PSALM 23

A Psalm of David

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Read the Psalm here in the online Bible – NIV translation

WE HAVE TIME by OCTAVIAN PALER

I don’t know if you ever heard about OCTAVIAN PALER ? He was a Romanian Journalist, a most respectable one. He died last year, age 80. Click on his name to read some lines about his bibliography.

One of his most known and wonderful writing is “WE HAVE TIME…” (“Avem timp…” – the original title – in romanian). Click on the romanian flag to read the romanian version on Shalom – Jurnal de Pace.

BUT,

If you don’t speak romanian, I invite you to read this writing in english, on another wordpress weblog, host by Aurel Mateescu. I am sure you will not regret. Click HERE to open this weblog and scroll down because the english version is under the romanian one.

1 CORINTHIANS 13

” If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. “

This is passage 1 Corinthians 13 from the Bible

I think that we used this word “love” so many different ways nowadays, so the real meaning of LOVE was lost in time. Not only lost, but its meaning was also deformed, according to the person who uses it. We know who is interest in deforming this meaning, by giving it many wrong images.

 

How big our God’s love was for us that “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3.16).

 

Love is not vogue, it is modesty.

Love is not when you convert yourself in your own idol, when you promote yourself, and your image.

Love is not what we watch on TV day and night (and especially at night).

Television sells image. This is its role. It is shallow and it sells shallowness. The image is what they sell, not the substance. There are advisors and counselors behind each smile, behind any retort. Behind that seemingly blunder, too.

 

Nowadays it is up to date aggressiveness, vulgarity and their degradations. (as also said in About this weblog). More violent we are, much more we win in this world.

 

Love can’t be selfish, even we watch all around this feeling. It seems to be love but it is not.

Love is not intrigue; even the soap operas are based on this feeling.

Love is sacrifice, is giving up at something important (for you) in order to do something important for the other one. And especially doing that with joy!

Love can’t be jealous, because a person is not an object, a thing. You can’t posses him/her. If we feel jealousy for someone this is not love, it is pride and imagination.

 

SOMEONE really loves us with jealousy but this is the only right feeling, because He really owns us. He bought us with His Son’s blood, so He is the only one who can claim what He owns.

Love was so beautiful in those old times, 2000 years ago, in 1 Corinthians 13

 

Antoine de Saint-Exupery, the author of “The Little Prince” (you can read it here) was giving a wonderful definition for love: “Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction.” Aimer, ce n’est pas se regarder l’un l’autre, c’est regarder ensemble dans la même direction. (French)

 

COMMUNICATION-THE SIGN LANGUAGE

I think this is useful: to learn how to communicate with someone who has a problem: a deaf person who can’t hear or a voiceless one who can’t speak. And this handicap is not his/her fault!

So, why don’t we help? Let’s learn the sign-language

this gif file is copied from: http://www.glitter-graphics.com/graphics/551976

this sign-language picture is copied from http://www.posteremag.ro/limbajul-semnelor-p-138.html

THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)

refresh the page if the video doesn’t load

One of the most beloved movie musicals of all-time, THE SOUND OF MUSIC had all the makings of a successful film — memorable Rodgers and Hammerstein songs, lush background locations, a talented cast, an experienced production team, the preceding momentum of a popular stage musical, and most importantly, a wholesome, sentimental story with sympathetic heroes, historic villains and broad family appeal.

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ONLINE BIBLE

Do you want to read the Bible but you don’t have one? No problem, you can read it online, or you can download it free.

In English:

- http://bibleresources.bible.com/ . You can listen, read or search a special word/verse here. Just click on the link.

- http://bibleresources.bible.com/bible_read.php . Did you know that there are over 20 translations/versions of the Holy Book, just in English? You can choose one of them here.

- http://bibleresources.bible.com/bible_niv.php . This is a shortcut to the New International Version.

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In Romanian (maybe you want to see these christian websites too):

- http://biblia.crestini.com/ . This is a good christian website where you can read the Romanian Bible or search for a specific word. The translation is by Dumitru Cornilescu (click on his name to read about him). Or, if you know some romanian you could read a Post about his life and work, here.

- http://www.intercer.net/article.php?id=74 . Another christian website. You can download the Romanian Bible here, to listen, read it or look for a specific word. Same translation, the

OPEN THE BIBLE WHEN…

I need an encouragement or I need to read something from the Bible, well, I NEED GOD!

OPEN THE BIBLE WHEN…

You are afraid Psalm 34:4 ; Matthew 10:28 ; 2 Timothy 1:7 ; Hebrews 13:5,6

You are impatient Psalm 46 ; Matthew 6:19-34 ; Philippians 4:6 ; 1 Peter 5:6,7

You glided into a bad habit Psalm 51 ; 1 John 1:4-9

There is an indigence Matthew 5:4 ; 2 Corinthians 1:3,4

You feel embittered 1 Corinthians 13

You feel defeated Romans 8:31-39

You are sad Psalm 34

You are in trouble Psalm 91 ; Psalm 118:5,6 ; Luke 8:22,25

You feel downhearted Psalm 23 ; Psalm 42:6-11 ; Psalm 55:22 ; Matthew 5:11,12 ; 2 Corinthians 4:8-18 ; Phillipians 4:4-7

You have doubts Matthew 8:26 ; Hebrews 11

You are in difficulties Psalm 121 ; Matthew 6:25,34 ; Hebrews 4:16

You are foosing your faith Psalm 42:5 ; Hebrews 11

Your friends abandon you Psalm 41:9-13 ; Luke 17:3,4 ; Romans 12:14-21 ; 2 Timothy 4:16-18

You are leaving home Psalm 121 ; Matthew 10:16-20

You feel alone Psalm 23 ; Hebrews 13:5,6

You need God’s safeguard Psalm 27:1-6 ; Psalm 91 ; Phillipians 4:19

You need guidance Psalm 32:8

You need peace John 14:1-4 ; John 16:33 ; Romans 5:1-5 ; Phillipians 4:6,7

You need an advice Romans 12 ;

You feel overwhelming Psalm 6 ; Romans 8:31-39 ; 1 John 1:4-9

You need to pray Psalm 4 ; Psalm 42 ; Luke 11:1-13 ; John 17 ; 1 John 5:14,15

You need to feel safe Psalm 18:1-3 ; Psalm 34:7

You are in pains Psalm 38 ; Matthew 26:39 ; Romans 5:3-5 ; 2 Corinthians 12:9-19

1 Peter 4:12,13,19

You are worried Psalm 51 ; Matthew 5:4 ; John 14 ; 2 Corinthians 1:3,4 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

You are tempted Psalm 1 ; Matthew 26:41 ; 1 Corinthians 10:12-14 ; Phillipians 4:8 ; James 4:7 ; 2 Peter 2:9 ; 2 Peter 3:17

You are contented Psalm 100 ;1 Thessalonians 5:18 ; Hebrews 13:15

You travel Psalm 121

You are in a confuse situation Psalm 16 ; Psalm 31 ; John 14:1-4 ; Hebrews 7:25

You feel tired Psalm 90 ; Mathew 11:28-30 ; 1 Corinthians 15:58 ; Galatians 6.9:10

You are worried Mathew 6:19-34 ; 1 Peter 5:6,7

Or, if you want to read the BIBLE online, click here

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THE BIBLICAL EVENTS ON THE MAP

I heard about an interesting and helpful address today: http://www.biblemap.org/ Try it, you can found on this map the places where the biblical events took place. (click on the following picture)

I found this address by listening a Christian Radio, Vocea Evangheliei Oradea, Romania (as an appproximate translation in English ~ The Voice of the Gospel Oradea, Romania). This broadcast’s name is Slalom pe net (as an approximate translation in English ~ Slalom on the network). If you want to listen this Christian Radio try one of the following addresses:

http://www.rve.net/asculta_live.php

http://www.rve.net/rve_satelit.php

http://www.rve.net/cum_ascult.php