Tag: Jesus

~ In His Image, In This World. ~

 There's  a Very Meaningful Chapter in the Bible in 1 John, Chapter 4.
It describes the Love of God & Jesus, and how we are to Love Each Other.

It's also Very Special for my Wife & I because we chose a big section of it to be read at our Wedding.

Over the years I've read it Many times and about a week ago I was reading it again. Even though I've read it Many times, when I read it this time, there was one particular line that stood out Very Powerfully.  That line was:
“As He is, so are we in this world”, (1 John 4:17). 

I kept reading it over and over as I was Drawn to this Powerful Word of God.

The next day my Wife said to me that she had been reading through 1 John and she was up to Chapter 4. She said that a line had stood out to her in a way that she had never noticed before. The line was:
“As He is, so are we in this world”. 

WOW ~ I knew straight away that God was Guiding us that there was Something Special about this line. 

My Wife said when she read it she thought, “WOW, there's so much Power in that one line”. 
She also said “Even if people would just Believe that one line, then the devil would have to pack his bags and Leave”.  I Completely Agree.

The Bible says in (Genesis 1:26), God said, “Let Us make Man in Our image”. 

The 'Us' and 'Our' that He was referring to was God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit.

That means that You are made in the Image of God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit. 

When You put that Together with: “As He is, so are we in this world”, and You 'Believe it, then the Amazing Power of God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit is Released in You.

Then the devil will Not be able to 'Trick' You, 'Trap' You, or 'Tempt' You.

The devil has NEVER defeated God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit.

He tried to 'Trick' Jesus by 'Tempting' Him in the Wilderness, but Jesus 'Outsmarted' & 'OverPowered' the devil by using God's Word: “It Is Written”. 

Jesus 'Knew' & 'Believed' that the devil has got 'NO' Power over Him, and He saw Straight Through the 'Lies & Deception' of the devil.

Jesus used His 'Brain' to OverPower the devil with 'Truth'. 

Your 'Brain' is made 'In The Image' of Jesus' Brain. 

WOW. That means when You use Your Own Brain when the devil tries to 'Trick' You with 'Lies & Deception', then You will see 'Straight Through' it and use 'Truth' to 'OverPower' him. 

~ The devil will use 'Other People' to try to 'Tempt' You to Do Wrong things.
~ He will use 'Past Memories' to 'Trap' You into Living a Miserable Life.
~ He will use 'Anything & Anybody' to 'Trick' You into Believing 'Lies' about 'Who You Are', instead of Believing the 'Truth' about 'Who God Says You Are'.

The devil has got Many ways to 'Lie' to You, but when You Believe that You are Made In The Image of God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit, then the devils Lies 
'Can Not' & 'Will Not' defeat You.  

While I was talking to my Wife about the Powerful Bible verse (1 John 4:17):
“As He is, so are we in this world”, my Wife said, 
“The Important word is 'Are'. We 'Are' as Jesus is in this world. It Doesn't say we 'Might' be, or 'Maybe one day'.  It says “So Are We””. 

That's Very True. The Bible doesn't 'Mess About' with Words. It speaks the 'Truth'. When You 'Believe' God's Word in the Bible, it will 'Set You Free' from the 'Traps' and 'Lies' of the world.

You and I Live in 'This World'. 
Jesus came down from Heaven and also Lived in 'This World'. 

By the 'Way' He Lived His Life in 'This World', He showed us 'Who We Are'. 
“As He is, so are we in this world”. 

You and I have a Perfect Example of 'Who God Created Us To Be', by looking at 'Who' Jesus is in the Bible.

  ~ Jesus is Loving ~ That means You 'Are' Loving.
         That's 'Who God Created You to Be'. 
  ~ Jesus is Caring ~ That means You 'Are' Caring.
  ~ Jesus is Honest ~ You 'Are' Honest. 
  ~ Jesus is Not Stubborn ~ You 'Are' Not Stubborn. 
  ~ Jesus is Kind Hearted ~ You 'Are' Kind Hearted. 
  ~ Jesus is Full of Joy ~ You 'Are' Full of Joy. 
  ~ Jesus is The Light of the world ~ You 'Are' The Light of the world. 

There are Many other Wonderful Characteristics of Jesus that give You a Beautiful Guide to 'Who You Are'. 

When You 'Believe' God's Word, instead of the 'worlds word' about 'Who You Are', then You will Discover 'Who God Created You To Be'. 
And when You 'Live' as that Person, ' You Will Be Free'. 

The New Testament was wrote by Wonderful People who knew Jesus 'In Person'. They spent time With Him 'In This World'. And they Lovingly wrote down 'Their Experiences' With Jesus so that we can All 'Know' Who Jesus Is.

When You Believe the 'Truth' of  'Who Jesus Is',
then You will be able to Believe the 'Truth' of 'Who You Are'. 

“As He is, so are we in this world”. 

~ The Titanic of Today. ~

In 1912 something happened that Shocked the world.
The Titanic, known as the 'Unsinkable Ship', Sunk.

There has been many films made about the Titanic, and when the 1997 film came out, I took a keen interest in the Ship itself and the Titanic's History.

There has been a Lot of research into what caused the Ship to Sink, and it's believed that there was Many Reasons for it. Some of these include:
Arrogance, Neglect, Stubbornness, Pride, Ego, Corruption, Manipulation and many other 'Society Led' Wrong Ways of Living.

The 1997 film gives a Very Good representation of Life in 1912. There was a Clear Division in the 'Society Classes'. Even the Ship itself was Split into 
1st, 2nd & 3rd Class Passengers based on their 'Society Status'.

The 1st Class Passengers were Treated like Royalty, and the 3rd Class Passengers were Treated like Peasants. Yet they were All travelling on the Same ship.

God 'Did Not' Create people to be Treated that way.

God Created 'Everyone Equal'. 

The Titanic film shows that Many of the 'High Society' people of that time were Living very 'Fake' Lives. It was all for 'Show'. 

The character of Rose was being Pressured into marrying an evil Manipulative man called Cal, who she Clearly Didn't Love. She was being 'Pushed' by her 'So Called' Mother to marry him just so that she could gain the wealth of his inheritance. The 'So Called' Mother had lost her own wealth  and she was 'Using' Rose so that she could stay in the 'High Society'.

There's as a scene where she puts the 'Sob Story' on, and tries to use 'Emotional Blackmail' to get Rose to 'Feel Sorry' for her so that she would marry Cal. 
She tried to make Rose feel 'Guilty' that if she didn't marry him, then the 'Family Name' would be 'Shown Up'.

To God, that is NOT 'Family'. 

God will NEVER Guide a 'True Parent' to Pressure their child into Doing Anything that is Wrong, especially just because the 'So Called' Parent Wants them to.

And God will Definitely NEVER Guide 'Anyone' to use 'Emotional Blackmail'.
That is the 'evil Schemes' of the 'wicked'. 

Even though it's a film, this type of Treatment 'Did' happen, and it went 'Unnoticed' by the rest of the 'High Society'. It went on 'Behind Closed Doors'. 
The character of Rose said that on the 'Outside' she was Everything a girl should be, but on the 'Inside' she was 'Screaming'. She later went on to say that it felt like she was 'Screaming' at the Top of her Lungs, but Nobody was Listening.

They were All to 'Obsessed' with putting on their Own 'Fake Show'. 

The reason I'm writing this is because this type of Treatment 'Still Happens Today'. It might not be about 'High Society' or 'Pressuring' people into marriage to gain wealth, but there are evil people who are Using the Name 'Family' to Manipulate people in Hurtful and Deceitful ways.

They use 'Emotional Blackmail' to 'Trick & Trap' their own 'So Called' Family.

I've Personally Seen it happen to people that I know. And I've Seen the 'Damaging' Consequences of how it Ruins peoples Lives.

I know people who were 'Mentally & Emotionally' Abused as children (and in later years as well), and even though they're now Adults, they're still 'Trapped' by 'Inferiority' and a lack of 'Self Worth'. They Believe the Lies that the evil people said about them. And they Live Miserable Lives. 

But that's NOT Who God Created Them to Be.

God Created them as 'Wonderful Individuals' with a 'Loving Heart' and a 'Very Important Purpose' in God's MasterPlan.

And the devil knows God Created them with a Special Purpose, and that's exactly why the 'evil people' Treated them so badly, and called them 'Childish & Pathetic' names.

It was the devils 'Scheming Plan' to try to Stop them from 'Being Who God Created Them To Be'. 

In the Titanic film, Rose had been 'Mentally & Emotionally' Abused. She said she saw her whole Life 'Planned Out', and she felt there was 'No Way Out'. 

But then, along came Jack.

He 'Saw' Rose for 'Who She Really Was'.
He 'Saw Through' the 'Fakeness' that she had been 'Told' to 'Put On'.  
He 'Saw' the 'Real Rose'. 

As they got to know each other, they 'Fell In Love'. 

But Rose's 'So Called' Mother saw him as a 'Threat' to her 'wicked scheme'. So she used 'Emotional Blackmail' to try to keep Rose away from Jack.

There's a very Important scene in the film where Jack & Rose go into the gym area to talk. Rose says to Jack that she can't see him anymore, and she tries to make it seem that she loves Cal.

But Jack 'Sees' Straight Through it, and he Lovingly & Powerfully says to her:

“They've got you Trapped, and you're going to die if you don't 'Break Free', maybe not right away because you're Strong, but sooner or later that 'Fire' that I Love about you, that 'Fire' is going to Burn Out”.

~ That is Exactly the 'devils Plan' for 'God's People'.

He wants the 'Fire' that God put in 'You' to 'Burn Out'. 
He wants You to die on the 'Inside' so that You won't 'Fulfil' God's Wonderful Plan for Your Life.
And the devil will Use 'Anybody & Anything' to try to put that 'Fire' Out.
He wants to Sap Your 'Joy' and 'Trick' You into going down the 'Wrong Path of Life'.   

But the 'Good News' is that God Will Always Send Someone into 'Your Life' to Show You the 'Right Way', and to 'Re-Ignite' that 'Fire' Within You.

God 'Never Gives Up' on His Own People ~ He Will 'Never Give Up' on You.

In the film, Rose makes her 'Own Personal Choice' to 'Turn Away' from her evil 'So Called' Mother, and to 'Turn Away' from the 'Fake' Society Life.
She 'Decides' to Start a 'New Life'. 

She is 'Willing' to Turn Her Back on Wealth, a Family Name, and a 'High Society Status', because she knows there is 'Something Better'. 

She Immediately feels 'Free', and Experiences 'True Freedom' for the First Time in her Life. 
Even the clothes that she then wears demonstrate how she is more Relaxed and doesn't feel the need to wear the 'In Trend' clothes of Society.
~ She's Relaxed & Free ~

Then there's a Beautiful scene at the front of the ship when Jack helps Rose up onto the railings and they look out over the Vast Ocean ahead of them. They Experience a 'Wonderful Moment Together' that feels like they're 'Flying'. 

When You 'Turn Away' from the 'worlds ways', and You 'Join Together' with Jesus, He will 'Lift You Up' and You will 'Soar on Wings Like Eagles'. 

Rose had said 'Goodbye' to her 'Old Life', and she was now 'Free'.
But some of the evil people from her 'Old Life' still wanted to 'Manipulate' and 'Control' her into 'Their Way' for Rose to 'Live Her Life'. 
Cal tried to 'Set Jack Up' to make it look like he was a thief.

When You 'Turn Away' from the world, 'BE AWARE'  that 'worldly people' will still try to 'Trick & Trap' You with 'Lies & Manipulation'. 
But the 'Good News' is that when You are Committed to Jesus, He will Always Help You to 'See Through It' and 'Strengthen' You to Defeat them.

In the film Call had Jack handcuffed to a metal pipe in the hope that he would be 'Trapped' there.
But Rose searched for him, and when she Found Him, she Set him Free.

Jack asked her how she found out that he wasn't a thief.
She replied, “I didn't,  I just Realised that I Already Knew”.

When You Follow Jesus, He will Help You 'See Things Clearly', and Help You to Realise the 'Truth' from the 'Lies'. 

As the ship started sinking, Rose was told to get in a lifeboat.
Cal still tried to Trick her by saying that Jack could get in a boat with him.
As lifeboat was being lowered, there was the Beautiful Moment when Rose realises she Doesn't want to be without Jack. She feels so much 'Gratitude & Thankfulness' to Jack for 'Setting her Free', and the Deep Connection that was made between them, that she 'Leaps' back onto the ship to 'Be With Jack'. 

Jack asked her why she did that. She replied, “You Jump, I Jump, remember”.
She remembered how Jack was Willing to Risk his own Life to Save Rose when she was hanging off the back off the ship, and she became 'Willing' to Risk her Life to 'Be With Jack'. 

When You remember how Jesus 'Gave Up' His Own Life on the Cross to 
'Save You', then You will be 'Willing' to 'Give Up' Your 'Old Lifestyle' of 'worldly ways' to 'Be With Jesus'. 

When that 'Loving Connection' is made 'With Jesus', You will Never want to be without Him.

In the film when the Titanic had Sunk, people were dying in the Icy water.
Jack did his 'Absolute Best' right to the Very End to 'Save Rose', and he Did.
Rose was 'Saved'. 

Even though Jack died, he Continued to 'Live in Rose's Heart'. 
She 'Never Let Go'. 

Jesus may have died on the Cross, but He Continues to 'Live In Your Heart'.
'Never Let Go' of the Love & Faithfulness for Jesus. 

At the end of the film it shows photos of Rose's Life after Titanic. 
It Clearly shows that she Never 'Turned Back' to her evil 'So Called' Mother or her 'Old Lifestyle' of 'High Society'.

She spent the Rest of her Life 'Being Free'. 

She was Free to Live as the 'Person Who God Created Her To Be'. 

When Rose Spoke the 'Truth' about what happened on the Titanic, she said these 'Loving Words' about Jack,

“So there was a man named Jack, and he 'Saved Me'.
He 'Saved Me' in 'Every Way' a person could be 'Saved'”. 

When You and I Talk about Jesus, and Speak the 'Truth' about His Life, 
and what He has Done for us, we can say those 'Loving Words',

“So there was a man named Jesus, and He 'Saved Me'.
  He 'Saved Me' in 'Every Way' a person could be 'Saved'” 

~ The Trust & Belief of the Blind. ~

When my Dad had a stroke over 30 years ago, it effected his left side. He was paralysed in his arm and leg, and he lost the vision on the left side. He gained slight movement in his arm and was able to walk small amounts for a while, but his vision never recovered.

He can't See anything out of the left side of both eyes, which means when he looks at things such as a book, he only Sees the words on the right side of the page. Even though he's been like that for over 30 years, I often forget that he can't See properly because he just 'Gets On with Life'.

A few years after his stroke, my Mum discovered an Organisation for Blind & Visually Impaired people and they both started to go every week. 

The Organisation ran many different Activities aimed at Helping Blind & Visually Impaired people to Gain Confidence, Build their Self Respect, and to simply Enjoy themselves doing Fun Activities.
They did a Big variety of Activities such as Cookery classes, Woodwork, Pottery, Crafts, Painting etc, as well as many Outdoor Activities.

After a while they needed more Volunteers, so my Wife (who was then my Girlfriend) and I became Volunteers, and later we became Tutors as well.

We saw Many 'Truly Inspiring' things.
There was people who were Totally Blind doing things like Rock Climbing, Abseiling, Water-skiing, Sailing and Canoeing, as well as things like Pancake Making, including Tossing the pancakes without dropping them (which is Very Talented when they couldn't See). 

We did some training which involved us wearing Blindfolds and being led around the building up and down stairs etc, and doing simply tasks. 
We Learned that when you can't See, you Really do need to put a Huge amount of your 'Trust & Belief' in the person who is Guiding you.

My Wife and I were Volunteers & Tutors for many years, and we saw the peoples Confidence Grow, and they Achieved Many Amazing things.

My Dad would often say that he was doing things that he had never done before he had the stroke, and probably never would have done if he hadn't have gone to the Blind Organisation.

Many of the people had Physical Disabilities and Mental Health issues as well as being Blind & Visually Impaired, but they were All Blessed with 'Doing' & 'Achieving' Many Truly Amazing & Wonderful things.

How did they do it ?

Two reasons:
~ There was Volunteers & Staff 'With Them' who they could 'Trust & Believe'.
~ The Blind people 'Trusted & Believed' the Volunteers and Staff.

If you were to go Rock Climbing and you couldn't See, then you would need someone who you could 'Trust & Believe' to Guide you where to put your hands & feet so that you 'Don't Fall'. 
If you were Sailing and you couldn't See, then you would need to 'Trust & Believe' the person Leading you so that you 'Don't Crash & Sink'. 
And if you were Making Pancakes and couldn't See, then you would need to have Complete 'Trust & Belief' in the person 'Watching Over' you to prevent you from getting burnt by the flames.

When my Wife & I were Volunteers & Tutors at the Blind Organisation, we along with the rest of the Volunteers and Staff were: 
~'The Eyes for those who could Not See'.
We were 'Their Guides', we 'Lead' them, and 'Protected' them. 
We were Always 'Watching Over' them to keep them Safe. 
And we Encouraged & Supported them so that they could Enjoy themselves, and turn their 'Disabilities' into Amazing 'Abilities'.

There was a Wonderful young man called Peter Barns. He was Blind from birth and the 'So Called' doctors said that he would Never be able to Do Anything, and he should stay at home. Even his 'So Called' parents told him he couldn't Do Anything and they gave him No Encouragement.

When he first went to the Blind Organisation, he was Very Timid and quite Scared. He had No Confidence and seemed Very Unhappy.

But we saw a Wonderful Transformation as he Grew into a Confident, Fun Loving and Happy person.

He did Many of the Activities including Rock Climbing.
The Rock Climbing was at a disused quarry. The car park was at the Top of the Rock-face and the way to get to the bottom was down a steep dirt path that had lose stones and rocks along the way.

The Volunteers needed to Guide the Blind people down the path to be able to start the Rock Climbing. I was asked to Guide Peter Barns down the path.
The path had a drop on one side that was about 100 ft down, and there was No hand rail. I knew if he slipped then he would go straight over the edge.
So I took my 'Responsibilities Very Seriously'. 
I watched 'Every Step' he took. I checked the path to make sure there was nothing for him to trip over. And I had my Arm as a Guide & Support so he knew I was there 'With Him' Every Step of the Way.

Peter along with the other people who could Not See, where all Safely lead down the path.
They put their 'Trust & Belief' in their Guides, and we 'Didn't Let Them Down'. 

If those Blind people were able to put their 'Trust & Belief' in 'Ordinary People' like us, who they could Not 'See',  then 'You' can 'Certainly' put Your 
'Trust & Belief' in Jesus Christ, the Wonderful & Powerful Son of God. 

'He will Never Let You Down'.

If Peter and the other Blind people had Not put their 'Trust & Belief' in their Guides, they would have 'Missed Out' on Many Wonderful Experiences & Activities, and their Confidence & Self Respect would Never have Grown.

There are Many people Today who are 'Missing Out' on True Joy, Happiness, New Adventures & Wonderful Experiences, just because they won't put their 'Trust & Belief' in Jesus, simply because they can't 'See Him'. 

I've been on an Amazing 'Journey with Jesus' for over 20 years, and He has 'Never Let Me Down'. 
I've Never 'Seen' Jesus, but I know He's 'With Me Always'. 

When You Properly make a Commitment to Jesus, You can be Certain that He Will 'Watch Over Your Life' Every Step of Your 'Journey With Him'. 

~ He will Not let You Fall.
~ He is Your Loving Guide through Life.
~ His Strong Arm is Always there to 'Support' You.
~ He will 'Lead You' in stormy waters to 'Safe Sailing', and Never let You Sink.
~ When You're Climbing the Rocky Mountain of Life and You can't 'See'              which Way to Go, Jesus will be the 'Solid Rock' for You to 'Hold On To'.
~ Jesus is Fully Aware of the Flames of the 'evil one' that can easily burn You,       so He 'Watches Over' You, always Ready to Prevent You from being burnt.
~ And at the same time, giving You the Freedom to Enjoy Your Life.

Jesus will 'Encourage You' and Build Up Your 'Self Respect', 
because to Jesus 'You Are Somebody Very Special'.

So even though You can't 'See' Jesus,
when You put Your Complete 'Trust & Belief' in Him,
'Jesus will Be Your Eyes'
so that You can 'See Clearly' in Your Journey of Life.

You Don't Need to See to Believe,
But when You Believe, You Will See.