Hello Guys and Gals!
Many years ago I had a dream on the night before Easter. In this dream, I felt as if I was taken from where I was and placed at the foot of the cross of Jesus while He was being crucified upon it. This was one of the most vivid dreams I have ever had. I saw Him up on the cross in His tortured state. And when I looked up at Him, He looked down upon me and told me, 'I am doing this for you!' When He said that to me, He looked upon me with love in His eyes that I have never seen before and will only see again when I meet Him in heaven.
It was one of the most personal personal, heart piercing, dreams I have ever had. In that moment, I knew that Jesus had died on the cross for me alone. Everything he suffered was for me and me alone. He wanted me to know that I was worth all that suffering to Him and I felt it in His loving gaze.
It is the same for each and every one of you! Jesus also died for you and you alone! If He had to do it all over again just for you, He would! That is how much Jesus loves us. Each and every one of us.
It is my prayer today that you can see the love in Jesus' eyes as I have seen and know, beyond any doubt, that He sacrificed all in loving you and me!
God bless you all this day!
31 July 2010
28 July 2010
Kidney Stone!
Sorry for not writing in the last few days. I am suffering from a kidney stone and do not want to write while on pain meds.
God bless you guys today!
God bless you guys today!
25 July 2010
David and Peter!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I wonder if any of you have ever wondered what David and Peter had in common? Both men were great leaders of faith under God! But what did they have in common? They both, after serving the Lord faithfully, fell short in something, and were admonished for it and went on to continue to serve the Lord!
Let's look at David first. In 2 Samuel 11, it tells about how David stayed home from the battlefield and chanced upon Bathsheba bathing from the roof of his house. He inquires of her and finds out that she is the wife of Uriah. He sends a messenger to Joab telling him to place Uriah in a place where fighting is very dangerous. In so doing, Uriah dies in battle. After the time of mourning, David takes Bathsheba for his wife.
Now let's look at what happened. First, David was not at the battlefield where he should have been. Second, when he saw Bathsheba bathing, instead of averting his eyes, he found her beautiful and inquired after her. Third, he sent a messenger to Joab to place Uriah in a very dangerous place essentially murdering him. Fourth, not only did he sin against God and Uriah, but also led Joab to sin against God and Uriah as well.
In 2 Samuel 12, it tells about how the prophet Nathan tells a little story to rile David's wrath against the sinner of the story. Then Nathan tells David that the sinner in the story is none other than David himself. Because of David's sin, the Lord said that the sword would never depart from his house and that the Lord would raise up evil from David's own household and even take David's wives before David's eyes and give them to his companion who would lie with them in broad daylight.
Now David immediately repents of his sin and the Lord immediately takes Davids sin away and David does not suffer the punishment of the sin by dying! But the consequences that the Lord said would happen because of David's sin are still there! Just because David repented does not mean that he does not still suffer the consequences of his sin.
Let us now look at Peter. In Galatians 4, Paul opposes Peter to his face. Why? Because Peter, when eating, would eat with the Gentiles. Yet, when certain circumcised persons would attend, Peter would hold himself aloof fearing what the circumcised persons would say about him. In doing this, other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy. It says that even Barnabas was carried away by the hypocrisy. So Paul, in front of everyone said, 'If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?'
Now we know that Peter went on to become the 'rock' upon which Jesus would build His church. But we also see here that he too was fallible.
Why have I place both David and Peter together? Because both men were Godly men who did great things in His name both before and after their sins! I want to say to you that sin does not prevent us from doing great things in God's name. Now we may have to suffer the consequences of the sin, or may have to deal with the scars that sin leaves upon our lives. But that should not keep us from doing His will!
So what that you have sinned. So what that you have a stain on you from that sin. 'Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.' Hebrews 4:16. This has to be one of my favorite verses in the whole bible! It tells us that it does not matter what your sin is, but come boldly to the throne of God's grace. Why? So we may receive God's mercy AND find grace within ourselves to help others in their time of need! What an amazing witness. God has turned our sin into an avenue by which we can help others who are in need!
So if you're facing a sin that you think is preventing you from doing God's will, get up and boldly go to God's throne of grace! Do it right now! Do not let sin win in your life. Let God turn your sin into a witness for Him!
God bless you all this day!
I wonder if any of you have ever wondered what David and Peter had in common? Both men were great leaders of faith under God! But what did they have in common? They both, after serving the Lord faithfully, fell short in something, and were admonished for it and went on to continue to serve the Lord!
Let's look at David first. In 2 Samuel 11, it tells about how David stayed home from the battlefield and chanced upon Bathsheba bathing from the roof of his house. He inquires of her and finds out that she is the wife of Uriah. He sends a messenger to Joab telling him to place Uriah in a place where fighting is very dangerous. In so doing, Uriah dies in battle. After the time of mourning, David takes Bathsheba for his wife.
Now let's look at what happened. First, David was not at the battlefield where he should have been. Second, when he saw Bathsheba bathing, instead of averting his eyes, he found her beautiful and inquired after her. Third, he sent a messenger to Joab to place Uriah in a very dangerous place essentially murdering him. Fourth, not only did he sin against God and Uriah, but also led Joab to sin against God and Uriah as well.
In 2 Samuel 12, it tells about how the prophet Nathan tells a little story to rile David's wrath against the sinner of the story. Then Nathan tells David that the sinner in the story is none other than David himself. Because of David's sin, the Lord said that the sword would never depart from his house and that the Lord would raise up evil from David's own household and even take David's wives before David's eyes and give them to his companion who would lie with them in broad daylight.
Now David immediately repents of his sin and the Lord immediately takes Davids sin away and David does not suffer the punishment of the sin by dying! But the consequences that the Lord said would happen because of David's sin are still there! Just because David repented does not mean that he does not still suffer the consequences of his sin.
Let us now look at Peter. In Galatians 4, Paul opposes Peter to his face. Why? Because Peter, when eating, would eat with the Gentiles. Yet, when certain circumcised persons would attend, Peter would hold himself aloof fearing what the circumcised persons would say about him. In doing this, other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy. It says that even Barnabas was carried away by the hypocrisy. So Paul, in front of everyone said, 'If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?'
Now we know that Peter went on to become the 'rock' upon which Jesus would build His church. But we also see here that he too was fallible.
Why have I place both David and Peter together? Because both men were Godly men who did great things in His name both before and after their sins! I want to say to you that sin does not prevent us from doing great things in God's name. Now we may have to suffer the consequences of the sin, or may have to deal with the scars that sin leaves upon our lives. But that should not keep us from doing His will!
So what that you have sinned. So what that you have a stain on you from that sin. 'Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.' Hebrews 4:16. This has to be one of my favorite verses in the whole bible! It tells us that it does not matter what your sin is, but come boldly to the throne of God's grace. Why? So we may receive God's mercy AND find grace within ourselves to help others in their time of need! What an amazing witness. God has turned our sin into an avenue by which we can help others who are in need!
So if you're facing a sin that you think is preventing you from doing God's will, get up and boldly go to God's throne of grace! Do it right now! Do not let sin win in your life. Let God turn your sin into a witness for Him!
God bless you all this day!
23 July 2010
Our Trials and Tribulations!
Hello Guys and Gals!
Have you ever wondered why you were going through a particular trial or tribulation in your life? Have you ever thought God to be unjust by putting you through it, or allowing you to go through it? Boy, I sure have!
I have been through many trials and tribulations in my life. With each and every one, Jesus has been there right by my side. Yet I only seem to realize this after the fact. I think one of the reasons we go through troubling times is to build our faith in God. He wants us to know that He is the one we should turn to in times of need and knows that by us putting our trust in Him to get us out of this troubling time, that we strengthen our faith in Him.
But surely that is not the only reason. Then I've considered some of the trials or tribulations I have been through and looked at them separately. What was the trial about? How did going through this trial help me? I looked at one in particular. About five to six years ago I started having panic attacks. This is one trial that was particularly tough for me. You see, my ex-wife used to have panic attacks, and when she did, I used to tell her to pull herself out of it and that it was mind over matter and she was way too smart to be having something stupid like panic attacks. So here I was, years later, having the very things I said she should be able to control. I thought I was helping her when she had her attacks. Now I was having panic attacks and I could do NOTHING to stop them from happening.
I think that God allowed me to go through this so that I would see what a defeating event they are in people's lives. I also believe that they helped me see that, no matter how small you think a problem may be, that this very problem could be very huge to the person suffering from it. I had not been seeing the problem from their eyes but my own. If I have ever done this to any of you, I apologize most sincerely.
Now I do not know if there are more reasons as to why we suffer trial and tribulations. But I know this, with just these two reasons, I thank God for putting me through each and every trial and tribulation I have faced. Thank you Lord Jesus for also being there with me through them!
God bless you all this day!
Have you ever wondered why you were going through a particular trial or tribulation in your life? Have you ever thought God to be unjust by putting you through it, or allowing you to go through it? Boy, I sure have!
I have been through many trials and tribulations in my life. With each and every one, Jesus has been there right by my side. Yet I only seem to realize this after the fact. I think one of the reasons we go through troubling times is to build our faith in God. He wants us to know that He is the one we should turn to in times of need and knows that by us putting our trust in Him to get us out of this troubling time, that we strengthen our faith in Him.
But surely that is not the only reason. Then I've considered some of the trials or tribulations I have been through and looked at them separately. What was the trial about? How did going through this trial help me? I looked at one in particular. About five to six years ago I started having panic attacks. This is one trial that was particularly tough for me. You see, my ex-wife used to have panic attacks, and when she did, I used to tell her to pull herself out of it and that it was mind over matter and she was way too smart to be having something stupid like panic attacks. So here I was, years later, having the very things I said she should be able to control. I thought I was helping her when she had her attacks. Now I was having panic attacks and I could do NOTHING to stop them from happening.
I think that God allowed me to go through this so that I would see what a defeating event they are in people's lives. I also believe that they helped me see that, no matter how small you think a problem may be, that this very problem could be very huge to the person suffering from it. I had not been seeing the problem from their eyes but my own. If I have ever done this to any of you, I apologize most sincerely.
Now I do not know if there are more reasons as to why we suffer trial and tribulations. But I know this, with just these two reasons, I thank God for putting me through each and every trial and tribulation I have faced. Thank you Lord Jesus for also being there with me through them!
God bless you all this day!
21 July 2010
Just Be Yourself!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I wanted to write this message today more from my heart than from any research I've done over the years. When I was younger, all I wanted to be was 'cool'! I worked very hard at trying to do that, but it wasn't the real me. I felt that if I showed the real me to people that they wouldn't like me much.
So as I went through my teens, twenties, thirties, and so on, and so on...
All I did was change one definition of cool for another! I went through many stages in attempting to be in the cool crowd. Now I wonder how much different it would have been if I had just let myself be myself.
I changed in the last year or two. I changed immensely. Not that I haven't been changing over the many years as well. It's just that I finally realized that it didn't matter what other people think if I'm truly being true to myself and to God! I started giving my whole self to God, not just parts of me, but all of me. In doing so, I found out who I really am. What an awesome revelation. To discover the real me after all these years. And on top of that, find out that my real identity of myself had always been rooted in God!
Listen up Guys and Gals! Be true to yourself. Quit worrying about what others may think of your true personality. Quit worrying about what others will say about your hobbies and habits and anything else that you may have this concern in.
Be yourself! Figure out who you are and be that! Enjoy that! Live that! I encourage all of you to search in God's Word first to discover your true self. That is where I looked last and wish I had looked there first! Any way you do it, do it! Find yourself and be true to yourself by living and doing what gives you true happiness. For me, it's all about restoring relationships that I've had in the past, strengthen relationships I have now, and seek out new relationships with people I meet in the future! In all of this, I'm NOT seeking to destroy, but to build!
God bless you all this day!
I wanted to write this message today more from my heart than from any research I've done over the years. When I was younger, all I wanted to be was 'cool'! I worked very hard at trying to do that, but it wasn't the real me. I felt that if I showed the real me to people that they wouldn't like me much.
So as I went through my teens, twenties, thirties, and so on, and so on...
All I did was change one definition of cool for another! I went through many stages in attempting to be in the cool crowd. Now I wonder how much different it would have been if I had just let myself be myself.
I changed in the last year or two. I changed immensely. Not that I haven't been changing over the many years as well. It's just that I finally realized that it didn't matter what other people think if I'm truly being true to myself and to God! I started giving my whole self to God, not just parts of me, but all of me. In doing so, I found out who I really am. What an awesome revelation. To discover the real me after all these years. And on top of that, find out that my real identity of myself had always been rooted in God!
Listen up Guys and Gals! Be true to yourself. Quit worrying about what others may think of your true personality. Quit worrying about what others will say about your hobbies and habits and anything else that you may have this concern in.
Be yourself! Figure out who you are and be that! Enjoy that! Live that! I encourage all of you to search in God's Word first to discover your true self. That is where I looked last and wish I had looked there first! Any way you do it, do it! Find yourself and be true to yourself by living and doing what gives you true happiness. For me, it's all about restoring relationships that I've had in the past, strengthen relationships I have now, and seek out new relationships with people I meet in the future! In all of this, I'm NOT seeking to destroy, but to build!
God bless you all this day!
19 July 2010
The Whole Word Of God!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I want to talk to you today about the Holy Scriptures also known as the Word of God!
'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it.' John 1:1-5.
Many people think that the Word of God was made by men. Also, they believe that it is just a set of rules or principles made by men of old that instruct man on how to live a good life. This is not true! We can clearly see that the Word of God existed before anything else and it was with God and it was God!
'And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.' John 1:14.
This passage testifies to the fact that God became man so that He could bring us both grace and truth! Jesus Christ is the very embodiment of truth. The Word of God is nothing more than a representation of who Jesus was when he dwelt among us. The truth of the Word of God is the truth of Jesus Christ given to us by God so that we may know the truth and no longer dwell in darkness.
This means that the whole of the Word of God, every last jot and tittle of it, is part of what God wanted us to have.
'I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.' Exodus 20:2-6.
This is a difficult passage to understand completely. It talks about bringing Israel out of bondage in Egypt. If you are a Christian, then you have been adopted in to this very family through Jesus Christ, so that their history is also the history of your family! You could even take it a step further and say that the bondage God brought you personally out of was your bondage to sin.
It talks about idols. What is an idol? I'll give you the most simple definition of an idol I can think of; an idol is anything that you put in your life that hinders your relationship with God or you put before God in all that you do! Do you have any idols in your life?
Now comes the hard part. We know that God desires a personal relationship with each and every person on the Earth. He created us and desires it for us. Yet, in the above passage, God talks about visiting the iniquity, or sins, of the father onto the children for up to the third and fourth generation. Here is the key part, 'of those who hate Me'! God visits this iniquity on the father and his children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Him! God is punishing those who hate Him for the sins of their grandfathers. Hard stuff huh? Yet this is only for those who hate Him!
The good part comes next. God tells us that He will show loving-kindness to those who love Him and keep His commandments. There are many people out there who claim to love the Lord, yet they do not keep His commandments. God has clearly stated that you not only must love Him but also keep His commandments.
Jesus said, 'If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.' John 8:31-32.
How can we know we are doing what His Word says? James says this about it, 'But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.' James 1:22-25.
Do you do what the Word of God says? Or are you just a hearer of the Word? Yes, I am talking about the whole Word of God. Here is what I am getting at with this whole post. Many people today are saying that certain parts of the Word of God are no longer applicable today because society has advanced. This is not true!
When Paul talks about how women should be silent in church because they are subject to their husbands, this still holds today. When the bible talks about the act of a man lying with another man or a woman lying with another woman being an abomination in His eyes, this still holds today!
I know many of you will think badly of me for saying this, but I believe in the whole Word of God and not just a part of it. I also know that some will go to their bibles and start pointing out little points of contention here and there. And I say to them that when they consider the author's intent, the audience he was writing to, the history of what was going on then, and the actual full message being told; all these things together that the Word of God is still fully applicable and fully true today as it was when it was first written!
I want you all to know that all believers are under Grace, or the law of liberty, and not subject to the Law as it pertains to Israel who does not believe in Jesus as their savior! Everyone falls into one of three categories as pertaining to the Law.
The first is people who are descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob but have not accepted Jesus as Lord. These are the people under the Law!
The second are Gentiles, or those not descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These people are not under the Law and live in darkness.
The third are both descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and Gentiles both who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. These people are neither under the Law or living in darkness, but are under the law of liberty, or law of Grace.
Through grace and our love of Jesus Christ, we live in such a way that our very words and actions establish the Law that Israelites attempt to live under. But we must know the whole of the Word of God in order to do His Will. This means all parts of it with no omissions just because you don't like it or you think that it doesn't apply today!
For if you strive to know and do the whole of the Word of God, then the blessings of God will flow over you. Now this does not mean that there won't be struggle as well. But through that struggle, you will gain strength in God and a certain knowledge that He will always be there for you!
God bless you all this day!
I want to talk to you today about the Holy Scriptures also known as the Word of God!
'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it.' John 1:1-5.
Many people think that the Word of God was made by men. Also, they believe that it is just a set of rules or principles made by men of old that instruct man on how to live a good life. This is not true! We can clearly see that the Word of God existed before anything else and it was with God and it was God!
'And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.' John 1:14.
This passage testifies to the fact that God became man so that He could bring us both grace and truth! Jesus Christ is the very embodiment of truth. The Word of God is nothing more than a representation of who Jesus was when he dwelt among us. The truth of the Word of God is the truth of Jesus Christ given to us by God so that we may know the truth and no longer dwell in darkness.
This means that the whole of the Word of God, every last jot and tittle of it, is part of what God wanted us to have.
'I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.' Exodus 20:2-6.
This is a difficult passage to understand completely. It talks about bringing Israel out of bondage in Egypt. If you are a Christian, then you have been adopted in to this very family through Jesus Christ, so that their history is also the history of your family! You could even take it a step further and say that the bondage God brought you personally out of was your bondage to sin.
It talks about idols. What is an idol? I'll give you the most simple definition of an idol I can think of; an idol is anything that you put in your life that hinders your relationship with God or you put before God in all that you do! Do you have any idols in your life?
Now comes the hard part. We know that God desires a personal relationship with each and every person on the Earth. He created us and desires it for us. Yet, in the above passage, God talks about visiting the iniquity, or sins, of the father onto the children for up to the third and fourth generation. Here is the key part, 'of those who hate Me'! God visits this iniquity on the father and his children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Him! God is punishing those who hate Him for the sins of their grandfathers. Hard stuff huh? Yet this is only for those who hate Him!
The good part comes next. God tells us that He will show loving-kindness to those who love Him and keep His commandments. There are many people out there who claim to love the Lord, yet they do not keep His commandments. God has clearly stated that you not only must love Him but also keep His commandments.
Jesus said, 'If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.' John 8:31-32.
How can we know we are doing what His Word says? James says this about it, 'But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.' James 1:22-25.
Do you do what the Word of God says? Or are you just a hearer of the Word? Yes, I am talking about the whole Word of God. Here is what I am getting at with this whole post. Many people today are saying that certain parts of the Word of God are no longer applicable today because society has advanced. This is not true!
When Paul talks about how women should be silent in church because they are subject to their husbands, this still holds today. When the bible talks about the act of a man lying with another man or a woman lying with another woman being an abomination in His eyes, this still holds today!
I know many of you will think badly of me for saying this, but I believe in the whole Word of God and not just a part of it. I also know that some will go to their bibles and start pointing out little points of contention here and there. And I say to them that when they consider the author's intent, the audience he was writing to, the history of what was going on then, and the actual full message being told; all these things together that the Word of God is still fully applicable and fully true today as it was when it was first written!
I want you all to know that all believers are under Grace, or the law of liberty, and not subject to the Law as it pertains to Israel who does not believe in Jesus as their savior! Everyone falls into one of three categories as pertaining to the Law.
The first is people who are descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob but have not accepted Jesus as Lord. These are the people under the Law!
The second are Gentiles, or those not descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These people are not under the Law and live in darkness.
The third are both descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and Gentiles both who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. These people are neither under the Law or living in darkness, but are under the law of liberty, or law of Grace.
Through grace and our love of Jesus Christ, we live in such a way that our very words and actions establish the Law that Israelites attempt to live under. But we must know the whole of the Word of God in order to do His Will. This means all parts of it with no omissions just because you don't like it or you think that it doesn't apply today!
For if you strive to know and do the whole of the Word of God, then the blessings of God will flow over you. Now this does not mean that there won't be struggle as well. But through that struggle, you will gain strength in God and a certain knowledge that He will always be there for you!
God bless you all this day!
17 July 2010
Don't Let Guilt Win!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I want to talk to you today about guilt!
guilt /gɪlt/ Show Spelled[gilt] Show IPA –noun
1. the fact or state of having committed an offense, crime, violation, or wrong, esp. against moral or penal law; culpability: He admitted his guilt.
2. a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined.
3. conduct involving the commission of such crimes, wrongs, etc.: to live a life of guilt.
This is the definition that dictionary.com gives about guilt. As you can see it is the fear or state of your knowledge that you have done wrong against someone. We all have guilt. All of us have to deal with that knowledge that we have done others wrong, that we have done God wrong. None of us is so pure that we haven't committed any wrong.
But do we have to live with that guilt the rest of our lives?
'For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.' James 2:10.
Clearly we see that if we stumble on just one little thing, that we are guilty of breaking the whole of the law. It does not matter if that guilt comes from a little, white lie, or from black murder. It is still an offense and we all have had many more than just one stumble in our lives.
'Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.' Hebrews 4:14-16.
I love this passage! This passage lets us know that our intercessor, Jesus Christ, has also been tempted by the very same things we face when we are tempted. He knows what we have gone through and what we will go through. He will be there with us! So be sure to go to Him boldly and say, 'I want that grace!' For if you do, your guilt will be no more consequence.
'Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.' Hebrews 10:19-25.
Big passage here! Yet it states that we can draw near with a sincere heart being fully assured that our hearts have been sprinkled clean from an evil conscience. Our guilt is of no more consequence in His eyes!
So what now? Do we take this freedom we now have and go back to living the way we were? Heaven forbid! May it never be! Instead we are to stimulate and encourage one another to doing good deeds through our, and His, love of them. We are to keep to assembling together and not forsake it. Why? Because by gathering together on a regular basis, we encourage one another and draw strength from each other who are of like mind with us.
God wants us to use our gifts to bring about His will in our lives and the lives of others! Your gift may be leading a flock, teaching the Word, or simply being there to listen to someone who needs to be listened to. We all have different gifts. You know what it is that you do well. Use that gift and go encourage others in His love!
But don't let guilt win! Sometimes we are afraid to use our gifts because we remember that guilt from before and think that we are not worthy of furthering His will. But that guilt is only a memory! Remember that! It is no longer a part of your life having been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ! So put your remembrance of that guilt away from you and seek to help doing His will, not only in your own life, but also in the lives of others!
God bless you all this day!
I want to talk to you today about guilt!
guilt /gɪlt/ Show Spelled[gilt] Show IPA –noun
1. the fact or state of having committed an offense, crime, violation, or wrong, esp. against moral or penal law; culpability: He admitted his guilt.
2. a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined.
3. conduct involving the commission of such crimes, wrongs, etc.: to live a life of guilt.
This is the definition that dictionary.com gives about guilt. As you can see it is the fear or state of your knowledge that you have done wrong against someone. We all have guilt. All of us have to deal with that knowledge that we have done others wrong, that we have done God wrong. None of us is so pure that we haven't committed any wrong.
But do we have to live with that guilt the rest of our lives?
'For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.' James 2:10.
Clearly we see that if we stumble on just one little thing, that we are guilty of breaking the whole of the law. It does not matter if that guilt comes from a little, white lie, or from black murder. It is still an offense and we all have had many more than just one stumble in our lives.
'Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.' Hebrews 4:14-16.
I love this passage! This passage lets us know that our intercessor, Jesus Christ, has also been tempted by the very same things we face when we are tempted. He knows what we have gone through and what we will go through. He will be there with us! So be sure to go to Him boldly and say, 'I want that grace!' For if you do, your guilt will be no more consequence.
'Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.' Hebrews 10:19-25.
Big passage here! Yet it states that we can draw near with a sincere heart being fully assured that our hearts have been sprinkled clean from an evil conscience. Our guilt is of no more consequence in His eyes!
So what now? Do we take this freedom we now have and go back to living the way we were? Heaven forbid! May it never be! Instead we are to stimulate and encourage one another to doing good deeds through our, and His, love of them. We are to keep to assembling together and not forsake it. Why? Because by gathering together on a regular basis, we encourage one another and draw strength from each other who are of like mind with us.
God wants us to use our gifts to bring about His will in our lives and the lives of others! Your gift may be leading a flock, teaching the Word, or simply being there to listen to someone who needs to be listened to. We all have different gifts. You know what it is that you do well. Use that gift and go encourage others in His love!
But don't let guilt win! Sometimes we are afraid to use our gifts because we remember that guilt from before and think that we are not worthy of furthering His will. But that guilt is only a memory! Remember that! It is no longer a part of your life having been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ! So put your remembrance of that guilt away from you and seek to help doing His will, not only in your own life, but also in the lives of others!
God bless you all this day!
15 July 2010
Are Drugs Mentioned In The Bible?
Hello Guys and Gals!
Are drugs mentioned in the bible? I'll let you decide that. Here is what I know.
'Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.' Galatians 5:19-21.
Do you see the word 'sorcery'? You actually have to go back to the Greek to get an accurate translation of this word. I believe sorcery is mistranslated in today's language, yet it was accurately translated that way back in time. The original word in Greek is the word 'pharmakia'. Do you draw any conclusions yet? It is the same word from which we get the word pharmaceuticals, or drugs.
See, back then it wasn't known as 'drugs'. It was known as Sorcery or Alchemy or any other of a number of labels. It is just that the translators of the bible didn't know that it would no longer be called sorcery but drugs instead. This is a perfect example of how language changes over the ages. So now that we know the truth about it, does it change your mind about how you feel about drugs? Or not?
God bless you all this day!
Are drugs mentioned in the bible? I'll let you decide that. Here is what I know.
'Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.' Galatians 5:19-21.
Do you see the word 'sorcery'? You actually have to go back to the Greek to get an accurate translation of this word. I believe sorcery is mistranslated in today's language, yet it was accurately translated that way back in time. The original word in Greek is the word 'pharmakia'. Do you draw any conclusions yet? It is the same word from which we get the word pharmaceuticals, or drugs.
See, back then it wasn't known as 'drugs'. It was known as Sorcery or Alchemy or any other of a number of labels. It is just that the translators of the bible didn't know that it would no longer be called sorcery but drugs instead. This is a perfect example of how language changes over the ages. So now that we know the truth about it, does it change your mind about how you feel about drugs? Or not?
God bless you all this day!
13 July 2010
Start Now!
Hello Guys and Gals!
There was a time when I had salvation but was not living a Christian life. I cannot beg for forgiveness enough from my Lord for the bad witness I gave during that time. But the day did come where I asked Him how I could start helping His cause. Do you know what he told me? He said to me to put my past failures and sins behind me and start now being a new creature in Him.
'Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.' Hebrews 4:16.
We need to come boldly to His throne of grace so that he can give us our forgiveness and strengthen us to do His work.
I went boldly to His throne of grace and I promised Him that I would start now. I would not let my past hinder what I was doing and that I would rely upon His strength to do His will.
Needless to say, Satan also heard me and chose this time of commitment to try and persecute me from doing God's will. So Satan attacked me in many different ways. I have been accused of lying and deception for telling nothing but the truth. I have even been accused of using this very blog as a podium for my lies. Satan is attacking me at every side right now. But I claim the power of Jesus Christ and hold it fast to me and I will not be cowed into straying from God's will for my life.
Therefore, Satan, I will no longer allow your attacks against me, be they spiritual attacks, physical attacks, or mental attacks, to come between me and the work I do for my Lord and Savior, one Jesus Christ! I cast thee away from me in the name of Jesus Christ!
This is how you deal with doubt, deceivers, and those who would call your efforts false! The only standard you should be using when you hold what you're doing to scrutiny is the Word of God. But do it correctly! When you seek to understand what the bible is saying. You should consider the author's intent in writing what he wrote, the audience, the occasion for the writing, and what was going on at that time as well as the actual message. And do not take just a small snippet to try and understand what is being said. This is how so much scripture is misinterpreted. You must consider what was said before and after the scripture you are studying. This is how you accurately study what the Word of God truly says.
In conclusion, do not let your past dictate your future. Do not let your past hinder what you are doing in the name of Jesus Christ! Do not let those who point to your past convince you that what you are doing is wrong. Stand fast in the truth of God's Word, hold tight to Jesus Christ, and do great works in His name!
May God bless you all this day!
There was a time when I had salvation but was not living a Christian life. I cannot beg for forgiveness enough from my Lord for the bad witness I gave during that time. But the day did come where I asked Him how I could start helping His cause. Do you know what he told me? He said to me to put my past failures and sins behind me and start now being a new creature in Him.
'Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.' Hebrews 4:16.
We need to come boldly to His throne of grace so that he can give us our forgiveness and strengthen us to do His work.
I went boldly to His throne of grace and I promised Him that I would start now. I would not let my past hinder what I was doing and that I would rely upon His strength to do His will.
Needless to say, Satan also heard me and chose this time of commitment to try and persecute me from doing God's will. So Satan attacked me in many different ways. I have been accused of lying and deception for telling nothing but the truth. I have even been accused of using this very blog as a podium for my lies. Satan is attacking me at every side right now. But I claim the power of Jesus Christ and hold it fast to me and I will not be cowed into straying from God's will for my life.
Therefore, Satan, I will no longer allow your attacks against me, be they spiritual attacks, physical attacks, or mental attacks, to come between me and the work I do for my Lord and Savior, one Jesus Christ! I cast thee away from me in the name of Jesus Christ!
This is how you deal with doubt, deceivers, and those who would call your efforts false! The only standard you should be using when you hold what you're doing to scrutiny is the Word of God. But do it correctly! When you seek to understand what the bible is saying. You should consider the author's intent in writing what he wrote, the audience, the occasion for the writing, and what was going on at that time as well as the actual message. And do not take just a small snippet to try and understand what is being said. This is how so much scripture is misinterpreted. You must consider what was said before and after the scripture you are studying. This is how you accurately study what the Word of God truly says.
In conclusion, do not let your past dictate your future. Do not let your past hinder what you are doing in the name of Jesus Christ! Do not let those who point to your past convince you that what you are doing is wrong. Stand fast in the truth of God's Word, hold tight to Jesus Christ, and do great works in His name!
May God bless you all this day!
The Truth About Lying!
Hello Guys and Gals!
What do you know about lies? I used to think that I knew more than I did. Yet now that I know more about them, the more I realize that there is so little that I actually know! The same can be said for just about everything.
What does the Word of God say about lying?
'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.' Exodus 20:16.
I used to think that there was a loophole in this commandment. It says not just that 'you shall not bear false witness' but it adds on 'against your neighbor'! I used to think that when confronted with a situation where nobody would get hurt, like when your wife asks if the jeans she's wearing make her look fat, then a little lie, or a white lie, would not only be acceptable but appropriate in that situation. I no longer believe this!
John 2:21, 'no lie is of the truth.'
With this, we see that even a simple little white lie is not of the truth.
Jesus spoke to the Pharisees about lying. 'Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.' John 8:43-44.
This tells me that any lie, no matter how small, is of Satan who is the Father of Lies. If you make a lie, then you are speaking directly from Satan's own mouth!
'A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who tells lies will perish.' Proverbs 19:9
In this we can see that not only is the liar going to perish, but also that the lie itself will not go unpunished. I believe that any who spreads a lie, even if they do not know they are spreading a lie, also partake in the punishment of that lie.
Now that we know what the Word of God says about it, let's get into what actually happens with a lie. When someone lies, the lie that they speak attacks the relationship that person is having with who they are telling that lie to. Now some of you might say that you do not care about that relationship with someone you do not know. But Jesus told us that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. He went on to define our neighbor as everyone you have contact with in your life! So when you lie, you are not seeking a good relationship but more attacking the relationship instead.
Even a simple white lie can rip a family to shreds. It brings division and lack of trust to a family. I have seen this with my own eyes many times. I am not speaking of just one incident here but what I have witnessed over the course of my life.
If any of you want to promote good relationships in your life, which is one of the things Jesus commanded us to do, then do not lie! For a lie tears at the very fabric that the relationship is made of. It is not a good thing and God will punish the Liar as well as the Lie and all who partake in it!
May God bless you all this day!
What do you know about lies? I used to think that I knew more than I did. Yet now that I know more about them, the more I realize that there is so little that I actually know! The same can be said for just about everything.
What does the Word of God say about lying?
'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.' Exodus 20:16.
I used to think that there was a loophole in this commandment. It says not just that 'you shall not bear false witness' but it adds on 'against your neighbor'! I used to think that when confronted with a situation where nobody would get hurt, like when your wife asks if the jeans she's wearing make her look fat, then a little lie, or a white lie, would not only be acceptable but appropriate in that situation. I no longer believe this!
John 2:21, 'no lie is of the truth.'
With this, we see that even a simple little white lie is not of the truth.
Jesus spoke to the Pharisees about lying. 'Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.' John 8:43-44.
This tells me that any lie, no matter how small, is of Satan who is the Father of Lies. If you make a lie, then you are speaking directly from Satan's own mouth!
'A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who tells lies will perish.' Proverbs 19:9
In this we can see that not only is the liar going to perish, but also that the lie itself will not go unpunished. I believe that any who spreads a lie, even if they do not know they are spreading a lie, also partake in the punishment of that lie.
Now that we know what the Word of God says about it, let's get into what actually happens with a lie. When someone lies, the lie that they speak attacks the relationship that person is having with who they are telling that lie to. Now some of you might say that you do not care about that relationship with someone you do not know. But Jesus told us that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. He went on to define our neighbor as everyone you have contact with in your life! So when you lie, you are not seeking a good relationship but more attacking the relationship instead.
Even a simple white lie can rip a family to shreds. It brings division and lack of trust to a family. I have seen this with my own eyes many times. I am not speaking of just one incident here but what I have witnessed over the course of my life.
If any of you want to promote good relationships in your life, which is one of the things Jesus commanded us to do, then do not lie! For a lie tears at the very fabric that the relationship is made of. It is not a good thing and God will punish the Liar as well as the Lie and all who partake in it!
May God bless you all this day!
11 July 2010
Punishment and Consequences!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I am writing this today because so many people think that these words are synonymous with each other. They are not! They are entirely different words.
PUNISHMENT:
1. the act of punishing.
2. the fact of being punished, as for an offense or fault.
3. a penalty inflicted for an offense, fault, etc.
4. severe handling or treatment.
CONSEQUENCE:
1. the effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier: The accident was the consequence of reckless driving.
2. an act or instance of following something as an effect, result, or outcome.
3. the conclusion reached by a line of reasoning; inference.
4. importance or significance: a matter of no consequence.
5. importance in rank or position; distinction: a man of great consequence in art.
Look closely at these two definitions. They are not the same. Punishment is an act of inflicting something upon someone for an offense. Consequences are something that will happen after someone does something that causes the consequence to come about.
When we sin against God, we are guilty of violating His Law and as such we are then susceptible to be punished under His Law! Yet when we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, we are forgiven our transgressions under His Law because Jesus has already been punished by God for our transgressions. He took our punishment and gave us His righteousness.
But that does not negate the consequences of the sin wherein we transgressed. In my own life, I have sinned against God many times. Under His Law, I am guilty and susceptible to be punished. Yet I have accepted Jesus Christ into my life. For this reason I have been seen in God's eyes not as guilty but righteous. However, the consequences of my sins are still in my life!
For example, take my former drug addiction to methamphetamine. I have been forgiven and will not suffer the punishment of this sin. However, I do suffer the consequences of having done this sin.
If one were to break the law, say using methamphetamine, and then be arrested for it by the authorities. They are then tried and sentenced as a part of the consequences. Now this is punishment under the national laws of the land. But it is a consequence of the user's actions in God's eyes. If that user asks Jesus into his life, he will then be forgiven of his transgression of God's Law. But that does not mean he does not face the consequences of the national laws of the land.
Please be aware that just because God has forgiven us as Christians, that does not mean that said forgiveness should be applied also to the believer for his transgressions against the law of the land. It does not mean that we set free prisoners who have accepted Jesus Christ into their lives. However, their actions and words can have an effect upon others with whom they are imprisoned with.
It is sometimes a hard thing to face the consequences of our actions. But remember this, Jesus will be right there with us helping us through the very difficult consequences that we face from the actions which we have chosen in this life that are not beneficial to either us or others!
May God bless you all this day! =)
I am writing this today because so many people think that these words are synonymous with each other. They are not! They are entirely different words.
PUNISHMENT:
1. the act of punishing.
2. the fact of being punished, as for an offense or fault.
3. a penalty inflicted for an offense, fault, etc.
4. severe handling or treatment.
CONSEQUENCE:
1. the effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier: The accident was the consequence of reckless driving.
2. an act or instance of following something as an effect, result, or outcome.
3. the conclusion reached by a line of reasoning; inference.
4. importance or significance: a matter of no consequence.
5. importance in rank or position; distinction: a man of great consequence in art.
Look closely at these two definitions. They are not the same. Punishment is an act of inflicting something upon someone for an offense. Consequences are something that will happen after someone does something that causes the consequence to come about.
When we sin against God, we are guilty of violating His Law and as such we are then susceptible to be punished under His Law! Yet when we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, we are forgiven our transgressions under His Law because Jesus has already been punished by God for our transgressions. He took our punishment and gave us His righteousness.
But that does not negate the consequences of the sin wherein we transgressed. In my own life, I have sinned against God many times. Under His Law, I am guilty and susceptible to be punished. Yet I have accepted Jesus Christ into my life. For this reason I have been seen in God's eyes not as guilty but righteous. However, the consequences of my sins are still in my life!
For example, take my former drug addiction to methamphetamine. I have been forgiven and will not suffer the punishment of this sin. However, I do suffer the consequences of having done this sin.
If one were to break the law, say using methamphetamine, and then be arrested for it by the authorities. They are then tried and sentenced as a part of the consequences. Now this is punishment under the national laws of the land. But it is a consequence of the user's actions in God's eyes. If that user asks Jesus into his life, he will then be forgiven of his transgression of God's Law. But that does not mean he does not face the consequences of the national laws of the land.
Please be aware that just because God has forgiven us as Christians, that does not mean that said forgiveness should be applied also to the believer for his transgressions against the law of the land. It does not mean that we set free prisoners who have accepted Jesus Christ into their lives. However, their actions and words can have an effect upon others with whom they are imprisoned with.
It is sometimes a hard thing to face the consequences of our actions. But remember this, Jesus will be right there with us helping us through the very difficult consequences that we face from the actions which we have chosen in this life that are not beneficial to either us or others!
May God bless you all this day! =)
09 July 2010
David's Faith In God!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I was reading today in 1 Samuel about David and Goliath. Did you know that Goliath was over 9 feet tall? I did the math and it said he was six cubits and a span. Now a cubit is 18 inches. If you add up just the cubits, that is 9 feet tall!
Now David was just a youth and everyone thought he was just talk. Yet he approached Goliath and said this, 'You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD's and He will give you into our hands.' 1 Samuel 17:45-47.
What an amazing faith and witness for the Lord! And you wonder why God called David a man after His own heart! It was also because when David found out about his sin, he immediately repented and sought the forgiveness that only God can give!
I wonder what America would be like today if our President had faith in God the same way David had. I ask and pray to God that He guides us in our choosing of our leaders and our next president!
God bless you all this day!
I was reading today in 1 Samuel about David and Goliath. Did you know that Goliath was over 9 feet tall? I did the math and it said he was six cubits and a span. Now a cubit is 18 inches. If you add up just the cubits, that is 9 feet tall!
Now David was just a youth and everyone thought he was just talk. Yet he approached Goliath and said this, 'You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD's and He will give you into our hands.' 1 Samuel 17:45-47.
What an amazing faith and witness for the Lord! And you wonder why God called David a man after His own heart! It was also because when David found out about his sin, he immediately repented and sought the forgiveness that only God can give!
I wonder what America would be like today if our President had faith in God the same way David had. I ask and pray to God that He guides us in our choosing of our leaders and our next president!
God bless you all this day!
08 July 2010
Hard Time Today!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I'm sorry for not posting something more today. I have had a hard time going through something in my life today. Please simply pray for me as I struggle with this!
God bless you all this day!
I'm sorry for not posting something more today. I have had a hard time going through something in my life today. Please simply pray for me as I struggle with this!
God bless you all this day!
07 July 2010
Christianity Without Suffering Is Dead!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I want to talk to you today about what you will go through as a true Christian! Many people say that once you accept Him into your life that everything will be like walking in a rose garden! This is simply not true! The truth is that you will be constantly tested in your faith, not only about your beliefs, but also about how you respond to these tests!
'Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.' Romans 5:1-5.
We will go through tribulations as believers! We will go through persecutions as believers! If you are not offending those who are in the world with the truth of Jesus Christ, then you're not speaking TRUTH! A friend of mine reminded me of this last night. He told me to put behind me the fact that some people I know do not want to associate with me anymore because of what I am saying about the Gospel and Jesus Christ! I guess this is one of the tribulations I am intended to go through!
'we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.' 2 Corinthians 4:8-11.
Paul wrote this to prove that, as Christians, we will go through sufferings and persecutions in our walk with Jesus Christ!
'Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.' Hebrews 12:1-2.
Still, knowing that we shall suffer trial and tribulation and persecution, we should still run the race set before us in an effort to win the race! Please understand that this is a race of endurance and not a quick dash! God will give us the strength to endure in this race if we only rely upon Him! Then we too can enjoy the rewards of our striving when we reunite with Jesus in Heaven!
God bless you all today!
I want to talk to you today about what you will go through as a true Christian! Many people say that once you accept Him into your life that everything will be like walking in a rose garden! This is simply not true! The truth is that you will be constantly tested in your faith, not only about your beliefs, but also about how you respond to these tests!
'Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.' Romans 5:1-5.
We will go through tribulations as believers! We will go through persecutions as believers! If you are not offending those who are in the world with the truth of Jesus Christ, then you're not speaking TRUTH! A friend of mine reminded me of this last night. He told me to put behind me the fact that some people I know do not want to associate with me anymore because of what I am saying about the Gospel and Jesus Christ! I guess this is one of the tribulations I am intended to go through!
'we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.' 2 Corinthians 4:8-11.
Paul wrote this to prove that, as Christians, we will go through sufferings and persecutions in our walk with Jesus Christ!
'Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.' Hebrews 12:1-2.
Still, knowing that we shall suffer trial and tribulation and persecution, we should still run the race set before us in an effort to win the race! Please understand that this is a race of endurance and not a quick dash! God will give us the strength to endure in this race if we only rely upon Him! Then we too can enjoy the rewards of our striving when we reunite with Jesus in Heaven!
God bless you all today!
06 July 2010
To Those Who Served!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I wanted to do this yesterday or the day before but I couldn't quite gather my thought about what I could say. But I want to salute all those who have served in the US Military for the service they have provided and the losses they have endured.
I have nothing but the utmost respect for those in the military. Why? Because they choose to serve no matter what! Even if they're sent to a war where they know that a change in administration here in the US can severely inhibit their ability to do what needs to be done. Even when the politicians are not supporting them, they still choose to serve, fight, endure losses uncounted, bleed their blood, and even die if they have to so that even liberals and progressives and anti-war advocates have the right to protest the military. Even when they're protesting, they forget the fact about the very ones who they are protesting are the very reason that they have the right to protest!
So here's to all who have served, are serving now, will serve, and especially all who have paid the ultimate price and died for our freedom! Salute!
Keep up the good work Soldiers and Sailors! May God bless our Soldiers and Sailors who defend our country against all enemies, both foreign and domestic!
God bless you all today!
I wanted to do this yesterday or the day before but I couldn't quite gather my thought about what I could say. But I want to salute all those who have served in the US Military for the service they have provided and the losses they have endured.
I have nothing but the utmost respect for those in the military. Why? Because they choose to serve no matter what! Even if they're sent to a war where they know that a change in administration here in the US can severely inhibit their ability to do what needs to be done. Even when the politicians are not supporting them, they still choose to serve, fight, endure losses uncounted, bleed their blood, and even die if they have to so that even liberals and progressives and anti-war advocates have the right to protest the military. Even when they're protesting, they forget the fact about the very ones who they are protesting are the very reason that they have the right to protest!
So here's to all who have served, are serving now, will serve, and especially all who have paid the ultimate price and died for our freedom! Salute!
Keep up the good work Soldiers and Sailors! May God bless our Soldiers and Sailors who defend our country against all enemies, both foreign and domestic!
God bless you all today!
05 July 2010
What Is Friendship?
Hello Guys and Gals!
I have been considering this question of late. What actually is friendship?
I know some people and I'm not sure if they're truly my friends or not. What I mean by that is, even though I claim being their friend, I'm not so sure they feel the same way towards me. It is because of their actions that I think this.
There is a new way of thinking that, if you're friends with someone, you can pick on them in a jesting way. I fully agree with being able to pick on your friends. However, some, and I'm not naming any names, let your conscience be your own guide, feel that, because of this friendship status, they can take to actually harassing you about something that is serious in your life at that time. They find something that really upsets you, and instead of helping you with it or staying away from that button, they intentionally press that button to see what kind of reaction they get out of you.
It is this type of behavior that makes me wonder if these people who I am trying to be their friend are trying to be my friend in return. Or are they simply trying to see how riled up they can get me? Why do people now a days work so hard at pissing people off like it's a game or something?
I don't believe that this is friendship!
I have also noticed that, with all the new gay hype going on, that people no longer touch other people in a friendly way anymore, thinking that maybe they will be hit with a gay accusation or maybe a sexual harassment lawsuit. What ever happened to putting a comforting hand on a shoulder in friendship without there being any gay or sexual implications involved in it? Why can't people, male or female, comfort each other with a hug or an arm around the shoulder without the other person looking at you wondering if you're making a move on them?
I think the media is playing this up in commercials, sitcoms, and movies! I wonder what their agenda is in attempting to keep people from being true friends.
In my church, the pastor is doing a series of sermons on Galatians. In it he talks about knowing that the Holy Spirit is within you by the fruits of the Spirit. 'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.' Galatians 5:22-23. I think we can apply this principle to friendship as well as fruits of the Spirit. Does your relationship with this friend of yours promote these things? Or are they simply seeking to make you mad?
I think if we truly want to be friends with another, we need to build a relationship with them. The fruits of the Spirit are the PERFECT way to build a relationship with anyone! How do you treat your friends? Me, I am going to seek to treat my friends with fruits of the spirit!
God bless you all this day!
I have been considering this question of late. What actually is friendship?
I know some people and I'm not sure if they're truly my friends or not. What I mean by that is, even though I claim being their friend, I'm not so sure they feel the same way towards me. It is because of their actions that I think this.
There is a new way of thinking that, if you're friends with someone, you can pick on them in a jesting way. I fully agree with being able to pick on your friends. However, some, and I'm not naming any names, let your conscience be your own guide, feel that, because of this friendship status, they can take to actually harassing you about something that is serious in your life at that time. They find something that really upsets you, and instead of helping you with it or staying away from that button, they intentionally press that button to see what kind of reaction they get out of you.
It is this type of behavior that makes me wonder if these people who I am trying to be their friend are trying to be my friend in return. Or are they simply trying to see how riled up they can get me? Why do people now a days work so hard at pissing people off like it's a game or something?
I don't believe that this is friendship!
I have also noticed that, with all the new gay hype going on, that people no longer touch other people in a friendly way anymore, thinking that maybe they will be hit with a gay accusation or maybe a sexual harassment lawsuit. What ever happened to putting a comforting hand on a shoulder in friendship without there being any gay or sexual implications involved in it? Why can't people, male or female, comfort each other with a hug or an arm around the shoulder without the other person looking at you wondering if you're making a move on them?
I think the media is playing this up in commercials, sitcoms, and movies! I wonder what their agenda is in attempting to keep people from being true friends.
In my church, the pastor is doing a series of sermons on Galatians. In it he talks about knowing that the Holy Spirit is within you by the fruits of the Spirit. 'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.' Galatians 5:22-23. I think we can apply this principle to friendship as well as fruits of the Spirit. Does your relationship with this friend of yours promote these things? Or are they simply seeking to make you mad?
I think if we truly want to be friends with another, we need to build a relationship with them. The fruits of the Spirit are the PERFECT way to build a relationship with anyone! How do you treat your friends? Me, I am going to seek to treat my friends with fruits of the spirit!
God bless you all this day!
03 July 2010
God's Intent!
I have read the bible many times. Every time I read it, God speaks to me through it with something new. But there is a central theme running through it that many people do not comment upon. That theme is that God's whole purpose with His Word and His actions are solely for the reason that He wants to have a loving, caring relationship with us! God wants us to look at Him as not only our Father who cares for all of our needs, but also as our friend Who is there to just simply listen to us when we need to rant!
How many of you have loved their father or mother their whole life, yet it wasn't until we became older that we actually developed a friendship relationship with them and we actually started to enjoy hanging out with our parents?
This is what God wants from us! He wants us to depend fully on Him and more importantly, He wants to be our best friend forever, and when He says forever, you can bet He means real forever!
God bless you guys today!
How many of you have loved their father or mother their whole life, yet it wasn't until we became older that we actually developed a friendship relationship with them and we actually started to enjoy hanging out with our parents?
This is what God wants from us! He wants us to depend fully on Him and more importantly, He wants to be our best friend forever, and when He says forever, you can bet He means real forever!
God bless you guys today!
01 July 2010
Separation of Church and State!
Okay, let's do a look back into history at the Pilgrims. They came to America from England, Spain, and other countries. But why did they come over here?
They came to America for the chance to worship God under their own beliefs! In England, King George III had declared that everyone in England was a defacto member of the Church of England and no other denominations were allowed to practice there. In Spain, the King and Queen there did the same thing for Catholicism. It was a trend at that time for the leaders of the given countries to declare for their favorite denomination and demand that everyone under their rule be of that same denomination.
So the Pilgrims came to America with the desire to practice their own belief in God without being told how to do that by the State, or Government, under which they lived. Many of those who came to America did so because they adhered to their beliefs so profoundly that they were kicked out of every other European country. The Anabaptists are one such that come to mind.
So, when the Founders of our nation came together and spoke about Separation of Church and State, this is what they finally agreed upon: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." This is the FIRST Amendment to the Constitution! Why the first? Probably because the Founders thought that this was the most important addendum to our government.
Please read it carefully. It specifically prohibits Congress from making laws pertaining to religion and the right of said religion to the free exercise of their own beliefs. It says NOTHING about religion not having the ability to influence the State! They did this on purpose!
The Founders of the US were very heavily influence by Christian beliefs as is clearly seen in the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Therefore, in summation, it was fully expected by the Founders of our Nation, that the Church WOULD influence the State, yet the State would NOT govern the Church!
God bless you all this day!
They came to America for the chance to worship God under their own beliefs! In England, King George III had declared that everyone in England was a defacto member of the Church of England and no other denominations were allowed to practice there. In Spain, the King and Queen there did the same thing for Catholicism. It was a trend at that time for the leaders of the given countries to declare for their favorite denomination and demand that everyone under their rule be of that same denomination.
So the Pilgrims came to America with the desire to practice their own belief in God without being told how to do that by the State, or Government, under which they lived. Many of those who came to America did so because they adhered to their beliefs so profoundly that they were kicked out of every other European country. The Anabaptists are one such that come to mind.
So, when the Founders of our nation came together and spoke about Separation of Church and State, this is what they finally agreed upon: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." This is the FIRST Amendment to the Constitution! Why the first? Probably because the Founders thought that this was the most important addendum to our government.
Please read it carefully. It specifically prohibits Congress from making laws pertaining to religion and the right of said religion to the free exercise of their own beliefs. It says NOTHING about religion not having the ability to influence the State! They did this on purpose!
The Founders of the US were very heavily influence by Christian beliefs as is clearly seen in the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Therefore, in summation, it was fully expected by the Founders of our Nation, that the Church WOULD influence the State, yet the State would NOT govern the Church!
God bless you all this day!
Restoring Relationships!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I was talking with a friend of mine today and I found out that this person had a bad experience with someone in high school. I got to thinking about this and even though this person was hurt, they still reached out to the person that hurt them and is friends with them. This is what we should all be doing! We should all be striving to restore lost relationships even if we were the one who was hurt.
I know that when I was that young that I was cocky, arrogant, and stupid! I did many things and hurt many people. I'm not talking physically here. I wish I could take all them things back. I was also hurt many times by many people. I wish I could go back and somehow make a difference back then.
The thing is, we all have hurt and been hurt by others! I try to let God be my example on this. God, throughout history, has been working to restore mankind to Himself so that Man and God can have a good relationship together through His Son, Jesus Christ!
Now Jesus said the greatest two commandments were the first two: 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.' Matthew 22:37-40
So the whole of the Law is about relationships! First, your personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ; and second, your relationship with your neighbors, or simply put, everyone else! If we seek to restore both of these relationships, then we are following the Law, not our of obligation to obedience, but through love given us by example of God's grace and Jesus' sacrifice!
I hope that everyone who reads this thinks about someone with whom they do not have a good relationship with and finds the courage to reach out to that person or persons and strives to restore that relationship!
God bless you Guys and Gals this day!
I was talking with a friend of mine today and I found out that this person had a bad experience with someone in high school. I got to thinking about this and even though this person was hurt, they still reached out to the person that hurt them and is friends with them. This is what we should all be doing! We should all be striving to restore lost relationships even if we were the one who was hurt.
I know that when I was that young that I was cocky, arrogant, and stupid! I did many things and hurt many people. I'm not talking physically here. I wish I could take all them things back. I was also hurt many times by many people. I wish I could go back and somehow make a difference back then.
The thing is, we all have hurt and been hurt by others! I try to let God be my example on this. God, throughout history, has been working to restore mankind to Himself so that Man and God can have a good relationship together through His Son, Jesus Christ!
Now Jesus said the greatest two commandments were the first two: 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.' Matthew 22:37-40
So the whole of the Law is about relationships! First, your personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ; and second, your relationship with your neighbors, or simply put, everyone else! If we seek to restore both of these relationships, then we are following the Law, not our of obligation to obedience, but through love given us by example of God's grace and Jesus' sacrifice!
I hope that everyone who reads this thinks about someone with whom they do not have a good relationship with and finds the courage to reach out to that person or persons and strives to restore that relationship!
God bless you Guys and Gals this day!
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