Children's Gems In My Treasure Box

Saturday, January 6, 2018

A New Beginning For A Willing Heart

A New Beginning For A Willing Heart

We are beginning a New Year, a new beginning. A time of reflecting, then a time to go forward.

Yes, we all have made mistakes this past year, but we must begin this year with renewed enthusiasm.

Christ wants us to continue giving the Truth of His Word. I have my corner and you have yours.

Brighten the corner where God has allowed you to speak to others. Whether there be one or a million.

Be faithful in the little things and He will make you ruler over much. You may not see the fruit of your labor, but you will see the fruit of faithfulness, the fruit of joy, and the fruit of endurance, these too are counted as fruit. God gives the increase, we are to be faithful and obedient. You may win one to the Lord, you may win none, you may win a hundred, or even a thousand. That did not happen with Noah, even though he preached for a hundred years. He won only his family, all else died in their sin. Still, He is mentioned in the hall of faith.

When Jesus was born it marked a new beginning. It was a new beginning for Mary and Joseph too. They were raising the Christ Child. They were closer to God than they had ever been. They held him in their arms, worshipped Him, and kissed his tiny hand. They were starting a new life and that life always included Jesus. This New Year should bring us closer to Jesus because he lives in our hearts. Not as a baby but as our Redeemer. When Christ lives in your heart, He's with you where ever you go. Our new beginnings should always begin with Jesus Christ, our prayers, our bible reading, and praising Him. These things will give us the strength to continue on in a life of faith and obedience. They will give us renewed hope for the New Year.

This is a new beginning for a child of God, and also a new beginning for anyone willing to humble themselves by accepting Christ as their Saviour. I know that almost everyone makes New Year's Resolutions and we should. It's always good to improve ourselves and accomplish goals. People who are saved make resolutions and also those that are lost.

There are many New Year's Resolutions I need to make. Losing weight is one of them, but the best decision anyone can make for the New Year is Jesus.

Start The New Year With The Best Friend You'll Ever Have - Christ In Your Heart.

Susan Nikitenko

What a Friend

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

3. Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

4. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

Joseph M. Scriven, 1855

The Bible teaches us how to

be saved and know it.

I'm not trying to sell anything to you, I'm trying to give you something.

The greatest gift of love ever offered to you.

James 1:17a

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights

God's desire is for you to become His child.

If you are willing to call upon Him and come to Him in genuine faith. He will not refuse you.

What better way to start the New Year - By beginning it with Christ. Christ in your heart.

1John 5:13

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Romans 10:17

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Matthew 16:24 ¶

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Romans 10:9

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Father God, Be with each one here today... I pray that you will open their ears to hear.
That people will be saved and people will be encouraged to serve you faithfully.
I pray you are glorified and honored with true hearts of faith.
In Christ's Name, I Ask This.
Amen

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At treasurebox18@yahoo.com - All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include Site Name And Proper Credit Back To This Blog. Thank-You.

We Are Not Perfect

We Are Not Perfect

Today I've been thinking about all the things I didn't finish writing yet. Even though it's no longer the fall and we are headed into a New Year. I decided to write about the wood pumpkins I made a couple years ago. I didn't sand them at the time and said I liked them that way for a reason. It would give me an opportunity in the future like this moment to let you know that God takes us just as we are but through difficulties, love and His Word He sands down all the rough edges. Now those pumpkins really had no choice but to be sanded down. I did finally sand them down and completed them. However God is still working on us each day as we yield to Him and to His purpose for our lives. Sometimes that purpose is not quite clear but still the same we wait upon His purpose. God loves us just as we are but is

working on us as we trust Him to make us what he wants us to be. When a person gets saved it does not mean that that person is perfect, it means they are willing to let God make the changes. God does not reject anyone who humbly comes to Him with a genuine heart of faith.

Recently I was asked to have a book reading club, I agreed to a bible reading. I chose the book of Luke and talked about Mary because the Christmas season was upon us. The topic was " Why did God choose Mary?" It was during that lesson God spoke to me, while I was teaching.

2 Chronicles 16:9

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

The word perfect is the word that stands out to me here:

The truth of the matter is that none of us our perfect and we will never be perfect until we as children of God enter heaven's gate.

Mary, though most favored above other women, was not perfect but was seen as perfect because of her hearts willingness, purity and faith. Mary herself called Jesus her Saviour. Joseph was also favored because of His fear and faith.

God also chose Noah because of His fear and faith of God. He too was favored above all living during that time. He was the only believing man of faith, leading His family into righteous living.

Mary was not perfect, but was seen as perfect because of her faith in the coming Messiah. She was raised to love God and fear Him. She was taught about the Messiah. She was faithful and believing before God chose her.

Colossians 1:28

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: - Every man - (means mankind)

Our goal as Christians should be- to keep our goals, our thoughts, our motives, and our actions where they need to be while seeking God's blessing and looking for God's guidance through life. This is what we find to be true, when we become children of God. If our first goal is to please God, we will do the right things because we love Him and believe Him.

We will be seen as perfect in our Heavenly Father's sight. We must be willing to have those rough edges sanded, submitting ourselves to the Father God's will.

It is a fascinating thought to know that God is searching for people whose heart is perfect towards Him.

People who have made Him the most important part of their lives. People whose greatest desire is to please the Lord and live a life of faith. They were not perfect people but were seen as perfect because of Christ and His shed blood and their desire to please God.

In Hebrews God recognizes men and women who did things because of through faith

and it was counted unto them as righteousness... It was in those actions God worked through them.

Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

God's still working on me and He is still working on you too.

We just have to keep on going forward, keep our hearts right, resist the devil and

be willing to change. If that's what God wants that's what matters.

Who does God see as perfect?, all those trusting Christ who love Him more than anything else.

Those who want to please Him more than anything else and keep themselves pure in an evil day.

Those under the soul saving blood of the Lamb.

We must pray for each other, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Let Us Pray

Father God, I pray that you will speak to those seeking your will today, those who are discourage, those who are hurting and those that are questioning,

Lead them back to you, restore their faith show them the direction you would have them take.

I pray that each one will make a new commitment to you for this coming new year.

In Christ Name I Pray This - Amen

Jesus will take anyone willing to come to Him by faith, accepting you as one of His beloved.

Christ died for your sins and raised from the dead - making salvation available for all.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Susan Nikitenko
December 30th, 2017
Devotional

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At treasurebox18@yahoo.com - All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include Site Name And Proper Credit Back To This Blog. Thank-You.

Joseph's Love

Joseph's Love

Even though Christmas is over and I'm putting up our Christmas decorations, Christmas seems to keep on happening. We know that Christmas is about the Christ Child being born unto us, but if you think about it, Christmas really happens all year long. When a person becomes a Christian something happens, He becomes born again. The Christ of Christmas is born in His heart.

The Spirit of Christmas lives in our hearts. I'm not talking about Jolly Oh St. Nik - but Christ becomes alive in our hearts and we become children of God. The day star arises in our heart. The light of the world lives within us.

Even though the Christmas lights are being put away in a box. The trees , the garlands the bulbs and bells are being gathered and stored. God's glory continues to shine.

Today I was reminded of God's mercy and how He willingly came to earth to be our Saviour, our comforter, our dearest of friends. We are loved and accepted because of His merciful love towards us.

Joseph came to my mind today, I thought of how He must have felt hearing that Mary was pregnant with a child. His love was tested. His faith was tested. He was then faced with a question. Should I tell all or show mercy? Would He keep it private or cause her shame and even death? Would it be considered a lie if He held back that information or would it be merciful?

There's a verse that has often come to my mind when making hard decisions.

Proverbs 10:12 ¶ Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

That's exactly what Jesus did for us.

Joseph questioned whether or not Mary was lying to Him. He was a godly man or God would not had chose Him to be the earthly father of Jesus. He was a praying man and open to God's will. God sent an angel to tell Him not to fear but to take Mary for his wife.

Matthew 1:20

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

If we want a picture of love and how we should treat other people I think of Joseph.

He really loved Mary and sought to put her away privately. She would have been stoned to death otherwise.

But he believed and He willingly became the earthly protector of God Almighty's only begotten Son.

He could have become angry and carried gossip all over town and watched her die while being stoned, but He talked to God.

That is when God sent him the answer He needed.

Devotional: Susan Nikitenko

James 5:20

Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Susan Nikitenko January 06, 2018

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Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At treasurebox18@yahoo.com - All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include Site Name And Proper Credit Back To This Blog. Thank-You.

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Glory, Glory Amazing

Our family to yours:

Have A Blessed Christmas,

May The God Of Heaven Bless You This Night

With The Light That Saves.

Jesus The Light Of The World.

Glory, Glory, Amazing,

Like blinking Christmas lights lighting on my tree.

Like stars up in a starry sky shining down on me.

Let us shine His true light on this Christmas Eve.

That Christmas will be Christmas in the heart that believes.

Jesus is the light of the world, joy to the world;

Came down as a baby ,precious one so adored.

The perfect gift of God was given on Christmas.

Glory, Glory, Amazing, God came down to us.

Perfect lamb of God, perfect holy promised child;

God incarnate in human flesh undefiled.

Glory, Glory, Amazing, God came down to us.

Praise Him, one and all, for the gift of Christmas

Like blinking Christmas lights lighting on my tree.

Like stars up in a starry sky shining down on me.

Let us shine His true light on this Christmas Eve.

That Christmas will be Christmas in the heart that believes.

Susan Y Nikitenko

December 24th, 2017

Christmas Song

Matthew 5:16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.