STRONG InCHRIST

“For to me, to live is Christ, to die is gain.”

Philippians 1:21 NIV

Hello, my name is Jimmy Peters, I live in Iowa. I am a reborn recently baptized Christian. My life until now has been a life pleasing to me. I would give my whole testimony but it would take awhile to type. I just found this site on facebook thanks to my little brother Jacob! But this verse when I read it seemed to shout at me! To live is Christ- A Christians main purpose! To spread the gospel, and make disciples of all nations UNDER GOD! Our soul purpose is to be ministers and teachers of the Gospel, to give people hope in Christ. To let people know the amazing gift of salvation is only a conversation away. They don’t realize where they are going. To die is gain- I don’t know about anyone else, but I can’t wait for the day Christ comes and takes us into his presence. To know that when we leave this place we will no longer have to deal with the pains of this life, but will be forever free of it all!

But its like Paul says:

“I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” Philippians 1:23

All of us as Christians long to be with Jesus Christ, but it is better that we stay and finish the work God put us here to do. Now I am by no means an expert on biblical teaching, but I do long for the knowledge that only God can give, and hope and pray that God leads me in the direction of ministry and teaching.

Thank You and GOD Bless,

Jimmy Peters

Oh by the way, LOVE the site, very inspirational!

Peace & Blessings.

Today is Pesach Sheini, the Second Passover.

Underlying theme: It is never too late, it is always possible to put things right with God!

“…he shall keep the passover unto the LORD. The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.” Num. 9:10-11

The theme of Pesach Sheini (literally, “the second Passover”, which takes place on the fifteenth of Iyar, exactly one month after Passover) is that it is never too late. It is always possible to put things right. Even if one was spiritually impure or spiritually distant from his proper destination, G-d still gives him an opportunity to change the past and correct the wrongs.


Sources: Chabad.org Copyright 2001 Chabad of California

Sources: Jewish Holidays © 2001-2010 Chabad-Lubavitch Media Center


Peace & Blessings,

-James

I find myself feeling so lonely. I pray that the Lord may help me with the desires of my heart, a husband & healthy children.
I don’t want to go through this life alone.

Requested by: Sister Mbali.

Submit your devotional, testimony or prayer request by clicking link:
admin@stronginchrist.com

Submit your devotional, testimony or prayer request.
Just click the email link below:
admin@stronginchrist.com

Back in 2001, my 15 year-old cousin was diagnosed with a cancer so rare, he was only the sixth child in the world to have it. My life leading up to that point was not one of enlightenment; it’s not that I wasn’t a Christian, I just didn’t spend most time praying. But when I received the word about my cousin, I began to trust in God and ask him to heal Chris.

Over the next few months, he got better, then worse, then better again, and worse once more. I kept praying, but after a ten-month battle that included losing a lung, going through countless doses of Chemo and radiation, and being confined to a wheelchair, he passed away nine days short of turning 16.

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” -Mat.6:10

Then I realized that I had been praying for myself all that time. Subconsciously, I was praying that I wouldn’t lose another person in my life, having lost a dear friend in ‘98, both of my grandmothers in two consecutive weeks, and never having met either of my grandfathers. I should’ve been praying for God to heal my cousin, so long as it was His will. Clearly it wasn’t. Had I known that at the time, I wouldn’t have set myself up for such a disappointment.”

WRITTEN BY: JOE S. -FL.

Thank you Joe for sharing such a personal experience. Your devotional raises a critical question that all Christians should deeply contemplate, namely, do I know the will of God?

“This God—his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD proves true;
he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.”

-Psalms 18:30

Meditation: How can I be certain to know the will of God and therefore pray within His will? Am I ready to truly accept His will, even if it is painful, don’t understand it or the outcome?

Peace & Blessings.

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” -James 5:16 KJV

Please join SINC in raising an anonymous sister’s prayer request to the Lord:

“Thank you so much for the gift of prayer. My request is for the Lord to please heal the emotional & physical pain I am suffering. Teach me to forgive those who have hurt me. Pray for the Lord to help me accept the cross I bear and stay close to HIM.” -Anonymous Sister

“Again I say to you, that if two of you are worthy on earth, anything that they would ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them” Matthew 18:19-20 Peshitta Translation

Submit your devotional, testimony or prayer request. Click link below :
admin@stronginchrist.com

Peace & Blessings,

-James

One of SINC’s convictions (read About Us) is being good stewards over this amazing earth which our Father has provided as our temporal home.

In this same spirit, we celebrate Earth Day today.
Want to help celebrate and make the earth a happier place? Check out some of these tips.

Also, one of our sponsors, April M. Designs, is giving away Natural Feminine Products in celebration of Earth Day.

Sisters, check it out!

If you are new to natural products, you can visit her informative web site:

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” -Genesis 1:31

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.” -Job 12:7-10

You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it.You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain,they shout and sing together for joy.” -Psalm 65:9-13

“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God” -Romans 8:19-21

Peace & Blessings,

-James

Submit your devotional, testimony or prayer request.
Just click the email link below:
admin@stronginchrist.com

God has been dealing with me concerning judging others. We are so quick to judge one another. We think we know the facts, but honestly, we don’t know jack about anything!! It’s easy to look on the outside and judge a person, it easy to look at the circumstances and judge a person. But, who are we, so quick to judge. We, who have sin in our own lives?

There is only one perfect blameless person who ever walked the earth, and my friend, that was Jesus Christ.

So, next time you feel the need to judge someone, no matter what they have done, I pray that the Holy Spirit reaches down, and tugs at your heart and reminds you of your own transgressions (sins).

It says in Matt. 7:1-6;
1″Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3″Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” 6″Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.”

And it also says in John 8:7;
7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
So, you see, we are all full of sin, we have NO right to judge anyone!!

We’ve all been hurt by others many, many times in our life, but forgiveness is the first step to inner peace.

It says in Matt. 6:14,
14″For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”, and in Mark 3:28-29, 28 I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. 29But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.” and then again in Romans 14:13, 13 “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.”

I’ve stated my peace. Unforgiveness and grudges, and all that stinking, rotten garbage that we can’t let go of, will send us to hell in a hand basket, not to mention a straight jacket!! I know, I’ve been there and done that. It’s so simple. Just judge not, lest you be judged. God knows people give us plenty to judge them about, that is when you consciously chose not to judge.

So many people go around pretending to be something they aren’t. Who are you trying to impress? God or man? God sees you ALL the time!! We can fool men all the time, but, God cannot be fooled. We go around naming and claiming this and that, and wonder why God hasn’t blessed us yet!! I’ll tell you why-because we are living double lives!! We might think we are God’s special people, and His “favorite” child, but I’m here to tell you, NOT!! We are living in the flesh, not in the spirit! We are so concerned about what men think of us that we could care less of what God thinks of us.

It tells us in Gal. 6:11-18…
11See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand! 12Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. 14May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. 16Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.17Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.”

And yet-we know this and still choose to paint on a canvas a perfect picture of our lives, and live like heathens on the inside. Our ministries begin in our own homes, Col.3:22-25;
22Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.”

God has laid this on my heart, so being obedient, I’ll do what He says-you may choose not to read this, but if you have, this is for you. Get your life together, unclutter your mind, your life, and your daily walk with God. Your right, God does know your heart, pretty scary thought!! Because most of our hearts are full of all that is wrong. Read Gal. 5:19-21,19, if you are curious…
”The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
And quit being so self righteous, and think this isn’t about you, because it is. It’s for all of us, myself included.

God is doing a new thing in my life, and this is it-to those of you who know me, know that I have a gift of writing, pretty much anything. I’m excited to see Gods mercy poured out on these last days. Repent, my friends, repent!! Before it’s too late!!

Are you going up, or are you going down? You’ve got nothing to lose, but, the world, and eternal life to gain. Don’t miss Heaven for the world. Judge not, lest you be judged, folks.

In His Love.

Written By: Pamela James King

Meditation: It is said that judgment is the mirror. Why am I compelled to judge? Does it make me feel better about my own weaknesses when I tear someone else down? What steps can I take, right now, to overcome this sin?

Peace & Blessings.

Want a better work-out? Then don’t stretch beforehand, some experts say.

Many people take it for granted that they should start their exercise routines with some stretching on the spot, perhaps hoping it will loosen them up for their work-out. Most fitness experts now agree this kind of static stretching before exercise is not just counter-productive, but potentially harmful.

Traditional stretches, like when people bend over to touch their toes or stretch their legs on a fence, often cause the muscles to tighten rather than relax — exactly the opposite of what is needed for physical activity.

Experts say it is like extending a rubber band to its limit. When people stretch to the maximum, they are more likely to pull a muscle.

“We have developed this idea of static stretching at exactly the wrong time,” said Kieran O’Sullivan, an exercise expert at the University of Limerick in Ireland, who has studied various types of stretching and their impact on athletes.

When you stretch before exercising, your body may think it’s at risk of being overstretched. It compensates by contracting and becoming more tense. That means you aren’t able to move as fast or as freely, making you more likely to get hurt.

O’Sullivan said stretching helps with flexibility, but people should only do it when they aren’t about to exercise, like after a workout, or at the end of the day.

“It’s like weight training to become stronger,” he said. “You wouldn’t do a weight session right before you exercise, and you shouldn’t stretch right before either.”

In the last few years, several studies have found static stretching before playing a sport makes you slower and weaker.

And when experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention combed through more than 100 papers looking at stretching studies, they found people who stretched before exercise were no less likely to suffer injuries such as a pulled muscle, which the increased flexibility from stretching is supposed to prevent.

Instead of stretching, many experts recommend warming up with a light jog or sport-specific exercise, like kicking for football or a few serves for tennis. That type of light movement increases the heart rate and blood flow to the muscles, warming up the body temperature.

“This allows you to approach your full range of motion, but in a very controlled way,” said Dr. Anders Cohen, chief of neurosurgery and spine surgery at the Brooklyn Hospital Center and former physician for the U.S. Tennis Open. Cohen said elite athletes in all sports are increasingly ditching static stretching and using other warm-up techniques instead.

But the message has yet to trickle down to legions of joggers and recreational athletes. “This is classic, old-school stretching that has been done for generations,” Cohen said. “It’s going to be very hard to convince people to start doing something different.”

By MARIA CHENG, read entire article source.

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.


Peace & Blessings.

Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
-Psalm 100: 2, 4

Is your head cast down in sadness? Lift your eyes. Stand on your feet. How can anyone who is a disciple of Jesus Christ be sad for very long? There is a season for all things, even sadness and mourning, but remember the joy the gospel brings. Say a few words of love and appreciation to your God, be positive.

This is the day which has been spoken of by those who have gone before us. Keep the faith, walk in righteousness and the Lord will bless you.

Peace & Blessings,

-James

History  Channel’s “The Real Face of Jesus?” airs again this Saturday.

The broadcast examines the history of the Shroud of Turin and creates, for the first time ever, the most accurate 3D portrait of the image found on the shroud.

Excellent program.

Peace & Blessings.