10 Sunday Apr 2016
Posted in Reflection
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Hope everyone has a great day of reflection and worship. This is a great day to catch up on reading and spending time with family and friends.
If you ever come across anything you’d like me to post on this blog, please feel free to contact me at dino.evangelista@gmail.com.
09 Saturday Apr 2016
Posted in Daily Reading
In today’s reading we see a clear example of what we are called to do in Acts 4:32, All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. It is easy to think the apostles were describing something similar to socialism, but it’s not that simplistic. We should recognize that nothing in our possession is our own. We should be willing to use our blessings from God to help. When others are in need we are called to provide; it’s that simple. It’s not a government, social, or economic solution; it’s a spiritual one that comes from a heart of giving.
08 Friday Apr 2016
Posted in Daily Reading
We will often become frozen to act because we feel we don’t have the right gifts, talents, or wealth to have an impact, but God only asks us to be willing. In Acts 3:6 we see how little the Apostles had, Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” But what they did have was an abundance of faith. That is all God asks of us: to trust in his power and strength and to be willing to act.
07 Thursday Apr 2016
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When the Holy Spirit came over the believers, it created confusion. The people questioned what had happened and what they should do. Peter stands up and says in Acts 2:36, “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” After Peter said this, there was no more confusion as to who Jesus really was. The apostles already knew the truth and many others believed, but this is where the Church and outward ministry of believers really started with the Holy Spirit and our ability to be led through Him.
06 Wednesday Apr 2016
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Today we begin the transition from the Gospel of Jesus to the start of the Church. The Church (with a capital “C”) is what we refer to as the body of believers of Christ. This is not a building. It is not comprised of associations or denominations. It is the body of Christ manifest through those who believe in Him and have a desire to serve Him in the light of eternity. While I am not against the congregation of believers in buildings, I do believe we get too caught up in our own idea of what Christianity is supposed to be about. We also get too caught up in defending our individual nuances of the details of our beliefs. In the end, we are called to do two simple things. 1) Love God. 2) Love others. If we can figure out how to accomplish those two simple things, we will be in great shape.
05 Tuesday Apr 2016
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In this final chapter of John as we finish the Gospels of Jesus Christ, we read the final documented interaction with His disciples. As Jesus commands Peter to feed His sheep, Peter turns around and looks at John and asks Jesus, “What about Him?” Jesus responds in John 21:22, Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” In other words, “Peter, worry about yourself.” The same advice applies to us. We worry too much about the rest of the world and the influence it has on others. We need to spend the majority of our energy and time worrying about our own relationship with God. While Jesus plainly commands us to “Feed His sheep”, when it comes to relationship, the only one we can control is our own.
04 Monday Apr 2016
Posted in Daily Reading
I cannot wait to feel the joy of seeing Jesus face to face for the first time. When Mary Magdalene saw Jesus for the first time after His resurrection is probably a good glimpse of what it will be like for us. John 20:15 paints the picture, Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means teacher). When I read the part where Jesus calls Mary’s name, I try to replace her name with mine on the day I see Him for the first time face to face.
03 Sunday Apr 2016
Posted in Reflection
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Hope everyone has a great day of reflection and worship. This is a great day to catch up on reading and spending time with family and friends.
If you ever come across anything you’d like me to post on this blog, please feel free to contact me at dino.evangelista@gmail.com.
02 Saturday Apr 2016
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One of the most beautiful passages in the Gospels comes from the first part of Luke 24:6 which says, He is not here, He is risen! We all could go back to the tomb and look for Jesus, but He simply is not there. Praise God He died and rose again so we all could live eternally.
01 Friday Apr 2016
Posted in Daily Reading
The Great Commission as stated in Mark 16:15 by Jesus, He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. It is a simple concept and yet it’s one of the hardest things to do. But in the last verse of the book of Mark it says and the Lord worked with them. Jesus never left them alone. He didn’t just walk away and leave the disciples to fend for themselves. And just like He did for them, Jesus will always be with us. It takes faith and trust, but He is there.
Daily Devotion 