Is Your Faith Identifiable?

The girl at the gate said to Peter, "Aren't you one of the disciples of that man?" (John 18:17)

so others said to him, "Aren't you one of the disciples of that man?" (John 18:25)

he asked, (Peter), "Didn't I see you with him in the garden?" (John 18:26)

Webster's II Dictionary defines Christian as --noun. 1. A believer in Christianity. --adjective 1. of, pertaining to, or professing belief in Christianity. 2. Relating to or derived from Jesus or His teachings. 3. Relating to Christianity or in adherent.

Are people able to look at you and ask "Aren't you a disciple of Jesus of Nazareth?"

Is there evidence of you having been with Jesus?

Does your speech, like Peter's, give you away as someone being with Jesus and not of the world? (Colossians 3)

Would anyone at your workplace ask about your relationship with Jesus?

Would anyone at your school ask about your relationship with Jesus? 

What about where you shop, or bank, or get a hairstyle/cut, or where get your car repaired?

What about in your own neighborhood? Your home? Among your people?

When you're out and about in your part of the world does anyone apart from other Christians know you're a Christian?

Can other Christians brag about your witness? (1 Thessalonians 1:7)

What about the other side of the question? Are you ready to deny your relationship with Jesus when the opposition asks you?

https://www.facebook.com/InterestSusanEstes

For your convience, please leave comments on my Facebook page linked here for the ease of comments. https://www.facebook.com/InterestSusanEstes
Thank you. 

Who Did Jesus Die For

Ever think about the millions--billions--of people who have lived before us? All those who will live after us (if the Lord delays His appearing throughout our lives)

Ever think about all the rebellious in the tribulation period?

Christ died for the sins of the world to reconcile everyone to God the Father.

The Natives who met the Europeans who came across the Atlantic. The Vikings. Attila, the Hun. The people indigenous to Australia, Africa, North America, South Americans, and Asia. All the Mayans, Incas. Every nationality, tribe, and people groups.

All the slaves bought and sold before and after the War between the states--and their owners.

Everyone who have died or been buried at sea, since the flood in Noah's day--even those dead before and during that flood.

Everyone killed in WWI and WWII and every war the world has ever fought.

Every baby who died before birth, and in abortions.

Everyone who has been murdered and their murderers.

Everyone in your family tree.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 
Romans 3: 23.

For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
Romans 6: 23

God came to earth as a man to die the death earned by everyone being a sinner. He died on the cross, was buried three days and rose again from the grave to prove His death was sufficient for the punishment of all sin.

You name the person and Jesus took their sin. You name the sin and Jesus wore it. He did it even though all of mankind didn't and doesn't know they are lost, from Adam to the last person who dies at Armageddon.

At some point after Adam chose to leave the worship of the true God by his singular disobedience, mankind went on to create false gods. This practice spread throughout the world as nations began leaving and growing apart from their origins in the fertile valley where God made Adam. Romans 1: 18-20 says ALL people have the reason and capability to see God in all His creation, and are without excuse not to seek the True and Living God.

The Bible says no one seeks God. Not one does good. (cf Romans 3: 10--18)

Salvation is God's Amazing Grace! Just because He chose to do it.

There is only one sin that will keep anyone out of heaven--refusing to accept the free gift of salvation God provided for all of mankind.

But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, 

but is in danger of eternal damnation" Mark 3: 29

But

For all who call upon the name of Jesus shall be saved. Romans 10: 13

If not commenting here, for your convenience, please use this link to place comments:  SusanEstesRecommends/FacebookThank you. 

Commissioned to Give Jesus

Jesus came to the lost, unrepentant world, to save us to repentance. "For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life a ransom for many." Mark 10: 35

Jesus hates sin. Sin came into the world through Adam's willful rebellion in the Garden of Eden. Because of sin, no one can be in God's presence. 'For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.' Romans 3:23

Jesus loves sinners. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.' Romans 5: 8

• Christmas celebrates the gift God gave---His Son.

The gift we don't deserve. 'As it is written: 'There is none righteous, no not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.' Romans 3: 10, 11, 12

But the Greatest Gift is: 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not die but have eternal life.' John 3: 16

Jesus, God, came to earth, was born of a virgin, died on the cross for the sin of the world, buried in a tomb, rose again the third day from the grave because His sacrifice, in the place of everyone, fulfilled the death penalty required. He ascended back to heaven to sit beside the Father, and He will return one day to take believers to live with Him forever and to judge the unbelievers to separation forever. Without Jesus, there is no hope of salvation. That is the Gospel taught in the Bible from Genesis 1: 1 to Revelation 22: 21

That is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He does not want anyone to die and be eternally separate from God in the 'outer darkness, where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth'. He came and died so no one would have to be lost forever. 'In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and gave His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.' 1 John 4: 10 

• That is the reason for everyone to celebrate Christmas.

May it be every believing, born again, Christian's desire that no one be eternally separate from God in the 'outer darkness, where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.' May we give Jesus this Christmas.

We attend church services, perform good works, and pray. We sing, fellowship and worship but He desires mercy for the lost from us, not the performance done in His name. He commands that we let others know about the wonderful miracle He gives to the whole world; eternal Salvation. Let us have mercy on the lost and dying world and tell them about the gospel of Jesus.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19

• Remember to wrap all your gifts with loving prayers for salvation of everyone you know.

https://www.facebook.com/InterestSusanEstes

For your convience, please leave comments on my Facebook page linked here for the ease of comments. https://www.facebook.com/InterestSusanEstes
Thank you. 

Guest Post-How to Handle Hurt Through the Holidays

By Linda Stitches--Guest Post

How to Handle Hurt Through the Holidays

When my husband died the children and I had no idea how we would make it through our first Christmas without him. He was killed on the 25th, a fact that hadn’t escaped any of us. How could we celebrate Christmas (or anything at all,) if he wasn’t there?

God gave wisdom and guidance that first year, and I did several things that I see now were ordained by His hand. So here I offer suggestions on how you can make it through your first Christmas (or any other big day) without your precious loved one:

1. Don’t skip Christmas.

I wanted to but knew if I did, I would still have to face it next year. So I resolutely plowed in. I got the totes of decorations out of the attic, and for the first time in months our children (ages 23, 21, 19 & 10) sounded excited as they offered to help with the decorating. I was thrilled! But a few minutes later I realized the room was quiet and everyone was gone. Glancing around I saw the family Christmas stockings had been pulled out of a tote, and there on top was a stocking that said “Dad”. One by one we faced each reminder of his absence head-on. I kept telling myself that it wouldn’t hurt so much next year, and it didn’t.

2. Bathe the season in prayer.

Ask your friends to pray too. Although your loved one’s absence is painfully evident in every moment of your life, others might not remember to pray. It’s okay to ask. And God is listening!

3. Ask for help.

Michael and I had an understanding about Christmas shopping. He bought the really ‘cool’ stuff —gadgets, gizmos and games. I bought the stockings and underwear. That first year I felt like a polar bear in the desert. I had NO idea how I was going to pick out ‘cool’ presents for the children! Then a friend asked if I wanted her to go shopping with me. I clutched at her suggestion like a drowning person grabs for a lifeline! Moral support! She was offering moral support! Corinne was a beautiful woman, with a very busy life of her own. But she dropped everything to go Christmas shopping with me. That night she gave me space, but offered suggestions. She was the perfect balance of not-too-much and not-too-little. I found a few gizmos and gadgets, but even more, I found courage! I have never forgotten Corinne’s kindness to me—the kindness of moral support! My friend if you are mourning, people want to help, but often don’t know how. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to go shopping with you, or to help bake those cookies, or to give a hand wrapping gifts. Moral support will carry you a long way!

4. Change things up.

We decided we couldn’t possibly do things the way we had always done them. We had always started partying on Christmas Eve, slept a few hours in the night, and then partied all Christmas Day. Not knowing what else to do, we took a chance and invited several families to drop in for refreshments and fellowship on Christmas Eve. We were surprised to find that most of them didn’t start their own celebration until Christmas Day, and they were glad to come to our house! That evening our home was filled with laughter and song. Although it was completely different from years past, it was much better than the dreaded reminder of what we didn’t have!

A few years later one of my daughters came to me, and asked if we could go back to having Christmas Eve the way we did before Dad died. This time there were boyfriends and girlfriends added to the mix, so it felt festive and cheerful!

If you know you can’t repeat the past, then do something different for the present. Pray for wisdom, and God will show you what to do!

5. Laugh a little.

The kids bought me a couple of comedy DVD’s by Ken Davis and put them under the Christmas tree. Later that afternoon we decided to put in one of those DVD’s. We laughed, and laughed…. And laughed! Solomon said laughter works good like a medicine. Solomon was a very wise man!

As the sun set that day we commented to each other that things had gone a lot better than we had ever dreamed they would. God had gotten us through the dreaded ‘first Christmas’ with very few tears and with lots of laughter!

After that day I quit dreading the next ‘special day’ that we would go through without Michael. God had shown me clearly that He is already in my tomorrow, making everything ready for my arrival, and He is doing it well!

God's Gift of Love

"Now abide these three, faith, hope,

and love but the greatest of these is love" 

1 Corinthians 13:13.

Amazing!

Ever really thought about LOVE? The greatest emotion, empathy, sympathy, action, or reaction we can have for anything or anyone is love. Love never fails.

Are you giving away love this Christmas or just gifts you bought with money? Is anyone expecting love from you or just materiel gifts? Are you just giving cash?

I'm not in favor of Gift Cards, either giving them or receiving them. As a donation for someone in need, yes, but it's a poor gift in my estimation. To me they say, "You're not worth the effort to learn more about you. I don't want to know your likes and dislikes. Here's money, go buy something you want, I don't want the relationship". If Gift cards are what someone asks for from me, it says to me. "You don't know me and I don't want you to. I don't want what you might buy me."

Neither am I fond of the excuse "I bought my own gift this year because my spouse wouldn't have bought it for me."

Is there something wrong with this picture or is it just me? Is there a disconnect in there somewhere? If you've been married for any length of time, your spouse should be able to buy you anything and you'd love it.

One year my husband gave me a flour sifter, measuring cups and baking dishes. Wonderful! I love them! I love to cook. He actually thought of something I liked and could use. Absolutely wonderful gift.

Love comes in many different packages, big, small, lumpy, soft, hard, smooth, and jiggly. Some make noise, some don't.

Try wrapping love this year, no matter what it is. Make it a surprise!

The greatest love you can give this year is to give Christ Jesus to your unsaved relatives and friends. Pray for them. When you are with them, ask if you may pray for them. Ask them if you can talk about Jesus. Make the Christmas story the main feature in your festivities.
My husband and I send a lot of cards and everyone of them had a handwritten Bible verse and signature. It is something we do every year. We take our time, beginning just after Thanksgiving and do small lots several days a week. Most of the people we send to do not know Jesus in a personal way. It's one way we send love each Christmas.

God's love for us came wrapped in rags on a bed of hay. The greatest gift in a simple package. How will you wrap Jesus to give Him away this year?

https://www.facebook.com/InterestSusanEstes

For your convience, please leave comments on my Facebook page linked here for the ease of comments. https://www.facebook.com/InterestSusanEstes

Thank you. 

I'm An Ambassador For Christ. WOW!

Jesus came to earth to show us the Father. (Hebrews 1:3) Everything that we see in Jesus, as described in the Bible, describes God. His power, His love, His mercy, His Grace, His Majesty, His Glory, even His wrath is manifested in all we can learn of Jesus.

As an ambassador of God, I am to imitate Jesus.

"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God" 2 Corinthians 5: 20.

The Websters II Pocket Dictionary defines ambassador as a noun; A diplomat of the highest rank accredited by government as representative in residence to another.

WOW! I'm an ambassador for the government of God in this 'foreign' country, (Hebrews 11: 13-16), representing Jesus to the unsaved here. What a job! What a responsibility!

Peace, Peace, & Peace

"My peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you: not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, Neither let it be afraid" John 24: 27.

We sing songs about peaceful times at Christmas. Many people say they ask for world peace at Christmas. There have been large gatherings of multicultural groups striving to produce peace in the world. Musical groups have banded in huge members to try and sing peace into existence. Governments attempt to politic peace into existence. It is a very good thing to strive for and we certainly should do all we can to maintain peace everywhere.

We certainly need peace and almost all these reasoning people have a good idea of how this peace should be accomplished. The trouble with the reasoning is they have yet to find a way to endue everyone with a peaceful heart. For there to be peace throughout the world the peace must come first inside a person before peace comes forth in effective presentation.


We need a peace that does not come with conditions.

"My peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you: not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" John 24: 27.

The supernatural peace of God provides that peace. Accepting Jesus brings that inner peace. Born again into the family of God helps us have that peace. It is nothing we produced. It is something Jesus gives.

Yes, yes, yes---may there be peace on earth this year! May many people come to know Jesus as their personal Savior this year!

Amen.

"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" Romans 10:17.