Hello Guys and Gals!
About illegal immigration and tolerance toward their beliefs that they bring among us as Americans:
There is a cycle that societies go through because of their sin in allowing other beliefs to exist where they should not be allowed. People in society allow other beliefs to exist among them in their society. As a result of those beliefs that should be excluded, people in those societies start becoming tolerant of those beliefs and eventually those very beliefs become more accepted, and then eventually adopted by that society. As a result of those tolerated and adopted beliefs, God brings judgment upon that society until they return to what is proper and right before the Lord!
God gave a command!
16 Only in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you shall not leave alive anything that breathes.17 But you shall utterly destroy them, the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite and the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, as the LORD your God has commanded you,18 so that they may not teach you to do according to all their detestable things which they have done for their gods, so that you would sin against the LORD your God. ~Deuteronomy 20: 16-18
Did they obey?
21 But the sons of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem; so the Jebusites have lived with the sons of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day. ~ Joshua 1:21
27 But Manasseh did not take possession of Beth-shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; so the Canaanites persisted in living in that land ~ Joshua 1:27
29 Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who were living in Gezer; so the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them. ~ Joshua 1:29
30 Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, or the inhabitants of Nahalol; so the Canaanites lived among them and became subject to forced labor. ~ Joshua 1:30
31 Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, or the inhabitants of Sidon, or of Ahlab, or of Achzib, or of Helbah, or of Aphik, or of Rehob.32 So the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out. ~ Joshua 1:31-32
33 Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, or the inhabitants of Beth-anath, but lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; and the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath became forced labor for them. ~ Joshua 1:33
What did God do as a consequence of their disobedience?
They were rebuked!
1 Now the angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, "I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, 'I will never break My covenant with you,2 and as for you, you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.' But you have not obeyed Me; what is this you have done?3 Therefore I also said, 'I will not drive them out before you; but they will tbecome as thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you.'"4 When the angel of the LORD spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept. ~ Judges 2:1-4
Then God’s People sinned and God sent judgment upon them for their sin!
11 Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD and tserved the Baals,12 and they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; thus they provoked the LORD to anger.13 So they forsook the LORD and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.14 The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands of plunderers who plundered them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies.15 Wherever they went, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had spoken and as the LORD had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed. ~ Judges 2:11-15
The end result of tolerance is punishment by God for beliefs that are an abomination before God!
Are you ‘tolerant’ of those beliefs in your life?
Will your children accept and adopt those beliefs you are tolerant of?
Will their children be punished by God for the adoption of beliefs that are an abomination in His eyes?
I do not know the answer to that question. But God does! Why don’t you ask Him what He thinks about it?
As for me and my house, we will follow the Lord and His commands!
May God bless you all this day!
25 June 2012
18 June 2012
Do Not Let Their Sacrifice Be In Vain!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I just finished watching We Were Soldiers. This movie is about war. Specifically the first use of helicopters as calvary to move soldiers in and out of combat areas. This got me to thinking about why we go to war. We go to war, as Americans, to preserve our way of life: our freedom, our families, our culture. We do this so that those who would intrude upon our liberties will be stopped. We do this so that those who do not know freedom may come to know it. We do this to free those under tyrannical regimes can have a chance to live free from oppression as God would have it be.
In the 30's, a Socialist government rose up in power. Being so very into their Socialism, they found that they could not support the programs they had for their people. In order that they might support their programs for their people, they made war and sought to conquer other countries surrounding them to keep their Socialist machine going. This was the start of World War Two.
American men fought and died to stop this Socialist government, now ruled by a Facist dictator, in their unholy war upon other peoples and nations in an effort to keep their Socialist machine running. American soldiers, along with the British, French, and Russian soldiers, and many other countries as well, won that war. A war in which we expended our full might to preserve the freedom we now have.
Now, just 60 years later, the American people voted into power a Socialist President of the United States of America. Why? Why did we do this? We did this because we did not pay attention to our history. We did not pay attention to those historians who were warning us against this man named Barack Hussein Obama. A man who ran for election on a platform of change in which he did not define what that change was. A man who promised transparency and yet his leadership is one in which there is no transparency but is the very epitomy of everything he promised not to be.
We have an election coming up. In this election, we have another man that does not meet the standards of what every American would have for a president. Yet this man, Mitt Romney, is the only man who has a chance of defeating Barack Obama in the election. Why? Because he is the one who has secured the nomination for the Republican ticket. I am throwing my support behind this man, Mitt Romney. I have no reservations about his politics. I have no reservations about his motivations. I have no reservations about his religion. I have no reservations about his morality. I have no reservations about his finances. I have no reservations about how he will govern this country. I have no reservations at all about this man, Mitt Romney.
Why do I have no reservations? Because any reservations I might have had during the nominee process disappeared when he won the nomination. I threw out all of those reservations because I know that he, Mitt Romney, will strive to return America to the freedom it once knew under the United States Constitution and that he will push back the Socialism tide that is sweeping this land.
You see, this current president we now have, one Barack Obama, will be trying to split us and pit us against each other in order that we do not unite behind Mitt Romney to vote Obama out of office. Obama will try and say that Romney has no family values; or say that Romney only cares about white people and not the Hispanics, or African Americans, or Asian Americans; or say that Romney only cares about money and wants to do away with Social Security; or any number of other attacks which are already queued up to set loose through the Obama propaganda machine which is the American media!
I said months ago to not let this happen. I said that no matter who the nominee will become on the Republican ticket, that we need to unite behind him/her if we are to preserve that fleeting thing we cherish so much called freedom. I said that if we fail to do so, it will be the end of the America we grew up in and we will know freedom no more. If Obama wins this election, the sacrifices our grandfathers and all those who died in World War Two become as worthless chaff floating away in the breeze. Their sacrifices, in the blood they paid with their very lives, are as nothing because we did not pay attention to our very own history and the lesson we learned by allowing Socialism to go too far. They will have died in vain!
Many will say that I'm being too drastic. They will also say that I'm trying to scare you into voting for Romney. This is not true. I am simply trying to remind you of the sacrifice they paid so that you could know freedom; and to let you know what you will lose if you allow Barack Obama to remain as President. If you allow Obama to remain as president, then I can guarantee you that he will be the last president because before his next term will be over, he will do away with the elected office of the president and replace it with a different leadership role more to his liking and one which secures his power over the American people and what once was known as the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave!
I pray daily to God that this may never be! Think hard and look to your history before you cast your vote this coming election! Shoot, it may already be too late!
May God bless you with these words today!
I just finished watching We Were Soldiers. This movie is about war. Specifically the first use of helicopters as calvary to move soldiers in and out of combat areas. This got me to thinking about why we go to war. We go to war, as Americans, to preserve our way of life: our freedom, our families, our culture. We do this so that those who would intrude upon our liberties will be stopped. We do this so that those who do not know freedom may come to know it. We do this to free those under tyrannical regimes can have a chance to live free from oppression as God would have it be.
In the 30's, a Socialist government rose up in power. Being so very into their Socialism, they found that they could not support the programs they had for their people. In order that they might support their programs for their people, they made war and sought to conquer other countries surrounding them to keep their Socialist machine going. This was the start of World War Two.
American men fought and died to stop this Socialist government, now ruled by a Facist dictator, in their unholy war upon other peoples and nations in an effort to keep their Socialist machine running. American soldiers, along with the British, French, and Russian soldiers, and many other countries as well, won that war. A war in which we expended our full might to preserve the freedom we now have.
Now, just 60 years later, the American people voted into power a Socialist President of the United States of America. Why? Why did we do this? We did this because we did not pay attention to our history. We did not pay attention to those historians who were warning us against this man named Barack Hussein Obama. A man who ran for election on a platform of change in which he did not define what that change was. A man who promised transparency and yet his leadership is one in which there is no transparency but is the very epitomy of everything he promised not to be.
We have an election coming up. In this election, we have another man that does not meet the standards of what every American would have for a president. Yet this man, Mitt Romney, is the only man who has a chance of defeating Barack Obama in the election. Why? Because he is the one who has secured the nomination for the Republican ticket. I am throwing my support behind this man, Mitt Romney. I have no reservations about his politics. I have no reservations about his motivations. I have no reservations about his religion. I have no reservations about his morality. I have no reservations about his finances. I have no reservations about how he will govern this country. I have no reservations at all about this man, Mitt Romney.
Why do I have no reservations? Because any reservations I might have had during the nominee process disappeared when he won the nomination. I threw out all of those reservations because I know that he, Mitt Romney, will strive to return America to the freedom it once knew under the United States Constitution and that he will push back the Socialism tide that is sweeping this land.
You see, this current president we now have, one Barack Obama, will be trying to split us and pit us against each other in order that we do not unite behind Mitt Romney to vote Obama out of office. Obama will try and say that Romney has no family values; or say that Romney only cares about white people and not the Hispanics, or African Americans, or Asian Americans; or say that Romney only cares about money and wants to do away with Social Security; or any number of other attacks which are already queued up to set loose through the Obama propaganda machine which is the American media!
I said months ago to not let this happen. I said that no matter who the nominee will become on the Republican ticket, that we need to unite behind him/her if we are to preserve that fleeting thing we cherish so much called freedom. I said that if we fail to do so, it will be the end of the America we grew up in and we will know freedom no more. If Obama wins this election, the sacrifices our grandfathers and all those who died in World War Two become as worthless chaff floating away in the breeze. Their sacrifices, in the blood they paid with their very lives, are as nothing because we did not pay attention to our very own history and the lesson we learned by allowing Socialism to go too far. They will have died in vain!
Many will say that I'm being too drastic. They will also say that I'm trying to scare you into voting for Romney. This is not true. I am simply trying to remind you of the sacrifice they paid so that you could know freedom; and to let you know what you will lose if you allow Barack Obama to remain as President. If you allow Obama to remain as president, then I can guarantee you that he will be the last president because before his next term will be over, he will do away with the elected office of the president and replace it with a different leadership role more to his liking and one which secures his power over the American people and what once was known as the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave!
I pray daily to God that this may never be! Think hard and look to your history before you cast your vote this coming election! Shoot, it may already be too late!
May God bless you with these words today!
11 June 2012
I Am A Man!
Hello Guys and Gals!
This is a poem that I believe needed to be written;
So I wrote it!
I Am A Man... by Jay K. Jordan
I am a man!
I do not need to get my car serviced;
I service it myself!
I do not care whether my shoes get dirty;
I wear them to get them dirty!
I do not watch my figure;
I have more important things on my mind!
I do not need to be rescued;
I do the rescuing!
I do not get in touch with my feelings;
I bear them in silence!
I do not spend more time in front of the mirror than my date;
I get dressed and leave the room!
I do not ask permission to kiss a woman;
I just kiss her!
I do not worry about whether something is PC to say;
I say what I believe and stand by it!
I do not go to church to be seen;
I go to be fed the Word of God!
I do not say I’m sorry when others disagree with me;
I defend what I believe with the facts!
I do not care whether someone tries to take my man card;
I do not carry one because being a man is obvious when you look at me!
This is the image I am made in:
The image of God!
I
Am
A
Man
!!!!!
May God bless you all this day!
This is a poem that I believe needed to be written;
So I wrote it!
I Am A Man... by Jay K. Jordan
I am a man!
I do not need to get my car serviced;
I service it myself!
I do not care whether my shoes get dirty;
I wear them to get them dirty!
I do not watch my figure;
I have more important things on my mind!
I do not need to be rescued;
I do the rescuing!
I do not get in touch with my feelings;
I bear them in silence!
I do not spend more time in front of the mirror than my date;
I get dressed and leave the room!
I do not ask permission to kiss a woman;
I just kiss her!
I do not worry about whether something is PC to say;
I say what I believe and stand by it!
I do not go to church to be seen;
I go to be fed the Word of God!
I do not say I’m sorry when others disagree with me;
I defend what I believe with the facts!
I do not care whether someone tries to take my man card;
I do not carry one because being a man is obvious when you look at me!
This is the image I am made in:
The image of God!
I
Am
A
Man
!!!!!
May God bless you all this day!
19 May 2012
Pain And Faith!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I woke up this morning having slept almost 3 hours past the time to take my meds. I was in pain, lots of pain! Even now, 45 minutes after having taken my meds, I am still feeling pain as it fades. I don't know how many of you deal with this kind of pain or have dealt with it before in your lives. I know of at least one who does deal with it daily. I pray for her! Then both my reading and the sermon I listen to in the morning are both dealing with faith. This has me thinking, is my faith strong enough?
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." ~ Hebrews 11:1.
I have often talked about the words of 'hope' and 'faith' and specifically what they originally meant in the Greek language. The two words are linked in a way because without the one, there is no way to understand the other. Hope in the Greek language means specifically something in the future that is a true happening that has not happened yet. Faith in the Greek language means strong belief in that hope! Do you comprehend what that means? Now apply that to scripture when we speak of hope and faith. Apply it to just the verse above!
None of us know that the Sun will come up tomorrow. Yet we have hope and faith that it will happen! By what power does the Sun 'come up' every morning? Now those of us who have studied the star system know that the science behind it actually show the Sun to be still in space and the world makes revolutions around it while rotating on an invisible axis. This is how we see the sun come up every morning. But what holds the sun still? What causes the Earth to spin on an invisible axis let alone make revolutions around the Sun? Those of us believe that it is by the power of God by which these things happen. Shoot, I could argue that even Athiests believe that it is by God these things happen but I won't go there right now! The simple fact is that we all believe in the power that holds these things to be as we have always known them to be!
Why is it that we have such a hard time trusting that God will do what He says He will do in our lives when we give our lives over to Him? Why do we still feel the guilt over our past sins and live in that guilt? We have been forgiven, yet we still dwell in that guilt. God says He will assuredly take care of us no matter what may come our way. Do you believe and trust in that? Is there anything you are anxious over in your life? If so, why? If you are trusting in God with it, why are you anxious?
I am in a lot of pain right now. All the time pain. I have faith that God will heal whatever it is that is wrong with my body that is causing all this pain! When that will happen, I know not! But I do know that it will happen and I strive to live my life as if it has already happened! Is there something in your life that you are not trusting in Him? Give it over to God and let Him handle it for you. You will have the assurance that once it is in His hands, that not only does He have the power to take it up, but He will take it up and accomplish it for you!
May God bless you all this day!
I woke up this morning having slept almost 3 hours past the time to take my meds. I was in pain, lots of pain! Even now, 45 minutes after having taken my meds, I am still feeling pain as it fades. I don't know how many of you deal with this kind of pain or have dealt with it before in your lives. I know of at least one who does deal with it daily. I pray for her! Then both my reading and the sermon I listen to in the morning are both dealing with faith. This has me thinking, is my faith strong enough?
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." ~ Hebrews 11:1.
I have often talked about the words of 'hope' and 'faith' and specifically what they originally meant in the Greek language. The two words are linked in a way because without the one, there is no way to understand the other. Hope in the Greek language means specifically something in the future that is a true happening that has not happened yet. Faith in the Greek language means strong belief in that hope! Do you comprehend what that means? Now apply that to scripture when we speak of hope and faith. Apply it to just the verse above!
None of us know that the Sun will come up tomorrow. Yet we have hope and faith that it will happen! By what power does the Sun 'come up' every morning? Now those of us who have studied the star system know that the science behind it actually show the Sun to be still in space and the world makes revolutions around it while rotating on an invisible axis. This is how we see the sun come up every morning. But what holds the sun still? What causes the Earth to spin on an invisible axis let alone make revolutions around the Sun? Those of us believe that it is by the power of God by which these things happen. Shoot, I could argue that even Athiests believe that it is by God these things happen but I won't go there right now! The simple fact is that we all believe in the power that holds these things to be as we have always known them to be!
Why is it that we have such a hard time trusting that God will do what He says He will do in our lives when we give our lives over to Him? Why do we still feel the guilt over our past sins and live in that guilt? We have been forgiven, yet we still dwell in that guilt. God says He will assuredly take care of us no matter what may come our way. Do you believe and trust in that? Is there anything you are anxious over in your life? If so, why? If you are trusting in God with it, why are you anxious?
I am in a lot of pain right now. All the time pain. I have faith that God will heal whatever it is that is wrong with my body that is causing all this pain! When that will happen, I know not! But I do know that it will happen and I strive to live my life as if it has already happened! Is there something in your life that you are not trusting in Him? Give it over to God and let Him handle it for you. You will have the assurance that once it is in His hands, that not only does He have the power to take it up, but He will take it up and accomplish it for you!
May God bless you all this day!
12 May 2012
Much Has Been Forgiven!
Hello Guys and Gals,
This passage has been on my mind today. I think it is because my friend, Lance, asked me why I knew so much of the sinfilled places. Such has been my life, being in sinfilled places! Anyway, here is the passges,
40 And Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he replied, "Say it, Teacher." 41 "A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred tdenarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?" 43 Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have judged correctly." ~ Luke 7:40-43.
There is more to it, but I believe this passage covers the gist of what has been on my mind.
I have lived a sinfilled life! God has graciously forgiven me of all the sin and iniquity I have perpetuated against Him! He did this through His wrath being poured out upon His Son, Jesus Christ! God also gave my safe-keeping into the hand of Jesus Christ, who, by his own power, being one-third of the Triune God, rose from the grave which could not hold him! If the very grave and death cannot hold Jesus Christ, then do you think it can also hold me, who has been given into his hand for safe-keeping? I say to you no, it cannot. As such, I am an heir with Christ before the Father and have received Eternal Life through Jesus Christ! I have so much to be thankful for, because so much has been forgiven me!
Have you thought about what God has forgiven you today? Do you know if God has forgiven you anything? Have you even asked Him to forgive you yet? If you have not, please do so today. Right now! Bow your head and ask Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to forgive you and write the Law of his Father upon your heart! Ask him to forgive you of your sins, both against him and against all whom you have sinned against. Ask him to come into your life and be with you as you strive to do his will for you in your life! God wants to have a relationship with you and this is the only way for you to have one with him!
May God bless you all this day!
This passage has been on my mind today. I think it is because my friend, Lance, asked me why I knew so much of the sinfilled places. Such has been my life, being in sinfilled places! Anyway, here is the passges,
40 And Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he replied, "Say it, Teacher." 41 "A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred tdenarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?" 43 Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have judged correctly." ~ Luke 7:40-43.
There is more to it, but I believe this passage covers the gist of what has been on my mind.
I have lived a sinfilled life! God has graciously forgiven me of all the sin and iniquity I have perpetuated against Him! He did this through His wrath being poured out upon His Son, Jesus Christ! God also gave my safe-keeping into the hand of Jesus Christ, who, by his own power, being one-third of the Triune God, rose from the grave which could not hold him! If the very grave and death cannot hold Jesus Christ, then do you think it can also hold me, who has been given into his hand for safe-keeping? I say to you no, it cannot. As such, I am an heir with Christ before the Father and have received Eternal Life through Jesus Christ! I have so much to be thankful for, because so much has been forgiven me!
Have you thought about what God has forgiven you today? Do you know if God has forgiven you anything? Have you even asked Him to forgive you yet? If you have not, please do so today. Right now! Bow your head and ask Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to forgive you and write the Law of his Father upon your heart! Ask him to forgive you of your sins, both against him and against all whom you have sinned against. Ask him to come into your life and be with you as you strive to do his will for you in your life! God wants to have a relationship with you and this is the only way for you to have one with him!
May God bless you all this day!
08 May 2012
The Trouble With My Brother!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I am writing this today to explain about my brother, James! Many of you know that I have had problems with my brother and that as such, I am not in communication with either him or the rest of my family. Well I am about to explain to you the reason why.
For years I have been the one to whom my brother turned when he was in trouble. I believe it has been this way ever since I got out of the Navy. Anyway, he was living with me in College Station, Texas. That morning my brother was angry with the world and I guess he was having a headache. He was screaming at me and I was trying to calm him down. He ended up attacking me and trying to kill me. He physically assaulted me with a cinder block which caused damage to my right hand which I still feel to this day. He also did damage to my Pathfinder and my Ford pick-up. As a result of this attack, the authorities there in College Station prosecuted James and found him guilty. He is under probation which, if he violates it, will turn into a prison sentence.
My family: mother, brother, sister, and all other relatives of mine are no longer in communication with me except for one. The reason for this is because James keeps telling lies about that day and anything else he can about me. My family is not in communication with me because they keep believing James' lies and spreading James' lies. This is the reason I am not in communication with them at all. In order to restore communication with me, all they have to do is let the truth come out. But I am done with the lies!
It has been over a year and a half since I have spoken with anyone in my family. It has been longer than that with my brother. Yet this past week I have found out that my brother did something that hindered my ability to come back to Fort Worth. Yes, I was planning on coming back to Fort Worth. Now I took this as a sign from God for me not to return South, as I have been praying and have asked others to pray as well for God's hand to be involved if God wanted me to return to Fort Worth at this time.
I do not know why my brother has such ill will towards me. I do know that he has admitted to some friends that he knows I did not aggravate him on that day and that he was solely responsible, but he will never admit that to the family as he is delighted that I am not communicating with the family and it is all because of his lies. Those are his words as retold to me by more than one person. He has something wrong with him that he works to bring me harm even if it hurts him in doing so when I have only tried to help him and never willingly hurt him!
I am not asking any of you who know him to cut off communicating with him. What I do ask is that you keep what you tell him about me to a minimum. And if what you tell him about me might bring me harm, then I ask you to think before you communicate with him about me. I also ask you to pray, with me, for him and that he finds it within himself to repent of his lies and seek a true relationship with God through Jesus Christ!
Will you do that for me? Will you pray for him? I humbly beg you to do this, with me, for him!
May God bless you all this day as you join me in praying for my brother, James!
I am writing this today to explain about my brother, James! Many of you know that I have had problems with my brother and that as such, I am not in communication with either him or the rest of my family. Well I am about to explain to you the reason why.
For years I have been the one to whom my brother turned when he was in trouble. I believe it has been this way ever since I got out of the Navy. Anyway, he was living with me in College Station, Texas. That morning my brother was angry with the world and I guess he was having a headache. He was screaming at me and I was trying to calm him down. He ended up attacking me and trying to kill me. He physically assaulted me with a cinder block which caused damage to my right hand which I still feel to this day. He also did damage to my Pathfinder and my Ford pick-up. As a result of this attack, the authorities there in College Station prosecuted James and found him guilty. He is under probation which, if he violates it, will turn into a prison sentence.
My family: mother, brother, sister, and all other relatives of mine are no longer in communication with me except for one. The reason for this is because James keeps telling lies about that day and anything else he can about me. My family is not in communication with me because they keep believing James' lies and spreading James' lies. This is the reason I am not in communication with them at all. In order to restore communication with me, all they have to do is let the truth come out. But I am done with the lies!
It has been over a year and a half since I have spoken with anyone in my family. It has been longer than that with my brother. Yet this past week I have found out that my brother did something that hindered my ability to come back to Fort Worth. Yes, I was planning on coming back to Fort Worth. Now I took this as a sign from God for me not to return South, as I have been praying and have asked others to pray as well for God's hand to be involved if God wanted me to return to Fort Worth at this time.
I do not know why my brother has such ill will towards me. I do know that he has admitted to some friends that he knows I did not aggravate him on that day and that he was solely responsible, but he will never admit that to the family as he is delighted that I am not communicating with the family and it is all because of his lies. Those are his words as retold to me by more than one person. He has something wrong with him that he works to bring me harm even if it hurts him in doing so when I have only tried to help him and never willingly hurt him!
I am not asking any of you who know him to cut off communicating with him. What I do ask is that you keep what you tell him about me to a minimum. And if what you tell him about me might bring me harm, then I ask you to think before you communicate with him about me. I also ask you to pray, with me, for him and that he finds it within himself to repent of his lies and seek a true relationship with God through Jesus Christ!
Will you do that for me? Will you pray for him? I humbly beg you to do this, with me, for him!
May God bless you all this day as you join me in praying for my brother, James!
26 April 2012
The Hearing of the Word of God!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I have been exploring with my mind the burning in our hearts that comes with the hearing of the word of God. I have come to the conclusion that there are three reactions that happen when this burning comes upon us: the first is anger, the second is indifference, and the third is yearning, or burning. I will explore why we feel what we feel in these three ways when we hear the word of God today.
The first reaction I have listed that we, as humans, feel when we hear of the word of God is anger. I believe that we feel anger when we hear the word of God because we know it, deep within us, to be truth when we hear it and we also know that we have something in our life with which we are rebelling against God with; or a better term we are more familiar with is sin. When we hear the word of God being spoken, or even written, and we come across something that makes us restless within us, we get angry if we respond wrongly to the hearing of God’s word. But God knows that we have to go through this most of the time in order to reach the place where we are ready to bring that sin which God is confronting us will to Him and accept, for good or bad, the judgment He will place upon us about that sin! This is a normal reaction and every one of us who has brought our sins to Him has gone through this reaction before in our lives!
The second reaction I have listed that we, as humans, feel when we hear the word of God is indifference. This is the scariest of all reactions that we should fear having when we hear the word of God. This reaction comes when two things could be happening in our life: the first would be when we have gone through the anger of rebellion against Him and have said within our hearts that we will not bring this sin before God and do not care to hear His judgment about that sin; the second would be when we have become overwhelmed with the cares of life and have come to a point where the cares of our life are overweighing our priority of placing the cares of God’s will in the proper place in our life, which should be on top of everything else. Now the first indifference is someone who is in jeopardy of losing his immortal soul at any time because he no longer even desires to hear the truth of God in his life. Please pray for God to melt the hearts of these individuals so they will once again start responding to the word of God when they hear it. As for the second, we should pray the same thing even though they may or may not have that sin within their life. Even I have entered into indifference in both of these situations in my life and if I ever do so again, I ask each one of you to pray for me as hard as you can because it is not a good place to be because both of them do not have hope anymore!
The third reaction I have listed that we, as humans, feel when we hear the word of God is yearning, or burning within us for more of His word. I believe this is the right and proper reaction everyone should have when they hear the word of God being preached or read by those in the audience. Yes, the audience can be just one person at the time of reading a book or listening to a recorded spoken message. This reaction is how we can continue to have hope in our life for it leads us to know more and explore more about what is being said to us. This reaction is the reaction that the lost peoples of the world properly feel and respond to when they dedicate their lives to God and become saved through Jesus Christ. This reaction is the reaction that those of us who are saved properly feel and respond to when we strive with His power to correct and change our lives for the better. This reaction is the one we want every time when we hear the word of God so that we can continue our journey in moving to become the person God wants us to be.
So I am asking you a question today: how do you feel when hearing the word of God being spoken to you, read to you, spoken or read to someone else?
I will close this post with Luke 24:32 – They said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?"
May God bless you all this day!
I have been exploring with my mind the burning in our hearts that comes with the hearing of the word of God. I have come to the conclusion that there are three reactions that happen when this burning comes upon us: the first is anger, the second is indifference, and the third is yearning, or burning. I will explore why we feel what we feel in these three ways when we hear the word of God today.
The first reaction I have listed that we, as humans, feel when we hear of the word of God is anger. I believe that we feel anger when we hear the word of God because we know it, deep within us, to be truth when we hear it and we also know that we have something in our life with which we are rebelling against God with; or a better term we are more familiar with is sin. When we hear the word of God being spoken, or even written, and we come across something that makes us restless within us, we get angry if we respond wrongly to the hearing of God’s word. But God knows that we have to go through this most of the time in order to reach the place where we are ready to bring that sin which God is confronting us will to Him and accept, for good or bad, the judgment He will place upon us about that sin! This is a normal reaction and every one of us who has brought our sins to Him has gone through this reaction before in our lives!
The second reaction I have listed that we, as humans, feel when we hear the word of God is indifference. This is the scariest of all reactions that we should fear having when we hear the word of God. This reaction comes when two things could be happening in our life: the first would be when we have gone through the anger of rebellion against Him and have said within our hearts that we will not bring this sin before God and do not care to hear His judgment about that sin; the second would be when we have become overwhelmed with the cares of life and have come to a point where the cares of our life are overweighing our priority of placing the cares of God’s will in the proper place in our life, which should be on top of everything else. Now the first indifference is someone who is in jeopardy of losing his immortal soul at any time because he no longer even desires to hear the truth of God in his life. Please pray for God to melt the hearts of these individuals so they will once again start responding to the word of God when they hear it. As for the second, we should pray the same thing even though they may or may not have that sin within their life. Even I have entered into indifference in both of these situations in my life and if I ever do so again, I ask each one of you to pray for me as hard as you can because it is not a good place to be because both of them do not have hope anymore!
The third reaction I have listed that we, as humans, feel when we hear the word of God is yearning, or burning within us for more of His word. I believe this is the right and proper reaction everyone should have when they hear the word of God being preached or read by those in the audience. Yes, the audience can be just one person at the time of reading a book or listening to a recorded spoken message. This reaction is how we can continue to have hope in our life for it leads us to know more and explore more about what is being said to us. This reaction is the reaction that the lost peoples of the world properly feel and respond to when they dedicate their lives to God and become saved through Jesus Christ. This reaction is the reaction that those of us who are saved properly feel and respond to when we strive with His power to correct and change our lives for the better. This reaction is the one we want every time when we hear the word of God so that we can continue our journey in moving to become the person God wants us to be.
So I am asking you a question today: how do you feel when hearing the word of God being spoken to you, read to you, spoken or read to someone else?
I will close this post with Luke 24:32 – They said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?"
May God bless you all this day!
11 April 2012
The Truth Is Not In Them!
Hello Guys and Gals!
Today in our society there is a war against Christianity and conservative values, not only here in America, but also in the rest of the world. Let us start with what the word, conservative, means.
Conservative – disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change.
So what it means to be a Conservative in America is someone who wishes to restore the traditional values and principles upon which America was founded and to limit the changes which all others want to bring to America. Just so we are clear, this is the definition and application under which I will be talking about when I speak about Conservatives.
In our society today, here in America, the media outlets which give us our news through the newspapers, magazines, television, cable and internet have taken it upon themselves to work towards minimizing or hiding those news stories which are advancing conservative principles, or Christian principles. In the current process for nominating a Republican candidate for the presidential election coming up this year, we have seen a repeated attack, over and over again, of the leading conservative candidate in an effort, by those people currently in political power and the media organizations promoting their Liberal agenda!
Take a look back at a time when the Congresswoman, Gabby Giffords, was tragically attacked by Jarod Loeffner. At that time, the Liberals and the media were pushing the rhetoric that this was the fault of conservatives and how they ‘target’ those Liberal politicians who are in office. They misconstrued Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann’s use of small target symbols over the districts where these Liberal politicians were holding office and said that this is where Jarod Loeffner got his motivation to attack Congresswoman Giffords. Yet the conservatives were saying that was not true and that we should wait on the evidence before we rush to judgment and say and do things that cannot be taken back. And after some very heated debate about all this, we find that Jarod Loeffner had never been to Congresswoman Bachmann’s website where these target symbols were used and that his grievance had been with Congresswoman Giffords over a past altercation which they had experienced between them and on top of that, Jarod Loeffner was actually a Liberal in his political association.
Take a look back at the scandal with Congressman Anthony Weiner. Here it was reported by Andrew Breitbart that Congressman Weiner tweeted photos of himself and his genitalia to a young woman. And Congressman Weiner denied the allegations and the media not only took his side about it but pushed the very heated rhetoric about this whole thing and how the Right goes out of their way to falsify their stories in order to attack Congressman Weiner and his attempts to bring much needed change. Again, the conservatives were saying that something is fishy and that Congressman Weiner should release his Twitter records to prove his innocence and let the truth come out. In the end, we found that Congressman Weiner was lying about the whole affair, did tweet the picture of his genitalia to the young woman, and that Andrew Breitbart was 100% accurate in his reporting.
Take a look back at the allegations leveled at Herman Cain about an adulterous affair which a woman accused him of having with herself. Again the Liberals and the media that supports them ramped up the rhetoric about this and fraudulently reported many things which were untrue and had no proof to back them up. You even had Gloria Allred coming forward with a news conference with the accuser and several other women who supposedly had affairs with Herman Cain. And yet, today, we are still waiting on that proof to come to light and that press conference to happen with the allegations still being repeated by those who are too blind to see that it was simply a ruse of the Liberals to get Herman Cain out of the Nomination Process.
Then yesterday it was made aware to me about how Rick Santorum supposed is against women serving in the military. Right away my alarm bells started ringing. Upon researching what he actually said, it became clear that he was talking about women serving in front line combat situations and that his concerns were not about women being able to serve in those situations, but rather his concern was about how the men serving with the women would be able to handle the emotions which they would suffer from in seeing a woman being hurt by their side and how their natural tendency is to be one of which to protect the woman. And yet, when I pointed out to some friends of mine that the media was trying to divert conservative women’s attention to this which may happen someday in the future and that they were even twisting the truth of what Santorum said and even taking what he did say out of context, these female friends of mine were under the impression that I was against their right to serve and/or that I was saying that they didn’t have the right to believe what they believe. I never did say that and I never would. But I did point out that they fell for what the media was attempting to do; divert their attention away from the other issues that was going on at that time in order to become upset about this women’s rights issue which was never accurately under fire by Santorum.
And these are just some of the attempts I can remember off the very top of my head about how the Liberals in political office and the media which supports their agenda have twisted and misrepresented the truth and jumped to conclusions about a situation where all the facts are not present. Does anyone not see this very thing happening again with Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman and the struggle under which Trayvon Martin lost his life?
What I have come to realize is that whenever I see an issue come up that has not been an issue prior to the issue being discussed with whatever conservative it is being discussed with, I immediately begin looking for why this has suddenly become an issue and what exactly the people bringing the issue up are actually attempting to keep my attention away from. Is it the war on Christianity by the Obama Administration? Is it how the rights of parents are being stripped from them and government is taking over the raising of our children? Is it how the Obama Administration is stripping our right to keep and bear arms as citizens of the United States of America? Is it how President Obama refuses to stand with Israel during their time of need for a real ally, which America has always been since the founding of the nation of Israel?
President Obama ran for office on a platform of change where he did not define the change he would bring to America. Is this the change you voted for a move from a free society to a socialist one? Why is the media working so diligently to keep what this president is doing hidden from the people of America? Why is it that whenever we see a conservative candidate moving ahead in the polls that a new attack against that candidate comes to light in an attempt to damage their candidacy, with the attack being one that is completely manufactured by Liberal politicians or the media that supports them? Why is it that the media seems to be behind Mitt Romney? Do you think maybe that there is an agenda here that is not being brought to light? Do you think they are pushing Mitt Romney for the Republican Nominee because they know that Obama has the best chance to win re-election by running against him?
Seriously, my friends, when you see something come around that does not make sense as to why it is coming around at this time, ask yourself why. Also, when you see the media say anything, go check the actual source they are reporting from. Not only that, but check the original video or speech from which they are quoting and listen to the whole thing in the context the speech giver is speaking. Do not ever take what they Liberal media is reporting as truth because almost every time, what they are saying is being misconstrued or downright being lied about!
I will leave you with a scripture passage for you to think upon!
“43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. 44 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.
May God bless you this day!
Today in our society there is a war against Christianity and conservative values, not only here in America, but also in the rest of the world. Let us start with what the word, conservative, means.
Conservative – disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change.
So what it means to be a Conservative in America is someone who wishes to restore the traditional values and principles upon which America was founded and to limit the changes which all others want to bring to America. Just so we are clear, this is the definition and application under which I will be talking about when I speak about Conservatives.
In our society today, here in America, the media outlets which give us our news through the newspapers, magazines, television, cable and internet have taken it upon themselves to work towards minimizing or hiding those news stories which are advancing conservative principles, or Christian principles. In the current process for nominating a Republican candidate for the presidential election coming up this year, we have seen a repeated attack, over and over again, of the leading conservative candidate in an effort, by those people currently in political power and the media organizations promoting their Liberal agenda!
Take a look back at a time when the Congresswoman, Gabby Giffords, was tragically attacked by Jarod Loeffner. At that time, the Liberals and the media were pushing the rhetoric that this was the fault of conservatives and how they ‘target’ those Liberal politicians who are in office. They misconstrued Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann’s use of small target symbols over the districts where these Liberal politicians were holding office and said that this is where Jarod Loeffner got his motivation to attack Congresswoman Giffords. Yet the conservatives were saying that was not true and that we should wait on the evidence before we rush to judgment and say and do things that cannot be taken back. And after some very heated debate about all this, we find that Jarod Loeffner had never been to Congresswoman Bachmann’s website where these target symbols were used and that his grievance had been with Congresswoman Giffords over a past altercation which they had experienced between them and on top of that, Jarod Loeffner was actually a Liberal in his political association.
Take a look back at the scandal with Congressman Anthony Weiner. Here it was reported by Andrew Breitbart that Congressman Weiner tweeted photos of himself and his genitalia to a young woman. And Congressman Weiner denied the allegations and the media not only took his side about it but pushed the very heated rhetoric about this whole thing and how the Right goes out of their way to falsify their stories in order to attack Congressman Weiner and his attempts to bring much needed change. Again, the conservatives were saying that something is fishy and that Congressman Weiner should release his Twitter records to prove his innocence and let the truth come out. In the end, we found that Congressman Weiner was lying about the whole affair, did tweet the picture of his genitalia to the young woman, and that Andrew Breitbart was 100% accurate in his reporting.
Take a look back at the allegations leveled at Herman Cain about an adulterous affair which a woman accused him of having with herself. Again the Liberals and the media that supports them ramped up the rhetoric about this and fraudulently reported many things which were untrue and had no proof to back them up. You even had Gloria Allred coming forward with a news conference with the accuser and several other women who supposedly had affairs with Herman Cain. And yet, today, we are still waiting on that proof to come to light and that press conference to happen with the allegations still being repeated by those who are too blind to see that it was simply a ruse of the Liberals to get Herman Cain out of the Nomination Process.
Then yesterday it was made aware to me about how Rick Santorum supposed is against women serving in the military. Right away my alarm bells started ringing. Upon researching what he actually said, it became clear that he was talking about women serving in front line combat situations and that his concerns were not about women being able to serve in those situations, but rather his concern was about how the men serving with the women would be able to handle the emotions which they would suffer from in seeing a woman being hurt by their side and how their natural tendency is to be one of which to protect the woman. And yet, when I pointed out to some friends of mine that the media was trying to divert conservative women’s attention to this which may happen someday in the future and that they were even twisting the truth of what Santorum said and even taking what he did say out of context, these female friends of mine were under the impression that I was against their right to serve and/or that I was saying that they didn’t have the right to believe what they believe. I never did say that and I never would. But I did point out that they fell for what the media was attempting to do; divert their attention away from the other issues that was going on at that time in order to become upset about this women’s rights issue which was never accurately under fire by Santorum.
And these are just some of the attempts I can remember off the very top of my head about how the Liberals in political office and the media which supports their agenda have twisted and misrepresented the truth and jumped to conclusions about a situation where all the facts are not present. Does anyone not see this very thing happening again with Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman and the struggle under which Trayvon Martin lost his life?
What I have come to realize is that whenever I see an issue come up that has not been an issue prior to the issue being discussed with whatever conservative it is being discussed with, I immediately begin looking for why this has suddenly become an issue and what exactly the people bringing the issue up are actually attempting to keep my attention away from. Is it the war on Christianity by the Obama Administration? Is it how the rights of parents are being stripped from them and government is taking over the raising of our children? Is it how the Obama Administration is stripping our right to keep and bear arms as citizens of the United States of America? Is it how President Obama refuses to stand with Israel during their time of need for a real ally, which America has always been since the founding of the nation of Israel?
President Obama ran for office on a platform of change where he did not define the change he would bring to America. Is this the change you voted for a move from a free society to a socialist one? Why is the media working so diligently to keep what this president is doing hidden from the people of America? Why is it that whenever we see a conservative candidate moving ahead in the polls that a new attack against that candidate comes to light in an attempt to damage their candidacy, with the attack being one that is completely manufactured by Liberal politicians or the media that supports them? Why is it that the media seems to be behind Mitt Romney? Do you think maybe that there is an agenda here that is not being brought to light? Do you think they are pushing Mitt Romney for the Republican Nominee because they know that Obama has the best chance to win re-election by running against him?
Seriously, my friends, when you see something come around that does not make sense as to why it is coming around at this time, ask yourself why. Also, when you see the media say anything, go check the actual source they are reporting from. Not only that, but check the original video or speech from which they are quoting and listen to the whole thing in the context the speech giver is speaking. Do not ever take what they Liberal media is reporting as truth because almost every time, what they are saying is being misconstrued or downright being lied about!
I will leave you with a scripture passage for you to think upon!
“43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. 44 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.
May God bless you this day!
10 April 2012
The Process Of Becoming Equipped For The Lord!
Hello Guys and Gals!
Have you ever asked, 'Why me Lord'? Have you ever known someone that is going through something difficult and/or painful in their life and have done nothing to cause it? Have you never had an answer for why someone is going through what they are going through? Well gird up your loins because I will give you the answer as I have learned it from the Lord! The answer is simply so that you will be equipped to deal with this same problem in your life at a later time so that you may find strength for yourself or provide strength for someone else who may need it at that later date!
Last night a friend of mine asked me to call her and she was going through something which I had been through some 5-7 years ago. She was at a loss of why she was going through it. Yet I was able to comfort her through this difficult time and give her some tools to be able to rely upon to help her with this difficulty she was experiencing. Yet, as I remember back to when I was having this same difficulty, I could not for the life of me understand why I was going through this thing. And now I see clearly why I went through it: the Lord was equipping me for a time such as this when I would be able to be able to help this dear friend of mine through this same trouble that I had been through so many years before!
If I had not gone through what I had gone through, then I would probably have been at a loss for what she is now going through. I would not have had the tools and knowledge and patience and answers that she needed so badly last night. I would not have been as understanding as I was. I would not have been able to help her in her time of need. Yet, the Lord saw fit in His loving provision to provide me with all of this so that I was equipped for that day of need! Yes, I said loving provision! Yes, I mean exactly that God lovingly put me through that so that I would, by His loving provision, be able to help someone else through the same thing!
Let me leave you with a verse to think upon this day: "28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." ~ Romans 8:28!
So when you are going through something very difficult or painful, remember that God is simply equipping you for what He needs you to be equipped for at a later time!
May God bless you all this day!
Have you ever asked, 'Why me Lord'? Have you ever known someone that is going through something difficult and/or painful in their life and have done nothing to cause it? Have you never had an answer for why someone is going through what they are going through? Well gird up your loins because I will give you the answer as I have learned it from the Lord! The answer is simply so that you will be equipped to deal with this same problem in your life at a later time so that you may find strength for yourself or provide strength for someone else who may need it at that later date!
Last night a friend of mine asked me to call her and she was going through something which I had been through some 5-7 years ago. She was at a loss of why she was going through it. Yet I was able to comfort her through this difficult time and give her some tools to be able to rely upon to help her with this difficulty she was experiencing. Yet, as I remember back to when I was having this same difficulty, I could not for the life of me understand why I was going through this thing. And now I see clearly why I went through it: the Lord was equipping me for a time such as this when I would be able to be able to help this dear friend of mine through this same trouble that I had been through so many years before!
If I had not gone through what I had gone through, then I would probably have been at a loss for what she is now going through. I would not have had the tools and knowledge and patience and answers that she needed so badly last night. I would not have been as understanding as I was. I would not have been able to help her in her time of need. Yet, the Lord saw fit in His loving provision to provide me with all of this so that I was equipped for that day of need! Yes, I said loving provision! Yes, I mean exactly that God lovingly put me through that so that I would, by His loving provision, be able to help someone else through the same thing!
Let me leave you with a verse to think upon this day: "28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." ~ Romans 8:28!
So when you are going through something very difficult or painful, remember that God is simply equipping you for what He needs you to be equipped for at a later time!
May God bless you all this day!
09 April 2012
A House Filled With Love And Joy!
Hello Guys and Gals,
I saw yesterday a house filled with love and joy! I had the privilege of being invited to dinner with a family of a young couple, Carl and Angel, well... young to me, who had 7 children. Let us just say it was a change of the scenery from living as a single man in an apartment. But let me tell you of what I witnessed there which I cannot get out of my thoughts until I witness about it!
This house was filled with children everywhere. Not all the children were the direct offspring of this couple. But such was their love for each other and children that they went out and adopted several children to fill their house. And it even seemed to me that their goal was so simple; to love these children and each other with all their strength and raise them up in the ways and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. The children ranged from the youngest at around 2 years old by my estimation all the way up to around 12 years old. I saw them fall and cry. I saw them laugh and shine. I saw them hungry and fed. I saw them taught the ways of the Lord. But mostly, I saw them loved beyond all measure and return that love to their parents!
The parents are two beautiful friends of mine. The father is a man who has devoted himself to the the Lord and serves diligently at my church, Calvary Community Church. The mother is a woman dedicated to the Lord, her husband, and their children. I saw this loving couple feed their children and teach their children and love their children. I even saw this loving couple correct and admonish their children with love and respect, but firm in their handling of the issue that was at hand.
This family just had a recent loss. They had their beloved dog hit by a car on Good Friday and had to explain about loss and death to their children. And through the weekend they mourned their beloved dog. The father, however, had a wonderful idea about teaching their children a lesson about Easter. He went out and found a puppy which was brought to their house on Easter morning and he taught their children about the resurrection of Jesus Christ and named the puppy he had found for his family, Rez! He has a longer name but everyone there called him Rez. This puppy was quickly shown how much he was loved by all these children who truly know how to love as they are being taught well by their parents.
But mostly, what I saw with this family yesterday, was a devotion to each other in their love and dedication to the Lord; and joy! So much joy I saw that I said to myself that this is what I want in life. I want a loving wife to have children with and raise them in the ways of the Lord. I am not envious or jealous of this family. I simply desire to love as they love! Such was their love and joy that it was infectious to all that were there.
Let me say also that there was another couple there and also another mother who also practiced the same devotion and dedication to the Lord and their children. The father of this other couple is my good friend, Desmond, who is married to his beautiful wife, Andrea. Let me just say that if I could model my life after any one of these people, any single one, then I would be blessed by the Lord for the love and joy that would be in my life!
I could not stop thinking about the love and joy I witnessed yesterday. Lord Jesus, please bless and love and care for all who shared in this love and joy yesterday!
May God bless you all this day!
I saw yesterday a house filled with love and joy! I had the privilege of being invited to dinner with a family of a young couple, Carl and Angel, well... young to me, who had 7 children. Let us just say it was a change of the scenery from living as a single man in an apartment. But let me tell you of what I witnessed there which I cannot get out of my thoughts until I witness about it!
This house was filled with children everywhere. Not all the children were the direct offspring of this couple. But such was their love for each other and children that they went out and adopted several children to fill their house. And it even seemed to me that their goal was so simple; to love these children and each other with all their strength and raise them up in the ways and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. The children ranged from the youngest at around 2 years old by my estimation all the way up to around 12 years old. I saw them fall and cry. I saw them laugh and shine. I saw them hungry and fed. I saw them taught the ways of the Lord. But mostly, I saw them loved beyond all measure and return that love to their parents!
The parents are two beautiful friends of mine. The father is a man who has devoted himself to the the Lord and serves diligently at my church, Calvary Community Church. The mother is a woman dedicated to the Lord, her husband, and their children. I saw this loving couple feed their children and teach their children and love their children. I even saw this loving couple correct and admonish their children with love and respect, but firm in their handling of the issue that was at hand.
This family just had a recent loss. They had their beloved dog hit by a car on Good Friday and had to explain about loss and death to their children. And through the weekend they mourned their beloved dog. The father, however, had a wonderful idea about teaching their children a lesson about Easter. He went out and found a puppy which was brought to their house on Easter morning and he taught their children about the resurrection of Jesus Christ and named the puppy he had found for his family, Rez! He has a longer name but everyone there called him Rez. This puppy was quickly shown how much he was loved by all these children who truly know how to love as they are being taught well by their parents.
But mostly, what I saw with this family yesterday, was a devotion to each other in their love and dedication to the Lord; and joy! So much joy I saw that I said to myself that this is what I want in life. I want a loving wife to have children with and raise them in the ways of the Lord. I am not envious or jealous of this family. I simply desire to love as they love! Such was their love and joy that it was infectious to all that were there.
Let me say also that there was another couple there and also another mother who also practiced the same devotion and dedication to the Lord and their children. The father of this other couple is my good friend, Desmond, who is married to his beautiful wife, Andrea. Let me just say that if I could model my life after any one of these people, any single one, then I would be blessed by the Lord for the love and joy that would be in my life!
I could not stop thinking about the love and joy I witnessed yesterday. Lord Jesus, please bless and love and care for all who shared in this love and joy yesterday!
May God bless you all this day!
06 April 2012
Overcome By His Love!
Hello Guys and Gals!
Have you ever been doing something, any little thing, and then the knowledge of what He has done for you through His love for you comes to you and suddenly you can't think or move and your emotions get the better of you and you break with that knowledge and feel His love for you at that moment in such a way that nothing else in your life matters but Him? I have! It happened to me again this very morning. Last night, as I lay down, I asked groggily if I could have some real sleep... just this once. I woke up at 5 am and took a pain pill as the pain was what woke me. So after, I lay back down hoping for another hour of sleep. Yet when I woke up it was 10 am!
If you know me at all, then you know that this never happens to me, that I get a full 10 hours of restful sleep with only one break in it. Then I remembered asking Him for it last night. And the knowledge that He had touched me to help me to sleep and get truly rested overcame me. When I mean it overcame me, I mean that I had to grab something to keep me standing up because I almost fell I was so overcome by His love for me; that He would take a half-hearted wish and ensure that it came true for me!
Listen to me very carefully. If you do not have Jesus in your life like this, and you want a friend who will be there for you, and never abandon you... ever, then simply ask Him into your life. Just close your eyes and pray to Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, and simply ask Him to forgive you of your sins and come into your life to be your anchor through this storm of life. He will forgive you and He will become the best friend you have ever had or ever will have. Such is His love for you! If you trust me in anything, then trust me when I tell you that you can trust Him in everything! Do this now and you will never forget it and He will never forsake you!
I have done this many years ago and He was with me protecting me even when I was in rebellion against Him! On top of that, He convicted me of my sinful rebellion and brought me home to His side and led me back to the righteous path that leads to true life! He will also do that for you, no matter how far down that path that leads to death you have gone. He has the power to help you get back to the path of life. Trust in Him and while your troubles may not go away, He promises to be there with you as you go through those troubles and help you with those troubles so that you can see His power in any trial you may go through! Jesus loves you this much! Trust in Him and you will always be able to rely on Him no matter what you face. Go ahead and ask Him now!
May God bless you all with the love of His son, Jesus Christ, the Lord of Morning, this day!
Have you ever been doing something, any little thing, and then the knowledge of what He has done for you through His love for you comes to you and suddenly you can't think or move and your emotions get the better of you and you break with that knowledge and feel His love for you at that moment in such a way that nothing else in your life matters but Him? I have! It happened to me again this very morning. Last night, as I lay down, I asked groggily if I could have some real sleep... just this once. I woke up at 5 am and took a pain pill as the pain was what woke me. So after, I lay back down hoping for another hour of sleep. Yet when I woke up it was 10 am!
If you know me at all, then you know that this never happens to me, that I get a full 10 hours of restful sleep with only one break in it. Then I remembered asking Him for it last night. And the knowledge that He had touched me to help me to sleep and get truly rested overcame me. When I mean it overcame me, I mean that I had to grab something to keep me standing up because I almost fell I was so overcome by His love for me; that He would take a half-hearted wish and ensure that it came true for me!
Listen to me very carefully. If you do not have Jesus in your life like this, and you want a friend who will be there for you, and never abandon you... ever, then simply ask Him into your life. Just close your eyes and pray to Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, and simply ask Him to forgive you of your sins and come into your life to be your anchor through this storm of life. He will forgive you and He will become the best friend you have ever had or ever will have. Such is His love for you! If you trust me in anything, then trust me when I tell you that you can trust Him in everything! Do this now and you will never forget it and He will never forsake you!
I have done this many years ago and He was with me protecting me even when I was in rebellion against Him! On top of that, He convicted me of my sinful rebellion and brought me home to His side and led me back to the righteous path that leads to true life! He will also do that for you, no matter how far down that path that leads to death you have gone. He has the power to help you get back to the path of life. Trust in Him and while your troubles may not go away, He promises to be there with you as you go through those troubles and help you with those troubles so that you can see His power in any trial you may go through! Jesus loves you this much! Trust in Him and you will always be able to rely on Him no matter what you face. Go ahead and ask Him now!
May God bless you all with the love of His son, Jesus Christ, the Lord of Morning, this day!
05 April 2012
My Security!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I have a question for you today: where have you placed your security? Do you have a savings account? Have you invested in the stock market? What about gold; have you bought any? Do you have a secret stash somewhere that you keep money in for a rainy day? In other words, when times get tough financially or otherwise, what do you have set aside to ensure that you and yours are taken care of?
What about me? I have nothing! I have no savings account and can barely hold onto my money more than a day or two after I get paid. I have no money invested in the stock market or gold or any other financial considerations. I have no secret stash hidden away. But do you know one thing I have that guarantees that I will be taken care of? I have Jesus Christ! He is my Lord and my Savior! In Him do I put my whole well being; that of my health, my finances, and my security!
Jesus addresses the issue of our security in Matthew:
"19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." ~ Matthew 6:19-21.
and again:
"24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. 25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." ~ Matthew 6:24-34.
Jesus tells us specifically that we can trust completely in God for all of our needs; yes, even financial security! Now I am not saying do not be diligent with your money and do not put aside for times of need. What I am saying is put your whole trust in God to provide for you in times of bounty as well as need!
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a giving and helping person. If you come to me and are in need, I will take the very shirt off my back if necessary in order to help you with your need! This is probably why a Psychiatrist told me one time that I need to learn that I can support people in need without always helping them with my money. I sometimes go too far in caring for others so that I become a crutch to them instead of them learning to walk on their own. That being said, I do not have a lot of money to give people, but when they come to me for help, I am always able to help in some way. I believe this is one of the ways we are called by Him to live with other people, by helping them when they need help.
My point is that money is not the answer, God is the answer! Think about the Dollar. It is the currency upon which the USA trades and uses as legal tender. It used to be based upon the Gold Standard. Now it is not. It used to be the premiere currency of the world. Now it is not. The words, 'In God We Trust' used to have meaning to those who use it. Now they do not. Did you ever consider that as we have lost our faith in God that our currency has also lost the faith of the world? God is the only answer we should ever seek when we are in need. Did He not make everything and install into power every ruler who rules over every empire that has ever existed and will exist? Think about God's storehouses and treasury.
Do you remember when the Pharisees tested Jesus on whether or not it was lawful to pay tribute to Caesar?
"15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap Him in what He said. 16 And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any. 17 Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, "Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax." And they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He *said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" 21 They *said to Him, "Caesar's." Then He *said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's." 22 And hearing this, they were amazed, and leaving Him, they went away." ~ Matthew 22:15-22.
My point is that all the money in the world is God's! All the food, the land, the real estate... is God's! God's treasuries have no end and this is where I go to place my security!
Many times I have been in need and times have been rough. But do you know that through all those times I have never once not had a meal to eat or a roof over my head or a place to lie down and sleep? God has provided for me, even when I was in sinful rebellion against Him, yes even then, through my whole life! He is my security and to Whom I put all my trust!
So again I will ask you: where have you placed your security?
May God bless you all this day!
I have a question for you today: where have you placed your security? Do you have a savings account? Have you invested in the stock market? What about gold; have you bought any? Do you have a secret stash somewhere that you keep money in for a rainy day? In other words, when times get tough financially or otherwise, what do you have set aside to ensure that you and yours are taken care of?
What about me? I have nothing! I have no savings account and can barely hold onto my money more than a day or two after I get paid. I have no money invested in the stock market or gold or any other financial considerations. I have no secret stash hidden away. But do you know one thing I have that guarantees that I will be taken care of? I have Jesus Christ! He is my Lord and my Savior! In Him do I put my whole well being; that of my health, my finances, and my security!
Jesus addresses the issue of our security in Matthew:
"19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." ~ Matthew 6:19-21.
and again:
"24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. 25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." ~ Matthew 6:24-34.
Jesus tells us specifically that we can trust completely in God for all of our needs; yes, even financial security! Now I am not saying do not be diligent with your money and do not put aside for times of need. What I am saying is put your whole trust in God to provide for you in times of bounty as well as need!
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a giving and helping person. If you come to me and are in need, I will take the very shirt off my back if necessary in order to help you with your need! This is probably why a Psychiatrist told me one time that I need to learn that I can support people in need without always helping them with my money. I sometimes go too far in caring for others so that I become a crutch to them instead of them learning to walk on their own. That being said, I do not have a lot of money to give people, but when they come to me for help, I am always able to help in some way. I believe this is one of the ways we are called by Him to live with other people, by helping them when they need help.
My point is that money is not the answer, God is the answer! Think about the Dollar. It is the currency upon which the USA trades and uses as legal tender. It used to be based upon the Gold Standard. Now it is not. It used to be the premiere currency of the world. Now it is not. The words, 'In God We Trust' used to have meaning to those who use it. Now they do not. Did you ever consider that as we have lost our faith in God that our currency has also lost the faith of the world? God is the only answer we should ever seek when we are in need. Did He not make everything and install into power every ruler who rules over every empire that has ever existed and will exist? Think about God's storehouses and treasury.
Do you remember when the Pharisees tested Jesus on whether or not it was lawful to pay tribute to Caesar?
"15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap Him in what He said. 16 And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any. 17 Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, "Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax." And they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He *said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" 21 They *said to Him, "Caesar's." Then He *said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's." 22 And hearing this, they were amazed, and leaving Him, they went away." ~ Matthew 22:15-22.
My point is that all the money in the world is God's! All the food, the land, the real estate... is God's! God's treasuries have no end and this is where I go to place my security!
Many times I have been in need and times have been rough. But do you know that through all those times I have never once not had a meal to eat or a roof over my head or a place to lie down and sleep? God has provided for me, even when I was in sinful rebellion against Him, yes even then, through my whole life! He is my security and to Whom I put all my trust!
So again I will ask you: where have you placed your security?
May God bless you all this day!
04 April 2012
I Kneel Before Jesus Christ!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I kneel before the One Who sits on the throne of David.
I abide in His strength and mercy all of my days.
In Him have I found mercy and peace for all my iniquities.
Through Him will I help others in their time of need.
He is my King, my Lord, and my Savior.
I have always been His; even before I knew that I was.
It was His love that brought me out of my sin and into His grace.
Through Him I have found strength to do that which I never thought possible.
During times of pain, His presence has surely been with me.
During times of peace, His joy reigns in my heart.
During times of persecution, His love sustains me.
During times of exaltation, His admonition keeps me humble.
I kneel before Him and pledge ever more to be His.
I kneel before Him and vow eternally to do His will no matter where it takes me.
I kneel before Him because there is none who is greater.
I kneel before Him because there is none who has shown more love.
I kneel before Him because I got tired of running away from Him.
I kneel before Him because He is holy, holy, holy.
He is my King, my Lord, my Savior, and my God.
He dwells within my heart and keeps the darkness within me at bay.
He has written His law upon the table of my heart.
His word fills my mind in time of need; and also in time of other people's need.
His love endures forever and began before the foundations of the world were laid.
To Him do I pledge everything that I have and everything that I am.
I kneel before you this day, King Jesus Christ!
May God bless you all this day!
I kneel before the One Who sits on the throne of David.
I abide in His strength and mercy all of my days.
In Him have I found mercy and peace for all my iniquities.
Through Him will I help others in their time of need.
He is my King, my Lord, and my Savior.
I have always been His; even before I knew that I was.
It was His love that brought me out of my sin and into His grace.
Through Him I have found strength to do that which I never thought possible.
During times of pain, His presence has surely been with me.
During times of peace, His joy reigns in my heart.
During times of persecution, His love sustains me.
During times of exaltation, His admonition keeps me humble.
I kneel before Him and pledge ever more to be His.
I kneel before Him and vow eternally to do His will no matter where it takes me.
I kneel before Him because there is none who is greater.
I kneel before Him because there is none who has shown more love.
I kneel before Him because I got tired of running away from Him.
I kneel before Him because He is holy, holy, holy.
He is my King, my Lord, my Savior, and my God.
He dwells within my heart and keeps the darkness within me at bay.
He has written His law upon the table of my heart.
His word fills my mind in time of need; and also in time of other people's need.
His love endures forever and began before the foundations of the world were laid.
To Him do I pledge everything that I have and everything that I am.
I kneel before you this day, King Jesus Christ!
May God bless you all this day!
31 March 2012
Why I Do Not Play The Lottery!
Hello Guys and Gals!
This morning and the past couple of days I have been thinking about this lottery which is a record levels. Let me start by saying that I am not judging any who do choose to play the lottery. If you feel like you enjoy it and want to do it, then go for it! With that being said, I have read stories about how people who have won the lottery in the past do not make their lives better but instead make their lives worse by their wrong thinking that since they have all this money that their problems have all been solved. Some have blown their money by simply spending it all, some have been swindled out of it by people whom they should not have trusted, some have been simply robbed or kidnapped and held for ransom. In the end, all of them have put their faith in the money instead of something more worthy.
25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ~ Matthew 6:25-32
Think about this scripture passage! If we are to truly trust in God, then we put our whole trust in Him with everything! I feel as if you are putting your trust in money or the hope of winning the lottery when you do this and you take something away from God's providence in caring for you when you buy a ticket. Not that you are intentionally denying God's ability to take care of your needs in doing this, but have you considered that you might be doing exactly that; that you might be saying that you are putting your faith in the lottery instead of God? I am simply trying to get you all to question your motivations as I have done. As for me, I will not gamble or put money into the lottery for this reason. The other reasons are also key in that I do not like to promote someone who might be addicted to lottery tickets spending money on them instead of needful things for their family or themselves. This has become one of my core beliefs that the lottery does more harm than good in all the communities where it does exist.
So I ask you all to think about your motivations when you buy tickets for the lottery. Are you doing it simply for enjoyment? Or are you doing it with the hope that you will win and your problems will then all be taken care of? Because it is more likely to multiply your problems than remove them! Money does not bring happiness. Only God can bring that with His presence!
God bless you all this day!
This morning and the past couple of days I have been thinking about this lottery which is a record levels. Let me start by saying that I am not judging any who do choose to play the lottery. If you feel like you enjoy it and want to do it, then go for it! With that being said, I have read stories about how people who have won the lottery in the past do not make their lives better but instead make their lives worse by their wrong thinking that since they have all this money that their problems have all been solved. Some have blown their money by simply spending it all, some have been swindled out of it by people whom they should not have trusted, some have been simply robbed or kidnapped and held for ransom. In the end, all of them have put their faith in the money instead of something more worthy.
25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ~ Matthew 6:25-32
Think about this scripture passage! If we are to truly trust in God, then we put our whole trust in Him with everything! I feel as if you are putting your trust in money or the hope of winning the lottery when you do this and you take something away from God's providence in caring for you when you buy a ticket. Not that you are intentionally denying God's ability to take care of your needs in doing this, but have you considered that you might be doing exactly that; that you might be saying that you are putting your faith in the lottery instead of God? I am simply trying to get you all to question your motivations as I have done. As for me, I will not gamble or put money into the lottery for this reason. The other reasons are also key in that I do not like to promote someone who might be addicted to lottery tickets spending money on them instead of needful things for their family or themselves. This has become one of my core beliefs that the lottery does more harm than good in all the communities where it does exist.
So I ask you all to think about your motivations when you buy tickets for the lottery. Are you doing it simply for enjoyment? Or are you doing it with the hope that you will win and your problems will then all be taken care of? Because it is more likely to multiply your problems than remove them! Money does not bring happiness. Only God can bring that with His presence!
God bless you all this day!
30 March 2012
Remember Your Primary Reward!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I have been thinking today about rewards in Heaven and on Earth. In thinking about this, it occurred to me to share with you that we should never forget our primary reward from God for our commitment to Him, that of Himself! Do you not know that when you are working, striving to live your life in the way that God has outlined for us that you will fall short and success only comes by relying on Him, Jesus Christ, for our strength to accomplish this very thing; that He gave Himself to us for our benefit and His glory and that only by His strength will we be able to accomplish His will; and that He is the very greatest reward given to us, that of Himself so that we can and are able to accomplish His will? Jesus Christ is our greatest reward and we, who have believed on Him and have salvation through Him, have already received His presence in our lives and hearts where He writes upon the tablets of our hearts His law for accomplishing His will for His glory!
I know this is short today, but I wanted to remind you of our greatest and primary reward which we, by His gracious gift, have already received from Him! Cling fast to this reward and by this reward we accomplish great things for His glory!
God bless you all this day!
I have been thinking today about rewards in Heaven and on Earth. In thinking about this, it occurred to me to share with you that we should never forget our primary reward from God for our commitment to Him, that of Himself! Do you not know that when you are working, striving to live your life in the way that God has outlined for us that you will fall short and success only comes by relying on Him, Jesus Christ, for our strength to accomplish this very thing; that He gave Himself to us for our benefit and His glory and that only by His strength will we be able to accomplish His will; and that He is the very greatest reward given to us, that of Himself so that we can and are able to accomplish His will? Jesus Christ is our greatest reward and we, who have believed on Him and have salvation through Him, have already received His presence in our lives and hearts where He writes upon the tablets of our hearts His law for accomplishing His will for His glory!
I know this is short today, but I wanted to remind you of our greatest and primary reward which we, by His gracious gift, have already received from Him! Cling fast to this reward and by this reward we accomplish great things for His glory!
God bless you all this day!
17 March 2012
Moved Back to Blogger
Hello Guys and Gals!
This is just and FYI that I have returned to Blogger for my postings. Having used Tumblr for some time, I do like some of the things with it but I just don't get the tools I do with Blogger.
Please notice that this has a new address for the site. I have tweaked up some things and am looking forward to posting here again. I have moved the posts from Tumblr all over to here so you can find them as posted on today. Thank you all so much for taking the time to read what I write!
May God bless you all this day!
Standing Firm in the Line of Battle!
Hello Guys and Gals!
Martin Luther said, “If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at the moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved and to be stead on all the battle front besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.”
Today we are beset on all fronts with attacks against our beliefs and symbols of Christianity and America. Yesterday I saw that the Left was flying an American flag absent the stars and in their place was a picture of Obama. Add to that the Obama Administration giving a permit for a tribe to hunt and kill the Bald Eagle, the very symbol of America. Add to that the Obama Administration requiring the Catholic Church to provide contraceptives and go against their very core beliefs. Add to that Obama deliberately omitting the phrase about ‘the Creator’ when quoting The Declaration of Independence.
On top of all that, even though Obama professes Christianity, we see him and his administration working to apologize for America to Islamic countries and also promoting Islamic traditions. He went so far to say that America is no longer a Christian nation but more an Islamic nation and Hindu nation and Buddhist nation.
Congressman Joe Wilson shouted at Obama, “You lie!” during one of Obama’s speeches before Congress. His outburst drew condemnation from both Democratic and Republican sides of the aisle and ultimately led to him apologizing for it. But his outburst came after Obama said, “There are also those who claim that our reform effort will insure illegal immigrants. This, too, is false. The reforms I’m proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally.” Yet we see that Obama was lying in that speech and Joe Wilson was right in his declaration that Obama was lying. So why the apology if he was right?
Recently, Jim Wallis, a Liberal pastor, said America is not a Christian nation and has never been a Christian nation. He goes on to say, “American exceptionalism, theology, is a heresy. It’s not true and it’s very dangerous.” Yet the term American Exceptionalism was coined in 1831 by French political thinker Alexis de Tocqueville, who wrote the book, Democracy in America.
Conservative historian, David Barton, wrote: ‘America has a wonderful spiritual and constitutional legacy. It is no surprise that Secularists, Atheists, Leftists, and Liberals have relentlessly attacked every aspect of that heritage. They must sever citizens from a knowledge of their true history if they are to succeed in moving the country in a new direction.
Such attacks are to be expected, but what is surprising that some who would be described as conservative Christians have now joined with them and become leaders in the attack on America’s rich Christian heritage. They are trying to convince Christians not only that America does not have a Biblical foundation but specifically that the Founding Fathers were largely pagans who represented the spirit of the Anti-Christ. They further assert that Christians should not be involved in the political arena or similar areas of culture.’
With all this we see our churches, beliefs, traditions, symbols, and even the very rights guaranteed by the Constitution under attack by the Left and the Obama Administration. And where is the leadership that stands up against these attacks? Even those who do stand up and call the lies of Obama what they actually are, namely Joe Wilson, eventually back down and apologize, even though he is right, because of the public outcry and political correctness which has infested our society like a disease today!
Did you ever notice that when you put on the Armor of God (Ephesians 6), that the first thing you put on is truth? You gird your loins with the truth! Think about that. This is the armor that goes on first and undergirds all the other armor! I believe that without the truth, being that the ultimate truth comes only from Jesus, that all the other armor has weakness to it! Look at the Breastplate of Righteousness. Without truth, how would that righteousness protect you? So we should stand up for the truth against the attacks upon it! And do not let public opinion and political correctness make you bow to a liar when you know that what you are standing for is the truth!
Looking back at what Martin Luther said above, how can we claim to be Christian Soldiers and not stand firm against the very critical points where Satan is attacking? How can we not defend, with our very lives if need be, those attacks against Christianity and even America, which was founded by Christians and upon Christian morals and traditions? How is it that when those very morals and symbols are under attack that we just sit there and watch it happen not standing up against those attacks?
Let me leave you with a quote which I do not know the author of: Stand up for what you believe! You may be right. You may be wrong. But at least you stand for something. Because when you don’t stand for something, you will lay down for anything!
Are you standing firm in the line of battle which we are in today?
May God bless each and every one of you this day!
Martin Luther said, “If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at the moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved and to be stead on all the battle front besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.”
Today we are beset on all fronts with attacks against our beliefs and symbols of Christianity and America. Yesterday I saw that the Left was flying an American flag absent the stars and in their place was a picture of Obama. Add to that the Obama Administration giving a permit for a tribe to hunt and kill the Bald Eagle, the very symbol of America. Add to that the Obama Administration requiring the Catholic Church to provide contraceptives and go against their very core beliefs. Add to that Obama deliberately omitting the phrase about ‘the Creator’ when quoting The Declaration of Independence.
On top of all that, even though Obama professes Christianity, we see him and his administration working to apologize for America to Islamic countries and also promoting Islamic traditions. He went so far to say that America is no longer a Christian nation but more an Islamic nation and Hindu nation and Buddhist nation.
Congressman Joe Wilson shouted at Obama, “You lie!” during one of Obama’s speeches before Congress. His outburst drew condemnation from both Democratic and Republican sides of the aisle and ultimately led to him apologizing for it. But his outburst came after Obama said, “There are also those who claim that our reform effort will insure illegal immigrants. This, too, is false. The reforms I’m proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally.” Yet we see that Obama was lying in that speech and Joe Wilson was right in his declaration that Obama was lying. So why the apology if he was right?
Recently, Jim Wallis, a Liberal pastor, said America is not a Christian nation and has never been a Christian nation. He goes on to say, “American exceptionalism, theology, is a heresy. It’s not true and it’s very dangerous.” Yet the term American Exceptionalism was coined in 1831 by French political thinker Alexis de Tocqueville, who wrote the book, Democracy in America.
Conservative historian, David Barton, wrote: ‘America has a wonderful spiritual and constitutional legacy. It is no surprise that Secularists, Atheists, Leftists, and Liberals have relentlessly attacked every aspect of that heritage. They must sever citizens from a knowledge of their true history if they are to succeed in moving the country in a new direction.
Such attacks are to be expected, but what is surprising that some who would be described as conservative Christians have now joined with them and become leaders in the attack on America’s rich Christian heritage. They are trying to convince Christians not only that America does not have a Biblical foundation but specifically that the Founding Fathers were largely pagans who represented the spirit of the Anti-Christ. They further assert that Christians should not be involved in the political arena or similar areas of culture.’
With all this we see our churches, beliefs, traditions, symbols, and even the very rights guaranteed by the Constitution under attack by the Left and the Obama Administration. And where is the leadership that stands up against these attacks? Even those who do stand up and call the lies of Obama what they actually are, namely Joe Wilson, eventually back down and apologize, even though he is right, because of the public outcry and political correctness which has infested our society like a disease today!
Did you ever notice that when you put on the Armor of God (Ephesians 6), that the first thing you put on is truth? You gird your loins with the truth! Think about that. This is the armor that goes on first and undergirds all the other armor! I believe that without the truth, being that the ultimate truth comes only from Jesus, that all the other armor has weakness to it! Look at the Breastplate of Righteousness. Without truth, how would that righteousness protect you? So we should stand up for the truth against the attacks upon it! And do not let public opinion and political correctness make you bow to a liar when you know that what you are standing for is the truth!
Looking back at what Martin Luther said above, how can we claim to be Christian Soldiers and not stand firm against the very critical points where Satan is attacking? How can we not defend, with our very lives if need be, those attacks against Christianity and even America, which was founded by Christians and upon Christian morals and traditions? How is it that when those very morals and symbols are under attack that we just sit there and watch it happen not standing up against those attacks?
Let me leave you with a quote which I do not know the author of: Stand up for what you believe! You may be right. You may be wrong. But at least you stand for something. Because when you don’t stand for something, you will lay down for anything!
Are you standing firm in the line of battle which we are in today?
May God bless each and every one of you this day!
Is The Word Of God True?
Hello Guys and Gals!
Did you know that 200 years ago you would never hear someone say ‘I am a Christian’ and ‘I believe the bible is full of inaccuracies’? From the writing of each of the books of the bible up to around 200 years ago, Christians held that the bible was inerrant! Yet today, we hear that all the time. What happened?
I believe what happened is Satan attacking the inerrancy of the bible so that he could subvert, not only the word of God, but also the authors of His agency who wrote the New Testament. We can see this in the unification of Islam and GLBT and Socialists trying to say that the Apostle Paul is one of the false teachers that Jesus Christ warned his disciples about. This is an out and out lie! Know that!
So I am writing this today to try and get you to think about and ponder upon why Christians no longer hold to the inerrancy of the word of God! One thing I have often heard is that people believe Jesus Christ told the truth and everything he said was true. Then I ask them if they believe in demons and they respond absolutely not. Then I remind them of where Jesus testified about demons existing and them waging war upon humanity. They are then at a loss for words. Why?
Either we believe, as Christians, that the word of God is inerrant in it’s entirety or we do not. If we do not, then why are you claiming to be a Christian? Why are you basing the hope of your salvation upon scripture that is full of errors in your eyes? Why do you believe that you have attained salvation through His grace and yet do not believe the rest of what He says? How can you have this dichotomy in your thinking?
So ponder and think about this today and consider within yourself about the inerrancy of the word of God and whether you consider it to be completely inerrant, or full of errors! And then ponder whether you promote and defend that inerrancy to the rest of the world! Think on these things today and then pray about them. Pray and ask God to confirm the truth within you and then live the truth you come to!
May God bless you all this day!
Did you know that 200 years ago you would never hear someone say ‘I am a Christian’ and ‘I believe the bible is full of inaccuracies’? From the writing of each of the books of the bible up to around 200 years ago, Christians held that the bible was inerrant! Yet today, we hear that all the time. What happened?
I believe what happened is Satan attacking the inerrancy of the bible so that he could subvert, not only the word of God, but also the authors of His agency who wrote the New Testament. We can see this in the unification of Islam and GLBT and Socialists trying to say that the Apostle Paul is one of the false teachers that Jesus Christ warned his disciples about. This is an out and out lie! Know that!
So I am writing this today to try and get you to think about and ponder upon why Christians no longer hold to the inerrancy of the word of God! One thing I have often heard is that people believe Jesus Christ told the truth and everything he said was true. Then I ask them if they believe in demons and they respond absolutely not. Then I remind them of where Jesus testified about demons existing and them waging war upon humanity. They are then at a loss for words. Why?
Either we believe, as Christians, that the word of God is inerrant in it’s entirety or we do not. If we do not, then why are you claiming to be a Christian? Why are you basing the hope of your salvation upon scripture that is full of errors in your eyes? Why do you believe that you have attained salvation through His grace and yet do not believe the rest of what He says? How can you have this dichotomy in your thinking?
So ponder and think about this today and consider within yourself about the inerrancy of the word of God and whether you consider it to be completely inerrant, or full of errors! And then ponder whether you promote and defend that inerrancy to the rest of the world! Think on these things today and then pray about them. Pray and ask God to confirm the truth within you and then live the truth you come to!
May God bless you all this day!
Praying For You!
Hello Guys and Gals!
I want each of you to know that I have prayed for you this morning! How do you know if it is you I am speaking to? Can you see these words? If you can, then you have been personally prayed for by me this morning! I prayed that God draw close to you and make His presence known in your life today, that He blesses you with Himself and that you have a relationship with Him such as I now have and am truly blessed by!
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ~ Titus 3:4-7
It does not matter to me that you do not believe in God if you are an Athiest. It should not matter to you that I pray for you to a God you do not believe in! Unless, you do actually believe and are rejecting His will in your life and are knowingly standing against Him. So if you want to know the truth, ask yourself how you feel right now, knowing that I have prayed for you. If you feel blessed, then you love God. If you are upset, I ask you to try and discover why that is within yourself. If you do not care, then this post should not matter. Either way, you are dear to me and I have prayed for you this day!
May God bless each and every one of you this day!
I want each of you to know that I have prayed for you this morning! How do you know if it is you I am speaking to? Can you see these words? If you can, then you have been personally prayed for by me this morning! I prayed that God draw close to you and make His presence known in your life today, that He blesses you with Himself and that you have a relationship with Him such as I now have and am truly blessed by!
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ~ Titus 3:4-7
It does not matter to me that you do not believe in God if you are an Athiest. It should not matter to you that I pray for you to a God you do not believe in! Unless, you do actually believe and are rejecting His will in your life and are knowingly standing against Him. So if you want to know the truth, ask yourself how you feel right now, knowing that I have prayed for you. If you feel blessed, then you love God. If you are upset, I ask you to try and discover why that is within yourself. If you do not care, then this post should not matter. Either way, you are dear to me and I have prayed for you this day!
May God bless each and every one of you this day!
What Is Real Pain?
Hello Guys and Gals!
How much pain can one person handle? Is it more for some than others? I have a lot of physical pain that I deal with on a daily basis. My doctors tell me that I should be on pain meds at times when I’m not taking them because the pain I have is more than others have. I have suffered at level 10 pain where 10 is the most severe able to be experienced. My doctors say that there is no physical pain that is greater.
There is a reason I’m asking this so bear with me. There is one thing I have discovered though, that physical pain is nothing compared to spiritual pain! I’m talking about the pain of sin in life; when you know you have sin in your life and choose to embrace it rather than bring it to God. That pain, that pain of not dealing with your sin before God, is the greatest pain there truly is! Jesus came so that we would not have to live with that pain any more.
So if you’re feeling this type of pain today, right now, then simply get on your knees and pray and ask Him to help you with this pain! Just that! You’ll be amazed at the path He leads you down!
I pray earnestly today that God blesses each and every one of you that reads this today!
How much pain can one person handle? Is it more for some than others? I have a lot of physical pain that I deal with on a daily basis. My doctors tell me that I should be on pain meds at times when I’m not taking them because the pain I have is more than others have. I have suffered at level 10 pain where 10 is the most severe able to be experienced. My doctors say that there is no physical pain that is greater.
There is a reason I’m asking this so bear with me. There is one thing I have discovered though, that physical pain is nothing compared to spiritual pain! I’m talking about the pain of sin in life; when you know you have sin in your life and choose to embrace it rather than bring it to God. That pain, that pain of not dealing with your sin before God, is the greatest pain there truly is! Jesus came so that we would not have to live with that pain any more.
So if you’re feeling this type of pain today, right now, then simply get on your knees and pray and ask Him to help you with this pain! Just that! You’ll be amazed at the path He leads you down!
I pray earnestly today that God blesses each and every one of you that reads this today!
Pain and Suffering!
Hello Guys and Gals!
Have you experienced pain in your life? I have! The last few days, my back and neck was acting up and as a result I was suffering from a migraine headache, neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain in both shoulders, tail bone pain and hip pain to be minimal about it. Just keep in mind that when this happens, a lot of other things are affected by it as well. But this got me reflecting upon things I have suffered and how I cling to God for my strength through these times.
I know that many of you have pain in your life. I also know that while the pain you are experiencing may not be the same as mine, I know I have experienced similar pain as such you are suffering. I have even been told that the physical pain I was suffering from was as bad as it gets and there isn’t any physical pain greater than that. I was truly, by his words, suffering a true level 10 pain on a scale from 1-10! I know!
But what about non-physical pain? Emotional or Spiritual pain? What about divorce or separation from family? What about betrayal by a friend or family member? What about a friend or family member literally trying to kill you? What about the loss of a loved one that brings grief so great that you are struggling to find meaning in your very existence? What about Societal pain? What about the looks of ‘good citizens’ as they look at you and judge you hypocritically? What about the looks that healthy people give overweight people when they do not know the circumstances of how they became overweight? What about, and listen close here, the extreme pain of confronting the truth that all that you are is so bad that nobody wants anything to do with you; the fact that all you have tried to become has come to nothing and you have nothing left and nowhere left to go? So you kneel in prayer to God because you hope that He will have mercy on you and give you enough of His attention so that you can beg for mercy from Him? Do you know these kinds of pain? I do! I know them all very intimately!
What then do you do with this kind of pain? You trust in Him, the Lord Jesus Christ! He may not take away your pain, even though He might do just that; but one thing He will definitely do is be there with you through that pain! He does not promise that you will no longer suffer from pain and suffering. He does promise that He will never leave or forsake you! He promises that He will give you nothing that you cannot bear! From one man who has been there, I give you my solemn oath that I know He has been there for me and will be there for you in the same manner!
If you have not thought much about this in a long time, maybe take a little time to think about what pain in your life that you would want to get rid of or even get help with dealing with it! You can get that relief or help in Him! It’s so very easy. All you have to do is kneel in prayer, proclaim that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, has died on the cross for your sins and risen from the grave by His own power, ask Him into your heart and life to begin the transformation within you, and then be forgiven by His merciful grace! Begin your relationship with God today. If you have already begun yours, then renew it today! God does communicate with us directly through so many ways. Choose today to communicate back to Him and fill your life with His grace, peace, love, and joy! You will be renewed just as I have been!
May God bless you all this day!
Have you experienced pain in your life? I have! The last few days, my back and neck was acting up and as a result I was suffering from a migraine headache, neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain in both shoulders, tail bone pain and hip pain to be minimal about it. Just keep in mind that when this happens, a lot of other things are affected by it as well. But this got me reflecting upon things I have suffered and how I cling to God for my strength through these times.
I know that many of you have pain in your life. I also know that while the pain you are experiencing may not be the same as mine, I know I have experienced similar pain as such you are suffering. I have even been told that the physical pain I was suffering from was as bad as it gets and there isn’t any physical pain greater than that. I was truly, by his words, suffering a true level 10 pain on a scale from 1-10! I know!
But what about non-physical pain? Emotional or Spiritual pain? What about divorce or separation from family? What about betrayal by a friend or family member? What about a friend or family member literally trying to kill you? What about the loss of a loved one that brings grief so great that you are struggling to find meaning in your very existence? What about Societal pain? What about the looks of ‘good citizens’ as they look at you and judge you hypocritically? What about the looks that healthy people give overweight people when they do not know the circumstances of how they became overweight? What about, and listen close here, the extreme pain of confronting the truth that all that you are is so bad that nobody wants anything to do with you; the fact that all you have tried to become has come to nothing and you have nothing left and nowhere left to go? So you kneel in prayer to God because you hope that He will have mercy on you and give you enough of His attention so that you can beg for mercy from Him? Do you know these kinds of pain? I do! I know them all very intimately!
What then do you do with this kind of pain? You trust in Him, the Lord Jesus Christ! He may not take away your pain, even though He might do just that; but one thing He will definitely do is be there with you through that pain! He does not promise that you will no longer suffer from pain and suffering. He does promise that He will never leave or forsake you! He promises that He will give you nothing that you cannot bear! From one man who has been there, I give you my solemn oath that I know He has been there for me and will be there for you in the same manner!
If you have not thought much about this in a long time, maybe take a little time to think about what pain in your life that you would want to get rid of or even get help with dealing with it! You can get that relief or help in Him! It’s so very easy. All you have to do is kneel in prayer, proclaim that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, has died on the cross for your sins and risen from the grave by His own power, ask Him into your heart and life to begin the transformation within you, and then be forgiven by His merciful grace! Begin your relationship with God today. If you have already begun yours, then renew it today! God does communicate with us directly through so many ways. Choose today to communicate back to Him and fill your life with His grace, peace, love, and joy! You will be renewed just as I have been!
May God bless you all this day!
In Defense!
Many of you may wonder or even get frustrated by the things I say, post, or write about. I am making this post to give you the reasons why I do and say what I do!
In Ephesians 6:10-17 the bible states:
“10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
In 1 Peter 3:13-17 the bible states:
“13 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.”
In Matthew 10:32-39 the bible states:
“32 “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.33 But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.35 For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW;36 and A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.
37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.39 He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”
So I equip myself with the Armor of God, being always ready to make a defense to everyone that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, defending always His Word, His truth, and those who spoke His truth with integrity!
Now I know there are many of you who comment or even do not comment but share the thought that what I talk about and the stances I take do not matter in the larger scheme of things. But I would argue to you that it does matter! Too many people are scared of talking about Religion and Politics today. And some even go so far as to say that the two are not the same thing. If you believe that Religion and Politics are separate in any way, then you are deluding yourself. Religion and Politics have been inextricably tied together from the very beginning of time in every civilization and society. You might argue that Communism has no religion, and I would argue that the embracing of Atheism is tied to the very tenets of Communism. One of the greatest things the Founders of our great nation did at the time of the founding was speak, all the time, about Religion and Politics in a civilized manner; discussing and exploring the ideas that perpetuated the world at that time in order to come up with the great founding principles that our nation was founded upon! The reason I say this is critical to discuss this opening and in a civilized manner is because we are living in a period of time that is practically a mirror for the Weimar Republic. The Weimar Republic is the government that existed in Germany before the Third Reich took over Germany under Adolf Hitler. And if you do not see this, you should go out and get a book on the history of Germany during this time.
When I speak up about Religion or Politics, it is because I see Christianity under attack by the discussion I speak up in. Now even if this discussion started with something you say, you may not mean it as an attack, but where you got it from was definitely meant as an attack. Let me explain. When someone on the Left quotes someone who is a great orator of Jesus, their agenda is never to promote the original intent of the great orator of Jesus, but instead to use the words of that great orator of Jesus in an attempt to influence those of us on the right to try and twist the original intent of the orator in the eyes of the right in order to bring into being their Socialist agenda! Read that carefully again.
Just like when you quote a passage of the bible, you have to take the passage being quoted into context. Not only do you have to take the context of the history, setting, and intent of the original speaker, but also the context in which the person quoting the statement to you is attempting to use it. In other words, if the person quoting someone is always saying something politically motivated from the Left, then you know that the reason they are quoting what they are quoting is in an effort to further the agenda that they have been pushing!
As for me, my motivations are simple. I stand up for the truth of Jesus Christ, Christianity, Conservative Principles, and I stand against all lying and twisting of the truth or twisting of the original intent of a message! I am a historian. I am a scholar. I study all the time and work very hard on getting the facts straight. When I do get into a debate with someone, you can make sure I have my facts straight and that I will research all sides of the issue when I get into the details of it! If you do not believe what I say, then look into it! Show me where I am wrong and I give you my solemn word that when you do prove me wrong, that I will apologize to you both publicly and privately and even go so far as to correct the error I made publicly!
Christianity is under attack today by Islam, Liberals, the GLBT Community, Communists, Socialists, and every other group that has ever attacked Jesus Christ and His principles! It is important for us, as Christian Soldiers, to put on the Armor of God, always being ready to make a defense, and stand up and confess Jesus Christ and the truth He spoke, in love, to those who would attack it! So I ask you this, if you are not doing this when you see an attack against Jesus, why not?
May God bless you all this day!
In Ephesians 6:10-17 the bible states:
“10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
In 1 Peter 3:13-17 the bible states:
“13 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.”
In Matthew 10:32-39 the bible states:
“32 “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.33 But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.35 For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW;36 and A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.
37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.39 He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”
So I equip myself with the Armor of God, being always ready to make a defense to everyone that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, defending always His Word, His truth, and those who spoke His truth with integrity!
Now I know there are many of you who comment or even do not comment but share the thought that what I talk about and the stances I take do not matter in the larger scheme of things. But I would argue to you that it does matter! Too many people are scared of talking about Religion and Politics today. And some even go so far as to say that the two are not the same thing. If you believe that Religion and Politics are separate in any way, then you are deluding yourself. Religion and Politics have been inextricably tied together from the very beginning of time in every civilization and society. You might argue that Communism has no religion, and I would argue that the embracing of Atheism is tied to the very tenets of Communism. One of the greatest things the Founders of our great nation did at the time of the founding was speak, all the time, about Religion and Politics in a civilized manner; discussing and exploring the ideas that perpetuated the world at that time in order to come up with the great founding principles that our nation was founded upon! The reason I say this is critical to discuss this opening and in a civilized manner is because we are living in a period of time that is practically a mirror for the Weimar Republic. The Weimar Republic is the government that existed in Germany before the Third Reich took over Germany under Adolf Hitler. And if you do not see this, you should go out and get a book on the history of Germany during this time.
When I speak up about Religion or Politics, it is because I see Christianity under attack by the discussion I speak up in. Now even if this discussion started with something you say, you may not mean it as an attack, but where you got it from was definitely meant as an attack. Let me explain. When someone on the Left quotes someone who is a great orator of Jesus, their agenda is never to promote the original intent of the great orator of Jesus, but instead to use the words of that great orator of Jesus in an attempt to influence those of us on the right to try and twist the original intent of the orator in the eyes of the right in order to bring into being their Socialist agenda! Read that carefully again.
Just like when you quote a passage of the bible, you have to take the passage being quoted into context. Not only do you have to take the context of the history, setting, and intent of the original speaker, but also the context in which the person quoting the statement to you is attempting to use it. In other words, if the person quoting someone is always saying something politically motivated from the Left, then you know that the reason they are quoting what they are quoting is in an effort to further the agenda that they have been pushing!
As for me, my motivations are simple. I stand up for the truth of Jesus Christ, Christianity, Conservative Principles, and I stand against all lying and twisting of the truth or twisting of the original intent of a message! I am a historian. I am a scholar. I study all the time and work very hard on getting the facts straight. When I do get into a debate with someone, you can make sure I have my facts straight and that I will research all sides of the issue when I get into the details of it! If you do not believe what I say, then look into it! Show me where I am wrong and I give you my solemn word that when you do prove me wrong, that I will apologize to you both publicly and privately and even go so far as to correct the error I made publicly!
Christianity is under attack today by Islam, Liberals, the GLBT Community, Communists, Socialists, and every other group that has ever attacked Jesus Christ and His principles! It is important for us, as Christian Soldiers, to put on the Armor of God, always being ready to make a defense, and stand up and confess Jesus Christ and the truth He spoke, in love, to those who would attack it! So I ask you this, if you are not doing this when you see an attack against Jesus, why not?
May God bless you all this day!
10 January 2012
Praying For Death!
Hello Guys and Gals!
Have you ever prayed that God remove you from this world; take you from this life so that your pain, suffering, depression, loneliness, and misery of life ends? I have!
I know that many of you, my dear friends, are hurting in some way or another right now. Some with the loss of a loved one. Some with the hurtful treatment of those who would be your friends. Some with the pain of separation or divorce from one you love. Some simply because you are hurting. I have been there! I know the pain of each and every one of these things. I know where you are today and where you can be tomorrow.
But I am writing this so that you may have hope! Have you ever read Psalm 23?
Psalm 23
The LORD, the Psalmist's Shepherd.
A Psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not 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 the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the tvalley of the shadow of death,
I fear no tevil, 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 have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will tdwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Did you know that David wrote this psalm while being pursued by Saul, the father of David's best friend and King of Israel, and David felt as if he had nothing to live for and no hope left in his life! Have you ever felt that? I have!
What I want to focus on is the line 'He restores my soul'! I cannot begin to describe how low I was and how much God has restored my soul to value my life again, to think that my soul is contributing to helping others better their lives, to feeling worthy again in His sight!
Do you know how I started getting help from God? I was just about to stick a needle in my arm once again. The guilt and shame of that overcame me and the Holy Spirit convicted me right there in a bathroom. I prayed that I had not the strength to give up the methamphetamines and life I was living. I told God that if He wanted me out of this life that He would have to do every part of it because I had not the strength or will to even move my head enough to turn around and look behind me at my life before when I was not on meth! It was by His strength, His effort, His might, His will, and His love that I was healed of that!
I encourage each and every one of you to simply pray! Even if you do not have any words, the Holy Spirit will translate your innermost groanings to God so that a clear message of what you are feeling and wanting to say are understood clearly by God so that He will send His son, Jesus Christ to you and help you, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to bring you out of the pain and suffering you are experiencing right now! Jesus will be there for you and carry you when you have no more strength for your journey out of this horrible state you are in right now! That is His promise to you that He will never leave nor forsake you! Think about that word 'forsake'! This means that even should you rebel against Him and do your utmost to get Him to turn from you, he will not forsake you to even your own desire for destruction!
Here is a passage from Psalm 18, also written by David:
4 The cords of death encompassed me,
And the torrents of tungodliness terrified me.
5 The cords of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called upon the LORD,
And cried to my God for help;
He heard my voice out of His temple,
And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.
7 Then the earth shook and quaked;
And the foundations of the mountains were trembling
And were shaken, because He was angry.
8 Smoke went up out of His nostrils,
And fire from His mouth devoured;
Coals were kindled by it.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With thick darkness under His feet.
10 He rode upon a cherub and flew;
And He sped upon the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness His hiding place, His canopy around Him,
Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
12 From the brightness before Him passed His thick clouds,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
13 The LORD also thundered in the heavens,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
14 He sent out His arrows, and scattered them,
And lightning flashes in abundance, and routed them.
15 Then the channels of water appeared,
And the foundations of the world were laid bare
At Your rebuke, O LORD,
At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.
16 He sent from on high, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy,
And from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the LORD was my stay.
This is the might and power of God that comes to rescue you from His throne in Heaven! Know this! Believe this! Trust Him as He saves you!
And if there be any of you who think that He cannot save you, just look at me and how He has transformed me and changed my life for your hope! He can do it and will do it if you only ask Him for help!
God bless you all this day!
Have you ever prayed that God remove you from this world; take you from this life so that your pain, suffering, depression, loneliness, and misery of life ends? I have!
I know that many of you, my dear friends, are hurting in some way or another right now. Some with the loss of a loved one. Some with the hurtful treatment of those who would be your friends. Some with the pain of separation or divorce from one you love. Some simply because you are hurting. I have been there! I know the pain of each and every one of these things. I know where you are today and where you can be tomorrow.
But I am writing this so that you may have hope! Have you ever read Psalm 23?
Psalm 23
The LORD, the Psalmist's Shepherd.
A Psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not 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 the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the tvalley of the shadow of death,
I fear no tevil, 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 have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will tdwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Did you know that David wrote this psalm while being pursued by Saul, the father of David's best friend and King of Israel, and David felt as if he had nothing to live for and no hope left in his life! Have you ever felt that? I have!
What I want to focus on is the line 'He restores my soul'! I cannot begin to describe how low I was and how much God has restored my soul to value my life again, to think that my soul is contributing to helping others better their lives, to feeling worthy again in His sight!
Do you know how I started getting help from God? I was just about to stick a needle in my arm once again. The guilt and shame of that overcame me and the Holy Spirit convicted me right there in a bathroom. I prayed that I had not the strength to give up the methamphetamines and life I was living. I told God that if He wanted me out of this life that He would have to do every part of it because I had not the strength or will to even move my head enough to turn around and look behind me at my life before when I was not on meth! It was by His strength, His effort, His might, His will, and His love that I was healed of that!
I encourage each and every one of you to simply pray! Even if you do not have any words, the Holy Spirit will translate your innermost groanings to God so that a clear message of what you are feeling and wanting to say are understood clearly by God so that He will send His son, Jesus Christ to you and help you, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to bring you out of the pain and suffering you are experiencing right now! Jesus will be there for you and carry you when you have no more strength for your journey out of this horrible state you are in right now! That is His promise to you that He will never leave nor forsake you! Think about that word 'forsake'! This means that even should you rebel against Him and do your utmost to get Him to turn from you, he will not forsake you to even your own desire for destruction!
Here is a passage from Psalm 18, also written by David:
4 The cords of death encompassed me,
And the torrents of tungodliness terrified me.
5 The cords of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called upon the LORD,
And cried to my God for help;
He heard my voice out of His temple,
And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.
7 Then the earth shook and quaked;
And the foundations of the mountains were trembling
And were shaken, because He was angry.
8 Smoke went up out of His nostrils,
And fire from His mouth devoured;
Coals were kindled by it.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With thick darkness under His feet.
10 He rode upon a cherub and flew;
And He sped upon the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness His hiding place, His canopy around Him,
Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
12 From the brightness before Him passed His thick clouds,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
13 The LORD also thundered in the heavens,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
14 He sent out His arrows, and scattered them,
And lightning flashes in abundance, and routed them.
15 Then the channels of water appeared,
And the foundations of the world were laid bare
At Your rebuke, O LORD,
At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.
16 He sent from on high, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy,
And from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the LORD was my stay.
This is the might and power of God that comes to rescue you from His throne in Heaven! Know this! Believe this! Trust Him as He saves you!
And if there be any of you who think that He cannot save you, just look at me and how He has transformed me and changed my life for your hope! He can do it and will do it if you only ask Him for help!
God bless you all this day!
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