The Power of a Clear Conscience Before God

When your conscience is clear, all the sin repented of and humility has taken over we have no reason whatever to be offended when someone maligns our character.

When we know God sees all things then gossip cannot harm us. It can cause trouble in our lives but again when God sees all things we know He has a purpose.

It is true that "sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me. " Modern-day psychologists have tried to tell us this was not true, that words do hurt. Yes, they can but they don't have to if we do not place people in such high regard that their opinion of us has more power than what God thinks of us.

It is sinful to say things just to hurt others, however, when we are faced with rude people who try to hurt us we can be strong enough to realize their comments and attitudes toward us are not really about us at all. Those who are rude have to face their own demons, this has nothing to do with us.

Yes, while it is true gossip can ruin someone's reputation and even relationships, it can never harm our souls or our relationships with God. As long as we have that we have all we need.

The prophets were martyred because of lies against them and against Christ. They loved the Lord even unto death.

Revelation 12:11

"11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death."

When we are trusting in Christ we can be calm and without worry even when faced with death for our faith.

2 Thessalonians 3:16

"16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every [a]circumstance. The Lord be with you all!"

What Does God Get Out of Our Worship of Him?

There are those who would say things like; "I didn't get anything out of the worship today." I have heard these kinds of things myself over the years. I am always astounded to hear it.

Why would I be so shocked at such a statement? It's because I go to worship God, praise Him, and elevate Him. My attendance has nothing to do with "enjoying it" as entertainment.

Isaiah 25:1 "O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure."

Who is the focus of worship that has words such as we see in Isaiah?

Psalm 150:6 "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!"

Acts 16:25 "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them."

Every one of these verses demonstrates our hearts deeply worshipfully giving praise and honor to God.

Our worship has nothing to do with what others around us are doing or how they are making us feel. Our worship is total attention on God, His attributes, His glory, and the gift of His Son Jesus Christ.

John 4:24 "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

Interesting that this verse in John does not speak of what we are doing in the flesh or who we are with, but it is about our Spirit glorifying God.

1 Chronicles 16:34 "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!"

Psalm 63:1 "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water."

We do not rattle off things we want from God in worship, we focus entirely on Who He is and What He deserves, which is total devotion to Him for what He has given us.

2 Corinthians 1:2-4 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

When our witness is total devotion to God Who deserves all our allegiance we can be a help to those who are lost in worldliness and materialism. We can offer them, Jesus Christ, someone far greater than this world and its pleasures.

What a great God we worship, One Who can be completely depended upon without fear or reservation.

Isaiah 41:10 " 10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness."

Hallelujah!!!!

The Two People Living Inside A Narcissist

When you encounter family, community, or church and they are so fully convinced of their opinions which are different from ours but are not addressed in Scripture, and they will judge you as foolish for not thinking the way they do, you have encountered a cult or a clique that is lacking in love toward their brother or sister in Christ. 

When we love our brothers and sisters we allow them to have opinions differing from ours and love them even respect that they have their own right to their opinions. But even better is if we listen well enough to perhaps learn from them then we can build a relationship. 

Arrogance and lack of acceptance of others prevent or destroy relationships. I have known Christians in my life who had quirky thinking about things that were not mentioned in the Bible but differed from my thinking, I remember appreciating them and loving them even while they did not view things as I viewed them. May we learn to enjoy those who are different from ourselves without prejudice.

Sadly I encounter more lack of love, trust and appreciation toward one another in the body of Christ than I do authentically humble, kind, and accepting people whose focus is completely on Christ. I thank the Lord for my Facebook family who understands these principles of God's love, we are learning from one another because of it. Praise God He has brought to my life those who love Christ more than they love themselves and their own opinions.

Delusions are Many in These Last Days

The delusions are so many now and through every belief system, that nearly everything must be ignored except what the Holy Spirit tells us.

Matthew 24:24 "For there shall arise false christs and false prophets and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

I no longer believe anything I hear that does not come from the Bible or the Holy Spirit has not spoken to me.

We are living in times of immense deception, but most people choose their side, believe their desired truths based on their own pride and they will not listen to God's Word concerning these things.

Do not let this discourage you, God said it would be this way. The disrespect for God's Word now is beyond belief, over the top angst toward anyone who will disagree with the world.

Our home going is soon and all this mess will be over. Be sure that you have trusted Christ and are ready to go.

Trusting In Christ Rather Than Food

Has anyone placed their trust in the food they eat to remain healthy?

The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years eating the perfect food sent directly from God, their shoes and clothing did not wear out and yet they died in the desert.

Why did they die if they had the perfect food from God? They died because all of mankind has been under a curse since the first days of Adam and Eve.

Everything was perfect when God made it, the food the animals, and even the people. When God punished mankind for their rebellion against Him, everything was cursed and everything had a particular lifespan after which everything died.

1 Timothy 4:4-5

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

Those who place their trust in earthly food will not experience a perfectly illness-free life.

It is my belief that God is the one who blesses each plate of food, no matter where it comes from or how it is grown as long as we thank Him for it and as 1 Timothy says; as long as it is received with thanksgiving" and acknowledged that it is from God.

We try to have the proper combination of nutrients as science has taught us, but it is impossible for mankind to grow perfect food on in this cursed earth. It is however possible that God blesses each plate of food when we are thankful for it.

Matthew 14:19

"Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds."

God even multiplies the food for us, it is not our own hand that can create food, God does that, we plant the seeds and He makes them grow.

God is far more concerned about what we put into our minds and hearts than He is about what we put into our bodies.

John 6:55-59

"For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum."

Modern Christianity spends more time on attempting to grow and eat the perfect food than they do on Spiritual food that God deems far more important.

Modern science has given us knowledge about nutrients, but it is not the nutrients that save our lives, it is God Who blesses each plate of food when there is thanksgiving for it.

1 Corinthians 10:31

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

If we do all to the glory of God with Him in mind continually we will not be obsessing over food, politics, self-esteem, and personal pleasure, but we will be joyful and trusting in Christ with worry.

"Worry is a sinful expression of fear and a severe problem of the heart." Corbin Henderson

Matthew 6:25-34

The Cure for Anxiety

25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing?

26 Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they?

27 And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span?

28 And why are you worried about clothing? Notice how the lilies of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin thread for cloth,

29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’

32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.

34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

If you find yourself being rejected and mocked because you do not worry as others do, remember what God said, what the people say does not matter one bit.

Proverbs 3:5-6

"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."