tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90129600245284191902024-02-19T02:34:06.033-06:00Knowledge (in the Lord) IS PowerProv. 1:7 The fear of the Lord IS the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. When I started this blog, it was just a way of journaling my thoughts, however, God had other plans for it and all I can say is "Lord, use me. Make me a willing, available vessel for You in Jesus name". I pray these blogs speak to you as the Lord speaks to me. God bless.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.comBlogger118125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-85605748183348844932018-03-18T11:18:00.001-05:002018-03-18T11:18:45.258-05:00Sitting On The Fence<h1 class="passage-display" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">
<span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding-right: 6px;">1 Peter 1:15-16</span> <span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">(NASB)</span></h1>
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<span class="text 1Pet-1-15" id="en-NASB-30390" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">15 </span>but <span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NASB-30390a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NASB-30390a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+1%3A15-16&version=NASB#fen-NASB-30390a" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30390A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30390A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>like the Holy One who called you, <span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NASB-30390b" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NASB-30390b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+1%3A15-16&version=NASB#fen-NASB-30390b" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30390B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30390B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>be holy yourselves also <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30390C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30390C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>in all <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">your</i> behavior;</span> <span class="text 1Pet-1-16" id="en-NASB-30391" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">16 </span>because it is written, “<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30391D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30391D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><b>You shall be holy, for I am holy</b></span>.”</span></div>
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<span class="text 1Pet-1-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">(No one can serve two masters). As Christians, our life IS our testimony. Do people see Christ in us or do they see a worldly follower? Please don't say, "they shouldn't be judging". It isn't judgment when your behavior is public for everyone to see. What kind of witness are you presenting yourself? "In all your behavior...be Holy". You can't straddle the fence with God. </span></div>
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<span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding-right: 6px;">Revelation 3:15-16</span> <span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">(NASB)</span></h1>
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<span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding-right: 6px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">15 </span>‘<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30763A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30763A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-30763B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-30763B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>I wish that you were cold or hot.<span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Rev-3-16" id="en-NASB-30764" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">16 </span>So because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will <span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NASB-30764a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NASB-30764a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+3%3A15-16&version=NASB#fen-NASB-30764a" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span>spit you out of My mouth.</span>Matthew 6:24</span> <span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">(NASB)</span></h1>
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<span class="text Matt-6-24" id="en-NASB-23307" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">24 </span>“<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-23307A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-23307A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>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 <span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NASB-23307a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NASB-23307a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A24&version=NASB#fen-NASB-23307a" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-23307B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-23307B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>wealth.</span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-6-24" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">You cannot serve God and money. But think about this for a moment. The Bible is God's Holy Word, this is not the only scripture in the Bible that tells you this message about serving (worshipping) two Gods.</span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-6-24" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">The Bible says, "God is a jealous God". Anything you put before Him is an idol and makes you an adulterer in God's eyes. No matter what it is. So you cannot serve God and the world, you cannot serve God and the devil. Be in this world but not of this world. We cannot be perfect as Jesus, however, we can strive to live Christlike in our daily lives. Putting away the things the world does, remembering that if we claim to be Christian, the world is watching, babes in Christ are watching, other Christians are watching but most of all, <b>God is watching</b>. Watching to see if you obey His commands, if you follow His word in your life, </span>if you serve Him or the world. We are held to a higher standard. </div>
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We all sin and fall short of the glory of God, however, willful sin is a totally different matter. If you willfully sin one day and then worship and praise God the next, isn't there a word for that? What are you presenting to others? Will you turn them from God because of YOUR witness? </div>
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<span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding-right: 6px;">Matthew 18:7</span> <span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">(AMP) </span></h1>
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<span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding-right: 6px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">7 </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">“Woe (judgment is coming) to the world because of stumbling blocks</span><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">and</i><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">temptations to sin! It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but <b>woe to the person on whose account</b></span><b><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">or</i><span style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">through whom the stumbling block comes!</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding-right: 6px;">Matthew 6:22-23</span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 14px;">(NASB)</span></div>
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<span class="text Matt-6-22" id="en-NASB-23305" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">22 </span>“<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-23305A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-23305A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is <span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NASB-23305a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NASB-23305a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A22-23&version=NASB#fen-NASB-23305a" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span>clear, your whole body will be full of light.</span> <span class="text Matt-6-23" id="en-NASB-23306" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">23 </span>But if <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-23306B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-23306B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>your eye is <span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NASB-23306b" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NASB-23306b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A22-23&version=NASB#fen-NASB-23306b" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</span>bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! </span></div>
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The pleasures of this world cannot compare to what God has promised you, don't lose God while following the world. Again, be in this world, not of this world. Mold and shape your life around "what would Jesus do?" Stop sitting on the fence, choose a side, choose this day whom you will serve.</div>
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<b style="background-color: yellow;">Father, I pray today that you would create in me a clean heart. I ask that you keep me from temptation and help me to live the way you created me to live. I ask Father that you keep me from being a stumbling block to all who come in contact with me, that they see Your light shining through. Father God I ask in Jesus name that You fill me with Your Holy Spirit and lead me in Your righteous paths so that I do not cause another to sin or blaspheme You because of my actions. Help me to be Holy as You are Holy. In Jesus name, Amen</b></div>
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<span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding-right: 6px;">Psalm 51</span> <span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"> (AMP)</span></h1>
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<span class="text Ps-51-1" id="en-AMP-14693" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">A Contrite Sinner’s Prayer for Pardon.</span></h3>
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1 </h4>
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<span class="chapter-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Ps-51-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-2" id="en-AMP-14694" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">2 </span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">and</i> guilt</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">And cleanse me from my sin.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-3" id="en-AMP-14695" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">3 </span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">For I am conscious of my transgressions <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">and</i> I acknowledge them;</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">My sin is always before me.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-4" id="en-AMP-14696" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">4 </span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-4" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Against You, You only, have I sinned</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-4" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">And done that which is evil in Your sight,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-4" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">So that You are justified when You speak [Your sentence]</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-4" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">And faultless in Your judgment.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-AMP-14696A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-AMP-14696A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-51-5" id="en-AMP-14697" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">5 </span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">I was brought forth in [a state of] wickedness;</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">In sin my mother conceived me [and from my beginning I, too, was sinful].<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-AMP-14697B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-AMP-14697B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-6" id="en-AMP-14698" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">6 </span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">And in the hidden part [of my heart] You will make me know wisdom.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-7" id="en-AMP-14699" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">7 </span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Purify me with <span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-AMP-14699a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-AMP-14699a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+51&version=AMP#fen-AMP-14699a" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span>hyssop, and I will be clean;</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-8" id="en-AMP-14700" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">8 </span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Make me hear joy and gladness <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">and</i> be satisfied;</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-9" id="en-AMP-14701" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">9 </span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Hide Your face from my sins</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">And blot out all my iniquities.</span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-51-10" id="en-AMP-14702" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">10 </span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Create in me a clean heart, O God,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">And renew a right <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">and</i> steadfast spirit within me.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-11" id="en-AMP-14703" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">11 </span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-11" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Do not cast me away from Your presence</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-11" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-12" id="en-AMP-14704" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">12 </span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Restore to me the joy of Your salvation</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">And sustain me with a willing spirit.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-13" id="en-AMP-14705" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">13 </span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-13" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-13" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">And sinners shall be converted <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">and</i> return to You.</span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-51-14" id="en-AMP-14706" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">14 </span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-14" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Rescue me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-14" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Then my tongue will sing joyfully of Your righteousness <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">and</i> Your justice.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-15" id="en-AMP-14707" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">15 </span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-15" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">O Lord, open my lips,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-15" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">That my mouth may declare Your praise.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-16" id="en-AMP-14708" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">16 </span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">For You do not delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it;</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">You are not pleased with burnt offering.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-AMP-14708C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-AMP-14708C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-17" id="en-AMP-14709" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">17 </span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><b><span class="text Ps-51-17" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">My [only] sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a broken spirit;</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-51-17" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">A broken and contrite heart [broken with sorrow for sin, thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.</span></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-5344606210786924172017-03-12T16:09:00.001-05:002017-03-12T16:09:12.248-05:00Good Tree, Bad Tree<div style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">
The Lord brought this scripture to me today as I was driving: </div>
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Matthew 7:15-22 <span class="reftext" style="color: #0092f2; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/7-15.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><b>15</b></a></span>“<i>Beware of the false prophets</i>, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. <span class="reftext" style="color: #0092f2; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/7-16.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><b>16</b></a></span>“You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn <i>bushes</i> nor figs from thistles, are they? <span class="reftext" style="color: #0092f2; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/7-17.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><b>17</b></a></span>“So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. <span class="reftext" style="color: #0092f2; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/7-18.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><b>18</b></a></span>“A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. <span class="reftext" style="color: #0092f2; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/7-19.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><b>19</b></a></span>“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. <span class="reftext" style="color: #0092f2; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/7-20.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><b>20</b></a></span>“So then, you will know them by their fruits. <span class="reftext" style="color: #0092f2; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/7-21.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><b>21</b></a></span>“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven <i>will enter.</i> <span class="reftext" style="color: #0092f2; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/7-22.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><b>22</b></a></span>“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ <span class="reftext" style="color: #0092f2; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/7-23.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><b>23</b></a></span>“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; <span style="font-size: xx-small;">DEPART FROM</span> M<span style="font-size: xx-small;">E</span>, <span style="font-size: xx-small;">YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS</span>.’ (NASB)</div>
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I believe it is something that needs to be shared because of so many prophetic words going about today. You don't have to agree with me, that is your choice but all I want to do is challenge you: 1) to study your Bible, 2) to pray, 3) to ask God for discernment, 4) to pray and pray some more.</div>
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There are many who call themselves prophets today, there are also many who prophesy about the coming end of the world. The Bible tells us that no one knows the hour, not even Jesus. Matthew 24:36-37, <span class="reftext" style="color: #0092f2; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/24-36.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><b>36</b></a></span>“But <i>of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son</i>, but the Father alone. <span class="reftext" style="color: #0092f2; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/24-37.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top"><b>37</b></a></span>“For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. </div>
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Just because someone calls themselves a prophet or writes prophecy, does not make them a prophet. Whatever they are prophesying must line up with the Word of God, FIRST. A true prophet won't get it wrong? AND a true prophet knows they CANNOT predict the day or the hour but only reveal what God has given them to reveal.</div>
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Many many "prophets" proclaimed that Obama was the anti-christ. Did that line up with the Word of God? If it does not line up with the Word of God, it isn't prophecy and just isn't true. First, everything Obama did, to a christian, was shocking to see because so many believed every word that came out of his mouth. Many saw him destroying our nation, yet they were blinded and still now, they defend him. He is pro abortion, pro gay rights, pro everything that goes against the Word of God BUT does that make him THE anti-christ? No, that makes him a type of anti-christ but not THE one the Bible speaks of.</div>
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Keep in mind who followed and believed him. Yes, I have no doubt that satan himself was/is pleased with Obama for paving the way. As christians we sat and watched and shook our heads that people could not see the lies and deception taking place. I personally did not believe him to be an American Citizen, he came out of nowhere basically, an unknown and rose straight to the top. He never had to produce PROOF that he was a citizen. He tried to destroy christianity in our nation. But think about this, who believes him, who follows him? Satan is NOT going to be that overt. Satan is cunning, sly and devious. He is NOT after the lost and unsaved he already has them. He is after the Child of God who is not going to be easily fooled!!! Every christian in America who knows the Word of God was wary of President Obama. How did that help satan? <br />
Now, we have President Trump, (and I am not calling him the anti-christ either), however, he would be a better tool for satan to use against christians. How? Because he "seems" to be a babe in Christ. He is a "new" christian, he is standing for christian rights and principles. He is working to "make America great again". He has already taken some big steps not only for our country but for christianity. THAT is someone satan can use to destroy christianity. That is a more subtle way to get to the children of God. I hope and pray that President Trump is the real deal BUT, we will have to see what kind of "fruit" he produces. A bad tree cannot produce good fruit and a good tree cannot produce bad fruit. Remember that dear children of God. Pray ABOVE ALL for discernment. Test the spirits, watch the fruit. Don't get blindsided by satan. Study, read your Bible, but above all pray. God is still God and still on the throne and HE can do anything. NOTHING happens that HE does not know, and is not involved in. Trump may be President because God has given us a reprieve or he may be President because it is one more step to Jesus return. Either way, don't be swept away, keep your eye on the prize. Pray for President Trump and his family, as our Lord instructs in the Word of God just don't rely on the man to turn our country around, only God can do that. Don't put your faith in man just because that man says the right things. Keep your trust in God and pray for the man HE uses.<br />
Love to all, God bless.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-84177450927684195272017-03-12T15:50:00.001-05:002017-03-12T15:50:10.354-05:00Psalm 91 for You<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Psalm 91 is powerful, it’s a promise and it’s just for you. Don’t let satan or his henchman get you down, come over you, take over your mind, thoughts actions. Put them to flight before they settle in! Before you spread negativity and harsh attitudes…CHECK YOURSELF! Do not allow the enemy IN/ON you to travel to someone else. Cast it out in the Name of Jesus. No other name puts the demons to flight like the migh</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ty name of Jesus!!!! God gave us the power to tread on lions and dragons. As I read Psalm 91 tonight and prayed it over our house I realized that plague, dragon etc are synonyms for the enemy!! He comes on like a plague that’s for sure! Once he gets on you the only cure (only cure) is crying out the name of Jesus. Don’t put up with it children of God, you don’t have to. Take authority over whatever demons are trying to come against you, God gave you that power IN JESUS NAME. Make it personal!<br />My personal prayer from Psalm 91: I will dwell in the secret place of the Most High and will abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I say You, LORD, You are my refuge and my fortress: my God; in YOU will I trust. You alone will deliver me from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. You (Lord) cover me with Your feathers, and under Your wings I WILL trust: Your truth shall be my shield and buckler.<br />I will not be afraid of the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.<br />A thousand shall fall at my side, and ten thousand at my right hand; but it shall not come near me. Only with my eyes will I behold and see the reward of the wicked.<br />Because I have made You, LORD, my refuge, even You, the Most High, my habitation;</span></span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: large;">there shall no evil befall me, neither shall any plague come near my dwelling. For You have given Your angels charge over me, (Mt. 4.6 · Lk. 4.10), to keep me. I cannot command the angels but You can Father. Your word says, the angels will bear me up in their hands, lest I dash my foot against a stone. (Mt. 4.6 · Lk. 4.11) Father Your word says I will tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon I will trample under feet. (Lk. 10.19) Because I am yours, You will deliver me, you will set me on high because I have called on Your name, because I have cried out to You. I have called upon You and Your word says You will answer me. You will be with me in trouble. You will deliver me and honor me and will give me long life and show to me Your salvation. These are not my words Father but this You have promised me in Your word and I claim it in the mighty name of Your Son Jesus. Amen</span></span></h4>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-3549184174387465262016-07-10T21:24:00.005-05:002016-07-10T21:43:43.693-05:00"Just Tired"<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="6u5d0" data-offset-key="9vbum-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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<span data-offset-key="9vbum-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">You know, the older I get the more I understand why people want to give up. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="9vbum-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">I understand now what they mean when they say, "I'm just tired". They don't mean physically, from labor. They mean weary, bone deep, soul deep weary.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am "just tired", tired of the pointless drama, tired of the bickering, the pettiness, the hatred, the holier than thou attitudes, the hatred, the fighting, did I mention the hatred?.... I could go on and on about the things I am tired of. I haven't given up yet but I can see why some folks get to that point. </span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2nd7g-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">When you question if anyone really gives a d__n. If anyone truly loves you or just mouths the words. When you see lies believed as truth and truth believed as lies. When you see your children strangers to each other and strangers to you. That will make you tired. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2svne-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Do you ever wonder if God gets tired? He is omnipotent and omnipresent and all powerful but the Bible says "Jesus wept", so does God get tired? Everything I wrote above He sees over and over and over more than a thousand times a day. He is back talked, mocked, made fun of to this very day. The people He created to love and to love each other are turning on each other in growing numbers every day. The people that whisper I love you to Him on their knees get right up and go out into the world and forget Him until they need Him again or bedtime prayers if they say them that often. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="92u0d-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">I shared a post earlier that said God did not come to save skin, He came to save souls. He created us in all different colors, the same way He did the flowers, even trees. The sky will turn different colors but you don't see the flowers uprooting and moving away because the flower next to it is a different color!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><span data-offset-key="7tjgr-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">There is going to be judgment and it will start first in the church. It will start first with the children of God. His word is clear about judgment. Spewing hatred, fueling hatred, bigotry and racism will be judged the same as other sins. Here is some facts on judgment: First, children of God are not to judge sinners at all, did you know that? Second, the Bible says "righteous judgment" which means first your own plate must be clean. Third, calling out sin is not judgment but hating a person because of their sin, that is judgment and NOT righteous judgment. Just because we sin differently does not make us any less sinners. The Bible says, "man is born in sin". (</span><a href="http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Psalm/51/5" style="color: #39547f; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px; opacity: 0.8; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out; white-space: normal;">Psalm 51:5</a> <span style="color: #23221f; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; white-space: normal;">Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.) </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It also says, "we all have come short of the glory of God". (</span><a href="http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Romans/3/23" style="color: #39547f; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px; opacity: 0.8; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease-in-out; white-space: normal;">Romans 3:23</a> <span style="color: #23221f; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; white-space: normal;">for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">When people start to understand that we were ALL CREATED EQUAL, then nothing the media, president or anyone else does will stir them to hatred. That is why our country, our planet needs God. We have gotten so far away from Him and His true teaching that it will take an act only He can do to straighten us out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">He sees His children, the very ones He created in love, hating each other, killing each other, hating Him, judging each other without considering their own sin, changing and twisting His words around, debasing and destroying His house, His temple every day, day in and day out.</span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="3o1vs-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">We need to be very careful, I could be wrong but I think God is getting "tired".</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-18755477243293380292016-03-07T09:25:00.001-06:002016-03-07T09:34:47.855-06:00Train Up A Child...As a mother, I cannot begin to imagine the pain of losing a child. In our human minds that is not the right order of things, our children, in our minds, are not supposed to go before us. I pray to God daily that I never have to bury one of mine, but the truth is, none of us are promised our next breath. In fact, death is the one thing that we can be sure we will all face someday. We just do NOT know the day or the hour.<br />
The Bible says in Proverbs 22:6, "<b>Train up a child in the way he should go and even when he is old he will not depart from it.</b>" In particular, it says, "train up", why? Because we are not promised old age, we are not promised our next breath. Sewing wild oats isn't Biblical, raising them up in the ways of the Lord is. Be certain of what you are teaching them, care more about their spiritual needs than physical. God will take care of their physical if they are taught to lean on Him.<br />
As Christians, we face every day that our Lord is coming back and we look forward to that, however, again, we do NOT know what day or hour we might be with Him. Death may come before He comes back. The question is: Are we ready? We are never ever ready to lose a loved one but are we ever ready for our own departure from this life? The only soul we can really do anything about is our own. However, as parents, when God gave us those children, He gave us the responsibility not only to raise them but to also raise them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord. We get so wrapped up in providing their food, clothing, education that we forget we are also to provide their Spiritual training.<br />
The best way to teach a child anything is by example. The best way to show a child and teach them about God is by example. Let your children see you pray! Let your children see you read your Bible! Share it with them, teach them to pray, teach them to seek the answers they need in God's Word and to NEVER EVER rely on what man says without researching it themselves. It's very easy to be mislead when we don't know the Word of God ourselves. Teach them that just believing in God is NOT enough. Anyone can SAY they are a Christian but we are known by our fruits. Teach them to be fruit bearing Christians. If we don't teach them to love God and let God show through them, the world will certainly teach them how to be part of it.<br />
I pray that I never have to bury a child, but more than that I pray I have been an example to them and I have taught them to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, mind and body. I pray that I have nourished their spirit and showed them a relationship with God and to love God above all else because good or bad, right or wrong someday we will all meet God. I pray they are ready, I pray I did my part. Should I leave this world before they do, I pray they will continue on in faith, trusting and believing in God and trying their best to be pleasing in His sight.<br />
I pray another mother will never have to bury a child, what a heavy burden that is to bear, but, how much heavier will that burden be if she does not know where her child stands with God? How much more heartbreaking to know that your child, whatever age, has gone to meet a maker they don't even know?<br />
Just some food for thought. God bless you all.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-6777997061593777732016-02-27T09:43:00.000-06:002016-02-27T09:48:45.500-06:00Bible Journaling and Adult Coloring, 1 Corinthians 10:31<span style="font-size: large;">I saw a post a friend shared about "adult mandala coloring books". (small case deliberate). As I was reading the post, I was thinking that I knew there was a reason I didn't care for those patterns and now I realize it was the Holy Spirit speaking to me. I agree that the patterns and books promote mysticism.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I do, however, love to journal and I love to color. There is a somewhat new concept going around using pictures and coloring to study God's Word. Painting, coloring right on the Bible pages, a lot of times covering the actual words. That is something that I cannot do, I use a separate book for my journaling. I do write in my Bible, I just can't bring myself to "deface" the pages, no matter how pretty the artwork. Somehow to me, that seems to defeat the purpose!!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I love to journal, I love to write, God gave me a gift of writing many, many years ago and I am so thankful, I do not take it lightly. I am a Bible journaler, have been for years. Writing things out myself helps me to remember them. I also like to record prayers and see where God has moved because so many things happen we tend to forget what we have prayed for at times (at least I do). It's also a good testimony and ministry tool. Recently I have begun writing out Bible verses and illustrating the page with pictures and coloring. I find that coloring the words and the page is a good memorization technique for me also. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here is what the Holy Spirit has revealed to me about journaling and adult coloring: <b>1 Corinthians 10:31, "</b><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><b>Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."</b> Let EVERYTHING you do be to the glory of God including journaling AND coloring! My coloring is nothing elaborate, hopefully, it is pretty and pleasing to God, but if I try to make some elaborate picture with lots of concentrated drawing and coloring, where is the glory to God in that? Yes, I want God to be pleased with it BUT am I really doing it for God's glory or my own? I do it to help commit verses to memory, it is relaxing also. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am not saying it is wrong but if I do it to excess then I am concentrating more on my own work than God's. My thoughts are more on how to make it look more appealing to self, others, maybe than to God. I want it to be pleasing to God and for my mind to be totally on committing the verse to memory. I don't repeat the verse as a mantra over and over as I'm coloring, however, I do read and reread, that is a study technique the Lord gave me years ago when I was younger and in school to help study. I don't concentrate on the coloring, I concentrate on the Word and the Author of the Word.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is nothing wrong with journaling, there is nothing wrong with coloring. But, in all you do, do it to the glory of the Lord. He doesn't care if you color inside the lines, He doesn't care if you accidentally get outside the lines, in coloring, He cares that you are spending time with Him and in His Word.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I journal after I have prayed, spent time in God's Word and with God to record what He has revealed to me through scripture and where He has led me through His Word to teach me. I color to help me remember and it is, for me, another form of praise, to God, not self.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Psalm 19:14, "</span></b></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock, and my Redeemer."</span></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Psalm 139:23-24, </span></b></span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="reftext" style="color: #0092f2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/psalms/139-23.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top">23</a></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">Search me, O God, and know my heart; </span></span></b><b style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Try me and know my anxious thoughts; </span></b><b style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="reftext" style="color: #0092f2; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/psalms/139-24.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" target="_top">24</a></span>And see if there be any hurtful way in me, </span></b><b style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">And lead me in the everlasting way.</span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-5365929995664622372015-11-28T21:12:00.000-06:002015-11-28T22:03:30.520-06:00True Thanksgiving...<div class="clearfix" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px; zoom: 1;">
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Long before the Pilgrims landed in America in 1620, there was a band of Biblical Pilgrims called Israelites who left a land of bondage headed for a promised land where they could worship their God in truth and not be forced to worship Idols and false gods. These Pilgrims had the real first Thanksgiving.</span></h2>
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<em><strong>Leviticus 7:11-15 </strong></em><em>(KJV)</em></div>
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<em> 11And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the LORD.</em></div>
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<em> 12If he offer it for a <strong>thanksgiving</strong>, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of <strong>thanksgiving</strong>unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.</em></div>
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<em> 13Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of<strong>thanksgiving </strong>of his peace offerings.</em></div>
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<em> 14And of it he shall offer one out of the whole oblation for an heave offering unto the LORD, and it shall be the priest's that sprinkleth the blood of the peace offerings.</em></div>
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<em> 15And the flesh of the sacrifice of his<strong> peace offerings for thanksgiving</strong> shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning.</em></div>
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Thanksgiving means - the offering of thanks, especially for gifts received. Scripture empasises the importance of giving thanks to God for all His gifts and works both as an expression of our dependance ON Him and our gratitude TO Him.</div>
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<em><strong>Jonah 2:9 </strong></em><em> (KJV)</em></div>
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<em> 9But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.</em></div>
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In the Bible, thanksgiving is linked with praise:</div>
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<em><strong>Psalm 69:30 </strong> (KJV)</em></div>
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<em> 30I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.</em></div>
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<em><strong>1 Chronicles 16:4 </strong>KJV)</em></div>
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<em> 4And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:</em></div>
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<em><strong>Psalms 100:4 </strong> (KJV)</em></div>
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<em>4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.</em></div>
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<strong>Psalm 50:14 </strong>(KJV)</div>
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14Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:</div>
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We have so much to be thankful for - everyday. If we take the limits off God, we are going to see Him do even greater things than we ever have. </div>
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We have at least 3 things to be thankful for:</div>
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#1) Common blessings - (things we take for granted such as the sunrise, sunset, life, hearing, seeing, feeling).</div>
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#2) Special blessings - (breath of life, family, friends,)</div>
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#3) The greatest blessing of all - Jesus Christ who gave His life that we might be saved and spend eternity with Him.</div>
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We have a duty to offer thanksgiving to God (everyday)</div>
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<em><strong>1 Timothy 4:3-4 </strong>(KJV)</em></div>
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<em> 3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:</em></div>
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<em><strong>Psalm 107:8-9 </strong>(KJV)</em></div>
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<em> 8Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!</em></div>
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<em> 9For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.</em></div>
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<em><strong>Psalm 147:7-9 </strong>(KJV)</em></div>
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<em> 7Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:</em></div>
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<em> 8Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. 9He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.</em></div>
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<strong>So many times we ask, take and forget!</strong></div>
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<strong>Like the story of the 10 lepers in Luke 17. Out of the 10 only 1 returned to thank Him for their healing.</strong></div>
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We should give God thanks and praise everyday. So much of the world only remembers to thank Him certain times of the year if then. As a child of God we can celebrate Thanksgiving everyday - Thanksgiving is OUR response to HIS grace.</div>
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Thanksgiving is responding to God's grace even in the midst of turmoil and trouble. In "everything" Paul wrote, "give thanks". It's easy to celebrate and give thanks when everything is going our way. Real thanksgiving, biblical thanksgiving goes deeper than our circumstances!! It's based on God's provision - not our performance. </div>
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In the movie, FACING THE GIANTS, the coach told his team, "We are going to praise God when we win and we are going to praise God when we lose". That's the mindset that we as God's children should have - We are going to praise God when we win (when things go our way) and we are going to praise God when we lose (when we think they aren't going our way). One thing is for sure, if you have read the back of His book, you know we win :-)</div>
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Paul says in <em><strong>1 Thessalonians 5:18</strong>, In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.</em></div>
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I know it's hard to be thankful when you have recently lost a loved one, have a loved one sick unto death, facing divorce or other marital problems, in financial hardships etc., and it's hard if you have a bunch of little problems troubling your mind. Real thanksgiving is when we praise God IN SPITE OF the circumstances. In <strong>2 timothy 1:11-12</strong>, Paul shows us what real thanksgiving looks like: He is in a dungeon, chained to a Roman soldier, looking back over 30 some years of serving Christ. He could have whined and cried, "Lord look what I've done for you, why are you doing this to me?" But instead he said: <em> 11Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.</em></div>
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<em> 12For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.</em></div>
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He gives 2 reasons for his confidence, even while in the dungeon. If we can claim these same reasons, we can celebrate real thanksgiving.</div>
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#1) I can be confidant because I know God personally - There is a huge difference in knowing about God and really knowing God. Even the devil knows about God and trembles because of what he knows. To know God personally is to love and serve Him as your Savior, leader, counselor and friend. It is not enough to know about God. It is not enough to be an excellent studier of His word. In order to celebrate real thanksgiving, you must know God personally.</div>
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#2) I can be confident because God is able to guard all that I entrust to Him.</div>
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If I was the primary caretaker of all the people and possessions that are important to me - I would be in big trouble because my wisdom and power are limited (to what God gives me). I can't save anyone or anything. But when I entrust to God all those people/things that are important to me, then I have enlisted the all-wise, omnipotent God. This doesn't give me an automatic safety net but I know that He has my best interests in mind, that His plans are for my good and He knows my heart. When I enlist Him for instance by praying His hedge of protection, I believe, I have faith that He is fully capable of taking care of everything and protecting everything, something I cannot do. He will be there to fight my battles for me. I have His promise that nothing can happen tomorrow that He and I can't handle. </div>
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NO TRAGEDY CAN ERASE GOD'S SUFFICIENCY (I didn't write that but wish I had :-)</div>
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So here we are on the brink of Thanksgiving "day" and we don't have a clue what tomorrow holds, but praise God, we know WHO holds tomorrow! So we can dare to give thanks to God and say with Paul, "for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day". </div>
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When Ralph Waldo Emerson lost his son, he wrote in his journal - "all that I have seen teaches me to trust God for all that I have not seen". To me that may have been the most beautiful thing he wrote! </div>
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<strong>Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) </strong>Now <strong>faith</strong> <strong>is</strong> the <strong>substance</strong> of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.</div>
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But, if we believe with our whole heart, "all that we have seen teaches us to trust God for all that we have not seen", our faith will grow - then we know the secret of our confidence and we are ready for "thanksgiving".</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">References. and excerpts: The Secret of our confidence - Bill Bouknight, Bible gateway, King James Bible</span><br />
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First published in facebook, November 20, 2011 at 1:11am</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-62994623303978793842015-11-27T23:48:00.000-06:002015-11-28T22:07:54.682-06:00Have You Grown Cold?<div class="clearfix" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px; zoom: 1;">
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<span style="color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">My heart is breaking because of things I see going on around me. The world is infiltrating our churches, the hearts of christians are turning cold, just as the Bible said it would. It's one thing to read about it, it's another to see it happening right before your eyes and to people you care about. To all of you, not just blood family, not just family at all, not just friends but everyone, I love you too much not to pass this on and if any of it applies then just know I am writing what God has laid on my heart.</span><span class="timelineUnitContainer" style="position: relative;"></span></div>
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You may or may not realize but if you are a christian and have read the Bible, (and even those who do not claim to be christian have read the Bible and believe, the Bible says even the demons believe and tremble), you are starting to see a lot of prophecy come true. Much more than our parents, grandparents etc. <br />
NOW IS <b>NOT </b>THE TIME TO TURN AWAY FROM GOD, or to let your guard down. Nothing in and of this world is worth going to hell for. There is so much that God has laid on my heart I am having trouble even writing it all down. The first verse HE gave me was this one: <br />
Matthew 15:8, NASB<br />
8‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.<br />
9‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’”<br />
Many claim to love the Lord, many spread the verses they read around to others in a semblance of spreading the gospel, while their lives and their actions are far from it. If the world sees you acting like them WHY would they want to change anything, all they have to say is "I believe" and continue living in sin. NOW if YOU are the one they are watching and you are the one they are patterning their christian life after, YOU are responsible for them, their blood WILL be on your hands come judgement day. One of the saddest things I witnessed one time was a young man in his 30's give his life to Christ, and then leave the church mentored by one "friend" who continued to tell him dirty jokes, cuss like a sailor and try to entice him to go to the bars and into other things. This friend was "supposed" to be a christian. This friend had worked on him for months and months to come to church, to give his life to God, to become a "new" man. Then this same friend led him out the door and right back down the same path. He ended up as lost when he walked out as when he walked in. No one else could get through to this young man because he had so much respect for the friend that "led him to Christ". He had never been to church, knew nothing about how your life is supposed to change, yet he felt something wasn't right, he felt that continuing to do the things of the world after confessing his sins was wrong, but he wasn't seeing a change in anyone else so he thought he had this christianity thing all wrong and he wondered what took him so long to confess because he wasn't having to give anything up. Surely this friend of his, who had been a christian for so long would know how a christian is supposed to act? He tried talking to his friend but the friend told him, he was okay that God didn't expect him to be so "clean cut and straight laced". That was old fashioned. He wanted to talk to the pastor but didn't want to make his friend feel like he didn't trust him. He ended up feeling like he was just being to hard and judgmental and eventually he ended up back on the streets and ultimately in prison. I realize the friend wasn't the only one in the wrong here. Someone else should have tried to step up, some did, and yes I was one of those. We tried to talk to him, to show him Christ's love, tried to teach him but with his friends on the other side saying those older people don't know, that is the old way etc. etc. it only left him more confused.<br />
I have said all that to say this. I see many many people who have been in church most if not all of their lives, who have claimed to be Christians, taught church classes, sang in the choir, appeared to be following God and know the truths of God. I've heard them quote scripture, say "I would never do this, or never do that" and I see them now only honoring God with their lips. Their hearts are turning cold, just as the Bible foretold. <br />
The witness they are presenting is far removed from the witness they were. There are things of this world that have NO place in the life of a Child of God. There was a time when these same people would have been appalled if you tried to tell them that they would do the things they are doing now. God will not be mocked. What HE says HE means. His promises AND HIS warnings. He says stay away from ALL <b>appearance </b>of evil. <b> 1 Thessalonians 5:22.</b> That means stay away from witchcraft or ALL appearance of witchcraft. Stay away from discerning the stars (horoscopes), stay away from filthy lewd talk and actions, stay away from bars, strip clubs, other peoples husbands and wives! I'm not going to tell you that you cannot drink a glass of wine etc that is between you and God, however, when you promote liquor and drinking you are destroying your witness. Facebook is a good venue to witness, but what kind of witness are we being. People know we are Christians and yet they see horoscopes, Jack Daniels advertisements, jokes about getting drunk or getting "laid", cussing, sexual innuendos, half dressed men and women, lustful comments. ALL APPEARANCE OF EVIL. God says what HE means and means what HE says. Don't let the devil destroy you. You've run a good race so far, don't quit, the finish line is too close. <br />
<b>Galatians 5:1</b><br />
<i>1It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.</i><br />
<b>Galatians 5:7-8</b><br />
<i>7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?</i><i> </i><br />
<i>8 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.</i><br />
TO ALL OF YOU: God knows when I say I love you and I pray for you that I truly mean it, whether you are family, friend or acquaintance. If I did not tell you the truth of God's word then I would only be honoring that love with my lips and not with my actions and it would be meaningless.<br />
<b>1 Thessalonians 5:1-11</b><br />
<i>1 </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>Now</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>as to the times</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>and the epochs,</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>brethren,</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>you have</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>no</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>need</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>of anything to be written</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>to you.</i></a><i> 2 </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>For you yourselves </i></a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>know</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>full well</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>that the day</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>of the Lord</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>will come</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>just like</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>a thief</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>in the night.</i></a><i> 3 </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>While</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>they are saying,</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>"Peace</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>and safety!"</i></a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>then</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>destruction</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>will come</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>upon them suddenly</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>like</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>labor pains</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>upon a woman with child,</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>and they will not escape.</i></a><i> 4 </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>But you, brethren,</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>are not in darkness,</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>that the day</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>would overtake</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>you like</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>a thief;</i></a><i> 5 </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>for you are all</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>sons</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>of light</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>and sons</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>of day.</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>We are not of night</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>nor</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>of darkness;</i></a><i> 6</i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>so then</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>let us not sleep</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>as others</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>do, but let us be alert</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>and sober.</i></a><i> 7</i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>For those</i></a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>who sleep</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>do their sleeping</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>at night,</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>and those</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>who get drunk</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>get drunk</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>at night.</i></a><i> 8 </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>But since we are of [the] day,</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>let us be sober,</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>having put</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>on the breastplate</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>of faith</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>and love,</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>and as a helmet,</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>the hope</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>of salvation.</i></a><i> 9 </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>For God</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>has not destined </i></a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>us for wrath,</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>but for obtaining</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>salvation</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>through</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>our Lord</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>Jesus</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>Christ,</i></a><i> 10 </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>who died</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>for us, so</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>that whether</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>we are awake</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>or </i></a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>asleep,</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>we will live</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>together</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>with Him.</i></a><i> 11 </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>Therefore</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>encourage</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>one another</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>and build</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>up one</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>another,</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>just</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>as you also</i></a><i> </i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><i>are doing.</i></a><br />
<i style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/10152265848668273/#" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">You know yourself how your witness has changed, how you have changed. I beseech you, get back on course, don't just talk the talk, get back on the path and walk the walk. HE wanted you to read this, HE wanted you to know that HE'S noticed and that HE'S waiting. The Bible says he would leave the 99 to find the one lost lamb, are you the lamb HE is talking to? I pray you aren't but if you are, please turn back, right now, don't come this far to lose it all over "worldly" fun. Being a child of the most High God is the greatest honor and privilege there is. There is nothing that feels better or more worth doing than serving God and making it into eternity. You might not have another chance. HE loves you, I love you. Come home.</a></b></i><br />
<i style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #9197a3; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 16.08px;">Originally written </span><a class="uiLinkSubtle" href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/tawana-burgan/have-you-grown-cold/10152265848668273" style="color: #9197a3; cursor: pointer; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 16.08px; text-decoration: none;">January 16, 2014 at 10:54pm</a><span class="timelineUnitContainer" style="color: #9197a3; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 16.08px; position: relative;"></span></i><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-32432725882459489662015-11-12T21:25:00.001-06:002015-11-12T21:25:20.047-06:00Look Up for the Battle is Truly the Lord's<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've always heard "God gives His hardest battles to His strongest warriors". I believe that is true. I'm sure that some of those warriors would not agree. In fact I don't think those warriors felt like they were strong at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me back up and explain something first, actually a couple of things:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">#1 Not every battle we face is because of God or because of our faith. We bring some of our battles on ourselves. i.e. bad choices, bad company, rebellion, neglect are just a few of the things that can get us into trouble.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">#2 Our sole purpose on this earth is not to grow rich, grow famous, get married, have kids, have a career, etc. Whatever prosperity we have is solely blessings from God, not what we deserve. Our purpose is to bring honor and glory to God, our creator.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shock!!!... Do they tell you that in church. Probably not. Modern day churches preach as if God owes us something, when in fact it is just the opposite. We owe God EVERYTHING, literally.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's take a look back in history at some of God's warriors. (These aren't in any particular order or if they happen to be it is purely accidental. I am just listing them as they come to mind.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First, Job, he was a man dearly loved by God. Did he do anything to cause the battles he endured? One thing, he loved God. He believed God. His battles drew him even closer to God. No matter what happened, he would not turn on God. In fact, he said in <span style="color: blue;"><b>Job 19:25-26, "As for me, I know my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on this earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God."</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can you imagine? Job lost his children, all his livestock, his home, everything dear to him. He had boils covering his body and yet HE DID NOT DENY GOD.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">People tried to get him to admit he had done something to cause the curses that came on him. They thought surely he had to have done something. Job knew he hadn't but he knew God and he believed God. He was a warrior, chosen by God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego being thrown into the fiery furnace, DID NOT DOUBT GOD. They told the king even if God did not save them, He was still God and they would not bow to another. <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Daniel 3:16-18, </b></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/daniel/3-16.htm" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_top">16</a> </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. </span><span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/daniel/3-17.htm" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_top">17</a></span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">“If it be </span><i style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">so,</i><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. </span><span class="reftext" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/daniel/3-18.htm" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_top">18</a></span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">“But </span><i style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">even</i><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> if </span><i style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">He does</i><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></b></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">God's only son, Jesus, chosen by God Himself to be the one to die on the cross for us. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">Every instance of every warrior, their faith did not waiver. When little David went up against the giant Goliath, he trusted God. When Daniel was thrown into the lion's den, he trusted God.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">That is why God gives His toughest battles to His strongest warriors because through the battle their faith remains. There may be lapses of weakness but their faith does not waiver.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">The war is not against death, infirmities, cancer, aids, autism, etc. The war is against the powers of darkness that would separate us from God if they could. To name a few: the parents who have lost a child to sickness, disease or accident, keeping the faith that God will reunite them someday. The person who has fought cancer or has a family member or loved one that fought or is fighting cancer, keeping the faith that if not cured in this life, they will be cured in eternity. The person who stares down the barrel of a gun being told to deny God, that says, I will not deny my God even in the face of death. The missionaries over seas who are killed, beheaded etc for their faith in God. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">I doubt any of these warriors would tell you they were strong. I am sure most of them would have said they could never make it through something like that. But they have. How do they fight? What keeps them going? God. Their faith in God, their insistence that God will get the glory regardless, their belief that no matter what happens, God is still God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">The next time you face a battle, remember that even when things are hardest God is right there with you. </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Philipians 4:13 says, " <span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/philippians/4-13.htm" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_top">13</a></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Not some things, but all things. God has promised to never leave us or forsake us. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">I wish I could say the battles would be easy but if they were we wouldn't lean so much on God and we would lean too much on ourselves. What I can say, with certainty, is that God will never leave you or forsake you. God does not lie, what He says in His word He means.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Ending with this: <span style="color: blue;"><b>Ephesians 6:10-17, "</b></span></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ephesians/6-10.htm" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_top">10</a> </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ephesians/6-11.htm" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_top">11</a> </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ephesians/6-12.htm" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_top">12</a> </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">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 </span><i style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">forces</i><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"> of wickedness in the heavenly </span><i style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">places.</i><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ephesians/6-13.htm" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_top">13</a> </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">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. </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ephesians/6-14.htm" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_top">14</a> </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Stand firm therefore, </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21px;">HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">, and </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21px;">HAVING</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21px;">PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">, </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ephesians/6-15.htm" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_top">15</a> </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">and having shod </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21px;">YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">; </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ephesians/6-16.htm" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_top">16</a> </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">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 </span><i style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">one.</i><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ephesians/6-17.htm" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_top">17</a> </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">And take </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21px;">THE HELMET OF SALVATION</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">How did they all fight those battles, look up!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">God bless.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-21500049621142884602015-10-22T23:42:00.003-05:002015-10-22T23:49:45.964-05:00A Choice or a Chance<span style="font-size: large;">For generation upon generation we have heard the cry, "Jesus is coming soon". If you listen to some false prophets, they will tell you the exact day, and time. Many have heard it so often they now choose to ignore it. Many of us are truly watching and praying for His return, while at the same time we pray for God to delay His return just a while longer to give another loved one a chance to change their life and accept Him. Many go through their days thinking, "It won't happen in my lifetime, I have time to live my life and get right when I am older".</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here is the message: "Jesus IS coming soon", a lot sooner than we think. We are watching the books of Daniel and Revelations unfold right before our eyes. It could be tomorrow, it could be another 200 years, (which I doubt). But, w</span><span style="font-size: large;">hat I think doesn't matter. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The truth is YOU could come face to face with God at any moment! Any of us could. Whether you are 6, 16 or 60, we all have the same amount of time. ONE HEARTBEAT, one heartbeat separates us from eternity. We are not promised a certain amount of time, we have no guarantee of tomorrow. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>James 4: 13-14</b> </span><span style="color: #351c75;"> </span><i><span style="color: blue;"><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/james/4-13.htm" target="_top"><b>13</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/james/4-14.htm" target="_top"><b>14</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. <b>You are </b></span><b><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">just</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"> a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.</span></b></span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If you die tonight, do you know where you will spend eternity? Just saying you believe in Jesus is not enough, being a good person is not enough. We are to be Christ like. We are not perfect, none of us are, but if we are to spend eternity with God, we better start living like He is coming back RIGHT NOW. For some He is. Somewhere right now a person who thought they had plenty of time before Jesus returned has taken their last breath. Somewhere tonight someone has made their choice for eternity simply because they waited. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Bible says we can't serve two masters. Time after time God warns us not to follow the world. Time after time God warns us to be ready. If it was going to be easy, God would not have given us so many warnings. If we could know the exact day and time of Jesus return what we do with that information? Wait until the day before and try to change? For many right now the time has come, there are no more tomorrows. I pray God gives you another tomorrow, another chance to accept Jesus and really change your life. Time is up, Jesus is coming soon, will you rise up to meet Him in the air or cry and scream and beg for more time. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The devil is a liar and one of his biggest lies is, "you've got plenty of time". </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">God gave me this message for you because He loves you. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I love you, get off the fence. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Is this your last chance? </span><span style="font-size: large;">Is your time up? What will you do?</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-82473546124447667482015-07-28T00:04:00.000-05:002015-07-28T00:04:20.151-05:00A Different Perspective on the Removal of the 10 Commandments Statue in OklahomaI acknowledge this is a really controversial issue, please read everything and pray before commenting :-). <br />
The issue I am writing about is the removal of the 10 commandment monument in OKC. Now, these are just my thoughts and mine only.<br />
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On that stone tablet, the 2nd Commandment says: <i><b> Thou shalt not make unto thyself any graven images.</b></i><br />
The Bible goes into more detail than that, however, that is a graven image, carved out of stone, correct? It is a symbol meant to look like something else, something God specifically instructs us not to do.<br />
Take another look at that stone: See that "eye", that is not the all seeing eye of God, that is the eye of Horus, the same eye that is on our dollar bill. Consider this for a moment, if that were an image of God would they not also be trying to remove that on the paper money we use as well as "In God we Trust"? If you want to study a little deeper on symbolism, look up the eye, look up the star of David, (which looks like the satanic pentagram). If you want to go even farther, google the Illuminati, Free Masons etc. <br />
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This statue does NOT represent God, we as christians represent God. God does not use symbols, man uses symbols, satan uses symbols. Jesus used parables, not symbols. <br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><b>God does not need us to make statues, idols or images to worship Him or to sell or promote his kingdom, in fact, He forbids it.</b></span><br />
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I realize some think having the 10 Commandments in stone for the world to see is a reminder of God to all who see it. But WE, <b>Christians</b>, need to be the reminder to the world. WE, <b>Christians</b>, need to be testifying, teaching, sharing God with a lost and dying world. WE, <b>Christians</b>, may very well be the only "Bible" some ever see. How we, <b>Christians re</b>present God is what is important. The monument can't save a soul. The monument won't get anyone into God's Kingdom. Only God can save and only God can welcome us home when the time comes.<br />
How we react to others ABOUT the removal of the monument is entirely another matter. I've seen comments on articles saying if you don't like it, leave Oklahoma. I've seen comments from "christians" calling others names and being less than christian in quite a few instances.<br />
THIS is crucial, how people view christians is crucial. Seeing the 10 Commandments on a lawn will not undo any emotional or spiritual damage done by christians . <br />
Will people see it? Yes they will. <br />
Will people become a christian because of it? Only God knows the answer to that. <br />
Will people turn away from God and never give Him a chance because of the actions and reactions of christians? I would say that is a yes. <br />
When people see your walk or hear your talk, do they say, "If that is what being a christian means, I want to be one," or do they say, "If that's how christians act I want no part of it"?<br />
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Here is what the controversy is really about: Turning people away from God, using this symbolism as a means to get other symbolism placed (the statue of baphomet that the satanists tried to place there is a good example). Satan is trying to use us, (Christians), to promote his agenda and so far he is doing a good job of it.<br />
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My final thought: Let them remove the statue, I don't want to go against God in any way, shape or form. We will not be breaking God's 2nd commandment and we will not be opening the door for statues of mohammed, buddha or satan to be erected. It's really a win/win situation for christians if you think about it!! <br />
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Love you all and God bless you all.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-25501791006286249562015-01-08T23:28:00.001-06:002015-01-08T23:28:35.048-06:00Lead Us NOT into Temptation<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Did you know that Jesus countered temptation with Scripture? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">He did not have a conversation with the devil, He used God's own words to defeat him and the temptations he was trying to bring against Him. This tells me that we can draw that same strength from God's Word!! Philipians 4:13 is one of my favorite verses, <span style="background-color: yellow;">"13 I can do all things [a]through Him who strengthens me.</span> (I CAN do ALL things THROUGH Him who strengthens me) emphasize I CAN DO ALL THROUGH HIM. Not on my own power or my own strength but through Him. The devil will try to use our flesh against us. Have you ever thought about his temptation of Eve and his temptation of Jesus. Keep in mind Jesus was NOT tempted but the devil tried to tempt Him. He tempted Eve with the fruit. Jesus had fasted for 40 days, he tried to tempt Him into creating bread to eat. He appealed to the flesh. Satan knows he can't tempt the spirit but he can tempt the flesh. That's why the Bible says this in Romans 8:7 <span style="background-color: yellow;">"because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The mind set on the flesh is hostile to God, that is so true, Eve's concerns were for her flesh and the knowledge she thought she would receive so she turned her "mind" away from God. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Jesus however had His mind set on the things of God. He very easily could have turned a rock into bread, that wasn't the issue. The issue was He could not be tempted, why? Because His mind was set on God and God's plan for Him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Romans 8:13 says this, <span style="background-color: yellow;">"13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you [a]must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM (Christ Jesus) who strengthens you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It doesn't matter if you want to lose weight, gain weight, get married, get a new job etc. etc. etc. It doesn't matter how many "new year resolutions" you made. You can do all things through Him who strengthens you IF you set your mind on God and His plan for your life everything and I do mean everything will fall in to place. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I am going to make an admission now. (I am using this example because it pertains to me personally). It's not a secret that I am over weight. Why am I overweight? Because I have not yet got my flesh under control. Because I may not eat a lot but I eat when I don't really "need" to. I eat more than I "need" to. I eat what "I" want to, when "I" want to, not what God would have me eat for my health. My mind is more on food at any given time than God's plan for my life! (I do not say that proudly by the way, it's just some truth that God has given me.) When I attended those weight loss meetings last year one of the things they said stuck in my head, that was, "<span style="color: red;">eat to LIVE not live to EAT</span>". God provided everything good for us to sustain us. I'm not saying He cares if we indulge in a chocolate Sundae or gooey brownies, but His Word says that gluttony is a sin. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">(</span><a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Proverbs 23.20-21" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Proverbs%2023.20-21" style="color: #3d448a; font-family: Arial, Verdana;" target="_blank">Proverbs 23:20-21</a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana;">warns us, </span><span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: Arial, Verdana;">“Do not join those who drink too much wine or </span><span style="background-color: orange; font-family: Arial, Verdana;">gorge themselves on meat</span><span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: Arial, Verdana;">, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.”</span><br />
<a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Proverbs 28.7" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Proverbs%2028.7" style="color: #3d448a; font-family: Arial, Verdana;" target="_blank">Proverbs 28:7</a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana;">declares, </span><span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: Arial, Verdana;">“He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.”</span><br />
<a class="rtBibleRef" data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Proverbs 23.2" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Proverbs%2023.2" style="color: #3d448a; font-family: Arial, Verdana;" target="_blank">Proverbs 23:2</a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana;">proclaims, “</span><span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: Arial, Verdana;">Put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana;">”)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana;">As I said above, I am using this example because it pertains to me personally. Just like when I quit smoking, I did not do it on my own power but through God. I kept repeating Philipians 4:13 in my head when the temptation would get strong because that was the only verse I could come up with on the spur of the moment BUT, it worked! Here I am "by the grace of God" a year and a half later, smoke free! That is the strength of God's Word! Not my own, I warred with my flesh almost daily and at times still do, but truthfully this is the second time God has delivered me from that and I'm determined through Him to make it the last. Now there are other areas of my life that I need to apply the same verse and principal.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana;">The sad thing is, if we walked in the spirit as we are supposed to these temptations and problems would be less of a problem. To have to fight a battle against the flesh means that the flesh is exerting control. But that also means we are human, that's not an excuse, that's just plain truth. We can use scripture as Jesus did to battle temptation but we don't have the strength in and of ourselves to battle it. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus WAS NOT tempted, he quoted scripture to let the devil know that he had no hold over Him. He quoted scripture to put the devil in his place, not because he was weak or tempted.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana;">(just want to emphasize that). </span><span style="background-color: yellow;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana;">(James 1:13 </span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God <b>cannot </b>be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.)</span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">But we can do that for our strength, we can search the scriptures, we can find the verses that apply to our daily lives and we can pull them out and use them against temptation. Whether it is a friend trying to coerce us to do something wrong or our own mind or body leading us into temptation we have the mighty sword, the Word of God to counter every attack.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana;">The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:13 </span><span style="background-color: yellow; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><i>No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; line-height: 20px;">God always provides a way out, He always gives you a chance to walk away, that moment is when you need to be able to call God's Word up and use it against the temptation and to strengthen yourself.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; line-height: 20px;">Begin with Philipians 4:13, look up more and memorize them. Write certain ones down that give you strength.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; line-height: 20px;">Let's be like Jesus, not like Eve.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; line-height: 20px;">God bless you all.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-9703282004716514812014-12-08T10:03:00.000-06:002014-12-08T10:03:09.086-06:00One Bad Apple CAN Spoil the Whole Bunch!You were created in the image of God. His Word tells us that. <br />
I woke up with this thought on my mind, nothing starts out bad. A rotten apple on a tree didn't start out rotten, something happened to it during the growth process. Either it didn't get enough water or a worm got in it or something. It was not created rotten. You were not created to be anything but a perfect person. You were created beautiful, you were created perfect. If something has gone wrong, it is because something has or was changed in you or about you AFTER creation.<br />
Some people will get this, others will find fault with it and that's okay. I'm just sharing what God has told me to share.<br />
The Bible also tells us we are born into sin. Sin causes a lot of changes, it changes the inside as well as the outside. But, so does God! He changes you from the inside out. He created you perfect and wants nothing more from you than to strive to be like Him, the One in whose image you were created.<br />
Sin is like that worm in the apple. It winds it's way through the mind and the body, wreaking havoc and destroying that perfect image. It eats away at faith, it eats away at hope, it eats away at love. It leaves a stinking, rotten, putrid mess behind, just like that worm does that is eating away at that apple. When you look at sin that way, any sin, it isn't so appealing is it? Adultery, stealing, lying, drunkenness, gossip, murder, coveting are all that little worm eating away at the inside of you. And, it's the same worm, there is no big or little, it's all the same, does the same amount of damage no matter what it is. It is destroying everything in it's path. <br />
There is an old saying, "one bad apple doesn't spoil the whole bunch", but that isn't true. One bad apple left in a bushel of good apples will eventually spoil the entire basket. It doesn't do it overnight, it takes time, It has to be removed. Sin has to be removed. Physically as well as Spiritually. By physical I mean, you have to make a conscious decision to stay away from whatever sin is in your life, spiritually you can't do it without God's help. You have to remove the worm, the rottenness before it destroys everything around you, just like that rotten apple has to be removed from the basket. Make no mistake, sin is contagious, and it can be spread with one simple word or action. It can ruin not just one life but many.<br />
Just a thought, don't let sin run your life. Don't let that worm eat away at you spiritually until death comes and the real worms eat away at your flesh. By then it's too late. <br />
We know not the day, we know not the hour that the Son of God will return but until then our days are numbered and we know not the day of our own demise. NOW is the time to confess your sins to the Lord, ask for forgiveness and as Jesus said, "go and sin no more". We can never be that perfect being again on this earth but we can be when Jesus comes back and says, "well done good and faithful servant", you will enter into His Kingdom where nothing can touch you again. You have the promise of eternity. It's your choice, the worm and the rotten basket or the chance to be completely whole and perfect again.<br />
God bless.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-80442806331249449182014-10-05T11:10:00.000-05:002014-10-05T11:17:01.124-05:00THIS ISN'T "LET'S MAKE A DEAL"<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Contrary to popular opinion, (both in AND out of the church), God does not play, <i>"Let's Make a Deal</i>", nor is HE <i>Burger King</i>. He doesn't trade one thing for another and HE doesn't serve everything up "our" way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have gone to God begging for one thing or another, health, job, money, etc. and have been blessed enough to get that prayer answered. It is NOT because you promised God you would go to church, or promised Him you would read your Bible more or pray more. It could be for a number of reasons but it is NOT through anything you did that God blessed your life or someone else's life other than you prayed and hopefully you believed. But even if you had a few doubts and God came through for you, that's just God. More than likely He answered that prayer for you already knowing that you only meant what you said because you were desperate or scared. More than likely He answered that prayer for you to let you know how faithful HE is, even if you aren't. To show you how much HE loves you even if you don't show Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How many "deals" have you made with God lately? How many of your bargains have you kept? I don't just mean a day or couple of days, I mean diligently trying to do what you told Him you would do. I know about this "Let's make a Deal" game, I played it in the past myself. Until one day God spoke to my heart and convicted my Spirit and I totally gave my life to Him. I realized that He had done far more for me than I could ever repay even IF He DID play the game. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is NOTHING I can exchange for Jesus giving His life for me. NO deal I can make sweeter than the gift of Salvation that God gives. NOTHING to compare to living in Eternity with God the Father and Jesus the Son. NOTHING.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you've made some bargains with God lately, now is the time to say, "Father, please forgive me for I truly did not know what I was doing". Now is the time to say, "God is able to save us but, no matter what, I will serve Him". As Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo said before walking into the fiery furnace. "Even if God doesn't save us, we will NOT deny Him, we will not serve other gods". (paraphrase)</span><br />
<i><b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Daniel 3:16-18</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. 17 [a]If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; [b]and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”</span></b></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What has God done for you lately? Things you haven't even asked for: 1) let you wake up this morning, 2) A roof over your head, 3) food on your table, 4) the internet if you are reading this right now, even if it is free internet at the library. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm just trying to show that God blesses us each and every day but it won't always be this way. Now we get to the serious business. Many of you, especially if you are my age, have heard parents, grandparents talk about the tribulation and the second coming of the Lord. Unfortunately OUR children have not heard it enough and their children?? Their children probably haven't heard it at all. Unless it's from you or they are blessed enough to be in a good God fearing, Bible believing church with a Pastor that preaches the truth of God's Word. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This to my children's generation: If you do not raise your children in church and to believe, worship and honor God, do not expect them to do those things when they grow up.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Proverbs 22:6 (NASB) has this to say: 6 Train up a child [a]in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Notice it says, <i><b>"train up a child in the way he should go"</b></i> first. They have to have something to go back to or not depart from. You are not doing them a favor by not teaching them about God when they are young. Another thing you must keep in mind is that children learn more by observing than by being told. In other words, they mimic what you do whether you want them to or not. When they are grown their thoughts will be, well it wasn't important to my parents so it must not be that big of a deal. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember that while they are small YOU are responsible for their teaching. YOU will be held accountable on judgement day for your part in teaching them about God. If you did not make God a priority in their childhood, HE won't be a priority in their adult life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here we are back to playing "Let's Make a Deal" again. God please save my child, please heal them. I'll do anything, I'll pray more, I'll read my Bible more, I'll go to church more, I'll take them to church". Sound familiar? We have probably all done it at one time or another. We have responsibility, Salvation is free but we can't take it and run, it isn't a one time thing, it's a lifelong process. I'm not saying God won't bless you, I'm just saying we need to quit playing "christian", quit playing church and start living for God, before it's too late. Quit playing the "Let's Make A Deal" game and start truly serving and loving God, then even though we are not promised an easy life, you WILL see constant evidence of God in your life, you won't have to go to Him with empty promises, you will go to Him in complete faith and watch His faithfulness unfold.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Isaiah 29:13 (NASB)</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>13 Then the Lord said, </b></span><b style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Because this people draw near with their [a]words</b><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>And honor Me with their [b]lip service, </b></span><b style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But they remove their hearts far from Me,</b><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>And their [c]reverence for Me [d]consists of [e]tradition learned by rote,</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>(PARAPHRASED: Because people say they love Him and say they will do anything for Him but it's only lip service and doesn't come from the heart because the heart is far removed from Him. Their reverence and honor consists of the traditions they have been taught and not for true love and worship of God.)</b></i></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-9317921371566445142014-09-13T12:44:00.001-05:002014-09-13T12:44:50.738-05:00Paralyzed by Choice!!<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN">COLOSSIANS 1:18<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN">I heard a preacher a while back talking about people
he knew who had been paralyzed. One
story he told was of a young man paralyzed from the neck down. He said the young man laid there while his
wife got a mercy divorce and couldn't move anything. His head (his mind) was screaming for his
legs to move, his hands and fingers to move, for sound to come out of his mouth
and nothing would work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN">He related this story to Jesus Christ being the
head and the church being the body.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN">He said the head is screaming for the legs to
move, the hands to move, the mouth to speak but nothing is happening because
the church just like this young man's body is paralyzed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN">How right he is!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN">We are paralyzed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN">Some of us by fear, fear of being misunderstood,
fear of being rejected etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 115%;">Some of us are paralyzed by insecurity, feeling
like no one will listen, or worse yet, they will ridicule us.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 115%;">Some of us are paralyzed simply by not
caring.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">That may sound harsh and we may
think that isn't true, but as the old saying goes, actions speak louder than
words.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span lang="EN"><i>If we are not going out and spreading the gospel
and fishing for men, then we must not care about them or their souls. We are paralyzed while they are dying.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN">It took working his muscles daily for this young
man to recover and according to the preacher, he did recover and even preaches
some. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN">The body needs to work daily to listen and obey
the commands of the head. Jesus is the
head and He is crying out for us to move.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN">We have become like the idols in Psalms 115:5-7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN">5They have mouths, but cannot speak, </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">eyes, but they cannot see;</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">6they have ears, but cannot hear, </span><span lang="EN">noses, but they cannot smell; </span></blockquote>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">7they have hands, but cannot feel, </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">feet, but they cannot walk;</span><span lang="EN">nor can they utter a sound with their throats.</span></blockquote>
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<span lang="EN">Except we have a choice, we are not inanimate
objects. We have the choice to witness
or not. To spread the gospel or
not. we are paralyzed by choice!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-23223468596139818552014-07-25T14:56:00.002-05:002014-07-25T15:09:28.290-05:00A Picture is Worth A Thousand WordsThis is my disclaimer! I am not judging anyone for what they like or what they have. God is our judge, always has been, always will be. How does God judge us? Very plainly BY HIS WORD. <br />
I read in Leviticus 26:1 <span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">You shall not make for yourselves idols, nor shall you set up for yourselves an image or a sacred pillar, nor shall you place a figured stone in your land to bow down to it; for I am the LORD your God.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">By this I know how He will judge "me". As for me and mine, we will serve the Lord. Many people wonder why I don't like and try not to post pictures of Jesus. Let me say, I used to before I realized that the pictures were not only not really Him but also pretty much not remotely what He would have looked like "back in the day". Then as I kept studying I found that the pictures/drawings of Jesus changed. They were only "imagined" likenesses to begin with but later on they were actually likenesses of a totally different person. (you can read all about it just by googling, "real face of Jesus" or following the link below. I have included the link below for you to read for yourself and decide for yourself what is best for you. Many people will say, "well, we don't know what He looks like so what does it matter?" That is my point, we don't know but as for me, I will wait, and I will pray that one day I get to look upon His face and see Him for real. I don't want illusions to cause me to miss Him :-)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Love you all, God bless.</span><br />
<span class="p" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
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<span class="p" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 13px; text-align: justify;">Exodus 20:4 </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.israelite.net/image.htm" target="_blank">Jesus painting modeled after Ceaser Borgia </a> (NOTE: there are more links below).</span></div>
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<img src="http://www.israelite.net/image1.jpg" height="400" width="308" /><a href="http://www.israelite.net/image_files/image002.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.israelite.net/image_files/image002.gif" /></a></div>
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<img src="http://www.giveshare.org/BibleStudy/217.realfaceofjesus_files/image002.jpg" /><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depiction_of_Jesus">Depiction_of_Jesus</a><br />
<a href="http://www.giveshare.org/BibleStudy/217.realfaceofjesus.html">htt</a><a href="http://www.giveshare.org/BibleStudy/217.realfaceofjesus.html">p://www.giveshare.org/BibleStudy/217.realfaceofjesus.html</a></div>
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Son of Pope Alexander VI.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-998143184986249482014-07-20T11:32:00.000-05:002014-07-20T12:10:46.024-05:00Chalk It Up To Lesson Learned<h1 class="passage-display" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">
<span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding-right: 10px;"><br /></span></h1>
<h1 class="passage-display" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">
<span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-weight: 500; line-height: 19.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding-right: 10px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">(NOTE: This isn't just about people, it's also about habits and unhealthy choices from the past).</span></span></h1>
<h1 class="passage-display" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">
<span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-weight: 500; line-height: 19.799999237060547px; margin: 0px; padding-right: 10px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Something God put on my mind today. I pray it is helpful to someone. I get so sad when I see people repeating the same mistakes over and over again and I have been one of those people. You can only hit your head against a brick wall so many times, the bricks will never cry out in pain, but you will. Some people don't know how to leave well enough alone. j/s. The past is the past for a reason, if someone or something is in your past, consider it a blessing! They weren't meant to be in the here and now or in your future. When God delivers you from someone or something, STAY DELIVERED. No one said it was easy but obviously God knows what he is doing a lot better than we do. I see the quote, "If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it" all the time but what some people don't realize is that, "If YOU bring you to it, You can call on God to bring you through it, but don't blame Him for where you are if you put yourself there. We are free agents with free will. Just like a parent sometimes God will allow us to go through trials of our own making, to make us stronger, to show us we aren't perfect, to help us lean on Him more and ourselves less. Yes, if God brings you to it, He will definitely bring you through it. And if HE has done that for you when you put the burden on yourself, thank Him, and MOVE ON. Ephesians 6:12 tells us we don't struggle against people but against rulers of darkness. This means spirits, don't fool yourself into thinking those don't exist today. One of the meanest most destructive spirits I can think of is Jezebel. She tried to destroy God's chosen in the Bible and still today she destroys homes, lives, ministries. But back to leaving the past alone, learn from it, grow from it and WALK AWAY from it, you don't live there anymore. </span></span><span style="color: #37404e; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A leopard can't change it's spots and the devil "won't" change his ways. He is out to destroy you and make no mistake he knows what will reach you. Take control away from him, shut the door on the past. God brought you through it because you are important to Him, He loves you with a love that no person can imitate. He loves you with a love that can fill the deepest emptiness left over from a habit. He loves you enough to deliver you not only from the devil, Jezebel and a host of other demons, but also yourself.</span></span></h1>
<div>
<span style="color: #37404e; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">learned</span></span></div>
<h1 class="passage-display" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">
<span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding-right: 10px;">Ephesians 6:10-18</span><span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">New American Standard Bible (NASB)</span></h1>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.55em; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px;">
<span class="text Eph-6-10" id="en-NASB-29348" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">The Armor of God</span></h3>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span class="text Eph-6-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">10 </span>Finally, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29348A" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29348A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></span>be strong in the Lord and in <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29348B" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29348B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></span>the strength of His might.</span> <span class="text Eph-6-11" id="en-NASB-29349" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">11 </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29349C" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29349C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></span>Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29349D" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29349D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></span>schemes of the devil.</span> <span class="text Eph-6-12" id="en-NASB-29350" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">12 </span>For our <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29350E" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29350E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></span>struggle is not against <span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NASB-29350a" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NASB-29350a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A10-18&version=NASB#fen-NASB-29350a" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29350F" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29350F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></span>flesh and blood, but <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29350G" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29350G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></span>against the rulers, against the powers, against the <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29350H" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29350H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></span>world forces of this <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29350I" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29350I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></span>darkness, against the <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29350J" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29350J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></span>spiritual <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">forces</i> of wickedness in <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29350K" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29350K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></span>the heavenly <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">places</i>.</span> <span class="text Eph-6-13" id="en-NASB-29351" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">13 </span>Therefore, take up <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29351L" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29351L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></span>the full armor of God, so that you will be able to <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29351M" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29351M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></span>resist in <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29351N" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29351N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></span>the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.</span><span class="text Eph-6-14" id="en-NASB-29352" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">14 </span>Stand firm therefore, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29352O" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29352O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)"></span><span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">having girded your loins with truth</span>, and <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">having</span> <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29352P" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29352P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)"></span><span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">put on the breastplate of righteousness</span>,</span> <span class="text Eph-6-15" id="en-NASB-29353" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">15 </span>and having <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29353Q" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29353Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)"></span>shod <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace</span>;</span><span class="text Eph-6-16" id="en-NASB-29354" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">16 </span><span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NASB-29354b" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NASB-29354b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A10-18&version=NASB#fen-NASB-29354b" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</span>in addition to all, taking up the <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29354R" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29354R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)"></span>shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29354S" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29354S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)"></span>flaming arrows of <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29354T" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29354T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)"></span>the evil <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">one</i>.</span> <span class="text Eph-6-17" id="en-NASB-29355" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">17 </span>And take <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29355U" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29355U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)"></span><span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">the helmet of salvation</span>, and the <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29355V" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29355V" title="See cross-reference V">V</a>)"></span>sword of the Spirit, which is <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29355W" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29355W" title="See cross-reference W">W</a>)"></span>the word of God.</span></div>
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<span class="text Eph-6-18" id="en-NASB-29356" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">18 </span><span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NASB-29356c" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NASB-29356c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A10-18&version=NASB#fen-NASB-29356c" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</span>With all <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29356X" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29356X" title="See cross-reference X">X</a>)"></span>prayer and petition <span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NASB-29356d" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NASB-29356d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A10-18&version=NASB#fen-NASB-29356d" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote d">d</a>]</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29356Y" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29356Y" title="See cross-reference Y">Y</a>)"></span>pray at all times <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29356Z" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29356Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)"></span>in the Spirit, and with this in view,<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NASB-29356e" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NASB-29356e" title="See footnote e">e</a>]">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A10-18&version=NASB#fen-NASB-29356e" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote e">e</a>]</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29356AA" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29356AA" title="See cross-reference AA">AA</a>)"></span>be on the alert with all <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29356AB" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29356AB" title="See cross-reference AB">AB</a>)"></span>perseverance and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29356AC" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29356AC" title="See cross-reference AC">AC</a>)"></span>petition for all the saints,</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-34617901515631967482014-04-17T10:52:00.002-05:002014-04-17T10:52:48.803-05:00Don't Shoot the Messenger<div class="heading">
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2 Timothy 2:15 (<span style="color: blue;">NASB</span>)<span class="text 2Tim-2-15" id="en-NASB-29843"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup>Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.</span></h3>
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2 Timothy 2:15 <span style="color: cyan;">(<span style="color: blue;">KJV</span>)</span><span class="text 2Tim-2-15" id="en-KJV-29843"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup>Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.</span><span class="text 2Tim-2-15" id="en-NASB-29843"></span></h3>
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I have to say, it's not easy preaching and teaching the truth!! I see friends on facebook growing in their relationship with the Lord, learning the truths of the Bible and throwing out the teachings of man that they have grown up with their whole life and I am so THANKFUL. I thank God for each and everyone that will pray, study, fast, read and pray some more for God to reveal the truth to them and then accept it when HE does!! Many times God plants a seed through some small something that another person says or HE plants a thought in our minds. Because of free will, it is then up to us to do something with it. My heart breaks for those who follow after men, whether it be t.v. Evangelists or their own church Pastor, OR their dad or granddad or uncle etc. No one, let me repeat, no one will make it into the Kingdom of God based on their relationship with their pastor or any other man. You cannot follow man and God, you can learn some things from man but if it doesn't line up with Scripture, it's not correct. <br />
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Here is why the title says, "Don't Shoot the Messenger": When God lays it on someone's heart to pray and search the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit teaches them something, IF they obey God, they do not keep that information to themselves. IF they have the love of Christ in them, they do not keep that information to themselves. IF they are truly concerned and love their neighbor as themselves, they do not keep that information to themselves. They are a messenger, they are the person at that moment that the Holy Spirit has pointed towards truth. Our job is not to immediately discredit them, slander them, destroy or expose them, etc. If we are truly a Child of God, we will search the Scriptures, pray and ask God if it's truth, not toss it out because our Pastor doesn't agree or didn't preach it.<br />
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Now listen to me carefully, please. I am not saying that you should be "tossed about by every wind of doctrine". I am saying that everything we have been taught from childhood is NOT necessarily the truth. We HAVE to pray, search the scriptures and make sure what we are hearing or reading lines up with the Word of God. IF what you are reading or hearing does NOT line up with the Word of God, then you can expose false witness, BUT be careful that you search the scriptures and make sure it doesn't line up with it. Make sure you aren't kicking against something you've just "always been taught".<br />
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If we are going to get anywhere in our relationship with God, we have got to "come out of the world". We have got to get out of doctrine and into God's truth. We've got to stop believing everything we hear and read and study to show our own selves approved. Sometimes learning the truth will also be backed up with other research materials, i.e. Sunday observation, where did it come from?, Easter, Christmas, The Pre-Rapture theory. Not only are these NOT Biblical but you can find through History where these things began and how they came about being celebrated. I am just listing those few but there are many more things we have been taught to believe come from the Lord only to find out if we study them out that they actually were created by man.<br />
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I am just a messenger, but shoot me if you must! Until then I will keep revealing what the Holy Spirit reveals to me. To those who are willing to learn, God bless you, continue your search and prayer. To those who are not willing and get angry when the lies are exposed, I will pray for you and I still love you, so does God. <br />
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All I ask is prayer, that I will continue to pray, fast, seek God and be led by the Lord and the teaching of the Holy Spirit. Prayer that I will stand for the truth and not fall for anything! I pray the same for you.<br />
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<div class="heading">
<h3>
2 Timothy 2:15 (NASB)<span class="text 2Tim-2-15" id="en-NASB-29843"><sup class="versenum"> 15 </sup>Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. </span></h3>
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<h3>
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)<span class="text 2Tim-2-15" id="en-KJV-29843"><sup class="versenum"> 15 </sup>Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.</span></h3>
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<span class="text 2Tim-2-15" id="en-KJV-29843">Love you all and God bless you all,</span></h3>
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<span class="text 2Tim-2-15" id="en-KJV-29843">Another Messenger </span></h3>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-54255452032187068962014-02-15T12:47:00.001-06:002014-04-15T21:01:04.112-05:00The Rest of the Story - The Truth Will Set You Free, Jesus IS That Truth<span style="background-color: black;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15.6px;">Here's the thought for the day: How much do you REALLY love your family, friends</span><span style="line-height: 15.6px;">, </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15.6px;">parents, kids, spouse, etc? Enough that you are concerned about their souls? Have you</span><span style="line-height: 15.6px;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15.6px;">shared Jesus with them? Do you care if they split hell wide open?</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15.6px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15.6px;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 16.64px;">and here's my answer.... I love each and every one of you enough to tell you the truth. The</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.64px;"> truth is... If you don't get your life right and get a real personal relationship with God and</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.64px;"> seek Him and His approval rather than man's (or woman's), you will miss the Kingdom of </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.64px;">God and living throughout eternity. That thought may not bother some people but it's </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.64px;">where you will spend eternity that is the problem. A relationship with Jesus is not just a </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.64px;">word here and there. It's not yelling, "Oh Jesus" when a car almost sideswipes you, it's not </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.64px;">being sick or having a loved one that is sick and praying for healing one day and forgetting</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.64px;">WHO healed as soon as you/they are well. When you are in a true relationship with God,</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.64px;"> you strive to live according to HIS will. You stay away from evil and "all appearance" of </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.64px;">evil. You follow HIS laws. Some people think that because they don't kill they haven't sinned </span><span style="line-height: 16.64px;">or that telling "a little white lie" isn't as bad as killing or stealing, well from what I read in </span><span style="line-height: 16.64px;">the Bible, SIN IS SIN, there is NO big sin, little sin. Yes I love you and yes I care about your</span><span style="line-height: 16.64px;"> soul. Please get your life right with God and then strive daily to keep it that way. We aren't </span><span style="line-height: 16.64px;">perfect any of us, it's a daily walk not just a one time thing.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.64px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.64px;">The first thing you have to do is accept Jesus into your life. Accept that HE IS the Son of God and HE DID come to die for all of our sins. Then you must confess your sins to God, and yes HE does already know them but true repentance comes when you yourself acknowledge them as sins. The Bible says if you will ask for forgiveness HE will grant it, doesn't say might or maybe but that HE will. </span></span><br />
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<div class="heading" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">
<span style="background-color: white;">1 John 1:9<span style="font-size: 12px;">(NASB)</span></span></div>
<div class="passage version-NASB result-text-style-normal text-html" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="text 1John-1-9" id="en-NASB-30550"><span style="color: blue;"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; vertical-align: top;">9 </span>If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="text 1John-1-9"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="text 1John-1-9">Many people today think the Bible is "just a good book of morals". It is a good book of morals to live by but it is so much more than that. It is the living breathing Word of the Most High God. The instructions laid out in the Bible are not just "good words to live by", they are the life of a Child of God. You can't pick and choose what you want from it. When Jesus died on the cross He completed all the man made laws in the Bible, but HE did NOT do away with God's laws. Those laws being the 10 Commandments. Even Jesus followed those. He said, "if you love me, keep my commandments". He added two commandments that people today think override God's 10 but they don't, they add to. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="text 1John-1-9" style="font-size: 16px;">My point is that not only do you need to confess Jesus and confess your sins to God but you need to read and study your Bible to learn the ways of God and what He wants and expects. The Bible tells us that sin cannot enter into God's Kingdom. The Bible goes on to tell us what sin is, not just with the 10 commandments but in other verses too. Sin and unrighteousness are the same thing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="text 1John-1-9" style="font-size: 16px;">Read this: <span style="color: blue;">Proverbs 6:16-19, </span></span><span style="color: blue;">16<span style="font-size: 0.75em;"> </span>There are six things which the <span class="small-caps" style="font-size: 16px; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> hates,Yes, seven which are an abomination <span class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NASB-16557i" title="See footnote i">i</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+6&version=KJV;NASB#fen-NASB-16557i" style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote i">i</a>]</span>to Him:</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"><span class="text Prov-6-17" id="en-NASB-16558" style="font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">17 </span>17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,</span><span class="text Prov-6-17" style="font-size: 16px; position: relative;">And hands that shed innocent blood,</span><br /><span class="text Prov-6-18" id="en-NASB-16559" style="font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">18 </span>18 A heart that devises wicked plans,</span><span class="text Prov-6-18" style="font-size: 16px; position: relative;">Feet that run rapidly to evil,</span><br /><span class="text Prov-6-19" id="en-NASB-16560" style="font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">19 </span>19 A false witness <i>who</i> utters lies,</span><span class="text Prov-6-19" style="font-size: 16px; position: relative;">And one who <span class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NASB-16560j" title="See footnote j">j</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+6&version=KJV;NASB#fen-NASB-16560j" style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote j">j</a>]</span>spreads strife among brothers.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Prov-6-19" style="font-size: 16px; position: relative;">Broken down this means pride, lying, killing, trouble making, looking for evil. </span></span></div>
<div class="passage version-NASB result-text-style-normal text-html" style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Prov-6-19" style="font-size: 16px; position: relative;">There are other things the Lord hates, adultery, idolatry, fornication, drunkenness, stealing, coveting, fighting. Most of these don't need explanations but some people try to justify what they do. (Example: my husband/wife doesn't give me what I want/need, I love them but I'm not satisfied so I go elsewhere, but I always come home to them.- That is adultery. Example 2: NOTHING, I mean NOTHING gets in the way of my football game, or my exercise class, or my soap opera, etc. etc. - that is idolatry; Example 3: We can have sex, it isn't adultery because we aren't married. - that is fornication. Drunkenness, stealing, lying, fighting I think needs no explanation. Coveting - I want to keep up with the Jones, Rockefellers, etc. I want that car that he has or that dress she has or that husband, that job etc.) Sin = unrighteousness. </span></span></div>
<div class="passage version-NASB result-text-style-normal text-html" style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Prov-6-19" style="font-size: 16px; position: relative;">The Bible says we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory but it doesn't say we are hopeless. It is a daily walk. We stumble, we fall but we need to get up and move forward, never looking back. Ask forgiveness as often as we realize we have sinned. Ask forgiveness again during prayer even if we aren't sure. Talk to God all the time, not just when we need something. What family member or best friend would stick around if we only talked to them once or twice a year or when we needed something and especially if we never came back and said thank you. </span></span></div>
<div class="passage version-NASB result-text-style-normal text-html" style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Prov-6-19" style="font-size: 16px; position: relative;">Being a Child of God isn't hard, you don't give up anything, you gain everything. </span></span></div>
<div class="passage version-NASB result-text-style-normal text-html" style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Prov-6-19" style="font-size: 16px; position: relative;">Do you love your family, your friends, etc? This is only a part of the truth you MUST share with them, you must care about where they will spend eternity. You must care about their soul. You must love them, even if you don't always like them. You are responsible for what you tell them AND what you DON'T tell them AND what they see you do. YOU will answer to God one day. When HE says, what did you do with MY Son? What will you say? When HE says what did you do for those you love to help them make it into the Kingdom and into Heaven? How did you show your love? What will you say?</span></span></div>
<div class="passage version-NASB result-text-style-normal text-html" style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Prov-6-19" style="font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="passage version-NASB result-text-style-normal text-html" style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="text Prov-6-19" style="font-size: 16px; position: relative;">As Jesus told Peter, "If you love me, feed my sheep". </span></span></div>
<div class="heading" style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">
<h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">John 21:17<span style="font-size: 12px;">(NASB)</span></span></span></h3>
</div>
<div class="passage version-NASB result-text-style-normal text-html" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="text John-21-17" id="en-NASB-26916"><span style="color: blue;"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; vertical-align: top;">17 </span>He *said to him the third time, <span class="woj">“Simon, <i>son</i> of John, do you <span class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NASB-26916a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2021%3A17&version=KJV;NASB#fen-NASB-26916a" style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span>love Me?”</span> Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, <span class="woj">“Do you<span class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NASB-26916b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2021%3A17&version=KJV;NASB#fen-NASB-26916b" style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</span>love Me?”</span> And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I <span class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-NASB-26916c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2021%3A17&version=KJV;NASB#fen-NASB-26916c" style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</span>love You.” Jesus *said to him, <span class="woj">“Tend My sheep.</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="heading" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">
<h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">John 21:17<span style="font-size: 12px;"> (KJV)</span></span></span></h3>
</div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="passage version-KJV result-text-style-normal text-html">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="text John-21-17" id="en-KJV-26916"><span style="color: blue;"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; vertical-align: top;">17 </span>He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="text John-21-17">If you love HIM, feed HIS sheep, if you love them, feed them. HE doesn't mean physical food, HE means Spiritual.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="text John-21-17">Love you all. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1crW9rw0FebXQgA8OQp5gLJq2zv2dk1FdHCkLS60oqj4NqH0Wp8R00gZ6xtKbiRcL2aHsoskFwmT6Qr4cg3o8BZhJUL1m912VtGVV8Diz02tQuCM7Wh7OrdWcQNTPG6A7tqVASv73NFM/s1600/FotoFlexer_Animation.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1crW9rw0FebXQgA8OQp5gLJq2zv2dk1FdHCkLS60oqj4NqH0Wp8R00gZ6xtKbiRcL2aHsoskFwmT6Qr4cg3o8BZhJUL1m912VtGVV8Diz02tQuCM7Wh7OrdWcQNTPG6A7tqVASv73NFM/s1600/FotoFlexer_Animation.gif" height="320" width="211" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="text John-21-17">I truly love you. If you are committing any of the above sins, you WILL NOT make it into Heaven. I truly love you, if you do not confess your sins, accept Jesus and live your life for God, you WILL NOT make it into Heaven. I truly love you, if you continue to live in sin, you will die in sin and you WILL NOT make it into Heaven. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="text John-21-17">I truly love you, I want us both to walk this walk and talk this talk for the Lord and make it into not only Heaven but the Kingdom of God that is coming. I'm not perfect by any means, it is a daily walk and sometimes a daily struggle but the key is to keep on keeping on. </span></span><br />
<div class="heading passage-class-0" style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">
<h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">Matthew 24:13<span style="font-size: 12px;">(NASB)</span></span></span></h3>
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<span class="text John-21-17"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; vertical-align: top;">13 </span>But the one who endures to the end, he will b</span></span><b><span style="color: blue;">e saved. </span></b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-52874989683730980562014-01-26T07:25:00.000-06:002014-01-26T07:25:27.846-06:00How Can So Many Be So Right and STILL Be Wrong?How can so many be so right and still be so wrong? That question comes to my mind all the time. I read some great posts by christians about observing the Sabbath or the coming of the Lord. Posts filled with truth and backed up with Scripture. Then I see horoscopes or pictures of half naked people or worse yet, the Word of God taken completely out of context in the next post. That is why I ask, how can so many be so right and still be so wrong? I already know the answer to that but it saddens me because the church, God's church, God's people are so easily blinded, so easily led astray. I'm no exception, my only saving grace is God, again, MY ONLY SAVING GRACE IS GOD. There is an old saying, "there but for the grace of God go I". If it were not for the convicting Holy Spirit, for putting on God's armor every day, I don't know what I would be doing, (and I might add I don't want to know!). Thank you God for never leaving me. There was a time when I "thought" I was right but I was so wrong. And please don't get me wrong, I am NOT saying now that I'm always right. The difference is now I know how fallible I am, now I know that I can be right, but I can be so wrong too.<br />
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There was a time I followed man's doctrines and believed man's word over the Word of God. <br />
Why would I do that you might ask:<br />
1) Because I did not read the Word of God myself. <br />
2) Because I did not have a deep personal relationship with God.<br />
3) Because I was unwilling to let go of my beliefs and man-made traditions and let God teach me.<br />
4) Because I was scared I would have to give up some of the things I enjoyed.<br />
5) Because it was "easier" to listen to a preacher and believe him, than to study and read the Bible for myself<br />
Wow, that #4 because sounded just like my excuses many many years ago for not giving my life totally back to the Lord. Because I was afraid I would have to give up some things I enjoyed. That's a subject for another post but let's just say, I didn't give up anything because I HAD to, it all went willingly.<br />
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Back to how can you be right and still be wrong. The Bible says to "be diligent to show thyself approved". (2 Timothy 2:15) NASB. Meriam Webster defines diligent as<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> characterized by steady, earnest, and </span><a class="d_link" href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/energetic" style="background-color: white; color: #1122cc; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;">energetic</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> effort </span><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">:</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/painstaking" style="background-color: white; color: #1122cc; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;">painstaking</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="vi" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a em="" href="" nbsp="">diligent</a></span><br />
worker>. Steady, earnest, energetic, painstaking?This means God wants us to stay in His Word, to study it, to grow with HIM, not with the world. We won't get it completely right until the day HE changes our bodies from mortal to immortal, but we can work diligently to spread the TRUTH of HIS Word. <br />
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Here are some things to get you started to search out for yourself. But before you do, IF you do, I ask you to pray sincerely for God to show you the truth, EVEN if it goes against everything you have been told and taught. Ask God to open your eyes and ears of understanding. Be receptive to letting the Holy Spirit teach you.<br />
Ready: Here goes, God's laws, the 10 Commandments, the 4th Commandment, rapture, holidays, (in particular, Christmas and Easter, trinity, King James Bible, Sunday observance, God's true church. That's just a few of the things I can think of that I had to relearn. Now in teaching me the truth about these things, God took me other places ALONG with His Word (the Bible). The first thing I can remember God showing me was about the rapture. The word rapture isn't in the Bible! When you look up how the rapture "theory" came to be, you find out it was an idea started by man!! You will find a great many "arguments" pro and con but praying and opening yourself up to God will show you the truth. Arguing fact is one thing, proving and backing up with fact, that's how you get to the truth. Always back those facts up with Scripture. The Bible, contrary to what some "say" does NOT contradict itself. It proves itself, time and time again. <br />
How can so many be right and still be wrong? By following the world instead of the Word.<br />
God bless you as you study for the truth.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-70759853675232355422014-01-12T16:56:00.001-06:002014-01-12T16:56:57.719-06:00No Faith? Know Faith? Which Is It?<div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+11:22&version=NASB" style="color: #b2462d; text-decoration: none;">Mark 11:22</a></strong></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
And Jesus *answered saying to them, “Have <b>faith</b> in God.</div>
<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+9:29&version=NASB" style="color: #b2462d;">Matthew 9:29</a></strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
Then He touched their eyes, saying, “It shall be done to you according to your <b>faith</b>.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+17:20&version=NASB" style="color: #b37162; text-decoration: none;">Matthew 17:20</a></strong><div>
And He *said to them, “Because of the littleness of your <b>faith</b>; for truly I say to you, if you have <b>faith</b> the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.</div>
<div>
<strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+9:22&version=NASB" style="color: #b37162; text-decoration: none;">Matthew 9:22</a></strong><div>
But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Daughter, take courage; your <b>faith</b> has made you well.” At once the woman was made well.</div>
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<div>
<strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21:21&version=NASB" style="color: #b2462d; text-decoration: none;">Matthew 21:21</a></strong><div>
And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have <b>faith</b> and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.</div>
</div>
<div>
<strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+8:10&version=NASB" style="color: #b37162; text-decoration: none;">Matthew 8:10</a></strong><div>
Now when Jesus heard <i>this</i>, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great <b>faith</b> with anyone in Israel.</div>
</div>
<div>
<strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+15:28&version=NASB" style="color: #b2462d; text-decoration: none;">Matthew 15:28</a></strong><div>
Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your <b>faith</b> is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.</div>
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<div>
<strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+2:5&version=NASB" style="color: #b2462d; text-decoration: none;">Mark 2:5</a></strong><div>
And Jesus seeing their <b>faith</b> *said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”</div>
</div>
<div>
<strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+3:16&version=NASB" style="color: #b2462d; text-decoration: none;">Acts 3:16</a></strong><div>
And on the basis of <b>faith</b> in His name, <i>it is</i> the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the <b>faith</b> which <i>comes</i> through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.</div>
</div>
<strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+16:8&version=NASB" style="color: #b37162; text-decoration: none;">Matthew 16:8</a></strong><div>
But Jesus, aware of this, said, “You men of little <b>faith</b>, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread?</div>
<div>
<strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+4:40&version=NASB" style="color: #b2462d; text-decoration: none;">Mark 4:40</a></strong><div>
And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no <b>faith</b>?”</div>
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Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?</div>
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I've read these verses many times but sometimes I need to read them over and over and over again for it to sink into my head. These are promises from God. The Bible says we don't have because we don't ask. But then, there are those times we ask but we don't have enough faith to let God work!! I have seen God work in the lives of people that had NO faith but someone, somewhere HAD faith.</div>
<div>
In the Bible there are stories of people that were not even followers of Christ but because they knew OF HIM and what HE had done, they came to HIM, they had faith HE could heal them or their loved ones and HE DID!</div>
<div>
I'm always saying if I ever ask for prayer and you can't look past the circumstances and pray "with faith", "believing" then, not to be rude, but please don't bother. People always tell me, "well, we need to pray God's will." I'm NOT disputing that however, nothing in the Word of God says that God ever ever intended for us to be sick!! Nothing in God's Word tells me that God ever intended for us to be servants to sickness, sin, poverty, etc. So if I'm praying for you for complete healing, I'm asking God to restore your body to the way HE created it, "in His image". I'm asking God to work a miracle in your life that will give HIM honor and glory. And then.... I'm thanking HIM for your healing or the answer to your prayer because I BELIEVE, I know faith.</div>
<div>
HIS Word tells us that HE will provide our needs, that means HE does not expect us to do without. By HIS stripes we are healed, meaning HE took our pain and sickness and sin on HIMSELF. </div>
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Pray believing. Claim ALL God's promises, not just a few or some but ALL.</div>
<div>
No faith or know faith? Which is it for you? I choose to know faith because I know my God, the God that I serve CANNOT and WILL NOT lie.</div>
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God bless.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-17666424564957726132013-12-29T14:31:00.002-06:002013-12-29T14:31:37.914-06:00God' Way or My Way?<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.</b></span><br /><br />You
know you are on the right path when doing everyday menial things brings
a scripture to mind. Now notice I said "on the right path", I didn't
say perfect or even close to perfect. I am definitely no where near
perfect but praise God IF I complete this course or journey with the
Lord and make it to hear HIM say, "enter in", then I will be! <br />Anyway back to God's way or my way.<br />I
was washing dishes and I have a certain way I stack them in the drainer
to make them fit. Same way I have ALWAYS done it. Usually I do it
without even thinking about it because I have done it that way for so
long. The same with folding my towels. But as I was stacking dishes,
the first part of the above scripture came to my mind, "there is a way
which seems right to a man". Now I don't believe that God was talking
about my dishes or the way I stack them, but I do know without a doubt
that HE was trying to tell me something. <span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"> "Just because I've done it
that way forever, just because I believe that is the right way to do it,
does NOT make it right." </span> There are other ways and there are others who
could show me or point me to the truth, <b>IF</b>, I prepare my heart and mind to listen.
That does <b>NOT </b>mean I should take advice from everyone, doesn't mean I
should listen to everyone but just like reading and studying HIS Word, I
should use discernment simply because not everything is always <b>MY </b>way,
not everything I do is always the <b>RIGHT</b> way. I'm still learning too.
One thing I do know, I love the Lord with all my heart, mind and soul. I
don't want to miss HIS Kingdom. Maybe I am doing things the right way
but maybe there is more to be learned. Do you see where I'm going with
this? We can think we are right, we may even be right, but it's <b>NOT </b>our
way. It's God's way. No matter what we are doing in life, we could
not do it, would not be able to do it if it were not for the Lord. <br />The
next time you are trying to get something done your way, stop and
think..."is this really the right way, is this the only way? Could
their way be right? Have I done this so long that I am merely steeped
in tradition and afraid of change?" Ohhh that probably hit a nerve :-)
I know it has with me a couple of times, because it was true!! <br /><span style="background-color: yellow;">Proverbs 12:15 has this to say: The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.</span><br />Do you listen to counsel or do you see yourself right IN YOUR OWN EYES? What about God, how does HE see you?<br />There are many definitions of a fool, this is only one but it fits! <span style="color: red;"> Fool: </span><span><span style="color: red;">One
who is deficient in judgment, sense, or understanding. So using that
definition for fool to be foolish would be to act without judgment,
sense or understanding.</span> Exactly how we do when we trudge on day in and
day out doing the same old things, either out of tradition or habit. <br />God
is saying today, break away from tradition, break away from habit, break
away from what you have always done, always believed. It's time to
grow up in the Lord. Start to question why you do things the way you
do, believe what you believe. Is it because you were taught that by
someone else or did you learn it through reading God's word, prayer,
fasting, asking the Holy Spirit for guidance, asking God for
discernment?<br />It's past time to get back to the basics, God has every
single thing lined out in the Bible, there are no mistakes. There is
example after example of the wrong way AND the right way. There is much
to learn but we won't learn it by insisting everything always be "our"
way. </span><br />
<span>It's not God's way or my way, it's GOD's way <b>ALL </b>the way.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-85133872081315450792013-12-09T04:57:00.002-06:002013-12-09T04:57:59.382-06:00A Lie is Still a Lie Even If Everyone Believes It...<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lie is still a lie even if everyone believes it and the truth is still the truth even if no one believes it... <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(author unknown)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesse and I were talking this morning and from His post and our conversation the Lord revealed something to me. If we know God's Word ourselves and have a true relationship with Him, we cannot be deceived in these last days. He will reveal truth to us and He will shape us and hone us into His image "IF" we allow Him too. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of the way He does that is by giving wisdom to others. They share that wisdom with us. WE pray about it, READ HIS WORD, talk to Him (the Father) about it and He will reveal the truth of it to us. (We do NOT just accept it because they believe it or because we "think" they are a good christian, or THEY have read the Bible (and we haven't)). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We get so hung up on believing that we already know everything that not only do we NOT listen but we don't talk to God about it, we don't open our hearts to the truths that God wants us to know.</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Reminds me a little of teenagers. Rebellious teenagers! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Please hear me here. I am not talking about believing every "wind of doctrine" that comes out of man's mouth. I am talking about listening to the Holy Spirit, listening to God when He is trying to teach us. When He is trying to take us into a higher, closer, more personal relationship with Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are so many that claim to be christian that don't even know God much less have a relationship with Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Think about this: If you gave your spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, child, parents as much attention as you give God, would they really truly know you loved them? If every time they tried to tell you something about themselves you turned away and said, "that's not true, I know you don't feel that way or I know you don't like that, or aren't like that", how long would they stay around you? How long would they keep YOU in THEIR life?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Have you ever tried to talk to someone you love to clarify something they thought you said or did, only to have them not listen to you and go right on believing their own opinion instead of the truth? So much so that you talked to someone else they trusted to try and get their help to reach them? Sometimes I believe God does that too. He tries to tell us something and we aren't receptive, aren't listening so He teaches someone else and they listen and then they share that with us as well as others. Now it comes down to: are we still going to go on believing our own thoughts or are we going to pray about it and listen to the voice of the Lord? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Again, I'm not saying to believe everything you hear or see. God wants us to "test the spirits". He wants us to come to the table WITH Him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What I am saying is, "test God". Jesse wrote something that got into my Spirit about the "elect of God". We can ALL be God's elect if we listen, KNOW His Word, KNOW HIM. He laid everything we need to know out in His Word. It's not "just good morals to live by" it's HIS Holy Word. In it, He "says what He means and means what He says". The one thing that stands out to me is what He says in Matthew 7:13-14, He says, "</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Matt-7-13"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">13 </sup>“Enter
through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that
leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-7-14" id="en-NASB-23331"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." </span></span></span><br />
<span class="text Matt-7-14" id="en-NASB-23331"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What does that tell you? That means that what the majority believes, what the majority repeats, what the majority does is NOT the narrow (or right) gate.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="text Matt-7-14" id="en-NASB-23331"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I love you all, please, this is what I'm asking and praying for you. If I or any other child of God tells you something, even if it goes against man's doctrine or what you've always "heard" all your life. Take it to God, pray about it, fast. READ, STUDY, PRAY. We don't pass on what the Lord gives us to be a point of arguing or brow beating or judging. We pass it on because the Lord has taught us and told us too and we must obey. We DID NOT accept what man said, we questioned it, took it to God, prayed about it, read His word, sometimes if it was something ingrained in us we had to fast. Not always because God hadn't given us an answer but sometimes because we kept rejecting the truth He was giving us. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="text Matt-7-14" id="en-NASB-23331"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Remember: A lie is still a lie even if everyone believes it and the truth IS STILL the truth even if NO ONE believes it.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="text Matt-7-14" id="en-NASB-23331"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Love you all. God bless you. </span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-48355008735036482922013-11-28T18:47:00.000-06:002013-11-28T18:47:33.089-06:00Thanksgiving Day - 2013As Thanksgiving day winds down I have to say again how very thankful I am for the God I serve and His love and care. His love always amazes me. I can look back over my life and see time after time after time where He has intervened and blessed me. I know there is not a need that He hasn't filled and right now I can't even think of a desire that He hasn't fulfilled! Everything is always what I asked for or when I asked for it or the way I pictured it, but better! God's way, God's timing, God's answers are perfect. I can't say I haven't had plenty of trouble, I've had my share of heartbreak too but I can't blame God. (I could but it wouldn't be true). If I had been faithful to the path He laid for me I could have spared myself a lot of that. Even though I got off course, He stayed. I can truly say He never left my side.<br />
Today is just one day of 365 that I'm thankful for everything He is and has done. My biggest blessings besides Him that God has given me has to be my extensive family (family isn't about blood) and friends. That covers even those I haven't met yet!<br />
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To my husband, it goes without saying, :-) since I say it so much, I love you. You are my soul mate. <br />
Most people know my story of motherhood but for my "children" and "grandchildren" I want to say once again how much I love you. You are all truly a gift from God and you know why I say that. Only God could have brought you into my life. To those of you who might say, "I used to be". Make no doubt about it, you STILL are, in my heart, my child and always will be. Some things for me don't change :-)<br />
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To my cousins, all of you! You are wonderful and I love you so much and would not trade any of our memories growing up (well maybe one, Rose Coyle, if I could change it, I wouldn't bring the mumps to your house lol). There is a picture circulating around facebook that says our cousins are the first friends we ever have. How true that is and the best! This goes for all the 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc cousins (and their husbands and wives too :-)<br />
The friends God has given me and the extended family He has given me are blessings I'm so thankful He honored me with.<br />
Every single person God has brought in my life has been a blessing or a lesson and I'm thankful for both because they are all a part of who I am today. Some were just for a moment, some were for a season, some were for a reason and some are for a lifetime. In God's perfect way He knows who should be each one of those.<br />
So, not just today but everyday, I am thankful first to God. Second, I am thankful to all of you for being in my life. If I forget to tell you sometime, just re-read this note and remember that love is forever.<br />
If someday I'm no longer here to tell you, you are forever loved. :-)<br />
Happy Thanksgiving 2013 - God bless you each and everyone.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9012960024528419190.post-30889192960386319392013-11-26T01:41:00.001-06:002013-11-26T01:41:14.619-06:00Thanks or No ThanksThis post is something the Lord has been dealing with me about for a while and I've been reluctant to write possibly because I didn't like what it said to me, (as is usually the case).<br />
I was thinking about something I had done recently that for one reason or another I thought should have been acknowledged. I don't remember what it was now but I do remember the Lord speaking to me and reminding me that His Word, The Bible, tells us to do everything as if we are doing it for the Lord. He also reminded me that it is my "duty" to do good for others and that He is the one that gives me all my abilities. I knew the basics of what He was telling me but of course had to look up the verses. These are the ones He spoke to me.<br />
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<strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+3:17&version=KJV">Colossians 3:17 </a></strong>And whatsoever ye <b>do</b> in word or deed, <b>do</b> <b>all</b> in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.<br />
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<strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+6:10&version=KJV">Galatians 6:10</a></strong>
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As we have therefore opportunity, let us <b>do</b> good unto <b>all</b> men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.</div>
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<strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6:1&version=KJV">Matthew 6:1</a></strong>
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Take <b>heed</b> that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.</div>
<span class="text Matt-6-1" id="en-KJV-23284"></span></div>
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<strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter+4:11&version=KJV">1 Peter 4:11</a></strong>
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If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him <b>do</b> it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in <b>all</b> things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and <b>do</b>minion for ever and ever. Amen.</div>
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I know I'm the only one guilty of "seeking attention or approval from others" right? I've seen or heard different people saying they did this for a brother or sister or that for a brother or sister and immediately God spoke and said, "they have their reward". At the time I guess I didn't think about it to much but you know God, when He wants you to get a point He keeps bringing things back to your memory. </div>
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I'm just going to use some examples, NOT referring to anyone or anything I have personally known, just some examples the Lord brought to my mind.</div>
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Example 1: A young lady goes to work on Monday and tells her co-workers hows she cooked all day Saturday to take food to church on Sunday for a family whose mother had just passed away. Everyone is sympathetic and pats her on the back for being a good samaritan and going above and beyond to help these people. According to Matthew 6:1, she has already been rewarded. She sought reward from man rather than God.</div>
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Example 2: A man stops in a service station complaining because he has oil and dirt on him from stopping to help a young woman change a tire on a busy freeway. However, as he is complaining, he is also bragging about being a good samaritan. According to Matthew 6:1, he has been rewarded.</div>
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There are a lot of examples and you who are reading this can probably think of some I haven't listed but the point is: According to just the 4 verses above we are to do good to all men (women), especially fellow christians, not shout our good deeds to the world but do them as if we are doing them directly for God and make sure that God, (who gives us our abilities) gets all the praise, glory and honor.</div>
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Far greater reward comes from the Father than the meager pat on the back we receive from humans. Not that we are supposed to do a good deed for that reason alone either. </div>
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We may not always have support from others, we may not get praise from others but we have pleased the Father. He is the one who laid it on our hearts to do good to begin with. Without Him there are none good...no not one. </div>
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Remember the next time you are feeling unappreciated, God will reward you and HE is pleased with you. That is more important than any pat on the back or atta boy from anyone else.</div>
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love you all</div>
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God bless you</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17903948294611561526noreply@blogger.com0