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Just a little info I would like to pass on & none of this is me patting myself on the back, just life's lessons---I have been reading my Scriptures now for 30+ yrs., I use to get up around 3 or 4 am to be sure I got my reading in before going to work, now that I am retired I have more time to devote to Study----I started with the Scofield Study Bible, the MacArthur Study Bible, my dad before his passing gave me a complete set of Interpreter's Bibles & Interpreter's Dictionary, we have Bibles over 100 yrs old, believe it or not I use those every now & then to see what has changed in the wording, OH!! IMPORTANT POINT HERE---I still don't know much......ANYWAY this past Christmas my bride of 50+ yrs. gave me a Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible and I have to say that I have never had Scripture explained like this Study Bible explains....things are made more clear than ever before....If any of you are thinking of purchasing a good Study Bible I would suggest you take a look-see at this one.......I still have to use all those other resources---but David Jeremiah does an excellent way of giving an understanding......NOW!!!! All that being said, I have to be honest and say or question myself---Is it this Study Bible or is the Holy Spirit starting to think just maybe Ole Dave is ready for some more knowledge----we have to be careful not to put too much praise in the hands of mankind and forget to recognize the real understanding comes from the Holy Spirit-----EZ trap to fall in.....God Bless & have a great day
As you know I love my Bible Studies, I keep hoping it will make me a better person today than I was yesterday. I know and understand that life puts a lot of strain of the clocks of many folks, our day starts off in a rush and often we have to hurry to bed to fall asleep quickly so we can start the rush thing all over again. Time for the Scripture stuff just isn't there., that is not a condemnation. I remember one time yrs. ago in Sunday school that our preacher's wife made a comment on this very subject, she had kids to get ready for school, a husband to care for, and she worked, she just did not have time to sit down to Bible reading, however, she found in her car on her way to work things were quite and she spent time every morning with God while going to work---although she was a busy woman she still found time for God at church singing in the Choir etc.....trust me she had the voice of an angel....Sorry I got off subject just a pinch, I would like to offer this easy fix to Christianity-----My son taught me the that all we have to do is "Love God"-"Love our Family" & "Love others"----I think he is right if folks would get That in line all else would fall in place. Had a friend in Sunday School, who has passed on, Terry, he often said the we often make being a Christian to difficult......Reckon my son was right on spot......Bible Study for those who have time is a great thing, may be some of us need it more than others -----Someone ask Jesus what they had to do---Jesus said the God required them to "BELIEVE"-----now that was my words off the top of my head, not Scripture word for word -----God Bless and have a good day
Had to share this one to my fb page.....a good'ern
In preparing to do my morning reading I was reading the Introduction to the Gospel of Mark. When Mark wrote this Gospel it was a time when it appeared that his whole world and his church was falling apart. Without going through a history lesson, We have much going on in our world today that our world appears to us much like Mark's world a couple thousand years ago....but I had this hi-lited and it rang a bell---------
"The more confused, fragmented and chaotic our world becomes, the more the good news of Jesus Christ brings focus and clarity to our lives. Reading the Gospels---whether for the first time or the thousandth---brings light into dark circumstances and peace in the most unsettled times because they tell us about Jesus, our Light, our Peace, our Hope for troubled times."
Sort of says to me---all is well---God is in charge----God Bless
Hummm, made me think, no I got a headache com,n on, my faith, hope, & trust for all eternity is in the God of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ....... but hey, I sure hope the politicians get it together...... the real scary thing or ones are the you & me’s that vote these screwballs into office.....sometimes we just h@ve to face the fact that the majority rule and we get what we ask for...... I try not to get all caught up in all this stuff, God is in charge, He knows & understands —— one thing for sure mankind is lost as a fart in a wind storm
1 Corinthians 3:11-15
New King James Version
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Notice vrs.15---If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved
I often say "I slip, slide and fall down, but pick myself up, knock the dust off and carry on"....none of us are perfect....Paul teaches that no matter how worthless our work is, we , who believe will never loose our salvation. Quick thoughts here: John 3:16 says those who believe will never perish and will have everlasting life---The Hebrew & Greek words for "Salvation" imply the ideas of deliverance, safety, preservation, healing and soundness. I always look at Salvation like an umbrella and under it is all the acts which bring us to God: justification--redemption--grace--propitiation--imputation--forgiveness--sanctification--glorification. Salvation comes in 3 theses: 1--The Christian has been saved from the guilt and penalty of sin....2--The Christian is being saved from the habit and dominion of sin..3--The christian will be saved at the Lord's return...Salvation, being saved, Salvation is a free gift from God, we can't work to get it, we are saved to do good works. Some believes do really good works, some believers get lazy, (would be the gold, silver, precious stones or on the other end, hay,, straw, wood) but in the end those who believe in Jesus Christ, although they may come up short on rewards they will be saved.
I know there are many who may differ with me and that's ok, it just means we are thinking and thinking is a good thing---think on this, if we engage our minds we are having fellowship with the Holy Spirit. ----God Bless & have a great week
I tell ya, would be a great Sunday school open discussion......one's mind could go anywhere....This woman's life was on the line......then just how scared was she----then God knows all, so it is well worth thinking that Jesus knew her heart without her saying a word........but all in all, I had never in the past noticed that forgiveness was given with out any repentance or one asking for forgiveness......her offense was one of being stoned to death for. The Holy Spirit tells us, NOPE, don't do that or HEY MAN !! You really screwed up that one-----I would love to understand how people chugged along before the days of the Holy Spirit-----I know the Holy Spirit was around in the O.T. times, but not instilled in man-kind like N.T. times. MAN !!! Sometimes I don't think there is much hope for me----I get crazy stuff in my mind...lol....
Want to engage your brain this morning? This can get you thinking in about a dozen different directions and raise as many good questions. John 8 starting at verse 1----the woman caught in adultery---nothing is said about her repenting of her sin, nothing is said of her being sorry, no forgiveness was ask for------Jesus said He did not condemn her----go and sin no more----that Scripture can make for a lot of personal opinions.....a Scripture that I have read many, many times but never once gave thought to the fact that she did not repent, never asked for forgiveness, never said, I won't do it anymore, never begged for her life, nothing on her part, yet she received forgiveness---- Jesus said He did not condemn her and told her to go and sin no more.....What a subject for a Sunday school lesson, just read the Scripture and open up for discussion------we have to remember also that at this time in history the Holy Spirit had not yet entered everyone's heart---previously God had said that the time would come when He would put in everyone's heart right & wrong, etc, etc.....at this time that had not yet came about. Jesus said that after He left --He would ask the Father to allow the Holy Spirit to come---------Told ya, it would kick your brain in gear----I would love to sit in a round table discussion on this----maybe this is one of those things where there is no right or wrong answers---each answer may open a can of worms---God Bless
Thanks ,,, really a great subject....been thinking on a new one
Thanks ,,, really a great subject....been thinking on a new one
After posting this through my fb page I received several comments which led me to do some digging for a more clear understanding, If I may, I agreed with the folks making the comments. I am a Bible believing person and I believe what Scripture says is what Scripture is and also those questions we do not understand if we look we can find them, we just have to take the time to seek, take the time to ask God to grant us understanding and we will receive as Scripture teaches. Like many, many other young men and women I served in the military and sometimes bad things happen, call it war or conflict or whatever you choose it is a bad thing.----So while I wrote about feeding my enemy, giving him a drink and so forth, there also arises the question about those times when we may be confronted by those who are evil and no way is the subject of peace any where in their vocabulary-----so HUMMM ----Where do I as a Christian stand? Now some of you may 100% agree and some of you may 100% disagree. A pinch of what I came across.-----Scripture teaches that there can be no peace among nations until Christ returns. Christ, the Prince of Peace, will bring peace to the nations. ALSO, Scripture teaches that anyone here and now willing to trust in Christ can have peace with God. Now many folks will say that God said "Thou shall not kill". Some misrepresent this, what it means is thou shall not commit murder. Then I have heard so many times about how gross the Old Testament is with all the wars and killings that took place and how could a God of love require or call for these wars. Then the same folks will say that the New Testament changed all that and now times are different. Malachi 3:6. God says--"I am the Lord and I do not change."----In James 1:17---"Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, which who there is no variation or shadow of turning."( those last few lines came from an article I found on google)----God is the same yesterday, today & tomorrow. In the Book of Revelation the 2nd coming of Christ and describes the ultimate war----Jesus is not a pacifist.....In a world filled with evil people sometimes war is necessary to prevent a greater evil. Hitler is an example, and if we look at many other conflicts we can see where good came out of war. War is a terrible thing. Some wars are more “just” than others, but war is always the result of sin (Romans 3:10-18). At the same time, Ecclesiastes 3:8 declares, “There is…a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” In a world filled with sin, hatred, and evil (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable. Christians should not desire war, but neither are Christians to oppose the government God has placed in authority over them (Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:17). The most important thing we can be doing in a time of war is to be praying for godly wisdom for our leaders, praying for the safety of our military, praying for quick resolution to conflicts, and praying for a minimum of casualties among civilians on both sides (Philippians 4:6-7)(again the last few lines from the same article).-------Allow me on last point that always has come to my mind when this discussion has risen over the years.....In Luke 22:35-36--" And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?”
So they said, “Nothing.”
Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one."-----NOW, many have told me that back then a sword was nothing more than a knife, so it did not mean what I think it meant....BUT---the Greek word for a sword means a weapon of warfare----In Hebrew and Greek there are two different words for knife and sword.----this raises a big question, why would Jesus be telling these guys to get a weapon of warfare-----hummmm....I'll be honest here, I have looked and looked and some really smart folks interpret this way and some that way, to me boils down to opinions, so reckon this is one of those things a person needs to talk over with God and as He directs, go with that. The attitude of the Jewish people had changed. Jesus's disciples will now need money, provisions, and a means of defense.---remember the 1st time Jersus sent them out they needed none of this. God knows all, so it is possible that Jesus contemplated a situation arising in which His followers would have to resist aggression by the use of force....On the other hand there are many interpreters who refuse to believe that Jesus would ever think this way. I can only speak for myself, your true answer will come from God, but I firmly believe God gave me a wonderful life and wonderful family and wonderful country and He expects me to provide and protect them. God Bless
Interesting: I suppose this is one I personally really need to work on.....Now after saying this, we have here a big subject that requires much search outside of personal opinion.....Like I said, something I really need to work on-----Sometimes in Bible Study we come upon things that really step on our toes---OUCH !!
Proverbs 25:21-22
New King James Version
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
For so you will heap coals of fire on his head,
And the Lord will reward you.
Then in the notes I see:
Scholars believe the phrase "heap coals of fire on their heads". probably refers to an Egyptian custom whereby a person publicly demonstrated contrition for wrongdoing by carrying on his head a pan of hot burning coals to represent the burning pain of his shame and guilt. The point of the illustration is that when we love our enemy, we become the burning pan of coals on his head. Our love and good works toward our enemy is a painful reminder to him of his evil deeds and (hopefully) shames him into wanting to correct his ways.......
God's plan is for you to replace your enemy's evil with good: to replace his hatred with love; to replace his unkindness with kindness. Only in doing so will we keep the total reservoir of evil in his world from getting bigger and bigger, which is what happens when we repay evil for evil. To think in accounting terms, the only way we can cancel out the evil done is to pay back with good, thereby keeping the books balanced. To add evil to evil just puts us further and further into a deficit of good in the world. If we take vengeance into our own hands, we become the one who suffers. But when we love our enemy we become a reminder to him of what he has done.
A good sermon in 4 lil words
Very short message this morning.....I gotta run, doctors appointments, finally after almost 4 months---going to hopefully get some attention to my worn out back........ANYWAY----Short message----GOD BLESS and have a great day, don't let anyone steal your good day----It is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it-----who knows, you walk around with a smile on your mug just might brighten another's day-----at the least, they will wonder what you been into
I have always liked the part in the Bible after Jesus's resurrection and how the disciple Thomas doubted, I have been going through the Gospel of John and as we know often when someone does not understand even the simplest thing and goes to asking questions it may seem to a Christian that their doubt is really finding fault----anyway, maybe you are knew to the Scriptures and wonder (doubt) about things, think on this. In John 20: 25---"The other disciples said to him (Thomas) ----"We have seen the Lord." Thomas said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."----Because of this Thomas is known as the "doubting disciple". Suppose you have doubts, consider this from my Bible notes ----
1--Jesus did not rebuke Thomas for his questions, He simply answered them. While we may not receive answers from God so quickly, a sincere and loving relationship with Jesus allows His followers to seek Him out of their questions.
2--Thomas went on to serve God. He preached Jesus in India and was killed by a spear in his back. The church is there today because of this man who asked a question
Doubter? Not really. Believer who ask questions and then bore much fruit? Absolutely. Christianity ultimately comes down to something more theological questions. In the end, it is all about the person, not the proposition. The questions are the beginning of the journey, but the answers come finally in experience---in reaching out to touch, and to be touched ourselves, by those nail-scarred hands. Jesus meets His followers where they are
Way back years ago I was taught that the only stupid question is the question not asked. A little more about Thomas's experience can be found in the verses following verse 25...If you think on Christianity and do not understand...ask-----Scripture itself teaches us to ask and we will receive....God Bless and have a great Tuesday
From Jude vrs 9----" Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
The word archangel means the angel who is 1st, principal, chief--------Now if this guy Michael, the archangel is not going to argue with the devil who do I think I am to stand against the devil.----My mom told me once many years ago that when the devil is working on me to just say--"Get behind me satan"--------rather smart ole gal....Then today I suppose it is difficult to recognize if it is satan after us or not....So much selfish ambition and P.C. stuff get in they way that it is hard to recognize the devil at work......God Bless
Not posting much this week.....sometimes a body just feels out of sync, a bit disconnected, it bothered me then I read somewhere that sometimes this is God's purpose, wish I remembered the rest of the explanation, but the heart of the matter is our daily life is for God's purpose, times we just trust and obey and I rely on the Holy Spirit at these times in my life to carry me through-----ASK---KNOCK---SEEK------OK...enough about me....
Let us look at John 12: 24-26:------ Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
My footnotes explain this like so:---These verses use 2 different Greek words for "life": The 1st."psuche" this refers to one's present existence in this world and the exercise of the mind, desires and will.----The 2nd is "Zoe"---refers to the spiritual life everlasting---He who loves his "psuche" (life now) will loose it, but he who hates his "psuche" will keep it for "Zoe". To pursue a psuche life with a materialistic philosophy will cause a person to miss what God wants him or her to have in the spiritual realm. The natural outflow of a Zoe life is serving and following Christ
Then the thing here to really grab one's mind is the idea of a seed being planted and how it grows.....take just a moment and think about a corn seed planted in the ground, and when it grows what we have----one day my life will planted and the best for me is yet to come---I am just a seed here....and yes through all my doubts, & fears, I truly believe this. Just a little something here to think on---God Bless and have a really good week-end
running behind today....a good one here, or for me it was--Thanks
I do not say this with pride or to offer myself a pat on the back.....but several times from fb on some of my Christians post I will get good comments from folks who I thought would be the least likely to offer something along the line of thank you. It sort of tells me that maybe those who we consider lost or fallen by the way-side are still looking for a ray of light, a glimpse of hope. I suppose that maybe when Paul wrote that one plants and another waters---this was what he was speaking of. Maybe when Jesus said to let your light so shine---maybe this is what he was speaking of. I don't know, but it sure refreshes the old heart when I think maybe I did something right for Christ....I have said I am tacky to say the least, but some of my friends make tacky look good....lol....We all sin and fall short, and maybe that is something our family and friends need to understand and maybe that is something they like to hear....When the Holy Spirit ask--------do it
God Bless
Romans 8:35-39
New King James Version
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In my Bible study this morning I came across this in the notes----A long list of things that cannot separate us from the love of Christ----Here is the point for us to think on----"Our security is not in our ability to hold on to Christ's hand----but in His ability to hold us in His"-----something there to really think on and hold store in memory
God Bless
A lot of truth in here......problem I think could be that everyone wants to be da boss....
Thanks Greg for the post....a lot of serious thinking in there --- a lot there for discussion...I love the Gospel of John, much in this Gospel to really draw us closer to God...This morning I started once again in going into the Gospel of John and once again started to learn new stuff....God Bless
Thanks.....I best not get started on the virus stuff....every bit of religion I have might slip out the cracks, but I will say----NO!!! I best not go there either, once I open my mouth it all just flows out, like a mighty river.------I need "LIKE A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS"
I often ask myself if a question I use to ask is coming about----the question was--"I wonder how long or why God puts up with the USA?"-----Now I wonder if God finally got fed up and is cracking the whip?
I saw on TV where they talked to some college girls about college loans and they everyone of them believed that they should not have to pay back the loan and acknowledged that the tax payer would pick up the tab. ---then there was this poor excuse of a young man who majored in feminist dance therapy and is mad because he can't find a job. I get concerned about my country with young people who think like this, then I wonder about some of the parents, and wonder if they may be worse off than the kid---Then at last I realize that at 77 I grew up in an entirely different world.....which makes me old fashioned, out of date----but I am so glad I grew up in a time like I grew up in..
OH ME !!! I do not mean to be kicking a dead dog, but this subject has been on my mind ever since I read it and I have looked in different resource materials on the subject.....Now "PLEASE" do not think I am against John MacArthur opening his church for services......I believe totally in freedom and he certainly has (IMO) every right to do so, if I were in Calif. I would attend in support.....That being said allow me to express my confusion-----this article was written with the hopes of having folks sign up to their group.....Nothing wrong with that. My confusion comes when people use Scripture to promote their thinking. Allow me to take Heb.10:25----"He also commanded His people"----No!! This is not God, it is the author of Hebrews suggesting,/recommending that people come together to strengthen their belief because the Day was approaching.----Later in the article they use John MacAuthur as example----This article is not from John M. and in John MacArthur's study Bible he explains vrs. 25 so---"Collective and coporate worship is a vital part of spiritual life. The warning here is against apostasy in an eschatologial context (2Thes:2:1). The reference is to the approaching "DAY"--(The second coming of Christ). Exhorting takes the form of encouragment, comfort, warning, or strengthing. There is an eschatologial urgency to the exhortation which requires an increased activity as to the coming of Christ aproaches."----Then I also used the Interpreter"s Bible and Dr. David Jeremiah study Bible-----Now all this being said I "wonder" if sometimes, maybe, we get confused with our constitutional rights and our christian beliefs. Remember, before you folks hang me out to dry, at the beginning I spoke of me being confused. When I see things that make me wonder I go and start digging, maybe that is my problem, I don't know. This morning and previously on fb a few times have had folks put out something fancy, sound good stuff, saying Scripture says from, say, Psalm whatever or from, like this morning Isaiah, well I open my Bible to see and on these times Scripture says nothing like what was put out there-----and of course I write the exact quote of said passage..........YEP!!! I am a royal pain in the butt.------Yes Christianity is certainly under attack, yes we have to stand tall, yes our God given rights are certainly under attack, yes this really ticks me off, Yet I have to remember that God is in control not mankind.....I wish I had made a note, but in mystudy of Romans I read something along the lines (in Scripture) thatif God put these people in power and they screwed up, He, God, would take care of it.....Now trust me that is not how it was written, but you get the picture......Years ago my dad told me--"son you can not take a verse out of the Bible and make a point without reading everything that comes before and after that verse, because often the before & after will change the meaning of the verse."
OH WELL !! OFF to a good start for the beginning of a new week----One last point on my thinking, back some years ago someone in Sunday school Class said something about my way of thinking----I responded that if I get to heaven and the good Lord ask me why I did such & such or why I thought such & such---I can honestly say that in reading from, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, & Paul's writing I thought that is what they meant rather than say the preacher, or teacher or friend told me such & such-----Scripture clearly teaches that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things----maybe not in my time but as He sees fit, or as I am able to understand.......I always suggest that when folks go to reading their Bible they 1st, place their hands on it and ask God to allow His Holy Spirit to guide and direct you thoughts and understanding-------OK---I done now---God Bless and have a great week
Allow me to take a stab at a different line of thinking......I see in this article they use a couple verses of Scripture here and there....this subject really got me to thinking and now for over an hour I have been chasing this subject around and around. While I agree with the article, the government isn't going to tell me that I can not go to church to worship, the government will allow large groups to demonstrate, burn buildings, kill people etc, so don't tell me I can't go to church......then there is the other side of the coin, is this really the government or is this God working through the government.....Scripture clearly teaches that God appoints these leaders.......HUMMMM!!! Now each of us can pick a verse here or there to support our thinking-- either to support my ranting or to find fault, so lets just chat or think for a moment. It is important to come together & worship, but many, many, many of these worshipers are in strong support of politicians who support abortion along with many other things which are against the word of God.....Many, many buildings called churches are more interested in numbers & income than converting folks to Christ.....Now I could go on but you get my point------If organizations calling themselves christian but in truth they are wolves in sheeps clothing ----well, just maybe God got ticked off, the church is the body of Christ. Today on my fb page I am going to put a simple statement...."the government can close my church building but they can not close my heart." I have often wondered if people have become so dependent on someone from the pulpit telling them what to think and do that they have lost their personal contact with God. I appreciate organized religion getting people to think on their God given right to worship as they choose, there is a difference in supporting the membership while the doors are locked, Jesus lives in our hearts, the church should in some way push for more Bible reading & on line Bible Study, More Prayer, more card sending-----the many things Jesus taught.....I may be way off base, but to me it is way more important to get folks to come back to Christ than come back to a building. Then I am really tired of the division in our country today, I am now 77 and I have never seen so much hate and disrespect being generated around the country.....yes I remember the Nam era, the Matin L. King era and so forth. In this article the opening words---"Churches across America are under attack.." NO JOKE !!! Faith has been under attack since the Jesus time----satan has always been very busy. OK!!!! I have ranted on long enough but allow me to say, I hate the fact that government is saying churches can not open the doors, but rather than try to make a big protest maybe churches should open some of that money they got to hit the streets and actually do what Jesus wants us to do. Now let me say the most important thing and this has to do with me, not the organized religion, not the Priest, nor the preacher, the sole responsibility for faith sharing in my area falls upon "MY SHOULDERS"---it is up to me and fellow Christians to act and behave as Jesus taught----back years ago Jesus had only a hand full of men and look what they did, today organized religion has millions of men & women, think what they could do if each took upon themselves to act and believe as Christians are called to act and believe----------GOD BLESS & Have as good day
John 11:25---"Jesus said to her , I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die."
Then over in Paul's Epistle "Ephesians" he writes in chap. 2--"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God....not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ for good works, which God prepared before hand, that we should walk in them."
Just a passing thought here...a lot of folks think it is their good works that will land them in heaven---but---we are offered a free gift of God's grace which comes by our faith....our requirement is to "believe"......Remember the thief on the cross while dying said to Jesus "remember me when You come into paradise"---He was not a church member, he had not done a lot of good works, he had not been baptized nor given a lot of money....He believed Jesus was the Son of God....then Jesus told the thief that he would be in paradise with Him...OH!! I don't suggest anyone wait until the last moments of life to believe, seeing as how no-one knows when that last minute will be......
God Bless and have a really good day
nice to know---might I also add in necessary to believe...I was just going to add--nice to know---then thought that sounded a little tacky or snotty....
I'll put the Bible side note 1st.....God has built certain rhythms into His world. The steady repetition of the seasons provides a comfortable, workable cadence to life. Yet each season (time of life) will pass.
Time cannot be stored, stopped, or slowed. Because there is a time limit to everything in this life, each experience is a gift that we have been entrusted with and must not waste. The time we have is our gift from God and, like money, it should be managed wisely, not just spent. So we must be always mindful of that, whatever this moment, This too shall pass. For every birth, there is a death; whenever, someone is crying, someone is celebrating, and in each season of life, whatever purpose God intends is the purpose we must live.
In this poem, Solomon shows the influence of time on our bodies, (3:1-3) our souls, (3: 4-5), and our spirits,(3:6-8), and shows God's sovereignty in every aspect of human existence. A god who only loves but is not in control is not a god worth worshiping. We have a God who is both---a God with a plan and a God who is good.
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8:
To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
2 A time [a]to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
3 A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
4 A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
7 A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
8 A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.
The other day then again this morning I reviewed the 10 commandments----I encourage y'all to take a few moments and look them up (Ex. 20:) , then looking at each commandment, one at a time, take a moment on each and ask yourself if today mankind has really twisted stuff around so much as to totally water down these commandments. Just as an example----#1---you shall have no other gods before me---well that is so simple no one can break that one, but then thinking on it, how many things in our lives have we put before God----career, bank account, entertainment, etc, etc, etc-----I think you get my point here, now take each commandment and think on it a bit and how this fits into our world today. Then I thought the jewel of them all was the last one ---Thou shall not covet----meaning UNJUST GAIN---Thinking on this commandment we see that through Coveting we can easily break many of the other commandments. The bad thing with coveting is not one wanting to improve one's life, it is the desire to take from someone else to improve one's life, the desire to get something one wants which can lead to stealing, to murder, to putting God on hold, to disown our parents, to lie & cheat......Once again you see my point. I wonder if the real amazing thing about "COVET" is that how mankind did and still now believes that certain things are OK as long as I get what I want. I suppose self-confession might be due here....or maybe explain my understanding......I wish that years & years ago I had understood the real meaning & damage of COVETING----Then I wonder if our churches are really missing a BIG teaching point here. Maybe we as parents and grand-parents need to polish up our teaching practices.......Live so others can see the Christian Faith in us-----OH! Reckon that means --set the example---God Bless
Yesterday I was reading & studying from Ephesians and the plan was to return where I left off, but when I went to open my Bible this morning it opened to 2nd Peter so I started reading, now I have many passages from this hi-lited from previous readings----well today the whole Book of 2 Peter was like a totally knew reading, it is only 3 chapters and I spent way over an hour seeing things I never saw before and learning new things. It amazed me-----maybe you wonder why I post this, no real value, but wait, if you will---I have been reading and studying my Bibles since 1990 and it amazes me that I really do not know much----it amazes me that after 30+ years I still learn new stuff and at the same time it says to me--"Boy, you don't know anything--yet"------Suggestion---take a Book of the Bible you can read in one setting, say, James, 1st John or maybe Peter then read it everyday say for a month----this was my 1st experience with Bible reading years ago, I took 1st John and every day for 30 days I read it, after 5 or 6 days I thought how stupid this was, then I started to see things I had not previously seen, I started to gain an understanding I previously did not have, and at the end of the 30 days I was still daily seeing & learning new stuff. I have often told my story, but, I always tell folks the most important thing for me is before I start reading to take a moment, place my hands on my Bible and ask God to direct my thoughts, to allow the Holy Spirit to teach me what it is that I am to know-----You know, after 30 years it still works.....
God Bless
I gotzzz a question for y'all.....When you open your Bibles to any of Paul's Epistles-- then when reading the opening do you ever think or replace a couple of the words to reflect the letter being written to you personally or to your church (by name) or your town? It seems that everytime I enter one of Paul's letters that thought comes to me and often I replace who the letter was written to with my name, or my community or my church. Over the years it appears to make the reading more personal for me rather than reading a letter to someone else. Maybe that is why I so often see my short falls in my life and why I see why my church and organized religion appears to be slipping away. Any way, if you have not, maybe the next time you open your Bible and read from Paul, in that opening put your name in there or your church or your town. I hear a lot of folks talking about how screwed up our world is, but ---things really aren't any different today than say a couple thousand years ago-----sort of like mankind just won't learn
Now for a very important message----You good folks thank God for this another day He has tossed your way and thourghly enjoy your weekend-----God Bless
OH ! I see, I reckon I always think in terms of when I take my last breathe not in terms of Jesus coming back today, I suppose I have thought on being ready now, this moment should I be called out of this world today. Jesus 2nd coming is a thing I have not studied much on......at church when it was discussed I always took the cowards way out and just said the Bible says no one will ever know when so it is best to be ready should we take our last breath. The death rate is up there and death does not care much about sex, age, color, financial worth, religious status, I mean death can come ready or not, so reckon my thoughts are be ready just in case the big blacks wagon is setting out front
I don’t believe in pushing time to the limit, or playing games, to do so is another subject, sorta like denying, unparondonable, yet the thief on the cross, in his last bit of life, ask to be remembered in paradise,,,,,,then Paul speaks of loosing rewards but not loosing our salvation, then one little point, I try to idenify my Heavenly Father with my earthly father,,,, or me being a father—— I will always be there for my kids, that’s my job, I believe my God is always there for me,,,, honestly I look at me and I am amazed how God still loves, forgives, & care for me, my earthly side says no way....!i think my job is to let my kids know I am always there.... I think one is totally lost when they accept that there is no God. The other day I went to exodus and reviewed the Ten Commandments, WOW, do we ever miss the mark, we may kid ourselves, but wow how we today miss the mark, and that is why Jesus died on the cross because we then and now totally miss the mark.... God is so perfect and we only conscience ourselves To be good.... even the Christian of all Christians fall short. Maybe get your boy to think on what I do, each day ask God to help me be a better person today than I was yesterday. Then just keep in in your prayers, jus keep showing fatherly love
I was moved both by Steve"s post and your reply here....Falling away, a subject that has often caught my attention, please do not allow my thoughts to the idea of falling away seem trivial----I have no idea why or how someone who has experienced God's saving grace could ever turn away. Scripture tells us that Jesus said that whatever God put in His hand nobody could ever take away, Scripture says that once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior the Holy Spirit comes and lives in us and also teaches that we are led by the Holy Spirit. I suppose we just do not know God's full plan, but we do know He can take something ugly and make it beautiful. How many folks do we have here on this Board who were brought up in the church, were baptized, who memorized Scripture then for what ever reason decided to take a walk on the wild side of life. Did God forsake them? Did Jesus turn His back on them? Did the Holy Spirit desert them? I don't think so. I choose to believe that somewhere along the line through prayers from a mom & dad, friends and the church something happens to bring this lost one back into the fellowship, then God will use this person with all their down falls to witness to others who are in need of guidance of the way back to Christ......I don't know exactly where in the Scripture it says, I think maybe Proverbs, not sure where, but along these lines it says to bring you kid up in the way and if they stray, later in life the return....something to that degree.....I suppose that our jobs as christians if to be faithful in our prayers and request to God. I always like to think of the mind as a computer. a lot of stuff is stored in there and rarely ever used, but then when needed a button I pushed and instantly the forgotten entry is brought to the screen......likewise so our little ole brain works. I suppose a lot of my personal thinking comes from personal experiences------I was brought up in the church, one of those ole churches where folks would stand up and give a testimony and thank God for whatever, a church where youngsters memorized Scriptures, a church where folks believed in the power of prayer----then one day I drifted away, or fell away and then one day years later I started my trip back to the faith and one day I found myself in the presence of God, the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit and found myself going to the alter and asking forgiveness........I never forget that experience-----I know how far from being right I am today, I slip, I fall, I get all dusty, then I ask for forgiveness, I get up and carry on. One day when I take my last earthly breath then and only then will I be made right.-------I know others may think different than I on this subject, but I often ask God to teach me, to grant me the wisdom in understanding and I ask God to allow His Holy Spirit to do what I can not do. jus a passing thought or 2
Thank ya, hit the 77 mark, but feels the same as 76, not a day older...now if I can just convince the ole bones & muscles of that
Reading from Galatians this morning and this made me wonder if Paul was ring a bell here on 2020 --from Galatians 1
"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to prevent the gospel of Christ."
My nephew put this story out on his fb page and thought I would share.......small acts of kindness, you and I both know that for this little kid this memory will last his life-time......
Well this evening was a pretty cool. In a time where it seems like everyone is losing their minds, hatred seems abundant, and politics are dividing people even further. I see this kid. Most evenings while driving a train through an area in Suffolk, there is this lil boy. And most evenings he runs to the backdoor and waves, jumps up and down, and arm pumps to hear the horn. This evening his grandpa brings him outside. I rang the bell, blew the horn but actually stopped the train. His eyes got HUGE. Then I hopped down, walked over and said hi. Found out his name was " cam". Gave him some plastic safety glasses, and a bottle of water. Kid was grinning for ear to ear. After talking to him briefly I had to get back to work. As we waved bye, it was nice to help make a child happy. Maybe if everyone turned off the news and tired a lil harder to do something nice.........then I moved the train so traffic could move. Good times
Had this tune on my mind this morning and thought, "A good way to start the day, thinking of someone other than ME."
Lord, help me live from day to day
In such a self-forgetful way
That even when I kneel to pray
My prayer shall be for—Others.
Chorus:
Others, Lord, yes others,
Let this my motto be,
Help me to live for others,
That I may live like Thee.
Help me in all the work I do
To ever be sincere and true
And know that all I’d do for You
Must needs be done for—Others.
Let "Self" be crucified and slain
And buried deep: and all in vain
May efforts be to rise again,
Unless to live for—Others.
And when my work on earth is done,
And my new work in Heav’n’s begun,
May I forget the crown I’ve won,
While thinking still of—Others.
Hebrews 2:1--Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.
From the Bible notes comes this:---"We drift towards compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith; we cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated."--D.A. Carson
"As a matter of fact , if we examined a hundred people who had lost their faith in Christianity, I wonder how many of them would turn out to have been reasoned out of it by honest argument? Do most people simply drift away?
God Bless
In the introduction to 2nd Corinthians I found where I had previously hi-lited this and proves interesting---allow me to share--speaking of Paul
"No doubt feeling the aches and pains of his many beatings, shipwrecks, and at least one stoning, and frequent deprivations, Paul reminded the Corinthians that the physical body is only a temporary abode.. In other words, life on earth is like camping out for a few days. Death, when it finally arrives, simply means that the believer leaves behind a leaky, patchwork, travel-worn tent and steps into a wondrous permanent body designed to last forever. The child of God, then, is not claimed by death but is "swallowed by life"---(5:4)--------For all the anxieties, pressures, and disappointments we wrestle with, it is encouraging to remember that God"s people are only on a temporary assignment in the wilderness of this world, where their aim is to point fellow travelers to the Way and to be "well pleasing to Him." (5:9)
My thought here, back in 1st Corinthians 15 Paul writes concerning our resurrection and compares it to a seed planted and what that seed grows into. A tiny, little ole seed is put into the earth and it comes up a beautiful flower, one little ole seed of corn is planted and bingo up comes a stalk with ears of corn and a lot of new corn seeds.......My life---Your life---it is like that when we step off into eternity-----Good thoughts for the beginning of a good day
God Bless