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Savior's Holiness Emancipates People's Hearts Everyday, Redeeming Daily Souls! (S.H.E.P.H.E.R.D.S)”


By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard


Dec 25, 2009

SCRIPTURE:
"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:8-14, NIV)

APPROACH QUESTION:
What is the greatest news you have heard in your life?

OBSERVATIONS:
I asked myself what do I learn about the shepherds?
1.
They were living out in the fields nearby.
2.
They were keeping watch over their flocks by night.
3.
They were visited by an angel of the Lord who appeared to them.
4.
The glory of the Lord shone around them.
5.
They were terrified.

OBSERVATIONS:
I asked myself what does the angel of the Lord do to appease their fright?
1.
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid"
2.
I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
3.
Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
4.
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
5.
The angel is joined suddenly by a great company of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

INTERPRETATION:
I asked myself of all the people the angel of the Lord could have appeared to, what is the significance of appearing to the shepherds?
Shepherds were usually the lowest of the low in their job classification dealing with dirt, danger, and death. This was a mundane night job that they were probably doing everyday faithfully and one day a breakthrough came in their lives with the greatest news announced to them from an angel of the Lord.

It is to these shepherds who had to clean their sheep, have to keep them safe from the wolves/lions who want to tear their sheep apart, keep them from going astray, and have to take them to find green pasture is to whom the angel of the Lord appears. Sheep are the most cuddly animals but they are dumb so they needed someone to take care of them. It is to these shepherds the angel appears with the greatest news. The last thing they expected was to be greeted by an angel of the Lord. 

It just shows that the Lord does not choose people we think would be chosen to meet the One who would one day become the King of kings, Lord or lords, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor. The shepherds were not dignitaries or high class people but smelly and low class and yet they were chosen to hear about the greatest news first. But, the significance of the shepherds being chosen is much more greater not only for them but for humanity. God knows what He is doing.

INTERPRETATION/APPLICATION:
I asked myself how can the angel of the Lord choosing shepherds, to give the great news, be beneficial not only for them but for all of humanity?

I believe the angel of the Lord wanted to introduce them to the One who would become the CEO of all shepherds. As shepherds, they knew how to take care of their sheep from an earthly perspective. Now the angel of the Lord wanted to introduce them to a Savior born in Bethlehem who is Christ, the Lord who would one day become a Shepherd Himself, not any Shepherd but the Good Shepherd.

When Christ grew up and became the Good Shepherd beginning His ministry at 30 years, I believe those shepherds who were watching over their flock that night could have remembered that night and said to themselves, ‘as shepherds we saw Him as a baby wrapped in cloths lying in a manger and now He has become a Shepherd too and we had the honor of seeing Him born.'

It is important to remember that those shepherds whom the angel of the Lord spoke to could have still been alive because when Jesus began His ministry, He was only 30. Shepherds in those days were young whether it was Moses or David as examples. Even if the shepherds were 40, they would be 70 years old when Jesus began His ministry.

One thing however they would realize is that Christ became not the shepherd of sheep like they were, but that He became their Good Shepherd and the shepherds were His flock who became His sheep.

Jesus said, “I AM the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:10, NIV)

Jesus also said, “I AM the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me– just as the Father knows me and I know the Father–and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10:14-16)

It is exciting to know that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are His flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds to tell them the glorious good news of a Good Shepherd that was born in Bethlehem.

I believe it was also to help the shepherds see that night how one day the Good Shepherd would lead His flock including themselves. Whatever they were going through, they were given the Good News of '
A Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord'

IMPLICATIONS:
I asked myself the implications for my own life to realize that the shepherds were given the Good News first?
The implications are so profound not only to my life but to humanity knowing that Jesus Christ was born as the Savior to become my Good Shepherd and the Good Shepherd of all who would turn to Him including those shepherds that wonderful night. When I think about an analogy between what the shepherds were doing that night and what the Good Shepherd would do thirty three years later it is a joyful, teary experience. The purpose of today's study was for me to understand how Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd would clean me, protect me from Satan, keep me from going astray, and lead me to green pastures as my Lord and Savior.

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING S.H.EP.H.E.R.D.S:
Travel back with me in time and imagine with me the interaction that could have occurred between those shepherds on Friday at the Shepherds Union 33 years later after Christ was born! It took place on the hills of Calvary instead of Bethlehem and how it has impacted my own life right now in the 21st century.

Shepherds Union: The night Christ was born, we were in the trenches in Bethlehem cleaning our sheep from the filthy dirt the sheep got themselves into. We cleaned them with soap and water. We were visited by an angel of the Lord to go see a Savior born in Bethlehem and we decided to go and see.

Shepherds Union: Now, 33 years later on this night ( 3:00 p.m. but dark) when  Christ died, we saw Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd was also in the trenches where he was laid upon a cross and lifted up at Golgotha to clean me and you, His sheep. Jesus came to clean humanity from the filthy dirt of sin that humanity is in bondage to.  But, no amount of liquid soap and water could clean humanity so Jesus became the Living Water and decided to use His precious blood as the soap disinfectant to wipe away my sin and yours. Only Christ could clean humanity from it's filthiness because He who had no sin had to become sin for me and you. He who had no sin was the only one who could produce a pure antidote for our cleansing from this filthy, deadly virus known as sin. So, Jesus died on the cross of Calvary shedding His precious blood for humanity. But, Jesus was not going to force His antidote on any of the sheep (you or me) to clean us except make it available to us by His grace. When you and I take the antidote He offers you and me, you and I will be cleansed of all our sin. He is the Good Shepherd that came to lay down His life for the sheep (you and me). He is our Savior.

Shepherds Union: The night Christ was born, we put our lives in danger to protect the sheep from the wolves/lions who wanted to tear them apart. The wolves liked the blood of our sheep. Boy, were we frightened when we saw an angel of the Lord come to us lowly people, but the angel gave us great news of joy by leading us to see the Savior born in Bethlehem, wrapped in swaddling clothes laying in a manager, as His mother Mary stands next to Him looking over Him.

Shepherds Union: Now, 33 years later on this night ( 3:00 p.m. but dark) when  Christ died, He became our Good Shepherd to ransom you and me from the bondage of sin and death so His blood alone can keep us from being torn apart by the wolf/roaring lion called Satan. Satan cannot stand the blood of Jesus. It cannot touch anyone covered in the Blood of Jesus. Praise the Lord. Thank you so much Jesus for covering us in your Blood. I am so teary in joy to know that Jesus Christ came to be born, so one day, He could prevent Satan from attacking me. All I have to do is listen to my Savior's voice and turn to Him to be saved. He will save me and you because of what He (our Good Shepherd) did for  us tonight.  Mary was so happy that night being full of joy and now she is here standing next to Jesus crying because Jesus sacrificed His life for you and me. Thank you Jesus.

Shepherds Union: The night Christ was born we were protecting our sheep from going astray by being there for them knowing that our sheep are dumb and cannot take care of themselves. We almost fainted that night ourselves unable to take care of ourselves but thankfully the angel took away our fear and sent us to the stable to see the Savior who was born who would be Christ, the Lord.

Shepherds Union: Now, 33 years later on this night ( 3:00 p.m. but dark) when  Christ died, He became our Good Shepherd to protect us from going astray forever when He provided the means and antidote to save us through His BLOOD. As a sheep when I turn to Him, He will take care of me forever from going astray. Sin has made us dumb to goodness so none of us are good, not one for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and that is why Jesus, the Good Shepherd had to intervene in our lives and He has. He has! I am so teary again to think about what Jesus did for you and me. Jesus had to be born to die for you and me for He was born to die to bring direction to Heaven. Thank you Jesus! We got to experience the joy of His birth and now the sadness of His sacrifice for us. He has become our Savior though it is so painful for us to experience what happened to our Good Shepherd.

Shepherds Union: The night Christ was born earlier that day, we led the sheep to green pastures to eat and be filled so they become  nourished. Later, we were led to a stable where we saw Christ the Lord, in a manger. Who would have thought 33 years later we would be reflecting on what happened then and now.

Shepherds Union: Now, 33 years later on this night ( 3:00 p.m. but dark) when  Christ died, He became our Good Shepherd who provided the way for us to find the green pasture of Heaven when we follow Him. Jesus came that we might find life and find it more abundantly. This would not have been possible without the Good Shepherd laying down His life for us the sheep. I am so teary with joy again. Thank you so much Jesus.

And the Shepherds adjourned the meeting for the night and went to bed sorrowfully. At the conclusion of the Shepherds Union on Sunday, they got the most astonishing news ever. They heard through the grapevine that the Savior who they saw as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes laying in the manager who came for them, the Savior who they saw  wrapped in blood laying on the cross who died for them, has come back to life and  has shown Himself to more than 500 people. Their joy knew no bounds for they knew they will be taken care of by the Good Shepherd who would forever be their Good Shepherd as their Lord and Personal Savior.

This same Good Shepherd became my Good Shepherd too. Whatever the shepherd's experienced because of Christ's birth, death, and resurrection, I have experienced too because of what Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd has done for me. I can relate to the shepherd's story but more than that I have the Word of God to give me promises of His Salvation to save me. That is exciting to know on this glorious Christmas Day.

He can be your Good Shepherd too! As Pastor Hugo gave one of the meditations at the Christmas Eve service, He concluded the service with John 3:16 which is the Christmas story and Gospel in a nutshell. He asked me and others in the congregation to put our names in the Bible verse because just as the angel of the Lord spoke to the shepherds that night to tell them about a Savior to save them, God is telling us about His love and the Savior who can save us. Yes, friend He can save you and me.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, shall not perish but have Everlasting life." (John 3:16)

"For God so loved the world [RAMESH] that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever [RAMESH] believeth in Him, shall not perish but have Everlasting life!" (John 3:16, NIV)

God giving His begotten Son to you and me  is the Christmas story. God giving His begotten Son to die for you and me, so that we will not perish but have Everlasting Life with Him, as He came back on the third day, is the Gospel story.

Jesus came to be born for my sake and your sake. He became our Good Shepherd to shepherd us for all Eternity. He died and rose again to give us new life. I believe in Jesus. I believe He died and rose again. I believe He came to give me life. He is standing in our amidst to heal us now and the grace to forgive. (Words taken from song  'I Believe in Jesus') He came to give you abundant life too. Yes, He has friend.

As you think about Christmas, don't just get stuck with Jesus as a baby in the manager. Jesus is not a baby anymore but the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He is the Savior that the world needs. He is our Emmanuel who alone can bring light into this dark world covered in sin. He is the Word that became flesh for us and made His dwelling among us so He could become our Lamb of God to take away our sins by becoming our sacrifice to redeem us. I praise the Lord for that.

What Jesus did for me He can do for you too right now redeeming you and giving you new life. It does not matter what you have done or where you have been because Jesus saves you by His grace. It is a free gift of grace to bring freedom to you not dependent on your good deeds but solely upon Him.

For none of us are good but all have fallen short of the glory of God but God demonstrates His own love for us while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us and purchased us with His precious Blood. (Romans 3 & 5)

You don't have to have doubts whether the Lord will accept you because He will accept you as you are in your sin when you turn to Him repenting of your sins and asking Him for forgiveness. He will then make you new as you acknowledge Him as your Lord and Savior of your life. For that is why He came. (Romans 10).

He will be your Good Shepherd too as He has become mine. Come as you are and ask Jesus to be part of your life. You don't need special words and the best gift you can give Jesus for His birthday is yourself surrendering your life over to the One who came to save you and set you free! Praise the Lord! The shepherds were revealed that and now it is revealed to you that the 'I AM' is here for you.

Jesus also said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me– just as the Father knows me and I know the Father–and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10:14-16)

I ask you now dear friend how do you relate to the S.H.E.P.H.E.R.D.S this Christmas season?
Dear friend, no matter what your occupation is, where you have been, what you have done, what you are doing, you can come to the Good Shepherd as you are and allow Him to work in your life, bind up your wounds, and lead you.

As the shepherds were introduced to a Savior by the angels so can you just as you are! If you are all muddy and yucky with things that have happened, allow Jesus to clean you. He will clean you so well and cover you with His precious cleansing blood.

None of us can clean ourselves for if we could do that, there would not have been no reason for Christ to be born. Christ came to be born so one day He could be our Good Shepherd and deliver us from the wolf of Satan.

You are never out of His love and never out of His reach. He will hold you in His arms of love as a Good Shepherd holds a sheep. He will be your Mighty God and Everlasting Father! He will be your Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace!

The angels came to the shepherds for a reason. It is to introduce them to the One who came to be their Good Shepherd one day. Jesus wants to be your Good Shepherd too! Yes, He does friend! Yes, He does! Come and give your life to the Good Shepherd this Christmas season!

Yes, come as you are! When the presents are given and the presents are opened, the soul will still be malnourished without Christ the Lord entering and transforming it. But, with Christ the Lord everyday can be Christmas because Christ is born in your hearts everyday. You will not be walking this life alone but with the One who gave His life for you.

The Good Shepherd is only a call away. Jesus wants to be your Good Shepherd and lead you. Jesus sees you as His tender flock. He wants to lead you through green pastures and give you everything you need. Yes, He does! He wants to guide you in the best pathway for your life and watch your progress. No matter where you have been, Jesus looks for you and wants to bring you back to His fold.

When you are alone without Jesus in your life, you are so susceptible to the wolves of life whatever they maybe to come and pounce on you, trouncing you, wounding you, and even leaving you to die. You maybe be alive physically but the soul can be so malnourished because of the sin that is so prevalent, it will affect your life spiritually, physically, emotionally, relationally, and mentally in a negative way.

But the Good Shepherd does not want that to happen to you or to me. Because of His agape love for you, Jesus was born to die. Jesus died on the cross to deliver you from Satan's clutches because He loves you so much. Jesus knew only His blood can clean you and make you clean.

 Jesus became the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world.  If it ended there, there would be no hope but just as exciting Christmas season is, so is the season of Easter when Jesus came back to life to bring Salvation to humanity after giving His life on Good Friday.

Friend, the Lord desires that none should perish but all come to repentance. Christmas season if for all to come realize that the baby Jesus is not a baby anymore but the Savior and Lord of the Universe who sought humanity to save them by His death and resurrection after His birth.

Friend, if you don't know Jesus or have lost your first love of Jesus, you can come back to Him this Christmas season. Yes, you can friend. Right now is the time. You don't have to wait. Now is the time of Salvation to receive the Good Shepherd or return to Him if you have known Him at one point but went astray. Yes, you can friend!

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we become His sheep that He wants to take care of when we allow Him to. When a sheep gets lost, the shepherd goes out to look for the sheep.

Many of us can be lost in our own problems and our own sins. Because of those things we can go astray in life even entering dangerous situations but there is hope when that happens.

Yes, there is friend and it is in Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd. Jesus shared a story in Luke 15 about 100 sheep and even if one is lost, the  shepherd goes after that one and when that one is found there is great joy and rejoicing in heaven. Jesus wants to be your Good Shepherd this Christmas season. Yes, He does friend!

When my friend Yanbo Chang gave his life to Christ, there was rejoicing and celebration in Heaven. When a young Hindu family man gave his life to Christ after hearing my mom share Christ's love with him in the hospital, he gave his life to Christ few days ago. Now, as he called on Jesus' Name, He was completely healed and released from the hospital and wants to share the love of Christ and His testimony when he returns home to his children and wife letting them know the love of Christ.

Friend, if you do not know Jesus or have bee far from him. You can come back. Yes, you can! This Christmas season is for you. Jesus is the reason for the season. No matter where you have been or what you have done or what others have done to you, Jesus loves you so much that if you were the only one living He would have still been born to die for you and redeem you! Yes, friend Jesus wants to be your Good Shepherd and came to seek and find that which was lost.

If you are reading this and do not know Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior or have known Him but the things of this life have crowded Him out, Jesus is still seeking you!

Friend, are you that lost sheep?

Have you gone your own way?

Have you lost the meaning of Christmas and why it is special?

Have you entered dangerous situations?

Jesus is the Answer and He is there for you! When a wolf attacks a sheep, the sheep is wounded but when the shepherd sees that happening, if he is the Good Shepherd, he does not stay away but comes to rescue the sheep and bind its wounds.

Jesus said, "The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come to give life in all its fullness!" (John 10)

Oh yes, friend Jesus has come for you as you are as He came for me and so many other. In life, we are attacked by a wolf that comes like a roaring lion waiting for someone to devour and wound. Satan is his name and attacking humanity is his game. Many have been attacked by Satan and have been wounded but the Good News is there is a Good Shepherd. Jesus is His name and He is there to bind up our wounds and lead us in the right path. He wants to do that for you! Oh yes He does!

The wounds can be the sins in our lives that only the Lord's cleansing precious blood can be the antidote for. When you come to Him, confess your sins repenting of them, and ask Jesus to be your God and Savior, He will because He died for your sin and came back to life to save you. Yes, friend Jesus is alive. We celebrate Christmas because Jesus was born as God-incarnate into this world to redeem humanity to redeem you and me!

The Word became flesh and dwelled among us and the light shined in the darkness and the darkness could not extinguish it. (John 1)

"To all who received Him, He gave them the right to become the children of God, children not born of natural descent but by the will of God!" (John 1:12)

Psalm 147: 3 says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

Psalm 23 says, The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;  your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

Jesus is for you and came for you! May you know Christ happily redeems intentionally souls today mightily as Savior!  He came to redeem you too! May this poem tell you the story of Christmas and keep Christ in your heart as you pray the prayer below too!

Many, years ago, prophesy told the coming of  no  ordinary child.

Entering Bethlehem, Mary & Joseph settled in a place that was wild.

Resting there, Mary gave birth to her firstborn Son.

Realizing from the Angels, a Savior was born, the Shepherds did run.

Yes, they hurried off and saw the baby lying in a manger away from danger.


Concerning what had been told about the Child, they spread the Word.

Hearing, all were amazed what shepherds said and none were bored.

Raising their voices, appeared with Angel company of Heavenly Host.

Indeed praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the Highest (Most).

So overjoyed, Magi came from the East, seeing a beautiful star.

They found house, bowed down, worshipped Christ, after coming so far.

Magi, then presented Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense, and Myrrh.

And Mary, treasured up all that happened & pondered them in her heart.

Since Herod was evil, Magi took another route in their camel's cart.

"Christ Happily Redeems Intentionally Souls Today Mightily As Savior!"/"How do you relate to the shepherds this C.H.R.I.S.T.M.A.S?"

"Savior's Holiness Emancipates People's Hearts Everyday Redeeming Daily Souls!(S.H.E.P.H.E.R.D.S)"How do you relate to the S.H.E.P.H.E.R.D.S this Christmas season?

Won’t you come to Him friend and help others come to Him? 

If you want to turn to the Good Shepherd, make this your prayer.

Prayer:
Jesus, you say,  'I AM the Good Shepherd!' God alone used 'I AM' when speaking with Moses. You use it now to make it known that you are Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Wonderful Counselor, and Prince of Peace. Thank you for being born and all that you are to me.  I heard you are the Good Shepherd. I want to thank you most of all for being the Good Shepherd even for me. I need a Good Shepherd in my life to lead me and guide me. My sin has made me dirty on the inside and attacks of Satan have wounded me. I have gone astray and have done my own thing. Yet, you care for me and laid down your life for me on the cross to give me new life as you shed your blood for me to wash away all my sins. Your Blood became the transfusion for those wounded by Satan. Your blood heals all the wounded areas to give me a new life. I want that new life so I turn to you now as a sheep that has gone astray and ask for your forgiveness of all my sins, to come and save me Jesus. Deliver me Oh Good Shepherd! I know you can save me when I turn to you and ask you to be my Good Shepherd. I know you died for me and came back to life to save. Now I can hear your voice in my heart as I stay with you. I want you to stay with me Jesus in my heart and make my heart your home so I can always have you as my Good Shepherd with me knowing you are my God and my Savior. This way even when I am going the wrong way or fall in a ditch, you can pick me and set me in green pastures. I love you Jesus! Thank you for being with me. Thank you for loving us so much that you were born in a stable in Bethlehem so one day you could become our Good Shepherd. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior. I thank you for being the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for me the sheep and for coming back to life on the third day to save. Thank you for being the Lamb of God. Help me to share you with everyone. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you for being my Lord and Personal Savior and changing me. Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and answered me. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

Lord Jesus, You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)

May you experience the POWER OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION this day, and give Him the LOCKED areas of your life too so you can experience His PEACE as you become an ACTOR in the film called LIFE being directed by your DIRECTOR, JESUS CHRIST who comes to give JOY and PEACE.

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to LIVE out your actions.

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo SHARED this example one Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is aLIVE and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and LIVE with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and RESTORE us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

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

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Come to Jesus as you are and pray this prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. He will transform your life around! Praise the Lord! You don't have to have all the answers! You can come as you are!

If you want to be a soldier in the Lord's army, you can become it right now. Now is the time of Salvation! You do not have to wait but can pray this prayer and give your life to Christ to serve Him daily! There is no draft but coming to Christ is voluntary. He loves you so much and wants you to come to Him! He will take care of you, guiding you and leading you!

If you want to be a soldier in the Lord's army, you can become it right now. Now is the time of Salvation! You do not have to wait but can pray this prayer and give your life to Christ to serve Him daily! There is no draft but coming to Christ is voluntary. He loves you so much and wants you to come to Him! He will take care of you, guiding you and leading you!

PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, I love you. Thank you for loving me so much and thank you for choosing the cross to die for me. You became the Son of Man and lived here on earth. Then you humbled yourself and became obedient to death-even death on the cross. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. You died on the cross so that I can be covered in your blood and cleansed by your blood as I acknowledge that I need you and cannot enter Heaven without you being my pathway. So, Jesus I confess all my sins to you and all the ways I have tried to get into Heaven when you already provided the means and the Way. Thank you for all that you have done for me. "The cross is the place, a wonderful place where accused and condemned find mercy and grace. Thank you Jesus, it is at the cross where the wrongs we have done and the wrongs done to us were nailed at the cross. Thank you Jesus, at the cross you died for our sins and at the cross you gave your life for us." I thank you for that and thank you for coming back to life to save us. Thank you Jesus for being there for me! Thank you for loving me. I love you Jesus! Please take me as I am and make my life into something that you will be proud of. I surrender my life to you and need your help to live for you. I am forever grateful for what you have done for me and I can never repay you. I want to live for you and need your help. Help me Jesus please. I thank you Jesus for saving me! Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me. Whatever your will give me the willingness and strength to bear it. Thank you Jesus! I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior! In Your Name I Pray precious Jesus! Amen!

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help! But beware of churches who do believe in the Word of God completely but there is no freedom in Christ but legalism involved.

As a professional, it is not too late to join a church! As a student, it is not too late to join a fellowship on campus this  new year of 2009! May the Lord's presence and peace fill you with His love now and forever! Amen!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!

Spend time in His word and let the Lord speak to you! Start out in the Gospel of John! You can also check out the Gospel of Mark which are the devotionals I have been going through.  Learn from Jesus through study and prayer. Also find yourself a church fellowship and a college fellowship you can be part of where you can be part of a community of believers to supplement your own walk with the Lord. Let it be a Bible-believing and Bible-breathing church! Believe in Bible LIVE Eternally!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-641-9426

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

 

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Previous Devotional :
"What does your P.R.A.I.S.E report consist of?" (Dec 24, 09, 9:57 a.m.)
My praise report has consisted of what the Lord Jesus has done in my life specifically, what the Lord Jesus has done for those around me, and what the Lord Jesus has....


 

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 BOOK OF PHILIPPAINS:

Philippians 1:1-2: "Who will you be a S.L.A.V.E to in life?" (June 29, 09, 11:23 a.m.)

Philippians 1:1-2: "Will you be seen as a S.A.I.N.T or sinner in life?" (June 30, 09, 9:00 a.m.)

Philippians 1:1-2: "Will you let a servant of God T.R.A.I.N you in life?" (July 01, 09, 10:16 a.m.)

Philippians 1:1-2: "When do you B.L.E.S.S. others in life?" (July 02, 09, 10:28 a.m.)

Philippians 1:1-2: "What do you I.M.P.A.R.T to others?" (July 03, 09, 2:56 p.m.)

Mark 5:24b-34: "Where do you need F.R.E.E.D.O.M in life?" (July 04, 09, 10:00 a.m.)

Philippians 1:3-6: "Who do you I.N.V.E.S.T your time with?" (July 06, 09, 12:46 p.m.)

Philippians 1:3-6: "What makes you give T.H.A.N.K.S. in life?" (July 07, 09, 9:32 a.m.)

Philippians 1:3-6: "How can you attain a P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S.H.I.P in the Gospel?" (July 08, 09, 1:00 p.m.)

Philippians 1:3-6:"Where are you C.O.N.F.I.D.E.N.T in?" (July 09, 09, 9:32 a.m.)

Philippians 1:7-8: "Why cannot you be saved by G.R.A.C.E alone?" (July 09, 09, 9:32 a.m.)

Philippians 1:7-8: "Why are you not in a R.E.L.A.T.I.O.N.S.H.I.P in life?" (July 13, 09, 2:44 p.m.)

Philippians 1:8: "What is your L.O.V.I.N.G response based on?" (July 14, 09, 12:17 p.m.)

Philippians 1:9-11: "How can you feel S.P.E.C.I.A.L when things are going so wrong in your life?" (July 15, 09, 8:59 a.m.)

Philippians 1:12-14: "What have C.H.A.I.N.S done to you in your life?" (July 16, 09, 11:22 a.m.)

Philippians 1:15-18: "How are your  M.O.T.I.V.E.S in your life?" (July 17, 09, 9:44 a.m.)

Philippians 1:18-19: "What reason do you have to R.E.J.O.I.C.E in life?" (July 18, 09, 10:21 a.m.)

Philippians 1:18-19: "Who do you C.A.L.L. often in life?" (July 19, 2009)

Philippians 1:20: "Where do you need C.O.U.R.A.G.E  in life?" (July 21, 09, 11:40 a.m.)

Philippians 1:21: "Why do you L.I.V.E your life to be appreciated?" (July 22, 09, 11:43 a.m.)

Philippians 1:21: "Why D.I.E for Christ?" (July 23, 09, 11:47 a.m.)

Philippians 1: "What are your C.H.O.I.C.E.S based on?" (July 24, 09)

Philippians 1: "How do you C.O.N.D.U.C.T yourself in life?" (July 28, 09, 1:04 p.m.)

Philippians 1: "How do you handle S.U.F.F.E.R.I.N.G in life?" (July 29, 09, 12:20 p.m.)

PHILIPPIANS 2:

Philippians 2:1-2: "How is your C.O.N.D.I.T.I.O.N in life?" (July 30, 09, 3:48 p.m.)

Philippians 2: "How do you respond to C.O.M.M.A.N.D.S in life?" (July 31, 09, 2:48 p.m.)

Philippians 2: "How do you match Jesus' A.T.T.I.T.U.D.E in life?" (July 30, 09, 3:48 p.m.)

Philippians 2: "Why should you make a C.R.O.S.S transaction in life?" (Aug 03, 09, 12:38 p.m.)

Philippians 2: "How do you handle the N.A.M.E in life?" (Aug 04, 09, 11:48 a.m.)

Philippians 2: "What's the point of O.B.E.D.I.E.N.C.E in life?" (Aug 05, 09, 12:30 a.m.)

Philippians 2: "Is GEORGE SODINI'S belief in Salvation also yours?" (Aug 06, 09, 4:38 p.m.)

Philippians 2: "How is your B.E.H.A.V.I.O.R in life?" (Aug 10, 09, 7:56 a.m.)

Philippians 2: "When do you live out your F.A.I.T.H in life?" (Aug 11, 09, 12:10 p.m.)

Philippians 2: "How would you Q.U.A.L.I.F.Y in other people's lives?" (Aug 13, 09, 11:46 a.m.)

Philippians 2: "When will your H.O.M.E.C.O.M.I.N.G begin?" (Aug 14, 09, 10:42 a.m.)

PHILIPPIANS 3:

Philippians 3: "Why for R.E.F.O.R.M.A.T.I.O.N you need the transaction of the Cross?" (Aug 15, 09, 9:01 a.m.)

Philippians 3: "What has the P.A.S.T done to you in your life?" (Aug 17, 09, 6:17 a.m.)

Philippians 3: "What do you do with the T.R.E.A.T given you?" (Aug 18, 09, 7:34 a.m.)

Philippians 3: "Why shed your T.E.A.R.S for others in life?" (Aug 19, 09, 8:38 a.m.)

Philippians 3: "Where is your C.I.T.I.Z.E.N.S.H.I.P to serve?" (Aug 20, 09, 8:38 a.m.)

PHILIPPIANS 4:

Philippians 4:1: "Where do you S.T.A.N.D on love in your life?" (Aug 21, 09, 8:34 a.m.)

Philippians 4:2: "How do you deal with a P.L.E.A.D in life?" (Aug 22, 09, 8:44 a.m.)

Philippians 4:3 "How have you C.A.M.P.A.I.G.N.E.D for Jesus in life?" (Aug 24, 09, 7:49 a.m.)

Philippians 4:4: "When do you R.E.J.O.I.C.E in life?" (Aug 25, 09, 8:26 a.m.)

Philippians 4:5: "What measure of G.E.N.T.L.E.N.E.S.S do you have?" (Aug 26, 09, 8:43 a.m.)

Philippians 4:6-7: "How do you handle A.N.X.I.E.T.Y in life?" (Aug 27, 09, 7:26 a.m.)

Philippians 4:8: "What is your T.H.I.N.K.I.N.G based on?" (Aug 28, 09, 10:36 a.m.)

Philippians 4:9: "What kind of S.O.L.D.I.E.R will you be?" (Aug 29, 09, 11:50 a.m.)

Philippians 4:10: "How do you show C.O.N.C.E.R.N for others in life?" (Aug 31, 09, 11:55 a.m.)

Philippians 4:11: "How can you be C.O.N.T.E.N.T in life?" (Sept 04, 09, 11:44 a.m.)

Philippians 4:12-13: "Where do you need S.T.R.E.N.G.T.H in life?" (Sept 05, 09, 9:34 a.m.)

Philippians 4:14: "Who do you L.A.B.O.R for this day in life?" (Sept 07, 09, 10:35 a.m.)

Philippians 4:15: "How do you S.H.A.R.E in others troubles?" (Sept 08, 09, 10:22 a.m.)

Philippians 4:16-18: "How do you F.I.N.A.N.C.E others in ministry?" (Sept 09, 09, 10:06 a.m.)

Philippians 4:19: "What are your N.E.E.D.S in life?" (Sept 10, 09, 9:51 a.m.)

Philippians 4:20-23: "How do you see F.A.T.H.E.R in life?" (Sept 12, 09, 10:49 a.m.)

  GOSPEL OF MARK 9:

Mark 9:1: "What is T.R.U.T.H to you in life?" (Sept 14, 09, 10:49 a.m.)

Mark 9:1: "Whose P.R.O.M.I.S.E.S do you follow in life?" (Sept 15, 09, 9:53 a.m.)

Mark 9:2: "Who decided to C.H.O.O.S.E you in life?" (Sept 16, 09, 10:46 a.m.)

Mark 9:2: "Who do you spend time A.L.O.N.E with?" (Sept 17, 09, 11:35 a.m.)

Mark 9:3: "When are you L.I.V.I.N.G in life?" (Sept 18, 09, 12:32 p.m.)

Mark 9:4: "Who do you T.A.L.K to daily in life?" (Sept 19, 09, 12:11 p.m.)

Mark 9:5: "Why follow a R.A.B.B.I years later?" (Sept 21, 09, 2:04 p.m.)

Mark 9:5: "Why bother being part of a T.E.A.M in life?" (Sept 22, 09, 12:17 p.m.)

Mark 9:6: "What gives you F.R.I.G.H.T in life?" (Sept 23, 09, 12:17 p.m.)

Mark 9:7: "Who do you L.I.S.T.E.N to in life?" (Sept 28, 09, 12:29 p.m.)

Mark 9:8-9: "What T.I.M.I.N.G do you look to in life?" (Sept 29, 09, 12:03 p.m.)

Mark 9:10-13: "How seriously do you take what is W.R.I.T.T.E.N in life?" (Sept 30, 09, 12:39 p.m.)

 “Asian-Americans Anticipate Asian InterVarsity's Inductive Scripture Study!(Oct 01, 09, 1:27 p.m.)

Mark 9:14-15: "What E.N.C.O.U.N.T.E.R has changed your life?"(Oct 03, 09, 1:24 p.m.)

Psalm 139:13-18:  "Who cares for your B.I.R.T.H.D.A.Y in life?" (Oct 05, 09, 2:01 a.m.)

Mark 9: "Who do you G.R.E.E.T  in life?" (Oct 06, 09, 12:37 a.m.)

Mark 9: "What store do you buy your F.A.I.T.H in life?" (Oct 07, 09, 2:41 a.m.)

Mark 9: "Where do you need D.E.L.I.V.E.R.A.N.C.E at hand?" (Oct 08, 09, 11:15 a.m.)

Mark 9: "When do you B.E.L.I.E.V.E in life?" (Oct 10, 09, 9:46 a.m.)

Mark 9: "What place do you give P.R.A.Y.E.R in your life?" (Oct 12, 09, 12:24 p.m.)

Mark 9: "How does the Gospel influence D.I.S.C.I.P.L.E.S.H.I.P in your life?" (Oct 20, 09, 11:12 a.m.)

Mark 9: "How does the Gospel influence H.O.M.E.C.O.M.I.N.G  in your life?" (Oct 24, 09, 8:08 a.m.)

Mark 9: "Why not A.S.K in life?" (Oct 26, 09, 10:21 a.m.)

Mark 9: "What has an E.G.O.T.I.S.T.I.C attitude done to you in life?" (Oct 27, 09, 10:43 a.m.)

Mark 9: "Why be a S.E.R.V.A.N.T to all?" (Oct 28, 09, 10:40 a.m.)

Mark 9: "Who W.E.L.C.O.M.E.S you in life?" (Oct 29, 09, 2:16 p.m.)

"Will you be in for a T.R.I.C.K. or T.R.E.A.T?" (Oct 31, 09, 10:37 a.m.)

Mark 9: "Why bother with M.I.N.I.S.T.R.Y in life?" (Nov 02, 09, 12:46 p.m.)

Mark 9: "Why bother S.E.R.V.I.N.G in life?" (Nov 07, 09, 7:05 p.m.)

"What if Jesus talked F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L in life?" (Jan 31, 09, 7:44 a.m.)

"What place do you give T.H.A.N.K.S.G.I.V.I.N.G in your life?" (Nov 26, 09, 9:37 a.m.)

CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONALS:

"What does God do with your G.E.N.E.A.L.O.G.Y in life?" (Dec 01, 09, 12:52 p.m.)

"How has your L.O.V.E influenced others in life?" (Dec 12, 09, 11:19 a.m.)

"Why W.A.I.T through conflict in life?" (Dec 14, 09, 12:27 p.m.)

"What do your G.R.E.E.T.I.N.G.S do in life?" (Dec 15, 09, 12:43 p.m.)

"What K.I.N.G.D.O.M will you be part of in life?" (Dec 16, 09, 1:12 p.m.)

"What does God do with your D.O.U.B.T.S in life?" (Dec 23, 09, 11:15 a.m.)

 

 

 

CHRISTIAN NEWS:

 

Oakland International Fellowship welcomes incoming students to its worship service on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. near North Dithridge St. followed by Sunday School at 11:30 a.m. and fellowship lunch at 12:30 p.m.

Book Review of "Lord Change My Attitude Before It's Too Late"
“McDonald's Mesmerizes Lovingly, Leading Searching SOULs!
 
(June 04, 09, 2:51 p.m.)
"Lord Change My Attitude: Before It's Too Late!" is a mesmerizing book of 224 pages that will keep you glued to your seat bringing to life the attitudes that have brought you down into the wilderness using Biblical examples but...

 

 
 
 

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