LE SAVONS-NOUS?

By Jean-Louis

Savons-nous que le Seigneur Dieu est un feu qui consume?
Que sa parole est semblable à un marteau et à une flamme?
Alors, quand il nous forge à travers le feu de l’affliction.
Ne résistons point à l’oeuvre purificatrice du Saint-Esprit.
Son seul désir est de retirer les idoles de nos vies
Et de régner, souverain incontesté dans nos coeurs.


Savons-nous qu’il envoya le prophète Ezekiel
Pour rendre le souffle de vie aux os secs et morts,
Alors, lui serait-il impossible de rassembler
Ceux que par sa volonté il a dispersés?


Savons-nous qu’il se révèle individuellement
Mais qu’il s’adresse aussi à son corps rassemblé?
N’est-ce pas Lui qui nous a invité à venir
Pour l’adorer en vérité et par l’Esprit
Et pour le servir avec joie?


Savons-nous qu’il voit notre peine
Et entend nos gémissements
Et qu’il vit dans les louanges de son peuple
Quand nous nous rassemblons en son nom
Et que nous lui permettons de nous purifier?
Quand nous élevons nos voix en louanges
Et adoration à sa majesté
N’enverra-t-il pas sa parole vivifiante
Pour nous rafraîchir, pour bander nos plaies
Et pour restaurer en nous la joie de son salut?


Savons-nous qu’il est venu pour libérer les captifs
Et que là ou se trouve l’Esprit la liberté est présente?
Ne brisera-t-il pas les entraves qui nous empêchent
De connaître pleinement les bienfaits de sa présence?


Savons-nous que sa grâce et miséricorde abondent?
Alors, croyons qu’il peut raviver dans nos coeurs
Notre premier amour pour Lui
Et guider nos pas sur le droit chemin.


Savons-nous qu’il nous invite à venir à Lui
Que l’heure du salut se trouve dans l’éternel présent?
Alors recevons-Le avec foi, confiance et obéissance
Et rentrons dans le cours d’eau coulant de son trône
Non seulement jusqu’à la cheville, ni jusqu’au genou,
Mais de tout coeur, plongeons dans la rivière de l’Esprit
Afin de devenir sains et entiers.


Savons-nous que seuls ceux qui se désaltèrent
à la fontaine d’eau vivifiante
Peuvent partager leur témoignage de la vie
que donne Jésus avec leur prochain?


Alors souvenons-nous de la samaritaine au puits de Sichar.
Avons-nous soif? Venons et buvons librement
L’eau de vie, don gratuit
Et Jésus satisfera notre soif jusqu’à en déborder.


Le 22 Décembre 2009.

Preparing the Way for Jesus' Second Coming

Written and published by Jean-Louis Mondon

Pass through, pass through the gates!
Prepare the way for the people.
Build up, Build up the highway!
Remove the stones.
Raise a banner for the nations.
The Lord has made proclamation
To the ends of the earth:
“Say to the Daughter of Zion,
See, your Savior comes!
See, His reward is with Him,
And His recompense accompanies Him".
Isaiah 62:10,11.

John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way of the Lord, the 1st advent, in the power of Elijah.

Now we Christians have to do our part to prepare the way of the Lord for His glorious appearing, the second advent. Matthew 3:3 declares: “It’s the voice of a man crying in the desert, prepare the way of the Lord, make straight paths for Him”. Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1. John the Baptist is the one who would prepare the way according to his father Zacharia´s prophecy in Luke 1:76-79 (NASB):

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways; To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Interestingly enough Elijah performed many miracles, but John performed none.

Ways to follow in John´s footsteps and prepare the way for the Lord’s second comingAs John was preaching repentance and heralding the first coming of Christ in the flesh, so the main work of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus-Christ through words and deeds in preparation for His second Coming as King and Judge of all the earth.

Jesus said: “Among those born of women there is none greater than John, yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he". 

 

How is it possible? 

 

Here the Lord is making a direct connection with the attitude of John (He must increase, I must decrease) and the attitude that should be the distinct characteristic of the servant of God found in Philippians 2:5. 

 

In the eyes of the Savior, humility and faithfulness in announcing the Gospel of Salvation and knowing and obeying the Lord is more important than being perceived as a great spiritual leader by performing miracles, signs and wonders.

 

In chapter 13 of John, Jesus shows His disciples how to serve one another.
With the right attitude of a servant:

• Kneeling is a posture of humility, and readiness for service.
• Taking his clothes off  shows vulnerability (figuratively).
• Acceptance of others, whoever they may be (not acceptance of or participation in their sins or their sinful life style) 
Ex: Judas who was not a true believer was not sent away until before Jesus started the teaching on the Holy Spirit which can be shared only with true believers. He not only allowed Judas to partake of the last supper, but He also washed His feet.
• Focus on the work at hand: Jesus who knew that Judas was about to betray Him didn’t rebuke him and send him away. He was focused and refused to be distracted by His knowledge of the heart of man and the terrible next few days leading up to His death.

A little further down, Jesus tells His disciples: “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” and elsewhere “it is more blessed to give than to receive”. It is wonderful to receive instructions from our Lord and to get the understanding from the Holy Spirit, but the blessing comes from applying the teaching of life and truth which results in bearing fruit.

Jesus’ teaching is not only about the spiritual side of life but also about practical preparation. The work of God is done on both levels. Luke 12: 42, 43 tells us that the faithful servant feeds the other workers their portion of food, at the right time. But before that, the table must be set, the floor cleaned, the chairs properly arranged. Is it not the duty of the deacons or the persons in charge in the church to make sure that everything is ready in order for the service to begin and for the pastor to feed the flock with the Word of God?

Old Testament examples of preparing the way for others
When Israel was in the desert, the Angel of the Lord went before the people preparing the way for them. The 12 spies were sent to the land before the Israelites were to go in. The 2 spies went to Jericho before the army marched around and defeated its inhabitants. David prepared the way for Solomon to build the temple by giving to him the instructions and the plans that the Lord had revealed to him.
The prophets prepared the way by proclaiming the word of the Lord before a battle or when instructing the people of Israel.

Examples found in the New Testament as well 
Jesus sent Peter and John to prepare the way for the Lord to have the Passover supper with His disciples. In Acts 19:9 the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him not to fear the Corinthians because He had many people in this city. He was preparing the way for Paul to preach, teach and plant churches. And even now the Lord Himself is preparing the way for us to meet Him one day soon and be with Him eternally. He is preparing us a new tabernacle to dwell in, a new glorified body fit for heaven.

Jesus said: “Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father’s kingdom there are many dwelling places, I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you with me that you also may be where I am”. What marvelous words of comfort from the very lips of our Lord and Savior!

The Holy Spirit was sent to us to reveal to us the Lord Jesus, His person, His works in us and through us. 

The people of Israel were to follow the presence of the Lord in the ark of the covenant. Now under the new covenant of the blood of Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwells in the believer guiding him, instructing him what to do, where to go, what to say and how to say it just as the Father did with His son Jesus while He was on this earth. 

We will know where to go and what to do because our Lord Jesus delights in revealing His will to His faithful servants who want to do His will and please Him in everything. Joshua 3:4-5 (NIV)
Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.” Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”

The Lord has given His body various positions of leadership and various spiritual gifts to help us grow and do the works of service, but it is the responsibility of all the members to be diligent and not only serve others, but prepare the way so each of us might serve more effectively.

Ways in which we can prepare the way to help other people 

For example, a husband not only helps his wife by praying for her and with her, but also anticipates her needs, physical and emotional. He can relieve the burden of a hard day, by helping her with the household chores or taking care of the children. This is not only washing her feet and washing with the water of the word, but preparing the path on which she will walk more safely, surely and securely.

Let's remember that we are sheep and we follow, but also shepherds who go in front of whoever the Lord has given us to watch over and to prepare the way for them to follow the great and good Shepherd more closely. We can also warn the people of the many stumbling blocks and traps from the enemy, remove the stones, so to speak and make their paths smoother.

A neighbor can do the same by praying for a neighbor’s salvation and provides some help and fellowship in order to show them the love of Christ and witness to them and invite them to church.

All this can be done to prepare the way for the Lord coming. This is a way to help all parts of the body of Christ, our brothers and sisters to grow into the fullness that the Lord intended for us.

Someone helped us and prepared the way by showing us kindness and talking to us about the Lord Jesus and how to be saved. May each of us do the same and in this way fulfill the commands of our Lord to reproduce and produce good fruits for His kingdom and His glory.

In closing, here is a quote from the New Testament looking forward to the time in which the Lord will bring down the New Jerusalem from Heaven:

In Revelation, we find the same words of promise spoken in Isaiah by the Savior Himself:
“Behold, I am coming soon!
My reward is with me
And I will give to everyone
According to what he has done…
Blessed are those who wash their robes
That they may have the right to the tree of life
And go through the gates into the city”. Revelation 22:12,14.
Amen, Come Lord Jesus.  

                                          

                                            _________________________

Written and published by Jean-Louis Mondon November 2009. Revised February 2026.

 

COPYRIGHT NOTICE:  © [2026] [Jean-Louis Mondon] All Rights Reserved.

Parabens ao Café com Poesia

Parabens ao Café com Poesia por estar entre os melhores blogs do Brasil

Felicitations à ma petite soeur!

tit-bout

Prayer of Gratitude

ENGLISH - FRANCAIS

Isaiah 55. Revelation 22; John 7.

Invitation to the Hungry and Thirsty 
The universal offer and call.

1 "Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
3 Give ear and come to me;
hear me, that your soul may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David”.Isaiah 55:1-3.

 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Isa 55:1; John 7:37

  37  In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. Lev 23:36; Isa 55:1; John 6:35; Rev 22:17; 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. Isa 12:3; 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) Isa 44:3; Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17; 40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. Matt 21:46; Luke 7:16; John 6:14; 41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? John 4:42; John 1:46; 42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? Ps 132:11; Mic 5:2; Matt 2:6; 43 So there was a division among the people because of him. 44 And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him. John 7:37-44.

Heavenly Father God,holy, merciful and just.

Thank you that we do not have to wait for a special day, Sabbath or Sunday to rest because our souls can find rest in you alone any time, anywhere.

Thank you that through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus, we do not have to seek anywhere else or strive for rest in anything or anybody but you.

Thank you Lord Jesus that you have finished the work that the Father gave you so that we may experience the rest, peace and abundant life when we trust you and abide in you.
Thank you that we can have food and drink without money, that your sacrifice on the cross has given us access to the Father who gives us abundant spiritual riches that satisfy.

Thank you Holy Spirit that you gave us who believe the living water that overflows from our innermost part. Thank for guiding us into truth, for opening our understanding in to your Word, for filling our heart with love, peace, joy, for your comfort, for strengthening us with grace when we are weak, for protecting us from harm, for giving us discernment against the traps of the enemy, for revealing and glorifying our Lord Jesus, for renewing our minds with the Word and giving us hope and patient endurance while we wait for our Savior and Lord Jesus.

Lord Jesus, let us say like you: “My food is to do the will of my Father”.

Open our ears that we may listen carefully and hear clearly your voice, come to you and eat what is good and live by every word that comes out of your mouth.
In the precious name of our Lord Jesus. Amen.



FRANÇAIS

Prière de gratitude
Ésaïe 55; Apocalypse 22:17; Jean 3:17

L'offre et l'appel universels

1 «Vous tous qui avez soif,
venez, voici de l'eau!
Et même vous qui n'avez pas d'argent,
venez, achetez et mangez!
Venez acheter sans argent, oui, sans paiement,
du vin, du lait!

2 Pourquoi dépensez-vous votre argent pour payer
ce qui ne nourrit pas?
Pourquoi travaillez-vous
pour une nourriture qui ne rassasie pas?
Ecoutez, oui, écoutez-moi,
alors vous mangerez ce qui est bon,
vous vous délecterez d'aliments savoureux.

3 Tendez l'oreille, venez à moi,
écoutez-moi et vous vivrez.
Car je conclurai avec vous une alliance éternelle,
celle que dans ma bienveillance et ma fidélité j'ai promise à David.


 37 ​Le dernier jour, le grand jour de la fête, Jésus, se tenant debout, s'écria: Si quelqu'un a soif, qu'il vienne à moi, et qu'il boive. Lev 23:36; Isa 55:1; John 6:35; Rev 22:17; 38 Celui qui croit en moi, des fleuves d'eau vive couleront de son sein, comme dit l'Ecriture. Isa 12:3; 39 ​Il dit cela de l'Esprit que devaient recevoir ceux qui croiraient en lui; car l'Esprit n'était pas encore, parce que Jésus n'avait pas encore été glorifié. Isa 44:3; Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17; 40 Des gens de la foule, ayant entendu ces paroles, disaient: Celui-ci est vraiment le prophète. Matt 21:46; Luke 7:16; John 6:14; 41 D'autres disaient: C'est le Christ. Et d'autres disaient: Est-ce bien de la Galilée que doit venir le Christ? John 4:42; John 1:46; 42 L'Ecriture ne dit-elle pas que c'est de la postérité de David, et du village de Bethléhem, où était David, que le Christ doit venir? Ps 132:11; Mic 5:2; Matt 2:6; 43 Il y eut donc, à cause de lui, division parmi la foule. 44 ​Quelques-uns d'entre eux voulaient le saisir, mais personne ne mit la main sur lui.

 Père Céleste  saint, miséricordieux et juste,

Je te suis reconnaissant que nous n’ayons pas à attendre de jour spécial pour trouver le repos, car nos âmes peuvent le trouver en toi seul n’importe où, n’importe quand.

Merci Seigneur Jésus d’avoir accompli l’oeuvre de notre rédemption que le Père t’a demandé pour que nous puissions connaître le repos, la paix et la vie abondante quand nous nous confions à toi et quand nous demeurons en toi.

Je te remercie pour le sang précieux de Jésus qui nous libère de la contrainte et de l’effort de chercher ailleurs le repos que toi seul nous procures.

Je te remercie pour la nourriture qui rassasie et l’eau vivifiante gratuits et pour le sacrifice de ta vie sur la croix qui nous a permis d’accéder au Père qui nous accorde d’abondantes richesses spirituelles qui satisfont.

Disons comme toi: “ Ma nourrriture est de faire la volonté de Mon Père.”

Débouche-nous les oreilles afin que nous puissions t’écouter plus attentivement, pour venir à toi, manger ce qui est bon et vivre de toute parole sortant de ta bouche.
Au nom précieux du Seigneur Jésus. Amen.

Reflection for 2009

Love and Shout - Clarice Lispector One day, a teacher asked his students: -- Why do people yell at each other when they are annoyed? Everybody thought for a while -- Because we loose our cool, said one, this is why. -- But, why yell when the other person is next to you? Isn’t possible to talk in a soft voice? Why do we shout when you are angry? Each of the students gave the teacher an unsatisfactory response. Finally, the teacher explained: -- When two people are mad at each other, their hearts become very distant. In order to cover the distance between them, they feel they have to shout to be heard. The angrier they become, the louder they have to shout to hear each other to get through the great distance. -- Now, what happens when people are in love with each other? They don’t shout, but rather speak softly. Why? Because their hearts are very close. The distance separating them is very small. -- When their love increases, what happens? They don’t speak anymore, they whisper and their love brings them even closer. Finally, they don’t even need to talk, they look at each other and that’s all. And so it is the way two people behave when they love each other. When you argue, don’t let your heart drift away, don’t let words keep you distant because one day will come when the distance between you will be so great that you will not be able to find your way back. O Amor e o Grito - Clarice Lispector . Um dia um mestre perguntou aos seus discípulos: - Por que as pessoas gritam quando estão aborrecidas? Os homens pensaram por alguns momentos. - Porque perdemos a calma - disse um deles. - Por isso gritamos. - Mas, por que gritar quando a outra pessoa está ao teu lado? Não é possível falar-lhe em voz baixa? Por que gritas a uma pessoa quando estás aborrecido? Os homens deram algumas respostas, mas nenhuma delas satisfez o mestre. Finalmente ele explicou: - Quando duas pessoas estão aborrecidas, seus corações se afastam muito. Para cobrir esta distância precisam gritar para poder escutar-se. Quanto mais aborrecidas estejam, mais forte terão que gritar para se escutar um ao outro através desta grande distância. Em seguida perguntou: - O que sucede quando duas pessoas se enamoram? Elas não gritam, mas se falam suavemente. Por quê? Porque seus corações estão muito perto. A distância entre elas é pequena. Quando se enamoram, acontece mais alguma coisa? Notem que quase não falam, somente sussurram, e ficam cada vez mais perto do seu amor. Finalmente, não necessitam sequer sussurrar, somente se olham e isto é tudo. Assim é quando duas pessoas que se amam estão próximas. Portanto, quando discutirem, não deixem que seus corações se afastem, não digam palavras que os distanciem mais. Chegará um dia em que a distância será tanta que não mais encontrarão o caminho de volta.

Spunky the Miracle Dog

Photo from Google. Borrowed for resemblance with Spunky

This true story is dedicated to my daughter Giselle.
Posted by Jean-Louis @  http://thelightseed.blogspot.com
 
This is the amazing story of a little dog named Spunky who belonged to a friend of ours.

 
At that time, my 2 children and I had moved to Hendersonville and had gotten acquainted with Spunky. Giselle, my daughter, was particularly fond of Spunky. One day the little dog disappeared and in spite of all that we did to find her whereabouts, our search was unsuccessful.

About 9 months after her disappearance, my 2 children and I were invited for dinner at our friend’s house. Around the dinner table, ready to start, I suggested that each one say a little prayer of thanks for God’s blessings. Then came my daughter Giselle’s turn. She was only 8 years old at the time. She just whispered this simple unexpected prayer from her heart: “Heavenly Father, I really miss Spunky; could you please bring her back? Thank you for your love, amen!”

For a few seconds, my adult mind was musing silently: “Oh what a cute little prayer while at the same time doubting that the Lord was going to do anything. In my mind, her request was apparently for no less than a resurrection since Spunky has been missing for 9 months. As far as I knew, the little dog was dead. After all, my adult and skeptical reaction was natural.

Next morning, at 7:30 AM, I put the children on the school bus and left for work. As I was turning from the gravel driveway onto the main road, guess who I see in the middle of the road about 200 yards away? Spunky, together with 2 or 3 other wild dogs that were crossing the road!

Ouch! The Holy Spirit smote my heart in a strong, inescapable, convicting manner. His still small voice whispered a few words of rebuke: “You have been walking with me for so many years and you know my word so well. But your daughter, an 8 year old child asked me a blessing in faith and love and here is the answer right in front of your eyes. Jean-Louis, you are lacking in faith, a childlike faith like that of your daughter.”

Woe is me… once more I was in the dog house… being spanked by the Lord!

 
Right then and there, I had to confess my lack of faith and ask forgiveness for my cynical attitude and asked Him to grant me the faith of a child.

This couldn’t have just happened by coincidence. After all our human efforts, we couldn’t find Spunky, but God is attentive to respond to the call of a small child, even to the arranging of what seemed an impossible circumstance. He knew exactly where Spunky was and guided her steps in my path precisely at the moment I was leaving for work. A few seconds before or after and I would have missed her because the pack of dogs were running across the road. Can you imagine?

Spunky looked skinny and mangy. Her fur was missing large clumps of hair and was full of fleas. She acted as if she didn’t recognize me. Still under the effect of the amazing surprise, I took her back to our friend’s house. After several weeks of treatment and care, she regained her good health, a normal weight and her happy, spunky disposition.

 
You can imagine the joy we felt and the gratitude towards our Good Shepherd who cares not only about His lost sheep but also about their lost dog!

Quero Conhecer a Jesus

O Plano Simples De Deus Para A Salvação



Meu amigo! Faço-te a mais importante pergunta desta vida. Tua alegria ou tristeza por toda a ETERNIDADE depende dela. Eis a pergunta: Estás SALVO? Quer dizer ... ESTÁS CERTO de que irás para o Céu quando morreres? Não te pergunto se és membro de alguma igreja, mas ESTÁS SALVO? Não te pergunto se és pessoa de bem mas ESTÁS SALVO? Ninguém pode gozar das bênçãos de Deus ou ir para o Céu, sem estar salvo. Jesus disse a Nicodemos, em João 3:7 - "Necessário vos é nascer de novo." Deus nos deu na Sua Palavra um ÚNICO plano de Salvação. Esse plano é simples. Podes ser salvo HOJE.
Primeiro, meu amigo, tens de reconhecer que és PECADOR.
Romanos 3:10 - "Não há um justo, nem um sequer."
Romanos 3:22, 23 - "Porque não há diferença: TODOS pecaram e destituidos estão da glória de Deus."


Não há OPORTUNIDADE de seres salvo, se não reconheceres que ÉS PECADOR.
Porque és pecador, estás CONDENADO À MORTE!
Romanos 6:23 - "Porque o salário do pecado é a morte."
Tiago 1:15 - "E o pecado, gera a morte."


Isto significa separação de Deus, no Inferno para sempre. Sim, é terrível, meu amigo, mas é verdade. Mas Deus te amou tanto que Deu seu unigênito filho, Jesus Cristo, como teu substituto, para levar teus pecados e morrer em teu lugar.


2 Coríntios 5:21 - "AQUELE que não conheceu pecado (Jesus) 0 fez pecado por NOS para que nELE fôssemos feitos justiça de Deus."
1 Pedro 2:24 - "Levando Ele mesmo em SEU corpo os NOSSOS pecados sobre o madeiro, para que, mortos para os pecados, pudéssemos viver para a justiça; e pelas Suas feridas FOSTES SARADOS."
Jesus teve que morrer. Ele teve que derramar o Seu sangue. "Porque a alma da carne está no sangue (Levíticos 17:1 1). "Sem derramamento de sangue não ha remissão" (Hebreus 9:22).


Não podemos, agora, compreender como os nossos pecados foram colocados sobre Cristo, mas Deus, em SUA PALAVRA, diz que foi assim. Assim os TEUS PECADOS, meu amigo, foram carregados POR JESUS, e ELE MORREU EM TEU LUGAR. Isto é verdade. Deus não pode mentir!
0 carcereiro de Filipos perguntou a Paulo e Silas: "Que é necessário que EU FAÇA para me SALVAR?"
Atos 16:31 - "E eles disseram: CRÊ no Senhor Jesus Cristo, e SERÁS SALVO, tu e a tua casa."


Basta crer nELE como 0 que carregou teu pecado, e morreu no teu lugar, foi sepultado e ressuscitou para tua justificação. Clama, agora, por Ele!
Romanos 10:13 - "Porque TODO AQUELE que invocar o nome do Senhor será salvo."


A primeira oração que um PECADOR deve fazer, é a seguinte: "Ó Deus, tem misericórdia DE MIM, pecador" (Lucas 18:13). Agora és um pecador e sentes tristeza por isso. Então, AONDE ESTIVERES, podes elevar o teu coração a Deus em oração. Não é necessário fazer uma longa oração em voz alta, porque Deus está ANSIOSO para te salvar. Basta dizeres: "Ó Deus, sou um pecador arrependido. Tem misericórdia de mim e salva-me pelo amor de Jesus." Aceita-0, então, de acôrdo com a Sua Palavra.
Romanos 10:13 - "Porque TODO AQUELE (isto te inclui) que invocar o nome do Senhor SERÁ SALVO (será salvo, e não talvez seja salvo). SERÁ SALVO!
Crê em Deus e na Sua PALAVRA. Quando tiveres feito o que Ele te pediu, aceita a SALVAÇÃO PELA FÉ, conforme a SUA PALAVRA. CRÊ E SERÁS SALVO. Nenhuma igreja, nenhuma sociedade nem as boas obras ninguém - mas Só e unicamente JESUS CRISTO PODE TE SALVAR.


0 plano simples da salvação é: ÉS PECADOR; porque és pecador, DEVARÁS MORRER ou crer em Cristo que foi TEU SUBSTITUTO e morreu em TEU LUGAR, foi sepultado e ressuscitou. Clama por Ele, reconhecendo que és um pecador e pede-LHE que tenha misericórdia de ti e te salve, pelo AMOR DE JESUS. Crê, então, na Sua Palavra e, PELA FÉ,ACEITA A SALVAÇÃO. Dirás talvez:" Certamente isto não basta para ser salvo."
Sim - nada mais e absolutamente nada. Graças a Deus, muitos têm sido ganhos para Cristo por esse simples plano. Está nas ESCRITURAS. É 0 PLANO DE DEUS. Crê nÊLE meu amigo, e SEGUE-0. Agora é o tempo. HOJE é o dia.
2 Coríntios 6:2 - "Eis aqui AGORA o tempo aceitável, eis aqui AGORA o dia da salvação."
Provérbios 27:1 - "Não presumas do dia de amanhã, porque não sabes o que produzirá o dia."


Se não achares perfeitamente claro, lê novamente até poderes compreender. Procura um Cristão verdadeiro em qual podes confiar e pede-lhe que te tires as dúvidas. Não abandones a leitura ou sua busca de Deus, até que possas entendê-lo totalmente. Tua alma tem mais valor do que tudo no mundo.
Marcos 8:36, 37 - "Pois que aproveitaria ao homem ganhar todo o mundo e perder a sua alma? Ou que daria o homem pelo resgate da sua alma?"
Assegura a tua salvação. Coloca a tua salvação acima de todas as coisas. Se perderes a tua alma, não entrarás no céu e perderás tudo. Deus te ajudará afim de que sejas salvo hoje.


Deus te salvará e, também, TE GUARDARÁ.
1 Coríntios 10: 13 - "Não veio sobre vós tentação, senão humana; mas fiel é Deus, que vos não deixará tentar acima do que podeis, antes com a tentação dará também o escape, para que a possais suportar."
Não contia nos teus sentimentos. Estes mudam. Firma-te nas promessas de Deus. Estas nunca mudam.


DEPOIS DE SALVO, há três coisas que deves realizar, para o teu crescimento espiritual:
ORA - e falarás com Deus. LÊ A BIBLIA - e Deus falará contigo. TESTIFICA - e falarás por Deus. Em seguida deves ser batizado e afiliado a uma congregação o grupo de crentes, adoradores que creia verdadeiramente na Bíblia.
Mateus 10:32 - "Portanto qualquer que me confessar diante dos homens, eu o confessarei diante de meu Pai, que está nos céus."

Blogs que me Inspiraram em 2008

Voce não pode ver mas dentro da concha existem pérolas que brilham intensamente! Só vemos bem com o coraçao! Meu blog presenteia blogs que brilharam em 2008: Café com Poesia Esterança Street Kids Caroline L'Atelier

Paris interactive flight - Sobrevoe Paris - Vol sur Paris

To treat yourself to an incredible view of Paris from the night sky, click on the link below.
Then, click on the photo to zoom and move the mouse around to travel...click on the hotel and the building windows to see what our French friends are up to. Click here

Para um inacreditavel passeio sobre Paris clique abaixo. Em seguida clique na foto para aumentar, deslize o mouse para viajar... clique nas janelas do hotel e dos predios, para ver cenas do quotidiano. Clique aqui!


Pour découvrir Paris d'en haut, cliquer en bas.... Une fois ouvert, cliquer sur la photo pour l'augmenter, et faire glisser la souris pour voyager...cliquer sur les fenêtres d'hôtel et des immeubles pour des scènes quotidiennes. Cliquer ici

PARA VER NEW YORK CLIQUE AQUI
TO SEE NEW YORK CLICK HERE
POUR VOIR NEW YORK CLIQUER ICI

Congratulations Jean-Louis!

Sois prompt à écouter

"Que tout homme soit prompt à écouter, lent à parler et lent à se mettre en colère" Jacques 1.19

On a dit un jour d'un célèbre linguiste qu'il "pouvait se taire en sept langues différentes". L'Ecclésiaste nous enseigne : "qu'il y a un temps pour se taire et un temps pour parler" (Ecclésiaste 3.7).

Malheureusement, nous mélangeons ces deux temps. Chacun d'entre nous doit apprendre à se taire afin d'écouter l'autre. J'ai remarqué ceci : bien souvent nous nous parlons sans nous écouter. Nous écoutons non pour comprendre ce que l'autre dit mais uniquement pour lui répondre.

En d'autres termes, lorsque l'autre parle, au lieu de l'écouter pour analyser son point de vue, nous l'écoutons tout en cherchant dans notre tête une contre argumentation ; ce qui débouche inexorablement sur une discussion sans fin. C'est pourquoi tant de personnes peuvent parler pendant des heures sans finalement jamais se comprendre, alors que d'autres parviennent à régler un conflit entre elles en seulement dix minutes. Pourquoi ces dernières arrivent-elles à résoudre leur problème ? Parce qu'elles ont su se taire pour écouter et comprendre l'autre.

Avez-vous déjà remarqué que deux personnes qui se disputent généralement le font en criant ? Pourtant elles ne sont qu'à quelques centimètres l'une de l'autre ! Est-il bien nécessaire de crier ? Bien sûr, si une personne est de l'autre côté de la route ou bien à une grande distance, il lui faut hausser la voix pour se faire entendre. Mais pourquoi deux personnes crient-elles lorsqu'elles sont à quelques pas l'une de l'autre ? La raison en est simple : malgré la proximité physique, les deux individus sont loin l'un de l'autre, ils ne s'entendent plus, et ils pensent qu'en criant ils seront mieux compris.

Il ne faut pas qu'il en soit ainsi. Comme la Bible l'enseigne, soyez prompt à écouter et vous verrez que dans la plupart des cas, les cris cesseront. Car celui qui n'est pas prompt à écouter, en règle générale parle vite et plus il parle vite, plus il parlera fort et plus il parlera fort, plus il se mettra en colère. Alors : "Que tout homme soit prompt à écouter, lent à parler et lent à se mettre en colère" (Jacques 1.19).

Une action pour aujourd'hui.

Dès à présent, décidez de développer un "programme de silence constructif" en écoutant pour essayer de comprendre ce que l'autre dit sans chercher à argumenter votre cause.
Patrice Martorano

Occasional Letter Number One

Some Lessons From The Underground History Of American Education

11/03/2006
By John Taylor Gatto Spinninglobe

Editor’s note: John Taylor Gatto was the New York State Teacher of the Year in 1991 and has been named New York City Teacher of the Year three times.

Between 1896 and 1920, a small group of industrialists and financiers, together with their private charitable foundations, subsidized university chairs, university researchers, and school administrators, spending more money on forced schooling than did the government itself. Carnegie and Rockefeller, as late as 1915, were themselves spending more. In this laissez-faire fashion a system of modern schooling was constructed without public participation. The motives for this are undoubtedly mixed, but it will be useful for you to hear an excerpt from the first mission statement of Rockefeller’s General Education Board as it occurred in a document called Occasional Letter Number One (1906):

"In our dreams, people yield themselves with perfect docility to our molding hands. The present educational conventions [intellectual and character education] fade from our minds, and unhampered by tradition we work our own good will upon a grateful and responsive folk. We shall not try to make these people or any of their children into philosophers or men of learning or men of science. We have not to raise up from among them authors, educators, poets or men of letters. We shall not search for embryo great artists, painters, musicians, nor lawyers, doctors, preachers, politicians, statesmen, of whom we have ample supply. The task we set before ourselves is very simple … we will organize children … and teach them to do in a perfect way the things their fathers and mothers are doing in an imperfect way".

For more interesting and enlightening reading on the subject, consult:

http://abundance.org.uk/some-lessons-from-the-underground-history-of-american-education

Love always hopes.

Written and  posted by Jean-Louis at http://thelightseed.blogspot.com
This is a post I wrote a few years ago 

        










Almonds trees in blooms
 
As people celebrate Christmas with all its symbols regardless of what they think the exact time and year of God's divine condescension among us  are, this is what this season represents to me as a spiritual reality.

As I was reflecting upon the incarnation of our Savior Christ Jesus as the supreme gift of our Heavenly Father to mankind, I could not help but think of the limited perspective that we sometimes have of the infinite measure of all of God’s attributes and works in the vast universe He created but also in each of our lives.

The first thing I consider when I ponder the miracle of the supernatural birth of Jesus-Christ is that God chose to manifest His presence in the flesh as a seed of the Holy Spirit in the chosen womb of Mary.

Imagine a little! The creator and sustainer of the endless universe becoming a frail human being Himself subject to the natural law of human birth and physical existence.
What is amazing is that as we follow the course of His birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension and His coming back to take His own faithful ones to reign with Him, the same characteristic stages apply to us who have experienced the second spiritual birth and have passed from death to life, from the kingdom of darkness into His marvelous light.

 As the mature tree is essentially contained in the seed just waiting to develop through the different stages of growth, so was the life of the Lord Jesus and so is every one of our lives.
 

An illustration from the sharing of presents on Christmas day comes to my mind. Imagine one of the present being a huge box with someone’s name on it. The person feverishly tears off the paper hoping to discover a big present that will provide a level of satisfaction commensurate to his perceived size. But as the box reveals another smaller box hidden under the packing peanuts, he suspects someone is playing a joke on him as he realizes from the sheer weight of the box.

As he keeps on opening another box, then another one, he finally opens the last tiny box and no matter what the value of the present, it leaves him or her with a sense of unfulfilled expectation and diminished satisfaction. Here in brief is how the acquiring and enjoying of material things which are supposed to fulfill our lives from the cradle to the grave end up being a great disappointment and a snare in the end. Not so with the present from our God, the free gift of salvation available to anyone willing to accept it. 

Conversely, imagine that you received the gift of God, salvation by grace in a small box. After receiving and opening the gift, once your life is changed by that spiritual tiny seed, you realize that as you grow, the gift keeps on growing as you learn and mature into eternal everlasting life, the box of our life, so to speak, getting bigger and bigger.


Now considering another angle to giving and sharing presents.
Jesus talking about greed said that life doesn’t consist in the abundance of things. Luke 12:15.And He told the people to not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21.


Jesus is not only talking about treasures, but incorruptible treasures! What is He talking about? He is talking about treasures that have their beginning as an intangible seed beginning here on the earth and continuing in Heaven and/or enjoying all the stages of the growth of the seed in two dimensions simultaneously, in the physical body while at the same time in the invisible realm of the spirit.

He means treasures like the Christian virtues, generosity of spirit, goodness, mercy, humility, faith, wisdom, spiritual knowledge, love, patience, fruits of the Spirit, all intangible, but whose effects are felt when translated into good works and service to our brothers, sisters and fellow man. And of course, included are all the material gifts that he has blessed us with in superabundance to share with those less fortunate than us and to provide the means to advance the Kingdom of God, through preaching of the Gospel through gifts to missions throughout the world. Everything that will become the stones building the foundation of our sphere of influence in the coming Kingdom.


In I Timothy 6: 18, Paul tells Timothy to "Command those who are rich in this present world... to put their hope in God who richly provide us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way, they will lay up for themselves a firm foundation for the coming age so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life". It is obvious that one can build a house or a building only as tall and as large as the dimensions of the foundation supporting it, otherwise the building collapses.


In the Bible we can find several mentions of this manifestation of life as encapsulated in the title of Our Lord who is the Alpha, the beginning and Omega, the end and of course everything in between.

We can find the image of the seed in I Peter 1:23. “For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is through the living and abiding Word of God.” Isaiah 9:6-7 promise of the coming Messiah follows this development: "for a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us, and the government will rest upon His shoulders … there will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace."


Salvation, knowledge and wisdom are part of the incorruptible treasures that Christ talks about in Matthew. Talking about Christ, Isaiah 33:6 declares: “He will be a sure foundation for our times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge: The fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.”
 
This salvation which starts as a spiritual seed planted by the Holy Spirit Himself in the hearts of men who have received Him on His terms is ever expanding and revealing the loving heart of our Heavenly Father at this time of the year and all year long. "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us". Romans 5:5

Paul prays for the Ephesians in Ephesians 3:14-17 that: "He would grant you according to the riches of His glory to be strengthened with power through His spirit in the inner man so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith and that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God." This is also my prayer for all of us today and for the coming year.

Contrary to the philosophy of this passing and dying world, the present of eternal life in Christ Jesus started as a tiny seed, first the human seed inherited form our natural father and then the Holy Spirit seed  that contained all that is necessary to fulfill the purpose for which our Father and Creator put us on this earth. See I Corinthians 15. 

⁴⁵ So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶ The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. (NIV)



So this Christmas season until the beginning of 2014 and beyond, I invite you to remember with grateful and humble hearts, that the tiniest and most humble manifestation of life, a human seed, a tiny baby in his or her mother's womb is infinitely precious and worthy of protection and nurturing because it was made in God’s image. Psalm 139.


I invite you also to let your hearts and minds expand onto other amazing dimensions of life and consider all the stages of the life of the Savior in His birth, His death, His resurrection, His going back into the glory of Heaven and His coming back to give us glorified bodies, for we have already been resurrected if we have been born again, starting as a tiny seed wrapped up in a small and fragile package that we all are, as pilgrims on this earth. 

This season Jesus offers us hope, joy and peace in a world sadly lacking theses blessings.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13.

Lord God, our loving Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you for the gift of life present and eternal.


Jean-Louis.