Without Reservation - Reminder for 2015

Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other, which will bring glory to God.
Romans 15:7

The church in Rome was divided. People were accepting certain religious customs and truths about God but  rejecting others. They were doing the same to the people who followed them. Their condescending attitudes were out of line with God's purpose and perspective. That truth is as valid today as it was almost two thousand years ago.

Jesus accepted everyone without reservation. He knew everyone inside and out - he knew the good, the bad, and everything in between. He accepted you long before you noticed him, even if you rejected him, and solely because he loves you unconditionally.

As you grow more intimate with the One who has fully accepted you, it becomes easier to accept those around you even those whose actions, attitudes, and beliefs do not line up with your own. You may not condone what they do or agree with what they believe, but you can still receive them with open arms, which is what the Greek word for accept really means. Being honest, authentic, and accepting in your love, even of people who misunderstand or reject you, helps them see what God's love is like. It gives them a real-life picture of how Jesus related to others - and ultimately related to them. When you accept others, it pleases God, as well as reveals him.

Pray for anyone you have difficulty accepting. Ask God to reveal any fear, anger or jealousy on your part. Then ask God to help you understand how he feels about the one you're praying for.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Keep God close to your heart during times of questioning the worth of a fellow brother or sister - prayer is key. We all have worth in the eyes of God. It is our earthly flesh that makes us blind. Let us be that mirror image of God and love without barriers. Let not the past, history, dictate our present actions. But look towards the heavens for direction on how to accept with open arms and an open mind. ~ MME Team

Without Reservation

Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other, which will bring glory to God.

Romans 15:7

The church in Rome was divided. People were accepting certain religious customs and truths about God but rejecting others. They were doing the same to the people who followed them. Their condescending attitudes were out of line with God's purpose and perspective. That truth is as valid today as it was almost two thousand years ago.

Jesus accepted everyone without reservation. He knew everyone inside and out - he knew the good, the bad, and everything in between. He accepted you long before you noticed him, even if you rejected him, and solely because he loves you unconditionally.

As you grow more intimate with the One who has fully accepted you, it becomes easier to accept those around you, even those whose actions, attitudes, and beliefs do not line up with your own. You may not condone what they do or agree with what they believe, but you can still receive them with open arms, which is what the Greek word  for accept rally means. Being honest, authentic, and accepting in your love, even of people who misunderstand or reject you, help them see what God's love is like. It gives them a real-life picture of how Jesus related to others - and ultimately relates to them. When you accept others, it pleases God, as well as reveals him.

Pray for anyone you have difficulty accepting. Ask God to reveal any fear, anger, or jealousy on your part. Then ask God to help you understand how he feels about the one you're praying for.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God and ask him to cover you as you walk this pathway of accepting others. Hold strong to the truth that God's love and power is stronger than any concerns that the enemy can ever create. For God is the ONE and ONLY Creator who did so for LOVE. ~ MME Team

Children at Heart

Jesus said, "The greatest person in the kingdom of heaven is the one who makes himself humble like this child.

Matthew 18:4

Jesus's disciples were waiting for a response. They had just asked Jesus an important question, one they sincerely wanted an answer to. It wasn't exactly spiritual in nature. It had to do with position and power. The disciples wanted to know who out of the twelve of them would be the greatest in God's kingdom. Jesus answered them by inviting a small child to sit on his lap. That child became an object lesson in how highly God values humility.

When it comes to power and position, children are at the bottom of the pecking order. They are dependent on others to fill almost every need. They are eager to learn, because they recognize their own ignorance and helplessness. They innocently believe everything they are told, and they share their love freely. Their goal isn't to be the best. Their goal is simply to be who they are. This is the kind of humble, authentic response that God desires from his own children.

Jesus's poignant words reveal that God's kingdom is vastly different from earthly kingdoms. In it, servants, not celebrities, are honored. Jesus came to earth to make it possible for God's heavenly kingdom to begin on earth. Take a lesson from the child in Jesus's lap. Go to God fully aware of your need and your dependence on him. That's the starting point for nurturing a childlike, humble heart.

It is good to want to do great things, but only for the right reason - to bring honor to God, not yourself. Let Jesus's words help you weigh your motives anytime you long to be praised.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God to give you a humble heart. To love like a child - with full dependency on the Lord's blessings for every breath, every thought, every movement you may take. Let your relationship with God be one of an interconnection held together like the strength of a bungee cord. Although the world may pull you down with intense force of gravity - God will catch you and bounce you back up to the safety of his presence every time. ~ MME Team

A Love That Never Fails

God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

1 John 4:16

When it comes to love, the Greek language is incredibly descriptive. It has four different words to distinguish between four kinds of love: the love of friends, familia love, sexual love, and unconditional love. This last kind of love, agape, is the one mentioned most frequently in the New Testament. It describes a love bestowed on those who are undeserving, in spite of the possibility of rejection or heart-break. Agape is so unique that, outside the Scriptures, it is found in only one ancient Greek text, where it describes parents' unshakable love for their only child.

God loves you like an only child. His love can't be earned or lost. He loves you simply because you are his. God is more than the source of agape. He is agape. His very essence, his nature, is love, given without obligation or expectation. He loves unconditionally because that is who he is.

Abide means "to dwell." When you invite God's Spirit to dwell in you, agape takes up residence. This gives you the ability to love others the same way God does, without condition. Whether you choose to use that ability is up to you. Unconditional love can lead to disappointment and sorrow. It led Jesus to the Cross, but that choice ultimately led to a victory that could not be gained in any other way. Allow Agape to help you love unconditionally. Others will catch a glimpse of God through you.

To share agape, you have to dwell in God and he in you. That kind of intimate relationship grows through spending time together in prayer and studying Scriptures.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God to reveal to you your true love; agape love for self and your neighbor even if it hurts.
God said to find him in the hurt, the disappointment, the unfairness of life. Not an easy direction to follow but when we submit to His will we will find victory in the doing. To God be the glory for happiness on earth as it is in heaven. ~ MME Team

Seize the Moment

Be very careful how you live. Do not live like those who are not wise, but live wisely. Use every chance you have for doing good, because these are evil times.

Ephesians 5:15-16

Life is filled with opportunities - and obstacles that can prevent you from grabbing hold of them. The secret to making the most of your life lies in making the most of your time.

The first three words hold the key: be very careful. In the original language, this admonition is much stronger and fuller than what sounds here like a mother's passing comment to her kids as they head outside. The words describe a way of living (or "walking," as the Bible often describes it) that is precise, accurate, and deliberate. It involves both forethought and a heightened sense of awareness. It's similar to the way you drive a car. You need to be constantly attentive, responding appropriately to the ever-changing situations you find yourself in. You swerve to avoid hazards, brake for pedestrians, and follow the rules of the road. Your skill, knowledge, and vigilance help you make wise decisions at a moment's notice.

To live wisely you need to do the same thing. You need to face each day spiritually alert. You need to recognize evil, so you can avoid it like a dangerous hazard in the road. At the same time,  you need to be on the lookout for opportunities to show love to others and to God - and to grab hold of them. The good news is that God is in the car with you. His Spirit will help guide your daily journey toward a life full of well-utilized opportunities.

When you start your car, recall the words from the book of Ephesians. They can be a reminder to keep your eyes open for opportunities to make a positive difference throughout your day.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God and be very careful in how you live. ~ MME Team

DO SOMETHING CLUB

DO SOMETHING CLUB

The DO SOMETHING CLUB is a group created to share how families, friends and communities share God's message of Love to empower the little children to come closer to the kingdom of heaven. We are nurturing the next generation of disciples to continue where Jesus left off - to fore-fill the Great Commission.

Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you."

Matthew 28:19-20

WHAT YOU CAN DO! 

We are all called to be disciples - to follow Jesus. We can do mission's work aboard and locally at home. Share God's blessings. Please download and print this postcard as a gift and reminder that GOD is calling you to DO SOMETHING to build a heart of worship in the life of a child.

Post it at home in your child's room, in your kitchen, at your church youth room or anywhere children gather in your community. Post it on your facebook page or blog and link back to this website. Better yet, give it to a parent of a child personally to invite them to have a relationship with God and learn about Jesus. Use this postcard as an invitation to a family to worship at your church or even just to begin prayer at home. All actions of love yield good fruit.

When you do please take a  photo of what you did with it and share it here on our facebook group page (please ask permission from anyone who might be photographed to be published online and/or to use their real names). Pray to God and ask Him how He will direct your life to serve purpose to build his kingdom.

NOTE: Above were just some suggestions of what you can do. God has given us unimaginable creativity so I know you will come up with great ideas not mentioned here. When you do please share it on our facebook group page. Sharing God's blessings is how we follow Jesus. 

God bless ~ MME Team

A child's prayer postcard. A reminder of what God wants children TO DO. Print size is 5x7 inches.

The Never - Ending Story

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

John 3:16 has been nicknamed "the Little Gospel." That's because it condenses the message Jesus came to share into a single clear-cut sentence, answering one of the big questions every individual has to face: is there life after death? God's answer to that question is a resounding yes. That truly is "good news," which is what gospel literally means.

When you love someone, that love motivates you to give. The same is true with God. God loved the people of the world so deeply that he had to put that love into action. He did that by sending the very best gift he could ever give, a true part of himself - Jesus.

Before any gift can be enjoyed, it has to be accepted. People accept God's gift by accepting who Jesus is. That's what belief is all about. But God doesn't stop there. Accepting Jesus comes with an extra bonus gift. That gift is a life that never ends. That gift isn't something people have to wait and open later. Its reality isn't something people have to wait and open later. It's reality takes hold the moment people accept God's "good news" as a part of their lives. From that moment on, they experience a life that will not end with death but will continue beyond it as they grow ever closer to the One who loves them so deeply - and gave so much because of that love.

Consider a few of the countless ways God has shared his love with you. This generosity will extend from his life into the next. Take a few moments just to say thanks.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God and give thanks. Thank  you, Lord. Gracias mi Dios. ~ MME Team

Follow Me

Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you."

Matthew 28:19-20

Discipleship is similar to an internship, where hands-on learning comes from closely following the experienced example of another. While on earth Jesus invited twelve disciples to follow him. For three years they ate with him. They listened and learned through his words and actions. When Jesus rose from the dead, only eleven remained. As Jesus prepared to return to heaven, he challenged those men to put into practice what they'd learned - by making more disciples.

Jesus's mission statement, often referred to as the Great Commission, is directed to everyone who responds to his call to follow him. In the Great Commission, Jesus outlined how his disciples should go and help others grow. First, he explained the scope of their task. In going to "all nations," Jesus assured his disciples that no place on earth was to be exempt from the scope of God's life-changing love.

Second, Jesus instructed his disciples to baptize and to teach. Baptism is a symbol of an inner rebirth that connects new believers with a community of Christians. Teaching budding disciples to focus on Jesus's teaching assured new believers that they would live under the freedom of grace.

Teaching and baptizing a new believer begin the transformation of a new believer into a disciple. However, discipleship is an ongoing process. As you help others mature spiritually, Jesus will bring you to maturity as well.

Helping others find out more about God is Jesus's command for everyone who follows him. Ask God how you can help others see him more clearly.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God and give thanks for Jesus. His one and only Son, SON OF MAN, who delivered us from our sin and who we seek to glorify and honor for his unselfish love. Pray for strength in faith. A continued growth in personal maturity and a relationship with God. So we may leave a legacy of future disciples to follow HIM. ~ MME Team

Helping Hands, Healing Hearts

I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for me.

Matthew 25:40

Jesus's disciples questioned him about eternal life and the end of the world. Jesus answered their questions with a series of parables, concluding with one about a herd of sheep and goats for not meeting his needs: leaving him hungry, thirsty, naked, and lonely when he needed their help most. The sheep were commended for doing what the goats did not - and were surprised by their reward. They didn't remember serving the Son of Man. The words of Matthew 25:40 set the record straight. Any time people reach out to help one of God's children in need, they actually minister to God himself. 

This parable is a dialogue between Jesus and the nations of the world, not those who already followed him. That's why the sheep were so amazed. They didn't recognize Jesus or the significance of their actions. They weren't acting out of a desire for reward. They were simply living out God's image in their lives by exhibiting sacrificial love - without even recognizing what they were doing. That truth is why the sheep had a lesson to teach those who already knew God personally.

This parable assumes that those who follow God will be benevolent and that they will automatically treat others as they would treat Jesus. Experience teaches, however, that isn't always the case. When you notice someone in need, recall Jesus's parable. Be a sheep, not only saved, but motivated by God's love and grace.

The parable of the sheep and goats is a reminder of how eternally significant is every act of love. Allow it to help you to more clearly see Jesus in every person you meet.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God for grace and mercy for YOU and YOUR HOUSE to serve the Lord; through helping hands to build his kingdom. ~ MME Team

Leaning on the Lord

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5

If you are going to lean on something, the first thing you want to do is to make certain it can hold you up. The greater the risk, the more certain you want to be. You may not test the strength of every chair you're considering sitting on, but it's fairly certain that you will test the integrity of a bungee cord before attaching it to your feet and leaping off a bridge. Your trust in the strength and reliability of the bungee cord allows you to lean on its ability to save you. It still may take a lot of courage to go ahead and jump, however.

Believing in God is all about risk and trust. It tells you to turn away from what you're accustomed to relying on - your own strategies for making life work - and instead to trust God implicitly, even when what he's asking you to do may not make sense from a human perspective. Think about what God asked of Moses at the Red Sea or of Daniel in the lion's den. Moses and Daniel were able to rely on God instead of on their own understanding because past experience had shown them he was wholly trustworthy.

Every past experience was once a present choice. God challenges you to choose wisely today. You can lean on your own limited understanding and abilities or on a God of unlimited power and love. Only one choice can take you where you really want to go.

Put what you've learned to practice. List why you believe God is trustworthy, focusing on his promises and past faithfulness. Reread the list anytime you need the courage to lean on him instead of on yourself.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray and give thanks to a God that will always have your back. Man will change his mind but God's perfect love and mercy is 100% true no matter what the world puts out. Do not put your faith in man but in the God that moves man to live in righteousness. ~ MME Team

Misguided Love

Those who love money will never have enough. How absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what is the advantage of wealth - except perhaps to watch it run through your fingers!

Ecclesiastes 5:10-11

The book of Ecclesiastes includes one of the most important financial truths you'll ever hear. If you love money and the things it can buy, better budgeting, a higher-paying job, or even a winning lottery ticket can't make you happy or alleviate your financial worries. The only deciding factor that you can really depend on is to decide to pursue a fresh, new focus.

Love focuses on what it desires. When you desire God, you spend your time and energy getting to know him better and doing what pleases him. When you desire money, you spend your time and energy fueling an atmosphere of greed, instead of nurturing a sense of contentment. A deep desire for wealth can tempt you to do things you normally wouldn't consider, like cheating, lying, or stealing. You don't need to do anything illegal to fall for temptations like these. All it takes is holding on to the riches God has given you with a tight grip instead of opening your arms, and hoarding your blessings instead of sharing them.

The book of Ecclesiastes is all about how meaningless life is apart from God. Pursuing riches more vigorously than a relationship with your God will lead you to only one place - an impoverished life. (Even if your band account seems to say otherwise!) Instead of focusing on money, focus on God, the source of wealth. Thank  him for how he has blessed you and share what he has so generously given. You will find yourself rich in joy and contentment.

Money promises more than it can ever deliver, God will never do that to you. The treasures he promises his children are both certain and eternal.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God to love things from above more than that of this earthly world. When we keep our eyes fixed on him we live the life he has promised us on earth until the entry to the heavenly kingdom he keeps for us. Thank God for his wisdom and guidance to keep all paths lead to him and not be be swayed with promises of man that are not perfect like that of the love of Christ Jesus. ~ MME Team

A Servant's Heart

In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:5

Modern culture encourages individuals to fight for their rights, push their way to the top, and always look out for number one. Jesus demonstrated a different way to approach life, with the attitude of a servant who lays aside his rights for the benefit of others. In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul challenged the Philippians to make a counter cultural choice and to follow Jesus's example.

To understand what it means to have the attitude and actions of Jesus alive and working within you, read the Gospels. Note how Jesus treated people. Note his patience, his compassion, and his sacrificial perspective on life. He voluntarily put earthly limitations on his heavenly form in order to bless others. He continually asked his Father for "thy will," not "my will," to be accomplished. Out of anyone who ever lived on this earth, Jesus had more reason to demand that others put him on a pedestal than anyone else. He deserved to be honored and served. Instead, out of an attitude of humility, he chose to be the servant of all.

Your attitude influences your decisions and actions and, ultimately, the effect they have on the lives of others. A selfish, self-centered attitude will eventually lead to self-destruction. A humble, God-centered attitude will lead to deeper personal peace and a greater positive impact on the world around you. It also will bring joy and honor to God, who dearly loves you. Help keep your attitude in check by keeping this in mind.

Love is the motivation behind the attitude that you are asked to emulate. The closer you draw to God, the deeper your love will grow and the more like Jesus your attitude will become.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray and give thanks to God for one more day to walk in the footsteps of his son Christ Jesus. That your heart may be transformed to that of a servant's heart. To leave behind days of modern culture, focus on self. For our lives are but a whisper here today, gone tomorrow. Let us serve God and make an impact of love upon our brethren. Lord forgive us when we fail you and thank you for one more day to live through your will. ~ MME Team 

Battle Plan

Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4:7

The devil is referred to by many names throughout the Bible - accuser, tempter, deceiver, slanderer, enemy, Satan. One thing the Bible never calls him is a mythical creature. He is as real as God himself. There's no point in resisting someone who isn't there.

You need to know more, however, than that Satan exists. You need to know exactly what to do to defeat Satan. On the same day you aligned yourself with God, you gained this "adversary," which is what the word Satan literally means. Satan has no personal interest in you. His only aim is to hurt God. One way he tries to do that is by trying to hurt the ones whom God loves. Satan is only a prideful, fallen angel. He isn't all-knowing or all-powerful. Yet he can still wreak havoc, causing you to doubt God's love or tempting you to go down the wrong road.

But you can stop Satan in his tracks. First, submit to God. In the original language, submit is a military command that means "to get your proper rank." That's accomplished by humbly putting every aspect of your life under God's loving authority. Only then are you prepared to defeat the devil. Resist is also a military command that means "to stand bravely against." Stand against your adversary by recalling the biblical truths. Strengthen your resolve through prayer. Turn your back on anything that entices you to turn away from God. Satan will flee from the battle before it has even begun.

Satan has no future. Jesus assured Satan's ultimate defeat by dying on the cross. The potential skirmishes that James alludes to are nothing more than diversionary tactics from an opponent who is destined to lose.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God for courage and strength to fight the good fight until your last breath. ~ MME Team

All in the Family

Whoever does not care for his own relatives, especially his own family members, has turned against the faith and is worse than someone who does not believe in God.

1 Timothy 5:8

Paul gave advice to the young pastor Timothy on how to help organize and maintain a vital, God-honoring church. One area Paul discussed was meeting the needs of others. It seems that some members of the congregation were giving their time, energy, and resources to the church but neglecting the needs of their own families. Paul addressed this problem to help the people at Ephesus set their priorities straight.

The truth behind his words can help do the same for you. Paul's warning is clear-cut and to the point: anyone who turns his back on his own family turns his back on God. It's true that in biblical times, there were no government-run social programs to help widows, orphans, and women who had been left impoverished after their husbands divorced them. Today, people in similar situations have places to turn for help. But that doesn't alleviate the responsibility God gives each person in providing for those in his or her own family.

Providing entails more than financial responsibility. Supporting your parents, spouse, and children emotionally is equally important. When God previously commanded his children to love one another, he obviously meant that to include their own family circle. Use Paul's' words as a reminder to regularly ask for God's guidance in knowing how to care for the people whom he has place closest to you. Use Paul's words to better meet apparent needs as well as needs that aren't so apparent.

Loving one another and caring for your family are joyous and rewarding commands from God, and he will give you guidance to do both.

Source: 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray for blessings for ALL YOUR FAMILY... God leads us; wants us to love each other. Love your neighbor as yourself. ~ MME Team

Consolation Prize

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

The apostle Paul began his second letter to the church in Corinth just as he did his other letters, with a brief introduction that leads straight into thanksgiving. Paul's cause for thanks, however, sets this letter apart. You can be thankful for comfort only if you've know the pain of suffering. Paul certainly did, and so did his Corinthian audience. So does every individual who reads these words today.

Through levels of personal suffering differ, pain and heartache are universal. Yet amid that sobering truth, Paul gave reason for praise. God's comfort is at hand in every type of trouble. The original meaning of the old-fashioned-sounding word tribulation covers a lot of ground. It can mean "distress," "affliction," "persecution," or simply "great mercy." God's comfort fits any and every situation perfectly.

Through Paul, God provided even more good news: there is a positive, productive side to suffering. As God comforts you, you learn how to better comfort others. This is different from simply being sympathetic toward people and their problems. The Greek word for comfort implies action. It means "to come alongside and help." God actively comes alongside you with strength, encouragement, hope, and healing, and you gain the ability to do the same for others. When you are struggling with difficulty in your life, remember to reach out to God and then to others. God provides comfort to help you become a comforter like him.

When you're facing tough times, follow Paul's example. Praise God for the comfort he's already promised, and then ask him to help you use your own experiences to bring comfort to someone else.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God and praise him in your suffering. It is in the suffering that we strengthen our faith and find peace and hope in the mercy and grace of our Lord. ~ MME Team

Time to Change Your Mind

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 

Romans 12:2

Your mind is like the control center of your body. It helps direct your thoughts, your actions, and your emotions. Before God's Spirit made his home inside you, you ran that control center the way you thought was best. Chances are, the culture and practices of those around you helped shape your thoughts and consequently your actions. But once you invited God's Spirit into your life, there was a change in influence, leadership, and direction.

Choosing to renew your mind is the key to making that change complete. God guides and directs your mind, but he does not control it. God provides you with the power to transform your mind, to change the way you think so that your mind is more in line with his heart - to allow your mind to become all he originally designed it to be.

The Greek word for conform actually translates as "masquerade." Without God in you life, you live a charade and are not your authentic self. God's transformation of who you once pretended to be into who he created you to be is an ongoing process. Part of this process is testing what you believe by putting your faith into practice. Experiments help prove scientific truths. Living what you believe helps prove spiritual truths. As you practice what you have learned about changing the way you think, you will better understand who  you are and what God's desires is for your life.

You can help renew your mind by providing an environment that's favorable to the process. Carefully choose what you watch, take part in, and listen to, making sure that your choices line up with what pleases God.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray for spiritual strength from God to devalue all that is not from him and to honor all that is from him. Value of life comes from the love of the Father; from God's Spirit made home inside of you. ~ MME Team

Escape Route

The only temptation that has come to you is that which everyone has. But you can trust God, who will not permit you to be tempted more than you can stand. But when you are tempted, he will also give you a way to escape so that you will be able to stand it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

Many verses in the Bible ask you to do things that sound impossible. Love your enemies. Deal with your anger before the day ends. Give generously, even to strangers. Don't regard the opposite sex with lust in your heart. Forgive those who've hurt you. A common response may be, "Nice sentiment, but this is the real world. you don't know what I'm up against." It is true the world is filled with temptations, enticements to take a self-centered approach toward pleasure and personal gain. But appearances are deceiving. Any choice that leads you away from God leads you away from the life your heart truly longs for.

Trusting God is the antidote for making bad choices in life. You are not alone in your struggle. Everyone faces pressure, both internal and external, to make choices that dishonor God. Even Jesus was tempted in the same ways you are. Yet Jesus put into practice the truth promised here. God faithfully provided an escape route from temptation, and Jesus took it.

You have the same opportunity for victory. Be on the lookout for God's escape route when temptations come your way. Your escape may come through the power of prayer, accountability with others, or avoiding situations that lead you away from God instead of toward him. Whatever the escape route, God has promised that you will have the ability to make the right choice.

Memorizing this verse in 1 Corinthians is a great way to become more aware of the temptations you face and of the God-given options you have to avoid surrendering to them.

Source:  The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray for trials to come into your life. Not what you expected? Well it is said that the unexpected reveals our true persona. That is when we see God's work in us come to life. As Christians we can label ourselves "saved, born again, believers and followers of Jesus." But it is through our actions of love that we reveal who we serve and live for - GOD. ~ MME Team

Living Life to the Fullest

Jesus said, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life,and that they may have it more abundantly."

John 10:10

          Jesus often used parables and metaphors to help people get a better picture of the principles and truths he was talking about. He referred to himself as things like a vine, a lamb, or a bridegroom. He also described himself as the Good Shepherd. He wanted his followers to understand the difference between how a good shepherd cares and sacrifices for the benefit of his sheep, while thieves and hired hands use sheep only to benefit themselves. Jesus wanted them to know he was a leader who always had his followers' best interests at heart.

          Jesus proclaimed the end result of this tender care for his sheep, which makes the verse one of the most important verses in the Bible. It is Jesus's statement of purpose; it is his promise to those who follow him. That includes you. What Jesus promised is life. Not just ordinary, breathing-in-and-breathing-out, making-it-by-the-seat-of-your-pants life, but an authentic, eternal, hang-on-to-the-seats-because-another-miracle's-coming abundant life.

          The kind of abundance that Jesus promised is a measure of the quality of life, not the quantity of possessions. You can't measure this abundance in square footage or bottom lines. Jesus promised to provide a surplus of what makes life worth living - things like love, grace, guidance, forgiveness, and joy. These are Jesus's gifts to you, a life that is overflowing with riches of the heart that no one can ever take away.

          Keeping in mind Jesus's promise to you of an abundant life gives you reason for constant hope and thanks. It also fosters contentment by helping you find joy in the abundance of what matters most.

          Pray to praise a God who knows exactly what we need and when to provide it in abundance.

          Pray for wisdom from God to guide your purpose for living; to live for quality of life not quantity of possessions. Do not live as the people of this earth do; but live as people of God. For we are not home yet. ~ MME Team

          

Praying Like Jesus

You should pray like this: "Our Father in heaven, may your name always be kept holy. May your kingdom come and what you want be done, here on earth as it is in heaven. Give us the food we need for each day. Forgive us for our sins, just as we have forgiven those who sinned against us. And do not cause us to be tempted, but save us from the Evil One."

Matthew 6:9-13

          These verses are some of the most-often-repeated words in the Bible. Various Bible translations differ on a word here or there, but the heart of the Lord's Prayer remains the same. Right before Jesus shared how to pray, he emphasized how not to pray. One of the things he said not to do was repeat the same words over and over again without thinking about what is being said. That's exactly what many people do with the Lord's Prayer.

          Use the Lord's Prayer the way Jesus intended. Let it help you better understand, and put into practice, three vital elements of prayer: praise, petition, and confession. Jesus's prayer began with thanks for who God is, a Father deserving honor. Then Jesus requested help by sharing personal needs, both physical and spiritual. He asked for the basic provision of food, as well as for the protection and the strength necessary to do what God wanted. He also prayed for the needs of others, asking that their lives would align more with God's desires.

          Jesus had nothing to confess, but he knew those listening did, so he modeled how to ask for forgiveness. Confessing where you've failed keeps communication with God honest and open and helps you become more merciful to those who fail you. As Jesus demonstrated, prayer is simply inviting God to play an active role in your life.

          The Lord's Prayer is Jesus's most concrete lesson on prayer. Pray as Jesus did. Share your deepest concerns with God, and invite God to make your heart and your will more like his.

   

          Prayer is an act of love that demonstrates to our Lord, Creator, Heavenly Father that we are HIS PEOPLE. God made us and he wants a personal intimate relationship with his creation. Pray today to God; he is always ready to hear your prayers. ~ MME Team

Blade of Truth

God's word is alive and working and is sharper than a double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones. And it judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts.

Hebrews 4:12

The family has an invaluable role in passing on the faith in a joyful and bold manner. Children will learn that they are members of the Body of Christ and have a valuable role in the Church. Let us read the Bible as a family of God.

          The Bible is not your ordinary book. Like a surgeon's scalpel, it has the power to slice through lies to expose raw truth. It can prick a guilty conscience, heal a broken heart, or open eyes that have long been blind to God's existence. The verse in Hebrews is like the Bible's warning label. It lets you know that what you're holding in your hands should be handled carefully - and that it will leave a reader or listener a changed person.

          That's because the Bible is much more than merely print on paper. The Bible is alive with the power of God's Spirit. Like Jesus, its genesis is both fully human and fully divine. Through ordinary people wrote it, God worked through those writers in an extraordinary way. Throughout the Bible's sixty-six books of history, prophecy, and guidelines for living written over a period of six hundred years by more than thirty authors using three languages, there is a consistency of purpose about God and his plan that mere coincidence could never achieve.

          The Bible is not a reference book to teach you about God. The Bible is an invitation to connect with God in a personal way - and to learn more about yourself in the process. The more time you spend reading the Bible and meditating on how God wants you to apply what you've read, the more you'll learn to recognize the whisper of God's Spirit in your life and to see his hand at work in the world around you.

          Get to know God better by becoming better acquainted with the Bible. Reading one psalm and a chapter from one of the Gospels each morning is a great way to begin.

          Pray for heavenly vision, to transform your view of the Bible from mere words to the THE WORD. "The Word is God's most intimate, and informative, communication with those whom he created." ~ MME Team