرفة الحق يقبلون (1تى 4:2). خرج = الله هو الذي يبادر بالحب. فهل كان أحد يتصور أن هناك حلاً للموت.

آيات (2-6):- الساعات هي بحسب التوقيت اليهودى، فالساعة الأولى هي الساعة السادسة صباحاً، هي بداية تكوين الأمة اليهودية حين دعا الله إبراهيم. ثم الساعة الثالثة هي التاسعة صباحاً الآن. والسادسة هي الثانية عشر ظهراً الآن. والحادية عشرة هي في نهاية النهار هي ساعة دعوة الأمم بعد إنقضاء النهار اليهودى.أي لقد إقترب وقت إنتهاء علاقة إسرائيل بالله. وأيضاً تشير الساعات هذه لأن الله يدعو الإنسان في كل مراحل عمره، وحسنا لو إستجاب حتى لو كان في الساعة الحادية عشرة، أماّ لو تكاسل فالثانية عشر تشير للموت فهى تأتى بحلول الظلام ونهاية اليوم أي نهاية العمر. إن الصوت الإلهى لهو موجه للبشرية كلها خلال كل الأيام وكل مراحل العمر. الصوت الإلهى لا يتوقف ما دام الوقت يُدعى اليوم (عب 13:3). ولكن إذا كان المثل يُفهم منه أن الله يقبل أصحاب الساعة الحادية عشرة، فهذا لا يعنى أن نؤجل توبتنا لسن الشيخوخة فمن يعلم متى تكون نهاية عمره، الساعة الحادية عشرة هي التي تسبق الموت مباشرة ولا تعنى سن الشيخوخة. وأيضاً لماذا نؤجل التوبة وفيها أفراح وتعزيات.

7: ولاحظ أن أصحاب الساعة الحادية عشرة ما كانوا ممتنعين عن العمل، بل لم يستأجرهم أحد فهم ليسوا معاندين ولا مقاومين لله بل لم تصلهم دعوة الله، أو لم يفهموها. هم كانوا راغبين في العمل وليسوا متكاسلين.

6: بطالين =إشارة للأمم وقد صاروا بطالين كآلهتهم الباطلة وإشارة لكل من يسير وراء شهواته وخطاياه فهو بطال إستأجره الشيطان.

v ولنأخذ مثالاً، فالمسيح دعا بولس الرسول في منتصف حياته بعد أن كان بطالاً مضطهداً للكنيسة، كان اخِراً فصار أولاً إذ إستجاب.

v لقد إنحطت البشرية وسقطت بسبب الخطية ولكن الله في محبة لم ينتظر أن تصعد إليه البشرية، بل هو الذي يبادر بالخروج ليدعوها فترتفع اليه.

الدينار= هو دخول الملكوت والبقاء فيه في حياة أبدية والتمتع بشخص المسيح. وهذا ليس لبرٍ فينا إنما هو عطية من الله لأنه صالح =لأنى أنا صالح. هذه عطيته تعبيراً عن جوده الإلهى وكرمه. وهذه العطية ليست عائدة على أعمالنا بل عائدة على كرمه، فالنعمة هي عطية مجانية لا تعطى لأعمالنا بل هي محبة من الله ورحمة. فمهما عملنا، هل كان أحد يستحق أن يتجسد المسيح ويموت لأجله ويفتح له باب السماء. هذا معنى حصول الكل على نفس الدينار، فدخول السماء بإستحقاق دم المسيح لا علاقة له بأعمالنا. ولكن نكرر 1) النعمة الآن أي عمل الروح القدس فينا وإمتلائنا به متوقف على جهادنا، فالنعمة لا تعطى إلاّ لمن يستحقها، حقاً.. المسيح مات لأجل الكل مجاناً.. لكن التمتع بثمار صليبه يحتاج للجهاد المستمر. 2)لن يكون الكل متساوون في المجد، بل كل واحد سيكون له بحسب عمله. الكل يدخلون (المؤمنون التائبون) ولكن نجماً يمتاز عن نجم في المجد.

آية (11):- تذمروا= أشارة لتذمر اليهود على قبول الأمم، وتذمر الأخ الأكبر للإبن الضال. وهذا التذمر راجع للحسد، وكان حرياً بهم أن يفرحوا لخلاص الكثيرين ويفرحوا بلطف سيدهم ورحمته إذ أنعم على الآخرين بالملكوت، ولكن هذا الحسد دفع اليهود لرفض المسيح فصار الآخِرون أولون.

آية (15):- أم عينك شريرة =إشارة لحسدهم. ولاحظ أن تذمرهم معناه أنهم لم يجدوا لذة في العمل لحساب الله بل هم عملوا فقط لأجل الأجر. وكان هذا هو منطلق التفكير اليهودى والفريسى، ومن يتشبه بهم حتى الآن، أن هؤلاء يعملون ويخدمون الله ويطلبون الأجر المادى ويحسدون من يكافأه الله ويعطيه أكثر منهم، وهذا راجع لحب الذات. هؤلاء لا يرجع تذمرهم لحرمانهم من شىء وإنما يرجع للخير الذي ناله الغير. عينك شريرة =حقود. لأنى أنا صالح= أي كريم أعطى بسخاء.

آية(12):- إحتملنا ثقل النهار والحر= وماذا يساوى هذا التعب بجانب المجد المعد لأولاد الله. المشكلة أن هؤلاء كانوا يعملونه بروح العبودية فلم يشعروا بأى تعزية، بل شعروا بثقل النهار وحره.

القس أنطونيوس فكري

رسامة كورية شابة ترسم الجحيم بطلب من يسوع

2011-04-02T16:08:00.000+02:00

Four Things

2011-03-31T09:27:00.000+02:00

He has planted eternity in the human heart. . . .

— Ecclesiastes 3:11

There are four things we should know about every person on this earth. No matter how successful they are, how unsuccessful they are, how famous they are, how beautiful and handsome they are, or how unattractive and plain they may be, everyone shares these four traits.

One, there is an essential emptiness in every person who hasn't yet come to Christ. Everyone is essentially empty. No matter how much money or prestige someone has, everyone has to deal with that emptiness.

Scripture says that God made His creation subject to vanity or emptiness, meaning there is a void—a hole, if you will—inside every man, woman, and child.

Two, people are lonely. We can assume there is a sense of loneliness in every individual. Albert Einstein once wrote, "It is strange to be known so universally and yet be so lonely." People are lonely. We need to know that.

Three, people have a sense of guilt. They may try to mask it with alcohol or have a psychologist or psychiatrist tell them it is not there. But they have to deal with their guilt over the things they have done wrong.

The head of a mental institution in London once said, "I could release half of my patients if I could find a way to relieve them of their sense of guilt."

Four, people are afraid to die. Some may strut around and say, "Not me. I'm not afraid to die." But they are.

So don't be so intimidated by the facades that people hide behind and assume they don't want to hear what you have to say about your faith in Christ.

Remember, you used to be one of those people. I used to be one of those people. And we responded to the gospel. So will they.

Greg Laurie

أزرع لكي تحصد

2011-03-26T18:23:00.000+01:00

الذاهب ذهاباً بالبكاء حاملاً مبذر الزرع، مجيئاً يجيء بالترنم حاملاً حزمه مز126: 6
في الأيام الأخيرة من شهر أكتوبر - تشرين الأول - يظهر الخريف ، وهو وقت الحصاد الذي فيه نجمع نتائج عملنا.

مَنْ الذي في الربيع كان يفكر في الخريف؟ مَنْ كان يفكر في الزهور التي لا بد أن تذبل وتختفي في الوقت الذي فيه كل شيء ينمو حولنا ويتطور في قوة وفرح التجديد؟ بكل تأكيد ليس الذين يعيشون حياة سهلة وخفيفة ولا يفكرون سوى في أن يكون لهم وقت طيب. إن الفلاح الذي في الربيع حرث الأرض وبذر وزرع، يعلم جيداً أنه لكي يحصد في الخريف لا مجال لإضاعة الوقت. والذي لم يعتنِ جيداً بأرضه، بدلاً من أن يجني ثماراً بوفرة، لن يجد سوى خليطاً من الأعشاب الضارة (أم24: 30- 34).

إن الربيع هو فصل الشباب المملوء قوة ونشاطاً عند دخوله إلى الحياة، ولكن سيأتي يوم يحل فيه خريفهم. ألا نعترف أننا قلما نفكر في هذا؟ نقول ما زالت أمامنا سنوات طويلة لنعيشها، والوقت للعمل والبذر ما زال أمامنا! هل سمعت زارعاً يتكلم هكذا؟ ألا يستثمر كل يوم من هذه الأيام التي تمرّ بسرعة؟

لننتهز الفرصة، إن هذا الكلام موجه لجميع المؤمنين. ألا نريد أن نرجع إلى بيتنا يوماً بالترنم (مز126: 5)؟ أم أننا سنكون من الذين سيقول لهم السيد: « أيها العبد الشرير والكسلان » (مت25: 26)؟ هل سوف لا يجد عندنا سوى أوراقاً؟

إنه أمر رهيب إن كنا لا نخلص إلا « كما بنار « ، ولا أحد منا يريد أن يقضي فترة وجوده هنا على الأرض بلا ثمر لذاك الذي أحبنا كثيراً. لذلك لنشرع من الآن في نشر البذار الصالحة حولنا ولنتخلَّ عن بعض التمتعات العابرة. قد تقول لنفسك سوف أعمل أعمالاً عظيمة للرب. إنه أمر حسن جداً، ولكن انظر حولك. إن كل ما هو كبير يتكون من أشياء صغيرة. كُن « أميناً في القليل ». إن الحياة مكونة في أغلب الأحيان من تفاصيل ضئيلة في ظاهرها. والبذار لا تكون أبداً ضخمة.

لنشجع بعضنا بعضاً بالصلاة لكي نتزوّد ببذار صالحة من كلمة الله وننشرها حولنا. وبذلك نتبع أثار « الزارع » الذي أتى بنا إليه، وسوف نجني في يوم الحصاد ثمراً للأبدية.

جورج اندريه

القس جون نور... ماهية الصوم

2011-03-17T13:13:00.000+01:00

الحديث عن الصوم من الأحاديث التي لها حساسية خاصة
 بسبب الترتيبات 
البشرية الكثيرة والمتنوعة التي أحاطت بهذا التعليم، وكثرة التعاليم والتقاليد البشرية عن الصوم حجبت الحق الكتابي بشأن هذا التعليم، وكثرة التعاليم الطائفية التي مزجت الحق الكتابي بأشياء أخرى كثيرة لا علاقة لها من قريب أو من بعيد بذلك الحق. لذا يصير من المهم جداً أن نتدارس ما ورد في كلمة الله عن الصوم، حتى ننقي ونصحح ممارساتنا التعبدية من كل ما يعلق بها من تعليم بشري.

ما هو الصوم؟

هذا هو السؤال الذي ينبغي أن نبدأ به للتعرف على الحق الكتابي، والإجابة على هذا السؤال لغوياً ستعيننا أكثر على تصحيح ممارسات خاطئة شاعت بالنسبة للصوم في بيوتنا وحياتنا.

إن الصوم كلمة تعني حرفياً تغطية الفم أي إغلاق الفم عن الطعام والكلام. أي الإمساك عن الأكل. ويُعرف قاموس المصباح المنير {أن كل مُمسِك عن طعام أو كلام أو سير فهو صائم}.

ويرد ذات المعنى في النص اليوناني للكتاب المقدس بمعنى Nesteus والمساوية لكلمة Abolain وتعني: الإغلاق بإحكام، أي إمساك اللسان وإغلاق الفم عن الطعام. و {الإفطار} هو الكلمة المشهورة والمعروفة لدينا، وهي في الإنجليزية (كسر الصوم breakfast).

ويشير الكتاب المقدس إلى نوعين من الصوم مارسهما البشر في العهد القديم:

امتناع بعض الناس عن تناول الطعام لأسباب نفسية بحتة لا علاقة لها بممارسة الصوم كعبادة. فرفض تناول الطعام ذُكر في العهد القديم كنتيجة لمشاعر ثائرة أو توتر أو غيرة أو غضب أو غيظ أو إحباط أو خيبة أمل، مثلما حدث مع حنّة أم صموئيل عندما أغاظتها ضرتها (1صم 7:1)، ومثلما امتنع يوناثان عن تناول الطعام بسبب غضبه على أبيه شاول حينما أمسك برمحه ليطعنه بسبب محبته وعلاقته بداود (1صم 34:20)، ومثلما امتنع آخاب عن الأكل حزناً وغماً وضيقاً من نابوت اليزرعيلي لعجزه عن الاستيلاء على كرمه (1مل 4:21).
الصوم كعبادة وشركة روحية للتقرب من الله.

من التعريف السابق يتضح أن الصوم هو {امتناع}، وكلمة {الامتناع} تعني: عدم إدخال أي نوع من أنواع الأطعمة، أياً كان نوعها، إلى الفم أو الأمعاء، وبالتالي فإن محاولة وضع قائمة بأطعمة تؤكل وأطعمة يُمتنع عن أكلها وقت الصيام، إنما يتعارض بشكل أساسي مع ما تعنيه كلمة (صوم) أي الامتناع عن تناول" أي "طعام.

والكتاب المقدس يحدثنا عن أن الله أوضح أن كل ما خلقه هو طاهر وصالح للأكل.

أخطر ما في الحديث عن أنواع الأطعمة هو أن البشر أقاموا نُظماً صيامية بأكملها مبنية على عبارات كتابية قليلة جداً، للممارسات الشخصية التي لم تصدر بها وصايا أو تعاليم إلهية لبعض الأفراد، والتي تعبر فقط عن أسلوب معين لعلاقتهم الشخصية بالله مثل:

ما جاء في قصة دانيال الذي يقول عنه {أما دانيال فجعل في قلبه أن لا يتنجس بأطايب الملك ولا بخمر مشروبه فطلب من رئيس الخصيان أن لا يتنجس} (دا 8:1)، ويشير أيضاً الكتاب أن دانيال في حزنه الشديد وحالته النفسية السيئة قال: {كنت نائحاً ثلاثة أسابيع أيام. لم آكل طعاماً شهياً ولم يدخل في فمي لحم ولا خمر ولم أدهن حتى تمت ثلاثة أسابيع أيام} (دا 2:10، 3). قراءة هذه الآية وما يليها من آيات لها لا تشير إلى أي صوم من الأصوام، لكنها تشير إلى أن {الامتناع} عن طعام وتناول طعام آخر لم يكن أساساً بسبب نوعية الطعام، لكن بسبب (الغرض) الذي يُستخدم فيه هذا الطعام. لقد كان دانيال دائماً إنساناً يهودياً ملتزماً بما يُحرّمه الناموس، الذي كان يُحرّم أكل: الشحم والدم وما لا يشق ظلفاً وما لا يجتر وما ذبح للأوثان من البهائم وما سُكب للأوثان من مشروبات. لكن ينبغي أن نلاحظ أيضاً أن الناموس وهو ينهي عن تناول أطعمة معينة، لم يعلن إطلاقاً، أن هذا له علاقة بأي شكل من الأشكال بالصوم.
لم يقدم الكتاب المقدس نصاً واحداً يحدد فيه نوع الطعام الذي ينبغي أن يُؤكل وقت الصوم. لقد أوضح السيد المسيح أن المشكلة لا تكمن {فيما يدخل الفم} لينجس الإنسان بل إن {يخرج من الفم} هذا ينجس الإنسان (مت 11:15).

إن خطورة الأمر في تحديد نوعية الأطعمة، هو أن الكنائس لم تفرق بين ما هو وصية كتابية وبين ما هو ممارسة أو استحساناً بشرياً. وواضح أن عدداً كبيراً من الكنائس بنت أغلب معتقداتها عن الصوم بسبب نصوص كتابية عن اختبارات أفراد، وفي ذات الوقت فإن هذه الاختبارات لم يرد بها أمر إلهي، بل كما أن فالرسول بولس أوضح أن كثيراً من هذه الممارسات التي لم يصدر بها وصايا إلهية لا تعبر سوى عن ممارسات تقوية شخصية يستريح الفرد روحياً لممارستها، وهذا ما قاله بصريح النص حينما كثر الجدل حول هذه الأمور{واحد يؤمن أن يأكل كل شيء وأما الضعيف فيأكل بقولاً لا يزدر من يأكل بمن لا يأكل ولا يَدِنْ من لا يأكل من يأكل لأن الله قبله والذي يأكل فللرب يأكل لأنه يشكر الله والذي لا يأكل فللرب لا يأكل ويشكر الله.. طوبى لمن لا يدين نفسه فيما يستحسنه}(رو 3:14، 22).

هل عرفت الآن ما هو الصوم الحقيقي الذي يطلبه الله وانه ليس ما يدخل الفم ينجسُ الإنسان بل ما يخرج من فم الإنسان هو ما ينجس.

متى 15 الايات 16-20

فقال يسوع هل انتم ايضا حتى الآن غير فاهمين .

17 ألا تفهمون بعد ان كل ما يدخل الفم يمضي الى الجوف ويندفع الى المخرج .

18 واما ما يخرج من الفم فمن القلب يصدر .وذلك ينجس الانسان .

19 لان من القلب تخرج افكار شريرة قتل زنى فسق سرقة شهادة زور تجديف .

20 هذه هي التي تنجس الانسان

Encouragement in tough times

2011-03-12T10:25:00.000+01:00

علامات نهاية الزمان و مجيء المسيح ثانية

2011-03-11T14:24:00.000+01:00

وَبَيْنَمَا كَانَ جَالِساً عَلَى جَبَلِ الزَّيْتُونِ، تَقَدَّمَ إِلَيْهِ التَّلاَمِيذُ عَلَى انْفِرَادٍ وَقَالُوا لَهُ: "أَخْبِرْنَا مَتَى يَحْدُثُ هَذَا. وَمَا هِيَ عَلاَمَةُ رُجُوعِكَ وَانْتِهَاءِ الزَّمَانِ؟" فَأَجَابَ يَسُوعُ: "انْتَبِهُوا! لاَ يُضَلِّلْكُمْ أَحَدٌ! فَإِنَّ كَثِيرِينَ سَيَأْتُونَ بِاسْمِي قَائِلِينَ إِنِّي أَنَا هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ، فَيُضَلِّلُونَ كَثِيرِينَ. وَسَوْفَ تَسْمَعُونَ بِحُرُوبٍ وَأَخْبَارِ حُرُوبٍ. فَإِيَّاكُمْ أَنْ تَرْتَعِبُوا! فَلاَبُدَّ أَنْ يَحْدُثَ هَذَا كُلُّهُ، وَلَكِنْ لَيْسَتِ النِّهَايَةُ بَعْدُ. فَسَوْفَ تَنْقَلِبُ أُمَّةٌ عَلَى أُمَّةٍ، وَمَمْلَكَةٌ عَلَى مَمْلَكَةٍ، وَتَحْدُثُ مَجَاعَاتٌ وَزَلاَزِلُ فِي عِدَّةِ أَمَاكِنَ. وَلَكِنَّ هَذِهِ كُلَّهَا لَيْسَتْ إِلاَّ أَوَّلَ الْمَخَاضِ. عِنْدَئِذٍ يُسَلِّمُكُمُ النَّاسُ إِلَى الْعَذَابِ، وَيَقْتُلُونَكُمْ، وَتَكُونُونَ مَكْرُوهِينَ لَدَى جَمِيعِ الأُمَمِ مِنْ أَجْلِ اسْمِي؛ فَيَرْتَدُّ كَثِيرُونَ وَيُسَلِّمُونَ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً وَيُبْغِضُونَ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً، وَيَظْهَرُ كَثِيرُونَ مِنَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ الدَّجَّالِينَ وَيُضَلِّلُونَ كَثِيرِينَ. وَإِذْ يَعُمُّ الإِثْمُ، تَبْرُدُ الْمَحَبَّةُ لَدَى الْكَثِيرِينَ. وَلَكِنَّ الَّذِي يَثْبُتُ حَتَّى النِّهَايَةِ، فَهُوَ يَخْلُصُ. فَسَوْفَ يُنَادَى بِبِشَارَةِ الْمَلَكُوتِ هَذِهِ فِي الْعَالَمِ كُلِّهِ، شَهَادَةً لِي لَدَى الأُمَمِ جَمِيعاً. وَبَعْدَ ذَلِكَ تَأْتِي النِّهَايَةُ.
فَعِنْدَمَا تَرَوْنَ رَجَاسَةَ الْخَرَابِ، الَّتِي قِيلَ عَنْهَا بِلِسَانِ دَانِيآلَ النَّبِيِّ، قَائِمَةً فِي الْمَكَانِ الْمُقَدَّسِ، لِيَفْهَمِ الْقَارِيءُ! عِنْدَئِذٍ لِيَهْرُبِ الَّذِينَ فِي مِنْطَقَةِ الْيَهُودِيَّةِ إِلَى الْجِبَالِ؛ وَمَنْ كَانَ عَلَى السَّطْحِ، فَلاَ يَنْزِلْ لِيَأْخُذَ مَا فِي بَيْتِهِ؛ وَمَنْ كَانَ فِي الْحَقْلِ، فَلاَ يَرْجِعْ لِيَأْخُذَ ثَوْبَهُ! وَالْوَيْلُ لِلْحَبَالَى وَالْمُرْضِعَاتِ فِي تِلْكَ الأَيَّامِ! فَصَلُّوا لِكَيْ لاَ يَكُونَ هَرَبُكُمْ فِي شِتَاءٍ أَوْ فِي سَبْتٍ، فَسَوْفَ تَحْدُثُ عِنْدَئِذٍ ضِيقَةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ لَمْ يَحْدُثْ مِثْلُهَا مُنْذُ بَدْءِ الْعَالَمِ إِلَى الآنَ، وَلَنْ يَحْدُثَ. وَلَوْلاَ أَنَّ تِلْكَ الأَيَّامَ سَتُخْتَصَرُ، لَمَا كَانَ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْبَشَرِ يَنْجُو. وَلَكِنْ مِنْ أَجْلِ الْمُخْتَارِينَ سَتُخْتَصَرُ تِلْكَ الأَيَّامُ. فَإِنْ قَالَ لَكُمْ أَحَدٌ عِنْدَئِذٍ: هَا إِنَّ الْمَسِيحَ هُنَا، أَوْ هُنَاكَ، فَلاَ تُصَدِّقُوا! فَسَوْفَ يَبْرُزُ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ مَسِيحٍ دَجَّالٍ وَنَبِيٍّ دَجَّالٍ، وَيُقَدِّمُونَ آيَاتٍ عَظِيمَةً وَأَعَاجِيبَ، لِيُضَلِّلُوا حَتَّى الْمُخْتَارِينَ، لَوِ اسْتَطَاعُوا. هَا أَنَا قَدْ أَخْبَرْتُكُمْ بِالأَمْرِ قَبْلَ حُدُوثِهِ. فَإِذَا قَالَ لَكُمُ النَّاسُ: هَا هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ فِي الْبَرِّيَّةِ! فَلاَ تَخْرُجُوا إِلَيْهَا؛ أَوْ: هَا هُوَ فِي الْغُرَفِ الدَّاخِلِيَّةِ! فَلاَ تُصَدِّقُوا. فَكَمَا أَنَّ الْبَرْقَ يُومِضُ مِنَ الشَّرْقِ فَيُضِيءُ فِي الْغَرْبِ، هَكَذَا يَكُونُ رُجُوعُ ابْنِ الإِنْسَانِ. فَحَيْثُ تُوْجَدُ الْجِيفَةُ، تَتَجَمَّعُ النُّسُورُ! وَحَالاً بَعْدَ الضِّيقَةِ فِي تِلْكَ الأَيَّامِ، تُظْلِمُ الشَّمْسُ، وَيَحْجُبُ الْقَمَرُ ضَوْءَهُ، وَتَتَهَاوَى النُّجُومُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ، وَتَتَزَعْزَعُ قُوَّاتُ السَّمَاوَاتِ. وَعِنْدَئِذٍ تَظْهَرُ آيَةُ ابْنِ الإِنْسَانِ فِي السَّمَاءِ، فَتَنْتَحِبُ قَبَائِلُ الأَرْضِ كُلُّهَا، وَيَرَوْنَ ابْنَ الإِنْسَانِ آتِياً عَلَى سُحُبِ السَّمَاءِ بِقُدْرَةٍ وَمَجْدٍ عَظِيمٍ. وَيُرْسِلُ مَلاَئِكَتَهُ بِصَوْتِ بُوقٍ عَظِيمٍ لِيَجْمَعُوا مُخْتَارِيهِ مِنَ الْجِهَاتِ الأَرْبَعِ، مِنْ أَقَاصِي السَّمَاوَاتِ إِلَى أَقَاصِيهَا.
"وَتَعَلَّمُوا هَذَا الْمَثَلَ مِنْ شَجَرَةِ التِّينِ: عِنْدَمَا تَلِينُ أَغْصَانُهَا، وَتُطْلِعُ وَرَقاً، تَعْرِفُونَ أَنَّ الصَّيْفَ قَرِيبٌ. هَكَذَا أَيْضاً حِينَ تَرَوْنَ هَذِهِ الأُمُورَ جَمِيعَهَا تَحْدُثُ، فَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّهُ قَرِيبٌ بَلْ عَلَى الأَبْوَابِ! الْحَقَّ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ: لاَ يَزُولُ هَذَا الْجِيلُ أَبَداً، حَتَّى تَحْدُثَ هَذِهِ الأُمُورُ كُلُّهَا. إِنَّ السَّمَاءَ وَالأَرْضَ تَزُولاَنِ؛ وَلكِنَّ كَلاَمِي لاَ يَزُولُ أَبَداً.
أَمَّا ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمُ وَتِلْكَ السَّاعَةُ، فَلاَ يَعْرِفُهُمَا أَحَدٌ، وَلاَ مَلاَئِكَةُ السَّمَاوَاتِ، إِلاَّ الآبُ وَحْدَهُ. وَكَمَا كَانَتِ الْحَالُ فِي زَمَنِ نُوحٍ، كَذَلِكَ سَتَكُونُ عِنْدَ رُجُوعِ ابْنِ الإِنْسَانِ: فَقَدْ كَانَ النَّاسُ فِي الأَيَّامِ السَّابِقَةِ لِلطُّوفَانِ يَأْكُلُونَ وَيَشْرَبُونَ وَيَتَزَوَّجُونَ وَيُزَوِّجُونَ، حَتَّى فَاجَأَهُمُ الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي دَخَلَ فِيهِ نُوحٌ السَّفِينَةَ،
وَنَزَلَ الطُّوفَانُ وَهُمْ لاَهُونَ فَأَخَذَ الْجَمِيعَ. هَكَذَا سَتَكُونُ الْحَالُ عِنْدَ رُجُوعِ ابْنِ الإِنْسَانِ: عِنْدَئِذٍ يَكُونُ رَجُلاَنِ فِي الْحَقْلِ، فَيُؤْخَذُ أَحَدُهُمَا وَيُتْرَكُ الآخَرُ،
وَامْرَأَتَانِ تَطْحَنَانِ عَلَى الرَّحَى، فَتُؤْخَذُ إِحْدَاهُمَا، وَتُتْرَكُ الأُخْرَى. فَاسْهَرُوا إِذَنْ، لأَنَّكُمْ لاَ تَعْرِفُونَ فِي أَيَّةِ سَاعَةٍ يَرْجِعُ رَبُّكُمْ. وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّهُ لَوْ عَرَفَ رَبُّ الْبَيْتِ فِي أَيِّ رُبْعٍ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ يَدْهَمُهُ اللِّصُّ، لَظَلَّ سَاهِراً وَلَمْ يَدَعْ بَيْتَهُ يُنْقَبُ. فَكُونُوا أَنْتُمْ أَيْضاً عَلَى اسْتِعْدَادٍ، لأَنَّ ابْنَ الإِنْسَانِ سَيَرْجِعُ فِي سَاعَةٍ لاَ تَتَوَقَّعُونَهَا! فَمَنْ هُوَ إِذَنْ ذَلِكَ الْعَبْدُ الأَمِينُ وَالْحَكِيمُ الَّذِي أَقَامَهُ سَيِّدُهُ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ لِيُقَدِّمَ لَهُمُ الطَّعَامَ فِي أَوَانِهِ؟ طُوبَى لِذَلِكَ الْعَبْدِ الَّذِي يَأْتِي سَيِّدُهُ فَيَجِدُهُ يَقُومُ بِعَمَلِهِ. الْحَقَّ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ: إِنَّهُ سَيُقِيمُهُ عَلَى مُمْتَلَكَاتِهِ كُلِّهَا. وَلَكِنْ إِذَا قَالَ ذَلِكَ الْعَبْدُ الشِّرِّيرُ فِي قَلْبِهِ: سَيَتَأَخَّرُ سَيِّدِي فِي رُجُوعِهِ! وَبَدَأَ يَضْرِبُ زُمَلاَءَهُ الْعَبِيدَ وَيَأْكُلُ وَيَشْرَبُ مَعَ السِّكِّيرِينَ، فَإِنَّ سَيِّدَ ذَلِكَ الْعَبْدِ لاَبُدَّ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ فِي يَوْمٍ لاَ يَتَوَقَّعُهُ، وَسَاعَةٍ لاَ يَعْرِفُهَا، فَيَفْصِلُهُ وَيَجْعَلُ نَصِيبَهُ مَعَ الْمُرَائِينَ، هُنَاكَ يَكُونُ الْبُكَاءُ وَصَرِيرُ الأَسْنَانِ!

متى 24 / 3-51

لماذا يا رب كل هذه المصائب تأتى علينا ؟؟

2011-01-02T16:28:00.000+01:00

لماذا يا رب كل هذه المصائب تأتى علينا ؟؟

‫في أعقاب الأحداث المؤسفة لتفجيرات كنيسة القديسين بالإسكندرية
وبعد أن رأينا على الفضائيات أشلاء عشرات الضحايا من القتلى والمصابين
والدماء التي انفجرت لتصل إلى الطابق السادس من الكنيسة
يتسائل الكثير منا .. لماذا يسمح الرب بتلك الأحداث الدامية ؟
وهل من الممكن أن تكون هذه هي مشيئة الله ؟
أسئلة كثيرة ربما لا تجد عنها الجواب ..

ولكن .. احترس 
اياك أن تفقد ثقتك في صلاح الرب ومحبته
فإن عدم فهمنا للأحداث لا يعطينا الحق في محاكمة الله

ربما تسمع ذلك الصوت الذي سمعه بطرس في القديم
* الآن لست تفهم ما أنا أصنع بك ولكنك ستفهم فيما بعد *

إن كنت مازلت تتسائل وتقول .. لماذا يا رب ؟؟؟
اخترت لك هذه القصة لتقرأها 
فربما تجد فيها الإجابة على سؤالك



هبت عاصفة شديدة على سفينة في 
عرض البحر فأغرقتها..

ونجا بعض الركاب..

منهم رجل أخذت الأمواج تتلاعب به حتى ألقت 
به على شاطئ جزيرة مجهولة و مهجورة.

ما كاد الرجل يفيق من إغمائه و يلتقط أنفاسه 
حتى سقط على ركبتيه

و طلب من الله المعونة والمساعدة 
وسأله أن ينقذه من هذا الوضع الأليم.

مرت عدة أيام 
كان الرجل يقتات خلالها من بعض الأعشاب 
وما يصطادة من صغار الأرانب البرية
و يشرب من جدول مياه قريب 
و ينام في كوخ صغير بناه من أعواد الشجر
ليحتمي فيه من برد الليل و حر النهار.

و ذات يوم، أخذ الرجل يتجول حول كوخه قليلا
ريثما ينضج طعامه الموضوع على بعض أعواد الخشب المتقدة.
و لكنه عندما عاد فوجئ بأن النار التهمت كل ما حولها.

فأخذ يصرخ :

"لماذا يا رب ...؟

حتى الكوخ احترق، لم يعد يتبقى لي شيء 
في هذه الدنيا و أنا غريب في هذا المكان

والآن أيضاً يحترق الكوخ الذى أنام فيه...

لماذا يا رب كل هذه المصائب تأتى على!!

و نام الرجل من الحزن و هو جوعان، و لكن 
في الصباح كانت هناك مفاجأة في انتظاره..

إذ وجد سفينة تقترب من الجزيرة و ينزل 
منها قارباً صغيراً لإنقاذه.

أما الرجل فعندما صعد على سطح السفينة 
أخذ يسألهم كيف وجدوا مكانه

فأجابوه:

"لقد رأينا دخاناً، فعرفنا إن شخصاً ما 
يطلب الإنقاذ"


إذا ساءت ظروفك فلا تخف..
فقط ثق بأن الله له حكمة 
في كل شيء يحدث لك 
وأحسن الظن به..

و عندما يحترق كوخك.. 
اعلم أن الله يسعى لإنقاذك

By Magdy Fahmy

نبوءة من سفر الرؤيا تتحقق حاليا في العراق

2010-11-15T21:42:00.000+01:00

سفر الرؤيا الاصحاح 18

ثُمَّ بَعْدَ هذَا رَأَيْتُ مَلاَكًا آخَرَ نَازِلاً مِنَ السَّمَاءِ، لَهُ سُلْطَانٌ عَظِيمٌ. وَاسْتَنَارَتِ الأَرْضُ مِنْ بَهَائِهِ.

2 وَصَرَخَ بِشِدَّةٍ بِصَوْتٍ عَظِيمٍ قَائِلاً:«سَقَطَتْ! سَقَطَتْ بَابِلُ الْعَظِيمَةُ! وَصَارَتْ مَسْكَنًا لِشَيَاطِينَ، وَمَحْرَسًا لِكُلِّ رُوحٍ نَجِسٍ، وَمَحْرَسًا لِكُلِّ طَائِرٍ نَجِسٍ وَمَمْقُوتٍ،

3 لأَنَّهُ مِنْ خَمْرِ غَضَبِ زِنَاهَا قَدْ شَرِبَ جَمِيعُ الأُمَمِ، وَمُلُوكُ الأَرْضِ زَنَوْا مَعَهَا، وَتُجَّارُ الأَرْضِ اسْتَغْنَوْا مِنْ وَفْرَةِ نَعِيمِهَا».

4 ثُمَّ سَمِعْتُ صَوْتًا آخَرَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ قَائِلاً:

«اخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا يَا شَعْبِي لِئَلاَّ تَشْتَرِكُوا فِي خَطَايَاهَا، وَلِئَلاَّ تَأْخُذُوا مِنْ ضَرَبَاتِهَا.

5 لأَنَّ خَطَايَاهَا لَحِقَتِ السَّمَاءَ، وَتَذَكَّرَ اللهُ آثَامَهَا.

6 جَازُوهَا كَمَا هِيَ أَيْضًا جَازَتْكُمْ، وَضَاعِفُوا لَهَا ضِعْفًا نَظِيرَ أَعْمَالِهَا. فِي الْكَأْسِ الَّتِي مَزَجَتْ فِيهَا امْزُجُوا لَهَا ضِعْفًا.

7 بِقَدْرِ مَا مَجَّدَتْ نَفْسَهَا وَتَنَعَّمَتْ، بِقَدْرِ ذلِكَ أَعْطُوهَا عَذَابًا وَحُزْنًا. لأَنَّهَا تَقُولُ فِي قَلْبِهَا: أَنَا جَالِسَةٌ مَلِكَةً، وَلَسْتُ أَرْمَلَةً، وَلَنْ أَرَى حَزَنًا.

8 مِنْ أَجْلِ ذلِكَ فِي يَوْمٍ وَاحِدٍ سَتَأْتِي ضَرَبَاتُهَا: مَوْتٌ وَحُزْنٌ وَجُوعٌ، وَتَحْتَرِقُ بِالنَّارِ، لأَنَّ الرَّبَّ الإِلهَ الَّذِي يَدِينُهَا قَوِيٌّ.

9 «وَسَيَبْكِي وَيَنُوحُ عَلَيْهَا مُلُوكُ الأَرْضِ، الَّذِينَ زَنَوْا وَتَنَعَّمُوا مَعَهَا، حِينَمَا يَنْظُرُونَ دُخَانَ حَرِيقِهَا،

10 وَاقِفِينَ مِنْ بَعِيدٍ لأَجْلِ خَوْفِ عَذَابِهَا، قَائِلِينَ: وَيْلٌ! وَيْلٌ! الْمَدِينَةُ الْعَظِيمَةُ بَابِلُ! الْمَدِينَةُ الْقَوِيَّةُ! لأَنَّهُ فِي سَاعَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ جَاءَتْ دَيْنُونَتُكِ.

11 وَيَبْكِي تُجَّارُ الأَرْضِ وَيَنُوحُونَ عَلَيْهَا، لأَنَّ بَضَائِعَهُمْ لاَ يَشْتَرِيهَا أَحَدٌ فِي مَا بَعْدُ،

12 بَضَائِعَ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَالْحَجَرِ الْكَرِيمِ وَاللُّؤْلُؤِ وَالْبَزِّ وَالأُرْجُوانِ وَالْحَرِيرِ وَالْقِرْمِزِ، وَكُلَّ عُودٍ ثِينِيٍّ، وَكُلَّ إِنَاءٍ مِنَ الْعَاجِ، وَكُلَّ إِنَاءٍ مِنْ أَثْمَنِ الْخَشَبِ وَالنُّحَاسِ وَالْحَدِيدِ وَالْمَرْمَرِ،

13 وَقِرْفَةً وَبَخُورًا وَطِيبًا وَلُبَانًا وَخَمْرًا وَزَيْتًا وَسَمِيذًا وَحِنْطَةً وَبَهَائِمَ وَغَنَمًا وَخَيْلاً، وَمَرْكَبَاتٍ، وَأَجْسَادًا، وَنُفُوسَ النَّاسِ.

14 وَذَهَبَ عَنْكِ جَنَى شَهْوَةِ نَفْسِكِ، وَذَهَبَ عَنْكِ كُلُّ مَا هُوَ مُشْحِمٌ وَبَهِيٌّ، وَلَنْ تَجِدِيهِ فِي مَا بَعْدُ.

15 تُجَّارُ هذِهِ الأَشْيَاءِ الَّذِينَ اسْتَغْنَوْا مِنْهَا، سَيَقِفُونَ مِنْ بَعِيدٍ، مِنْ أَجْلِ خَوْفِ عَذَابِهَا، يَبْكُونَ وَيَنُوحُونَ،

16 وَيَقُولُونَ: وَيْلٌ! وَيْلٌ! الْمَدِينَةُ الْعَظِيمَةُ الْمُتَسَرْبِلَةُ بِبَزّ وَأُرْجُوانٍ وَقِرْمِزٍ، وَالْمُتَحَلِّيَةُ بِذَهَبٍ وَحَجَرٍ كَرِيمٍ وَلُؤْلُؤٍ!

17 لأَنَّهُ فِي سَاعَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ خَرِبَ غِنىً مِثْلُ هذَا. وَكُلُّ رُبَّانٍ، وَكُلُّ الْجَمَاعَةِ فِي السُّفُنِ، وَالْمَّلاَحُونَ وَجَمِيعُ عُمَّالِ الْبَحْرِ، وَقَفُوا مِنْ بَعِيدٍ،

18 وَصَرَخُوا إِذْ نَظَرُوا دُخَانَ حَرِيقِهَا، قَائِلِينَ: أَيَّةُ مَدِينَةٍ مِثْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ الْعَظِيمَةِ؟

19 وَأَلْقَوْا تُرَابًا عَلَى رُؤُوسِهِمْ، وَصَرَخُوا بَاكِينَ وَنَائِحِينَ قَائِلِينَ: وَيْلٌ! وَيْلٌ! الْمَدِينَةُ الْعَظِيمَةُ، الَّتِي فِيهَا اسْتَغْنَى جَمِيعُ الَّذِينَ لَهُمْ سُفُنٌ فِي الْبَحْرِ مِنْ نَفَائِسِهَا! لأَنَّهَا فِي سَاعَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ خَرِبَتْ!

20 اِفْرَحِي لَهَا أَيَّتُهَا السَّمَاءُ وَالرُّسُلُ الْقِدِّيسُونَ وَالأَنْبِيَاءُ، لأَنَّ الرَّبَّ قَدْ دَانَهَا دَيْنُونَتَكُمْ».

21 وَرَفَعَ مَلاَكٌ وَاحِدٌ قَوِيٌّ حَجَرًا كَرَحىً عَظِيمَةٍ، وَرَمَاهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ قَائِلاً:«هكَذَا بِدَفْعٍ سَتُرْمَى بَابِلُ الْمَدِينَةُ الْعَظِيمَةُ، وَلَنْ تُوجَدَ فِي مَا بَعْدُ.

22 وَصَوْتُ الضَّارِبِينَ بِالْقِيثَارَةِ وَالْمُغَنِّينَ وَالْمُزَمِّرِينَ وَالنَّافِخِينَ بِالْبُوقِ، لَنْ يُسْمَعَ فِيكِ فِي مَا بَعْدُ. وَكُلُّ صَانِعٍ صِنَاعَةً لَنْ يُوجَدَ فِيكِ فِي مَا بَعْدُ. وَصَوْتُ رَحىً لَنْ يُسْمَعَ فِيكِ فِي مَا بَعْدُ.

23 وَنُورُ سِرَاجٍ لَنْ يُضِيءَ فِيكِ فِي مَا بَعْدُ. وَصَوْتُ عَرِيسٍ وَعَرُوسٍ لَنْ يُسْمَعَ فِيكِ فِي مَا بَعْدُ. لأَنَّ تُجَّارَكِ كَانُوا عُظَمَاءَ الأَرْضِ. إِذْ بِسِحْرِكِ ضَلَّتْ جَمِيعُ الأُمَمِ.

24 وَفِيهَا وُجِدَ دَمُ أَنْبِيَاءَ وَقِدِّيسِينَ، وَجَمِيعِ مَنْ قُتِلَ عَلَى الأَرْضِ».

ماذا فعلت؟ صوت دم اخيك المسيحي صارخُ الي من الارض

2010-11-10T11:06:00.000+01:00

قصة اليوم قصة أخوين اثنين، دبت الغيرة في قلب أحدهما.

إنها قصة أولاد آدم وحواء....فقد رزق هاذان مولودا ذكرا

أسمياه قايين. كان قايين ثمرة حبهما ومحور حياتهما وشغلهما

شأن. شاء قايين مثله كمثل باقي الأطفال واستوحذ على

حب والديه كله...فرحة قايين بحب والديه كانت كبيرة وعظيمة

ولكنها لم تدم طويلا. ففي يوم من الأيام فوجئ قايين بوالديه

وقد أنجبا له أخا صغيرا...بدأة ذي بدء فرح قايين بالمولود

الجديد هابيل وطرب بحياته. غير أنه ومع مرور الأيام بدأ يشعر

بتغيير خطر يعم أرجاء بيته. أفاق قايين ليرى والديه

وهما يحيطان بأخيه هابيل ليغرقا عليه الحب والرعاية والتكريم.

وأدرك قايين أنه لم يعد محط أنظار والديه الوحيد وأن أخا

غريبا قد دخل في مملكته وليتربع على العرش بجواره. وبدأت

غيرة عظيمة تدب في قلب قايين وبدأ غيظ شديد يرغي ويزبد في عروقه.

ومرت الأيام وكبر الأخوان ومعهما كبرت غيرة الأكبر من أخيه الأصغر.

وجاء الوقت ليفترق الاثنان وليذهب كل في طريقه.

فاختار قايين أن يكون مزارعا واختار هابيل أن يصير صيادا.

ولكن رغم انفصالهما بقيت الغيرة تتراكم في نفس قايين كتراكم القش

اليابس في الحقول. وفي أحد الأيام وعندما ذهب الاثنان للمثول أمام الله،

وقعت الواقعة، إذ قبل الله تقدمة هابيل الحيوانية ورفض تقدمة قايين النباتية.

أما لماذا قبل الله تقدمة هابيل ورفض تقدمة قايين فسر غامض

لا يكشف الكتاب المقدس النقاب عنه. إلا أننا نقرأ في سفر العبرانيين

أن هابيل قدم قربانه بالإيمان فلذلك قبل من الله.

قبول الله لتقدمة هابيل أثار ثائرة قايين وأشعل النار في قلبه

فأعد هذا العدة للتخلص من أخيه فقتله. إنها الغيرة التي إن

حبلت ولدت الغيظ والكره، والقتل والموت.

ومن يومها والإنسان ماض لقتل أخيه الإنسان. فكم من هابيل قد

قتل منذ مطلع التاريخ وحتى يومنا هذا؟ وكم مسكين سقط ولكن ليس

بسكين الغريب بل بسكين القريب؟ وكم إنسان صرع ولكن ليس بطعنة

خنجر ولا بضربة فأس وإنما بنظرة مكر أو بكلمة حقد،

أجل، صفحة القتل لم تطو في تاريخ البشرية رغم تقدم الإنسان

وازدهاره. بل لقد فتحت منذ ذلك الحين صفحات كثيرة امتلأت

بأنواع عديدة مشينة من قتل ومكر. فراحت الطبقات العليا

تبطش بالطبقات الدنيا، والشعوب القوية تقتل الشعوب الضعيفة.

ويكفي القول أن عدد القتلى في الحروب هذا القرن قد زاد على الثمانين مليونا.

والسؤال الذي يطرح نفسه الآن هو: ما هو موقف الله من قتل

الإنسان لأخيه الإنسان؟ قد نخال الله مرارا كثيرة ساكنا صامتا

مكتوف الأيدي وبلا حراك. فكثيرا ما يسمح للإنسان بغدر أخيه الإنسان،

كثيرا ما يترك الإنسان يقتل أخاه الإنسان.

ولكن رغم هذا فالله لا يقف من جرائم القتل موقف المتفرج بل نراه يواجه القاتل

بسؤال واحد فقط وهو: قايين، أين هابيل أخوك؟ وسؤال الله

هذا ما زال يدوي عبر القرون: أيها الإسرائيلي أين أخوك الفلسطيني؟

أيها المسلم! أين أخوك المسيحي؟ أيها المسيحي، أين أخوك المسلم واليهودي؟

أيها اللوثري! أين أخوك اللوثري، أيها الإنسان، أين أخوك..؟

وجواب قايين لله هو جواب الإنسان على مدى العصور: لا أعلم، أحارس

أنا لأخي؟ لا أعلم، وهل مسؤول أنا عن أخي؟ لا أدري أين أخي

وهل أنا عريف عليه؟ كان هذا جواب الكاهن واللاوي اللذين مرا

بالسامري المضروب والمسلوب فظنا أنهما غير مسؤولين عنه،

فتركاه ليموت على قارعة الطريق. وهو جواب الدول المتقدمة لمشكلات

الدول النامية: هل نحن مسؤولون عن تخلفكم ومشاكلكم ؟

هل نحن مسؤولون عن اقتصادكم وتطوركم؟

ظن قايين أن بقوله لا أعلم سيرتاح، ولكن ألم تجد الراحة

طريقها إلى قلبه، وبدلا منها دخل الخوف والقلق والأرق.

حقا لقد استطاع قايين أن يقضي على أخيه وأن يسكت صوته ولكن

صوتا أقوى ظل يصرخ في وجهه، إنه صوت دم أخيه الذي صعد

إلى الله ودخل أذنيه. صوت دم أخيه ظل يطارد قايين ككابوس مزعج

في ليله ونهاره في نومه وصحوه.

قد يتخلص الإنسان من صوت أخيه ولكنه لن يستطيع أن يتخلص

من صوت ضميره، بل سيبقى هذا يكبله...

ومنذ ذلك الوقت وقايين تائه في الأرض محاولا الهرب من صوت دم

أخيه ومن صوت ضميره. أنه مطارد يحاول الاختباء عن أعين الله والعدالة.

إن الله لا يحاكم القاتل بالقتل ولا بالشنق أو بالكرسي الكهربائي وإنما

بالخوف والقلق والأرق. إذ يجعل من الإنسان المطمئن إنسانا مضطرب

الأعصاب قلق الأفكار.

لقد نهى الله في الوصايا العشر الإنسان عن قتل أخيه الإنسان،

وقد فعل ذلك ليحافظ على حياة الإنسان وليبعد الخوف عن قلب الإنسان.

أما يسوع فلم يكتف بهذه الوصية بل يقول في عظته على الجبل:

"سمعتم أنه قيل للأولين: لا تقتل، فإن من يقتل يستوجب القضاء،

أما أنا فأقول لكم: من غضب على أخيه باطلا استوجب القضاء، ومن قال لأخيه

"يا أحمق". استوجب حكم المجلس. ومن قال له يا جاهل: استوجب نار جهنم.

لقد رأينا في قصة قايين وهابيل كيف أن جريمة القتل لم تأت

صدفة بل كانت نتيجة للحقد والغيرة المتراكمة في قلب قايين.

لذلك قال يسوع: فإذا كنت تقرب قربانك إلى المذبح وذكرت هناك أن

لأخيك عليك شيئا، فدع قربانك قدام المذبح هناك، واذهب قبل ذلك

وصالح أخاك، ثم عد وقرب قربانك.

لقد أعطانا المسيح وصية جديدة وهي أن نحب بعضنا بعضا.

بالطبيعة أيها الأحباء، نحن أبناء آدم وحواء، نحن أخوة قايين وهابيل،

أما بالمسيح، فقد أصبحنا أبناء آدم الجديد، أبناء الله،

فلسنا بعد أبناء قتلة بل أبناء المحبة.

وينك يا فادي العالم

2010-11-03T16:29:00.001+01:00

Listening to God...

2010-09-15T08:32:00.001+02:00

Learning to listen to God is an essential part of following His will. The Lord regularly speaks to His followers through four resources:

1. The Bible. Scripture is God’s guidebook to His thoughts and actions. It is the primary source for His followers to consult about everything in their life. This means that we ought to aim for more than just reading a bit every day. Our goal is to absorb the message—listening for God to offer instructions on how and where to apply His Word.

2. Prayer. Like all real friends, the Lord desires give and take in His relationships. Therefore, prayer is not complete when I’m done talking. I must quiet my mouth and thoughts so that my spiritual ears can open.

3. Circumstances. The Lord often revealed His ways to the biblical saints through their circumstances. He still works that way today. Situations differ but God does not. He uses everyday life to reveal errors in thinking, open or close doors of opportunity, and prove His promises true.

4. Others. Pastors, friends, and mentors can all speak truth into a person’s life. The Lord placed believers in community so they could be supported and helped by those nearby. He doesn’t hesitate to send a message from the mouth of someone we know.

God does not use just one or two of these methods to reach a believer. He speaks through all of them. We need to attune our spiritual ears, always remembering that a message from the Lord must agree with His holy Word. God is talking to you. Are you listening?

Dr.Charles Stanely

"Do not be afraid"

2010-09-07T09:27:00.000+02:00

"Do not be afraid" appears 365 times in the Bible. Hmm, same amount of days in a year!