Christian wedding and non-Christian wedding

How should a Christian wedding be different from a non-Christian wedding?

 -By gotquestions.org./S. Michael Houdmann

Answer:The primary difference between a Christian wedding and non-Christian wedding is Christ. Christians who marry are making a commitment to Christ, as well as to each other, and that commitment should be obvious to everyone who attends the wedding. In a non-Christian wedding, the couple—particularly the bride—is usually the focal point. In a Christian wedding, Christ is the focal point.

A Christian couple who truly want to glorify Christ through their wedding can start with the early preparations, beginning with biblicalpremarital counselingwith their pastor. Premarital counseling based upon sound biblical principles outlines the roles of the husband and wife as they relate to each other and to their prospective children (Ephesians 5:22–6:4;Colossians 3:18-21). The wedding affirms before God and friends and family that the couple’s desire is to live according to God’s plan for the family.

Pray the best way you can

In our Sunday school, one friend asked, "Is it necessary to pray aloud? Why some pray so loudly and others silently? Which is the best?

Prayer is talking to God. God is your father in heaven. You can talk with your heavenly father (in prayer) as you talk with your earthly father in your home. When you pray, you don’t need to use special words or speak out loud. Pray a simple prayer.

When you pray, tell your heavenly father what you think, all your feelings, your conditions, your dream or will, tell Him what you need and ask His help.

You can pray loudly or silently, the best way you can express your feelings. God knows your feelings, your needs. He hears your thoughts.

It is your duty to approach Him and tell Him what your feelings. You can pray laughing or crying showing your true feelings or emotion.

You can call God, your heavenly father “papa” as our Lord Jesus called God “Abba,” which means “daddy” or “papa” (Mark 14:36).

THREE STEPS TO STUDY THE BIBLE SUCCESSFULLY

The Bible is the written words of God. The words of God are essential food for our spirit. Study the Bible daily to grow in faith. Follow the three simple steps, suggested by Bible teachers, to study the Bible     successfully.
1. Observation : Start reading the Bible and read daily with careful observation. Noted Bible teacher Dr. James M. Gray said, “There is only one law of Bible study, and that is to read the Book, and when you have read it, to read it again, and then sit down and read it again, and then sit down and read it once more, and by and by you will come to know the Book.”
Start reading any one of the Gospel and read the entire book in one sitting in order to get a clear impression of the book as a whole. Read it again and again to better grasp its message. Ask probing questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
2. .Interpretation : Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you understanding as you interpret the Scriptures, for apart from His illumination, proper understanding is impossible (1 John 2:20, 27). Examine the context of the passage you are interpreting. Compare it with parallel accounts and cross-references.
3. Application : As you seek to apply God’s Word to your life, you’ll find your behavior changing. Relate the Bible to all areas of your life—your strengths and weaknesses, your attitudes and actions.
James 1:22 tells us: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Obey the Word by prayerfully meditating on it with the goal of better understanding and applying it.

GOD PROMISE TO BLESS YOU

GOD PROMISE TO BLESS YOU

God says, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” ( 2 Chronicles 7:14.)

To receive the blessings of God, you must :

1.    be one of ‘His people’, called by His name;

2.    humble ‘yourself’;

3.    pray and seek His face;

4.    turn from your wicked way.

If you meet the above requirements, God will hear your prayer from heaven and will forgive your sin and will heal your land – your body, soul and spirit. He will heal you physically and provide everything you need. He will give you eternal with Him after dead. This is the full blessing of God.

Who are the people of God? God called ‘Israel’, His people during the Old Testament time. ‘Israel’ means ‘the chosen people of God’. In the New Testament time, the believers of Jesus Christ are ‘the children of God’( John 1:12) by calling in His (Christ) name ‘Christian’.

You are one among the ‘children of God’, ‘people of God’, when you –

1.realized that you are living your free-will life against the will of God, which is sin and turn away from your sin (ungodliness, wickedness;

2. humble yourself’ by confessing your sin (wickedness);

3. pray God to forgive your sin and seek His face, His help;

4. received  God’s Son, Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.

Then, you are entitle to ‘receive the abundant blessing of God’. God will forgive your sin and help you over come sin, the power of sin and turn away from wickedness totally. He will solve your physical and spiritual problems. He will give you peace of mind. He will help and provide all you need for living a happy life in His will.  He will give you eternal life that you will live with Him forever in heaven after dead.

Hope you have already done so. If not yet, call Jesus Christ in prayer and follow the above steps. Tell others about this ‘Good News’.

Is Your Church Making Disciples?

By Hope on Feb 13, 2014; From the series Prayer Letter

Scripture: “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious, I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.”Revelation 2:7

In many parts of the world, the Name of Jesus is unknown or hated, making it unsafe to share your Christian faith. However, God calls Christians to "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone" (Mark 16:15).

Embedded Missionaries

God Protects and Saves All Who Believes In Him

GOD PROTECTS BELIEVERS FROM EVERY DANGER

God protect all who trust and rely on Him. God will save him from every danger and will be able to say, , “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”  as the Bible says,

”Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalms 91: 1-2)

Call Jesus In Prayer To Help You

The Bible says “The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in TRUTH. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.” -Psalm 145:18-19.

Jesus says “I am the Truth”. To get the response of our prayer, we have to pray in Truth(Jesus), in the name of Jesus. And to get answer of prayer, we must pray in Gods’ will. God’s will is ‘to believe in Him and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Obey Him and follow His teaching and become the trustworthy follower of Jesus Christ, who will help us live a ‘Spiritual filled live’. Then, God will surely respond our prayer.

Let's Share God's Love

God loves everyone. He loves the whole world. As such, He send His Son Jesus Christ that all who believe in Him may be saved. Read John 3:16-17:  

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17)

Those who do not believe Him will be condemned forever. Read :

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:18)

Jesus wants us to love one another as He loves us. He “wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth”  Read

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying —and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.  (1 Timothy 2:1- 7)

He “does not want anyone to be perished” (2 Peter 3:9).

So, let’s share others this message of God’s love that they may receive God to get His blessings through Jesus Christ.

Outer Beauty and Inner Beauty

By GodLife.com

Scripture: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3:3-4

Lasting Impressions

Have you ever seen a really attractive person -- someone people can't help but turn and stare at as they walk by? People with great God-given beauty may make a great impression, but it will be forgotten when the next beautiful person comes along.

What about a person who really knows Jesus and walks with Him? God’s grace and mercy flow through this person, resulting in encouraging words and good works. Do others pay attention when someone lives this way? We might not notice them at first, but their godly deeds leave an impression of goodness, and people's lives can be changed because of them.

Each of those two people makes an impression. But only the second can impact others with eternal consequences.

Fleeting vs. Lasting Impact

The Bible tells us that “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30) God wants women AND men to be more concerned about our character and our “inner” beauty than our outward appearance.

Today’s scripture from Peter tells us not to give so much attention to "outward adornment," but instead to cultivate "the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit" (1 Peter 3:3-4). Outward beauty will fade, and its impact just as quickly. But inner beauty can keep growing your whole life, so that it’s your character people notice instead of your appearance. And then God receives the glory.

Praise God for You Have a Living Hope

Having received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you now have a living hope. God in His mercy have forgiven your sins as our Lord Jesus has paid our sins when He died on the cross. Jesus has risen from the dead. He has buried the sins of all who believe in Him and raise them spiritually with New Life in Jesus Christ. He has given believers the right to become the ‘children of God’. God will raise them on the last day to live with Him for ever and ever, Amen.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire —may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:3-9)

If you have already received Jesus Christ, thank God for this living hope and help others to received our Lord and Saviour.

If you have not yet receive, receive Him now, before it is too late. Call on Him in prayer. Pray :

“Lord Jesus, I need You. I am sinner only to die eternally without You. Please forgive me and cleanse me of all my sin. Thank You for the dead you died for my salvation. I invite You to become my Lord and Saviour. Please take the throne of my life. Control and direct my life as the King of my Life. Make me God’s child and help me live my life worthy to be called the child of God, in Your name, Amen.”