Different Is Good

The sun is glorious in one way, the moon is glorious in another way, and the stars are glorious in their own [distinctive] way; for one star differs from and surpasses another in its beauty and brilliance. —1 Corinthians 15:41

Like the sun, the moon, and the stars, God has created us to be different from one another, and He has done it on purpose. Each of us meets a need, and we are all part of God’s overall plan. When we try to be like others, we lose ourselves, and we grieve the Holy Spirit. God wants us to fit into His plan, not to feel pressured trying to fit into everyone else’s plans. It is all right to be different.

We are all born with different temperaments, different physical features, different fingerprints, different gifts and abilities. God gave us gifts and wants us to focus on our potential instead of our limitations. Our goal should be to find out what we individually are supposed to be, and then succeed at being that.

We should be free to love and accept ourselves and one another without feeling pressure to compare or compete. Secure people who know God loves them and has a plan for them are not threatened by the abilities of others. They enjoy what other people can do, and they enjoy what they can do.

Lord, I am so glad that I can be free to love and accept others rather than compete with or compare myself with them. Thank You for making me unique. Amen.
Thanks (^_^)

Ocha Samohito

Love letter to God

From everlasting to everlasting
Lord in this life you are the meaning
Even if we are not deserving
Still you are the God of caring

I am worthless but paid priceless
Blood of Jesus the God of all the ages
Born in flesh that you can bless
People who undeserved you’ve given rest

Mountains tremble at the sound of your voice
Thunders roar and the storm falls but your rainbow controls
Control this life that it may not fall
For you are the God of my very soul

Lord this is my love letter
For everything you make it better
My love for you grows deeper
Lord this is my prayer

Dreams became reality
My goals I can see
The future is all about me
How can I not thank Thee?

Lord thank you for everything
My heart forever will sing
Declaring and glory I will bring
For you are my God my King...

Thanks (^_^)

Ocha Samohito

Statement of Faith

Section 1: The Bible
We believe the Bible, comprised of the Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God (Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). In faith we hold the Bible to be inerrant in the original writings, God-breathed, and the complete and final authority for faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17). While still using the individual writing styles of the human authors, the Holy Spirit perfectly guided them to ensure they wrote precisely what He wanted written, without error or omission (2 Peter 1:21).

Section 2: God
We believe in one God, who is Creator of all (Deuteronomy 6:4; Colossians 1:16), who has revealed Himself in three distinct Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14), yet who is one in being, essence, and glory (John 10:30). God is eternal (Psalm 90:2), infinite (1 Timothy 1:17), and sovereign (Psalm 93:1). God is omniscient (Psalm 139:1-6), omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-13), omnipotent (Revelation 19:6), and unchanging (Malachi 3:6). God is holy (Isaiah 6:3), just (Deuteronomy 32:4), and righteous (Exodus 9:27). God is love (1 John 4:8), gracious (Ephesians 2:8), merciful (1 Peter 1:3), and good (Romans 8:28).

Section 3: Jesus Christ
We believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is God incarnate, God in human form, the expressed image of the Father, who, without ceasing to be God, became man in order that He might demonstrate who God is and provide the means of salvation for humanity (Matthew 1:21; John 1:18; Colossians 1:15).

- Psalm 25:15-18

As believers, we have a Father who loves us. He desires the best for us. We're part of a large spiritual family with many brothers and sisters. But sometimes we still feel lonely. This can happen even when there's no major crisis in our lives.

Our greatest loneliness comes from a separation from the Father. This is a spiritual problem. The source is sin. We experience a break in our close fellowship with the Lord when we disobey Him and go our own way.

The remedy is confession. Confession leads to restored intimacy with God. If we refuse to admit our sin, the separation grows worse.

Busyness and preoccupation with earthly affairs also cause this isolation. Sometimes we push aside time with God to fulfill our obligations. We might focus so heavily on daily living that we ignore Him. To overcome loneliness, spend time reconnecting with God through His Word. Take in the knowledge of His deep, abiding love. Meditate on His great promises.

Being in harmony with God renews our purpose and energy for life causing that sense of isolation to lessen. Hope replaces discouragement. Our focus turns from "self" to others.

It's important to reconnect with people. So, look for opportunities to encourage, serve, love, and support those around you. Intimacy with the Lord is both the antidote to loneliness and protection from it.

Thanks (^_^)

Ocha Samohito

F R E E !

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36, ESV).

Several years ago, a man expressed his gratitude that he was imprisoned, because he was able to have time in reading the Bible. I would say he was behind bars, but he was "free indeed"!

Paul wrote, "For freedom Christ has set us free..." (Gal. 5:1.)

Others would claim that Christ has set everyone "free." But, many who are even outside the prison bars were enslaved by wrong habits, sinful desires, evil practices, or by teachings or ideas of man.

There's a tendency for the natural man to believe that he's free -- even promoting more the idea that we are free to determine our final end than to emphasize the need to have our faith in Jesus to secure our glorious end.

During the time of Christ here on earth, the Jews told Him: "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?" (John 8:33.)

Is there mouse in the house?

Most all Christians go through some sort of spiritual warfare in life. The intensity of an attack can temp us to run and hide in fear. Jesus faced several incidents of spiritual warfare during His earthly ministry, such as His encounter with the devil in the wilderness.
Before His ascension into heaven, He descended into hell, took the keys out from Satan's hand, and set captivity free. So why are some of us running in fear from a devil that doesn't even have the keys to his house any more?

BIG GOD.

Two men went fishing. One was an experienced fisherman, the other wasn't. Every time the experienced fisherman caught a big fish, he put it in his ice chest to keep it fresh. Whenever the inexperienced fisherman caught a big fish, he threw it back. The experienced fisherman watched this go on all day.