How to Persuade Unbelievers.

http://www.dsmedia.org/resources/illustrations/sweet-publishing

"But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness; but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men."
1 Corinthians 1:23-25

Charles Kingsley writes about this verse:

Know, that when all your arguments and philosophies have failed to teach men what they ought to do, one earnest penitent look at Christ upon his cross will teach them. That their hearts will leap up in answer, and cry, "If this be God, I can believe in him. If this be God, I can trust him. If this be God, I can obey him."

That one look at Christ upon his cross will make them  - what you could never make them - a new man, filled with a new thought; the thought that God is love, and that he who dwells in love, dwells in God and he in them.

Paul said, "And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified."
1 Corinthians 2:1-2

After I had my first child, I began reading the Bible and praying. Later, I went to an evangelistic meeting with my mother and grandmother. I enjoyed all the sermons on prophecy and the Ten Commandments. But one night the preacher explained the sacrifice Jesus made on the Cross. I felt amazed by the love of God for me and I felt love for Him; that was the night I walked down the aisle to give my life to God and was later baptized. The story of the cross is what saved me.

Three Things to be Thankful For in Suffering.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. My grandson was missed again this year, but we did have a Christmas full of love and joy. When someone you love so much is gone life is never the same; but you can rejoice in knowing you will see them again one day in heaven.

Hummingbird photo by: Mdf, Edited by Laitche  

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Colibri-thalassinus-001-edit.jpg

Jeff Miller, preaching on Philippians 1:1-12 speaks of how there are three things to be grateful for when we are suffering.   https://bible.org/series/contradicting-hardship-philippians This got me to thinking how I feel about these three kinds of gratitude.

1. We can be grateful for God.

We have a God who is kind, loving, forgiving, strong, wise, just and creative. How blessed it is to have such a God. Imagine the gods of the pagans; gods who were cruel and had to be bribed with gifts and sometimes the death of children. I'm so grateful our God is the opposite of the pagan gods. He is the God who made the galaxies and also a hummingbird. An amazing God, and how fortunate we are to have him.

2. We can be grateful for others.

I'm so grateful for my family. We are not a perfect family. We have differing opinions and sometimes there is conflict, but we love each other and we are there for each other. If you have no family, you may have friends you can count on. Perhaps you have no family and maybe no friends. Ask God to send someone into your life and he will. Even if there is only one person we can talk with and be ourselves with, that is something to be grateful for.

3. We can be grateful for the gospel.

I take the word "gospel" as meaning the good news of salvation because of what Jesus has done for me in dying on the cross. The story of redemption actually started in the Garden of Eden and continues on for eternity. I'm so grateful for the gospel. I'm so grateful God loved us enough to suffer and die for us and give us all a chance to live with him forever.

   

October - December

Hello Everyone. These three months seem to be hard for me. In Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving in October; November 20 is my grandson Craig's birthday; December is Christmas.

My grandson died two years ago in August. I still find the holidays a difficult time. Without even knowing why, I start dragging myself around the house feeling sad, and then I remember what time of year it is. I would guess that is the reason I'm feeling pretty down.

Anyway, I guess I'll take a break until the new year. I write this blog in hopes I can help someone give God a chance in their lives. I can't imagine my life without Him and I can't imagine a future with no hope of eternal life. I hope everyone who visits has a beautiful Christmas. I have six other grandchildren and two daughters who will make my Christmas happy. God bless.