Emphasis on the Cause not the Effect

One of my biggest temptations and struggles is not putting emphasis on doing something to be saved... "Being good" But being good is actually the effect of Jesus' power in your life. HIS grace and the unexplainable sacrifice of HIS life. This was the main point of the worship thought that I read this morning. --> "I am not saved by believing— I simply realize I am saved by believing. And it is not repentance that saves me— repentance is only the sign that I realize what God has done through Christ Jesus. The danger here is putting the emphasis on the effect, instead of on the cause. Is it my obedience, consecration, and dedication that make me right with God? It is never that! I am made right with God because, prior to all of that, Christ died."

Jesus' Grace is ALL that we NEED! This song really helped me understand that...

Song

The Lyrics

In Jesus alone, my atonement is known, I stand on grace.In Jesus the King, my salvation He brings, I stand on grace, stand, I stand on grace.In Jesus alone, my atonement is known, I stand on grace.In Jesus the King, my salvation He brings, I stand on grace.And Jesus your grace is all that I need, it's all that I need, yeah.And grace upon grace is all that I breathe, it's all that I breathe.In Jesus alone my atonement is known, I stand on grace.In Jesus the King, my salvation he brings, I stand on grace.And Jesus your grace is all that I need, it's all that I need, I need. And grace upon grace, it's all that I breathe; it's all that I breathe, yeah.And Jesus your grace, it's all that I need, it's all that I need. Yeah, and grace upon grace, it's all that I breathe; it's all that I breathe, yeah.And Jesus your grace it's all that I need, it's all that I need.And grace upon grace it's all that I breathe, it's all that I breathe.Yeah, and Jesus your grace, it's all that I need, it's all that I need, yeah.and grace upon grace it’s all that I breathe, it's all that I breathe.In Jesus alone my atonement is known, I stand on grace

In Return

This song came to my mind this morning. I am sorry I can't find a link online for the actual song but the words are more than enough! Giving your life to Jesus is an everyday commitment but I have been thinking of how much you receive in return. Praise God for accepting all of our broken hearts and lives!!

All I had to give

Was a broken heart, torn apart

That's all I had to give

All I had to give

Was an empty hope and promises

But in return He gave me joy

That could never be told

And in return he gave me love

That was more precious than gold

So whatever you have to give

You don't have to be ashamed

Just come as you are

And present it in Jesus name

For in return of a torn life

He'll give you life abundantly

And in return of a raging storm

The Lord will calm the sea

So whatever you have

The Lord has so much more

So what do you have to give

Oh if you were like me

You didn't have a lot of gold

Position or money

You didn't own wealth untold

But I'm glad He didn't look on the things that I had

But he looked and gave me all, all that I need Oh for in return He gave me joy

That could never be told

And in return He gave me love

That was more precious, more precious than gold

In return of a torn lifeHe gave me life abundantly

And in return of a raging storm

The Lord will calm the sea

So what do you have to give

copyright Marvin Winans

Modern Miracle Caught on Tape :)

The story


"A six-month-old baby had a miraculous escape after his stroller rolled off a railway station platform and into the path of an incoming train.

The incident, which happened Thursday at Ashburton railway station in Melbourne, Australia, was captured by CCTV.

The footage shows the baby's mother momentarily letting go of the stroller, which then rolls over the edge of the platform. Second later, a train pulls in to the station.

The stroller and baby were dragged 30 meters (33 yards) further up the track before the train came to a halt.

John Rees, a spokesman for train operator Connex, told Australia's Channel 7 television station: "It's a miracle this baby wasn't killed. The baby managed to escape with just a cut to the forehead, I'm told. It's a complete miracle."

The baby boy was quickly reunited with his distraught mother. He was taken to Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital but was later discharged."

The Video is AMAZING!! GOD is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!


Source-CNN

The FIG Cafe

I would like to highlight The FIG Cafe. This month is their official launch! If you are in the Alabama area please feel free to get involved. The organization is really good because they help you determine all of the available options for community service in your area. They even have monthly charity highlights. They then get together and go to that specific highlighted non-profit organization and offer their help. WOW!! God is moving and I am getting on board His train! I know you are as well! Let’s GO!!!

You can visit the blog here.

You can contact them for more information at their email address: fig.coffee@gmail.com


~Nina~

Me, You, and Destin

Click here to view these pictures larger

353 New Species Discovered in the Himalayas

Asian Babbler Bird

This story is so interesting!!

KATMANDU, Nepal — The world's smallest deer, a flying frog and catfish that stick to rocks — as well as more than 350 other species — have been discovered over the past decade in the Himalayas, making it one of the world's most biologically rich regions, an environmental group said Monday.

But researchers warn that the effects of climate change, as well as development, threaten the diverse habitat that supports these species.

"The group found that almost three-quarters of the discoveries between 1998 and 2008 were plants, including 21 new orchid species. But it also listed 16 amphibians, 16 reptiles, 14 fish, two birds, two mammals and at least 60 new invertebrates. Most of the discoveries have already been reported in peer-reviewed, scientific journals.

"There will be close to 3,000-5,000 species that will be discovered if a systematic study is done over the next five years," said Bittu Sahgal, editor of Sanctuary Asia.

WOW!!

353 New Species Discovered in the Himalayas - FOXNews.com

The Persistent Porter

by INNOCE CHAPAMBA

A few years ago my family was returning home from Malawi to Zambia. At the border we had to wait several hours for the bus that would take us home. When the bus arrived, we stowed our luggage and found a seat. But just as we were about to leave, a porter told our family to get off the bus and wait for the next one. Mother argued, for the next bus wouldn't leave until the next day. But the porter politely but firmly insisted. Reluctantly we obeyed.
As he retrieved our luggage from the roof rack, my mother started crying. "Why us?" she said. "We have no place to sleep except out in the open." Other passengers tried to convince the porter to allow us back on the bus, but he politely refused. Finally we accepted the situation and sat down to wait until the next bus the following morning.
During the night the loudspeaker at the bus terminal crackled, awaking us. "The bus that left for the capital city yesterday afternoon was involved in a fiery crash. Everyone aboard that bus is dead."

Mother sat up and started crying. "My dears," she said through her tears as she gathered us close to her. "We should have been on that bus. The porter who forced us off the bus saved our lives. God saved us."
We sat stunned, trying to comprehend that God had saved us from death. We were Christians but not Adventists at the time. We recalled that although the porter had insisted that we get off the bus, he was never rude. "Is it possible that he was an angel?" we whispered among ourselves. When we arrived home, Mother told Father what had happened, and we all rejoiced in God's salvation.

Later I met some Adventist students who impressed me with their diligence and commitment to God. When told to help clean the campus on Sabbath, these students refused but politely offered to do their share of work on Sunday. One day I asked one of them about his faith, and he explained that Saturday is God's true Sabbath, the day God set aside for us to spend with Him. When I learned this, I wondered, Could they be right about the Sabbath?
I visited the Adventist church and eventually was baptized. I shared my faith with my family, and they, too, became Adventists.

I don't know why God sometimes intervenes and other times He doesn't. I'm sure many of us have been protected from harm without realizing it. I was blessed to have seen God's hand in a marvelous way.

Your mission offerings help spread God's love from person to person. Soon the whole world will know, and Jesus can come. Thank you for hastening that day.

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