Source: Power Point from Jack Graham, 26-01-2010

And when he [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

–Luke 5:4

Do you remember the story in the book of Luke when the disciples had fished all night and caught nothing? Seeing they were empty handed, Jesus told Simon Peter to throw the nets on the other side of the boat.

Now, you can hear the lack of excitement in Simon Peter’s response when he said, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing!” But still he threw the net out as Jesus told him to do. And a miracle happened! They caught so many fish that their two boats began to take on water!

So overwhelmed with what he saw, Simon Peter “fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (Luke 5:8).

You see, Simon Peter came to the end of himself, but Jesus was just beginning! In fact, Jesus gave him a new calling saying, “From now on you’ll be catching men.”

Have you reached the end of yourself?  Has your toil left you empty-handed? Are you exhausted from working in your own strength? If so, then it’s time to fall at Jesus’ feet.

Yield to Jesus completely. Follow his direction. And he will restore you and prepare you to fulfill your calling in his kingdom.

HAVE YOU REACHED THE END OF YOURSELF?
IF SO, THEN IT’S TIME TO FALL AT JESUS FEET.

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Summer is fading fast and autumn is just around the corner.  The warmth and long hours of light will soon be replaced by cloudy days and colder temperatures.   What a change!  After that it will be winter, the next thing you know it will be spring and then summer again. But why does summer have to turn into autumn?  Why should the leaves die and fall to the ground.  Why loose all the beauty?  Can’t we have summer all year round?

Change is unavoidable.  It comes and it goes, and it comes right back again.

It is comforting to know that it is God who has set the seasons of life.  As He has set the seasons of the year with its purpose, God sets our lives into different times and seasons because He has a purpose for us.  Each season holds a different setting into which our lives must find its part and relevance.  As we discover and ponder the meaning of each moment, circumstance and season of our lives, we begin to understand our purpose for living.

THE KEY IS BEING ABLE TO ENJOY EVERY LESSON OF EACH SEASON.

If we do not understand that there is a purpose for every experience, we will not be able to appreciate the beauty of life.  We must accept that there are times of rejoicing as well as times of weeping knowing that there is a reason behind every season; and that the next step is to learn something from every season.  Instead of feeling anxious about the coming season, we anticipate what God will teach us next.

Which season of life are you in right now? What are the changes that God is bringing to your life?  What is God teaching you? Are you learning?  Are you enjoying every lesson of each season?

Bro. André Canlas

Jesus Christ stands out from among these heroes for peace. He knew the high price for establishing peace between God and mankind.  It demanded for His very own blood to be spilled.

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:19,20)

Only Jesus Christ can provide us peace with God, peace within ourselves and peace with other human beings.  Only He can give real and lasting peace.  He has paid for it and now He provides it.

Do you know the peace of Christ today? Ask Jesus Christ today.

Bro. André Canlas

Did you know that there are more people in hospital beds because of worry than almost any other disease? Headaches, ulcers, heart attacks, mental disorders, and even the common cold can be brought on by worry.

Worry is the opposite of trust, and as a Christian you are called to put your trust in God’s direction for your life. One of the greatest pieces of advice ever given to humankind is from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:25-33. Please, take your Bible and read it.

The decision to trust God or to carry the worries of the world yourself is up to you. Either road you decide to take requires an action decision on your part. One road leads to fulfillment and peace the other road leads to frustration and anxiety. By all means choose the road called trust! God’s Word has never been proven wrong. (Further Reading: Luke 10:41, Philippians 4:6, 1 Peter 5:7)

Bro. André Canlas

WHERE GOD IS NOT PRESENT, LOVE IS EITHER LACKING OR INCOMPLETE.

Many people have moved God so far out of their hearts and lives that they do not have any idea of what real love is. Even though there may be some form of love given and received, it is a poor imitation of the real love that flows from the heart of a loving God.
The scriptures say that “All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful…” (Psalm 25:10a). God is love and all His ways are motivated and driven by His love for us.  He sent Jesus Christ to give His own life on the cross at Calvary to show He truly loves us.

When love seems to be failing…
Has someone’s love failed you? Maybe it’s time for you to know that God’s love is unfailing. You have to understand that there is still Someone Who will not fail you. The Bible says that, “Love never fails…” (1 Corinthians 13:8a). God loves you and He will never fail you.

Yes it is true, God loves people, however many people choose to close their hearts to His love and as a consequence they cannot experience God’s love for them. This is the very reason why this world does not know true love.

In order for us to understand what love really means, we first have to receive it from God. Himself.    We must acknowledge that our love is imperfect, conditional and limited. We have to let God into our hearts and allow Him to fill us with His love.  We have to let go of our pride and selfishness and ask God to create in us a new heart that will be able to love as He does.

Unlike human love, God’s love is unfailing, unconditional and unending.  It is unbelievable!  You have to experience it to believe it.  If we are going to know the way of real and lasting love, we have to know the ways of a loving and faithful God as we surrender our hearts and lives to Him.

Bro. André Canlas