Many people think all they have to do is say something, they don't actually have to live it. We live in a virtual fantasy world of words, actions are not required.
James 2:14-26
"14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."
If we say something that we believe, it has no validity unless we actually do what we say. Words are not enough, in fact they are nothing, unless backed up by attitude and actions. Our attitudes and actions prove what we say, words alone prove nothing.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Love Demonstrated in Understanding
Love forgets about self and places us in the shoes of another person, rather than attempting to force that person into our own mold.
Can Not Walk Narcissisticaly and With Christ At the Same Time
The traits of a narcissists are as follows, there are more and the tactics are many, however, the results are always the same, the destruction of relationships. Even the narcissist can be delivered if he/she ever seeks God for deliverance.
Superiority, expecting to be honored and worshiped while refusing to honor anyone else.
Sense of special entitlement, lacking concern for others
Arrogance
Envy while believing others are envious of them
Lack of empathy, unable to feel bad or good for others
Grandiosity
Exploitative and controlling attitude
Fantasies about power and status
Grandiose and overblown idealized view of oneself
If you find yourself indulging in these sins, it is time to admit it, repent, decide you want deliverance and begin asking the Holy Spirit to cleanse you.
One cannot walk with Christ and live in the state of narcissism at the same time.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
Superiority, expecting to be honored and worshiped while refusing to honor anyone else.
Sense of special entitlement, lacking concern for others
Arrogance
Envy while believing others are envious of them
Lack of empathy, unable to feel bad or good for others
Grandiosity
Exploitative and controlling attitude
Fantasies about power and status
Grandiose and overblown idealized view of oneself
If you find yourself indulging in these sins, it is time to admit it, repent, decide you want deliverance and begin asking the Holy Spirit to cleanse you.
One cannot walk with Christ and live in the state of narcissism at the same time.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
She Appeals to Her Mother
OH MY GOODNESS!!!! We need to all think like this, how many times have we fought and argued over almost nothing, when all we had to do was give up our temporary rights to please another human being.
How every child feels but are not able to express as eloquently!
If everyone would stop trying to be superior to everyone else, we could get along. It is only mean spirited superiority that causes all the problems. Judging others based on our own desire to be special and superior, destroys relationships.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS92Whbb5w4
How every child feels but are not able to express as eloquently!
If everyone would stop trying to be superior to everyone else, we could get along. It is only mean spirited superiority that causes all the problems. Judging others based on our own desire to be special and superior, destroys relationships.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS92Whbb5w4
Our Strength Comes From the Lord
People tend to operate in crowd mentality. There may be some in the family group are not really seeing what has been gossiped about us, but they are too weak to stand alone and tell the truth so they capitulate to the crowd.
The "tribal" mentality is very strong and tends to attempt to force anyone who "walks to their own drummer" to come in line with the crowd. Anyone who thinks for themselves is a threat to the "family unit."
Just look at fads and trends, they grow exponentially because, rather than evaluating what is done, the masses simply jump on the band wagon to be accepted by the group or culture.
The "free thinker" threatens the norm of the group. Being different makes insecure people feel small or wrong, so they attack the one that lives what they believe contrary to the group. We see this in church gatherings too, those with perfectly valid complaints or questions about doctrine are summarily dismissed or ignored entirely to maintain the status quo, a greater goal than learning and growing.
We have seen this in cultures where someone tries to leave the culture, striking out on their own to better their life, while the group demeans, attacks emotionally and even physically to bring the free thinker back in line with the thinking and failure of the group.
This reminds me of a young woman I knew who lived with family members who were all on welfare, having babies out of wedlock and living continually lazy immoral lives. This young woman came to me in tears one day because she expressed to her family that she wanted to go to college, wait until she was married to have a baby and find a loving kind man to marry. Her family bludgeoned her with shame and guilt for "thinking so highly of herself", they made it clear that she had ideas "above her station", my words not theirs.
I have seen this a number of times in my life, each time is grieves me and then it makes me angry. In the case of this young woman, she gave up, as they set her up with boyfriends, she ended up pregnant at sixteen and on welfare. She was too weak to stand against them, it was understandable because she was not a believer and did not have the strength of the Holy Spirit to help her. I tried to encourage her, that she could accomplish those things, along with the gospel message, she was open and happy when she left my house each time, but then she stopped coming, then is when she had succumbed to the pressure of her ungodly family.
When we have Christ, seeking Him for everything, reading His word often, we gain the strength that all by ourselves we would never have, but in Christ we are vigorous and hearty, able to face all criticism with resolve to do what we know is right.
Proverbs 3:5-8
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your [a]body
And refreshment to your bones.
We can trust the Lord to make us strong when we seek Him for everything, even willing to be continually rejected for our choices. The more we are rejected, the more we have to stand, the greater our strength.
Romans 5:1-5
The results of being justifed in Christ!
"1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
The "tribal" mentality is very strong and tends to attempt to force anyone who "walks to their own drummer" to come in line with the crowd. Anyone who thinks for themselves is a threat to the "family unit."
Just look at fads and trends, they grow exponentially because, rather than evaluating what is done, the masses simply jump on the band wagon to be accepted by the group or culture.
The "free thinker" threatens the norm of the group. Being different makes insecure people feel small or wrong, so they attack the one that lives what they believe contrary to the group. We see this in church gatherings too, those with perfectly valid complaints or questions about doctrine are summarily dismissed or ignored entirely to maintain the status quo, a greater goal than learning and growing.
We have seen this in cultures where someone tries to leave the culture, striking out on their own to better their life, while the group demeans, attacks emotionally and even physically to bring the free thinker back in line with the thinking and failure of the group.
This reminds me of a young woman I knew who lived with family members who were all on welfare, having babies out of wedlock and living continually lazy immoral lives. This young woman came to me in tears one day because she expressed to her family that she wanted to go to college, wait until she was married to have a baby and find a loving kind man to marry. Her family bludgeoned her with shame and guilt for "thinking so highly of herself", they made it clear that she had ideas "above her station", my words not theirs.
I have seen this a number of times in my life, each time is grieves me and then it makes me angry. In the case of this young woman, she gave up, as they set her up with boyfriends, she ended up pregnant at sixteen and on welfare. She was too weak to stand against them, it was understandable because she was not a believer and did not have the strength of the Holy Spirit to help her. I tried to encourage her, that she could accomplish those things, along with the gospel message, she was open and happy when she left my house each time, but then she stopped coming, then is when she had succumbed to the pressure of her ungodly family.
When we have Christ, seeking Him for everything, reading His word often, we gain the strength that all by ourselves we would never have, but in Christ we are vigorous and hearty, able to face all criticism with resolve to do what we know is right.
Proverbs 3:5-8
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your [a]body
And refreshment to your bones.
We can trust the Lord to make us strong when we seek Him for everything, even willing to be continually rejected for our choices. The more we are rejected, the more we have to stand, the greater our strength.
Romans 5:1-5
The results of being justifed in Christ!
"1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Monday, September 28, 2015
Parents Must Work Together
Narcissism in families results when one party is determined to be special above everyone else. There can also be more than one narcissist in a family, often entire families learn to operate in this selfish way because of the influence of the narcissist.
This is often true when there is a narcissistic father and a scapegoat mother. The children learn to despise the mother for making boundaries and rules to protect the children from bad choices while attempting to train them to be loving, kind and selfless.
The narc father comes against the mother at every tern, while playing the friendly fun one in the family. Even though the father never takes the time to teach the children in important matters, he is the favored one because he is fun and gives the children everything they want without challenge or instruction.
A very sad result of this scenario is that the children become narcissistic too, continuing the pattern of narcissistic contempt for the mother. We see this a lot in our culture, sometimes it is the mother who is the narcissist and the father the scapegoat, but the result is the same in any case.
We are seeing much more of this with the onset of the self esteem teaching. Parents, whether father or mother, can destroy the training of the non-narc parent in very subtle ways. When a parent comes against another parent rather than upholding their authority, we most likely end up with children who have no regard for authority or instruction from anyone. The children learn to disregard whoever instructs them in whatever they don't want to learn. Pride overrides all good sense, while feelings and desire take first place.
Proverbs 1:8 "Hear, my son, your father's instruction And do not forsake your mother's teaching;"
Children will take the easiest and lowest road when faced with a choice whether to obey or not. It is vitally important that both parents make the decision to uphold one another's mandates and instructions. If there is one parent that comes against the other in the smallest way, then the scapegoat parent will have little influence and even less love from the children.
If you want to teach love to your children, you must first model it by diligently upholding the standards of your spouse. This is love for the children, to show them the other person matters by standing by them. Loving our spouse should be more important than having the worship of our children.
This is often true when there is a narcissistic father and a scapegoat mother. The children learn to despise the mother for making boundaries and rules to protect the children from bad choices while attempting to train them to be loving, kind and selfless.
The narc father comes against the mother at every tern, while playing the friendly fun one in the family. Even though the father never takes the time to teach the children in important matters, he is the favored one because he is fun and gives the children everything they want without challenge or instruction.
A very sad result of this scenario is that the children become narcissistic too, continuing the pattern of narcissistic contempt for the mother. We see this a lot in our culture, sometimes it is the mother who is the narcissist and the father the scapegoat, but the result is the same in any case.
We are seeing much more of this with the onset of the self esteem teaching. Parents, whether father or mother, can destroy the training of the non-narc parent in very subtle ways. When a parent comes against another parent rather than upholding their authority, we most likely end up with children who have no regard for authority or instruction from anyone. The children learn to disregard whoever instructs them in whatever they don't want to learn. Pride overrides all good sense, while feelings and desire take first place.
Proverbs 1:8 "Hear, my son, your father's instruction And do not forsake your mother's teaching;"
Children will take the easiest and lowest road when faced with a choice whether to obey or not. It is vitally important that both parents make the decision to uphold one another's mandates and instructions. If there is one parent that comes against the other in the smallest way, then the scapegoat parent will have little influence and even less love from the children.
If you want to teach love to your children, you must first model it by diligently upholding the standards of your spouse. This is love for the children, to show them the other person matters by standing by them. Loving our spouse should be more important than having the worship of our children.
Same Sex Marriage/Divorce and Remarriage
The more I ponder the uproar on the part of Christians about same sex marriage, the more I sense a spirit of hypocrisy. It is obvious to believers and even thinking non-believers that marrying two people of the same sex is unnatural. We were created to produce children from a marriage union, which is impossible without unnatural human intervention.
Romans 1:20-28
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,
27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, "
God told us not to judge another human being for doing something that we are doing too. I mention this in reference to immorality in general. If someone is committing immoral intimate relations, then we should express God's judgment about that, unless we are disqualified because we are engaging in immoral intimate relations ourselves, then we really have no voice for that sin.
Matthew 7:3-5
"3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye."
The battle in our country has been for years to stave off immorality by speaking against it, whether it be same sex marriage or shack up lovers, but one very prominent sin that few will touch in terms of exposure to truth, is the sin of divorce and remarriage.
I don't believe God is going to answer our prayers about the dissolution of same sex marriage while we refuse to confess and repent from the sin of divorce and remarriage.
How many times have we seen in the past few months, Christians who stand against same sex marriage lose their businesses because of their proclamation that it is this union is immoral, patently against God's standard? A florist, a baker and others have been taken to the woodshed for their very public stand against this abomination. And I would agree with them, however, was their stand hypocrisy?
Now let me ask, how many of us have ever seen a stand against divorce and remarriage, public or otherwise? My guess is that the florist and baker regularly served those who were remarrying after a divorce, said nothing, even gleefully produced the products that would support and enhance the weddings of these people. Just a guess, but I think a valid guess since most churches will not preach against divorce and remarriage anymore.
The sin of immoral intimate relations started many years ago when in 1947 no fault divorce was passed into law, allowing anyone to get a divorce for any reason, even for no reason at all, termed, "irreconcilable" differences.
Where did we think all this endorsement of immoral intimate relations would lead? Did we think it would remain with only the favored sin of divorce and remarriage?
God clearly said in His Word, in Luke 16:18, ""Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery."
Did we think God was kidding?
The most misused and misunderstood passage in the Bible is the one that allows for divorce for sexual immorality in Matthew 19:9 ""And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery."
The book of Matthew was written to the Jews who had the custom of requiring a divorce from the betrothal or what we call engagement. The words "except for immorality", in the Greek means "fornication" before marriage during the engagement period. In the Jewish custom when someone was betrothed, it was nearly as binding as marriage except if one party had been unfaithful during the engagement.
We don't see this same phrase "except for immorality" in any of the other gospels because they were written to Gentiles who had no such custom of divorcing from an engagement.
The words husband and wife were even used during the engagement period in the Jewish culture.
When God said, "the two shall be come one flesh", He was saying HE was making them one flesh, they were not making themselves one flesh by marrying, God was doing that work in them.
Genesis 2:22-24 "The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh."
Notice God said "the TWO shall become ONE flesh. Not three or four or six, but TWO. And then He said:
Mark 10:8
"and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh."
When God makes two people one, no man can break that any more than a woman can become a man or a man can become a woman, that was God's doing. No man can change himself into a woman no matter what form of mutilation he does to himself, and no woman can become a man no matter what she does to herself.
Two people of the same gender cannot produce offspring, a person who is one gender cannot change into another gender and no marriage where two people are made into one person by God can go back and be two people again. The only thing that separates the marriage couple made one by God, is death.
Please do not come to argue all the little problems or even big ones that come up in marriage as excuses to divorce and remarry. I have heard them all and they are all invalid. When we read the Bible, it is clear that God condemned divorce and remarriage after a divorce.
God gave us one instruction that should be obeyed if someone has been abandoned and divorced by a spouse.
1 Corinthians 7:11 "(but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife."
There are rare cases when there is physical abuse that may be reason to go somewhere safe, but that does not mean divorce is allowed.
Colossians 3:19 "Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. "
1 Peter 3:7 "Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. "
1 Peter 3
1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives,
2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.
3 Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;
4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands;
6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear."
Physical violence against another person is not only sin but against the law of the land. When a husband or wife is abusing their spouse they should be turned over to the authorities to be dealt with, the church first and if the church will not do anything then the civil authorities.
I wonder how many divorces would be avoided if one party in the troubled marriage gave up their own rights, lived as God commanded in the verses above and sought God in prayer for their spouse, but even more than that sought God in prayer over their own responses to what is going on!
Too many people will not seek God in prayer for their spouses, but will rush to the courts to escape.
Remember God has a purpose in all things, even in our marriage encounters, difficulty shows us our inner self, whatever comes out in our responses is who we really on the inside. Scary Huh!!!!
We all need work, those who think they don't need work, are the neediest of all.
Romans 1:20-28
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,
27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, "
God told us not to judge another human being for doing something that we are doing too. I mention this in reference to immorality in general. If someone is committing immoral intimate relations, then we should express God's judgment about that, unless we are disqualified because we are engaging in immoral intimate relations ourselves, then we really have no voice for that sin.
Matthew 7:3-5
"3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye."
The battle in our country has been for years to stave off immorality by speaking against it, whether it be same sex marriage or shack up lovers, but one very prominent sin that few will touch in terms of exposure to truth, is the sin of divorce and remarriage.
I don't believe God is going to answer our prayers about the dissolution of same sex marriage while we refuse to confess and repent from the sin of divorce and remarriage.
How many times have we seen in the past few months, Christians who stand against same sex marriage lose their businesses because of their proclamation that it is this union is immoral, patently against God's standard? A florist, a baker and others have been taken to the woodshed for their very public stand against this abomination. And I would agree with them, however, was their stand hypocrisy?
Now let me ask, how many of us have ever seen a stand against divorce and remarriage, public or otherwise? My guess is that the florist and baker regularly served those who were remarrying after a divorce, said nothing, even gleefully produced the products that would support and enhance the weddings of these people. Just a guess, but I think a valid guess since most churches will not preach against divorce and remarriage anymore.
The sin of immoral intimate relations started many years ago when in 1947 no fault divorce was passed into law, allowing anyone to get a divorce for any reason, even for no reason at all, termed, "irreconcilable" differences.
Where did we think all this endorsement of immoral intimate relations would lead? Did we think it would remain with only the favored sin of divorce and remarriage?
God clearly said in His Word, in Luke 16:18, ""Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery."
Did we think God was kidding?
The most misused and misunderstood passage in the Bible is the one that allows for divorce for sexual immorality in Matthew 19:9 ""And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery."
The book of Matthew was written to the Jews who had the custom of requiring a divorce from the betrothal or what we call engagement. The words "except for immorality", in the Greek means "fornication" before marriage during the engagement period. In the Jewish custom when someone was betrothed, it was nearly as binding as marriage except if one party had been unfaithful during the engagement.
We don't see this same phrase "except for immorality" in any of the other gospels because they were written to Gentiles who had no such custom of divorcing from an engagement.
The words husband and wife were even used during the engagement period in the Jewish culture.
When God said, "the two shall be come one flesh", He was saying HE was making them one flesh, they were not making themselves one flesh by marrying, God was doing that work in them.
Genesis 2:22-24 "The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh."
Notice God said "the TWO shall become ONE flesh. Not three or four or six, but TWO. And then He said:
Mark 10:8
"and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh."
When God makes two people one, no man can break that any more than a woman can become a man or a man can become a woman, that was God's doing. No man can change himself into a woman no matter what form of mutilation he does to himself, and no woman can become a man no matter what she does to herself.
Two people of the same gender cannot produce offspring, a person who is one gender cannot change into another gender and no marriage where two people are made into one person by God can go back and be two people again. The only thing that separates the marriage couple made one by God, is death.
Please do not come to argue all the little problems or even big ones that come up in marriage as excuses to divorce and remarry. I have heard them all and they are all invalid. When we read the Bible, it is clear that God condemned divorce and remarriage after a divorce.
God gave us one instruction that should be obeyed if someone has been abandoned and divorced by a spouse.
1 Corinthians 7:11 "(but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife."
There are rare cases when there is physical abuse that may be reason to go somewhere safe, but that does not mean divorce is allowed.
Colossians 3:19 "Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. "
1 Peter 3:7 "Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. "
1 Peter 3
1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives,
2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.
3 Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;
4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands;
6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear."
Physical violence against another person is not only sin but against the law of the land. When a husband or wife is abusing their spouse they should be turned over to the authorities to be dealt with, the church first and if the church will not do anything then the civil authorities.
I wonder how many divorces would be avoided if one party in the troubled marriage gave up their own rights, lived as God commanded in the verses above and sought God in prayer for their spouse, but even more than that sought God in prayer over their own responses to what is going on!
Too many people will not seek God in prayer for their spouses, but will rush to the courts to escape.
Remember God has a purpose in all things, even in our marriage encounters, difficulty shows us our inner self, whatever comes out in our responses is who we really on the inside. Scary Huh!!!!
We all need work, those who think they don't need work, are the neediest of all.
Sunday, September 27, 2015
God is in Control Not Us
We are going to see many people operating entirely on emotion, the opposite of what God said to do. In these last days when personal pleasure takes first place in most lives, we will encounter many people who base most of what they do and think on how they feel, rather than what is right.
1 Corinthians 2:16 "For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ."
Philippians 2:2 "fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."
Discussion is for the purpose of discerning truth, discovering what others think to fill the place in our minds that needed honing.
The devil uses emotion more than anything else to devastate people. I believe that's why we have so many on depression meds today, they are not born again and are at the mercy of the devil who is messing with their emotions.
Our culture has been programmed for the past 40 years that emotions are the most important part of our being when in fact they are the shallowest part of us.
Often in my life I have had to ignore how I felt to do what was right, only to find out that my emotions were inaccurate and that I didn't have enough information to guide my thinking, emotions lack reasoning ability. A good example of this might be pseudobulbar affect, a condition that causes us to cry or laugh for no reason at all.
When we see what emotion can cause as apposed to what right and rational thinking can do, it is easy to discern the damage emotion can do.
We have emotions, sometimes they are based on truth, but often they are based on our own skewed perception and the gossip of others rather than proven facts.
As we grow older our life will demonstrate whether we operated from an emotional plane or a rational one.
It is interesting that as we get older we let down our guard and what is really inside, that we have been hiding for many years, begins to emerge because we no longer have the strength to hide our real selves.
Emotions are not right or wrong, they are stimuli from our flesh triggered by our own desires. Often they are inaccurate, fleshly and detrimental to most situations. All fights and arguments begin because of unrestrained emotional responses.
It is natural for human beings to be so full of themselves that they see any disagreement as a personal attack rather than a person's right to their own opinion that doesn't have to agree with theirs, for them to be of value.
Very insecure and narcissistic people cannot handle any form of disagreement, every criticism is seen as disapproval, shame and blame of their very person. When we are not so self focused, we don't have to see disagreements as anything but two people with differing views.
When we are secure in Christ we don't feel a need to "force" others through intimidation and manipulation to think as we do. We can enjoy discussion where others have opposing viewpoints, while still loving the person.
If our views are polar opposites from others, it is impossible to maintain an ongoing relationship, however when in their company we can express ourselves and be courteous.
Amos 3:3 "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" The answer is no, we must be going the same direction to be constant companions.
It is my opinion that the reason so many churches have become apostate is because they have compromised with those who disagree with God, placating the unsaved, causing many believers to become just like those they sought to win.
1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."
It is interesting to me that when believers are in the company of non-believers more than they are in the company of believers, the believers move more in the direction of the non-believers, but the non-believers don't move at all.
This has happened in our churches, even if the pastor preaches good messages, the congregation as a whole will listen and agree but proceed to follow the ways of the non-believers to appear friendly and because what non-believers do and say, appeals to the flesh.
Our problem in this modern Christian culture is not that we don't have the truth, we have that if we have Bibles in our homes, it is that we do not boldly proclaim what we believe while trusting Christ that He can use it in His way and timing.
It takes faith to live the Christian life, faith to believe that even if we don't see anyone believing us, it is God's responsibility to work in hearts. We are merely the messenger, nothing more. Our job is to put the truth out there and let God do His work His way with it.
1 Corinthians 3:7 "So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth."
Philippians 2:13 "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."
Psalm 58:19 "Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation. Selah."
Jeremiah 26:5 "to listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have been sending to you again and again, but you have not listened;"
Philippians 1:6 "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."
John 5:17 "But He answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working."
It's really very simple, ask the Holy Spirit, do what He says and leave all the rest to Him.
1 Corinthians 2:16 "For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ."
Philippians 2:2 "fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."
Discussion is for the purpose of discerning truth, discovering what others think to fill the place in our minds that needed honing.
The devil uses emotion more than anything else to devastate people. I believe that's why we have so many on depression meds today, they are not born again and are at the mercy of the devil who is messing with their emotions.
Our culture has been programmed for the past 40 years that emotions are the most important part of our being when in fact they are the shallowest part of us.
Often in my life I have had to ignore how I felt to do what was right, only to find out that my emotions were inaccurate and that I didn't have enough information to guide my thinking, emotions lack reasoning ability. A good example of this might be pseudobulbar affect, a condition that causes us to cry or laugh for no reason at all.
When we see what emotion can cause as apposed to what right and rational thinking can do, it is easy to discern the damage emotion can do.
We have emotions, sometimes they are based on truth, but often they are based on our own skewed perception and the gossip of others rather than proven facts.
As we grow older our life will demonstrate whether we operated from an emotional plane or a rational one.
It is interesting that as we get older we let down our guard and what is really inside, that we have been hiding for many years, begins to emerge because we no longer have the strength to hide our real selves.
Emotions are not right or wrong, they are stimuli from our flesh triggered by our own desires. Often they are inaccurate, fleshly and detrimental to most situations. All fights and arguments begin because of unrestrained emotional responses.
It is natural for human beings to be so full of themselves that they see any disagreement as a personal attack rather than a person's right to their own opinion that doesn't have to agree with theirs, for them to be of value.
Very insecure and narcissistic people cannot handle any form of disagreement, every criticism is seen as disapproval, shame and blame of their very person. When we are not so self focused, we don't have to see disagreements as anything but two people with differing views.
When we are secure in Christ we don't feel a need to "force" others through intimidation and manipulation to think as we do. We can enjoy discussion where others have opposing viewpoints, while still loving the person.
If our views are polar opposites from others, it is impossible to maintain an ongoing relationship, however when in their company we can express ourselves and be courteous.
Amos 3:3 "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" The answer is no, we must be going the same direction to be constant companions.
It is my opinion that the reason so many churches have become apostate is because they have compromised with those who disagree with God, placating the unsaved, causing many believers to become just like those they sought to win.
1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."
It is interesting to me that when believers are in the company of non-believers more than they are in the company of believers, the believers move more in the direction of the non-believers, but the non-believers don't move at all.
This has happened in our churches, even if the pastor preaches good messages, the congregation as a whole will listen and agree but proceed to follow the ways of the non-believers to appear friendly and because what non-believers do and say, appeals to the flesh.
Our problem in this modern Christian culture is not that we don't have the truth, we have that if we have Bibles in our homes, it is that we do not boldly proclaim what we believe while trusting Christ that He can use it in His way and timing.
It takes faith to live the Christian life, faith to believe that even if we don't see anyone believing us, it is God's responsibility to work in hearts. We are merely the messenger, nothing more. Our job is to put the truth out there and let God do His work His way with it.
1 Corinthians 3:7 "So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth."
Philippians 2:13 "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."
Psalm 58:19 "Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation. Selah."
Jeremiah 26:5 "to listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have been sending to you again and again, but you have not listened;"
Philippians 1:6 "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."
John 5:17 "But He answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working."
It's really very simple, ask the Holy Spirit, do what He says and leave all the rest to Him.
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Trusting in the Pope will lead to Hell
We have been trained as a culture to base all that we do on "how it makes us feel." Because of that most people will be fooled by this mess of deception in the pope.
Everyone with the exception of a few, will want to jump on this band wagon. True believers know where it is going, but the masses will not know where they are going, at least they will get to "feel" good about going nowhere!
Everyone with the exception of a few, will want to jump on this band wagon. True believers know where it is going, but the masses will not know where they are going, at least they will get to "feel" good about going nowhere!
Are Different From Catholics?
Have you wondered why the pope does not speak about Christ outside of the mass? I can tell you, because he is not about Christ, he is preaching social reform not repentance or the way to become saved. His reference to Christ is merely a ritual reserved for the mass, outside the mass, Christ's name is off limits.
As a former Catholic I can tell you that, whenever I spoke to my in laws about God in a social gathering they became irritated, embarrassed and even angry, calling me a Bible thumper. Their disdain for me slopped over into other relationships on the basis of their testimonies against me.
These were people who never missed a Sunday or Saturday night mass, kept all the "holy days of obligation", bowed and prayed to Mary, lit candles for the dead, prayed on the grave stones at the cemetery for their dead relatives, but turned red in the face, either from embarrassment or anger, at the mention of the name of Christ outside the mass and it had to be coming from a priest.
They demonstrated hatred toward anyone who claimed to read the Bible, even enraged when asked to explain why they did certain things in the church.
One of the reasons I left the church was the hostility I saw on the part of the people whenever asked to explain the reasons for rituals. I began to read the Bible, pray for understanding and all the things I saw were explained to me in the Word. The hostility demonstrated to me that there must be something they are hiding or worse, they are following ritual while having no idea why they do it. Pride caused them to rage to throw me off the scent. All it did was manage to make me more resolved to find out the reasons for things.
I was never a person who could follow something just because everyone else was doing it, I had to know why I did it. If the reason for doing it was not good enough I would feel stupid for doing it.
The Catholic church had a saying they lived by in raising their families, "get a child for the church by six and you've got him for life." In most cases that is true, people are too weak to let go of their comfort, familiar and predictable status.
The Catholic church trains their people to live under guilt and shame for not following the crowd, the reason so many Catholics don't think for themselves, but follow what the rest of the culture wants them to do.
Why can the Catholic church change their stances and doctrines? I can tell you, because their standard is not the Bible. They follow their church traditions much more than they do the Bible, because they do not read it to find truth. Doctrines can change because in the Catholic mind the pope is the "Vicar of Christ", he makes the rules and changes them when it suits him.
When a group of people follow a system or a person, they will never be able to stand alone when things are not right, they will always go with the flow of prevailing winds.
It might be good to do a check of ourselves, to see if we are doing the same thing in the gatherings we attend. Do we just accept what the "Protestant Popes" (educated seminary graduates) tell us to believe, or do we understand that the Holy Spirit teaches and trains every believer, making even those seminary grads accountable to every other believer, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
John 16:13 ""But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."
The passage in John is not speaking to an educated class of people above everyone else, it was written to all born again Spirit filled believer, every single one! Yes we have teachers who have been called to teach, but that doesn’t make them "pope like", it merely makes them much more accountable and under more scrutiny.
James 3:1 "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment."
Acts 17:11 "Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so."
Even the Bereans proved Paul's words, not accepting them because he said them, but testing all that he said against the Scriptures.
As a former Catholic I can tell you that, whenever I spoke to my in laws about God in a social gathering they became irritated, embarrassed and even angry, calling me a Bible thumper. Their disdain for me slopped over into other relationships on the basis of their testimonies against me.
These were people who never missed a Sunday or Saturday night mass, kept all the "holy days of obligation", bowed and prayed to Mary, lit candles for the dead, prayed on the grave stones at the cemetery for their dead relatives, but turned red in the face, either from embarrassment or anger, at the mention of the name of Christ outside the mass and it had to be coming from a priest.
They demonstrated hatred toward anyone who claimed to read the Bible, even enraged when asked to explain why they did certain things in the church.
One of the reasons I left the church was the hostility I saw on the part of the people whenever asked to explain the reasons for rituals. I began to read the Bible, pray for understanding and all the things I saw were explained to me in the Word. The hostility demonstrated to me that there must be something they are hiding or worse, they are following ritual while having no idea why they do it. Pride caused them to rage to throw me off the scent. All it did was manage to make me more resolved to find out the reasons for things.
I was never a person who could follow something just because everyone else was doing it, I had to know why I did it. If the reason for doing it was not good enough I would feel stupid for doing it.
The Catholic church had a saying they lived by in raising their families, "get a child for the church by six and you've got him for life." In most cases that is true, people are too weak to let go of their comfort, familiar and predictable status.
The Catholic church trains their people to live under guilt and shame for not following the crowd, the reason so many Catholics don't think for themselves, but follow what the rest of the culture wants them to do.
Why can the Catholic church change their stances and doctrines? I can tell you, because their standard is not the Bible. They follow their church traditions much more than they do the Bible, because they do not read it to find truth. Doctrines can change because in the Catholic mind the pope is the "Vicar of Christ", he makes the rules and changes them when it suits him.
When a group of people follow a system or a person, they will never be able to stand alone when things are not right, they will always go with the flow of prevailing winds.
It might be good to do a check of ourselves, to see if we are doing the same thing in the gatherings we attend. Do we just accept what the "Protestant Popes" (educated seminary graduates) tell us to believe, or do we understand that the Holy Spirit teaches and trains every believer, making even those seminary grads accountable to every other believer, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
John 16:13 ""But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."
The passage in John is not speaking to an educated class of people above everyone else, it was written to all born again Spirit filled believer, every single one! Yes we have teachers who have been called to teach, but that doesn’t make them "pope like", it merely makes them much more accountable and under more scrutiny.
James 3:1 "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment."
Acts 17:11 "Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so."
Even the Bereans proved Paul's words, not accepting them because he said them, but testing all that he said against the Scriptures.
The Great Harlot!
"The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality."
Revelation 17:4
"The woman (Adulterous Bride, as opposed to Pure Bride in Revelation) was arrayed in purple and scarlet (like Bishops and Cardinals), and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls (like the world's most expensive single building), holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations (Sanctioned Pedophilia, and the Murder of 500 Millions Christian Men, Women and Children) and the impurities of her sexual immorality (idolatry, being in bed with other Spiritual Lovers). Revelation 17:4
Revelation 17:4
"The woman (Adulterous Bride, as opposed to Pure Bride in Revelation) was arrayed in purple and scarlet (like Bishops and Cardinals), and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls (like the world's most expensive single building), holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations (Sanctioned Pedophilia, and the Murder of 500 Millions Christian Men, Women and Children) and the impurities of her sexual immorality (idolatry, being in bed with other Spiritual Lovers). Revelation 17:4
Abortion Linked to Lawlessness
After the Roe-v-Wade decision in 1973 my husband and I became involved in the pro-life movement. I spoke in some high schools on the subject of abortion using the fetal models and science to demonstrate that babies in the womb are in fact life and human.
Unfortunately at the same time these young people were being taught it is alright to kill human life they were also taught to have piles of "self-esteem", loving themselves first above everyone else, is one of the elements that removed their sense of empathy for others never mind personal sacrifice for those in need of attention.
Sadly, after Planned Parenthood was allowed to have an entire week with the young people while we were given one hour at the end of the day on Friday, the young adults were primed and ready to fight against our arguments.
We were told by "Right to Life" not to talk about "religion", we were to only show the scientific evidence for the existence of life. I saw soon after I began speaking that it was an exercise in futility to show the scientific evidence when these pre-programmed young adults had been convinced that it didn't matter that we were killing human beings, because we had too many on the planet, but we needed to protect the eagles because there weren't enough of them.
These young adults were hardened to the fact that they were advocating murder of human beings. They had been programmed for years that we are merely a higher species of animal. That is when I realized we had to bring God into the picture, showing them the reason why we don't kill human life. I was mocked for encouraging the children to ponder the matter of God's part in creating human beings. I violated the rules of Right to Life, because without the existence of God, there were no rules for protecting babies.
Since the young adults were programmed to believe that we are all just animals evolved, then there is no real mandate from anyone whether we killed them for the greater good. Little did these young people know that Hitler thought exactly the way they were thinking.
Some people wondered how we got to the point we have, with the onset of home grown terrorists, murdering babies as frequently as we buy a new car or move into a new house. Many wonder why we have lawlessness in the streets and sadly a new phenomenon for which there had to create a new term, "elder orphans", those elderly people who have no children who care enough to minister to their needs.
We have gone from bad to worse for the past 60 years, with the self-esteem teaching, convincing our next generation that they were wonderful no matter what they did. They have been convinced that they deserve whatever they want and don't have to bother with anything or anyone who may tell them otherwise. There is a sense of disdain for having to interrupt their pleasure to sacrifice for others.
Can you imagine a generation who believes this, ever admitting to God that they are desperately wicked and in need of a Savior? These 70's children and Millennium’s are convinced they are mini-gods, steeped in narcissism to the enth degree, while no one will tell them differently.
What is the answer to all this? My answer, and I believe God bares this out in His Word, is to keep preaching the Word no matter who will listen, show the importance of trusting Christ while willingly taking our lumps for doing it, removing ourselves from those who will not listen to continue to the next person who might.
We are not told to give up speaking truth, we are only told to give up on those who won't listen, God can send others to say the same things we did, and perhaps eventually they will hear the truth. It takes faith to walk away and leave someone to God. It is only pride that causes us to remain, the false guilt that the devil uses to keep us imprisoned to angry rebellious folks.
Keep in mind, that we don't have to make someone listen, we don't have to hang around in case they might listen at a later time, we can trust God that He can bring someone else when they won't hear us.
Matthew 10:14 ""Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet."
This passage applies to everyone, our neighbors, our friends and our family. Those who will not listen to us, have already formed an opinion against us, God will have to send someone else. So many people remain with rebellious family, keeping them in a constant state of frustration while minimizing their witness. When we have been manipulated and intimidated to remain silent, it will become a practice with everyone. We cannot allow that to happen, moving on to new people is a way of remaining strong and consistent.
Matthew 10:37 ""He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me."
We have to see our family and friends as we would the whole world, in need of a Savior, when they will not listen then we must shake the dust from our feet and move to the next one who might.
Remember, our family and friends know where to find us, if they choose to come back to learn about salvation through Christ, then we are ready and willing to lead them to Him.
Unfortunately at the same time these young people were being taught it is alright to kill human life they were also taught to have piles of "self-esteem", loving themselves first above everyone else, is one of the elements that removed their sense of empathy for others never mind personal sacrifice for those in need of attention.
Sadly, after Planned Parenthood was allowed to have an entire week with the young people while we were given one hour at the end of the day on Friday, the young adults were primed and ready to fight against our arguments.
We were told by "Right to Life" not to talk about "religion", we were to only show the scientific evidence for the existence of life. I saw soon after I began speaking that it was an exercise in futility to show the scientific evidence when these pre-programmed young adults had been convinced that it didn't matter that we were killing human beings, because we had too many on the planet, but we needed to protect the eagles because there weren't enough of them.
These young adults were hardened to the fact that they were advocating murder of human beings. They had been programmed for years that we are merely a higher species of animal. That is when I realized we had to bring God into the picture, showing them the reason why we don't kill human life. I was mocked for encouraging the children to ponder the matter of God's part in creating human beings. I violated the rules of Right to Life, because without the existence of God, there were no rules for protecting babies.
Since the young adults were programmed to believe that we are all just animals evolved, then there is no real mandate from anyone whether we killed them for the greater good. Little did these young people know that Hitler thought exactly the way they were thinking.
Some people wondered how we got to the point we have, with the onset of home grown terrorists, murdering babies as frequently as we buy a new car or move into a new house. Many wonder why we have lawlessness in the streets and sadly a new phenomenon for which there had to create a new term, "elder orphans", those elderly people who have no children who care enough to minister to their needs.
We have gone from bad to worse for the past 60 years, with the self-esteem teaching, convincing our next generation that they were wonderful no matter what they did. They have been convinced that they deserve whatever they want and don't have to bother with anything or anyone who may tell them otherwise. There is a sense of disdain for having to interrupt their pleasure to sacrifice for others.
Can you imagine a generation who believes this, ever admitting to God that they are desperately wicked and in need of a Savior? These 70's children and Millennium’s are convinced they are mini-gods, steeped in narcissism to the enth degree, while no one will tell them differently.
What is the answer to all this? My answer, and I believe God bares this out in His Word, is to keep preaching the Word no matter who will listen, show the importance of trusting Christ while willingly taking our lumps for doing it, removing ourselves from those who will not listen to continue to the next person who might.
We are not told to give up speaking truth, we are only told to give up on those who won't listen, God can send others to say the same things we did, and perhaps eventually they will hear the truth. It takes faith to walk away and leave someone to God. It is only pride that causes us to remain, the false guilt that the devil uses to keep us imprisoned to angry rebellious folks.
Keep in mind, that we don't have to make someone listen, we don't have to hang around in case they might listen at a later time, we can trust God that He can bring someone else when they won't hear us.
Matthew 10:14 ""Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet."
This passage applies to everyone, our neighbors, our friends and our family. Those who will not listen to us, have already formed an opinion against us, God will have to send someone else. So many people remain with rebellious family, keeping them in a constant state of frustration while minimizing their witness. When we have been manipulated and intimidated to remain silent, it will become a practice with everyone. We cannot allow that to happen, moving on to new people is a way of remaining strong and consistent.
Matthew 10:37 ""He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me."
We have to see our family and friends as we would the whole world, in need of a Savior, when they will not listen then we must shake the dust from our feet and move to the next one who might.
Remember, our family and friends know where to find us, if they choose to come back to learn about salvation through Christ, then we are ready and willing to lead them to Him.
God Speaks To The Believer
1 Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"
Most of us use this verse when speaking about the Catholic church, in reference to confession, but I use it also for those Pentecostals who, in the past, came to me to say, "I have a word for you from the Lord."
My reply to them was, "no you don't." Usually their word from the Lord was something like "Jesus loves you." Why would God send me a person to tell me that when I read it in my Bible and am born again, I already know that, it can be proven by His word.
Some people just love to appear special by bringing a message from "The King", but in fact it is arrogance. God speaks to every believer who wants to hear Him. There is no need of a mediator between a believer and God.
If someone has read something in the Bible that may pertain to my particular situation, sharing it is a brotherly kindness, but to claim they were given special revelation to express to me, is placing themselves as mediator between me and God.
We share back and forth with one another, it is a wonderful thing, however to elevate ones self above another believer by claiming to have an "in" with God that our brother or sister doesn't have is nothing short of vanity and haughtiness.
Matthew 23:6 ""They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues,"
I understand the Matthew verse is dealing with banquets and synagogues, but the principle of a desire to be elevated is applicable to those who want to be the mediator between a believer and God.
Proverbs 29:23 "One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor."
Most of us use this verse when speaking about the Catholic church, in reference to confession, but I use it also for those Pentecostals who, in the past, came to me to say, "I have a word for you from the Lord."
My reply to them was, "no you don't." Usually their word from the Lord was something like "Jesus loves you." Why would God send me a person to tell me that when I read it in my Bible and am born again, I already know that, it can be proven by His word.
Some people just love to appear special by bringing a message from "The King", but in fact it is arrogance. God speaks to every believer who wants to hear Him. There is no need of a mediator between a believer and God.
If someone has read something in the Bible that may pertain to my particular situation, sharing it is a brotherly kindness, but to claim they were given special revelation to express to me, is placing themselves as mediator between me and God.
We share back and forth with one another, it is a wonderful thing, however to elevate ones self above another believer by claiming to have an "in" with God that our brother or sister doesn't have is nothing short of vanity and haughtiness.
Matthew 23:6 ""They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues,"
I understand the Matthew verse is dealing with banquets and synagogues, but the principle of a desire to be elevated is applicable to those who want to be the mediator between a believer and God.
Proverbs 29:23 "One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor."
Denominations Birthed by the Devil
Denominations were birthed out of pride, rather than sitting down to a dialogue while searching the Word like the Bereans did, many started groups based on their favored beliefs, leaving much of the rest of the Bible behind. When we are cloistered in our preferred groups, we tend to focus on how "right" we are rather than seeking the Holy Spirit together for truth.
We see no denominations in the first century church! To "divide" rather than "search together" wi is willfulne...ss against God.
John 5:39 ""You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;"
2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, "
Acts 17:11 "Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so."
2 Timothy 3:16 "And how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. "
Proverbs 30:5 "Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him."
Deuteronomy 12:32 "“Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it."
Bottom Line: We should be seeking the Word and the Holy Spirit for truth, rather than a particular denomination that has one or two doctrines we like. So much of what has been taught the past 200 years is pattently unBiblical.
We see no denominations in the first century church! To "divide" rather than "search together" wi is willfulne...ss against God.
John 5:39 ""You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;"
2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, "
Acts 17:11 "Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so."
2 Timothy 3:16 "And how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. "
Proverbs 30:5 "Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him."
Deuteronomy 12:32 "“Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it."
Bottom Line: We should be seeking the Word and the Holy Spirit for truth, rather than a particular denomination that has one or two doctrines we like. So much of what has been taught the past 200 years is pattently unBiblical.
Friday, September 25, 2015
The Golden Parent and the Scapegoat Parent
The narcissistic child who has a "golden parent" and a "scapegoat parent." The golden parent can do no wrong, there is interest in all that the golden parent is doing and no interest but only contempt for the scapegoat parent.
The golden parent is often the one who gave the narcissist everything they wanted, praised them continually and almost never corrected them.
The scapegoat parent is the one that set rules and boundaries. The scapegoat parent was continually disregarded in the rules by the other parent and the narcissist child.
Since narcissist is all about "themselves" all the time, it makes sense that they would choose the person who gave them everything they wanted while treating them like gods.
The scapegoat parent is continually mocked, ignored and demeaned at every opportunity while the golden parent is praised, appreciated and sought out for energy and narcissistic supply.
I have noticed that often there are several narcissists in a family, when one narcissist dominates over the family, they also bring alongside others who emulate them. There are entire families of narcissists who feed off of one another, while employing flying monkeys who believe everything they say and do. By "do" I mean that the kind deeds of the narc are done for self entirely. Those watching will believe their deeds are loving and kind, but those who are their targets know their gifts and good deeds are manipulation because the target is treated with contempt on a regular basis all other times.
Because there is false humility and a false persona that is demonstrated by the narcissist, he/she seeks to win converts to themselves through meaningless competition. They desire to appear better in every way, than all those who do not walk under their cloud of control.
The narcissists must win at all costs while demonstrating contempt and hatred for anyone who will not elevate them. Anyone who sees them for what they are, realizing they are manipulators and intimidators for their own glory, will be a target for the narcissist.
God tells us all about these people, they are called many things in the Word of God, 2 Timothy 3 shows us their nature and intent. God tells us to stay away from them.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 "
3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
Many of these people are in the church today, claiming to be grandiose persons of faith, through their false persona, they fool many people who either lack discernment or have been kept at a distance so as not to be able to get to know them up close and personal.
Luke 12:1-3 "
12 Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. 3 Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops."
The only people who will know the character of the narcissist are those who have corrected or disagreed with them at some point, these are the narcs targets and God.
There is absolutely no tolerance for correction, rebuke or admonition with the narcissist, since their character in their own minds is "godlike", they will not entertain any idea that they need work in their attitudes and actions.
Romans 5:1-5 "
5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, [a]we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Those who will not listen to correction will regress in their growth if they are believers, or their rebellion may be an indication that they have never been born again. For the believer there will be God's discipline when we will not accept correction, for the non-believer there is hell awaiting those who refuse Christ.
Hebrews 12:1-11 "
5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
When we resist God's discipline, bailing out of everything that could grow us, we will remain spiritual babies. It is only when we as believers seek to be shown our faults and shortcomings, that we can grow in holiness.
Psalm 19:12 " 12Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults. 13Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.…"
For those who refuse to hear the truth about their sin, this passage in Matthew may be speaking about you, it is worth your time to read it, ask God if it is you and pray to be born again, so that you will not end up in this condition;
Matthew 7:21-23 "
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
The golden parent is often the one who gave the narcissist everything they wanted, praised them continually and almost never corrected them.
The scapegoat parent is the one that set rules and boundaries. The scapegoat parent was continually disregarded in the rules by the other parent and the narcissist child.
Since narcissist is all about "themselves" all the time, it makes sense that they would choose the person who gave them everything they wanted while treating them like gods.
The scapegoat parent is continually mocked, ignored and demeaned at every opportunity while the golden parent is praised, appreciated and sought out for energy and narcissistic supply.
I have noticed that often there are several narcissists in a family, when one narcissist dominates over the family, they also bring alongside others who emulate them. There are entire families of narcissists who feed off of one another, while employing flying monkeys who believe everything they say and do. By "do" I mean that the kind deeds of the narc are done for self entirely. Those watching will believe their deeds are loving and kind, but those who are their targets know their gifts and good deeds are manipulation because the target is treated with contempt on a regular basis all other times.
Because there is false humility and a false persona that is demonstrated by the narcissist, he/she seeks to win converts to themselves through meaningless competition. They desire to appear better in every way, than all those who do not walk under their cloud of control.
The narcissists must win at all costs while demonstrating contempt and hatred for anyone who will not elevate them. Anyone who sees them for what they are, realizing they are manipulators and intimidators for their own glory, will be a target for the narcissist.
God tells us all about these people, they are called many things in the Word of God, 2 Timothy 3 shows us their nature and intent. God tells us to stay away from them.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 "
3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
Many of these people are in the church today, claiming to be grandiose persons of faith, through their false persona, they fool many people who either lack discernment or have been kept at a distance so as not to be able to get to know them up close and personal.
Luke 12:1-3 "
12 Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. 3 Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops."
The only people who will know the character of the narcissist are those who have corrected or disagreed with them at some point, these are the narcs targets and God.
There is absolutely no tolerance for correction, rebuke or admonition with the narcissist, since their character in their own minds is "godlike", they will not entertain any idea that they need work in their attitudes and actions.
Romans 5:1-5 "
5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, [a]we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Those who will not listen to correction will regress in their growth if they are believers, or their rebellion may be an indication that they have never been born again. For the believer there will be God's discipline when we will not accept correction, for the non-believer there is hell awaiting those who refuse Christ.
Hebrews 12:1-11 "
5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
When we resist God's discipline, bailing out of everything that could grow us, we will remain spiritual babies. It is only when we as believers seek to be shown our faults and shortcomings, that we can grow in holiness.
Psalm 19:12 " 12Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults. 13Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.…"
For those who refuse to hear the truth about their sin, this passage in Matthew may be speaking about you, it is worth your time to read it, ask God if it is you and pray to be born again, so that you will not end up in this condition;
Matthew 7:21-23 "
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
Thursday, September 24, 2015
No Bandwagons, Only Christ
There are so many people who feel a need to get on someone else's band wagon. They seem to need heroes to motivate them, attaching themselves, perhaps hoping some of their greatness will rub off on them.
They lack contentment with just speaking truth and living it themselves. There appears to be a compulsion to find someone other than God with which to engage in "hero worship." Is it possible when we name drop a name to appear in line with a famous human being, we are deriving a sense of specialness for ourselves from their presence in our minds and in the minds of others?
Idols seem to be a common occurrence in modern Christendom. Many believers think they have no idols, but speak often of the great words or deeds of others as though a deed or words make the person special or godly. Notice too that these same people will devote an inordinate amount of time appreciating an unsaved person's stand on something, while neglecting entirely to jump on the wagon of someone who preaches Christ.
The "cause" is paramount in the minds of many people, Christ is almost irrelevant, as long as there is agreement about the cause. When we celebrate the stand of a person who believes Christ was not Who He was, then we validate the religion of that person, causes become more important than Christ.
Acts 16:16-18 "16 It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” 18 She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment."
Paul did not want a demon possessed person following them around telling people they were of God, when she was herself demon possessed, it gave credibility to the demon controlled girl. Thankfully she was delivered from the demons.
Is it possible that borrowing the fame, good deeds and words of others makes us feel as though we did those things ourselves? Sort of fame by proxy?
Right now we are seeing idols in the making, celebrating people who not only have wrong doctrine but blasphemous doctrine, because we happen to agree with them on one social cause.
To make an alliance with someone who negates the person and work of Christ, is to have an unholy alliance, it negates Christ for no other purpose than to feel important ourselves.
1 Corinthians 2:15-16 "14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ."
1 Timothy 6:20 "20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”—"
I am only glad about a public stand made when it is by an Holy Spirit filled born again believer. I might share the gospel with the false Christian but I would not join ranks with them in any cause.
They lack contentment with just speaking truth and living it themselves. There appears to be a compulsion to find someone other than God with which to engage in "hero worship." Is it possible when we name drop a name to appear in line with a famous human being, we are deriving a sense of specialness for ourselves from their presence in our minds and in the minds of others?
Idols seem to be a common occurrence in modern Christendom. Many believers think they have no idols, but speak often of the great words or deeds of others as though a deed or words make the person special or godly. Notice too that these same people will devote an inordinate amount of time appreciating an unsaved person's stand on something, while neglecting entirely to jump on the wagon of someone who preaches Christ.
The "cause" is paramount in the minds of many people, Christ is almost irrelevant, as long as there is agreement about the cause. When we celebrate the stand of a person who believes Christ was not Who He was, then we validate the religion of that person, causes become more important than Christ.
Acts 16:16-18 "16 It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” 18 She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment."
Paul did not want a demon possessed person following them around telling people they were of God, when she was herself demon possessed, it gave credibility to the demon controlled girl. Thankfully she was delivered from the demons.
Is it possible that borrowing the fame, good deeds and words of others makes us feel as though we did those things ourselves? Sort of fame by proxy?
Right now we are seeing idols in the making, celebrating people who not only have wrong doctrine but blasphemous doctrine, because we happen to agree with them on one social cause.
To make an alliance with someone who negates the person and work of Christ, is to have an unholy alliance, it negates Christ for no other purpose than to feel important ourselves.
1 Corinthians 2:15-16 "14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ."
1 Timothy 6:20 "20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”—"
I am only glad about a public stand made when it is by an Holy Spirit filled born again believer. I might share the gospel with the false Christian but I would not join ranks with them in any cause.
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
God Uses The Nothing Things
Often I think of how God used the nothing things to bring His greatest work. Christ, His Son, born in a nothing town, raised by nothing parents, little money and no prestige, to die a lonely death on an ugly cross. But......He was raised a King, offers forgiveness of sins, dwells in those who love Him, will come back as the all powerful King to rule on earth.
Whenever we are tempted to feel down and lonely, just remember how lonely Christ felt when the world He created, r...ejected Him.
Matthew 21:42 "Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures, 'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone; THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES '?"
Isaiah 53
1 Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.2 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
3 For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.4 For thus saith the Lord God, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.
5 Now therefore, what have I here, saith the Lord, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the Lord; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.
Whenever we are tempted to feel down and lonely, just remember how lonely Christ felt when the world He created, r...ejected Him.
Matthew 21:42 "Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures, 'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone; THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES '?"
Isaiah 53
1 Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.2 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
3 For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.4 For thus saith the Lord God, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.
5 Now therefore, what have I here, saith the Lord, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the Lord; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.
6 Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.
9 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.
12 For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your reward.
13 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.
King James Version (KJV)
8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.
9 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.
12 For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your reward.
13 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.
King James Version (KJV)
Friday, September 18, 2015
The Election is a Great Big Joke
O.K. lets discuss "Trump." LOL, I have to believe he is the ringer placed in the political fight to distract people from taking the election seriously. He is bombasitc, rude, arrogant entertaining and inconsistent.
I am watching news about the elections just to have a good laugh. Imagine if he were to get elected, entertaining the president of another country in the oval office, making comments about the face of that guest leaders wife.
So many things he says are outrageous for any "diplomat" to be speaking. Graciousness and demeanor is out the window with this cartoon character. I would hope he gets elected just to give us four years of laughs.
Since the good men cannot get elected and the others are all the same, not to be trusted, we might as well be entertained.
Something just isn't right in this election, it all seems like a bad stage production put on my a comedy team.
Has anyone noticed a lot more smiling and laughing, as though the whole matter of the presidency is a joke?
Somethings up, I don't know what. Call me crazy, but somethings up!
I am watching news about the elections just to have a good laugh. Imagine if he were to get elected, entertaining the president of another country in the oval office, making comments about the face of that guest leaders wife.
So many things he says are outrageous for any "diplomat" to be speaking. Graciousness and demeanor is out the window with this cartoon character. I would hope he gets elected just to give us four years of laughs.
Since the good men cannot get elected and the others are all the same, not to be trusted, we might as well be entertained.
Something just isn't right in this election, it all seems like a bad stage production put on my a comedy team.
Has anyone noticed a lot more smiling and laughing, as though the whole matter of the presidency is a joke?
Somethings up, I don't know what. Call me crazy, but somethings up!
Prayer Doesn't Work, God Does!
Sometimes we interpret what we see in films in terms of what we already believe rather than what was meant. A lot of people these days have faith in faith instead of faith in Christ. That's why movies can be dangerous, we miss things because of emotion.
Often people say "prayer works", but I like to retort, "prayer doesn't work, God works."
Even non-believers tell people they will pray for them, but it means nothing, they almost never do and if they do they don't know who they are praying too, into the wind I think.
We live in a culture now that believes all we have to do is say something and that will make it happen, the power of words.
It matters who we pray to and whether or not we are right with God.
“And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:15).
Many people who don't love God, don't pray to Him, but speak into the air to hear their own voices, are not being heard and have no power.
Often people say "prayer works", but I like to retort, "prayer doesn't work, God works."
Even non-believers tell people they will pray for them, but it means nothing, they almost never do and if they do they don't know who they are praying too, into the wind I think.
We live in a culture now that believes all we have to do is say something and that will make it happen, the power of words.
It matters who we pray to and whether or not we are right with God.
“And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:15).
Many people who don't love God, don't pray to Him, but speak into the air to hear their own voices, are not being heard and have no power.
Children of God or Not?
There are those who are saying that everyone, whether a Christian or not are "children of God." This is not true according to God's Word. This thinking is the product of worldly apostate teachings, it does not belong in the church among believers.
Those who are not born again through faith in Christ are not children of God.
1 John 2:10 "By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother."
John 1:12 "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,"
Galatians 3:26 "For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith."
Galatians 4:4-5 "4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons."
Romans 9:8 "That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed."
Those who are not born again through faith in Christ are not children of God.
1 John 2:10 "By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother."
John 1:12 "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,"
Galatians 3:26 "For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith."
Galatians 4:4-5 "4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons."
Romans 9:8 "That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed."
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Modern Methods
Sometimes we interpret what we see in films in terms of what we already believe rather than what was meant. A lot of people these days have faith in faith instead of faith in Christ. That's why movies can be dangerous, we miss things because of emotion.
Often people say "prayer works", but I like to retort, "prayer doesn't work, God works."
Even non-believers tell people they will pray for them, but it means nothing, they almost never do and if they do they don't know who they are praying too, into the wind I think.
We live in a culture now that believes all we have to do is say something and that will make it happen, the power of words.
It matters who we pray to and whether or not we are right with God.
“And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:15).
Many people who don't love God, don't pray to Him, but speak into the air to hear their own voices, are not being heard and have no power.
Often people say "prayer works", but I like to retort, "prayer doesn't work, God works."
Even non-believers tell people they will pray for them, but it means nothing, they almost never do and if they do they don't know who they are praying too, into the wind I think.
We live in a culture now that believes all we have to do is say something and that will make it happen, the power of words.
It matters who we pray to and whether or not we are right with God.
“And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:15).
Many people who don't love God, don't pray to Him, but speak into the air to hear their own voices, are not being heard and have no power.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Appearing Good or Actually Good?
There is a narcissistic coldness in the hearts of many people in America. They are more concerned about getting thier way and "appearing" good, more than actually "being" good, through Christ.
Appearance is much more important than substance in our culture. We live in fantasies of success when there is no success. The spiritual success is not important only materially or physically.
John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will... teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."
We cannot grow in holiness or progress spiritually when we don't trust the Holy Spirit while asking Him to work in us. When we are satisfied with "looking good" on the outside to man, we are too busy building that superficial self to actually progress spiritually in holiness.
The day we stop caring about impressing others and care only about pleasing Christ, is the day we walk in freedom from the social pressure of this world. Most believers are in bondage to the dictates of men while ignoring the principles of God on nearly everything. Even those who think they obey the Bible, actually adhere to very little of it.
Proverbs 26:12 "Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him."
John 9:41
Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains."
Proverbs 3:7
"Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil."
Proverbs 26:5
"Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes."
Appearance is much more important than substance in our culture. We live in fantasies of success when there is no success. The spiritual success is not important only materially or physically.
John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will... teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."
We cannot grow in holiness or progress spiritually when we don't trust the Holy Spirit while asking Him to work in us. When we are satisfied with "looking good" on the outside to man, we are too busy building that superficial self to actually progress spiritually in holiness.
The day we stop caring about impressing others and care only about pleasing Christ, is the day we walk in freedom from the social pressure of this world. Most believers are in bondage to the dictates of men while ignoring the principles of God on nearly everything. Even those who think they obey the Bible, actually adhere to very little of it.
Proverbs 26:12 "Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him."
John 9:41
Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains."
Proverbs 3:7
"Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil."
Proverbs 26:5
"Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes."
The Bible and the Koran are Opposites!
The Koran clearly states that "Allah has no son." It also calls Muslims to "kill the Infidel", all those who are not Islamic, along with murdering the Jews. Allah requires his followers to die for Him. Christ of the Bible died for us, a vast and opposite difference. Allah commands people to work their way to heaven, while Christ paid the price for sin for us, all we have to do is trust Him.
John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."
Allah commands the beheading of those who will not convert to Islam, while Christ compels and urges the unsaved to believe in Him through His love.
Allah is all about hate and murder while Christ is all about love and salvation through His sacrifice for us. Allah forces, intimidates and frightens, while Christ urges with love, while providing the free gift of salvation.
In short, the Koran is the opposite of the Bible, the Koran was authored by the devil with hate and misery, while the Bible was authored by God bringing love and forgiveness.
There is no concept of love or forgiveness in the Koran, but the Bible, God's Word is full of love and forgiveness.
We are now moving into a period of time when many non-believers of many religons will be falling into the lie and trap that the Koran is the same as the Bible, when in fact it is the opposite.
Those who don't know the Bible well enough will parrot the mantra "the Koran is the same as the Bible", while remaining ignorant about the differences. The devil counts on people merely repreating something someone else says, such as the pope, without checking it out for themselves.
Something very interesting to me is, that for many years Catholics refused to be associated with anyone not of their own religion, claiming they were unsaved because they either left the church or refused to be Catholic, but are becoming willing to embrace Islam. They often rejected "Bible Thumpers" as they called us, but are ready to embrace a satanic religion such as Islam.
As a former Catholic I am very aware of the thinking of a Catholic and the things we were taught. True Christianity was mocked among the people, now they are being set up to follow an evil devilish religion, without reading the Bible or the Koran. They simply take what their false leaders says and beleive it without any questions.
The Catholic church tells their followers what to believe, discourages personal Bible study to find out truth, they will do the same with the Koran. They will expect their parishoners to just take their word for everything. Such mindless obedience to an earthly entity is the recipe for disaster and the wide road to hell.
My encouragement to all Catholics and other "religious" groups, is to stop believing your leaders, put their feet to the fire by reading the Bible for yourself, while asking God to show you the meaning. A good teacher never expects their student to just believe them. A good teacher will challenge their students to go to the original source for the answsers.
A good teacher doesn't have to fear someone checking things out for themselves, they are confident when an honest person wants truth and seeks God, God will show them.
Psalm 118:8 "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man."
Jeremiah 17:5 "Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord."
Psalm 40:3-4 "He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!"
2 Timothy 3:13-17 "While evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."
John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."
Allah commands the beheading of those who will not convert to Islam, while Christ compels and urges the unsaved to believe in Him through His love.
Allah is all about hate and murder while Christ is all about love and salvation through His sacrifice for us. Allah forces, intimidates and frightens, while Christ urges with love, while providing the free gift of salvation.
In short, the Koran is the opposite of the Bible, the Koran was authored by the devil with hate and misery, while the Bible was authored by God bringing love and forgiveness.
There is no concept of love or forgiveness in the Koran, but the Bible, God's Word is full of love and forgiveness.
We are now moving into a period of time when many non-believers of many religons will be falling into the lie and trap that the Koran is the same as the Bible, when in fact it is the opposite.
Those who don't know the Bible well enough will parrot the mantra "the Koran is the same as the Bible", while remaining ignorant about the differences. The devil counts on people merely repreating something someone else says, such as the pope, without checking it out for themselves.
Something very interesting to me is, that for many years Catholics refused to be associated with anyone not of their own religion, claiming they were unsaved because they either left the church or refused to be Catholic, but are becoming willing to embrace Islam. They often rejected "Bible Thumpers" as they called us, but are ready to embrace a satanic religion such as Islam.
As a former Catholic I am very aware of the thinking of a Catholic and the things we were taught. True Christianity was mocked among the people, now they are being set up to follow an evil devilish religion, without reading the Bible or the Koran. They simply take what their false leaders says and beleive it without any questions.
The Catholic church tells their followers what to believe, discourages personal Bible study to find out truth, they will do the same with the Koran. They will expect their parishoners to just take their word for everything. Such mindless obedience to an earthly entity is the recipe for disaster and the wide road to hell.
My encouragement to all Catholics and other "religious" groups, is to stop believing your leaders, put their feet to the fire by reading the Bible for yourself, while asking God to show you the meaning. A good teacher never expects their student to just believe them. A good teacher will challenge their students to go to the original source for the answsers.
A good teacher doesn't have to fear someone checking things out for themselves, they are confident when an honest person wants truth and seeks God, God will show them.
Psalm 118:8 "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man."
Jeremiah 17:5 "Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord."
Psalm 40:3-4 "He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!"
2 Timothy 3:13-17 "While evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
With Love and Empathy Comes Sorrow
I understand this entirely!! Anxiety and depression are not a measure of spirituality, they are the fleshes response to pressure about things we have no control over. Our spirit is not depressed and anxious, our flesh is. Notice through we don't stay in that condition, God goes through with us and then takes us out.
Ecc. 1:18 "Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain"
Ecc. 1:18 "Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain"
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