As The Sun Shines Through

 Malachi  1:11  (Prophecy Of Jesus As A Pure Sacrifice)

For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

As The Sun Shines Through

The last time I talked about sunflowers I told you how the sunflowers face the arising sun.  This time I want to talk about the reflection of the light from behind the sunflower as the sun is setting.  It's a most beautiful scene to see a field of sunflowers as the sun is setting in the distance.  We can enjoy seeing the sunflowers as the reflection shines from the back of its pedals.  

I am reminded that each setting of the sun is a reminder that Christ died and every arising of the sun is a reminder that Christ arose from the dead.  All nature speaks of Christ and is a revelation of His majesty and power.  I believe God gave us nature to enjoy and to love, but not to worship.  Nature is another reason to praise Him, another way for us to explain to others how loving God is and how He operates in our lives.  Every living thing, every moving power of nature and every rock formed all point back to God our creator.   

One of the things God expresses to us in scripture is to let our light shine.  He's talking about the light that He shines through us while we are trusting and living for Him.  We cannot shine the light that Christ is talking about until we have trusted in the death of Christ for us and also in His resurrection.   As I think about the setting and the arising of the sun, I think of the beautiful field full of sunflowers lit up by the light of the sun.  

There are times in life as Christians we can feel alone even when there are many other  Christians around us.   There is one that we can always count on, one love we can always count on in life and in death.  See Christ can light up our lives even when the world seems so dark around us.  He can shine through us in our darkest moments.  Sometimes our darkest moment is the very moment another sees the light shining from us the most.  

I think of Steven at his stoning, his darkest moment.  He never shined brighter than that

 moment He cried out to God for those stoning him.  He never shined brighter than the moments his eyes looked up to heaven right before he died.   The Spirit of Christ shined from His life and also at his death.  

The Bible teaches us, that those without Christ are living in darkness and their eyes are blinded.  Once we know Christ, He comes into our hearts and lives and the light of Christ begins to shine from our lives as we follow Him.  As we look to the light of His Word, seek the light of truth, and live in the light of His Word, Then His light reflects from us into a dark world.  Just as the light reflects across the horizon as night falls and lights up a sunflower field. 

Hopefully, God will open your eyes this very day to the light He is shining for you.  God's desire is for you to come to the light.  The light is this,  Christ died for sinners like you and myself.  We didn't deserve it, nor could we ever repay it, it is a gift from heaven above, given in His sweet, sweet,  love for all mankind.  He arose and now we know, He can bring light to our own hearts as we believe upon Him, as we trust Him as our Saviour, as the one who paid what we could not pay, the debt for our sin.

Let us look to the light as we seek Him each day and as we bow our heads each night to pray.  That other people may see us shining in this dark, dark world and follow our Jesus as their Saviour and Lord. That they may find life in His marvelous light and be pulled from the powers of the unrighteous night.

Won't you trust Him today?

Susan Y Nikitenko

October 24th, 2016 ©

Sunflowers

Lesson/Devotional 

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be 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 "susannikitenko@gmail.com" All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include the Site Name And Link Back To This Blog. Thank-You. Images are not all Christian but put here for the purposes of doing good works of faith, family and country.

We Want to Know You More

We Want to Know You More

Lord, we look to you,  we want to know  you more.

Lord, we speak to you,  we want to serve you more.

Cleanse our hearts, purify our minds, heal our hurts;

Help us to be better,  not bitter in this world.

Each day has a yesterday of memories ;

Some with tears, because of hurtful years;

Some with joyfulness ,we're not comfortless.

Because you have come to live and dwell in us.

What love, what joy, can fill our hearts today;

Because you live, you heal, each hurt away.

When we forgive in love, just go on each day;

With each step a prayer along life's way.

We know we have power in you our Christ;

For in you we can shine forth your great light.

Bring us to where we need to be, dear Lord;

That our lives may be blessings, in this world.

Give us grace to believe, not be deceived;

By the subtlety that sin works to weave.

Keep our feet from stumbling  in the way;

Bless our efforts each and every day.

Susan Y Nikitenko

Prayer Song

October 22nd, 2016

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 Link Back To This Blog. Thank-You.Images are not all Christian, but put here for the purposes
of doing good works of faith, family and country.

                                         

Our Now

Our Now

God has shown us many times, many ways; 

That he is occupied with us, always on his mind.

He wants us to  direct our hearts his way;

By making Him the crucial part of our day.

By making Him our goal in both our life and soul;

By making Him our choice and His words our voice.

By making Him the tool with which we plow;

By making Him our strength, our joy, our now.

Susan Y  Nikitenko

Poem / Chorus 

October 22nd, 2016

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 Link Back To This Blog. Thank-You.Images are not all Christian, but put here for the purposes of doing good works of faith, family and country.

                                      

Don't Forget Him - Poster

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 Link Back To This Blog. Thank-You.Images are not all Christian, but put here for the purposes of doing good works of faith, family and country.

Don't Forget Him

Don't Forget Him

Just around the corner, just around the bend;

Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here again.

Little angels costumes will need to be made;

And we all need to practice for the Christmas play.

Oh me, Oh my, there is just so much to do;

The tree needs put up and decorated too.

Look at my  list, it reaches down to the ground;

These storage boxes are standing in a mound.

All the Christmas boxes, all the Christmas bows;

All the lights and garlands strung across the floor;

It's time to deck the halls and hang Christmas bells;

It's time to decorate for Christmas once more.

Thanksgiving is coming and the food needs planned;

Will we have both turkey  and Thanksgiving ham?

Who needs our assistance at this time of year?

I'm sure the Lord will lead us to whom and to where.

Just around the corner, just around the bend;

Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here again.

Whatever we need to do to get there, don't forget

That Christmas is all about Jesus, don't forget Him!

Christmas Song/ Poem

Susan Y Nikitenko

October 18th, 2016

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 Link Back To This Blog. Thank-You.Images are not all Christian, but put here for the purposes of doing good works of faith, family and country.

There Are No Simple Thank-Yous

There Are No Simple Thank-Yous

If I could tell you thank-you:

With words, just fabulous.

Not so simple, but with scolar;

Worth thousands of dollars.

I would talk to you all day;

Give thanks in an unusaul way.

Genuine, with my heart in line;

Because you have been so kind.

Thank-you, Thank-you, it's true;

My heart is thinking of you;

And ev'ry'thing  you've done;

Not just for me but ev'ry one.

Though my words are mostly simple;

My love for you is more than real;

I just want to let you know;

Just how you've made me feel.

There are no simple thank-yous;

When the thanks belongs to you;

It's hard to do them justice'

Because I'm inlove with you.

Thank-You

A Love Thank-You...Sweetest Day

Susan Y, Nikitenko

October 15th, 2016 ©
Written For Sweetest Day

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries, But Must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At "susannikitenko@gmail.com" All My Poem And Stories Are Both Real And Fictional Designed To Illustrate A Biblical Truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include Site Name And Link Back To This Blog. Thank-You. Images are not all Christian, but put here for the purposes of doing good works of faith, family and country.

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 Link Back To This Blog. Thank-You.Images are not all Christian, but put here for the purposes of doing good works of faith, family and country.

And Such Were Some Of You

 And Such Were Some Of You

Have you ever heard the bible story about Saul in the new testament?  Saul believed himself to be righteous in living for God as he went about persecuting and killing Christians.  He was a religious man, a Pharisee who had the authority of the Sanhedrin to persecute anyone who  did not uphold their beliefs.  The Christians feared  him and fled at his appearing , but something happened one day that changed  Saul's whole life.  

There was  great persecution against the Christians.  In fear they  scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.  Saul went house to house threatening to kill Christians and persecuting families throwing them into prison.  This was very soon after the stoning of Steven who was stoned to death,  but prayed for those stoning him.   

Christians must have been praying for their deliverance and help from God because God himself confronted Saul on the road to Damascus.  It was the day that Saul's life was changed forever.  Saul believed He was serving God, but instead He was working against God.  Saul was deceived into a wrong religion.  He needed to know Jesus.  Saul was blinded to truth already and  God also blinded him physically  on the road to Damascus.  We are all blinded to truth until God opens our eyes.  Many people believe they serve God and know God but, they are not alive to God. They are still dead in their trespasses and sins.   See Saul (Paul)  thought  He was doing the work of the Lord, but instead He was serving Satan in the name of God.  God was merciful to his children and also to Saul.  

God spoke directly to Saul and asked him why He was persecuting Him.   

Acts  9:4   And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

 He needed to understand that He was wrong and hurting Christ by hurting his people.  Saul was blinded and needed to be lead by the hand.  

Saul believed God and prayed. Then God sent Him Ananias, who was a Man of God.   Ananias called Saul brother, which means He became part of the family of God.  Saul's eyes were opened spiritually to God for the very first time.  He was still blinded physically but his eyes were spiritually opened to the truth of Christ.  Ananias was there to pray over Saul , to restore his site and that Saul would be filled with the Holy Ghost.  Saul became a preacher of God that day.

Saul had problems at first being accepted by Christians because they feared him.  He was known for persecuting Christians.  Many people are known for something before they become faithful to Christ but, because of God's great  forgiveness we are given a new start .  Saul was accepted and forgiven  and was received into the family of Christ.  He became a great hero of the faith that we read about in the scriptures.  God has changed the life of many who once were fooled by false religions or ideas that kept them blind to God and his love.  

We are all guilty of sin and if we remain without Christ, we will be held accountable for our sins.  The payment for sin is death, meaning an eternal death, an eternity in hell.  God does not want that for anyone.  He desires that all people be saved.  

We become righteous in God's sight when we accept Christ.  See true belief will give birth to good works and a desire to please God with our lives.  

In the following verses I especially want you to take notice of verse 11 where it says, " And such were some of you".   

1Corinthians 6:9-11

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?  Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Saul was a violent man who had killed Christians

The Christians didn't believe Saul was saved  and they had to be persuaded to accept him into the family of God.  They had to forgive someone who hurt their families and friends.  They prayed and made a decision to forgive.  They did forgive him and He became a great leader of righteousness.

Are you someone who thinks God wouldn't forgive someone like you, someone who wants to know if your trusting in the right things, believing the right things?  Maybe this is your wakeup call.  Saul had a wakeup call and He believed and became a great man of God.  He was given a new name.  Paul, the Apostle of Christ.

Are you someone who has not continued in the faith of Christ, someone who has wandered away from right living.  You're a believer, but you've messed up.  If you were truly his child, He will not leave you alone, He will not let you live at peace with your sin, He will chasten you until you are sorrowful over what sin does.  He chastens those he loves.  He spanks us so to speak, only sometimes worse than that.  It all depends on what it takes to get you home.  It may be a gentle reminder or a near death, a wake up call.  See if you were once his child you are always his child.  He will never leave us nor forsake us. We are sealed until the day of redemption, Once you are born into the family of God, you don't get aborted, The only thing that blots you out of the book of life.  Is the rejection of Christ, because it's what Christ did that saved us and it's what he did for us that keeps us saved.

Devotional: Susan Y. Nikitenko ©

October 9th, 2016
Acts Chapter 9

 2Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Devotional: Susan Y. Nikitenko

October 9th, 2016
Acts Chapter 9

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 Link Back To This Blog. Thank-You.Images are not all Christian, but put here for the purposes of doing good works of faith, family and country.

I Love You, I Love you

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 Link Back To This Blog. Thank-You.Images are not all Christian, but put here for the purposes of doing good works of faith, family and country.

I Can Always Depend On You - Text

I Can Always Depend On You

I praise you because of the great love you have shown;

You gave your all, you gave yourself.

Your love moved a mountain that could never be moved.

Your love to me is much more than wealth.

The world goes around without making a sound ;

The sky is blue and always new;

But still your love is the greatest gift I have found;

The greatest miracle is you.

The stars can sing, we see them twink-le-ing;

Upon a midnight dark and clear.

Hear the waterfall in forests thick, so tall.

But you are the greatest gift of all.

We can hear the hoot of a hoot owl call;

Nature's sounds of all creation.We can hear the wind, as it is whistling by;

Lord, you are my habitation.

When a storm passes by on a cold dark night;

I know I can find rest in you.

Because you are the rock of my salvation;

I can always depend on you.

The world goes around without making a sound ;

The sky is blue and always new;

But still your love is the greatest gift I have found;

The greatest miracle is you.

I can always depend on you.

Susan Y Nikitenko

Praise Prayer To God

October 1st, 2016

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 Link Back To This Blog. Thank-You.Images are not all Christian, but put here for the purposes of doing good works of faith, family and country.

I Can Always Depend On You

 Psalms 71:3
Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

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 Link Back To This Blog. Thank-You.Images are not all Christian, but put here for the purposes of doing good works of faith, family and country.