The Hurt and The Healer (Song)

Why?
The question that is never far away
The healing doesn’t come from the explained
Jesus please don’t let this go in vain
You’re all I have
All that remains

So here I am
What’s left of me
Where glory meets my suffering

I’m alive
Even though a part of me has died
You take my heart and breathe it back to life
I’ve fallen into Your arms open wide
When the hurt and the healer collide

Breathe
Sometimes I feel it’s all that I can do
Pain so deep that I can hardly move
Just keep my eyes completely fixed on You
Lord take hold and pull me through

So here I am
What’s left of me
Where glory meets my suffering

I’m alive
Even though a part of me has died
You take my heart and breathe it back to life
I’ve fallen into your arms open wide
When the hurt and the healer collide

It’s the moment when humanity
Is overcome by majesty
When grace is ushered in for good
And all the scars are understood
When mercy takes its rightful place
And all these questions fade away
When out of the weakness we must bow
And hear You say “It’s over now”

I’m alive
Even though a part of me has died
You take my heart and breathe it back to life
I’ve fallen into your arms open wide
When The hurt and the healer collide

Jesus come and break my fear
Awake my heart and take my tears
Find Your glory even here
When the hurt and the healer collide [x2]

Jesus come and break my fear
Awake my heart and take my tears
Find Your glory even here.

~Scheduled to be released May 22, 2012~

Images and Lyrics:

http://lyricsmusic.name/mercyme-lyrics/the-hurt-the-healer/the-hurt-the-healer.html 

Video: youtube.com

The Fruit Of The Spirit

Fruit of the Spirit
(Galatians 5:22-23)

Love
Love is not based on emotions or feelings.  It is a decision to be committed to the well being of others without any conditions or circumstances.
Other Scriptures:  John 15:12-14
Greek Definition:  Agape -  Love which seeks the highest good of others.

Joy
Joy is not based on financial success, good health, or popularity.  By obeying God's will, fellowship, ministering to others, and sharing the Gospel, believers will experience will experience joy.
Other Scriptures:  1 Peter 1:8, 9
Greek Definition:  Chara - Gladness, delight, a special presence of God.

Peace
Peace is a state of assurance, lack of fear, and sense of contentment.  It is fellowship, harmony, and unity between individuals.  Peace is freedom from worry, disturbance, and oppressive thoughts.
Other Scriptures:  Philippians 4:7
Greek Definition: Eirene - Peace between individuals, harmony, unity.

Patience
Patience is a slowness in avenging wrongs.  It is the quality of restraint that prevents believers from speaking or acting hastily in the face of disagreement, opposition, or persecution.
Other Scriptures:  1 Thessalonians 5:14, 15
Greek Definition:  Makrothumia - Longsuffering, bearing trials without complaint.

Kindness
Kindness is an eagerness to put others at ease.  It is a sweet and attractive temperament that shows friendly regard.
Other Scriptures:  Proverbs 11:16, 17
Greek Definition:  Chrestotes - Merciful, easy to bear.  Morally good and upright.

Goodness
Goodness is the selfless desire to be open hearted and generous to others above what they deserve.
Other Scriptures:  Titus 3:8
Greek Definition:  Agathosune - Useful, generous.

Faithfulness
Faithfulness is firm devotion to God, loyalty to friends, and dependability to carry out responsibilities.  Faith is the conviction that even now God is working and acting on one's behalf.
Other Scriptures:  Revelation 2:10b
Greek Definition:  Pistis - Trust, conviction.

Gentleness
Gentleness is a humble non-threatening demeanor that derives from a position of strength and authority, and is useful in calming another's anger.  Gentlesness is not a quality that is weak and passive.
Other Scriptures:  1 Peter 3:15
Greek Definition:  Prautes - Humble, meek.

Self-Control
Self-control is to restrain one's emotions, actions, and desires, and to be in harmony with the will of God.  Self-control is doing God's will, not living for one's self.
Other Scriptures:  Titus 2:11,12
Greek Definition:  Egkrateia - Being in control of one's self.


Acts Of The Sinful Nature
(Galatians 5:19-21 and Colossians 3:5-9)

• Sexual Immorality 
• Impurity
• Debauchery
• Idolatry
• Witchcraft
• Hatred
• Discord
• Jealousy
• Fits of Rage
• Selfish Ambition
• Dissensions
• Factions
• Envy
• Drunkenness
• Orgies
• Lust
• Evil Desires
• Greed
• Anger
• Malice
• Slander
• Deceit

Source: Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps & Time Lines, Rose Publishing
Image: loldenver.wordpress.com
  

The Vine and the Branches

The Vine and the Branches - John 15:1-17
(Quest Study Bible, NIV)

         1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
 
     5 "I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.  8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my diciples.
 
      9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Now remain in my love.  10 If you obey my commands, you will  remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.  11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  12 My command is this:  Love each other as I have loved you.  13 Greater love has no one that this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  14 You are my friends if you do what I command.  15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business.  Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.  16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last.  Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.  17 This is my command:  Love each other.

Images: pictureweekly.com

Books of the Bible

Old Testament - (contains 39 books)
The Law
The first five books of the Bible are called "The Law" or the Pentateuch or the Torah.  The Law contains stories about the creation of the world, the flood, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the children of Israel in Egypt, the Exodus, and the time the children of Israel spent in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land.  The books of the Law also recorded the law God gave to the people on Mt. Sinai which laid down the regulations for sacrifice, worship, and daily living.

• Genesis
• Exodus
• Leviticus
• Numbers
• Deuteronomy

History
The 12 History books continue with the story of the people of Israel and the conquest of the Promised Land in the book of Joshua, the continuous cycle of disobedience in the book of Judges, the first kings and the United Kingdom, Divided Kingdom, the Assyrian invasion, Babylonian invasion the years in exile, and the return from exile during the Persian rule.

• Joshua
• Judges
• Ruth
• 1 Samuel
• 2 Samuel
• 1 Kings
• 2 Kings
• 1 Chronicles
• 2 Chronicles
• Ezra
• Nehemiah
• Esther

Poetry & Wisdom
The Five Poetry and Wisdom books include hymns, proverbs, and dramas.  They illustrate the creative ways the people of Israel expressed themselves to God and to each other.

• Job
• Psalms
• Proverbs
• Ecclesiastes
• Song of Solomon

Major Prophets
The Five Major Prophets are not called "major" because of their message or quality, but rather because of the length of the books.  The prophets brought God's word which included warning of judgment, warnings and hope for the immediate future, (as well as warnings and hope for the distant future), and hope in the coming Messiah.

• Isaiah
• Jeremiah
• Lamentations
• Ezekiel
• Daniel

Minor Prophets
The 12 Minor Prophets, called "The Book of the Twelve" in the Hebrew Bible, are just as important as the Major Prophets.  They were called "minor" because of the shorter length of the books.  The Minor Prophets also brought God's word to the people regarding judgment and hope.

•  Hosea
• Joel
• Amos
• Obadiah
• Jonah
• Micah
• Nahum
• Habakkuk
• Zephaniah
• Haggai
• Zechariah
• Malachi

New Testament - (contains 27 books)
Gospels & Acts
The Gospels, which are the first four books of the New Testament, record the good news of God's plan for a Savior through the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Each writer has a particular method or style to communicate the life and message of Jesus Christ.

• Matthew
• Mark
• Luke
• John

Acts is the record of the radically changed "acts" or "actions" of the followers of Jesus Christ after the resurrection.  Acts opens with the out-flowing of the Holy Spirit and describes the missionary efforts of the early followers of Jesus as they spread the message of the gospel to Judea and Samaria.  Acts also records the actions of the apostle Paul as he and other courageous believers continued to spread the good news of Jesus to the Jews and Gentiles of the Roman Empire.

• Acts

Paul's Letters (Epistles)
The apostle Paul wrote 13 letters to young churches, pastors, and friends in order to guide, encourage, and correct them.  Most of these letter served a specific purpose or addressed a specific question or problem.

• Romans
• 1 Corinthians
• 2 Corinthians
• Galatians
• Ephesians
• Philippians
• Colossians
• 1 Thessalonians
• 2 Thessalonians
• 1 Timothy
• 2 Timothy
• Titus
• Philemon

General Epistles & Revelation
The eight General Epistles were written by other apostles and leaders including Simon Peter, James, John, and Jude.  The General Epistles were addressed to the early Christians to provide guidance, encouragement through persecution, and warnings of false teachings.

• Hebrews
• James
• 1 Peter
• 2 Peter
• 1 John
• 2 John
• 3 John
• Jude

The book of Revelation addressed seven churches in Asia Minor (Turkey today).  It encourages believers who are experiencing persecution.  Revelation illustrates that God is in control and that all people were created to love and worship God.

• Revelation

Editor: Christopher Ortiz

Source: Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps, & Time Lines, Rose Publishing

Images: http://jonlovesjen.blogspot.com/2011/07/books-of-bible-puzzle.html

Giants

Genesis 6:1-4

1 When men began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of  God saw that the daughthers of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose.  3 Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years."
4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days - and also afterward-when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them.  They were the heroes of old, men of renown. (Quest Study Bible NIV)

     

Who were the sons of God? (6:2)
Some suggest they were supernatural being such as angels.  In the Book of Job the phrase is used for angelic or nonhuman being (Job 1:6; 2:11)  (however, nowhere else in the Bible is there even a hint that nonhuman and human beings can mate.  There are many parallels in pagan thought, but none in biblical thought.  Also Jesus stated that angels do no marry (Matt. 22:30).  Thus, "sons of God" in this passage must refer to human beings.)  (New Illustrated Bible Dictionary - Nelsons)
Others say they were godly men descended from Seth who married sinful women descended from Cain.  A better interpretation may be that they were human rulers who emerged as heads of city-states in the ancient Middle East and flaunted their power by having large harems.  Rulers and judges are sometimes called gods or God in the Hebrew text.  (commentary Quest study Bible NIV)



     

 Who were the daughters of men?

Adam and Eve's offspring.  (Cain was Adam and Eve's first born)



Who were the Nephilim? (fallen ones)
May refer to persons of great physical stature.  But in Gen. 6:4, it probably means prince or aristocrats - men of political stature.  Nephilim is linked to another term that indicates a heroic person with both power and influence. (commentary Quest Study Bible NIV)
The offspring of marriages/union between the "sons of God" and the "daughters of men" (Gen.6:4).  The word "Nephilim" is translated as "giants" by the KJV and NKJV.
Giants - human beings of abnormal size and strength.  Races of giants are first mentioned in the Old Testament where giant godlike beings were produced.  These abnormal unions displeased God (Gen 6:5-6). 
Rephaim were primitive giants who lived in Canaan, Edom, Moab, and Ammon.  They were also known as Emim (Deut. 2:11) and Zamzummim (Deut. 2:20).  King Og of Bashan (Deut. 3:11) was the last of these giants.  His iron bed was about 13 feet by 6 feet).
Goliath is the most famous giant in the Bible (1 Sam. 17:4), measuring about (9) nine feet tall.  (New Illustrated Bible Dictionary - Nelsons)



Genesis 6:5-8
5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.  6  The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.  7  So the LORD said, "I will wipe earth - men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air - for I am grieved that i have made them."  8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. 

9 This is the account of Noah.

Editor: Christopher Ortiz

images:  www.jameslyonart.com;
http://www.thevesselofgod.com/giantsonearth.html

www.familywikinut.com;

www.myspace.com/childrenofadam/blog;

www.herebedragons.weebly.com/nephilim;

www.hotspotsz.com

Gospel For Asia (GFA)

We finally got this in the mail!!!
     

"Dear Isela,

I praise God for your heart.  Thank you so much for partnering with GFA.  Know that your life is making huge difference in Asia.  May the Lord be your source of peace and strength.  PS. 32:8 "

~Clara~

Back in Dec. 2011 - Christmas.  Me and the boys decided to give a very small gift to some of the most unreached regions of our world - Asia.  We sat down, logged on to http://www.gfa.org/ website, and browsed through their donation categories and items.  After a long discussion we decided to buy a pair of chickens and (1) one goat.

What can a pair of chickens do and mean for these people?
- For the family of a Bridge of Hope child, a rooster and hen are not pets. They are the source of up to 40 dozen eggs a year! When the pair produces chicks, a flock develops that will provide nourishment and income for years.  (text from gospel for asia website)

A goat?
 - When a Dalit family receives your present of a goat or a pair of goats it will be a special day! Goats are hardy and can live in almost any climate. And a pair of goats produces at least two kids each year. Their manure is also good fertilizer. Your gift of goats will be a good way to bring a little joy to a poor family's world.  (text from gospel for asia website)

Angels

This has got to be one of my favorite supernatural topics.  I bought this cool book at a local store about a year ago.  The Amazing Bible Factbook for Kids by: American Bible Society.

Types of Angels

Cherubim (plural for cherub)
     After He {God} drove the man out, He placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life (Genesis 3:24).
Description:
-A cherub has (4) four faces (one like a man, one like a lion, one like and eagle and one like an ox) (Ezekiel 1:5-6, 10-12).
- Has huge crossed wheels covered in eyes surround a cherub, whirling inside each other (Ezekiel 10:12-13).
- A cherub has four wings - two touch the other cherubs and two hang down covering its human hands (Ezekiel 1:5-6).
- Also has straight legs that sparkle like bronze and has hooves like a calf (Ezekiel 1:7).
- A cherub "shines like chyrsolite" (a greenish stone) (Ezekiel 1:16).

Seraphim (plural for seraph)
   A seraph is fiery burning angel (Isaiah 6:6).  The name seraph comes from a Hebrew word, saraph, that means "burning" (it means burning one in the Bible).  When Isaiah says he has unclean lips, a seraph touches his lips with a holy burning coal to clean him (Isaiah 6:7).  Seraphim shout so loud in Isaiah 6:4 that they shake the temple.
Description:
- The seraphim have six wings (Isaiah 6:2)
      (2) two to cover thier faces
      (2) two to cover thier feet
      (2) two to fly with
~fun fact: Saraph (Seraph) is the name that the Israeli Air Force calls its Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters~

Archangels
     There is only one angel in the Bible named as an archangel - Michael (Jude 9).  The prefix arch can mean "prince," "highest," or "chief."  Some people beleive that Gabriel is an archangel as well, because Michael comes to help him fight an evil angel, the Prince of Persia, in Daniel 10:13.  In that chapter Gabriel tell Daniel that Michael is the "chief prince."
Description:
- When Jesus returns, there will be a trumpet blast and a loud shout, the voice of the archangel (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

Messenger Angels
     God's messengers.  The angels we see most often in the Bible are messengers.  Angels can deliver their messages in person or in dream like the one Jacob had in Genesis 28:10-15, or the one Mary's husband Joseph had, in which the angel told him to name Mary's son Jesus (Matthew 1:20-21).  Gabriel is most famous for telling Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus in Luke 1:26-38.

Which is your favorite angel?

* Both my and my oldest son's favorite angel is Michael the archangel.
* My youngest son's favorite angel is a cherub angel. 

images/photos obtained from: www.google.com/images

www.arch-angels.info/st.michael

www.novelnovice.com

www.yourcaringangels.com/blog