From the Heart by B.Demaere

Promises to Keep : Words for Today (Ephesians 4:25-26 : So put away all falsehood and" tell your neighbor the truth" because we belong to each other.  And "don't sin by letting ...

So put away all falsehood and" tell your neighbor the truth" because we belong to each other.  And "don't sin by letting anger gain control over you". Don't let the sun go down  while you are still angry, for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil. I used to be very angry and now I have mellowed out quite a bit, just ask my wife and children.  It is also called not having a filter, you know? The kind that filters your words.  Keeping your mouth shut at the right time can keep you out of trouble and not say the stupid thing you really want to say at that time is also a good idea. Anger is very destructive and like a tornado it leaves a path behind it of unhappy customers, friends and family.  It also brings a lot of loneliness.  Who really wants to be around someone who is angry all the time. So that's what the words, "don't sin by letting anger gain control over you" mean, keep cool.  You can be angry but also think of your actions afte

Promises to Keep : All Aboard! (Ephesians 3:4-12) : As you read what I have written, you will understand what I know about this plan regarding Christ.  God did not reveal it to previous genera...

As you read what I have written, you will understand what I know about this plan regarding Christ.  God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now he has revealed it by the Holy Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets. And this is the secret plan: the Gentiles have an equal share with the Jews in all the riches inherited by God's children.   Both groups have believed the Good News, and both  are part of the same body and enjoy together the promise of blessings through Christ Jesus.  By God's special favor and mighty power, I have been given the wonderful privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. Just think! Though I did nothing to deserve it, and though I am the least deserving Christian there is, I was chosen for this special joy of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.  I was chosen to explain to everyone this plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. God's purpose was to sho

Promises to Keep : OUR PAST IS BEHIND US FOREVER (Ephesians 2:1--10) : Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins.  You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan,...

Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins.  You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air.  He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.  All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature.  We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.(It is only by God's favor that you have been saved).  For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and we are seated with him in the heavenly realms---all because we are one with Christ Jesus.  And so God can always point to us as examples of the incredible wealth of his favor and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us through Christ Jesus. That is actually an incredible pic

Promises to Keep : THIS IS WHAT MAKES YOU WANT MORE! (Ephesians 1:15... : Ever since I heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for Christians everywhere, I have never stopped thanking God for you...

Ever since I heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for Christians everywhere, I have never stopped thanking God for you.  I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.  I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called.  I want you to realize what rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people. I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him.  This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms.  Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in the world or in the world to come.  And God has put all things under the authority of Christ, and he gave him this aut

Promises to Keep : Where is your Faith? (Luke 8:22-25) (Psalm 121:3-4) : One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's cross over to the other side of the lake."  So they got into the boat and started ...

One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's cross over to the other side of the lake."  So they got into the boat and started out.  On the way across, Jesus lay down for a nap, and while he was sleeping the wind began to rise.  A fierce storm developed that threatened to swamp them, and they were in real danger. The disciples woke him up, shouting, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" So Jesus rebuked the wind and raging waves.  The storm stopped and all was calm!  Then he asked them, "Where is your faith?" And they were filled with awe and amazement.  They said to one another, "Who is this man, that even the winds and waves obey him?" I don't know what you are going through right now and maybe you are asking: "Where is God?"  He is there and although Jesus in his human form had a need for rest and sleep.  Jesus in his divinity didn't sleep. ' He will not let you stumble and fall; the one who watches over you will

Promises to Keep : Living the Fruitful Life (John 15:4) : Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart ...

Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me. Over and over the Spirit of the Lord has been showing me the importance of remaining in Him.  The Holy Spirit is as equally God as the Son is. So why not submit to the Holy Spirit for a fruitful life.  For only in the Spirit is a fruitful life attained. The fruitful life is a lot more attainable than you realize.  You don't have to be uptight, you can relax and it's not at all a bunch of do's and don'ts's.  Under the leading of the Spirit it's amazing how much everything just goes so smooth. This morning, my wife paid me a compliment in a way as she was saying that yesterday she wanted eggs for breakfast and she got them without asking me and today she wanted avocado which we had and she got it too.  I told her jokingly, "So I am doing everything I am supposed to, everything is on schedule."  Everything go