James 1:2-8
"2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
Hallelujah for the purposes of God!!!!
Monday, November 20, 2017
A World Full of Non-Sense
Mixing truth with error, or in other words worldliness with God's truth, only serves to negate the truth, it never enhances it.
Ezekiel 44:23
"23 Moreover, they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean."
Whenever we see someone gossiping about another person's private life, we know we are encountering someone to avoid and ignore.
There are many who have been the target of gossip for years, there have been those who have judged us about things that were none of their business, things that were not sin, but merely a disagreement about the nature of some of our practices.
How we clean and decorate our house, , how we relate to our husbands and what we choose to cook, are things that no one has any business making judgments about, and yet these things have been a matter of whispering and mocking on the part of family members for years for so many victims of this sort of abuse.
Having been told once that an in-law family member was uncomfortable because my "house was too clean", another in-law member criticized on two different occasions my table decorations, they were too "formal" for them.
Our answer to these silly and petting things ought to be "this is me being me and it's alright."
Have you ever done something for others that pleased you to be able to bless them, only to be met with disdain as though you did something wrong? It's astonishing when we encounter this, there is no rational reason I can think of for demeaning someone's kind and lovely act, and yet we see this often in our culture.
Petty judging is usually associated with jealousy. Those who criticize good things are demonstrating that they have contempt in their heart for you, angry that you met them with good in mind. They prefer we are unkind so they can feel justified in their contempt for us.
One or two times like this and we might be tempted to think someone has just had a bad hair day and will get over it. However, if we see these things happening repeatedly with the same people, we can expect that it is a pattern that will not go away.
Isaiah 26:10 "10 Though the wicked is shown favor, He does not learn righteousness; He deals unjustly in the land of uprightness, And does not perceive the majesty of the LORD."
We were once invited to the home of a millionaire friend. She did and had things that we could never afford, her hospitality was as gracious and friendly as anyone's could be. Her table settings, food and dishes were far above anything we could ever afford.
Our response to our friend was glee and excitement at the beautiful surroundings and lovely food. It never once crossed our mind that she should not have done all of it.
She did it because it pleased her to bless us. To take away her blessing by acting frigid and aloof as though it were all silly and stupid would have hurt her, it would have been jealous and mean.
When we encounter people who gossip behind our back, whether among their own family members or with everyone doesn't really matter, they are working to demean us in the eyes of others for their own self elevation.
We live in a world full of this nonsense, and I mean that it is "non-sense", because it makes no sense, it does nothing to edify or encourage righteousness, it merely tears down the innocent to build up the evil.
Why be so specific about things that have happened to us, you might ask? Sometimes it's in the details that we discover the wiles of the devil, his purposes and what our response ought to be to them.
Ezekiel 44:23
"23 Moreover, they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean."
Whenever we see someone gossiping about another person's private life, we know we are encountering someone to avoid and ignore.
There are many who have been the target of gossip for years, there have been those who have judged us about things that were none of their business, things that were not sin, but merely a disagreement about the nature of some of our practices.
How we clean and decorate our house, , how we relate to our husbands and what we choose to cook, are things that no one has any business making judgments about, and yet these things have been a matter of whispering and mocking on the part of family members for years for so many victims of this sort of abuse.
Having been told once that an in-law family member was uncomfortable because my "house was too clean", another in-law member criticized on two different occasions my table decorations, they were too "formal" for them.
Our answer to these silly and petting things ought to be "this is me being me and it's alright."
Have you ever done something for others that pleased you to be able to bless them, only to be met with disdain as though you did something wrong? It's astonishing when we encounter this, there is no rational reason I can think of for demeaning someone's kind and lovely act, and yet we see this often in our culture.
Petty judging is usually associated with jealousy. Those who criticize good things are demonstrating that they have contempt in their heart for you, angry that you met them with good in mind. They prefer we are unkind so they can feel justified in their contempt for us.
One or two times like this and we might be tempted to think someone has just had a bad hair day and will get over it. However, if we see these things happening repeatedly with the same people, we can expect that it is a pattern that will not go away.
Isaiah 26:10 "10 Though the wicked is shown favor, He does not learn righteousness; He deals unjustly in the land of uprightness, And does not perceive the majesty of the LORD."
We were once invited to the home of a millionaire friend. She did and had things that we could never afford, her hospitality was as gracious and friendly as anyone's could be. Her table settings, food and dishes were far above anything we could ever afford.
Our response to our friend was glee and excitement at the beautiful surroundings and lovely food. It never once crossed our mind that she should not have done all of it.
She did it because it pleased her to bless us. To take away her blessing by acting frigid and aloof as though it were all silly and stupid would have hurt her, it would have been jealous and mean.
When we encounter people who gossip behind our back, whether among their own family members or with everyone doesn't really matter, they are working to demean us in the eyes of others for their own self elevation.
We live in a world full of this nonsense, and I mean that it is "non-sense", because it makes no sense, it does nothing to edify or encourage righteousness, it merely tears down the innocent to build up the evil.
Why be so specific about things that have happened to us, you might ask? Sometimes it's in the details that we discover the wiles of the devil, his purposes and what our response ought to be to them.
The devil uses self righteous and mean spirited people to cause frustration in us. When we are frustrated we are more likely to respond in a way that feeds the beast, diminishing our Christian witness and leaving everyone down-hearted.
However, if we know how the devil acts and his purposes, we can remain calm, unaffected, without any food for the narcissist who is controlled by demonic forces.
How does God tell us to respond to those who love to hurt others?
Luke 6:27 "27 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. "
When we do not respond in kind to mean people all they have to see is themselves. They may continue to demonstrate their contempt and try over and over again to get their desired result, that is that we become angry. When we encounter the continual attempts to anger us, we know it is time to move on as described in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, "from such get away."
I am going to say something that may sound a little strange! God places these people in our lives from time to time to show us what is within us. When we become angered at the rudeness of others, then God still has some work to do in us. The anger shows us the remnant of pride that still lurks in our inner being, emerging when we are pressed, just as the coal must be pressed to create a diamond, so we must be pressed to grow in holiness.
Do not look upon these encounters as something terrible that has happened to us, but see them as "boot camp", a training to learn godly responses in the face of difficulty and abandonment.
And, let me say that abandonment is preferable to the continual battering of mean spirited people, I say that with my tongue firmly planed in my cheek.
James 1:2-8
"2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
Hallelujah for the purposes of God!!!!
However, if we know how the devil acts and his purposes, we can remain calm, unaffected, without any food for the narcissist who is controlled by demonic forces.
How does God tell us to respond to those who love to hurt others?
Luke 6:27 "27 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. "
When we do not respond in kind to mean people all they have to see is themselves. They may continue to demonstrate their contempt and try over and over again to get their desired result, that is that we become angry. When we encounter the continual attempts to anger us, we know it is time to move on as described in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, "from such get away."
I am going to say something that may sound a little strange! God places these people in our lives from time to time to show us what is within us. When we become angered at the rudeness of others, then God still has some work to do in us. The anger shows us the remnant of pride that still lurks in our inner being, emerging when we are pressed, just as the coal must be pressed to create a diamond, so we must be pressed to grow in holiness.
Do not look upon these encounters as something terrible that has happened to us, but see them as "boot camp", a training to learn godly responses in the face of difficulty and abandonment.
And, let me say that abandonment is preferable to the continual battering of mean spirited people, I say that with my tongue firmly planed in my cheek.
James 1:2-8
"2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
Hallelujah for the purposes of God!!!!
Written by William Mathew Cuthbert
Some of the Things I Hate about Church
3. It, predominately, is an institute builded upon an institute, builded upon tradition not truth.
4. It is guided and swayed by times and ever moving morals and ideologies.
5. If one member suffers, most couldn't care less.
6. It has negated it's duty (predominately), as did Sodom and Gomorrah, to the poor.
7. It has forgotten it's first love.
Some things I love about the true Church.....
1. It is the people, built on love and compassion.
2. It is the people, built upon the doctrines of Christ and His Apostles.
3. It is a family.
4. It is immovable in truth, in love, and in doctrine and ideology.
5. If one suffers, all do likewise.
6. It remembers the poor, the needy, and the afflicted.
7. It falls in love daily, with it's first, and only love.
The thing is, where you be upon such matters....
Nuff Said.
3. It, predominately, is an institute builded upon an institute, builded upon tradition not truth.
4. It is guided and swayed by times and ever moving morals and ideologies.
5. If one member suffers, most couldn't care less.
6. It has negated it's duty (predominately), as did Sodom and Gomorrah, to the poor.
7. It has forgotten it's first love.
Some things I love about the true Church.....
1. It is the people, built on love and compassion.
2. It is the people, built upon the doctrines of Christ and His Apostles.
3. It is a family.
4. It is immovable in truth, in love, and in doctrine and ideology.
5. If one suffers, all do likewise.
6. It remembers the poor, the needy, and the afflicted.
7. It falls in love daily, with it's first, and only love.
The thing is, where you be upon such matters....
Nuff Said.
Saturday, November 18, 2017
Confess to be Cleansed
Believers who have not confessed any sin in a long time, might be dealing with pride.
1 John 1:9 "9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Those who do not confess regularly, either are not born again or they remain spiritual babies until they begin facing themselves.
1 John 1:9 "9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Those who do not confess regularly, either are not born again or they remain spiritual babies until they begin facing themselves.
Deepest Form of Love
Warnings are the deepest form of love, it is an attempt to snatch someone from their burning house before they perish.
Would anyone be angry that we shouted loudly, "get out of there, the house is burning"?
People believe it is mean to warn them about sin and hell, because they don't believe their house is burning.
Ezekiel 3:18-20 "…18"When I say to the wicked, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.
19"Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself.
20"Again, when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I place an obstacle before him, he will die; since you have not warned him, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand."
Why are warnings the deepest form of love? Because when we warn someone or instruct someone we run the risk of losing a friend or family member who is resistant to truth. Love for God should be greater than our love for family who hate Him. And, we love someone so much that we are willing to experience rejection to save a person's eternal life.
Would anyone be angry that we shouted loudly, "get out of there, the house is burning"?
People believe it is mean to warn them about sin and hell, because they don't believe their house is burning.
Ezekiel 3:18-20 "…18"When I say to the wicked, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.
19"Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself.
20"Again, when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I place an obstacle before him, he will die; since you have not warned him, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand."
Why are warnings the deepest form of love? Because when we warn someone or instruct someone we run the risk of losing a friend or family member who is resistant to truth. Love for God should be greater than our love for family who hate Him. And, we love someone so much that we are willing to experience rejection to save a person's eternal life.
The Bumpy Road
We are there, and the most prominent sign of the end times, even more than the wars and weather conditions is the lack of love everywhere. Arrogance is more common than humility and contempt more common than love. The lack of love causes every other evil that we see. Even among those who don't do the big terrible deeds, act arrogantly and self important.
2Ti 3:1 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come."
Matthew 10:21-22 "…21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. "
Luke 12:52-53 "…52 From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” "
Hang on tight for the bumpy ride that believers will have to experience. If you have not been hated by most as Christ said we would, then perhaps your Christianity is not showing.
2Ti 3:1 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come."
Matthew 10:21-22 "…21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. "
Luke 12:52-53 "…52 From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” "
Hang on tight for the bumpy ride that believers will have to experience. If you have not been hated by most as Christ said we would, then perhaps your Christianity is not showing.
Psalm 11:1-7
"1 In the Lord I take refuge;
How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain;
2 For, behold, the wicked bend the bow,
They make ready their arrow upon the string
To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
3 If the foundations are destroyed,
What can the righteous do?”
4 The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven;
His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
5 The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,
And the one who loves violence His soul hates.
6 Upon the wicked He will rain snares;
Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.
7 For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness;
The upright will behold His face."
How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain;
2 For, behold, the wicked bend the bow,
They make ready their arrow upon the string
To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
3 If the foundations are destroyed,
What can the righteous do?”
4 The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven;
His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
5 The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,
And the one who loves violence His soul hates.
6 Upon the wicked He will rain snares;
Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.
7 For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness;
The upright will behold His face."
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