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"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."
Just a thought here---I often think that going through our daily lives here on earth is "the valley of the shadow of death."---We are born and one day we all will die, during that time we are on a trip through this world, we are constantly in the valley of the shadow of death.
GOD BLESS
I am so sorry, prayers for you & your family lifted---God Bless
Happy Sunday Morning folks---another great day which the Lord has given us---rejoice
Daniel Webster way back years ago wrote:
"If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glorying profound obscurity ."
Something there for you good folks to think on this morning
Tenac——a lot here about lies——- honestly my son gave me that Bible and I honestly have it……I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity, right after my post you did your thing…….a bit of humor good for the soul
Some years ago my oldest son gave me ""The AmericanPatriots Bible"---this morning I just breezed through many pages in it and found that I had many places either marked or hi-lited but as I looked and thought of years past and stuff our fore-fathers believed, from the beginning of our country then I thought of how our leaders of our country are today and I could not help but think on how far from grace we have fallen. Example: way back in 1800 Congress approve the use of the Capital building for religious services, this practice lasted well after the Civil War. The Holy Bible and God were a big center piece in the construction of America .......today one may find him or herself in danger if lived by the standards of our forefathers----just something there to think on. It is amazing that even non-christians country leaders believed that Christian principles were very important in the building of our country. Our country was founded largely upon the 7 Principles of the Judeo-Christian Ethic-------It only takes a Quick Look back in history to see how far from Grace we have fallen----both as a country and organized religion
The open of hearts to express how God has touched them is wonderful and I thank each for their testimonies. It is really good to read of Peter how he spoke up, goes also for Philip , James, John and the whole crew of disciples……not always but often the pouring out of our Christian experiences is truly doing God’s work. Once again thanks for all the post here on the Bible Board, God bless each of you. In your prayers ask God to richly bless this board and those who read here
your thoughts are much appreciated, really !! Now if I may, the confusion, if that is what it is, is largely my lack of ability to really communicate correctly, "BIG" problem I have with being married 54+ years----I talking one thing and she talking something else, but somehow or another we survived 54years......SO, I got to thinking that to one person a Mountaintop Experience could be one thing and to another it would be something different. My mountaintop experience was with God, Jesus, & the Holy Spirit, it was that all 3 were right there in front of me---wish I could better explain, but I often lack for the right words.
Now, allow me to get very, very serious----went to my cancer doctor today, my numbers are so low that it appears that my cancer is no longer here. My other cancer doctor wants a 2 year program, so for another year I have every 6 months take a shot in the stomach and do the blood work and so forth. When I speak of experiences with God, I can't help but believe that all the prayers lifted for me is way more than I deserve.....Rick (Tenac) back when I had open heart surgery and was just ready to step off into eternity you had your folks at your church pray for me,----prayer, I had folks from the west coast to the east coast and border to border and in-between keeping ole Plugger in prayer, my wife had a real chat with God and she says that God really, truly spoke to her concerning me & my health....We have to remember that all is in God's will, one way or the other. I often say--"I have no idea why God is keeping me around, because I do not deserve it." To witness I suppose then if I knew what I was doing for God then "old man Pride" would step in and I would think I was doing it all----Human nature is a good thing but at the same time can be a real downer.....Amazes me how Paul, John & Peter and the other disciples managed to overcome the temptation of pride.......didn't mean to run on & on----sorry--------------GOD BLESS
I don't know that I agree with this one....Now I am in trouble, please don't kick me off the Board ,LOL-- I enjoy it too much.......
I say I disagree somewhat, I have had a couple really great Mountaintop Experiences and I only felt in awe of the presence of God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit, I was extremely humble....My 1st such instance was at a Lay Speaker Conference , they had an altar call I went forward, at 1st I thought I could just go out into the hall way and do a private thing with God & Me, now it was not instantly that I went forward I really dragged my feet making my decision, but I found myself in the presence of God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit, I wish I could properly explain it, but I can't, I went forward and although I thought I was a Christian all my sins confronted me, I ask for forgiveness, I was given forgiveness, I left that building with tears running down my face, it was approximately 1 hour drive home, the whole time I had tears running down my face, I walked in the house and my bride ask what was wrong, I told her of my experience and explained that God is really real, then I sat each of my children down, one at a time, one on one wit just them & me and told each of them experience and told each one this---" You know your daddy would never lie to you, so let me tell you God is real"...I could not tell of my experience without tears flowing, I gave my testimony to the church and now here on the Bible Board....Finding oneself in the presence of God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit is an awesome experience.....humbling experience does not begin to identify. Never one time have I ever felt in control nor self-dependent......At this time my preacher told me that he had never had such an experience and really felt sad that he had not. Let me tell you friends...finding yourself in the presence of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit ---all at on time will totally blow your mind---there are no words which I have to begin to explain. What a feeling to believe that God is real, to believe that God has sent His Spirit right here to walk beside me and help me each and every day, and to honestly believe that Jesus died that horrible death on the cross for me. It is a great feeling to know that each morning that I ask for forgiveness that forgiveness will be given-----not to just say it, but to way down deep inside believe it. There is "noway" after being in the presence of God, Jesus, & the Holy Spirit could I ever, ever think my life's control was in my own hands, & noway could I ever loose track that God is in charge and self-dependence just flew out the window. Not every Christian has such an experience, I wish it were so. My only regret right now is that what I have written here, does not come close to explaining that feeling I had and have
God Bless and have a great day
Woke up this side of the green this morning which mens God is not finished with me yet
God Bless
Excellent post, when I started reading all my thoughts on Soul & Spirit came to me from previous research...then you covered it very well, if I may add 2cents worth---as I understand in Scripture many places we find that Soul & Spirit is the same Greek word, but then other places Soul & Spirit uses a different word---The body is buried a natural body--Greek-Soma psuchikon but raised a spiritual body-Greek soma pneumatikon. The difference between the 2 terms is the Spirit is that which knows (1Corth.2:11) and is capable of God conscience and communication with God, where as the Soul is (as you posted) the seat of affection, desires, emotions and the will of man. The N.T. word for Soul "psuche" ----N.T. old for Spirit "pneuma" and is the same meaning as the O.T. word for spirit--ruach....A very interesting study---OH YES!! the above came from my Scofield Study Bible......My dad and he has long gone to his heavenly home, told me once that 1 Corinthians 15: starting around verse 35----- is excellent read on just what we are posting here. OH !! Many theologians totally disagree with this while many theologians agree....Scripture says clearly...the Spirit teaches all things....I encourage any body reading this, when looking into Scripture, 1st--place you hands on you Bible and ask God to lead you in understanding---the Bible is God's word so no human man or woman understands Scripture better than Him-----I love Bible Study & chatting
Thank you----yesterday morning when doing my Scripture stuff and coffee with God time I felt really close to God, it was a strange experience, but I truly felt as if God was right here at my desk with me.....Now I know God or His Spirit is always with us, but at times I really feel His presence.....I suppose it is something that I cannot find words to explain but I know from experience that God is real and I find great satisfaction & comfort in my belief. Some may think I am full of it and that's OK, their choice. My daughter has on her wall Psalm 50:15---"Call upon me in your day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me."----a few years ago she ask me my favorite Bible verse and after thinking I told her Psalm 50:15, she ask why, and I told her it was because it works or many, many, times it has worked for me, but the trick is to remember to use it---, after God helps out in our time of stress be sure to do the last few words, say thanks God, or as written glorify God. Now allow me to be honest, my problem is remembering to use this verse, see the ole devil is very active in our world and loves to put it in my mind that I have control and I can handle everything just fine. We all struggle every day of our life and I think one of my major faults is "giving up control". I am now 81 and ever since my very 1st step I have been told "see you can do it"----my very 1st step was rewarded with mom & dad telling me "see you can do it" and from that moment on in life-- now for 81 years I have been told "see you can do it"----I think the devil uses that tactic on me often. Allow me to say "that those times that I remember to use Psalm 50:15 God has heard me and given me the strength to over-come".
God Bless and get ready the week-en is upon us----rumor says the old man may sound early liberty tomorrow-------for you non military folks, liberty is time off and the old man is the Captain----Friday would be week-end liberty----like I said--"God bless"
A couple post ago I made mention of the air all around us, I just this moment read this..."It is interesting in Scripture, in both the original Hebrew and Greek languages, the word used in speaking of the Spirit is the word that can also mean "wind".----- I think Scripture says,"and God breathe life into".....HUMMMM interesting, something to run with
Nice…..
Good point.....I just go by "if my heart is right with God, then all is well"----I spoke of tithing, bottom line we just cannot out give God....Giving of our money, time, and talents is a very difficult row to hoe. Just as we believe in God and the Holy Spirit to help us along, it would be a pure shame if as Christians folks forgot how powerful the devil is, way back when the devil was really a big shot in heaven, well today in our world he still is a big shot and speaking for me here, he just will not leave me alone and I sure hope when I take my last breath God sends really strong angels to accompany me to heaven----trust me and I truly believe that even on my trip to heaven the devil will still try to steal me back so I may need an extra angel or 2 to help out. I didn't go down the road that brother Rick (Tenac) went down but I sure was blazing the road to hell with Rick and now the devil ain't so happy with my decisions, I was a good soldier.
Very serious question here to be used when speaking to a group---"Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior?" Have you ever felt the presence of God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit in your life?" "To be in the presence of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit is truly an awesome experience"-----Maybe a very good point for folks here on the Bible Board. God Bless
I can not say how much I appreciate all the chatting here this morning here on Bible Board. In speaking of giving and what God has given us----the other night in one of my episodes this subject I woke up with and thought of Paul writing in Romans1, somewhere in the middle of the chapter (I think) Paul writes how we know God but fail to honor God and how plain it is that all things come from God----anyway in my episode this came up and I got to thinking on all there is in our world and we just don't realize it all came from God....then I thought of one thing I never thought of before, my wife never thought of it and I have never heard it from the pulpit---nothing wrong with any of that, reckon it is one of take for granted things...."The Air We Breathe"------then my mind went to all the things that die off with no air....sort of thought I stripped a gear or 2.....but the thought really rattled my cage----the simplest thing can kill us all
When it comes to tithing, in my humble opinion, organized religion has totally corrupted the meaning "tithe", I did not say tithing was wrong, just man has really screwed up God's word. No way anyone can convince me that when it comes to money God expect man-kind to go hungry, or to put his family without food because the organized religion says give me your money then they do not do God's will. Scripture says clearly "God loves a cheerful giver." Now we can sit here and bat the breeze back and forth for days but when it comes to giving, in my opinion, this is a very private thing between me and God. Sometimes the best teacher is experience, please allow me.....Back years ago I was very $$$$ comfortable when it came to money and I did lots of good for others---my error was--"I DID" not as God directed. Then God kicked me out the back of my tractor-trailer, I broke every bone in my right wrist and was out of work for right at 2 years. I owned my tractors & trailers, or was paying the bank for them, self-employed and no money coming in is a very humbling experience, we lost almost everything, about 2 years later I got a job driving for the state of Virginia prison system, no where the income as before, things just did not seem like they would ever work out. One morning after reading my Scriptures and then talking things over with God, the more I talked the more aggravated I became and expressed my feelings to God, might say God and I had a confrontation ---I told God that every time I saw a light at the end of the tunnel it was only another freight train coming to run me down again, I bitched, complained, fussed in my inability to understand, finally I told God that if He would see me through these rough times I would faithfully do ____________. It seemed like no time at all things got better and to this day I faithfully do as I promised God I would do. My giving is a very private thing between me & God, seems to be working out real well for us. Now during the time of getting back on my feet there was several times I was tempted to cut the good Lord short for one reason or another, Then I realized this was the devil tempting me, he never one time won and I have been richly blest. I can honestly say that although I make very little $$$$ in comparison to those richer days, I have always had more $$$$ in my pocket than I had back then....Now over look my language here, my language is something I talk with the good Lord about almost every day, back some time ago I told this story to a fellow person and they ask me about not giving for whatever reason, I said no way, the last person I want to piss off is God. It is a great thing to experience the presence of God. I am a firm believer in the Holy Spirit, I believe He is here to help me out and appears that He & God are more than happy with my faithfulness when it comes to our money. Now I am 81 yrs old, I have cancer and heart problems and I can honestly say I am totally at peace and what a wonderful feeling that is. I do not understand the Trinity, and have done much research into the trinity, know what? neither does anyone else---but I have experienced God--Jesus Christ--and the Holy Spirit....I know beyond Anything that they are as real as the sun, moon & stars, I know 1st hand that although I sin daily-- if I ask & I do, I am granted forgiveness....OOOPPPS !! Got a bit off topic....sorry, but got to talking about how God has blest me and it just flowed out....Tithing is O.T. stuff, it was the system to take care of the Hebrew children, if one adds all the requirement up it total about 23%, give or take a few, much like out tax system of today, except our politicians have really messed that up. when it comes to giving $$ I tell folks to talk it all over with God and what ever the Holy Spirit directs is the thing to do----Like I said, I did not mean to ramble on & on, forgive me for that---but sometimes God's grace just can not be said in a few words----God Bless
Thank You......reckon if I am going a bit nuts---well you right there with me....lol...Have a very blest day
I have something here to help drive you sane folks totally nuts. Say for a few weeks you wake up around 2;30 to 3am with really heavy stuff on your mind and you just lay there for a couple of hours trying to sort it all out and you really 100% feel the presence of a divine being, and it all has to with stuff that is on your mind. Now can this be an angel sent to help out? Is this the Holy Spirit directing you in all truth? or are really going bonkers? I'll give you 2 such instances----I have for years really loved my TV---55 inch int the living room and a 55 inch in the bedroom----for sometime I have been discussing with my wife that I was really getting tired of how course stuff on TV has gotten and the language has gotten worse that could make a drunk Marine at the local joint, just off base blush ----A couple weeks ago I came awake with this heavy on my mind, so heavy that I lay there for over 2 hours talking with God---The answer came, seriously -- "stop watching TV that is bad for the soul"...So now I only catch a few minutes of the news, but very little of that because it really is news just what someone thinks.....2nd--Then I came into some unexpected cash, not a large amount but fair size, this has happened twice and the 1st time I gave God His cut 1st---but then a couple days ago I came into by accident several hundred dollars and never gave God 2nd thought because I am very timely in my dollars to the Church, then 2 nights ago I woke up with this heavy on my mind and once again I lay there for a couple hours talking with God, this time I thought it was God testing me. to see if would do what was right. This was so disturbing that my wife & I talked of these experiences, even asking for her honest opinion---AM I going nuts or what? Her answer was "are you at peace with your decision?" Me--"yes".--She, "then it was the Spirit talking with you." Now I figure if I am going nuts, I would not even know I was loosing it, other folks would know, I would have no idea....lol....I wish I could explain better, but just asking for your opinion----Does God keep tabs on us like this, or have His agents visit us, or does our minds trick us? There is another way serious
experience, but think I best keep it close. Let me add this--I am not worried in any way--shape--or form., I am totally at peace, if I kick the bucket today I know I will be in heaven. I was asking, but allow me to add this. "It is an awesome experience to find one's self in the presence of God, or His Holy Spirit or maybe one of His agents.". ....Like I said, give you folks something to chew on...
God Bless
God's love is amazing that way. He can take people with a bad reputation, transform their lives, and turn them into examples of His love and forgiveness. If you think you're too bad to be forgiven or if you know someone else who feels that way, read about Rahab and rejoice.
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I read this morning a devotion about the potter and the clay, it was written in a way that I had never thought-----God is the potter --I am the clay----Think for a moment, this is sort of what I got out of it----Let's say you are the potter and you go to making something and you just don't like the way it turned out, What do you do? You remold the clay to get what you want,OH MY!!! it still did not turn out--so you re-do it again & again, WOW look at that, a wonderful work-----I suppose I was very much like the clay, over & over & over---again & again & again, God, being the potter broke me, and remolded me, not just once but, over & over again--- He never gave up on me, and "bingo"----I am now a Christian, I am a believer---but God did not put me on the shelf to look pretty, He cast me into a world of nasty unsaved folks and He made me to be a witness......Think of David, the Psalmist, he was broken over & over again, ---molded & remolded, yet it is said he was a man after God's heart, David learned well, that we are born into a world of sin and we sin, not once but over and over again and God keeps breaking us down and keeps reworking us. I wish I understood better, but as I said " I am thick upstairs"...but God does not throw me in the trash, He keeps working on me, then one day when I am acceptable God will send His angels to take me to my forever home, but for now, God has remolded me into a witness to those who He puts in my path---- now on my path, I may fall down, I may get all dusty, I may stagger around like one trying to walk barefooted on broken glass---but know what, God remolds me and puts me back out there in a world that is totally upside down.....Think about it, talk with God about it, ask God to explain it all to you---then keep quiet and listen & wait......He is the potter---you are the clay.--------Thank God that He is the kind of potter that does not just throw the mess into the garbage and go get new clay---
Isaiah 64:8------"But now oh Lord, You are our father; We are the clay and You are the potter; And we are the work of Your hand. Do not be furious, O Lord, nor remember our iniquity forever: Indeed, please look----we are Your people----Also Isaiah 45: 9-13
God Bless and pray that you folks have a good week
Good Morning fellow Bible Board folks....This morning in my Bible stuff I got really hung up on the word "fear"---Now I have been here many times before, but this morning for whatever reason I really got hung up on the word "fear".....I checked a Bible dictionary, then went to "The Interpreter's Dictionary Of The Bible", oh me, on the subject of fear it is like 3&1/2 to 4 pages, as I was reading I found many places where I had previously hi-lited or underlined, so meaning that this was not the 1st time for me to look into this subject of fear. We have fear in the positive note, then fear in the negative note, I'll not into this now. But at the very end of this reading of the O.T. meaning and the N.T. meaning I found this which I had previously underlined and it really rang a bell, and reminded me of just a few days ago either here on the Bible Board or somewhere in my travels this thought came up and I just felt led to share it here with you good folks.....something for you folks to chew on:
"It is with grave error to maintain, with many moderns, that Christianity , as opposed to Hebraism, has replace the fear of God by the love of God."
I do not remember where the other day this subject came up, but many in today's Christianity are hooked up on the Love of God and over look the fear of God. No matter if we understand fear as "awe of God" or "fear & trembling of God"-----I wonder if some have thought of Love of God as the love of our fellow man, where we have just become buddies with God and have lost the "awe of God" and the "fear of God".
I have often said that I am not the best communicator, but even if you disagree with the above, before passing judgment, speak with God, the Holy Spirit teaches us all things and that as Christians is what we go by.---
God Bless and liberty has been sounded so enjoy your weekend
somewhere this morning I was reading about this very Scripture passage and the author was to express it sort of like this---"take your problems, everything weighting you down and just toss them on Jesus". leave them there and get on with your life.....
In my morning Bible stuff this a.m. I ran across this:
"I willingly release my way this day. Lord, show me how You would respond to others, then make it happen to me."
For reasons better left of another day, I'll just call that my private moments with God.......I went back to Psalm 91 and in there we read "For He will give His angels charge over you, to keep you in your ways. In their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone." I suppose this may be a moment of my confession, call it as you like....I am a Christian, I believe in God, His Son, & the Holy Spirit, I read my Bible every morning, I talk with God every morning, I often fail but I try hard to do right...I said that I was a Christian and what I believed, the thing I left out was my belief in angels or maybe better said what I did not think of but very little. I do not worship angels but I do worship their creator---"God", we have to be very careful here that we don't fall for satan's tricks. I had lost the belief of the angels God has assigned to help me every day of my life, when I say I lost belief, I don't mean that I didn't believe in angels, I had just put them on the back burner and concentrated only on God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit----thinking that I was home safe. Through my experience my eyes have been opened to what I knew but ignored, more this morning than ever before I am aware of God's agents in my life to watch over me. We all have heard & used the term "Guardian Angels", What I have learned and firmly believe and supported by the Bible that these secret agents of God are right here to watch over me---may I add in here over you also....Maybe I am all wet, I don't know, but today I am so very much aware of angels in my life........Now you may be way ahead of me in your Spiritual walk or maybe not as far in that walk as I, but seriously think of God's angels watching over you day and night-----Here on the Bible Board I and others constantly make God--Jesus--The Holy Spirit the center of our post, and rightfully so---yet---we need to add to our daily thinking the angels God has sent to watch over us. It might take some thinking. but Angels are as real as God Himself-----In my daily walk I want to be aware of my angles watching over me and according to Scripture they are keeping score (track) of my good & bad things I do. I know that God has sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in me---I just lost track of the angels God has sent to watch over me------I need to remember that at my final earthly breath it will be the angels who carry me to my eternal home....Think on all this about angels and then thank God for their presence in your life and ask God to keep you ever mindful of their presence
God Bless and pray that you have a great week
Mark 9:21-24
New King James Version
So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”
And he said, “From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
As I sat down to do my Bible stuff this morning this was heavy on my mind. The man said "IF YOU CAN DO ANYTHING"---Jesus said "IF YOU CAN BELIEVE, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM WHO BELIEVES"-----then the thing that really sticks in my mind very, very often and often my my prayers I make mention to God this--"HELP MY UNBELIEF"----
Help my unbelief may sound very much like someone who is weak in their faith----I don't think so, but that's just me---I wonder if all Christians and those who are just seeking-- at times find themselves like a stranger in a land all by themselves---We don't know, we don't understand, we wonder where has God gone to----I've been here many times and that is when I call to mind this passage of Scripture from Mark. "I believe---help my unbelief"----There are times in "all our lives" when we feel all alone and it is at these trying times I or we have those passages of Scripture to aid us in our time of trials-------GOD BLESS & have a great week-end
when is comes to God's Word, remember that Scripture tells us to test the spirits, today in 2024 there are a bunch of evil spirits out there just waiting to drag you away-----I always try to remember that when a person says "I THINK"---what is being said is " my opinion is! " It is important to be in touch with The Holy Spirit--He will never lead you astray----------GOD BLESS and enjoy your week-end
Thank you Lord for giving me this another day...My 1st thoughts each morning, but just felt to share with my Bible Board family
God Bless
made my day-----Humor is so good for the soul, I don't like those days when I am a stick in the mud---My bride of 54 yrs. tells me when I get to heaven I will be warrior, takes some explaining, but think on it
I have often made the statement " As long as I get into heaven, if only I am the Janitor, I will be so happy--Blest". This morning in Psalm 84, a Psalm of the sons of Korah I found this-----"I would rather be a door keeper in the house of God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." A door keeper in the house of God, OK! sounds a bit better than a janitor, I was just thinking of cleaning-up after some of you folks might not be such a picnic....I would be saying "I ain't your momma, clean up after yourself." Then I would be in hot water.-- HUMMMM!!! Think the door keeper might be the better choice.
You folks have a very blest week & God Bless
Awesome reply…..my dad was a good a Christian man as any I know, yet shortly before his death he & I were talking and he told mei that he was worried about being before God, he had some serious things in his life that he had to answer for. This Confession floored me..my answer was shallow at the best—- “Dad, if you don’t get there, I don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of making it”….. I talked for a long time of his faith and how he had led others to Christ, of which were 2 of my brothers while on their death beds……after a long time and much of me talking, dad finally told me what worried him——“his pride”….you know pride is what got satan Kicked out of heaven. After much chatting we solved this issue. I still don’t understand my dad, but sort of understand where he was coming from……I had a man once tell me that my dad was the only man he knew that just shaking his hand you knew he was a Christian. No matter were we are in our faith walk we always need to remember we plant the seed, another waters it and God makes it grow—— even the most Christian person can fall for satan’s trick of personal pride. Some serious thinking material here. Mom & dad taught me so much in my younger years that really came in to play later in life. I was truly blest
I try each morning to read 5 Psalms then do my Bible stuff-----anyway this morning I hit upon Psalm 73, a Psalm of Asaph: As explained by John MacArthur Study Bible----"This Psalm illustrates the results of allowing one's faith in God to be buried under self-pity. The Psalmist became depressed when he contrasted the seeming prosperity of the wicked with the difficulties of living a righteous life. His attitude changes completely. He looks at life from the perspective of being under the control f a sovereign, holy God.---
Way back years ago my dad once told me that "when a person gives into self-pity they have all but lost the war". I thought he was talking to me-- about bad issues I had in my life at that time, but this morning I remembered a time when he told me of the rough times in his early life----experience is the best teacher & he was passing on to me, (amazing, I never knew that until this morning, talk about being all wrapped up in self) Now on to the point here, everyone's life is full of ups and downs, we conquer mountain tops and each of us fall into the pits of life----as dad said "if we give into self-pity we all but lost the war"------The struggles of life has been going on since the beginning of time, and since the beginning of time God has tried His best to tell folks during their struggles, "don't give into self-pity there is a better way". I don't know if I am right or not, but what seems to work for me at the age of 81 is that when my struggles hit upon my door-step, I step back and say " well God you put this on my plate, now what am I to do with it"-----You see I am rather thick, and giving up control does not come easy for me, but over the years of screw-ups I have learned a better way----Like the Psalmist here----"just trust in God."
How does that old tune go----- ??
" When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey."
GOD BLESS AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK-END
So true----I use to have a preacher that often I disagreed with and needless to say he very often disagreed with me.....but in his sermons if I thought he missed the mark, I would go home, pull out all my study material, and here is the kicker & very important thing------I would "never" research to find out where he missed the mark , but would talk with God as to why I did not understand, I "always" looked for where I missed the mark-------more often than not I learned that the Holy Spirit had spoken to me and like----"careful, don't go there, not what God is teaching"-----When counting my blessings I try to always be thankful for the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life-----trust me, I need all the help I can get-----thanks much for your input
Please feel free to tell me I am all wet, I don't care----but as I read this early this morning I thought----" how lazy many have become, we take what the guy in the pulpit tells us to be the truth, even if we wonder if it is wrong or right, we think in Sunday School that the author of our lesson material really knows what they are writing and then we follow what is being spewed out----but in truth we need to spend time in God's word, even if it is just a very short time, always asking for spiritual guidance ----anyway what led to this thinking came fro 1 Corinthians 2:13
" These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual"-------I wish that years ago I had understood this, I wish that I had truly believed that the Holy Spirit teaches us all things, not man. It is only through experience that a person can understand the presence of the Holy Spirit. What a comfort that is when we are aware of His presence----------------------GOD BLESS
From Isaiah 5: Woe to those who call evil good and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. ! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight.
Roughly 3000 years ago Isaiah wrote these words, but this morning after my Bible reading and coffee with God I flipped open my Bible and it came to this. Although it was written long, long ago, how true it rings out today. Earlier in Isaiah he wrote--"come now, let us reason together", says the Lord. Life in today's world can be very confusing, there is a lot of folks who live the life like the Bible verse above, Maybe in my morning talk with God I should always ask Him to allow His Spirit to not let me fall into that trap. where I call good evil and evil good, a trap where I could easily mislead another and I pray that I may always recognize the trap of Satan where he leads me to believe "evil for good."
GOD BLESS
From Psalm32-----"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered....Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not inquiry, and in whose spirit there is no guile"
Transgression---willful disobedience to a divine command/standard
Sin is to miss the mark
Iniquity--excuses for twisting Scriptures to fit our own desires. meaning self-deception
NOTICE: I or we have a habit of saying or believing "I can forgive, but noway can I forget"....HUMMM---to be Christ like-- we need to be like Christ and He forgives and forgets. My or we--our sins are forgiven and forgotten.
I forgive you but I can never forget is no word of God---He does both
GOD BLESS
The Warrior’s Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Your Warrior prepares for battle.
Today I claim victory over Satan by putting on
The whole armour of God!
I put on the Girdle of Truth!
May I stand firm in the truth of Your Word
So I will not be a victim of Satan’s lies.
I put on the Breastplate of Righteousness!
May it guard my heart from evil
So I will remain pure and holy,
Protected under the blood of Jesus Christ.
I put on the Shoes of Peace!
May I stand firm in the Good News of the Gospel
So Your peace will shine through me
And be a light to all I encounter.
I take the Shield of Faith!
May I be ready for Satan’s fiery darts of
Doubt, denial and deceit
So I will not be vulnerable to spiritual defeat.
I put on the Helmet of Salvation!
May I keep my mind focused on You
So Satan will not have a stronghold on my
Thoughts.
I take the Sword of the Spirit!
May the two-edged sword of Your Word
Be ready in my hands
So I can expose the tempting words of Satan.
By faith your warrior has put on
The whole armour of God!
I am prepared to live this day in spiritual victory!
Amen
I and others many times have made mention to "So let your light so shine,"
....then often we make mention as Christians we are to walk the walk and not just talk the talk-----Over in Romans 14: 21. Paul writes that we are to do nothing by which our brothers may stumble or is offended or is made weak. Throughout my day I need to be ever-mindful of my actions, my speech, my attitude, anything that may lead another to away from believing in the gospel. Walking the Christian path is not an easy task but learning to rely upon the Holy Spirit and believing that He is right beside us to help out in our time of need----makes walking the Christian path much easier......GOD BLESS
When you read your Scriptures what runs through your little ole "P" brain? I have been reading my Scriptures since the late '80's, not a brag, I still am learning and know very little, if that much. I have been in the Psalms for several days now and, maybe I just have a screw or 2 loose, I don't know, but this morning when David writes so much about his enemies, I use to think only on his actual human enemies , but this morning I got to thinking about what comes after me, my enemy is the devil and his helpers, I at one time was a very good soldier for satan, then I came to Christ and was forgiven----but every day the ole devil is really after me, he doesn't like to loose. Anyway, as I read my Scriptures when I find things that ring a bell I make note on a piece of paper and leave it in my Bible, maybe one day when I am no longer on earth another will read it and get to thinking. Today I ran across this note, nothing but food for thought......"Many will read Psalm 38 and think "how beautiful,David was a real poet."...Now today I read the Psalms and I see David as a man like me, struggling to do right but in a constant battle with evil..... his emenies might be mankind, yet the ole devil is really after him.. David relies on God for strength to over come, sometimes David wins and sometimes he fails---but always calls upon God for forgiveness and always God is ever present to forgive.
Could be a great Bible study....GOD BLESS
Thanks Tenac, You put it very well, I appreciate the chatting----God Bless
YO ! Rick, G'Morn'g my friend.....I read and enjoyed your post and as I got to the end I thought that when we as Christians think on stealing we think on the material side of it (or maybe just me), the thought just hit me, never before have I thought this way, yet this morning the thought came after reading your post, what about stealing non-material stuff, like stealing one's joy, comfort, one's faith, I suppose this list could go on & on. Thanks for kicking the ole "P" brain in gear this morning, I have never thought of stealing the non-material things in life. If I don't let my light so shine I could be stealing an opportunity presented by the Holy Spirit
Jus say'n-------------GOD BLESS
Thank you Lord for this another day, make me a better person tomorrow than I was today