From the Heart by B.Demaere

  Amid our changing world it is nice to know that we have some constants, like the person of our faith, God.   He never changes, his intention to love us will stay the same. Within the next Bible verse, we see a strong affirmation of this love for us.   Several centuries before its conception, the Son of God , Jesus was prophesied revealing who he is and the appearance of His Kingdom. Here is the prophecy from the prophet Isaiah in chapter 9:6 For to us a Child shall be born , to us a Son shall be given; And the government shall be upon His  shoulder, And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God , Everlasting Father , Prince of Peace   Within the season of Christmas , He is our Anchor for our faith.   We have been given a Son, the Son of God.   Unfathomably, the gender of this child was predicted so far ahead and that alone should fill us with wonder.   But also, the prediction of His occupation in this worl...

        Who is among you who fears the Lord, Who obeys the voice of His Servant, Yet who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust and be confident in the name Of the Lord and let him rely on His God.   Listen carefully, all you who kindle your own Fire [devising your own man-made plan of Salvation], Who surround yourselves with torches, Walk by the light of your [self-made] fire And among the torches that you have set ablaze, But this you will have from my hand; You will lie down in [a place of] torment. (Isaiah 50:10-11) (Amplified)   When dark times come in our lives or in the world, we tend to lean on self or find alternate solutions opposed to trusting God.   But even here in these words, we are encouraged to trust in God and use the Light that He gives us. Furthermore, we are even promised that if we rely on our own light, we will face torment.  Have you ever been tormented?  This might be the reason; the Lord is allowing it....

  Prize wisdom [and exalt her], and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her: “She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty and glory.” (Proverbs 4:8-9) Although physical exercise is somewhat important it is not as important as godly wisdom or godly living which come with promises For physical training is of some value, but godliness (spiritual training) is of   value   in everything and in every way, since it holds promises for the present life and for the life to come. (Timothy 4:8). Jesus is Wisdom and let us all agree on this, He will never ask you to do more of something that would take His place or put that thing between Him and you.   Anything He ask you to do will be well-balanced and in agreement with the rest of Scriptures. We have prized other things so high that wisdom has taken the backseat to our lives.   For example, we prize fitness so high that it is, globally, a $257 billio...

  Knowing Jesus Christ may not be a trend in this world right now, but I can guarantee you it will change you from the inside-out.   It did it for me and I live in a greater freedom from day to day. I would imagine the trend right now is to “know yourself” and as a world of knowledge we are consumed by the knowledge of Self.   Self can become an idol between God and us.   God must become number One in your life. The other trend is to find happiness at all costs which can be dangerous as you would not be able to stand yourself when you become depressed or angry.   It does not give much room to allow yourself to be normal if your ideal self is “happy”.   In other word, stop looking for “happy” and everything will be “normal” like your feelings and the grey sky in your life.   We suppress so much of our feelings that we end up hating ourselves for being unhappy or normal. God is looking for normal people so that through them he can do the miraculous...

  As I read more from my Amplified Bible than any other translation, I am now reminded to thank God for all my brothers and sisters.   It is even a moral obligation according to it. As you read 2 Thessalonians 1:3 the writer Paul is very strict and tells them: “We ought always and indeed are morally obligated [as those in debt] to give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is fitting, because your faith is growing ever greater, and the [unselfish] love of each one of you toward one another is continually increasing.” We hope Thanksgiving Day is a very special day for you in the States as you thank the Lord for all His blessings in your life… Especially give thanks for all your brothers and sisters around the world and not only this day but throughout the year. Give thanks especially for your health and that you made it another year. Furthermore, Paul repeat his exhortation is chapter 2:13 of the same letter and add a few more words: “But we should and [mora...

  The Gospel must be proclaimed even by the weakest vessel among us.   We are not guaranteed positive results as if our precepts are coming from the world, but our teachings are coming from the Bible and as such we should expect persecution with it.   Do not expect friendship to come from the world when you have done your best to proclaim that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he died for our sins because they will laugh at you and say: “What sins?” Remain faithful for faithfulness goes a long way.   Besides all this you must proclaim that Jesus is coming back soon and that means he is coming back very soon because it has been already over 2000 years that He was here the first time. But, let no one panic if you are not yet ready for His coming, all you have to do is to accept Jesus Christ in your heart and you will have eternal life if you believe He is the Son of God and your Savior.   After I had done that on March 21, 1979, I became instantly a Christ...

  Sometimes, I think I am the only one who struggles to love…but no, I am not the only one. The proof is that in this world and everywhere there are conflicts, divorces, abuses of every kind.   If love was not a struggle everyone would get along just fine.   Even church people struggle with it.   Why? Because life and love were never meant or said to be easy.   When you think the greatest man that ever-lived sweated blood before going and dying on a cross for us.   Love should be a struggle. It should be a sacrifice.   It should cost you something or it’s not love.   Love cannot be stagnant, it must stay fresh, always active or you lose it.   If you struggle in loving people, you are not alone.   In my past, I have had jobs where I had to work with chocolate.   Yes, I know someone had to do it.   Working with chocolate is easy, you must know a few rules about chocolate.   It melts easy to a certain temperature and then you...

  Then Gideon said to God, ”If you are going to rescue Israel through me, as you have spoken, behold, I will put a fleece of [freshly sheared] wool on the threshing floor.   If there is dew only on the fleece, and it is dry on all the ground [around it], then I will know that you will rescue Israel through me, as you have said.” And it was so.   When he got up early the next morning,     and squeezed the dew out of the fleece, he wrung from it a bowl full of water. Then Gideon said to God, “Do not let your anger burn against me, so that I may speak once more.   Please let me make a test once more with the fleece; now let the fleece be dry and let there be dew on all the ground.” God did so that night; for it was dry only on the fleece, and there was dew on all the ground [around it] (Judges 6:36-40) I think by judging Gideon for ‘his lack of faith’ in putting out a fleece we are limiting God in our own lives and holding Him back from doing awes...

  We need more teenagers…No, let me rephrase this…We need more teenagers (and adults) that will hear God and what He has to say to us and for us. The prophet Daniel was just an ordinary teenager who had desires like any others.   Little is known about his personal history or upbringing, aside from the fact that he was among the Jews exiled to Babylon and likely received comprehensive instruction in the Law, which was traditionally committed to memory. We find him along with his three companions ready to be trained by the officials of the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar.   In the first chapter of the book of Daniel he along with his friends are given new names along with other strange foods fit for a king.   But they refuse to eat it because they do not want to defile themselves. So, they can arrange for a diet of strictly vegetables.   I suppose, this fast would allow them to gain spiritual insights and strength in obedience to their God.   Here, I believ...

  Just imagine being in a valley called "Life"... On one side is 'gold' and on the other is 'truth'. It seems that our society is in a critical position and ready to decide about challenging issues like values and authenticity . A decision has to be made between idols that we have and God who is ready to accept us the way we are. What is an idol?  Anything that stands in front of us and replaces God. In Psalm 115:1-8 , we see clearly that God and idols are contrasted... "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, But to Your name give glory Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth and faithfulness. Why should the nations say, Where, now, is their God? But our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases. The idols [of the nations] are silver and gold, The work of man's hands They have mouths, but they cannot speak; They have eyes, but they cannot see; They have ears, but cannot hear; They have noses, but cannot smell; They have hands, but cannot feel;...